I Saved the Demon King Who Was About to Commit Suicide – Chapter 51

As Lucia looked at Evan, clearly flustered,

Ketar queried Evan again.

“Is that so? Then, could you perhaps tell me what kind of Apostle it is?”

The Apostle of Doom is a name that nobody knows except for Evan.

So even if he told them, that dwarf wouldn’t understand anyway.

Just as Lucia was about to discreetly ask Evan what on earth he was thinking to say that, his mouth opened first.

“I’m sorry. They said not to reveal any Apostle names to anyone until the official announcement from the Holy Kingdom.”

“Huh, so you’re telling me even I, who made weapons for all the Apostles during our journey, can’t know?”

“···It’s a principle, so there’s nothing I can do about it. You know that the Holy Kingdom’s punishments are quite heavy in such matters.”

“Hmm···.”

Ketar nodded after a moment of contemplation.

“Well, if it’s the Holy Kingdom’s order, then there’s nothing to be done. You’re not someone untrustworthy after all.”

Fortunately, it seemed the atmosphere had turned to one of not pressing the issue further.

Seeing this, Lucia quietly let out a sigh of relief.

“So, what kind of weapon do you wish for, miss?”

“Well, I think my previous sword wasn’t good enough, so I’d like a decent sword this time. I’d appreciate it if you could craft that for me.”

“A sword, huh···.”

Ketar stroked his beard, then smiled and said,

“You’ve come to the right place. I might not be able to do other weapons, but when it comes to swords, I have confidence like no other.”

“Then, how long will it take to receive the weapon?”

“Since you’re an Apostle, my pride won’t let me craft you a weapon that’s just okay. It might take at least a week.”

A sword worked on for a week by the best blacksmith in Terra.

Just imagining it filled Lucia’s expression with a hint of anticipation.

“Alright, I’ll come back in about a week.”

“Yes, do that.”

Just as she received the answer and was about to head back down the stairs,

Lucia’s steps halted at the malignant magical power rising from below.

“Evan, this is···.”

“I felt it too.”

It was not the kind of magical power felt from an ordinary human, but one of their kind.

Sure enough, it belonged to an Apostle.

With a clattering sound, someone climbed the stairs, and soon, a figure appeared before the two of them.

No, it was a magical automaton created through arcane engineering in the shape of a human.

Unlike the common magical automatons seen in the market, this one clearly exhibited a high level of technology.

“···There were guests,” a deep voice came from the machine clad in what seemed to be iron armor, towering at least 3 meters tall.

“Normally, I would step aside, but there’s no room to retreat. Would you mind stepping aside?”

Lucia and Evan moved aside as per the automaton’s words.

What came into their view was the pattern on its back.

With the emblem of the Earth God, Derek, displayed, it certified that the machine was surely a Guardian Apostle.

‘I found it more easily than I thought.’

The original plan was to request a sword from Ketar and then look for the Guardian Apostle outside.

In the end, the Divine Artifact could be obtained by the corresponding Apostle.

“Ketar. Is this magical automaton···.”

“Ah, do you mean Minerva?”

“···It has a name?”

“Of course. It’s like my daughter.”

Evan looked at Minerva, seemingly puzzled.

It resembled a male with its voice and overall structure, so why was it referred to as a daughter…?

While he was pondering this, Minerva spoke.

“Error. I do not possess a biological gender and am a weapon entity; therefore, I am not Ketar’s daughter.”

“Right, right.”

Though it could sound cold, Ketar smiled and patted Minerva’s back.

A smile filled with sincerity.

‘Now that I think of it, this man lost a daughter in war in the past…’

Evan recalled how Ketar looked when they first met.

Always hammering away with a grim expression, and during his spare time, staring at a photo of his daughter.

Unlike back then, he certainly appeared much brighter now.

‘There’s no need to fuss over whether it’s a son or daughter.’

Pushing aside those thoughts, he resolved to focus on what needed to be done.

For now···.

“Minerva.”

“What can I do for you?”

“I could use your help a bit.”

Requesting help from the Guardian Apostle.

“Can we have a quick chat?”

“Is it something that can be wrapped up within an hour?”

“If communication flows well, it shouldn’t take long.”

Minerva fell silent for a moment before nodding.

It was an indication of approval.

“Understood. I will comply with the conversation.”

“Ketar, may I speak with Minerva for a moment? It’s about the Holy Kingdom… I’d like to talk just between us.”

“As long as you guarantee Minerva’s safety.”

“Don’t worry. Even for me, the Apostle of Destruction, inflicting harm upon the Guardian Apostle isn’t an easy task.”

With that assurance regarding Minerva’s safety, Ketar permitted the conversation.

“Alright, Minerva, be careful and return.”

“Confirmed.”

*

Evan, who had asked Lucia to wait in the workshop for a bit, took Minerva outside to a place where no one was around.

The basement of the dilapidated building near the workshop.

Once Evan confirmed that no one was around, he finally started speaking.

Contents from the book he saw in the Holy Kingdom.

The incident in Cordelia.

Records about the forbidden book and Divine Artifacts obtained from slaying the monster.

And the tasks that needed to be done to uncover all truths about the world.

“···So, I need your help. To obtain the Divine Artifact of Terra, I need the help of the Guardian Apostle, you.”

After listening to the entire story, Minerva fell silent, deep in thought.

“Um···.”

A silence lasted for about 20 minutes, with nothing but breathing sounds when Minerva finally responded.

“I must decline.”

Her answer came as a stark contrast to Evan’s expectations.

“May I ask why?”

In response to his question, Minerva explained in an almost expressionless manner.

“The world, living without knowing the truth, maintains a considerable level of peace. But according to your words, the closer we get to the truth of the world, the more dangerous it becomes. There is no need to endanger the world just to know the truth.”

It was a rational reason.

A kind of reason that was hard to argue against.

Yet Evan decided to try a little harder to persuade Minerva.

“There are victims suffering from false truths, you know.”

“As an intelligent machine, I can’t comprehend your words. Should we endanger all the world’s people for the sake of a few victims? I believe that’s an irrational reason.”

Having said that, Minerva stood up.

“Let’s go. We’ve already delayed past the promised time, and continuing this conversation seems pointless.”

Judging that he could no longer persuade Minerva, Evan also got up.

“Yeah, let’s head back.”

*

Some time passed after that.

Entering the lodgings nearby the workshop, Lucia heard from Evan about what happened with Minerva.

“So that’s what happened···.”

Contrary to Evan’s expectation that she would be angry after hearing it all, Lucia showed no signs of rage.

She seemed more deflated than anything.

“What’s wrong?”

“After hearing that machine’s words, I started to think maybe that could be true.”

Lucia let out a sigh.

Then she stared blankly into space for a moment before calling out to him.

“Evan.”

“What is it?”

“I wonder if because of my greed, I’m making others suffer as well. Am I causing many people to die for my revenge?”

In her words was a sense of bitterness, but also,

“What should I do then···?”

A sense of wandering, not knowing where to head next, seeped through her words.

“It’s already begun.”

“But I haven’t come very far yet. If it comes to that, I could always stop, right…?”

Evan shifted his gaze from the book to Lucia.

Her eyes, staring into space, were heavily downcast.

“I···.”

“Lucia.”

Evan showed her the book he had been reading.

It was the forbidden book obtained from Cordelia.

“Look at this.”