Chapter 288
Chapter 288. Demon King (3)
Looking down with a haughty face on the archbishops, T'alle surveyed them once more.
The more she did, the denser the 'Color of Fear' above her head became.
"The smoke continues to rise."
She must have known. Being marked by the 'archbishops' present here could shatter her peaceful life in the capital.
Acting with such bravado likely meant she understood her position.
She couldn't be underestimated. That mindset had taken root deep within her.
'Even so, she can't contend with authority.'
Kuheum.
T'alle, who had been looking down with disdainful eyes, cleared her throat to change the atmosphere.
"The Emperor has passed away. You needed proof, didn't you?"
Effortlessly, she waved her hand. A small owl perched itself on her hand.
"I can control small animals at will. Through this, I can grasp the happenings within the capital."
"... With just one bird?"
"Does it look like it's just one?"
To Kolparan's blunt remark, T'alle flung open the window. Once the owl was outside, it perched on a branch.
There, several birds, their eyes glowing, were watching the area.
"... Kuheum."
Kolparan let out another cough. Revealing a look of disbelief, he crossed his arms.
Despite having so many animals deployed, none of their presence had been felt. T'alle's abilities seemed remarkable.
'If only the 'Color of Fear' were absent, it would be even more impressive.'
The 'Color of Negativity' swirling above T'alle's head was like a violent storm.
"What the familiars discovered is not that the Emperor simply lost consciousness, but that he is already dead."
As T'alle continued, a grave atmosphere settled in the room.
Not everyone here bore loyalty to the Emperor. However, they knew they could not easily handle the aftermath that would arise once the Emperor's death was revealed.
"And, taking advantage of that fact, prince Kaldrach is assembling the imperial army to reclaim the palace."
This was the impending fallout.
"It's truly troublesome."
"We expected something like this might happen, but it's faster than anticipated."
Kolparan and Eleanor wore troubled expressions.
If the two princes clashed, whichever sat on the throne would create complications.
If Eulsis won, it would be the worst of the worst, but it wouldn't necessarily be praise-worthy if Kaldrach triumphed either.
"If Prince Kaldrach usurps the throne and the people's sentiment turns tumultuous, who knows what he might do as an example."
Regardless of which of the two princes succeeded, Eleanor voiced that it would be problematic.
I thought similarly.
"The optimal outcome would be for both of them to fall, but... huh?"
Suddenly, Angelica began to stir within me.
It wasn't her usual playful or willful behavior; there was an unsettling feeling to it.
'What's wrong?'
While everyone's attention was on T'alle, I gently pulled Angelica out and inquired. Angelica, having poked her head out, started shaking it vigorously.
'Oh.'
Just then, a small system window appeared before my eyes.
***
At dawn, when the first light struck the palace walls, turning them golden, the third prince, Kaldrach, led his troops toward the palace gates, driven by his ambition.
His steps were resolute and unwavering, and the procession of soldiers following him exuded a solemn, dignified aura even in silence.
"What, what is this...!?"
"Your Highness Kaldrach, what is this... Agh!?"
At the location of the Emperor's bedroom and audience chamber, as Kaldrach made his way to the Main Gate, the Heavenly Reverence Guards blocked him, but the swiftly approaching Wedge Knights cut them down.
As blood sprayed and a Heavenly Reverence Guard tried to draw his weapon in panic.
"Guh...!"
Before he could act, the witch Abisha gestured. With that, the Heavenly Reverence Guard lost consciousness, collapsing face-first to the ground.
The Heavenly Reverence Guard twitched and let out a groan, as a Wedge Knight approached and plunged a sword into his heart.
The convulsing body of the Heavenly Reverence Guard eventually fell still.
"Who do you think you're blocking? You're so blinded by your allegiance to Eulsis you can't even see the truth?"
Casting a cold gaze toward the fallen Heavenly Reverence Guards, Kaldrach noticed other Heavenly Reverence Guards approaching from the distance.
"Your Highness Kaldrach, leave these ones to us."
Some of the Wedge Knights sprang out to engage them.
After giving them a cursory glance, Kaldrach continued to press forward with urgency.
In the end, Kaldrach and the Wedge Knights reached the heart of the palace. Before the massive Main Gate, he halted, and a warrior stepped forward.
"Captain of the Third Gate Guard, Irvanil, greets the Empire's little sun."
"Do you know why I'm here?"
"Yes."
"Open it."
To Kaldrach's commanding tone, the captain nodded and spoke humbly.
"Since His Majesty lost consciousness, Abigail, the regent, has ordered that this gate not be opened to anyone."
"Choose your words wisely, Captain."
Hearing Kaldrach's words, the captain glanced at the Wedge Knights accompanying him.
"Why should I be forbidden from passing through a gate Kikubad crosses freely? Wouldn't you also want to know what's happening inside?"
With his resolute demeanor, the captain sighed.
"Open it. I'll bear all the consequences of what happens here."
Nodding once, the captain proceeded inside.
After a short while, the sound of mechanical operation echoed, and the fortified Main Gate began to open.
Naturally, Kaldrach and the Wedge Knights moved inside. Their destination was the Emperor's quarters.
As Kaldrach entered after opening the door, a quiet and serene atmosphere lingered.
In the Emperor's quarters, attendants should always be stationed nearby; even if it's not noisy, there should always be some signs of life.
"What... why is it so quiet?"
Sensing the unusualness, Abisha spoke in a startled tone.
Despite such tension, Kaldrach remained composed and approached the bed in the center of the room.
Swish──!
Drawing his sword, Kaldrach cut through the curtain shrouding the bed. There lay the pale, unmoving face of the Emperor.
"... Your Majesty Adratan!?"
"As I thought."
Even seeing the deceased Emperor, Kaldrach didn't twitch an eyebrow.
Rather, he seemed calm, as if he had been through this many times before.
"Seeing the state of the capital, I predicted this would happen."
Turning his head, Kaldrach glanced to the inside of the quarters. Across the room, Abigail and Eulsis watched the scene unfold.
"I also knew you would storm in here."
"For knowing, the defenses seem lax. If you wanted me to kill you, you didn't have to go through all this trouble."
Kaldrach spoke with a smirk. The Wedge Knights were ready to leap at any moment, and Kaldrach didn't seem to have any intention to stop them.
"Where are the Heavenly Reverence Guards? Oh, never mind, it seems they realized what you truly are and fled."
"You..."
When Eulsis shivered, Kaldrach let out a small chuckle.
"If you surrender now, I'll spare your life."
After a moment of contemplation, Kaldrach shook his head side to side.
"No, I should still kill you. I won't be satisfied otherwise."
"I always abhorred you."
The sudden words from Eulsis made Kaldrach pause.
He would have usually cut Eulsis off, but sensing genuine emotion in his words, Kaldrach unknowingly stopped.
"Your vulgar words unfitting of noble blood. Your mother always spoke the same way."
Kaldrach quietly listened to Eulsis's outpouring.
"Heartless trash of the imperial family. You imprisoned my mother, showing no mercy..."
"Sorry, Eulsis. Among those gathered here, no one cares about your family matters."
Pointing the sword that had just cut through the curtain at Eulsis, Kaldrach spoke mercilessly.
"Everything in this world has a story, even passing stones."
"... What?"
"But just because something has a story, doesn't mean it's okay to ruin a country. You're the only one crazy enough to think that way."
Kaldrach laughed.
"You are nothing but a stone to me—a stone that's only good for pitiful tantrums. Unfortunately for you, no one here feels any sympathy."
Eulsis's face grew increasingly dark.
"So, don't drag this out. Just die quickly by my hand. I have a mountain of tasks awaiting after I conduct the funeral and take the throne."
"Huuu..."
Eulsis sighed deeply.
Kaldrach slowly approached Eulsis, ready to kill him.
Yet Abigail standing next to him showed no intention of intervening. She merely looked at Eulsis with a somber expression.
"Vessel of the Demon King."
Eulsis spoke once more.
"Kaldrach, do you know what the vessel of the Demon King is?"
"... I don't. I don't need to know, and I don't care."
"Is that so?"
Watching Kaldrach respond without a hint of emotion, Eulsis scoffed.
"Indeed, that's why you've intruded here so cluelessly."
In a mocking tone, Eulsis took something from his arms.
"The Demon God's Horn?"
What he had taken out was indeed the Demon God's Horn.
"To use that, you'd need a ritual site fit to be called a Gu Poison Hall, wouldn't you?"
Even with the Demon God's Horn at hand, Kaldrach remained unflustered. He knew a proper ritual setup was essential.
"The reason for creating a Gu Poison Hall in the first place is to craft a vessel able to accommodate the Demon God's Horn."
"So, are you claiming that vessel exists here?"
At Kaldrach's question, Eulsis pointed to himself.
"Me."
Then, as if stating the obvious, Eulsis brought the Demon God's Horn to his head.
A fierce light began to envelop him, and demonic energy stirred within the room.
***
===
⇒ A 〈Demon King〉 has been born on the continent.
⇒ The Trait, 〈New Sword Saint〉, empowers the user.
===
Seeing the system window, I inwardly sighed. It seemed Eulsis had made his decision.
'He might have had a chance if he had fled.'
I pushed the system window aside and stood up.
"It seems we no longer have time for trivial discussions here."
"What do you mean, Yulian?"
Kolparan asked, and I tapped my sword's scabbard lightly as I replied.
"War has broken out at the palace. It's time for us of the Dawn Society to stake our claim and act."
Clacky's Corner:
It's now time to 《Kill the Demon King!!!》
P. S.
12 chapters left. But I need to sleep.