I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 89
Upon entering the palace, Rufus was promptly led to the king’s office.
“Subjugation army’s lieutenant, Rufus of the Inferna baronial family, presents himself before His Majesty the King.”
Rufus knelt before the king.
“…Ah, you’ve arrived well.”
The king greeted Rufus with a hoarse voice.
The king, seated on his throne, seemed to have a very blurry gaze. He couldn’t even make proper eye contact with Rufus. Having stayed awake for several days and nights, the king looked quite haggard. And Rufus knew exactly why.
Prince Tarek, the king’s third son and the third prince of the country.
With the death of the Demon King, his whereabouts became unknown.
Swift messengers had already delivered this news to the king. The soldiers who came to convey the message handed the king the blood-stained outer garment of the prince that Rufus had collected.
Upon hearing the message, the king fainted on the spot.
It was to be expected. How could a father maintain his composure upon hearing that his beloved son had gone missing?
However, Rufus felt no sympathy for the king.
Sympathy?
Why should he feel such a thing? Sympathy is an emotion one might feel towards someone who has less than oneself or is in a more vulnerable position.
But the king was neither lower nor more unfortunate than Rufus.
What goes around, comes around.
That phrase fit perfectly.
Yes. The king was merely reaping what he had sown.
The murderer who had killed Sarubia in a previous life. The heartless and cruel sinner who had plunged his sword into her heart. He was merely paying the price he ought to pay.
“To His Majesty the King, I present the head of the Demon King Audixus, the enemy of mankind and the leader of monsters.”
With a grand proclamation, Rufus presented the head of the ‘Demon King’ contained within a bag.
The king looked at the head of the Demon King with weary eyes.
Now, what reaction would you show?
With his head bowed, Rufus inwardly mocked the king.
“……”
Initially, the king said nothing. Like a corpse drained of life, he gazed at the head of the Demon King with dead eyes, then suddenly rose from his seat. His hands were trembling.
“Is… Is this truly the head of Demon King Audixus?”
“That’s right, Your Majesty.”
Rufus bowed even lower, nearly touching the ground with his forehead.
Some of the scribes watching this scene thought Rufus was bowing his head in front of the king’s majesty. Some even admired Rufus’s submission to the king.
However, the reason Rufus bowed so deeply in front of the king was because of one thing.
Rufus was laughing.
Thump!
The king kicked the head of the Demon King presented by Rufus.
“This wicked monster! This damned demon!”
The king’s kicking grew from outrage to profound grievance.
“How dare you harm my son! Even feeding his body to wild beasts wouldn’t be punishment enough…!”
The scribes watched in silence as the king acted out. Rufus simply bowed his head deeper.
He couldn’t stop laughing.
This situation, where the king was trampling on his own son’s head, was just too absurd. He was anxious that his laughter might burst out.
How could one be so foolish?
It was unbearably funny.
Ah, truly.
How can humans be so foolish?
“Aaah!”
Unable to contain his rage, the king suddenly began throwing objects around him.
Crash!
Sharp sounds echoed in succession like a series of explosions. The increasingly tense atmosphere kept the scribes silent, unable to utter a word.
“Bring it forth! Hang the Demon King’s head on the back wall immediately!”
In a fit of rage, the king yelled at the royal knights standing by.
“Also, chop up the Demon King’s body and throw it to the stray dogs! Immediately!”
“Y-Yes, sire!”
The knights hurriedly moved to carry out the king’s orders.
Rufus bit his lip. He had reached his limit. He desperately wanted to leave the room and laugh until his tears ran dry.
The king called out his son’s name while stamping the ground.
“Tarek, Tarek…! He must be safe…”
After wailing for a while, the king suddenly yelled.
“Rufus!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your failure to protect Prince Tarek is a grave sin! How could you, blinded by the pursuit of achievements, fail to protect your sovereign!”
The enraged king slapped Rufus across the face. A loud smack echoed as his cheek was struck.
“……”
Rufus looked down silently.
There was so much he wanted to retort.
Blinded by the pursuit of achievements? Shouldn’t that be said to Prince Tarek? Who was it that eagerly took command of the subjugation army just to further his own fame?
As a general, Prince Tarek was utterly incompetent. He lacked practical experience and had a very low understanding of the demonkin. How many soldiers had to sacrifice their lives because this foolish young man recklessly went into battle?
And to call him a sovereign. What audacity does this foolish old man have to say that he served Prince Tarek as his sovereign?
But Rufus didn’t voice any of these thoughts. Explaining righteousness to a man soon to die was a waste of time.
“Rufus, I will give you one week. Find my son Prince Tarek immediately.”
The king’s eyes trembled.
“If you cannot bring back Prince Tarek… If my son has lost his life by any chance, I will hold you responsible. Your head will hang beside the Demon King’s!”
