Episode 230. The Last of the Festival (4)
The gravity of the situation that unfolded at the Magic Banquet was not felt only by Alighieri.
The sight was witnessed by a crystal ball communication screen that spread throughout the empire.
The transformation of Emperor Carmine into his true form as the ‘Demon King’ was a huge shock to those who watched.
In particular, the impact that came to the Zodiac Cross Divine was different from that of other regions.
The people were shedding tears at the fact that the Emperor Carmine who had led them was no longer Carmine.
-Emperor Carmine!
-Come out of the Emperor’s body, you devil!
The saint who saved this land from destruction by the Demon King… ironically, ended up having his body stolen by the Demon King.
Everyone could not help but feel outraged at the sight of the holy and benevolent emperor being escorted to the imperial palace in such a horrible state.
Since he was an emperor with such great popularity, it was inevitable that there would be complaints from all sides.
-Release the Emperor immediately!
-We can’t admit it!
-Isn’t this all just that Envy guy’s fabrication?
-Please let go of the Emperor!!
A resentment calling for the execution of the Emperor and his children for deceiving the people.
Anger towards the Demon King who took the Emperor’s body.
A scream from the escapism of the reality that it was all planned by Envy.
Each tremendous vortex of emotion was swirling through the Zodiac Cross Divine.
Especially, since there were many people who were directly saved by Emperor Carmine during the Holy War, there was no need for a crucible of chaos.
“How would you explain this situation, Elder Enviel?”
In the large conference room of the palace, a nobleman sitting around a round table spoke.
At the center of the round table sat Machia, imprisoned behind bars, her ankles shackled with all sorts of restraints and magical power-nulling shackles.
“It is as you see. The Emperor… no, he is no longer human.”
Likewise, Enviel, who was sitting in his seat, pointed to the Emperor who had the appearance of a terrible demon and spoke.
It was revealed that the magical power measured from him was very similar to the magical power of the Demon King he had encountered 30 years ago.
So, it was not an exaggeration to call them the Demon King, but they were still unable to accept the truth.
“That’s right. There’s even evidence that he’s the Demon King, so why hesitate? We have to get rid of him quickly.”
“What are you talking about! You also owe a favor to His Majesty the Emperor. If you want to dispose of him, you must dispose of the possessed Demon King.”
“No, we can’t just let this go! I heard that the Emperor’s children are also involved in his plan. Shouldn’t we wipe out that clan?”
“Don’t you know that among those people, there were innocent people who were taken advantage of?”
The conference room was just as chaotic as the outside. The only difference was the number of people shouting out their complaints.
“By the way, have you still not found the Emperor’s children?”
“I couldn’t find it. Princess Meloin’s head was already cut off a long time ago. You must have seen it, right?”
“Then what about Crown Prince Charis?”
“…I couldn’t find it.”
“It is clear that he is hiding because he is afraid of being punished for the crime he committed. So we should put the remaining one on the gallows to appease the public’s anger.”
“Who the hell…!”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Mirona Kirien Divine. Some moderate nobles were astonished at the suggestion that she should be killed publicly.
The nobles, realizing who it was, were furious and tried to protest loudly.
“I guess I know what you’re talking about.”
Gerard Chainsilver also opened up about that.
“Just in time, Princess Mirona has also come to this Cross Divine.”
“Is that true?”
The nobleman who had been acting tough looked surprised.
From his point of view, returning to the zodiac in this situation seemed like coming to get stoned.
But she didn’t come back to receive people’s cold stares.
“Where are you now?”
“She must have just met her estranged mother, who was imprisoned here by the Emperor.”
Her goal was to save her mother from the twisted emperor.
In other words, from mother to child, Mirona was not even treated as a human being by the emperor.
Any high-ranking nobles present would have noticed this fact.
“Compared to the other children, Princess Miro and Princess Hyojong have lived as a thorn in the side of this Emperor. It is absurd to say that Princess Miro and Princess Hyojong are also involved.”
“….”
“Even knowing that fact, it’s obvious that you want to put her on the gallows.”
He had her executed in public to attract public attention. There was no way Gerard didn’t know.
Besides, there was no guarantee that it would bring good wind.
“The people are not fools who are swayed by our political games. Have you considered the number of people who are happily asking if we can execute the princess?”
If there are more people opposing it, it could actually be counterproductive.
The intention to execute the princess was closer to mere jealousy toward the imperial family.
“There may be no benefit to being desperate to erase any traces of the imperial family.”
“….”
Erasing those traces did not make them emperors.
So the radical nobles were left speechless.
“That’s true. If that happens, we won’t be able to do anything.”
At that moment, Gerard suddenly narrowed his eyebrows at the nobleman who opened his mouth.
Although he had met many nobles, he had never wanted to meet this person.
From the past to the present, there have always been families that have been jealous of the Chainsilver family.
In particular, this man was Harkel Byold, the Duke of the Byold family who was leading such activities.
“Well, let’s put aside the fact that Princess Miro and Princess Aria are innocent. But why are you letting that Demon King live?”
In a situation where evidence has emerged that the Emperor is the Demon King Machia, it is only natural that he should be dealt with immediately.
Of course, it would be difficult to defeat him simply because he was possessed by the Demon King, but Harkel was speaking from the perspective that he would simply watch and not defeat him.
“Did you know that? Princess Miroa is also of the Emperor’s bloodline. In other words, she is of the Demon King’s bloodline. There is a possibility that she will awaken as the second Demon King.”
The moment they heard that sound, the voices of the radical nobles who had been silent began to rise.
If you put forward the excuse that it is to prevent the risk of newness in advance, the people will understand.
“The evidence is that.”
“Although I can’t say that much, you know very well what kind of memories the people have of the Demon King now, Gerard Chainsilver, you too lived through those times 30 years ago, so you know very well.”
Yes, the fear of the Demon King is beyond imagination.
Gerard, who had seen the damage firsthand in the war, could feel it deeply.
“I too have experienced that war. That is why I cannot allow the source of evil to continue to roam the streets for the sake of my people.”
“….”
Gerard also agreed with that sentiment.
Because I cared too much about the people who were terrified, I neglected the suffering of the saint from the previous generation.
Gerard didn’t want to make the same mistake again.
However, Harkel, who had lived through the same generation, knew Gerard’s circumstances and raised the corners of his mouth.
“Or are you thinking of saving the princess to win the hearts of the people and ascend to the throne?”
“The Emperor’s seat…?”
Hearing that, Gerard laughed out loud inwardly.
Certainly, the group with the highest standing in the Empire after the Imperial Family and the Church is the Chainsilver Family.
However, the Chainsilver family was not such a grand family from the beginning.
Because they were on the verge of extinction, they were often ridiculed by the surrounding nobles, and when they suddenly revived, they were extremely jealous of them.
However, the family that took the lead in this jealousy was the Viold family, and the reason was that Harkel himself coveted the position of Emperor.
“That sounds interesting.”
Harkel had no right to speak.
Gerard laughed at the absurdity.
“You just mentioned the second Demon King and all that. Do you think we didn’t prepare any countermeasures for that?”
“What is that….”
Suddenly-
The moment Harkel questioned the question, the conference room door opened.
The people who came in from there were two saints and the Pope, who could be said to be the leader of the Holy See.
A golden crown with a cross and a robe with a border of sacred colors.
And yet, he had the impression of a calm, bearded old man, Pope Paul Dracula of the Order of the Holy Cross.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Your Holiness…?”
“I heard the conversation a little while ago at the door. There will be no second Demon King. That’s because we will do our best in cooperation with the Chainsilver family.”
“What…!”
Harkel’s face turned red at that absurd statement.
* * * * *
“Chain silver… Chain silver…!”
That night, after the meeting, Harkel came out to the open space outside the palace.
He had a scary expression on his face and muttered in a creepy voice.
The Chainsilver family, whom Harkel had long been obsessed with, was obsessed with suppressing them.
The Biold family always looked down on and ridiculed the Chainsilver family, which was originally a weak family.
This has been passed down through generations and is deeply inherited at the cell level.
Their fight seemed like it would never end unless one side was wiped out.
Especially since Harkel was after the emperor, a clash with Chainsilver became unavoidable.
`In order to restore public sentiment, I had to abandon even the child who caused the problem.`
Travel Bayold. He was once his son, but he is no longer heard from.
He didn’t care whether he died or not, because it was an obstacle to his dream of becoming an emperor.
But this meeting put us in a great crisis.
Because I never thought that even the Pope would take Chainsilver’s side.
I have to write the numbers quickly.
Otherwise, all authority will be taken away by Chainsilver.
I couldn’t be comfortable because of my anxiety.
“Do you want to be emperor?”
When someone spoke to him, Harkel tried to pull out the sword he was holding sensitively at his waist.
He was a man with pointy ears.
You could tell at a glance that she was an elf, and she had a pretty famous face.
Grisha Highend, the master of the Yellow Horse Tower.
Harkel held his breath as he listened to what he said.
“How about waking up with me, Destroyer?”
* * * * *
A monster is chasing me.
You must hide yourself immediately.
Feeling extremely scared, I was running frantically through the forest.
It was because my survival instinct was pounding in my chest telling me to run away immediately.
“Ugh… Ugh…!”
I kept moving my legs as if I was being chased by a ghost.
Even though I was currently running uphill, I had to run at full speed without caring about it.
Because the fear suppressed the feeling of exhaustion.
“Honey, where are you!”
I hear a voice.
It was definitely the voice of that monster.
She appears as a small, delicate, pink-haired girl, but don’t let that fool you.
Because even I don’t know what’s hidden behind her kind and bright expression.
“Hahaha! Honey~ Are you playing hide and seek?”
To others, she just appears to be a little girl having fun.
But how can it be normal for someone to suddenly hug you and say, “Let’s get married!”
“You don’t have to worry anymore! I won’t eat bugs anymore. I’ve accepted all my flaws. So I can say I’m serious!”
“….”
“Friend! Marry me!”
scary.
I’m scared of saying something like that so casually.
Think about it. Do you think it would be possible to propose to someone by lighting a heart candle in the subway or in a park where everyone can see you?
The kid is just doing it with a calm face.
A girl with romantic feelings wouldn’t even dream of something like that.
That’s why it’s scary. It feels like something is chasing me, something that has abandoned my emotions.
`But how long do I have to hide?`
“Well, I guess I should just go out.”
`If I go out and something happens to me, will you take responsibility?`
“No, I just want to see you suffer.”
`F*ck, you little snake!`
There was no one on my side around here.
If you just go out and boldly do it, there’s no guarantee that you’ll face some humiliation later.
So I have to take care of my body.
“Oh, right.”
`What nonsense are you talking about again?`
“That kid, doesn’t he also use spirit magic?”
`Huh?`
Come to think of it, this forest was home to many spirits.
The better the person’s sensitivity, the more likely the spirits are to take that person’s side… .
“babe.”
As expected, my whole body froze at the sound I heard right behind me.
“I found… it… all…”
At that moment, I could feel the feeling of a fly being eaten by a toad.
Yes, the choice is only for the strong.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
