Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Oath of Light
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“……!”
The moment they sensed the killing intent, the Devil Squad sprang into action.
Latel quickly raised his shield in front of Millerph, while the Light Brothers assumed postures ready to charge at the man called Lord at any second.
The rest drew their weapons and exuded a fierce aura.
A taut tension hung in the air.
Lord turned to Millerph and asked,
“What do you mean by the ‘failure’ they speak of?”
“Erm…….”
He was asking about how the Magic Tower had discarded them as failed experiments.
But for Millerph, who had no connection to the Magic Tower, it was an incredibly awkward question.
Millerph answered calmly.
“I’m not qualified to define it on their behalf.”
“Then what do you think of the Magic Tower?”
“To be honest, I see it as the culmination of all the achievements mages have accomplished.”
“So you’re a materialist too.”
Disappointment laced Lord’s voice as the arm hidden beneath his robe began to rise. But Millerph added,
“But my thinking has changed recently.”
Lord paused mid-motion.
“Seeing mages prioritize honor and authority to the point of corruption means the Magic Tower’s original purpose has faded. It’s turned into a den of monsters chasing personal gain.”
“And?”
“Looking at all of you here, I realize how grave their mistake was. I’ve come to understand that magical research has nothing to do with a person’s appearance.”
“They cast us out without even checking our condition once our appearances turned hideous.”
“They were wrong.”
“We can never forget the looks of contempt they gave us.”
“As a fellow mage, I find it truly regrettable and infuriating.”
“Fellow mage…….”
A bitterness tinged Lord’s voice.
Their conversation halted, and a heavy silence settled over the area.
Hundreds of mages bared their killing intent, awaiting only Lord’s command.
Then, from behind them, someone floated into the sky toward Lord.
Wearing ordinary clothes instead of a robe, she was surrounded by a bright light that gave her a holy aura.
Lord looked flustered as she appeared beside him.
“Why have you come out?”
“There’s something I want to ask him.”
“……?”
“A few days ago, I dreamed of someone who would decide our fate appearing here.”
“……!”
Lord and everyone else present widened their eyes.
With sorrowful eyes, she gazed at Millerph.
“Are you our savior?”
Millerph answered without the slightest hesitation.
“No.”
“Then have you come to send us cursed ones to Lady Karen?”
“What!”
Lord jolted in shock, and the mana of hundreds vibrated simultaneously.
Millerph shook his head calmly, unperturbed.
“I believe that simply being human gives one value and the right to respect. And I’d be grateful if you’d consider me a ‘guide.’”
“……?”
As she tilted her head, Millerph continued with a gentle smile.
“I’ll guide you to the one who will save you all.”
“If you mean the king of Julius Kingdom, prove it. Prove why he’s our savior.”
At Lord’s question, Millerph slowly scanned the crowd.
Then he closed his eyes slightly and said,
“The heir of the World Tree declares upon the Oath of Light: Arthur Julius will save you all.”
A blindingly brilliant light emanated from him.
The intense light, like the sun, warmly enveloped everyone there, soothing their hearts boiling with rage.
The killing intent gradually faded, vanishing along with their hatred toward Millerph.
At the same time, Millerph’s light disappeared.
“Th-this is…….”
Lord had read about it in a book.
The heirs of the World Tree staking everything on a promise called the Oath of Light.
It was akin to a dragon’s oath—if the words were false, they would impose a self-binding seal to revoke their own mana use.
It was a spell only World Tree heirs blessed by Lady Karen could use to prove their words.
With this, Millerph had proven everything.
That he was a World Tree heir and a guide.
And there was one more shocking revelation.
The Oath of Light could only be used by those who had reached the 7th Class realm.
In other words, Millerph was a 7th Class grand mage.
If he willed it, wiping out this place would be child’s play.
Selena truly had seen through everything.
Lord’s figure vanished.
“……!”
In an instant, Dark’s eyes flashed as he blocked in front of Latel, assuming a defensive stance.
As expected, Lord reappeared before him.
Dark gave one final warning.
“You’ll regret this.”
“Step aside.”
“……?”
His tone was exceedingly polite.
As Dark felt slightly bewildered, Millerph’s voice came from behind.
“Do as he says.”
Dark kept his eyes on Lord while glancing at those in the forest.
Far from killing intent, they wore utterly serene expressions.
There was no will to fight.
“Hmm.”
Dark stepped aside, signaling Latel with his eyes.
Latel lifted his shield from where it was planted in the ground and moved aside as well.
But neither dropped their guard, and the Devil Squad remained on high alert, watching the situation.
Lord bowed politely to Millerph.
“It is an honor to meet the World Tree heir.”
Then all who followed him bowed to Millerph in respect.
Millerph smiled faintly.
“I’m glad to meet you all as well.”
He then met the eyes of the woman watching him from atop the rock.
“May I ask your name?”
She bowed her head and replied.
“I’m Selena. To meet the World Tree heir…….”
She collapsed limply to the side.
Millerph’s eyes widened as he flew toward her.
He quickly cast a scan spell to check her condition.
“M-mana…….”
Millerph’s face filled with consternation.
***
“Impressive. Truly impressive.”
Count Damor kept letting out exclamations of admiration.
Ban’s face was full of smiles as he watched him stare intently at the shield.
Damor shifted his gaze to Ban and asked,
“I heard there was someone in Grada Territory who inherited dwarven craftsmanship. That was you?”
“My grandfather passed down the techniques he learned from the dwarves.”
“I see.”
Damor turned back to the shield, caressing the engraved patterns with his hand.
Then he paused at some unfamiliar characters.
They vaguely resembled draconic script, but they weren’t.
“What’s this?”
“His Majesty said it’s script used by Lord Teheran, wishing eternal glory upon the Gludio Family.”
Ban bowed as politely as possible.
He’d heard Damor Count was preparing a gift and Arthur had come asking to engrave characters said to be used by Lord Teheran for special meaning.
Finding it agreeable, he’d had Arthur’s provided characters engraved on the shield.
The characters Arthur provided were, of course, Hangul, engraved to remind Damor of the great hero Teheran.
It also emphasized inheriting Teheran’s legacy.
Damor was no fool.
He’d thought inheriting Teheran’s legacy merely meant gaining great power.
But it wasn’t.
It seemed he’d truly inherited everything from Teheran.
Looking at imperial history, families that followed Teheran all prospered through golden ages.
The Barotas Family was the same.
Their emperors had held the throne until now thanks to Teheran’s aid.
But if they betrayed Emperor Ruan……
Damor let out a long sigh and said,
“I’ve received the king’s will. Now convey mine in return. Tell him I cannot endanger Vulcan Territory.”
Ban, having anticipated this wouldn’t be easy, proceeded with the plan.
“His Majesty has the power to protect the Gludio Family. Fear not Emperor Ruan.”
“You know nothing of the emperor. Never underestimate him.”
“Emperor Ruan is the same. His Majesty is only getting started.”
“Getting started……?”
“Lord Teheran’s power is boundless. His Majesty will grow even stronger henceforth.”
“……!”
Damor’s eyes widened.
“And Julius Kingdom’s true enemy is not Emperor Ruan. Our enemy is the Demon King.”
“W-what!”
Damor shot up from his chair.
Why was the Demon King suddenly mentioned?
Ban met his eyes and continued.
“The Demon King has revived. His Majesty’s goal is to unite the powers of the five continents to confront the Demon King. So know that petty forces like Emperor Ruan are beneath notice.”
“Ha…….”
Damor slumped back into his chair with a sigh close to a lament.
If true, his worries were pointless.
A sudden doubt arose.
If Arthur Julius knew of the Demon King’s revival, Emperor Ruan surely did too.
Why not announce such a critical matter?
Even if they prepared countermeasures, it would cause panic.
‘Could he be unaware……?’
All sorts of thoughts flooded his mind.
Damor shook his head vigorously and asked Ban,
“Does Emperor Ruan know of the Demon King’s revival?”
“How could he not? The capital is under attack from tens of thousands of monsters even now.”
“Right, the monsters appeared out of nowhere.”
“With everyone’s forces combined barely enough for countermeasures, the emperor branded the Julius Family and founding merit houses as ‘devil worshippers’…… His Majesty is filled with righteous indignation.”
“What’s become of Oscar Empire…….”
Damor stared despondently at the floor.
Ban waited silently for him to speak.
After a long while, Damor’s low voice broke the heavy silence.
“How will you protect me? If the emperor notices I follow Julius Kingdom, he’ll punish me for treason immediately.”
“His Majesty will protect you.”
“That answer won’t do. It’s two days from Vulcan Territory to Kristen Capital, but at least three to Julius Kingdom. By the time knights arrive, this place will be ruins.”
“Erm…….”
Ban hadn’t considered that.
As his face hardened, Rasety beside him cautiously spoke up.
“Count, may I address that point?”
“Go ahead.”
“First, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Rasety, head of the Ventarr Merchant Group.”
“The Ventarr Merchant Group of Nibon Territory?”
Damor’s eyes widened.
After Ryuman Merchant Group, Oscar Empire’s largest, Ventarr had been the next biggest.
But since Ryuman handled trades for the emperor and high nobles, Ventarr held greater practical influence empire-wide.
He’d thought Ventarr, with Nibon Territory fallen, would side with the emperor or high nobles. Who knew they’d ally with enemy Julius Kingdom.
“Didn’t expect the head to be a woman.”
“I apologize for surprising you.”
As Rasety bowed, Damor waved it off.
“No need. Man or woman, what does it matter? Superior ability trumps any man by a hundredfold. With your skills, you outshine most nobles.”
“I’m grateful for your kind words.”
“Now, merchant head, tell me how to fend off Emperor Ruan.”
“What His Majesty wants from you is probably supplying artisans and equipment. What do you think of continuing business as usual, procuring supplies, and gradually building up forces?”
“Explain specifically how to procure equipment and build forces.”
“Ventarr Merchant Group will ship equipment by sea. If knights move by sea too, Emperor Ruan won’t notice easily, right?”
“Not bad. But no secret lasts forever. It’ll leak eventually—can I even handle the emperor? Even with Julius Kingdom’s reinforcements, he’s Oscar Empire’s strongest.”
“Trust His Majesty.”
“Trust alone is too great a gamble for everything I have. You’d understand as a merchant head.”
Rasety had no retort, as he was right.
Just as she pondered securing artisans as Ban suggested,
“Count, seeing this will change your mind.”
Ban set down the large metal lump slung over his shoulder.
It was the gun modified from Arthur’s chaingun.
Rasety had wondered about it since leaving Grada Castle.
Damor’s craftsman instincts stirred at the thick, long shape; curiosity lit his face.
“What is that?”
Ban replied proudly.
“The weapon Lord Teheran used.”