Chapter 397

The duel was clearly tipping toward one side as it neared its conclusion.

Secretly, Chris approached the one who was losing and whispered to him.

“Are you really going to become a sacrifice just like that? I’ll help you.”

[!!]

A flicker of surprise showed on the man’s face.

“Don’t give me away. Just listen.”

‘No chance of being caught.’

Chris had used the power of the throne to conceal his interference, so even the Pope couldn’t sense what he was up to.

Though Chris’s level was below the Pope’s, when it came to cunning tricks like this, he was unmatched.

“I think it’s a waste for you to be the sacrifice. I’ll help you.”

[…….]

“But on one condition—you must obey my orders from now on.”

Both fighters were nearly exhausted, their bodies battered from the intense battle. Even a little help from Chris could easily turn the tide.

Yet the cardinal who’d been offered the deal said nothing.

He simply couldn’t trust Chris.

“It’s all for the greater cause. You have far more to do than just be a sacrifice. I swear, I’ll only give you orders that serve that cause.”

[…….]

“If you refuse, then so be it. I respect your resolve to become a martyr for the cause.”

That struck a chord.

‘…He’s right. I’m not just some sacrifice. It’s all for the greater cause.’

When the man finally nodded in agreement, Chris smirked quietly to himself.

“The contract is sealed. From now on, you’ll follow my orders.”

‘Perfect!’

He had no idea what commands Chris would give.

‘Might as well entrust the fish to the cat. No one else to trust, so he trusts me.’

It was as if he’d handed over his lifeline.

But that was a matter for later.

Chris stepped into the duel.

It was no challenge.

“Do as I say—move your instrument.”

He couldn’t directly channel his power; the Pope would notice immediately.

Instead, Chris offered “advice.”

Advice that could reverse the battle.

‘Their skills were almost evenly matched—like blank sheets of paper. Just a small push, and the whole situation could flip.’

Having watched the fight closely, Chris knew each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses inside and out.

Thanks to his guidance, a dramatic turnaround occurred, and the opponent was reduced to a mere sacrifice.

[Th-this… this can’t be?!]

The defeated screamed in disbelief, but Chris spoke coldly.

“It’s because your heart isn’t truly devoted to evil. Sacrifice your soul for the greater cause.”

Snap!

With a finger snap, an instrument shot out from the altar, striking down the fallen opponent.

Through the throne’s power, Chris had activated the altar to seal the soul.

‘Good. One down.’

He hummed to himself.

Actually, including the man he’d just contracted with, that made two.

‘This is only the beginning.’

“Continue the duel.”

Other high priests hesitated but stepped onto the altar, and Chris repeated the same tactic.

At the duel’s climax, he lured the loser into a deceitful contract.

Among the five high priests of the Mystical Maga, two fell into Chris’s trap and were eliminated.

That was a staggering 40% of their number.

---

But the plan didn’t end there.

“Now, I will bring Idrinne.”

[…….]

The Pope fell silent.

[You’ll personally bring Idrinne?]

“Yes. Idrinne is my subordinate. If I go, she won’t resist and will come with me.”

Still, the Pope shook his head.

[No. I cannot entrust her to you.]

Chris frowned.

“Do you still doubt me? Haven’t you heard the great demons themselves acknowledge me?”

[Still, I cannot trust you.]

Chris chuckled.

He’d expected this response.

‘Just as planned.’

But he masked it with a stern expression.

“I find that unacceptable. I’ve only ever worked for the great cause. Have I ever done anything, even a little, that wasn’t for it?”

The Pope had no proper rebuttal.

No matter how suspicious Chris seemed, it was all circumstantial.

There was no concrete evidence to fault him.

In fact, everything Chris had done so far was indeed for the cause.

[…Still, Idrinne is one of the most crucial keys to the cause. I cannot entrust her to you.]

Chris crossed his arms.

“Fine. Then I will prepare the grand altar for the ritual.”

The altar where the sacrifices prepared for the cause would be offered to Gehenna.

[That is…]

“You seem to have forgotten—I am the High Priest appointed by doctrine. The great demons have recognized my position. Preparing the altar is naturally my duty.”

Chris sneered.

“Or do you claim that Your Holiness’s authority surpasses doctrine and the great demons?”

[…You.]

The Pope’s eyes flashed with a chilling anger, but he still couldn’t argue.

[…Very well. But I will not leave the altar’s preparation solely to you. I will personally oversee it.]

‘Excellent!’

Chris cheered inwardly.

His real goal wasn’t to fetch Idrinne, but to get to the altar.

Of course, with the Pope watching closely, he couldn’t make any overt moves.

But that was fine. He had a plan.

“I will also assist in bringing Idrinne.”

[No need.]

“Are you sure? If we’re careless, it could lead to a direct clash with the Dark League. Even the high priests would suffer significant losses.”

[…….]

The Pope hesitated.

The Dark League’s power was not to be underestimated.

Though Mystical Maga would win in a straight fight, needless bloodshed before the cause was undesirable.

“I could come myself and use my dominion power to subdue her easily, but I suppose you wouldn’t want that?”

[Absolutely not.]

“Then I’ll just provide her whereabouts. Because of our bond, I can roughly track her movements even from afar. If you strike when she’s vulnerable, you can bring her back without much damage.”

It was a reasonable offer.

If only Chris wasn’t the one making it.

Still eyeing him with suspicion, the Pope listened as Christian shrugged.

“Isn’t this a bit too cautious? Even when I offer help, you just tremble. You’re not blind—you can check for traps yourself. I’m trying to feed you, but you’re too scared to eat.”

The Pope scowled.

Christian had a point.

Above all, the high priests of Mystical Maga were not the kind to be stopped by mere traps.

[Fine. But if there’s even the slightest suspicion, you will not escape unscathed.]

“Please understand my intentions. Should I chant ‘Long live Your Holiness’ a thousand times to convince you?”

[…Shut up.]

Time passed.

Christian began construction of the grand altar, and Mystical Maga dispatched nearly ten high priests—including priests and apostles—to retrieve Idrinne.

When they arrived at the location Chris had indicated, the high priests wore wary expressions.

[There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly suspicious.]

[Perhaps we were overthinking.]

With such a force, they could have taken on the Dark League head-on.

Even if there were traps, they had no reason to worry.

[…Still, with the cause at stake, we must avoid unnecessary conflict. Handle this quietly.]

[Understood, Apostle.]

Idrinne, wandering alone near the Demon King’s Castle, was swiftly subdued and taken away.

Silence fell as if nothing had happened.

But after some time, unexpected figures appeared.

“…The mark seems properly engraved.”

“Indeed, Your Holiness.”

It was Olivia, leader of the Golden Cross!

Chris’s sister in his previous life, and heir to the Star Blood.

“I can’t believe they didn’t notice. Mahwi is truly remarkable.”

Not long ago, Olivia had received a letter from Chris.

As he’d said, he used the power of the Star Blood to secretly brand the high priests of Mystical Maga with a “mark.”

According to him, the priests would never notice the mark being placed.

‘How on earth does Mahwi manage to wield the Star Blood like this?’

Of course, the mark wasn’t overwhelmingly powerful.

If it had been, they would have noticed.

It was a subtle effect, almost insignificant.

‘…No, that’s not what I’m really curious about.’

Olivia sighed.

What she truly wanted to know was Mahwi’s true identity.

‘…Brother.’

She suspected Mahwi might actually be Chris.

Though she had no proof, the thought kept nagging at her—a gut feeling.

‘I wish I could meet him directly.’

But the opportunity had never come.

He was a demon, and she was one of the Union’s representatives.

Or rather, Chris had been avoiding her.

‘I must meet him, no matter what.’

Olivia bit her lip tightly.

“…I wonder if Mahwi will be alright.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s supposed to fight those monsters that just appeared. If something goes wrong…”

If Mahwi was really Chris…

And if something went wrong…

Olivia’s mind went blank.

‘No!’

At that moment, a crooked voice spoke up.

“Worrying won’t change anything. No matter how mysterious those Maga guys are, they’re no match for His Majesty, the King Emperor.”

“…Sir Tern.”

Olivia frowned.

Tern had been sent by Chris as an ally in this matter.

With the help of Tern, who was immune to curses, they had managed to completely deceive their enemies.

“…You say you’re Mahwi’s younger brother?”

“That’s right. I’m the only sibling of the great brother.”

His voice dripped with pride directed at Christian.

Olivia’s expression darkened even further.

The word “only” grated on her.

If Mahwi was truly her brother, “Chris,” then she should be his only sibling.

“…You impostor.”

“…What did you just say?”

“Don’t mind her. I have nothing more to discuss with someone like you.”

“…So, you want to fight?”

Taken aback by the cold tone, Tern hesitated, but Olivia ignored him and turned away.

‘Brother, please stay safe.’

Olivia looked up at the sky and silently prayed.

And so, piece by piece, Chris’s plan came together.

The day of the decisive battle that would determine the fate of the world was drawing near.