Chapter 124
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The First Step
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“Are you perhaps worried about the Four Kings Castle?”
Nordian nodded.
“Yes. If we start an all-out war with Gold Cross, the ones who would be happiest are those bastards from the Four Kings Castle.”
The vassals fell silent.
“No, perhaps this Black Death outbreak itself is a conspiracy by the Four Kings Castle. Hoping that our Dark Magic House and Gold Cross would fight and spill each other's blood.”
It was a shrewd guess.
However, it was a guess that was half right and half wrong.
It was true that the ‘Curse House’ of the Four Kings Castle was involved in this matter.
But they only provided assistance; the true mastermind was someone else.
A mastermind no one could have imagined.
This was the reason why Chris had to solve this case.
“……”
The hall grew quiet.
It was a difficult problem.
A situation where neither inaction nor raising an army was a viable option.
Just then, an unexpected voice echoed through the meeting hall.
“I have a way.”
It was Christian.
Everyone looked surprised.
“What way?”
“It's simple. We just need to find the true mastermind behind this Black Death.”
Nordian, along with everyone else, looked disappointed.
“Who doesn't know that? It's realistically impossible. Those bastards from the Curse House never leave a trace. It's not for nothing that they're called the 'Grim Reaper of the Silver Screen'.”
Chris nodded.
He, too, knew well how meticulous the Curse House was.
However.
“It doesn't matter. This wasn't something the Curse House could have done alone.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I'm saying there must be an internal collaborator within Gold Cross who worked with the Curse House. Otherwise, even for the Curse House, casting such a massive curse would be impossible. We just need to catch that collaborator.”
“!!”
It was a plausible story.
But the problem still remained.
“How are we supposed to catch that collaborator? Gold Cross is not a place where our Dark Magic House's influence can reach.”
This was the fundamental reason why the Dark Magic House couldn't investigate this incident.
But Chris simply presented a solution.
“I will go to Gold Cross as an envoy representing the Dark Magic House.”
“…What?”
“Under the pretext of investigating the truth of this matter before we engage in an all-out war. Since those Gold Cross bastards made baseless claims first, they won't be able to refuse our demand to investigate the truth.”
The meeting hall fell into silence.
A moment later.
“That's absurd!”
“It's unthinkable!”
Sending an envoy to the Alliance wasn't, in fact, a major issue.
The two sides weren't completely without dialogue.
Especially before a war like this, envoys were often exchanged.
However, it was an extremely dangerous task.
“We can't trust the Alliance bastards. The possibility of a mishap is high!”
Whether it was the Alliance or the Demonic Path, there were countless cases of envoys being beheaded.
An envoy had to risk their life.
“Especially for Young Lord Christian to go in person…!!”
“It's fine precisely because I am going myself.”
“What?”
Christian said calmly.
“No matter how thoughtless the Alliance bastards are, they wouldn't dare to carelessly strike me down, a leading candidate for the next head of the Dark Magic House. Therefore, there's no need to worry excessively.”
The vassals fell silent.
It wasn't an incorrect statement, but when do the affairs of the world ever go according to principles?
Once he was there, there was no telling what kind of trouble might occur.
Just then, Nordian frowned and spoke.
“There's no guarantee that you can uncover the mastermind just by going as an envoy, is there?”
Christian nodded in agreement.
“The Head's words are correct. Even if I go, there's no guarantee I can solve the case.”
“Then why are you trying to do something so reckless?”
“Because it is something that must be done for the sake of the Dark Magic House.”
“!!”
Christian spoke with a strong gaze.
“If we don't, our Dark Magic House will be played like puppets in the hands of an unknown mastermind. As a descendant who has inherited the blood of the Dark Magic House, and as one who aims to become its sole master in the future, I can never allow that.”
For a moment, the hall became silent.
They were overwhelmed by Christian's presence.
An unbelievable thing.
The men in this room were all executives of the Dark Magic House, none of whom were considered inferior to Christian.
Yet, they were being overwhelmed by Christian, who was just a young boy in his mid-to-late teens?
‘Indeed, Young Lord Christian.’
Some were in awe, and Christian calmly continued speaking.
“Furthermore, there is a reason why I must go myself.”
“What is it?”
“Because I am the most suitable person to resolve this matter. No, within the Dark Magic House, only I can resolve this.”
Nordian made a peculiar expression.
“Do you have something in mind?”
“Yes, I do. Though I cannot speak of it in detail here.”
Chris answered in a voice full of conviction.
“Not only will I uncover the mastermind, but I will also make the Pontiff of Gold Cross bow his head to our Dark Magic House and apologize for this incident. So please, leave it to me.”
A tale so audacious it felt absurd.
Nordian let out a low laugh.
“Heh heh. You talk a big game. The Pontiff bowing his head to our Dark Magic House. If it really happens as you say, it will be an event that goes down in the history of our Dark Magic House.”
The Dark Magic House and Gold Cross had fought countless times, but no Head had ever managed to make the Pontiff bow his head.
“What do you think, Marquis? It seems like a decent enough opinion.”
“……”
“How about we give the boy a chance? We can always raise the army after that.”
Who would dare oppose his opinion?
Marquis Langham nodded and declared.
“Christian, I hereby appoint you as the envoy representing our Dark Magic House. The deadline is one month. Within that time, you must uncover the mastermind behind those who insulted our Dark Magic House. If you accomplish this, your first test will also be considered passed.”
Conversely, if he failed, it meant he would fail the test.
Christian simply nodded calmly.
“Yes, I understand.”
And so.
The first step of Christian—who would later be called 'Lantern in the Darkness (Ma-hwi)' and 'The Great Darkness' by all the people of the Alliance, becoming an object of reverence—had begun.
* * *
He couldn't depart immediately.
Since he was going as an envoy representing the Dark Magic House, preparations were necessary.
‘How long has it been since I had a break! I'll have to suffer a ton again soon, so for the next few days, I'm going to rest as lazily as possible!’
As he eagerly headed to his room, an unexpected voice stopped him.
“Wait.”
“Aunt?”
“There's somewhere we need to go. Follow me.”
“…Is it to the Head?”
“Yes. He is waiting.”
Christian scowled.
From the atmosphere, it seemed he was about to receive a lesson.
‘Damn it. I wanted to rest a bit.’
But refusing Nordian's teachings was unthinkable.
‘Ugh. When on earth can I ever rest?’
He grumbled inwardly, but it was pointless.
“But weren't we supposed to have lessons in the annex? Why the main building?”
“Today is not for a lesson. He has other business with you.”
“??”
They headed to the basement of the main mansion, and warehouses filled with treasures accumulated by the Dark Magic House over generations appeared.
But Merian didn't stop walking.
She stood before a huge mural depicting a battle between demons and constellations.
‘It's not just a painting. It's an artifact.’
Faint traces of magic formulas could be felt all over the painting.
A clever concealment that even Chris could only notice by looking closely.
Dark Magi extended from Merian's hand and reacted with the formulas on the mural.
*Vmmm.*
The painting shimmered like a drop of water falling on a calm surface, and Merian stepped into the mural.
“Follow me in.”
When he followed her in, an amazing sight unfolded.
A space enveloped in a thick fog of darkness appeared.
Beyond the fog, objects exuding an eerie aura were placed here and there.
‘The artifacts the Dark Magic House has in storage!!’
It was the treasury!
Just then, a chuckling sound came from within.
[You've come?]
The face of a young boy.
It was Nordian's avatar.
“My Lord.”
Chris bowed his head.
[Yes. Do you know why I called you here?]
“Perhaps?”
[Yes, that's right. It is to bestow an artifact upon you.]
Chris looked slightly surprised.
He had been expecting to receive an artifact as a reward sooner or later.
‘But to open a high-level artifact vault like this?’
Artifacts also have grades.
Some were worse than man-made artifacts, while others could break the balance of the world just by existing.
Even at a glance, the artifacts in this vault were all extraordinary.
They were high-grade artifacts, the kind that would surely cause a bloodbath if even one were to leak outside.
The greatest treasures the Dark Magic House had collected throughout its hundreds of years of history.
“…Thank you for your generosity, my Lord.”
Chris bowed his head sincerely.
If not for Nordian's favor, Chris would never have been able to set foot in the family's greatest treasury.
[Enough with the empty pleasantries. Do you have any idea why I decided to open this treasury to you?]
Because I'm his only disciple?
Nordian wasn't the type to make such a decision for such a sentimental reason.
“Is it because you hope I'll take an artifact from here and deal a heavy blow to those Alliance bastards?”
Nordian let out a low laugh.
[Yes, that's right. Because you said you would make that damn Pontiff bow his head. Are you really confident?]
Chris nodded firmly.
“Yes, please wait for me. I will bring back news that will surely satisfy you, my Lord.”
[Heh heh. You reckless fool.]
But Nordian now knew that Chris's arrogant words and actions were not mere bluffs.
Until now, Chris had never failed to achieve what he claimed he would.
Not even once.
‘However, I wonder how it will be this time.’
Nordian thought to himself.
This time was different from before.
He was going to the Alliance.
And as a Majin, no less.
There was no telling what difficulties he would face.
He would surely face opposition, and countless people would be after his life.
Honestly, no matter how great Christian was, it was an impossible task.
He'd be lucky to make it back alive.
‘In fact, I considered opposing it, but...’
But the reason he didn't oppose it was, as expected, because it was Christian.
He felt that Christian, who had performed so many miracles until now, might just pull off something incredible again this time.
However, not knowing what crises he might face, he intended to give him a useful artifact.
[You may take only one artifact from this vault. Choose carefully.]
“Thank you.”
Chris bowed his head again, then looked around the treasury.