106 episodes
31 Ascalonga (1)
silence.
The room was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence.
It was not that there were no people.
4 Prince Utekan and a woman in a monastic robe.
Two were there, but no one spoke.
How much more silence had passed?
“… … It will be dawn in a little while.”
A low voice escaped from Utekan’s mouth.
As he said, the edge of the horizon seen through the window was slowly getting brighter.
four hours.
It was also the time that had passed since Utekan, who had contacted her to prevent the second princess from intervening, thought that this would be enough and returned to Jaseong Palace.
A small battle, not a war in which tens of thousands of armies collide.
It didn’t make sense that the outcome of such a battle had not come out even after so much time had passed.
“ If this was enough, the attack would have ended sooner. If you still haven’t come back… … Do I have to think I’ve been hit?”
It’s not that I have to say that I’ve been beaten, but that I should be convinced that I’ve been hit.
That’s probably because not even Hanosral and one of their direct units that had departed together did not return.
No, he didn’t even get a message, let alone come back.
“ What happened?”
Oh Maryeong moved directly.
One of the five heads who command all the demons that permeated the empire, and a being classified as the highest-ranking monster in the demon world.
The present Zion Agnes was never something he could handle.
Besides, the plan was perfect.
After confirming the seriousness of Sion Agnes’ physical condition several times, in the end, he did not move until he was convinced.
The variable should not exist, and even if it did exist, enough power was put in to press it.
“ But why… … .”
Did things happen like this?
Since I couldn’t properly grasp the situation right now, the question was growing even deeper.
“ It must have been that Rubrios was headed towards the Chimseonggung Palace. So, did Hanosral get hurt by him?”
“ I don’t know for sure, but it probably isn’t.”
At Utekan’s question, the woman spoke up for the first time.
“ Before the Prince went to Chimseonggung, the outer barrier that Hanosral had already placed had disappeared. Then you should hear explosions or sounds from the battle, but none of that.”
Rather, it was strangely quiet.
And that meant only one thing.
that the battle was already over.
“… … Don’t move until you fully understand what’s going on.”
“ I don’t think so.”
A woman who nodded heavily in response to Utekan’s words.
If Hanosral had suffered, it was impossible to predict how the future of the game and the world of demons would change.
So it was best to hold my breath for now.
“ I will send my eyes towards Chimseonggung as soon as full dawn. The report from the horse station… … Better do it after that.”
Utekan’s expression darkened as he said that to the woman.
It was inevitable that he, too, would have to bear the burden as he could have had to report that one of the Omaryeong had suffered.
“ Sion Agnes… … .”
At that moment, the name that was responsible for all this came out of Utekan’s mouth.
Tickle!
“ Sir Utekan!”
Through the door that suddenly opened, one of Utekan’s servants with an urgent expression appeared.
“ What’s going on?”
Obviously, if you did come even though I was told not to come near the office, it would be very urgent.
That’s why Utekan quickly corrected his expression and asked.
“ The secret branch in the capital is under attack!”
At Suha’s words, his expression began to harden again.
* * *
Hubris, the capital of Agnes Empire, called the center of the world.
As said, Hubris was a city that ran at the highest level in all fields, including politics, economy, and culture.
Therefore, compared to other cities, there are many and diverse places where you can enjoy entertainment or leisure.
“… … .”
The place where Zion is now was also one of those spare facilities.
A quiet cafe on the outskirts of Hubris.
Shion was sitting in such a cafe, looking at the small garden outside, tilting her teacup.
“ Not bad.”
Putting the teacup on the table, Shion muttered quietly.
This was a coffee restaurant in the hidden capital, which Eileen discovered by mobilizing informants.
After a very long time, Shion rented the whole cafe and stopped by, and was satisfied with her own way.
The quality and taste of the coffee was quite good.
When it comes to coffee, if Zion, who has very strict standards, had this level of evaluation, it had to be considered that it would be in the top five in the capital city.
‘ Still, the coffee with Fredo seems to suit my taste more.’
When Shion thinks so and raises the teacup again,
“ Heh heh, I didn’t know you would enjoy coffee.”
The old man sitting on the other side put down his teacup and opened his mouth.
An old man with a benevolent look with snow-white hair and a long beard.
It was Ahmad Ozrima, one of the ‘Seven Heavens’ and the tower owner of the Imperial University’s Mato.
“ I like tea more than coffee, though.”
His reason for being here is simple.
It was to report the progress of the instructions that Zion had given in the past.
Sion tilts the teacup once more without answering Ahhamd’s words.
Ahmad laughed for a moment, then opened his mouth again.
“ Did you finish last night’s work?”
“ Did you know?”
Only then did Shion look at the Archmage and ask.
“ It is said that many people witnessed the scene where the starlight from Chimseonggung Palace brightly colored the sky that day. If that’s the case, I don’t know for sure, but I can only guess.”
In addition, rumors had been circulating that Zion was not in good health before that, so it was easier to guess what had happened.
Perhaps not only Ahmad himself, but other people as well.
However, since Zion doesn’t mention anything about that night, they probably just don’t bring it up.
“ All right. Exactly, it’s still being finalized.”
After answering that in a languid voice, Zion recalled what had happened after the annihilation of Hanosral.
Once the battle at Chimseonggung was over, Riusina moved immediately.
Thierry hit the secret branches that he found out by tracing the path of the demons, and it was still going on until a day later.
As Thierry said last time, starting with the first secret branch, other secret chapters were being revealed one after another.
‘ Now it will be moving from the Utekan side too.’
After the annihilation of the King of Signs, there has been no response from Utekan and other monsters until now.
Perhaps it was because he was embarrassed by the unexpected situation and could not move properly.
However, having been so fussy about it, it was obvious that he would respond sooner or later.
‘ I wish I could move as quickly as possible.’
Thinking like that, Shion smiled lightly and looked at Ahmad and asked.
“ How did you say?”
“ Here it is.”
In response, Ahmad held out a piece of paper with a magic circle drawn toward Zion.
“ This is an intermediate version. It’s not the final version, but I’m sure it boasts a level of efficiency that can’t even be compared to before.”
The true nature of the magic circle was the improved red circle.
Due to the joining of the blood wizards this time, great progress has been made in research on improvement, and thanks to that, we were able to present the intermediate version at the time Sion said.
“ Of course, if you use horse blood, the efficiency will be further amplified. But, Sir Zion, may I ask where you intend to use this?”
“ You will find out soon.”
“ Soon… … Something big will happen soon.”
Ahmad nodded at him and asked Zion again.
“ Then, my majesty, may I use this red circle once again?”
The eyes of the archmage shining cold.
It is likely that the previous question was asked in order to ask this question from the beginning.
He didn’t even have to ask where he was going to use the red circle.
‘ I’m sure he intends to sift out all the demons in the tower.’
There was no way he could have left it that way unless he knew that the demons were roaming in Ahmad’s castle tower.
“ It doesn’t matter. However, I have to use it first and then use it.”
“ Thank you, my lord.”
It was when Ahmad lowered his head with a meaningful smile in response to Shion’s answer.
– Tweet!
The Frost Spirit stood on Shion’s shoulder.
As if to appeal to his existence, the Frost Spirit came out once in a while regardless of Zion’s will.
Before Ahmad reacted to him,
“ Hey!”
Eileen, who had just entered the cafe, took a deep breath and quickly approached Zion.
Behind her glasses, her eyes were shining brightly for some reason.
“ Sir… … Can I stroke you just once?”
The same words Liam and Girard had said before came out of Eileen’s mouth.
It was an appearance that was hardly seen in her original rationality.
The unique pomp and cuteness of the Frost Spirit seemed to have the effect of stimulating the hearts of those who saw it.
– Tweet!
Frost Spirit chirping fiercely while looking at Eileen as if he understood the words.
It must have meant a refusal, but it only had the effect of making Eileen’s eyes twinkle more.
‘ I’ll have to give this guy a name soon.’
Shion thought while looking at the spirit that was having an argument with Eileen.
This spirit, derived from the legendary Noble Phantasm ‘The Breath of the Frost Queen,’ could not communicate its intentions despite being a unique spirit, and its power was weaker than expected.
At first, I thought that the reason was that the breath was not completely completed and that the black star was infused instead of mana when first summoned.
But these days, I was thinking that maybe it was because I didn’t give it a proper name.
‘ A name is the most fundamental element that defines existence and anchors it in the world.’
at that time,
“ It is a unique spirit. I can’t seem to convey my thoughts yet, so it doesn’t seem perfect… … Did you get it recently?”
Next to him, Ahmad looked at the spirit with curious eyes and asked Shion.
“ Okay, now we have to give it a name.”
“ It’s a name… … Obviously, names are important to native spirits.”
“ How about a tweet? Or cherry!”
– Awesome!
At Eileen’s words interrupting from the side, the spirits began to chirp as if in a seizure.
He didn’t like the name at all.
“ Um… … If it is difficult to build, why not ask the spirit directly?”
“ Isn’t there a communication problem?”
At Ahmad’s words, Eileen asked with questionable eyes.
“ About ten years ago, by chance, I learned how to communicate with spirits from a certain gentleman. Although it was made for normal spirits and the time is short, I think it would be good to give it a try.”
“ Good. Let’s try it.”
Shion nodded at him.
To be honest, I was also curious about the meaning of the chirping of the spirits that Sion hears every day.
“ I see.”
With those words, Ahmad stretched out a hand toward the spirit and began to chant a spell similar to magic.
Wrath!
A green light that slowly begins to circle around the spirit.
Perhaps the Frost Spirit was also aware of that fact, and was standing still and accepting the light.
How much time has passed
All the green light illuminating the surroundings was absorbed into the spirit’s body.
“… … .”
The three gazes naturally focused on the spirit.
and slowly,
– You low- level humans.
The spirit’s mouth began to open.
– Did you finally hear me? Now, then, bow your head and be polite to me. This body is the supreme queen of frost and the sole ruler of the north. I usually just wait for you to be rebuked for your ungodly behavior… … .
Whoops!
– Tit!
With the sudden disappearance of the light, the woman’s voice that had been ringing in her head changed to twitter again.
“… … .”
And silence for a while.
“… … I don’t think we need to hear any more.”
After canceling the ceremony, Ahmad opened his mouth with a trembling face.
Eileen next to him nodded with a similar face as if he agreed with that statement.
– Tweet! Tweet!
He began to chirp at a high speed as if a frost spirit was complaining, but Ahmad did not use magic again.
‘ Maybe the body itself… … .’
When Sion thinks of a possibility while looking at such a frost spirit,
“ Oh, and His Majesty Zion. I have a message from the shadow of the imperial castle.”
Eileen brought up the main point of coming to Shion.
With those words, she glanced at Ahmad.
“ Tell me.”
Shion nodded, and only then did Eileen open her mouth again.
“ I said that Alstein Ascalon was waiting at Chimseonggung to see His Majesty once again.”
A smile crept onto Shion’s lips at that.
“ Have you finally made a decision?”
Heavenly swordsman Ascalon.
The time to head there was approaching.