Chapter 39 - The Crack in the Seal
Rumors spread.
Rumors that a new Demon King had appeared, and was shamelessly regrouping the demon race.
In reality, Crown Prince Neville was kidnapped and disappeared somewhere, and Yuru, after dealing with one of the Guardian Knights, went into hiding.
For some reason, Yapheon attacked Iser secretly from the other allied nations during that time, but failed.
Emperor Kratia's fury reached its peak.
There were even rumors that Guardian Knights, led by the Third Seat, were secretly moving under his separate command.
"The demon race is trying to run wild again."
"The chaos everyone's in must be because the demons are playing cunning tricks behind the scenes."
"Is hell starting again...?"
The atmosphere was unsettling.
People trembled with fear, remembering the days when the demon race plunged the continent into terror.
Some even hoped for the appearance of a new Hero.
But that was a laughable thought.
Just a short while ago, humans themselves mercilessly cast down the Hero.
No matter how much he was branded a traitor, the Hero was an unparalleled champion.
Hoping for such a being to reappear and stop this chaotic situation was no different from dreaming of an extremely low-probability stroke of luck.
"Shouldn't they have been more careful about killing him?"
"Shh! Do you want to get dragged away too?"
There were those who whispered that his abilities alone were genuine and should have been utilized, but that was merely a topic of conversation fit for private gossip.
Speaking deeper about the Hero, who was executed as a great traitor in history, was taboo.
"Your Majesty, we've found it."
In such a situation, a vassal stood before Kratia's throne.
"The Second Seat, Kardis, reports that he has found the place where Athanasia the Immortal is sealed."
Guardian Knight Kardis.
He is blind, but he possesses the ability to find his way well, relying solely on his other senses.
"To break the seal, he says he must use the power of the Seal entrusted to Your Majesty."
The power of the Seal.
One of the pillars maintaining the seal was contained within an artifact passed down through the Kratia imperial family.
Conversely, that meant the artifact could remove one pillar of power.
Even if only one pillar was removed, the seal would lose its balance.
If they cooperated with the ancient god inside, they could easily break the seal.
"Your Majesty."
The vassal said.
"Are you truly going to awaken the ancient gods?"
The ancient gods were enemies of Elhaim, the chief deity.
"I know your plan is to annihilate your enemies with enemies, but Elhaim might get angry if something goes wrong."
"Angry?"
Lutan, seated on the throne, turned his head sideways.
"Are you a priest or something?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm asking if it's possible for you to communicate directly with the chief deity."
At his question, the vassal shook his head with a bewildered expression.
"Of course not. I merely..."
"Insolent."
Lutan spat out.
"The chief deity's will is conveyed through the priests and me. It is not for the likes of you to presume to understand His will."
"M-My apologies, Your Majesty."
"Tell Kardis that he may use the Seal. It was entrusted to him for that purpose from the beginning."
"Yes, yes."
"And..."
A chill settled in Lutan's gaze.
"If you dare to wag your foolish tongue one more time, I will pluck out your eyes and make you repent to the chief deity."
"!"
The startled vassal prostrated himself on the floor.
"P-Please forgive me! I will never do it again!"
"You are already forgiven. There will simply be no next time."
Lutan waved his hand dismissively.
"Leave."
The vassal, flustered and unable to rise, staggered out only after soldiers, prompted by Lutan's gaze, guided him.
Lutan, silent, rested his chin on the back of his hand and remained still.
The soldiers watching him from nearby swallowed hard.
'Is this really okay?'
'No matter how much he needs a force to replace himself...'
'Even if the reason is that he can't leave the imperial capital, is this right?'
Doubts gnawed at their minds, but no one dared to question Lutan.
He was the absolute authority on this continent.
Perhaps even capable of preventing the Hero's death.
'The tiresome war will begin again.'
Only the sighs of the soldiers lingered around Emperor Kratia.
♧
"Have your injuries fully recovered?"
The Audience Chamber in Iser.
Empress Tia de Mezzeler was asking the man who had come to see her.
"Yes, Your Majesty. All healed."
The person who received her gaze was none other than the Imperial Knights Commander, Lexter.
"It's still dizzying to think about. I almost failed to see Your Majesty again."
"You worked hard, Lexter."
"Not at all. I am here now because Your Majesty sent the Royal Guard. I thank you once again."
Lexter, who had been kneeling on the floor, bowed deeply.
Tia walked over, helped him up, and said.
"I should be the one thanking you."
If Lexter had died, Tia would have lost a significant military asset.
"With you safely coming back, there's much more we can do. First, we now clearly understand Yapheon's ambition."
"Yapheon..."
GRIT.
Lexter gritted his teeth.
"They committed an outrageous act. To ambush Iser, which is practically an ally."
"It was something I didn't anticipate either."
"May I ask how Kratia reacted?"
At his question, Tia sighed softly.
"I didn't separately convey the details to Kratia."
"Pardon?"
"By now, it's impossible that Yapheon's movements haven't been reported to Kratia. Yet, if there's no reaction..."
Kratia had tacitly approved and decided on this situation.
"Such...! Your Majesty, you must confront them immediately! So that Yapheon pays a proper price..."
"Stop, Lexter."
Tia said firmly.
"We no longer have allies."
"Pardon?"
"Don't get too agitated, or your recovered injuries might reopen."
Lexter wore a bewildered expression at Tia's unexpected reaction.
"But Your Majesty. You know what will happen if we end our alliance now."
"I know. Our country, not being a great power, could quickly become ruins. But we are not completely unprepared."
Tia looked to her side.
"Lilien."
Imperial Guard Captain Lilien bowed her head, looking at Tia.
And from outside the Audience Chamber, she brought in two figures.
"Those people are..."
Nael, and Yelena.
Nael was bandaged as if recovering from a major battle, and Yelena kept apologizing with an anxious look in her eyes.
Neither of them seemed normal.
"Lexter, these two will be our military strength from now on."
"Pardon?"
Lexter looked back at Nael and Yelena once more.
Their eyes were dead.
Nael looked as if she had seen something she shouldn't have, and Yelena as if she was punishing herself, overwhelmed by guilt.
"Yes, their sanity is a bit precarious."
"Your Majesty, I don't know how these two became our military strength, but they cannot be in such an unstable state."
"Lexter, I am not asking."
Tia said stiffly.
"This is an order."
It was a harsh command for someone who had returned alive.
"I have a responsibility to do anything to protect the country."
The holy war against Yuru could have been stopped before it began.
It was the worst possible situation, but amidst it, there was a silver lining.
"Since there's no longer a reason to embark on the holy war commanded by Kratia, we should quickly position our military strength in defensive facilities."
"Your Majesty."
"Don't worry too much."
Tia fiddled with the cross-shaped necklace around her neck and said.
"Because Kratia wasn't the only one entrusted with great authority."
The power given to Iser to maintain the seal of the ancient gods, or more precisely, to maintain the balance of the pillars, was here.
"I guess I, too, must be prepared to go mad."
Referring to the very power that would cause her sense of guilt to run wild the moment she used it.
♧
"The Demon King's coronation, you say."
Neville, the Crown Prince of Holy Kratia and currently staying in Barungenia after being kidnapped by Clay, sat in a chair with a dejected expression.
"Even seeing it with my own eyes, I still can't believe it."
Neville was in the middle of the coronation ceremony.
Standing alongside the other members of Barungenia, that place felt very alien to him.
After all, he had lived as the Crown Prince of the Holy State Alliance.
Being in a place where demons gathered, and specifically where the Demon King's coronation was being held, was something he could hardly comprehend.
But whether he comprehended it or not, what was meant to happen had happened, and a new Demon King was finally enthroned.
And what's more, it was the Hero whom he deeply respected who became the Demon King.
"Lord Clay, have you truly become the Demon King?"
Even though he had witnessed the event firsthand, and even after some time had passed, Neville suddenly felt it again, the unreality of it, and asked.
Clay, who was sitting opposite him, let out a hollow laugh.
"Neville, is it really that hard to believe?"
"No, I..."
Neville sighed deeply.
"Well, considering what happened to Lord Clay, it might be a natural outcome."
"Have you accepted it?"
"Even so, it's true that it's not easy to accept."
"I see."
Clay responded calmly, picking up a teacup placed on the table.
It contained white milk, not tea.
"Are you still fond of drinking milk?"
"Is there a law that says a Demon King can't drink milk?"
Clay countered Neville's question.
There was no such law, but watching him, Neville couldn't help but feel even more strange.
'His habits are the same.'
Clay had always enjoyed drinking milk.
With cookies.
His dislike for tea was seen as a childish innocence.
Seeing him, now the Demon King, drinking milk, Neville felt his mind reel.
"Neville."
Clay spoke to Neville, who was in such a complex state of mind.
"Do you remember I asked for your help?"
"Yes? Oh, yes."
He remembered.
But there wasn't anything specific he had to do.
Literally, just staying here like a totem and making Lutan uncomfortable was the extent of his task.
Unless Lutan himself took action, there was no reason for him to appear as a hostage and carry out sabotage.
"Is there anything else I need to do?"
Neville asked with a lingering sense of unease.
He was already struggling to grasp the current situation, and he doubted if he could handle taking on another task.
"Yes."
Clay said to Neville.
"Neville, you often used the imperial library, didn't you?"
"Yes, that's right."
"In that case, have you ever heard of the ancient gods?"
"The ancient gods, you mean..."
Neville's expression stiffened.
"Why are you asking that?"
"Was I right?"
Clay smiled and said.
"Because Lutan seems most likely to first break the seal of Athanasia."