NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
Episode 286. Demon King (1)
The Third Prince, Kaldrak de Adratan, lives in a residence that is far from typical imperial splendor.
Tactical maps, weapon racks, and combat gear were stored neatly throughout the location, seemingly ready to engage in combat at any moment.
A large table for operational meetings was placed in the center, and on it were spread various documents and models for practice.
What's unusual is that one of the models resembles a 'palace'.
“After we break through the Gyeongcheon Gate, the Thousand Guardians will rush in, but leave that to us, Your Majesty Kaldrak.”
Looking at the model of the 'Palace', Kaldrak, who had been lost in thought, nodded to Wedge's words.
“That’s what we exist for.”
“It is only natural that Kaldrak should abdicate the throne.”
“That’s right. If not for the Kaldrak, who else can set this mess right?”
The other wedges chimed in one by one. Kaldrak still had his eyes tightly shut and was just listening.
“You’re hesitating now? Are you scared?”
Abisha, who saw that, opened her mouth with a sharp tone. The wedges could have shown discomfort at her poisonous words, but there was no sign of it.
“I just want to avoid unnecessary risks.”
“The entire system is already in danger. If you want to avoid it, why don’t you just go back north?”
At Abisha's words, Kaldrak turned his head and met her gaze. Then, a smile appeared on his lips.
“Do you want to go back home?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Yes. I want to go back to my hometown too.”
“What are you talking about? Isn’t this where you come from?”
Kaldrak replied that this was his hometown.
“A place is not always home.”
Before he knew it, Kaldrak's eyes were burning with a desire for power.
“My father has lost consciousness now, but even before that, he was unable to make a proper judgment due to the fortune teller’s sweet talk.”
As Kaldrak opened his mouth, everyone's eyes turned to him.
“The once strong empire is gradually falling into decline. This is not the empire I knew. This is not home.”
The wedges' gaze was filled with respect.
“So, I have to change. To return to the hometown I know.”
The wedges clenched their fists at his soft yet powerful speech.
***
“It feels like it’s just the beginning.”
As the wedges departed and the two were left alone, Abisha opened her mouth to Kaldrak.
“It was meant to be this way, it just got delayed.”
“For something like that, it seemed like you were hesitating?”
Kaldrak let out a sigh at Abisha's words.
“Flugel and Kikubad. I thought it would be impossible to inherit the throne as long as the two of them were there.”
“So, you hesitated for a moment?”
Caldrak nodded quietly.
“However, Flügel is unconscious. The only ones who can stop us now are the Thousand Hand Army and Kikubad.”
“You say that, but you’re not sure?”
Kaldrock turned his gaze out the window as the question continued to hit the nail on the head.
“As expected, the son of the Queen of Thorns. Is he the problem?”
Abisha knew the anxiety that Kaldrak harbored.
“Right now, only the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince are receiving attention for the right to succeed to the throne, but there is one sleeping dragon in the empire.”
Sleeping dragon
Abisha felt that such expressions towards Yurian were excessive, but Kaldrak did not seem to think so.
“Even aside from personal power, those who follow him are so dangerous that it wouldn’t be strange if they swallowed up the empire.”
“Why isn’t that guy still in a high position and at the bottom?”
“It may be because the power is fragmented. Or it may be that he does not have such intentions.”
“Oh my.”
Abisha snorted in disbelief at Kaldrak's words.
“Some people who were stuck in the North were so obsessed with power that they invaded the system, but some people living in the system were not greedy for power and just stayed still?”
Kaldrak only smiled at Abisha's words, which were spoken as if she was telling him to listen.
“That’s why it’s scary. Because the power that you don’t know where it’s going to go has no direction.”
“How dare you think of killing the emperor on such a scary subject?”
“What I am doing now is a funeral. A funeral for my father.”
“What does it mean?”
“What does that mean?”
The desire for power. Kaldrak's eyes, which had been glowing with only that, slowly began to sink.
“They are saying that Emperor Adratan has not lost consciousness, but has already passed away.”
***
“Keep on going, this is it. Looks like this mama’s boy got his act together.”
Kikubad smiled as he was bathed in the sunlight pouring down from behind. A private office that only the captains of the Royal Knights could use. Urhar was also in this large room.
“It seems that all the rituals that utilize the horn of the demon god have been broken. Because of this, it is time for His Majesty Yulsis to correct his thoughts.”
Although Yules' plan was gradually going awry, Kikubad did not seem particularly upset.
Rather, there was interest in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
——————
faqwiki.xyz
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“It must be thanks to your help.”
Kikubad's gaze turned to Urhar. There was no hostility at all. This made Urhar even more terrifying.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“In order to find out the location of the ritual hall, there were many things to investigate. If you were a member of the Royal Knights, it wouldn’t have been difficult to investigate that information.”
It was Urhar who told Yurian about the ritual hall. There was a certain confidence in Kikubad's voice, as if he had already accepted it as a fait accompli.
“Is that proof that I am a country?”
However, Urhar denied that he had passed on the information to Yurian. Even if the truth was discovered, Kikubad would not take any proper action, but there is a big difference between admitting and not admitting.
“I see. Then, I guess it was the boy who passed away recently who handed over the information.”
Not caring about that, Kikuba laughed it off. In fact, it didn't matter to him who the traitor was.
What he wants is the position of First Swordsman of the Empire.
It became impossible to reclaim the name 'Geumseong', so he had to kill his disciple.
and.
“Even now, when I think back on the night I spent in that mansion, my hands and feet tremble.”
"mansion?"
“I’m talking about when I met the Black Knight.”
Killing the black knight.
Either way, it was clear that Kikubad was after the Black Knight's neck.
“If the battle had continued, I would have won. However…….”
Kikuba touched his chin once.
“I felt something inexplicable about him. If I had unraveled it, would I have been able to win?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yeah, so I’m figuring it out.”
There was one thing that Urhar had misunderstood until now.
“It’s going well. It’s going well. With this, Yulsis will have no choice but to commit suicide. In order to stop that, the Black Knight will also have to appear.”
Kikuba didn't care what happened to the empire. He just stuck with him because he wanted to fight against the strong.
'… … That's the same as saying it doesn't matter.'
Urhar shook his head from side to side, clearing away his thoughts.
“Yes, I must reward the hard work of Royal Knight Urhar Sir.”
Suddenly, Kikubad stood up from his seat. Then, he prepared to leave the office, then suddenly turned his head to Urhar.
“What are you doing? Don’t follow me.”
Urhar frowned as Kikubad spoke, as if he had expected him to follow. Still, there was no other way. Urhar followed Kikubad.
Kikubad continued to head inward. As he passed through the Gyeongcheon Gate and saw the Imperial Palace where the Emperor resided, Urhar showed an embarrassed expression.
“What are you thinking?”
“What are you thinking? I’m just trying to tell you something that Royal Knights should know.”
As he said that, Kikuba continued on without looking back. The smile that had been visible in the office just a moment ago had long since disappeared.
So they arrived at the Emperor's chambers. When they saw the huge door, Urhar felt something strange.
‘… …There is no security?’
Originally, it was natural for the 'Cheonsu Army' to guard this place. At the very least, it was basic to deploy one of the Royal Knights.
Kikuba opened the bedroom door as if nothing had happened.
Squeak.
The door opened and I took in the scenery inside. It was strangely quiet inside.
“Now, come inside.”
Urhart, entranced by Kikubad's words, stepped inside.
Originally, committing such an act was against the imperial code, but in the strange atmosphere, Urhar found himself stepping inside without realizing it.
The bedroom was darkened by thick velvet curtains, and a dim light permeated the space.
“Gulp.”
Suddenly, a terrible thought crossed Urhar's mind.
A shadow is visible beyond the thick velvet curtains. I know it is the 'Emperor'. However, it is so fearful that it does not move at all.
"what……."
Ssuk──!
I was too scared to even reach out to see what was beyond, but Kikubad suddenly approached and opened the velvet curtain.
Inside, the emperor is seen lying on the bed. He is sleeping. However, his chest does not rise or fall due to his breathing.
“Touch it.”
Urhar swallowed again at Kikubaad's words to place his hand on the Emperor's body.
It is clear that this is an act of blasphemy. However, if we do not properly check this situation, the situation will become even more difficult.
Urhar approached the Emperor and placed his hand on his neck.
As soon as he touched it, a cold sensation ran through his fingertips. The Emperor's body had already become cold, and his breathing had completely stopped.
The emperor is dead.
“Kikubad, what is this…?”
“What are you talking about?”
Kikuba laughed heartily.
“The fight over the succession to the throne is finally beginning to come to an end.”
That means.
“……Is it possible that a storm could blow through the system?”
“The wind was already blowing. What will be decided after the storm clears is who will be standing in the end.”
With that said, Kikubaad started to leave the bedroom.
“It looks like the wedges are about to strike. Kaldrak will know about this situation, so he will move immediately.”
“……Your Majesty Kaldrak?”
“He is a manipulator in collusion with the military. There is a high probability that he knows that the Emperor is dead.”
Knock, knock.
Kikubaad struck the scabbard on his belt twice and turned to Urhar.
“Don’t you have work to do too?”
What to do?
“We must quickly summon the Black Knight. If we do not stop the princes’ rampage, the empire will truly perish.”
Kkkkk. Kikuba laughed mockingly and smiled bitterly.