Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Royal Capital #2
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The Demon King.
The First of the Demons.
Ruler of the Demon World. The strongest being in the Demon World.
Ingong stared at Elaine, his eyes filled with bewildered confusion. A faint smile spread across Elaine’s face.
“It seems you’ve never even considered it.”
She was right. Absolutely right.
In *Knight Saga*, the one who became the Demon King was Zephyr.
He had thought about opposing Zephyr to stop the Day of Massacre, but he had never considered becoming the Demon King himself. For one, Shutora’s circumstances had been far too dire for such a thought.
Elaine sat down right next to Ingong. She looked at him with eyes full of sympathy, then smiled sweetly and said.
“Well, considering your position until now, I suppose that’s understandable.”
The 9th Prince, Shutora Ignus, was known as the Dreg Prince.
A pitiful child who had lost his mother, his greatest supporter, at a young age.
A shabby prince who received no support from his maternal family.
“But your position has changed. It is time for you to think on it.”
Elaine’s voice was alluring, almost seductive, as she gazed at Ingong. Under her stare, he realized something new.
‘They’re not alike.’
Her face was nearly identical to Caitlin’s, yet it was different. Elaine was a completely different kind of person than Caitlin.
“I don’t expect an answer right now. I’ll say it again: think it over carefully. We can speak of your answer after that.”
Rising as silently as she had sat, Elaine padded forward like a great feline predator. She circled the bed to approach the soundly sleeping Caitlin and gently stroked her cheek.
“Sleep well, my child.”
Elaine bent low, pressing a kiss to Caitlin’s forehead. She slowly raised her head, her eyes meeting Ingong’s once more.
Her gaze was cold, yet warm. It seemed gentle, yet it was tinged with a strange indifference.
Straightening up, Elaine headed for the door, speaking to Ingong one last time.
“Rest well. I hope to see you again soon.”
“Thank you.”
Once again, Ingong’s reply was slightly off, and Elaine smiled brightly. She departed as suddenly as she had appeared.
The sharp-faced military officer closed the door. A few seconds passed, and Ingong let out an involuntary, hollow laugh.
Chris spoke.
“Just as I advised, right?”
Ingong turned his gaze to Chris, marveling at how a single sentence could make someone so incredibly annoying. He shot back at the mischievously grinning Chris.
“Why didn’t you just tell me the 4th Queen was coming?”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
The reply was exactly what he’d expected, which only made it more irritating. Chris chuckled like a villain before his expression turned serious again.
“In any case, really think about it. About becoming the Demon King.”
His tone was light, but his eyes were not. Then again, this wasn't a topic that could be discussed lightly in the first place.
The 4th Queen, Elaine Moonlight, had met Ingong for the first time today. No matter what she might have heard about him, asking out of the blue if he wanted to become the Demon King was, by any measure, not normal.
If he had to consider the possibilities, there were three.
Either Elaine was a truly frivolous person, she was just testing him, or there was someone else who had judged him in her stead.
Ingong believed it was the third option. And there was only one person who could have been that third party.
Chris Moonlight. The 4th Queen’s eldest son. The one she trusted most in the world. The man who would be king of the Lycanthropes, and who was already walking that path.
Elaine’s question was, in effect, Chris’s question. It was Chris who was asking Ingong if he wanted to become the Demon King.
Chris loved his mischievous pranks, but he was never frivolous. He wasn't the type to ask such a question just to test Ingong.
Chris wanted Ingong to become the Demon King.
Ingong took a mental step back, trying to view the situation from a distance.
In a typical monarchy, for a prince other than the crown prince to even think of becoming king could be considered treason.
Saying you wanted to be king or asking if someone wanted to be king were equally dangerous acts.
But the Demon World was different.
There was no designated crown prince to begin with. The one to become the Demon King was simply the strongest among the Demon King’s direct descendants. There was no discrimination based on gender or age.
Therefore, for the children of the Demon King, dreaming of the throne was perfectly natural—an ambition encouraged in all of them.
But this, too, was somewhat detached from reality.
To become the Demon King, you had to be the strongest. And to become the strongest, you needed many things.
Among the Demon King’s children, only three were genuinely aiming for the throne.
The 1st Prince, Baikal Ragnarok.
The 2nd Prince, Zephyr Ragnarok.
The 4th Princess, Anastasia Necrion.
In *Knight Saga*, Chris had never shown any ambition for the throne. He was hostile and wary of Zephyr, but he never even actively participated in the factional struggles.
And now, he was asking about the throne.
Ingong steadied his breath. He closed the mental distance he had created and, instead of answering, posed a question to Chris.
“Why me?”
He had a general idea, but he wanted to hear it from the man himself.
Instead of answering immediately, Chris shifted in his seat. He leaned back, burying himself deep in the chair, which looked as if it might burst at any moment under his massive frame.
After settling into a comfortable position, Chris offered a slightly sheepish smile.
“Maybe I was a bit too hasty. And now that I have to actually say it, it feels a little awkward.”
Everyone had their own way of speaking. It was bound to change slightly depending on the situation and the person they were addressing. The Chris that Ingong knew had two distinct modes of speech.
Chris let out a long breath. Instead of his usual mischievous grin, his face became as calm as it had been when he discussed retreating from the battle with the Red Lightning tribe.
“Because I can’t become the Demon King, but you, Shutora, can.”
Chris wasn’t finished. He casually raised a hand and clenched it, concentrating his aura into his fist. The deep blue aura looked intensely cold.
“I am strong. I’m what you might call a genius.”
It was hard not to retort when he said it so seriously, but it was an undeniable fact.
Chris was a genius. At only seventeen, he possessed strength comparable to the high-ranking generals of the Demon King's castle. His growth rate was truly terrifying.
“But I’m not overwhelmingly so. At best, I’m on a similar level to Silvan. I can’t close the nearly ten-year gap with the 1st Prince, Baikal. And it goes without saying how far I am from the 2nd Prince, who can only be described as a monster.”
The 5th Prince, Silvan Doomblade. Felicia’s twin brother and prince of the Dark Elves, he was a genius on par with Chris.
The 1st Prince, Baikal, was the same. He was skilled in both sword and magic. Some even mentioned him in the same breath as the five great generals when discussing the strength of the man in his mid-twenties.
And though Chris didn't mention her, the 4th Princess, Anastasia, was also a genius who defied convention. If Felicia was a talented mage, Anastasia was a monster of magic. There was a good reason why she, not her older brother, the 3rd Prince Victor, led one of the three major factions in the Demon King's castle.
And then there was the 2nd Prince, Zephyr Ragnarok.
Even in *Knight Saga*, Zephyr was a powerhouse. Moreover, as the protagonist, he grew stronger at a tremendous rate.
But the current Zephyr seemed even stronger than the one from *Knight Saga*. Piecing together the stories he’d heard indirectly, he could come to no other conclusion.
“The Lycanthropes’ power doesn’t measure up to the Draconians’. When the prince’s individual capabilities are already lacking, and his faction is weaker, the chances of becoming the Demon King are low. Rather than get entangled in a pointless factional war and stir up trouble, it’s better to stand back with my arms crossed.”
That wasn't all. The Lycanthropes also had a political weakness that could be described as the absolute worst.
The existence of Caitlin Moonlight. The secret surrounding her birth.
The Lycanthropes did not involve themselves in the politics of the Demon King's castle. As if to prove with their entire beings that they had no interest in the throne, Chris and Caitlin resided not in the Demon King's castle but in the Lycanthrope palace.
It was probably, to some extent, for Caitlin’s sake. Just as it had been for the old Shutora, if you were out of sight, you were out of mind.
“But you, Shutora, are different. You can catch up not only to the 1st Prince, but the 2nd Prince as well.”
Chris’s blue eyes shone with desire. He truly believed that Ingong could surpass Baikal and Zephyr.
In just a couple of months since learning aura, he had reached a level comparable to Caitlin. He had combined the Sura Heart Law and the Beast God Style to create the Sura God Style, and he had drawn out the true efficacy of the Moonlight Herb to obtain the Moonlight Pill.
The word ‘genius’ wasn’t enough to describe him. He was a monster, on par with Zephyr. Hadn't even the Sword Duke said as much?
“And unlike me, you can draw support from factions other than the Lycanthropes.”
The Sword Duke was already supporting him. There had been no official declaration, but the very fact that the Sword Duke had personally stepped forward to teach him was what mattered.
“The Dark Elves are currently neutral. If things had continued as they were, they likely would have leaned toward the 4th Princess. But you appeared. You, who completely captured Lady Felicia’s heart in just a couple of months.”
Silvan and Felicia were like Chris and Caitlin. The moment he won Felicia’s heart, he had essentially won Silvan’s as well.
Ingong found the statement about capturing Felicia’s heart a bit uncomfortable, but he couldn't deny it. He couldn't even imagine Felicia siding with another of the Demon King’s children against him.
“You have the Sword Duke’s backing. If your achievements continue to mount, the Gandharvas, who are currently confined, could be pardoned. Though they have fallen, they are a race capable of producing a queen. Their power cannot be ignored.”
Ingong felt as if he’d been struck on the back of the head.
Confined? Pardoned?
Was that why not a single Gandharva had shown themselves?
Had they committed some crime that led to the entire race being confined?
The pieces fell into place. It explained why there were no Gandharvas among those who cared for Shutora.
What crime could they have possibly committed? The fact that a pardon through merit was being discussed, and that the 5th Queen and Shutora’s princely status were maintained, suggested it wasn't high treason, could it be?
Doubts surged within him, but he couldn't ask. Finding out about the Gandharvas would have to wait.
Chris took a breath. Seemingly thirsty, he took a sip of water from the table before continuing.
“I dislike the 1st Prince, the 2nd Prince, and the 4th Princess. But I like you, Shutora. I believe a future with you as the Demon King is the best possible outcome for the Lycanthrope race.”
It wasn't just because they were close.
A relationship of trust and support had already been formed between Ingong and the Lycanthropes through the Beast God Style.
The fact that Ingong had virtually no maternal family to rely on would also work in the Lycanthropes’ favor.
Chris suddenly broke into a grin. Becoming the playful neighborhood big brother again, he said lightheartedly.
“Well, I’m not saying we should do something right away. Just think about it. There’s a big difference between thinking about something and not thinking about it at all.”
Giving a slight wink, Chris rose from his seat and, just as Elaine had done, circled the bed to Caitlin’s side. He stroked the cheek of the still-sleeping Caitlin and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Just think about what my mother said.”
Chris raised his head, and as their eyes met, Ingong was reminded of Elaine.
The mother and son had the exact same look in their eyes. And why did he have to look over here right after kissing Caitlin? It might be a baseless assumption, but he had an inkling.
“Get some more rest. If you get hungry or Caitlin wakes up, pull the rope on that wall.”
Chris spoke with considerable kindness before opening the door and leaving the room. A strange sense of emptiness washed over Ingong, and he let out a hollow laugh.
‘Becoming the Demon King, huh.’
Everything Chris had said was true.
And Ingong, too, had initially thought along similar lines. Though the one becoming the Demon King hadn't been him.
But now, the situation had changed. And in a way, perhaps this had been the destined path all along.
The strongest of the current demon princes was Zephyr. It was only natural that a demon prince stronger than Zephyr would become the Demon King.
‘It’s like being told you just have to do better than your mom’s friend’s son, only to find out that kid is number one in the country.’
Ingong chuckled at his own analogy and slowly nodded.
When he thought about it, it was simple. As if all roads led to Rome, this too converged on a single conclusion.
He just had to get stronger. If he became strong enough to be the Demon King, everything would be resolved.
He could prevent the Lycanthrope Subjugation War and the Day of Massacre. He could even stand against Death, Famine, and War.
‘The goal of *Knight Saga*’s Demon World arc was to become the Demon King, anyway.’
Having simplified his thoughts, Ingong’s gaze was drawn once more to the warmth in his right hand. He saw Caitlin’s peacefully sleeping face.
It was too embarrassing to say out loud, but he felt a renewed desire to protect her.
Ingong gazed at Caitlin with warm eyes, and the voice of Green Wind whispered in his ear.
“Master, your gaze is wicked.”
Green Wind, now materialized, was sitting on his thigh. Ingong narrowed his eyes and said.
“You just think every look I give is wicked, don't you?”
Green Wind nodded with a bright, innocent face. It was so pure that he didn't even have the heart to argue.
‘Could this be revenge for calling her Greenie?’
For some reason, Ingong found himself missing Karak.
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“Your eyes burn with ambition.”
“Karak, you too?”
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