Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 161

§ 161. Storm (2)

At the foot of a mountain southwest of Delcross.

A girl was sitting in the pouring rain, looking down at the ecliptic surrounded by faint light.

Without even a single movement, she looked as if she had been born from a rock and had been sculpted by wind and rain over a long period of time.

The long golden hair braided into two pigtails looked old-fashioned, and the black robe wrapped around her small body was the attire worn only by wandering monks in the pre-imperial era.

Wow.

The rain began to get stronger, but not a single drop of water touched the girl’s body. This was because the black magic energy creeping up from her body was pushing away all the raindrops.

“… … .”

The girl is a high-ranking monarch with the name of [Greed].

It was a demon that had been waiting for destruction to happen to this world for a long time.

Rustling.

After a while, a young man emerged from the bushes in front of the girl. He was a friendly-looking young man carrying a broken mandolin on his back. He raised his hand in greeting towards the girl.

“Woah, [Greed].”

It was ironic that while the young girl looked like a layer of sediment accumulated over eons, this young man looked as green as an annual plant that had just bloomed.

“… sowing.”

Greed frowned.

The fact that the young man is overflowing with fresh vitality is not simply due to his mood. The guy had just changed the contractor.

The only things he had in common with before were the black magic energy rising from his body and the strange green glow that occasionally passed through his eyes.

“Is this a new contract again? “You’re such an unsophisticated little brat.”

“Originally, a contract is something that must be harvested frequently and grown again. “It’s strange that you haven’t changed even after a thousand years.”

Pajong responded like that and flopped down on the floor.

“really. Greed, I have a warning for you. You know the dimensional storyteller, right? Tell that to that obnoxious bastard. “Why are you doing useless things by inciting the innocent children of our church?”

It was the story of Romaine, who manipulated the brothers of Pajong and tried to spread the eggs of a monster in the capital.

Then Greed let out a cold sneer.

“It’s pathetic. He is no longer a storyteller.”

“… “Not now?”

“It means he was once Sigurd Sigurdson.”

Then Pajong clicked his tongue.

“what. Are our children just playing with dolls? “Why are you staying close to that guy?”

“Because such a person knows what he or she ultimately desires.”

Without taking his eyes off the ecliptic, Greed smiled a twisted smile.

“What do you think it is? Perhaps by getting rid of Sigurd Sigurdsson, he would hope to be reborn as a true storyteller. Among them, Romain is the only doll that comes close to success. “He even got the key to the labyrinth, so it’s probably worth watching.”

“under! That’s why you keep it next to you.”

The young man openly sneered.

“The moment he becomes the one and only Sigurd Sigurdson, he plans to take everything from him.”

“… … .”

Greed did not feel it was worth responding. Because it is a truth that does not need to be confirmed or denied.

He was that kind of person by nature.

Eat it right away or save some. Ultimately, he is the one who takes everything.

“Anyway, the Church of [Repentance] has been quiet these days because of playing with that guy. Are you tired of playing with other people’s things?”

“It’s as if the owner abandoned it, so it’s already mine.”

“If that’s the case, you should have created your own denomination a long time ago. Don’t think about wielding the power of repentance here and there for no reason. “Isn’t it cumbersome to move?”

“Bullshit.”

Greed does not create or cultivate anything in the first place. It just completely takes away things that exist. This was not a matter of laziness, it was simply a matter of nature.

In his wake, only extreme hunger and extreme deprivation remain. That is why the other name for greed is [starvation].

On behalf of [Repentance], who has been stuck somewhere for the past thousand years and only regrets, it would be natural for him to be tearing apart the religious order he had built.

“Anyway, honestly, I was a little surprised this time. “I never thought you would ask for my full cooperation.”

“Not long ago, I sent an ugly subordinate as a test, and he barely escaped with his life. “The king of Delcross is a dangerous person to deal with alone.”

“well. “Aren’t you just afraid that I might stab you in the back?”

Pajong narrows his eyes and looks at the girl. This is also a truth that does not need to be denied, and greed did not answer.

Originally, Delcross was scheduled to be destroyed by the advent of the five demon kings.

However, [Repentance], which descended a thousand years ago, crawls underground and does not come out, [Payment], which is supposed to bring about war, is preoccupied with the wrong things, and [Rest], which is supposed to bring death to everyone, actually wants to sleep forever. My wife is sleeping.

In the end, currently, the only companion who can properly stand against the King of Delcross is [Powder].

At the same time, it is said that if greed takes a toll on him, the only one who will stab him in the back is Papong. Of course, the opposite is also true.

“Well, okay anyway. “Because it is safer for both parties to take risks together.”

The young man nodded and stood up.

[Okay then… … .]

As a brilliant green light flashed in his eyes, a stream of black magical energy burst out, covering the foot of the mountain, and began to soar into the sky.

[Shall we start soon?]

Rumbling.

With a thunderous sound that shakes the earth.

Flash!

Blue lightning struck the ground.

* * *

‘Anyway, this guy is too late!’

Some of the attendees in the banquet hall also seemed to feel something strange.

Gossip and gossip.

Seongjin made his way through the crowd of slightly agitated people and left the entrance to the banquet hall.

Is it because of my mood? Even though the lights are bright, the hallway feels strangely dark. Although there were likely servants walking around, the hallway was strangely quiet without a single person.

As he was slowly walking towards the stairs to the second floor, looking around, he soon heard the sound of shoe heels chasing him behind him.

“Mores!”

As expected, it was Amelia who sensed something strange. She was accompanied by Sisley, who looked somewhat anxious.

“Everyone is here. “Something is strange!”

Next, Logan approaches with a sword in Cadmus mode. As a result, all four siblings of the Seonghwang family gathered at the bottom of the stairs.

“I feel a strange energy coming from the office on the second floor. It’s definitely not Magi… … .”

As Logan said, the more I looked at the stairs, which got darker as I went up, the more I felt a strange sense of strangeness.

Although the lighting on the landing was bright, the second-floor hallway, which had no light at all, seemed as if it were covered by a thick black curtain.

“That’s really strange. I don’t remember anything like this before… … .”

Amelia, who quickly looked back on the time before returning, said with a worried face.

“Anyway, shouldn’t we go up first? “I’m sure my father is over there.”

The darkness is so thick that it takes your breath away just by looking at it.

However, there is no hesitation in the younger brother’s eyes as he stares at that place. Amelia, who had made up her mind, quickly resolved the situation.

“I will tell the Empress about this situation. First, I would like to hold a small event where Sisley and Cadmus will bless the distinguished guests. Find out if there is a performance that the orchestra can present impromptu. That will ease the excitement of the guests.”

And she made a request to Seongjin and Logan.

“For now, I have no choice but to ask the two most trustworthy people to take care of your Majesty. “I’ll call the Royal Guard knights right away, so would you two please go to the office while we settle the atmosphere in the banquet hall?”

Seongjin nodded and immediately ran up the stairs as if running out.

“Be careful, Seongjin Lee! “Something seems out of the ordinary.”

Logan followed closely behind and warned, but Seongjin didn’t even listen.

As I arrived in the dark second-floor hallway, I noticed servants lying on the floor here and there.

“What the hell is this…” … .”

If you look at the auras detected, they all seem to be hidden, but their activity level is extremely weak. The two people looked at each other once and ran towards the office.

Office at the end of the second floor hallway. The one who collapsed in front of him was Chamberlain Louis.

Fortunately, he is breathing, but his distorted face looks tired, as if he is having a nightmare.

and.

The leader of the Knights of Saint Aurelion was standing in front of the wide open office door, as if guarding it.

“Director Katrina… … .”

She was the only person here who did not lose consciousness. But as expected, the condition did not look very good.

With her long sword resting on the floor like a cane, Katrina opened her mouth with difficulty, sweating coldly.

“… “How did you come here, sir?”

“leader! “What on earth is all this about?”

“My father? “Is your father inside?”

Then she looked at Seongjin and smiled faintly.

“Rest assured, sir. It is not uncommon for [gaps] to open in the imperial palace. It’s just that this time it was so sudden that His Majesty didn’t have time to go to the prayer room.”

gap?

“As for those who have fallen, His Majesty will take care of them as soon as the gap closes, so don’t worry too much.”

Her complexion is extremely pale as she answers like that, and she looks as if she might collapse at any moment.

In any case, Seonghwang was also caught up in this situation. Seongjin asked her with a stern look on her face.

“… Katrina, who is your father?”

“It may be a little late for you to return, but it’s probably not going to be a big deal. Sir, if you stay here too long, you might lose consciousness like they did. “You two, please quickly return to the banquet hall and wait for Your Majesty.”

Surely from a while ago, Seongjin was feeling a headache that felt like it was pressing down on his head along with unpleasant tinnitus.

Anyway, are you telling me to just go back after seeing this mess? Isn’t that guy at the center of this strange space?

Seongjin took a step toward her, who was standing blocking the entrance.

“So you’re saying you’re in here, right? “Get out of the way right now.”

“It’s dangerous, sir. Please go to the banquet hall… … !”

“I really have to go in now, leader.”

When Seongjin growled, Katrina looked at him intently. Her eyes were shaking slightly, as if reflecting her extreme mental agitation.

“… Does that mean degradation? “Do you really feel that way?”

“okay.”

Then she sighed softly and soon began to walk unsteadily.

“Whew. I don’t know what kind of reprimand I will receive from His Majesty later… … .”

Then it clanked. thud! Kneel on one knee on the floor with your sword in hand. So, what kind of stubbornness is there for someone who can’t even stand right now?

Seongjin gave Katrina a look and walked quickly into the office.

Seongjin immediately discovered Seonghwang.

He had his eyes closed, as if he was leaning on the sofa in his office, and didn’t even move even when Seongjin got closer. He looked quite different from when he noticed and greeted Seongjin every time,

It seems as if he is clearly at the center of all this, and the closer I get, the more severe the stabbing headache becomes.

“My heartbeat is strangely slow. “But it’s definitely alive.”

Logan frowned and said, as if he also had a headache.

“But it’s strange. It’s clearly right in front of you, but it feels distant, as if it’s somewhere else. “Why?”

Seongjin was also feeling the same way.

It feels like shapes that don’t fit together are mixed together, like an image reflected in a glass window that is broken into pieces.

Even though you can see the figure lying down right in front of you, it also feels like it is a distant landscape passed through a telescope or camera lens.

Just as Seongjin was about to reach out to Seonghwang, Logan suddenly looked out the window in surprise.

“Lee Seong-jin. There is a suspicious person in the garden. “I’m spending my life this way.”

“Suspicious guy?”

“okay. It’s completely blocking the aurors. Probably an assassin. After all, at a time like this… … .”

Anyone who uses Auror cloaking will be an assassin.

However, due to the headache and strangely distorted senses, it was not easy for Seongjin to sense the guy’s presence. It could also be said that he is a fairly capable assassin.

The only person who can sense him in this situation is probably Logan, a former Dekaron Knight and Sword Master.

As expected, Logan looked at Seongjin and Seonghwang alternately with worried eyes for a moment, as if he was thinking the same thing, and then said.

“I can’t just leave it like that, so I’m going to go out and catch the author. “I will subdue you and come back soon, so don’t overexert yourself, and if you feel unwell, go back to the banquet hall right away.”

“okay.”

Logan pulled out Arjuna and jumped out of the office terrace. Then he runs across the garden and soon disappears somewhere.

Seongjin looked at that for a moment and then headed to the sofa where Seonghwang was lying. Anyway, I was planning on shaking it to wake it up.

Of course, I had doubts about whether it would really be possible to hold him and shake him.

At the same time.

‘We can reach it in the end…’ … !’

Somehow, with such unfounded confidence, Seongjin slowly stretched out his hand towards him.

And the moment my hand touched his robes.

It’s a disaster.

Suddenly, the figure in front of my eyes distorted, and my vision skyrocketed, as if my body was being forcefully sucked somewhere.

fantasy,