Chapter 69: Utilization

In the blood-stained imperial palace, the newly reborn Gerard sat upon the high throne.

He had returned to the throne after a long absence—previously it was Emilia who had sat there for him, but now he occupied it through his own strength.

There was no real difference between the two, at least that was how he felt.

But he didn’t realize that by doing this, he was only hastening the empire’s demise. Power comes from the bottom up; without the nobles maintaining it, it was like a castle in the air.

The empire, already battered and suffering under war and persecution, was about to experience an unforeseen civil war.

Having finally taken the long-awaited throne once more, Gerard scratched his backside, but the feeling wasn’t the same as before.

He felt something missing beside him—a woman, that woman being Emilia…

Setting down the bloodied Sword of the Hero, he looked at his bloodstained hands and shed crocodile tears, filled with regret.

If only he hadn’t driven Emilia away, he wouldn’t have ended up like this—fallen to such a state.

“You have to compensate me for a lifetime,” he muttered.

No… his heart began to rationalize.

“Emilia blames you for not forgiving me. I apologized so sincerely.

If she had come back with me to the empire, none of this would have happened. You forced me, you made me do it, so all these people died because of you.

You must compensate me for a lifetime. Yes, that’s right.”

His inner turmoil suddenly found balance, and his gaze darkened as he stared down at Duke Orlay, who knelt among the dismembered limbs and shattered arms below—the only living person remaining.

“Duke Orlay, I’ve finished killing now, wasting quite a bit of time. So, may I go and welcome Emilia back?”

Although it seemed like a question, it was actually a test to see if the other harbored any rebellious thoughts.

The seasoned Duke Orlay smiled lightly and replied.

“How could I dare to command Your Majesty? You flatter me. I am but a loyal subject whose duty is to ease Your Majesty’s burdens. Bringing Lady Emilia back is naturally no problem, especially given Your Majesty’s current state—invincible in battle, unbeatable in attack. No one can stand against you.

However, the empire still faces an urgent crisis. If the enemy armies don’t falter, they will soon reach the capital.

Yet we have no one under our command who can stop them; we can only rely on the great Your Majesty.”

Pausing, he wiped a tear from his eye and spoke with a tone both persuasive and carefully aimed at the emperor’s vulnerable heart.

“After all, Lady Emilia surely wouldn’t want the empire she and you built together to be destroyed.

Perhaps seeing you take charge alone will make her more willing to accept you, Your Majesty.

Women like strong men, and you are just such a man.”

A deathly silence fell.

Seeing someone finally understand him, Gerard couldn’t help but stand up and cheer loudly.

He picked up the Sword of the Hero once more.

“Good point, well said, Duke Orlay. I knew I didn’t judge you wrong—you’re a good man. I’ve always thought so.

Very well, I’ll show you the majestic figure of the emperor.

An enemy army like that? I’ll reduce them to ash with a snap of my fingers.”

Duke Orlay said nothing more. He bowed his head, feeling the emperor stride through the blood-soaked floor beside him, radiating murderous intent, and offered perfunctory congratulations.

“Very well, Your Majesty. May you return victorious and enjoy continued military fortune.”

After all, there was still no army in the empire that fully obeyed the emperor, let alone the people.

Below was utter chaos—unprecedented disorder.

It was truly a chaotic stew, even beyond what Orlay had expected.

He hadn’t imagined that losing the nobles’ leadership would have such a huge impact.

But it didn’t matter.

After Lady Emilia returned, everything would get better.

She would surely find a way.

They only needed the hero to keep clearing the empire’s obstacles and crises, to bear the ill repute.

After all, fools are best suited for such tasks.

Orlay slowly looked back at the hero’s departing figure, his expression complicated and subtle.

He didn’t know what to think.

Could this guy really stand against an army?

Even with overwhelming strength, no matter how powerful, endless battles wear a man down.

Moreover, this wasn’t fighting the Demon King or the demon race—it was fighting living humans.

The gods would not bestow too many blessings on you, Gerard.

After all, the hero never turns his blade against humanity, nor wields his sword driven by selfish desires.

He could feel the other’s strength fading, no longer as intense as before.

You have fallen, even the gods have started to loathe you, Gerard.

But perhaps that makes it safer to deal with you now.

Continue to fall.

You don’t deserve to stand beside Lady Emilia.

Only I do.

In the imperial palace, everyone had their own schemes, yet all for one woman.

That deeply sinful woman was inside the very center of the Demon King’s castle, within a tent.

Night fell, accompanied by the faint chorus of insects.

Perhaps out of curiosity, Emilia voiced the deepest question in her heart, sitting elegantly beneath the light—every movement captivating.

It was as if she asked knowingly, but in reality, she was laying the groundwork.

“That Sigg… why do you want to destroy the world?”

“Do you really not know, or are you asking rhetorically?

Destroying the world is, of course, to go home.

Don’t ask me that stupid question again; I feel like you’re dragging down my IQ.”

Sigg replied patiently, like addressing a kindergartner, slowly answering word by word, repeating the unwavering conviction in his heart.

Yet she pressed on, seemingly determined to get to the bottom of it.

“Why does destroying the world get you home? Sigg, can you tell me? Where did you learn that?”

She was a little puzzled, curious, and more worried that she might have been deceived like others.

Sigg could clearly see her concerns and shrugged casually, sitting in the chair with an air of an old hand.

“You don’t seriously think I can be fooled like you, do you?

This is the result of a century of experience from traveling the continent, and I’ve tried it myself—it really works.

The details, though… you probably wouldn’t understand.”

He paused, then smiled faintly.

“That’s thanks to you, Emilia.”

“Me?”

She looked utterly baffled, unable to grasp the cause and effect… completely confused.

Seeing this, he no longer held back.

A hundred years flashed before his eyes—blood, tears, laughter, hatred—all faded into past smoke, leaving only the present: her.

He smiled softly.

“After all, I went out to travel the continent for a hundred years looking for you.

Without you, I might never have discovered this world-shaking way home.”

“Me? You’re looking for me?”

Emilia was stunned, pointing at herself.

Her heart was touched but quickly replaced by guilt and growing discomfort.

She didn’t know how to respond.

“Yes, looking for you.

After all, I promised you I would bring you home, no matter what.”