Episode 145
* * *
The main square of the labyrinthine city of Labyrinthos.
A considerable crowd gathered in front of the cathedral, which was once the castle of the counts of Saxony and was being reborn as the cathedral of the church.
“The Sistine Chapel must immediately repeal its excessive tax policies!”
“The church that sells the name of the goddess must step down!”
“Get out of the Demon King’s territory immediately!”
The crowd raised their voices in protest against the church that had handed over the Demon King’s territory and was raking in taxes. From adventurers exploring the dungeon, to guild members who were drawn to the artifact and magic stone business, and even to farmers risking their lives to develop the city, they were no exception.
However, for such a large number of people to move in such an organized manner, it could never be resolved through ‘their will’ alone.
The presence of a leader who can unite the organization and provide guidance for action is essential.
Officially, the one who was fanning them from behind the scenes was Edward of Dulles. As the leader of the noble adventurer faction, he was the most influential figure within the labyrinthine city.
But unofficially, the real ‘manipulator’ who was hiding behind the scenes and manipulating them was never Edward.
The role of the shadow court assassins, the dark undercover agents who have taken root throughout the city, is not limited to decapitating people. The word “undercover” has many meanings.
In front of the cathedral, a considerable number of people were raising their voices as if they were about to start a riot, and the ones blocking them were the Knights Templar of the church.
Amid the tumult, Dale was there too, his hood pulled down thickly to conceal his identity.
Once you light a fire, it can’t just burn out the wood overnight.
So all Dale could do was wait for the right time.
When the spark he lit burns to engulf this labyrinthine city and the church.
* * *
“Prince Dale.”
There was someone knocking on the office of the ‘Black Prince’ in the main room of the cathedral.
She was a woman of golden blood. Alone, without even a maid or knight to assist her.
It was the fifth princess of the empire, Kiara, from the clan of the leader dragon (Pendragon).
“Princess Kiara.”
In any case, the center of the Great Demon Alliance is gathered in this cathedral. However, even so, it is difficult to imagine the world’s royal family roaming the castle without any escort.
“There’s no need to be so formal. Please don’t be formal in front of me.”
When Dale got up in embarrassment and tried to be polite, Kiara shook her head, saying that it was unnecessary.
“You must be really worried.”
“… … These are things that I should be able to handle.”
Princess Kiara sat down in front of Dale, pulling the hem of her dress, and only after seeing her did Dale sit down.
“I have imagined your appearance day and night, hearing the fame of the ‘Black Prince’ reverberating throughout the empire.”
Kiara continues speaking to Dale with a cheerful tone.
“What kind of man must he be, whose name and fame are known throughout this country every single day? I couldn’t sleep at night, imagining your appearance like that.”
“People’s stories are always exaggerated.”
“Oh my, that can’t be true.”
Kiara burst into laughter as if it was ridiculous.
“The ‘Black Prince’ in front of me right now is truly showing me that the words of the rich are not lies.”
Dale smiled, pretending to be calm at Kiara’s words, wary of the blade hidden behind her compliments.
“May I ask why Your Imperial Highness came looking for me?”
That’s why Dale asked back, figuring that there was no point in continuing this pointless war of nerves.
“I just wanted to have a conversation with the ‘Black Prince’. Just the two of us.”
“I hope my speaking skills will not disappoint you, Princess.”
Kiara smiles meaningfully at Dale’s words.
“Haha, Confucius’s speaking skills have already been proven beyond doubt.”
Chiara said.
“How could I forget that day, when you declared yourself the King of Shadows in the council and urged the Blue Tower to be loyal?”
“… … !”
And as the words continued from her mouth, Dale’s expression froze coldly.
“Oh my, why are you so surprised?”
However, the Fifth Princess Chiara did not panic at all and just smiled.
“Do you find it so strange that a proper ‘sorceress’ qualified to join the council is present there?”
“… … Did you infiltrate the Blue Tower as a spy for the imperial family?”
Dale asked coldly.
“Why do you think so?”
“Isn’t your Highness a member of the royal family with golden bloodline?”
“What is it?”
Rather, it was Princess Kiara who asked back as if she couldn’t understand.
“Just because I am of royal blood, where is there a place for me in this empire of fire and light?”
It was just then.
At the same time, the ‘circle’ surrounding the princess’s heart began to move. The blue magical power swirling along the ground engulfed the entire area.
“The world of ideas… … !”
At the same time, a world reflecting Princess Kiara’s image appeared there.
A world of gold was spread out before us. A castle of gold, a mansion of gold, a land of gold… … The heart of the empire, the landscape of the zodiac, made of gold.
But at the same time, all the gold there was frozen solid.
The castle mansion and the world made of gold were covered in ice and frost.
The world was literally frozen.
The world of wizards can never lie. That world is the very landscape of the wizard’s thoughts and mind that he has built up throughout his life.
“Can I show you my true feelings with this?”
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“How can we be sure that this world is not a ‘world of deception and lies’?”
Dale asked back. Kiara burst into laughter, seemingly amused by the question.
“That day, at the Sorceress Council, I saw a prince who was more worthy of the title of ‘Shadow Lord’ than anything else.”
After laughing, he snapped his fingers.
Swish, swish.
The golden castle towering behind her, and further on, the ice covering it began to crack.
The ice broke and the ‘Golden Citadel’ collapsed.
The sight that Dale had longed for was unfolding there. The heart of the empire, encased in ice, was crumbling.
“This is the ‘world’ I desire. Not as a dragon child of royal blood, but as a sorceress who calls herself a rider of shadow.”
“… … .”
“To destroy the empire of fire and light, that is all I desire.”
“That’s what Kiara said. Dale swallowed softly at the weight of those words.
“I hope that this empire of fire and light will fall, and that the ‘Children of the Dragon’ will gain their freedom against their father the dragon.”
“Are you referring to the Golden Monarch, His Majesty the Emperor?”
Chiara smiles silently.
“As things stand now, you probably can’t even imagine the existence of ‘monarchs’ who rule over a country called an empire.”
“Did you say monarchs?”
“The Lord of Fire and Blood, the Lord of Light and Heaven… … Even the ‘Lord of Darkness and Death’ who rules over the Duchy of Saxony cannot be an exception.”
When I heard those words, I could sense with horror that they were the tower lords of the Five-Colored Tower.
“… … !”
“Do you still think that the Empire is a country ruled by ‘one monarch’?”
The monarch that Chiara was referring to was by no means a single entity. It was a word that could not even be imagined as an empire that proclaimed itself to be the only nation on earth.
The Shadow Saint’s words came to mind without me realizing it.
The existence of apostles who claim to be riders of gold and shadow. Furthermore, those who do not stop at being riders, but have ambitions to ascend to the throne themselves in gold and shadow.
“──Are you talking about the apostles?”
“Among the apostles, there are those who are very strong and have special powers.”
The image of Michael Lancaster, the apostle of fire and light, came to mind. I imagined a future where Michael had risen to a higher place without falling to Dale’s hands.
Perhaps he too would have been reborn as the ‘Lord of Fire and Light’, and he would not stop there but would seek to attain an even higher position.
Also, at that point, there was only one position he could get his hands on.
“Like the Fire and Blood Lord, who is loyal to the Golden Lord, but still covets the ‘Golden Throne’.”
Marquis Yuris, the Lord of Fire and Blood.
Those who are ambitious enough to not only become the Golden Standard Bearer, but also ascend to the throne themselves. The underground struggle that is still taking place in the Empire of Fire and Light.
“There really is no separate bean powder.”
Dale sneered coldly, remembering the countless kings he had overthrown in his past.
“We, the Blue Tower, will stand in silence and serve the Shadow Lord with all loyalty.”
Chiara said.
“Also, Confucius is mindful of our silence and the fact that the wait will not be long.”
“… … .”
“Just remember, I am prepared to break the Blue Silence for the Shadow Lord.”
At those words, the world became blurred. Once again, the two were in the office of the cathedral. It was no longer the Saxon Count’s castle.
There, Dale’s mind began to race.
“Now that you mention it, I have no choice but to accept it.”
But it was never a long-term consideration.
“As a Shadow Rider, are you willing to break your silence for the Shadow Lord?”
At Dale’s question, Kiara bent her knees and gently lifted the ends of her dress.
* * *
At that moment, the hideout of the shadow court.
A scream rang out. It was the scream of the Shadow Saintess. As frightened as he heard the sound, Master Baro, who was sitting with both feet on the table, threw down his beer and stood up.
“Okay, I was wrong, Father… …! Please forgive me, it hurts, I can’t see anything!”
It’s a normal seizure. A nightmare when my old master, who was going wild and ranting about my young daughter being possessed by a demon, gouged out her eyeballs.
“Miss Maria, come to your senses!”
Master Baro urgently called the Shadow Saint’s name and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“Right, right… … !”
The Shadow Saint, Maria, reached out her hand towards Master Baro’s face as if tracing Braille.
“I’m scared, I can’t see ahead, ahead… … !”
The black bandage covering her eyes flowed down, revealing a hollow hole filled with nothing.
And beyond that empty hole, blood was flowing out.
“Don’t worry, Miss Maria.”
Master Baro bit his lips softly.
“Aren’t I here by your side like this?”
A traitor who once threw away his knightly pride and self-esteem and stabbed his lord in the back. A disgrace to the Seven Swords of the Continent. However, even in the face of such pointing fingers, Master Baro’s ‘knightly pride’ was never broken.
The seizure stopped in agony. The Shadow Saintess buried her head in Baro’s shoulder and began to sob.
They were bloody tears.
* * *
Shortly after, a large-scale riot broke out in which priests of the Goddess Cult were murdered by adventurers.
