Chapter 321
A sudden shift.
Then—
[Oh ho ho. Sadly, that’s impossible. Though I long to be the one and only, complete possession of the young master, you are not yet worthy.]
A startling revelation.
Currently, Chris was on the verge of reaching 8 stars.
His soul rank was more than enough for a titled demon.
Yet, he was still deemed unworthy?
‘What on earth is Marie’s true identity?’
Chris masked his confusion with a sly smile.
“I guess I’ll have to work harder.”
[Ah, it pains me to see you so disappointed, young master. But I will grant you one favor.]
“A favor?”
[Yes, within the limits of what I can do.]
No matter what, she couldn’t exert power on Chris’s behalf.
‘Should I ask about her true nature?’
But he shook his head.
He recalled what Marie had said earlier.
[I don’t remember exactly why I became a ghost.]
Even if he asked, he probably wouldn’t get a clear answer.
Instead, Chris asked a question that Marie could answer and that might hint at the truth.
“Marie, why did you come to the Kazarr Count’s mansion?”
He had brushed it off before, but it was strange.
Why would a being like Marie be tied to the Kazarr estate?
She even said she was there before the Kazarr count branched off and took over the mansion.
Why? Of all places?
[Hmm. Someone brought me there.]
“…Who?”
[I don’t remember well. I think it was someone familiar from before I became a ghost, but my memories are hazy.]
Marie’s face scrunched as she tried to recall.
[When I was lost in endless pain, that person pulled me out and moved me to that mansion. Saying it was enough now.]
‘Enough?’
Chris filed that away in his mind.
[Oh, that person also told me something else. They said I was ‘a fake who is real, and a real one who is fake.’]
Chris frowned.
‘What does that even mean?’
It was another cryptic statement.
“Have you met that person again since then?”
[No, but they said they would come back for me when the time was right. So I think they’ll be here soon.]
“…Soon?”
[Yes, I just have a feeling. No real proof, though.]
Marie gave a mysterious smile.
[Oh ho ho. Could it be you’re jealous? Afraid I’ll be taken away?]
“Yeah, I’m jealous.”
[…What?]
“You’re mine. I won’t let you go.”
‘Something about this feels off.’
Chris narrowed his eyes.
He still didn’t know who Marie really was or who had brought her here.
But after hearing her story, a vague suspicion began to form.
It was just a guess, and a far-fetched one at that, so the odds were slim.
Still, whether his suspicion was true or not, he had a gut feeling he couldn’t just stand by.
[Oh ho ho. Ah, how embarrassing. Young master showing such possessiveness makes this girl’s heart race so much, I don’t know what to do with myself… So, shall we spend a passionate night like this? I’m always up for it.]
Just then, a voice interrupted Marie’s teasing.
“Your Highness, a guest has arrived.”
At Melin’s voice, Marie clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Where is this guest from?”
“From the Blood Sword Mage’s Guild.”
“!!”
Chris’s face stiffened.
[Grand Duchess Idrene wanted to see you.]
‘No way.’
Soon, someone entered the barracks, and Chris’s expression went limp.
It was his dim-witted, goofy friend, Ria.
“…Why are you here?”
“Why? Because a friend has returned, of course! Didn’t you miss me, since you call me a friend?”
“Uh, not really?”
“…I know you missed me. You can’t hide it…”
“Really? Why would I miss you?”
Honestly, he probably hadn’t thought about her even for a second while they were apart.
‘Well, maybe for a second?’
Definitely not for a full minute.
“W-what… I missed you every day! How can you say that to a friend?”
“…What do you even think friendship is? As long as we’re both doing well, that’s enough.”
“No, but the friends I know miss each other, rely on each other, and are soulmates…”
“Are you going to keep spouting elementary school academy nonsense?”
“S-sorry.”
Ria instantly deflated, and Chris chuckled.
‘Still, it’s nice to see her.’
She was the kind of person who made you want to tease her, which only made him more mischievous.
“I’m fine with your cold definition of friendship. I’ll accept it!”
“You don’t have to accept it. If you don’t like it, just quit.”
“…Wait, are you saying you want to break up with me? How could you?”
“Don’t overreact.”
“That’s not true, right? So we’re still best friends?”
“Not exactly best friends.”
“Ah! Weren’t we best friends?”
“Well, we’re somewhat close.”
Ria’s face flickered between sulky and bright.
‘She’s not a roly-poly toy that keeps falling and getting back up.’
Chris wanted to keep teasing her, but he changed the subject.
“By the way, I heard Grand Duchess Idrene is cooperating with the Dark Alliance. Do you know anything about her?”
“!!”
Ria’s eyes darted wildly.
“Just one question. Do you still hate Grand Duchess Idrene?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Chris nodded.
Of course, he knew Idrene was different from who she was in her past life. It was even unclear if the sins she committed then were truly her own doing.
‘Still, it’s not easy to forget the past.’
Ria looked cautious, as if reading Chris’s expression, and spoke in a hesitant voice.
“You know? Grand Duchess Idrene is actually a very good person.”
“Really?”
“Y-yes! She’s very kind, very beautiful, and, well… she’d get along really well with you!”
“Get along with me? How?”
“Well… as friends?”
Chris snorted.
“Having you as a friend is more than enough…”
He was about to say he was tired enough already, but Ria cut in.
“D-did you just say ‘more than enough’?”
“No, I was just about to finish my sentence…”
“I knew it! You consider me your closest friend! I even brought you a gift!”
To Chris’s surprise, it was a relic.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a cursed artifact called ‘The Dead’s Wail.’ It’s hard to use repeatedly, but it can nullify necromancy of 6 stars or below around you.”
An impressive relic.
‘Not just “6 stars or below.”’
Especially on a battlefield like this, fighting necromancer mages, it could be incredibly useful.
“Thanks. I’ll put it to good use.”
“Do you… have anything to give me?”
“Huh?”
“W-well… I’m not asking for a return gift or anything… I just read in a book that friends sometimes exchange presents.”
“You want me to give you a gift?”
She blushed and waved her hands.
“N-no, I’m not demanding a gift. I just…”
“Then no problem. I’m tired, so I’m off.”
“……”
Her face fell like a drenched cat, as if she’d dreamed of exchanging gifts.
Chris chuckled and tossed something at her.
“Here. I don’t need this.”
“What’s this?”
Ria’s eyes widened.
It was a pearl earring swirling with a blood-red vortex.
A stunningly beautiful accessory.
“It’s a relic that uses blood magic to allow a one-time short-range teleport.”
It was a cursed artifact Chris had taken from the Holy Empire, but only vampire purebloods could activate it, so it was useless to him.
“I’m giving it to you because I don’t need it. Don’t get your hopes up.”
“T-thank you! I’ll treasure it forever without ever using it!”
“…No, I gave it to you to use.”
“How could I use a gift from you?”
“No, it’s not a gift. I’m just dumping something useless on you.”
“I’ll wear it forever as a symbol of our friendship!”
Excited, she ignored Chris and disappeared in a flash.
‘Seriously.’
Chris shook his head.
Though everything was chaotic, he felt a little lighter.
‘Tomorrow, the real beginning.’
He closed his eyes.
From now on,
he would start tearing down the Demon King’s Castle, one step at a time.
The first step would be the chariot battle tomorrow.
Night passed, and day arrived.
The sky remained dim and gloomy.
It was a characteristic of the Eastern Magic Kingdom where the Demon King’s Castle stood.
Especially the Death Corridor, the battlefield’s backdrop, was shrouded in an ominous mist.
Creak.
The fortress gates opened, and a figure on a black horse stepped forward.
It was Christian.
All eyes on the battlefield fixed on him.
Amidst the piercing gazes, Christian twisted his lips and spoke.
“Challengers, step forward.”
His arrogant voice continued.
“I’ll kill whoever dares.”
“!!”
The atmosphere in the Demon King’s Castle turned icy cold.
[Arrogant fool. Shut up. I’ll turn you into undead and make you kill your own bloodline with your own hands.]
A skeletal figure clad in armor stepped forward.
The Knight Lich.
A lich who fought directly using his immortal body.
The Dark Alliance’s mages murmured among themselves.
“He’s one of the twelve legion commanders—the ‘Scythe of the Abyss’!”
The Death Lord Maga had harnessed the forbidden necromantic arts of the lich to become undead himself, allowing the highest-ranking mages of previous generations to neither die nor vanish, but instead accumulate—resulting in a vast number of supreme liches under his command.
At the core of this power were the Twelve Legion Commanders and the Four Kings.
For reference, all Twelve Legion Commanders were liches who had reached the pinnacle of the 7-star rank.
“No matter how great Duke Christian is, facing a Legion Commander is impossible. He has to forfeit this duel immediately!”
It had been less than a few months since Christian was said to have ascended to 7 stars.
So, going up against a 7-star pinnacle was out of the question.
“It’s fine. Everyone, quiet.”
Nordian, who had been sitting atop the castle wall, spoke softly.
“My grandson will win.”
“!!”
Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.
‘Why? Has his judgment been clouded by affection for his beloved grandson?’
But that wasn’t the case.
Nordian let out a bitter chuckle.
‘The fool.’
In Nordian’s eyes, he saw it clearly.
How Christian had changed in such a short time.
What kind of insane growth he had undergone.
“Watch closely. That one is my grandson.”
At that moment, the Legion Commander—The Scythe of the Abyss—reached out his hand.
[Blame your arrogance.]
Undead swarmed forth in a torrent.
Along with a Night Lich who shattered the air and lunged toward Christian.
A black spear of death’s pure light—the Black Spear of Death—descended upon him.
But then—
Thwack.
The black spear was stopped by Christian’s sword. Incredibly, with ease.
Christian twisted the corner of his mouth.
“Is that all you’ve got?”
And at that very moment—
A miracle began to unfold.