Chapter 124
"Are you perhaps concerned about the Four Kings' Star?"
Nordian nodded.
"Yes. If we go to full-scale war with Gold Cross, the ones who’ll be most pleased will be those wretched ones from the Four Kings’ Star."
The vassals fell silent.
"Or perhaps… the very outbreak of this plague could itself be a scheme by the Four Kings’ Star. Hoping for us, the Dark Demonic House and Gold Cross, to shed blood in mutual destruction."
It was a sharp deduction.
However, it was only half right.
The “Cursed Demonic House” under the Four Kings’ Star had indeed been involved.
But they merely lent assistance—the true mastermind lay elsewhere.
A culprit no one could have imagined.
This was why Chris had to resolve the incident himself.
"……."
The chamber fell silent.
It was a difficult dilemma.
They couldn’t stand by, yet neither could they easily march their army.
Then, an unexpected voice rang through the hall.
"I have a way."
It was Christian.
Everyone turned toward him in surprise.
"What method do you propose?"
"It’s simple. We just have to uncover the true mastermind behind the plague."
Everyone, including Nordian, showed a disappointed expression.
"Who doesn’t know that? But it’s not realistically possible. Those bastards from the Cursed Demonic House never leave behind any traces. There’s a reason they’re called the 'Reapers Behind the Curtain.'"
Chris nodded.
He too knew well how meticulous the Cursed Demonic House could be.
But—
"It doesn’t matter. Because this wasn’t done by the Cursed Demonic House alone."
"…What do you mean?"
"There must be a corrupted traitor within Gold Cross who cooperated with the Cursed Demonic House. Without someone like that, not even they could cast such a large-scale curse. We just need to catch that traitor."
"!!"
It was a plausible explanation.
But there was still a critical issue.
"How do we catch such a traitor? Gold Cross is far beyond our reach."
That was the fundamental reason the Dark Demonic House couldn’t investigate this matter.
But Chris calmly proposed a solution.
"I will go to Gold Cross as a diplomatic envoy representing the Dark Demonic House."
"…What?"
"Under the pretext of investigating the truth behind this incident before engaging in full-scale war. Since it was Gold Cross who made wild accusations first, they won’t be able to reject our request to seek the truth."
The chamber fell into silence.
A moment later—
“That’s absurd!”
“This is unthinkable!”
Sending an envoy to the Union wasn’t, in itself, a major problem.
It wasn’t as if the two sides never communicated.
Especially before wars, envoys were often exchanged.
However, it was an extremely dangerous task.
“The Union bastards can’t be trusted. The chance of something going wrong is too high!”
Both the Union and the Magus had countless incidents of executing emissaries.
Anyone going as an envoy had to be prepared to risk their life.
“Especially for Prince Christian to go himself…!!”
“That’s exactly why it’s fine if I go personally.”
“…Pardon?”
Christian spoke nonchalantly.
“No matter how reckless those Union fools may be, they wouldn’t dare lay a hand on someone like me—one of the most likely successors of the Dark Demonic House. So there’s no need for such excessive worry.”
The vassals fell silent.
It wasn’t wrong, but when had the world ever followed proper principles?
Once he was there, who knew what might happen?
At that moment, Nordian frowned and spoke.
“There’s no guarantee you’ll uncover the mastermind just because you go as an envoy, is there?”
Christian nodded in agreement.
“The Lord is right. Even if I go, there’s absolutely no guarantee I’ll resolve the incident.”
“Then why do something so reckless?”
“Because it’s something that must be done for the sake of the Dark Demonic House.”
“!!”
Christian declared with a firm gaze.
“If we don’t act, we’ll end up dancing in the palm of some unknown puppeteer. As someone who carries the bloodline of the Dark Demonic House, and as one who intends to become its rightful master someday—I can never allow that.”
For a moment, the chamber fell into silence.
They were overwhelmed by Christian’s presence.
It was unbelievable.
Everyone here was a core figure of the Dark Demonic House, none of them inferior to Christian in rank.
And yet, they were being overpowered by a boy barely in his mid to late teens?
‘Truly, Prince Christian…’
Some among them were quietly impressed, and Christian continued calmly.
“Moreover, there’s a reason I must go personally.”
“What is it?”
“Because I am the most suitable person to resolve this matter. No—in all of the Dark Demonic House, I’m the only one who can.”
Nordian’s expression turned subtly intrigued.
“You have something in mind?”
“Yes, I do. Though I cannot go into detail here.”
Chris answered with unwavering confidence.
“Not only will I reveal the mastermind, I will make the Pontifex of Gold Cross bow his head and formally apologize to the Dark Demonic House for this incident. So please—entrust it to me.”
A claim so grand it bordered on outrageous.
Nordian let out a low chuckle.
“Kukuku. You speak well. The Pontifex bowing his head to our Dark Demonic House… If things really turn out as you say, it’ll go down in our history.”
The Dark Demonic House and Gold Cross had clashed countless times, but not a single House Lord had ever made the Pontifex lower his head.
“What do you think, Marquis? I think it’s a fairly good suggestion.”
“……”
“How about giving that child some time? We can always mobilize the army afterward.”
Who would object to such a suggestion?
Marquis Langham nodded and declared,
“Christian, I appoint you as an envoy representing our Dark Demonic House. The deadline is one month. Within that time, uncover the mastermind behind the insult to our House. If you succeed, your first trial will be considered passed.”
Conversely, failure would mean failing the trial.
Christian simply nodded calmly.
“Yes, understood.”
And so,
The first step of Christian’s journey began—he who would one day be revered by the entire Union as the “Light in the Darkness” and “The Great Darkness.”
* * *
He couldn’t depart immediately.
Since he would be representing the Dark Demonic House as an envoy, there were necessary preparations.
‘How long has it been since I’ve had a proper break! I’ll be suffering plenty again soon, so for the next few days I’m going to laze around like the world’s laziest man!’
He was determined, heading back to his room, when an unexpected voice stopped him.
“Wait.”
“Aunt?”
“There’s somewhere we need to go. Follow me.”
“…Are we going to the Lord?”
“Yes. He’s waiting for you.”
Christian frowned instinctively.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed he was about to receive some guidance.
‘Damn it. I just wanted to rest.’
But refusing Nordian’s instruction was out of the question.
‘Ugh… when can I ever get some rest?’
He grumbled inwardly, but it was meaningless.
“But weren’t we supposed to receive guidance at the annex? Why are we going to the main building?”
“Today’s not for guidance. He has other business with you.”
“??”
They headed to the underground level of the main residence, where the vaults filled with treasures the Dark Demonic House had accumulated over generations appeared.
But Merian didn’t stop walking.
She stopped in front of a massive mural depicting a battle between devils and constellations.
‘That’s not just a painting. It’s an artifact.’
Faint traces of magic were hidden all throughout the artwork.
So subtly concealed that even Chris had to look carefully to notice them.
Dark mana extended from Merian’s hand and reacted with the enchantments woven into the mural.
Uuuung.
The mural rippled as if a drop of water had fallen on calm water, and Merian stepped into its interior.
“Come in after me.”
When he followed her inside, an astonishing sight unfolded before him.
A space shrouded in dense, dark mist appeared.
Beyond the fog, eerie and ominous objects were placed throughout the space.
‘Artifacts stored by the Dark Demonic House!!’
It was the secret vault!
At that moment, a chuckling voice echoed from within.
[You’ve come?]
The face of a young boy.
It was Nordian’s avatar.
“I greet the Lord.”
Chris bowed his head.
[Yes. Do you know why I called you here?]
“Could it be…?”
[Yes, you’re right. I summoned you to bestow an artifact upon you.]
Chris looked slightly surprised.
He had expected he’d be rewarded with an artifact soon.
‘But to open a vault containing artifacts of this level…?’
Artifacts had ranks.
Some were less valuable than man-made relics, while others could disturb the balance of the world just by existing.
Just a glance made it clear—none of the artifacts in this vault were ordinary.
If even one of them leaked outside, it would surely cause a bloodbath.
These were the highest-grade artifacts the Dark Demonic House had gathered through centuries of history.
“…I’m sincerely grateful for your generosity, my Lord.”
Chris bowed deeply.
If not for Nordian’s favor, there was no way Chris would have ever set foot inside the House’s greatest secret vault.
[Spare me the pointless flattery. Do you have any idea why I’ve decided to open this vault for you?]
Because he was the only disciple?
Nordian was not someone who would make such a decision based on a petty reason like that.
“You want me to strike a blow against those Union bastards using the artifacts here, don’t you?”
Nordian let out a low chuckle.
[Exactly. Because you said you’d make that detestable Pontifex bow his head. Are you truly confident?]
Chris firmly nodded.
“Yes. Please wait for me. I will return with news that will fully satisfy you, my Lord.”
[Heh… What a reckless brat.]
But by now, Nordian knew that Chris’s arrogant words were never just bluster.
Chris had never failed to deliver on what he promised.
Not even once.
‘Still… I wonder about this time.’
Nordian thought to himself.
This was different from everything before.
He would be heading to the Union.
And as a demon at that.
There was no telling what kind of obstacles lay ahead.
Interference was certain, and countless people would be aiming for his life.
Honestly, no matter how incredible Christian was, this mission was too much.
If he didn’t come back dead, that would already be a miracle.
‘To be honest, I almost opposed it.’
But even so, he didn’t.
Because it was Christian.
Because it was Christian—the one who had already created countless miracles—he held onto the faint hope that he might do it again.
Still, not knowing what crises he might face, Nordian wanted to equip him with an artifact that could help.
[You may take only one artifact from this vault. Choose carefully.]
“Thank you.”
Chris bowed his head once more and began to look around the vault.