The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 628 Ophelia's Decision
A mighty fire was burning in the city of Roland, while the soldiers at the front were suffering in the snow.

They have many differences, yet also many similarities.

For example, the determination to fight.

For example, the appreciation for freedom.

For example, the desire for a republic.

Looking at the map covered in markings in his hand, Wilt felt he must be going crazy.

Despite his extensive experience, he was persuaded by a young officer to lead 10,000 men, breaking up their formation, deep behind enemy lines to cut off the supply lines of the Rhodes Kingdom's regular army.

This is practically throwing precious troops into the vast snowfield and leaving them to their fate! Even if these 10,000 young men are all rookies who have only been in the army for a few days, they can still consume a lot of the Rhodes' ammunition.

However, when Wilt turned around and saw the faces behind him, red from the cold but full of fighting spirit, a faint hope suddenly rose in his heart.

Saint Sis above—

Your devout servant must be insane.

For a fleeting moment, he even felt that perhaps they could truly save this precarious republic and create a miracle that no one had ever imagined...

……

the other side.

Inside the Longway City Hall, the fireplace was burning brightly, warming the spacious room to a comfortable temperature.

Count Thijan Clement leaned back in a comfortable armchair, holding a glass of pure champagne, a prized possession of a certain member of parliament.

The land in the lower reaches of the Benliu River is indeed suitable for growing grapes. Perhaps after the war is won, he can buy an estate here to use for the winter.

Although winters in the Kingdom of Ryan aren't exactly warm, they're still much warmer than winters in the Kingdom of Rhodes.

Count Clyffet wore a contented expression.

The reason he was so relaxed was entirely because of the letter that had been delivered an hour earlier.

It is said that on the very night his letter to Marshal Fayette arrived in Roland, the entire city immediately descended into chaos.

Everyone screamed in despair, kneeling and praying before the apocalyptic flames. Before the Rhodes' military boots could even trample the desecrated city, its inhabitants had already set it ablaze.

And that Commander Antoine was even more ridiculous.

He, who was called the "Iron Wall of the North" by the National Assembly, was so frightened that he fled before he even saw his own face.

Clift felt a surge of emotion.

He had previously treated Antoine as a formidable opponent, but now it seems he was being overly cautious.

Unable to conceal the smile playing on his lips, Count Clement gently swirled the wine glass in his hand and spoke smugly to Baron Goron, who was drinking with him.

"Just as I expected, the Ryan people are utterly vulnerable. We don't even need to kick them in the backside; a little pressure is enough to make them collapse on their own."

The moment the words left his mouth, Count Clement regretted them. He suddenly realized that the friend sitting opposite him was also a Ryanian.

To avoid an awkward atmosphere, the count, well-versed in social etiquette, quickly added a polite remark at the end.

"Ah, of course. What I just said was specifically referring to those ignorant peasants, not the nobles of the land of knights."

Baron Goron's hand holding the wine glass stiffened slightly, and the smile he forced onto his face looked somewhat forced.

On the one hand, this was the second time Count Clift had offended the Ryan people in front of him. Even if the other party did not do it intentionally, that condescending sense of superiority still made him feel like he had a bone stuck in his throat.

On the other hand, the rumors circulating in the city recently have been making him so irritable that he can't sleep at night.

Someone was secretly spreading rumors and slandering him, claiming that this baron, who was full of holy light and mercy, had massacred 30,000 civilians on the banks of the Longway River!
Saint Sis, this is utter nonsense!

If there were that many corpses, he would have blocked the entire Benliu River!

Goron could swear before the statue of Saint Sith that every bandit he killed deserved to die, and that he had not wronged a single innocent person.

Shouldn't robbers and arsonists be killed?
He simply executed the rioters who took advantage of the chaos to plunder his estate, strictly following the laws of the old dynasty.

Even so, he only killed a little over three hundred people at most, while the number of people killed by these guys back then was more than three hundred.

As for those who didn't gain much, such as the peasants whose stolen goods totaled no more than a gold coin, he mercifully pardoned them.

Although the real reason was that he simply couldn't catch them all, how did the story get to the point where he became a ruthless demon king who killed without hesitation?!
Is this reasonable?

To be honest, Baron Goron was quite pleased with the fearful expressions on the faces of those fools who believed the rumors and looked at him.

However, he was, after all, a devout believer, and could not only indulge in pleasure but also consider his reputation within the Vatican.

In short, this left him speechless.

Once the war is over, if Charles de Valou chooses to share the kingdom with Parliament, he will certainly sue those who spread rumors about him.

As for destroying the parliament, that would be even better.

"Your Excellency, Earl."

Baron Goron put down his wine glass, suppressing his frustration, and looked at the commander opposite him who was making strategic decisions. He couldn't help but offer his advice.

"Since you say the Ryan people are easily defeated, and your opponents have already fled the battlefield, why don't you quickly order an advance and wipe them out completely? I think that shouldn't be difficult for you."

He always felt that now was the time when morale was high and that they should press their advantage instead of sitting in front of the fireplace enjoying fine wine.

This can be done after the victory.

Of course, he also had more selfish thoughts in his mind.

If that evil National Assembly were allowed to exist for even one more day, those guys who are best at spreading rumors would probably put the name of the demon god Bayeri on Baron Goron's head.

"No need to rush, my dear Lord Goron."

Count Clement, unaware of Baron Goron's worries, simply swirled his wine glass leisurely, a confident smile on his face.

"It's cold now, and snow is falling outside. Rushing into our lines will only increase unnecessary non-combat casualties. Let's stay comfortably in this warm house and let those peasants freeze in the icy forest. Once their fingers are frostbitten and their toes are soaked in snow water, we can wait for them to tire themselves out and then crush them in one fell swoop!"

Baron Goron frowned.

"But... after the snow stops, there will be continuous spring rain. At that time, the entire plain will be submerged in water, and the muddy roads will probably be more deadly than the snow."

He was a native of the Ryan noble family and knew all too well how difficult it was to travel in the spring on the Golden Plains, where the wheels would often get stuck in the mud.

If this is true for ordinary carriages, then it goes without saying that it is true for those heavy cannons.

"That is indeed the case in theory."

Count Clement smiled dismissively and said leisurely.

"But I think we don't need to actually push our troops all the way to the walls of Roland. Roland is already in chaos due to internal strife. If we can just decisively crush that cobbled-together Sixth Militia in the next battle, we can completely destroy the Republic of Ryan's will to continue resisting."

"But... what if they hadn't collapsed?"

“If one defeat isn’t enough to beat them, then a second, a third… I want to see how many chips they still have left.”

Count Clement's smile turned cold as he looked at the bubbles in the champagne and continued in a cruel voice.

"We can push the front line to the gates of Roland once their manpower is exhausted. After all, it's already ours, isn't it?"

That being said, he actually had other plans in mind.

There is a vast forest ahead of Longway City. If he were the commander on the other side, he would definitely bet on that forest.

He deliberately delayed the attack so that those idiots would freeze inside and starve themselves to death while gazing at the front lines.

Seeing Earl Clement's optimistic expression, Baron Goron couldn't be optimistic at all.

The image of Repair, the city defense commander who shot himself in the city hall, flashed through his mind.

Although some conspiracy theorists say that the commander was killed by his own people because he refused to open the city gates and surrender.

Regardless of whether the truth is as the conspiracy theorists claim, that guy ultimately met such an end because he intended to resist to the very end.

The Ryans are not easily defeated.

They have the courage to resist.

Seeing Baron Goron still somewhat hesitant, Count Clement placed the champagne on the table, stood up, walked to his side, and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Your Excellency, put your mind at ease. The outcome of this war was already predetermined; we have already won. The only remaining question is how to win more gracefully, taking Roland City at the lowest possible cost, and then allowing the Holy King to return to his throne with dignity."

At the same time, it also ensures that the name Thijan Clyffet is etched in the epic!

Baron Goron remained silent for a moment.

Looking into the count's confident eyes, he finally sighed softly and nodded reluctantly.

"I hope everything goes as you wish."

Count Clyffet smiled at him and patted him on the shoulder. "It certainly will! Don't forget we fight for the Holy Light, and Saint Sith is on our side!"

……

Fine snowflakes drifted down the country road, and the wheels of cars crunched softly over the snow.

Inside the spacious carriage heading towards the Dusk Province, a small heater dispelled the chill from the outside.

The chaos in Roland City and the war in the distance—all those unpleasant things seemed irrelevant to the two who were on their way back.

The only thing that Luo Yan regretted was that the Royal Theatre was completely destroyed in the fire.

The citizens of Roland had finally managed to wrest their hard-earned money back from the Devalo family, only to burn it all away.

Sitting opposite Luo Yan, Ophia held a white ceramic teacup in her hands, her eyes fixed on the rising steam.

Her bright face was filled with melancholy.

After a long while, she sighed softly and said.

"I never imagined that Earl Sean would commit suicide."

Hearing Ophia's remark, Luo Yan did not take his eyes off the book in his hands.

The book was called "Butterflies and Dreams," and it was recommended to him by both Ophia and Novell.

Putting aside the series of controversies it caused, the book itself is quite interesting, especially its portrayal of human nature and the series of plot twists.

“But that’s the truth,” he replied in a very soft voice, turning a page of the book in his hand.

Although Sean was misled by Norville and orchestrated his own death in a frenzy of self-sacrifice, it is difficult to completely attribute this to the unspeakable forces in the void.

To be honest, Luo Yan even felt that Sean probably wasn't infected after setting foot on the northeastern shore of the Whirlpool Sea.

That gentleman was probably already a pawn of the Mad Talkers before he even left the Holy City.

Just like Ophelia.

However, he did not tell Ophia about this.

If this little detective, who has finally managed to settle down, were to keenly sniff out new clues again, her boundless curiosity would probably be unable to be contained once more.

Curiosity about madmen is more dangerous than madmen themselves.

Incidentally, Miss Alice, who is Ophelia's bodyguard, is not currently in the carriage. She is riding a fast horse ahead, scouting ahead, trying to find a suitable inn for everyone to rest before nightfall.

Inside the carriage, Ophia thoughtfully placed a one-way soundproof magical barrier.

That's why she could talk to Luo Yan about things that were absolutely not something to be told to outsiders without any restraint.

"It's really a dilemma."

Ophia rested her delicate chin gently on the back of her right hand and sighed deeply. "I'm still hesitating whether or not to tell my father the cruel truth when we get back to the Holy City."

Luo Yan smiled faintly upon hearing this.

Just like back in Xuebang, he didn't make a decision for Ophia, but instead analyzed the situation for her in a gentle tone.

"It depends on what kind of outcome you want. But I think if it were your wise father, even if he knew the truth behind it, he would probably consider Sean's widow and children and choose to keep it buried forever."

This was not only to preserve the dignity of Sean's widow and children, but also for the unity of the Senate and the entire Os Empire.

It was because of Sean's death that the lifeless lion was jolted awake from its slumber and took a bite of the rotting flesh on its body.

Once people learn that Count Sean, who was regarded as a hero, was actually bewitched by Chaos and orchestrated his own death.

For Sean himself, he will go from being an empire's hero to a clown in an instant. And for the Senate, it will also face the loss of all prestige.

After listening to Prince Colin's insightful analysis, Ophia sighed softly, her mind already tipping in her favor.

"It seems my worries were indeed unnecessary." Looking at the mentor in front of her who seemed to know everything, she continued with a glimmer of light in her eyes, "So, that's why you told me back then that the truth isn't actually important?"

“That’s not the reason. I don’t have the ability to foresee the future.” Luo Yan shook his head slightly. “I only learned that Sean was a Mad Talker after I confronted Novell directly.”

Prior to this, he had only speculated about it and hadn't been certain that Sean was a Whisperer. It wasn't until he spoke with Secretary Conrad and observed Ofia's symptoms that he was certain Sean had been infected by Norville.

Only in this way can we explain why a gold-level mage would be shot dead in the street by a hothead.

Ophia was momentarily lost in thought as she looked at Prince Colin holding a book, a glimmer of light flickering in her azure eyes.

She suddenly raised her right hand, just like she had done back in Xuebang.

Can I ask you a question?

"Ask away."

Ophia hesitated for a moment, then raised her slender index finger to scratch her burning cheek, and said in a somewhat embarrassed voice.

"Did you confront Novell because of me?"

In fact, the clever Lady Castellion already had the answer in her heart.

But she just wanted to hear him say it himself.

Seeing Miss Ophia's expectant look, Luo Yan couldn't help but chuckle.

However, considering that she was the Demon King's smartest student, he ultimately granted her this not-too-excessive little wish.

"Of course. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have planned to come here at all."

Even though she was prepared to accept the gift, Ophia's cheeks flushed instantly.

She chuckled a little embarrassedly, but the next second she quickly lowered her head, trying to hide the happiness that filled her pretty face.

'Demon King, you're teasing your adorable student again.'

Hearing the whispers from beside him, Luo Yan put down his book, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

'Okay, Youyou, you know what I'm going to say.'

'Ugh... Damn it, let me eat some more melon!'

Despite its verbal protests, the milky-white phantom ultimately dissipated, carrying with it a heartfelt blessing.

Just then, the sound of clear hoofbeats came from the distant snowstorm.

Upon hearing the sound of Elefette's return, Ophia immediately and obediently ended this sensitive topic that was inconvenient to bring up in front of the guard.

Although she had sincerely apologized to Elfit a few days ago for her impulsive running away from home, she did not reveal all of her strange encounters in Roland City, especially the terrifying experience of the Mad Whisperer and being possessed.

“I will keep it a secret for Earl Sean.” Ophia quickly composed herself and said her decision softly but firmly.

She paused, then looked up and winked her azure eyes playfully at Luo Yan.

“And there’s ‘Prince Colin’.”

Although she still didn't know what this mysterious "Prince" was planning, she was 100% certain that he wasn't a bad person.

He could easily agree to Novell's request, sealing his soul forever in another world and using her body and Castellion's name to achieve whatever he desired.

But he didn't do that.

Even just to reciprocate his sincerity, she would keep his secret to herself and never tell anyone.

Even her beloved father, the Duke of Castellón...

Seeing Ophia's earnest gaze, Luo Yan smiled faintly and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Although the Demon King is no longer afraid of being exposed, he is still happy to accept Ophia's thoughtfulness and kindness.

"Thank you, I'm glad you can keep it as a secret between the two of us."

A shared secret.

Upon hearing this overly intimate remark, Ophia's cheeks, which had finally cooled down, flushed bright red again.

Seeing Ophia's ears turn red, Luo Yan's smile deepened.

He hadn't realized before that this guy was actually quite cute.

However, just as he was thinking this, the approaching sound of hooves brought an unexpected sound.

"Miss Sarah? Is that you?"

Sarah, who was driving the carriage, showed a surprised expression as she watched the knights riding towards her through the snowstorm.

"...Eileen? What brings you here?"

(End of this chapter)