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220th Chapter: The Art of Incitement (4)

The Demon King had been the Emperor of the Empire that ruled this continent even before he possessed the body of Emperor Kamain.

As a member of the royal family, his name included “Divine,” and his real name was Makia. Commonly known as Emperor Makia.

Born into royalty, he enjoyed unrivaled power from the moment of his birth.

With his exceptionally quick understanding, he realized from a young age how high the status of royalty was.

‘Oh, I can do this without any issues.’

‘No one gets angry no matter what I do.’

Such thoughts had crossed Makia’s mind since he was not even ten years old.

His innate understanding, combined with a child’s mindset, made him lean towards carefree thoughts rather than the weighty, melancholic perspectives on his position.

Thus, Makia did not seek to learn about the dangers of being royalty.

His understanding had already solidified, and it changed not at all.

No one thought a child could possess the understanding of an adult.

Makia acted under the pretense of being just a typical child, fearing he might be subjected to bothersome education.

– “Makia, you have a kind spirit.”

– “Perhaps you will be the next Emperor.”

– “I love you, Makia.”

His act was incredibly effective.

The Emperor, unaware of his child’s true nature, showered Makia with affection.

However, all Makia had was high understanding; the crucial aspect of “morality” was absent.

Being praised as a child was natural, but for Makia, who already understood everything, such praise held no value.

Rather, he needed someone to apply the brakes, lest he runaway with his abilities, but those around him could not foresee the risks of his talent; Makia’s act was simply too perfect.

‘Indeed, I am a righteous being.’

Having lost morality through his twisted understanding, Makia’s thoughts turned upside down.

Even though his level of understanding was that of an adult, the level of his mind was still that of a child, which led to his current state.

It had only taken seven years for Makia to reach this point.

From then on, a mindset emerged that would never change.

It was impossible to suppress an adult’s level of understanding with childish teaching methods.

– “Remember, Makia. While a righteous heart is important, you must also have the strength to protect it.”

These were words heard from his father, the Emperor, when he was about nine years old.

An incident occurred where a group of demons ambushed the carriage that Makia and his sibling were riding.

Fortunately, thanks to the skilled guards, they were safe, but Makia realized something was lacking within himself.

It was strength, just as his father had said.

The way to solve this concern was simple. He just needed to learn diligently under the guidance of knights or magical soldiers.

Thanks to his outstanding comprehension, Makia quickly mastered their magic and swordsmanship.

It became routine for him to be praised as an exceptional talent by the knights and wizards who taught him.

‘Indeed, I’m good at everything.’

That’s right. Makia understood.

His excellence stemmed from being a chosen being. The cheers and praise from those around him were all for that reason.

Surely, there was no one among his peers who could surpass him.

Makia had thus concluded. And once a belief was established, it could never be altered.

What he understood was the truth.

Since he had been unrestricted since under the age of ten, as time passed, Makia’s fixed beliefs grew more rigid.

When he turned fifteen, something occurred that caused him to furrow his brow.

– “Well done, Mela. You remind me of your brother when he was young.”

Mela, the first princess and sister of Kamain.

Like her brother in the past, she was growing up loved by their father.

The Emperor’s affection for his children had no ulterior motives.

However, observing this, Makia could only muster displeasure.

Moreover, Mela’s magical talent was nearly on par with his, leading the Emperor to say:

– “Perhaps you may surpass your brother. Hahaha!”

Analyzing the nuance, it was just a lighthearted comment, but in Makia’s ears, it didn’t sound like a joke at all.

‘Surpass me? How?’

‘There was only that one time her magic evaluation was better than mine.’

‘Surely, I am the only chosen one.’

‘No one better than me exists at all.’

‘But what’s up with her?’

‘Annoying.’

‘Displeasing.’

Makia’s expression twisted in rage as he thought more on it.

Ever since that moment, every time he saw Mela, he couldn’t help but feel nauseated.

He continued acting normal, as before, but now he had reached his limit.

What would happen if Mela really surpassed him?

Wouldn’t it be a complete negation of the beliefs he had held until now?

In that overwhelming fear, Makia crossed a line he should never have.

– “Brother, where are we going?”

– “….”

Riding in a carriage somewhere, Makia provided no response.

The route taken was proven to be very safe, and the guards maintaining watch were just ordinary.

Makia remained silent, as though waiting for something.

– “Demons!”

– “This can’t be! This is a demon-free area!”

– “No! We can’t handle this with our strength!”

Suddenly, demons appeared at a bizarre timing, attacking the carriage.

The average strength of the knights proved useless against the sudden assault.

Makia smirked as he watched the demons rampage outside. He had summoned them.

– “I must protect you both at all costs!”

– “Uwaaaah!”

The soldiers fought desperately to protect him and Mela.

However, even as Makia witnessed the brutal scene, he felt no guilt.

He could ‘understand’ that the soldiers were dying because of the demons he had called, but his twisted mindset had no place for morality.

It was because of him. But for his plan, there was nothing he could do.

His thoughts focused solely on that.

– “O, brother?”

All the soldiers were dead.

At the time he had been waiting for, Makia opened the carriage and threw Mela at the demons.

The demons mercilessly slaughtered Mela.

Even as his sister was brutally killed, Makia found solace in that act.

‘Now, there is no one above me!’

As a result, the alertness toward demons overwhelmingly inflated.

The tragic death of the kind and hopeful first princess, Mela, incited the Emperor’s fury and accelerated the hatred of all citizens.

This butterfly effect eventually led to prejudice against other races, excluding humans.

This enormous chaos at the national level arose solely from the twisted thoughts of a young boy.

– “Never forgive the demons!”

Makia deeply understood by observing his father’s furious expression.

The more demons were eradicated, the easier it would be for him to be appointed Emperor.

By the time he turned nineteen, using the skills he had developed since childhood, he had vanquished countless demons.

With each victory, his father’s praise echoed as sweetly as it had in his childhood.

‘Thank you, Mela.’

Even while being grateful to Mela for being the fertilizer for this situation… he secretly laughed.

Now only his younger brother Rodan remained, but he could be trusted.

Rodan lacked talent compared to him, so he had withdrawn from the power struggle, instead of following and believing in Makia.

‘There are no more opponents for me.’

The world was filled with tremendous conflicts due to the Emperor’s wrath.

An era had come where innocents bearing demon blood were indiscriminately beaten without a shred of guilt.

The situation was so horrifying that one could easily observe these events on the streets.

Yet, Makia rejoiced at this and continued to exterminate demons.

Of course, there were those who defended the wronged races, but they were merely treated as rebel scum.

– “There’s no need to listen to their words, Father. It’s all just demon worship carried out under the pretext of defending other races.”

The Emperor’s will was solidified by Makia’s whispers.

Deceived by his own child, the Emperor unleashed his rage upon the world, igniting a storm of chaos.

He had plunged the world into disorder due to the plans he had conceived.

It seemed utterly foolish that the world merely thought Mela had died due to a demon attack.

‘See? I really am special.’

Ultimately, Makia succeeded in deceiving the entire populace.

Despite being the work of his malice, the citizens referred to Makia as the hero who vanquished demons.

Entranced by his deceitful light, the world became increasingly cursed.

Thus, the reign of the scammer continued.

– “Indeed, I need to recruit fellow fighters.”

At that time, the aging Emperor held one last grand event.

A competition called the “Tactical Martial Arts” where combatants vied to prove their strength.

This was intended to recruit comrades to exterminate demons alongside Makia.

Of course, Makia himself participated to showcase his prowess.

At that moment, his fixed beliefs remained unchanged.

‘Surely, there’s no one here stronger than me…’

Thud—

As soon as the match began… Makia collapsed onto the arena floor.

Having grown into an extraordinary magic swordsman in the Empire, he fainted in less than ten seconds.

Just before his consciousness faded, he could hear it.

– “The winner! Dantia! Dantia Aligieri!”

That was the name of the woman who granted him immense humiliation.

*

[At last, you’ve revealed your ugliness.]

Hearing the voice of Enviel, the Demon King felt a shiver in his head.

He had been known as Emperor Makia in a past life, but in the end, he was a corrupted being chosen as the Demon King.

Yet until the moment of his death, he had meticulously concealed his identity and behaved as Emperor.

It was simple to hide. Just as Mary Ryudshiel had done all this time.

And he had used the great sage Dantia as a scapegoat to meet his end.

‘In the end, I broke the taboo with the power of the Demon King and possessed this new body.’

To become the ruler of the new world with the possessed body.

A world devoid of Dantia’s traces.

However, this perfect plan collapsed entirely.

[I already knew you had possessed the body of Emperor Kamain.]

The voice of Enviel flowed out of the crystal ball being held by Meloin.

[If I didn’t have “Mana,” no one would have discovered your identity.]

“Mana…?”

[Isn’t that so? The Emperor Makia from 300 years ago!]

The Demon King trembled heavily at the revelation of his identity.

In his shock, Saint Nebia had long since vanished.

He knew well what Mana was. The innate eye of the transcendent possessed by Elder Enviel.

If it could uncover his identity as well, he would be subject to immediate eradication, just like the Dawn Clan.

However, Enviel’s stature was far too overwhelming. Leading him to struggle even to label it as rebellion.

He held strength comparable to that of an entire nation alone, rendering assassination or total warfare impossible.

Furthermore, those who trusted and followed him were numerous to the point of being akin to a religion, making extermination unfeasible.

But…

– “You’ve finally settled into your body, Emperor Makia.”

The first time he met Enviel, he recognized his identity and instead felt welcomed.

And the Demon King realized.

Enviel was the descendant of a noble who had blindly followed Emperor Makia.

Knowing he was not an enemy, the Demon King felt reassured.

But…

[From now on, I will thoroughly expose your true self!]

It was absurd that such Enviel had revealed his own identity.

Betrayed completely by someone he had trusted all along, unintended tears welled up in his eyes.

“Why… why!! Why are you doing this!! Envieeeel!!”

The Emperor screamed until his throat nearly tore.

He longed to tear the throat of Enviel, who was sending this communication from the village right now.

Flashbacks of the nobles who had brainwashed him when he first took the title of Emperor rushed through his mind like a panorama.

Their will to pass on that same mindset to future descendants lingered in his memory.

The grace he had extended to them ended in this turmoil.

“Why!!!”

Bam!—

The Demon King’s anguished cry was cut off with a sound that pierced something.

With the hidden knife Meloin had within her clothing, she pierced his heart.

So lost in thought, he was completely unaware of his surroundings.

“Mission… completed.”

Meloin, as if a puppet, had a vacant look in her eyes and moved stiffly.

However, after that action, Meloin returned to her original state.

“Uh…? What have I done until now?”

Since the day Saint Nebia whispered something in her ear, she had no recollection.

To grasp what had transpired, Meloin looked around bewildered.

Then she saw.

“Oh, Father… is that you?”

The demonified Emperor Kamain was right in front of her.

The Emperor gazed down at her with a truly demonic face, a knife protruding from his chest.

“That’s definitely…!”

It was undoubtedly the dagger she had been carrying.

Thus, upon realizing her deed, Meloin hurried to offer her apology.

Capture!—

But it was already too late.

With a swift motion, the Demon King severed her head with his arm.

Survival in the Academy as a Scam Artist.

 

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