Demon King's Vessel
He saw a bare pillar in his field of vision. His first thought was, why am I here? Then, he was surprised that he was still alive. Ren had been merciful to him. A sense of regret spread through Jin's heart.
He thought that he had obtained a power that surpassed that of humans. He was supposed to have become the [monster] that Ren called him. But even so, he could not reach Ren. As a king, as a warrior, and as a human being.
He had always been running away. Ren was right, Jin thought. What was it that he really wanted to do? He knew that he did not have it. He had always been passive, running away from responsibility. Because he was like that, people left him. Kou, Manami, and Satoko. The people of Lemberg must have left too.
A single tear spilled from his eye. He wondered when was the last time he shed a tear. He had been going through a lot of hard times since he came to this world. But he had never shed a tear. Jin knew that even when Kazuki died.......
He didn't let him die. Jin thought he wasn't allowed to die.
"Daah."
"Eh?"
A voice he did not expect. He thought he had heard something in his ears, but he soon realized that was not the case. A small body trying to crawl on top of his own told him that.
"Why?"
"Ah! Ka-chan, that's no good!"
"Eh……?"
And again, he heard a voice he didn't expect. The voice of someone who should not be there reached his ears. Jin fearfully turned his head in the direction of the voice. There, he saw Satoko approaching with a panicked look on her face.
"Jeez. Don't leave without permission."
Satoko holds the child in her arms and talks to it.
"...Satoko."
"...You really came back. It's amazing... isn't it?"
"...Were you with Ren?"
Satoko is here because she was with Ren. Jin thought that Ren had asked her to take care of him.
"No, I came there to find Ren."
"…Was it Satoko who saved me?"
"Save… when I heard that Ren was there, there was an acquaintance who was about to die. I didn't think it would be human to leave him alone, so I brought him here. That's all. The wounds healed on their own without me doing anything."
Satoko didn't like the idea of being thought of as having saved him. She disliked Jin's attitude. Despite his modesty, Jin is a confident man. He had no idea that Satoko would leave him. This is what he thinks.
"I see……"
"I'm going after Ren."
"Why?"
"I have no reason to tell since you are in the Izrim Empire."
Satoko is chasing after Ren in order to ask Ren to [fight against the Izrim Empire for Rin's sake]. She can't talk to Jin about it.
"…I am no longer a member of the Izrim Empire."
"You want me to believe that? How can I believe that?"
"You're right..."
Even if he decides to leave the Izrim Empire, he does not know if he will be allowed to do so. Jin is still shackled by the proof of servitude. Now Mei thinks that the existence of such things does not matter, but Jin himself does not understand that. Jin is halfway through. By finishing the ritual halfway, he has gained power, but his mind is still mostly Jin.
And now, even the slightly mixed will is gone.
"...Then I'll hurry up."
"Ah……"
"For the time being, I made the food. It's not like I made it."
"Thank you……"
There must be more to say. Jin is conflicted in his mind, but he doesn't know what to say. He ends up not doing what he should do again. Even though he is in a hurry with this thought, nothing comes out of his mouth.
"Okay, let's go."
With a child on her back and an even larger package, Satoko headed for the exit. Jin thought about at least escorting her close by. He wanted to spend a little more time with her.
"I'll hold luggage."
"With that hand?"
"Eh... ah..."
Both of Jin's arms were cut by Ren and are still lost. The wounds are closed, and as for the right hand, the hand is also regenerated, but its length is much shorter. Now that this is so, Jin realizes.
"See ya"
"…………"
Leaving the stunned Jin, Satoko headed out. Seeing this, Jin sighed heavily once and turned his back to the exit. He must get rid of his unresolved feelings. There was no way that Satoko would stay with him. All he did was hurt her. This is what he told himself.
"…………"
A bowl on the floor in front of him. On top of the bowl was a rice ball that Satoko had made for him. He had not eaten a rice ball once since he came to the other world. Jin realized this.
He reached out his hand for the rice ball. But his hand could not reach it. Jin's senses remained the same as when his arm was at its original length. Leaning forward, he managed to get the rice ball in his hand.
"Ah……"
But this time it won't reach his mouth. Since he had no choice, he tilted his body again and put the rice ball back in the bowl. Jin brings his mouth closer to the rice ball.
However, the rice ball was taken by another person.
"Mhh."
It is Satoko's hand.
"Um...?"
"Eat it."
Satoko held out the rice ball in front of Jin's mouth. Jin honestly took a bite of the rice ball. The rice ball is mixed with cereals. As an ingredient, it is not far from the food in the other world that he has eaten in the past. However, the taste of the rice ball in Jin's mouth was more delicious than any of the other foods he had eaten. Tears spilled out again.
"...Satoko ...I'm sorry. I hurt you."
"Not really. There isn't a person alive who hasn't hurt another person at least once."
"I see... But I'm sorry. And thank you."
People hurt people. The thought of not hurting them can result in even deeper wounds.
"...What are you going to do now?"
"I don't know."
"It looks like it will take more work than Ka-chan."
"Ka-chan... ah, that child... could it be that child?"
Could it be his child? That's what Jin thought.
"Finally, that? What is it, you really only think about yourself, don't you?"
As for Satoko, she thought Jin would be the first to ask whose child it was. She thought that was a given.
"I'm sorry..."
"I don't know whose child it is. I was raped by many people."
"Wha..."
A fact that Jin learns for the first time. Jin is shocked by this.
"The only thing that is certain is that it is my child. She is the most precious thing in the world to me."
But Satoko has already gotten over it, although she will never be able to forget. The child's existence, its growth, has made it so. It doesn't matter who the father is. She truly believes that it is her beloved child.
"...You've gotten stronger."
"Because I'm a mother. So what are you going to do? Do you want to come with me?"
"Are you sure?"
"You can't even eat like that, can you? You'll die. Well, you'll die even if you follow me."
Satoko is trying to go to Ren. If Jin comes along, and if it is known that he is still alive, then he will not be able to get away with it. He will die no matter which way he chooses. That might be the outcome, Satoko thinks.
"I want to go with you"
"I, see… um… then, shall we go?"
Jin chose to follow without any worries. He was too straightforward, and Satoko was puzzled. As usual, he wondered which one to choose, and in the end, Jin himself could not come to a conclusion. That was how it was supposed to end.
Jin didn't want to be that way anymore. He figured that even if it got him killed, he would not regret it. He decided to take the first step toward a fresh start.
◆◆◆
The entire army of the Luine Kingdom continues to retreat. It is because they are overwhelmed by Mei and Maki's magic, rather than the Izrim Empire Army. The presence of Yuya and Minami would not allow them to challenge close combat. No matter how many hundreds or thousands of soldiers were sent, the result would be the same. They could not defeat the four.
However, if they retreat, the strength of the Izrim Empire Army will increase by that much. The people of the occupied territories will be forcibly mobilized. They will have to kill those people. King Albert's anguish only deepened.
"Princess. I don't know all the details, but I think it's definitely true."
"Did you find out anything?"
"This is a record from a thousand years ago. Judging from what is written here."
Baat placed an iron plate on the table. Somehow, for the people of the human race, it's an iron plate with incomprehensible symbols written on it.
"This is?"
"It was something that the princess's older brother had. Perhaps he borrowed it from the castle's old library?"
"How dare he do that..."
Rin's older brother had stolen important materials from the Vampire race's castle. Now Rin knew. The vampires still have ancient documents. Many of them are classified and only the royal family is allowed to know about them. It was unforgivable for such important materials to be taken out of the castle.
"It's probably to find the whereabouts of the demon sword. This document is written about past demon sword owners. Not only about the demon sword, but also about the opponents the owner fought."
"...Glowing wings huh. Is that what you meant?"
After reading the material, Rin seemed convinced. Rin was faintly aware of the fact. She knew, and she didn't want Ren involved in this fight.
"Could you please explain so that I can understand?"
King Albert, who is present, has no idea what the two of them are talking about. King Albert, who is not a vampire, cannot read the text of the materials.
"Explain..."
"Come on and stop hiding things. We should share the information we have and make use of it in battle."
"It's not like that, but... if you hear this, your chances of survival will be gone, won't it? Is that okay?"
Baat hesitates to speak because he is thinking of King Albert. He's better off not knowing.
"...Either way, if we lose this battle, we'll die."
"I see... the other people... don't even need to ask, right? Princess?"
"They themselves want it. It can't be helped."
Rin also agreed to explain to King Albert and the others. If that is the case, then there would be no reason for Baat to hesitate.
"The people we are fighting are probably a divine race. They are also called the messengers of God."
"God... are you saying we are fighting against God?"
A story that is hard to believe. However, there is no reason for Baat to lie here. There is no room for such a situation.
"They are not gods, but the divine race. In order for you to understand, I will first talk about the human race and the demon race. It would be a long story if I told you everything, so I'll just give you the gist, okay?"
To explain the divine race, it is first necessary to talk about the origins of the human race and the demon race. In this day and age, this is a forgotten knowledge among the human race.
"Humans were once called mortals. They were the ones who thrived in this world, but they were arrogant beings, conceited that they were the highest species, and they corrupted this world."
King Albert and the others feel as if they are listening to a myth. A myth, in fact. For the human race.
"God was so angry with their arrogance that he decided to destroy them. Even traces of their existence were erased. And yet, the mortals survived."
Traces of mortal existence. Science, the source of the world's pollution, was buried in this world. Those who survived lost their civilization.
"However, a gentle god reached out to a mortal who had no way to survive. That's us demons."
"Does that mean that demons are also messengers of God?"
"No. We are tools to give mana to mortals. Mortals and demons intermingled, and a new species with mana, the human race, was born."
Without civilization, mortals were powerless. They had no power to resist other creatures and could only be hunted. God gave power to such humans. That is magic.
"In other words, our ancestors are demons?"
Shocking facts. However, the reaction of the people, including King Albert, who heard it, was not great. The shock is too great to be accepted as fact.
"One side of your ancestor is the demons. And the problem is the other side, mortals. The human race inherited the mortal qualities strongly. They positioned themselves as the highest, persecuted other races, and infested the world."
"…………"
What was right for mankind was evil for the world. King Albert was speechless when he heard this.
"In order to correct that arrogance, the divine race who are messengers of God have appeared several times. Each time, many people died. Regardless of whether they are human or demon, the creatures of the world have been killed by the divine race. Killing is their purpose."
"...So they don't care about the death of their ally?"
"In the first place, they probably don't think of us as an ally. They are probably just a tool for killing people. The characteristic of the divine race is the wings that grow from their backs. That's what is written in this document. The former hero we saw. It is similar to the appearance it shown."
"...So their goal is not to conquer the world, but to kill the people who live in this world?"
Hearing the story, King Albert was convinced. He understands why the Izrim Empire Army can carry out a brutal strategy that treats no one as a human. In fact, they do not consider them people. In their sense of values, humans are like the dust that pollutes the world.
"So, the situation is such that victory is hopeless?"
"Even so, we can't just wait to be killed. Isn't there a way to defeat this divine race?"
"There is no way. Except for one possibility. It is also a possibility, it does not mean that it is certain that it can win."
The demons have been told of that possibility. The Vampires, in particular, have made sure that the tradition is not lost.
"What is that possibility?"
"Demon Sword Kamui. It is the demon king recognized by that demon sword Kamui, and is also called a savior."
"...The demon king is dead."
"If it's about the princess's older brother, it's different. He is not recognized by the demon sword. Having the demon sword is not enough."
Baat already understands this. Rin's older brother, Sed, has just obtained the demon sword and is not recognized. He was no demon king.
"Then where is the Demon King?"
"I don't know that. The demon sword Kamui was also lost when the princess's older brother died. That is, if what the princess said is true."
"……What do you mean?"
Rin, whom Baat calls princess. King Albert already knew this. His question is directed at Rin.
"I do not know"
"Princess!"
"I don't know! Didn't you capture me after my brother died!? Did I have the demon sword!?"
Rin doesn't know the whereabouts of the demon sword. It's just that she hasn't seen it.
"But don't you know about the Demon King's vessel?"
"…………"
"Princess! Right now, the existence of the people living in the world is in danger! Please put aside your personal feelings!"
Baat knows where the demon sword is. After studying the documents and learning more about what the demon king's vessel was, he was convinced. The Vampires learned why Radu, Rin's father, stubbornly refused to recognize his son as the Demon King. He also learned that they knew that Radu was not qualified to be the Demon King, that there was someone other than Radu who was qualified to be the Demon King.
"……I do not know"
"What do you mean?"
Rin stubbornly continues to insist that she does not know. Baat, on the other hand, assumes that Rin knows. King Albert has no idea what is going on.
"...I will say this at the risk of being hated by the princess."
"Baat! Shut up!"
"The Demon King's Vessel is Kaiser Ren Breitkreutz. Perhaps the Demon Sword Kamui is also in his hand."
"What did you say!?"
Ren is the demon king. Ren, who became the Nord emperor, was originally called the Demon King. However, Baat's story is completely different from what they have thought so far.
"There is a connection between the vampire race and the demon king. It was the vampire race that supported the first demon king with the demon sword Kamui. Even so, a thousand years later, when a new demon king stood up, The vampire race ignored the demon king. They made a mistake. The vampire race swore they would never make the same mistake again."
"That's why Rin-dono."
"No! I met Ren-sama before he got the title of [Demon King's Vessel]."
She approached Ren for the title of Demon King's Vessel. Rin absolutely cannot accept that it seems that way. She didn't care who Ren was, she loved him.
"I see... It's a title that didn't exist at the time of the contract ceremony."
King Albert recalled that Ren's title did not include [Demon King's Vessel]. He also knew that Rin had been by Ren's side before that.
"Princess. My apologies. But it is clear that even if the Nord Emperor does not participate in this battle, he will eventually have to fight the divine race. If so, while we can fight together. Can you think of it this way?"
"…………"
It is only a possibility. There is no history of a Demon King defeating a divine race. If he fights, Ren will die. No matter how strong Ren is, she doesn't think he can defeat the divine race, who have ruled this world for thousands of years.
"...We can't make it in time. Even if I send a messenger to the Nord Emperor now."
Before that, the Luine Kingdom will perish. King Albert has no intention of losing easily, no matter who the opponent is, but after hearing what he just heard, he cannot be sure of victory.
"I know, so there is only one person who can. The princess will go."
"I will not go. I have a responsibility to fight with everyone."
"Princess……"
"I will do what I have to do. That's what Ren-sama said to me. What kind of face am I supposed to make when I run away from the battlefield to meet Ren-sama?"
She was prepared for this before she came here. Even if she finds out that the enemy is the divine race, as she thought, there is nothing to fear now. She has no choice but to do everything she can. Rin believes that this is a way to die that would not bring shame to Ren. She thought so.
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