Episode 200
‘Simply resolving the issue of the Pure Green poison won’t be enough.’

Chris intended to use this opportunity as a disciple to firmly imprint his greatness onto the minions of the Extreme Poison Clan.

‘Of course, it’s beyond my current strength, but that’s fine. Poison is precisely the field where my talent can truly shine.’

His genius knew no bounds.

Yet there was one area where his brilliance was especially overwhelming: the art of poison.

An unexpected truth.

Though Chris possessed immense talent in many fields, his aptitude for poison techniques was on an entirely different level—unparalleled and almost unbelievable.

“Please look forward to it.”

“…Alright.”

Duke Huam, nodding with concern, probably had no idea what kind of insane growth Chris would show during the two months as a temporary disciple.

What kind of being he would become after absorbing the Poison Essence.

And what upheaval he would bring to the Extreme Poison Clan.

As Chris was about to leave, an unexpected figure awaited him.

Marisa.

Her face looked more worn than before, perhaps from the heartbreak caused by her brother’s betrayal.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I have something to say.”

Marisa hesitated before speaking.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For everything you did this time.”

If it weren’t for Chris, she would have suffered terribly.

And she wouldn’t have realized her brother’s true nature.

Chris shrugged.

“No need to thank me. I helped you because I plan to make you work for me later.”

“…You always have to be so annoying when you talk.”

“I’m serious. Anyway, next time we meet, I’ll make sure to milk you dry, so cheer up.”

“……”

Cheer up.

At those words, tears welled up in Marisa’s eyes.

She still hadn’t shaken off the shock of being betrayed by her brother.

“Ah, no. I… I’m sorry.”

Flustered, Marisa quickly wiped her eyes with her hand.

“You don’t have to hold it in at times like this. Bottling it up only makes your heart sick.”

“……”

Marisa stared blankly at Chris with tear-filled eyes, and he shrugged again.

“You’re going to be my loyal servant from now on. So I’ll at least stay by your side for now. If you want to cry, just let it out.”

Why was it?

Though his voice was as irritating and grating as ever, somehow it brought her strange comfort.

“…I’m not crying.”

“Really? Then should I just go?”

“…No, don’t go. Just stay quiet and don’t say anything. Just be here.”

Marisa lowered her head deeply.

So no one could see.

Her shoulders trembled faintly.

Chris quietly stayed by her side.

No words, just silently.

Strangely enough, his gruff kindness brought solace to Marisa’s heart.

*    *    *

Afterward, Chris prepared to return to the Dark Clan.

He would come back to the Extreme Poison Clan in about a month.

‘It’s going to be a busy month.’

There was much to do in the Dark Clan.

‘First, I need to strengthen the power of the Dark Clan’s minions.’

Having resolved this matter as promised, he had earned the title of ‘Grandmaster.’

Chris planned to use the authority of a Grandmaster to formally instruct the Dark Clan’s minions.

‘Of course, there will be strong resistance.’

He wasn’t trying to teach ordinary low- or mid-level minions.

His targets were the six-star high-ranking minions who formed the core of the Dark Clan.

No matter that Chris was the Grand Prince of the Magic Noble House, those proud elites wouldn’t accept his teachings willingly.

‘But it has to be done.’

There were other tasks as well.

He needed to keep an eye on Marquis Langham, who was beginning to show signs of rebellion.

‘Princess Yulian is also a problem.’

Chris’s gaze darkened.

His instincts were sounding alarms.

Princess Yulian was dangerous.

‘During this month, I have to settle things with Princess Yulian.’

Sighing deeply, Chris thought, the challenges just kept piling up.

“There’s nothing I want but wealth and glory!! Why do I have to go through all this trouble?!”

Maybe it was the accumulated fatigue.

Chris muttered seriously.

“Should I just quit everything? Go somewhere no one knows and enjoy a life of luxury…”

Just then, an unexpected voice whispered softly in his ear.

[You have an interesting wish. I can grant it—how about that?]

“!!”

A chill ran down Chris’s spine.

Without him noticing, someone had appeared.

Turning his head, he saw a figure gazing at him lazily.

A beautiful woman wrapped in chains.

‘The Azure Flow Demon Lord!’

Chris quickly knelt.

“Your Majesty, Demon Lord, I apologize for not greeting you properly.”

‘Why has she come?’ Surely not to harm him.

No matter how powerful the Demon Lord, she wouldn’t attack the Grand Prince of a prestigious magic family without cause.

Indeed, the Azure Flow Demon Lord’s voice held no hostility.

[Heh heh, no need for formalities. It’s my fault for showing up unannounced. Were you surprised?]

Chris shook his head.

“No, not really.”

[Hmm?]

“I had a feeling Your Majesty might come.”

[Why is that?]

“Well, it’s only natural that the Demon Lord would take an interest in such a remarkable talent like me.”

At his shameless words, the Azure Flow Demon Lord looked momentarily stunned.

Since her glorious days as the Fairy King until now, no one had ever spoken to her like that.

[…You’re more interesting than I thought. Aren’t you afraid of me?]

“I have done nothing wrong, so I’m not afraid. Your Majesty’s scales of justice must be perfectly fair, so you wouldn’t harm the innocent.”

[…]

For a moment, the Demon Lord’s eyebrows twitched.

Chris’s words sounded like a sarcastic jab at her recent unfair support of Marquis Goras during the treaty negotiations.

In truth, it was a jab.

‘She didn’t come with good intentions.’

One shouldn’t be fooled by a friendly face.

The Azure Flow Demon Lord was his enemy.

Finally, she got to the point.

[Actually, I came to speak with you about something.]

“Please, go ahead.”

[Would you consider pledging your loyalty to me?]

“!!”

Chris flinched.

“…I find it difficult to grasp the full meaning of your words. The Dark Clan and I already pledge loyalty to Your Majesty.”

[Don’t pretend you don’t understand. I want your personal loyalty.]

The Demon Lord took out a long pipe.

As if invoking a primordial descent, the surroundings transformed into the desolate backdrop of the World Tree Chris had seen before.

[I know your situation. Despite your incredible feats, if your shield, Nordian, dies, you’re destined to be killed by Marquis Langham.]

“……”

[If you pledge loyalty to me, I will protect you from Marquis Langham and help you become the master of the Dark Clan. Not only that, I promise you the wealth and glory you desire.]

Chris chuckled inwardly.

‘Of course. That’s why she came.’

He studied the Azure Flow Demon Lord Aria leaning against the World Tree.

Her appearance was exquisitely beautiful, befitting a High Elf.

But to Chris, who knew her true nature, she looked nothing but repulsive.

“Please be clear.”

[Hmm?]

“What exactly do you want from me? It’s not just simple loyalty, is it?”

The Demon Lord’s expression turned cold as she fixed her gaze on Chris.

He bit his lip tightly.

In that instant, her hidden essence revealed itself, pressing down on Chris like a crushing weight on his soul.

Finally, she spoke.

[The Sacred Darkness.]

The Azure Flow Demon Lord stated her demand.

[Offer me the Sacred Darkness, the source of the Dark Clan.]

*    *    *

Chris’s eyes darkened.

‘As expected.’

Just as he had heard in his previous life.

‘The Azure Flow Demon Lord desires the Three Wells.’

The Three Wells (Samwonjeong).

The sources of power for the three great noble families of the Southern Magic Kingdom.

They were the Sacred Darkness, the Poison Essence, and the Lost Flame.

The reason the Azure Flow Demon Lord was stirring trouble in the Southern Magic Kingdom.

“Why do you want the Sacred Darkness?”

[To become a true demon. More precisely, to transcend the limits of mortality.]

The Demon Lord exhaled smoke from her pipe.

[There are many special sources of power in the world, but the Three Wells of the Southern Magic Kingdom are especially unique.]

“……”

[You probably don’t know, but the Three Wells, including the Sacred Darkness, are not just simple power sources. When properly absorbed, they transform the soul.]

Chris knew this well.

He had absorbed the Sacred Darkness fully, elevating his soul to the rank of a half-demon.

‘The Poison Essence and Lost Flame must have similar effects on strengthening the soul’s rank.’

That was one reason he was after the Poison Essence now.

Strengthening the soul’s rank didn’t have an immediate impact.

But as one ascended to higher realms, the quality of one’s soul greatly influenced their power.

‘Even among nine-star beings, there’s a world of difference between those who have reached the rank of half-demon or half-star and those who haven’t.’

In the future.

He planned to prevent that from happening.

But if the worst came to pass and the boundaries of the Three Realms collapsed as in his previous life, raising the soul’s rank would be essential.

“Is the Sacred Darkness absolutely necessary to transcend mortality?”

Chris asked cautiously.

Fortunately, the Azure Flow Demon Lord answered willingly.

[Of course. Black (黑) is the origin (本), poison (毒) is the refinement (練), and annihilation (亡) is nothingness (無). Among the Three Primal Essences, the Sacred Black (성흑) plays the most crucial role in transcending mortality.]

Chris etched her words deeply into his mind.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘taking the Sacred Black’? Are you saying Your Highness intends to undergo the Sacred Black Ritual? Forgive my boldness, but Your Highness has already perfected the vessel of demonic energy; you won’t be able to obtain the Sacred Black through the ritual.”

To acquire the Sacred Black via the ritual, the vessel must be incomplete.

[There is another way. One can seize the very source of the Sacred Black itself.]

“!!”

Chris’s expression hardened.

It was an utterly unacceptable notion.

It was tantamount to erasing the very roots of the Dark Demonic Energy.

‘So this is why all the turmoil has been stirred within the Dark Demonic Energy for this purpose.’

Since his demands would never be accepted by the Dark Demonic Energy, he intended to bring it down.

‘There’s no need to say more.’

Chris decided to probe the Azure Flow Demon King further.

Opportunities like this didn’t come often.

“Before you answer, may I ask just one thing? Why do you truly wish to become a genuine Demon Energy?”

Even in his previous life, the reason the Azure Flow Demon King sought the Three Primal Essences remained unclear.

Was it a thirst for power?

But the Azure Flow Demon King was not the type to be driven by such desires.