Chapter 261
Just experiencing that aspect of him as a Demon King within his subconscious would become a powerful trigger for Nordian’s enlightenment.
‘Now, the rest is up to Grandfather.’
After imprinting the image of himself as a Demon King onto Nordian’s deep subconscious, Chris opened his eyes with a deep sigh.
“Is our father alright?”
“We’ll have to wait and see, but I believe he will do well.”
“What on earth happened?”
Chris briefly explained the recent events to Count Khazar, who had been waiting.
“Brother Langham joined hands with the Mystic Demonic House and did such a thing. And the Demon King of Azure Flow, as well? Hah.”
Count Khazar shook his head and lamented.
“If it hadn’t been for you, it would have been a real disaster. I’m glad you’re safe. You’ve been through a lot.”
Chris was silent for a moment.
‘I really did go through hell. Ugh. I want to rest.’
If he had his way, after suffering so much, he’d want to go wild and party like a scoundrel, but.
‘There’s no time for that.’
Moreover, it seemed something was going on with the house as well.
Count Khazar’s expression was not good.
“Has anything happened with the house?”
“…There has.”
“What is it?”
“A message came from the Destruction Demonic House because of the upcoming Dark Rite.”
Count Khazar continued in a hard voice.
“They told us to raise the white flag and surrender.”
“!!”
“And if we don’t, they said they won’t let any of those who participate in the struggle live peacefully.”
Count Khazar sighed.
“Grand Duke Vessian, the Patriarch of the Destruction Demonic House, seems to have had his pride deeply wounded by the fact that our Dark Demonic House challenged them to a struggle. If we don’t kneel to them even now, he looks ready to cause a truly great incident.”
Count Khazar’s eyes were full of worry.
‘The military power of the Destruction Demonic House is certainly incomparable to ours.’
The power of the Destruction Demonic House is counted among the top five of the twelve great magical houses.
The number of high-ranking magi of 7-Star and above was also incomparable to the Dark Demonic House.
‘No one would think that our Dark Demonic House could win.’
Count Khazar also seemed to be hoping inwardly that they would withdraw from the Dark Rite.
However.
“Would you mind replying like this? Tell them that on that day, they’ll be the ones kneeling miserably, so they should start thinking about how to serve our Dark Demonic House well from now on.”
“!!”
“And ask them, if they’re so confident, would they be alright with us setting the match-ups. Of course, add that if they’re scared of us, they can set the match-ups themselves.”
Count Khazar’s expression became even more worried.
“Do we really have a chance of winning?”
“Of course. However, there is a condition.”
“…What is it?”
“Father, and everyone else, will have to become stronger.”
“!!”
Chris said something that made their hearts sink.
“Please summon all of the house’s high-ranking magi. As the great teacher, I will be issuing additional special training starting today.”
It was a declaration that signaled the beginning of a hellish time for the high-ranking magi of the Dark Demonic House.
It was time to become strong once again.
* * *
Chris mercilessly bestowed his teachings upon the high-ranking magi, and the sounds of wailing echoed throughout the entire house.
‘I have to get stronger, too.’
And so, time flew by, and finally, right before the Dark Rite was just around the corner.
Chris left the house.
“Where are you trying to go?”
“I’m just going out for some fresh air. I will be back before the Rite.”
Afterward, he headed for the Rudolph Merchant Guild within the castle.
A surprising person was waiting for him.
It was Evan!
“Have you been well?”
Evan gave a slight nod.
‘He’s gotten stronger again.’
Chris whistled inwardly.
It hadn’t been long since he reached 6-Star, but he was already perfectly completing his world of thought.
Was it because he had started to seriously receive the blessings of the Constellations? His growth rate was terrifying.
‘Evan already had cheat-level talent, and now that he’s receiving the full support of the Constellations, he’ll continue to grow explosively in the future.’
Chris turned his gaze.
Next to Evan, Ruina was standing there with an expression like she’d chewed on something foul.
“It’s been a while for you too. Have you been well?”
“O… hoho. I-it’s been a while.”
“Why are you so frozen? It’s not like we’re going to a place where you’ll die.”
“N-not a place where I’ll die?!”
Ruina shrieked.
“How can I not be nervous when we’re going to the Fanatic Order?!”
An astonishing statement.
The Fanatic Order was an extremist faction of the Holy Empire.
A group of radicals who did not hesitate to shed blood, interpreting the will of the Constellations with violent doctrines.
‘They’re even crazier than most magi.’
They caused all sorts of incidents without even listening to the Holy Emperor, the monarch of the Holy Empire, to the point where it was said that the Holy Emperor’s greatest worry was not the Magus Empire, but the Fanatic Order.
“Don’t worry so much. If you’re this nervous already, how are you going to swindle the Fanatic Order?”
“What do I do if my head gets chopped off for doing something like that?”
“It’s fine. We just have to not get caught. So, are you not going to do it? An opportunity to win the favor of the Holy Emperor probably won’t come easily.”
“Uwaaah. To hell with his favor, it’s all over if I die! Are you sure we won’t get caught?!”
“That depends on you. Because I won’t be making any mistakes. Your role is important this time, so please try your best.”
It was the moment Ruina, with a frustrated expression, was about to beat her chest.
Evan, who had been silent beside them, casually poked at her sore spot.
“You seem to detest it too much. This task, too, is for the sake of the world.”
“…W-what did you say?”
“Dame Ruina, you should rather consider it an honor to be able to participate in Grand Duke Christian’s great work.”
At Evan’s absurd statement, Ruina moved her mouth as if she were speechless.
‘…I’m not exactly planning to swindle the Fanatic Order with such a grand intention.’
The purpose of this trip was to use the Fanatic Order to strike at the Destruction Demonic House.
‘Because there’s no way those bastards from the Destruction Demonic House will meekly submit just because they were defeated in the Rite. I have to use the Fanatic Order to drive them into a corner.’
On top of that, there was an additional objective.
‘I have to take the Flame of Ruin.’
It was one of the Three Primordial Wells, like the Sacred Black and the Venom Source.
No matter if he won the Rite, there was no way the Destruction Demonic House would hand over the Flame of Ruin, so Chris planned to use the chaos caused by the Fanatic Order to obtain it.
‘And while I’m at it, I’ll deal a blow to the Fanatic Order as well. Because those Fanatic Order bastards will become a great harm to the Alliance.’
They weren’t corrupt, but they were the kind of people who go mad in their own way and cause all sorts of harm.
It was necessary to break their spirit.
‘Well, in the end, it is something that will help the world, so I guess what Evan said isn’t wrong.’
Chris cleared his throat and held out his hand to Ruina.
“Now, enough chattering. Let’s depart for the Fanatic Order.”
Ruina took Chris’s hand with a look of disgust.
They were about to make a spatial leap using the power of the artifact.
“Uwaaah! But, why do we have to use my artifact to travel again? I told you this costs money!”
“Ahh, yes. Thank you. Consider this one a freebie. Think of all the grace I’ve bestowed upon you until now.”
“What?! What grace have you bestowed…!!”
Evan interjected again.
“Honestly, it seems true that Grand Duke Christian has bestowed much grace upon you. Dame Ruina, you should have a little more gratitude toward Grand Duke Christian….”
“Uwaaaah!! Everyone, shut up!”
Fwoosh!
With a noisy sound, the three of them disappeared.
* * *
Whoooosh.
A hot wind blew.
The sight of a vast desert.
It was the Flame Desert, where the Fanatic Order was based.
‘We’ve arrived safely.’
Chris spoke to Ruina, who was tearing at her hair, crying, “Uwaaah, the travel cost is too expensive. My money.”
“They’re coming. Get ready.”
“…A-are you sure this is really okay?”
“Well, didn’t I tell you? It all depends on you.”
Ruina had a tearful expression. But having come this far, there was no turning back.
She took out an artifact and, fwoosh, changed her appearance.
Into a beautiful woman with a noble and benevolent air.
“That look really doesn’t suit you.”
“I know that?! Is it any better than yours?”
Chris had also changed his appearance using the Insignia of the Constellation.
With brilliant blond hair and a gentle face, with no trace of his usual insufferable air.
In other words, he had the appearance of a saint.
It was the same for Evan.
“This is awkward.”
His usual cynical air, unbecoming of a Hero, had vanished, and Evan crossed his arms with the face of a holy knight filled with devotion to others.
“Do a good job. Your role is important too, Evan.”
“Of course. Don’t worry.”
Evan looked at Christian with an intense gaze.
“This task, too, is surely a great undertaking for the sake of the world. I will also do my best.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Seeing Evan, whose trust in him was skyrocketing more and more due to the side effects(?) of his Mind’s Eye, Chris had a bewildered expression.
Just then, a flashing light was seen in the distance.
A brilliant radiance.
Several figures were flying through the sky toward them.
‘The Holy Radiance mages of the Fanatic Order!’
As their name ‘Fanatic’ suggested, they all had an impressive appearance.
They had completely shaved not only their heads but also their eyebrows, and their entire faces were tattooed with symbols representing the Constellations.
There was no trace of the gentle air one would associate with a priest; only an intense fighting spirit could be felt.
“Who are you? Do you not know that this is the holy land of our Order? If you have no just reason, you will offer both your eyes to the great Constellations as penance for trespassing on holy ground and then leave.”
A chilling statement.
In fact, if those lost in the desert set foot on their holy land, the Fanatic Order would never let them leave peacefully.
The problem was that they considered these actions of theirs to be justice.
‘Anyway, they’re a real headache in many ways.’
Chris frowned inwardly and looked at Ruina.
According to the script, it was Ruina’s turn to step forward.
“A-ahem. Valiant brothers. I am Vivian, a friend of the brothers. Please check this token. It is a token of gratitude given to me by the Order.”
The priests of the Fanatic Order had slightly surprised expressions.
“Vivian? Isn’t she the friend who bestowed her grace upon our Order a short while ago?”
Following Chris’s instructions, Ruina had hidden her identity and established a connection with the Fanatic Order in advance.
“Ohoho, that’s right. I am glad that my small act of goodwill seems to have been of great help to the brothers.”
“Welcome. What brings you here?”
“I have come to introduce these individuals to the brothers.”
Ruina pointed to Chris and Evan.
“And who are they?”
Chris stepped forward.
“I am a prophet who has received the blessing of the Constellations.”
“!!”
“The Constellations have bestowed upon me a prophecy concerning you, and I have come to deliver that will.”
The priests of the Fanatic Order had bewildered expressions.
“…That is hard to believe. Do you have any proof to back up your words?”
Chris glanced at Evan.
Evan, with his disguised face full of devotion, raised his sword.
Fwoooosh!
Radiant Mana exploded brilliantly.
“That is? The Radiant Mana that is said to be bestowed only upon those chosen to save the world?!”
And that wasn’t all.
The blessings of the Constellations began to settle on Evan’s sword.
One, two, three… a total of five blessings.
“I-impossible? Such blessings from the Constellations?”
“There’s someone who receives that much favor from the Constellations?”
Evan glanced at the priests of the Fanatic Order, then pointed to Chris and said.
“The Prophet is a noble being, incomparable to the likes of me. All of you, show him your respect.”