The Man Who Remained — His Second Life Began with a Humble Bow of Apology. - Chapter 52: It Was An Utterly Disrespectful Thought, But… In The End, It Was His Stupidity That Saved Them.

It Was An Utterly Disrespectful Thought, But… In The End, It Was His Stupidity That Saved Them.

Since early morning, Aura had been sitting in the administrative office with her head in her hands.

Or rather, for someone like Aura, who constantly carried the burden of complex and voluminous tasks, there were few days when she wasn’t holding her head like this.

Originally, a Demon King was supposed to rule the land through displays of power and instilling fear. At the very least, that was how the vast majority of Demon Kings throughout history had done it.

But Aura did not flaunt her strength.

Her combat ability was merely enough to qualify as one of the Four Generals in the previous Demon King’s era.

That wasn’t to say she was weak; her skills still placed her among the top ten fighters in the entire country.

However, by Demon King standards, she was near the bottom.

Instead, Aura possessed two other strengths: an exceptional talent for governance, and a cunning so malicious and unparalleled that no one could ever hope to imitate it.

It was because of these two abilities that Aura became the Demon King. She used everything at her disposal, outmaneuvered the sly and cunning who were just as foul as her, and toppled and eliminated other candidates who possessed legitimate martial power.

Ruling with such a vicious personality and political terror, one might assume her to be purely wicked, but Aura’s true nature was good-hearted. At the very least, she despised causing sadness to others.

Precisely because of this, even though she held the title of Demon King and could live as she pleased, she chose instead to immerse herself in the burdens of statecraft.

Thus, she was always busy. However… today, just this moment, the reason she held her head wasn’t because of her usual duties, but due to an irregular problem.

She had received some documents early that morning, and upon reading them, she had pushed back her morning tasks to pore over them.

The more she read, the more nonsensical it all seemed. And yet, paradoxically, she understood that what had been written there was nothing short of a miracle, the result of narrowly navigating countless tightropes.

That was the kind of content it held.

“How should I tell him…? It concerns Cross himself, so I can’t not tell him, but…”

She murmured to herself, just as a knock sounded at the door, which then opened without pause.

“Pardon the intrusion, Lafiel.”

Her father, Gryul, appeared before her as he spoke.

“Oh, Father. Is something the matter?”

“You have a visitor.”

“…Is it someone I must meet with personally?”

Not only was she busy with work, but as Demon King, she did not often meet with others directly. At the very least, anyone who showed up without an appointment had to be of great importance or come with equally pressing circumstances.

“They probably wouldn’t mind if you didn’t meet them.”

Knowing that Aura always read between the lines, Gryul phrased it that way.

They wouldn’t mind if she didn’t meet them – in other words, it was someone she herself would care not to ignore.

Considering his words, Aura instantly understood who it was.

“It’s Cross, isn’t it…? Ah… I still haven’t decided how to tell him…”

She sighed, looking down at the document in her hands, detailing the peculiarities that had been revealed about Cross during his examinations.

“Well, tell him however you want. He’s not the type to worry about it.”

Saying that, Gryul offered his evaluation of Cross, who had now become his friend.

A few minutes later, Cross waited with his attendant Ellie in the guest room.

At the sound of a hesitant knock, Aura appeared before them.

“Thank you for waiting…”

There was a tiredness lingering on her face as she spoke.

“Were you perhaps busy? I apologise if so.”

“No. It’s alright today. But please understand that there may be times I am unable to come if work is pressing.”

“Of course, you’re a Demon King, after all. My bad.”

“Please, don’t worry about it. So, is there some kind of trouble?”

She didn’t think he had come back just a day after leaving, so she asked calmly.

“Ah… yeah, well. Before we get to the main topic, there’s something important. From today, this child’s name is no longer ‘Liber’, but ‘Ellie’.”

Cross turned to Ellie as he spoke.

Ellie lowered her head deeply to Aura, wearing a proud expression.

“What a lovely name. I’m happy for you, Ellie-san.”

Aura smiled warmly. Seeing Ellie’s bright, proud face, so different from when she called herself ‘Liber’ out of guilt for being a traitor, Aura felt genuine happiness for her – setting aside the small pang of envy she felt, wishing she could have been freed that way back in her own time.

“Now, to the main matter… give me a job.”

Cross bowed his head slightly as he spoke.

“Eh? Uh… w-what?”

Even Aura, usually unflappable, was caught off guard by his unexpected request.

“Cross-san, you should explain properly…”

Ellie sighed softly, then cleared her throat to explain on his behalf.

“Early this morning, we went to the administrative office to collect an adventurer application form.”

Aura nodded as Ellie spoke.

“And here it is.”

Ellie presented the application form to Aura, pointing out an important section within.

In the demon world, unlike among humans where one could simply register at a tavern and become an adventurer, it required submitting formal documents to the authorities, passing an adventurer certification exam, and only then could one be recognized as an adventurer-in-training. After that, they would need to affiliate with a guild or company to be formally accepted.

While the requirements weren’t particularly difficult, the rules were complex and strict.

And the part Ellie pointed to contained the following line:

“Must have completed a minimum of one year of compulsory education.”

Seeing that line, Aura realised she had overlooked an incredibly basic requirement. Bowing her head deeply, she conveyed her heartfelt apology to Cross.

“I am truly sorry.”

“Eh? Why the serious apology? Is it really that big a deal?”

Seeing Aura’s expression, as if she was about to kneel in apology like when they first met, Cross shouted in surprise.

“I knew you wanted to become an adventurer… I will submit a special exemption request for you immediately, so –”

“Please wait.”

Ellie interjected before Aura could finish, and Aura paused to hear her out.

“If we request a special exemption now, Cross-san will stand out for the wrong reasons. He already has many traits that attract attention.”

Given Ellie’s expertise in drawing negative attention herself, her words carried undeniable weight.

“…You’re right. Many adventurers can be rather rough…”

“While it would be easy to silence them with force, I don’t think that’s what Cross-san wants.”

“Then, Ellie-san, what do you suggest?”

“I think it would be best if Cross-san worked directly under you, Demon King-sama, for the remaining eleven months until he becomes eligible to register as an official adventurer.”

“…That would mean…”

That would mean Cross being publicly seen as part of the Demon King’s faction – no, it would mean formally bringing him into her camp.

“I know you don’t want to bind Cross-san to your faction, and I understand your reasons. But… may I be blunt?”

“Go ahead…”

“It’s already too late, you know?”

Aura let out a long sigh, as if accepting Ellie’s words.

The reason she didn’t want to bring Cross into her faction was simple: she didn’t know how long her position as Demon King would remain secure. Though it wasn’t as if she would lose her throne tomorrow, and she intended to remain Demon King as long as possible, thinking that she would stay at the top forever was nothing but wishful thinking.

She had wanted Cross to remain free, so that no matter what happened to her, he could live in peace without being dragged down with her. But… it was already too late.

Rumours were already spreading, even to the point of suggesting that Cross was her lover, a testament to how close they were in the eyes of those who aimed for her throne.

“Perhaps… this is a good time to give up resisting. I understand now that leaving Cross-san unprotected is dangerous…”

She sighed again, giving in, and placed a document on the table.

Cross tilted his head as he picked it up, then tilted it again, clearly unable to understand.

“No idea what this says. Ellie, what’s it about?”

Ellie looked at it as well, but it was too technical to decipher, so she just shook her head and returned it to the table.

“To confirm – accepting a request from me would officially make you part of my faction. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“That was always my intention. If anything happens to you, I’ll help. If you tell me to fight, I’ll fight. I’ve been like your underling from the start – just a delinquent underling who ignores orders I don’t like.”

Cross grinned confidently.

Aura chuckled softly.

“That’s just like you, Cross-san.”

“Right?”

As he answered, the two of them locked eyes with blank expressions, then burst out laughing again.

After sipping tea and sharing some sweets to reset their conversation and emotions, Aura began to explain the contents of the document.

“Do you remember when White Lily-san told you that mages are divided into ranks?”

“Yeah, I remember hearing it… forgot the details, though.”

Aura smiled wryly at his blunt honesty and scribbled something quickly before showing it to him.

First Stage: React

1. 1. Primer

1. 1. Seeker / Researcher / Explorer (each referring to different paths of pursuit)

1. 1. Magus

“These are the first stage ranks – the initial three tiers within the nine layers of the abyss of magic. Now, which rank do you think you’re at?”

“Huh? I haven’t studied anything, so I’m not even in the first rank, right?”

For mages, growth comes through endless learning and contact with the arcane. Even entry into the first tier is a narrow gate for the untalented.

Thus, mages sought wisdom to step deeper into the abyss.

Cross, lacking not only wisdom but even common sense, could never hope to enter such a realm.

However…

Aura silently pointed to the third tier, Magus.

“You are already here.”

Cross tilted his head, not understanding, while Ellie seemed to nod as if it made sense.

“…What do you mean?”

“Cross-san, can you generate magical power here and now?”

“Eh? Hold on.”

Standing up, Cross tried to recall the sensation from before and recreated it.

A sensation like igniting a blue flame – burning with passion, restrained by reason.

He channeled that hot, fiery energy into creating a cold world, letting something other than blood flow through his veins.

His small single horn responded, growing slightly, as a sense of omnipotence coursed through him.

Feeling slightly uncertain but confident enough, he glanced at Aura.

She nodded.

“That is proof of the third tier – the sign of a true mage. Normally it is an achievement earned through relentless training, but…”

“…Why can I do it?”

“I can make some hypotheses. Your complete memories from your past life, the fact that you’ve already died once, and that you honed your talents to their absolute limit… but I cannot draw optimistic conclusions from mere speculation. So, I investigated. This is the result.”

Saying so, Aura began to explain the document’s contents.

In short, it said:

“Cross’s body is optimised for the use of magic.”

Among magical races, there were those born as third-tier Magi, inherently gifted in magic. However, Cross’s race, Necronia, was not one of those. They were a balanced species, with moderate magical ability, strong physical prowess, and a human-like skeletal structure.

But Cross’s body was crafted to the extent that it could be called ‘perfection’ – balanced so exquisitely it was akin to magic itself.

“That is what we discovered upon your awakening as a mage.”

“I see… Do you know why my body is like this?”

Ellie asked, and Aura touched her chin thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, Cross, not particularly smart, simply understood that his body was amazing, and listened intently with sparkling eyes, eager to learn despite understanding little.

“I can make some guesses… if we consider the true purpose of the previous generation.”

“The true purpose?”

“There is another anomaly in your magical aptitude, Cross-san. You possess an affinity for every type of magic.”

Magic encompasses vast categorical types, and even though it is referred to collectively as “magic,” its categories are truly innumerable.

There are offensive magics limited to controlling only flames, ritualistic magics that can achieve anything but require lengthy preparation, orthodox spells so straightforward they could be printed in textbooks, and conversely, spells so complex and eerie that no one else can comprehend their structure.

There is magic created solely for personal use, as well as spells cast purely on intuition.

There even exist strange forms of magic that ignore the foundational mechanics of constructing and activating spell formulas altogether.

Such is the freedom inherent in magic.

And learning all of those magics is an impossible feat.

This is because what magic a person can learn is determined by their innate affinity.

Which types of magic one excels in or struggles with, and how many categories one can master – all of that is decided by talent. Generally, people find they are able to learn magics that align with their preferences.

It is unheard of to have talent for a type of magic one dislikes. That is what magical talent – affinity – means.

Yes, the magics one can wield are fundamentally shaped and skewed by their nature and affinity.

Much like one’s tastes in food, hobbies, or romantic preference, magic is profoundly linked to personal inclination.

However, in Cross’s case, there was absolutely no such skew.

His affinities were completely uniform – he possessed a “fifty” in everything, instead of a “hundred” in any single field.

He lacked strong affinity with any particular type of magic, but at the same time, he possessed affinity with all types of magic.

In other words, Cross held the ludicrous possibility of being able to master every form of magic in existence.

“That’s… impossible…”

Ellie wanted to say it outright, but given that it was Aura saying so, it could not be wrong.

Aura, a specialist at the pinnacle of all magic users, would not speak lightly. Even so, it was difficult to believe – that such an existence was possible, or that one could even be created.

Because Aura spoke with such seriousness, Ellie understood the gravity of what was being revealed.

Even first-rate mages typically specialise in only one category of magic, perhaps two or three at most.

Even Aura herself, one of the highest-ranking mages, could only wield magic across fifty categories.

To surpass even that, and possess the talent for all magics – it meant that every time a new magic was born, he could learn it, growing infinitely stronger.

It meant there was no one he could lose to, at least in the realm of magic.

Such an existence was beyond supreme – it was no longer even a magical being.

It was a weapon.

Ellie understood how heavy that reality was.

Meanwhile, Cross didn’t fully grasp it. He simply understood that he was somehow amazing when it came to magic, and his face lit up with childish delight.

“That’s awesome… Being able to use all kinds of magic sounds so cool.”

His eyes sparkled as he spoke, like an innocent child. Aura looked at him with sorrowful eyes.

Those eyes… were closer to pity than admiration.

Cross had forgotten something important.

That magic, alongside affinity, required another vital element…

“Um… Cross-san. For now, please take a look at this…”

Aura handed him a new piece of paper, and Cross frowned as he stared at it.

“What is this… this paper crammed with numbers? Just looking at it makes my head spin.”

“This is the incantation structure for a magic called Binaryus Magic. The code has been converted into binary to make it longer but simpler to read… Cross-san, do you have the motivation to learn this?”

“Impossible. It’s not about motivation. It’s just impossible.”

Hearing his blunt reply, Ellie realised something crucial.

Indeed, this body had originally been prepared for the hero, reborn as a demon, to inhabit.

To utilise a body capable of learning all magic would require extraordinary intelligence, memory, and limitless combat sense.

In other words… what Aura was trying to say was…

“Forgive my bluntness, but… magic is a thorny path of endless study. Cross-san… can you handle that much studying?”

“As long as it doesn’t involve numbers or difficult stuff…”

“Magic without numbers is actually harder. You’d have to recreate the numerical logic through other means.”

“…Ah… I was bad at memorisation too.”

“And lacking any strong affinity means… it will be difficult to find a magic you excel at…”

Aura’s words finally reached Cross’s understanding.

If the hero had been reborn in this body, they would have become nothing short of a mass-destruction weapon.

A being so monstrous it could annihilate even hordes of dragons with ease.

But the one standing here was Cross.

A man who hated studying, and was… well, not very bright.

If anything, one could say this: the fact that the previous Demon King’s final scheme – the birth of a weapon of destruction – had been thwarted by Cross’s incompetence was an achievement in itself.

Ignoring the sad reality that Cross’s lack of ability meant he could never fully utilise his body’s potential.

Without extraordinary effort, dedication, and profound study of magic, Cross, who possessed no extreme affinity and had, generously speaking, a poor mind, would not be able to wield magic effectively.

In fact, even if he focused entirely on just one category, it still might not be enough.

“Aura-sama… I… I want to use magic…”

He whispered this with eyes like an abandoned puppy, and Aura gave him a wry, gentle smile.

“Let’s think carefully and choose one type of magic to focus on first. Then, step by step, we’ll work hard together. It shouldn’t be impossible. I will teach you everything I can.”

Hearing those words, Cross nodded firmly in reply.