The Heavenly Demon Can't Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 402

Hector.

There, a desperate battle was repeated daily.

The Valhalla Empire was trying to break through, and the Hector Kingdom was trying to stop them.

As enemies poured through the collapsed walls, Edwin Hector focused the mana from his circles and created magic.

“Fire Storm!”

The flames twisted and turned, roaring outwards.

His body faltered.

The fiercely swirling flames swept away the enemies, but the sudden loss of mana nearly caused him to collapse.

However, he gritted his teeth and endured.

Knowing that even a slight wavering from him would weaken the soldiers’ resolve, he maintained a strong appearance despite his pale face.

“Deploy the shieldbearers to buy some time! Give the Sky Mages time to recover their mana, and then attempt a counterattack once more!”

“Understood.”

The battlefield was a noisy chaos. Swords clashed against shields. The air smelled of smoke and blood. Soldiers yelled as they fought.

Hector had been fighting this battle by themselves for a long time.

Dmitry’s reinforcements had arrived, but they weren’t enough to turn the tide. Edwin Hector’s command skills and the Sky Mages’ power were barely enough to hold on.

But even that was now reaching its limit.

Seeing Edwin Hector breathing roughly, Butler slashed down an enemy and shouted to him.

“Your Highness! We can’t hold out any longer. At this rate, the very foundation of the Hector Kingdom may collapse.”

Border.

Hector poured all its strength into it.

In a situation where even a single defeat could lead to complete downfall, Butler suggested retreat first.

Hector had done all they could.

Having held the Valhalla Empire at bay for over ten days, no one in the world could blame them.

However.

Edwin Hector did not back down. Meeting Butler’s gaze, he showed intense desire.

“We cannot retreat.”

“Your Highness!”

“This isn’t bravado. It’s what we must do. Butler, if we surrender the border to the Valhalla Empire and retreat, what future remains for us? One defeat will crumble us like dominoes. And the Valhalla Empire’s actions will have a tremendous impact on Dmitry. That’s why we must endure. This war isn’t simply a matter of victory or defeat; the moment we lose, it will lead to the kingdom’s downfall. Fire Arrow!”

A streak of bright fire shot from his hand, hissing through the air.

Burning the enemies climbing over the walls, Edwin Hector looked pale.

“Look at what is truly important. If Dmitry falls, everything is over. The disappearance of a counterforce against the Chronos Empire, which is blocking them, means that Hector will have to repeat the same suffering as when it experienced a famine. We will not fear sacrifice. If our endurance increases Dmitry’s chances of victory even slightly, I will stop the enemy by any means necessary. Even if all of Hector is engulfed in flames. That is the only way for Hector to survive.”

He knew it too.

The desperate reality.

Edwin Hector was a clever man, and because he foresaw the future, he had no choice but to fight with a foolish tenacity.

Hector’s future.

Dmitry had to be involved.

If Chronos, who uses black magic without hesitation for their own ambitions, were to conquer the continent, Hector’s people would repeat their suffering.

He couldn’t allow it.

Even if Hector’s history remembered him as a foolish leader, he was simply bearing the burden of what he had to do.

Butler cut down an enemy.

Already soaked in blood, he spoke with a calm face.

“…I understand. Whatever decision Your Highness makes, I will stay by your side to the end.” His voice was filled with determination.

They were beings born from a history of defeat.

Because they seized power when Hector was not much of a nation, their lives as rulers were not so smooth.

But they didn’t want to become traitors who abandoned their country.

If he had such a weak mindset, Butler would have taken the hand that the Valhalla Empire secretly extended long ago.

Contrary to their strong will, the reality was grim.

With enemies continuing to pour in as parts of the walls collapsed, it seemed that there was no hope for the border now.

It was then.

“Prince Edwin! We have won! Roman Dmitry has won!”

A messenger running breathlessly. The messenger, with a flushed expression, spoke the information he had just heard as everyone’s attention focused on him.

“Dmitry has completely defeated Chronos! And I just heard a report that he killed Emperor Alexander in the process!”

At that word, Edwin Hector clenched his fist tightly.

‘It’s not over yet.’

Dmitry’s victory. The tide of war had turned.

In an instant, the Allied Kingdoms seized the atmosphere, and a video conference was held immediately at Roman Dmitry’s command.

The Southern Three Kingdoms. Hector. Cairo. Dmitry. All the key figures attended.

Having been informed of the meeting’s contents in advance, King Redford showed a worried reaction first.

[…Are you really going to continue the war like this? War, in the end, is an act of devouring one’s own flesh. If we cannot capitalize on the situation that Chronos has provided, we will not be able to reverse the situation later.]

[I feel the same as King Redford. The opponent’s power is still intact. The empire’s atrocities deserve to be punished, but we need to think and judge carefully.]

King Umberto also added his words.

It was loyal advice.

It wasn’t simply a matter of retreating out of fear, but a question of whether it was truly necessary.

Continental conquest was not an easy issue.

If they could arrange a suitable position against Chronos and Valhalla, they could end the war as it was, but if they pushed them to the edge of a cliff, they didn’t know what the rats in the trap might do.

Roman Dmitry said.

“The reason I want to seize this opportunity is that the command systems of both Chronos and Valhalla have collapsed. Valhalla has lost its emperor. Having gone through a difficult time of rebellion and barely regained peace, they have been driven to the battlefield in sudden chaos. Count Snodin, who currently leads Valhalla, has not completely taken control of Valhalla. He is temporarily performing the duties of acting emperor in recognition of his past contributions, but he does not have the power to lead the people in a situation where the truth about Chronos has been revealed.”

Continental conquest. It was not an emotional decision. He looked back at the situation and made a decision after careful consideration.

“The same goes for Chronos. Chronos has formed a solid power centered on the emperor, but Alexander’s revelation of his existence must have been a great shock. The fact that the emperor who had been ruling Chronos was just a puppet has been revealed, so there will be internal strife for the time being. That’s why I made a decision. As time goes by, their chaos will stabilize, and they will create other risk factors to survive in the new power system. Now is the time. If we destroy the two empires that have become sandcastles, we can eliminate all visible dangers.”

Everyone on the screen. The representatives of each country swallowed their words.

They agreed. It was definitely a good opportunity, but it was such a dangerous thing that they couldn’t easily follow it.

[May I ask you something?]

It was Edwin Hector.

Even though Roman Dmitry had already made sure Edwin Hector was loyal, he showed him respect in front of everyone.

“Speak,” he said.

Edwin Hector said, “I agree this is a good chance for us. But, the Royal Federation is not strong right now. We can protect our land, but we can’t attack other countries. How will you defeat two empires? Fighting in their land will be very different.”

It was a valid question.

All eyes were on him.

If he could answer Edwin Hector’s question perfectly, they would consider following Roman Dmitry.

“The method is simple,” he said.

Defeating Alexander would change everything.

“Alexander was a 9-circle mage. Now that we have defeated such a being, how do you think ‘I’ am perceived by the enemy? From now on, I will exploit people’s fear.”

Fear, Roman thought. It could be stronger than any sword, and maybe it could even end this war.

A few days later.

Enemies appeared at the Chronos border.

Baron Lorello was the new commander for the border. He looked at the enemy and swallowed hard. He was nervous.

“How are we supposed to stop this?”

Just days ago, orders had arrived from the capital. Because of the Alexander problem, they were told to just hold Dmitry back for now.

Baron Lorello felt a wave of frustration. He had heard the stories from the battlefield – Dmitry was unstoppable. But Baron Lorello was not a man to give up easily. He would not open the gates.

The reason he was stationed here.

Baron Lorello was a strong patriot.

He was assigned as the new commander because he would stubbornly hold his ground even when things looked impossible.

Unlike him.

The soldiers were trembling. Their hands shook as they gripped their spears. Sweat dripped down their pale faces. They stared at the battlefield, fear in their eyes.

Tap tap tap.

The soldiers of the Royal Federation halted their advance.

And then.

A man stepped forward.

It was Roman Dmitry.

As the people’s anxiety reached its peak, Roman Dmitry scanned the walls and raised his voice.

“I am Roman Dmitry of Dmitry. In one hour, I intend to attack you. I will break down the walls and slaughter every enemy in sight. But before that, I will give you one chance.”

On the walls.

The soldiers murmured amongst themselves.

A chance?

It was unexpected.

“The current Emperor of Chronos was a puppet of Alexander. Alexander was a demon who lived for eternity and dabbled in dark magic, and he has committed countless atrocities that no human should ever commit. I ask you, even knowing the truth of Chronos, will you sacrifice your lives for the Emperor? If you intend to fight for a demon who would sell even human souls for personal gain, then take up your weapons and defend your positions.”

He had touched a raw nerve.

The existence of Alexander was the most critical issue plunging Chronos into chaos.

“But if you desire a new life, open the gates within one hour. If you show your determination to fight to the end with the gates firmly closed, then I will spare not a single one of you and kill you all.”

With those words, Roman Dmitry turned away without hesitation.

Inside the castle.

People divided into two groups were having a fierce debate.

The opposition said.

“We must never open the gates.”

“We are citizens of Chronos. If we open the gates and let Dmitry in, how can we live in the future? The future of a traitor who abandons their country is bleak. We may be able to overcome the immediate crisis, but if a truce is ever signed, we will be branded as traitors, neither here nor there.”

“Let’s fight to the end. This is imperial territory, is it not?”

They believed in the Empire. As people belonging to the strongest power on the continent, they were not yet ready to accept defeat.

Then, a man pounded his chest as if frustrated.

“Are you all crazy? The opponent is Roman Dmitry. He is a monster who instantly cut down the 9-circle mage Alexander and slaughtered hundreds of thousands of imperial soldiers. How are you going to withstand such a monster? Do you all have some special method? I guarantee you, this place will fall in less than a day.”

His name was Herman. A soldier from the Chronos Empire, he raised his voice against those of higher rank than himself.

“Think rationally. Even when the Chronos Empire’s forces were intact, Chronos never once defeated Roman Dmitry. And what is the reason Roman Dmitry appeared at the border with his forces after achieving such a great victory? His goal is not a simple truce like last time. He has come with the intention of ending Chronos. To stubbornly shout patriotism against him is no different from suicide.”

“Watch your mouth!”

Through the crowd.

Baron Lorello appeared.

Having listened to the fierce debate, he spoke with a resolute expression.

“I know what you are worried about. But the long history of the Chronos Empire has always been adorned with victories. I believe this time will be no different. It is certainly a disadvantageous situation, but I believe there is a good reason why Marquis Memphis has ordered a desperate resistance.”

He looked around at the soldiers. Moving his feet, he revealed a strong will.

“We are Chronos. We are the rulers of the continent, predators who cannot live by bowing our heads to the likes of Dmitry. If we are swayed by words that induce surrender, don’t you feel sorry for our ancestors who built the current Chronos? Fight. Defend. If we dedicate ourselves to Chronos with our lives, the glory of being the strongest power on the continent will always shine brightly for us.”

He captivated the people.

Whatever the truth of Chronos may be, Baron Lorello prioritized the safety of the country.

Kneeling before Dmitry and begging for mercy was an option he could never accept.

He turned around.

From now on, he had to prepare for the defense busily.

But then.

Plop!

“……?!”

Baron Lorello’s eyes widened. Looking down, he saw his chest stained red and the tip of a sword protruding out.

The moment he turned around with trembling eyes, he saw Herman, consumed by rage, stabbing him in the back.

“Baron Lorello. We are just ordinary people. Shouting patriotism does not enrich our lives with the glory of Chronos. So, I must live first.”

Plop!

Baron Lorello collapsed.

The soldiers of Chronos, shocked by the spreading blood, could not utter a word.

Herman pulled out his sword. Roughly wiping off the blood, he shouted to the people.

“The die is already cast. If you don’t want to die like this, open the gates now!”

Barely 30 minutes before the one hour that Roman Dmitry had forewarned had even passed, Chronos opened its gates wide, expressing its intention to surrender.

That was a variable that the leaders of Chronos could not have foreseen.

The end.