Chapter 137

“Hmph, this is troublesome. I expected some filthy demonkin, but to think Princess Olivia is here as well.”

[Can’t we just kill them all? We can turn that princess into a doll, too.]

At that moment, a chilling voice echoed out of nowhere.

Before anyone realized it, a figure had appeared.

As if it had torn its way out of a shadow.

The atmosphere in the chamber grew cold with unease.

The figure wore a mask with a large single eye drawn on it, and neither its build nor its voice revealed any hint of gender.

Chris recognized the figure and let out a strained groan.

“No way… an Executive Doll?”

At his words, the masked figure—‘the doll’—seemed to smile.

The lower part of the mask split open, revealing darkness within, forming the shape of a grin.

[So you know of me. That’s correct. I am the third doll of Elder Märchen of the Four Kings’ Fortress, and I serve as the ‘Administrator.’]

Chris clenched his fist tightly.

“Damn it. I didn’t expect one of Märchen’s dolls to be here.”

He had suspected someone from the Cursed Demonic House would appear.

But this was far beyond what he had imagined.

“Märchen… one of the Four Kings’ elders and a 7-star demon.”

Of course, the real body wasn’t here, but there was no room to relax.

Märchen was known as the Puppet Master.

Just like the nickname implied, she was the greatest dollmaker of the Cursed Demonic House.

The dolls she created possessed power far beyond what one would expect from mere puppets.

“This isn’t a combat-specialized doll, but being the third numbered one… it’ll have at least 6-star power.”

Duke Vince alone was no easy opponent.

Now, with a doll capable of wielding 6-star power here as well, there was no chance of victory.

“For an elder to intervene directly… has the Four Kings’ Fortress forgotten the pact made with the Demon King of Clearstream to avoid interference in each other’s territories?”

[Heh. Such a cute thing to say. But if we kill all of you here, who’s going to find out we broke the pact?]

The doll’s mask split open even wider, all the way up, resembling a monster about to devour its prey.

[How exciting. Prince Christian, I wonder what kind of screams you’ll make. I’d love to savor them slowly, one by one.]

Suddenly, the doll stopped laughing.

The lower half of the mask closed again, returning to its expressionless one-eyed form.

[Still, it seems today is not the right day, so I should refrain.]

“…What are you talking about?”

[My reason for being here was only to ensure the ritual at the altar proceeded smoothly. I didn’t come to fight anyone. More importantly, my master wishes for you to be kept alive.]

It was an unexpected statement.

‘Märchen… why would that woman…?’

Märchen was infamous for her cruelty.

She wasn’t the type to let such an opportunity slip by.

[Well, it seems the master wants to test what kind of person you really are. Whether you’re truly as remarkable as the rumors say. And fortunately, we have the perfect opponent for that.]

The doll gestured with clown-like formality toward Duke Vince.

[Give it your all and fight Duke Vince here. If you show something that impresses my master, she’ll spare your life.]

The mouth of the mask split open again.

[If you disappoint her, you’ll be killed. Though, surviving Duke Vince’s hands before that will be no easy feat.]

With those final words, the doll slowly stepped back.

Just as she had said, it was the gesture of an observer.

The worst-case scenario—being attacked by both of them—was avoided, but that didn’t mean the situation had improved.

The reason was Duke Vince.

“Are you playing games right now?”

Vince glared at the retreating doll, clearly offended.

He had suddenly been reduced to a mere test subject, so it was no surprise he wasn’t pleased.

[Well, does it matter? With your strength, killing all of them wouldn’t be difficult anyway.]

Duke Vince didn’t deny it.

“Yes, it wouldn’t be difficult.”

An inexplicable confidence.

Of course, Duke Vince was a powerful 5-star Elder-class magician.

But Chris’s group wasn’t weak either.

Considering that Vince specialized in manipulation-type magic, meaning his direct combat ability was lower than others of equal rank, Chris alone could potentially take him down.

And yet—

Everyone in the group hardened their expressions.

They could feel it.

That the power Duke Vince currently wielded was not that of a normal Elder-class mage.

“I’ll try to create an opening somehow. You find a way to escape.”

Evan spoke through clenched teeth, his face grim.

Before anyone could say anything, Evan charged at Duke Vince.

A radiant 5-star aura blade shone white.

Its brilliance far surpassed what they had seen from Ashid or Mieck of the Holy Kingdom.

A pillar of solid, unshakable will, just as firm and fierce as Chris’s own determination.

It was a destructive force that could cut through any barrier.

But—

“It’s useless.”

Duke Vince calmly opened his grimoire.

Fwaaap!

The air gathered densely, transforming in nature.

Becoming as strong as steel, capable of stopping even the sharpest lance.

That wasn’t all. A shield composed of thousands, tens of thousands, of air layers formed in front of him, blocking the attack. Evan’s aura blade was effortlessly deflected backward.

‘Will-infused manipulation magic.’

Chris bit down hard on his lip.

There’s no way simple compressed air could generate such power.

It was magic that had reached the limit of magical law—true, overwhelming defense.

In other words, he had imbued the spell with will.

But how?

Duke Vince chuckled and gave the answer.

“You were right. This power… really is something else.”

“!!”

A violent vortex of mana erupted from Duke Vince’s hand.

The air stung like it was flaying skin.

A surge of force unimaginable for a 5-star mage.

At the same time, the souls trapped within the sphere on the altar screamed out.

[Kyaaaaah!!]

[Stop!! Aaaah!!!]

Everyone’s faces turned pale.

He had converted the trapped souls into fuel for his own power.

Olivia spoke with a trembling voice.

“H-How could you do something so horrifying…?”

It was a deed even more dreadful than human sacrifice.

Human sacrifice offered the death of living beings.

Contrary to popular belief, it was different from offering up souls. Souls of the dead were meant to pass on to their destined afterlife.

According to the unshakable law of the world, the deceased would receive their due rewards or punishments based on the deeds and sins of their life.

But what they had done now—was something else entirely. They had captured the souls before they could pass on, inflicted suffering upon them, and transformed the negative emotions of those souls into a source of power.

Those spirits would remain trapped, unable to reach the afterlife, tormented in agony until they were released.

Duke Vince looked down at Olivia with a strange expression.

“Her Highness truly knows nothing, I see. Wasn’t anything hinted to you in advance?”

“…What do you mean? What hint…?”

“Hah, how amusing. What could she be thinking? Though, I suppose it’s none of my business.”

Duke Vince sneered toward someone—someone unknown.

Olivia, pushing down the flood of rising anxiety, cried out.

“Why in the world would you do something so monstrous?!”

“It’s simple. To gain power.”

“…What did you say?”

Duke Vince raised the corner of his mouth as he gazed at the storm of power surging from his hand.

“Our duchy has built great wealth, but because of our weak military, we’ve long been looked down upon by the other nations in the Gold Cross.”

The Gold Cross was a coalition made up of dozens of small nations.

But those nations were far from equal.

A few with overwhelming military power dominated the alliance, while the rest were merely supporting players.

Some of the weaker nations even paid tributes under the pretense of receiving ‘protection’ from the stronger ones.

“Her Highness must know this, no? The situation of the Holy Kingdom is similar. Though they claim to revere the Holy Kingdom, many act with blatant arrogance. The reason the Holy Kingdom lacks military might is also because of their constant interference. That’s why even the Holy Pope…”

Duke Vince paused mid-sentence and fell silent.

“I don’t think the rest is my place to say. You’d best ask the Holy Pope yourself. I’ll make sure to return you home safe and sound, Princess.”

“W-What…?”

Leaving the confused Olivia behind, Duke Vince turned his gaze toward the rest of the group.

“Of course, you lot shouldn’t expect to return alive.”

“!!”

“Not a single one of you will be spared. You’ll all be offered up as sacrifices on the altar.”

A chilling declaration.

Given the power Duke Vince held, it wasn’t an empty threat.

‘There’s no chance if we fight him head-on.’

At that moment, Jupien approached.

“How much time do you need?”

“…What?”

“You—there’s a way, isn’t there?”

Chris fell silent.

Yes, there was a way.

But he wasn’t sure it would work.

‘If it were something I could do alone, I’d force my way through somehow.’

But this wasn’t something he could do by himself.

Olivia’s role was critical.

So he couldn’t make any guarantees.

‘But I have to make it happen.’

“Hold him off for just three minutes. I’ll figure something out in that time.”

Jupien nodded and replied like she was doing him a favor.

“I’ll give you five. If you don’t manage it by then, I’m spanking your ass.”

Whoosh—Jupien leapt and landed next to Evan.

She glanced at Evan.

“Come to think of it, who are you?”

“……”

“Well, doesn’t matter. You look sturdier, so you take the front. I’ll support from the back. We’re holding that bastard off for five minutes.”

Evan seemed slightly irked by Jupien’s peculiar way of speaking, but said nothing.

He didn’t have the mental space to argue anyway.

Soon, Duke Vince’s magic surged forward, and Evan and Jupien began their desperate battle.

‘They won’t be able to last long. I have to succeed as fast as possible.’

Chris quickly rushed to Olivia.

She was frozen in a daze, likely from what Duke Vince had just told her.

“Princess? Olivia!!”

“!!”

“This isn’t the time to zone out. Think about everything else later. Right now, we have to stop Duke Vince.”

A faint light returned to Olivia’s eyes.

“With your Guiding Soul Authority, you must purify the spirits bound to that altar. That will cut off his power.”

“But my Guiding Soul Authority is still too weak…”

“You have to awaken it here and now.”

“!!”

That’s right.

This was the method Chris had come up with.

To awaken Olivia’s authority on the spot.

It was absurd.

Awakening a divine authority in under five minutes?

Of course, awakening wasn’t purely a matter of time.

Given the right catalyst, it could happen in an instant.

Still, it was far too sudden.

Chris spoke with unwavering resolve.

“I will help you. You can do it.”

“…How are you going to help me?”

“I’ll create the environment needed to artificially trigger the awakening of your authority.”

There was a way.

The moment she heard those words—

Strangely, the trembling in Olivia’s chest stopped.