Chapter 204
Everyone caught their breath while leaning against the wall.
It had taken a whole hour to subdue the monster.
Nearly 5,000 monsters had appeared.
The sewer, ankle-deep in water, was piled high with ghouls whose bodies had been cut in half. Even when I slashed with a sword imbued with magic power, they weren't easy to cut.
We had tried to get rid of the devil's door as well, but there was no way. Once a devil's door opened, it seemed it couldn't be closed. One could easily end up getting sucked inside.
"We should check if there's a way out to the surface. If those things are infectious like vampires, the entire world could be in danger."
I had the same thought.
We didn't know what would happen if we were bitten by them.
"When Kas comes back, he won't be alone. If we can't close the door, we'll have to at least block the exit."
Everyone moved on.
At the four-way intersection we'd passed before, the team members split up. We still didn't know how big this sewer was.
The monsters appearing in Tern were the same as those we saw up north. The knights and soldiers there had barely managed to get the situation under control after a huge commotion.
But the ones crossing directly from hell, like this time, were different. Even we struggled to cut them down with one strike — they would be impossible for regular soldiers.
"Did Kas and the grand duke join forces?"
"They did, but I wouldn't say they're truly on the same side. The grand duke mainly used him for his own gain."
"If the grand duke joined hands with the son of a devil, then his god probably isn't the same one we believe in. It's strange that divine power still manifests."
"It is."
Was that god real, or fake?
Can a god also be a devil?
Or was it the Demon King pretending to be a god?
// // //
We went back to Kas's tavern.
The tavern was engulfed in flames.
While I was detaining Kas, the team had taken care of all the vampires. They were the ones left frozen and abandoned. Afterward, the team started the fire to make the incident look accidental.
We hadn't notified the prosecution bureau.
Only Director Oren knew of the vampires' existence, so he would quietly handle it.
"Anything turn up at his place of business?"
"Nothing, aside from the space where the vampires gathered to sleep."
I looked under the passage. Opening a door in the storage cellar, I found a vertical shaft. That was the way Kas had escaped.
"What about a way back up?"
"No other exit in sight. There were a few blocked passages, but one seemed to connect to that pond where he fled."
Even Kas couldn't climb up this shaft.
There had to be a hidden exit somewhere.
― Young master.
"Did you find something?"
― Please come to Kas's mansion. We found something at one of the properties he owns.
"What about Lady Mien?"
― We still haven't found her.
"Got it."
I moved right away.
// // //
The highest point in the upscale residential district.
And by far the largest house.
That was Kas's mansion.
It had three stories, but it was vast. After the ancient war, he'd built a house in the best spot and had been living here ever since, changing his name and appearance again and again.
It was three floors aboveground and five floors underground.
The further down you went, the bigger it got. All sorts of rare artifacts decorated the place, and there were many paintings.
The fourth basement floor was practically a treasure vault.
The cubic room was about thirty steps wide, and different treasures were lined up on each wall and in the center.
Diamonds. Sapphires. Rubies.
Emeralds. Topaz. Black quartz.
In the middle: gold bars.
They weren't just ordinary gems. As a type of enhancement stone, each contained a different power. They were probably the most expensive jewels in the world.
Sapphire for freezing. Ruby for flame.
Emerald for poison. Topaz for lightning.
Diamond seemed related to magic, and black quartz was a magic power stone, brimming with powerful magic. The pile of gold bars alone could match the empire's yearly budget.
"Did he prepare all this for devils?"
"It's just like the treasures we've found in the lairs of monsters. He might have made something with these, waiting for a high-rank devil to arrive."
"These enhancement stones will be useful."
"We should check them out. If they're worse than what we already have, we can sell them. We need to sell some anyway, so ask Johnny to look into it."
"Yes."
I handed the magic bag to Donnie.
He swept up the jewels first.
The artifacts on the upper floors were tremendous as well—enough to fill the empire's treasury. But my heart was already elsewhere. Who knew when the devils might appear again?
Kas's other mansions were also full of gold bars, gems, and magic equipment. There were so many books that I ordered the agents to move everything to the inn.
From there, we would relocate it to the stronghold. Each was a priceless piece of human heritage. Even having just these would give enough legitimacy to form a dynasty connecting the nation's history.
* * *
Emperor Roman was sitting and staring at the wall.
He was in prayer.
"Your Majesty. The intelligence bureau director is here."
"Let him in."
The door opened and Director Roger entered.
He offered a polite greeting.
"How have you been feeling lately?"
"I'm alright. You asked me just a few days ago as well. Do I look that unwell to you?"
"No, Your Majesty."
Director Roger sat down with a smile.
He spoke.
"Your Majesty, many strange incidents have occurred recently, and there have even been disturbances in the imperial palace—you are aware of this?"
"I've heard."
"Therefore, we want to move you to a safer place. Please understand that this is for your protection."
"Is someone trying to kill me?"
Roger nodded.
"We'll arrest all of them soon. Until then, let us protect you."
"I would think the palace is safer."
"Actually, I don't trust the palace either."
"Is that so?"
Emperor Roman quietly watched Director Roger.
There was a strangeness to the Director now—he was treating the Emperor with an unusual formality compared to before.
"Let's go, Your Majesty."
"Right now?"
"Yes. Chamberlains, prepare His Majesty."
The chamberlains entered and helped dress the Emperor. Director Roger opened a secret door hidden with bricks. As soon as all was ready, he led the Emperor in.
"Only take one chamberlain and two guards."
"Understood."
Director Roger entered the secret passage first. Next came Emperor Roman, with the guards and chamberlain following. They walked down the long, long corridor.
Intelligence bureau agents were stationed throughout the secret passage. They were responsible for keeping the Emperor safe.
"We greet Your Majesty."
"I'll personally escort His Majesty. This is urgent, say nothing about it."
"Understood."
Director Roger led the Emperor toward the sewers.
The agents only watched with puzzled faces. They had received no word from above.
"When did the Director enter the palace?"
"I'm not sure. It's strange, he was just in the eastern residential district until recently."
The squad leader quietly studied Director Roger.
The Emperor followed, looking uneasy.
He spoke.
"Where's the deputy director?"
"He's at the city command post."
"Let them know the Director has led His Imperial Majesty out through a secret passage. They have communication rings; they'll soon confirm if that's really the Director."
"Yes."
An agent ran upstairs at top speed.
The squad leader frowned hard.
He sensed something was wrong.
After taking the Emperor out, director Roger led him along the river through the sewers. The ones following behind were full of doubts, too.
After walking along the riverbank for a while, director Roger entered a small, hidden underground sewer entrance in the bushes. He stopped in front of a blocked wall and gestured.
Suddenly, something transparent vanished, revealing a circular manual control device.
The Director grabbed the device and turned it.
Creeeeeak—grrrrrumble—
The ancient device, neglected for ages, began to turn, and a massive stone door slowly rose upward.
"Please, go in."
"Is it safe here?"
"It connects to another place."
Saying nothing more, director Roger walked in front. Even the Emperor, as well as the chamberlain and guards, had to pinch their noses from the stench.
They walked on for a while, passing through a wide area with a four-way split, and kept going north.
"Won't you tell me where we're going?"
"We're almost there."
After a bit, they arrived where sewage flowed. Strange monsters were stacked everywhere, and a large, dark round object was embedded in the wall.
In front of that door stood a figure clad in black armor: Nabak, a secret intelligence bureau agent. He had been guarding the devil's door under orders from the Director.
"We greet Your Majesty. What brings you here?"
"That's classified. Is anyone else here?"
Nabak looked at the Director with a puzzled expression.
He had just asked if there was anyone else.
It didn't sound like Director Roger's usual tone.
"Director, what's the squad leader's name?"
"Are you doubting me right now?"
Nabak spoke quietly.
"Your Majesty. This way, please."
"What's going on?"
The moment Nabak readied his sword and moved—
Director Roger extended his arm. Nabak, who had dashed in, was deflected to the side.
Pubbubbuck—
The chamberlain and both guards, who'd come along, were all struck in the forehead by beams of light and collapsed at once.
"What are you—?"
Emperor Roman collapsed while trying to speak, caught in the Director's arms. The Director rushed straight for the devil's door.
At that moment, Nabak, who had fallen, lunged.
He grabbed the Emperor's leg, but the Director was already inside the devil's door.
"Mont! Right now—"
Even Nabak, who grabbed the Emperor's leg, was pulled inside. Everything happened in an instant. Another agent, Mont, ran in and saw it all.
"... Damn."
* * *
I was running through the underground sewers.
After receiving Mont's report, I dashed over and jumped down the vertical shaft.
Nabak had gone through the devil's door. If the power of darkness was too strong, he would be corrupted by it. It was already too late, but I had to at least see what happened.
"Are you really going to go in?"
"Let's leave it to Nabak for now. He might bring Roman back with him."
I saw Mont in the distance.
The intelligence division searching the underground sewers as well.
"What happened?"
"The youngest tried to stop him and went in together. The person who lured the Emperor was disguised as the young master."
"Disguised as me?"
"Yes. I only saw briefly from afar, but it looked just like you. That's probably why the Emperor was fooled, too."
Everyone looked at the devil's door.
This was completely unexpected.
Someone kidnapping the Emperor was believable, but taking him into hell was baffling. Barely a day had passed since Kas entered this door.
If he had come out, he would've brought a devil with him. Yet, instead of revenge, he just took Roman. Was there another devil in the capital?
"Let's give it a day."
"If no one comes out, I'll go in."
That was Hans.
"If you can't get out either?"
"I'll make sure to find and bring back the young one."
We could lose team members.
If I went, maybe I could at least protect them. I couldn't just sit and wait, sending people into the jaws of death.
"We will save Nabak no matter what. Even if we can't retrieve Roman, we'll get him."
I headed for the exit.
There was something about this that bothered me.
Why would someone kidnap the Emperor?
Taking him to hell was a mystery, but if it had anything to do with the grand duke's faction or Kas's motives, it meant war. A war between humans, or between humans and devils.
"elder brother Ross."
― Yeah, what's up?
"I may need to go far, so just carry on normally and don't worry. If war breaks out, handle it like we talked about before."
― Where are you going?
"I'll tell you later."
― Got it. Take care.
"You too, elder brother."
I contacted another team.
"Squad leader."
― Go ahead.
"I might be stuck in hell for a while. Keep carrying out the plans and securing strongholds. If the empire collapses, make a swift escape."
― Are you really going in?
"I can't leave Nabak in hell."
― Understood. We'll prepare accordingly.
Squad leader would pass the word on to Marquess Watts, Count Mals, and the others. If both the Emperor and I disappeared, the royal family would fall. The empire was already only a shell.
After going to the surface, I opened the magic vault and moved in a large supply of food. There was enough food and water for half a year at least, but I filled it to the brim just in case.
I also took the holy daggers Eilin had crafted over several days. I left the Racrom greatswords with her. I planned to summon her later. Who knew what dangers might arise?
Then I went to the sewers and waited.
Roughly eight hours passed.
A long, long time.
"Let's go in."
We approached the devil's door.
Everyone had mentally prepared themselves during the wait. We knew we might not come back.
Donnie picked up a stone and tossed it into the door.
Nothing happened.
"I'll go first,"
Hans volunteered.
I nodded, and he dove into the devil's door without hesitation. He was sucked in at once.
Now, there was nothing else I could do.
I just had to go in too.
I headed for the devil's door.
.