The Prince Wants to Retire

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Chapter 65: The End of War!

The Demon King has fallen, and the fierce battles straight out of myths have concluded.

The gods have vanished, and those aspiring to become gods were thwarted; this can be deemed a victory for humanity.

However, the war was not entirely over.

The struggle continued between the demons trying to return with the deceased Demon King’s corpse and humans seeking to annihilate them.

It all began with a battle from special forces.

“Bring His Majesty!”

“Bring Lord Glen and Commander Sicario too!”

As the Shadows clashed against the dark mages and the Demon King’s Imperial Guard, three fainted heroes were evacuated behind.

Meanwhile, Ignit’s special forces began to emerge.

“The Demon King must be completely dead!”

Although he seemed already dead, they had to ensure it.

Thus, they charged from all directions to finish off the Demon King.

Yet, those claiming to be the Demon King’s Imperial Guard pierced through the human’s relentless assault, ultimately reaching the Demon King’s formation.

– We must take the Demon King with us.

Hearing the words of the Fox Demon, the legion commanders silently gazed at the lifeless body of the Demon King.

They had risked their lives to bring the Demon King here, but he was already dead.

– He hasn’t passed yet.

– I don’t feel any breaths.

At the Fox Demon’s words, the Bull-headed Demon Legion Commander tilted his head in confusion.

Then, another Demon Legion Commander nodded in agreement.

Their bodies, honed to the extreme, felt the Demon King’s heart had stopped beating.

The one who had once challenged the gods had merely fallen to mere humans.

The Demon King, who aspired to rise to the divine ranks by stepping on the resurrected God of Demons, shone brilliantly; those legion commanders sought to stand alongside him, hoping to leave a line in mythology.

But now, their leader had vanished.

Watching the expressionless faces of the legion commanders, the Fox Demon spoke.

– I’m saying this again, the Demon King hasn’t passed away.

Pointing to the symbol on the Demon King’s chest, she continued.

– The Demon King hasn’t yet gone to Hell.

The trace obtained from entering Hell with a living body.

Even after death, the trace created to punish his sins in Hell had not yet disappeared from his flesh.

Thus, it indicated that his soul still lingered in his body.

– Then…

– It means there is still hope.

The Fox Demon then addressed the Demon Legion Commanders.

– If we can fully recover his depleted magic, there’s a chance he may awaken. So let’s risk our lives to take our “God” back to our homeland.

At her words, all the Demon Legion Commanders looked quietly at the Demon King before lowering their heads.

Among them, the Bull-headed Demon Legion Commander spoke as the representative.

– From now until we return to the Demon Realm, I will follow your commands. Whatever the orders may be, please ensure the Demon King is brought back to the Demon Realm.

At his words, the Fox Demon nodded in agreement.

She too owed a lot to the Demon King.

Like the other Commanders, she had faced extinction due to her inadequate lineage and magic until the Demon King took her in, allowing her to rise to this position.

Thanks to the Demon King’s help on countless battlefields, she had survived and evolved.

Thus, this was a golden opportunity to repay the favor she owed to the Demon King.

– Our operation is singular: to break through their encirclement.

Saying this, the Fox Demon unfurled a map and drew a straight line from the Giant Mountain Range to the Gate.

– No other plan is necessary. We must break through before the enemies are fully prepared.

With her command, the demons began to move in unison.

*

“The enemies are moving!”

At the reconnaissance team’s report, Lokan, focused on transporting the Emperor to safety, quickly contacted Asheltar.

“We can’t let the demons go like this.”

“I agree.”

As the two commanders exchanged views, humanity’s army began to mobilize.

Despite suffering immense damage from the Demon King’s Army and the remnants of the past intermittently appearing, they had no choice but to act.

“For the future, we must annihilate the Demon King’s army here!”

At Lokan’s command, weary soldiers gritted their teeth and rose once more.

Though they felt like dying from wounds and exhaustion, more potent anger dominated their minds.

Thus, the battle began, with the struggling survivors on one side and the enraged on the other vying to kill each other.

Compared to the overwhelming power that could shatter mountains and alter the terrain, the clash between soldiers and demons was far from wondrous; it was filthy and brutal.

Despite the feeling of fighting in the mud, humanity fought more fiercely than ever.

“Kill at least one more!”

“Block the path! We must prevent them from reaching the Gate!”

The continent’s greatest generals, Lokan and Asheltar, toiled to take down one more demon.

If they let the Demon King’s army go like this, it was uncertain when they would strike again.

As a prelude to an all-out war, fierce combat ensued while heroes of humanity including Kariel were quietly transported to Ignit.

Accompanied by dozens of airships, Kariel was transferred, lying in a coffin filled with potions imbued with all kinds of sacred magic, alongside the Imperial Palace Knights.

Upon arriving at the Emperor’s exclusive airship, Kariel disembarked with the Imperial Palace Knights.

People gathered to stare at his appearance with worried eyes.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The armored Imperial Palace Knights carefully carried the coffin that held Kariel to the Emperor’s Palace.

As soon as they reached the Emperor’s Palace, all priests and healers rushed in.

“The internal injuries are too severe.”

“His heartbeat is very faint.”

“First, to sustain life…”

Priests and healers banded together, trying their best to treat Kariel.

Clearly, it was Kariel who had triumphed in the battle against the Demon King.

Yet, it was the end that posed the problem.

To finish off the Demon King, he had drawn upon every ounce of strength, leaving his body devastated.

Meanwhile, Glen and Marquis Sicario, though on the brink of death, were in better shape than Kariel.

“Is it that serious?”

“…Yes.”

In response to Rufiel’s question, a healer bowed their head and replied.

“It’s true they’ve survived the crisis, but… when they will awaken is…”

Thanks to potions and healing magic, their lives were not in danger, but recovering consciousness was another matter.

Having expended mental power beyond limits, it was uncertain how long Kariel would remain asleep.

“Ugh… What about the others?”

“They are the same. Their physical recovery is slower due to the depletion of magic…”

The three heroes of humanity meant to protect everyone were all teetering on the brink of death.

Rufiel’s expression darkened at the thought of having to announce this fact to the Empire Citizens.

“Please do your utmost.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

At Rufiel’s command, all priests and healers lowered their heads and focused back on Kariel.

As Rufiel sighed, glancing at the scene once again, he turned, clutching the resignation letter he had kept in his bosom, heading to the place he needed to be.

*

– Long time no see?

In a pure white space.

A little child greeted Kariel with a smile.

However, Kariel merely stared at him in silence.

“…”

The boy, ready to receive a punch at any moment, wore a puzzled expression.

– I thought you’d jump right at me after seeing me?

At the boy’s words, Kariel held his silence for a long while before speaking.

“Did you plan to reincarnate me from the very start?”

At Kariel’s question, the little boy shut his mouth instead of answering.

“Did you make a bet with the God of Earth and bring me here? Was it all planned?”

Even at this question, the boy only smiled.

When, from where, or how it all began was unclear, but one thing was certain: his plan had succeeded.

“After putting me through hell, wouldn’t it be courteous to tell me something?”

At Kariel’s question, the boy, who had been silent for a while, erased his playful smile and looked at Kariel with a serious expression.

Then, in a small voice, he began to explain.

After the destruction of the Mythical Era, another ruin was destined for the world.

To protect this place, the gods sacrificed everything.

By sacrificing a significant part of their power, they postponed destruction, and that very moment was during the era of Ignit’s First Emperor.

Since then, unbeknownst to anyone, they had worked to delay destruction, and eventually, their once formidable power had been reduced to but a shadow of its former self.

That he, who should shine brighter than anyone, was now appearing as a little boy was proof of that.

Yet, destruction could not be prevented.

Hence, a bet was placed concerning the doomed world.

To attract the attention of gods from other dimensions, all sorts of methods were employed.

Thanks to this, countless challengers hid their identities and stirred trouble throughout the continent.

Among them were also people from Earth.

The condition was simple.

「Clear a condition above a certain level.」

They were willing to allow the world they cherished to be toyed with by other gods to prevent destruction.

Giving immense power and talent like the heroes written in novels wasn’t entertaining.

Clearing under the worst conditions.

Yet, no one achieved a target above a certain level under the worst conditions.

Countless opportunities to prevent destruction under easier conditions vanished, ultimately culminating in the situation with Kariel.

– In the worst circumstances, you somehow protected the Empire. In the end, you were successfully reincarnated thanks to the power of the God of Earth, and I was able to find a target to unleash all my reserved strength onto.

Saying this, the boy smiled brightly.

Or rather, the boyish appearance of the god gradually became filled with wrinkles.

– I used to be quite handsome, you know.

The young god playfully spoke while looking at his wrinkled hands, and Kariel, with a heavy expression, asked.

“…What’s your name?”

The god who caused him immeasurable suffering while reincarnating him.

Yet, he could never know the name of that god. The god, now old, smiled as he replied.

– Baldur.

As so the old man looked down silently.

Before long, the ground revealed a view of the continent.

The continent he wished to protect was still in the midst of a fierce war, yet humanity remained alive.

“Why me?”

Kariel asked, gazing at Baldur curiously.

“There were those like the Demon King who aspired to become a god and those like Hell who sought resurrection. Why me?”

To this, Baldur replied with a bright smile.

– The moment Hell devours the continent, another dimension will swallow this place whole.

The instant another dimension connects through the distorted dimension, this place will meet its end.

Perhaps it could survive as a form of colonization.

But what difference would that make?

If the living beings he cherished were to live eternally as slaves, it would be better to bring about the world’s destruction by his own hand.

“What about the Demon King? And if that is…”

In response to Kariel’s question, Baldur shook his head once more.

The power-crazed Demon King would seek another war the moment he became a god, which would instantaneously ignite another war across dimensions and worlds.

Regardless of the outcome, Baldur’s world would meet destruction.

– Well… things might be different now.

As Baldur said this, he looked at the defeated Demon King’s soul, pondering.

Perhaps due to a single defeat, the Demon King might become a different being than what Baldur had foreseen.

Even Hell could stabilize itself and connect with the continent positively rather than chaotically.

One thing was certain: all of this was thanks to Kariel, who stood before him.

– Thank you.

As Baldur said this, his body slowly began to transform into light.

“You…”

– I told you earlier, I poured all my strength into this.

With a bright smile, Baldur continued.

– For a price to prevent destruction, it’s rather cheap.

“…What would happen to this world without you?”

– Who knows. It may be fine for a while? A new god could be born to inherit this place.

With this, Baldur shrugged his shoulders.

At the moment he prevented destruction, there was nothing more he could do.

The future’s fate lay in the hands of future generations.

Baldur spoke with a relieved expression, as if stating that his own role was complete.

Now he could calmly depart to the place where his brothers had gone before.

– You’ve worked hard until now. And thank you for protecting this place.

Baldur, who smiled mischievously till the end, transformed into light and vanished.

Simultaneously, the space held by his power began to crumble.

As the entirety of the space crumbled, Kariel’s eyes shot open wide.

“This is…”

A familiar space.

And the once-dreaded room filled with antiquated ornaments came into view.

“Is this the Emperor’s Palace?”