Chapter 87: Nathan Parker's Death

"Welcome back, Heroes," Emperor Philip greeted us with a broad smile as we emerged from the portal. His expression was incongruous given our recent failure, suggesting either a practiced facade or a different understanding of the situation.

Despite his welcoming demeanor, I couldn't ignore the satisfied look on his face. It was the look of a man who had Cleary indulged in pleasures during our absence, fucking her hard. My suspicions were confirmed when I spotted Nancy standing a bit away from him, yet close enough to spark curiosity and whispers among us.

Liphiel, ever the responsible leader, stepped forward. "We have failed, Your Majesty. Please accept our apologies."

Philip's smile faltered, an awkward tension seeping into his posture. "It's not a complete failure, Lady Liphiel. The demons have left our territory. That, in itself, is a victory."

His attempt at consolation did little to hide the underlying power. It was clear that the Divine Knights wielded considerable influence over the Emperor.

Nancy, with a mischievous glint in her eye, couldn't resist a jab. "Looks like you utterly failed everyone~"

Aiden shot her a withering glare as he walked past. "Fuck off, Nancy. While I'm out there fighting, you're cowering like a bitch in the castle."

Nancy's smile widened. "I don't think anyone should take pride in losing, though. Don't you agree, Jason?"

Jason's fists clenched, his knuckles whitening before he stormed off. Siara and a few other girls followed, casting icy glares at Nancy.

"Where are the others?" Amelia asked, her concern for the students who had stayed behind evident.

Nancy shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know, teacher. Probably crying in their rooms, asking for their mommies?" She laughed derisively as she sauntered away.

Since she started fucking with the Emperor, her attitude had only worsened, reminding me unpleasantly of her behavior back on Earth.

Emperor Philip attempted to diffuse the tension. "As I said, there is nothing to be ashamed of, Heroes. You should now take a well-deserved rest. A sumptuous dinner awaits you." His eyes scanned the group, pausing briefly on me, making my skin crawl. His gaze was scrutinizing, almost invasive, before he turned and walked away.

"Liphiel, follow me. We need to talk," she called out to Cecilia, and the two departed, leaving the rest of us to our own devices.

"Ah! I'm tired!" one of my classmates exclaimed, breaking the silence.

"Let's rest," another agreed.

"The guy at the end was scary!" someone else murmured, relief mingling with exhaustion in their voice.

"Thank god Jason is here!" a classmate added, looking towards where Jason had gone.

Slowly, my classmates began to disperse, heading towards their respective rooms, their steps heavy with fatigue.

I trudged back toward my room, my mind heavy with thoughts. I needed rest before I could prepare for what lay ahead. What was it that awaited me? Well, the time had come. My time in this Empire was drawing to a close. Staying here any longer would be perilous.

The recent arrival of a Third-Ranked Divine Knight did not bode well. She seemed wary of me, and I couldn't blame her. At least she wasn't aware that I was the one who had "killed" Radakel. That secret, however, was a ticking time bomb. The constant game of hide and seek was wearing me down, and I was tired of living on edge.

If I wanted to become stronger and advance, I needed freedom, something I could not obtain here.

As I approached my room, I noticed that my maid, Anna, was absent. Had they finally realized it was pointless to keep her here? I had done my best to act like any normal teenager, and perhaps they believed there was nothing more to spy on.

Slumping onto the bed, I closed my eyes. A few hours seemed to pass, but when I opened them again, the sun had already set. My heart thumped heavily in my chest, a sense of unease gnawing at me.

"Something isn't right at all..." I muttered to myself. Liphiel's sudden appearance, the Emperor's peculiar gaze, Anna's unexpected absence—everything felt off. Khione's silence added to my unease. Was it all connected? I couldn't be sure, but I trusted my instincts.

I stood up from the bed just as a knock echoed through the room.

"Who is it?" I called out.

"Hero Nathan?" a knight's voice responded from the other side of the door. He entered, his expression serious.

"What?" I narrowed my gaze, my guard up.

"The Emperor has called for you. He wishes to discuss your abduction," the knight said.

My abduction? What did he want to know at this hour?

"Alright," I nodded, suppressing my suspicions for the moment. I followed the knight, my mind racing with possibilities.

I could choose to escape right away with my Artifact, but leaving no traces of suspicion was paramount. Fleeing immediately after being summoned would only raise more questions and create more problems. I would talk to the Emperor and leave silently tonight. Although I had planned to depart tomorrow, my instincts screamed that now was the time.

I'll explain everything to Khione later.

"Good reasons? Or are you not aware? Demons have put a forbidden magic in your body during your kidnapping. And they teleported all in the castle using that to attack us. The good news is that there had been no casualties, the bad news though is that Hero Nathan had been killed before his body taken away by the Demons. Such a sad outcome just when we managed to save Hero Nathan~"

I ignored her once more.

I was just buying time.

Why doesn't it work? I clenched the artifact again. I can't use mana. Why?

Huh?

My eyes widened in realization. I looked at Liphiel. That woman... When she was healing me... she took advantage and sealed all my mana.

"I can't even use mana..." I murmured, the full horror of my situation dawning on me.

"Oh?" Liphiel said, breaking off from her earlier stupor, a smug smile spreading across her face. "Just a measure of safety. We'll see if a god steps in to save your life now."

Khione?

I called out to her.

But there was no answer, just like always.

Now I was certain—something had happened to her.

But she wasn't dead; I could feel it with my seal.

Am I going to die, then?

My heart thumped heavily inside my chest, a frantic rhythm that matched the turmoil in my mind.

My life flashed before my eyes.

My mother, Phoebe, first.

Then those two twins...

My father.

My step-mom.

Sienna and Siara.

Amelia, Courtney, and Aisha.

Finally, Khione.

I wished I could make her smile genuinely.

"Am I going to die?" I asked out loud with a slight tremble in my voice.

I heard Liphiel mumbling something, but I ignored her.

AM I REALLY GOING TO DIE?

The words echoed in my mind, plunging me into darkness.

The threatening aura engulfed me, and I felt my life slipping away. The mind-boggling pain hit my legs first, then my arms, slowly consuming me. My consciousness began to fade as the agony spread, pulling me into the abyss.

°°°°

Liphiel looked ahead, her eyes fixed on the black and red charred ground where Nathan had stood just a moment ago. Now, his existence had completely vanished.

"Prepare to release the demons we have captured in the castle and warn our knights. Not a single hero should be injured," Liphiel commanded, turning around with a wide smile.

"Hero Nathan is dead."

END OF VOLUME 1