Chapter 128 : Chapter 128
Chapter 128
This was a story from a few days ago.
“Phew, impressive.”
“It’s humanity’s last bastion. A space maintained by the Archmage himself.”
The respectful reply came from Marquis Arnold of Elidore, with ambitious pink hair and a muscular build.
“Oh, the principal of Imperium Academy or something?”
“That’s right. You won’t see him at the summit; he’s extremely busy. But he sees and hears everything that happens there, so even if he’s absent, consider him present.”
The speaker was the Star Child.
They were heading to the same location.
“Huh, his magical prowess must be extraordinary. I was impressed by defensive magic that could withstand a dragon’s attack for a day. Am I falling behind because of my age?”
“Have you ever met a dragon?”
“Oh, of course… no. I’ve seen magical footage. The secret society at the highest mountain had it. Supposedly thousands of years old?”
“The door ahead is the summit chamber.”
At the iron door engraved with human heads, the guarding knight grinned.
“Well, long time no see, Marquis Elidore… no, General Manager of Imperium Bank.”
“Frost Knight Daine. It’s been a while.”
Frost Knight Daine.
Platinum Numbering No.11.
A Platinum Knight was standing guard.
“You’re the last, General Manager.”
“I’ve kept the dignitaries waiting. I’ll enter immediately.”
At Arnold’s words, Daine moved to open the door, then noticed the man in a pristine white hood behind him.
‘That’s him.’
Daine had been at the scene.
How could he not know?
How could he forget?
That mythic battle.
‘The one who single-handedly defeated the demon lord who bested Hectia.’
As a warrior, his body itched, but now wasn’t the time.
“Enter.”
Frost Knight Luna tapped the floor with her spear.
The massive door opened, revealing the interior.
‘Ho.’
The Star Child couldn’t help but be impressed.
The people inside were truly the continent’s elite.
The Emperor of the Imperium Empire, leading the continent.
The Director of the Humanity Preservation Agency.
Kings of various nations.
Leaders of key organizations.
A gathering of 30 individuals.
The Star Child grinned and made the first remark.
“Wow, all the big shots are here.”
Some kings frowned.
But they couldn’t reprimand him.
If the reports were true, this man had overwhelmed a demon lord.
He might be humanity’s strongest knight, surpassing even Hectia.
“May I escort you?”
Arnold stepped forward to lend credibility.
“Please.”
Guided by Arnold, the Star Child took a seat at the round table among the dignitaries.
With all players on stage, the drama was ready to begin.
“…I’m pleased you all gathered despite your busy schedules.”
The speaker was, naturally, the Emperor of the Imperium Empire.
“With the Pope of the Grand Church sending a proxy due to illness, the absence of even a single attendee shows the continent’s strong bonds, which reassures me. Especially in these busy times, there must be a reason the Director of the Humanity Preservation Agency called this summit. I’d like to hear it first.”
At the Emperor’s cue, a masked figure stood.
Their appearance obscured gender.
“Greetings.”
Their voice, possibly modulated, was ambiguous.
“I’m the Director of the Humanity Preservation Agency. Feel free to call me Director.”
Even the Star Child was slightly surprised and asked.
“Hey, Arnold, is that okay? I’m an exception, but there are emperors and kings galore here.”
“It’s fine. It’s the Director’s privilege.”
“Hmm.”
Curious about how the first Director would handle succession, he set the thought aside.
“The reason for this summit is to add the demon-worshipping cult to the top public enemy list alongside Time Chaos Dungeons.”
The Director sat after speaking.
Sighs and groans echoed around the table.
It wasn’t a simple matter.
Far from it, it was complex.
Adding a public enemy meant splitting forces.
It would inevitably strain logistics and continental administration.
“Public enemy number one…”
“Hmm.”
Most pondered.
They knew this terror wasn’t ordinary.
But designating it as the top public enemy was no small matter.
“Director, in my opinion…”
“I believe raising it to number one is unnecessary…”
Especially now, with sudden anomalies making it a sensitive topic.
“That’s right. For some reason, haven’t all Time Chaos Dungeons on the continent and border weakened?”
“Identifying the cause is urgent, and it’s time to push back the dungeon boundaries.”
Kings and organization leaders spoke.
The Director listened silently, and the Emperor remained quiet.
Conclusion: premature.
What could be done if the kings said so?
It was expected.
“Quite something.”
The Emperor of the Imperium spoke.
All attention focused instantly.
“The Director hasn’t said a word.”
As if waiting, the Director stood again.
“Correct. Rather than me speaking at length… you’ve raised many questions. The answers to all of them.”
They politely pointed with both hands.
To the other person in the room whose identity was concealed.
“That person will provide.”
“…Me?”
The Star Child pointed at himself.
“Yes, you.”
‘This is something.’
Arnold wouldn’t be a traitor.
I hadn’t said a word, so this person deduced my intentions from their seat.
“…Shall I introduce myself?”
Before this, the Star Child had made one plan.
A moment he had long anticipated.
But the right time had never appeared.
“Greetings, leaders of humanity.”
Demon worshippers and traitors aligned with evil still lurked across the continent.
But now, the opportunity had finally come.
“You’re probably very curious about my identity… but I hope you’ll forgive me for not revealing my name.”
The minimum critical audience.
Guaranteed confidentiality.
The perfect moment to reveal a long-hidden identity.
“I am the Star Child. Or, to be precise, the Star Child of the fallen Cosmos Empire.”
Those few sentences were enough to stir the round table.
But those gathered were not easily shaken.
They listened silently.
“When my homeland fell, I narrowly escaped and wandered the continent fighting evil, but I couldn’t find such an opportunity, so I prepared for a long time.”
Preparation.
If he was truly the Star Child of the Cosmos Empire, what had he been preparing for after his nation’s fall?
The revival of his fallen homeland?
“Preparation for the irresistible catastrophe looming over humanity.”
The Star Child lightly raised both hands and asked.
“That’s my introduction… but before getting to the main point, it seems some are itching to speak. Shall I take questions first?”
One person raised their hand.
The chairman of the Southern Sea Peace Conference.
A century ago, before Time Chaos Dungeons appeared, the Southern Sea Peace Conference led the world’s largest trade hub.
Now, with the seas encroached, its authority had waned, but it remained significant.
“One question.”
The chairman asked what everyone wanted.
“The Cosmos Empire… was once the world’s leading empire. A synonym for over-technology, always ahead with stellar force energy.”
A blind spot.
“But when the Cosmos Empire fell… information about it was quickly lost or forgotten, as if orchestrated. We barely preserved some texts, but even those are just a few volumes in the Imperium Imperial archives.”
The one thing to distinguish truth from lies.
“Yet we know of the Star Child of Cosmos. If you’re truly alive, you’d be over 500 years old. A great hero. So, will you show us?”
Proof.
“What evidence do you have that you’re the Star Child of Cosmos?”
The Star Child smiled broadly.
“Very simple.”
Extending his hand, the Star Child… soon radiated stellar force from his entire body.
The warm, bright light of radiance filled the chamber, manifesting a fragment of the great cosmic order.
“Behold, this is my proof. The stellar force bestowed upon me by the great cosmic order, Cosmos.”
Even the calmest couldn’t maintain composure.
Enraptured by the sublime ideal before them, they were busy etching it into memory despite near blindness.
“That’s enough.”
As the Star Child clenched his fist, the scattered stellar force was instantly retracted.
“How’s that, Southern Sea Peace Chairman?”
The question had an obvious answer.
“There are many churches.”
Pure, untainted divinity.
“Each deity’s divinity has distinct colors.”
The implication was clear.
“Historically, only the Cosmos Church had pure white divinity.”
“Hmm.”
Thus, the Star Child proved his identity.
As everyone struggled to maintain composure and watched him, he looked at the Director of the Humanity Preservation Agency.
‘How did they know?’
Even coming here was a secret between only Arnold and the Star Child.
He had sent word just before arriving at the summit chamber.
How did this person know me?
Then a king muttered in disbelief.
“You’re… really the Star Child…”
A perfect mood shift.
He said playfully.
“You believe a man can control the continent’s commerce single-handedly? Haha!”
“….”
“….”
Not a great joke.
“…Anyway, I have no intention of claiming the Cosmos Empire’s rights, so relax. I have some dignity; I don’t extort kids.”
Back to the main point, the Star Child spoke seriously.
“My point aligns with what this Director claims. Perhaps I’m a step ahead. I’ve seen much of the continent’s darkness and witnessed the chaos they’ll bring.”
The rest was simple.
A catastrophic disaster beyond imagination was coming, so prepare.
Humanity might find it a luxury to protect their lands, perhaps only hoping for species survival.
“First, I’ll list the traitors among you. I don’t know them all, just the big ones.”
Like a flowing river, the names of demon worshippers betraying humanity were called.
All were nobles, including high-ranking ones.
The kings were bewildered but memorized the names frantically.
“And there are a few Time Chaos Dungeons you haven’t found. Conquer them before they encroach.”
Skeptical kings noted the locations.
…They’d soon find out after the summit whether this man’s words were lies or profound revelations.
‘Remarkable.’
‘If this information is true…’
‘It’s as if he received divine revelation.’
But it wasn’t divine revelation.
Nearly all this information was simply noted from what Martin had told him.
The discussion continued similarly.
Watch out for this, beware of that.
This will happen, so don’t panic.
The summit neared its end.
After a long time, the summit adjourned, and kings and organization leaders began leaving.
“Let’s go, Star Child.”
“No, you go ahead. I’ll follow.”
But you’re terrible with directions, Arnold almost said, instead bowing.
“Understood.”
The Star Child, the last to remain, mused alone in the empty chamber.
“Oh, one last thing. Just a side note.”
He raised his hand, twirled his fingers, and pointed into the air.
“Yes, you. Our esteemed Archmage. This is for you.”
The Star Child figured the Archmage was startled.
He had pointed exactly where the Archmage’s gaze was felt.
“There’s a student at your Academy named Martin, right? The Ulvhadin kid with the guns.”
The Star Child slowly rose.
Just a side note, so it wouldn’t be long.
“Keep an eye on him. If he’s up to something, support him actively.”
Standing at the chamber’s exit, he added one last thing.
“That Time Chaos Dungeon practical conquest thing. Especially that.”
With that, the Star Child left the chamber.