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Chapter 464. What Must Be Protected

――To protect the human race, one must kill the human race.

『That is…』

Arthur and the others were left speechless.

“Hehehe.”

A suppressed laughter echoed through the quiet lakeside.

Standing behind the demon lord’s prince was a brown-skinned girl—she was smiling.

In stark contrast to the pale faces of the Holy Church members, she appeared somewhat enraptured.

Her eyes, a chaotic blend of vivid colors, sparkled like jewels in the night.

――Ah. Just that was enough for humanity to understand.

This being disguised in the skin of a young girl was—without a doubt, a 【Demon God】.

“I killed the fourth demon lord’s prince before I was exiled. Emelgias Izanis—the one who attacked and destroyed my homeland.”

That green bastard was really tough back then.

“Of all the enemies I’ve faced, he was about as strong as the demon lord. But I burned his soul away with the Holy Silver Curse and crushed him. It felt super refreshing… But I didn’t gain much power from that act itself.”

――The taboo of fratricide. Even though I broke the taboo of demon princes killing each other before the succession war began.

“That alone wasn’t enough to be considered a 【Taboo】…”

“To be precise, it wasn’t of high quality as a taboo.”

Antendeixis picked up my words.

“How one struggles, wracked with guilt to the point of spitting blood, and finally crosses the line—that is what defines a 【Taboo】. Simply feeling refreshed after killing an enemy won’t make it truly taboo. Of course, you don’t gain power from it either; sure, your magical power will grow just a little—but it’s not nearly enough for this person’s ultimate goal of slaying demon lords.”

She hugged me from behind, slithering like a serpent, wrapping her hands around my neck as she chuckled.

“Killing a hated demon race, especially a strong opponent like a demon lord, let’s say you took down about a hundred of them after a struggle. Even then, you wouldn’t gain much magical power. In fact, you’d get more of an return by just taking the life of an ordinary human family. Killing the child first and showing it to the parent would be even better.”

The taboo of taking the life of an innocent child. The taboo of showing a parent the death of their beloved child. A taboo that tramples on their cries of anguish, grief, and suffering, denying them revenge. A taboo that utterly devastates the happiness of a parent-child relationship.

“The more blasphemous it is, the better. I often advised this one: If you want to get strong quickly, unleash a rain of blood, massacre the innocent. However, he steadfastly refused to listen. Although he wouldn’t mind killing soldiers, he couldn’t bring himself to harm civilians. So as a compromise, he settled on that—what was it? The Imperial Army from earlier.”

――Hehehe.

“Well, since this was the ‘justice’ he desired, it wasn’t surprising he didn’t gain much power, was it?… Until you all showed up.”

――Hehehehe.

“When he struck you down, you should’ve seen how much he grew. That year-old soldier noticed; his magical power swelled in an instant—a notch or two larger…”

――Hehehehehe.

“If he aims to replicate that with the dark ones… Ah, what a tragedy it would be! He must love them! Yet, demons and night elves are his sworn enemies. Quite a challenging task… Still, when he stealthily eliminated a childlike subordinate amidst the battlefield’s darkness! Or when he sent a loyal night elf who adored the demon lord tumbling to their demise from a height! Those were truly exquisite delights!”

…….

“Indeed, time is to short. If he’s going to align with the alliance side, he must continually, continually, and constantly increase the irreplaceable value in the demon lord kingdom. Those subordinates who admire him, the relatives of Zilbagias, those bonds of trust and affection must be nurtured, ripened, and then—and!”

『That’s enough.』

Arthur interrupted Antendeixis’s words.

『Just… stop it…』

Covering his face with both hands, he groaned.

『…I withdraw my earlier statement.』

Bishop Lexar shook his head.

『Earlier, I said I envied Alex. …I take it back. I was never envious.』

He looked at us with eyes that showed a hint of fear.

『You are… going to continue to pile on that suffering, aren’t you?』

――All those present are recognized by the Holy Silver Curse.

Taking up the sword to protect their loved ones or to avenge those they love.

That is why they understand.

The weight of that 【Taboo】.

Just how terrifying it is.

Furthermore, this Alexander is also a hero bearing the Holy Silver Curse.

――I know you’re not just a mere pleasure killer.

Arthur’s earlier words rang true.

In fact, if he were simply a killing machine, it would’ve been so much easier—

“So… everyone needs to brace themselves.”

I spoke as if I were about to vomit blood.

“Right now, I can’t defeat the demon lord. I won’t do anything like I did with the Imperial Army this time, but… once I return to the demon lord kingdom, I will fight against the allied forces as a demon lord’s prince.”

And I’ll build up.

A mountain of corpses of my brethren.

Until my blade can reach the demon lord.

『We can only watch. That’s what it is.』

Bishop Lexar crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

『A taboo of watching your comrades die without assisting them… I see, this indeed requires resolve. This is, in part, the suffering you face, isn’t it?』

With a face like he had bitten into a sour bug, Bishop Lexar nodded nonetheless.

『…If I can fight until my soul is worn out and slay even two digits of vampires, that would suffice. I had planned to leave it all to you, but—looks like that’s no longer an option.』

He gazed at his translucent, silver-flame-imbued hand.

『Of course, I will fight, but that alone will not be redemption. I can manage some level of healing miracles. By healing those who are wounded before my soul is worn out, I will seek my own end. I swear that here—』

It seemed as if the light in Bishop Lexar’s soul intensified.

『…I will do the same. By saving someone, I will at least patch up my sins…』

『Uh, I can’t use healing of light, though…』

『That can’t be helped. You just must do what you can to the utmost. …Your main element is fire, right? Then—』

『Got it! I’ll go out with a bang, taking out some high-ranking demons with me!』

『Good, that’s the spirit!』

As the Vampire Hunters began to settle their resolve in a noisy manner.

“…………I must say, I find it hard to react when you all face the taboo this decisively…”

Antendeixis donned an expression of exasperation and confusion as she looked at me.

“If you were a person who could ‘cut ties’ like these folks… we wouldn’t have met at all…”

U, ummm…

Was it good, or was it bad…

“Well, it seems not everyone can cut ties that easily.”

In the direction my gaze had been averted towards—

『…………』

A young hero’s face, filled with anguish.

【Arthur】.

『I…』

He pressed a spot on his forehead—no, around his left eye, straining and groaning.

『I can’t… just abandon… the innocent people…』

With a creaking sound, if Arthur had a physical body, it would’ve sounded like grinding teeth.

『…Well, if it’s too tough, you could always just sleep it off.』

As he yawned, the older soldier said in a laid-back tone.

『Sorry, I’m reaching my limit, so I’m going to sleep. Seemed like it was tough this time too, but hang in there until we bring down the demon lord…』

He gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder before being absorbed into the remains.

『H-Haha… Sleeping it off, huh? That is a good idea…』

Arthur wore an expression that seemed like a strange mix of laughter and tears.

『Can we… can we even do such a thing…?』

Slowly lowering his hand, the silver left eye hidden beneath glowed ominously.

『I’m Arthur. The hero of Hilburn House, Arthur. A shield to protect the innocent and a sword to drive away evil… To be honest, I want to assist Alex. That’s how I personally feel…』

“Arthur…”

『I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I want to do that, but is it even allowed?』

His lips trembled as Arthur spoke.

『Is it acceptable for 【Arthur】 to abandon people who are being killed by enemies of humanity?』

――The Arthur of Hilburn House, who carries the blood of the Hero King, does not retreat and stands against the enemies of humanity.

That 【Legend】 may crumble…

『Also… there’s the matter of 【Avalon】 and the 【Holy Relic Eyes】.』

With fierce silver eyes, he glared at me.

『If the inheritor of the 【Holy Relic Eyes】 dies, the next child born will inherit them. They will become the next 【Arthur】—I inherited this from my great-grandfather. Even though my great-grandfather was over 40.』

So young…

『And now, I definitely carry the 【Holy Relic Eyes】. None of the past 【Arthurs】 have been summoned via necromancy. Therefore, I have no idea how I should be treated. Did I die? Will the 【Holy Relic Eyes】 be passed down? Or…』

He seemed to hesitate to state what might lie ahead and fell silent.

『…Some of my wives were still pregnant when I last contacted them, so there may be children not yet born. So… I’ve been thinking about it all along. About 【Arthur】, humanity, and Alex. If I consider everything, I feel…』

The present 【Arthur Hilburn】 may just need to—

『Maybe I should just… disappear right now.』

The wind blowing across the lake was sorrowfully cool, sweeping through us.

『Maybe I shouldn’t exist anymore…』

――――

Merry Christmas!

Alex: “I’m the one suffering here!”

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