"That’s how things are."
Duke Regulus detailed to the Wise King everything he had experienced in the Land of the Ancestors.
He was a duke, and it wasn’t necessarily required to report to the Wise King in a very formal setting; at this moment, it was more like an afternoon tea.
By rights, it shouldn’t have been reported this way, but the Wise King had signaled him not to report formally and to come to him alone.
"Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but what I can report isn’t much different from the information everyone else has. I do not understand why you want me to report alone."
He was puzzled, for Duke Regulus was not a foolish person. His strength wasn’t enough to reach the Great Elemental Tutor level. As a duke, this was actually somewhat lacking in qualifications, but Duke Regulus had his advantages. As a diplomat specifically responsible for the Human Central Empire, he was quite renowned internationally, considered one of the Human Central Empire’s leading figures.
Therefore, even based on appearance alone, he could be considered tall, majestic, handsome, and charming.
"No need to be nervous, Lord Regulus. It’s just you and me here. I called you to come alone because there are some matters I need to explain to you."
Just the two of us?
Even if the Wise King said this, of course, it was unbelievable. After all, theoretically, the Wise King’s strength was at most the Great Elemental Tutor level; it was impossible for him not to have someone protecting him—saying just the two of us were there, such words for a minister were fine to just listen to.
Consider it as a sign of the Wise King’s trust and favor.
"It seems Lord Regulus doesn’t believe me... but that’s alright." The Wise King’s attitude was peculiar, "I called you here because there’s only one question I want to ask."
"Please go ahead."
"In the struggle between the Hero A·Gedora and the Elf Queen, which you witnessed, is Hero A·Gedora still human?"
Regulus was stunned. He was responsible for diplomatic issues and was very tactful, but why would the Wise King ask such a question? Hero A·Gedora was of course human...
He saw it.
Saw the extraordinarily solemn look in the Wise King’s eyes, knowing then that it was a very important question.
He closed his eyes, reminiscing about seeing A·Gedora upon descent, though it was utter chaos at that time, with everyone frantically fleeing, but...
"I’m certain, Your Majesty, he is human."
The Wise King stared into Regulus’s eyes, and Regulus responded directly to such a gaze.
This great king finally showed a hint of relaxation: "If that’s the case, then that’s very good."
Regulus showed hesitation, growing many doubts in his heart.
"Lord Regulus, I know the doubts in your heart, but it doesn’t matter. Since I have summoned you alone today, it is to tell you everything. You can voice all the doubts in your heart."
"Why would you question whether Hero A·Gedora is still human? With our understanding of that hero, even if he cooperates with the Demon King, he would not betray humanity... this is an answer that many scholars have mutually agreed upon."
The Wise King shook his head slightly: "That is not the issue, Lord Regulus. Perhaps answer me a question first—what do you think of the Demon King?"
"The Demon King?"
What do you think of the Demon King?
"A public enemy of all races. A being that must be destroyed, once ruled the world with terror... yet also an ultimate life form at the pinnacle of various domains."
There are many such descriptions.
He spoke some harsh words to express his stance and then some flattering words to highlight the Demon King’s strength. If the Wise King was displeased, he could add that even such a Demon King was defeated under the Wise King’s leadership, demonstrating the greatness of the Wise King...
It should be a fairly perfect answer.
"I’m not looking for these cliche answers, Lord Regulus. I know your past very well. This has never been a secret. Like most humans in this world, you were once oppressed by the Demon Race, holding deep hatred against them. This forms the very basis on which we could unite to overthrow the Demon King’s rule."
Regulus couldn’t help but fall silent.
Why is the Wise King bringing this up now?
Those nightmares that had once been sealed away should have vanished with the Demon King’s death, yet the Demon King wasn’t truly dead—the nightmares he brought still occasionally appear during Regulus’s slumber.
And now, those nightmares are beginning to revive, little by little.
Seeing Regulus’s expression, the Wise King couldn’t help but smile, "You’re a bit tense, Lord Regulus. I mean nothing else by this... I just have a simple question."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think humans can become like that?"
Become like that?
What does becoming like that mean?
Regulus actually knew what the Wise King was implying, but he dared not think it, dared not accept it.
"I said, it’s just the two of us here, Lord Regulus," the Wise King spread his arms, "Have you ever thought about it? One day, other races would fear humans just as they fear the Demon Race? Have you considered that one day, even if we do nothing, say nothing, other races would still have to offer goodwill to humans to protect themselves, simply out of fear of a small misunderstanding. Just like how the Thunder Emperor was sent as tribute to the Demon Race; in truth, the Demon King was quite disdainful of him... You have now reached this position, and every word and action you take will be closely watched. You have tasted the flavor of power... but it’s not enough, is it?"
The Wise King’s eyes gleamed with a strange light, "Lord Regulus, it’s still not enough, right? The Human Central Empire seems powerful, but the Elf Queen trades with us, the White Church also trades with us. The Alchemist Association has directly placed their isolated gate above our city, and who knows what the Curse Master Alliance is scheming in the shadows... Don’t you find it laughable?"
How should Regulus respond to this? This might be a beheading question.
"We lived through the Demon Race’s rule, before the Hero A·Gedora appeared, before all major races truly began to resist, which race dared to say ’trade’ with the Demon Race? The closer we got to resistance, the more submissive our actions became, fearing any unnecessary communication, much like bugs in the gutter, afraid of being spotted by the Demon King and easily crushed."
The Wise King reminisced about former times, "Human Central Empire! How grand it sounds! We are in the center! But what does it mean? The ability to drive others to the frontier inevitably means being driven to the frontier. Today’s Elf Kingdom, tomorrow’s Human Central Empire. In the coming years, it’s uncertain into how many parts the Elf Kingdom will split."
This is very presumptuous, but despite its presumption, Regulus couldn’t help but speak, "Your Majesty, what exactly do you want to..."
"Humans can become the Demon Race!"
Regulus wished he could cover his ears; he shouldn’t have heard such words; perhaps he shouldn’t have accepted the mission from the Elf Kingdom—no, there was never a choice for him! Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on ⓝovelFire.net
"The power of the Hero A·Gedora, as you have witnessed. Unlike humans here, the Elf Queen is undoubtedly the most powerful Elf, united with the Elf Mother Tree, proclaiming invincibility in the Land of the Ancestors, and none could deny. Even if the entire Elf territory fell, as long as she lived, the Elf Race would not collapse... Unlike other Elves, with superb techniques, iron will, unafraid of sacrifice, unafraid of change, such an opponent commands my respect... but she died."
When speaking of this, not even a hint of sorrow was seen in the Wise King’s eyes, "Like a stray dog by the roadside, easily crushed to death by the Hero A·Gedora! The fact that the high-ranking members of the Elf Race and the saplings of the Elf Mother Tree could be sent away in the end, I think it wasn’t that A·Gedora couldn’t kill, but that his bit of kindness made him restrain. You should know! What a tremendous power this is!"
"Your Majesty! Isn’t this the worst-case scenario?"
"The worst-case?" The Wise King tilted his head, "What are you talking about? Such great power, such a mighty being, he is precisely human!"
Precisely human?
No, has the Wise King gone senile from the years of rule? The betrayal faced by Hero A·Gedora by humans, you claim he is precisely human?
"I understand your concerns, Hero A·Gedora hates us so much, for we betrayed him once, how could he forgive us?"
"If that’s so..."
"Then what if we died?"
The Wise King suddenly uttered an inconceivable notion, "If I were to die, if Saintess Charlette died, if Miracle Source Adeline, Final Song Hidden Nephilim—if they all perished? If all traitors were killed, leaving only those loyal to him, loving him, believing in him, eternally following him—would he still hate humans?"
Regulus was an intelligent person, yet at that moment, he still found it hard to comprehend what the Wise King meant, what he intended.
"You seem not to understand well, you might want to say, if that’s the case, then why betray in the first place... Do you?"
Instinctively, Regulus wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t speak.
"Humans are peculiar beings." The Wise King extended his hand, as if trying to grasp something, "Before becoming the so-called Wise King, I desperately wanted to seize everything. As long as A·Gedora was around, someone would shine brighter than me, and with him present, I could never truly control the Human Empire—A·Gedora couldn’t bring happiness to humans. That’s what I believed. But when I truly sat in this position, when I truly became the master of humans—I suddenly had a public-minded intent."
He chuckled self-mockingly, "It sounds a bit funny, doesn’t it? During political struggles, you wish to put everyone to death, to concentrate all wealth, power into your own hands, but when you truly become the ruler, you suddenly realize that since the entire Empire is your possession—you want it to become better. After all, it’s your thing, and having it become better is a natural desire. Then, I finally, pathetically realized. Nothing can make humans better than purely powerful as A·Gedora. Just like the Demon Race of old."
"The Demon Race had severe internal conflicts, but it didn’t matter, having such an existence allows one to rise above all. So—as the master of humans, I am going to issue you a command."