🔊 TTS Settings
CHAPTER 51…….
“Just now, when I transferred my mana to you, Master, I became certain. Your power is leaking away somewhere. I’d already had a faint suspicion back at the Demon King’s castle…”
Nox wasn’t just quick-witted—he was a demon of the mental arts. His sense for energies was keener than anyone’s, so Asterios had already expected him to notice.
“…While you and Mephisto have steadily weakened, Her Highness the Princess’s mana circle has actually risen in rank. And that was while she was trapped in the cage.”
“If you’ve noticed, it won’t be long before His Majesty does as well.”
Aside from Asterios himself, the only one with a sharper sense than Nox was Leodian.
Since it was never something that could be perfectly hidden, Asterios began to explain.
“Yes. The one who took the mana wasn’t Mephisto—it was Her Highness.”
Both men who had come into contact with her inside the cage had instead been drained of power.
“Then does that mean… the next Demon King chosen by the Demon Realm is—”
Asterios narrowed his eyes sharply at his subordinate.
“Hold your tongue, Nox. Nothing is certain yet.”
Of course, he knew it was likely true. Her mana circle was growing, and his own mana continued to flow toward her. That alone was proof enough.
But it was not something to be spoken carelessly.
Roziana was a princess of Dreart, called a saint in Graham, and the idea that she might become the Demon King would inevitably cause chaos.
“A being with too much power becomes an object of both admiration and fear.”
Such a person was all the more likely to be attacked or exploited.
And the position of the Demon King had, for generations, been seen as the very embodiment of evil—a threat to Heaven, the Demon Realm, and the Human World alike.
“If things go on like this, Her Highness could be in danger.”
“The best course is to make sure she does not become the Demon King.”
“But… if that is what she desires?”
Should they respect her will in that case? Asterios fell silent for a moment.
“When I made plans to give Erica a new body and life containing all three powers, it was not because I wanted her to become the Demon King.”
His aim had been simple—travel to the past, save the Four Witches, and together gather enough strength to defeat Beelzebub. There had never been a need for Roziana to take the Demon King’s crown.
“She must know that. This is simply an unforeseen variable.”
No one had expected the Demon Realm to choose her.
The Demon Realm, like a living organism, sought out and drew to itself the strongest magic it could find to serve as its master.
“Why would it choose her over Mephisto?”
“I can’t say for sure—it’s the law of the Demon Realm. But it’s likely because of one of the powers she holds. Mephisto probably has some inkling of it as well.”
“Then, as you say, Mephisto will never give her up. He’ll have no choice but to accept Dreart’s demand and compete.”
“The only relief is that, for now, I hold the deciding vote in her choice.”
Because his own power was bound to hers, Roziana would need his cooperation to complete her circle and become the Demon King.
“I must keep that in my hands. Which is why I, too, will propose to her.”
“You’re joining the competition?”
“Because what I have to protect is clear.”
If she wished it, he would help her attain the dignity befitting a Demon King. If that caused her hardship, he would resolve it with her. And if she faced danger, he would protect her.
The mistakes he had made five hundred years ago—claiming to act for her sake—would not be repeated.
“Surely… the Emperor didn’t intend for you to enter the race as well?”
As Nox spoke, he brought over the tray before the soup cooled and offered it to Asterios. A rich, savory aroma wafted up from the carefully prepared broth.
Freed from the bed, Asterios took up a spoon and began to eat.
“He probably guessed I’d be among the candidates. With young Henry far too inexperienced, His Majesty would find me suitable. In any case, the stronger the candidates, the better for keeping Mephisto in check.”
“It’s certain Mephisto and the Tower Master will fight tooth and nail.”
“Yes. Neither has ever yielded something they desired.”
Roziana’s engagement was bound to become quite the spectacle.
“I wonder if Graham will send a candidate as well. If so, things will start to look like the war a thousand years ago.”
A thousand years ago—when Heaven and the Demon Realm had tangled over control of the Human World.
Asterios, too, recalled that distant past at Nox’s words—when he, the Dragon God, had lowered his own divinity to stand alongside humans in their defense.
“You’re right—it will be similar. The Holy Sovereign of Graham won’t sit idly by while a saint is taken.”
The more he thought about it, the more certain it seemed—suitors would flock from every side, all greedy for Roziana.
It was no wonder—never before had there been someone with holy power, magic, and the power of a dragon all at once. To be her partner was to share in that power.
“Nox.”
Asterios, having emptied his bowl, spoke quietly.
“Yes, Master?”
“You will go to Graham in my stead. There’s something I need you to find.”
“Name it.”
Asterios thought back to the strange dream he’d had in the past three days of drifting near death—how he’d thought it was Mephisto strangling him, but the face had belonged to someone else.
Could it have been Beelzebub, the one he had slain? Or…
After a pause, Asterios spoke in a dry tone.
“Records of Gabriel, from the Graham archives—destroyed in the war a thousand years ago.”
“Gabriel? You mean the leader of the Earth-Heaven angels who perished in that war?”
A thousand years ago, when all three realms were drawn into war, the Demon Realm had suffered the worst losses, but Heaven and the Human World had also paid dearly. For Heaven, it had been the Earth-Heaven angels.
Angels, servants and messengers of the divine, were beings above humanity. But in coming down to the Human World to block the Demon King, many perished or lost their rank—alongside countless humans and dragons.
Tenebres, then the Dragon God, had come to view angels as no different from the Demon King—realizing they sought only to use humans as tools to ascend to godhood.
Different in name only, angels and demon kings shared the same ambition.
Human prayers were strength to angels, and so they plunged mankind into danger and misery—so that in their suffering they would pray more fervently.
War, to angels, was both a place of peril and a means to amass power.
“Yes. I need confirmation.”
“It will take some time. Graham is a holy nation—many there are resistant to my mental magic.”
“With Daniel here, you’ll only need to be careful of the Archbishop and the Holy Sovereign.”
“Understood. I’ll depart as soon as you recover.”
“No. Leave today.”
“But your condition is still unstable. If this continues—”
“I have my own plans. I’m going to meet Edwin.”
Understanding his meaning, Nox’s eyes widened briefly before a hint of relief softened his face.
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door.
At Asterios’s permission, Nox went to answer.
“Who is it?”
“I was sent for by Your Excellency.”
Recognizing the voice, Nox opened the door. Mari, one of Asterios’s shadows, slipped quickly inside and shut it again before bowing deeply.
“My lord.”
“So, there are eyes watching.”
She was skilled enough to enter without a trace—so if she’d knocked first, there had to be a reason.
“Yes. The Tower Master is in the palace. He’s sent a servant to request an audience with you.”
Edwin?
“Perfect timing.”
He’d been planning to seek him out anyway.
Nox, however, voiced his concern.
“What business would the Tower Master have with the Princess’s knight commander?”
“I escorted Her Highness to the Demon Realm—he’ll have plenty of questions. And he’ll want to know what became of the cage.”
“But are you fine meeting him as you are now?”
Edwin, who remembered Tenebres from a thousand years ago, would recognize him instantly—that was what Nox was asking.
“It was an inevitable meeting. I can’t hide it from him forever.”
Asterios extended a hand toward Mari.
“Mari. Do you have what I told you to fetch from the ducal estate?”
“Yes, my lord. Here it is.”
From her robe, Mari produced a white mask and handed it over.
“You’re going to wear that again? But didn’t you just say you wouldn’t hide your identity from the Tower Master anymore?”
