Chapter 132

“C-Could it be…?”

Miek’s face went pale as she realized what Chris was about to do.

“You figured it out. Yes, you’re right.”

Chris clenched his fist tightly.

Suddenly, spheres of deep darkness began to glow with an intense, shadowy light.

The dark energy blossomed into points that formed a circular dome, enveloping his opponent.

It was the ultimate secret technique of dark magic dueling.

The Dark Dome.

Before leaving, Nordian had taught it to him.

In truth, Nordian had only shared the incantation and told Chris to study it slowly on his own—but in that short time, Chris had mastered it well enough to use in actual combat.

“How do you know this technique? Isn’t this only possible for high-ranking dark mages?”

Miek’s face twisted in shock.

She hastily unleashed her Aura Blade, trying to break free from the Dark Dome—but it was too late.

Crackling sounds filled the air.

The four points forming the dome flickered.

At the same moment, four attacks manifested simultaneously.

Gritting her teeth, Miek braced herself for the onslaught.

‘This technique has a weakness,’ she thought.

Though the four attacks came at once, their patterns were standardized.

No ordinary human brain could process four separate attacks simultaneously—that was the flaw.

‘If I defend according to the pattern, I can hold out.’

But then, Miek’s eyes widened.

‘Something’s different.’

The dark magic being unleashed, the way it was executed—it was nothing like what she knew.

‘No way! He’s calculating and manifesting all four attacks in real time?’

That was exactly right.

For Chris, that wasn’t difficult at all.

What was even more deadly was this:

‘The power of the dark magic?’

Chris’s dark magic was of perfect purity, so the spells unleashed through the Dark Dome were far more potent than those used by others.

‘No, this can’t be!’

Illusions clouded Miek’s vision. She desperately tried to dispel them, but to no avail.

At the same time, another dark spell surged forward.

A curse.

The curse gnawed at Miek’s mind, already consumed by the illusions, threatening to rob her of her will.

Still, as an Elder-class mage, Miek fought to resist the illusions and the curse.

But Chris’s assault was far from over.

Within the dome, intense dark flames erupted.

Rather than targeting Miek directly, they swept the surrounding area.

Her senses were completely paralyzed.

Seizing the opportunity, a grim reaper-like figure silently swung a scythe through the mist—the final attack.

Slash!

A black sword, imbued with willpower, severed Miek’s leg.

“Arrrgh!!!”

Miek screamed and collapsed to the ground.

It was over.

Silence fell over the arena.

‘No way… A boy barely in his late teens just defeated Elder-class Miek?’

‘Is this really the power of the Dark Mage Prince?’

And it wasn’t just a victory—it was a flawless, almost mocking triumph.

Chris shrugged and approached the screaming, struggling Miek.

Clang.

His cold blade pressed against her throat.

“P-Please… spare me…”

“I won’t kill you.”

Just as a faint glimmer of hope appeared in Miek’s eyes, Chris twisted his lips into a cruel smile.

“You will suffer a far worse death.”

Whoosh!

Darkness bloomed again from Chris’s hand.

A mark of darkness was branded onto Miek’s forehead.

“What… what have you done?”

People nearby finally grew wary and asked.

“It’s the Mark of Binding.”

“!!”

“You know what kind of cursed dark magic the Mark of Binding is, right? From now on, this one won’t be able to deny the crimes he committed. He will only speak the truth.”

Earlier, Chris had made a condition that if he lost the duel, he would tell the truth—and Miek had agreed.

Using that promise as a foundation, Chris cast a dark spell that forced his opponent’s actions.

“…”

The officials of the Law Kingdom swallowed hard.

Though they had caught a terrible criminal, their expressions were grim.

Was it because the one who used the magic was a dark mage they despised?

No, it was more than that.

“If we interrogate him, all the truth behind this case will come to light.”

As Chris continued, some faces grew even paler.

“Including which other vermin were involved.”

“!!”

That’s right.

Was Miek the only one involved in this incident?

Absolutely not.

Someone within the Law Kingdom must have turned a blind eye for such horrific slave trading to occur—and there were accomplices who reveled in these devilish acts.

There were likely additional conspirators present here as well.

Just by looking at the pale faces, Chris could tell who the accomplices were.

Ironically, many of them matched the very people who had tormented him in his childhood, which made him smirk.

“Well then, I believe I’ve been quite helpful to the Law Kingdom.”

Chris looked down at the officials, who were now cowering like insects.

“Is there anyone here who still doesn’t trust us dark mages?”

---

No one remained to oppose Chris and his group.

To be precise, the Law Kingdom’s people were too overwhelmed by the aftermath of Chris’s actions to resist.

Miek had confessed everything under the dark magic’s influence, revealing a staggering number of conspirators.

It wasn’t a false confession.

Investigations based on the confession confirmed the truth.

Among those involved were key figures within the Law Kingdom, turning the internal situation into utter chaos, as if a bomb had exploded.

The rest of the cleanup was up to the Law Kingdom.

Chris and his group decided to leave for the region plagued by the Black Plague.

Of course, Olivia was with them.

As they rode horses along the road outside the castle, the gazes of the Law Kingdom’s people fell upon them.

But the feeling behind those looks was subtly different from before.

When they first arrived, it had felt like stones might be thrown at any moment.

Now, it was more complicated—mixed with something else.

“…Word has spread about what the Prince has done.”

Count Roy whispered.

“They say the vermin kidnapped not only slaves from outside but also children from within the Law Kingdom. Some of those children were safely rescued this time, so to them, the Prince is a savior.”

In other words,

the dark mage they had despised had become their benefactor, hence the complicated looks.

In the distance, Chris spotted a couple watching him.

They held a gaunt child in their arms—a familiar face.

The child Chris had rescued from the scene not long ago.

The couple didn’t dare approach, only sending grateful looks from afar.

Chris could sense what they wanted to say.

A thank you.

He smirked and shook his head.

Just then, an unexpected voice came from behind.

“I’m thankful too.”

It was Olivia.

She bowed her head.

“Thanks to the Prince, we were able to uncover the Law Kingdom’s terrible secrets. As the heir to the throne, I formally offer my gratitude.”

Chris looked at Olivia for a moment, then replied coldly.

“There’s nothing to thank me for.”

“Huh?”

“Because nothing will really change in the Law Kingdom.”

“!!”

Olivia’s face stiffened.

“What do you mean?”

“I ask you, Princess. How many do you think will truly be punished for this?”

“…”

Olivia couldn’t answer.

Chris sneered.

“A few low-level officials will be executed as an example, and that will be the end of it. The real monsters will escape any punishment and everything will be swept under the rug. Am I wrong?”

“Th-That’s…”

Olivia tried to argue but couldn’t deny it.

She knew better than anyone how rotten the Law Kingdom was.

‘Actually, this isn’t just the Law Kingdom’s problem. Gold Cross—no, the entire Crusade Alliance is rotten.’

That was why the alliance had collapsed so helplessly during the Great War.

‘The Crusade Alliance isn’t weak in power.’

But there were too many scoundrels inside.

Worse than demons.

Those who rot the alliance from within.

‘The Crusade Alliance must change. Only then can we prevent destruction.’

Chris planned to become the Demon King to stop the war.

But would that be enough?

As long as the Crusade Alliance wavered, war would inevitably break out again.

Only by strengthening the alliance enough to stand against the Magic Empire could true peace come.

‘This is just the beginning.’

While resolving this incident, Chris also planned to excise the corruption within Gold Cross.

The problem was Olivia.

To change Gold Cross, she—the next Law King—would inevitably bear a heavy burden.

It was unfortunate, but unavoidable.

As the awakened Holy Blood bearer, her fate was inseparable from the Law Kingdom.

At that moment, Olivia murmured softly.

“…I will change it.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. I promised my brother I would do my best.”

Olivia clenched a faded wooden charm.

Chris’s gaze darkened.

It was a gift he had given her long ago.

With a voice full of resolve, as if returning to her pure, earlier self, she said,

“You cheered me on to become a good Law King. I will definitely, definitely succeed.”

“…”

Chris opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t find the words.

He turned his head away.

Then—

A chilling sight froze his heart.

Far off, atop a towering spire, a figure looked down at him.

Clad in resplendent robes embroidered with sacred symbols.

A gentle expression.

Yet eyes cold and unyielding.

A face he would never forget.

Pentagel III.

A noble saint born of the constellation’s bloodline, the great king of the Law Kingdom.

…And at the same time, the father from his past life.

“……”

Their eyes met briefly.

The Law King looked at Chris as if he were nothing more than a bug, then turned his back and disappeared. Chris let out a long sigh.

“What’s wrong?” Jupien asked, concern in his voice.

“…I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

Chris shook his head and forced a bitter smile.

Sweat gathered on his tightly clenched fists.

…It was anything but nothing.

Only then did Chris realize the truth buried deep inside him.

He hated his ‘father.’

That hatred was so deep and heavy, it sank like a bottomless lake, silent and unfathomable.

*    *    *

The plague outbreak in the Gold Cross territory was centered in the Vintz region.

The domain ruled by Duke Vintz.

It was a bit far from the Law Kingdom, and since there was no warp gate nearby, they had no choice but to travel on horseback.

It was a journey of about three days, which meant they had to camp out overnight along the way.

“Princess, are you alright? How can you endure sleeping outdoors with such a noble body…!”

Count Roy, the lesser noble, stammered nervously, but Olivia replied curtly.

“I’m used to sleeping outside. I’ve been through a lot of places like this.”

“Ah…”

Roy’s face grew awkward.

Come to think of it, he was the only one in the group unaccustomed to roughing it.

Lying down on the cold ground, a wave of sadness washed over him.

‘…Ugh, I just want to go home.’