Anyway, since Trail was so utterly calm, it seemed the others couldn’t find anything more to say.

Trail opened his mouth.

“Still, there is one thing that bothers me.”

“Huh? You didn’t say anything like that last night.”

“It didn’t seem important.”

“……What’s bothering you. Say it.”

“You and the rest of the party will eventually leave my side. I will end up alone again.”

For a moment, it felt like I had been hit in the head with a hammer.

He was right.

Damn it, this was something I should have realized first and warned Trail about.

It was then.

Idria cut in.

“You won’t be alone. I will be here.”

“Not particularly comforting.”

“I’m in favor. You hold my lifeline, and you watch over me. It’s not all that different from what you have done so far.”

“…….”

“The only difference is that I won’t be dying. I think it’s a good idea.”

Idria looked at me.

“I still don’t understand why you don’t want heroes and demon kings to appear anymore.”

“If you still don’t get it after all that explanation, you probably never will.”

“Hm.”

“Anyway, anyone have questions? If there is even the slightest thing bothering you, speak now.”

Everyone was silent.

The idea itself was absurd, but the operation seemed persuasive enough.

Then Neril spoke.

“I get the gist, but I have one more question.”

“Go ahead.”

“From what you have explained, it doesn’t seem like a second trial is even necessary. Why did you tell Idria to make a plea?”

As expected, sharp.

I nodded and looked at everyone.

“Last night, the screen window gave me the most important advice while we were refining the plan.”

“What was it?”

“The existence of the hero and the demon king is one of the core among the countless laws of the world. Like a cornerstone of a building.”

Previously, the screen-window Bion had mentioned several laws that served as cornerstones.

–All humans can build their own fame.

–The negative energy of humans summon the demon king.

Things like that.

These are so-called ‘core laws,’ the foundations of the world that even Velosian cannot alter.

Among those core laws is this:

“One demon king cannot contain the negative energy of all humans.”

“…….”

“This is one of the world’s core laws, one of the cornerstones.”

Everyone already had an expression that said they knew what I was about to say.

I marveled once again at how quick my party was and continued.

“The core of this plan is that I have to add a new law… specifically, the law stating ‘from now on, all humans’ negative energy will reside in Idria.’”

“Right.”

“But that touches the system’s core. So it can’t be added by normal means.”

“Then how…….”

“We need consent.”

“Consent? Whose consent?”

“Whose do you think. Think about what purpose the laws of this world have always existed for.”

Everyone let out an ‘ah!’ at once.

“Humanity?”

“Right. We need the consent of the humans living in this era. Consent that it’s okay to let Idria live, even though all their negative energy will reside in her and make her endlessly stronger.”

“Uh…… do we have to mention anything about Trail?”

“No. That would expose too many secrets of the world. That’s apparently why former heroes had their memories wiped. There’s no way we could reveal that to the general public.”

“No, that’s like telling us to fight with our hands and feet tied.”

True.

We had to get consent for keeping the bomb named Idria alive, without offering a solution.

Is there any quest harder than this?

Everyone looked grim.

I spoke lightly, as if it wasn’t such a big deal.

“It doesn’t need to be one hundred percent. Just over half.”

“Even half is impossible. Obviously.”

Neril and the others let out groans.

Even Idria was the same.

She folded her arms and thought, then spoke.

“Maybe if you, Mide, force them, it might work. With your current fame, you could just order them: ‘Let Idria live.’ It might actually work.”

“No.”

“Why not? Is there a method more certain and faster than that?”

“No is no. And think about it. What’s my specialty to begin with?”

“Lying.”

This bitch.

“Leading people toward a better path.”

“Right. By lying.”

“……Anyway, at the second trial, you have to draw out people’s consent through your final plea. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

I explained calmly.

Idria listened quietly, then was genuinely startled.

The others were the same.

Neril grimaced.

“If things go the way you say…… even if the plan works, I think I will end up feeling awful.”

“Why?”

“Mistrusting humans. I think I will fall into misanthropy again. The same sickness I had as the Witch of Carnage might relapse.”

I smirked.

But the others nodded as if they agreed.

Offense spoke.

“If people follow exactly the way you guide them, I would be disappointed too. In the very idea of humanity.”

“That’s a strange thing to say.”

“No, but…….”

“That kind of disappointment in humanity is what corrupted Aktion.”

Everyone shut their mouths.

I could see steel-like resolve in their expressions, never to let that happen.

“Was I too harsh?”

“Yep.”

“But it’s true. Don’t get swayed by the nature or choices of people.”

“…….”

“Humans have both good and bad in them. Don’t expect them, don’t curse them. That’s the basic discipline heroes should have.”

Everyone shook their heads.

Adwin spoke in a somewhat sullen voice.

“You’re really amazing, hyung.”

“I know.”

“How should I put it. You are always the same. You never force anything on anyone. You never lecture anyone. You just quietly do it because it’s ‘what must be done.’ That’s how it feels.”

“That’s my long-standing know-how.”

My long-standing know-how.

It was just something I said offhand.

But the moment I said it, that same deja vu from last night returned.

The deja vu I felt when my conversation with Bion felt strangely familiar.

‘Is that so.’

I guess the me who once ruled this world I can’t remember was the same as now.

I never had expectations of humans.

But I never cursed them either.

I just did what had to be done.

This is what a leader, a hero.

And the ruler of a world needs.

Then Idria’s voice came.

“Fine. I understand for now. I will follow.”

“Oh. But you’re talking like you have a choice?”

“……Anyway, you are quite a strange one, Mide.”

“What now.”

“You deliberately take the harder road instead of the easy one. As I said earlier, ordering humanity would be far quicker. My opinion on that hasn’t changed.”

I smirked.

And answered, one word at a time.

“Because I hate exactly that, I’m trying to get rid of both the hero and the demon king.”

The next morning.

The demon king trial was held.

It hadn’t been long since I first mentioned this idea during my fight with Idria.

It had been arranged quite urgently, yet I wondered if in all of history there had ever been a time when so many people gathered in one place like this.

The emperor responded to my thoughts.

Even though he was the ruler of the empire, he was personally guiding me around the trial grounds.

“It doesn’t seem strange to me at all, Hero.”

“…….”

“Simply killing the demon king has happened several times already. This trial is an entirely different matter.”

“Hm.”

“Everyone living in this era, myself included, must feel the same way. I, no, we, believe we are the protagonists of a new page in this era.”

I scratched my head.

The emperor continued guiding me.

“This will be where the demon king stands.”

Because the trial grounds had been prepared in a hurry, it wasn’t a building but a wide open field with only the basic layout set up.

First, there was a circular line drawn and controlled by soldiers.

Outside that line, spectators participating in the trial were packed together like grains of sand.

Idria’s designated position was at the center of the circle.

“I will be over there.”

The emperor pointed at a platform opposite hers, two or three steps higher.

“Since you have so generously asked me to preside over the trial, I have prepared that place for myself. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes. That’s perfect.”

“Thank you. Then the most important position, the hero’s place… I believe that would be best.”

He pointed behind his own platform.

There, a tall platform rose like a small hill.

And upon it sat an incredibly ornate throne.

‘What the hell. So that’s what that was earlier.’

[Kukuku. Sitting there, the entire trial grounds will be visible at a glance.]

‘Yeah. It will look like I’m the one presiding over the trial. When all I’m supposed to do is list Idria’s charges.’

I sighed.

“I will stand between Idria and Your Majesty. Please remove the seat prepared for me.”

“Eh? But then it will look like I’m the one presiding.”

“No, you’re the one actually presiding.”

“With you here, how could I possibly….”

“Please. Just this once.”

The emperor agonized for a long moment, then nodded reluctantly.

Finally, one worry off my shoulders.

[You hate being the center of attention? You have built your fame by drawing attention this whole time. Even the descent from the heavens performance was impressive.]

‘I didn’t do it because I liked it. It was to build fame.’

[I clearly remember you enjoying it.]

‘The ones playing the leading role in this trial aren’t me or the emperor. Not even Idria.’

I jerked my chin toward the audience.

‘They are the protagonists of this trial.’

[Kukuku. You never change.]

‘Anyway, it’s about time to begin.’

Just as I thought that, the emperor voiced a similar concern.

“By the way, Hero. Where is Idria? And the other heroes aren’t here either.”

“They will be here now.”

I said so and spoke through the soul link Adwin had set up earlier.

[The basic check of the trial grounds is done. You can appear now.]

[Hold on.]

With Neril’s reply.

-Kroooar.

Agril’s roar echoed from the sky.

Naturally, the emperor and everyone else at the trial site looked up.

Agril flew several circles above the grounds as if savoring all the eyes upon it, then slowly descended.

Thud.

It landed with a heavy impact and a cloud of dust.

“That is Agril.”

“As expected of the heroes. Even their entrance is extraordinary.”

“Ah, Lady Neril and Lady Xenia! Those two really do look close.”

“Sir Adwin is so dignified. He even looks younger than my own son.”

“Lady Serein and Lady Lisel look so noble. Ahh, to see them in person, what an honor.”

“Sir Offense is, well…… yes, normally handsome.”

They were being praised to an absurd degree, even mistaken in half their assumptions.

Offense probably got the closest to the truth.

[Didn’t you say you hate flashy entrances? Your party stands out more than anyone.]

‘I should have warned them. After all the years we have been doing this, I guess the theatrics have become a habit.’

All I asked for was a timing-matched entrance escorting Idria.

[Kukuku. And who do you think they learned that from?]

Just then…

“Wait. Behind them!”

Someone pointed.

Yes, flashiness aside, that was what I really wanted people to see.

There was Idria, bound in layers of magical chains.

Her face looked haggard.

Her expression brimmed with humiliation.

The hero’s sword was stabbed straight through her abdomen.

Of course, the real hero’s sword was still in my sheath.

Step, step.

I approached them.

Clink.

Neril handed me the magical chains as if transferring custody.

I asked quietly:

“How is the Append View?”

“Not yet. The moment you signal, we will activate it.”

“Also activate the voice amplification spell with it.”

“That’s obvious.”

I looked over the party and nodded.

They stepped back lightly.

Now the trial’s full layout was set.

Time to begin.

TL: This novel is basically Humanity’s Strongest Liar Vs the Demon King of Lies.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep