Chapter 388

Evan wore an expression of incomprehension.

Then, his eyes met Chris's calm, sunken ones, and they widened.

"You bastard, don't tell me? What are you thinking?"

Evan's voice trembled.

"Don't tell me you're planning to sacrifice yourself?"

"What? It's not like that."

"Don't lie!"

Evan raised his voice in a shout.

"...Hey, why are you raising your voice?"

"Aren't you prepared to die right now?! Absolutely not. I will not allow it."

"No, what's with the overreaction?"

Chris looked dumbfounded, but Evan was adamant.

'Of course, it was true that it was dangerous.'

Not that anything Chris had attempted so far had been safe, but this time was on a different level.

It was not a matter of a high probability of death.

If a miracle did not happen, he would die.

'Because if I just stand by, I'll die anyway.'

The crack had already begun to form.

If he failed to stop it, he would die.

'And it's not like there's no possibility at all.'

The meaning of 'dying if a miracle doesn't happen' was that he just had to make a miracle happen.

'A miracle. So what, I just have to make one.'

Realizing that Chris had made up his mind, Evan grit his teeth.

"I will go with you."

"Hmm?"

"I don't know what kind of crazy stunt you're planning to pull, but I will not let you take the risk alone."

Chris shook his head.

He appreciated the sentiment, but.

"I'm sorry, but you won't be of any help in this matter."

"!!"

Chris was planning to pull a 'crazy stunt' in the heart of the Mystic Demonic House.

It was too much for Evan, who had not even reached 9-Star yet.

"Don't be too down. There's something I need you and Ranya to do."

"...What is it?"

"Protect the Alliance."

"!!"

'The encroachment will only get worse.'

Especially if he were to carry out the plan that Chris had just come up with, the situation on the continent would worsen beyond control.

"Evan, Ranya, I need the two of you to lead the Alliance and stand against the calamity."

One fortunate thing was that they were already prepared.

It was all thanks to the various hardships Chris had endured as the Hero until now.

Whether it was the Three Empires, the Round Table, or the Magic Tower, he had gotten rid of all the rotten ones and had them prepare for the coming age of ruin, so the Alliance's current strength was at its peak.

They should be able to hold out sufficiently.

'...Come to think of it, aren't I the de facto king who rules the continent from the shadows?'

Chris clenched his fists tightly.

'I've already finished preparing to enjoy a life of wealth and glory, there's no way I can die!'

After making a firm resolve, Chris continued.

"And Evan, Ranya, you two must reach 9-Star while fending off the demons."

"!!"

"Because only then will you be of help to me in the final battle."

To reach 9-Star when it had not even been that long since they had reached 8-Star?

It was an absurd demand.

But Chris believed the two could do it.

'In the first place, 9-Star isn't a matter of time. Those who can't will never reach it, and those who can will be able to overcome the wall whenever an opportunity arises.'

It was just that the opportunity was as narrow as a needle's eye, but it was not impossible to reach 9-Star in a short period of time.

Especially for talents on the level of Evan and Ranya.

Befitting their status as heroes, the two had experience of reaching 9-Star abnormally quickly in their past lives as well.

'The fight against the demons will be of great help to their growth. Perhaps they'll even be able to reach 9-Star much faster than in their past lives.'

This time, they had established a lofty worldview that could not be compared to the past, so it would be somewhat easier for them to reach 9-Star.

'In any case, it would be troublesome if the two of them can't do it. They won't even be able to lend a hand in the final battle at the Center.'

If he succeeded in stopping the Mystic Demonic House as planned this time.

Then, the Center would make its move.

Recalling the illogical power of the Magus Chancellor, Chris's eyes grew heavy for a moment.

'The Magus Chancellor must be a 10-Star.'

I still can't bring myself to face the Magus Chancellor.

He felt like an absolute, unopposable disaster.

'Even for me, it's impossible to build up the strength to surpass the Magus Chancellor through normal means.'

-Normal.

It was a statement with a peculiar nuance.

'To surpass the Magus Chancellor, I have to take a gamble.'

That was the reason Chris was planning to pull a crazy stunt at the Mystic Demonic House this time.

Though the probability was slim.

Though he would die a dog's death unless a miracle occurred.

If he succeeded, he would gain a sliver of a chance to stand against the Magus Chancellor.

"...I understand. I will be sure to reach 9-Star."

Evan said with blazing eyes.

"Instead, you, too, must swear that you will survive."

At those words filled with worry, Chris let out a smirk.

"Trust me."

***

He immediately returned to the Dark Demonic House.

The Dark Demonic House was also in an uproar.

"The encroachment in the territory of the Destruction Demonic House is gradually expanding!!"

"There is news that signs of a new encroachment have been seen in the territory of the Extreme Poison Demonic House as well!!"

"Demons in the territory of the Four Kings' Castle...!!"

"A request for support from the Triangular Alliance...!!"

The Dark Demonic House was the leader of the Dark Alliance.

At this point in time, they had conquered most of the territories, excluding the Northern Magus Nation where the Center and the Mystic Demonic House were located.

Due to the demons appearing here and there, requests for support were coming in from all over the place.

'...Come to think of it, the Dark Demonic House becoming like this is all thanks to me. I'm practically an emperor who has almost seized control of the continent. There's no way I can die!'

After a moment of digression, Chris opened the door to the head's office and entered.

"Grand Prince?!"

The vassals looked at Chris in surprise.

"Don't tell me, Grand Prince?"

"Above a Demon King?"

The vassals were astonished upon recognizing Chris's achievement.

"Waaaaah!!!"

"Long live the Grand Prince!!!"

"Long live the Demon King of Contempt!!!"

Chris raised his hand to calm them.

Normally, he would have leisurely celebrated, but this was not the time for that.

'Dammit, what's the use of becoming a Demon King. Things are only getting tougher.'

"I have something to discuss with the Head and Vice-Head. Please leave us."

"Yes, sir."

Only Nordian and Count Khazar remained in the room.

"...You've come. To think you've ascended to the throne of a Demon King. What kind of crazy stunt have you pulled this time?"

Nordian shook his head.

"In any case, it's good that you're here. The situation is not good."

Both Nordian and Count Khazar had faces full of fatigue.

"Is the situation that serious?"

"Why do you ask? Is this the work of the bastards from the Mystic Demonic House?"

"Yes, it is. That's why I have a plan, and there is a favor I must ask of you two."

"No."

"...Pardon?"

It was Nordian, who was opposing him before even hearing him out.

"Aren't you planning to do something crazy again, plain as day? Not this time. To think you would do something crazy against the Mystic Demonic House."

"That's right, Father. Christian, I can't take it anymore either."

Count Khazar said with eyes that held a lot of pent-up feelings.

How anxious had he been when he had said he would go to the Four Kings' Castle alone? And now he was saying he would do something crazy against the Mystic Demonic House again.

'No, what did I do that they're not even listening to me? Of course, it's true that I'm about to do something reckless, but.'

"...Father, I am a Demon King now."

"Demon King or whatever, you are my son."

"And my grandson."

At their firm opposition, Chris scratched his head.

It was troublesome, but he could feel their concern for him, so honestly, it was not a bad feeling.

He felt even more strongly that he could not die.

"Please hear me out first. If you two do as I say, I will be safe."

"...Speak."

"First, I would like the two of you to deal with the demons appearing in the territory of the Dark Alliance as much as possible."

"You whelp. In the end, aren't you just trying to get rid of us?"

Nordian became angry.

To tell them to leisurely deal with demons while Christian was doing something dangerous against the Mystic Demonic House. It was something he could never agree to.

However.

"Grandfather, you must become stronger to be able to help me."

"!!"

"Please ascend to low 9-Star using the demons as a sacrifice."

Nordian had not yet reached low 9-Star.

He was in a state where his cup was about to overflow but could not, but if he were to deal with the demons, he would be able to obtain an achievement.

"Father, there is something you must do besides catching the demons."

"What is it?"

"While pretending to catch the demons, please secretly prepare a suicide squad. With fiends of at least 7-Star or higher."

The two flinched.

"A suicide squad?"

"Yes, a suicide squad to launch a surprise attack on the Mystic Demonic House."

That's right.

What Chris was about to do now was a gamble.

And one with a slim chance of success at that.

Therefore, he had to take various measures to increase the possibility as much as possible.

The more hands that helped him, the higher the probability of success would be.

"Do not worry. I will not die until the flag of the Dark Demonic House flutters over the entire continent."

'I will definitely enjoy wealth and glory at the pinnacle of the continent!'

In the end, the two had no choice but to nod.

When he came out, an unexpected person was waiting for him.

"I don't like you."

An appearance like a doll.

It was Jupien!

'She's gotten really strong.'

Christian wore a surprised expression.

Jupien, surprisingly, had set foot into the 7-Star state.

'I heard she activated her potential and crossed the brink of death countless times a day.'

That tenacious effort had finally brought about a miracle.

"I said I don't like you."

Chris shrugged his shoulders.

Jupien seemed resentful that despite her desperate efforts, Chris had only gotten further away.

"It's because you want to be of help to me, but you can't, so you're upset, right?"

"...No, it's not."

"Yes, it is."

Jupien frowned.

"It's just that you're my younger brother, and I don't like that I have to leave everything to you."

In other words, she wanted to help.

Chris let out a chuckle.

"Don't worry. You have a job to do, too. A very arduous and dangerous one at that."

"What is it?"

Jupien's eyes sparkled.

She seemed happy at the news that she had a role to play. It seemed she didn't even hear the part about it being arduous and dangerous.

"Break through the Desert Labyrinth."

"The Desert Labyrinth?"

It was a famously notorious ruin.

Located in the Triangular Alliance.

"Why all of a sudden?"

"Because that's the only way to make the Demon King of Sorrow my sucker."

"!!"

He was the Demon King of the Western Magus Nation, where the Triangular Alliance was located.

He secretly opposed the Center.

'But he's being held by a leash.'

The key to his liberation was in the desert ruins.

It was knowledge he had gained after the fall of the Curse Demonic House not long ago. Because the Demon King of Sorrow was originally from the Curse Demonic House.

'Originally, I knew about it but didn't dare to try.'

It was because of the nature of the Desert Labyrinth.

An enormous trial had to be overcome.

The problem was that it wasn't simply a matter of defeating a powerful guardian, but a form of physical disaster, so it required extreme self-discipline.

'Of course, it's not that I couldn't do it myself, but it would take too much time. Given the situation, I don't have the luxury to go.'

Jupien should be able to do it.

Because she possessed a stronger self-discipline than anyone else in this world.

Now that she had reached 7-Star, her level was not lacking either.

"Still, it will be difficult to deal with the various trials alone, so go with Sister Yulian and Alros."