Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: A New Life for Chaos
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“……!”
Millerph was slightly taken aback by the sudden harsh words.
But from what the Lord had said just moments ago, he realized why he sensed such a strange, alien atmosphere around him.
Composing himself from the surprise, he promptly apologized.
“It seems I’ve committed a grave discourtesy.”
“Hah, as expected of the World Tree’s heir—you figured out your mistake right away. Fine, I’ll let this one slide, but don’t mess up again.”
“Thank you for your leniency.”
“Shall we hear why such an esteemed guest has come all this way?”
As Natasha dug into her ear with her finger and glanced over, the Lord furrowed his brow.
“Mind your manners. This is an envoy from the Julius Kingdom.”
Natasha’s face hardened as she looked at the Lord.
“You think I’ve gone back to treating you like ‘Lord’ just because I’ve been humoring you with the title?”
She continued, exuding a murderous aura.
“I was giving you face because a special guest showed up. Now that you know, shut up and stay quiet.”
Natasha snapped at him like she wanted to devour him whole, then turned her gaze back to Millerph.
“Spit it out simply. I’m curious what that prodigal wants you to relay.”
In that instant, Millerph’s face stiffened.
He didn’t mind being ignored or treated roughly himself.
But Arthur was different.
He was the king of the Julius Kingdom, the one who would face the Demon King in the future.
And the liege he had sworn to protect with his life.
He was not someone to be casually disrespected by anyone.
“There’s one thing I can’t overlook—insulting my liege.”
Millerph’s demeanor shifted completely.
He raised his left hand and spread his palm open.
‘What the—!’
Natasha’s expression flickered with alarm.
Her subordinates, who had been watching the situation, quickly began chanting and unleashed attack spells.
“Fireball!”
“Ice Dagger!”
Fireballs and ice spears shot toward him like arrows.
Millerph murmured softly.
“Reactive Shield.”
A barrier unfurled, blocking the attacks just as they arrived.
Boom! Kwaboom!
‘What?! Fifth-class magic without even chanting….’
Natasha’s eyes wavered slightly as she realized Millerph was no one they could handle.
Millerph stared at them coldly.
“It’s not too late even now. Apologize for insulting my liege, and I’ll let it go this once.”
‘Damn it!’
It felt like he was throwing back exactly what she had dished out to him.
If that was true, it was humiliating.
She’d rather die than bow her head to him.
But looking into his icy eyes, she knew it wouldn’t end with just her.
And if she fell, her subordinates would charge in recklessly, leading to an obvious outcome.
She had no choice but to bow.
“Damn it!”
Natasha grimaced and said.
“Sorry, not that I meant to.”
“If you don’t know how to apologize properly, I could teach you specially.”
“Urgh.”
Natasha stiffly lowered her head.
“I’m… sorry…….”
“Remember this well. I won’t forgive anyone who insults my liege.”
Millerph’s voice etched itself into her mind. A chill ran down her spine, and the hairs on her body stood on end.
The moment Natasha raised her head and met his eyes, she felt a terror unlike any she had ever known.
Millerph addressed the men behind her.
“You lot, sheath your killing intent.”
“C-Captain…….”
One of them called out to Natasha, but she nodded without even looking.
They dispelled their hostility and quietly observed the situation.
Natasha cautiously glanced at Millerph’s expression before asking.
“So… what brings you here……?”
“Do you wish to live a new life?”
“……!”
Natasha’s eyes flashed in that instant.
“Would you accept a path to a better life?”
“Could you tell me specifically what kind of life that is?”
Natasha’s tone was impeccably polite.
She sensed Millerph hadn’t come simply to hire them.
“Don’t you want to live like a human being?”
“We’re plenty satisfied with things as they are…….”
“Then what about those kids? Do you think they’re living like humans?”
“The children…….”
Honestly, Natasha knew the children weren’t normal.
But since they were born here, there was no helping it—she saw it as their fate.
Just as she couldn’t defy her own destiny, the children would have to accept theirs.
But if there was a way to change their lives……
Realistically, there were problems standing in the way, and without solving them, a new life would be nothing more than a pipe dream—or torture.
That was why even entertaining such thoughts was taboo within Chaos.
She wondered if he knew that.
Overcoming her fear of Millerph, Natasha stood tall like the leader of Chaos.
“As parents, of course we’d want to show them a better world. But for those discarded by the world, such a life is unattainable.”
“His Majesty is different. He will give you the chance to live like humans. And he’ll solve all the problems you’re thinking of, of course.”
“Really? The outside world has never seen us as people. I don’t know how great he is, but I doubt he can do what even an emperor couldn’t.”
“Don’t compare him to an emperor.”
Millerph drew a firm line and continued.
“He is the one who will save the world from the Demon King.”
Natasha tilted her head.
The Lord, watching Millerph suddenly mention the Demon King, asked.
“The Demon King out of nowhere? I thought that thing died a hundred years ago…….”
Millerph met Natasha’s eyes and replied.
“The Demon King has been resurrected. That’s why the Julius Count family—the ‘Empire’s Spear’—has awakened.”
***
Natasha asked Millerph for time to think.
Even as captain of Chaos, she couldn’t decide their fate alone—it was too important.
She gathered everyone in the village square.
Over a hundred people assembled.
A third of them were children.
When Natasha suddenly called an emergency meeting, they assumed a new commission had come in.
They always selected members based on suitability for commissions.
And after completing them successfully, they held festivals each time.
So, curiosity about the commission mixed with excitement over what festival to prepare next.
As Natasha appeared in the square, the crowd erupted in cheers.
“Captain, what’s the commission this time?”
“It’s been two years since I last went out! If I can’t go this time, I’ll really lose it.”
“Quiet down, everyone. Focus on the captain.”
They all fell silent and turned their attention to Natasha.
Natasha slowly scanned the gathered people.
Each bore fatal issues and mental scars from mana’s side effects.
Most had transformed into grotesquely hideous forms, hard to even look at.
Some had become so monstrous they couldn’t face each other and stayed indoors.
Seeing the children smile innocently at them despite it all tugged at her heart.
Millerph’s words echoed in her mind.
-He’ll give you a chance to live like humans. Fulfill your dreams and prove your worth to those who abandoned you.
She suddenly thought true revenge might be just that.
Perhaps Karen had pitied them and offered this chance.
As Millerph said, she wanted to achieve her dreams and stand proudly before the world.
‘Yeah, this chance won’t come twice.’
Natasha opened her mouth with resolute eyes, as if she’d made up her mind.
“The Lord brought a guest today.”
“……?”
“He says he’s the World Tree’s heir and an envoy from the Julius Kingdom.”
She recounted everything Millerph had told her before coming here, including his visit to the Hermits’ Gathering, without omission.
She also shared what the Lord had said about Selena’s prophecy before leaving with Millerph.
“That Grada’s Prodigal is our savior?”
Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.
With no commissions for nearly a year, they were out of touch with imperial changes.
They’d scoffed at rumors from merchants buying herbs in Selom about the Julius Kingdom.
A mere prodigal starting a kingdom? He’d get crushed by Emperor Ruan soon enough, they thought.
But a lot must have changed in that year.
Their minds reeled at the idea that Arthur Julius could offer them new lives.
They fell into serious silence.
After some time passed.
Meteor, Chaos Mercenary Corps’ second-in-command and strategist, stepped forward.
Mana side effects had covered his face and body in fur.
“What do you think, Captain?”
“I plan to meet him myself and judge.”
“If he really is our savior, great—but if not?”
“I worried about that at first. But the Lord said Millerph made the ‘Pact of Light.’”
“R-Really?”
Meteor’s fur bristled like a hedgehog’s spines.
This happened when he felt fear or shock.
Those unfamiliar with the Pact of Light tilted their heads, so Natasha explained briefly.
“It’s a pact only the World Tree’s heir can make. Lying seals your mana.”
“For a mage, losing mana use means…….”
“There’s no surer way to prove trust. Plus, I hear only seventh-class or higher can even perform the Pact of Light.”
“Gasp!”
Everyone’s jaws dropped.
A grand mage had staked everything.
It couldn’t be a lie.
“Then what are we waiting for?”
To Meteor’s question, Natasha replied cautiously.
“I don’t know how the territory folk will accept us. Even if the king welcomes us, without their cooperation, nothing changes. We—and the kids—might end up hurt and back here.”
“Mm…….”
They all groaned at the unavoidable reality.
“That’s why I’ll go check if we can truly adapt and negotiate with him.”
“I’m with the captain.”
Meteor raised his hand.
Hands shot up around the square, unanimous approval.
Then one person asked skeptically.
“But why is the Julius Kingdom suddenly being so generous to us?”
“Now that you mention it…….”
“There’s gotta be a reason, right?”
They all tilted their heads at Natasha.
She’d wanted to ask Millerph too, but the Demon King’s resurrection gave her a hunch.
Force augmentation!
Knights and soldiers were easy to bolster, but mages were different.
With the Magic Tower destroyed, finding unaffiliated ones was near impossible.
Even mercenary mages were scarce.
In that context, Chaos—unaffiliated attack mages—was valuable, even without high-class ones.
Merging with the Hermits’ Gathering would form a massive mage corps.
But one thing had to be resolved first.
Better to meet Arthur and confirm.
“I don’t know the reason yet. What I can say for sure is, if there’s even a hint of using us as expendables, they’ll pay dearly.”
“Got it. So who’s going?”
At Meteor’s question, Natasha glanced at a group standing apart from the others.
“Yubra!”
“……!”
Eyes widened as they turned.
The gaze converged on those most afflicted by mana—half-human, half-beast.
Even in Chaos, people avoided them, so taking them elicited skeptical reactions.
The robed man completely shrouded in cloth—Yubra—shook his head.
“Captain, us going would backfire. Send the ones in better shape.”
“You’re going with your team.”
Natasha nailed it down firmly, then turned to Meteor.
“You’re coming too. Get ready.”
Meteor grinned, grasping her intent.
“This’ll be fun.”