The Prince Wants to Retire

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Chapter 63: The Emperor Has Returned!

Thanks to Kariel’s overwhelming presence, it seemed that the Demon King’s Army, which had been quietly building its forces, finally began to move.

As if expecting this, Ignit concentrated all his power as well.

Contrary to the imminent outbreak of a great war, the Demon King’s Army occupied the major fortresses and halted their advance.

Once the Demon King’s Army came to a standstill, everyone found it strange.

“Have the war maniacs stopped?”

“Their force is overwhelming, though?”

“What’s going on? Did something happen to the Demon King?”

As everyone pondered, guessing at what had happened to the Demon King, half of their speculation was right.

– Is this all there is?

The Demon King grimaced, shaking off the blue blood from his fist.

– Is this all they can offer?

How high had his hopes been for the remnants of the past that crossed over from Hell?

He had never expected to restore his former godhood from the outset.

But he at least hoped to see fragments of the great power he once possessed.

Yet that hope shattered into pieces.

– Were these really the ones who fought against the gods?

At the Demon King’s question, the nearby demons bowed their heads in silence.

The great plan to resurrect stronger beings as a stepping stone for the demons’ growth was crumbling.

Many in the demon realm thought it was a plan solely for the Demon King, but it was different.

By crossing over, the Demon King wanted to instill the idea that they could become ‘gods’ themselves, without following the God of Demons any longer.

Even if no one but the Demon King could ascend to divine rank, as long as someone among the demons could reach that rank someday, it would still count as a successful plan.

But reality was pitiful.

– Was all that hardship for such pathetic beings?

With a furious shout, a fox-eared demon stepped forward.

– The gods would be different.

At the fox-eared demon’s words, the Demon King cast her a cold glare.

Although dubbed the strategist of the Demon King’s Army, this time she had no choice but to tremble.

The Demon King, who had overlooked most of her mistakes while awaiting this very moment, was different this time.

The sins of the remnants of the past that shattered his expectations of pursuing strength to the utmost would instead fall on the demons who crafted the great plan.

– Many remain. Above all, those who were once called gods have not yet appeared.

Upon hearing the fox-eared woman’s words, the Demon King glared at her silently.

Despite the intense pressure, he maintained his poker face and spoke.

– Then we simply have to wait.

– Wait until the remnants of the past recover their powers?

– Exactly. You can wait until they recover as much as possible and then engage in battle. As for the boredom until then… let it be the interest of these folks.

Finishing her words, the fox-eared woman pulled out two illustrated sheets of paper from her bosom.

One depicted Glen, the hero who had stood against the Demon King.

The other was Kariel, the emperor of Ignit.

– These folks…

– Although limited to the denizens of Hell, judging by recent actions, that no longer seems to be the case.

At the fox-eared woman’s remark, the Demon King pondered briefly and then smirked.

– Certainly, they seemed strong when only heard in rumors.

Though he said this, he held no high expectations.

Rumors were often exaggerated by nature.

Especially when it came to an emperor of a nation.

Having confirmed Glen’s might and genius firsthand, and only hearing speculations about the emperor, the Demon King’s lips curved into a smile at the thought of meeting the two.

– Yes. Still, those two seem promising.

Seeing the Demon King’s rage dissipate, his aides exhaled in relief.

Once again, the fox-eared woman, having surpassed another crisis, ordered her aides to find out the whereabouts of the remnants of the past.

Desperately hoping for remnants that would satisfy the Demon King.

However, the Demon King had already given up expectations for the remnants of the past.

What caught his interest instead was humanity.

Only the supreme gods like the God of Demons, whom the demons worshipped, still provided hope; the rest of the remnants of the past held no significance for him.

– I hope they completely grow strong before confronting the gods.

Smiling at the anticipation of Glen and Kariel’s growth, the Demon King mused.

Although he had waited, their growth might be slower than expected.

– If that happens, I’ll have to personally play with them to accelerate their growth.

It was clear that Glen’s talent could rival his own, and if the rumors were true, the emperor should similarly shine.

But it was possible that they grew at a slower pace than he anticipated.

In such a case, he contemplated nurturing them himself until they were strong enough to kill him.

If he could make them strong enough to kill him, he thought of overcoming his limits through a life-and-death gamble.

If things went as he imagined, he might not even have to scour for the burdensome divine beings of the past.

– How exciting.

Certainly, the great plan had half-failed.

But the wish he desired was not yet over.

Though it had not been part of his plan, it was now drawing him closer to achieving it.

The Demon King, filled with excitement just from thought, felt a surge of energy but managed to suppress it, moving on to look for more remnants of the past.

*

The Demon King moved, hoping for quick growth from Glen and Kariel before this excitement turned into boredom.

Meanwhile, Kariel, filled with the Demon King’s high expectations, entered into battle to block the Palace of Hell.

“It’s not finished yet, is it?”

As Kariel looked up at the sky and asked, a green flame shot up, nodding in response.

Kariel sighed at Garum’s certainty, knowing Hell better than anyone, and stared at the towering spire rising high into the sky.

At a glance, the colossal spire appeared mostly shrouded in gray energy, with only the very top still gleaming black.

“Still, it really seems to have reached the completion stage.”

Saying that, Kariel turned to Garum.

“Let’s not waste time and finish this.”

The moment those words left her lips, green flames began to erupt from the sky.

Kariel had tried summoning the Army of Hell from Roman to stop it, but it was fruitless.

The denizens of Hell, possessing overwhelming power, could do nothing but return to Hell against Garum’s formidable abilities.

Kariel, thinking of smashing the Army of Hell and demolishing the tower, suddenly felt the ground shake as Wraiths from Hell began to emerge.

Simultaneously, the remaining black areas started to fill rapidly.

“Why all of a sudden…?”

– Sacrifice?

Garum answered the confused Kariel.

– The Hell Sorcerers are sacrificing themselves to complete the tower. But that alone won’t be enough, will it?

Garum spoke in a puzzled tone.

Even if the tower was completed, it wouldn’t mean the goddess would awaken immediately.

Time was needed, and if that was the case, Roman was simply acting foolish, wasting its strength that could be used to hinder Ignit.

However, the answer came right away.

A number of sorcerers at the nearby altar collapsed, causing gray energy to surge even higher.

Simultaneously, the Wraiths in the palace surged towards the tower, forming an immense shape around it.

– Was this it?

Garum understood what they were doing.

The “rest” for the souls of the East Continent wasn’t just a wish of the living.

In fact, the Wraiths desired it even more desperately.

Thus, they sacrificed themselves even amidst the possibility of getting eternally tormented as they were torn apart, for the rest of their descendants.

– …Hell.

As he gazed at the colossal being taking shape through the Wraiths, Garum called out the name of the woman who had once been his master.

Could it really be the Queen of the Abyss?

As the woman’s gigantic form continued to solidify, the Army of Hell that was disappearing under Garum’s power began to diminish further.

Then it started summoning back even the Army of Hell that Garum had previously sent back.

“Garum…”

The Hell’s power surpassing what he had trusted.

Just this alone confirmed that the absolute ruler of Hell, Hel, had awakened.

“…Did Hel ultimately resurrect?”

At Kariel’s words, the expressions of the humans from Ignit turned tense.

On the other hand, the Romans cheered.

For the goddess of Hell, whom they had longed for, was now manifesting.

Ultimately, as Hel’s resurrection could not be stopped, Kariel’s expression hardened at the grim prospect, and Garum spoke.

– Something feels off.

As Garum said that, he released all his power.

“What on earth is happening…?”

– I need to check it out directly.

With that, Garum dashed towards the tower with all his might.

At that moment, the figure of the woman solidified, and she blocked the giant dog’s jaws with her arms.

The clash of two beings.

But what was even more astonishing was what followed.

Boom!

– Grrrrr…

Even though Garum possessed undeniably overwhelming strength, he could do nothing but get pounded by Hel, who had formed that massive figure.

Seeing this unfold, the Emperor of Roman stopped holding his breath and finally burst into cheers.

“Finally… finally! My long-standing wish has been realized!”

At the moment the Emperor of Roman declared to his citizens and soldiers that the great plan had come to fruition, all in the Roman camp erupted in a cheer.

The souls of the East Continent might finally be able to rest.

Meanwhile, Kariel’s expression soured.

In the worst-case scenario, Garum could even turn into an enemy.

“Is this heading towards the worst-case scenario?”

– I don’t think that’s the case.

Upon Kariel’s words, Surth, who had appeared, spoke.

– Watch closely.

As Surth pointed at Garum, Kariel tilted her head, puzzled.

Garum was still being pounded without being able to mount much of a counterattack.

– Garum is resisting.

“What? Is that…?”

– Right. He’s showing his teeth and charging. Even if he’s mostly focusing on defense, Garum is indeed fighting against Hel.

Kariel frowned at Surth’s words.

“What does that even mean…?”

– He would never have dared to confront Hel if it were genuine. His soul is eternally bound by the oath of loyalty inscribed in it, preventing him from betraying her.

“Then that means…”

– What you’re seeing is likely a fake or a half-goddess. Knowing this, Garum fights like that.

Kariel felt confused by Surth’s explanation.

“Still, isn’t that his master? Why would Garum go so far…?”

– In that form, he can’t fully dominate Hell or be recognized by Modgud. So rather than let his great master be reborn like that, he’s trying to grant her eternal rest himself. At least if she perishes by his hand, she will be remembered as the great goddess forever.

Listening to Surth, Kariel, watching Garum who was unable to mount a proper resistance and just getting hit, suddenly manifested her power.

Then, the giant Skoll and Agni charged towards the tower.

Simultaneously, a massive Fire Giant much larger than them lifted Kariel and placed her on his shoulder.

– Let’s settle this. Garum will provide cover; we just need to strike away.

“That sounds good.”

With that, the genuine power of Surth, now revealed, roared, revealing a half-broken enormous Fire Sword along with a damaged Fire Crown as the giant charged towards the tower.

Smash! Smash! Smash!

– Kyaaaaa!

The goddess, who had been pounding on Garum, screamed as Kariel’s summons approached threateningly.

Contrary to her expectations that it wouldn’t do much damage, Kariel’s summoned beings proved to be far stronger than anticipated.

And that was when Kariel’s pain began.

She was starting to be focused on rather than Garum, unable to put up much of a resistance.

Was it that even if imperfect, a god is still a god?

In front of Hel, who displayed overwhelmingly powerful might, both Kariel and her summoners found themselves powerless.

Just then, Garum’s massive jaw bit down on the goddess’s leg, causing her to falter.

– Kyaaaaa!

– Do not defile my master! Filthy soul!

Garum’s first proper hit.

Even though the green flames continuously blocked him, with sheer willpower alone, he managed to pierce through and inflict a wound on her.