Chapter 9
In the back alley of the capital, there was a hideout for a vicious gangster.
It was a lawless zone where people lived by stealing and killing other people who just passed by.
A man wearing a dark gray robe entered the back alley which everyone was reluctant to do without hesitation.
He stopped walking until he reached the door with a dark gray shade.
Clank-!
The door opened when the man touched the snake pattern engraved on the black iron door.
The man’s body disappeared in the darkness.
The man walked in through the dark passageway and took off his robe.
Vivid colored platinum blond hair shone in the dark.
The cold sky blue eyes touched another man who was standing in front of the stone.
“Welcome, Belial.”
When the man threw off his robe recklessly, the blue symbol shone on his chest.
It was the symbol of Theo Knights, the corps who guarded Avita along with the Knights of Dojino.
“Long time no see, Modeus.”
Modeus, the man in front of the stone statue, said in a voice mixed with laughter.
“So you’re not afraid to come all the way here wearing that. Are you not afraid someone might recognize the vice-general of Theo Knights?”
“To plot an uprising, one needs a status. That’s why I wore it.”
“That’s true.”
The platinum blond man named Belial, moved his steps to watch Demian, the first prince, who was lying down on a large stone.
Demian, who was doused in the opaque waters, looked very pale.
“How’s his condition?”
“As you can see,”
Belial’s cold eyes scoured Demian’s naked upper body.
The same snake pattern carved on the iron door was also faintly engraved on his upper body.
“It’s faint.”
“Because he’s resisting.”
Belial’s face became bitter.
“Not yet?”
“It’ll be soon. Since the vessel is also Avita’s bloodline.”
Belial looked displeased at Damian who was lying down on the stone.
Looking at him, Modeus said in an anguished voice.
“Avita’s blood is the medium to summon the demon king into this world. Blame the first emperor who set the barrier.”
If Avita’s descendants open the barrier on their own will, the gate of the sacred ground where the demon was sealed would open.
Thanks to that, it became such a cumbersome and annoying work.
However, months after using magic, that disgusting Avita’s blood was persistent in protecting its descendants.
Even protecting the incompetent first prince who lost his crown Prince status to his brother. Even when he was such a weak and powerless descendant.
Modeus clicked his tongue and asked Belial.
“What happened to the monster summoning?”
“It didn’t last very long.”
“What’s in your body is the leader of the demon. If you let your guard down, it’ll devour your soul. Don’t overdo it.”
Modeus looked at the black pattern carved on his hand and said,
“Even if you are the contractor of those entities, we are only human.”
“……”
“Well, at least monsters are able to catch the Crown Prince’s attention, right?”
Modeus, who smiled satisfactorily, asked again.
“But where did you send the monsters?”
Belial answered casually.
“Yeronimo territory.”
***
“Why don’t you stay for dinner, too?”
I looked out the window at the Baroness’ words. It was already dark.
“Thanks for your invitation, but I need to go back before sunset.”
“Already?”
“I’d like to chat with you a little more…”
The ladies said regretfully. Their heads were glittering with butterfly-shaped pins that were given as gifts by the Marquis.
“Navian, go back a little later, can you?”
“Claire, she wasn’t feeling well until recently. It’s already amazing that she’s here.”
Claire was sobbing at Elizabeth’s word.
“But….”
“Next time, we shall visit her.”
“Can we do that?”
Everyone’s eyes were on me.
“I’d be glad if you could come,”
At my word, the faces of young ladies brightened.
Then, a faint voice was heard outside, and the servant approached us.
“The captain of Yeronimo Knights has arrived.”
“Please come in.”
At the Baron’s word, the captain came in. His bright blond hair was messy, perhaps he rushed here on a horse.
“Pardon my rudeness, It’s an urgent matter.”
“What’s the matter?”
The captain bowed his upper body to the Baron. I couldn’t hear the conversation because he lowered his voice.
“What! Is that true?”
“Yes, so please refrain from going out for a while.”
“I understand. How could this happen…”
Baron’s sigh spread in the air.
“I’ll send my guard with you.”
“Thank you for your kindness, but…”
The knight whispered again.
“Huh, is he directly…?”
The captain spoke in a low voice at the pale-faced baron.
“Yes. We’ll have to go back before we run into him.”
“Then hurry up! You need to be careful. Go and make sure to contact us.”
“I will do that.”
When I rose from my seat, Claire held my hand as if she was disappointed. After I capsized her hand with all my might, I left the mansion.
I asked the captain when I saw the knight waiting next to the carriage waved his hands.
“What’s going on?”
“Monsters have appeared in the forest.”
I opened my eyes wide. How could monsters reach civilian territory?
“It’s not that many and we’ve managed to subdue it quickly. However, there’s more of them coming.”
So it was an emergency.
“What about father?”
“He received a call and left in haste. He should be in the middle of the meeting by now.”
I had to hurry.
‘There’s no one in the mansion right now. Ulysse already left for the north.’
I heard a voice as I got closer to the carriage.
“Excuse me, Navian.”
They were the ladies who came out to see me off.
“I’m having a great time. Lady Julia.”
“Have a safe trip home. I hope to see you again soon.”
I embraced the ladies one by one, and by the time Claire’s turn came.
“Don’t be surprised.”
She leaned down and kissed the back of my hand.
Warm energy spread from the back of my hand.
My headache cleared up, my muscle pain disappeared, and the aftereffect of the motion sickness medicine was also gone.
“It’s a gift. Since you don’t look too well.”
Elizabeth, who was next to me, smiled and said.
“Claire was born a little different. She took after her mother.”
Born different meant she was a different species.
To be specific, she wasn’t human.
After Avita was established, marriage between different species was rare, but not impossible.
‘Is she a half-mixed fairy?’
The fairies had the power to heal others.
But still, to say this in front of people she just met?
“I’m not sure if I was allowed to hear that.”
“It’s okay! Navian is my friend now.”
I was worried that she was getting attached to the person she just met. I looked at Claire’s eyes that were contained with belief and spoke.
“I’ll keep my lips sealed. Please take care of yourself.”
Elizabeth held my hand with a small smile.
“Can I talk casually to you next time we see each other? I like you, too.”
“Shall we do that?”
“Yes!”
Elizabeth smiled happily. After bidding goodbye to them, I got on the carriage.
“Excuse me.”
The captain, who got on the carriage with me, looked out the window.
The knights sat on the horseman’s seat and took the reins.
“I’ll give you the detailed explanation as we go. We need to hurry, so hold on tight.”
Then the captain knocked on the window and shouted.
“Let’s go!”
The wheels moved with a rattling sound.
***
“You mean the monsters came up because of the strange climate?”
“Yes, the empire’s border was shaken.”
The situation was far worse than I thought. Since the empire’s border was the habitat of the monsters.
‘But there is Theo Knights.’
If Dojino Knights defended the capital, then Theo Knights were in charge of monsters outside and observed the enemy’s movement.
To put it simply, it was Theo Knight’s duty to prevent the monsters from coming into the civilian territory.
‘Elon, that bastard, what the hell is he doing? Why is the monster here?’
Elon de Lark.
With platinum blond hair and cold sky blue eyes, he had an ill-fated relationship with me ever since our academy days.
Although I didn’t like his snobbish and haughty noble attitude, I acknowledged his ability.
Even though we fought frequently, I could endure it for the sake of the empire.
It was a little annoying each time we argued under the guise of reporting whether it was about the barrier’s security or situation in the border area.
But the day before I died, I lost contact with Theo Knights. I hadn’t heard from him all morning, so I contacted him first, but he was absent.
‘How strange. No matter how shitty Elon’s temper was, he wasn’t a guy who wouldn’t accept the call, so it was strange.’
-Flashback-
‘Then I’ll go.’
At the word of Walson, the General of Dojino Knights, the first prince Demian also intervened.
‘I’m coming with you.’
Prince Demian smiled quietly at me.
‘Sir Lerine, please take care of the Imperial Palace. I entrust it to you until I come back.’
-End of flashback-
People called Demian, ‘the first prince who was more incompetent than the third prince’, but he was not.
He was just a compassionate person who didn’t want a faction between the brothers to happen. That was why I couldn’t believe my premonition dream.
‘The Imperial Palace is in a crisis, so the imperial barrier wouldn’t be safe either. Because we’re lacking manpower.’
Then I understood why the monster came up.
It was to call out the knights who guarded the imperial barrier. There were suspicious details left, but I’m sure it wasn’t the only reason.
At that time, the carriage stopped urgently.
I grabbed the window frame to prevent my light body from falling over. The captain, who was looking outside through the window asked the knight sitting in the horseman’s seat.
“How many?”
“It’s about 50 of them.”
“Strange, how are they coming so fast?”
That was what I’m saying. Monsters had low intelligence and very slow movement. It would take approximately 3 days for them to get here since they just killed a group.
“Stay alert.”
“Yes.”
The eyes of the monster began to be seen in the dark forest. The captain said as he closed the window curtain.
“Please wait here, I’ll be right back.”
His voice came out low as if he wanted to assert me.
“You must never come out.”