Chapter 126
‘She’s gotten stronger.’
Chris looked slightly surprised.
Jupien still had that same expressionless, doll-like face, but the aura she gave off had changed drastically.
4-star.
And she had even reached the middle stage of it.
‘So that’s why she hadn’t shown her face for a while. She must’ve gone into secluded training.’
Of course, it wasn’t just the secluded training that brought Jupien this achievement.
It was also due to the timely advice Chris had given her.
Combined with the effort Jupien had put in all this time, she had now gained this explosive breakthrough.
Chris especially noticed that Jupien had fully mastered the essence of Illusory Swordsmanship.
Even with the same level of power, she would be able to wield it more forcefully, and it would also make it easier for her to reach higher levels in the future.
“The advice you gave me back then—I’ve come to repay it. So let’s go together.”
“…No.”
“Why not?”
“We’re heading into a Union stronghold. You know it’s too dangerous for someone like you—a noble princess. I won’t be able to look after you.”
Jupien frowned.
“You’re being arrogant.”
“……”
“I never asked you to look after me. I’ll take care of my own life.”
Jupien continued.
“And if I go, it’ll actually be advantageous in resolving this issue.”
“How so?”
“With two successors of the Dark Demonic House attending, the delegation will carry much more weight. They won’t dare act recklessly.”
A sharp and accurate point.
“That’s surprising. I always thought you weren’t the type to think strategically.”
“…One day, I’m going to crush you under my heel.”
Chris chuckled quietly and held out her hand.
“Alright. Then I’ll be counting on you.”
“Hmph.”
Jupien coldly slapped her palm against his, then turned around and disappeared—to prepare to join the delegation.
[Ohoho. I suppose I should get ready too. Just imagining a delightful trip with my darling young master makes my heart go doki-doki and watha~.]
For reference, since Marie was a ghost, she wasn’t affected by the member limit, so they decided to sneak her along.
“Um, I’m still not ready…! I’ll stay behind and train with Lady Melin…! Hrrk!”
Alros was rambling nonsense but stopped when he caught Melin’s fierce glare and sucked in a sharp breath.
Her deadly eyes clearly said that if he didn’t serve Chris properly, she’d work him to death. Chris chuckled again.
And just like that, the day of departure to Gold Cross arrived before they knew it.
* * *
That night.
Perhaps because it was the night before they left for Gold Cross—
Chris had a dream.
A very old one.
A past life, a dream of childhood.
— My baby. My beloved baby. A blessing bestowed by the heavens. My everything.
The radiant smile that looked down upon him.
It was his mother, the one who gave birth to him.
Chris could vividly recall even the days when he was very young, and he remembered clearly just how warmly his mother used to smile at him.
His mother loved him.
She was happy whenever she looked at him.
The people of the world also blessed Chris.
Because Chris was the treasure born from the union of the most noble bloodlines in the world.
The Holy King of the Theocratic Kingdom.
The imperial princess of the Karn Empire.
These two were Chris’s parents.
The entire world rejoiced at Chris’s birth, and everyone believed that his future would, of course, be filled with light.
But that radiant happiness did not last long.
Not long after giving birth to him, his mother was branded as a servant of the Devil.
It was a false accusation.
— Why?! It’s not true! Please, believe what I say!
But her pleas had no effect.
Because the one who orchestrated the conspiracy was none other than the most revered figure in the world—the Holy King.
In short, the Holy King branded his own wife and child as servants of the Devil.
And it wasn’t for some grand reason.
The Holy King had another woman he was emotionally involved with and wanted to make her his official consort.
Chris’s mother, being a princess of the Karn Empire, stood in the way of that plan, so he framed her as a servant of the Devil and tried to send her to the stake.
In the end, his mother had no choice but to accept all the charges.
To save Chris.
— I’ll admit to the crime, so please… just spare this child.
Her plea, paid for with her life, was accepted.
Not because the Holy King showed mercy, but because the Karn Empire, the strongest power within the Crusader Union, had intervened.
Even with the stigma of being involved with the Devil, the imperial family of the Karn Empire could not allow even the young Chris to be executed.
‘It was a salvation worse than death.’
Though he barely escaped with his life, he was treated as a child born from the seed of a Devil, locked away in a tower, and subjected to all kinds of horrific things.
Tortures inflicted under the pretense of a Purification ritual.
The abuse was meant to drive him to death, but perhaps due to the cruelty of fate—
He did not die. He survived.
Only barely clinging to life, with no light at all, living with death as his only hope.
That’s when he first encountered light.
His half-sister, Olivia.
‘Her first impression wasn’t very good.’
The Holy King had framed Chris’s mother in order to make Olivia’s mother his official queen.
Of course, it was impossible not to hold ill feelings.
‘But if it hadn’t been for Olivia, I would’ve completely fallen apart.’
Olivia, unlike her father the Holy King, was a kind child.
Thanks to her protection, Chris was able to escape the horrific tortures disguised as purification and, for the first time, received meals enough to stave off hunger.
More than anything, her sincere concern for him slowly opened the iron bars around Chris’s tattered heart, and eventually, he was able to recover from his broken spirit.
Olivia was his savior.
And so—
‘This time, it’s my turn.’
If he failed to stop this, Olivia would be ruined.
He had to stop it.
* * *
Fwoosh!
Chris and his companions passed through the warp gate.
It was a gate connecting the main estate to a location near the border.
From here, they would ride on horseback down toward Gold Cross.
“We greet the young master!”
The devils managing the gate saluted Chris.
A somewhat tense atmosphere lingered.
It meant that this journey Chris was taking to Gold Cross was dangerous.
They were already like mortal enemies, and now both sides stood on the brink of war.
There was no need to mention Alros, whose face looked completely sickened, and even Jupien’s expression stiffened upon arriving at the border near Gold Cross.
Just before mounting their horses, one of the devils approached.
“And you are?”
“I’m the commander in charge of security in this region. I came to wish the young master victory and fortune.”
“Thank you.”
The commander bowed respectfully.
“Please, strike a proper blow to those Gold Cross bastards. We’re looking forward to the day when you become the Grand Duke.”
An unexpected comment.
That a commander he’d never met before was supporting him.
“It’s not just me. There are many on the front lines who cheer for you, young master.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’ve proven your worth through power alone.”
Simple, yet undeniable.
No matter what anyone says, power is what matters most to devils.
“Especially because you’ve never turned away from any dirty obstacles thrown in your path. You’ve overcome them all with your own strength. Many devils have come to respect you because of that.”
Even ordinary devils have eyes and ears.
They’ve all heard, in bits and pieces, about the unjust schemes Chris has endured.
Especially what Ashid did recently—it crossed far beyond any acceptable line.
And yet Chris crushed every single obstacle in his path and rose to this position.
It was impossible not to be impressed.
‘Of course, I still think taking the succession trial now is reckless. Forcing the young master, who’s only 4-star, to take the trial…’
The first test of the succession.
Achieve a feat worthy of the House Head’s name against the forces of the Union.
It was an impossible condition.
But what was even more absurd was that Chris had confidently accepted that condition.
As if he could accomplish it without any problem.
His unbelievable steps didn’t end there.
‘He said he’d take care of the entire Gold Cross situation alone as part of the succession trial.’
The devils who heard the rumor were thrown into an uproar.
Most said Chris had made a reckless decision in order to pass the succession trial.
Naturally so—it was something absolutely impossible to achieve.
Many voices claimed Chris had grown arrogant from his recent successes and had lost his sense of judgment.
But a few…
There were those who thought otherwise.
—If it’s Young Master Christian, won’t he pull off another insane miracle?
The commander was one of those who believed that.
“If you pull this off, no one will be able to oppose your passing the succession trial, young master. We’ll be waiting for the victory report.”
The succession trial consisted of two stages.
But cases where someone passed the first trial and failed the second were extremely rare.
Of course, Chris was still a branch family member and had remaining rivals, so passing the first trial didn’t guarantee he would become the Grand Duke, but it would bring him one step away from it.
“Good. I’ll promise you this.”
Chris grinned.
“I’ll bring news that’ll shake not just the Dark Demonic House, or even this southern Devil Nation, but the entire Magus Empire and continent. Feel free to look forward to it.”
This wasn’t just talk.
Once this was over, Christian’s name would spread across the entire continent.
As Chris and his group mounted their horses, the devils formed a line.
“All units, form ranks. Salute the young master!”
“May victory be with you!”
Receiving the thunderous, heartfelt salute, the group departed for the border.
Was it because of the grand send-off?
Or because they were heading into enemy territory?
Both Jupien and Alros’s faces grew visibly stiffer.
Chris was the only one with any composure.
Reaching the border, Chris thought to himself.
‘It’s about time.’
Just then, a dust cloud rose from the direction of Gold Cross.
Judging by the flag, it was a knight order from the Union.
“Ha, hah! Are they—are they here to capture us?! Y-Young Master, Young Lady! For your safety, we must retreat immediately…!”
“Stop panicking. It looks like they’ve come to greet us, so let’s wait here.”
Chris halted his horse precisely on the boundary line between the two sides.
Soon, the opposing group drew near.
They were knights clad in armor, their sharp aura indicating they were part of an elite order.
At least 2-star to 3-star.
There were even those above 4-star, but the most overwhelming was the man at the front.
“You’re the envoys of the Dark Demonic House? Just a bunch of snot-nosed brats.”
A piercing gaze.
Even Chris could feel a shiver from the man’s overwhelming presence.
A 6-star master-class knight had come out to greet them.
But Chris simply stood with his arms crossed, not even glancing at the knight.
The knight’s brow twitched.
“Are you deaf or something?”
“How noisy.”
“…What?”
“I stand here representing the Dark Demonic House. A mutt guarding the house like you has no right to speak to me so casually.”
“!!”
The knight’s face flushed red with rage.
But Chris ignored him and turned his gaze.
Toward a pale-faced young man with a familiar look standing behind them.
“Isn’t that right, Viscount Roy?”
Indeed.
The ones who had come out to meet them were knights from the Kingdom of Brusen and its heir apparent, Viscount Roy.
The very same Roy that Chris had once saved.
And the reason they had come to greet him was simple.
Because Chris had “commanded” Viscount Roy to do so.
As a reminder, Viscount Roy’s soul was still completely bound to Chris and incapable of resisting any order.
Chris had brought Roy along for this operation with the intention of using him like a puppet.
This was the beginning of the operation that would overturn Gold Cross.