The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 198

Dimitri. He was back in his hometown. It had been a long time.

Rodwell looked around at Dimitri. He had left this place to show his worth in the capital city, and now memories of the past came back to him.

‘How many years has it been?’

He couldn’t quite remember.

One thing Rodwell knew for sure: Dimitri had not always been this nice. He clearly remembered the terrible smell from the poor areas when he left. But now, those old, broken-down houses were gone. In their place was a cheerful village.

He looked everywhere, but he couldn’t see anyone who looked sad or angry. Children, healthy and happy, ran around laughing. When he looked further, the walls of Dimitri Castle stood tall in the distance, looking even bigger than he remembered.

It really did seem taller. And it wasn’t just taller, it looked stronger, ready for battle. He could see magical defenses built into the walls.

‘So much has changed,’ he thought. All while he was gone. Dimitri had been through a lot of war.

They had fought against Barco. There had been problems with lords from the north when Dimitri took over land in the northeast. And then, Marquis Benedict, the rebel leader, had even tried to attack Dimitri.

Because of all these things, Dimitri had changed again and again. It used to feel like just a strong town on the edge of the kingdom. But now, it seemed like no other place in the whole kingdom was as well-prepared and strong as Dimitri.

After the war ended.

Rodwell Dimitri was ordered to take a vacation.

Dimitri was now a duchy, a very important area. But it would still work with Cairo, the capital, to protect itself. The areas next to other countries, like the west and south, would be defended together. Rodwell had been told he could stay in the west if he wanted.

Also, he had been promised a better position as a reward for his service. When he went back to the west, he would be made a commander.

He had a big decision to make. Should he stay in Dimitri? Or should he go back to the west?

He had come back to Dimitri to decide. He tried not to let his feelings get in the way as he walked through the castle gates.

And.

He was amazed.

The sight before his eyes was so different from the Dimitri he remembered.

“……What on earth happened?”

The roads were smooth and well-made. The buildings looked new and strong. It was hard to believe this was the same frontier town he remembered. But what really caught his attention were the soldiers of Dimitri.

He had noticed it even when he entered the city. These soldiers were clearly well-trained. They patrolled in a neat and orderly way.

Their movements were precise, their eyes sharp. Looking at them, so alert and ready for anything, Rodwell was reminded of soldiers he had seen fighting for Roman on the battlefield.

He was sure of it. They were different now. These were not just ordinary soldiers from a border town. They seemed even stronger and more impressive than the King’s own army.

Rodwell Dimitri walked the streets.

Everything was unfamiliar.

He hadn’t been gone from Dimitri for very long, but he just couldn’t believe how much his hometown had changed. He needed to take a moment to clear his head.

He went into a restaurant he didn’t recognize and sat down. He ordered a beer and listened to the conversations around him.

He sat with his beer and listened. Loud voices came from a nearby table.

“Haha, you won’t believe what happened!” one man boomed.

“What? Spill it,” another replied, laughing.

“So, I was down in the mine, right? Rookie mistake, wandered off a bit. Almost got buried when a tunnel started to cave in. If Roman Dimitri hadn’t made sure those magic things were in place, I’d be six feet under right now!”

“No kidding?” said the second man. “Yeah, since they put in those magic stones, haven’t heard of anyone getting killed down there. Makes you feel a lot safer.”

“You said it! To Roman Dimitri!” the first man raised his glass. “He saved my skin!”

“Cheers to that!” Glasses clinked loudly.

One city, buzzing with life. Dimitri had given jobs to everyone in the area at the iron mine. The money they earned was being spent, which helped everyone else. It was like a wheel turning, making everything better.

People were happy. And they knew it was all because of Roman Dimitri. That’s all anyone was talking about.

Rodwell felt a strange distance from his own memories. Before he left, Roman Dimitri, his own brother, had been the joke of Dimitri, someone everyone laughed at.

Glug, glug.

He gulped down the alcohol.

And then.

Thud.

He put down his glass and got up from his seat.

His mouth tasted bitter.

That night, Rodwell couldn’t sleep. Why had he tried so hard all his life? What was the point?

There was no grand reason, really. He had just wanted to be the right person for Dimitri, the one Dimitri needed. But everything had changed while he was gone. The Roman Dimitri who everyone used to make fun of was gone.

What he had seen and heard in the streets showed him how much the people of Dimitri now trusted and respected Roman Dimitri.

He felt empty inside. His thoughts were all mixed up. He knew, deep down, that Roman Dimitri was a better fit for Dimitri now than he ever could be.

‘This is terrible,’ he thought.

All his hard work… He had wanted to be the heir, the one to take over Dimitri. He had practiced sword fighting when Roman was sleeping, gone to the blacksmith when Roman was drinking, studied battle plans alone in his room while Roman was out with women and laughing with the guards.

Everyone had always said Rodwell was the one who would inherit Dimitri. They had said it wouldn’t change even when he left. But now, when they looked at him after all this time, he could see they were uneasy.

It hurt. They were all looking up to Roman now. They couldn’t be truly happy to see Rodwell. It was a painful truth.

He felt sad that all his efforts seemed to mean nothing now. But he couldn’t be angry at the people for following Roman.

Because, wasn’t it obvious? Dimitri had grown and become strong. People were happy. The Baron family was now in charge of a duchy, the highest rank. Everything was better.

There was nothing to complain about. Roman Dimitri was the right person to lead Dimitri now. ‘And I even lost my chance,’ he thought sadly.

His one remaining eye throbbed with pain.

Losing an eye as a prosecutor changed more than he had imagined.

Using a sword now felt strange. He couldn’t judge distances like before.

He looked at the sky from the veranda.

It was a dark night.

Rodwell Dimitri felt as lost and dark as the night sky.

“There’s no place for me in Dimitri. And even if I return to the West, I’m not the person they want.”

He was cornered.

Regardless of all other reasons, Rodwell Dimitri couldn’t forget the sight of Roman Dimitri on the battlefield.

Others only heard stories of Roman’s power against Gustavo. But Rodwell had seen it himself.

It was overwhelming and intense.

With every blink, blood splattered, and from that moment on, he had already given up his position as heir.

The Dimitri Duchy wasn’t just a baronial family.

To rule the northeastern region, Roman Dimitri was more suited to be the heir than himself.

He spent the night organizing his thoughts. After spending time alone, he headed to his father’s office at his summons.

After much deliberation, he spoke his conclusion.

“It’s not just because I’m the oldest, Father,” Rodwell said, his voice low. “I’ve been watching people here in Dimitri… they already see Roman as their heir. It’s clear. I don’t want to blame the time I spent away in the capital. Even if I had stayed in Dimitri, I wouldn’t have been able to show as much as Roman, and being compared to Roman would only make it easier for people to choose Roman as heir. Father, I don’t want to mention my past efforts for the sake of Dimitri’s future.”

The genius of Dimitri. The future of Dimitri.

He had lost his way.

With a face different from his confident past, he looked up at Baron Romero.

“Please, release me now. I think I need time for myself, not for Dimitri, for the time being.”

He rose from his seat, and after giving his final greetings, he left the office.

In the office, now only the two of them remained, Baron Romero spoke.

“Once, I had burdened Rodwell with excessive responsibilities. People used to call you, the eldest son, ‘the fool of Dimitri.’ They said our family, coming from common people, could never truly rule. Seeing Rodwell quickly mastering swordsmanship and showing a more outstanding appearance than others, I thought that perhaps he might become the heir who would take responsibility for the future of the Dimitri family.”

His chest felt heavy.

He was always a reliable second son.

Maybe because he trusted Roman more than Rodwell, the sad look in Rodwell’s eyes now worried him.

“At an age when he still needed to be spoiled, Rodwell lived a life receiving his father’s expectations, with just one word of belief from me, with eyes of trust. At first, the child who used to be spoiled did everything without complaint, with a determined look in his eyes. Rodwell was the pride of Dimitri. And today, I told Rodwell, who had lived his whole life for Dimitri, that I couldn’t allow him to be the heir. It’s truly a cruel thing. But even now, I don’t think that choice was wrong. For the future of the people of Dimitri, it is right for you, Roman Dimitri, to become the heir.”

However, his heart as a father was a separate matter.

As the head of the family, he had made the right decision, but from the moment Rodwell left, his face was stained with sadness.

‘I am not a very good father.’

Roman Dimitri was a sore spot.

That’s why he couldn’t help but pay more attention, and while he took it for granted that Rodwell Dimitri was doing great things, he rejoiced as if he had gained the world when Roman Dimitri did even a little well.

Because he was a child who had shared the life of a commoner. At that time, he believed that taking care of the sore spot was the right thing to do as a father.

Rodwell Dimitri, on the other hand… Baron Romero thought he could make it up to Rodwell by giving him the family title later.

As he grew older and lived life, he realized that he was a very clumsy being as a parent at that time.

People revered Baron Romero as a self-made man, but he was also not skilled as a father.

“Roman.”

“Yes.”

“I am not a very smart person. Even after doing things I regret so much, I still don’t know what to do as a father. Normally, I would go to your mother and ask for the answer. But this time, there is something I want to ask of you.”

“Tell me.”

Father and son looked at each other.

The new future of Dimitri.

Rather than a life that people looked up to, he wanted Dimitri to exist as Dimitri.

“Take care of your brother. He is a brother who has lost much. I am not sure that asking you this is a good choice for Rodwell, but I don’t think it’s bad for a family to fulfill its meaning as a family. Just as I am the father of you and Rodwell. Just as I am constantly trying even if I am lacking as a father, I hope you will also care for your family. This is the last request I have for you who will inherit Dimitri.”

The word ‘family’.

Roman Dimitri paused for a moment.

This life was unfamiliar.

He had experienced his previous life, but he was living a different life from his previous life.

“I understand, Father.”

At those words, Baron Romero finally showed a comfortable smile.

He left the office. Roman Dimitri walked down the hallway, looking down at his hands.

‘In my previous life, I used these hands to cut off the breath of my own blood relatives.’

It was still vivid.

The faces of those who cursed him with their eyes wide open until the moment their breath was cut off, their faces red with the desire to kill him.

Even the brothers he thought he had a good relationship with were no different.

In the moment when life was ending, they resented not the father who had incited the fratricidal strife, but himself, who was immediately pressing on their throats.

That was what brotherhood meant in his past life.

This life was different.

After meeting Loren Dimitri, while talking with Rodwell Dimitri, Roman organized his relationship with them in his head.

“Stupid fellow.”

It was pathetic.

Rodwell had a face that had given up on the world because he had lost an eye, and he gave up his position as heir without hesitation, even though he had worked hard all this time.

It was an unimaginable sight in his previous life.

Unlike the brothers who were desperate to seize a small amount of power, Rodwell did not want conflict with his family.

The world is harsh.

If he was his brother, if he was someone born with his blood, he would not let Rodwell Dimitri collapse like this.

What kind of person he had as a brother, what it meant to live as a Dimitri, he was going to show him this opportunity.

He moved his steps.

The place he arrived at, in Dimitri’s training ground, there was Rodwell Dimitri wielding a sword under the sunlight.