Chapter 305
‘To think a Demon King would appear?’
It was an unexpected situation.
‘In my previous life, he didn’t react at all, no matter what happened to the Tri-Alliance?’
Amidst a chilling hostility, as if submerged in the deep sea, a man with his entire body covered by a robe could be seen.
The Demon King of Lament.
A Demon King from a line of Curse Magi, he was at the same level as the Demon King of Azure Flow, the lower tier of 9-Star.
‘Anyway, this is no time to be standing around blankly.’
Chris straightened his posture. An intense pressure bore down on him, but his soul was of a high enough rank to withstand it.
“For what purpose has Your Great Majesty, the Demon King, come to see me? Please state your will.”
His voice was polite, yet confident.
‘He's an opponent I have no reason to fear.’
Chris knew the Demon King of Lament well. In fact, he knew him in more detail than the Demon King of Azure Flow.
However.
[I... came to kill you.]
“!!”
[You... have crossed a line that cannot be overlooked. I will kill you.]
He was saying he would pass judgment on what Chris had done to the Tri-Alliance.
A chilling declaration.
He might be ranked 8th, but he was not an opponent Chris could face. It was a crisis, yet Chris, unexpectedly, was not shaken at all.
“You're joking. You don't care about the Tri-Alliance anyway.”
[!!]
“Didn't you just come because you were curious about what kind of person I am?”
For a moment, the chilling hostility that filled the area came to a halt. Chris could feel the Demon King of Lament sending a peculiar gaze from beyond his robe.
[You are arrogant. How did you know what was in my heart?]
‘Because I met you in my previous life.’
The latter half of the Age of Ruin. The Hero's party had once gathered the remaining forces of the Holy Empire and advanced toward the Tri-Alliance. At that time, the Demon King of Lament had blocked the Hero's party in the same way.
‘He appeared, creating a tense atmosphere, but when it came time to fight, he just let us go.’
In fact, the Demon King of Lament had even said this.
-I will let you pass, so win. Against the Demon Emperor.
At the time, he had tilted his head in confusion upon hearing those words. Because the Demon King of Lament had pointed to the Demon Emperor, not the Blood-Drenched Demon King. He couldn't understand the reason then, but now he had an idea.
“In the first place, are you not in a position where you are bound by the Demon Emperor?”
[!!]
The atmosphere in the area turned ice-cold. But Chris believed he had spoken the correct answer.
[...You are amusing. That's right.]
The Demon King of Lament let out a low laugh.
[However, it's not just me. We are all in the same boat, anyway.]
“!!”
[You, me, all of us—no one is free from the Demon Emperor's grasp.]
They were words heavy with meaning. It meant that everything in this world was in the palm of the Demon Emperor's hand.
‘I suppose that means all the terrible things that are about to happen are also part of the Demon Emperor's will.’
Chris shook his head and opened his mouth.
“No, you're wrong. I have no intention of being swayed by the Demon Emperor's will. Rather, if the Demon Emperor walks an unjust path, I will be the one to correct it.”
Chris spoke his mind without hesitation. Considering his past life and the current atmosphere, the Demon King of Lament harbored a strong opposition to the Demon Emperor, so he figured it would be fine to say this much.
[Just you? By yourself? Impossible.]
“Do you think I can't do it?”
Chris put on an arrogant expression.
“You've been watching me, so you should know what kind of being I am.”
[…….]
The Demon King of Lament stared at Chris for a moment, as if gauging his potential.
[Yes, you are a monster. I admit it. You will become a great being, incomparable to the likes of me.]
It was high praise from a Demon King.
[But even so, it's still impossible for you. The Demon Emperor is…]
The Demon King of Lament abruptly shut his mouth, as if the topic was something he was reluctant to even speak of. Seeing a Demon King himself show fear, Chris's heart sank.
‘Just what is he?’
The Demon King of Lament slowly backed away.
[However, I will give you one piece of advice.]
“…What is it?”
[Pay close attention to the Four Kings' Castle.]
“!!”
[A fragment of the truth you desire is hidden there.]
After that, the Demon King of Lament disappeared. It seemed his intention was truly just to get a glimpse of what kind of person Chris was.
‘The Four Kings' Castle, he says.’
Chris was lost in thought. Just as he had suspected, the secret he was searching for was clearly hidden in the Four Kings' Castle.
‘Since my plan is to become the lord of the Four Kings' Castle anyway, I'll find out everything once I have it in my hands.’
That wasn't the end of it. There was still the Mystic Demonic House and the Demon Emperor. He might even have to confront the Celestial Realm and Gehenna. It seemed like a distant, daunting task, but he believed he could do it.
No, he would definitely do it.
‘For the sake of the future where, once this is all over, I can drink Bulmongju [TL/N: A type of alcohol made with rice made in korean] and celebrate to my heart's content!’
With firm resolve, he turned his gaze.
He was heading for the Karn Empire.
The place where, in his previous life, he had once been the Emperor.
It was time to take it back into his hands.
***
The Karn Empire.
It was, in name and reality, the most powerful nation in the Crusade Alliance. Its borders met with the Eastern Magus Nation of the Four Kings' Castle—the most dangerous part of the Magus Empire—and the Northern Magus Nation of the Mystic Demonic House. It was nothing less than the shield and hope of the Alliance's people, and throughout its long history of fighting the Magus Empire, it had produced countless heroes.
The most famous hero in the Karn Empire in recent times was Marquis Radia. She was a margrave who, as a woman, was responsible for the northern part of the Karn Empire, and a great hero of her time. When the Artisan Demonic House of the Northern Magus Nation launched a surprise invasion to destroy the dam on the river flowing through the Karn Empire's north, she achieved the feat of stopping them with only a small number of knights. If not for Marquis Radia's deeds at that time, the Karn Empire would have been engulfed in a terrible disaster.
However, Marquis Radia died at the end of the fierce battle, and the Karn Empire's imperial family designated the place where the battle had occurred as a Sacred Ground in her honor.
Nearly twenty years had passed since then, and now the site was all but abandoned, with no one visiting. Only the old retainers who had followed House Radia were managing the Sacred Ground.
“When we die, I don't know who will manage this Sacred Ground.”
“Indeed. The Marquis passed away without leaving behind any bloodline. There are no relatives left, either.”
The retainers spoke bitterly.
House Radia was the most prestigious noble family in the Karn Empire. It wasn't called the most prestigious simply because its power was great. In fact, it was rather lacking in external aspects like political power or monetary wealth, but the people of the empire did not hesitate to name House Radia as the empire's greatest family. Because it was an honorable family that possessed a loyalty that did not spare its own lives for the sake of the empire.
However, the problem was that they were too loyal. House Radia always fought on the front lines and shed much blood every time.
“Especially the last Marquis, who passed away without ever marrying or leaving a child. The few relatives she did have all met their fate together during that last battle.”
And so, House Radia was completely wiped out.
The Karn imperial family did leave the family's name intact to honor their loyalty. But since no members remained, it was a meaningless gesture.
“Isn't it possible the Marquis might have left a child behind?”
“Nonsense, you fool. Do you believe that baseless rumor?”
“I was just saying. It's such a shame.”
That Marquis Radia had a hidden child was an old rumor in the empire. It was a story that came about because Marquis Radia had once gone into seclusion for about a year in a place unknown to anyone, but of course, it was a baseless rumor.
“Anyway, it's bitter. The empire that the Marquis gave her life to protect is becoming more and more of a mess.”
“A mess? It's a complete disaster. The Marquis must be lamenting from the heavens.”
“Every last one of those so-called princes is trying to ruin the empire.”
The situation in the Karn Empire was so bad that even the low-ranking retainers lamented it so.
It was then.
Step.
A figure approached the Sacred Ground.
A boy, so full of grace as to draw admiration.
"Who are you?”
The boy had an aura that was clearly out of the ordinary, so the retainers asked nervously.
“I am the Hero.”
“!!”
The retainers had shocked expressions on their faces.
“Could it be? The one who captured the Ghost Sword King in the Holy Empire?”
“No! They said he captured a Demon King!!”
“I heard he cut down ten thousand demonic beings with his Holy Sword?!”
Because his debut had been so shocking, rumors of the Hero had already spread widely throughout the Karn Empire.
“But, Sir Hero, what brings you to this place…?”
To the cautious question, the Hero gave an unexpected answer.
“Because this is where my roots are.”
“…What?”
“Guide me to where the Sacred Orb is.”
The retainers were thrown into a panic by the Hero's words. His roots? What could that mean? But before they could ask, the Hero swiftly strode inside.
“W-wait a moment, please!”
“No one can enter unless they are of House Radia's bloodline!”
Inside lay the reason this place was called a Sacred Ground.
Fwaaaah!
A sublime energy was radiating from a beaded bracelet at the center. It was the Sacred Orb, the heirloom of House Radia, and it had been in this berserk state ever since Marquis Radia's death.
‘It's a Sacred Relic that only those of House Radia's bloodline can handle, so the Karn imperial family declared that whoever could control this Sacred Orb would be granted the title of Marquis Radia.’ The Hero, Chris, thought to himself. ‘In other words, if I control this Sacred Orb, I can become Marquis Radia.’
An astounding story. The reason he had come here was to launder his identity. After all, to make his debut in the Karn Empire, he first needed a plausible status. The title of House Radia, which held the highest honor in the empire, would be more than enough.
The problem was whether he could control this Sacred Relic.
‘It's simple. It's not like it's my first time.’
For reference, in his previous life, one of his many talents was excavating relics and tomb raiding. As expected, he had done this for wealth and glory, but as a result of the Great War breaking out, he never made any money and only ended up being a great help to the Alliance, earning him the useless title 'Excavator of Light'. In any case, he had obtained this Sacred Orb before.
‘It's a type of system that imprints on a bloodline, but that doesn't mean there isn't a way to bypass it. Bloodline imprinting is, after all, just another form of security.’
If he could do it back then, now would be even easier. Chris briefly closed his eyes, grasped the Sacred Orb's security formula, and broke right through it. Since it was something he had done once before, it was much faster.
“N-no? H-how can this be?”
“How?”
The retainers who were watching the scene stared with wide eyes. He controlled the Sacred Orb that was only permitted to the bloodline of House Radia. What did this mean?
“D-don't tell me, you are...?”
“Didn't I tell you? That I came to find my roots.”
It was the moment the retainers' eyes began to fill with emotional tears.
Paaaaah!
Suddenly, a transparent figure rose from the Sacred Orb. A beautiful woman with a strong impression. It was the spiritual form of Marquis Radia.
“M-Marquis?!”
“It is a lingering will left in the relic. I have something to discuss for a moment, so would you all step back?”
Once the retainers withdrew, Chris looked at the spiritual form of Marquis Radia.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
Instead of answering, Marquis Radia spoke of something else.
-Glory... to the Karn Empire....
It seemed the spiritual form that had appeared did not possess a consciousness, but was merely the lingering will of the living Marquis Radia, who had devoted her loyalty solely to the Karn Empire. To leave behind such loyalty even in death, she was truly a remarkable person.
“I will grant your wish.” Chris nodded his head. “So, I'm going to be impersonating your family from now on; I'll need you to overlook that for me.”
Did she agree? He didn't know, but Chris believed that Marquis Radia would not oppose his fraud. In the end, it was all for the sake of the Karn Empire.
‘Without a method like this, it's impossible to set the Karn Empire's imperial family straight.’
Above all, there was no time. He had to finish everything within a month at the latest. He didn't need a conventional method, but a 'drastic' one.
Srrr.
Marquis Radia's lingering will disappeared, and the retainers came rushing back.
“W-what did the Marquis say to you?”
“She told me to carry on her will and asked me to take good care of the Karn Empire.”
“Aaaah! Young Marquis!”
The retainers shed tears of emotion. They had accepted Chris as the bloodline of Marquis Radia.
“But... Young Marquis, may I ask just one thing?”
“What is it?”
One of the retainers asked hesitantly , “Why have you not appeared until now?”
It was a valid question. Because until now, the Karn Empire's imperial family had searched everywhere for a descendant of House Radia.
“It is because I had to hide my identity.”
“Why is that?”
“Because of my father's identity. If it were revealed prematurely, my life could be threatened, so I had to hide.”