Chapter 674
Chapter 674
The Immortals had begun their indiscriminate slaughter, but the damage was minimal.
This was thanks to the efforts of Scarlett and Kono Lint, who had focused on neutralizing the Immortals as they moved through the battlefield.
However, the allied forces had all witnessed the Immortals attacking them.
None could properly see the battle taking place deep within the heart of Diane.
Even those who fought nearby only knew that a series of incredible events had occurred there.
Thus, the outcome and the process of the final battle remained unknown to all.
No one had seen the series of events that unfolded after the otherworldly dragon had disappeared.
Not even the monsters dared to approach the depths, so it was Olivia Lanze, wielding the power of death to dominate the skies, who had penetrated into the depths of Diane, annihilating the remaining monsters.
What Olivia saw was Reinhardt, unconscious and holding Ellen in his arms at the site of a fierce battle.
Olivia had carried the two of them on the dragon's back as they returned.
The Immortals were wiped out.
All of Diane's warp gates were destroyed.
And the remaining monsters either scattered or were defeated by the allied forces.
The rain had stopped.
The war was over.
Smoke rose from various parts of Diane, where the corpses of monsters were being burned.
The gate incident had been completely resolved, and although there would still be countless monsters remaining throughout the continent, no more would pour in from the other world.
Humanity had survived.
However, the atmosphere among the allied forces, which should have been more hopeful than ever, was gloomy.
Firstly, the sacrifices were greater than in any previous battle.
The Immortals, who had been able to wage war effortlessly until now, had suddenly attacked the allied forces in the final battle.
It seemed as if they were being made to pay the price for their easy advances.
Confusion, distrust towards the empire, and anger were rampant.
Then, the forces of the Demon King suddenly appeared, and the chaos that ensued was because they fought harder than anyone else.
Not everyone on the battlefield saw the Demon King fighting, but those who did witnessed him desperately killing monsters while luring the Immortals, who sought his death.
And it was vague, yet certain, that the Demon King was involved in the battle against the unknown final monster and the events that unfolded in the depths.
Distrust towards the empire.
And whether or not to trust the long-despised Demon King.
Amidst the complex situation, the allied forces were at a loss, establishing a base but unable to find their bearings.
Nevertheless, the situation was somewhat better for the commanding officers.
From the beginning, they knew the Demon King was involved with the allied forces, and there were even those who decided to support him.
And now, even those who opposed the Demon King realized they had no choice but to support him.
Knowing that the empire had betrayed them at the most crucial moment, they were convinced that the empire was no longer on humanity's side.
The empire would rather kill them than join the Demon King's army.
The situation that unfolded during the battle in Diane could not be accepted by anyone.
Thus, the allied forces' command had already decided to support the Demon King wholeheartedly.
And so, the top brass of the Demon King's army had no choice but to enter the Allied Forces' general headquarters nonchalantly, and even though they received fearful glances from everyone, they took their seats close to the top.
However, the person occupying the highest seat in the Allied Forces' headquarters was a very unexpected figure.
"Has the damage report for each army been compiled?"
This person was no longer a citizen of the Empire, and this person’s appearance was similar to that of a demon.
But that person couldn't be considered not human.
Charlotte de Gardias was sitting in the highest position in the Allied Forces as the representative of the Demon King's army, in place of Emperor Bertus.
Something had changed.
But it was a strange shift in power, as it seemed that nothing had really changed.
In the vicinity of the heavily guarded general headquarters.
Due to the presence of beings that shouldn't be casually exposed to others' eyes, the security around the headquarters remained strict even as the extermination of the remaining monsters was underway.
But everyone would eventually find out.
That the entire leadership of the Allied Forces would be replaced by the Demon King's forces.
"Shouldn't you be attending the meeting, Sister?"
Looking at Olivia perched on a wooden crate near the headquarters, Harriet cocked her head.
"I hate dealing with headache-inducing discussions."
"…Won't all the tasks ahead be headache-inducing? What will you do if you already dislike them?"
"What can I do about it? Just let me be today."
"Hmm... I can't argue with that, but..."
In reality, Olivia was the one responsible for all issues regarding the organization moving forward.
There was much more for Olivia to do in the future than Rowan, the Holy Knight Commander, who was likely inside the headquarters, busily discussing matters.
With that in mind, Harriet couldn't help but find it unsightly that Olivia avoided the meeting, claiming she disliked thinking about such matters, and was outside sighing heavily.
Of course, Olivia had made significant contributions, leaving no room for criticism even if she took a break.
She revived the legions of monsters and had them fight against the other monsters, and she flew across the battlefield on a dragon, saving countless people from death.
When the dragon adorned in a brilliant radiance passed by, those on the verge of death were resurrected.
It was such an overwhelming and miraculous sight that it left a deep impression on everyone, including Harriet.
The Holy Maiden riding a dragon.
That was already the talk among the Allied Forces.
Everyone was safe.
It was a miracle.
They all fought in the most dangerous places, but none of the Demon King's closest confidants were killed or injured.
Everyone played a crucial role, and each one had a decisive impact on the course of the battle.
In the battle of Diane, even the absence of just one person from the Demon King's forces would have caused casualties in the tens of thousands, so important were their roles.
Among them, Harriet, Liana, and Scarlett stood out for their significant impact.
Without Scarlett, the Allied Forces might have been annihilated while dealing with the rampaging Immortals.
Olivia looked at Harriet with exhausted eyes.
"Has Reinhardt not woken up yet?"
"It seems so."
"…What on earth happened?"
"I don't know."
But even those who had played such crucial roles didn't know the true nature of the ongoing anomalies at the heart of Diane.
The overwhelming monster.
The sudden evaporation.
By the time Olivia had arrived, everything had already ended.
She knew that Ellen and Reinhardt were safe and brought them back, but she still didn't know what had happened.
"What about that person?"
In response to Olivia's question, Harriet shook her head.
"She doesn't seem to remember anything."
Obviously, she was talking about Ellen.
"Did something go well? Where did the thing that was cast on her go? If it's gone, that's fortunate, but was there a way?"
Ellen couldn't remember anything, and Reinhardt was unconscious.
It was a peculiar conclusion, seemingly resolved yet leaving an uncomfortable aftertaste.
"Still… I'm glad everyone's safe."
At Olivia's sincere grumbling, Harriet's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, it's a relief."
"…"
Embarrassed, Olivia pursed her lips with her face flushed, while Harriet looked at her and smiled.
In a makeshift barracks near the headquarters,
Ellen sat quietly on a chair in front of a cot, looking down at the unconscious Reinhardt.
There was no way to tell when he would regain consciousness.
"Ellen?"
"…Yeah."
Harriet entered the barracks and checked Ellen's complexion.
Ellen knew what Harriet was worried about.
When Ellen had just come to her senses, she had cried so much she could hardly breathe, and it took a while for Harriet to comfort her.
"It's okay. It's gone. I can feel it."
"I'm glad…"
Harriet smiled with relief and embraced Ellen's neck.
They never thought a moment like this would come again.
Yet, miraculously, such a moment had arrived.
A moment when they could embrace each other without any worries.
That moment had come again.
Touched by the overwhelming moment, Harriet began to sob, and Ellen comforted her for a long time.
Ellen didn't know what had happened.
It was crucial to know how the final battle had gone, but Reinhardt was unconscious, and Ellen couldn't remember anything.
Olivia had just brought the two of them back after finding them lying on the battlefield.
And she had heard everything about how the battle in Diane had gone.
The departure and return of the Immortals, the rampage.
Even the annihilation.
It wasn't difficult to imagine what would happen next.
The empire had disappeared, and everyone would be wronged.
The demon king would rule over humanity.
"Let's stay together from now on. Everything is over… The sad times are over… Just like before. Okay?"
"…Yeah."
Ellen nodded slowly, tightly holding Harriet's arm as she embraced her.
She couldn't erase what had already happened.
She couldn't say there wouldn't be hard times ahead.
However, there were things she could regain and return to.
Ellen looked down at the peacefully sleeping Reinhardt.
She couldn't know what he had done, but Reinhardt must have saved her in some way.
Although she couldn't remember, she could clearly recall hearing a desperate voice from beyond her faint consciousness.
She knew he must have fought a difficult and desperate battle.
That's why he was sleeping so deeply now.
Swish
Ellen summoned the Cloak of the Sun.
She didn't know that the relics had left her hands for a while.
The flames of hatred that had once flickered in the Cloak of the Sun were now gone.
It was natural for the flames, which had burned on the fuel of hatred because something overflowing with hatred had taken root in her, to be gone now.
Hate had vanished, and so the flames of hatred no longer flickered upon the cloak of the sun.
This time, Ellen summoned the Moon Sword Lament.
However, the dark night sky was still reflected on the Moon Sword.
Hate had vanished.
But sorrow had not.
Thus, the Moon Sword, which responded to sorrow, still projected emptiness.
-Swish-
After returning the sword and the cloak, Ellen gently touched the forehead of the sleeping Reinhardt.
Hate had vanished, but sorrow had not.
This was because she knew they could not be together, whether she returned or not.
With tearful eyes, Ellen gazed at Reinhardt, who had ultimately saved her but whom she would never see again.
She stroked the forehead and hair of the one she loved.
Endlessly, Ellen continued to caress, as if it were the last time.
“I love you.”
Forever.
Though she wanted to whisper those words in his ear eternally.
A hero and a demon king could not coexist.
The existence of one always repelled the other.
In a world where the hero triumphed, there should be no demon king.
In a world where the demon king triumphed, there should be no hero.
“Really……. I love you so much.”
Thank you.
I love you.
Ellen whispered those words several times.
“I’m sorry…….”
Finally, she burst into tears.
“I’m so……. so sorry…….”
Her heart wrenched with the agony of not being able to be together, she wept endlessly.
Nighttime.
When Ellen cautiously emerged from the tent, Olivia Lanze, leaning against a wooden crate, quietly watched her.
They were not on good terms. 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘯𝘰𝑣𝘦𝘭.𝘰𝘳𝘨
They had made each other uncomfortable, and had even come close to a fistfight.
But Olivia Lanze had brought back not only Reinhardt, whom she had found on the battlefield, but also Ellen.
“Thank you, for taking me here…”
“Where are you going?”
However, Olivia asked a question before even receiving Ellen’s gratitude.
Olivia noticed the dried tear stains on Ellen’s cheeks.
Olivia knew what Ellen was trying to do.
“…”
Unable to utter a word, Ellen just lowered her eyes. Olivia continued to watch her silently.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but stay put. It’s all over now.”
Ellen lifted her head with difficulty.
“Since it’s all over……. I shouldn’t be here…….”
Just because it was over didn’t mean everything had truly ended.
Something else would now begin.
She had to travel a long, uncertain road.
In the new history written in the name of the demon king, a hero should not exist.
Just by existing, countless discord would be created.
Those who rejected the oppression of the demon king would pin numerous hopes on the name of the hero. That could only lead to division.
Didn’t the enormous force called the Hero Religion already exist?
No one could say that the process of the demon king engulfing the world would be smooth.
There would be tremendous bloodshed.
And the existence of the hero would only absolutely increase the amount of blood that would flow.
However, she couldn't discard the life that was ultimately saved. She had to hide and live somewhere in the world.
The idea that the hero and the demon king would join forces to create a new world was laughable and unbelievable.
Those who supported the hero and the demon king would be divided and at odds.
In vain, hope would be created, only to tear the world apart and bring about countless deaths as a result.
Thus, in a world where the hero had triumphed, there would be no Demon King.
In a world where the Demon King had triumphed, there should be no hero.
That was why, like the empire that had destroyed itself, the hero had to disappear.
Olivia also understood what Ellen was saying.
It wasn't that it was better for her to be gone.
She had to be gone.
It certainly wasn't wrong to say that.
"I don't deserve to be here."
Ellen had betrayed Reinhardt.
In the end, that truth remained unchanging.
"I shouldn't be here. Just being here is a problem. And I don't deserve to be here."
Being saved was already more than enough.
To receive anything more from Reinhardt would be an insult to those who had believed in him from the start.
She couldn't afford to be greedy.
"I'm not ignorant of that."
"…"
"Do you think I want you to stay with us?"
"…"
"Do you think I'm saying this because I like you?"
From Olivia's point of view, Ellen had always been a thorn in her side.
If she were to disappear, Olivia would gladly welcome it with open arms.
But Olivia didn't want to let Ellen go.
Not even for Reinhardt, who had been waiting for this moment – she couldn't let her go like this.
"If it weren't for you, Reinhardt would be dead."
"You saved Reinhardt, and it's because of you that he's alive. That's enough. Don't worry about anything else. Is that so difficult?"
"Stop acting like an idiot and say something!"
-Thwack!
"…"
Olivia roughly grabbed Ellen's collar.
She returned the gesture Ellen had once given her.
Tears welled up in Olivia's eyes.
"Just stay put. Is that so difficult? Just be with us. It won't be easy, but we've managed so far, and we'll find a way!"
"I want that too… I want to be with you all…"
Tears filled Ellen's eyes at Olivia's outburst.
"I want to be with you… like before… to live that way…"
Of course, with the others as well.
And with Olivia Lanze.
Though they would bicker and get on each other's nerves, she wanted to return to those moments.
As Ellen sobbed and trembled, Olivia clenched her teeth and stared at her.
"But I can't… So many people have died because of me… Because of my selfishness… I can't let people die just because I want to be with Reinhardt… Just because I want to be with all of you…"
There were those whose very existence justified their actions.
Since the Gate Incident, Ellen had lived under such scrutiny.
Having received expectations that differed from her own resolve, things would remain the same even after the war.
Simply by being alive, Ellen would ignite the sparks of war, and they would grow into a massive wildfire.
That was why she couldn't stay here, even if her heart ached to do so.
As heartbreakingly joyous as the situation was, once the Demon King set his plan to engulf the world in motion, Ellen couldn't occupy the place beside him – it was a predetermined course.
If the Demon King led a simple rural life, there would be no problem, but as he had grand plans, Ellen couldn't be by his side.
Ellen was the biggest obstacle in the world the Demon King sought to create. In truth, death would have been preferable.
Olivia could no longer insist.
She knew. She understood that it would be best for Ellen to leave due to the problems that would arise simply from her existence.
Olivia wanted Ellen gone, too.
But, wasn't it heartbreaking?
In the end, they had succeeded in what had seemed impossible.
Ellen had finally returned to her original state.
After waking up, the first thing Reinhardt would face was the fact that Ellen had left.
That couldn't be allowed.
That's why Olivia wanted Ellen to leave, yet she couldn't let her go.
"Then, at least wait until he wakes up."
That's why Olivia had no choice but to say those words in the end.
However, as if even that was not possible, Ellen shook her head while sobbing.
"No... I can't do that. If I do, I won't be able to leave...”
The moment she exchanged even a single word with the awakened Reinhardt, she would collapse.
If she were to just slightly embrace him, she would crumble with the desire to stay in his arms forever.
Even now, she could hardly take a step away. If she exchanged even a few words with the awakened Reinhardt, she felt she would never be able to get up from that spot.
So, it was right for her to leave.
If not now, she would never be able to leave.
That's why Ellen wanted to leave while Reinhardt was still asleep.
"You really are a stupid, foolish girl...!"
Just as Olivia was about to slap Ellen's cheek in frustration,
"Let her go."
Her hand stopped at the sound of the voice from behind.
"What...?"
There stood Charlotte, the former royalty with jet-black hair, and the second Archdemon, who seemed to blend into the darkness.
"Ellen is right."
Charlotte slowly approached and carefully released Ellen's collar from Olivia's grip.
"It's not the end; it's just the beginning. If we button the first button wrong, everything will collapse before it even starts."
"..."
"So, you have to let her go."
The Demon King had only swallowed the Allied Forces.
The work of returning to human lands and uniting all powers under the name of the Demon King had just begun.
Even if the hero had surrendered to the Demon King, people would still project their hopes onto the hero simply by knowing that the hero existed.
The hero, being too significant a symbol, could not be with the Demon King while alive.
Either die or live the life of a fugitive.
Those were the only two options.
So, if Ellen wasn't going to die, she had to disappear.
Charlotte looked at Ellen.
Both had not trusted Reinhardt.
However, Charlotte, who had transformed into the appearance of a demon, could be with the Demon King for that very reason.
Charlotte had become a completely different existence in too many aspects to be the basis of legitimacy by her mere existence.
"As there's no eternal struggle."
Charlotte quietly embraced the sobbing Ellen.
"There won't be an eternal farewell either..."
"..."
"Let's believe in that, for sure."
Believing that it was only a promise for the future, not an eternal separation.
Charlotte tightly embraced Ellen.
******Donation Status 25/30******