Live A Live - The Demon King Odio Remix

"You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain." This quote perfectly summarizes Oersted's character, which is arguably one of my favorite villain origin stories.
When you start Oersted's chapter, you're given the impression that it's going to be like all of the other ones that came before it: you're introduced to the main protagonist, you explore the world, fight enemies as you encounter them, battle some big boss at the end, and become a hero as you save the day- especially since you're playing as a stereotypical knight in a medieval setting. But as you go through Oersted's story, you quickly discover that it couldn't be any more different.
Upon defeating the Lord of Dark, instead of rescuing the princess and living happily ever after, all Oersted gets for his efforts is seeing one of his teammates die before his eyes and his best friend supposedly getting crushed under rubble. And if that wasn't bad enough, Oersted accidentally commits regicide when he kills what he thinks is the real demon king, only to discover that it was actually the King, prompting practically everyone in the kingdom to treat him like a depraved monster.
Sure, the whole "the world hates the main protagonist over a misunderstanding" premise has been done plenty of times in RPGs. However, it usually doesn't take long for the main protagonist to clear their name and resolve the issue. But unfortunately, "Live A Live" isn't so nice.
From the moment the King dies onward, Oersted's all alone as he returns to the Demon King's lair to clear his name, only to discover that not only did his best friend survive, but that he was the real mastermind behind the regicide out of sheer jealousy for Oersted.
That's right; while in most RPGs, the main protagonist's friends stand by their side through thick and thin and act as much-needed pillars of support and kindness in a cruel world, in Oersted's story, his best friend not only betrays him out of pure envy, ruins his life, and attempts to kill him, but also filled his fiancé's head with so many lies that she... well, does the last thing you'd expect a princess to do after being saved by her gallant knight in shining armor.
So with that in mind, while Oersted does some horrible things after becoming a dark lord of hatred, you can't help but sympathize with him at least somewhat.

[@DemonK1ngODIO]

"Not yet. Not yet! Your fight is not done yet! For even I should falter here and now... My hate! My boundless hate shall transcend time!
Hark! Look you now on hatred's multitude - on Odio and his many faces! You know them well.
From ancient past, the beast!
From distant future, maddened slave of men!
In peace they plot and craft their prophet false...
In war they worship lords ambitious, cruel!
The windswept wastes yield monstrous men-at-arms!
The highest peak hide villains murderous!
For violence shall ever be your wont!
My hate is yours, and yours is mine. To share, a history, so long as men yet live!
Now sing our name! Embrace us!
Odio!"

[@NicoTheCinderace]

_"Naught remains. Alone. Utterly alone. Cast out. Unloved. Outside the grace of gods."_
_"The Archon's Roost, they call this shrine of death. Yet nowhere do I spy our Lord of Dark. His throne sits empty, wanting for an heir..."_
_"Did I not do all that was asked? Did I not serve and seek my fair and just reward? And for my deeds, they damn me. Name me demon. And who am I to deny it?"_
_"Demon, then! Renouncing former ties and titles! And in their place, I claim... The Lord of Dark. Odio!"_

[@kylestubbs8867]

Tragic as it is... that's the first time he actually speaks. Not when he was initially accused, not when Streibough accused him of being all take and no give. Not even when Alethea scoffs at his perseverance and commits suicide.
It's more than a little frustrating.

[@_Tzer]

"There's nothing left for me"
"No place to return to, nobody to love, and nothing to believe in..."
"Nothing... but Demons"
...
"I will become a demon..."
"In doing so, I shall teach humanity the folly of their selfishness!"
"From now on..."
"I am no longer Oersted..."
"I am..."
"The Demon King..." "Odio!"
You say such is frustrating but true frustration is enough to break anyone utterly so.
Only one other time i have seen another character break the silent protagonist trope by becoming severely pissed off.
And that is literally jak from jak and daxter.

[@svandenburg3437]

Considering the moment this happens, Oersted is finally able to speak for himself, you could see this as Oersted having wanted to speak before, but everyone else was just too busy talking over him to actually listen. You could definitely get this impression because Streibough's confession of envy was just chock full of projection.

[@czarthwomp]

Not to mention, this is the defining moment that sets Oersted apart from the other heroes. While all of the others had the support and/or hopes of at least one other person, going back to Uranus' line of not giving up hope as long as there's someone who believes in you, Oersted had no one at that moment- his best friend and fiancé betrayed him, everyone in the kingdom feared and reviled him, and the only people who showed him any loyalty were dead.
As such, I can't help but wonder if any of the other heroes would have gone down a similar path if they were given the same treatment at the end of their respective stories despite their efforts.

[@svandenburg3437]

@@czarthwomp There are fanfics that explore that, actually. Akira becomes Akio in the most notable of them.

[@rhysthereddragon1326]

“Believe in me. You will. You must! For I am the hero true! Heheh...I am...I am! Hahahah! Believe in me! Believe!”
*”BELIEVE IN ME!!! BELIEVE!!!”*