Chapter 274
“The future will change drastically depending on what we achieve in the Mangyeom.”
Whether he could nurture the seed that would reach the Ma-hwang would be decided by this very mission.
It was that important.
Chris also assigned a task to Yulian.
“You had contact with the previous Ma-wang of Cheongryu, didn’t you?”
“…Yes. Foolishly so.”
Yulian’s expression hardened.
The Ma-wang of Cheongryu had been the enemy who destroyed her village back when she was still an elf.
Yet, the Ma-wang of Cheongryu had completely hidden that truth and used Yulian for his own ends.
“I’m giving you a chance to strike back at the Ma-wang of Cheongryu. Follow my plan carefully.”
Chris explained the plan, and Yulian’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will serve you with my life. If those Destruction Magi dare to pick a fight again, this time I’ll make sure they pay in blood.”
“I’ll do my best too. Helping with the evacuation will be good strength training.”
“Brother, it’s an honor! I’ll do everything I can to be a worthy younger brother to King Emperor Majesty!”
“Ughhh, I don’t want to go! Why am I being dragged along? I’m useless, right? You don’t need me!”
Melin, Jupien, Tern, and Alos spoke as usual.
Well, Alos was a bit more desperate than usual.
“Ughhh!! You’re not trying to make me do something again, right? I’m just supposed to help with the evacuation and then run away, right?”
“No, you have your own task.”
“What? No way! You’re going to use me as an artifact again?”
“Why the sudden attitude? This time it’s dangerous. Well, you’ll suffer a lot… or maybe just a little.”
“Ughhh, you devil!!”
“Shut up, Alos. How dare you speak to His Highness that way.”
“Alos, you’ve always lacked grit. Want to do a thousand push-ups with me?”
“Have some shame. When you get a mission from King Emperor Majesty, you should consider it an honor.”
After everyone’s scolding, Alos whimpered and shrank into a corner.
“Let’s go.”
Flash!
As they passed through the gate, a rugged mountainous region came into view.
It was the territory of the Destruction Magi.
But there was a problem.
Black smoke was rising from the heart of the Destruction Magi’s domain.
“Your Highness, what is that?”
Everyone’s faces, including Melin’s, stiffened.
At the same time—
Rumble rumble!!
A sound like the world was collapsing echoed through the air.
“…Could it be?”
Chris nodded.
The Mangyeom had begun its first eruption.
Rumble rumble.
“Ahhh! I’m going to die!!”
“Stop overreacting. It’s just a minor tremor.”
Alos clutched his head in a panic, and everyone clicked their tongues.
“But the eruption has started, and there’s no major damage yet.”
“It’s only the first phase.”
Mangyeom was unlike any ordinary volcano.
Its volcanic activity was caused by the spirit of destruction dwelling within the crater.
The destructive energy exploded, causing the volcano to erupt.
“Therefore, the flames erupt in stages depending on the spirit’s level of activation.”
The Mangyeom’s spirit would activate in three stages.
Chris knew this well because in his previous life, the Mangyeom had once gone berserk.
“That was because of the Bloodthirsty Ma-wang. After losing the war, he tried to wipe out the Destruction Magi by making an example of those who resisted to the end, triggering the Mangyeom’s eruption. Still, why did the Bloodthirsty Ma-wang become such a demon?”
The image of kind Idrinne from the Blood Sword Magi flashed through his mind, making his head spin, and Chris shook it off.
“The first eruption isn’t too threatening, so the Destruction Magi probably handled it with their power. The real problem is the second and third eruptions.”
Everyone’s faces grew serious.
“We need to hurry.”
“Let’s head to the heart of the Destruction Magi.”
As they moved forward, they met a familiar face.
Kashmir.
“Duke Christian?? Why are you here at our clan?”
“I heard about the Mangyeom and came to help.”
“Ah!! You risked your life to come here. As expected of Duke Christian!”
Kashmir, who had always been a bit of a Christian fanatic, looked deeply moved.
Those with him shared similar reactions.
“You came to help in such a dangerous situation? And the Duke himself?”
“I thought he was just a pain in the neck.”
It was hard not to be impressed.
The two clans had never been close, yet here he was, risking his life to help.
“Well, it’s all disaster because of me. But ultimately, I’ll be saving the Destruction Magi, so it’s not entirely wrong.”
Even if Chris hadn’t triggered the Mangyeom’s rampage, the Destruction Magi would have faced other disasters because of the Ma-wang of Cheongryu.
In fact, Chris had preempted the Ma-wang’s schemes, preventing the worst-case scenario.
“The Destruction Magi suffered irreparable damage because of the Ma-wang of Cheongryu’s tricks.”
Anyway, from the looks of it, the fanatic cult hadn’t been exposed as the culprit.
If it were revealed, it would cause many problems, so Chris had instructed them to leave no trace while dealing with the matter.
Thanks to the artifacts owned by Ruina, this was possible.
“The situation is urgent. Will you guide us to the heart of the domain?”
“Yes, understood.”
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“We don’t need your help. Leave now.”
“!!”
An arrogant, irritable man appeared.
It was Duke Schwarz, who had been soundly defeated by Chris not long ago!
“The Destruction Magi’s power alone is enough to calm the Mangyeom.”
“Then why do you look so pale? Already at your limit?”
Since the other spoke informally, Chris responded in kind.
“That’s none of your business…”
“Look, I’m busy. I don’t have time to argue with the likes of you.”
“!!”
“And have you forgotten that your Destruction Magi pledged loyalty to our Dark Magi? When the lower clan is in trouble, it’s only natural for the upper clan to help. Don’t be ungrateful.”
“You bastard!!”
Schwarz’s face flushed red with rage.
His fists trembled, but when his eyes met Chris’s, he couldn’t say another word.
He was still shaken from their previous duel and had lost his momentum.
“…Try saying that nonsense in front of the clan head.”
Chris shrugged.
Soon, they arrived at the heart of the domain.
The grand Destruction Magi stronghold stood tall on a high plateau, but it was in utter chaos.
Thanks to successfully calming the first eruption, there was no physical damage, but the retainers were all gripped by fear and anxiety.
“Are you not evacuating?”
“No need. It will calm down soon.”
“You can’t be serious. If you are, you’re a fool. If you’re lying, you’re irresponsible.”
Schwarz ground his teeth.
He seemed to know well that calming the Mangyeom was impossible.
Still, the evacuation order hadn’t been given, likely due to the Destruction Magi’s pride.
“The clan head is here. He’s in a bad mood, so watch your words.”
They entered a meeting room.
As the door creaked open, sharp gazes fixed on Chris.
They were retainers of the Destruction Magi.
Perhaps because of the recent duel, their eyes were full of hostility.
Among them, the most imposing was a giant-like man seated in the place of honor.
Bessen Duke stared at Chris as if piercing him with a spear and spoke.
“What business does the Dark Magi’s Duke have here?”
“I came to help after hearing about the trouble in the Destruction Magi. We are practically family now.”
Family.
The mention that the Destruction Magi had bowed to the Dark Magi made everyone’s faces darken.
They had only knelt in words, showing no real submission.
“Well, step by step. Taming a proud beast takes time.”
Bessen Duke growled, suppressing his anger.
“We don’t need the Dark Magi’s help.”
“You don’t look so confident. Why haven’t you ordered an evacuation?”
Bessen Duke raised an eyebrow and repeated Schwarz’s words.
“No evacuation needed. The Mangyeom will calm soon.”
“You claim to control a Mangyeom that has built up power for hundreds of years? You know that’s impossible.”
Chris’s blunt words struck a nerve, and the Destruction Magi retainers raised their voices.
“How dare you! Watch your tongue!”
At that moment, a calming voice interrupted.
“Everyone, please wait.”
“Vice Clan Head.”
It was Jessica, the woman who had argued with Chris during the duel.
Perhaps having recognized Chris’s strength, she looked somewhat favorable.
“Actually, we did consider evacuating the retainers. But it’s too late now. The second and third eruptions will begin soon. There’s no time.”
“I will help buy us some time.”
“…What?”
“The problem is the seal binding the fallen destruction. I will temporarily reinforce the seal to delay the Mangyeom’s eruption.”
The Destruction Magi retainers murmured.
“That’s nonsense.”
“Impossible.”
If it were possible, they would have done it already.
But Chris dismissed their doubts with a single sentence.
“I can do it.”
The room fell silent.
If anyone else had said that, they would have been pelted with stones on the spot.
But everyone here had already witnessed with their own eyes just how insane Christian truly was.
So no one could simply dismiss his words as nonsense.
“You really think you can do it?”
“Yes. Containment barriers are another one of my specialties. I can definitely make temporary repairs.”
“Hmph.”
Duke Vessen’s face twisted with displeasure.
At that moment, Christian looked him straight in the eye and said,
“Your Grace, I say this with the sincere desire to help the Destruction Mage. As a blood-bound ally, part of the same family.”
“!!”
There was genuine conviction in his voice.
Duke Vessen twitched his eyebrows.
“Fine. But if you fail, you leave the main estate immediately.”
Christian nodded.
“Understood. But if I succeed, please issue the evacuation order right away.”
“Hmph. If you really can pull it off, I’ll do that. Though it probably won’t be necessary.”
With the duke’s reluctant approval, Christian clenched his fist inwardly.
‘Good.’
To be honest, the evacuation order wasn’t really needed.
Before the Infernal Flame could cause any real trouble, Christian would have it all under control.
And just in case—though it was unlikely—if he did fail to contain the Infernal Flame, he had already taken precautions to prevent the worst-case scenario.
The reason he suggested this unnecessary evacuation order was because he had an ulterior motive.
And so, Christian’s plan to take down both the Destruction Mage and the Blue Stream Demon King simultaneously was about to begin in earnest.