Episode 391

At that moment, the sky stretched endlessly high, shrouded in darkness.

A figure floated, lying on an invisible carpet in the air near the moonlit heavens.

It was the Archmage.

“Without Ryongryong, it’s uncomfortable. Nothing beats riding on Ryongryong’s back. But it can’t be helped—there had to be a sacrifice.”

“Archmage” was the nickname for the Dragon King Ashutart.

Just as Chris had suspected, the Archmage had offered the Dragon King as a sacrifice to the Mystic Maga!

“I got pretty attached to Ryongryong, though. I wonder if he’s holding a grudge against me?”

The Archmage brought a long pipe to his lips.

“Still, Ryongryong, don’t be too upset. It’s not over yet. Maybe a miracle will happen—at Christian’s hands.”

His words carried a heavy meaning.

The Archmage shifted his gaze to the side.

“Don’t you think so too, Cat?”

A figure appeared.

With a charming face and nine tails symbolizing a nine-tailed fox.

It was Lena, the dark chatterbox and Chris’s comrade from his previous life!

“Wait, is it a fox or a cat? Somehow, she feels more like a cat.”

“…”

“Say something at least. It’s no fun when you’re silent.”

The Archmage grumbled, but Lena only stared back with dark, lifeless eyes, saying nothing.

“Well, whatever. The time is drawing near.”

At the mention of “time,” Lena’s eyes suddenly flashed.

In a low voice, she spoke.

“You remember our promise, don’t you?”

“Of course. That was our ‘contract.’”

The Archmage chuckled softly.

“A contract that transcends time itself. How romantic—to be devoted beyond time and death.”

“…”

“Aren’t you a little regretful? Christian probably has no idea what sacrifices you’ve made.”

Lena remained silent.

“That doesn’t matter.”

She answered curtly.

Her gaze dropped downward, toward the Northern Mage Kingdom where Chris was headed.

“As long as he’s safe, nothing else matters.”

It was a lie.

She wanted to appear before him even now.

She wanted to tell him how much she’d missed him.

But she couldn’t.

That was the price she had to pay.

“Christian.”

The words fell from Lena’s lips but shattered before reaching him.

---

Chris finally set foot in the Northern Mage Kingdom.

“So this is the domain of the Mystic Maga.”

He eyed the surroundings warily.

He had never been here in his previous life.

The air felt heavy, almost suffocating.

“The Obsidian King and the Dwarf King aren’t here yet.”

At that moment, a low voice echoed.

[Are you sane? Setting foot in the Mystic domain? Are you trying to commit suicide?]

It was Mephina!

“So you’ve finally appeared.”

Chris’s eyes gleamed.

He had been waiting for Mephina all along.

He wasn’t here to ask about ascension.

“Even if I asked, she wouldn’t tell me. Last time, she said it would violate causality.”

He had other business.

Mephina was central to his plan.

[It’s not too late. Turn back now. The Mystic realm is not something you can handle.]

“No, I’m fine.”

[Don’t be stubborn.]

Mephina’s voice rose.

[If you die, all hope will vanish. Even if all humans perish in terror, your value alone surpasses them.]

Chris made a strange face at her words.

Despite everything, he felt Mephina truly cared for him.

“Well, it’s not like I’m happy to be worried over by a demon. She’s just after something herself.”

Still, their goals aligned.

To prevent destruction.

“I have one question. Mephina, do you really want to stop the apocalypse?”

[Yes.]

“Swear it by your true name.”

It was a bold demand, but surprisingly, Mephina complied.

[If it will make you trust me, I swear by my great name—I do not wish for destruction.]

Her voice was calm, almost sly.

[Can you trust me now? Entrust your soul to me, and then…]

“Don’t try to sweet-talk me. Give it up. No matter how much the world falls apart, I won’t do what you want.”

Chris flatly refused.

“Instead, I have a proposal. How about a deal?”

[…A deal?]

Mephina’s voice was curious.

“I don’t want to make deals with demons, but I have no choice.”

Still, it wasn’t about selling his soul or borrowing power.

“It’s a straightforward deal. There’s something you need to do.”

[…What is it?]

“You were once a great rank in Gehenna, right? Of course, you’re past your prime now.”

Chris deliberately poked at Mephina’s pride.

[You fool… I have always been and will always be a great rank of Gehenna.]

“Then this should be easy for you. Listen carefully.”

After hearing Chris’s plan, Mephina’s voice faltered.

[…Are you sane?]

“Why? Is it impossible?”

[Not impossible, but…]

She continued with a shocking revelation.

[You’re planning a con against Gehenna?]

That’s right.

Chris’s current plan was a con.

Against the Mystic Maga and Gehenna.

[…If you fail, you will face a terrible destruction.]

Chris smirked.

“I’m already standing at the edge of a cliff. Just say whether you’ll do it or not.”

Mephina was silent for a moment.

[Fine… I’ll follow your lead.]

A dark laugh followed.

[It’s a hopeless endeavor, but I’m curious to see what kind of madness you’ll pull off.]

Chris shrugged.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. As for the price of the deal… well, I guess I don’t need one. If I succeed, you succeed.”

He was basically saying he’d use a great rank demon for free, but Mephina didn’t protest.

[Since the dawn of creation… you’re the most arrogant I’ve ever met.]

“Enough. The deal’s done, so get lost. You’re disgusting.”

[…]

Chris felt Mephina’s growl fade as she disappeared.

He shrugged, sensing movement nearby.

“You’ve arrived, great Dark Shadow Lord.”

The Obsidian King and the Dwarf King.

Both knelt before Chris.

“To come down here to save us… we are infinitely grateful for your grace, Dark Shadow Lord.”

Watching them, Chris’s mind wandered.

“Come to think of it, I don’t recall ever being treated like this since becoming the Demon Lord.”

He had imagined he’d be living large, but the chaos of recent events had kept him too busy.

Still, receiving proper respect stirred something inside him.

“But these two are hiding some dark schemes too.”

Well, it was mutual.

“Do you trust me?”

“Huh? Of course! You alone are our only hope, my Lord.”

“Then give me your souls.”

“!!”

They flinched.

“…Our souls?”

“Yes.”

“Th-That’s…”

“Is there a problem? Didn’t you say you trust me?”

When they hesitated, Chris’s expression turned cold.

“I risked my life to save you, yet you don’t trust me? Then there’s nothing more to say.”

He spun on his heel, but they quickly blurted out.

“N-No! We will give you our souls!!”

“I will give my soul as well!!”

“Good. Do you swear it?”

They nodded.

“We swear.”

“We swear.”

Chris’s lips curled into a smile.

“Then I command you now: hand over the Obsidian Seal.”

The Obsidian King stiffened.

It was a treasure that allowed control over all Dark Elves.

“Th-That’s…”

“It’s for your own good. Will you refuse? How dare you?”

Chris’s eyes turned icy, and the Obsidian King had no choice but to bow.

“I will obey. Here is the King’s Seal.”

Chris snatched the seal and turned to the Dwarf King.

“You hand over the key.”

“…The key?”

“You don’t know? The key to the Tomb of the Great Craftsman.”

The Dwarf King’s face hardened.

It was a vault filled with the masterpieces of all past dwarves.

The rarest treasure trove in the world.

“Th-That’s…”

“Don’t tell me you don’t trust me. You don’t think I’m here to steal your treasures, do you? So much for your sworn oath.”

“N-No, here is the key.”

Having pledged their souls, disobedience was impossible.

Chris took the key with a smirk, studying their eyes.

Though they tried to hide it, both harbored a chilling murderous intent deep within.

He knew exactly what they were up to.

“Good. Then I have one more order for you.”

“…What is it?”

“Die.”

“!!”

Their faces went pale.

“W-What?!”

“You were going to betray me anyway. I don’t want to drag this out. Just die here.”

“!!”

They desperately summoned their power.

Both were among the strongest in the Mage Empire, but it was useless.

A brilliant divine descent erupted.

The power of the throne crushed their souls.

“Ugh… ugh.”

They resisted with all their might, but their souls were already bound to Chris.

They couldn’t disobey his death command.

With a heavy thud, they collapsed.

Both of them collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

It was an utterly meaningless end.

And then—

“You’re coming out, right? I know you’re watching.”

A chilling aura began to fill the arena.

It was on a level that rivaled, if not outright surpassed, Chris, who had reached the rank of 9-star.

And it wasn’t just one person.

They were the Apostles and Priests of the Mystic Order.

‘Roughly one Apostle and three Priests, with the Archbishop and Bishop backing them up.’

An overwhelming force.

Just these few alone could probably take on the entire Dark Alliance.

Chris whistled.

“So you came in a big group. Am I really that scary?”

[You’ll make a magnificent sacrifice, so it’s only proper to show you the respect you deserve.]

The one presumed to be the Apostle stepped forward with a sly smile.

[Honestly, we never thought you’d actually show up. You must have known it was a trap.]

“Of course I knew.”

[Hmm? I don’t understand your scheme. No matter how great you are, you can’t seriously believe you’ll step into our Mystic domain and walk away alive.]

The voice was genuinely puzzled.

Understandably so.

After all, as he said, it was as if Chris had come to die.

But then—

Chris said something no one expected.

“You’re misunderstanding. I didn’t come here to fight you. I came to join your order.”

[…What did you say?]

“Are you deaf? I’m saying I’m pledging myself to your order.”

[!!]

A wave of shock rippled through the Priests of the Mystic Order.

“Th-That makes no sense!”

“Why wouldn’t it? The world’s already as good as ruined, isn’t it?”

[…]

“If I’m just waiting for destruction, better to stand on your side. Honestly, all I want is wealth and glory.”

Chris grinned.

“Since this great man is offering to join your side of his own free will, consider it an honor.”