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Chapter 31
[“Uahaha. Hahaha!”]
The satisfied laughter of the Evil God dominated the space.
Everyone except the priest lay flat on the ground, trembling.
“Oh, our God…”
“We believe you will lead us to the light. We shall be the ultimate victors…”
Ignoring the endless muttering of prayers, the Evil God whispered to the priest.
[This is not enough. At this rate, I cannot descend upon this land.]
The priest almost let out a bitter laugh. Surely, among all these people, the one who most wanted the Evil God to descend was the priest himself.
‘If I offered the entire population of the Loroa Empire, maybe then it could happen.’
But that was impossible.
‘Christopher… that guy keeps interfering every step of the way!’
Truly, the messenger of a god is something else. Laughing at the black magicians who had sacrificed countless people to reach this point, Duke Hespia stood above them all.
“Please grant me the power to offer even more sacrifices. The power to even kill Duke Hespia himself!”
The priest’s audacious attitude made the Evil God laugh heartily.
[Hahaha! Hahaha!]
The laughter, which seemed endless, suddenly stopped, and the Evil God growled at the priest.
[You must offer something to me if you wish me to grant you anything! If you want greater power, you must also give something greater. What do you hope to gain with these pitiful, shabby souls!]
A purple, acrid energy wrapped tightly around the priest’s neck.
“Ugh…!”
The words didn’t match the reality. The priest could not offer more sacrifices because Duke Hespia was interfering.
‘And yet he says I must offer more sacrifices if I want to get rid of Christopher.’
At that moment, the Evil God, who could clearly see the priest’s thoughts, whispered sweetly.
[There is a soul in this land that I desire.]
“…Ugh, one like mine?”
As the priest gasped, the Evil God laughed heartily.
[Yes! Your soul is sweet and delicious! Full of power after offering countless other souls!]
The Evil God smacked its lips unpleasantly.
[But there is a soul even sweeter than that. If you wish for me to descend upon this land, you must offer such a soul—or an unimaginably large number of souls.]
The Evil God’s energy released the priest’s neck.
[Most of the “power” can go to you. The rest is because I enjoy this sort of thing more.]
As soon as the Evil God finished speaking, gold began to gush from the floor.
“Oh! God!”
The miracle didn’t end there. A man whose leg had rotted from a snake bite was healed.
“Ah, ah…!”
The space filled with the moans of people overwhelmed with joy.
The Evil God chuckled and disappeared. People, unaware that it had gone, scrambled to gather the gold.
The priest stood quietly, gauging how much of the Evil God’s power had filled him.
‘Enough power to face all the knights of the Hespia Duchy at once.’
But Christopher was too much.
‘Damn it!’
Blood ran from the priest’s clenched fist. A crimson sheen spread over his beautiful green eyes.
‘That guy is human. He must have a weakness.’
Even if he had none, he could create one.
—I will accomplish it. Please trust me.
The priest recalled the woman who had spoken to him with a beautiful, earnest voice.
‘But things are progressing slower than I thought.’
It seemed impossible for her to manage alone.
‘I’ll have to give a little help.’
“Do you know when your father will be back?”
“I wonder.”
Jojo’s family waited in the parlor for Poo to return.
Jojo worried that her father would be completely drained because of her.
‘Both financially and emotionally.’
But she couldn’t bring herself to stop him. Jojo genuinely wanted to watch over Chris.
‘Just observing should help.’
At that moment, Dici, Poo’s wife and mother of the Jojo siblings, sighed deeply.
“Phew. I came just for a short trip, and suddenly I might have to leave you here. I feel uneasy.”
Dici stroked Jojo’s cheek, and Jojo smiled shyly.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity. I do worry about how strong I can become… but I’ll do my best.”
“Oh, what are you worrying about? You’re already strong enough. You’ll definitely become the strongest and most merciful ruler in Ceres’ history.”
Jojo smiled awkwardly.
At that moment, Cheche, who hadn’t said a word since they arrived in the capital, pushed up his glasses and spoke.
“Mom.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I want to stay here too.”
“What nonsense is this all of a sudden?”
Dici, smiling, replied coolly.
Cheche hesitated but was determined.
“I want to stay in the capital too!”
Just then, Johannes, gleaming as if he had just bathed in hot water, said:
“You want to stay in the capital?”
Cheche, intimidated by Johannes’ gaze, nodded.
Johannes smiled brightly.
“Then I’ll find a suitable residence for the two of you.”
“No, that’s fine. Our daughter…”
Dici waved her hand in surprise, but Johannes shook his head.
“Do not refuse. Is this too much for me? I will prepare the safest and most luxurious place for you.”
“It’s not that—I don’t want to leave my daughter…”
“Mother.”
Jojo gently called to Dici, who looked full of worry, and continued cautiously.
“Please allow it just this once. Cheche won’t often have the chance to live as a normal person rather than a princess, and she will learn so much from it.”
“But…”
Cheche grabbed her mother’s arm.
“Ah, Mom! You always tell me to get out of my room, so why won’t you let me do this?”
“Is a brief outing the same as leaving my side? And here…”
Dici glanced at Johannes and paused.
Johannes seemed to understand what she was about to say.
‘She doesn’t want to leave her daughter in a place where Akkxia is causing trouble. Hmm, I understand that. But I hope she will leave her, at least until winter.’
Johannes felt his heart flutter for the first time in a while. He was glad he could get as much as possible from the south.
—What a beautiful heart, thinking of the people in the territory! Truly moving!
Touched by Johannes’ words, Poo agreed to supply food for more than three times less than expected.
—We’ll send it immediately by our family’s ship!
Even shipping costs were free.
‘Crazy. I’ve never seen such a pushover, or rather, a generous man!’
But how long would he remain so generous?
‘He might change his mind later.’
Since they had signed the contract, it must be fulfilled—but the other party was foreign royalty.
‘Even if the contract is valid, this is almost like a scam.’
So Johannes intended to take both the family’s son and daughter as hostages.
‘I absolutely cannot let them go!’
With that intention, Johannes’ eyes gleamed mischievously. He decided to use his words, which he had usually used only to provoke Chris.
“You know, the capital of the Loroa Empire is the most advanced city in the world. For 20 consecutive years, young people your daughter’s age have chosen it as the best city to live in.”
“Hmm…”
“And the capital is the world’s top city for education. Even if you don’t attend an academy, the excellent culture here broadens one’s knowledge and imagination. Have you ever seen the ‘Silent Carriage’?”
“Oh, wasn’t that just a rumor?”
“No! It’s a real invention by brilliant scientists educated in the capital. And…”
Cheche listened, eyes sparkling, as Johannes spoke passionately.
‘He’s going so far just for me.’
Among the 3D men she had seen in her life, he was the most handsome.
‘…Though he’s just a real-world man.’
Cheche’s eyes cooled.
“So you want the siblings to live with the Duke’s household?”
Chris stroked Piani’s head.
“Yes. That has already been decided.”
Johannes said confidently.
“…Are you crazy?”
“No. Not exactly, though I’m not exactly normal either. My heart has been racing like mad since earlier.”
“Suddenly? Is it angina? At your age… It’s because you always sit at a desk. You’ll have to exercise from now on.”
Veins appeared on Johannes’ forehead. He didn’t want to hear such words from someone younger or from the cause of his stress.
‘Phew…’
Johannes opened the folder he was holding and calmed himself.
‘Ah, perfect numbers.’
With a mischievous laugh, Johannes handed over the folder.
“Look. I’m signing a contract like this in my life.”
Chris frowned after reading the contract.
“You’re saying your heart races over a contract like this?”
What? “Over just this”? Johannes’ eyes reddened.
[Ugh! Gross!]
