The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 441

Chris defeated Kevin easily. The people watching were amazed.

*Drip, drip.*

Red blood dripped slowly from a cut on his arm, falling drop by drop onto the dusty floor.

His hair was wet with sweat and stuck to his forehead, hanging down like wet strings. Chris lifted his head, his face tired, and looked at the crowd. He saw their faces. They were all staring at him in shock. He felt a small sense of pride. Finally, they saw him.

Before the fight, some people thought Chris would win, and some thought Kevin would win. But Chris won so quickly and strongly that everyone was shocked. It was not what they expected at all.

Important people from many countries, even those who were strong fighters themselves, watched the fight. They knew this was an important moment. But even they could not see how Chris moved so fast to beat Kevin.

Roman Dmitry was watching Chris. Dmitry was already famous for doing amazing things. He might understand things that seemed impossible to others. But even Dmitry saw that Chris’s speed was incredible, almost beyond belief. This made Dmitry think hard.

It seemed like Dmitry was building a strong, unbeatable power around himself.

Before, some people might have thought Chris was not as important as Dmitry. But after seeing this fight, they completely respected Chris. They were in awe of his power.

Chris moved his feet.

He didn’t care about the blood flowing from his forearm.

The fight with Kevin had been hard on him, but he didn’t want to look weak now that he was being recognized as Dmitry’s second-in-command.

Finally, he stopped walking.

He looked up. Roman Dmitry stood up and spoke loudly so everyone could hear.

“With this, the ranking of the Integrated Rankings has been decided. I declare that Chris has defeated Kevin and become the number one in the Salamander Continent.”

“Waaaaaah!”

“Chris! Chris!”

The cheers exploded from everywhere, like thunder suddenly crashing around them. The sound was deafening, shaking the stadium.

Everyone knew that the number one position was not the true number one.

Roman Dmitry asked.

“Chris, you asked for a chance to challenge me if you became the strongest in this tournament. You are now number one. Do you want to challenge me?”

People held their breath.

Would Chris challenge the impossible?

Chris said.

“Yes, I will challenge you.”

The duel was not right away.

Chris needed time to heal, so they decided to have the duel two days later.

His wounds were deep.

Luckily, they were mostly cuts and scrapes, so he could heal with potions. Chris healed and got ready for the duel with Roman Dmitry.

The whole continent was talking about it.

When they heard that Chris, the number one fighter from the tournament, was challenging Dmitry, people started traveling to Dmitry to see it.

Night came.

Chris was alone in the training ground. Torches flickered on the stone walls, casting long, dancing shadows. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and dust. The only sound was the *swish* of his sword cutting through the air. He swung his sword until he was covered in sweat.

‘Can I beat my lord? No, can I even fight him at all?’

He had waited a long time for this moment.

He had finally reached his goal, but Chris was scared.

He remembered the fight with Barco.

From that first fight until now, when the empire was created, he had seen how strong Roman Dmitry was. He knew he couldn’t beat Roman Dmitry.

He knew he would lose badly and might even die. But Chris knew he had to do this.

His lord was beyond the heavens.

To know how high the sky was, he had to see it for himself and fight against it.

‘This duel is just the start. From now on, I will be number one every year. I will use this experience to get closer to my lord. Kevin wanted to beat me someday, and I need this experience to set my own goal.’

Chris thought about everything.

When he wondered if he should fight someone as strong as Roman Dmitry, Chris shook his head and made up his mind.

If his goal was easy, he would give up. But he wanted to be the best swordsman on the continent. He couldn’t give up just because his goal was too hard.

Think about it.

Even if he won the tournament, would people think he was the best swordsman on the continent?

No.

Even after 1 year, 10 years, or 100 years, people would only remember Roman Dmitry.

Chris knew this, so he felt like he was jumping off a cliff when he asked for the duel with Roman Dmitry.

Just then.

“Chris.”

“…Master.”

It was Jonathan, the commander of the Knights.

He had come to the training ground and was watching Chris, who was covered in sweat.

“You’re training so hard before the duel. Maybe I’m not the best teacher for you anymore, but I want you to rest. You know that fighting Emperor Roman Dmitry won’t change even if you train harder for a day or two. You need to calm your mind and do your best.”

“I understand.”

Chris nodded.

Jonathan was right.

He had come to the training ground in a hurry, but he knew it wasn’t helping.

Jonathan, the commander of the Knights, said.

“I was really impressed watching the fight with Kevin. I taught you a secret move, but you made it even better than I ever imagined! I couldn’t even see how you attacked to win against Kevin. You are already a great swordsman. Remember that no matter what happens in the duel with Emperor Roman Dmitry, that will not change.”

Both of them knew the result of the duel.

Everyone was asking the same question: who would win, and who would lose? Knight Commander Jonathan knew the answer, but the truth was too hard to say out loud. So, he spoke quietly to his only student, Chris, about what would happen after the fight.

This fight. It was more than just winning or losing; it was a test.

Chris listened without moving, his hands still at his sides. But if you looked closely at his eyes, you could see a fire burning there. He was ready.

“Thank you, Master.”

Hours passed. Chris stayed in the quiet room, thinking about everything his master had said. He barely noticed when the sun went down and the room grew dark. Then, it was morning again, and he knew it was time.

A feeling of breathlessness washed over him.

He had always watched Roman Dmitry from behind, learning from his back. Now, standing face to face as enemies, Chris felt his heart pound in his chest. He tried to keep his hands steady, but they trembled slightly.

The day before.

Knight Commander Jonathan had told him something.

“His Majesty the Emperor is a man of firm principles. As your opponent on the stage, he will not show leniency considering your past relationship. Give it your all from the start. Only then will you have no regrets, no matter the outcome.”

He agreed.

Roman Dmitry was that kind of person.

And Chris neither expected nor wanted mercy.

He gripped his sword tightly.

How long had he yearned for this moment?

Ever since his defeat against Roman Dmitry, who people used to call ‘Dmitry’s Fool’ because he seemed weak at first, Chris had relentlessly grown, keeping his eyes fixed on Roman Dmitry.

Dmitry’s Flash, the number one in the Integrated Ranking.

Those titles were not obtained by desiring results, but were the natural outcome of pursuing his goal.

He stared straight ahead.

Roman Dmitry stood still, sword at his side, looking completely relaxed. Chris frowned. Usually, before a fight, you could see how a swordsman would move, a small shift in their feet or hands. But Roman Dmitry showed nothing. It was like he wasn’t even trying to fight, or maybe… maybe he was so sure of winning that he didn’t need to.

‘How will my lord come at me from the start? Considering his nature, he won’t drag it out, but he might take his time to prove the overwhelming difference between us. What’s certain is that I have no chance of winning either way. Calculating moves in a fight against my lord is meaningless. If I’m going to lose anyway, I must take the initiative from the start with all my strength.’

It would be difficult.

Knowing it was impossible, he had no choice but to trust in the destructive power of the Flash that had entered a new realm.

He swallowed hard.

He still couldn’t sense any particular signal from Roman Dmitry.

Usually, swordsmen show a signal of how they will approach the duel before it begins, but Roman Dmitry did not take a stance for attack.

That meant he wasn’t going to attempt a preemptive strike.

He intended to observe the reaction after giving Chris the first move. At least, he could grasp that much from the information currently visible.

He gritted his teeth.

His blood ran cold.

In a series of events where the referee raised the flag and the crowd cheered, Chris’s senses became acutely sharp.

Mana surged.

For a single explosion.

Just like how he had cut down Kevin in one go, he planned to attempt the Flash from the start to seize the atmosphere.

That’s when it happened.

Flutter.

The signal dropped.

Chris roared and his mana burst out, making his sword a streak of light. He aimed for Roman Dmitry with all his speed, his Flash attack. But before he could even blink, something moved. It was so fast, Chris barely saw it – a flicker of motion from Roman Dmitry. Then, a heavy impact slammed into Chris’s chest. He gasped, blood spraying from his mouth, and the world turned black as he fell.

The tournament came to an end.

In a series of shocking results, people reached a single conclusion.

“The legends about His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry were all true. It is because he has achieved such great feats that he could defeat even Chris with a single blow.”

“I am truly ashamed for doubting his great achievements. In fact, at first, I suspected that the achievements of heroes were exaggerated in history books, as I had not seen them directly. But now, it is not so. His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry is a living legend.”

“The meaning of this ranking battle is not simple. The powerhouses of each country all challenged and were defeated by Dmitry’s swordsmen, and it has been proven that Chris and Kevin, who were special among them, cannot be compared to His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry. What does that mean? It means the era of Dmitry has begun. This annual tournament will make it impossible to challenge Dmitry’s position.”

It was different from the past.

In the past, two big countries, Chronos and Valhalla, kept other countries weak by controlling them carefully. But Roman Dmitry did something different. He showed everyone how strong Dmitry really was, without hiding anything.

It meant to see and judge for themselves.

He said that if they were willing to challenge even after experiencing each other’s strength, he would gladly accept, but if not, they should bow their heads and follow Dmitry’s system.

The world had changed.

As Roman Dmitry intended, public opinion towards Dmitry became even more solidified after the Integrated Ranking Battle.

A few days later.

Chris also woke up.

Kevin had already been discharged, and Chris, left alone in the hospital bed, said this to Knight Commander Jonathan’s visit.

“I knew this would happen.”

People might have thought Chris would be angry or sad after losing so badly. But when he woke up, he felt… relieved. He thought about the fight again and again. He still didn’t understand exactly how Roman Dmitry had won, it was so fast. But he knew one thing: Roman Dmitry had fought him seriously, with respect. Feeling that power, that incredible strength, made Chris excited. He knew now how high he had to aim.

This was it.

This powerful existence was his goal, and he would continue to move towards that goal.

Of course.

The probability of achieving his dream of surpassing Roman Dmitry felt very slim, but Chris was satisfied just by the fact that he had decided on the direction of his future life.

Like Kevin, who had challenged him despite being nothing.

He also thought that he was reckless, but had now taken his first step.

Integrated Ranking!

The stage that had stirred the world ended like that.

People accepted the system ruled by Dmitry and let the moments of the past flow by.

Another month.

As people fell into their daily lives, a message arrived in Dmitry.

The recipient was the Dmitry Communications Department.

The sender was the Odelia Special Intelligence Department.

They, who moved under special orders, finally delivered the news they had been waiting for.

[We have found a passage to the Demon World!]

The message from the Odelia Special Intelligence Department was short, but it changed everything. Demon World. The words hung in the air, heavy with danger. The peace they had fought so hard for… was it about to be broken? This was not just news; it was a storm coming.