Chapter 381

"Jupien, in particular, will be a surprise. She's gotten incredibly strong. She has already reached the end of 6-Star."

Chris was astonished.

It was an unbelievable achievement.

"...Just how much is she pushing herself?"

"Well? About ten times a day, she crosses the brink of death? You know her, right? How tenacious she is. It's a miracle she's still alive. Who knows, she might be dead by the time I return to the family. She's pushing herself that much."

“……”

Chris fell silent.

Activating one's potential with the blessing Chris had bestowed would put a strain on their spirit.

To cross the brink of death several times a day meant she was drawing out her potential to its very limits.

'By the time we next meet, she will have reached 7-Star.'

No, perhaps even higher.

From 7-Star onwards, it was a realm of pure enlightenment.

By risking her spirit and maximizing her potential like that, she could achieve something unexpected.

'Of course, the possibility of not being able to endure it and everything collapsing is much higher.'

The reason Jupien was holding on was likely because she was originally the best at training and possessed a stronger resolve than anyone else.

Chris sighed and shook his head.

"Don't push yourselves too hard. Both Jupien and you, sister."

"Oh my, are you worried about me?"

"...It's not like that."

"Hehe, you're still cute even after becoming a Lesser Demon King. You still can't drink, right? Should I buy some strawberry cake next time?"

"...That's enough."

He frowned at Yulian, who still treated him like a child.

As Chris stepped forward, all sorts of factions came to protect Ruina's kingdom.

Of course, this alone was not enough to stop the Sword Mastery Noble House.

Chris played a decisive hand.

He sold the name of the Dark Demonic House.

[The Demon King of Contempt and the Supreme Demon King are aiming for the Gray Zone!]

For reference, Christian and Nordian had officially obtained the titles of Demon Kings.

It was certain that both would soon rise to low 9-Star, and they had accomplished the feat of bringing down the Four Kings' Castle.

Nordian was the Supreme Demon King.

Christian had earned the moniker 'Demon King of Dark Radiance'.

'...Why does everyone keep calling me the Demon King of Contempt when I have a perfectly good moniker?'

For some reason, it seemed he was called the Demon King of Contempt more often than the Demon King of Dark Radiance.

Those around him also said that one suited him better.

In any case, the Supreme Demon King and the Demon King of Contempt were currently the most feared individuals in the Alliance.

The Sword Mastery Noble House had no choice but to come to a halt as soon as they heard the rumor.

"Those heinous Demon Kings are aiming for the Gray Zone?"

"This is no time to be squabbling with the likes of the Opalma Kingdom, is it?"

The knights of the Sword Mastery Noble House whispered amongst themselves with worried faces.

In the first place, the majority of the regular knights had been against this war.

The pretext they had put forward was crude beyond measure.

"We must prepare to face the Dark Demonic House."

"We cannot do it alone. We must request help from other nations and declare a holy war!"

"We must summon a Hero!"

The Dark Demonic House was a rising power in the Magus Empire.

No matter how much the Sword Mastery Noble House was the best noble house in the Alliance, it was impossible to face them alone.

The problem was that neither a holy war nor a Hero could be mobilized.

Because the three empires and the Hero had all sided with the Opalma Kingdom.

"Isn't that why everyone opposed this war?"

"We must reveal the truth properly, even now!"

The opposition grew stronger, and it became a situation where even the Sword Mastery Noble House could not forcibly raise an army.

And then, a decisive event occurred.

A single letter arrived.

- I, Evan, as the rightful heir of the Meyer family, will correct the wrongdoings of the family. I request a duel for the position of head of the family.

It was a challenge from Evan to the Sword King.

***

The Sword Mastery Noble House was in an uproar.

"Young Master Evan is returning?"

"I have always thought that he is the true master of our Sword Mastery Noble House."

Originally, many of the regular knights supported Evan.

Because everyone knew that Evan had been framed and kicked out.

Furthermore, with the Sword King's recent wrongdoing against the Opalma Kingdom, public opinion had completely turned.

Of course, their opinion was not important.

The Sword Mastery Noble House was moved by the leadership, and among them, by the Sword King.

The heart of the Sword Mastery Noble House.

The Sword King was having a secret meeting with someone.

The Sword King opened his mouth with a stiff face.

"What is the meaning of this? There was no mention of the Demon King of Contempt making a move, was there?"

[Do not whine like a foolish coward.]

"!!"

Such a rude remark to the head of the great Sword Mastery Noble House?

Who on earth could it be?

[Do you not trust our Holy Assembly?]

A surprising word flowed from the opponent's mouth.

Holy Assembly.

It was a meeting of the four Holy Ones.

That meant the opponent was also one of the Holy Ones.

The opponent's identity was the Dark King.

Another absolute ruler of the Gray Zone.

"...It's not that I don't trust you. But the opponent is who he is, isn't he? The Demon King of Contempt and the Supreme Demon King."

The Sword King looked troubled.

"In this situation, the knights below will not follow my orders. It will also be impossible to offer the people of the Opalma Kingdom as sacrifices."

As Chris had guessed, they were indeed aiming for human sacrifice.

[Do not worry about the Dark Demonic House. The Mystic Demonic House has agreed to help us.]

“!!”

A shocking story.

The Holy Assembly were clearly the absolute rulers of the Alliance.

But to think they had joined hands with the Mystic Demonic House?

[The Mystic Demonic House has decided to send an Apostle for this matter.]

“…If it’s an Apostle, then there’s no need to worry even if the Demon King of Contempt comes.”

It seemed the Sword King also knew of the Apostle’s power.

However, it was a series of incomprehensible events.

No matter how corrupt the Sword King and the Holy Ones were, to join hands with the Mystic Demonic House?

And they were even trying to perform human sacrifices.

The Dark King brought up the fact with a sneer.

[Does it not bother you? To join hands with the Mystic Demonic House as the head of the Sword Mastery Noble House.]

The Sword King frowned at the question.

“You ask a useless question. Is that what’s important right now?”

An unbelievable story flowed from the Sword King’s mouth.

“This, too, is the will of the constellations that protect me, so I merely follow.”

It meant that everything that was happening was under the direction of the constellations.

***

Meanwhile, at that time, Chris was having a similar thought.

‘Don’t tell me the constellations and Gehenna have joined hands?’

No matter how he thought about it, it was highly likely that the reason the Sword Mastery Noble House had caused this incident was because of the ‘Glass Lake’.

If not, there was no reason for them to suddenly cause such an incident without any gain.

They were likely trying to activate the ‘gate’ of the Glass Lake by using the people of the Opalma Kingdom as sacrifices.

The problem was that the ones who had caused this were the Sword Mastery Noble House and the Holy Ones.

- Be wary of the Celestial Realm.

A conversation he had had with the Holy Emperor Istanya before.

- The constellations are trying to greatly twist the ‘fate’ of this world for the sake of their own justice.

He didn't know what it meant.

In the first place, he didn't even know what the Celestial Realm’s intentions were.

'But if it's true that the Celestial Realm is involved in this incident.'

Chris clenched his fist tightly.

'It means that Gehenna is not the only one who wishes for the destruction of this world. The Celestial Realm also wishes for destruction.'

In the first place, the gate itself was a joint creation of the Celestial Realm and Gehenna.

Therefore, it was right to assume that the two had a common goal.

'I must prevent the gate from opening at all costs.'

To do that, there was something he had to do.

He had to make Evan stronger.

'Only if Evan becomes the head of the Sword Mastery Noble House can this situation be stopped without great damage.'

“How does it feel, now that you’ve abandoned the blessing of the constellations?”

“It’s awkward. It feels a little uncomfortable, too.”

It was likely more than that.

It was no different from having his wings clipped.

“To be honest, it’s impossible for you to reach 8-Star (high) by the time of the duel. There isn’t even a fortnight left.”

“……”

“But it’s a different story if it’s just about gaining the enlightenment to establish your worldview. Because even if the vessel isn’t complete, you can gain the enlightenment first.”

It was nonsense.

One could only gain the corresponding enlightenment after a sufficient foundation had been laid.

He was telling him to skip all the intermediate steps and just gain the enlightenment corresponding to 8-Star (high).

'But Evan can do it.'

Because Evan was also one of the greatest geniuses on the continent.

He would be able to destroy common sense as much as he wanted.

“Let’s begin.”

Chris drew his sword.

“Time is short, so I will help you.”

Chris recalled the image of Evan from his past life.

Evan did not become strong by training obediently.

He grew stronger in the midst of numerous hardships, fighting against all sorts of powerful enemies.

The stronger the enemy, the more he was cornered, the stronger he became. That was Evan.

The plan was to push him to the extreme to induce enlightenment.

“I’m telling you in advance, I won’t go easy on you, so be prepared. I will swing my sword with the intent to kill you, so if things go wrong, you could really die.”

After seeing Evan nod his head, Chris immediately swung his sword.

Flash!

As warned, it was a fierce sword.

He didn't use the Advent of Creation, causality manipulation, or the domain of dominion, but he went all out with his ‘swordsmanship’.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Whoosh!

Evan lightly dodged Chris's attack, then thrust his own sword forward.

Evan's sword grazed past the side of Chris's neck by a hair's breadth.

'What is this?'

Chris swallowed hard.

It wasn't a coincidence.

As they continued to exchange blows, a similar scene repeated itself over and over.

'When did his swordsmanship improve so much?'

Absurdly, Evan's swordsmanship was no less than his own.

'No way. I'm a 9-Star now!'

His pride was hurt, so he poured out his sword even more fiercely, but Evan was not shaken at all.

“…Aren’t you being too considerate of me?”

“…What?”

“I know your heart is weak. That’s why you can’t swing your sword with all your heart, in case I get hurt.”

“……”

“It’s alright. I am already prepared. I would not mind dying by your sword. Go all out!”

Paaat!

Evan's sword became even fiercer.

As if to say he was fine, and that Chris should get serious.

'No, I'm already doing my best, you know?! What kind of monster is this guy?'

Let me correct myself.

They were not on an equal level.

Evan's swordsmanship surpassed Chris's.

Of course, that was only in terms of pure swordsmanship. If he were to use his powers properly, Chris would naturally win, but it was still a shocking event.

'…Evan was a monster, too.'

He was reminded of a fact he had forgotten.

'Isn't he going to beat the Sword King even if he doesn't reach 8-Star (high)?'

It was as that question flashed through his mind.

Evan let out a small sigh.

“This won’t do. Your heart is too weak for this to be a proper duel.”

“……”

“Well, it can’t be helped. It’s because of your unavoidably good nature that you worry about me.”

'…It's not like that at all, you know?'

Feeling somewhat displeased, Chris simply kept his mouth shut.