Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Demon King and Hero
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- Zzzzt...
The golden energy surging toward Kairen and the Imperial Princess halted abruptly right in front of them.
"Hm?"
"Was this your plan?"
The Imperial Princess, her eyes dyed golden as she thrust both hands forward, unleashed her own golden energy to block the Second Prince's ferocious assault.
"Using the chaos of the monster wave to seize the Crown Prince's position, and while you're at it, kill us both to bury the truth."
"......"
"For someone with all those dark rumors swirling around, it wouldn't be hard to come up with a scheme like that."
However, perhaps struggling under the strain, the Imperial Princess broke into a cold sweat. She glared at the Second Prince, taunting him to create an opening somehow.
"I never knew the imperial family could wield a hidden power like this."
"...The imperial family's hidden power?"
"You mean you didn't know?"
Yet the Second Prince stared at her with utter composure, not a hint of agitation, his expression impassive as he spoke.
"It's..."
A chill ran down the Imperial Princess's spine, but she couldn't stop the conversation now.
"Urgh..."
Behind her, Kairen—his eyes glowing red—held his breath, channeling his power into the elite maids.
"...If Belverk wields the power of the Demon King, then what power does the imperial family, their eternal rival, command?"
With that, as the Imperial Princess fell silent to listen, the Second Prince continued in a chilling gaze.
"The founding Emperor wielded the power of the Goddess."
"...!"
"Aside from the fact that it consumes life force to its limits... it's the ultimate weapon against demons and all things profane."
The Imperial Princess's eyes widened in shock. This was information even she, a direct imperial scion—and perhaps the Emperor himself—might not know.
"I've always wondered about it."
Nodding as if her reaction was only natural, the Second Prince—unlike her outstretched arms—casually raised one hand, igniting it with golden aura.
"Why suppress such a blessed power and rely mainly on this bug-like force that's no different from a side effect."
"......"
"If I become Emperor, such misguided traditions will vanish under my rule."
With that, he clenched his fist. His golden energy shattered instantly, scattering in all directions.
"When the mythic era returns from oblivion, the day will come when all imperial subjects bow to the imperial family."
"Urk!?"
"...Even Belverk, who has rebelled ceaselessly for generations, will meet its end."
Kairen, whose attempt to rouse the already-stilled elite maids had been exposed, staggered and dropped to one knee the moment the shockwave hit.
"...Can't activate the abilities borrowed from your family?"
"I've been trying since earlier...!"
The Imperial Princess shot him a desperate sidelong glance, but Kairen was helpless too.
Access Denied.
It's not time.
For some reason, his system had been blocking every attempt to use skills since moments ago.
- Grrr...
At least Fluffy was pleading from the shadows to be let out.
"...Sorry, but it's not your time either."
With the clash of the two golden energies already scorching Kairen's skin, there was no way a monster like him could endure it—so Kairen kept refusing the summon.
"Touching."
"...Urgh."
"But I didn't expect you to hold out this long. Let me make you a proposal."
It was then that the Second Prince's voice took on a sinister edge.
"As one who has obtained the true power of the Goddess, why not join me in fulfilling that destiny?"
"...Ha?"
"You possess power and worth equal to mine. I'd gladly make you one of my limbs."
Normally arrogant words, but coming from the Second Prince who was overwhelming both Kairen and the Imperial Princess, they sounded all the more chilling.
"Far better than your clown of a big sister or your little siblings deluded by empty duty."
"......"
"You have every qualification to aid my vision. Little brother."
For the first time, the Second Prince smiled softly, extending his still-playing hand toward the Imperial Princess as he finished.
"Abandon this pointless resistance. Slay the fledgling vampire at your side with your own hands."
How much time passed after that clearly final offer?
"You think it's an ideal, but you're wrong."
"...?"
"In my eyes, a world under your rule as Emperor would be a little horrifying."
The Imperial Princess, now struggling even to keep her arms outstretched, nevertheless lifted the corners of her mouth and spoke.
"The power and mission given to the imperial family is meant to help others."
"......"
"No matter how noble the goal, the moment you forget that, I can't agree with your ideology."
It was enough to freeze the soft smile on the Second Prince's face once more.
"Well, it doesn't even seem like you have a truly noble goal anyway."
That decisive blow narrowed the Second Prince's eyes coldly.
"Pity. I thought you'd understand."
At that, the energy permeating the tent suddenly reversed, flowing back toward him all at once.
"...No, this proves I'm the only one fit to fulfill this mission."
And the next instant.
- Woooom...
The air in the tent—no, all around—began to vibrate.
"Our brief talk was enjoyable."
Immediately after, the Second Prince's form began to change slowly.
"That form..."
"...Whoa."
"This isn't the time to admire it."
At first, it vividly showcased the imperial authority inherited from the Goddess, looking so holy even Kairen was awed.
- Crunch...
But then the wings sprouting from the Second Prince's back began to twist and warp grotesquely.
Holy Power Neutralization Failed.
Output Limit Exceeded.
Shutdown.
The elite maids, trying to halt the transformation even with the sliver of Kairen's power they'd borrowed, failed to contain the Second Prince's evolving might and shut down one by one.
"......"
How much time passed like that? Finally, the fully transformed Second Prince was no longer human.
"Then, farewell once more."
Not the distorted angelic form from myths, but the true appearance of a divine apostle.
"Insane..."
"Eek..."
It evoked not holiness, but a grotesque horror that forbade even awe.
- Zzzzt...!
A massive golden flash engulfed the front yard, where bloody combat had raged upon the Belverks' return.
"Haa... haa..."
"I-Imperial Princess!"
The Imperial Princess, who had squeezed out every ounce of her power to barely block the Second Prince's strike, lay bloodied in Kairen's arms, tumbling to the ground.
"Damn it! ...Hup."
Of course, Kairen—unwittingly cursing before clamping his mouth shut—was bleeding too.
"Huh...?"
"W-What...?"
"No way..."
And the Third Prince's group, dazedly watching from not far away.
They'd been battered by the Belverk sisters and matriarch, driven to the brink of retreat, but couldn't tear their eyes from the two youngest desperately resisting the grotesque airborne form of the Second Prince.
"What? First time seeing fratricide?"
Then Lilien casually sheathed her bloodied knife and spoke as if it were nothing.
"...You think we're Belverks?"
"Heh... We kill with blades, you with politics. Same difference in the family, no?"
The Third Prince replied in a subdued voice, but Uriel's retort—also sheathing her black blade—left him speechless.
"...So he's finally revealed his true form."
Meanwhile, Edelasia stared skyward briefly, then pulled a bloodied fist from her bosom, wiping it with a handkerchief from the Pandar estate as she murmured lowly.
"...Duke."
Realizing the Belverks had ceased their attack, the Third Prince approached Astridje, who had been watching from a distance, and spoke.
"Attacking the supervisor is a rules violation."
Astridje turned, her chilling gaze scattering like frost.
"And... aren't the youngest of your house and the Imperial Princess about to be murdered right here in Belverk territory?"
"......"
"So why aren't you intervening?"
Intimidated briefly by her eyes, the Third Prince mustered courage to ask.
"Is that something to say after invading as an ally?"
"That's..."
"...No, I get it. Unlike the battlefield, there was always hesitation in your attacks today."
Astridje countered with veiled killing intent, then turned back to the Second Prince with a cold smile.
"...The Shinehardt bloodline always rises to the occasion, no matter how fallen."
But her crimson eyes were gradually cooling.
"As of this moment, the Second Prince's fate is sealed."
"Then...!"
"But we must not be the ones to end it."
With that, Astridje fully halted her Crimson Eyes ability and stepped forward, leaving the stunned Third Prince behind.
"If my guess is right, the ones to close this incident are..."
Her words were directed at the Imperial Princess and Kairen, still clinging to each other, supporting one another as they moved.
"...those two."
No one noticed Astridje's red energy quietly creeping along the ground, still infusing the distant elite maids.
"Cough...!"
The Imperial Princess, staggering arm-in-arm with Kairen, suddenly spat up a mouthful of blood.
"Kairen... Listen carefully from now on."
"......No."
"What?"
She looked at him wearily, trying to speak, but Kairen shook his head before she could finish.
"You're telling me to run away."
His teary expression made her bite her lip.
"I don't know if that's an illusion or a trap... but your family is there."
"......"
"I'll buy time... If you can just make it that far..."
She continued haltingly, glaring at the grotesque Second Prince hovering above, glaring down.
"...You think I'd leave you behind, Imperial Princess?"
But then Kairen flashed a bright smile.
"If I was going to, I'd have ditched you back in that forest."
"...Urk."
His words brought tears to her eyes, her face flushing with emotion.
"You're an idiot."
"So are you, Imperial Princess."
Moments later, hands clasped, they gazed up at the floating Second Prince and spoke in unison.
"We promised to die together if it came to it."
"I should've never confessed."
"Too late now."
- Woooom...
At that very moment, as a massive golden orb rippled in the Second Prince's raised hands, preparing to fire.
Shinehardt blood and Belverk blood fusion confirmed.
Judgment per Article 10, Clause 3 of the Founding Accord.
Temporary freedom granted to qualified individuals.
The elite maids suddenly reactivated, murmuring in low voices as they generated black waves.
"Huh?"
And the next moment.
- Rumble...
The surrounding air vibrated, much like the Second Prince's earlier transformation.
"My... eyes..."
"...Kairen?"
"Ow!?"
Kairen clutched his eyes, screaming as a burning sensation ignited within.
"Aaaahhh!!!"
That was when the situation drastically shifted.
"Ack."
"Oh my."
"Little brother..."
Red auras erupting from the anxiously watching Belverk sisters surged toward one of Kairen's eyes.
"......"
Astridje, her expression coldly set before subtly lifting her lips, was affected too.
"Ah... My salary..."
"No, it's going to Young Master?"
"Then it's fine!"
Yet Kairen's Crimson Eye, still thirsting, began absorbing the blood coating every Belverk servant and knight.
"Y-You, that form..."
"Haa... haa..."
By then, even the blood pools mingled in the dirt and fields turned to red energy, drawn into Kairen's eye.
"What's wrong?"
Kairen lifted his head, panting heavily.
"Impossible..."
"...?"
"For a Demon King's successor to emerge from Belverk now..."
The Second Prince, witnessing it, showed genuine panic for the first time, murmuring lowly.
"M-M Monster?"
"No... Less a monster and more..."
"Like the Demon King from the myths..."
The Third Prince and his siblings echoed in similar agitation.
"Watch your words."
The Imperial Princess rose, grinding her teeth, glaring coldly at them.
"He's no monster. No Demon King."
She clasped Kairen's grotesquely changed hand once more and declared proudly.
"...He's my husband."