We saw it—a horrifying scene of an orphaned child killing the Crown Prince, who looked exactly like him.
What we gathered was a monster disguised in the skin of the Crown Prince.
The vision shown by the Demon King was, without a doubt, one of the most shocking moments of our lives.
“This can’t be…”
“The Emperor… was a fraud?”
“Have we been deceived for all these years?”
“It was all lies. Even his identity!”
“Worse than the demons themselves…”
“Who could have guessed such a truth was hidden?”
The onlookers’ gazes grew colder than ever.
As for me, I was beyond cold—I was dumbfounded.
The Emperor, who took pride in his position more than anyone else, was actually a fraud and a con artist?
No, not just that.
He was a murderer.
A royal murderer who killed the real Crown Prince.
“Nooooooo!”
The Emperor—or rather, the fake Emperor, Carlos—screamed.
“What nonsense are you all spouting? Are you seriously believing the Demon King’s words? The Demon King! A being full of lies and deceit! How can you trust the words of such a being? I’ve ruled this world as Emperor for decades, and now you’re calling me a fake? Hah! Such ridiculous claims!”
Heh… So that’s your defense? Calling me a liar? Hey, orphan brat, you trying to get yourself killed?
“Sh-shut up! D-don’t you dare meddle in the affairs of humans, Demon King! Isn’t the Demon King our sworn enemy? Relying on his words to accuse the Emperor is preposterous!”
“We are not relying on the Demon King’s words.”
The person who stepped forward was none other than the Great Sage.
In a calm yet icy tone, she declared:
“Emperor—or rather, we should no longer call you that. Criminal Carlos. The magical sigil engraved on your back is a special kind that uses past events as a medium. By analyzing its pattern, we can discern its contents. In other words, we are not believing the Demon King’s words; we are believing our own eyes, which have seen the truth of the past.”
“L-lies again! Why do you enjoy framing me so much?”
“This is a matter far beyond the embezzlement uncovered by the crystal ball. You were never the Emperor… In fact, you are a murderer who killed the Crown Prince. So, what now? How will you get out of this one?”
“Get out? There’s no need to get out of anything! There’s nothing wrong!”
The Emperor began to throw a tantrum.
Carlos, now raising his voice, resisted with all his might against the piercing gazes directed at him.
“I am the Emperor! The Emperor! No one can deny that! No one can harm the Emperor! My guards will protect me! Isn’t that right, Jack Grave?”
Jack Grave, the Grand General, did not respond.
He seemed to be gauging the atmosphere.
The Emperor pressed further.
“Jack Grave! It was I who elevated you to your position! Surely you wouldn’t betray me in a situation like this? That would be the act of a beast!”
“Well… I’m loyal only to the one in power.”
“Then you should be loyal to me! I am the most powerful being in this world!”
“If you still were the Emperor, perhaps I would be.”
“What? How dare you address me so casually?”
“Then what should I call you?”
“You insolent wretch!”
I couldn’t stand to listen any longer.
Even his closest aides knew he had been abandoned.
“Enough.”
I stepped forward.
“From the start, I planned to take you down, Carlos, even if you were truly the Emperor. But now that I know you’re not, and you even killed the real Crown Prince? What do you think I’ll do?”
“W-what are you planning, Victor?”
“I’m going to take you down. Obviously.”
“Y-you bastard!”
I strode up to the throne without hesitation.
No one stood in my way—not even the guards.
Carlos, clearly panicked, screamed:
“What are you all doing? This scoundrel is coming for me! Protect me! What are the soldiers doing? The generals?”
“Tch.”
The sound came, not from me, but from a soldier clicking his tongue.
“The Emperor? What Emperor.”
“Does he still think he’s the Emperor?”
“Ridiculous.”
“Protect him? Protect who?”
“That guy’s just a criminal.”
“Let him die.”
“Go for it, Victor!”
“Knock him out in one blow!”
“You’ve got this!”
The soldiers began cheering for me instead.
“Go, Victor!”
“Victooooor!”
“Take down the fake Emperor!”
“We believe in you!”
“Let’s gooooooo!”
Their support sent a strange weight onto my shoulders.
Fine, then.
Let’s make it big.
I’ve held back long enough.
“Whew… Ten steps to the throne. How could I not have walked this short distance before?”
“W-what are you doing, Victor? I’m the Emperor! The Emperor!”
“Bite down hard.”
As I stretched my arm, winding it up for a punch, a voice came from Zero, who lay collapsed on the ground, his eyes gouged out.
“You… possess immense power.”
“What are you on about?”
“Your power isn’t just to give buffs… It includes taking them away. Right now, the strength of all your allies resides within you… Don’t just strike; use magic in your punch… You should be able to… now…”
“Zero!! You scum! Did you speak up just to say that nonsense?!”
“Your Majesty… Do you think I would die alone?”
“You insolent fool! Don’t you have any loyalty?!”
“It was you… who abandoned me first, Your Majesty. No, you’re not even that. Fake Emperor… murderer of the Crown Prince… Why don’t you experience death for yourself?”
“Zeroooooooo!!!”
While the Emperor and Zero argued, I took a moment to feel the energy flowing through my body.
There was no denying it now—a surge of power unlike anything I’d known coursed through me.
Was this magic?
What would happen if I focused this energy into my right hand?
“Oh my! This… this is incredible!”
The Great Sage’s astonished voice rang out.
“Such immense magical energy! I’ve never seen this much power in a single person’s fist! It’s… unreal!”
“Huh… Have I become that strong? I can’t really tell myself… Well, there’s only one way to find out.”
“Find out? What do you mean?”
The Emperor, clearly terrified, stammered.
I clenched my fist tightly and replied, “It means I’m going to test it out by smashing you in one blow.”
“W-what… Are you insane?”
“No, the insane one here is you.”
Thinking about all the things this guy has done, forgiveness isn’t an option.
This guy, at least, deserves to feel the full force of my punch.
With all my might, with my true strength.
“Bite down hard.”
“Wait… Wait a second!”
The Emperor seemed to realize the overwhelming energy in my punch.
For the first time, he showed a pathetic, groveling attitude in front of me.
“A-alright, Victor… Victor, sir.”
Victor, sir?
Now that’s a novel title.
“Victor, my boy, listen to me. Let’s join forces. You, the hero, and I, the Emperor—together, we would be unstoppable! I promise never to discriminate or mistreat you again. I’ll fully support you and grant you all the power you need! What do you say?”
“Shut up and clench your teeth. Bite your tongue, and you’re dead meat.”
“…I-I was wrong! I’ll beg for forgiveness! Yes, that’s it! I’ll give you a fortune! Or how about replacing Zero as the Grand Protector? Whatever you want—money, power, anything!”
“Alright, here we go. I’ll count to three. One…”
“Can’t you hear me? I’m trying to negotiate! There’s no need to resolve this through violence! I said I was wrong! I’ll give you anything! Why can’t you understand? Why?!”
“Two…”
“Victor, my boy, wouldn’t it be beneficial for you to have someone like me as a supporter? Please, just listen―”
“Three!”
Wham!
The punch landed squarely, and the so-called Emperor spun in a spiral before slamming into the wall behind him.
He coughed violently, spitting up a mouthful of blood.
Looks like he really bit his tongue.
“Ugh…ugh…”
“Didn’t I tell you to clench your teeth properly?”
“How… did I end up like this…”
Hahaha! Now this is entertaining!
The Demon King, who had been quietly observing, burst into laughter.
This is why watching humans is so much fun! Hahaha!
“Demon King… Somehow, it doesn’t feel like this is our first meeting.”
Ah, well… That’s because I’ve fought you before in various forms.
But this is the first time we’re formally meeting, isn’t it?
Nice to meet you, Victor Evans, the hero.
I am the Demon King.
“Hmph… You’re more polite than I expected. Let me ask you something, then.”
Ask away.
“What’s your purpose here, Demon King? I doubt you showed up just to expose the Emperor’s corruption.”
Oh… Sharp, aren’t you? Or should I say, as sharp as I hoped.
You are, after all, the chosen one I’ve been waiting for—the one who surpasses the first hero.
“I don’t care about the first hero or any of that. Just tell me your goal.”
Heh… Fine, I’ll tell you. But don’t faint in shock when you hear it.
The Demon King began explaining the reason for his visit to the human continent, a purpose that left all of us reeling with shock.