Chapter 181 : The ceremony of the second coming of the Demon King
A few days later—
A huge <Remote Clairvoyance Limnet> crystal was placed in one of Delsgade’s rooms.
The image of Melheis and the other Demon Elders was displayed on it.
They were in front of the main gate. The top of the stairs was luxuriously decorated, and served as an audience platform.
The Seven Demon Elders were gazing at mountains of people filling the streets.
All those demons were forming an unbroken line wherever they went, their gazes fixed on the audience platform.
This was the ceremony of the second coming of the Demon King.
Melheis explained in an exaggerated manner that this was where the Demon King of Tyranny, reincarnated from two thousand years ago, would appear.
The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place one month later, but due to the whole incident with Avos Dilhevia occupying Midhaze and bringing numerous demons under her control, we decided to hold this event on short notice.
When the <Dark Region Demera> spell was lifted, the people of Dilhade were in turmoil. The Demon King of Tyranny, whom they were relying on, also vanished, and the wedge between the Royalists and the Unitarians grew even wider.
The Royalists were aware that they were brainwashed, but as long as they didn’t understand the situation, they couldn’t use that as an excuse.
This ceremony was a means of bringing the situation under control before the antagonism between the two factions came to light and escalated into conflict.
Melheis told the people about Avos Dilhevia without hiding anything.
That he was a great spirit born from the rumors and legends of the Demon King of Tyranny that had been incorrectly passed down in Dilhade for the past two thousand years.
This made a great number of people realize the truth about the Demon King of Tyranny Avos Dilhevia being born from false rumors and legends.
Having seen her with their own eyes, they couldn’t distrust the existence of a fake Demon King.
The Royalists couldn’t deny it either since it gave them the excuse that they were brainwashed.
Either they admitted their own guilt or they acknowledged the existence of a fake Demon King. Before the ceremony, when I negotiated with the royal faction officials to lay the groundwork, they chose the latter option.
Avos Dilhevia was reincarnated as Misa the spirit. This would be revealed in detail so that her rumors and legends would remain. Then there would be no fear of Misa fading away.
As sooner or later, this event would be recorded in the history books of Dilhade, and passed down for generations to come.
Even now, Melheis was telling the citizens of Dilhade about the many things that had taken place over the past two thousand years.
I looked around the room.
Misa was by herself, looking down with a nervous look on her face.
“Shin.” I said to him, who was standing beside me.
“I heard from Reno that you still haven’t talked to Misa much.” (Anos)
“…I… have no idea what to tell her… As this body of mine is a sword…” (Shin)
“Stop whining. How can you make excuses like that in front of your own child?” (Anos)
Shin stayed silent.
“She’s feeling anxious. Go talk to her.” (Anos)
“…Very well, My Lord.” (Shin)
Shin walked up to her, looking insecure.
Once he was close enough, Misa slowly looked up.
“…Dad…” (Misa)
“…Yes…” (Shin)
Hmm. Unexpectedly enough, Shin looked nervous.
“…Ah, umm…” (Misa)
“…Yes…?” (Shin)
Misa was also feeling tense.
There was an awkward atmosphere between them.
“…Ahaha, I’m sorry… I’m just a little nervous… worrying whether this can go well…” Misa chuckled weakly.
She was going to present herself to the populace as Avos Dilhevia.
In order to correct the Royalists’ ideology born out of that false legend, she would come out as the fake Demon King, and swear her allegiance to the Demon King of Tyranny.
However, the fact remained that she committed atrocious acts against the mixed-bloods.
Although it all happened against Misa’s will and she was now reincarnated, it was still hard to accept.
And regarding the Royalists, she might become the target of their resentment as the one who triggered the stripping of their privileges and ranks.
“…At… At this point, no matter how frightened I am… I still have to go out there… And compared to when you and the others fought, this is nothing, after all…” (Misa)
Shin was listening to her in silence.
“Ha… Ahaha…” (Misa)
Laughing ambiguously, Misa hung her head down, as if to say that she wasn’t sure what to do.
“It-It’ll be fine… I-I’ll do it…!” (Misa)
This time, she clenched her fists as a show of courage.
Shin stared at her, thought long and hard, and called out to her.
“I know this is going to be a harsh ordeal, but Misa, you are not the sort of girl to be intimidated by it.” (Shin)
“…Eh…?” (Misa)
“For a long time, I have been watching you… Although I could never show myself to you as you wished, I have been watching you. Such as when you joined the Unitarians in order to meet me. And when you made another vow for the sake of the friends you made there.” (Shin)
Gazing warmly at her, Shin spoke.
“You have grown up to be such a kind and strong girl who extends a helping hand into the tragedies that lie before her without worrying about her own life.” (Shin)
Tears welled up in Misa’s eyes.
“I sincerely apologize for not being able to come and meet you for the past fifteen years.” (Shin)
“…Dad… You don’t need to apologize…” (Misa)
Misa jumped into Shin’s chest and hugged him tightly.
“…You sent me half of your demon sword… Seeing it gave me the will to do my best all the way. And the hope that one day, one day for sure… my father would come to see me… I’ve always thought so…” (Misa)
Shin timidly put his hands on Misa’s back.
“…I could not be by your side, but my heart was always with you. The only thing that made my life worth living was to see you grow up healthy and happy.” (Shin)
Misa was crying with her face on Shin’s torso.
As if she was quietly making up for that last fifteen-year gap with her tears.
Then, after a few moments, she wiped away her tears and smiled as usual.
“I’m fine now. I can’t stay nervous forever, right? Because now, Dilhade will finally be back to its rightful form, where mixed-bloods and royals will join forces! If it’s to make it happen, then I have nothing to be afraid of.” (Misa)
Shin nodded, as if acknowledging her feelings.
“Shall we go?” (Shin)
Shin patted her shoulder, and escorted her to the door.
“Hmm. It’s almost time, huh.” (Anos)
I looked around, and Lay, Shin, and Reno nodded in acquiescence.
Shin and Lay put their hands on the door.
On the other side was the audience platform in front of the main gate, which I could see on the <Remote Clairvoyance Limnet> crystal.
I slowly stepped out and walked to the other side of the open door.
What caught my eye were the Seven Demon Elders, who descended from the audience platform and straightened themselves as if to welcome me. Behind them was the populace of Dilhade.
On either side of the platform were seats for honored guests, which included Erio, the Demon Lord who ruled over Dilhade, his relatives, as well as my parents.
They had been seated just a few moments ago, but they were now all standing as I emerged from the main gate.
