Chapter 123
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The First Prelude
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First, Chris considered something else.
‘I wonder what Princess Yurian is thinking.’
She must have sensed the atmosphere in the banquet hall, but Yurian remained unchanged.
That warmth doesn't seem like an act.
That's why it was strange.
I felt a terrible sense of unease.
‘I need to dig deeper.’
Since I'll be in direct opposition to Princess Yurian from now on, I needed to understand what kind of person she is.
Just then, an opportunity arose.
She had gone out to the balcony alone, seemingly to get some fresh air.
Chris followed her to the balcony.
But just as he was about to step onto the balcony.
Christian froze.
‘A curtain of magi?’
A faint curtain was spread just inside the drapes, as if to block the view of the balcony from the banquet hall.
‘What is she doing in there?’
This was a chance to uncover Princess Yurian's secret.
Chris secretly manipulated the magi to disable the curtain's security effect without Princess Yurian noticing.
‘What the?’
Chris's eyes widened.
She wasn't doing anything secretive.
Princess Yurian was clutching the railing, retching.
"Ugh. Blech."
Her face was contorted in disgust, as if she had just encountered the most repulsive thing in the world.
It was such an unexpected sight that Christian, unlike his usual self, stood frozen.
‘What are those scars?’
Yurian usually wore clothing that meticulously covered her entire body.
But now, her clothes were disheveled from her retching, and the glimpses of her skin revealed it was covered in fine scars.
They weren't the marks of injuries sustained in battle.
...Judging by their shape, they were self-inflicted.
‘For self-harm scars, they’re too severe.’
It was as if.
As if she had tortured her own body.
Princess Yurian finally managed to stop retching.
She then used black magic to erase any trace of her vomit and returned to her usual self.
The face of the princess who received all the love and respect of the Dark Magic House.
Then, perhaps sensing a presence, her expression stiffened slightly as she spoke.
"Is someone out there?"
"...It's Christian."
"Ah, come in."
Yurian dispelled the curtain of magi.
She didn't seem to have noticed that Chris had been spying on her.
"What is it?"
"I came because I have something to say to you, Princess."
"Older sister."
"...Pardon?"
Yurian smiled brightly.
"I told you to call me 'older sister' before. We may be rivals, but I don't think we need to be so sharp with each other."
"......"
"To be honest, I don't dislike you."
Chris was silent for a moment.
The image of Yurian from a moment ago came to mind.
Endlessly tormented.
And at the same time, a face brimming with deep loathing.
What was the object of her hatred?
And.
Why did Yurian make a contract with a demon?
‘She didn't make the contract out of simple greed.’
The scene from before made that clear.
Yurian had some kind of circumstance.
A reason she had to offer her soul to a demon.
This was not welcome news.
Someone who contracted with a demon out of simple greed was nothing to fear.
But if there was some deep reason.
If there was a reason for a pure soul to fall. And if that earned a demon's affection.
They would receive an incredible 'blessing' from the demon.
"I don't dislike you either, Princess."
"Older sister. If you don't start calling me that, I won't talk to you anymore, you know?"
"...Older sister."
Yurian chuckled.
A clear laugh, reminiscent of a fairy.
"Alright, what brings my little brother to see his older sister?"
"No special reason. I just came to pay my respects."
"Is that so? Thank you. Actually, I had something to tell you, too."
"Something to tell me?"
"Yes."
Yurian nodded and whispered softly.
"Thank you for breaking my older brother Eshid."
"!!"
For a moment, a chill ran down Chris's spine.
Yurian's lips were curved into her usual smile, but it felt as though an unseen, eerie disgust had flashed by.
"...It seems you weren't on good terms with Prince Eshid."
"Ah. He may be my brother from the same womb, but he's a difficult person to like, isn't he?"
Yurian smiled brightly.
"If it hadn't been you, I would have taken care of it myself. Human sacrifice, of all things. I found it hard to stomach the disgust."
"...I see."
Chris nodded slowly.
"Don't look so scared. Like I said, I don't dislike you. I might even think you're a little cute? So I think you and I could become good siblings."
Chris didn't answer.
It was difficult to be sure if Yurian's words were sincere.
‘I can't figure her out.’
Considering Chris's ability to grasp the inner thoughts of most people instantly, this was unusual.
‘In any case, getting a glimpse into Princess Yurian's true self was a gain in its own way.’
Seeing the abyss churning within Yurian, it was clear she had received a proper 'blessing' from her demon.
I had to be wary.
"Shall we head out then? Come visit your sister next time. I'll have sweet cake and plenty of the ginger juice you like prepared."
"...I'll pass on the ginger juice."
When they stepped outside, Chris tilted his head.
The atmosphere was strange.
The boisterous conversations had ceased, and even the music had faded, leaving an eerie silence.
Chris quickly realized the reason for the change.
A person he had never seen before had appeared in the banquet hall.
A mountain-like build.
An aura like a sharpened blade.
An intense, overwhelming pressure that filled the hall.
With a slightly surprised expression, Chris murmured the name of the man who had appeared.
‘...Marquis Schupen?’
The head of the Marquisate of Schupen, the foremost of the three collateral branches, and the commander of the ten thousand strong 'Dark Demonic Army' responsible for the Dark Magic House's outer defenses.
A master of the 7-Star Upper level.
Along with Marquis Langham, one of the strongest in the Dark Magic House.
‘Why is Marquis Schupen here?’
Marquis Schupen was not someone who would attend a banquet celebrating a mere prince receiving his title.
‘Could it be?’
Just as Chris's eyes widened in realization.
Marquis Langham, seated at the head table, spoke.
"What is it, Margrave?"
"I have come with a report. There has been an incident involving Gold Cross."
At those words, a murmur spread through the hall.
They sensed this was no ordinary matter.
"What happened?"
"An 'Arrayed Black Death' has broken out in Gold Cross."
"!!"
The Black Death.
A terrible plague.
The problem was the modifier 'Arrayed' attached to it.
It signified a Black Death not of natural origin, but one conjured by black magic.
It is even more lethal and cruel than the common Black Death.
"What? An Arrayed Black Death? How could such a thing happen?"
"Could there be some mistake, Your Excellency?"
The family's vassals voiced their doubts.
Marquis Schupen shook his head.
"My Dark Demonic Army has confirmed it. It is indeed the Arrayed Black Death."
"Who on earth would do such a thing?"
The vassals looked on in disbelief.
"The exact culprit is unknown. But what's important is the reaction of those Gold Cross bastards."
Marquis Schupen's eyes flashed like lightning.
"Pentagel III, the Law King of Gold Cross, has pointed to our Dark Magic House as the culprit."
"!!"
"To dare frame our great Dark Magic House with such a lie. This is an intolerable insult."
Marquis Schupen looked at Marquis Langham.
"For the honor of the Dark Magic House, I request permission to mobilize the Dark Demonic Army and punish those Gold Cross scum."
Everyone swallowed hard.
These were words heralding a storm of blood.
And so.
The Gold Cross tragedy, the 'Fall of the Star'—the first prelude to the coming Age of Ruin—had begun.
* * *
‘It's finally begun.’
Chris's gaze grew somber.
The flow of history was the same as he had experienced before.
Over thirty thousand innocent people would be sacrificed in this incident.
The outbreak of the Black Death.
That was the total number of victims from the plague and the subsequent conflict between the Dark Magic House and Gold Cross.
The problem was, that wasn't the end of it.
‘This incident will cause Gold Cross to become irreversibly corrupt. As a result, the Four Kings Castle will gain a huge advantage.’
I must stop it.
The very first thing to do is to prevent a clash between the two armies.
‘A war between the Dark Magic House and Gold Cross is exactly what the mastermind behind this wants.’
The banquet ended due to the urgent news, and a family council was convened.
Since it could lead to an all-out war, Nordian also attended the meeting, which was unusual.
However, as if to show he was still entrusting the decision to Marquis Langham, he sat back like an observer, while Marquis Langham took the central seat.
The vassals, who had initially been watching Nordian, soon began to raise their voices and state their opinions.
"We must raise a large-scale army at once!"
"How dare they try to frame our Dark Magic House with such a lie!"
The atmosphere of the meeting was generally belligerent.
After all, this was a case of Gold Cross spitting on the Dark Magic House for no reason.
Of course, there were also those who urged caution.
"We must not underestimate Gold Cross. Although they've been wavering recently, they are still one of the pillars of the Alliance. If we're not careful, our Dark Magic House could suffer great losses."
The largest powers in the Crusade Alliance were as follows:
The Karn Empire.
The Holy Empire.
Gold Cross.
These were called the three great powers of the Alliance.
There were other factions with significant, if smaller, power, such as the 'Sword Master House,' the 'Mirror Ice Palace,' the 'Divine Doctor Noble Family,' the 'Fanatic Cult,' the 'Round Table,' the 'Celestial Magic Tower,' and the 'White Tiger Brigade,' but these three great nations were the core of the Alliance.
Gold Cross's military strength was considerably weaker compared to the other great powers, but they still couldn't be taken lightly.
"Are you suggesting we, as Majin, should stand by after such an insult?! If we join forces with the Extreme Poison House, we can easily take on the likes of Gold Cross!"
"If we move with the Extreme Poison House, it will become a true all-out war! We would need the Demon King's approval!"
"We just need to get the approval, don't we?! Even the 'Clear Stream Demon King' wouldn't object!"
"The Extreme Poison House won't object to joining forces either!!"
Just then, Marquis Langham tapped the table.
"Enough. Everyone, calm down. You are in the presence of the Head."
"......"
All the vassals fell silent.
Marquis Langham spoke to Nordian.
"Head, what decision would you have us make?"
"Kekeke, why ask me? As I've said repeatedly, this old man has entrusted you with full authority, Marquis. If you judge an all-out war to be necessary, then so be it. This old man will follow your lead."
"......"
The vassals watched Nordian's expression.
From their long experience serving him, they could tell Nordian was displeased with their opinions.
Indeed, Nordian then said.
"However, perhaps it's just an old man's worry, but there is one thing that concerns me."
"What is it?"
"What do you think it is?"
As the vassals exchanged glances, Christian spoke up.