TL/Editor: raei
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: none
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Deep within the Sunless Forest stood the main branch of the Purification Cult.
"Damn those moderates!"
A man with a shaved head bearing a six-headed beast tattoo strode quickly down the corridor, his voice dripping with irritation.
His name was Halasho, an archbishop of the Purification Cult and one of the leaders of the radical faction.
The reason for his agitation was simple.
"They interfere with everything."
The moderate faction members had just returned to headquarters after cleaning up the blood wolves that his faction had deliberately let run wild.
Actually, their mere return wouldn't have angered him this much.
What truly infuriated him was that the moderates, led by fellow archbishop Collins, were now staging a protest right in front of headquarters.
They were trying to stop everything his faction was doing.
"Want to settle this once and for all? Fine by me. This works out perfectly."
Halasho smiled coldly, sensing his radical faction members falling in behind him.
Despite the moderates' open rebellion, he remained confident. After all, the radicals were the Purification Cult's main force.
The moderates and neutrals were just a minority in comparison.
In a direct confrontation, his side held the clear advantage.
'Foolish idiots. They don't understand that we must dye the world crimson first to make things easier for Mother when she arrives...'
Perhaps Mother hadn't revealed herself yet because she was waiting for them to create such a world.
His quick pace brought him to the entrance sooner than expected.
Through the open gates, he saw Collins and the moderate faction members gathered outside.
"Had fun with your pointless meddling, Archbishop Collins?"
"Archbishop Halasho, the only one engaged in pointless acts is you."
Collins responded firmly to Halasho's mocking tone.
"How is it pointless? Purifying the world is our destiny. We simply follow that destiny. If anything, you're the ones defying destiny."
"What you radicals do isn't following destiny - it's just self-satisfaction and arrogant misinterpretation of Mother's will. Stop this immediately."
"Ha, we're misinterpreting Mother's will? Are you claiming you know her true intentions?"
"Indeed I do."
"What nonsense."
Halasho's eyes glinted coldly as he sneered.
"And who exactly can prove that?"
"No proof is needed. Mother is already here with us."
"...What?"
The archbishop's eyes went blank at these completely unexpected words.
Step.
His gaze fell upon a woman slowly emerging from behind Collins.
A woman with obsidian-black hair and blood-red eyes.
As if enchanted, everyone present found their attention drawn to her.
"Hello~"
As the woman - Liushina - faced the cult members staring at her, a smile both beautiful and chilling spread across her face.
"!!!!!"
Halasho's eyes widened to their limit.
* * *
Silence fell over the conference room.
The cause was Ackendelt, who had naturally taken his seat beside Zion.
Recently appointed as Acting Mayor of the floating city and second-in-command of the secret Light Watchers organization.
This unexpected arrival filled people's eyes with confusion or shock.
None more so than Fifth Princess Diana.
"Why is the floating city's representative here? Aren't you supposed to be an autonomous region?"
Though called the World Conference, this meeting was fundamentally only for leaders of forces belonging to the empire.
The floating city, wanting no part of imperial rule, had never once attended the World Conference.
Their presence now practically announced their intention to submit to the empire.
"From today forward, our floating city Adegrifa pledges allegiance to the empire - no, to Prince Zion Agnes."
"!!!!!!!"
An absolutely shocking statement.
The dragon-kin's eyes remained perfectly calm as he spoke, as if everything had been arranged beforehand.
"W-what are you saying?!"
Diana unconsciously rose from her seat, crying out in disbelief.
Yes, she knew Zion had visited the floating city under the pretext of the exchange conference.
"You don't actually think that's all there is, do you?"
"Are you saying there's even more than what's been revealed? Enough to make you consider preparing for all-out war?"
Evelyn, who had been silent until now, asked with a grave expression.
"Yes, what you know is just the tip of a very small iceberg. Far more remains hidden."
"Just how much are we talking about?"
"Everything."
This single word left Zion's lips in response to Diana's question.
"What do you mean by everything..."
"Exactly what I said. The capital Hubris, the Three External Worlds, every place in the empire."
Shock filled everyone's eyes except the First Prince, who already knew the gravity of the situation.
How many times had they been surprised today?
"Then, that means..."
"Yes, the empire could fall at any moment."
As people reacted with severe agitation to these words, Zion continued calmly.
"Furthermore, a hero has already appeared. I trust you understand what this implies."
Though revealing everything and beginning war preparations at this stage felt somewhat premature-
'I originally planned to handle this after taking the throne, but...'
The situation was developing too rapidly.
The Archdemon of Madness had already witnessed his detection circle, and the demon realm kept moving up their war timeline after successive plan failures.
The Archdemon of Jealousy would buy them some time, but that was just temporary.
'The demons within the empire will likely respond soon as well.'
They needed to move first.
Hunt before being hunted.
Taking the initiative was crucial in any battle.
Though the process wouldn't be easy, anticipation gleamed in Zion's eyes.
The more difficult the situation, the higher the challenge, the greater his enjoyment would be.
"But Zion, how do you know all this in such detail?"
"Because he's been fighting them directly all this time."
Rubrious answered Evelyn's question instead of Zion.
"While we were blind with personal greed and obsessed with the throne, only Zion fought the demon realm. Countless fierce battles beyond imagination for those who haven't experienced them."
This was why the First Prince hadn't strongly opposed when Zion asked him to give up the throne and serve under him.
He had sensed a nobility in Zion similar to the faith in light that he himself pursued.
Evelyn's eyes trembled more violently than ever at these words.
What battles had her brother been fighting alone all this time?
'Zion, you...'
Then,
"Can you prove it?"
These bitter words left the Fifth Princess's lips.
"Can you prove that the demon realm's influence has reached the entire empire?"
It was a reasonable doubt.
The empire's fate hung in the balance.
Even for a royal, accepting one person's word alone seemed rash.
"Proof? I can provide that easily enough."
Zion turned to Diana, his tone unchanged.
"How will you prove it? And what if you can't?"
The Fifth Princess spewed words like a final struggle.
From her position, picking at details was the only way left to shake the situation.
"I'll prove it at the World Competition three days from now. If I fail, I'll give up my claim to the throne."
"!!!!!"
Everyone's faces hardened even more than before at Zion's words.
Making such a statement when his ascension seemed assured defied common sense.
"However, if I do prove it..."
Zion continued slowly toward Diana, seemingly unconcerned with the bewildered looks around him.
"You'll have to pay an equal price."
His eyes had curved like a faded crescent moon, ominously gleaming.
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