Chapter 10 - Where Is the Hero Now?
The woman who could make him the Demon King.
Clay let out a hollow laugh, having heard truly an incredible self-introduction.
Then, she said with a somewhat displeased expression,
"What's with that attitude?"
Clay quickly wiped the smile from his face.
"My apologies. I'm just not used to being referred to in such a way."
"You'd best be careful. If you want my help."
With that, she placed the glass bottle back on the desk and said,
"I am Rin Ciart. I've heard a lot about you."
"I am Clay..., you must know that if you've heard a lot."
Then she nodded.
"Yes. Living in this world, it would be impossible not to know your name."
At those words, Clay pondered slightly.
'Rin Ciart, huh.'
Even he, the Hero, had never heard of her.
'She seems to be a magic scholar.'
He had occasionally seen them when dealing with the Demon King's army.
A magic scholar was someone who, through research, improved or strengthened demons and created various other useful things.
'But considering I've never heard her name....'
She didn't seem particularly outstanding in ability, so it was puzzling how she could make such a bold statement.
"Something feels strange."
Rin, receiving Clay's gaze, slightly contorted her expression.
"You seem to be thinking something very rude about me."
"...That's not true."
"Well, it's obvious."
Rin shook her golden bob and said,
"You're doubting if I'm really that capable, aren't you?"
"...."
"Don't get cocky just because you used to be the Hero."
Rin thrust her blue eyes close to him.
"There are quite a few excellent talents hidden in the Demon King's army."
"And you're one of them?"
"Don't make me say it myself!"
Rin, her face flushed, abruptly turned and walked back to the desk.
"Anyway, I'm preparing a lot of things for you. I still need a bit more time, so come back later."
"I don't think I've agreed yet...."
"Then you're not going to be the Demon King?"
Rin suddenly asked with an anxious expression.
"There's no other talent suitable for the Demon King besides you. You absolutely have to do it."
"Is that even something you need talent for?"
"Of course!"
Rin pointed a finger at Clay.
"Immense magical power and an innate sense to wield it! Those are the common points you have with the Demon King!"
"But I was using holy power."
"We're going to change that anyway!"
"What?"
Clay swallowed hard and looked confused, but Rin put her hands on her hips and spoke proudly.
"You're currently converting your magical power into holy power, which is why you're restricted by the priests' sealing circles. If we stop that process and let it manifest as demonic energy, you'll be able to use your abilities normally again."
Clay's eyes widened.
"Is that even possible?"
"Anyway, someone already made demonic energy manifest in you, didn't they? If we just open the pathway a little more, it'll work out somehow."
At those words, Clay groaned.
'Right, demonic energy suddenly manifested in my body.'
He, who automatically converted magical power into holy power, couldn't help but suffer greatly when the suddenly manifested demonic energy created conflicting forces within him.
'It's fine now because the holy power is suppressed, but....'
Come to think of it, why did the priests only suppress his holy power?
"Given that they didn't care about the demonic energy manifesting in your body, it's highly likely you really were framed."
At that moment, Rin spoke again at a surprisingly opportune time.
"Highly likely I was framed...?"
"Yes. The fact that they only suppressed your holy power means they thought they could kill you just by doing that. If you were truly a spy, they would have thought you might use demonic energy too."
Clay's expression hardened at Rin's explanation.
If her explanation was correct, it meant the Holy State Alliance intervened to eliminate him.
"Don't make such a gloomy face. You're alive now, aren't you?"
Rin came over and took Clay's hand.
"Become the Demon King. Then everything will be resolved."
"...Alright."
"Wow!"
Rin jumped in delight.
"I didn't expect you to agree so easily!"
"I just… thought it's better to do something."
After hearing Beatrice and then Rin, he was just speaking whatever came to mind, feeling a sense of emptiness, wondering what he was even holding back for.
"Anyway, I look forward to working with you, Clay!"
Rin vigorously shook Clay's hand up and down.
"I'll do my best to help you become the Demon King!"
It was a reaction that seemed to suggest she was happy to have a new experimental subject, but Clay replied with an awkward smile.
"Yes, I look forward to working with you."
***
"Was your conversation with Rin interesting?"
As he returned to the Demon King's office, Beatrice, who had disappeared somewhere and then returned, asked.
"Well, so-so."
"She's a girl who will help you a lot in the future. Get along with her."
"I'll try."
At Clay's words, Beatrice smiled.
"You seem a little tired?"
"She said she was going to check me out while I was there, and she did all sorts of tests."
Rin conducted Clay's physical examination.
Things like height and weight, common things, as well as allergic reactions to specific chemicals, and suitability for experiments.
"Even if it's bothersome, cooperate well. It will come back to you as something good."
At Beatrice's words, Clay nodded.
"I know that's the intention, so don't worry too much."
"But then, did you agree to become the Demon King?"
At her question, Clay groaned slightly.
"You did?"
"Well, it's more like, if it happens, it happens."
"That's a bit of an indecisive answer, isn't it?"
"I still don't really know what becoming the Demon King means."
Throwing everything away and becoming the Demon King itself was easy, but if it meant taking responsibility for the demon race, then hesitation was indeed natural.
"You don't need to worry too much about that."
Beatrice said softly.
"If you just stay in that position, the rest will take care of themselves."
"Well, alright."
Clay sat in the large chair placed in front of the Demon King's office desk.
"If it weren't for you, this body would have been captured and dragged away again."
He spoke as if he had made up his mind.
"So, I will become the Demon King."
Everything would be turned upside down starting from this day.
"I look forward to working with you, Beatrice."
This time, he extended his hand first.
Beatrice gently took his hand and replied,
"I look forward to working with you, Clay."
Thus, the era was about to face another transformation.
***
"...Damn it. Damn, damn, damn!"
Supporting the injured Lilien on their way back, the Beastkin warrior Nael cursed.
"Even his corpse..., even his corpse stolen!"
She was quite enraged.
This was because Lilien had informed her that Clay's corpse had already disappeared.
Of course, she didn't tell her everything.
She only mentioned that when she went to where the corpse was buried, the ground where the corpse had been was dug up and demonic residue remained.
Nevertheless, Nael was thoroughly agitated and grinding her teeth.
"Those damned demons! I'll kill them all!"
"...."
Lilien maintained her silence, watching her.
'It's better not to provoke her unnecessarily.'
Lilien had already hastily stopped her from immediately rushing off to find the demons.
'If I die, I won't be able to report anything.'
Lilien told Nael that imperial help would be needed to find Clay's corpse.
She also mentioned that Tia had tried to confirm Clay's corpse.
Tia wouldn't let her escape with the corpse, Nael expressed vigilance, but Lilien had somehow persuaded her.
Tia actually wanted to secretly bring the corpse back herself to perform funerary rites, so she would pretend not to notice if Nael stole it.
Nael, despite her strong disapproval of Tia herself, seemed to think that part made sense.
Ultimately, Nael decided to take Lilien to Tia first.
The current situation was created through that process.
"I'll kill them all...."
Of course, with her continuously raging, Lilien couldn't help but sigh.
'I hope we can return to the Imperial Palace safely.'
And fortunately, that wish was granted.
Nael took Lilien back to the imperial capital of Iser and finally met Tia.
Slide.
Nael set Lilien down on the floor in front of Tia.
"She was severely injured. Please treat her."
"I am ashamed, Your Majesty."
Tia looked down with a cold expression at Lilien, who was prostrating herself and speaking.
"Tia, you tried to find Clay's corpse, didn't you?"
That expression grew even colder at Nael's question.
"I'll find the corpse on my own. But it would be faster if you helped. If you find it, you must tell me. Absolutely. That's why I brought this person here."
Nael, pointing at Lilien, turned around.
"I'll be going now. I hope you don't forget what I just said."
Thud.
After Nael left alone, Tia, remaining in the office, spoke to Lilien.
"Did you tell her everything I was trying to do?"
"I apologize, Your Majesty!"
Then Tia brought over a sword from the corner of the office.
"I wasn't looking for an apology. I don't need that right now."
"...I had something I absolutely had to tell you directly, so I had no choice but to return, risking disloyalty."
"Something you had to tell me directly?"
Tia frowned and asked.
"What is it?"
"Clay was up and walking."
"What...?"
Tia's eyes widened as if they would pop out.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I don't know if he became an undead. It's questionable if such a normal form is even possible.... But what's certain is that someone was with Clay."
To Tia, who was waiting in stunned silence, Lilien finally conveyed the information.
"It was Beatrice."
Beatrice.
One of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings and the progenitor of the Dragonkin.
"Beatrice, one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings."
At that moment, Tia froze in place, as if her breath had stopped.