Next Life – Chapter 60

The plan to incite a sense of crisis by fighting the Demon King ended in failure.

(He’s weak for a Demon King.)

Marius felt a selfish anger, lashing out, but there was nothing he could do. Fortunately, Barra, sensing the mood, promised to write a letter warning Ranleo. Lucas also decided to report that the Demon King’s revival was indeed a fact.

Everyone believed that the Demon King had revived and that demons were moving to take advantage of it, but there was still almost no sense of crisis. It was understandable, given that Marius himself had collapsed from exhaustion. Marius hoped that all the Demon Kings would be weak and that their revival would be an overreaction. However, considering that monsters and demons alike were being weak, he felt he might be worrying too much.

“This is the Demon King’s heart.”

When he presented it to Bernhard III, the King hesitated but then stared at it intently.

“The legendary Demon King series, where collecting four allows the creation of a demon-slaying weapon…”

He gulped. The extra item “Demon Slaying Weapon,” as its name suggested, boasted absolute attack power against demonic attributes. Before the previous balance adjustments, a mere high-level player could defeat a large-scale combat boss Demon King with a single blow. It was the only balance-breaking item that the developers, who had been piling up extra items without considering game balance, had actually nerfed. In other words, it was a broken item, the Demon Slaying Weapon series. Seeing everyone’s reaction, Marius concluded it must be an incredible item in this world too.

“Even if I had it, it could be stolen. Marius, please keep it.”

“Understood.”

Marius put it away and asked about the Demon Slaying Weapon series.

“It’s mentioned in one of Melinda Guilford’s legends, and it’s so powerful it makes you want to laugh. If it weren’t for Melinda’s legend, I’d think it was a fabrication.”

Melinda Guilford was indeed one of the strongest mages in human history, but she was no match for Auraniess. However, after barely escaping with her life, she gathered the Demon King’s heart, soul, fangs, and claws, obtained the Demon Slaying Black Staff, single-handedly annihilated the Auraniess army, and even defeated Auraniess herself. Such was her overwhelming power that Melinda was unable to control it and had no remaining strength to destroy Auraniess. After sealing Auraniess, Melinda, fearing the existence of such an overwhelmingly powerful weapon, destroyed it.

“The seven continents that existed in the past are now only six, a result of the battle between Melinda and Auraniess.”

An entire continent had been obliterated without a trace, which was why Melinda was not blamed for destroying the weapon. However, this tale, passed down with a degree of skepticism, was for the same reason.

(This is even more dangerous here, isn’t it?)

It was highly probable that it possessed the same power as it did before the developers nerfed it. It might even be stronger. The thought that Auraniess might be an opponent that could only be defeated with a Demon Slaying Weapon was a headache. Marius decided that attacking and defeating the Demon King before it could revive, like Zagan, was the best course of action. Even if it meant destroying a continent, it would be too unsettling. However, with only two Demon Kings rumored to exist on the Taliant Continent, one of whom was Auraniess, creating a Demon Slaying Weapon was an unrealistic prospect.

“Let’s at least notify each country. Marius has defeated Demon King Zagan and the demons who were plotting his revival.”

With Zagan’s demise, there was no room for complacency regarding what methods the demons might employ. Marius wished to keep this information from the demons, but with Gerik infiltrating in human guise, it was impossible for it to remain secret. According to Zofi’s information, there were still several other demons, meaning that an army of tens of thousands could be mobilized. A single high-ranked demon was more troublesome than a hundred thousand monsters. Filat would likely be fine with Marius and Zofi by his side, though.

“Ah, Marius. A messenger has arrived; Princess Catherine, whom you saved, wishes to express her gratitude.”

“The Princess herself?”

Marius felt a bad premonition as the King nodded. Based on the limited common sense he had acquired in this world, a princess would typically send a letter of appreciation with a messenger and some gifts.

“I wish to maintain good relations with Bortner. Please accept my apologies, but would you consider accepting the gift graciously?”

Marius readily agreed. He had no intention of being cruel to an innocent girl. He certainly hoped that a twelve-year-old girl wouldn’t be sent as a political tool for romantic alliances…

Aina, who served him tea in his private room, pointed out Marius’s mistaken assumption.

“There are many instances of princesses marrying at the age of ten, you know?”

In fact, the higher the status, the earlier the marriage. Commoners, she explained, had a marriageable age of eighteen. Marius was surprised by this information, but not as much as he expected. He must have unconsciously anticipated it. However, if that were the case, wouldn’t the term “spinster” apply to royal women like Lovisa, Emma, Barra, and Asteria?

Though he didn’t say it out loud, his attitude must have betrayed his thoughts. Aina admonished him gently.

“Lady Lovisa, Lady Emma, and Lady Barra are exceptions. To put it crudely, those with no particular talents tend to marry earlier.”

“Also, if I may be so bold, those who serve royalty or great nobles, like myself, tend to marry later.”

Maids to royalty and great nobles were all noblewomen, and their mothers, wanting to enhance their daughters’ standing, created immense competition. Being able to attend to someone like Lovisa meant one had either survived a fierce competition or was an exceptionally talented young woman, thus increasing her value as a bride.

“Lady Emma is in a league where royalty from other countries would bow and propose marriage!” Her parents and family could afford to be proud and assertive, and her age was of no consequence.

(Lady Emma is beautiful and capable of anything.) She was also stronger than an average maid. Even Marius thought she wouldn’t have trouble finding a husband.

“By the way, how old are you, Aina?”

“Sixteen. It’s rude to ask a woman her age, you know?”

“It’s not an age that’s rude to ask about,” Marius replied playfully.

“Speaking of which, polygamy is permitted, but who practices it in this country?”

Aina dug into her memories to answer Marius’s question. “Uh, His Majesty, the Chancellor, Lucas, Nilson, Granfeldt, Yaders, and…”

“No, that’s enough.”

In other words, all the important figures did. Marius felt foolish for even asking. It made sense why everyone had reacted that way when he showed resistance to polygamy.

“Pfft!”

Asteria sputtered tea, an action unbecoming of both a lady and a queen, but no one reprimanded her. This was because a report had arrived that Marius had buried the buried Demon King, superseding Filat’s spies.

“A, a Demon King… a Demon King, heh heh.”

Asteria struggled to contain her laughter. Zagan was a notorious Demon King even in Taliant, and to have met such a bizarre end!

(I offer my deepest condolences…)

A sliver of sympathy for Zagan emerged, but everyone else was in a state of shock.

“What…?”

“B, buried alive…?”

Even those at the center of Hordia, a great nation, were no exception. Asteria, quickly regaining her composure, began to rapidly devise future strategies. The demons probably wouldn’t learn of this incident for some time. They disdained information sharing and lacked communication networks. They were arrogant in their own strength. Gerik would likely be the first to learn, and then it would be passed to Rubens. She had to take advantage of that time lag.

King Henry IV of Ranleo reread Barra’s letter, frowning.

“Demon King revival? The Demon King’s heart…?”

He wanted to laugh it all off, but knowing it was written in his daughter’s hand made it impossible. Though his daughter had her shortcomings, she was by no means foolish. It was necessary to devise countermeasures immediately. He summoned his top military officials and ordered them to implement heightened security. While dealing with low-level demons might be manageable, high-level demons would be a formidable opponent for the Ranleo army alone. He wanted to coordinate with Filat and Seraeno. In hindsight, the peace faction might have had foresight. Only in terms of outcome, of course.

“Demon King revival… Those demons, they dared to inflict terrible suffering upon my precious Catherine.”

King Bortner’s anger towards the demons reignited.

“What shall we do? It seems utterly preposterous.”

He rebuked his greatly bewildered high officials.

“Nonsense! The King of Filat does not live in a dream world! Besides, wouldn’t it be more advantageous to remain silent? Marius is in that country.”

The King’s words made everyone nod in understanding. They were all rather simple-minded.

King Derik of Seraeno also pondered Filat’s notification.

“Demon King revival… So, that’s what the demons are after.”

“Your Majesty, what shall we do?”

“Our country is not involved. If we were, the Demon King would have revived decades ago. So, is it Ranleo or Berganda? Regardless, we must prepare for rescue. Demon Kings are enemies of humanity, transcending nations and values.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Seraeno also began to prepare for the Demon King and demon army. However, due to human folly, not all countries synchronized their actions.

“Hah, Filat intends to become the continent’s leader all at once.”

Berganda did not believe it.

“We need an explanation as to why now.”

Vester, Garius, and Barshark were skeptical. This was partly influenced by their favorability towards Filat. Ranleo’s immediate belief was thanks to Barra, and Garius’s disbelief was due to the King’s influence. However, King Garius decided to investigate his own country just in case. It was a gesture of goodwill towards Filat, a friendly nation.