The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 115

A few days prior, the report that Cairo’s main force was attacking the rear base made everyone in the conference room look worried.

“If, just if, we fail to capture the rear base, what will become of us?”

It was a noble from the Royalist faction (nobles who support the King) who spoke.

The nobles of the central government (nobles who work in the capital)… They were not there.

Daniel Cairo’s voice was low and heavy with despair. “The responsibility for defeat lies with the royal family,” he said. “Even though the nobles have badly damaged how our country is run, the people will blame the King for the war. After that, I won’t be able to speak as King anymore. Those selfish nobles in the capital will do anything to get rid of me.”

“Those blasted fellows!”

“Even though we share the Cairo bloodline, it seems they are going too far.”

It was hopeless.

The power of the central government.

Marquis Benedict, Count Gregory, and Count Denver were not fully committed to helping the southern front.

The victory or defeat of this war was not a simple matter.

If they failed to capture the rear base, the Hector Kingdom might reject negotiations with Cairo and hand over the south to the Cronos Empire.

Then… The respect for the royal family would truly fall.

The southern and western borders touching Cronos meant the terror of not knowing when an attack might come.

Daniel Cairo said, “The nobles of the central government likely believe that any choice benefits them. If Cairo’s main force wins, they overcome the crisis. If they lose, they will use it to pressure the royal family. What matters to them is not the safety of Cairo. If they truly wished for the revival of the Cairo Kingdom, they would not have done nothing while the southern part of our country was given to the Cronos Empire. They cared more about talking to the Hector Kingdom, even if they had to pay for it themselves.”

How on earth did the country come to this state?

From the moment he inherited the throne he never wanted, Daniel Cairo could not sleep soundly for a single moment.

“The enemy threatening Cairo is within. They selfishly seek only their own gain, but we cannot be as selfish as they are. We need to prepare for the future if we fail here. Even if we are pelted with stones by the people of Cairo, we must hold onto the meaning of our existence as the Cairo Royal Family until the very end.”

“…Understood.”

“Your will be done.”

The nobles bowed their heads.

Even if he was a weak and feeble king…

The reason some nobles followed him was because Daniel Cairo genuinely cared for the kingdom.

If only he had been born in a better era, he would have become a wise ruler.

But reality was not so kind, and in a weak nation, a feeble king became easy prey for selfish nobles.

The meeting continued.

The possibility of what ifs.

The people of the Royalist faction, preparing for that, jumped to their feet at a piece of news that flew in from the southern front.

“Is that really true!”

“We’re saved!”

A victory report.

And that too, in just a few hours.

Daniel Cairo’s face lit up with hope at the shocking result that he could not have dared to expect.

It was truly a grand feast.

Homecoming in glory.

The nobles of the high-nosed capital all welcomed Roman’s return as a hero.

“You’ve really suffered!”

“Cairo has overcome a great crisis thanks to you.”

They too had heard the rumors.

To be precise, they each learned through their own informants just how amazing Roman’s actions had been.

Among them, Count Fabius reported as follows: “In fact, I still doubt whether what I experienced was real. From beginning to end, the strategies that brought down the Hector Kingdom all came from Roman Dimitri. Roman Dimitri perfectly understood the opponent’s intentions and trapped the Hector Kingdom. He won against Butler, who was known to be a very strong warrior. Marquis Benedict, I have never seen such talent in my life. Even the one called the greatest sword of the continent did not show such actions at the age of 20. Roman Dimitri is a person who will unconditionally succeed greatly as a swordsman and as a commander.”

It was high praise.

Even though he was already a talent everyone desired, Roman Dimitri had surpassed his own evaluation once again.

His talent as a commander and the result of defeating Butler were shocking results that made his previous actions seem small in comparison.

The party celebrating Roman’s return.

Nobles swarmed around, trying to exchange words with Roman even once.

Even the nobles of the central government abandoned their pride and tried to win Roman’s favor.

“Roman Dimitri, I finally get to meet you in person.”

“Your Majesty.”

It was Daniel Cairo.

The nobles cleared the way.

No matter how much of a puppet king he was, they were not foolish enough to be rude to the king in a place where many eyes were focused.

“On behalf of the Cairo Kingdom, I wanted to sincerely thank you. Against the Hector Kingdom, you showed the will of Cairo. With bold decisiveness, you defeated Hector and restored peace to Cairo in a moment of dire crisis. Is there anything you desire from me? Whatever you want, I will grant it to the best of my ability.”

Rewarding people who have done great things.

It was the king’s authority, and attention was focused on Daniel Cairo’s words.

It was then that, before Roman could answer, Daniel Cairo added, “As it happens, the position of Vice Commander of the Royal Knights has become vacant. If it is alright with you, I will give you the title of Vice Commander and permission to go into the Royal Treasury. You can take treasures, or you can learn valuable secrets that Cairo has kept for many years. What do you say to my proposal?”

At those words, the atmosphere of the banquet hall turned chilly.

Daniel Cairo’s proposal, the intention to take Roman first, meant the nobles of the central government could no longer watch the situation with a smile.

The position of Vice Commander of the Royal Knights was an enormous privilege.

To rise to such a position at the young age of 20 was something that had never happened even once in the entire history of Cairo.

Daniel Cairo said, “Cairo’s greatest sword and the leader of the Royal Knights, Count Nicholas, is looking for a successor to follow him. It will be a good opportunity for you. Even now, you have a talent that shines brighter than anyone else, but if there is someone to lead you, you will be able to look to even higher places. You don’t have to worry about the duty of national defense. Apart from other rewards, I am thinking of specially exempting you from your remaining duties.”

Daniel Cairo.

King Daniel Cairo wanted something for the first time in his life.

‘I must have Roman Dmitry on my side,’ he thought.

The nobles of the central government saw Daniel Cairo as someone they could use, a scarecrow king. Even after many years, Daniel Cairo had to show respect to them.

That was the reason he treated them with deference in the conference room.

The moment he showed an attitude of treating them even slightly like subordinates, the heads of the central government, including Marquis Benedict, openly showed their displeasure and pressured the King.

Because of this control, he always felt trapped, like he couldn’t breathe.

Cairo’s people thought of him as the highest authority, but in reality, he was just a scarecrow with nothing.

‘Roman Dmitry defeated Butler, a 5-star swordsman. If I bring in a strongman comparable to Count Nicholas to serve me, even the noble faction won’t be able to pressure me easily. From then on, I can reverse the situation. People call me a weak king, but I won’t live like this forever,’ he thought.

With this war as an opportunity, he changed his mind.

Seeing the nobles taking care of their own interests even to the point of dropping the kingdom into hell, he thought that this could not go on.

He shed his weak demeanor.

For the first time, he showed his true feelings in front of the nobles.

Then, Marquis Benedict said in an angry voice.

“There is no case in the world where another obligation is burdened as a reward, Your Majesty. The Royal Knights are a direct military organization of the royal family, and it is only a choice to force sacrifice on young talents with a guaranteed future. Please withdraw the order. We need to give the hero that much reward.”

“That’s right. I agree to opening the royal family’s vault, but this is not it.”

He was met with resistance.

The nobles of the central government stepped forward.

Everyone added a word, pointing out that Daniel Cairo’s proposal was completely wrong.

‘Since when has joining the Royal Knights been described as a sacrifice?’ he wondered.

Royal Knights. It is the most glorious position for knights.

At one time, the sons of noble families worked their whole lives to join the Royal Knights, but as the royal authority collapsed, they showed a reaction that regarded it like a white elephant.

Perhaps, as the nobles said, Roman might not welcome his proposal.

However, now that he had spoken, he had no intention of voluntarily backing down.

“Marquis Benedict, I have made a decision. From now on, it is Roman Dmitry’s share to decide.”

He crossed a line he had never dared to before.

Unlike usual, he chose to speak informally rather than with respect.

Marquis Benedict’s expression twisted for a moment, but Daniel Cairo looked at Roman Dmitry without concern.

Everyone’s eyes were focused.

If Roman said he would follow Daniel Cairo, then, really, the Cairo Kingdom would fall into chaos and fear.

The King’s proposal was unexpected.

Daniel Cairo, whom Roman remembered, was a weak king, but he looked at himself with unwavering eyes.

‘Is it still the bloodline of the royal family?’

Perhaps Daniel Cairo was not as weak a king as rumored.

He had no choice but to bow his head to the constant pressure since he was young, and that was seen as weak.

Finally, when the opportunity for reversal arose, Daniel Cairo took a gamble.

This would put even more pressure on him in the future, but Roman Dmitry was a person worth taking the sacrifice.

‘I have no reason to take on the Cairo royal family,’ Roman thought.

This war made Roman realize that he had not yet fully grasped the new world.

Edwin Hector, who uses magic, and Butler, a 5-star swordsman.

The people of the Cairo Kingdom say that it is really amazing to have defeated them, but in fact, according to the standards of the continent, it was not as amazing as they expressed.

Edwin Hector? He is only a 4-circle mage.

The group called Archmages were said to use magic like natural disasters with as many as 7 circles.

And Butler. His ranking in the Hector Kingdom is second.

But in the continental rankings, Butler’s name can only be found at the very end.

‘The current me is just that. A frog in a well. An existence that cannot hold its head high outside of Cairo,’ Roman thought.

Daniel Cairo, Marquis Benedict, Count Gregory, Count Denver. They are the same.

They act like powerful people because they are in the Cairo Kingdom, but if they go out to the continent, they are nothing.

Therefore, he could not accept any proposal.

Now was the time to maintain the balance of power and have at least the minimum requirements.

Roman said.

“Through this war, I have come to realize that the world is vast. Royal Knight. It is truly a glorious position as a swordsman. But before I decide on my future, there is something I definitely want to do.”

“What is it?” Daniel asked.

A clear refusal. Daniel Cairo could not hide his bitter feelings.

On the other hand, the nobles of the central government watched the situation with smiling faces.

“In fact, it is a plan that I would have done in two years if I had not been exempted from the duty of national defense. First, I plan to take a few days of rest in the capital and then return to my family. And I will spend time making the enlightenment I gained on the battlefield completely my own. I am not sure how long that time will take. But when I am perfectly prepared,” Roman said.

He raised his head and revealed his future course to the people watching him.

“I will challenge someone in the public ranking matches.”

At that word, a ripple went through people’s eyes.