Chapter 225

Stern to the end

※ Dorothea’s point of view .

From my early age I realized I was different from people around me .

It wasn’t because I was a member of the imperial family, it was simply a matter of ability .

What people might take years to learn, I was able to do it in the blink of an eye .

It didn’t matter if it was academia or martial arts .

From when I was a young child I was expected to be the empress, and I took it for granted too .

Not many people would understand that being able to do anything is boring .

Everything for me was just a way of killing time .

I was certain that I would eventually succeed the throne, but it didn’t move my heart at all .

From the time I remember, I was already tired of life .

Other people would call it an extravagant worry .

But for me, this world was a very boring place .

That all changed when I encountered the demon queen .

‘…’

One by one, my vassals died before my eyes .

Others, far weaker than me, had thrown away their lives to protect me .

There was nothing I could do about it .

I was too helpless .

‘I won’t kill you . If I killed you, history would change too much . ’

The demon queen said that and left .

All that was left behind were countless corpses and one foolish clown .

I was made to realize what fear was .

And from that moment I’ve only lived to get rid of that fear .

‘W-Wait! What do you want!? If it’s the throne, as soon as you’re old enough–’

I killed my father, the emperor .

It happened when I was seven years old .

My father had planned to abdicate as soon as I came of age, but I thought that would be too late .

Quickly, as soon as possible .

In order to defeat the demon queen, I had to create a mighty empire .

No, an empire wasn’t enough .

Unless all of humanity was united, we would be no match for that calamity .

From then on, I strived to make the country bigger .

I repeatedly invaded other countries and tried to force humanity to become one .

That may have been too forceful a method .

No matter what the cause, there was no justification for such aggressive acts .

I knew there was no justice in it .

Nevertheless, I knew I had to do it .

‘Your Majesty, you should be more aware of other people’s pain . If you continue as you are, no one will understand you, Your Majesty . ’

Old man had been preaching that at every opportunity .

I didn’t need understanding .

I only sought power .

Without power, I couldn’t do anything .

Power was everything to me .

And before I knew it, there was nobody left around me .

◆◇◆◇◆

“Even you must be slowly getting tired, right?”

The demon, Arist, said so in a mocking tone .

I wanted to close that mouth of his immediately because I was sick of listening to his drivel .

“However… Even if you’re an enemy, I’m impressed . You’ve slain so many, and yet you’re still standing . ”

When I looked around after he said that, I saw countless corpses of monsters and demons scattered around me .

I didn’t know how many I’d killed .

But even so, there were still countless monsters and demons in front of me .

“Why don’t you give up? No matter how strong you are, it’s reckless to fight alone against so many . ”

“Yes, it is . ”

I was the only one left standing .

The soldiers from the rearguard had all died, leaving me alone .

I didn’t think I could kill all the attackers by myself .

But still .

Still, I couldn’t fall yet .

“Good grief… It can’t be helped . I’ll deal with you myself . You should feel honored . ”

“Don’t talk so proudly after you sacrificed your subordinates to wear me out . ”

I readied my swords .

My trusty twin swords were chipped all over, but so far they didn’t break .

They just need to bear with me a little more .

“Hah–!”

I exhaled sharply and closed the distance with the demon .

“This is the God of the Sword, Dorothea?” I was appalled by how slow I was .

I hadn’t been this exhausted when fighting the battalion from Sousa .

I just prayed that we bought a little time .

“You’re attacking this me head-on… It looks you can’t afford to do anything else . This is the end, God of the Sword . ”

Before my brandished swords I saw the demon’s claws .

This is as far as I go .

Before I could attack, my head would fall off .

But– .

“What!?”

Arist must’ve seen my body disappear .

I moved behind Arist with a speed impossible with my remaining strength .

This was the final ace up my sleeve – my living armor .

The jet-black armor I was wearing was a living magic tool .

As I couldn’t use magic, this was the only magical tool that I could use . It was a legacy of an ancient civilization unearthed in ruins in the empire and had been passed down throught generations of the imperial family .

This magical tool had a will of its own, and autonomously protected its wearer .

“You got careless, demon . ”

Making full use of whatever strength I had left, I swung my sword downwards .

“– Careless, huh . This just means I didn’t need to be careful, empress . ”

The sword I swung down to deal the killing blow cut into something that wasn’t a demon and stopped .

“Coward… No, wrong . ”

“Yeah, anything goes on the battlefield . Right?”

An ogre threw his body in front of the demon .

My sword cut halfway through the ogre’s horn and snapped .

“You were strong, empress . But, goodbye . ”

Arist’s claw pierced my right breast .

I could instinctively tell .

It was lethal .

“…”

“What is it? Is it your will? I’ll make sure to tell your daughter . ”

“… me . ”

“? You have to be louder . ”

As the demon’s head drew close to my ear, I gathered my fading strength and grabbed it .

“… I’ll take you with me . ”

“!? You bastard!?”

In the next moment, black flames poured out of my armor, engulfing the demon in flames .

“Gaaaaaah…!!”

“It’s a fire of the ancient civilization . Savoir it and die . ”

The flames, which ignite as the wearer’s life burns out, can even melt the adamantite the gods forged .

The black flames entwined around Arist like living tentacles, consuming his body .

“You bastaaaaard!!”

“Haha… Hahahahaha…!”

I couldn’t keep my promise to Philine, but this wasn’t bad .

Contrary to my expectation, it didn’t feel bad .

(Forgive me, Philine . I’m laughing off my own death . )

I lived my whole life alone, and yet at the end I thought about my daughter, who I couldn’t say I’d loved .

While losing myself in laughter that welled up inside me, I let go of the last bit of my consciousness .

— I’m coming, Christoph .