The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 420

Silence dropped like a heavy curtain. Under the execution platform, the crowd was so shocked, they forgot to breathe.

*Drip… drip…*

Blood fell.

Ares’s body lay still on the ground. Blood dripped from him, down the wooden platform, following the dark, dried stains from before.

People agreed with Roman Dmitry’s words.

Everyone knew that no matter what good things Ares had done before, betraying Dmitry deserved death.

However.

Fear was a different story.

Seeing Roman Dmitry looking down with a blood-stained face, people felt like they couldn’t breathe.

‘They must be afraid of me.’

The people’s emotions were clear.

Ares’s execution meant that no one there was forgiven.

So, some hoped for an example.

They wanted to see, even once, a way to survive even if they were in Ares’s position, on the edge of disaster.

It was a basic human instinct to survive, and they felt mixed emotions, separate from their loyalty to Roman Dmitry.

Regarding this, Chris had said:

Everyone agreed with Roman Dmitry. But his firm attitude, which did not allow any compromise, was making people feel desperate.

If they made any mistakes.

If there was even a little chance of forgiveness, people would beg for it. But if punishment was certain, they were more likely to choose extreme options.

It was a complicated problem.

It was hard to say what was right, but Roman Dmitry completely avoided unclear rules.

‘There is no perfect leader in the world. People called the Murim I ruled a golden age, but even then, some people suffered. However, I can’t say that what I did was wrong or right.’

Past life.

He rose to the top.

Under Baek Jung-hyuk, there were many people, and it was impossible to please them all.

So, a clear standard was needed.

As Chris had said, a rule of fear with no exceptions would scare some people, but at least they wouldn’t feel unfair because of judgments that changed from person to person.

Because he couldn’t please everyone, he set a standard that was fair to everyone, at least.

Baek Jung-hyuk’s Murim was fair.

Because it was a world based on fairness, people felt not just fear but respect.

‘I can’t be someone the people feel comfortable around.’

A leader who was close to the people was not what Roman Dmitry wanted for the future.

They had to feel uneasy with each other. Knowing that their relationship could end at any time, they couldn’t be too relaxed, even in good times.

He accepted that role.

From the moment he decided to rise to the top, he knew he wouldn’t have a comfortable life.

Swish.

He sheathed his sword.

Looking down at the people, Roman Dmitry shouted.

“Remember this day. Those who break the laws of Dmitry will be punished, no matter who they are. Whether they are poor or rich, the punishment will be the same. Just like all the war criminals were killed here, there will be no exceptions in the world you live in from now on.”

The people’s eyes widened, and their hands trembled as they watched Roman Dmitry.

They were afraid.

Their hearts were racing.

But without meaning to, they welcomed the world that Roman Dmitry described.

Awe is fear and respect.

People respected Roman Dmitry.

It was then.

“His Majesty King Dmitry is arriving.”

For the coronation, King Dmitry appeared before the people.

People cleared the way.

King Dmitry, walking with Commander Jonathan, seemed very different from when he was just a noble from a common family.

The crown on his head and his splendid clothes showed his dignity as king.

He was much taller than most people, and people couldn’t help but bow as they watched him pass by.

He moved slowly.

King Dmitry accepted the people’s attention and looked at Roman Dmitry.

‘My son.’

On the execution platform, Roman Dmitry was covered in blood.

His clothes were stained with blood from the execution, and his cold face showed no sign of the spoiled child he used to be.

Just a few years ago, he was Dmitry’s fool, a disappointment.

He had hoped that Roman would grow up well, but he didn’t want him to become emperor and be feared by everyone.

He wanted Roman Dmitry to live a normal life, recognized by others but not too powerful.

But things had changed.

Dmitry’s fool had changed, and he was too talented to be satisfied with a small territory.

Like a tsunami, everything changed quickly. Roman Dmitry developed rapidly, achieving amazing things.

From a hero of the Southern Front to the ruler of the Northeast, he became a key figure by stopping the Cairo Rebellion. Now, he was about to become the emperor of the empire, not just the kingdom.

It was complicated.

King Dmitry was happy, but he wondered if this was really the best thing for his son.

Constant battles, a blood-stained face, and the fear of the people were making Roman Dmitry more and more alone.

A few days ago, King Dmitry called his son.

He said that if Roman wanted to give up the burden, he could stop the empire plan and enjoy wealth and glory as the heir to the Dmitry Kingdom.

This was what King Dmitry truly wanted.

He had wanted his son to succeed, but strangely, he didn’t want him to live a lonely life carrying the weight of the entire Salamander Continent.

At that time.

Roman Dmitry spoke to his father, his voice clear and strong.

“Father,” he said, “I know the road I want to take will be hard and full of problems. But the most important thing for me is to live freely, without others controlling me. To make that happen, I must carry the weight. People might be scared of me, and some might say bad things. But I will do what I must, even if it means doing difficult or bloody things. This is the life I choose. I, Roman Dmitry, your son, want to become the Emperor and make this kingdom strong and safe.”

That day.

King Dmitry accepted his son’s choice.

He had wished for his son to live a peaceful life, but since Roman had made his choice, he felt it was his duty as a father to support him.

And because Roman Dmitry was very sure about what he wanted, King Dmitry felt confident that he could step back and watch what would happen.

He stood on the execution platform.

In that place, now empty of all the dead bodies, King Dmitry took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the blood from his son’s face. The blood was dark red, contrasting with Roman’s pale skin. The handkerchief was simple, but clean.

“My son, things will change a lot from now on,” he said with a smile. “Even if the whole world changes, I will always be your father. If you ever need help, forget about being Emperor and come to me.”

King Dmitry turned to the people, who were looking up at the Dmitry family with hope and excitement.

“From this moment, I announce the start of the Dmitry Empire and the crowning of the new Emperor!” he declared, his voice strong and clear.

It was a grand ceremony. Colorful flags waved in the air, and music filled the square. People dressed in their finest clothes had come from all over to witness this important event.

A priest from the Luna Kingdom started the ceremony by saying a prayer to bless the new Empire. Envoys from different countries then came forward to offer their good wishes.

It was a happy time. People were laughing, smiling, and cheering loudly.

Sitting in the highest seat, Roman Dmitry watched the scene. A memory from his past flashed through his mind.

‘I have finally done what I wanted to do,’ he thought.

It reminded him of his past life. He had started at the bottom and fought his way to the top, becoming known as the Heavenly Demon, a strong and feared fighter.

At that time, he had believed his life was finally stable and secure. But as he looked at the faces of those congratulating him, he noticed that some familiar faces were missing. He felt lonely, and his thoughts began to change.

He thought that achieving his dream would make him happy, but it wasn’t just happiness he felt.

Afterward, feeling lost and helpless, Baek Jung-hyuk realized that he wasn’t truly happy.

‘Even knowing that, I have achieved the same dream again,’ he mused. ‘If anyone asked me if I regretted living as Roman Dmitry, I would say no. I am someone who can only live by fighting. Even if it’s pointless in the end, I can’t live a life of giving up easily.’

The same life. The same goal.

But this time, the feeling was different. Roman Dmitry saw a different future than he had in his past life.

He saw Jonathan, the Knight Commander, Hans, Chris, Kevin, and many others.

In his previous life, he had lost many people he had met at the beginning of his journey, and he had felt a great sense of loss at the ceremony where he was declared the Heavenly Demon.

Roman Dmitry was determined not to make the same mistakes again.

There were sacrifices as Dmitry rose to become an empire, but he didn’t just stand by and watch his people die for no reason.

He protected his people like a fence protects a garden, and he taught them how to stay safe. He set rules and punished those who dared to harm his people, making Dmitry like a strong castle that no one could attack.

The goal was the same, but many things were different.

He chose to live a life of struggle, and he didn’t repeat the mistakes he regretted from his past life.

Because of this, he truly enjoyed this moment. Unlike his previous life, where he had felt empty after reaching the top, he now looked forward to living a new life as Roman Dmitry.

The Dmitry Empire. The Dmitry Emperor.

It was a new beginning. The cheers of the people were loud and strong. King Dmitry stepped forward to finish the ceremony.

“Heir of Dmitry, come forward and wear the crown,” he announced.

Roman rose from his seat and walked to face King Dmitry. Everyone became quiet, watching closely.

With a serious expression, King Dmitry placed the crown on Roman Dmitry’s head.

At that moment, he declared, “I now announce that my son, Roman Dmitry, is the Emperor of the Dmitry Empire!”

The crowd erupted with cheers. “Roman! Roman! Roman!” they shouted, their voices shaking the ground.

Dmitry Square was filled with excitement.

The ceremony was over. Wearing the crown, Roman Dmitry stood before the people and began to speak.

“For a long time, this land has been in danger. Alexandr, the Emperor of the Chronos Empire, caused these problems. He had a dangerous plan to take over the continent. I want to tell you the truth now. In this new world, we will not hide the problems that we all must face.”

The people became worried. Alexandr was the one who had brought chaos to their lives.

However, they didn’t know exactly how dangerous Alexandr was. Roman Dmitry decided to tell them everything.

The world that Roman Dmitry spoke of would not keep the people from knowing the truth. It would not force them to believe anything.

“Alexandr has opened a way to the Demon World,” Roman announced. “This plan is already happening, and one day it will become a real danger to our world. I am not telling you to get ready for war with the Demon World. I want you to be aware of the danger and to trust me, Roman Dmitry. As the Emperor of the Dmitry Empire, I will prepare for war with the Demon World. I will do whatever it takes to stop Alexandr’s plan from affecting our world.”

His presence was like a strong wind, making everyone feel it. The Demon World was a shocking idea, but the people trusted Roman Dmitry.

The Emperor had spoken. He told them to be aware of the danger, but to trust him.

Roman Dmitry, who had started as a simple successor in a small town and had risen to become Emperor, made them believe that he could solve even the problem of the Demon World, which seemed like something out of old stories.

They were in awe of him. Because the people were a little scared of Roman Dmitry, they also believed that he would not fail.

They blindly trusted their Emperor, the one who would lead them.

With shining eyes, the people showed their strong belief that they would follow Roman Dmitry.

Looking at them, Roman Dmitry finished the ceremony.

“From now on, don’t worry or be afraid,” he said. “I will punish those who are guilty without exception, but I will also reward those who have helped this country so much that they will feel their sacrifices were worth it. Those whose names are called, please come forward now. Let’s begin giving out rewards based on what you have done!”