The pillar of light shone so brightly that it could be seen from anywhere on the continent.
That meant that everyone in the human world learned of the birth of the hero.
A hero who was dramatically born in a threatening situation where the Demon King's army pushed the Empire to the edge of a cliff. Even though they didn't know who the hero was, it was natural to have hope.
The same was true for the king of Shanguk. It was the same, but now there was something he was more worried about.
'I really can't connect.'
Did they discard the communication device altogether?
What kind of disrespect was this to the king of a country, to arbitrarily notify and unilaterally cut it off?
Still, he couldn't get completely angry, just staring at the communicator. That's because he knew what his actions meant.
"... He seems like a person I can't completely hate."
If a monarch of a foreign country could make him feel this way, it would be proof that his choice was not extraordinary.
"Anyway, it's terrible."
How should he deal with the Demon King's Army in the future? Was there no choice but to expect something from the hero?
He sighed and furrowed his eyebrows.
***
Naturally, the king of Rweche also heard the news of the hero's appearance.
When everyone was hopeful, he quietly muttered as he remembered the face of his younger brother, who left the room with the curtains closed without leaving a single portrait.
"I'm sorry. It seems like the Empire's life will be longer than I thought."
It has not yet been revealed who the hero is.
He had a very personal and selfish thought that it would be better if that hero were Deon Hardt and took revenge on the Emperor instead, but there was no way he would be chosen as a hero when he went on a rampage with demons over so many other people in the human world.
If he revealed these feelings to someone, they would most likely be shocked. They might ask, if the resentment is that deep, why doesn't he take action?
"I was foolish."
Of course, he wanted to take revenge himself… As the king of a country, he made a promise to a knight of the Empire.
After thinking that far, he burst into laughter.
"In the end, I am a king and can do nothing about it."
He had nothing to say even if he was criticized because he was an ugly older brother who couldn't even avenge his younger brother.
He felt like he was overflowing with self-blame for a moment, so he picked up the overflowing emotions and buried them in his heart and got up.
Because he can't take care of national affairs while being immersed in emotions. Now it was time to fulfill his duties as king again.
***
The appearance of the hero did not impress the Emperor.
Anyway, even if a hero came to help, the current Imperial palace will already have collapsed. By then, this body will have already left.
The location of the demons that kept changing came to mind.
'Was the speed of the advance at the level of running without sleep?'
For some reason, he wondered if they had suddenly changed their route midway to gain time, but even so, it seemed like they would arrive sooner than expected. He showed a subtle expression when he realized that his destination when he changed his route was Illuster territory, but that was only for a moment.
Everyone on the route to the Imperial palace has long since been evacuated, so the only ones left were those in the Capitol. Nobles who stayed in the Capitol for the safety of the people of the Empire and themselves.
They tried to evacuate the people of the Empire first and then the nobles, but there was strong opposition. It wasn't about why they evacuated mere Imperial citizens first instead of themselves. They were protesting, asking why they had to evacuate.
It made no sense to move the Capitol at this time. Wasn't it too much to proceed arbitrarily without even a single consultation? Was he really planning to abandon this palace with its long history? So, did he know that Deon Hardt was the Commander of the 0th Corps?
There were some remarks that were acceptable and some that were completely off topic, but in the end, the backlash did not last long.
'I have already done everything and all that is left is you. In other words, it means that all the troops have been moved there, so the only way to stay here would be to die. If you want to stay that long...'
'I'll go.'
Look. The Emperor chuckled.
'What about the long history?'
Even thinking about it again, it was absurd. You cite its long history as a reason not to abandon the palace. There were many comments that weren't worth answering, but this one was the most memorable. Did they think of this Empire as a country that continued the history of the previous dynasty?
It's funny. Rather than promoting the previous dynasty to an Empire, he wiped out the entire dynasty and established an empire on top of it. To think something like that just because the blood of the monarch was inherited.
This palace has a long history, but that did not make it the long history of the Empire. Long history? What did it have to do with the history of the dynasty before he ascended the throne? The reason he used this palace as is was not because he respected the history of the palace, but because he did not want to waste taxes on building a new one.
"... But..."
The golden eyes resembling a wild beast rolled over to capture the article in front of them.
An unexpected, or perhaps even expected, a person was standing there with firm eyes as if he or she has decided on something. The Emperor smiled bitterly inwardly.
"Why didn't you move and find your luggage? I'm sure I would have told you to move."
"Please allow me to remain here."
Lien Reiner, the knight who once served Deon Hardt, bowed her head.
"I know that Your Majesty deliberately placed me in a place where I would not encounter him. I deeply appreciate your consideration, but I have a reason to meet him."
"This is a remark that is likely to be misunderstood. Isn't life worth it?"
It was a threatening situation in which her head could be blown off if she were not careful, but she calmly answered after seeing the Emperor and understanding him in her own way.
"I know Your Majesty is not the type of person to do that."
"..."
The Emperor remained silent for a moment as if speechless, then slowly raised the corners of his mouth. He spoke with a somewhat bitter smile.
It was not a response to Lien's remarks, but a response to a previous request.
"Even if I force you to evacuate by invoking an Imperial Order, if I were to do so, you would move to find him again."
If she never met him, she would live in guilt and suffering for the rest of her life.
There are so many people living with suffering that there was no need to list one more person. That's why he had no choice but to nod.
"Do whatever you want."
And. After the short interview with Lien Reiner, the Emperor pressed his throbbing temples as another interviewer appeared.
"You..."
Even though an evacuation order was issued, the Duke did not even enter the palace, let alone evacuate, and did not care. It didn't matter whether he died or not, as long as he didn't die in connection with the Emperor. He understoood that Lien Reiner said she would stay. Because he knew how she felt.
But he cannot. The Emperor spat out the words with low anger, as if he was growling.
"Why are you still here?"
"Your Majesty is still here, so how dare I run away first?
"That is disloyalty."
The Prince and Princess, who were already gone and should not have been there, were moving around in front of him.
***
The Emperor's movements were strange. Paul, who had been observing the situation in the Empire with a suspicious eye ever since he poured his troops into Miller, made a quick decision when he heard that all the people heading to the Capitol had been evacuated.
'Instead of helping the Empire, we should think about how to survive after it falls.'
The Emperor abandoned the Empire. Maybe it's not an Empire but a capital. However, it was equally difficult to expect the Empire's strength in the future.
The people of the Capitol had not been evacuated yet, but if things continued like this, they would move soon.
They must save power. Paul immediately withdrew the Revolutionary troops from the Empire. He was holding his breath trying to decide what to do and move based on the situation going forward...
"Please help me."
He received a call from the Duke.
"I know that you are the one who held back the Demon King's Army in other regions. You've been trying hard to hold them back with various spells, including making them lose their way and wander, right? Thanks to this, the Empire was able to focus solely on fighting in key areas. Thank you."
The words he never thought he would say were heard faintly, as if they were scattered. Paul quietly looked down at the communication signal transmitted through the Salvation Church.
A sincere thank you may be surprising, but... Daniel died because of it. Boundaries were natural. A rough voice was suddenly spat out.
"You asked for help, what on earth is that?"
"The Demon King's Army will soon arrive at the Capitol. Please delay their arrival time by just three hours, no more, no less."
There was no way the Duke didn't know that it was a sarcastic remark rather than a sincere question. Nevertheless, did answering like this mean that he was that desperate?
Paul thought of the speed of the Demon King's Army advancing toward the Capitol. There were reports of people running without sleeping at all. He heard that Deon Hart, who seemed determined to shorten the time as much as possible by switching horses whenever one got tired and insisting on riding a horse from the human world, rode a horse from the demon world.
As if that wasn't enough, what kind of confidence was there? In a situation where even a single troop was wasted, stragglers were left behind and running every time they arrived at a new territory... The most recent information received was that they had arrived at the territory closest to the Capitol, so if things continued like this, they would probably arrive within half a day.
He would do it.
"... Is this a trade request?"
"Please. I've already given all my possessions away."
The Duke's family were no strangers to the wealth they had accumulated over generations, but he gave it all away...?
Was this related to the fact that he asked for only three hours? He tilted his head for a moment.
'It's none of my business where the Duke spends his fortune.'
What was important was his behavior in trying to get help for free.
Paul chuckled.
"You killed the squadron leader and now you want to use us for free."
From the Duke's perspective, it must have been quite humiliating to have asked for a 'favor' rather than a 'deal'.
And since the enemy was the Revolutionary Army that he had once controlled under him, his high pride would probably have been cruelly shattered. Even though he knew it well, Paul just smiled and was very sarcastic.
"You're shameless."
"..."
"But... I will listen to you specially just this time."
Considering how much pride the Duke must have sacrificed to ask for this favor, it could be said that he received a pretty good reward. When will another day come when the Duke's pride would be trampled on like this?
It was not a request to kill Deon Hardt or to defeat the Demon King's Army, but a request to just stall three hours. Since this problem could be resolved with minimal loss of troops by using spells, Paul accepted with great pride.
He thought he heard the sound of teeth grinding before disconnecting, but he ignored it.
***
After becoming a warrior, my physical strength must have improved. I ran without sleeping. After leaving the Demon King's Castle, I had nightmares every time I slept, so being able to endure without sleep became one of the few reasons why I was satisfied with becoming a hero. The demons that could not stand made sounds of death, but I believed in their strong bodies.
'It's not like they're demons for nothing.'
There won't be any problem even if they don't sleep a little.
We arrived near the Capitol at the fastest possible speed...
What was this?
We've lost our way.
I became convinced of this fact when a demon spoke cautiously while I was at a private residence.
"Deon, it seems like you keep circling the same spot."
"... Do you think so too?"
"Yes."
Somehow I felt like I couldn't find a way even if we kept going.
I wasn't sure because it was a forest, but that tree looked like a tree I'd seen before.
'... It's witchcraft.'
I was confident about the space distortion spell because I had heard about it from a shaman during the eradication of the Salvation Church in the past.
"Usually the only way to do this is to find the spell's main axis and destroy it, or find the right path, but there's no way we can find the right path..."
... It's a forest, so should we just burn it all down?