Chapter 389
The reason they were chosen was simple: the other warriors ranked seven stars and above were all tied up battling the demon tribes, so they couldn’t be spared. Besides, these chosen ones were followers of Chris.
By borrowing his divine power, they could endure the trials of the desert labyrinth to some extent.
If Jupien took the lead to overcome the trials, and the others provided support from behind, they could break through without issue.
“Alos probably won’t be much help, though?”
“No, Alos is the key. Here, take this. I don’t need it right now.”
It was the Emblem of the Constellation.
A message to use it as bait in a crisis!
Even amid the world’s impending doom, Alos continued to suffer until the very end.
“Alright. Leave it to me. As your sister, I won’t lose to you.”
“…By the way, you keep saying that, but who’s the sister here?”
“I’m your sister, you annoying little brother.”
Jupien snorted and vanished, while Chris shook his head.
There was much to prepare, so he had to leave the Dark Mage’s domain immediately.
But first, there was the most important matter to handle.
He had to meet Mari.
“Oh ho ho, we finally meet again. Young lady, you’ve been spending your nights in tears, longing for the young master.”
Mari greeted him with a bright smile.
“Wow, you’ve grown stronger. With achievements like this, I think I can maintain my physical form longer… It’s enough to carry out the grand plan. The time for us to become one at last is near. Just thinking about finally executing the long-delayed plan makes my heart race.”
Chris quietly observed Mari’s playful words.
She seemed no different than before, but no—she was only pretending to be unaffected on the surface.
In fact, what was Mari’s ‘true’ self?
“I have to do this right.”
Today’s conversation would determine the future of their relationship.
“If I mess up, Mari might leave me forever.”
Chris pondered carefully.
What should he say?
But soon, he shook his head.
This was an important moment, yes.
But he decided not to overthink it.
He would trust his heart. After all, it was him and Mari.
Chris didn’t believe the relationship they’d built was an illusion.
“Mari, what are you really?”
[…]
Mari fell silent.
The usual smile that always lingered vanished, and just that change alone sent a chill through the air.
Even as a nine-star Demon Lord, Chris’s heart skipped a beat.
“Why do you ask that?”
Mari’s voice was flat, emotionless—cold to the bone.
“Are you trying to use me? Like ‘them’?”
‘Them.’
It seemed she meant the Central Authority.
Chris remained silent.
She was right.
He did want Mari’s power.
He needed her help to stand against the Central Authority.
“Probably, to Mari, I feel just like ‘them’—the Central Authority.”
He didn’t deny it.
“Yes, that’s right. I need your power.”
Disappointment flickered across Mari’s face for a moment.
“But it’s for you, and for ‘us.’”
[!!]
Mari flinched.
“Mari, I don’t know exactly who you are. But I have some guesses.”
Chris recalled the scene from his previous visit to the Central Authority.
The figure of the Demon Empress, who looked exactly like Mari.
There had to be some connection between Mari and the Demon Empress.
But then a question arose.
What kind of being was the Demon Empress?
‘Even the Demon Empress is a mystery.’
Unlike all other Demon Lords, the origin of the Demon Empress was unknown.
Her past was a complete blank.
For someone of her stature, that was unusual.
It was as if she had never existed before.
‘Since her appearance, she’s never once shown herself in public.’
That wasn’t the only strange thing.
When Chris faced the Demon Empress, he felt no presence at all.
It wasn’t just that she was hiding her aura.
Even while looking directly at her, it was as if she didn’t exist—a perfect void.
One thing was clear:
The Demon Empress was part of the Demon King’s plan.
If the Demon Empress was like that, then what about Mari?
What kind of being was she?
Chris recalled the clues he’d heard so far.
[Someone brought me to the Kazaar Count’s mansion.]
[I don’t remember who exactly. Maybe someone familiar from before I became a ghost, but my memories are hazy.]
[When I was trapped in endless pain, that person took me out and moved me to that mansion. Saying it was enough.]
[Oh, and that person told me something else. They said I was ‘a fake who is real, and a real one who is fake.’]
Chris thought he might know who brought Mari to the Kazaar mansion.
‘It must be the Magic Minister.’
No one else could have done it.
But why?
What was Mari? And for what reason?
No, fundamentally—
What was the Magic Minister hoping for in this world’s end? Was Mari connected to his true intentions?
Everything was a mystery, but one thing was clear.
‘My meeting with Mari wasn’t a coincidence. The Magic Minister definitely planned it.’
It wasn’t mere speculation.
Someone like the Magic Minister could foresee everything happening now, even in the past.
‘He probably knows I’ve come back through time.’
Then why?
Why did he arrange for me to meet Mari?
Chris had a suspicion.
‘Maybe the Magic Minister wants me to kill Mari.’
The Demon Empress had asked Chris to kill her.
There was no way the Magic Minister didn’t know about that.
In other words, the Magic Minister might share the Demon Empress’s true intentions.
‘Honestly, I’m not even sure if the Magic Minister truly follows the Demon King.’
He was a figure shrouded in suspicion.
Though he served the Demon King, his true feelings were unknowable.
‘Mari and the Demon Empress are definitely deeply connected. So killing Mari might be the same as killing the Demon Empress.’
If that were true—
If that could truly stop the Demon King’s will, then killing Mari might be the right thing.
But—
‘I won’t kill Mari.’
Chris spoke slowly.
“You belong to me. I’m selfish, and I never let go of what’s in my hands. No matter what happens, I will protect you.”
[…]
Perhaps sensing the sincerity in his voice, Mari fell silent.
“You said you want to be happy, right? I’ll make your wish come true. But for that, I need your help.”
To protect Mari, Chris had to eliminate the Magic Minister and the Demon King.
He couldn’t do it alone.
They had to join forces.
‘So, what will her answer be?’
Chris was startled when he looked at Mari’s face.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
…Though as a ghost, they were fake tears.
[…Is this a proposal?]
“…Huh?”
[Isn’t it? You’re saying you’ll spend your life happily with me. Wow. My heart feels like it’s going to burst.]
“Oh, no, wait. That’s not it.”
Something about her words felt off.
[Oh ho ho ho. No need to be shy. The young master’s feelings have reached me loud and clear. Ah, I’m so happy. Our long love is finally bearing fruit.]
“I said no!”
Of course, Mari didn’t listen.
She flew around excitedly.
[My answer is obviously yes. I want to hold the ceremony right away, but there are so many pests interfering with us.]
Mari’s eyes sparkled brightly.
[That won’t do. For our happy future, I can’t just stand by. Wait for me. I’ll prepare and come back.]
“W-wait…!”
[Oh ho ho!! Husband, take care of yourself. I’m looking forward to our wedding night.]
With that, Mari vanished.
Chris wore a stunned expression.
“…This went well, right?”
It seemed so, but a cold sweat ran down his back.
Afterward, he headed toward the Four Kings’ Castle.
He had to meet Idrene.
‘I wish I could go to the Northern Sea.’
The Northern Sea.
The ocean stretching at the northern edge of the continent.
It lay north of the Northern Magic Kingdom.
‘Legend says it’s the home of divine beasts.’
In truth, no one really knew.
Chris had never been there.
To reach the Northern Sea, he’d have to break through the Northern Magic Kingdom, the stronghold of the Mystic Mages, which was impossible.
The Northern Sea itself was no easy place.
‘All sorts of abnormal monsters appear there, making it inaccessible.’
Legend said even an eight-star ranker couldn’t guarantee safety.
Only a nine-star could feel secure in that worst of demon realms.
He thought of the Northern Sea because there were people there who might help.
But he shook his head.
‘It’s impossible.’
With the Mystic Mages watching him closely, going to the Northern Sea was difficult.
Even if he managed to get there, there was no guarantee ‘they’ would help.
‘Still, if I could get their help, it would be a huge advantage. What a shame.’
He shook his head and stepped through a portal, hurrying toward the Four Kings’ Castle.
Suddenly, he paused.
A powerful energy began pressing down on him.
‘What is this?’
Chris swallowed hard.
It wasn’t an ordinary energy.
‘It’s almost on par with me.’
That meant the opponent was also a nine-star ranker.
‘But I don’t sense any hostility?’
A breeze rustled.
Chris’s eyes widened as a figure appeared in the air.
“Fairy King?”
Silver hair, translucent.
Pointed ears typical of elves.
A face as beautiful as a sculpture.
A famous figure.
The ruler of the Mirror Ice Palace and king of the White Elves—the Fairy King!
One of the Sacred Beings, known to be at the advanced nine-star level.
‘Did he come to fight?’
Chris thought coldly.
The Fairy King was a member of the Holy Council.
All the others in the council were dead, but the Fairy King would still be hostile toward him.
“Well, this is perfect. I was planning to eliminate you anyway, and here you come on your own. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down.”
Chris snapped his fingers.
“I’m busy. Come on, then.”
But the Fairy King’s reaction was strange.
He didn’t make a move—just stood there quietly, watching him.
There was no trace of hostility.
Chris tilted his head in confusion.
‘What’s going on? Didn’t he come here to fight?’
It was odd that he came alone in the first place.
Surely he knew he was outmatched.
“I didn’t come here to fight you.”
“Then what are you trying to pull?”
“I’m serious.”
The Fairy King descended to the ground and did something unexpected.
He dropped to his knees with a thud.
“Please… help us!”
“…What?”
Chris was taken aback.
“Wait, hold on. What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
‘First the Obsidian King of the Dark Elves showed up with demands, and now the Fairy King of the White Elves?’
But this felt different from the Obsidian King’s visit.
The Fairy King bowed his head with a desperate expression.
“The constellations have betrayed us. If this continues, our Mirror Ice Palace will become nothing but a sacrifice to the constellations and demons. Dark Lord Amhui, you’re the only one we can rely on. Please, help us!”