71 episodes
19 An Unexpected Guest (1)
Baengseonggung is said to be the pinnacle of all power in the world.
Only one emperor could stay there.
People’s Palace was a palace only for the emperor from the beginning, and the rest of the people were only allowed to enter with the tacit permission of the emperor.
Therefore, there was only one bedroom that existed in the people’s palace, so large that it could almost be called a castle.
However, the immediate imperial family or some with the highest power had their offices in such a people’s palace.
And the 2nd Princess Iveline Agnes was one of them.
“… … .”
As if to represent her personality, in a modest office where only the essentials exist, Evelyn was looking out the window at the half-destroyed Jeokseonggung.
Her eyes look very complicated.
3 days.
It was the time that had passed since Jeokseonggung became like this and the third prince Enoch died.
A lot has happened during that time.
It must be so, because it was such a shocking and huge event that it was said that it was the first time that an immediate imperial family would lose their life in the palace, which was like their stronghold, in the middle of the imperial castle.
It was also the death of the imperial family, who had enormous power to compete for the next emperor, not the general imperial family.
Therefore, as soon as the day dawned, the news of this incident spread across the capital city of Hubris beyond the Imperial Castle, and it created a repercussion incomparable to the time when one of the previous disasters was subjugated.
They tried to keep it a secret, but how they found out, all the media in the Empire continued to pour out articles about it, and the nobles were thrown into confusion rather than astonishment.
“ Zion… … .”
From Evelyn’s mouth came the name of the one at the center of all these events.
It was a name he had always called with compassion and concern, but not now.
Who in the world could have such feelings for someone who took the life of the third prince, Enoch Agnes, alone?
The force that Zion showed at that time was far beyond her expectations.
Although it seemed to be pushed for a while in the middle, Zion literally overwhelms Enoch with the explosively increasing power from a certain moment.
‘ It seemed to use some other power, such as a Noble Phantasm.’
It didn’t mean much.
No matter what you use, Zion won and Enoch lost.
There was something even greater about it.
Despite the death of Enoch, the pivotal point, the factions of the third prince, including the Ozrima family, did not violently oppose Zion and Diena, who had led this case, but rather desperately withdraw their feet as if they did not want to be involved. .
The reason was clear.
‘ Black magic and human experiments discovered in the basement of Enoch’s palace. In addition, Enoch himself even transplanted the power of the devil into his body.’
Each of them was one of the highest taboos in the Empire, so the whole family could be wiped out as soon as even the slightest connection was made.
Perhaps Zion knew all this from the beginning and made a plan.
From that excellent intelligence to the action ability to deliberately pull the succession ceremony to empty the enemy castle and put it into action.
Already, Shion was far from the powerless youngest brother Evelyn was worried about.
‘ In addition, it is even absorbing the powers of Enoch’s side at a speed similar to that of Diena.’
How could this be possible in Zion without any power to back it up?
unknown thing.
In her mind, the words that she would swallow everything that Shion had said in the horse-drawn carriage heading to the old people’s palace came to mind.
“ Maybe I should really prepare to compete with Zion now… … .”
When the light of concern appeared on Evelyn’s face.
“Your Majesty Evelyn, you have a visitor.”
A servant’s voice came from outside the office.
“ Who was that?”
“I am the 4th Prince Utekan.”
At the servant’s reply, a strange light began to shine in Evelyn’s eyes.
* * *
“ Wow… … .”
Zion’s study in Chimseonggung Palace.
There, Priscilla Bamel looked at the main gate of Chimseonggung, which was reflected out of the window, with a surprised expression.
She had been depressed for a while since she had been vexed by Shion the last time, but it was after she recovered to some extent with her innate mentality.
In addition, with a brazen face, he entered Chimseonggung, saying, ‘Last time, you clearly said that going in and out of the palace wasn’t a problem.’
“ It’s the first time I’ve seen people flock here like that.”
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Munjeonseong City.
The sight of the front door reflected in Priscilla’s eyes could not be a better word than that.
Due to this incident, the price of Zion’s name soared terribly, and the number of people who wanted to establish a connection with Zion was also increasing.
The nobles and bureaucrats gathered in front of the main gate of Chimseonggung were also some of them.
But the problem is.
“ But why is no one letting them in?”
It was said that Zion would not meet any of them.
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Most of them only received gifts and returned them at the door, and the rest were being arranged at the Fredo Line on the first floor.
In order to compete in earnest with other imperial families, it is normal to increase their power as soon as possible.
However, there was no sign of such a thing in Zion, so he had no choice but to raise his doubts.
“ Because you don’t have to.”
Shion answered quietly and tilted the teacup.
Originally, all the useful people on Enoch’s side were being quietly recruited from behind by Thierry, the leader of the shadows.
All the people who come here now are idiots who aren’t very helpful.
There was no need to meet each other.
If you pull in the top anyway, it will come with you.
“… … .”
Priscilla swallowed her saliva while watching Shion tilting her teacup like that.
Long, white fingers holding the handle of a luxurious teacup.
The red lips that touched the teacup and the sharp nose that rose above them.
And the dark under eyes that somehow add to the exhaustion, and the eyelashes that extend gracefully over the half-closed eyes.
Was it because of the unique atmosphere?
Priscilla blushed at the sight of Shion, who gave a completely different feeling even though she had the same appearance as before.
“… … How’s it taste? Are you surprised?”
Priscilla, who immediately calmed down her hot face, asked Sion, who was putting down her teacup.
Her eyes were young with a light of strange anticipation.
Even so, the coffee that Shion drank now was brewed by Priscilla herself.
After receiving the information that Shion enjoys coffee, she learned how to brew coffee from one of the top five baristas in the Empire for a week, and today was the day to show off her skills.
“ I was surprised.”
Shion responds with an expression of surprise.
Priscilla’s expression brightened at that, but at Shion’s next words, her expression was instantly distorted.
“ It doesn’t taste too good.”
“… … .”
Shion was serious about coffee.
As I said before, coffee was the only symbol of Zion in the world in the chronicles.
Therefore, it had to be more demanding and strict.
To be honest, the only coffee that satisfies Shion’s taste so far was only made by Fredo.
“ Do you think I’m fine? Except for the fact that the acidity is too strong.”
At that time, Liusina, who was sitting next to Shion, took a sip of coffee and opened her mouth.
Since the day she attacked Jeokseonggung, she has been staying in Chimseonggung ever since.
Of course, the transformation of the Blood Tower Wizards under the guise of training had not yet been completed, so they had to go back.
“ The owner’s taste is very demanding, so it will be difficult to satisfy him.”
Riusina continues to speak while looking at Priscilla who is depressed.
But for some reason, her eyes had changed like a snake that preyed on its prey.
He seemed to have recognized that the blood flowing through Priscilla’s body was demon blood.
Basically, demon blood showed the greatest efficiency against monsters, but it was a fairly rare magical material even for Riusina, who uses blood magic.
“ I don’t need your evaluation!”
Priscilla, who reacted like a cat with a full back to the eerie feeling that came from him, immediately turned to Liusina and asked.
“ There is something I want to ask you more than that. What the hell are you doing with His Majesty Zion? Last time I saw that… … They called me lord, master.”
“ Ugh.”
At Priscilla’s words, Riusina’s red eyes narrowed.
“ Literally.”
She got up from her seat and opened her mouth as she leaned closer to Sion next to her.
“ Because the owner owns everything I have, even my soul.”
“ What, what! That, so… … .”
Priscilla begins to gibberish with her face full of bewilderment and astonishment.
It seemed like she had misunderstood something, but Liusina was smiling even more mischievously, as if she had no intention of resolving the misunderstanding.
“… … .”
Since he didn’t want to be involved in the conversation between the two, Shion pushed out the clinging Riusina and checked her body.
‘ The recoil of the lunar eclipse I used last time seems to have been almost resolved… … .’
‘ Time Lock’, but the recoil of the lunar eclipse already used before that existed.
It was also mostly recovered through sufficient rest, but the problem was that the damage did not go away gradually accumulating in the body itself.
‘ If it was the original body, there wouldn’t have been any permanent damage if it had been sufficiently rested… … .’
The problem now was that Zion was not his original body.
Even if it was supplemented by consuming the heart of a thousand-year-old ogre that Evelyn had given her, it was only a temporary measure, and could not be a fundamental solution.
If you continue to use the lunar eclipse like this, your body could be ruined.
‘ Before that, you must meet the ghost.’
Based on the information he had already heard from Ahmad Ozrimah, he sent a quest to the ‘Eye of the Moon’ to search for a mysterious mystery, but the exact location was still unknown.
In addition, it was even more difficult to meet the mysterious character because he was mentioned only once in the chronicles and did not appear in person.
‘ I need to find this guy’s sword too.’
Shion thought so and looked at Iclaxia, the extinct light sword held in her hand.
Even now, it was very useful, but it was not always possible to use it as it was broken.
The problem is that Iclaxia itself is not even mentioned in the chronicle, so finding the broken blade is very far away.
In addition, there was a lot of work to be done, such as building a stronger force and creating an armed group under his control.
The first thing I had to do now was something else.
‘ Is it time to slowly appear?’
Sion’s eyes lit up as she recalled the events taking place in the chronicle at this time in her head.
A lot of things have changed because of what Zion himself has been doing up to now, but the big flow, that is, the overall plot of the chronicle, has remained the same.
So, this case is probably going to happen as well.
‘ Someday, I’ll have to rewrite all this big plot.’
If you don’t do that, the only end will be the destruction of this world.
at that time.
“ Sir Zion.”
Fredo’s voice, who was supposed to be welcoming people on the first floor, could be heard in Shion’s ears.
Shion’s eyes turned to the side where the voice came from, and the face of an old knight with a puzzled expression in front of the door came into view.
“ There are people who want to meet His Majesty.”
Fredo’s character was loyalty itself.
So, no matter what, I did my best to fulfill Zion’s instructions.
If such a Fredo goes up to the level in violation of his instructions, it must mean that he is not an opponent he can handle.
“ Who are you?”
“… … Sir Alstein Ascalon.”
At Fredo’s answer, Shion’s eyes slowly lit up.
Albert Ascalon.
The 2nd division commander of the Agnes Knights, which is said to be the strongest knights in the Empire, and the best swordsman who fits within the five fingers of the Empire.
And he was a member of the Ascalon family, who was the mother of Zion and the best swordsman in the Agnes Empire.