Chapter 388
Evan wore a look of utter confusion.
Then, locking eyes with Chris’s calm, steady gaze, his eyes widened.
“You… you’re not seriously thinking that, are you? What exactly are you planning?”
Evan’s voice trembled.
“You don’t mean to sacrifice yourself, do you?”
“What? No, that’s not it.”
“Don’t lie!”
Evan suddenly raised his voice.
“…Hey, why are you yelling?”
“Right now, you’re basically prepared to die, aren’t you?! That’s absolutely not happening. I won’t allow it.”
“Come on, don’t overreact.”
Chris looked bewildered, but Evan stood his ground.
‘Sure, it’s dangerous,’ Evan thought.
But among all the reckless things Chris had attempted so far, this was on a whole different level.
It wasn’t just a high chance of death.
If a miracle didn’t happen, he would die.
‘But staying still like this will get me killed anyway.’
The corruption had already begun.
Even if they couldn’t stop it, death was inevitable.
‘And it’s not like there’s zero chance.’
Saying he’d die without a miracle meant that if a miracle happened, he could survive.
‘A miracle. Well, then, I just have to make one happen.’
Seeing Chris’s resolve harden, Evan clenched his teeth.
“I’m coming with you.”
“Hm?”
“I don’t know what crazy stunt you’re planning, but I won’t let you face that danger alone.”
Chris shook his head.
He appreciated the sentiment, but—
“Sorry, you won’t be any help this time.”
“!!”
Chris was planning to pull off a ‘mad stunt’ right in the heart of the Mystic Mage’s territory.
For Evan, who hadn’t even reached the 9th rank yet, it was impossible.
“Don’t be so down. You and Lanya have your own tasks to handle.”
“…What tasks?”
“Protecting the alliance.”
“!!”
‘The corruption will only get worse.’
Especially if Chris’s plan went through, the continent’s situation would spiral out of control.
“Evan, Lanya, you two will lead the alliance against the calamity.”
The one silver lining was that preparations were already in place.
Thanks to all the hardships Chris had endured as a hero.
Whether it was the Three Kingdoms, the Round Table, or the Mage Tower, all the rotten elements had been purged, and the alliance was now at its peak strength, ready for the coming apocalypse.
They could hold their ground.
‘Come to think of it, I’m practically the true ruler of this continent behind the scenes.’
Chris clenched his fist tightly.
‘I’ve already prepared to enjoy wealth and glory—I absolutely cannot die!’
After this firm vow, Chris continued.
“And Evan, Lanya, you two must reach the 9th rank while holding back the demons.”
“!!”
“How else will you be able to help me in the final battle?”
He’d only just reached the 8th rank, and now he was demanding they reach the 9th?
It was an unreasonable request.
But Chris believed they could do it.
‘Reaching the 9th rank isn’t just about time. Those who can’t will never get there, but those who can will break through the barrier the moment the opportunity arises.’
That opportunity was a tiny needle’s eye, but reaching the 9th rank in a short time wasn’t impossible.
Especially for talents like Evan and Lanya.
They had even reached the 9th rank abnormally fast in their past lives as heroes.
‘Fighting the demons will help them grow even more. They might reach the 9th rank faster than before.’
This time, with a far more refined worldview established, it would be easier to reach the 9th rank.
‘Anyway, if they don’t make it, it’ll be a problem. They won’t be able to contribute to the final battle in the center.’
If the plan to stop the Mystic Mage succeeded this time—
Then the center would have to step in.
Chris’s eyes darkened for a moment as he thought of the Mage Chancellor’s overwhelming power.
‘The Mage Chancellor must be a 10th rank.’
He still couldn’t even imagine facing the Mage Chancellor.
He felt like an unstoppable, absolute disaster.
‘No matter who I am, building up the power to surpass the Mage Chancellor through normal means is impossible.’
—Normal means.
That phrase carried a strange nuance.
‘To surpass the Mage Chancellor, I have to gamble.’
That was why Chris was about to pull off a crazy stunt in the Mystic Mage’s territory.
The odds were slim.
Without a miracle, it would be a suicide mission.
But if he succeeded, he might gain a chance to stand against the Mage Chancellor.
“…Understood. I’ll reach the 9th rank no matter what.”
Evan’s eyes blazed with determination.
“In return, you have to swear you’ll survive no matter what.”
Chris chuckled softly at the worried words.
“Trust me.”
Back in the Dark Mage’s territory, chaos reigned.
“The corruption spreading from the Destruction Mage’s domain is expanding rapidly!”
“There are signs of new corruption in the Toxic Mage’s territory as well!”
“Demons have appeared even in the Four Kings’ domain!”
“The Triangular Alliance is requesting reinforcements!”
The Dark Mage was the leader of the Dark Alliance.
At this point, it controlled most of the continent except for the central and northern Mage Kingdoms, where the Mystic Mage resided.
Demons were appearing everywhere, and calls for help came from all directions.
‘Come to think of it, this mess is all my fault. I’m practically the emperor who’s taken over the continent. I absolutely cannot die!’
Lost in thought for a moment, Chris opened the door to the clan leader’s office.
“Your Highness?!”
The retainers looked at Chris in shock.
“Could it be… the prince?”
“Above the Demon King?”
Recognizing Chris’s achievements, they were stunned.
“Wooooah!!!”
“Long live the prince!!!”
“Long live the Scornful Demon King!!!”
Chris raised his hand to calm them.
Normally, he might have taken the time to celebrate, but this was no time for that.
‘Damn it, what good is being the Demon King if things keep getting worse?’
“Clan leader, I need to speak with the deputy clan leader. Please clear the room.”
“Understood.”
Only Nordian and Count Kazar remained.
“…So you’ve come. To rise above the Demon King. What crazy stunt have you pulled this time?”
Nordian shook his head.
Both he and Count Kazar looked exhausted.
“Is the situation that bad?”
“Why ask? This is the work of the Mystic Mage, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. That’s why I have a plan, and I need your help.”
“No.”
“…What?”
Nordian opposed before even hearing the plan.
“You’re going to do something reckless again, aren’t you? Absolutely not. You can’t pull stunts against the Mystic Mage.”
“That’s right, Father. Christian, I can’t stand it anymore.”
Count Kazar’s eyes were filled with pent-up frustration.
He had been worried sick when Chris wanted to go to the Four Kings’ domain alone. Now, Chris was planning another reckless act against the Mystic Mage.
‘Why won’t they even listen to me? Sure, what I’m planning is reckless.’
“…Father, I’m the Demon King now.”
“Demon King or not, you’re still my son.”
“And my grandson.”
Faced with their firm opposition, Chris scratched his head.
It was troublesome, but he felt their concern and honestly didn’t mind.
It only made him more determined not to die.
“Please hear me out first. If you follow my plan, I’ll survive.”
“…Speak.”
“First, I need you to capture as many demons as possible that appear in the Dark Alliance’s territory.”
“You bastard. You’re just trying to keep us busy, aren’t you?”
Nordian snapped.
Being told to fight demons while Chris did something dangerous against the Mystic Mage was unacceptable.
But—
“You need to become stronger to help me.”
“!!”
“Use the demons as sacrifices to reach the lower 9th rank.”
Nordian hadn’t reached the lower 9th rank yet.
He was on the verge but hadn’t crossed the threshold. Fighting demons would help him achieve that.
“Father, you have another task besides fighting demons.”
“What is it?”
“While pretending to fight demons, secretly prepare an elite squad. At least seven or more warriors above the 7th rank.”
They both flinched.
“An elite squad?”
“Yes, a squad to launch a surprise attack on the Mystic Mage.”
Right.
What Chris was about to do was a gamble.
With slim chances of success.
So he had to take every possible measure to increase those chances.
The more help he had, the better the odds.
“Don’t worry. I won’t die until the Dark Mage’s banner flies over the entire continent.”
‘I will enjoy wealth and glory at the pinnacle of this land!’
In the end, they both nodded.
When Chris stepped outside, an unexpected figure awaited him.
“I don’t like you.”
A doll-like face.
It was Jupien!
‘She’s really gotten stronger.’
Chris looked surprised.
Jupien had reached the 7th rank.
‘She said she activated her potential and survived countless near-death experiences.’
That stubborn effort had finally worked a miracle.
“I don’t like you.”
Chris shrugged.
Jupien looked frustrated that despite all her desperate efforts, Chris had pulled even further ahead.
“You want to help me but can’t, so you’re upset, right?”
“…No.”
“See? It’s true.”
Jupien frowned.
“I just don’t like that I have to leave everything to you since you’re my little brother.”
So, she wanted to help.
Chris chuckled softly.
“Don’t worry. You have your own tasks too. They’ll be tough and dangerous.”
“What kind of tasks?”
Jupien’s eyes sparkled.
He looked genuinely happy to hear that he had a role to play. It seemed like the warnings about how tough and dangerous it would be didn’t even register.
“Break through the desert labyrinth.”
“The desert labyrinth?”
It was a notoriously infamous ruin, located within the Triangular Alliance.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“Because that’s the only way to make the Sorrowful Demon Lord my pawn.”
“!!”
The Demon Lord of the Western Magic Kingdom, where the Triangular Alliance was based.
Someone who secretly opposed the central powers.
“But he’s still on a leash.”
The key to freeing him lay within the desert ruins.
This was knowledge gained after recently conquering the Cursed Maga. The Sorrowful Demon Lord originally came from the Cursed Maga, after all.
“I knew about it before, but never dared to try.”
Because of the nature of the desert labyrinth.
You had to overcome tremendous trials.
The problem wasn’t just defeating powerful guardians—it was a physical disaster in itself, demanding extreme endurance and mental fortitude.
“Of course, I could do it myself, but it would take too long. Given the situation, I don’t have the luxury to step in.”
Jupien could handle it.
He possessed a stronger willpower than anyone else in this world.
Now that he had reached rank 7, his skill level was more than sufficient.
“But it’ll be hard to face all the different trials alone, so Yulian, you and Alos should go with him.”