The sudden large-scale battle between the Murim Alliance and the demon sect was of such magnitude that it would not be an exaggeration to say the fate of Eastern Murim was at stake.
Both sides fought more fiercely than ever before. It was, quite literally, an all-or-nothing gamble.
However, Yuri had no idea that, in Saidor, a Great War between the Righteous and the Demonic had suddenly erupted, and that the outcome of this could change the fate of his beloved Yekaterina.
That was why he criticized Elaine.
“They said they were going to bring something from the East, and not a word since. No capability, no…”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Elaine and Cheongun. They even took Bernard with them, and they still haven’t achieved anything, right?”
“Maybe right now they’re on their way with all their strength.”
“And what’s the point of coming late? When they’re needed, they’re useless.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Ah, I need to vent. Hey, master! They said the sense of duty in the jianghu had been lost, and I think it’s true!”
Yuri stood up and walked toward Moyongchan.
The Anti-Imperial Alliance was resting after having won the first battle.
When night fell, the Imperial Demonic Realm showed a different face from the day.
The darkness, as if it had form, crept along the skin, and a thin, line-shaped moon floated above their heads. At first glance, it looked like the mocking corner of someone’s mouth watching them.
And the stars.
All dyed a deep red, they shone grotesquely.
The sound of the wind brushing past their ears carried with it an echo resembling a ghostly wail.
Although it wasn’t raining, the ground was sticky, and just standing still for a moment was enough for insects never before seen to crawl up their legs.
Jared let out a sigh.
“This is unbearable…”
He didn’t know exactly what kind of world Cedric dreamed of, but at least this Empire was very, very wrong. There was no way humans could survive long in such an environment.
Jared had a hypothesis he hadn’t shared with Yuri.
Cedric’s failure.
He had summoned the entity known as the god from another world, but in the end, he could not control it.
Cedric did not want to destroy the world, but to create the ultimate world to his liking. Even if it was authoritarian, his intent was not inherently corrupt.
However, what had spread across the Empire was, literally, a Demonic Realm.
It was impossible that he had wished for something like this.
Whether it was the process of accepting that entity or a failure, this certainly was not what he wanted.
And that was what worried Jared the most.
“It might be that, instead of His Highness or Cedric, the victor will end up being some random monster…”
Crushing an insect crawling on the ground, Jared muttered.
Either way, what was truly the end was drawing near.
He remembered everything that had happened.
Everything had happened.
And the beginning was obvious—
that troublemaker, Yuri Briol, his lord.
Fighting against orcs, setting out for the Empire, battling all sorts of enemies. And now, the fate of the entire world was at stake.
It was no longer a human war where only the ruler changed depending on the victor, but a struggle in which the very survival of humanity was at risk.
“And what are you doing there alone, with that tragic face?”
Laurent approached. Lately, his character had softened a lot, and he spoke in a calm tone. Of course, he was no longer the naive Laurent from before.
But Jared liked this Laurent now better.
“Just thinking about some things. Laurent, have you ever wondered what would have happened if you had never met Prince Yuri?”
The moment he said that, Jared felt a bit of regret.
Laurent had lost everything at Cedric’s hands. And it could be said that Cedric had done that precisely because of Laurent’s loyalty toward Yuri.
But Laurent nodded without giving it much weight.
“Yes, I’ve thought about it.”
“Oh, really?”
“Either way, I’d be here. Just in a different way.”
“I suppose so…”
“Don’t worry. All that’s in the past. You seem to be worried about Française.”
“Eh? Ah… well…”
Laurent gave a faint smile, and Jared, scratching his head, smiled too.
“Yuri Briol has changed many things.”
“That’s right.”
“But in the end, he’s also a human being like us. Don’t forget that.”
Laurent looked at him as he spoke.
“People—and me too—tend to depend too much on that guy.”
“That…”
“They think he can do anything, because he’s accomplished impossible things. But we can’t leave everything in the hands of Yuri Briol.”
Jared couldn’t deny it. Even now, he had that vague notion that Yuri would somehow manage to solve everything.
Although, in the face of this unprecedented catastrophe, Yuri was also just a human being, one unconsciously ended up thinking he was different.
Laurent continued in a cynical tone.
“And do you really think Yuri Briol has changed everything for the better?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you remember Cory?”
“Yes.”
“He was just a half-orc who, if not for Yuri Briol, would have died in a short time wallowing in Saidor. But he went out into a wider world, learned magic, and even obtained the power called Dragon’s Tongue.”
Jared nodded with a serious face. He had already heard the news that Cory had switched sides and allied with Cedric.
“And now he’s become our enemy. Maybe even the toughest of all.”
Jared lifted his gaze to the night sky.
His mind filled with thoughts.
If he had been Cory, if he had been a half-orc hunted all his life, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t have ended up the same. On the contrary, he probably would have taken the wrong path much earlier.
“There’s nothing to think about. What I’m saying is that we can’t rely solely on Yuri Briol. We have to do our part too. He’s also a human being.”
“Yes…”
“In the end, the task is obvious. Fight anyone and kill them.”
“Exactly.”
“And stop looking at the sky so much. It bewitches you.”
Laurent stood up.
“See you.”
“Did you come all the way here just to cheer me up?”
“If I left you alone, you’d be a hindrance later.”
Jared watched him walk away and smiled.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Jared lowered his head and closed his eyes.
He sharpened his senses.
Laurent was right.
The task was singular.
Whoever stood in the way, he would kill.
And when, in the end, he drove his sword into Cedric’s heart, everything would be over.
It didn’t matter how strong that god from another world was, nor what black magic or power Cory possessed to aid Cedric.
He set aside all complicated thoughts.
“Fuuu…”
He opened his eyes.
“This is getting interesting.”
***
Cedric floated in the darkness with his eyes closed.
He was adjusting himself so he could fully wield the power he had suddenly received.
As some had suspected, Cedric was buying time.
But the reason had nothing to do with what they expected.
It wasn’t that a problem had arisen in summoning the god from another world; he was simply taking a moment to properly control a power that had grown far too vast.
[Ah…]
In the midst of intoxication from that overwhelming power, he suddenly heard a voice calling to him from beyond his consciousness.
Cedric opened his eyes.
Then, his mind emerged from the darkness and returned to his body.
He was sitting on his throne.
“Lord Cedric.”
It was Eugen, who had now become his servant. He had once been the crown prince of the Empire, but had become Cedric’s slave after succumbing to black magic.
“What is it?”
“A problem has arisen.”
At these words, Eugen bowed his head until it touched the floor.
“A problem…?”
Cedric smiled disdainfully. With the absolute power he now possessed, the problems of the human world were trifles.
“There have always been problems.”
Nothing surprised him anymore.
And it was all his brother Yuri Briol’s fault.
Matters that should have proceeded without hindrance began to fail one after another ever since Yuri began to act. If not for him, Cedric wouldn’t have had to rush to summon the god from another world.
Cedric looked down at the bowed Eugen and smirked.
“So, what kind of problem is it this time?”
“The forces of the Heavenly Demon Sect could not attack Briol.”
“They couldn’t? Does that mean they were defeated?”
“No, they stopped before reaching Briol.”
Cedric gripped the throne’s armrest. This was not the same as failing.
“They didn’t even get there?”
His voice was laced with anger, and Eugen trembled as he lowered his head even further. His servility was such that it was hard to believe he had ever been a crown prince.
He banged his forehead against the floor several times before speaking.
“Yes. They encountered another force from the East in front of Saidor.”
“From the East?”
Cedric let out a laugh of disbelief.
“From the East, you say?”
“The Murim Alliance. Even the leader of the Alliance himself appeared, said to be the strongest in Eastern Murim.”
“And so what…?”
Cedric put a hand to his forehead.
He had been waiting for the Anti-Imperial Alliance to arrive in the Empire. And while Briol was left unguarded, using Dan Socheon’s position, he had summoned the troops of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
His intention had been to crush Yekaterina to provoke Yuri.
He wanted to surprise that brother who always interfered with him in unexpected ways, then watch what kind of face he made when enraged.
He had even warned him when they met.
But he had failed.
If at least they had posed a threat to Briol, he could salvage some pride, but they had been stopped before they even arrived.
After mocking him by saying he should take care of his woman, he now looked like a complete fool.
When Cedric fell silent, Eugen struck his forehead against the floor again.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Cedric leaned back in the throne.
“At least tell me you found out how those Murim Alliance people got here?”
“Yes… yes…”
“Good. If you hadn’t, then you’d have to apologize. Now, tell me how it happened.”
“Well…”
As Cedric had guessed, it was connected to Yuri. So obvious it was no longer even amusing.
“They say a merchant named Elaine personally went East to negotiate. She’s the owner of the Elaine Trading Company, and they obtained information that the Prince of Briol, Yuri Briol, is in fact its true owner. I suppose they planned it all in advance.”
“I see…”
Cedric lowered his head and twisted his lips.
“So, in the end, it’s all because of that guy.”
He couldn’t understand how his brother managed all of this. He could foresee most people, but not him.
Cedric could anticipate most of the world, but Yuri Briol remained the only one he could not surpass.
Finally, he nodded.
“I wanted to win at least once in this game, but in the end, I’ve lost again.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Cedric frowned.
“This isn’t a game for nobodies like you to meddle in. It’s between Yuri and me, so why the hell do you keep apologizing?”
“Forgive me!”
“Get out.”
Eugen crawled backwards without raising his head. Cedric watched him leave and muttered.
“In the end, I couldn’t win. It’s time to close the game…”
Cedric’s plan had reached its final stage.
The entertainment was over. With the overwhelming power he had gained thanks to the god from another world, it was time to end it all.
He did not feel particularly pleased.
Deep down, he knew he would be left as the loser in his game against Yuri.
But suddenly—
“Ah…”
Cedric’s face lit up.
He still had one card left.
“Yes, of course.”
He was not satisfied with simply ending the game. He wanted to give Yuri one last blow of despair, to see him break and collapse. And there was still a way to do that.
Someone who had originally been Yuri’s subordinate. And who had now become one of his most valuable assets.
“Eugen, bring me Cory.”
“Yes.”
Cedric smiled broadly as he recalled that ugly, stunted half-orc. A monster who delighted in seeing Laurent’s twisted figure.
That man in whom Yuri trusted now showed without reservation the darkness he had hidden for so long.
The more one pretended to be virtuous, the deeper the darkness within.
“Yuri’s going to love this. Hahahahaha…”
Cedric’s laughter echoed like a lingering specter.
____
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