Chapter 37: Illusionary Army (2)

Chapter 37: Illusionary Army (2)

Hyukseong Palace, one of the five castles circling the central Baeksung Palace.

Its master, the third prince, Enoch Agnes, was lost in thought, sitting deeply in his chair, tapping the armrest.

Lergan, the chief of Icarus, stood behind Enoch, who remained silent.

How much time had slipped by?

Just as the sunlight streaming through the window began to shift.

"So, Lergan, do you believe that kid Zion has been messing with dark magic?"

Enoch finally broke the silence.

"Yes."

Lergan gave a nod as though he'd anticipated the question.

"It's more than just dabbling in dark magic; it looks like he's borrowed some serious power from a top-level demon."

"And you're sure of this?"

"Over 90% sure."

Even though he said so, Lergan was completely convinced that Prince Zion had struck a deal with a demon.

"It's common knowledge that Prince Zion, who used to be so weak that he couldn't harm a fly, has suddenly turned so ruthless he doesn't flinch at taking a life. No one sane could change their nature that dramatically."

But there was more.

"The power that Prince Zion's been wielding lately, the dark shadow that always seems to hover nearby, his eerie aura - all those changes are absolutely impossible without meddling with dark magic, or worse, with demons."

And then, the final, damning piece of evidence.

Lergan clearly remembered seeing Zion's eyes turn completely black for a split second a few hours ago as they parted ways outside the castle.

It was over in a flash, but Lergan's keen eyes caught the change.

Lergan knew that it was a tell-tale sign of someone who has made a pact with a demon.

"Do you understand the magnitude of your accusation?"

Enoch spoke with a heavy voice, eyeing Lergan.

Dark magic.

A magic harnessed using mana.

Since mana originated from demons, dark magic was forbidden in the empire.

Merely learning dark magic could be a death sentence, with no regard for social status.

Moreover, directly drawing power from a demon - beyond just learning dark magic - was an even graver matter.

Demons are the nemesis of the Empire and humankind.

Accepting power from such an adversary was tantamount to challenging all of humanity.

And if the one accepting this demonic power wasn't a commoner but a direct blood relative of the ruling Agnes family?

The fallout would be unthinkable.

'The shame that would fall on the entire Agnes family, the likely collapse of royal power, of course...'

But it also offered a valid excuse to officially eliminate Zion.

'Taking down Zion once and for all wouldn't be too bad.'

With him gone, it'd be a breeze to win over Zion's maternal family.

Enoch, having weighed his options, glanced at Lergan and flashed a grin.

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

"Absolutely."

Facing the third prince, Lergan returned a frosty smile.

---

Raei Translations

---

Zion and Liushina's first stop after leaving the Imperial City was a well-known eatery in the capital, Hubris.

"Are you hungry, Master? Should we eat first?"

Liushina asked, her eyes on the restaurant's sign that read "Moonlit Feast". She had seldom seen Zion take pleasure in food.

"I'm not hungry, but there's something I need."

Zion responded and stepped into the restaurant, his face shielded by a cloak.

Moonlit Feast.

This was a covert outpost of the information guild 'Moon's Eye', a place Zion had visited when he needed details about the Black Forest.

Ding!

Were they expecting Zion?

Unlike his previous visit, a waiter approached Zion as soon as the clear bell on the door rang and murmured,

"We've been waiting for you. Please follow me."Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

"You're not going to throw a knife at me again, right?"

"...That won't happen."

After receiving that answer, Zion quietly followed the waiter, who'd already started to lead the way.

"So, we're not really here to eat."

Liushina, realizing this, clicked her tongue and followed Zion.

"Yes, assign her again this time. I might need to place additional requests."

"Understood. By the way, did your venture into the Black Forest go well?"

Aileen, curious, questioned Zion.

Despite the entire Black Forest vanishing overnight, it was a mysterious event about which she knew nothing.

Aileen was aware that Zion was involved in the incident.

Because he was one of two survivors who had entered and exited the forest.

She couldn't help but be curious, guessing at the identity of the entity sealed within the forest.

"Yes, thanks to you."

Zion nonchalantly nodded in response to the question.

With that, Zion's gaze momentarily drifted to Liushina.

Aileen, following his gaze to look at Liushina,

"......!"

Her eyes began to widen as if she had realized something, ultimately filling with shock.

"Are we leaving now?"

The woman who had been idly yawning by Prince Zion's side.

Aileen knew who she was.

The woman with red eyes who had been in Zion's company since his return to the Imperial City not long ago.

The power that woman was unmistakably wielding was blood magic.

'Could it be... The Thousand-Year Witch isn't dead...'

A shiver coursed through Aileen's body.

At that moment, Aileen saw it.

Zion, his finger already on his lips, smiling at her.

---

Raei Translations

---

"Miss, why did you accept that request?"

After Zion and Liushina exited the basement, the mustached employee, Allen, asked Aileen who stood by his side.

His eyes were brimming with doubt.

The request that Prince Zion had placed a little while ago was essentially asking the Eye of the Moon to work for him.

This was incompatible with the Eye of the Moon's policy of maintaining neutrality amid the contests for the throne and power struggles. It should have been a request to decline.

"Prince Zion was testing us just now."

Aileen began to speak in a grave tone.

"He was assessing whether we would serve him or refuse."

What would have transpired if they had declined outright?

While envisioning Zion's eerie gaze, Aileen shook her head to dismiss that thought.

"The Emperor's end is close. With his passing, the true chaos will commence, and we must adapt to survive."

So far, they had maintained a stance of neutrality, but the certainty of maintaining this position following the Emperor's death was uncertain.

Given that the 'Eye of the Moon' was among the Empire's leading information guilds, numerous factions would invariably strive to rope them in, as had happened today.

"We already have connections with the royal family; it might be wise to firmly pledge our allegiance now."

"...If that is your wish, Miss, I will comply. However, why select Prince Zion? There are many other noteworthy members of the royal family."

Indeed.

Regardless of Prince Zion's recent prominence, he was essentially a novice compared to other royal family members.

His origins were far too different.

"It's a gut feeling."

Without an ounce of hesitation, Aileen replied to Allen's question.

"Until now, no one has provoked such a response in me."

Moreover, if the woman accompanying Prince Zion was indeed who she suspected, Zion's influence was unfathomable.

"But I plan to observe how this catastrophe unfolds."

The phantom army.

This worst-case scenario, universally deemed impossible, was one Aileen herself found improbable to resolve, even with her knowledge of Zion's true identity.

Could Prince Zion defy the world's judgement yet again?

'It seems unlikely, yet, if he manages to rectify even this...'

A sense of unfounded anticipation gradually surfaced in Aileen's eyes as she considered the possibility.

***

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