Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate!-Chapter 232: The Mysterious Overlord

[Akashic Record]The page opens to the final entry regarding the Demon Overlords.

Name: ????Title: Demon Overlord – Rank 1st

I’ve scoured every page of the [Akashic Record], hoping to uncover more about this Rank 1 Demon Overlord—but no further information exists.

The final page is sealed.

Only a pitch-black sheet remains, adorned with an intricate locked symbol, glowing faintly with ancient magic. No matter how many times I attempt to access it—through magic, willpower, or brute force—the page refuses to open.

It’s as if the knowledge itself is forbidden.

I decided I’ll bring this up with Lilith. Perhaps she knows what lies within that page. But even then, it’s strange—if Lilith did know something more about this Overlord, why wouldn’t she have told me directly?

That means this final sealed page may contain information even Lilith can’t access. For now, I chose to set it aside.

I returned my focus to the strategy meeting.

Everyone’s expressions ranged from confusion to concern. They turned toward me, waiting for clarification.

"What does it mean, Naoki?" King Aslan asked, frowning. "Why is there nothing recorded about him?"

I let out a soft sigh and addressed them all.

"As you can see... unlike the other Demon Overlords, information about the Rank 1st is nearly non-existent. The [Akashic Record]—a book that holds the truth of all things—offers no more than a name shrouded in mystery."

They all fell silent, processing the implications.

The Saintess furrowed her brows. "Then... is he even real?"

I nodded grimly.

"He’s very real. Lilith confirmed it herself. She told me that this Overlord can manipulate souls—something that not even the higher-ranked demons are capable of. According to her, he has existed for centuries... almost as long as the Demon King himself."

That statement sent a chill through the room.

"In the past, long before the Demon Overlords had formed ranks... there was only one being who stood beside the Demon King as his most loyal and destructive hand—this man. The first and only Overlord at that time."

Even the ever-confident Cain and the usually outspoken Mercenary Queen were quiet now.

I continued, "He was a monster in the truest sense. Back then, he was responsible for the destruction of countless villages, cities, even entire kingdoms. He didn’t distinguish between human, demi-human, or even demon. All were prey to him."

A visible shudder ran through the gathered leaders. The tension in the room was thick.

"How... how could he manipulate souls?" the Saintess asked softly, almost afraid to speak the words. "And why? Why would anyone do that?"

I shook my head.

"I don’t know the exact mechanics of his power. Whether it’s a form of ancient forbidden magic or something far more sinister, I can’t say for sure. But according to Lilith, during the ancient war between the Demon King and the gods, this Overlord harvested countless souls... sacrificing them in ritual to empower the Demon King himself."

Gasps echoed around the table.

"Villages disappeared in an instant. Populations vanished overnight. That’s how devastating he was."

Everyone looked haunted now—each imagining what such a force of destruction could do if unleashed once more.

"This is absurd," King Aslan said, voice shaking slightly with restrained rage. "How are we supposed to fight something like this? He’s just like the Demon King himself in the term of power!"

"There’s no simple answer," I admitted. "At this point, the only thing we can do is uncover more information. I’ll speak to Lilith again. She might not have revealed everything. There has to be something we can use."

They all nodded, albeit reluctantly.

Inside, I too harbored the fear that even Lilith might be powerless to help. But still... I had to try.

"Soul manipulation... it’s practically the same as death itself," I said grimly. "Let me be clear: if we encounter this Overlord—do not engage. Not until we understand his true abilities. If he appears... we run."

The declaration startled them, but no one disagreed. In fact, they seemed relieved to hear such caution.

"I will meet with Lilith again this Sunday night, precisely at midnight. That’s the only time she can contact me, bound by the situations and conditions she experiences in Doomspire."

Until then, I began compiling a list of critical questions—not just my own, but also those raised by the council today. We couldn’t afford to miss anything.

As the meeting began to draw to a close, I brought up Lilith’s final warning.

"She advised that each kingdom’s barriers must be restored immediately. She fears that if her demonic instincts overpower her, she might unwillingly open a portal from the Doomspire into Gildora or even Braveheart again."

The room tensed again.

King Aslan slammed his fist down. "Then that’s our next step. Barrier restoration first. Agreed?"

"Agreed," I confirmed. "And to do that, we’ll need a magic research unit to analyze Lilith’s teleportation formulas and develop a counter-spell."

We quickly formed a team: Arsene, Xerion, the Saintess, and the Magic King Salvador. The best minds we had.

Their task was clear—decode the demon teleportation sigils and create a ward to nullify or trap the magic in advance.

Once completed, the counter-barriers would be deployed across the three major kingdoms: Gildoria, Braveheart, and Solara.

Everyone nodded in agreement, their previous dread replaced by determination.

We weren’t out of the woods yet—but this was our first step into preparing for a war against the unknown.

...

The next phase of preparation had been laid out.

A special training unit was formed, consisting of the Braveheart Kingdom’s heroes, including myself. Together with King Aslan, we would undergo intense training focused on mastering the control of our familiars—an essential part of unlocking our full potential in battle.

Among those joining us was Julius, but there was one important condition: he would only be allowed to begin training after he officially passed the Hero’s Trial and was recognized as a true Hero. Until then, he would observe and prepare.

But then came a surprising announcement—one that changed the atmosphere of the entire war room.

The Mercenary King and Queen had decided to temporarily reside in the Braveheart Kingdom.

Not only did they want to personally oversee the development of the new barrier magic, but they also volunteered to train us—the heroes of Braveheart—in mastering our Forced Aura.

The moment those words left their lips, a wave of shock rippled through the room.

None of us had expected two of the continent’s most feared and respected warriors to stay and offer us their strength. But once the surprise faded, a spark ignited in our hearts. I could see the flames of determination in everyone’s eyes.

This wasn’t just an opportunity.

It was a blessing from the battlefield itself.

I also came to learn something interesting—the Mercenary Queen was already well-acquainted with Theresia, Lyra, and Serena. I watched as they greeted her warmly, their casual conversation hinting at a deeper history.

It turns out, during one of the early battles, they had faced each other as enemies—locked in fierce combat. But as fate would have it, they now stood on the same side, united as allies.

War is strange like that. It can turn sworn enemies into companions.

Seeing them laugh and speak like old friends made me realize how much we’ve all grown—and how far we’ve come since this conflict began.

I truly believe this is a golden opportunity for all of us—not only to grow in magic but to become stronger in body, spirit, and aura.

Personally, I was excited too.

Even though I’ve reached a high level of proficiency with Dark Magic, I know that my Forced Aura is still inferior to the Mercenary King’s. If he’s willing to teach, then I’ll train with everything I’ve got.

Because the truth is—I can’t defeat the demons alone.

Not without my comrades. Not without the bonds we’ve forged.

This training could be the key to preparing ourselves for the real war to come.

After these preparations, another Alliance Meeting would be held to discuss the progress of each kingdom, including updates on training, barriers, and—most importantly—any signs of demonic activity.

If the demons are detected moving toward any human territory again, we will respond with everything we have.

We have no choice but to be ready. Ready to protect, ready to fight, and ready to win.

As for me... my mission goes beyond just the Braveheart Kingdom.

I must grow stronger so that I can protect not only Braveheart, but also our allied nations—Gildoria and Solara.

But even deeper than that... I remember why I started this journey in the first place.

My true purpose in fighting the demons, in seeking to defeat the Demon King, is to protect my family back on Earth.

They are my light.

And I will fight until my final breath to make sure that light never fades.

Seketika muncul notifikasi misi:

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[!!!NOTIFICATION QUEST!!!]

1. Help the heroes master their familiars

2. Help the barrier research team complete the new barrier spell

Reward: 25 Goddess Points, Mysterious Gift.

Failure Penalty: The heroes will fail to master the power of their familiars, and the kingdom’s barrier will not fail to be created.

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I looked at it in confusion. I knew that I needed to train the heroes, but did I also need to help the barrier research team?

Will they have trouble later? I don’t know that.

But I know the Goddess of Benevolence showed me this to help me.

I will do my best.

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