As someone whose reputation in the military was already well-established, he often had to attend meetings or gatherings held at the Imperial Palace on days without combat.
“Lord Kareha, please enter.”
As the guards respectfully opened the door for him, he walked in with an expressionless face.
With every step he took down the long corridor, the sound of his footsteps echoed cleanly on the stone floor.
Soon, he arrived at the meeting room, which was characterized by its intricate patterns carved into the door and a red carpet laid out inside.
Various nobles and generals had already gathered to begin the meeting.
He slightly bowed his head in greeting and quietly proceeded to the back row.
“We need to discuss strengthening the defense of the frontier regions.”
‘The frontier, huh…’
Though he took a back seat, the eyes of those present were subtly directed toward him, whether out of fear or respect for his authority as an adult.
Amidst the situation, an elderly noble coughed to interrupt the momentarily stalled meeting and began speaking while unfolding thick documents.
He found the content somewhat familiar.
Though they weren’t preparing specifically for the potential return of the Demon King, the empire’s borders were always exposed to both large and small threats. To the north, a rugged wilderness allowed for frequent monster activities, while to the south lay the powerful rival nation of the Liberian Empire, always eyeing invasion.
Opinions were divided between those who emphasized defense and those who believed attack was the best defense.
He quietly observed the nobles’ arguments.
They were busy weighing practicality and appearances, leaving him feeling increasingly frustrated.
“Lord Kareha, what are your thoughts?”
One of the generals asked him.
He hesitated briefly before calmly responding.
“Reinforcing our defensive lines is, of course, necessary. However, simply strengthening fortifications and increasing troops as we are now has its limits. We can probably repel bandits or monsters, but what if a greater threat arises? We need to prepare by redistributing and training reserve forces accordingly.”
The nobles began murmuring.
Some were perplexed by the mention of a “greater threat,” while others grew troubled as they calculated their own interests.
“What exactly does this ‘greater threat’ imply?”
Another noble asked suspiciously.
He briefly lowered his gaze before lifting it again.
“If the neighboring hostile nations decide to launch a large-scale invasion, our current preparations would be insufficient. Moreover, there’s the possibility of organized monster attacks or unforeseen disasters we cannot imagine.”
Kareha had in mind the invasion by the Demon King’s Demon Race as this unforeseen calamity.
Though people generally agreed with his words, no one mentioned the specific appearance of the Demon King.
He too couldn’t discuss the Demon King openly.
Mentioning it publicly would still be too risky, as most people dismissed it as nothing more than a “legend.” If he brought it up prematurely, some might likely label him as an inexperienced youth.
As the meeting dragged on, he felt increasingly drained.
The process of the nobles expressing and adjusting their opinions was slow, and his fear of the impending catastrophe he knew could happen weighed heavily on his mind.
Ultimately, the meeting concluded with inconclusive results.
As he exited the meeting room, he encountered Duke Ludbert, one of the Emperor’s closest aides.
Duke Ludbert, a middle-aged man known for wearing a luxurious purple cape, subtly smiled upon seeing Adolf Kareha.
“Lord Kareha, as always, your sharp insights were very enlightening.”
The Duke’s voice was gentle.
He respectfully bowed his head.
“Thank you, my lord Duke.”
The Duke signaled him over with a gesture, slightly stepping aside towards the wall of the corridor and continuing his words in a lower tone.
“Personally, I’m quite curious about Lord Kareha’s perspective on the future of the empire. It feels as though you’re secretly preparing for a great disaster…”
At that moment, he tensed slightly.
The Duke was one of the most powerful figures in the empire, and a rash comment could attract even more attention.
“I naturally come up with various hypotheses while concerning myself with the empire’s safety.”
He responded in as dry a tone as possible.
The Duke gazed at him with great curiosity.
“Indeed. It feels as though you’re aware of something we don’t. But I won’t inquire further for now. Nevertheless, the empire needs talents like you. I hope you’ll continue your efforts.”
As the Duke turned and left, he let out a quiet sigh.
It seemed even someone of the Duke’s status could sense the unease this seemingly cold-blooded Kareha harbored.
Regardless, the Duke’s subtle support made Kareha realize he was emerging as an important figure within the empire.
Still, he feared the slightest slip could lead to the discovery of his secret about his memories from his past life.
That night, instead of the library, he headed towards a small magic research room within the Imperial Palace.
It was a place where documents captured during wars and manuscripts donated by nobles were gathered.
Though no special permission was required, with the trust he’d earned from the Emperor and the palace administration, he had freedom to come and go as he pleased.
“There must be accurate records about the Demon King somewhere…”
He searched through dusty bookshelves with the light of a candle, carefully reviewing documents written in the ancient language, which few people consulted.
They were filled with various tales, legends, and religious texts all intermingled.
Carefully examining each volume, he sought parallels to the novel’s plot.
It was deep into the night when he finally found a clue in a large, thick book like a bible.
“It was said that the Demon King, cursed by the gods, became the sovereign of darkness most feared by humanity…”
He reflected on the content of the novel as he pondered the ancient text.
According to the novel, the Demon King would fully resurrect in ten years.
However, he now judged that the timing was uncertain.
[Duigel Mine Contract Signed…]
[Intelligence on the Liberian Empire’s New Combat Weapons]
Many events had already occurred earlier or differently than expected.
“Someday, surely the Demon King will appear.”
As he closed the book and questioned himself,
“Can I truly stop the Demon King?”
He picked up the book and slowly stood.
Then, the ‘Hero’ came to his mind.
While the Hero was ultimately the one in the original novel to defeat the Demon King, he couldn’t predict how that process would change now.
“Did he get involved by mistake or something?”
The Hero was as uncertain an existence as the Demon King.
A few days later, he left the palace and returned to the mansion owned by his family.
On an early morning, he was swinging his sword at a training ground set up in a corner of the family garden.
Under the clear sky, his sword cut through the air with a sharp sound.
At that moment, his father approached him.
Though his father’s hair was now streaked with gray, he had once been a brave knight who led a small frontier knight squadron.
He sheathed his sword and greeted his father.
“You’re as hardworking as ever in your training today.”
His father’s voice carried a sense of pride.
He bowed his head.
“Yes, I still feel inadequate.”
His father quietly observed his son before suddenly asking,
“Kareha, you’ve accomplished a great deal. You could take a rest. People call you the young war hero of the empire, yet you always seem tense.”
He lightly smiled.
“I cannot be satisfied with merely winning the war. For the empire to truly be safe, there’s still much to be done.”
His father nodded, but he could not fully understand his son’s deeper thoughts.
The father sighed softly.
“Alright, whatever path you may take in the future, I support you. Just don’t overexert yourself.”
Adolf Kareha bowed deeply in gratitude and picked up his sword again.
His thoughts were still on the Demon King, the Hero, and the distorted future.
The heavy secret he carried, unable even to confide in his father or mother, weighed heavily upon him.
That evening, while sorting through long documents, he received a small letter.
It was an urgent telegram from the western border region of the empire.
[Another group of monsters has appeared in the western border. If left unchecked, nearby towns could suffer significant damage.]
After reading the letter, he immediately issued an order to prepare for departure.
Though monster appearances were no longer unusual, he always felt an uneasy anticipation: “Is this some other kind of signal?”
The night before his departure, a drizzle was falling.
Leaning by the window of the drawing room, he watched the garden wet with rain.
The surroundings were quiet, and only the sound of the rain echoed.
“Does my reason for rushing into battle like this… really come down purely to defending the empire?”
He asked himself.
Though people praised him as a hero, a profound sense of guilt from his past life and the fear of disrupting the fate of this world coexisted in his heart.
“I want to prevent the destruction in some way… But history has already become tangled.”
He closed his eyes and tried to erase the numerous scenes that came to mind.
But visions of the novel and the horrific scenes he’d witnessed on the battlefield overlapped and lingered.
In the early hours of the morning, he set out from the mansion with a few close subordinates.
The soldiers had prepared their horses, and the low sound of snorting echoed in the dark.
With armor fully equipped, he mounted his horse, his family crest emblazoned on his cloak fluttering.
“We’re departing.”
After brief farewells, the group set out into the rain toward the western frontier.
