0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 38: The Holy Land (4) (Part 2)

Karos chuckled, tearing up the leaflet and scattering it towards Sinclair.

“How does it feel, Miss Sinclair? The truth about the place you’ve walked, the place you’ve believed in.”

“…”

Sinclair said nothing. Karos continued as if it didn’t matter.

“I am a Demon King. A being of evil. I don’t deny that.”

He intended to invade the surface, to engulf it in the grasp of demons. They were certainly beings of evil.

Karos knew it. Bathesia knew it too. They were enemies of humanity, calling themselves evil.

“But the Church is different. It commits evil deeds while calling itself good.”

“Whether it’s evil or hypocrisy, both are evils.”

“Right. Both are enemies that humans must eliminate.”

Sinclair’s quiet response was affirmed by Karos.

“I just wanted to ask. Will you close your eyes to this atrocity, or will you act? If you close your eyes… the poor mercenaries will all die, and this place will be forgotten forever, trapped here until death.”

Sinclair’s brow twitched. Karos hummed.

“You want to believe in a god and save people. What should you choose?”

“…You are.”

For the first time, Sinclair showed emotion. With a bitter smile, she said,

“You are a Demon King.”

“What a revelation.” Karos replied sarcastically.

**** ****

The next day. Karos was back in the prison.

Time passed. Sinclair didn’t visit Karos again, and Karos didn’t take it seriously.

If anything changed, it was that the torture had stopped. The mercenaries were relieved. They were tired of watching it every night.

And time flowed on until ten days had passed.

**** ****

“Ah!”

“Please save us! We don’t want to die!”

“Shut up and follow!”

The mercenaries struggled with despair, but the paladins forcibly dragged them out.

“You, come out too!”

The prison door opened. The slender man glanced at Karos, who was being led out quietly.

“Follow me, Demon King and his traitorous followers!”

“Ah…”

“This is how we die…”

Following the paladin, they were brought to a massive execution ground in the center of the Holy Land. Karos whistled upon seeing it.

“A burning at the stake.”

Crosses were lined up with wood placed underneath. The mercenaries’ faces turned deathly pale.

“Burning is painful…”

Karos muttered indifferently as he stood in front of a cross. The paladins tied him to the cross. The mercenaries were treated similarly.

Looking ahead, numerous citizens glared at him with hostility. It seemed like the entire Holy Land’s population was gathered, extending beyond the square into the buildings.

‘This many people…’

Karos glanced behind. At the back of the execution ground, the Pope, the Hero, and a few others were present. Judging by their attire and faces, they appeared to be people of high status.

‘Will it work?’

All that remained was to wait. The Pope cleared his throat. A priest, dressed in white, raised his hand.

“From now on! We will proceed with the Demon King’s execution ceremony!”

“Kill the Demon King!”

“Destroy the enemy of humanity!”

The citizens erupted in a chorus of angry shouts. After a moment of calm, the priest raised his voice again.

“Before we proceed, let us give thanks to the Empire’s Prince who has graced this joyous occasion with his presence!”

A different, joyful cheer erupted. Karos grimaced.

“The Prince?”

The priest bowed towards someone sitting next to the Pope. It was a boy, still showing youthful features.

As the boy waved his hand, the people all bowed in unison. Though tens of thousands bowed to him, the boy looked at Karos with a bored expression.

‘Why is the Prince here?’

Karos was slightly taken aback. Knowing the Emperor, there was no reason to send the Prince. But he quickly regained his composure.

‘No matter. It’s an opportunity.’

Karos spread his palms.

**** ****

“Huhuhu.”

The Pope, more comfortably seated on something resembling a bed than a chair, laughed long. His mood was better than ever.

‘Executing the Demon King is always a good method.’

Though Karos remained silent to the end, not revealing any information about other Demon Kings, it was still a sufficient achievement.

“Haha. Marvelous, Your Holiness.”

A man, resembling a rat, rubbed his hands beside the Pope.

“At least a bishop-level figure from other denominations attended. This will surely elevate our authority even more.”

“It wasn’t that difficult.”

The Pope smiled contently. Many were invited, from people of other denominations to foreigners, including influential political figures.

The reason was one. To expand the influence of the Sun God. Through the suppression of the Demon King, their power would grow stronger.

“All for the Sun God.”

“Indeed, Your Holiness. I was truly impressed. Especially for inviting the great Prince of the Empire.”

The rat-like man made a fuss. However, the Pope’s face stiffened slightly.

“Um, yes.”

In truth, the invitation sent to the Empire was more out of formality, not expecting an acceptance. The Empire always refused such invitations, reinforcing this expectation.

But the Empire accepted. And they sent the Prince. For the authority of the Sun God, nothing could be better.

Yet, the Pope’s mouth went dry. The Prince, who had been looking at Karos with a listless face, spoke up.

“Hey.”

“Yes, yes?”

The Pope was noticeably flustered, but the Prince paid no mind and gestured towards Karos with his chin.

“Is that the Demon King?”

“Ah. Yes. That’s right.”

It was far too humble for a Pope serving a god, but no one present-minded. The Prince stroked his chin.

“Hmm.”

His subdued gaze was fixed on Karos.

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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