TL/Editor: raei
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: none
Join the discord! Here
Deep in the demon realm, in a space of pure darkness.
"So you disobeyed me and caused trouble."
A voice so powerful and deep that merely hearing it could shatter one's spirit echoed through the space.
"I may have caused trouble, but I didn't disobey you."
Acrimosia, the Archdemon of Madness, replied while carefully watching the other's reaction.
"I just went to look. I didn't actively try to kill him."
"I know you tried to blow up the floating city at the end."
"That... I did that knowing Zion Agnes would stop it. Which he did."
The deep voice glared at Acrimosia as she grew brazenly defensive again.
The situation was giving them a headache, especially with Future Sight's prophecy about the "Coming of Eternity" already weighing on their mind.
"This incident may put the entire empire on high alert."
"From what I saw, they would've gone on high alert soon anyway."
"What do you mean?"
The deep voice asked Acrimosia with questioning eyes.
"I mean Zion Agnes. He's already perfected a method to identify us."
"...Is this true?"
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. He'll start hunting our people hiding in the empire using it. Probably after he takes the throne."
The Archdemon of Madness suspected that time wasn't far off.
The Zion Agnes she had seen was someone who could take the throne at any moment without seeming strange.
"..."
The owner of the deep voice's face hardened at these words.
This was truly a serious matter.
"That's why we need to move up the war timeline. Before the empire starts moving in earnest."
Though Acrimosia personally preferred waiting until Zion Agnes fully ripened, she had no intention of ruining their grand plan.
"...That's not something we can decide on our own. To start the great war, we must first get permission from the King."
"Hmm, that is a problem."
Acrimosia replied with folded arms to the deep voice's words.
The problem she referred to wasn't that their King would refuse war.
It was something more fundamental - meeting with the King at all.
After the First Great War ended, their King had retreated to the deepest part of the demon realm and never shown themselves again.
-I must prepare.
Those were the King's final words before disappearing.
Of course, none of the Four Great Demons who heard those words knew what kind of preparation the King meant.
"Still, given how serious this is, we should try to seek an audience with the King this time."
Just as the deep voice spoke after brief consideration-
"We have an emergency!"
A completely different voice rang out from the abyss.
Though it was the same voice as before, the gravity and urgency it carried was incomparably greater.
"What happened?"
Acrimosia looked at the voice's owner, prompting them to speak.
"Zeloth, the Archdemon of Jealousy, has started a rebellion!"
These shocking words burst from the new voice's mouth.
* * *
The World Conference.
It was the empire's largest conference, where not just imperial family members but also kings of the Three External Worlds and all other rulers gathered to compare their hegemonies and determine the empire's future direction - truly the most important event.
This World Conference was drawing even more attention than previous ones.
The imperial throne remained vacant, and each imperial family member challenging for it was formidable.
Everyone expected fierce competition for the next emperor to unfold at this World Conference.
As the conference drew closer amid such expectations and concerns, numerous rulers and heirs gathered in the capital.
On the eve of the World Conference's official start-
"It's an honor to meet the one who will lead the next generation of the Fairy Forest."
"I'm equally delighted to meet Count Langrit, heir to such a great family."
A large banquet was being held at the Star of Music Palace, which handled the empire's major social events.
But this banquet had one special feature.
All attendees were heirs to major powers.
Everyone here would become rulers of powers large and small, making such qualifications crucially important.
The "Branch of Emperors," part of the World Tree that Ilifa had produced, could accurately assess one's ruler qualifications and imperial fate. They had long used this "Emperor's Branch" for measurements.
It was both entertainment and competition between heirs.
Those who scored highly in the qualification measurement gained recognition and admiration, rising to a higher level, while those who scored poorly faced subtle disdain.
"May I be measured first?"
"I'd like to go next."
The heirs eagerly requested measurement despite this double-edged nature.
This was natural since they were all successors to great families or equivalent major powers, and thus firmly believed they were born with imperial fate.
As people underwent measurement-
FLASH!
Green light flowing from the "Emperor's Branch" began forming specific numbers above their heads.
These numbers combined ruler qualifications and imperial fate.
48, 64, 72...
Various scores appeared.
Naturally, Kaptan and Ilifa recorded the highest scores.
As future rulers of entire races, they naturally carried greater "imperial fate" than others.
Their scores were an impressive 87 and 89.
Considering the maximum score was 100, these were incredible numbers.
"As expected of the Three External Worlds' heirs..."
Just as words of admiration flowed from others seeing these scores-
"Prince Zion Agnes."
Ilifa called out to Zion, who had been watching the measurements with an indifferent expression.
"Would you like to try being measured as well?"
As Zion looked at her questioningly, she continued with a slight smile.
"Though it may not look like much, it's quite accurate. Aren't you curious about your own qualifications? Though of course, you'll score incomparably higher than us."
As Ilifa spoke to Zion, various calculations ran through her mind.
'I heard he has monstrous power and charisma, but seeing him in person, those rumors seem exaggerated. Besides, even if they're true, power alone doesn't determine qualifications or fate.'
Imperial fate in particular was determined at birth, so even those with high qualifications could score low.
In truth, Ilifa wasn't aiming for this moment but for the World Conference starting tomorrow.
More specifically, the initiative of Fifth Princess Diana, whom the Fairy Forest supported.
'If Prince Zion's score is lower than Princess Diana's previous measurement, his position will surely weaken during the conference.'
And correspondingly shift in Princess Diana's favor.
'Princess Diana's score was 96. Almost the highest among both the Fairy Forest and historical Agnes royalty. This is worth trying.'
No, beyond worth trying - she was convinced Prince Zion would score lower.
'The question is whether Prince Zion will accept this proposal...'
Then-
"Sure."
Zion answered lightly as he stood and approached Ilifa, extending one hand.
'Perfect!'
While internally rejoicing-
"Just hold this branch lightly, Your Highness."
She respectfully handed the branch to Zion.
The moment Zion grasped the "Emperor's Branch" as instructed-
The usual green light didn't appear.
RUMBLE!
The branch just began vibrating wildly.
"Huh...?"
Just as Ilifa's eyes began trembling at this strange reaction- CRACK!
The "Emperor's Branch" that had never even cracked despite measuring countless heirs' qualifications over hundreds of years.
This branch simply broke.
As silence fell over the banquet hall-
"Defective product."
Zion's quiet voice rang out.
Toggle New Ads
Enjoy the chappy!
Please give the book a rating and a review on NovelUpdates.
It helps the website and helps people find this novel!
If you'd like to make a one-time donation to support our translations or subscribe to read up to 15 chapters or more (depending on the novel) ahead, you can do so via Ko-fi.
Click here!