The Approaching Darkness (1)
Ian was currently wrestling with a storm of doubt. I came here to heal His Majesty the Emperor, yet all I can do is stand by and watch him die? No. Not him. There was no such word as impossible for Ian. His master had once told him that a hero was someone who grew by overcoming adversity. This moment, this dire situation, was clearly the trial he had been given. And he would resolve it in spectacular fashion.
Having reset his resolve, Ian spoke to the Emperor once more.
"Your Majesty. Did the Saintess's holy power also get absorbed into your heart?"
"Huff... huff... Yes, that's correct... Even the Saintess was troubled by it..."
"Why do you ask?"
"Your Majesty. In truth, there is one method that could heal you."
The Emperor's eyes flew wide open as he stared at Ian.
"What... what did you just say? Are you telling me you can lift this curse?!"
"If you succeed in removing it, I will grant you anything your heart desires!"
"Cough... cough... Yes... What is this method?"
The Emperor asked while clearing phlegm from his throat.
"To be honest, even for me this method is a gamble. If it fails, your condition may worsen. But if it succeeds, not only will the curse on your heart be lifted, you will regain perfect health."
"What is your decision? I will abide by Your Majesty's choice."
The Emperor fell into deep thought before asking, "Using this method... can I truly be completely cured?"
"Yes. Without fail."
"...Then I'll take the gamble. I'm already broken. It won't make any difference if I break further."
"I shall stake this entire body of mine on your gamble."
Ian was startled by the Emperor's immediate willingness to proceed.
"Your Majesty, this is a one-time opportunity. Please consider it carefully..."
"Heh heh heh... In my sixty-five years, I have met many people and accumulated a lifetime of experience."
"Especially those who possessed eyes like yours. Every single one of them became a hero."
"I am betting this body because I believe in your potential. So stop asking questions and begin the treatment."
Sensing the Emperor's unyielding will, Ian asked no further questions and poured his full concentration into the procedure.
"Understood. I will begin the treatment now. It will be painful, so I ask that you endure it."
"Heh... My body is already in constant pain. I can certainly endure something like this."
"...Then I shall begin."
The treatment Ian had devised utilized the unique properties of chakra. By maximizing its extinction characteristic, he would erase the intangible curse embedded in the Emperor's heart. The problem was that the process of guiding the chakra would inflict massive damage on the nerves and blood vessels. All he could do was pray that the Emperor's body would hold together.
The gamble between Ian and the Emperor had begun.
With absolute focus, Ian channeled chakra through the peripheral nerves in the Emperor's fingertips. The Emperor felt the foreign energy coursing through his entire body and let out low groans.
"Ugh... ughhh..."
"Your Majesty... just a little longer! Please endure it just a little longer!"
As the chakra was drawn into the heart, the curse embedded there began to slowly disintegrate. After roughly five minutes, the curse was completely extinguished.
However, the Emperor's body had been severely damaged in the process. Nerve damage, lung damage, heart damage—every organ, including the nervous system, had suffered a massive shock. The Emperor's eyes rolled back, foam bubbled from his mouth, and his body convulsed.
Seeing this, Ian immediately sent regenerative chakra flowing into the Emperor's body. After about five minutes, the Emperor regained consciousness and his organs began functioning normally once more. Ian continued pouring regenerative chakra into him for another ten minutes. That was when changes started to appear.
The Emperor's white hair gradually turned jet black. His sagging, wrinkled skin regained youthful elasticity. In short, he had been rejuvenated.
The Emperor, now restored to the prime of his youth through Ian's regenerative chakra, was the first to notice the transformation in his own body.
"This... what in the world..."
He stared at his own fingers, then touched his face.
"Ha... hahaha... This feels like a dream... like an illusion..."
"Such a thing to happen... it's impossible..."
After muttering to himself, the Emperor looked at Ian and bowed his head deeply.
"Ian... I truly thank you. Your power has healed me."
A grin spread across his face.
"Attendants! Is no one there?!"
Ian spun around in surprise.
"Your Majesty!"
"Congratulations on your recovery!"
"Father... congratulations..."
"We offer our sincerest felicitations."
The princess and prince offered their genuine congratulations. But soon both of them sensed the change in the Emperor.
"...!!"
"Your Majesty... you appear... younger?"
"Heh heh heh... Bring me a mirror!"
When the mirror was brought before him, the Emperor let out a sigh of wonder.
"Hoo... I really have been rejuvenated... all the way back to my twenties..."
"Ian. Tell me what you desire."
"If you want power, I shall grant you power. If you want wealth, I shall grant you wealth."
"Ian. What is it that you want?"
Ian thought carefully before answering.
"Your Majesty. I request a writ of immunity."
"...Immunity? Are you saying you covet my throne? Or that you intend to rebel against me?"
Ian panicked and hurriedly explained the situation.
"No, that is not it at all. The truth is, there was an incident at the Academy where I accidentally killed an opponent while defending myself."
"Those individuals were children of nobles, so I cannot predict when they might seek revenge against me."
"Therefore, I ask for immunity so they cannot harm me."
"Hmm... so such a thing occurred..."
"Very well. The Empire will cover up that incident. Now, speak your other wish."
"That is all this subject requires."
"Ian. You have not only healed me but restored my youth. I wish to repay this grace."
"Therefore, tell me your wish. For the Empire, nothing is impossible."
Ian remained silent for a full minute before finally speaking. He had briefly considered showing the Emperor the very book he had given to the princess, but something told him that would cause enormous trouble, so he abandoned the idea.
"In that case, please transfer ownership of the holy relic in the Academy plaza from the Holy Kingdom to the Academy itself."
"There was a holy relic in the Empire's Academy? Explain the details."
Ian described how the angel statue emitted holy power that healed everyone and could infuse sacred energy into offerings.
"I recall the previous headmaster purchased that angel statue... but I had no idea it possessed such functions..."
"Very well. As you wish, that holy relic shall remain with the Academy!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"And Ian. Speak with me privately for a moment."
"...?"
"Everyone, withdraw. I have personal matters to discuss with Ian."
"As you command."
The prince and princess withdrew from the Emperor's bedchamber.
Ian was extremely nervous about this private audience. No matter how bold he had become, he was not yet brazen enough to act arrogantly before the Emperor. After some time passed, the Emperor spoke first.
"Ian. Who taught you the skill that lifted the curse on my heart?"
"......"
"I would appreciate it if you spoke honestly."
Ian agonized over how to answer before deciding to mix truth and lies in appropriate measure.
"I learned it from someone named Raphael."
"......! Raphael...!"
"So it was indeed one of Raphael's skills... I had not seen wrongly."
"But how did you learn it? Raphael should be dead... Did you perhaps obtain a book she left behind?"
"You may not believe me, but I learned it in a dream."
"...A dream?"
"Yes. In my dreams, an angel named Raphael taught me the skill."
"Pfft... Hahahahahahaha!! Ian... Ian... It has been a very long time since I laughed this hard."
"To dare tell a lie before the Emperor. Yet within that lie, a clever thread of truth is hidden."
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Ian froze like stone. Regardless of Ian's stiffened expression, the Emperor continued.
"It is true that you learned a skill from Raphael. But the meeting itself is false. Hmm... I wonder what really happened...?"
While Ian remained frozen, the Emperor continued thinking.
The boy named Ian is clearly connected to Raphael.
But she is definitely dead. Could it be a necromancer manipulating her corpse?
...That makes no sense. Her body is being kept by the Holy Kingdom...
......! Earlier he suddenly asked for the angel statue to remain at the Academy. Could there be a connection between that statue and Ian?
"Ian. I will not punish you for lying to me."
"However, I hope you will answer this next question with the truth."
"Is the angel statue connected to Raphael?"
Faced with the Emperor's sharp question, Ian found himself at a loss for words. Sweat beading on his forehead, he answered slowly.
"...Yes. The angel statue and Lady Raphael are connected."
"Hmm... as I thought..."
"You may leave. I have matters to consider."
"Understood. May the Empire enjoy infinite glory."
Ian left the imperial palace and ran toward Raphael. Athalia Stardust, the Emperor, watched him depart in silence before muttering to himself.
"The time has come to purify the Demon Realm. Inform the Saintess that my body has fully recovered and that I will personally go to purify the Demon Realm."
The Emperor's shadow writhed and vanished somewhere. The Arbiter of Evil, Athalia, would head to the Demon Realm with a fully restored body.
Somewhere filled with extremely dark and corrupted energy—
"Hmm...? The curse I planted on the Arbiter of Evil has disappeared...?"
"Someone broke my curse...? Not even the Saintess should have been capable of that. How is this possible?"
"It must not interfere with the plans ahead..."
"Could it be that bitch...? No. She's dead. I definitely killed her..."
"Then who? The only one who could lift my curse was her..."
"Don't tell me she has resurrected?"
Tap. Tap.
A woman walked somewhere and stopped before a massive crystal orb. Gazing into it, she spoke in an extremely low voice.
"No... that bitch has not resurrected. The scales of causality have not tilted."
"Then who the hell lifted it...!"
With a voice steeped in malice, she shouted for someone.
"Attend me. Go to the middle realm and collect every piece of information related to the Emperor."
"As you command, Demon King Metelia..."