Demon King of the Royal Class

Chapter 361

Reinhart was acting strange.

“Right?”

“Yeah.”

“Exactly.”

Ellen, Riana, Harriet, and Adelia had gathered to discuss how Reinhart had been acting a bit off lately.

It wasn’t necessarily bad, but Harriet, her face flushed, stammered, “T-The other day, he suddenly... how should I put it? He was looking at me, and it felt kind of...”

“Creepy?” Riana suggested.

“Yes! That’s exactly it!” Harriet exclaimed, as if Riana had hit the nail on the head.

Reinhart’s default expression was usually one of perpetual irritation. However, over the past few days, they had all noticed something different about him.

He seemed to have the look of someone who had seen it all, and seemed more wistful than irritable. He hadn’t been picking fights with anyone recently, either. His gaze was more tender and profound.

Of course, some, like Harriet de Saint-Ouen, found themselves blushing when faced with such a gaze. Others, like Ellen Artorius, would worry and gently touch his forehead, asking if he was unwell.

There were others who reacted quite differently.

“It’s so freaking creepy... Ugh,” Riana de Granz said, clearly disturbed.

“The other day, I wasn’t feeling well after drinking a bit at home, and suddenly he tells me, ‘Don’t drink too much, you’ll get diabetes.’ What’s that supposed to mean? It was the first time I felt so unpleasant in that way,” she recounted.

Riana was used to Reinhart telling her to stop drinking so much, but she was beyond shocked by the kindness in his tone.

.

.

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?” Riana asked Reinhart.

“I’m just worried about you, that’s all,” Reinhart replied, which only added to her discomfort.

.

.

Remembering this, Riana turned pale and muttered to herself, “Is he going to die suddenly or something? They say people change right before they die.”

“That’s not true!” someone protested.

“It’s just a superstition.”

“There’s no way...”

They all had different reactions to Riana’s words. While they all knew Reinhart was acting strange lately, none of them knew why he seemed so down.

“Should we do something for him?” Riana wondered aloud, tilting her head.

“If we do, what should it be?” Ellen replied.

“Well... besides eating good food and drinking, what else do you do when you’re feeling down?” Riana mused.

Even though she was shocked and disgusted, Riana was still worried about Reinhart.

Everyone began to think about what they could do for the downcast Reinhart, regardless of whether it would actually help him.

***

I had long thought that there were too many things to worry about. Of course, I only expected that number to increase, but as the pressure began to mount, it became difficult to pay attention to everything.

I had, for the moment, secured the Black Order’s cooperation, but I didn’t know their true intentions. Perhaps leaving the Temple and striking out on my own was the right path.

As Lucinil had said, things would grow more and more dangerous for me, and more people would learn about my true identity, which could lead to irreversible consequences depending on who found out. Instead of walking this dangerous tightrope, perhaps it was better to just leave the Temple. However, I had a reason to lay low and remain at the Temple for as long as possible.

“It’s only been a few days, so I can’t say for sure, but it seems to be progressing smoothly,” Charlotte said.

“That’s a relief,” I replied.

We were in the Class B dormitory. Charlotte was calmly sipping her tea.

The analysis of the texts we’d brought back and the research on soul absorption were underway, with the aim of removing the Demon King’s soul from Charlotte’s. Until then, I was the only one who could handle it if Charlotte’s powers went out of control.

This practical issue aside, I also didn’t want to leave the Temple, but I knew that was just my personal selfish desire.

“For the moment, I’ve kept the labyrinth beneath the Demon King’s castle and the place where we retrieved the book a secret. It might be revealed in the future, but for now, no one knows,” said Charlotte.

The labyrinth beneath the Demon King’s castle wasn’t in itself a problem. The issue was that only an Archdemon could enter it. If news got out that Charlotte’s current state was similar to the Demon King, it would be difficult to keep her safe. I wanted to remain at the Temple until Charlotte’s issue was resolved, but I did not know if that was possible.

“By the way, has something happened recently? Did you have a fight with the others?” Charlotte asked cautiously.

“What? No,” I replied.

“Hmm,” she murmured.

Charlotte seemed to sense something from my demeanor, and it had worried her enough to ask. Perhaps acting too differently from my usual self was becoming a problem. As I sat there, slightly dazed, Charlotte gently took my hand.

“Everything will be fine. Don’t worry,” she reassured me.

It was similar to what I often told Charlotte. I suddenly wished that Charlotte had her own power of incantation.

***

In Vertus’s office within the Winter Palace...

“I expected as much. It seems it will remain an unsolved case,” Vertus said, organizing the reports and placing them neatly beside the table.

The attack on Leverier Lanche... While speculations had been made about the attackers, their whereabouts remained elusive, and the intentions of the Demon King were also unknown.

The report he’d received indicated that, while the investigation into the attack on Leverier Lanche would continue, no further progress was likely.

The Demon King’s successor existed, and it was highly likely that it was the boy who had saved Charlotte.

Where had that boy gone? He had vanished from the heart of the capital as if he’d turned into steam and disappeared. Both Charlotte and Vertus had tried to track him down but had failed to find him.

At this point, the reappearance of the Demon King was working in the empire’s favor, but as long as they did not know what kind of entity the Demon King was, they could hardly rejoice over the reemergence of a once-vanished enemy of the empire.

Where could they start to search for the remnants of the Demon Realm? That was Vertus’s dilemma.

“Your Highness, about that... Reinhart you mentioned before,” another subordinate began.

“Quiet,” Vertus snapped, his brow furrowing deeply at the mention of Reinhart’s name. “Don’t speak about that moron for a while.”

In life, there are memories that cause self-inflicted damage just by recalling them. For Vertus, the name “Reinhart” brought up one of those memories.

‘Cross-dressing... Why on earth would he do that? What could have possibly motivated him?’

There was no reason, no basis, no justification for Reinhart to have done such a thing.

He’d claimed it was for money, but the prize money from that cross-dressing contest wasn’t significant.

‘The Rotary Club is practically raking in money. How much could the prize money from a cross-dressing contest really contribute to the club’s finances?’

In other words, there was no reason other than simply wanting to do it that Vertus could think of.

‘Why did Reinhart cross-dress? Because he genuinely wanted to...? No matter how much I think about it, that’s the only reason!’

To Vertus, Reinhart was just that kind of person. Someone who would cross-dress and even enter a contest to show it off to others.

“...”

People often give up trying to understand things that fall outside their own logical thinking.

Vertus had given up trying to understand Reinhart. He refused to be curious about it and refused to think about it anymore. Having given the order to stop investigating the silver-haired girl, Vertus was now deliberately avoiding thinking about that crazy guy, Reinhart.

Given how things were, Vertus’s decision to stop thinking about Reinhart was, in fact, advantageous for Reinhart.

His subordinate hesitated. “Still, I think this is something you should know...”

“I said don’t mention him,” Vertus insisted.

He had suffered too much mental damage, and had no plans to visit the dormitory until the end of winter break. The subordinate sensed that the prince’s mood was clearly displeased, and seemed unsure of what to do. It seemed like he had information he could not withhold.

“T-Then, please let me tell you one thing,” the subordinate said.

“Fine, what is it?” Vertus replied, his tone promising swift retribution if the information turned out not to be important.

“He’s been given the imperial emblem,” the subordinate finally said.

Vertus tilted his head in confusion. “What?”

It was an entirely unexpected statement. He had anticipated news about the Rotary Club or something along those lines, but the mention of the imperial emblem was a total surprise.

“Reinhart was given the imperial emblem? By whom? My sibling?” Vertus asked.

He was aware that Charlotte had lent the imperial emblem to Reinhart when he’d gone to the Dark Land.

“No. His Majesty himself gave it to him...”

“His Majesty?” Vertus repeated.

If the emperor himself had bestowed him with the imperial emblem, it was not a temporary loan. The holder of it would be treated like royalty. In essence, possessing it granted immunity from retribution for most offences.

There weren’t specific laws detailing how royalty should be treated, but being treated as though one were royalty meant receiving treatment beyond what any other member of the privileged class would receive.

Naturally, the imperial emblem was not bestowed upon just anyone. Notable individuals who had been bestowed the emblem were the hero, the late Ragan Artorius, and his party members.

This time, it had been bestowed upon Reinhart.

“Do you remember the time when the students had been invited to the imperial palace after the Temple festival?” the subordinate continued.

“Ah, yes. It’s an annual event,” Vertus acknowledged.

It was a routine event where the winners of the Temple’s annual tournament were invited to the palace to be commended and encouraged.

Reinhart had been the winner of the the first-year tournament.

“Could it be that...”

“Yes. Reinhart was not the only one. Ellen Artorius was also given the imperial emblem,” the subordinate confirmed.

“Ellen? But she didn’t participate in the tournament this year, did she?”

“This time, the winners of the Miss and Mister Temple contests were also invited,” the subordinate explained.

“Hmm. I see,” Vertus mused.

He had been too busy with other matters to pay attention to such events, so he had only just learned that Ellen had won Miss Temple.

Vertus began to piece it together. The winners of the Miss and Mister Temple contests weren’t typically invited to the palace, so the emperor must have specifically invited Ellen to give her the imperial emblem.

“I understand Ellen’s case, but why Reinhart?” Vertus wondered.

Ellen Artorius was the hero’s sister. She was exceptionally talented and was growing at an astonishing rate. Since it was possible that the Demon King had returned, the empire needed to protect Ellen and nurture her with utmost care. From that perspective, giving Ellen the imperial emblem was a significant and wise decision by the emperor.

‘But Reinhart too?’

Vertus considered Reinhart as someone who possessed formidable talent. In terms of the rate of growth, he possibly surpassed Ellen. The two of them had started from vastly different points, but now both could use Mana Reinforcement, though their skill level was still far from equal.

Ellen had the advantage of having Ragan Artorius as her brother. Because of the precedent he’d set, there were naturally high expectations for his sister. In reality, there were many in the empire more skilled than both Ellen and Reinhart.

Even if the emperor was investing in potential, giving the imperial emblem to Reinhart, who did not have the same advantages that Ellen possessed, seemed excessive.

“They say he’s the master of Tiamata,” said Vertus’s subordinate.

Vertus furrowed his brow. “What?”

‘Tiamata...’

The name made Vertus narrow his eyes.

“Is it the Tiamata that I know of? The relic of Ouen?”

“Yes. Reinhart is...” the subordinate continued cautiously, “Ouen’s Champion.”

Reinhart was Ouen’s Champion. Vertus was so shocked by this new revelation that he stood there, mouth agape.

“Since when?” he asked.

“I am not sure. This information just came in...” the subordinate replied.

‘The owner of Tiamata, Ouen's Champion, and the Apostle of the God of Purity... Purity... And cross-dressing...?’

“Then why the hell did he cross-dress?” Vertus exclaimed.

The subordinate, taken aback by Vertus’s sudden outburst, took a step back. “Pardon me?”

Purity and cross-dressing... Vertus could only conclude that Reinhart was even crazier than he had thought. Pressing his fingers against his temples, which were starting to throb, Vertus let out a deep sigh.

“No, never mind. So, Reinhart is Ouen's Champion? And we’re not sure when this happened?”

“That is correct, Your Highness. That’s why he, along with Ellen Artorius, was bestowed with the imperial emblem as adversaries of the Demon King... At least that’s what we believe.”

“Yes... that makes sense. It’s a plausible situation...”

There was one scene where Vertus wished he could wash out of his brain with a cleansing solution, and he kept trying to force it out of his mind.

Reinhart was undoubtedly a pervert, but he was also undoubtedly Ouen's Champion. He pushed aside his unnecessary concerns, though he wished he could do so permanently, but it wasn’t easy.

In any case, Reinhart was Ouen's Champion. That was why he had been given the imperial emblem, alongside Ellen.

Vertus knew Ellen wielded Lament, but he hadn’t known that Reinhart was Ouen's Champion until this moment.

“Last year, he and Ellen brought back something presumed to be a relic of the Demon from the Dark Land. Is that correct?”

“If you’re referring to the item that suddenly disappeared... yes.”

During the previous summer break, Reinhart had brought back a powerful artifact presumed to be a Demon God Relic from the Dark Land.

The Temple had begun its own investigations into it, and Dettomorian had performed some kind of ritual, before the artifact suddenly disappeared.

“Is it a stretch to think that this Demon God Relic or whatever is related to Reinhart being Ouen's Champion?” Vertus pondered.

“I’m not sure about that, Your Highness,” the subordinate replied.

The idea that a relic could be corrupted was difficult to accept unless witnessed firsthand. However, if that item was connected to Reinhart’s acquisition of Tiamata, it would mean that quite some time has passed since he’d become Ouen's Champion.

“So, he’s been keeping the fact that he’s Ouen's Champion a secret all this time...” Vertus mused.

It made sense. The owners of relics often attracted unnecessary attention or interest.

Ellen also hid the fact that she was the hero’s sister and the master of Lament for similar reasons.

Given Reinhart’s close relationship with Ellen, Vertus could understand why he might was keeping the fact that he was Tiamata’s master a secret.

Ultimately, it was tough to pinpoint whether Reinhart had become Ouen's Champion before or after entering the Temple, but his best guess would be around the summer break.

However, the real sticking point lay elsewhere. Vertus hadn’t known that Reinhart was the owner of Tiamata as it had been a well-kept secret.

“How did His Majesty find out that Reinhart is Ouen's Champion?” Vertus wondered aloud.

Reinhart wouldn’t have confessed it to the emperor himself. It seemed the emperor had specifically identified both Reinhart and Ellen to bestow the imperial emblem upon them.

‘How did the emperor know something that Reinhart did not disclose, and why did he bestow upon him the imperial emblem?’

“Hmm, it’s certainly peculiar,” Vertus murmured, resting his chin on his wrist. “Tiamata isn’t known for being wielded by non-believers,” he continued.

“That’s correct,” the subordinate confirmed.

Tiamata was a relic that only recognized the holy knights or priests of Ouen as its master. However, Reinhart wasn’t particularly religious, nor did he have the personality for it.

“If you think about it, Olivia Lanche, who is close to Reinhart, seems more fitting as Tiamata’s master. Although she’s abandoned her faith, if there’s no significant difference between someone who abandoned their faith and someone who was never a believer in the first place, then wouldn’t she be a better fit?” Vertus speculated.

Olivia Lanche, who was known for her strong talent in Divine Power and had once been called a saintess, seemed more suitable as Ouen's Champion.

If he were Ouen, he would have chosen Olivia over Reinhart. But the minds of the gods were unknowable. No one was even certain if they were entities capable of thought.

In the end, only the results remained. The emperor wouldn’t have given out the imperial emblem based on mere rumors, so Reinhart had to be Ouen's Champion.

Purity was a force opposed to corruption, and a force that stood against darkness.

The power of darkness and shadows...

His sibling, Charlotte de Gradias...

He’d once considered her so pitiful that he wasn’t even deemed her worthy of confrontation.

It was as if she had resigned herself to death while gradually being consumed by the power to manipulate shadows.

She had given up on everything, only to have suddenly regained her vitality.

Certain memories of Charlotte flashed through Vertus’s mind, and numerous thoughts began to weave within his mind.

“...”

Vertus stared out the window, his expression growing hard.

“Come to think of it, Reinhart occasionally was absent from the Temple...” he mused, and a sinister smile crept across his face.

“The date when my sibling’s condition suddenly improved and the dates Reinhart was absent from the Temple. The time of his return, and my sibling’s whereabouts. Cross-reference all of them and bring them to me,” Vertus commanded.

His subordinate nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”

As soon as his subordinate left, someone knocked on Vertus’s office door.

Knock, knock.

“What is it?”

—Your Highness, Dame Sabioleen Tana requests an audience.

“Tsk, no rest for the weary. Send her in.”

He was the First Prince, and there were many matters for him to handle. If he forgot what he had to do next, his subordinates would eventually provide him with well-organized reports that would inspire him to take some sort of action.

Until then, he would simply attend to other matters.

Sabioleen Tana calmly entered the prince’s office, wearing her usual stern expression. She appeared ageless, regardless of her actual age.

The leader of Shanapell paid her respects to the prince. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Welcome, Dame Tana.”

“I heard there is something I must do,” said Sabioleen Tana as she met the prince’s gaze.

“Yes, Dame Tana, it’s an important task.” With his fingers interlocked, Vertus smiled ominously. “A very important task.”

Sabioleen Tana silently observed Vertus’s smile.