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CHAPTER 27
. The High Priest’s Plan (3)
Watching Minte smile, Phobos chuckled along.
“Not sure what they’re looking for, scurrying around like that—but shall we catch one alive?”
“Let’s do it!”
Minte grinned and gripped the hilt of her sword.
The tip of the hilt began to shimmer in silver.
Forgive me, Princess, for shedding blood on your special day.
As the dragon descended right on cue, Minte shouted just before leaping off.
“Duke! Watch the perimeter!”
“Y-Yes, alright.”
Minte landed nimbly on the ground and chased after the most “rat-like” figure, swinging her demon sword.
Meanwhile, the demons who saw the dragon descending screamed in shock.
“A dragon?!”
“Why is there a dragon in Core—?”
“It’s Duke Ismenios!”
Phobos gave his best charming smile and waved.
“Alright, everyone! This area is temporarily restricted!”
“Huh?!”
“The Mad Dog Knight is on the rampage—please clear the area immediately!”
“W-What happened?!”
“Well, you see—”
Phobos scratched his cheek, pretending to ponder.
Either way, he and the Core Knights were going to chase down the High Priest’s remaining lackeys.
There was no need to let the demons cause a bigger scene here.
So he shouted the most believable excuse he could think of for Minte’s actions.
“The Great Hydra has appeared! The Mad Dog Knight is handling it personally!”
“Oh my heavens!”
“Alright, everyone, grab your valuables and evacuate the area!”
Otherwise, you might get caught in that demon sword and die.
Understanding the warning, the demons quickly began dispersing on their own.
Meanwhile, Scisipher was sprinting through the streets of Core like his life depended on it.
What the hell?! Why is the Mad Dog Knight here in person?!
He was disguised. He wasn’t using divine power. And yet, she had recognized him—on instinct.
A thin silver bolt of lightning struck toward him.
“Hiiieek…!”
Covering his head, Scisipher finally activated a small barrier.
But as soon as the demon sword touched it, the barrier shattered like glass.
He stared in horror as the fragments fell.
Even so, I’m still a priest of the Central Temple!
But then the silver demon sword hooked his ankle, and he tumbled helplessly.
“Agh!”
As he crashed into the ground, a chilling voice cackled behind him.
“If you want to stop me…”
Minte smiled viciously as she swung her sword.
“…then bring your Holy Maiden with you!”
Crack.
A small fracture appeared on the marble floor.
Erebos narrowed his eyes at the trace of mana.
Should I be proud… or concerned? What a dilemma.
The first image that flashed in his mind was of the child collapsing, nosebleed dripping.
He was so terrified by the thought that he almost jumped up.
But then, he clearly saw Elysion’s expression.
It was the kind of wrath no child should be capable of showing.
Then he felt it—the swirling mana in the floor, almost identical to his own power.
The surrounding demon nobles were moved nearly to tears.
“I heard she was frail… but she truly is Erebos’s heir.”
“Who said she couldn’t use magic? What fools.”
“They must not value their lives!”
Watching their faces, Erebos smiled in satisfaction.
So some nobles really were harboring unpleasant thoughts.
Is a weak princess fit to be heir?
Wouldn’t it be better for Erebos to take a new queen and produce a stronger successor?
To silence those murmurs, he had deliberately made this year’s birthday celebration more extravagant.
But now that Elysion had shown her magical power, the effect would be even stronger.
They won’t dare spout nonsense for a while.
He wanted to hug her in pride, but first, he stepped in to protect her.
“Elysion, don’t startle the guests now.”
“Ah!”
As Erebos lifted her into his arms, the tension in the furious child’s body softened.
The magic that had been gouging the floor slowly faded.
Erebos smiled faintly and looked at Talos.
“It seems our little princess is quite interested in the priests of the Theocracy.”
“Perhaps the young princess was displeased, or perhaps she has some business with our Holy Maiden?”
At that, Elysion suddenly lifted her head.
Then she responded in a bright, clear voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Yup! This unnie is all alone! Why are the grown-ups not with her?”
Talos’s mouth twitched ever so slightly at the question.
“The Holy Maiden is perfectly—”
“You can’t leave kids alone like that!”
“We left an attendant—”
“Not good enough! What were you all doing not being with her?!”
Elysion cut him off and pointed a finger.
Now, not just the demons but also the other foreign envoys began scrutinizing the Theocracy’s delegation.
Even Talos squinted at the suspicious expressions around him.
This little brat… dares act so smug, just because she has her father behind her.
That childish, lisping voice grated on his nerves.
It had been a long time since he’d felt such emotion.
…No. I felt this way toward that woman too.
It was the same feeling that boiled inside him every time he saw the 13th.
Those quiet, silver-gray eyes that seemed to look down on him.
That arrogant tone.
“If you hate me that much, you do the whole Holy Maiden thing yourself. Oh wait—you can’t.”
“Just shut up, Talos. I’m starving and you’re picking fights over nonsense.”
“You mean nothing to me.”
She doesn’t resemble her at all, but that insolent attitude is just the same.
Talos shook his head, forcing the thoughts away.
“We’re honored the princess is concerned about our Holy Maiden’s loneliness—”
“Yup! So can I play with her for a bit?!”
The Holy Maiden, Ares, and even Callion all widened their eyes at Elysion’s words.
“What?”
“Sion!”
“Sion-nim?”
At that moment, Erebos furrowed his brows.
…With the name ‘Elysion,’ why would even a prince of Halcyon call her by that nickname?
Elysion looked up at him with big eyes.
“Uh, she looked lonely!”
“Hmph…”
“I wanna play with her alone! Just a little, please?”
That face, so much like her mother’s, stared up at him with teary eyes.
This was a fight he had no chance of winning.
Erebos let out a long sigh and gave Lethe an order.
“Lady Epikus, please prepare a private space for the princess and the Holy Maiden.”
At that, Talos suddenly stepped forward in a panic.
“Prince Erebos, this is an outrage—”
“Outrage?”
“Even if we overlook the princess’s magical outburst, to now separate our Holy Maiden—”
“High Priest. You and I both played our little games on my daughter’s birthday.”
“What do you—”
Erebos leaned down so only Talos could hear him.
Even though Talos was tall, he could not rival the Demon King.
Right now, Minte and Phobos were leading the Core Knights to hunt down this Halcyon filth.
Erebos smiled coldly.
“The only thing I lack is hard evidence.”
“……”
“But isn’t it true—we still have swords pointed at each other’s throats.”
The Demon King wore a faint smile throughout.
Talos felt an invisible pressure brushing against his throat.
Hah. One more misstep, and he’d break my neck with magic—diplomacy be damned.
In the end, he had no choice but to let the Demon Princess have her way.
Meanwhile, Ares was watching Elysion disappear with the Holy Maiden.
Callion glanced sideways at him.
“That’s unexpected.”
“…What is, you blue-eyed pest.”
“Thought you’d buzz around after her like a fruit fly.”
“Why you little—”
