I Decline the Shackles

Yong Seong Rak bowed his head as he spoke.

"……And there's something I need to tell you. As you might have guessed, I'm a member of Cheonha Tongil. And right now, my vision is being shared with Ryu Ojuncheon. It's the effect of the contract I offered my eye as payment for."

His finger pointed to the eyepatch.

I just thought he had some unique tastes, like certain people.

Ryu Ojuncheon was the culprit, of course. A guy with a track record of shady dealings doesn't change his spots.

Even so, using his own guild members' eyes as sacrifices to scout the Arcana Continent? Unbelievable.

"No initiative, no pride."

No wonder only harsh words came to mind.

Yong Seong Rak seemed quick on the uptake. That's why he'd spat out those words on the battlefield.

Of course, it didn't mean he'd noticed my fidgeting over the fear of him blurting out my full name.

The fact that he confessed upfront ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠without being asked meant he wasn't playing petty games.

Yong Seong Rak continued.

"The grand purpose of entering the continent was to expand Cheonha Tongil's influence across the Arcana Continent…… But after breaking free from Ryu Ojuncheon's brainwashing, I saw the truth. He just wanted to monopolize it all."

He clenched his fist tightly, head still bowed, trembling with rage.

Got a lot pent up against the boss, huh? Very corporate of you.

"He's no longer a monarch—he's a tyrant."

Tyrant, huh.

To sum up his detailed explanation simply……

It seemed Ryu Ojuncheon had advanced from his Monarch class to Tyrant via a class quest.

"I was played for a fool without even realizing it. I thought if my worthless life could help my lord, I could sacrifice it a hundred times over."

In short, Tyrant was a class even leechier than Monarch, sucking the lifeblood dry from others.

Ryu Ojuncheon had thrown Yong Seong Rak and the others into the Arcana Continent's deadly wilds to feed most efficiently.

The guy's possessed, for real.

Grandfell was endlessly merciful to humans, at his core.

Why, just look at how he'd treated Igignite Maxima moments ago?

Whatever the process, the four families had ultimately been forgiven.

But even merciful Grandfell drew the line at certain humans.

First was Raymon Sean, naturally.

Of course, I can't forgive that bastard either.

Who do you think made me squirm like this over a full name……!

After Raymon Sean came those whose atrocities rivaled demons.

The devil worshippers who'd met their end in the abyss, for instance.

My mouth spat cold words.

"Thanks to you."

Yes. Stealing lives for one's own growth was no different from a demon's deed.

And not just strangers—he'd deceived and sacrificed his own loyal subordinates?

"……Thanks to me? What do you mean?"

I answered Yong Seong Rak's question.

"You've given me one more prey to hunt."

Congratulations, Ryu Ojuncheon. You're officially my second target after Raymon Sean.

Now, how should I deliver this joyous news?

I spoke calmly.

"So raise your head."

"……Pardon?"

Yong Seong Rak flinched but didn't look up.

"No, I can't. I vowed to give everything I know about Cheonha Tongil to Lee Hoyeol, Supreme Commander of the Holy War Alliance……! I know that's the only way I survive!"

……Huh?

Anyone listening would think I was out to kill him.

I catch demons like rats, sure—but I don't hunt innocent people.

I ground my teeth.

"But if you raise your head and he sees I'm meeting you one-on-one…… He'll make all my information worthless. Ryu Ojuncheon's as cunning as he is meticulous."

Now I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠understood why Yong Seong Rak had been avoiding my gaze.

A backstabber like Ryu Ojuncheon might turn leaked info against us with some scheme.

However.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Thank you for understa—"

"Even so, you must stand tall."

"……!"

Grandfell's pride wasn't mere pride.

Once he'd marked Ryu Ojuncheon as prey, it wouldn't bend before a demon—it would only soar higher.

As expected, my unyielding demeanor forced Yong Seong Rak to reluctantly lift his head.

I met his eyes.

And, as always, added a line.

"When conversing, it is proper etiquette to meet one's counterpart's gaze."

"I-I just……."

"And if he's watching, won't it save him needless effort?"

"……Effort? What do you mean?"

This wasn't baseless confidence.

"Because the prey will realize its place."

We all needed to know our roles, right?

I was the hunter, not the hunted.

No need to expend effort gathering intel from prey.

Clink—

I tilted my teacup toward Yong Seong Rak.

Or rather, toward Ryu Ojuncheon beyond his pupil.

I've been through it all myself, you see.

Mage Tower Chief Mage, Holy War Alliance Supreme Commander, AAU Yusra Branch Head, leader of the revived Akkshan……—the sole demon hunter, so both underling and leader.

Thanks to that, I knew full well.

That ain't easy.

How do you set traps assuming what info leaked?

Easier said than done.

Yes, I'd use my experience to troll Ryu Ojuncheon.

Go ahead, let your imagination run wild.

Assume I'm eavesdropping on Cheonha Tongil secrets over tea with Yong Seong Rak, plotting their weaknesses.

Dig your traps and petty schemes. I'll wait.

See if I fall into any.

That toil would be for naught.

That's how Grandfell handles prey, as you've seen.

Frontal breakthrough.

Traps? Blow the whole thing sky-high.

So the only topic left for Yong Seong Rak and me was one.

Conveniently, he hesitated with his teacup before speaking.

"If you say so, I'll stay silent. Until you need it again, Supreme Commander Lee Hoyeol. I won't breathe a word of Cheonha Tongil's secrets or what I've witnessed today to anyone."

……Of course, that includes my full name, right?

He shouldn't blab what he heard either.

I desperately wanted confirmation from Yong Seong Rak.

But revealing petty worries wasn't my style.

I merely tilted my teacup.

……The green tea tasted especially bitter today.

.

A parade of utterly uncomfortable seats.

Of course, this iron-faced bastard.

Even here, he kept his head held high, making everything glaringly obvious.

The heads of the four families, excluding the still-unhinged Igignite Maxima.

And the emperor they'd tried to dethrone.

Silence hung heavy…….

They clearly eyed each other with discomfort.

The four families had no words as failed rebels.

Even the emperor couldn't strut in victory.

Considering the Sericrose Imperial Family's ties to the four families, it's natural.

As a third party.

And a corporate type unable to bear the awkward hush.

Shouldn't I say something?

But this mouth that loved to yap didn't bend to others' stares.

In the end, the emperor broke the silence first.

"……I have nothing to say."

I first thought it mere thanks.

Whatever with the Claudy family.

After all, I'd saved the empire again.

But the emperor's face was far more solemn than expected.

"While the Black Dark Dragon conversed with the adventurer, I heard the full story from the four family heads. To bear such a burden…… I, in my foolishness, knew only one truth and suspected nothing more. On behalf of the Sericrose Imperial Family, I apologize."

……Wait, you guys spilled that already?!

I got why the heads acted this way.

Sure, even rebels—they'd truly served Claudy at heart.

No matter the good intentions, it's sudden, right?

I could guess what they'd told the emperor.

Yes, everything except the crucial fact.

That the four families belonged to Claudy.

They'd hammered that home.

……Hold on, then what's the family tree?

Sericrose rules the empire, served by the four families.

Who serve Claudy.

So Sericrose is Claudy's……?

As my mind spun, the emperor spoke timely.

"You, the Black Dark Dragon, are the empire's true master."

Me, the empire's true master?!

Sorry, but I didn't sign up for that.

But apparently not enough.

The emperor paused, correcting himself.

"No, I mustn't use a mere epithet. Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo. The Claudy family head is the sole being who can right not just the empire, but the continent."

……This is exhausting, seriously.

Yong Seong Rak wasn't enough—now the emperor too.

What's with everyone today?

But my inner lament didn't slip my lips.

I merely gazed.

Pulling strings then playing dumb, these folks.

At the burdensome stares from Yugric, Kansel, Akmond.

Those expectant eyes truly hoped I'd claim the empire.

The emperor's throne.

As if I'd take it.

I'm suffering enough as is.

As mentioned, from Mage Tower Chief Mage to AAU Yusra Branch Head, leader of revived Akkshan—the sole demon hunter, underling and boss.

Emperor on top? No thanks.

If it were a peaceful empire……

I might've mulled it graciously.

But now? No teatime left—that precious as gold.

So I replied.

"Regrettably, that won't happen."

"Such……!"

The emperor trailed off, the heads shocked.

What'd you expect from me?

I wanted to snap, but my mouth pressed on.

"To me, throne and crown are mere shackles."

"……!!!"

One line, crystal clear.

I'm Claudy's head.

The overseeing Black Dark Dragon.

The continent's true ruler.

Why bind to the empire's smaller vessel?

"Such……."

The emperor knew Grandfell's speech, so grasping it quick wasn't odd.

The four families—revived memories?

They bowed with him.

"Forgive us—we failed to grasp the depth."

Thus, the awkward summit ended with my awkward apology.

At least the cleanup's sorta done.

Truthfully, with my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠embarrassing full name exposed, everything felt like a loss…….

But what could I do.

Clack—

I headed to the emperor's terrace.

If asked why a non-emperor roamed the palace freely.

The vast palace had only one spot I knew: the terrace.

And.

Flutter—

Wind rippled my jacket on the terrace.

Through my flowing silver hair, Antonium sprawled.

Its skyline, moments ago shrouded in unholy mana.

I grumbled inwardly.

I knew it'd come to this.

With his pride, responsibility was inevitable.

Could I stand by without dissuading, for my own survival?

Even my snark kept my mouth shut, unlike with emperor and heads.

"……."

No major aftermath in Antonium, per the emperor—small mercy.

Mulling blackening again, my blinking quest caught my eye.

Right, a world quest, no less?

Its lofty name demanded checking.

I opened the quest window.

I flinched.

……Wait, the Goddess Church's saintess?

Freyja?

That's why she looked familiar…….

Back when Muon, the Goddess Church holy site, updated to reality.

The true-name demon Nephthys impersonated her.

But she was real?

Cataclysm wasn't enough—Omen flipped Arcana again.

Fine, possible.

But why would the Goddess Church saintess.

—Survive Saintess Freyja's judgment. (In Progress)

Judge me……?!

Clearly a blackening-born misunderstanding.

Anyone could guess.

That "anyone" tolerated no slights, even minor.

A pride sharp as a blade.

Thus.

"A goddess, you say. The evidence was lacking, it seems. Then I shall prove it once more. My belief that no gods exist. So prove yourself as well."

My silent mouth finally erupted.

"Of course, my verification shall be anything but lenient."