Chapter 319
In the Alliance, there was a region called the Gray Zone.
It was a region located between the Gold Cross and the Karn Empire.
Currently, it was a lawless zone, belonging to neither side, but in the past, a brilliant kingdom had been situated there.
The lost kingdom, the Opalma Kingdom.
‘The reason Ruina is so desperately saving money is all to rebuild the Opalma Kingdom.’
That's right.
This was Ruina's personal story.
Of course, it was a task close to impossible.
It wasn't something that could be done just by saving money.
To rebuild the Opalma Kingdom, she had to receive recognition from the neighboring great powers.
‘The will of the Karn Empire is especially important.’
Normally, the Karn Empire would never recognize the rebuilding of the Opalma Kingdom.
That was why.
“Th-thank you. Sniffle. Uwaaah. This is all thanks to you, Grand Duke.”
The reason Ruina was showing such an emotional side, so different from her usual self.
“From now on, it's loyalty, loyalty, loyalty.”
“Right, since I've granted your wish, how about you offer about half of your entire fortune to me?”
“Ah, that's not right. Crossing the line is not okay.”
Ruina's expression suddenly turned serious.
Chris let out a chuckle.
“You'll have a hard time ahead, so do your best. The Gray Zone is no easy place. I'll be cheering for you, so stay strong.”
“Thank you! I will work hard! Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty!!”
Ruina shouted excitedly.
But Chris's reaction was strange.
He was secretly sending Ruina a gaze full of ulterior motives.
‘Suffer like a dog while you pioneer the Gray Zone. I needed a bridgehead in the Gray Zone anyway.’
That's right.
Chris had a scheme.
In the future, to prevent the boundary of the Three Realms from opening completely, it was necessary to get his hands on the Gray Zone.
The problem was that the Gray Zone was an incredibly vast and complicated place, so he needed a bridgehead, and his plan was to snatch up and use the foundation that Ruina would build.
In that process, Ruina would suffer immensely like a dog again, but since it was the kind of suffering she herself wished for, it probably didn't matter much.
‘It's a win-win for both of us.’
Afterward, left alone, Chris let out a low sigh.
‘By the way, what happened to the Chatterbox of Darkness?’
He recalled the events of that time.
There were too many questions.
First of all, whose vassal had she become?
‘I have a guess about this.’
Excluding Chris, there was only one person in this world who possessed Dark Demonic Energy of such purity.
The Magus Chancellor.
‘…The problem is, why did Lena become the Magus Chancellor's vassal?’
The Magus Chancellor was the person who effectively ruled the Magus Empire.
With just a flick of his finger, countless demonic beings would offer their lives in loyalty, so there was no reason to make Lena a vassal.
‘Lena should have no reason to become the Magus Chancellor's vassal either.’
The Magus Chancellor's intentions.
And Lena's intentions were completely incomprehensible.
And the biggest question was this.
‘Why did Lena react that way upon seeing me?’
Lena had acted as if she recognized him.
Even though in this life, the two of them were strangers.
‘...Don't tell me?’
Chris sucked in a breath at a hypothesis that came to mind.
‘No. It's impossible.’
But if not for this 'hypothesis', it was something that couldn't be explained.
‘I'll have to confirm it. We'll surely meet again.’
For now, the fortunate thing was that Lena hadn't fallen into the hands of the Mystic Demonic House like in her previous life.
He had avoided the worst-case scenario, so an opportunity would come.
There was something else that bothered him.
‘That I'm going to destroy the world? What kind of dog-barking nonsense is the Celestial Realm spouting?’
He scowled fiercely.
But he couldn't just ignore it and move on.
Because this was the second time he was hearing it.
The most bothersome part was that the Constellations likely wouldn't say such a thing without any basis.
‘There's no way I'd do that. I haven't even properly enjoyed my wealth and glory yet, so why would I destroy the world?’
Just then, Evan approached.
“Are you worried about something?”
“…It's nothing.”
“Don't say that; tell me. I'm your comrade.”
Chris hesitated, then opened his mouth.
After hearing the story, Evan's expression became peculiar.
“Actually, I've heard a similar story from the Constellations before. I thought it was bullshit and ignored it.”
“…Really?”
“What are you worried about? There's no way you'd do that. The Constellations must have been talking nonsense.”
It was a simple answer, holding not a shred of doubt.
Making the worried Chris feel a sense of emptiness.
“Above all, the Constellations probably didn't give such a revelation with righteous intentions. There must be a wicked intention hidden within it.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it's content that slanders you. Naturally, the Constellations must be in the wrong.”
“……”
Words filled with infinite trust.
“Don't you trust me too much? I'm not a good guy like you think. I'm a greedy person who only knows wealth and glory.”
“*Chuckle*.”
Evan laughed as if he'd heard an amusing joke.
“Even without using my Mind's Eye, I can tell you're lying. You're always so shy about it.”
“…No, turn on your Mind's Eye right now. Open it wide and look. At the greed filling my heart.”
“Alright, if that's what you wish, I'll consider it so. You are the world's most sublime greedy person.”
There was absolutely no sign of the rose-colored glasses coming off!
“In any case, don't worry about it. You just have to not follow the Constellations' revelations.”
Chris nodded.
It was a simple but correct answer.
Because not all revelations come to pass as they are given.
‘Above all, just as Evan said, the Constellations are just as black-hearted.’
There was only one way.
‘I have to become stronger. To the point where I won't be swayed by the Constellations' schemes.’
Chris, having sorted out his thoughts, said to Evan.
“Evan, bring Ranya. It's time for special training.”
Before returning to the Magus Empire.
He had to make the Domain of Dominion completely his own.
***
After a short special training session, Chris headed for the Magus Empire.
He decided to see Evan and Ranya again soon.
-I won't see you. You unlucky bastard! This is goodbye forever!
-Ahem, Ranya. Christian isn't like that...
-Brother Evan, just shut up and don't open your mouth in front of me!
Ranya seemed to be even more pissed off at Evan, who was spouting nonsense beside her.
Chris chuckled and said.
-Anyway, it's your turn to go to the Keinper Training Center, right? Let's see each other there.
-Why are you coming to the Keinper Training Center?
-I'm going as a temporary professor.
-……
-Didn't you know? I'm the Hero. I was invited a while ago. Well, it's as a professor for a very short special lecture, but.
An unexpected story.
The Keinper Training Center was a place where the greatest talents who lead the continent gathered for short-term education.
It was different from an academy; it was a place where proven experts from all over the continent gathered to polish their respective skills.
In other words, in academy terms, it could be said to be a place where key professor-level figures received training.
A place that most of the continent's influential figures passed through at least once.
‘The training environment is so good that many people's skills take a leap forward here.’
It was so effective that the Keinper Training Center's nickname was the 'Cradle of Marvelous Opportunities'. Because after attending the training center, one's skills would rise as if they'd had a fateful encounter.
Of course, in Ranya's and Evan's case, it was difficult to expect great results from the Keinper Training Center. Since both had already reached 7-Star.
‘But that depends on how you do it. I'll participate as a professor and work them to death.’
It was a story that would make Ranya freak out if she heard it.
‘Of course, that's not my real purpose.’
Chris's gaze grew heavy.
The Keinper Training Center was located in the 'Round Table', the alliance of renowned families.
And in the skies above the Round Table was situated the 'Celestial Magic Tower', another powerful force in the Alliance.
‘I have to go to the Keinper Training Center and overturn the Round Table and the Celestial Magic Tower.’
For now, that was a matter for later.
Chris turned his gaze forward.
A black land of death was spread out before his eyes.
The Eastern Magus Nation.
It was the territory of the Four Kings' Castle.
***
Chris headed for the Basque Fortress, where the forces of the Dark Alliance were stationed.
He deliberately suppressed his presence, so none of the demonic beings noticed his return.
“Father.”
“You, you!!”
Count Khazar raised a finger toward his son, who had suddenly appeared.
“What on earth have you done?!”
“I became the Hero and subjugated the Tri-Alliance and the Karn Empire.”
At the sight of Chris speaking so calmly, Count Khazar's lips moved wordlessly.
“Where is Head Nordian?”
“He is treating his injuries.”
Chris had an unexpected look on his face.
“He was injured?”
“…Yes, he was injured while fighting the Lord of the Four Kings' Castle.”
It was an unexpected story.
‘I thought they would be evenly matched.’
Nordian and the Lord of the Four Kings' Castle, Pliton, were both at the level of entering 9-Star.
“The power of the Lord of the Four Kings' Castle far exceeded expectations. Head Nordian can barely face him even when joining forces with the other family heads.”
“Something is strange.”
“Indeed. The Head said that he suspects the Lord of the Four Kings' Castle might be using some kind of forbidden secret art to amplify his power.”
Chris was lost in thought at those words.
‘As expected, the Lord of the Four Kings' Castle, Pliton, has a hidden secret.’
In his previous life, when Pliton fought with the Blood-Drenched Demon King for hegemony over the Four Kings' Castle, he had persecuted her for a long time.
Even though the Blood-Drenched Demon King's level at the time was Lower 9-Star. It was said that only after time passed and she reached Mid 9-Star could she overwhelm the Lord of the Four Kings' Castle.
Something that would be impossible if the Lord of the Four Kings' Castle were at a simple 'entering 9-Star' level.
‘I have to find out what his secret is.’
Besides that, there was one more thing he needed to know.
“What is the status of the Blood Sword Demonic House?”
‘I need to know Idrinne's movements, too.’
Originally, according to his previous life, the one who started the war was not Pliton, but Idrinne.
But Count Khazar said something surprising.
“A part of the Blood Sword Demonic House has decided to side with our Dark Alliance.”
“…Who from the Blood Sword Demonic House?”
“It is the faction led by Grand Duchess Idrinne.”
“!!”
Chris let out a groan.
‘It's completely different.’
He recalled what the members of the Blood Sword Demonic House had said about Idrinne when he visited before.
-Grand Duchess Idrinne is a benefactor to us all.
-There is no one in the world as kind as Grand Duchess Idrinne.
They weren't lying.
Moreover, Idrinne had been unharmed by Chris's Heavenly Poison, which destroys evil.
‘And on top of that, she's even helping our Dark Alliance?’
Chris acknowledged it once again.
The Idrinne of his previous life and the Idrinne of now were completely different beings.
The problem was, 'Why?'
‘Why did the Idrinne of my previous life become such a devil? What happened?’
He had to find out the reason.
‘It will be a critical turning point.’
Just then, Count Khazar spoke.
“As it happens, Grand Duchess Idrinne said she really wants to meet you.”
“…Me?”
“Yes, she asked me to be sure to tell you when you returned. You, don't tell me you've had an affair with Grand Duchess Idrinne?”
“…Father, I was about to ask after your mental health.”