Chapter 271

He lifted the black gentleman’s hat from his head and spoke as if introducing himself.

“First time meeting, right? I’m the Arcane Chancellor. Pleasure to meet you.”

“!!”

“I used to be called the Dark Extinction Demon King. Back then, I was quite famous. But I guess the younger generation doesn’t know much about me.”

“!!”

Chris’s eyes widened as if they might tear.

The Dark Extinction Demon King—the progenitor of the Dark Magic Clan.

And now, the Arcane Chancellor, ranked third in the Arcane Empire, stood before him!

The continent’s most formidable figure, effectively ruling the Arcane Empire on behalf of the Demon Emperor.

“Your Excellency, the great Chancellor, it’s an honor.”

“Oh, no need to be so formal. I don’t like that kind of thing.”

The Chancellor snapped his fingers.

From the darkness, a table, chairs, and tea set appeared with a soft shimmer.

He leaned back comfortably in his chair and spoke as if hosting a guest.

“I’ve become quite famous lately, so I came just to see your face. Want to sit?”

“…”

“What should I offer you? You seem to drink ginger ale all the time. Is that alright?”

Chris closed his mouth tightly.

Though the tone was casual, his heart pounded wildly.

‘There’s no end in sight.’

In his past life, Chris had met many nine-star transcendent beings.

He had even encountered several upper-tier nine-star transcendent ones.

The Bloodthirsty Demon King, the mysterious head of the Arcane Clan whose true power remained unknown, and the hero Evan, who ultimately broke through all barriers—each was an upper nine-star transcendent.

So he had a rough idea of the depth of power such beings possessed.

‘But this is different. Deeper. So deep I can’t even begin to guess the limit.’

Just a glance felt like plunging into an endless abyss.

‘As if facing a truly great presence.’

A “great presence” meant a transcendent being of the third or fourth order.

Unbelievable.

It was said that at nine stars, one’s power could rival demons or celestial beings.

But that referred to mid- to lower-tier fifth or sixth order entities.

No matter how strong a nine-star was, they couldn’t compare to transcendent beings above the fourth order.

‘…Could it be ten stars?’

Chris swallowed hard.

‘It’s possible. The Chancellor was at upper nine stars when he left the Dark Magic Clan. Hundreds of years have passed since then.’

He couldn’t help but feel stunned.

Across the entire continent, only the Demon Emperor had ever reached ten stars.

And now, the Arcane Chancellor had apparently reached that level too.

‘…This isn’t good.’

Chris felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

The Central Authority wasn’t his enemy yet.

But chances were high they’d eventually clash.

If even the third-ranked Arcane Chancellor was this powerful, what about the Demon Empress or the Demon Emperor above him?

“Hmm? What would you like to drink? If nothing special, I can just give you ginger ale. Or maybe tea? I actually can’t drink alcohol, so I enjoy tea instead. It’s not bad. How about it?”

…It seemed the Chancellor was also unable to drink alcohol.

Chris’s intolerance must have been inherited from a distant ancestor.

Anyway, the Chancellor’s tone was leisurely, as if he really wanted to have tea.

Each time he flicked his fingers, various pitchers and bottles appeared and vanished in midair.

Chris swallowed and finally spoke.

“May I really sit?”

“Of course.”

“Then, excuse me.”

With a thud, Chris sat down in front of him, and the Chancellor’s eyes briefly flickered with interest.

‘No use freezing up in fear.’

The Chancellor didn’t seem hostile for now.

‘I need to use this chance to gauge Central’s intentions.’

There were many questions.

Why was Central standing by while the Arcane Empire was in chaos?

In Chris’s previous life, Central had not interfered at all, even as the Bloodthirsty Demon King brought the continent to ruin.

What on earth was Central—or the Demon Emperor—thinking?

“Heh heh.”

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s been a long time since someone showed such calm in front of me. Usually, they freeze up and tremble. You’re my descendant, huh? I like that.”

Chris chuckled inwardly.

‘Good guy, my foot.’

The Chancellor still radiated a subtle but overwhelming presence.

A spiritual pressure.

‘If my soul hadn’t surpassed the half-demon level, I might already have suffered a fatal wound to my spirit.’

The Chancellor smiled enigmatically and asked,

“So, what will you drink? By the way, I recommend tea. My tea is so elegant it even moved the Dragon King to tears.”

“No tea, thanks. Not really my taste.”

“Then your beloved ginger ale? Or strawberry juice?”

“…I don’t like ginger ale.”

“Really? Tell me what you want. I’ll give you anything.”

“Anything, really?”

“Of course. I may look like this, but I’m the most powerful figure on the continent. Between you and me, I’ve even smuggled treasures from the Imperial Vault behind the Demon Emperor’s back.”

The Chancellor chuckled like a mischievous child confessing a prank.

Chris shrugged and made an unexpected request.

“Is there any alcohol that doesn’t get you drunk? Not non-alcoholic, but like the legendary ‘Sleepless Wine’?”

“!!”

The Chancellor’s expression flickered with surprise.

A legendary drink that gave the taste and buzz of the finest liquor without causing intoxication.

Chris had said it half-jokingly, but the Chancellor’s answer was unexpected.

“Of course, there is.”

With a snap of his fingers, a tiny bottle appeared in midair, no bigger than a finger.

“The Demon Emperor treasures this. I’m giving it to you secretly from the royal archives to celebrate meeting a descendant. You should thank me.”

Chris swallowed hard and took a sip from the offered cup.

‘It’s real.’

Since his return, he had longed for this feeling of intoxication!

A pleasant sharpness filled him, yet his mind remained clear—a strange sensation.

If the Chancellor weren’t right in front of him, Chris might have been moved to tears and danced with joy at the taste.

‘…So if I reach the pinnacle of the Arcane Empire, I can get this Sleepless Wine?’

Suddenly, the fear that had shriveled his spirit in the face of the Chancellor’s power vanished, replaced by burning determination.

So what if ten stars?

Even if Central became an enemy, what was there to fear?

If the Chancellor could do it, so could he.

Though the path ahead was still uncertain.

“So, do you have an idea why I came?”

“Yes. To decide whether to kill me or not.”

The Chancellor’s smile deepened.

“And why do you think that?”

“Because my actions must have upset Central. Central probably hoped for chaos in the Southern Arcane Kingdom through the Azure Flow Demon King, but I’ve been blocking everything, causing trouble, right?”

His words were blunt enough to make anyone nearby hold their breath.

It was a calculated move.

Chris was probing the Chancellor—and beyond him, the Demon Emperor’s—true intentions.

The Chancellor was silent for a moment.

Still smiling, but the atmosphere had shifted.

“You tell interesting stories.”

Chris said nothing, only giving a look that said, “Am I wrong?”

Finally, the Chancellor shook his head.

“Yes, it’s true that Central has been watching the Southern Arcane Kingdom’s troubles without intervening. But that’s due to circumstances, not because we want chaos. As you can see, I’m a peace-loving intellectual.”

A lie.

The Chancellor said it so casually, but Chris saw through his true feelings.

“So even if I stop the Azure Flow Demon King, Central won’t care?”

“Yes, but there’s a condition.”

The Chancellor raised a finger and grinned.

“After you stop the Azure Flow Demon King, you’ll come to Central.”

“!!”

Chris flinched.

He hadn’t expected that.

“What does that mean?”

“It’s a recruitment. You can consider it an honor. You’ll become a Central Arcane, and I’ll be your mentor. Not everyone gets this offer.”

It was indeed a remarkable proposal.

Being invited by Central was the highest honor for an Arcane.

Especially to be taught by the Dark Extinction Demon King’s descendant?

Any other Arcane would be overwhelmed with gratitude, even kneeling.

But not Chris.

“…If I may be so bold, why exactly is Central calling me?”

“Obviously, because of your talent. It’s about time to think about the Demon Emperor’s successor. We want to make you the Crown Prince of Magic.”

“!!”

“The third highest being in the Arcane Empire, after the Demon Emperor and Empress. Oh, that means you’d outrank me soon. Should I start trying to impress you now?”

Crown Prince of Magic.

An utterly shocking and unexpected declaration.

But Chris felt his heart sink.

‘Is this for real?’

Perhaps sensing his doubt, the Chancellor said,

“Shocked? I understand. But it’s no lie. The Crown Prince position has been vacant for a long time. We think you’re the best fit, so we’re offering it. Of course, you’re just a candidate, not confirmed yet.”

Chris shook his head.

‘Unbelievable.’

The word “candidate” was vague.

Nothing was guaranteed.

More importantly, why did the Arcane Empire even need a Crown Prince? The Demon Emperor was immortal.

‘This offer can’t be for my benefit.’

There was only one likely reason.

‘They want to get rid of me eventually.’

Even if he eliminated the Azure Flow Demon King, the chaos wouldn’t end.

In fact, the real nightmare was just beginning.

Soon, the Four Kings would start a war.

He must have been trying to eliminate Chris as a potential problem for the many things yet to come.

“…Am I allowed to refuse?”

“Refuse?”

The Grand Minister of Mado tilted his head in confusion.

“Dare to?”

“!!”

A chill ran down Chris’s spine.

It felt as if the scythe of death was casting its shadow over his soul.

If he refused the offer here, death would surely follow.

‘What should I do?’

Chris bit his lip hard.

This was not an opponent he could confront with force.

But he couldn’t just nod in agreement either.

If he hastily accepted to avoid trouble, he might end up bound by some forced ‘oath’ like a chain.

“Think carefully. It’s not a bad offer. You’d be the Crown Prince—third highest rank in the Mado Empire! You’d enjoy the greatest wealth and glory, and you’d get to savor as much of that Flame Dream Wine as you want,” the Grand Minister coaxed gently.

But why was it that hearing those words suddenly snapped Chris back to clarity?

A primal instinct flickered through his mind.

Though it was only a vague suspicion, Chris decided to take a gamble.

“Still, I must refuse.”

“!!”

The Grand Minister’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Are you serious?”

Chris’s heart pounded wildly.

If the Grand Minister so much as flicked a finger, Chris would be reduced to dust right here.

Yet he did not back down.

Instead, he met the Grand Minister’s gaze head-on.

Looking past those narrow, bloodshot eyes straight into the truth behind them.

And then, he spoke.