Chapter 272
“It’s out of loyalty to His Majesty, the Demon Emperor.”
“Hmm?”
“As Your Excellency the Prime Minister knows, there are countless factions currently disgracing His Majesty within the Demon Empire—the Four Kings’ Castle and the Mysterious Demon Clan.”
“… …”
“I intend to eliminate them as a member of the Dark Demon Clan. That, to me, is true loyalty to His Majesty the Demon Emperor. Becoming the Crown Prince is something I will consider only after all this is settled.”
The hall fell silent.
The Prime Minister of Magic wore a thin smile, as if displeased with something, and remained silent.
An indescribable pressure descended upon Chris.
It was as if trying to break his will.
Chris gritted his teeth and endured the weight of it.
Then, unexpectedly, the Prime Minister’s expression twisted subtly.
With a sly smile, he spoke lightly.
“You’ve got some backbone, haven’t you? I like that. You really are my descendant.”
Suddenly, the oppressive pressure that had been crushing Chris vanished as if washed away.
Chris exhaled deeply, watching the Prime Minister’s reaction.
‘Did I pass the test?’
Yes.
Though his true thoughts were unreadable, the Prime Minister had not genuinely intended to harm Chris.
“You say you’ll bring down the Four Kings’ Castle and the Mysterious Demon Clan? Truly?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Chris nodded firmly and continued.
“Because that is the path for His Majesty the Demon Emperor and the Demon Empire.”
“Hmm. The path for His Majesty and the Empire, you say. It’s true that it’s for the Empire’s sake.”
He muttered something strange.
The Prime Minister tapped the table with his fingers, as if pondering.
“Very well. Then go and do your best to stop the Four Kings’ Castle and the Mysterious Demon Clan. Becoming Crown Prince can wait until after.”
Chris looked skeptical.
“Are you really okay with me destroying the Four Kings’ Castle and the Mysterious Demon Clan?”
“What? Ha! You’re confident, aren’t you? You do realize that with the current forces, you don’t stand a chance, right?”
“I know they’re strong. But I can win.”
“Ha! The Mysterious Demon Clan is a headache even for us Central authorities, and you think you can beat them? You must be crazy. Don’t you usually get called that?”
The Prime Minister laughed heartily.
“Well, it’s not bad. I like that attitude. Since I like you, how about I tell you something you’re curious about? Honestly.”
“…”
“Listen carefully. This isn’t a lie. Central really doesn’t care.”
The smile vanished from the Prime Minister’s lips.
The atmosphere grew heavy and oppressive.
“The bloodshed the Azure Dragon Demon King plans to unleash on the Southern Demon Kingdom, the Four Kings’ Castle’s attempt to overthrow the Demon Empire, the insane schemes of the Mysterious Demon Clan—none of it matters. Whether you stop them or not, it makes no difference.”
It was the truth.
Chris immediately sensed it was no lie.
But he couldn’t understand.
‘Should I ask?’
He studied the Prime Minister’s face.
Fortunately, the Prime Minister seemed to favor him. Though, honestly, that was no guarantee.
Still, this might be his only chance, so he mustered his courage.
“What is the reason?”
“The reason?”
The Prime Minister crossed his arms.
“Whether you win or the Four Kings’ Castle and the Mysterious Demon Clan win, in the end, it will be as His Majesty the Demon Emperor desires.”
“!!”
“The paths and outcomes may differ slightly, but all fall under His Majesty’s will.”
Chris couldn’t grasp how even his stopping the Four Kings’ Castle and the Mysterious Demon Clan was part of the Demon Emperor’s plan.
What exactly did the Demon Emperor want?
At that moment, Chris realized one thing.
Behind everything happening now were the Central authorities and the Demon Emperor.
He had hoped otherwise.
‘Damn it.’
The Prime Minister rose from his seat.
“Shall we end this? Oh, and the Crown Prince candidate offer wasn’t just talk. We’re seriously considering appointing you. Think it over carefully.”
With a snap of his fingers, Chris’s consciousness began to fade.
He was being expelled from the space.
“Wai—!”
Chris shouted desperately, but it was no use.
His vision darkened rapidly, and his figure vanished into the shadows.
“…”
After Chris left, the Prime Minister of Magic sat silently in the dark space for a moment.
What was he thinking?
As he pulled out a long pipe and began to smoke, an unexpected figure appeared in the darkness.
Flaming red hair, violet eyes.
He looked like a boy in his late teens, but six wings extended from his back.
The wings were membranous, imbued with an enchanting magical aura.
“Oh, Ryongryong.”
[…I told you not to call me that.]
“Then shall I call you the honorable and noble Dragon King Ashtart?”
[…No need.]
Surprisingly, the boy was the human form of Dragon King Ashtart.
One of the nine powerful Demon Kings, ruler of the Northern Demon Kingdom.
Also, the Prime Minister’s closest confidant.
“So, what’s the matter?”
[The Four Kings’ Castle is preparing for war. It seems they will soon mobilize troops to invade the Dark Demon Clan’s territory.]
The Prime Minister smoked lazily, showing little interest.
“Leave them be.”
[What about ‘Eunsul’? Given her nature, she likely won’t stand idly by during the war. Though sealed, she could escape at any time.]
Eunsul, the Silver Snow Demon King.
Ranked sixth among the Demon Kings, ruler of the Eastern Demon Kingdom where the Four Kings’ Castle is located.
Originally, she kept the Four Kings’ Castle’s rampage in check, but had secluded herself due to health reasons.
But sealed? That meant she was being held captive, not just ill.
“We need her alive for some use, so killing her is out of the question. Hmm, what to do…”
The Prime Minister stroked his chin with a mischievous grin.
“Seal her and hand her over to the Four Kings’ Castle.”
[To the Four Kings’ Castle?]
“Yes. As long as she’s not killed, they can do whatever they want with her.”
“Use.”
A chilling word.
Indeed, the Four Kings’ Castle, especially the Cursed and Spirit Demon Clans, were masters at treating living beings as mere tools.
Human experiments, puppet magic, spirit control, turning living beings into magical artifacts—the Four Kings’ Castle had countless ways to exploit life.
Eunsul’s Demon King had always been at odds with the Four Kings’ Castle, constantly criticizing their actions.
But now, sealed and handed over, no one could imagine what fate awaited her.
[Won’t the Four Kings’ Castle become too powerful?]
“Well, yes.”
The Prime Minister chuckled playfully.
“But wouldn’t that be more interesting?”
[…]
The Dragon King fell silent for a moment.
Having served the Prime Minister for a long time, he could vaguely sense his true intentions.
It was never about mere amusement.
There had to be a deeper purpose.
Though he couldn’t guess what, one thing was clear.
The Prime Minister desired even greater chaos.
And that was not just his will, but the will of the Demon Emperor above him.
“Terrifying.”
The Dragon King shook his head.
For now, he was a ‘bound’ body.
He could only obey.
Even if questions arose.
[The Mysterious Demon Clan’s movements are also unusual. They’re mobilizing Demon Artisans to prepare a massive altar.]
“Hmm.”
[There are also signs they’re targeting Grand Princess Idrinne of the Blood Sword Demon Clan. It seems they intend to perform some kind of great demonic ritual using her.]
The Prime Minister stroked his chin.
“I see. Then withdraw.”
He shook his head and issued a recall order.
The Dragon King looked puzzled but couldn’t ask further and vanished.
“Phew.”
The Prime Minister exhaled a long plume of smoke, seeming frustrated.
“After all, everything is under the will of the great Demon Emperor.”
Indeed.
The reckless actions of the Azure Dragon Demon King, the ambitions of the Four Kings’ Castle, the rituals of the Mysterious Demon Clan—even Chris’s unexpected moves.
All were beneath the Demon Emperor’s will.
However—
“There’s one thing the Demon Emperor didn’t account for.”
The Prime Minister recalled the image of Chris he had just seen.
Though faint, he could see some absurd potential hidden within.
“Of course, it’s still just a faint seed.”
He smiled quietly.
“I wonder if Chris can find his own answer and create a reversal that defies Heaven and destroys the world.”
He spoke cryptically.
“To become the ‘Patheon’ who overturns all fate.”
When Chris came to, he was back in the Dark Demon Clan.
He had no intention of returning to the banquet and went straight to his room.
‘Damn it.’
He felt terrible.
More precisely, frustrated.
‘I hoped not to confront Central.’
Chris knew his own talent well.
He was confident he could become an absolute Demon King surpassing even the Blood Demon King of the past.
He believed he could reach the upper nine-star rank, even more perfect than the Blood Demon King.
But even he felt helpless against the Demon Emperor.
The tenth star.
Nine stars were said to transcend human limits.
Hence the name, Transcendence Realm.
Though limited to mid and lower ranks, it granted power to rival demons and constellations.
But the tenth star?
No one knew.
Only one had ever reached it—the Demon Emperor.
But today, Chris caught a glimpse of the essence of a 10-star being.
“This is like peering into the seat of greatness reserved for true humans.”
In the past, when he saw the Blood-Sacrificing Demon King or Evan, the hero who had reached 9 stars, he never felt this way.
Yet today, he was overwhelmed by a crushing sense of falling into an endless abyss.
It was the first time.
He’d never felt anything like this before.
“If even the Archmage is like this, then what about the Demon King?”
The worst part was knowing the Archmage wasn’t even the strongest.
There was the Demon King, and the Demon Empress—whose true form had never been revealed.
And not just those three; countless monsters must be lurking beneath them all.
“…Damn it, why do I have to go through all this? All I ever wanted was a life of comfort and luxury!”
Chris flopped down onto his bed with a groan.
“I just want to quit everything and drink myself silly every day. Damn it, and I can’t even drink. Where can I find some Fire Dream Liquor or something?”
As he frowned, a transparent figure slid through the wall.
It was Mari, the pure and innocent ghost girl.
“Master, Master? What’s wrong? Oh my, that melancholy look is so tempting. I almost want to kidnap you away… Oh ho ho…”
“……”
Chris let out a deep sigh, unusual for him, and Mari tilted her head in curiosity.
“Oh my, seeing you so down is rare. It’s kind of thrilling, but… are you alright?”
Her voice was laced with genuine concern.
“Oh ho ho. Our dear Master. You’ve been through so much. It’s times like these when your companion should be your strength. Now, let me give you some encouraging head pats.”
She moved to Chris’s bedside and slid her ghostly knee under his head.
“Here, a lap pillow! And now, Mari’s special head pats!”
Her ghostly hands gently stroked his hair.
Each time her touch grazed him, a chill ran down his spine.
‘…Isn’t this poltergeist activity? It’s giving me goosebumps.’