Chapter 232
Because of that, when the Sawaongseong later ignited war, they couldn’t mount any proper resistance and were crushed utterly and pointlessly.
This was why Chris was struggling so hard here in Geukdok Maga.
“The calamity the Blue Stream Demon King will unleash must be stopped at all costs. I have to rebuild the Dark League and unite the southern magic nations under one banner. Only then can we stop Sawaongseong.”
To do that, he had to complete the Cheondokjiche.
But that wasn’t all.
“I have to find the Elixir.”
An unexpected matter.
The Elixir was a legendary sacred medicine passed down in the Uiseon clan.
Chris was searching for the Elixir because of Nordian.
Of course, even the Elixir couldn’t save Nordian.
His lifespan had already run out. He was clinging to life only through forbidden, unnatural magic, so even the Elixir wouldn’t have much effect.
“Still, it might raise the chances of a miracle, even if just a little.”
Chris hadn’t told anyone, but he had a plan for Nordian.
Still, even for him, the odds of success were slim.
“It’ll take miracle upon miracle stacked on top of each other to pull this off.”
Having the Elixir could at least slightly improve those slim odds.
“Maybe, just maybe, the Elixir is here in Geukdok Maga. They obsessively collect treasures related to the Uiseon clan.”
Just then, a knock sounded, and someone entered.
It was Marisa.
She clicked her tongue at the sight of Chris sitting disheveled on the bed and set down a large bowl filled with a murky liquid.
“What’s this?”
“A hangover cure.”
“…Why all of a sudden?”
“Why? Look at yourself in the mirror. You can barely hold your liquor, yet you keep drinking like a fool.”
Chris had no comeback.
“My tolerance will get stronger. I’m a genius, so it’s possible.”
“Impossible. Our research here in Geukdok Maga says otherwise. You might have ‘Bujuchiche’—a body that can’t process alcohol at all. In that case, no matter what you do, your tolerance won’t improve.”
Bujuchiche.
It sounded like a term coined by Geukdok Maga for poor souls like Chris, born without any ability to break down alcohol.
Hearing that from the continent’s leading experts on bodily traits sent a chill down his spine.
“Am I really going to never taste alcohol properly for the rest of my life? No, that can’t be! It just can’t!”
He refused to accept it.
“I don’t believe in Geukdok Maga’s research. I’ll overcome it.”
“Oh, sure. Good luck with that.”
Marisa snorted, and Chris felt a rare sting of defeat.
“Anyway, be careful drinking in front of others from now on.”
“Why?”
Marisa huffed, clearly annoyed.
“Why? Because someone might kidnap you. You don’t know? When you’re drunk, you’re kinda cute.”
“Cute? What nonsense is that?”
“It’s true. When you pass out drunk, that miserable expression disappears. Of course, when you wake up, you look even more annoying.”
Chris grimaced, but Melin and Ghost Mari, who had appeared quietly, nodded in agreement.
“The Grand Prince looks adorable when drunk.”
“Oh ho ho, everyone knows. The young master is just so lovable when drunk. But don’t even think about making a move—he’s promised eternity to me. If you keep looking at him like that, I’ll have to get angry, you know?”
“Right now, if only I could make that rotten expression cute.”
Since chances to tease Chris like this were rare, everyone was excitedly chatting.
If Jupien were here, he’d probably say, “Yeah, my little brother is cute. Makes me want to smack him.”
“Can you all just be quiet? My head already hurts enough.”
Chris shook his head and turned to Marisa.
“So, did you find out what I asked?”
“You wanted me to check the list of medicinal herbs stored in our Geukdok Maga’s vault? Do you know how classified that is? Even I can’t just get that info easily.”
“But you did find out, right?”
Marisa pouted, clearly displeased.
“Yeah, here. It was tough to get, so you better appreciate it.”
She handed over a bundle of documents.
It was a list of the medicinal herbs stored in the vault.
“Why did you want this? These herbs are the family’s greatest treasures. You wouldn’t be able to touch any of them anyway.”
But Chris shook his head.
“I can just get them from Duke Huam. If that doesn’t work, I can steal them.”
He was naturally talented at thievery.
Knowing exactly where the target was made stealing a piece of cake.
“After all, it’s for Geukdok Maga. I need them to complete the Cheondokjiche.”
Chris scanned through the list.
True to Geukdok Maga’s vault, it was filled with all sorts of rare herbs.
Most of what he needed seemed to be there.
But there was a problem.
“No Elixir. No raw source either.”
Chris frowned.
“I thought Geukdok Maga would at least have the raw source.”
Without the Elixir, the chances of success for Nordian’s plan dropped drastically.
It was almost certain to fail.
“I have to get the Elixir somehow. But how?”
If it wasn’t in Geukdok Maga, then it must be with the Uiseon clan.
Going to the Uiseon clan was one thing, but they wouldn’t just hand over the Elixir.
“And I can’t just take it by force.”
The Uiseon clan was a family of saints.
They were respected by all the Crusade Alliance.
To attack them by force would be to declare all-out war on the Crusade Alliance.
“Is there no other way?”
As he pondered, the door suddenly burst open.
A Geukdok Maga demon appeared.
“Lady, urgent news to report!”
“What is it?”
Marisa asked, puzzled.
“Duke Huam has fallen into critical condition after falling into a trap set by the Alliance.”
“!!”
Marisa and Chris’s eyes widened simultaneously.
“What…? That can’t be. There’s no one among the Gold Cross who could harm my father.”
Marisa looked unconvinced.
Chris thought the same.
“There are no 8-star knights or mages in Gold Cross. Even Maximus, the Lion King of the Kalbern Kingdom, their strongest knight, is only 7-star. How could they take down Duke Huam?”
The demon relayed the full story.
“It was the Uiseon clan. The Ten Immortals of the Uiseon clan joined the Kalbern Kingdom and set a trap targeting your lordship!”
“!!”
This time, the demon bowed to Chris.
“Therefore, the Grand Prince, your lordship, requests that the Dark Maga send reinforcements to punish the Gold Cross.”
It was shocking news.
“Why the Uiseon clan?”
Chris looked confused.
The Uiseon clan had a strict policy of non-involvement in war.
Even if they sent disciples to the battlefield, they treated all sides equally, healing the wounded regardless of allegiance.
Their principle wasn’t just because they were a noble family of saints.
“It was a safeguard. Once you get involved in war, you can’t avoid being swept up in the world’s turmoil.”
So, non-involvement was an absolute rule for the Uiseon clan.
“This is serious.”
The Uiseon clan was the natural enemy of Geukdok Maga.
If the Uiseon clan neutralized their poisons, Geukdok Maga couldn’t stand against the Gold Cross’s enemies.
There was only one solution.
Their ally, the Dark Maga, had to intervene.
“The problem is, this will escalate into full-scale war. Both Gold Cross and our side will bleed heavily.”
It was something they had to avoid at all costs.
“Melin, first, send word to the main family.”
“War?”
“No, that can’t happen. We can’t abandon Sawaongseong and start a pointless fight with Gold Cross.”
“But? We can’t just do nothing?”
Though they often bickered, the two families were allies.
Whenever a major external threat arose, they always fought together. Not sending reinforcements was unthinkable.
“I’m not saying we’ll do nothing. I’ll handle this myself.”
“!!”
Melin, along with Alos and Marisa, widened their eyes.
“What do you mean, Grand Prince?”
“There’s a way.”
Chris nodded firmly, thinking.
“This isn’t the will of the entire Gold Cross. It’s a rogue move by the Kalbern Kingdom, cornered by Olivia.”
In other words, if they could stop Kalbern alone, the crisis would be resolved.
He also had a hunch about the Uiseon clan’s sudden betrayal.
“I remember. What happened to the Uiseon clan around this time.”
It was something the previous clan head, who had passed the leadership to him in his past life, had told him.
The previous clan head’s last words.
“She failed, but I can succeed.”
This might even be an opportunity.
“If I handle this well, I’ll gain great benefits.”
He would become a benefactor of Geukdok Maga.
He would also get the Elixir.
“And I could topple the Kalbern Kingdom, which was Olivia’s greatest enemy. Olivia would then fully control Gold Cross.”
Since Olivia was on his side, that meant the entire Gold Cross would fall under his influence.
The problem was the risk.
To pull this off, he’d have to plunge directly into the heart of the Alliance.
“That’s too dangerous.”
Melin spoke stiffly, her voice cold.
“You know who I am, right?”
“!!”
Chris met her gaze with unwavering determination.
“Tell the Lord and Father to trust me.”
He added firmly,
“I’m going to deal a decisive blow to those Union bastards and become the savior of the Gyeokdok Maga. It won’t take long.”
It wouldn’t take long.
This was no empty promise.
Chris planned to resolve this matter swiftly and decisively.
‘If we drag this out, it’ll only escalate into a full-scale war.’
From what he’d heard, no other nation besides the Kalburn Kingdom had fully mobilized their forces yet.
But soon, other countries within Gold Cross would rally under Kalburn’s banner.
He quickened his pace, and before long, arrived at his destination.
The border fortress where Duke Huam was stationed.
Thanks to the warp gate, he had arrived quickly.
Duke Huam greeted Chris while seated on his bed.
“You’re here.”
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, no serious injuries. Just some internal damage from the Eui-Seon martial arts. I never imagined those Ten-Line bastards would set a trap.”
“What happened? The Eui-Seon clan getting involved?”
“I don’t know the full details. But it seems there’s been a split within the Eui-Seon family. Regardless, it’s embarrassing to show such weakness.”
Duke Huam gave a bitter smile.
“Thank you for coming in person. Will the Dark Maga reinforcements be arriving soon?”
“No. The Dark Maga won’t be sending any support.”
“!!”
Duke Huam’s expression hardened.
“What do you mean?”
“If the Dark Maga sends reinforcements, this fight will turn into an all-out war with Gold Cross. Given the current state of our Southern Magic Kingdom, that’s something we must avoid.”
Duke Huam swallowed hard.
Chris wasn’t wrong.
“But we can’t just leave them be.”
“Of course not. I’m not suggesting we stand down.”
Chris spoke with steady resolve.
“I will handle this matter with my own strength.”