528
Chapter 528
The Morningstar was a knight order directly led by the Arrogant Savior.
Arataso was one of the knights who belonged to the Morningstar.
"So after the Arrogant Savior was sealed in the mortal realm, the knight order disbanded?"
After a moment of silence, Arataso nodded at Zeke's words.
[At first, we waited for the Arrogant Savior's return. But the situation in the demon realm began to turn ominous. My comrades and I were attacked by other lords, and given the circumstances, we too had to make a choice.]
Arataso explained that during this process, many perished or had their souls absorbed by other incarnations.
The demons who had been waiting for an opportunity invaded the territory of the Arrogant Savior, who had the strongest forces, to expand their domains.
The current lords rose to prominence during this process.
The Clear Green Wish, who was a subordinate of the Arrogant Savior and captain of the Morningstar, led the surviving Morningstar members to Mephistopheles' faction.
Mephistopheles was already a constellation who had established Pandemonium, a powerful domain, and could protect them from other lords' attacks.
He had long coveted the Morningstar, the Arrogant Savior's knight order, and had proposed to the Clear Green Wish to come to his domain.
Eventually, for survival, the Clear Green Wish decided to become Mephistopheles' subordinate.
Recalling that time, Arataso spoke:
[After the war in the demon realm ended, other great demons worried about our power shifting to the Demon King's side. They feared that if we regained our strength, the Demon King might become as powerful as the Arrogant Savior.]
Along with a non-aggression treaty regarding each other's territories, they had the Clear Green Wish's power sealed.
This was why Arataso, who possessed the power of a top-tier demon, was downgraded to mid-tier demon power.
Nevertheless, Arataso maintained his knightly position as a Morningstar knight and the Clear Green Wish's first standard-bearer, receiving and managing territory from him.
Arataso guided the scattered Morningstar members and former Babel demons who had become refugees to the territory, substituting for the sealed Clear Green Wish.
Although there were always conflicts since the Clear Green Wish's territory bordered Abaddon, ruled by the Master of the Abyss, they steadfastly protected their domain and those under their command.
Zeke could understand why Arataso remained at mid-tier demon level after hearing his explanation.
"Did you respond to the Abyss's summoning to the mortal realm to break your former lord, the Arrogant Savior's seal?"
Arataso shook his head at those words.
[I am loyal to the Clear Green Wish. My sealed master requires more souls than other constellations. I responded to their summoning because we needed the souls that the Abyss would offer.]
As the Clear Green Wish's subordinate, Arataso could exert stronger power as his master grew stronger.
However, conversely, when the Clear Green Wish's power was sealed by the great demons' alliance, both the constellation himself and his subordinate Arataso became limited in exerting their power.
Since it was difficult to find a solution within the demon realm, it seemed they made a contract with the Abyss to bring souls to offer to the constellation.
After pondering Arataso's words, Zeke slowly spoke.
"If I absorb the Arrogant Savior's soul, would his former subordinates follow me?"
Arataso shook his head at those words.
[It's hard to say that would definitely happen. Loyalty in the demon realm is different from the mortal realm. If you desire that, you would need to show your might as a lord to the subordinates again and seize it with your own power.]
"Hmm, I see. What about you, Arataso? If I achieve the qualifications of a lord, would you sincerely pledge loyalty to me?"
Arataso didn't answer Zeke's words.
Seeing this, Zeke smirked.
"Well, I suppose expecting loyalty from a demon is laughable in itself."
But then.
[If you gain the qualifications of a lord.]
Arataso spoke while looking at Zeke.
[I will speak to my master, the Clear Green Wish, and request to become your subordinate.]
Zeke was rather surprised by Arataso's words.
"Are you serious?"
Arataso nodded.
[I've watched you grow while sealed in the sword. You, who have transcended and begun to attain divinity with a human body, are fully qualified to reign as a great lord. Above all, I judge you would be better than the inscrutable Demon King.]
Demons who survived in the harsh demon realm environment were accustomed to the way of the strong.
Arataso had acknowledged Zeke's power, seeing him grow as strong as the constellations.
Zeke nodded after hearing those words.
"It's surprising but pleasant news. Very well, Arataso. I'll gladly accept you as my subordinate."
[...If only he didn't have these aspects.]
Zeke laughed once and continued.
"By the way Arataso, do you perhaps know where the Arrogant Savior's sealed vessel is hidden? As his former knight, I thought you might be able to sense his power."
Arataso slowly nodded at those words.
[Actually, until I heard the demon realm princess's words earlier, I was uncertain too. The Arrogant Savior's soul sealed in the mortal realm. I think I know where it is.]
Zeke was shocked by Arataso's words.
"Is that true?"
While Zeke thought it would be enough just to find clues about the location of the Arrogant Savior's sealed vessel, being able to specify the exact location was unexpected.
He continued while looking at Zeke.
[The Priest of the Abyss.]
Arataso's eyes glowed inside his helmet.
[I could sense the Arrogant Savior's energy from him.]
* * *
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
Baron Draker, the Black Ops Commander, arrived at Mycenae leading his Black Corps members.
When he arrived, the war had already ended.
Baron's expression hardened as he saw Mycenae's broken outer walls and traces of the fierce battlefield.
This was because Mycenae's damage was almost nonexistent compared to what he had expected.
'The demon invasion stopped midway.'
According to Baron's expectations, at least half of Mycenae, if not all of it, should have been destroyed.
But seeing Mycenae entering reconstruction with only the outer walls destroyed and almost no other damage, Baron felt something had gone wrong.
As Baron and his Black Corps members tried to enter Mycenae castle with hardened expressions:
THUD! THUD! THUD!
A group of knights appeared before them.
At first, they thought it was the Black Sword Knights stationed in Mycenae, but looking at the banner held by the standard-bearer, it had a different emblem.
Baron's eyes narrowed as he confirmed the emblem.
'The Steel Knight.'
The one who appeared was none other than Helen Draker, Baron's direct superior and known as the Steel Knight.
Behind Helen, her knight order, the Steel Knights, and Kali's knight order, the Silver Knights, were visible.
She approached Baron with a sharp expression.
"It's been a while, Lord Baron."
Originally, Black Corps members don't use the title 'Lord' as they don't hold knightly positions.
However, as Baron was the only Black Corps Commander in history to receive a knightly title from the head of the family, he could be called 'Lord'.
This showed how much Baron was trusted by Arthur Draker as his most loyal subordinate.
Baron bowed his head to Helen in greeting.
"Have you been well, Lady Helen."
Despite his greeting, Helen's expression remained stern.
She spoke to Baron:
"I heard you led Black Corps members and Draker knights to attack House Valdek in Canus."
Baron nodded with an unchanged expression at Helen's words.
"We discovered evidence that Valdek's head Wolfgang Valdek was in communication with the traitor Ramon Jiemens and took urgent action."
Helen's expression grew fiercer at those words.
"Are you saying you took action regarding the betrayal of Draker's greatest blood ally and the subsequent measures without reporting to the head of the family, Kali Draker?"
To Helen's pressing words, Baron spoke in a flat, dry voice.
"Lady Kali has not yet ascended to the position of family head. Until the Council of Elders' approval, I hold the authority for summary execution as the proxy of the previous head, Lord Arthur Draker."
Helen clenched her teeth at Baron's words.
It was a foregone conclusion that Kali would become the head of the family after Zeke conceded the position to her.
Kali was already handling the duties of Draker's family head.
But as he said, formally, Draker's elders needed to approve her position as family head before it could be officially announced.
The problem was that the elders kept delaying approval with various excuses.
In this situation, Baron suddenly attacked and annihilated House Valdek, one of Draker's major blood allies, without any report.
Kali suspected the elders were deliberately delaying approval so Baron could maintain his summary execution authority.
Helen glared at Baron and spoke in a sharp voice:
"Lady Kali will not overlook the matter of House Valdek."
Baron bowed his head and spoke:
"Everything I do is for House Draker. I only hope Lady Kali will understand my loyalty."
Baron, who had long served as Black Corps Commander, skillfully deflected Helen's provocation.
Judging that she would be outmaneuvered by him at this rate, Helen changed the subject.
"The situation in Canus must not be settled yet, so why did you come to Mycenae?"
Baron looked at Helen and said:
"It's confidential, so I cannot tell you."
Helen frowned and retorted:
"Are you saying there are secrets you can't tell even to Draker's Guardian Knight?"
When Kali was to inherit the family head position, she gave Helen the Guardian Knight title.
Helen, having successfully fulfilled her duties as a knight in House Draker and reached the realm of Red Knight, was fully qualified to become Guardian Knight.
Because of this, Kali could appoint Helen as Guardian Knight even without the Council of Elders' approval.
Nevertheless, Baron shook his head.
"I apologize, Lady Helen. The Black Corps is directly under the family head and has the right to refuse all orders except from the head."
It meant he would absolutely not tell why he came to Mycenae.
Helen clenched her teeth at Baron's rigid attitude.
But then.
"Then if it's the family head's order, you should be able to tell what the secret is."
Kali Draker, wearing white silver armor, appeared behind Helen.
When Kali appeared, Helen and all members of the Steel Knights and White Silver Knights dismounted and bowed to her.
"We greet the family head!"
Even Baron, whose expression hadn't changed, showed slightly wavering eyes upon Kali's sudden appearance.
Kali spoke while looking at Baron and the Black Corps members who showed no reaction to her presence.
"Baron Draker, you show no courtesy even before Draker's family head."
Baron spoke in a dry voice.
"Lady Kali has not yet formally ascended to the position of family head."
Kali shook her head at Baron's words.
"Not anymore."
She took out a seal from her chest.
A dragon-slaying seal made of black metal and gold.
It was the seal proving one's position as Draker's family head.
Baron's expression slightly distorted upon seeing this.
Possessing the family head's dragon-slaying token meant the Council of Elders had recognized her position as family head.
Kali spoke while looking at him:
"Do you still believe I'm not the family head?"
At those words, Baron and the Black Corps members immediately dismounted and paid respects to Kali.
"We pay our respects to the most honorable head of House Draker!"
Kali spoke while looking at Baron and the Black Corps members bowing to her.
"As the head of House Draker, I command Black Corps Commander Baron Draker."
Her eyes turning cold, she continued.
"Tell me immediately why you brought Black Corps members to Mycenae."