THDK Chapter 39

Reunion with the Past (Part 7)

Even now, remembering the nightmare where I pierced Nox’s heart makes me tremble.

“King Albert searched for a way, but in the end, he found no other option but to pierce King Asher’s heart with his own hand. And the sword that pierced King Asher’s heart is this very sword, which houses the soul of the great sage Oreole.”

“Oreole, you were a sage?”

“…Yes. I was a human who lived through that turbulent era as King Albert’s close confidant. After King Asher’s death, it seemed the situation might settle. However, King Albert’s decision only deepened the divide between humans and demons.”

“His decision?”

“King Albert left the human lands, used transformation magic to take King Asher’s place, and became the Demon King. Before his death, King Asher had entrusted King Albert with a magic stone containing the power of dark magic. Using that stone’s power, the man once called the Hero became the Demon King to protect the land King Asher had loved. It was the first Hero, who had transformed into the Demon King, who built the forest along the border to prevent either side from interfering with the other. The divine beast Simurgh likely resides in that forest because it is filled with the first Hero’s magic.”

The Hero became the Demon King… The reason historical records say Simurgh was attached to the Demon King is because the first Hero had transformed into the Demon King. King Albert wanted to protect the land his beloved had cherished.

If King Albert hadn’t become the Demon King, humans might have invaded the demons’ territory.

“…That’s why human history books say the Hero was killed by the Demon King.”

“Exactly. The great sage Oreole sealed his soul into this sword at the moment of his death to preserve the true history for future generations. However, over the years, I’ve encountered many Heroes, and all of them were trapped in the rigid belief that demons were the enemy. I had nearly given up on peace between humans and demons. But meeting you changed that.”

“Oreole…”

Everyone desires a peaceful world. The first Hero, the first Demon King who died—they all wanted the same thing. I think that in the thousands of years of conflict, both sides have shed too much blood. I… as the Hero, must stop this war.

“Thank you for telling me. I’ll walk a different path from the first Hero. I won’t let the person I love die.”

That’s why I’ll never stop moving forward. Even if I never see Nox again, I’ll definitely end this war.