[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 115

    The Middle Realm is a colony of the Demon Realm.

    Kaylen had always known this fact, but he had never truly felt it.

    Apart from the emergence of dungeon portals and the loss of mana, he had never witnessed demons oppressing or ruling over humans directly.

    But today, upon seeing the giant demon, Kaylen realized the truth.

    Humanity had already submitted.

    ''...I misjudged the situation.''

    To Kaylen''s eyes, that demon seemed to be of noble rank.

    By the standards of a thousand years ago, roughly equivalent to a baron of the Demon Realm.

    Facing a baron-ranked demon was typically impossible for a human.

    Even an exceptional Meister or knight might only manage to leave a scratch.

    Even a thousand years ago, there were fewer than ten people besides Kaylen himself who had ever defeated a Demon Baron.

    Yet, no matter how powerful the demon commander was, the reaction of the people afterward was truly shocking.

    At a single word from the demon, they unconsciously fell to their knees.

    This was not mere fear.

    It was an instinctive submission, the kind that only comes from deep within—a recognition of themselves as the ruled, the subjugated.

    ''It wasn’t like this before.''

    A thousand years ago, humanity fought against the overwhelming might of the demons.

    Of course, there were always those who quailed in fear, who collapsed in despair—but those were individual cases, never the norm.

    Some soldiers laughed as they died, proud that they had stalled the Demon King’s advance for even a moment.

    Even children hurled stones at demons in defiant rage.

    But now...

    These were not ordinary civilians.

    These were hardened veterans who had fought countless battles at Viltre Fortress.

    Yet, at a single word from a demon, they trembled in fear and fell to their knees.

    There were no exceptions—royalty, nobility, commoners alike.

    ''The humans of today are different from those of a thousand years ago.''

    The fact that the Demon Realm ruled over the Middle Realm should have only been known to a select few within the leadership.

    Yet somehow, within the hearts of all humans, there was already a deep-seated fear and submission toward the demons.

    ''...How pitiful.''

    When he first entered the body of his descendant and read through the history books detailing the fall of the Meier Empire...

    He felt a sense of regret.

    He had united the continent, become the Hero, and vanquished the Demon King.

    Afterward, he had ruled over the empire that had been forged into one.

    Back then, the Unified Empire of Meier was the strongest nation in recorded history.

    Even though he had gone missing, he had never imagined that the empire would fracture so easily.

    However, when he saw the places where the first rebellions had erupted, he understood.

    The kingdoms he had crushed with sheer power, without any justification.

    The princesses of those kingdoms—the children he had fathered through them—were the first to lead the revolt.

    The wives who once whispered eternal love, the children who once looked up to him with respect...

    Yet, the moment he disappeared, they had taken the lead in the destruction of the Meier Empire.

    They had simply followed the will of the people from the lands they belonged to.

    ''That was the limit of walking the path of might rather than the path of righteousness.''

    That was why, in this life, he had chosen a different path, even if it meant taking a longer route.

    He had learned, through the empire''s downfall, the bitter lesson of what happens when one relies solely on power.

    Thus, in his investigations of the royal family and the Mage Tower, he had split his identity in two.

    Every move he made was carefully planned to ensure he had the proper justification.

    However...

    Ironically, the method Kaylen had intended to use was the wrong approach in this era.

    ''Yes, in a world ruled by demons, what is needed... is the power to resist them. What I need now is the strength to walk the path of might, just as I did in the past.''

    Strength over justification.

    Pragmatism over morality.

    The way of Ernstine.

    For humanity, now reduced to a colony of the Demon Realm, such a leader was necessary.

    A steadfast, unyielding figure who would prevent them from trembling and kneeling at a mere word from the demons.

    A ruler of iron and blood!

    "Hand over the fragment of the Holy Sword."

    There was no longer any need to hide his power.

    On the contrary, he had to reveal it.

    "Kaylen...? But you’re a Meister, aren’t you?"

    Saintess Theresia’s heart suddenly pounded at Kaylen’s abrupt demand for the Holy Sword’s fragment.

    ''Are you insane, Theresia...? Do you even realize the situation right now?!''

    The fortress was on the brink of destruction at the hands of the giant demon.

    The Holy Legion was about to flee in disgrace.

    It was absurd.

    And yet, the way Kaylen looked at that moment...

    ''Not just his appearance, but even his presence... it''s exactly like the Hero...''

    Having longed for him over the course of a thousand years, Theresia could not help but waver.

    Her voice trembled as she asked,

    "Wh-why does a Meister need the Holy Sword?"

    "That’s true. But I am also a Sword Master."

    "...What?"

    What was he saying?

    Wasn’t Stein the Sword Master?

    He had already surrendered both his body and mind to the demons.

    [Then order him.]

    "K-Kaylen! As the Second Prince of the kingdom, I... I command you! Do as he says at once!"

    Kaylen scoffed.

    "You sure know how to pick out a leader among worms."

    [The bloodline of Bormian is already my servant. I can recognize them at a glance.]

    "Well, fine. If you want a little performance, I’ll indulge you."

    Since the enemy was offering the first move, there was no reason to refuse.

    Kaylen gently ran his fingers over the dagger.

    The fragment of Astella was already cracked from summoning multiple Heavenly Swords.

    Bringing the fragment to his lips, he whispered softly.

    "Astella, your origin is the sun."

    The Holy Sword Astella—a blade that had stood alongside humanity, repelling countless invasions of dark forces.

    Its origin was said to be a shard of the sun itself.

    Yet, Astella had long since forgotten this truth.

    Only when a chosen hero spoke of its origin would it recall, if only for a brief moment, its true nature.

    By all logic, Kaylen, who had not been chosen, should have received no response.

    However—

    —Master...?

    For the first time, the Holy Sword reacted to one it had not chosen.

    And not just a mere response—

    But an overwhelming, desperate one.

    —Master. Master. Master. Master...!

    Viiiing. Viiiiiiing.

    The fragment of the Holy Sword flashed pure white, its resonance ringing throughout the entire fortress.

    —At last... I have found you, Master!

    "Astella. Lend me your strength."

    —...As much as you desire!

    The light of the sun, shining down upon the battlefield, began to converge upon the fragment of Astella.

    Seeing this, Armor unknowingly unfolded his arms.

    [......?]

    Something was wrong.

    The opponent was just a mere human, and the Holy Sword was nothing more than a shattered fragment.

    And yet, Armor’s instincts screamed at him.

    ''If I stay idle... I won’t escape unscathed.''

    This—this was an attack that must be blocked with everything he had.

    [Absolute Barrier.]

    Before Armor, seven layers of absolute defense formed.

    [Dark Flame.]

    Even then, Armor did not feel at ease. As a precaution against the human before him, he summoned flames of darkness.

    Kaylen smirked.

    "As expected, a demon’s word can’t be trusted. But I’ll gladly accept your offer."

    [What...?]

    At some point, a Flame Sword had materialized behind Kaylen.

    "Absorb it."

    Shuuuuuk—

    At Kaylen’s command, the flames of Dark Flame were completely drawn into the Flame Sword.

    And then—

    Before the startled Armor could even react, Kaylen spoke again.

    "Astella. I’ll come find you soon."

    Six-Sword Path

    Twin Swords—Blazing Heaven.

    The seven-layered barrier melted away in an instant.

    The giant’s black armor was engulfed in pure white flames.

    Blazing Heaven, infused with the power of the Holy Sword—its strength was on an entirely different level from when Kaylen had used it in Necropolis.

    Astella, transformed into the Sun Blade, vastly amplified the power of both flame and light.

    No matter how strong the giant demon was, even the Demon King had struggled against this power—there was no way he could withstand it.

    [Th-this... what is this?!]

    The moment his black armor began to melt, Armor understood.

    The flames of the heavens.

    A force completely incompatible with demons.

    And once he was overpowered, these flames would burn eternally until his armor was completely gone.

    ‘Tch... At this rate, I have no choice but to send the Main Body!’

    Fortunately, he had recorded this battle to assess his target’s value.

    If he reported this to headquarters, the punishment would be less severe...

    Determined to survive, Armor prepared to escape with his Main Body.

    From the sole of the giant’s right foot—

    The spot where it touched the ground—

    His armor split open, allowing the Main Body to slip out.

    Once he burrowed underground, those fools would celebrate, believing he was dead.

    But that never happened.

    Because the one who should have still been standing on the fortress wall—

    "Where do you think you’re going, insect?"

    Kaylen was already in front of him, smirked coldly.

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]