Battlefield of the Palace - 2

It took them a while to comprehend my words, and silence followed for a moment, but soon rebuttals came flying back.

"Can we turn back now?!"

"We can't let the people down."

"We won't take orders from some unknown stranger."

And so on, each one different from the next.

"Have you even seen the battlefield yourself?"

I spoke dismissively—this was the moment to show off my acting skills.

I must show them my strength—make them understand that they must stop this war... I must make them feel it deeply.

Their response is nothing but vague, indifferent words, as if my question didn't even matter to them.

I unleash my power all at once.

Thunder crashes through the room, and a fierce wind, impossible for this still air, roars through.

Cracks spread across the entire room from the shock.

"This is a warning. Stop the war."

Some had collapsed to the ground, some stood frozen in place, and others were trembling.

"That power, the famed sorcerer, isn't it? Why is this sorcerer calling for a truce?"

A person resembling a king comes to listen.

Though lacking in spirit, his voice is clear and resonant.

Grr! I moved too quickly and didn't think things through deeply enough. I'll just make something up on the spot.

"If we continue like this, disaster will strike. What should not be awakened will rise."

That's what popped into my head. Even I admit it's utterly nonsensical.

Yet, perhaps the flashy technique I just displayed had such an effect that everyone began to believe this blatant lie.

Lewis smoothly steered the conversation forward.

"Even if the kingdom stops waging war, what then if the empire attacks? In the end, war will never cease."

"Then I will fight the empire."

"Fight the kingdom now. And if necessary, fight the empire as well. Just what exactly are you?"

"He is the King of Wizards... the Demon Lord."

Before I could speak, Bonaparte revealed my true identity.

I've never claimed to be a Demon Lord, but I suppose that's what I'm becoming in this war. It's hard to see what lies ahead.

But I'd asked Bonaparte to help stop the war—to commit to that direction, and he promised.

"Demon Lord?"

"King of Demons!"

Yet he seems surprised, despite not understanding the situation.

Bonaparte has been informed of my strength and the overwhelming disadvantage the kingdom faces in this war.

I was separated from my side by the kingdom's soldiers and received treatment.

"Bonaparte. What happened?"

"The mining site completely collapsed due to the demon lord's power. Mining can no longer continue. The battlefield... our soldiers and weapons are running out, and we're being forced to resort to suicide attacks."

This way of speaking makes it sound as if I'm entirely to blame. In fact, the collapse of the mining site was a result of battle, not something I deliberately caused.

"What happened to the Empire... What became of the Empire?"

Ignoring Bonaparte's distressed expression, the questions came in rapid succession.

"The Empire continues to deploy forces incrementally. Its combat strength remains intact."

The information brought by Bonaparte was more than enough to plunge the kingdom's leaders into despair.

The overwhelming disparity in military strength, the loss of the mining sites essential to the war's purpose, the death of their main force commander, Neumann, and the injury of their commander, Bonaparte.

Of course, continuing the war is still possible. But what would be the point? What more could they possibly gain?

"Your Majesty, I respectfully advise: the kingdom can no longer sustain this war. I propose we cease hostilities and pursue peace, rather than risk further losses of our forces."

Louis speaks directly to the king.

"Wha—how dare you act so recklessly!"

One nobleman confronts Lilica's father.

"Then, what do you propose we do next? The outcome is clear."

"What? We still have forces left, don't we?"

"What good will that do? There's no guarantee peace will follow once this war ends."

An argument erupts right in front of me.

"Silence!"

Yet it was only a single word, and everyone fell silent.

The king spoke.

"Cease hostilities. The war is over."

With just those few words, the future was decided.

There was no need to stay here any longer. We should leave at once.

"Let's go."

Only Alex's nod answered me.

"O Demon King. What is a king, anyway?"

The king had never thought about such a thing at all.

What should I do... He was finally considering ending the war... I have to say something.

"Perhaps... a guide who shows the way forward."

Does that even count as an answer...?

For a moment, the old man before me met my gaze.

"To one who is not of this land, it is a foreign realm."

W-what should I say... This is all so confusing.

Just then, at a perfectly convenient moment, a large number of soldiers charged in.

Using air to shield both Alex and myself, we escaped from the soldiers and made our way outside the palace. As a result, I couldn’t answer the king’s questions at all.

Though I’d prefer to return to the empire right away, I have a place to go.

Neumann’s laboratory.

I’ve been here before, so I enter without hesitation.

Taking only a few of the books Neumann had left behind, as instructed, I set fire to the rest and completely destroyed them.