The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 318

This problem was too big for just a noble to handle.

With the situation potentially leading directly to war with Dimitri, Count Munez immediately contacted Marquis Memphis using a magic communication device.

“…This is the current situation. I tried to deny the existence of the war prisoners as much as possible, but judging from their statement that they have already secured evidence, that seems impossible. The situation is not good. Given Roman Dimitri’s actions so far, he might really break off the truce negotiations and launch an attack.”

It was a shocking report.

The Chronos Empire.

A superpower recognized by all.

Just a few years ago, no one dared to defy Chronos, no matter how unjust their actions. Yet, Roman Dimitri was now threatening to break off the truce negotiations.

The world had changed.

Successive defeats had dragged Chronos’ prestige down, reducing them to a state where they were experiencing such a situation.

Marquis Memphis showed his displeasure.

“To dare cross the border without warning. According to the laws of the Chronos Empire, the Empire should crush them in return, right?”

However.

He couldn’t.

The Chronos Emperor was resting.

Although Marquis Memphis was entrusted with full authority over the chain of command, he could not handle everything as he pleased.

In their last meeting, the Chronos Emperor had ordered him to be very careful and avoid conflict in diplomacy for the next year.

Knowing what that meant, war with Dimitri was not a welcome prospect for Chronos.

‘Chronos is now preparing for the future a year from now. We cannot ruin the plan by failing to restrain our momentary anger. The problem is, if we back down even on this matter, Roman Dimitri, that arrogant fellow, will become even more arrogant.’

He was not pleased.

After concluding the truce negotiations, there was much talk from those around him.

Watching the people who were chattering about how Chronos’ power had waned, Marquis Memphis’ insides were boiling.

He endured it.

Because there was a brilliant future, he could suppress his anger now.

“Count Munez. His Imperial Majesty the Chronos Emperor is now resting. What do you think would happen if you disturbed the Emperor’s rest with problems like the dispute with Dimitri?”

“…I am sorry.”

“There’s no need for you to be sorry. However, I would like you to resolve this matter appropriately. All of Dimitri’s prisoners are currently being used for labor by the nobles of the ‘Eastern Region’, so if you conclude the situation as the mistake of some nobles, you will be able to calm Dimitri’s anger.”

Beyond the screen, Count Munez’s eyes wavered.

While reporting to the higher-ups, he thought that the Chronos Empire would choose war rather than hand over the prisoners.

The nobles of the East were just following orders from above.

The nobles, including Baron McHitten, had used the prisoners for labor as ordered, and they believed that the Chronos Empire would bear the responsibility for it.

This was really not right.

Making an individual bear the responsibility for what the country had ordered made him think that Count Munez might also be abandoned in that way, depending on the situation.

A reply did not come easily.

Then.

“Count Munez. Don’t think too complicatedly. Isn’t that how the world works?”

He swallowed his disgust.

Dimitri waged war to save hundreds of prisoners, but the Chronos Empire told him to abandon those who were loyal to the Empire without hesitation.

He felt confused about his identity.

He wanted to shout that they should also take responsibility as a country like Dimitri, but completely different words popped out of his mouth.

“…I will follow your orders.”

The history of Chronos was built with blood and corpses.

In that cruel history, Count Munez wanted to survive as a winner.

It was a unilateral order.

Baron McHitten, who had cut off communication with Count Munez, angrily threw the magic communicator to the floor.

Crack!

“Those sons of bitches! What?! In order not to disturb His Imperial Majesty the Emperor’s rest, am I to handle this war prisoner problem as a mistake of the eastern nobles? This means you’re telling me to just die at the hands of Roman Dimitri!”

The magic communicator was shattered miserably.

Even though the expensive item was smashed to pieces, it was not a very important issue for Baron McHitten right now.

Roman Dimitri’s actions on the battlefield were terrifying.

He never spared the lives of those classified as enemies, and even the great swordsmen representing Chronos were all killed upon meeting Roman Dimitri.

And now he was to face the full force of such a monster’s anger.

Moreover, he heard the shocking news that Count Munez had sent a messenger for dialogue, but Dimitri immediately blew his head off.

It was a terrible situation.

His mouth was dry.

To solve the problem, he urgently summoned Jason.

“Jason, is there a way to solve this problem?”

“…It seems a little difficult this time. Now that the Chronos Empire has decided to treat it as a mistake of the eastern nobles, the only way we can survive is to hope that Roman Dimitri will have mercy. If we don’t obey the order, we will be beheaded as traitors, and if we obey the order, Roman Dimitri will try to kill us. So, we must obediently hand over the prisoners as requested and try to calm his anger as much as possible.”

“Damn it!”

His face twisted in anger.

Why did he have to take all the responsibility?

Forgetting how happy he was to call the prisoners free labor, he hastily gave orders as Jason said.

“Bring all the prisoners here right now, without missing a single one.”

“Understood.”

Ten minutes later, the prisoners were dragged in.

The prisoners, who had been thrown to the floor, looked up at Baron McHitten’s face with terrified expressions.

They did not know about the current situation.

Usually, those who were dragged outside were mostly headed to the torture chamber, so their faces showed fear of pain.

They tried hard to grit their teeth.

They wouldn’t be able to put up much resistance with their very thin bodies, weakened by starvation and abuse, but they still didn’t want to be looked down upon until the moment they died.

Because of Carol’s incident, everyone was furious.

Looking at them glaring, Baron McHitten shook his head.

“In this state, you will only provoke Roman Dimitri’s anger. Take these guys away right now and wash them all!”

The prisoners’ appearance was too miserable.

On the Baron’s orders, the soldiers dragged the prisoners away again.

The problem wasn’t just that.

It was enough to wash away the dirty appearance, but it was different for those who had been ‘tortured’ like Carol.

They looked like they were about to die at any moment.

In particular, it was too obvious what kind of reaction Roman Dimitri would show as soon as he saw the infected skin and the wounds that would make him angry as soon as he saw them.

He chewed his fingernails.

Jason watched him think, his brow furrowed in worry, for a long moment. Finally, Jason leaned closer and spoke quietly, his voice urgent.

“We have to hide the tortured prisoners! Quickly! I can silence the others somehow. If we can just solve this problem, Roman Dimitri can’t stop us.”

“Count Munez said there’s evidence.”

“Surely you don’t believe that? We hid the prisoners very well. Magic communication got us caught, but they might not know all the prisoners. Please, trust me.”

“Ahem.”

He swallowed hard.

It was the only way.

For now, surviving was the priority, just as Jason said.

“Understood. Exclude this fellow and others in poor condition from the prisoner list.”

Two hours later.

As promised, the nobles of the East presented the prisoners in front of the defensive line.

Baron McHighton, trying to hide his fear, stepped forward as the representative, facing the enemy. Roman Dimitri stood at the front.

“We have brought all of Dimitri’s prisoners. First of all, I sincerely apologize for hiding the prisoners. We didn’t mean to do it from the start. We planned to release Dimitri’s prisoners when the peace agreement was signed, but things became complicated, and we didn’t say anything about the prisoners.”

Roman Dimitri was right in front of him.

His voice trembled.

The look in Roman Dimitri’s eyes was so cold that he doubted if they were even the same species.

“This is all my fault. If we had said something about the prisoners sooner, we could have fixed it, but we were scared that the peace agreement would be broken because of our mistake. We were short-sighted. So, please punish us and think again about your relationship with the Chronos Empire. Chronos wants peace.”

It was strange.

A noble of the Chronos Empire was talking about peace with another country.

The Chronos nobles were known for causing trouble everywhere, but when their lives were in danger, they would say anything to survive.

It was a terrible situation.

Baron McHighton was the representative because he had the most prisoners, but he wanted to run away.

However, it was too late to go back.

He knew that to stay powerful, he had to handle this well.

“I am truly sorry.”

He kept apologizing.

He felt a little relieved.

Roman Dimitri’s cold reaction made him think his apology might be accepted.

Then, Roman Dimitri spoke.

“What did I say?”

“……Pardon?”

“I told you not to leave out a single one.”

His heart sank.

Confused and scared, he looked up to explain, but then—

Smack!

A huge force hit his face.

There was no time to stop him.

Roman Dimitri grabbed Baron McHighton by the collar to stop him from falling, pulled him forward, and slapped him again and again.

Smack!

Smack, smack!

Blood splattered.

Teeth flew out.

At first, he tried to explain, but after a few hits, his eyes widened.

He couldn’t fall because Roman Dimitri was holding his collar, so he had to take the hits.

Smack!

His face turned.

When the hand left his face, thick blood came with it.

The air turned cold.

This was Chronos territory.

The defensive line was right in front, and Chronos soldiers on the ramparts were ready to attack.

Also, escort troops, including Jason, were there.

Even though they could attack Roman Dimitri, they just stared in shock.

Jason was especially scared.

Even though his master was dying, he didn’t dare to draw his sword.

‘If I draw my sword, I’ll die here.’

Beyond Roman Dimitri, there were beings watching him.

They were called Dimitri’s Flash and Dimitri’s Fiends, and they were guarding the area with cold eyes.

And he wasn’t sure he could beat Roman Dimitri.

Even though Roman Dimitri was using violence, he couldn’t see any weakness.

Maybe he was just too scared to think clearly.

He knew that he, a knight, could not stand against someone who had invaded Chronos territory and was using violence.

He looked away.

He couldn’t watch the terrible scene.

Smack!

His strength left him.

Seeing him fall, Roman Dimitri, still holding his collar, looked at Count Munez on the ramparts.

“I gave you two hours to make sure my prisoners were safe, not to hear these sad apologies. I gave you a chance to fix things because I wanted my people back safely. If you don’t listen to me, why should I spare you?”

As soon as he finished, he snapped Baron McHighton’s head.

Crack.

His head turned.

Baron McHighton’s body fell without a sound.

People’s eyes widened.

They felt a chill.

He killed a Chronos noble so openly.

Even when they handed over the prisoners, the people of Chronos thought they could solve the problem peacefully.

They were so wrong.

“What are you doing? Bring my people.”