Chapter 201
The Azure Dragon Demon Lord answered simply.
“To transcend the limits of mortals—that is the desire of every Absolute Being.”
It was a lie.
Christian sensed it instinctively.
‘There’s definitely another reason.’
But he didn’t seem willing to share it.
‘I’ll have to dig into it when I get the chance. It might turn out to be an unexpected weakness.’
At that moment, the Azure Dragon Demon Lord set down his long pipe.
“Have your questions been satisfied? So, what is your answer?”
Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure bore down on Christian.
It wasn’t the kind of pressure born from aggression or hostility.
This was something far more profound—a spiritual pressure that pressed directly on the soul itself.
For those with weak spirits, it could completely subjugate their very essence. But Christian, surprisingly, withstood it without much difficulty.
His soul had reached the rank of a half-demon, granting him considerable resistance to spiritual pressure.
Just as the Azure Dragon Demon Lord showed a faint flicker of surprise at this, Christian met his gaze steadily.
“I will answer your proposal.”
“I refuse.”
[!!]
“Forgive me, but I am confident I can claim the Dark Maga without Your Highness’s aid.”
The Azure Dragon Demon Lord regarded Christian silently.
[You believe you can do it alone? You have no idea what despair awaits you.]
“I know full well.”
[You say you know? You’re relying on your pitiful talents. You won’t last long—you’ll be crushed like an ant.]
A chilling declaration.
But when Christian thought of the enemies he would face—starting with Marquis Langham and countless other overwhelming foes—it wasn’t an exaggeration.
As the Azure Dragon Demon Lord said, ‘despair’ was the only fitting word.
“But what I possess is far from mere talent.”
[!!]
“I can manage perfectly well without Your Highness’s help.”
Christian bowed his head.
“I will forget what I heard today. It was an honor to meet such a great being.”
Polite, yet resolute.
[…….]
The Azure Dragon Demon Lord fell silent.
A suffocating tension filled the air, but Christian held his ground, meeting the demon lord’s gaze without flinching.
After all, they were enemies.
There was no need to show weakness.
[Your confidence is impressive.]
The Azure Dragon Demon Lord smiled faintly.
“Very well. I look forward to seeing what you will become. But remember this.”
“…….”
[If you ever find yourself desperate enough to seek help, come to me. I will aid you—no matter when.]
With a whisper like a devil’s temptation, the Azure Dragon Demon Lord vanished.
* * *
“Are you all right?”
When the Azure Dragon Demon Lord Aria returned, an elf spoke with concern.
The elf was the demon lord’s steward, a loyal retainer since the days of the Fairy King.
[Ah, I never expected him to accept.]
“But isn’t it essential to obtain the Dark Maga?”
The elf hesitated.
“To save Your Highness, at least.”
Save.
A loaded word.
[Indeed. But it’s fine.]
The Azure Dragon Demon Lord yawned lazily as he unfolded a letter.
“Yurian’s preparations are finally complete.”
His gaze darkened.
“Despair will descend soon, and the Dark Maga will be drenched in terrible blood.”
A grim prophecy.
It meant Yurian was about to bring some catastrophe upon the Dark Maga.
The Azure Dragon Demon Lord chuckled softly, exhaling smoke from his pipe.
“I’m curious to see how that arrogant child will fare in the midst of such despair.”
* * *
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
There were those speaking of Christian in an unexpected place.
High above the clouds.
Soaring beyond even the clouds themselves, a colossal creature flapped its wings.
A demon dragon.
But not an ordinary dragon—this one had six massive wings and a body as large as a fortress.
Even more astonishing, a man sat atop the dragon’s back.
To be on a demon dragon’s back so high in the sky?
And not just sitting—he was reclining leisurely.
Ignoring the howling winds, the thin air, the tremendous speed, and the dragon’s body swaying with each wingbeat.
The man wore a finely tailored suit, unwrinkled despite the harsh conditions.
Even his gentleman’s hat remained perfectly still.
He completely dominated his surroundings.
He looked to be in his early twenties, with black hair and striking red eyes.
A handsome face, softened by a gentle smile.
Yet his narrow eyes radiated a dangerous aura.
His monocle gleamed faintly.
Finally, he spoke.
“Hey, Ashtart.”
A startling name.
On the continent, ‘Ashtart’ referred to only one being.
The Demon Dragon King.
The dragon currently beating its wings was the ruler of the Northern Magic Kingdom of the Magic Empire, ranked fifth among the demon lords.
But Ashtart’s reply was even more surprising.
“Speak.”
His tone was endlessly polite.
“My great Chancellor.”
Chancellor.
There were many chancellors in the world.
But only one worthy of such an honorific from the Demon Dragon King.
The Magic Chancellor.
Ranked third among the demon lords, he effectively governed the Magic Empire in place of the Demon Emperor.
Once known as the Demon Lord of Annihilation, feared by countless demons, he now spoke.
“I’m bored.”
[…….]
“Bored. The work is always overwhelming. Why did I even take this position? Ah, I want to quit immediately.”
A complaint unbefitting his reputation.
But Ashtart seemed used to it and replied calmly.
“The Demon Emperor’s orders, aren’t they? It’s been nearly two hundred years. You should give up.”
The Chancellor sighed.
“By the way, how are the Shinbi these days? They’re under your jurisdiction.”
[They’re moving covertly. The Magic Artisans are half-controlled in the shadows, and the Black Wraiths are resisting, but it’s hopeless.]
“Let the Shinbi do as they please. Especially if the Magic Artisans ask for help, do not respond under any circumstances.”
[Understood.]
An incomprehensible command and response.
To deliberately ignore the Shinbi Maga?
But Ashtart raised no objections and changed the subject.
“What about the southern territories? It seems the Azure Dragon is making moves. Will you just watch?”
“Of course. That is the will of the Great One.”
The Great One.
The Demon Emperor.
Ashtart fell silent for a moment, then spoke cautiously.
“But that goes against your own wishes, doesn’t it? If things continue, the Dark Maga will be soaked in blood.”
At those words, the Chancellor’s expression vanished.
“What does my wish matter?”
[!!]
Ashtart’s massive body trembled.
In a voice filled with fear, he said,
“I-I apologize. I misspoke.”
Not the demeanor of the legendary evil dragon who once destroyed a kingdom overnight.
But Ashtart knew well.
How formidable and terrifying this seemingly carefree man truly was.
The past titles like Demon Lord of Annihilation barely scratched the surface of the Chancellor’s true power.
Among the demon lords, the Chancellor was an extraordinary being.
If he wished, he could crush Ashtart like an insect.
‘Even the fourth-ranked Great General, the Demon Lord of the Red Sky, pales in comparison to the Chancellor.’
Fortunately, the Chancellor did not express further anger.
He simply said,
“The Great One, the Demon Emperor, has only told me to stand by. But he could not have been unaware that things would come to this. In other words, all that is happening now is the Great One’s will.”
[…….]
“I cannot fathom what the Demon Emperor truly desires or hopes for, but that is irrelevant. As his servants, we only follow his will.”
Ashtart wanted to ask one thing.
Do you really not know the Demon Emperor’s intentions?
No, that was impossible.
The Chancellor was the Demon Emperor’s closest confidant.
Yet he never revealed the Emperor’s true thoughts.
Whether out of loyalty or some other reason, no one knew.
Instead, Ashtart asked something else.
“Then why have you come to the Southern Magic Kingdom?”
Ashtart’s massive form was not aimlessly drifting through the sky.
They were flying over the southern central region.
Precisely, over the territory of the Extreme Poison Maga.
“I wanted to see for myself.”
The Chancellor glanced downward.
His bloodshot eyes, dark as night, fixed on a distant figure.
Christian.
“Is that child… ■■■?”
The Chancellor muttered in a strange tone.
“I wonder what will become of him. Will he meet his destined fate, or defy heaven itself? No, more precisely…”
His voice dropped even lower.
So no one could hear.
“Will he serve my purpose?”
A cryptic remark.
The Chancellor turned his gaze.
This time, another figure beside Christian came into view.
A strange smile appeared on the Chancellor’s lips.
“It’s been a while. Are you doing well?”
A curious statement.
It meant someone beside Christian was connected to the Chancellor.
But the Chancellor said no more.
Reclining on Ashtart’s back, he spoke with the same lighthearted tone as before.
“Ah, my back… I’ve seen enough. Let’s head back now.”
[…Understood.]
And with that, the Archmage Prime Minister vanished, leaving behind only a strange echo.
Christiang hadn’t even noticed what had happened.
On the way back, they used the warp gate.
When heading to the Extreme Poison Magus, the conflict was still ongoing, so the warp gate was off-limits. But now that everything was settled, it was available.
Thanks to that, they returned swiftly to the Dark Magus, where a roaring crowd greeted Christiang.
“Wooooah!! Long live the Grand Duke’s son!!!”
“The Grand Duke’s son is the best!!!”
The cheers were like those for a true hero.
And in fact, he was one.
He had outsmarted the Extreme Poison Magus’s schemes and turned the tables, making them pay dearly.
“The cheers are incredible. Looks like almost every common Magus from the main house has come out,” Melin said, marveling at the sea of supporters.
“From now on, there won’t be a single person in the Dark Magus who doesn’t back the Grand Duke’s son.”
“No, that’s not entirely true,” Christiang said bluntly.
“There are still plenty who oppose me.”
Of course, Christiang enjoyed overwhelming support from the common Magi.
But among the higher-ups, things were more complicated.
Because of Marquis Langham.
Most still believed that if Nordian died, Langham would move to kill Christiang.
‘Given the current situation, that’s not an unreasonable assumption.’
Despite all his heroic deeds, the gap between them remained vast.
‘I have to prove it to everyone. That I will defeat Marquis Langham.’
No, that alone wouldn’t be enough.
He had to crush Langham completely.
‘Before I face the Azure Demon King in earnest, I need to eliminate him first.’
Christiang lowered his gaze, determination hardening in his eyes.