Chapter 242 – Planning for the Future by Design #04

There was a man who was called ‘The Butcher’ by the demons.

A madman who had not been able to fight against the demon king’s army before, and dared to step into the demon king’s territory alone without fear.

When they heard that the man slaughtered 100 or so low-level demon patrols at once outside the demon king’s territory, the demon king’s executives laughed at the man.

The past 200 years have not been without heroes who have tried the same as men. At the rate of one person every 10 years, people with heaven-sent talent and a purpose close to madness would appear.

For example, the first hero chosen by the goddess. The savior of mankind who led the great battles of the Great War, which were inferior to mankind at the time, to victory over and over again.
For example, the secret weapon of mankind that is said to have been developed by the emperor of the empire. An incarnation of battle that can overwhelm a corps commander even with just one tree branch.
For example, the worst disciple raised by the Heavenly Demon who lost her husband her out of vengeance. A martial artist who was said to be more dangerous than the demon king because of his violent nature and means his.
For example, a mysterious wizard whose identity no one knows, a genius who was ahead of his time and most of the magic he used is still unexplained 100 years later.

Some of them even set foot in the territory of executives beyond the frozen land where life is difficult to live. Some of them survived facing the officers and headed for the Devil Castle.

But not one of them survived to return to the land of men.

They couldn’t even reach the Demon Castle. The only thing I could do was to endure endless raids by the executives and demons and then collapse while watching the castle from a distance.

Occasionally, there were those who fought hard by knocking down executives, but among the fallen executives, there were no subordinates.

It was just that the commander of the corps, who had just received the power, fell carelessly and fell, and it was all that the spirit was burned and extinguished without producing any meaningful results.

It is no different this time. No, the executives at the time were sure that it would produce a mediocre result.

The man who set foot in the land of the demon king now was nothing more than an infinitely insignificant individual compared to the aforementioned ‘heroes’. Instead of stepping into the territory of the executives, he would die in the frozen land.

Thinking so, the officers erased the man’s name from their heads.
It was exactly half a year later that they recalled the name.

**

“At that time, the Demon King’s Army had to give up five front lines with humanity. In just half a year, more than half of the low-level demons wandering in the frozen land were annihilated, and the front line couldn’t handle it.”
“After three months, two territories of the executives collapsed. It was because he invested all his strength his to capture Artin, but most of his subordinates and followers his died and he lost his power and fell into ruin.”
“It was even greater in the last three months. After losing Loki, the king of giants, and Carzione, the black dragon, the Demon King’s army mobilized all their officers and all their strength to pursue Artin. Even so, I couldn’t stop Artin from reaching the Demon Castle.”
“The demons called Artin a butcher. Part of it was because there were so many demons’ blood and flesh in the places where Artin went, but he was too fearful to be given a heroic name.”

Sardiel’s story made me feel so ashamed that I couldn’t raise my face.

Did you blow it up too much? Of course, there are things like that, but the memory of that time was not a particularly glorious memory for me.

“Don’t push yourself too hard. In the end, I died without even scratching the demon king’s body. If I still think about that time, I will die of regret.”
“Ah, isn’t it just a failure? Do you know how much everyone held their breath watching back then, even in heaven? It was such an unexpected development that even the archangels were watching you.”

If you expected that, would you give me the qualifications of a hero?
In the end, I couldn’t do any damage to the demon king’s body until the end, so I only remember taking poison and committing suicide.

‘I was pretty pissed off. That’s why I smashed Rexton’s face in anger.’

If this was a memory from a few years ago, I would have at least corrected the memories, but to me, it is a memory of a shameful defeat that has not yet passed half a year.

Sometimes, when I recall the memory of that time, I kick the blanket even while sleeping. If I had retreated and reorganized myself and brought Karen back, I would have killed the Demon King.

“Did you fight like that alone… Artin… ?”

The warmth that wrapped around my hand, the trembling voice of her, and Agnes’ shaky gaze of her, I pretended not to know and gave an awkward smile.

“Well, I went away with a loud voice, but I thought it would be cool to go with the head of the demon king, because what did I do to come back empty-handed?”
“Why did you have such a stupid idea! If you were having such a hard time, it would have been nice if you hadn’t pushed yourself and returned right away!”

Despite Agnes’s weeping voice, I couldn’t bear to make excuses. In fact, it is true that I made a half-crazy choice at that time.

But I couldn’t go back to that. Permanently injured from the continued fighting, more than half of my body was already inoperable.

If I had chosen recuperation in that state, I wouldn’t have been able to prevent the resurrection of the demon king, and then the ending for me, Agnes, and all my friends to die at the hands of the demon king is certain.

So I had to throw a gambler. I thought that if I could just cut off the head of the demon king, all of that would absolutely not be in vain.

“Now, I don’t understand. It is true that the master is stronger than the body, but he is not the commander of the corps and cuts off the head of his servant his Cargione-sama? Besides, the king of giants, Loki, is a strong fighter army commander who can be considered a member of his family?”
“I agree with Sirka. He even had a duel with the Bocchan himself, but it wasn’t that strong. Wouldn’t Xiao Mei or Prince Richard be far stronger?”

Shirka and Shion said that they did not understand. Would the two people who directly fought against me find it difficult to understand?

“When he fought Shion, Artin wasn’t sincere, when he was fighting Sirka, he was at best in a state where he couldn’t even awaken, and Artin is not just a technique, but a type whose true character comes out only when it is backed up by physical ability?”

Certainly, as I said, my fighting method is far from polishing my skills to the limit. I’m not a genius like Xiaomei or Karen.

Instead, it should be said that he is a solid type who fights with the strength he gained through hard work and the experience he has accumulated over and over again.

If you think like that, at least the beginning of a superman, and the current body that is on the verge of feeling inadequate. The reason why he tried to get the fruit of wisdom from Mephisto was also part of an effort to make up for that deficiency.

“So, if an executive appears, the best strategy would be to give blessings and support to Artin and Karen this time. As long as the others protect the students, the two of them will be enough, right?”
“No, I’m not that strong yet? Just to buy time…”
“Oh, I’m an archangel and I’ll help you. Are you worried about that? Don’t worry, I’ll make up for your lack of strength with blessings and magic!”

Sardiel knocked on my chest and shouted that I should only believe in myself.
Seeing her so confident, I started to worry about whether I could trust her.

“Then we… “
“We have to buy time while our main characters deal with executives. Are you all prepared for that? Is it not?”

Some women started to get angry at the provocation that was close to the nuance of not being able to do that much.

“As I said last time, the kingdom’s Wolf Skin Warriors will be participating in this exercise. Most of the warriors are strong soldiers with more than 5 years of experience fighting the Demon King’s army, and my younger brother Ojie will lead them personally, so they won’t be a burden.”

Sister Marianne was the first to respond to the provocation.

“Besides, since I’ll be helping the fight by Artin’s side, it’s obvious that I’ll be the biggest force. Is it not?”
“Certainly, if my sister fights by my side, I will be reassured. There are still some insecurities with just me and my partner.”

It is clear that it will be of great help if Sister Marianne, the strongest female warrior in the kingdom, and Prince Ojie, who is a strong warrior, lead a warrior team.

Sensing my trusting gaze, Sister Marianne gave off her victor’s aura with a satisfied smile.

“Even in our empire, the Royal Guard Knights will participate directly. You know? That the Royal Guard Knights are only made up of strong men who are on a similar level to the elite knights who participate in great battles? Of course, I will also lead the royal court maids and escort Sensei-sensei.”
“Oh, are you really sending the Knights Templar? What kind of wind blows that salty emperor?”

Currently, the Empire is governed jointly by two rulers.

The iron-blooded emperor who rules over everything in the empire, ‘Emperor’ Edward Ermengart, father of Agnes.
And Alfred Ermengart, the ‘Celestial Emperor’, the first emperor who is called the living god of the empire and is fighting against the demon king.

The detailed circumstances are complicated, but in a nutshell, most of the empire’s armed forces flow under the control of the emperor and are put into the front line of the demon king’s army.

However, some of them return to the imperial family and become the sword and shield that protects the imperial family.

Maybe even without me and Karen, if there was only the Royal Guard Knights, wouldn’t it be possible to block the corps commander?

Of course, the ladies-in-waiting, which consisted of only carefully selected female knights to serve the women of the imperial family, was also strong enough to not succumb to such an order of knights. Rather, it is safe to say that it is excessive.

“… It’s been a while since I acted cute to my older brother and her father. He even had to send a letter to Cheonje-nim himself.”
“Agnes did a great job, thank you so much Agnes.”
“What, Artin is my fiancé and husband-to-be? This is a matter of course.”

Contrary to her humble words her, Agnes put a pod in my hand that we were holding together and showed off as if showing off.

Seeing her displaying the dignity of her husband’s wife her, Marianne’s older sister, who had been upbeat until just now, she twitched her brows. Weren’t you two good friends?

“…”
“What about the saintess? Didn’t she say the other day that she was bringing the Holy Knights under the direct jurisdiction of the Pope?”
“Yes, the Holy Knights and Priests will participate in this practice. I will participate, but… “
“Well? I didn’t look very good for something like that, but what’s wrong?”

In response to the Heavenly Demon’s question, the saintess let out a sigh and put on a pitiful expression.

“It’s just a pity that I couldn’t give Artin more than just the right help. It’s not very nice to brag about such obvious things, isn’t it?”
“…What?”
“It is. The matter that was already decided at the last meeting seems to have done a great job…Should I say it’s a little filthy…It looks like it’s degrading…”

Saying that, Olga laughed strangely.
Not only did her older sister her Marianne, who was outraged by Olga’s sarcasm her, but also Agnes, who was known for her always calm her, could not hold back her anger and glared at Olga.
Needless to say, because Olga did n’t avoid her gaze at her and looked at her, a terrifying fight began.

‘Ah, I want to run away.’

I suddenly had a stomach ache.

Is it my mistake that I feel more afraid of the current situation than when I was heading to the Devil’s Castle alone?

‘Wouldn’t it tear my limbs if I said that Karen participated in the harem…’

Maybe, I started to feel that fighting the Demon King’s army officers would be easier than placating my harem.

Yes, if this is karma, then it must be karma. Let’s sweeten it.