Episode 141
The Law King’s goal was to complete the Emerald Tablet.

The Law Kingdom was too far from the Grand Duchy of Vintz, where the ritual had taken place, making it an unsuitable location to complete the Emerald Tablet.

They must have set up a base near the Grand Duchy of Vintz to finish it.

‘They should be there by now. Since the ritual was interrupted, there must be problems completing the Emerald Tablet.’

Chris had a rough idea of where it might be.

To be sure, he asked Olivia.

“Has the Law King had any places he’s been visiting frequently outside the Law Kingdom in the past year?”

Since making their pact, Chris had started speaking more casually to Olivia.

“…Yes. He often went to the holy site called the ‘Garden of the Moon.’”

The Garden of the Moon.

A sacred place said to be infused with the constellation’s energy, as pure as moonlight.

Because it was a holy site, it didn’t belong to any nation under the Gold Cross; only the Law King was permitted to set foot there.

“He said he went there to receive revelations from the constellations, but I never imagined something so terrible was happening at a holy site.”

Olivia bit her lip tightly.

“Let’s hurry. We don’t have much time.”

The Garden of the Moon wasn’t far.

They ran without pause until they reached a forest, then pushed deeper inside. In the distance, a beautiful garden bathed in bright moonlight came into view.

It looked like a waterfall of moonlight cascading down—a dreamlike spectacle.

But something felt off.

“…Why is the moon’s energy—”

Olivia’s face stiffened.

Evan seemed to sense it too.

“…This doesn’t feel like a holy site at all. The moon’s energy is mixed with a terrible corruption.”

Though it looked endlessly beautiful, it lacked the noble purity befitting a sacred place.

Instead, it pulsed with a sinister aura, reminiscent of Gehenna’s malevolence.

Chris explained.

“The Emerald Tablet’s completion has corrupted the holy energy.”

“Is it already complete?”

“No, not yet. The ritual was interrupted, so they’re short on sacrifices.”

If the Emerald Tablet were perfectly completed, even the four of them wouldn’t dare challenge it.

The Law King would gain powers akin to the constellations themselves.

“…Even incomplete, the energy is incredibly intense.”

As they drew closer, their faces hardened.

The energy leaking from the Emerald Tablet pricked at their skin.

It was a sacred energy, imbued with the constellations’ power, yet simultaneously laced with a dreadful corruption—a deeply unsettling force.

Approaching further, they saw the Garden of the Moon clearly.

It was literally a garden.

But not an ordinary one.

It was a relic designed to gather the constellation’s energy.

Both inside and out were sealed by barriers.

“It’s not a very high-level barrier, so getting in won’t be too hard. The problem is the soldiers guarding outside.”

There weren’t many.

About two hundred, mostly regular soldiers.

Normally, Evan could handle them alone.

But the group’s expressions remained grim.

They sensed something was seriously wrong.

“What’s with the energy coming off those soldiers?”

Each soldier swirled with intense energy.

Comparable to roughly a three-star knight.

Unbelievable.

“That’s the power of the Emerald Tablet. It grants others a blessing like the constellations’ power.”

“Even incomplete, it’s that strong?”

“It’s only that strong because it’s incomplete.”

In his previous life, Law King Pentagel III sacrificed over 30,000 lives to the Black Plague to complete the Emerald Tablet, unleashing a power akin to a calamity.

All the nations of the Gold Cross bowed before Pentagel III.

‘Though even that had its limits.’

The Emerald Tablet’s weakness was that its power wasn’t infinite.

It was consumptive.

The more power used, the more sacrifices had to be offered back to the tablet.

As time passed and the power waned, Pentagel III sought more sacrifices and committed unspeakable atrocities.

‘That’s why there’s so much controversy about the Emerald Tablet’s origin. It’s too horrific to have been devised by the constellation of ‘Justice.’’

Some say it was crafted by a demon, mimicking the constellation’s power to corrupt humanity.

‘Though in truth, it was neither made by the constellations nor demons.’

But that was irrelevant now.

“We can’t take them all head-on. We have to steal the Emerald Tablet.”

“Is that even possible? It looks tough.”

Evan scanned the garden with a steely gaze.

They couldn’t see inside due to the barrier.

“Even if we ignore the soldiers outside, there must be knights guarding inside.”

The Law Kingdom’s knight force was weak, so there probably weren’t any high-ranking five-star knights, but the problem was the Emerald Tablet’s power.

If even regular soldiers had strength comparable to three-star knights, the knights inside must be terrifyingly amplified.

“It’s possible. I have a plan.”

“What kind?”

“I’m going to use Saint Olivia’s power.”

“…But isn’t that insufficient?”

Olivia could also wield the constellation’s power.

But compared to the Emerald Tablet’s overwhelming output, it would be far too weak.

“It’s fine. I have a plan for that too.”

Chris looked at Olivia.

“Remember what I told you?”

“…Yes.”

Olivia clenched a twig tightly and nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best. For you.”

Was it the tension before the final battle?

She had meant to say “for you” quietly, but it slipped out loud.

Olivia’s face flushed bright red, and Chris felt a little awkward.

Hearing that so openly made even thick-skinned Chris feel embarrassed.

At that moment, Jupiter, who had been quietly standing nearby, muttered sullenly.

“What a cute little sister.”

“…Huh?”

“My sister’s just annoying, not cute at all.”

Then Jupiter glared at Chris like a sibling who wanted to punch him.

“…Who keeps saying you’re my sister?”

Chris shook his head.

“Anyway, let’s move.”

Just as he stepped forward, a chilling voice grabbed his ankle.

[Stop.]

A voice that seemed to seep from the abyss.

It was Mephina, the demon of Gehenna!

‘What now?’

Chris frowned.

Mephina had never harmed him directly, but as a demon, he instinctively hated her voice.

[I’ve come to warn you.]

‘A warning?’

[Yes. If you go inside, there’s a high chance you’ll die.]

The warning was grim, but Chris answered coldly.

‘I’ve already thought of how to counter the Emerald Tablet.’

But Mephina said something unexpected.

[The Emerald Tablet’s power isn’t just about manifesting the constellation’s abilities.]

‘…What?’

[I can’t explain in detail due to Gehenna’s causality, but you might face a situation where resistance is impossible.]

Chris’s heart turned icy.

Mephina was a demon.

This was no warning to be taken lightly.

‘Not just power manifestation? What could that mean?’

Suddenly, a terrifying possibility flashed through Chris’s mind.

‘There is one worst-case scenario that could happen because of the Emerald Tablet.’

He bit his lip, troubled.

‘The chance of it happening is low. Extremely rare. But if it does…’

He wouldn’t survive.

Just as Mephina said, it would be a situation where resistance was impossible.

‘What should I do?’

Retreating might be wise.

But—

‘If I miss this chance, I’ll never get another to punish the Law King.’

If they gave him time, the Law King would cover this up perfectly.

Then he’d try again to complete the Emerald Tablet through other schemes.

Retreating or advancing—both were dangerous.

Then Mephina whispered softly.

[If you wish, I can help you.]

Chris let out a bitter laugh.

So that was why she gave the warning—to tempt him.

[With my power, I could prevent the worst-case scenario.]

But—

The moment he heard that, a thought struck him.

He did have a way to prevent the worst-case scenario without Mephina’s help.

And if it succeeded, it could bring great benefits.

‘If what I suspect is true, I might be able to partially lift Andril’s seal.’

The condition to break Andril’s seal wasn’t just reaching nine stars.

There was a far harsher condition, and maybe this situation could resolve it.

After gathering his thoughts, Chris said to Mephina.

‘Shut up.’

[…What?]

‘I don’t need your help.’

[You’ll regret this.]

‘Maybe.’

Chris smiled faintly.

‘I have a trump card of my own.’

More than anything—

‘I’d rather die than team up with a disgusting demon like you. So get lost!’

Beyond the unseen veil, Chris felt Mephina’s presence ripple.

[…Arrogant fool.]

Her voice was wounded pride.

A shiver ran down his spine.

His soul instinctively tensed under the weight of her furious scorn.

But—

‘What are you going to do by getting angry?’

Chris frowned deeply, lost in thought.

No matter how much the demon from beyond Gehenna raged, it wasn’t like it could actually harm him. There was nothing to fear.

‘Things might be different if the boundaries between the Three Realms start to crumble—but that’s still a long way off.’

Perhaps it was Chris’s calm resolve that caught her off guard.

Mephina’s voice came through, laced with a strange tone.

[You’re arrogant, but… it only makes you more intriguing.]

“……”

[I’ll be watching. I want to see how you’ll act when faced with overwhelming despair. And if you ever find yourself outmatched, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.]

Chris could almost feel Mephina’s dark smile.

[I’ll gladly lend you my aid.]

With that, her presence vanished.

She intended to silently observe whatever Chris would accomplish beyond Gehenna.

‘…That’s annoying. I wish she’d stop watching.’

Chris scowled sharply.

But no matter how much he wanted to shake it off, he couldn’t escape that gaze.

Chances were, countless demons besides Mephina were watching his every move.

He had no choice but to ignore them.

“What’s taking so long? Should we wait a bit more?”

“Ah, there’s some buzzing in my head—like a fly trapped inside.”

Chris shook his head and drew a sword.

It was the magic sword, Predator, gifted by the Nordians.

“Olivia and I will enter the garden. Evan, you follow and protect Princess Olivia. Jupien, hold the soldiers back from behind.”

The sword’s chilling crimson blade caught the moonlight, gleaming ominously.

“Let’s go.”

The decisive battle was about to begin.