Chapter 176

Chapter 176

After finishing the lively meal and wrapping up various errands in the shopping district, Seongjin schemed to separate from the group.

“I’m heading back to the inn now. Since you’re here, feel free to relax and have fun until evening.”

Although they tried to hide it, everyone had excited faces. Only the straitlaced Dame Maria said with a worried expression.

“But is that alright?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be with Sir Masain.”

It wasn’t a lie. With Bruno not having fully recovered his Aura abilities yet, there was probably no one as powerful as Masain, not only among the accompanying Wolf Knights but in the entire city.

“You have to consider the young people’s feelings too. It’s rare for them to leave the imperial capital, so let them have fun without their superiors around.”

“Young...what?”

As Dame Maria’s expression turned subtle, Seongjin hastily added.

“I like the freedom too. I’ll just go to the inn and train.”

But upon hearing those words, Masain was startled and began carefully observing Seongjin with a stiff expression.

Huh? What’s wrong? Did I say something strange?

While he was puzzled, Masain turned to Dame Maria and spoke.

“Alright. Let’s do as His Highness says.”

“But Sir Masain...”

“I’ll accompany His Highness, so there’s no problem. Besides, I’m worried if you don’t lead those green knights.”

Indeed.

Dame Maria, surveying the excited junior knights, was convinced.

After sending them off, Masain fell silent for a moment and quietly looked down at Seongjin.

His expression was complex, as if he had much to say, but before he could ask anything, he lowered his gaze and politely bowed his head.

“Then I shall escort you to the inn, Your Highness.”

...What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?

Observing Masain’s somewhat stiff expression, Seongjin returned to the inn with an uneasy feeling.

“You’re back, Your Highness.”

As if sensing their approach, Bruno came out to the hallway to greet them.

“Ah, Bruno. Did you rest well?”

“Yes, Your Highness. But you’ve returned early.”

“Yeah. I think I’ve seen enough for now, so I came back first.”

Then he glanced around and cautiously whispered to Seongjin.

“By the way, did you happen to meet someone outside?”

“Meet? Who?”

“...Never mind.”

After brushing it off like that, Bruno tugged on his mustache in embarrassment and quietly disappeared into his room!

‘What? What’s wrong with everyone?’

Seongjin frowned, but he had no time to worry about them at the moment. Resolving the issues at hand took priority.

Using meditation as an excuse to dismiss even Masain, Seongjin returned to his room alone and changed into the casual clothes he had prepared.

They weren’t as conspicuous as an assassin’s outfit but had a dull color that wouldn’t easily stand out.

[Are you going alone? Without waiting for that woman?]

‘Yeah.’

For Dasha, who had infiltrated Milo’s merchant group, to move freely, it would probably have to be late at night.

But he had been having a strange feeling since earlier. As if he had to move now or it would be too late.

As he activated Aura concealment and flung open the window.

“...So where are you going, Your Highness?”

Gasp.

Startled by the sudden voice beside him, Seongjin nearly lost his balance and fell out the window.

Looking up, Masain was standing at the window of the next room with his arms crossed, looking down at Seongjin.

“Sir Masain? You knew? Since when?”

“Since Your Highness dismissed the knights and felt relieved.”

...Ah. I was too obvious., Sir Masain. So this is...”

As Seongjin glanced at him and stammered an excuse, Masain shook his head and spoke in a firm tone.

“I won’t stop you from doing anything, Your Highness. But this time, you must take me with you.”

“Oh, but...”

“You must!”

In his serious, stony face, only his two eyes were burning like an active volcano.

Honestly, it was a bit scary.

“Uh, okay. Okay. I’ll go with you.”

In the end, Seongjin surrendered completely.

‘There’s no problem, right?’

Having made that judgment, Seongjin released his Aura concealment and abruptly smacked the demon’s head.

[Gasp! Wait a moment, Lee Seongjin! A low-level minion...]

Pow!

At that sudden situation, the Demon King, unable to stop him in time, was startled.

Keeeyaaah!

The demon let out a bizarre sound and tumbled to the floor. The book it was holding fell to the ground and rolled towards Seongjin.

[...means there’s a strong demon commanding this one...]

‘Huh? What did you say?’

[...No. Nothing.]

Seongjin picked up the fallen book.

But oof, oof. The demon, who had been screaming strangely while clutching its head, looked at Seongjin and burst into tears.

[Baaaah! Masteeer!]

Kyaang. A shrill cry shaking the soul.

Huh? It has a master?

Was I too hasty?

[Lee Seongjin! A massive demonic energy from somewhere...]

And before the Demon King could finish his words.

Woooosh! Ruuuumble!

Suddenly, a fierce wind blew in, and the entire office began to shake. A thunderous roar that seemed to tear eardrums soon followed, shaking the office.

[How dare you! Who dares to touch my minion!]

Uh-oh, seems like things have turned serious.

Seongjin hid the book behind his back and took a step back.

Soon, black smoke-like substance began to billow from the center of the office.

It was the demon’s demonic energy.

From the rapidly expanding demonic energy, an imposing demon soon revealed itself.

A burly, muscular build with black tattoos on red skin. And huge black horns reminiscent of a goat.

That textbook appearance was truly.

‘It’s a demon!’

[Yes, I told you it’s a demon! What kind of nonsense have you been spouting?]

The demon noticed the book in Seongjin’s hand and became greatly enraged.

Its red sclera already looked as if blood had pooled in it, and its pumpkin-like yellow pupils flashed with fierce light, as if electricity was sparking.

Reflecting that anger, the black demonic energy that grew even more intense not only enveloped the demon’s body but also filled the spacious office.

[Hand that over right now! Do you even know what you’re holding?]

“Hearing you say that makes me even less inclined to return it.”

Seongjin retorted like that and quickly drew the Nutcracker, aiming it straight ahead.

Somehow, this demon seemed quite strong, and he thought he would definitely need the help of holy knights with divine power.

Since it was emitting so much demonic energy like this, surely someone would notice the anomaly. Sir Masain would also take action, so he just needed to buy some time.

While searching for the demon’s weakness and making such calculations in his mind.

Suddenly, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

As the demon’s yellow eyes fell upon the sword Seongjin was aiming, it widened its eyes and gaped its mouth.

[Why is there a holy relic? W-wait a minute! That sword! C-could it be? The Nutcracker?]

Then swoosh. The demonic energy noticeably began to decrease.

The demon’s body shrank, and its horns receded. Its eyes, which had been entirely red, started to develop what could be called white sclera.

“...?”

As Seongjin blankly watched, the demon scratched its protruding fangs with an awkward expression and asked.

[Do you have any relation to the emperor, by any chance?]

Huh?

Suddenly, the opponent is showing a willingness to talk?

“I’m his son.”

[What?]

“Oh, I’m a prince of the Holy Empire. So His Majesty the Emperor is my father.”

[...!]

The demon was astounded. Then, in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a human form!

With the demonic energy completely gone, what appeared was a skinny man with dark circles that seemed ready to ooze out.

On that exhausted-looking face was a dismayed expression, as if he had stepped on a landmine. If one didn’t know he was a demon, he might even look pitiful.

“...Damn it.”

He muttered dejectedly, staring into the void.