The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 299

The first day.

Many people gathered at the meeting place.

They skipped the long, formal parts. Chris then told them what would happen next.

“I sincerely congratulate you on becoming Roman Dmitry’s private soldiers. From now on, you will be officially recorded as private soldiers through a simple procedure. We will proceed in the order of the names called, so please faithfully participate in the series of processes.”

Scott was number 98.

Chris’s procedure took place in a tent to keep them out of the sun. Scott’s name was called soon after, as they went in groups of ten.

As he entered the tent, he saw that the spaces were separated.

The spaces were separated for safety. This made Scott feel strangely nervous.

A small space.

The man in the tent had a kind face but his eyes were sharp and observant. He was checking documents at the table and glanced up at Scott.

“Sit down.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to be so nervous. It’s just a simple process of verifying information, so just answer truthfully. First of all, you’re 38 years old this year. And you’re ‘Scott’ from the Umberto Kingdom, right?”

“That’s right.”

“As you know, Roman Dmitry’s private soldiers hold a very special position. Unlike ordinary soldiers, you will be paid a monthly salary of 30 silver, and in special situations such as war, you will be paid an additional life allowance. And, you have a family, right?”

The man asked a direct question, like setting a trap.

Scott swallowed hard.

Although he was from the Umberto Kingdom, his family was in the Kronos Empire. The man’s question seemed to be asking about his connection with Kronos.

He showed he was worried for a moment.

He hesitated, not knowing how to answer. But he thought that a pointless lie could ruin the situation, so he spoke honestly.

“Yes, I do.”

“What are the members of your family and where do they live?”

“I have a wife, a son, and a daughter, and they live in the Kronos Empire.”

“That’s the same as what we found out. The reason we ask for this information is that if Mr. Scott dies while performing a mission for Dmitry, we will go directly to your wife and pay her compensation. Do you agree to this?”

“Yes?”

He was taken aback.

He was chilled by the fact that they already knew the information, and he didn’t expect the man’s question to be directly related to compensation.

Like a thief with a guilty conscience.

Scott asked in a trembling voice.

“Um… I have family in the Kronos Empire… Is that… alright?”

Suddenly, the man stopped what he was doing.

The man looked at Scott with a smiling face.

“Yes. As long as Mr. Scott himself doesn’t cause any problems, nothing else matters.”

Scott left the tent, his mind full of questions. He was then guided to another building, which turned out to be a blacksmith’s workshop.

Scott went to the next place, he looked worried and confused.

‘Does that mean that as long as I don’t cause problems myself, they will accept me as a member of Dmitry, regardless of my past?’

At that thought.

His heart sank.

Scott thought they knew he was a spy, but Roman Dmitry and his people did not seem to mind.

He had heard that since the introduction of the national merit system, they had firmly established a system related to ‘compensation.’

Scott couldn’t just happily accept the fact that he, a spy, was included in that system.

For now.

He complied with the procedure.

The next place was filled with the clang of hammers and the heat of burning metal. Strong blacksmiths, sweat dripping from their faces, worked at fiery forges. He was guided to one of the blacksmiths.

“Come this way.”

It was a blacksmith.

The blacksmith’s strong hands moved quickly as he measured Scott, his eyes shining with pride for Dmitry. He had a rough beard and wore an apron for safety. He examined Scott’s physical condition while flexing his strong muscles.

“I heard you were a war mercenary, and you’re definitely in good shape. The problem is that the lengths of both legs are not the same, so they’re slightly twisted, and your fingers are short, so thick handles will be a bit difficult. With this much, it would have been difficult to use unless it was a custom-made weapon, right?”

“That’s true, but why are you asking that?”

“Isn’t the reason obvious? It’s to make custom armaments for Roman Dmitry’s private soldiers.”

Custom armaments! Scott’s eyes widened. He knew these were not just ordinary weapons and armor. They were made perfectly for each soldier, like a king’s royal gear.

Scott asked.

“Are you custom-making them for all the private soldiers? That would cost a fortune.”

“It would cost a lot of money. Even though this place is called Dmitry, the ‘holy land of blacksmiths,’ it’s definitely not easy to custom-make them for all the private soldiers. So, ordinary soldiers fit their bodies to the ready-made products that have already been made, but Roman Dmitry’s private soldiers are different.”

While he talked, the blacksmith carefully wrote down Scott’s body measurements.

“Here in Dmitry, Roman Dmitry’s direct forces are very special. If danger befalls Dmitry, Roman Dmitry always fights with them on the front lines, and so do his direct forces. That’s why we want to be of some help to those who follow Roman Dmitry like you. I’ve spent my whole life holding a hammer, so I can’t stand shoulder to shoulder with you on the battlefield, but at least if I make perfect custom armaments, I can increase your chances of survival, right?”

The calm voice.

Showed sincerity.

The people of Dmitry, including the blacksmith, lived expressing their gratitude to Roman Dmitry every day.

Roman Dmitry.

He was Dmitry’s savior.

He led the revival of Dmitry with the development of the iron ore industry, and he raised the people’s pride by directly solving the problems facing Dmitry.

Of course, there were not only positive things.

The Kronos Empire’s surprise attack. Some of the bereaved families who lost their families that day showed resentment towards Roman Dmitry.

They spat out the result-oriented criticism that if he had known how to compromise appropriately, they would not have lost their families to the Kronos Empire’s attack.

However.

They quickly regained their composure.

When they heard the news of victory that Roman Dmitry had attacked the Kronos Empire and avenged them dozens, hundreds of times over, when he returned to Dmitry and gave the fallen soldiers a solid treatment, the people of Dmitry were convinced that Roman Dmitry was the one they truly respected and followed.

From then on, Dmitry became like a fortress made of iron, strong and unbreakable, with every person’s heart loyal to Roman Dmitry.

People who were willing to hug a bundle of straw and jump into a fire for Roman Dmitry sprang up en masse.

Blacksmith.

He was one of them.

He lost his family and fell into sorrow, but the fact that he died for Dmitry remained in his heart as pride.

Showed sincerity.

The man in front of him.

He saw him for the first time.

He didn’t know anything about Scott, but the single reason that he directly followed Roman Dmitry was enough reason to show sincerity.

That was the public sentiment of Dmitry.

Scott had only heard rumors about Dimitri. What he was now seeing was hard to believe.

Scott stood in the blacksmith’s workshop, looking unsure. The blacksmith, a burly man with strong arms, smiled kindly.

“Trust me,” he said, “Just wait a little longer, and I will prepare the best armaments for you.”

Everything about Dimitri was surprising Scott, but the biggest shock was where he would be staying.

After finishing the paperwork, Scott was led to his room. He stopped in the doorway, eyes wide. He looked around, unable to believe what he was seeing.

“…This is my room?” he asked, his voice quiet with shock.

“Yes,” the soldier replied, smiling. “Here in Dimitri, every soldier gets their own room. We believe in giving people space. And if your family comes to Dimitri, we’ll find you a house so you can all live together.”

Scott’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The room was huge! It was clean and tidy, with a proper bed, a desk, and even a window looking out onto a garden. He had heard rumors that Dimitri treated its people well, but this was beyond anything he had imagined. He knew they promised good pay and weapons, but a room like this? It was incredible.

He walked slowly towards the bed, as if pulled by a magnet. It wasn’t like the beds in cheap inns he was used to – those were often thin, dusty, and smelled stale. This bed was wide and inviting, with thick blankets. He touched it gently. Soft. It felt wonderfully soft and warm.

He whispered, “…Honey…” Suddenly, tears filled his eyes. He imagined his wife and children here, in this room, on this bed. How happy they would be! He pictured them laughing and smiling together. If only…

He quickly blinked back the tears, forcing himself to be strong. *Dangerous.* He couldn’t forget why he was here. His family back in Chronos… they were being held to make sure he did what he was told. They were hostages, even if Chronos didn’t call them that. If he failed as a spy, if he betrayed Chronos, they would suffer. He had to remember that. He had to do this for them.

Dimitri offered him a glimpse of a better life, a life of comfort and respect. But for Scott, there was no future worth having if it meant losing his family. He pushed down his feelings, forcing them deep inside. *Not yet,* he told himself. *Don’t waver now.* He would get through this training. Then, and only then, could he think about what to do next.

That night, sleep was slow to come for Scott. He tossed and turned, his mind racing. He wasn’t alone. Many of the new recruits, especially those who were secretly spies like him, also found it hard to sleep. The future was uncertain, and the weight of their secrets was heavy.

The next morning, the training began. Looking back, Scott realized he hadn’t truly understood Roman Dimitri’s words the day before. ‘Basic adaptation training,’ they had called it. But the first task was anything but basic: a march carrying heavy packs weighing 40kg.

Marching itself wasn’t new to Scott. He had marched many miles as a mercenary. But this was different. It wasn’t just the weight on his back; it was the impossible terrain and the relentless speed.

Just thirty minutes into the march, Scott’s head started to spin. ‘Huff, huff,’ he gasped for air. *This is insane!* He looked around. They were climbing a mountain, and not on any easy path. The ground was so steep and rocky that at times it felt like they were crawling on their hands and knees. And to make it worse, they were forbidden from using magic – this was all about physical strength.

At first, Scott had managed to keep pace. He was a seasoned mercenary, used to hardship. But soon, the relentless climb and the heavy pack began to take their toll. His breath came in ragged gasps. ‘Haa, haa.’ The pace was brutal. If he faltered for even a second, the others would pull away, becoming tiny figures far ahead.

Again and again, Chris’s voice boomed across the mountainside.

“Faster! Keep moving! This is like a battlefield! Imagine enemies chasing you, or you chasing them! Would you slow down then just because you’re tired or carrying weight? Stamina means survival! If you can’t go on, just fall down! We’ll drag you to the finish line!”

Chris’s voice was like thunder, shaking Scott out of his exhaustion. He pushed himself harder, forcing his legs to move, desperately trying to keep up.

But then Scott noticed something that made his heart sink. The older soldiers. While he and the other new recruits were struggling, faces red and bodies aching, the veterans seemed almost unfazed. They weren’t exactly smiling, but they moved with a steady, confident pace, as if this mountain climb was just a walk in the park. Of course, they were working hard, but for them, this kind of march was just ‘basic training’ – something they had done countless times before.

Scott was amazed and a little intimidated. He had seen how strong the veteran soldiers were during the entrance tests, but seeing them now, during this brutal training, was even more impressive. He realized their strength wasn’t just something they were born with. It was built through hard work, through enduring training like this, again and again. *This* was how they became so powerful.

Panting for breath, Scott suddenly had a question. He noticed Roman Dimitri marching at the very front of the group, leading them up the mountain. He knew that usually, commanders didn’t join in basic training like this. Mustering his courage, Scott spoke to a veteran soldier marching beside him, a man named Hunt.

Hunt smiled.

“In a normal situation, commanders would just shout and yell. But Dimitri is different. Because we always have to follow our lord and perform missions on the front lines, our lord is showing us what his tempo is like. Do you know what I mean? If we can’t even match this speed, we don’t even deserve to follow our lord on the battlefield.”

Understanding dawned on Scott. *This was it.* This brutal training, this relentless pace, this was the reality of Dimitri. This was how they had become so strong, how they had won so many battles and become feared across the land.

A cold fear gripped Scott. He realized he was in serious trouble. He might not even survive this training, let alone complete his mission as a spy. The real test had just begun, and he wasn’t sure he was ready.