After Harriet had left, Bertus sat in his office, deep in thought.
It seemed as if the Demon King would rather die.
If things continue this way, bigger problems may arise.
But why?
Wouldn't it be better to use Akasha to survive?
Why does the Demon King pretend to care about humanity?
He destroyed their world, killed their father, and if Valier Senior truly died with such a purpose, then Valier Junior must hate humanity.
The Demon King has no reason to care for human welfare.
Such forgiveness and reconciliation cannot exist in this world.
Thus, Valier's words about wanting peace must inevitably be false.
In fact, every story about Akasha could very well be a lie.
Should the Demon King be killed, or spared?
For now, the Demon King's subordinates possess Akasha, and if they attempt to use it to reclaim the Demon King, an unpredictable disaster will occur.
The Demon King's minions will use Akasha to free him.
If the Demon King is killed, will his desperate minions not use Akasha?
That is unlikely.
If the situation unfolds that way, Akasha will be used for vengeance against the dead Demon King.
In any case, Akasha will be used.
The only way to prevent Akasha from being used is to release the Demon King.
But what if the freed Demon King uses Akasha to destroy the world?
That would be the worst possible outcome for humanity.
If the story of Akasha is true.
And if the truth is that he lost his memory and knew nothing until now.
And if it is true that he knows the future.
And if it is true that a massive disaster, a Gate catastrophe or something like it, will occur.
And if it is true that the Demon King tried to prevent that catastrophe for the sake of humanity?
Believing such a lie is too much to ask.
The Demon King has built up too many lies up to this point. That's why Bertus couldn't trust anything the Demon King said in this situation.
Should the Demon King be killed, spared, or released?
Lost at the crossroads of destruction, where no answer could be right, Bertus felt disoriented.
——
Olivia Lanze returned to the Imperial Capital.
The lengthy investigation into the followers of the Demon God Cult was finally coming to a close.
The Gelkorgis Desert in the southern continent, where desertification had progressed too far and countless abandoned cities had become the stronghold of the Demon God Cult followers.
It was natural that the headquarters of the Demon God Cult would be located in the uninhabited wilderness of the vast desert area.
The immense divine power of the Demon God that Olivia possessed was, in itself, a form of identification and a ticket to enter.
Olivia's original intention was to be prepared to annihilate the Demon King if he revealed himself among the followers of the Demon God Cult.
However, the followers knew nothing of the Demon King. They merely spouted nonsense about the Demon King representing the will of the demons, but they had no real connection with him.
Knowing that they were just followers who chose to follow the Demon King of their own accord, she could only conclude that the previous attack on Rajeurn by the Demon God Cult followers was not the work of the Demon King himself.
Since killing the Demon King directly was impossible, Olivia decided on an alternative course of action.
She planned to completely eradicate the Demon God Cult followers, who could eventually side with the Demon King.
That was a task she couldn't do alone, so Olivia returned to the Imperial Capital.
She intended to lead the Holy Knights and sweep the Gelkorgis Desert clean.
The situation would be even more complicated if the Demon King made full contact with the followers, so now was the right time.
With such thoughts, Olivia encountered something strange upon her return to the Imperial Capital.
"Olivia Lanche, please come with us for a moment."
Even before she arrived at the headquarters of the Holy Knights, imperial knights blocked Olivia's path.
——
Instead of going to the Holy Knights' headquarters, Olivia was led by the knights to the temple.
Although she had intended to see Reinhardt's face at the temple anyway, it was still an odd feeling, as if she had been dragged there.
And Olivia felt something was off.
Of course, considering the current situation, the atmosphere inside the temple seemed excessively tense.
Most of the people coming and going were not students, and there were even more armed soldiers than usual.
The knights and mages escorting Olivia also appeared far from ordinary.
Inside the temple, in a consultation room at the main building.
However, unable to hide the feeling that she had been brought to an interrogation room, someone soon entered.
A knight from Shanafel whom she had seen during the raid on Rezaira: Scottla Kelton sat down in front of Olivia.
"I told them not to use forceful means, but I'm not sure if they did. How are you?"
Olivia stared silently at the stern-faced middle-aged knight.
"It wasn't forceful, but… what's going on? Did I do something wrong?"
The strange atmosphere had made Olivia irritable.
As she had accurately identified the positions of the Demon God Cult believers, she had not made a mistake but rather brought great benefit to the empire. Of course, she hadn't reported it yet.
At Olivia's words, Scottla Kelton lowered his head.
"No, not at all. We trust you, Olivia. However, due to an important fact that has come to light recently, we must pay close attention to you."
"An important fact?"
"…"
Scottla Kelton gazed at Olivia silently.
As if deeply contemplating something.
"Olivia, would you summon Tiamata?"
"…?"
As if there was no reason not to, Olivia summoned Tiamata and placed it on the table.
"You share Tiamata with Reinhardt, don't you?"
Scottla Kelton had seen Olivia wielding Tiamata, which should have belonged to Reinhardt, during the Rezaira incident.
"Yes, you saw it."
Olivia furrowed her brow, as if asking why he was bringing up something she already knew. Growing increasingly annoyed by the incomprehensible situation, Scottla Kelton nodded with a stern expression.
"Reinhardt has been identified as the Demon King."
"…What?"
Unable to help her confusion, Olivia had just heard something that made no sense.
What did I just hear?
Even when she thought about each word separately, she couldn't understand the meaning of what she had just heard.
However, Scottla Kelton did not provide a detailed explanation.
"Thus, Olivia, who is essentially soul-bound to the Demon King, can only be considered a person of interest."
"Wait, what are you talking about?!"
"Olivia, I believe you are innocent. However… I recommend you stay in the main building until the situation is resolved."
"What…?"
"Please, Olivia… We don't want to do this either."
Scottla Kelton left the consultation room.
Olivia was dumbfounded, unable to understand what was happening.
——
Soon after leaving the consultation room, Olivia was escorted by knights to a staff dormitory in the main building.
It was imprisonment in all but name. Not only was Olivia inside the dormitory, but a Shanafel knight had also taken up residence.
It was clear that she was being monitored in real time.
"What's going on? I should know what's happening too. If you just casually throw at me that Reinhardt is the Demon King, what am I supposed to do?"
Although Scottla Kelton was not the one assigned to watch her, the one who was assigned was a member of the Shanafel, the strongest knight order of the empire.
It was evident that they were capable of suppressing Olivia in case of emergency, and this person was not the only one.
The Shanafel knight stared intently at Olivia with a stern expression.
"Exactly as I said, Olivia. Reinhardt, the wielder of Alsbringer and Tiamata, was the Demon King who had infiltrated the temple. It has recently come to light, and he is currently imprisoned within the temple while discussions are underway to determine his fate."
Though the explanation was longer than Scottla Kelton's, Olivia still couldn't understand it.
"Furthermore, you were saved by the Demon King's forces during the death of Riverrier Lanze but have been hiding this fact ever since. Although we cannot determine if it was your intention, considering that you share Tiamata with the Demon King, the empire has deemed it necessary to keep an eye on you, Olivia."
"…"
"Olivia, if you behave for just a few days, there will be no trouble."
In the end, although there was a possibility that Olivia was not involved with the Demon King, the empire was keeping her under surveillance because of that possibility.
Until the Demon King's fate was decided.
Olivia swallowed her saliva.
Something.
It was clear that very strange things were happening, most of which Olivia couldn't even accept.
But there was one sentence that kept echoing in her head.
Reinhardt was the Demon King.
That's why she, who shares Tiamata with the Demon King, was under suspicion.
Also, the fact that she had been at the scene of Riverrier Lanze's murder but had kept that secret until now.
Because of that, she couldn't help but be suspected of being in league with the Demon King.
Olivia could barely understand that much.
"Reinhardt is… the Demon King…?"
Just that one truth.
If she could accept that, all the scattered puzzles that had been complicating Olivia's life so far would fit together.
That day, Olivia was tormented by the fact that she couldn't understand the Demon King's actions.
Why did he save me?
Did he save me, an illegitimate child, while trying to kill Riverrier Lanze? Why?
Attacking the nameless religious order would only benefit the empire, so why did he do something good for the empire?
Olivia had been confused up until now because she couldn't understand the Demon King's intentions.
But now, Reinhardt was the Demon King.
If that was the case, everything made sense.
He was trying to protect her.
There was no other reason.
Somehow, Reinhardt had learned that Olivia was in danger. That's why he had led his forces to attack Riverrier Lanze.
The nameless monastery and Riverrier Lanze itself had no meaning.
It was a story where he had saved them only because Olivia and Adriana were in danger.
The last piece of the puzzle fit.
The Demon King and Reinhardt.
If the two were the same, she could understand and accept all the situations.
If the attack on the Rajeurn by the Demon God Cult was the work of the Demon King, she thought the Demon King must be an evil being.
But now Olivia knew that the Demon God Cult was actually unrelated to the Demon King.
He won't choose me.
Reinhardt won't look at me.
He's always looking somewhere else.
I'm pouring my heart out to him, but he keeps turning away from me.
It's heartbreaking.
That's what I thought.
But I was wrong.
Reinhardt had already saved me, taking great risks to do so.
He did it the first time, and he did it again.
Reinhardt saved me twice.
"…"
What did it mean when you said you'd do anything for me, even if I don't look at you?
What did it mean when you said you'd be on my side, even if I don't choose you? What a trivial thing to say.
Unbeknownst to her, Reinhardt had already saved her, risking his life and mobilizing his not-so-substantial forces to face the elite holy knights.
He even risked exposing his identity.
While she swore to save Reinhardt with words alone, Reinhardt had actually saved Olivia. And he never let it show.
And yet, she was feeling sorrowful.
And yet, she was feeling resentful.
And yet, she complained that he wouldn't look at her.
Olivia's face went pale, her mouth gaping open in shock.
How hurt he must have been.
How ridiculous it must have seemed.
How hurt he must have been every time she complained.
He couldn't reveal the truth, so he must have been consumed with frustration.
Upon realizing what sacrifices Reinhardt had made for her, Olivia didn't care that he was the Demon King.
Rather, things she couldn't understand began to make sense, and Olivia's resolve grew stronger.
Her words from before.
There was one part of it she couldn't keep now.
Because Reinhardt was the Demon King.
She couldn't let the Demon King hurt Reinhardt.
No matter what happened.
Even if the world turned upside down.
Even if the world tried to hurt him.
No matter what happened.
She decided to protect Reinhardt.
The world was trying to kill Reinhardt, the Demon King.
"…"
So, Olivia had to protect the Demon King. She stared at the silent Shanafel Knight.
The knight stared back at her.
The empire suspected Olivia. They thought she might be on the side of the Demon King.
She wasn't, until now.
Olivia was on neither the humans' nor the demons' side, but solely on Reinhardt's side.
Reinhardt was imprisoned somewhere in the temple.
She didn't know the exact reason, but the empire wouldn't kill the Demon King immediately.
A few days' reprieve.
However, now Olivia couldn't even shake off the Shanafel Knight watching her, let alone the one in front of her.
So, she couldn't break into the heavily guarded place where Reinhardt was imprisoned.
It would be certain death.
She could risk her life for Reinhardt, but she didn't want to choose a pointless death with no chance of success.
She had to risk her life on a plan with at least a possibility of success.
She couldn't save Reinhardt alone.
So, she wouldn't be alone.
Reinhardt wouldn't be alone.
"Please summon the Holy Knight Commander."
"…Pardon?"
At Olivia's words, the Shanafel Knight keeping watch tilted his head.
"As the Champion of the Tu'an and the future of the Five Great Religions, I need to report this matter to the church and discuss our stance and response to the situation. Right now."
"Miss Olivia, what are you talking about…"
"Remember that you are not detaining a mere temple student. You are exerting political pressure on the Champion of Tu'an, who represents the will of the Five Great Religions."
"What do you mean, Lady Olivia? This is… surely not that kind of issue, is it?"
"The Demon King is the chosen champion of Als and Tu’an. We must investigate whether there was any foul play involved in that selection, not only through interpreting the doctrine but also by conducting religious trials. All the major religious orders of the Five Great Religions must gather and discuss whether the gods truly chose the Demon King for a reason, or if there is some wicked trickery at play."
Olivia intended to turn this matter into a political issue.
This was not a problem between humans and demons.
It was a problem between gods and humans.
"You may silence me, but remember, detaining me like this will only lead to great discord between the empire and the religious orders."
If you prevent me from reporting this issue to the order, you may eventually have to wage war against us.
"So call the Holy Knight Commander. Before I decide to leave this place on my own."
That's what I'll make happen.
That was what Olivia was saying with her eyes alone.
"And, it's not like I'm unable to handle all of you. If you think I can't manage to escape…"
Olivia glanced out the window and flashed a sinister grin.
"That would be a grave mistake."
With a gloomy smile, Olivia looked at the increasingly unnerved Shanafel Knight.
Even in confinement, Olivia managed to threaten her captors.