Episode 188
* * *
The wind blew. It was a very dreary and cold wind.
Dale had already roughly grasped the information about the County of Wallachia through the Shadow Court assassins. It was also not difficult to guess that the 《Association》 was meeting at the County’s mansion.
A certain organization led by Gilles de Rais, now known as the Count of Wallachia.
Dale’s goal right now wasn’t to fight them all fair and square.
Still, there was one reason for volunteering to enter the enemy’s den.
Because they called Dale.
Jack the Sword’s very existence was nothing more than an invitation to call upon the Shadow Lord from the very beginning.
In addition, just as Jack the Sword claimed to be Laplace’s disciple, there must be others with similar abilities in “Decision”. Furthermore, they must have predicted this situation through some kind of information.
Therefore, even as the Shadow Lord, there was no reason for him to refuse their call.
Above all, he had trustworthy people by his side.
“Master Baro, and Lady Aurelia.”
Lady Shadow was not a knight guarding Dale from the shadows. She simply covered herself in Saxon black armor and served as a swordsman to the Shadow Lord alongside Master Baro.
Like Jack the Ripper, the devil at their side was never an easy-to-understand being spewing fire and brimstone.
That’s why I had to be willing to see it, if only to know the truth about the demons.
Through the Eye of Truth held by the Shadow Lord.
“The Count of Wallachia is waiting for you.”
At the entrance to the Earldom, a pale-skinned butler bowed his head toward Dale. He also had a carriage waiting as if he had prepared it.
“Oh my, I feel uneasy, like I’m walking into a tiger’s den with my own feet.”
Master Baro spoke, and Dale answered.
“I have to catch a tiger, what else can I do?”
In the past few days, everyone was whispering that the new Count of Wallachia was behind the terror that had gripped the entire city. People were secretly transported to his mansion every day, and sacrificed for his hobby.
Suddenly.
They crossed the estate and finally the carriage stopped. The moonlit night was dark. Dale quietly stepped out of the carriage.
“Welcome, Prince Dale of Saxony.”
The pale-faced butler smiled and bowed.
“The Count considers it a great honor that you have chosen to stay in our territory during your journey.”
“I also express my gratitude.”
“And by the way, a big festival is being held in our castle.”
Dale remained silent at the butler’s words.
“If you don’t mind, how about it? How about Your Majesty joining us too… …?”
“Then I won’t decline.”
Dale smiled.
“Then this way.”
The butler opened the way, and Dale walked forward without hesitation.
With Saxon’s two swords, the Sal’geom and Lady Shadow, at his sides.
* * *
The festival was taking place in the hall of the Count’s castle.
The tables, which were large and lined up like wooden palanquins, were covered with luxurious leather, and on them were laid countless feasts.
Gilles de Rais, Count of Wallachia, was there.
He once wore a mask of the “Laughing Man”, similar to that of Jack the Knife.
“His Majesty the Prince of Saxony has taken a truly difficult step.”
The Count of Wallachia spread his arms exaggeratedly, and for a moment, Lady Shadow’s expression beside him was agitated.
A devout knight who once claimed to be the standard-bearer of the Virgin during the Britannian War of Independence.
That very man was wearing a bizarre mask and grinning like a clown, his expression distorted and devoid of any trace of his past nobility.
“Oh, please don’t worry about this mask.”
Those who guarded the Count’s side were no exception.
‘Nine people.’
Everyone sitting at the table was wearing a mask with a crescent moon-shaped slit over their mouth.
“Were you having a masquerade ball or something?”
“You could say that too.”
A woman with red hair answered. Of all the people present, her identity was the only one that was easy to guess. Lady Scarlett.
“I don’t think you can eat while wearing that mask. It’s not like you can dance either.”
“Oh, this isn’t the meal for us.”
The Count of Wallachia laughed.
“Unfortunately, we have already finished our ‘meal’, and this is only a small meal prepared upon hearing that His Majesty the Prince of Saxony is coming.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Dale said, looking at the banquets lined up on the table.
“I don’t have much of an appetite either.”
In order to see their truth, you have no choice but to unfold the Shadow Lord’s Avatar. However, even Dale cannot unfold the Avatar here without warning. Just as the opponent does not reveal their power.
“Come to think of it, I lost contact with a comrade who was supposed to return.”
Just then, another woman, along with Lady Scarlett, opened her mouth.
“I heard that you were staying in Harlem, where Prince Dale is staying. Do you know anything about it?”
The woman wearing the mask asked, and Dale snapped his fingers.
At the same time his shadow spat something out, and it rolled around on the table.
It was Jack the Knife’s neck.
“… … .”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
But no one panicked at the sight of that neck. At least a few people held their breath, but that was it.
“I heard that there are quite a few crimes happening in Harlem and other cities.”
Dale opened his mouth.
“This man was the real culprit behind the murders.”
“Oh, foolish Jack. I warned you time and time again to behave so gracefully.”
Lady Scarlett smiled as if she was enjoying herself.
“I ask again. Why did you, the 《Decision》, invite me here?”
“… … !”
A few of the masked ones stirred, but some did not. Lady Scarlett smiled, keeping her composure.
“When this group was first founded, it was a small gathering focused solely on gastronomy.”
Lady Scarlett said.
“How can one obtain more delicious delicacies, how should one savor food to experience the ultimate taste? It was a gathering hosted by a few nobles of the Imperial City who could not contain their abundant wealth and leisure.”
“How did it become an organization of lunatics who worship the whispers of the devil?”
“To know the end of pleasure.”
Just then, another man answered.
“There are many forms of pleasure.”
The man said.
“Intellectual pleasure, physical pleasure, gluttony, gastronomy… Our association respects each other’s pleasures, as long as they do not lose their dignity and grace.”
And Jack the Knife had lost his dignity and grace, at least that’s what they thought.
That’s why it was abandoned.
“We have no doubt that the devil exists only at the end of the horizon of pleasure we pursue.”
Dale frowned at the man’s words.
“How are you, Prince Dale? Are you interested in our pleasure?”
“You called me for that?”
“That’s right.”
Lady Scarlett laughed.
“I regret Jack’s foolishness, but it was an unavoidable sacrifice to make room for Prince Dale. The ‘number of seats’ is absolutely important in a ceremony.”
“Did you expect me to just join your 《Association》?”
“Aren’t you curious?”
The man asked back.
“Will the Kangma ritual that will be performed here fail or succeed? And what will happen after that… … . Will the demons really appear in this mansion? And what form will they take?”
Curiosity. Dale was silent for a moment at those words.
“Okay. I’m also quite interested.”
After a moment of silence, Dale surprisingly opened his mouth obediently.
“But before that, there is a premise you must keep in mind.”
* * *
At that moment, the red tower’s room.
“It’s weak. It’s so weak. It won’t even touch the Shadow Lord’s toes with this.”
Father Bloody said.
“… … !”
“That is the truth.”
Ray Yuris bit his lip. Bloody Ball, and as Winter said.
“It’s not about the difference in what you have.”
The bloody ball spoke, and at the same time, his voice contained a fatherly affection that those who knew his wickedness could not even dare to imagine.
“It’s the difference in courage.”
“… … .”
“It is the courage that allows Ray to believe that the lies he believes in can overwhelm the truth of the Shadow Lord.”
At that very moment, the coldness of the apocalypse that ‘Winter’ had given began to stir within Ray’s body. It was similar to what the Shadow Lord had once possessed. However, the difference between handling and drawing out that power was literally like heaven and earth.
“The Shadow Lord has courage.”
Except for the black, red, and blue, no magical power can compare to that of the Shadow Lord.
“But remember, Ray, the history of mankind is a history of lies.”
The bloody ball said.
“To fight against the darkness of night and wild beasts, we lit artificial fires, processed bricks to build castles, and forged steel in the furnace to wield swords. In this way, we overcame the truth of the weakest creatures and faced our fears. Look at the results. This is the ‘power of lies’ that humans possess.”
“… … .”
“Does Ray have the courage and determination to stand up to the Shadow Lord and carry out his lies? Are you ready to defeat the Shadow Lord and bring the sunshine of spring to this world?”
He recalled the image of the ‘Black Prince’ who had defeated him several times so far.
No matter how hard Ray struggled and tried, he couldn’t even keep up with the growing being that was growing by the day.
An unknown fear and terror gripped his chest.
“You may be afraid, but true courage can only be found in fear and terror.”
The bloody ball said.
“The Hymn of Courage is a hymn of humanity. And Ray, unlike me who has abandoned humanity, is a human being beyond doubt. That is why I trust you.”
“……father.”
“The fact that Ray is my son, and that he will bring spring to the world.”
“However, if 《Decision》 succeeds in the Gangma ritual… … .”
Ray tried to continue speaking, but the Bloody Ball coldly sneered.
“《Decision》 is nothing more than a puppet that plays with the tastes of the Gentleman and Lady Scarlett. I don’t mean to say that their achievements are meaningless, but that’s just the extent of it. The only thing worth paying attention to is ‘Ultimate Creature’.”
The bloody ball said.
“Certainly, I have high hopes for that.”
Approaching Ray, who was tattered from endless training.
“But only you, as the aged golden monarch said.”
Marquis Yuris embraces his son Ray Yuris.
“Ray is the only warrior who can stop the winter of this world and bring spring, and he will be reborn as the new Golden Lord.”
The voice that spoke like that was filled with determination without even a shred of doubt.
“Trust me, Father.”
That’s why Ray Yuris also nodded.
“The fact that I am your son.”
A wall of despair that can never be overcome.
As the embodiment of absurdity, symbolizing the unfairness of this world itself, and a hero of lies in his quest to reach the truth of the Shadow Lord.
Ray accepted that fear and made up his mind. It was at that moment.
“Let’s stop our training for today and have a bite to eat.”
Leaving his father’s kindness behind, the bloody ball turned its head.
There were people hanging from hooks, groaning. They were lumps of flesh hanging upside down like pig slaughterhouses.
Those who rule the empire are not human beings. To those who cannot be called human, they are just cows or chickens in a barn.
Nevertheless, the rulers of the empire knew that only humans could turn the wheels of history and become the bearers of truth and lies.
