THE HERO'S SON IS A MONSTER-Chapter 84: The demons are attacking !!

The King of Celestial was what one might call a challenger— a man who, since his youth, had lived only to take on challenges. He had always felt that thirst for self-surpassing, that thrill that coursed through him each time he overcame an obstacle.

But upon ascending to the throne, he quickly understood that he could no longer act on impulse. His role demanded control, strategy, and infinite patience. He could no longer seek the excitement of battle or the satisfaction of overcoming trials for pleasure alone. His position already brought him more than enough struggles, but they were of a different kind.

For before he was a king, he had been a warrior. A respected knight. A feared dungeon explorer. He had known the taste of blood, the weight of a blade in his hand, the adrenaline of a duel to the death.

So, when news reached him that the demons had finally launched their attack, he felt neither fear nor despair. He did not even feel pure joy... but something inside him stirred.

An ancient fire.

At last, a wall worthy of being broken stood before him.

This time, it would be different. He would make sure of it personally.

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The Throne Room

In the vast throne room, an emergency council had convened. Ministers stood in rigid lines—some tense, others restless, whispering anxiously among themselves.

But what dominated the room, what imposed an oppressive silence, was the presence of the Order of Black Knights.

Lined up in two imposing rows on either side of the hall, these elite warriors were the only ones permitted to keep their weapons and helmets in the king’s presence. They did not speak. They did not move. And yet, their mere existence cast a suffocating shadow over the assembly. An ominous aura emanated from them.

Seated on his throne, the king swept his gaze over the room. In his eyes, one could read a profound weariness.

At last, he spoke:

"We have observed signs that the demon army will soon march upon our lands. An abnormal gathering of demons is forming."

Silence fell.

Then, a minister cleared his throat and dared to speak:

"This is the first attack of such magnitude... Their exact numbers remain unknown, but one thing is certain—the demons have begun to move. What shall we do?""What do you mean, what shall we do? scoffed another, indignant. We shall exterminate the vermin that dares to tread upon our sacred land!

"Fine words... But do you have a strategy? Moreover, that damned hero has departed for Sunkush. Who’s to say he didn’t know what was coming and fled, sacrificing what had to be sacrificed to better prepare himself?"

"Watch your tone! thundered a third. Do not forget you are in the presence of the king."

All eyes turned nervously to the monarch, anticipating his reaction.

But he remained unmoved.

He didn’t even understand why these incompetents were panicking. Not a single one among them was worth redeeming, he thought bitterly.

"Even His Majesty understands the gravity of the situation... This is no time for empty words. In any case, the hero will certainly return in due time. After all, he has invested greatly in the domain he renovated. It would be an enormous loss if he were to abandon it..."

A shiver ran through the assembly. The statement wasn’t wrong... But what made some ministers smirk was the idea forming in their minds.

— We must requisition all available resources. It is for the good of the kingdom! His Majesty should issue a decree: every citizen must contribute to the war effort.

— Yes... And the hero’s domain is overflowing with resources. It would be a waste not to use them in this crisis...

The king subtly lifted his gaze.

He remembered his visit to that domain. It was, without a doubt, the most advanced territory in the kingdom. An anomaly. A marvel. With facilities and technology far beyond what the rest of the kingdom could even conceive.

He, too, thought it would be a shame to leave it unused.

But he did not voice his thoughts.

He had his own plans.

— We shall see, he replied simply. For now, what of humanitarian aid from the other kingdoms? Will they be able to prepare their troops in time?

A minister spoke with bitterness:

— Those people hold grudges... They have forgotten all that we have done for them. I hope they put aside their grievances, for if they do not support us and we fall, they will not last long.

— Hmph. According to my sources, they are sending supplies in advance... But logistics are proving to be a nightmare.

— Lies. They simply hope that we take the brunt of the damage so they can gain the upper hand in future negotiations.

The assembly grew heated once more.

From time to time, ministers glanced at the king, searching for a reaction.

But he remained impassive.

— But they underestimate the wisdom of our king...

Some forgot the purpose of the meeting, losing themselves in excessive flattery.

The king closed his eyes for a brief moment. Then, in a severe tone, he declared:

— That is enough.

Silence fell instantly.

When he spoke again, his voice was colder still:

— I have received a detailed report on the situation. The resolution of the incident near Fort Carmin is taking too long, and I have yet to receive a satisfactory explanation.

Some ministers exchanged uneasy glances.

In truth, they were all ignorant of a crucial fact—the king already knew.

According to his intelligence unit, an exceptionally dangerous undead had appeared in the region, spreading terror. The Church had confirmed the hypothesis.

The kingdom’s trackers had followed its trail, yet never managed to intercept it. But its existence was undeniable.

The strange disappearances were proof enough.

A minister cleared his throat.

— A team has been dispatched to investigate, Your Majesty. I assure you, we will have answers soon... But I believe the king should focus on the demon army rather than on rumors.

A barely perceptible smile crossed the king’s lips.

Rumors...?

If only they knew.

Or rather—how could they be so behind?

This is going to be long... I might die of stress before I even set foot on the battlefield, thought the king.

Here is the English translation of your text:

"Enough!!!"

The king’s voice thundered through the great throne hall, imposing absolute silence.

"Now that access to the dungeons across the entire celestial territory is forbidden, all efforts can be focused in one direction. Promise generous rewards to adventurers who accomplish great feats."

His gaze, as sharp as a honed blade, swept over the assembly.

"Reorganize our information-sharing system, gather everything we need. Ensure that order is maintained throughout the kingdom. And finally, have all chivalric orders prepare for war!"

A heavy tension weighed on the ministers present. Each of them grasped the magnitude of the king’s directives and understood the gravity of the situation.

Suddenly, the immense doors of the audience hall swung open with a resounding crash, allowing Bishop Douglas to enter, followed closely by one of the kingdom’s vassals.

At the sight of the prelate, the ministers’ expressions subtly shifted. A sigh of relief seemed to hover in the air. The presence of Douglas, a figure both respected and mysterious, was reassuring to some and unsettling to others.

The king raised an eyebrow as he watched the bishop approach the throne. No one knew exactly when he had arrived in the capital. He, however, knew. But he had not expected Douglas to come personally. He distrusted him.

The man who had accompanied the bishop knelt before the throne before speaking in a firm voice, though tinged with a certain nervousness.

"We finally have a comprehensive view of the situation, Your Majesty."

The king crossed his arms. "What is it?"

"As expected, they are coming through Alinru. The scouts report the presence of multiple types of monsters. It is not just the undead; there is a terrifying variety of creatures. Their numbers are immeasurable. We must sound the alarm."

A shiver ran through the assembly.

The king furrowed his brow. "We are already on high alert! Are you suggesting that we should panic?!"

The man stammered an awkward excuse, but the sovereign’s icy gaze left no room for weakness. He then turned his attention to Douglas.

"Bishop Douglas," he said calmly, his tone carrying an unmistakable expectation.

"No need to be so cold to this old man, Your Majesty. After all, I am the one who cleans up after you." Douglas remained calm and composed before the king. He knew Celestial’s temperament well.

"Indeed, Bishop Douglas has always worked in everyone’s best interest. I assume it is also in everyone’s interest that you have come... to help the world in its struggle against the demons!" the king stated with biting sarcasm.

"You do not know how to play with words, my child. Leave that to your ministers. I bear a message from the Saint, and I believe it would benefit everyone if I got straight to the point, as we have no time to waste."