Chapter 156 : Chapter 156

Chapter 156

The night he returned after being harassed by Orchid Owl, who was obsessed with violet mana.

Killian, who had finished a grueling day as usual, laid his body down on the bed.

His tense body went limp, and his relaxed muscles brought on fatigue.

And then.

‘Hmm… this again?’

Without even knowing the meaning of what was happening to him, Killian fell into a dreamlike state.

***

The scene that unfolded in the darkness was hazy, like the afterimage of an old memory.

Cold air enveloped his skin.

As his vision gradually brightened, someone’s voice echoed in his ears.

“Are you saying the priests still aren’t making a move?”

A voice that sounded a little angry.

Killian, narrowing his eyes, recognized the owner of the voice.

‘Edan.’

Judging by his face and attire, it seemed to be from his 8-star days.

Edan’s two eyes were filled with anger.

“There’s no need to get so worked up, Edan.”

‘Is this voice Diana’s?’

His gaze shifted, and he saw the figure of a woman with long violet hair.

Diana Cornelia.

Her brows were also deeply furrowed.

“The reason they said they wouldn’t help the Kingdom Alliance is probably because there would be no impact on them even if we lose the war with the Empire.”

Diana said in a cold voice.

Numerous kingdoms had allied against the tyranny of the Empire.

If they were defeated, death awaited them.

Even if they somehow managed to save their lives, the Empire would relentlessly pursue them and exterminate them.

Conversely, if they were victorious, the system would be overturned, and a new era would begin.

Currently, the Kingdom Alliance’s forces seemed to be slightly lacking.

“If we are defeated, it will be a stigma worse than death for our descendants.”

The violet mana flickered from Diana’s muttering body. It was to relieve the fatigue of her weary body from the long meeting.

Promoting the recovery of mind and body using mana.

It was a new magic she had completed a short while ago.

“So they were just morons who only rely on the Authority of the gods after all. I was foolish to have expected anything.”

Edan, who had been gritting his teeth, let out a sigh.

“The great cause is with us.”

They were the ones fighting and shedding blood.

“Those who only hide behind the gods will eventually be weeded out.”

Just as the current Heinrich Empire, the Holy Nation Luminescia was also the same.

“They too will realize it someday when those who rise up against them appear.”

The future that awaits those who refuse change.

It was just a pity that that moment felt so far away.

Just then.

‘I’ interjected into their conversation.

[In any case, it’s a war waged by humans. There is no need to rely on the Authority of the gods.]

“Adamas.”

Sreung.

Edan drew the treasured sword he had laid down.

Ssssss.

An eyeball, formed of mana, was created on the blade.

‘I’ had used the ‘Authority of Observation’.

[Look at this. Even I, an atheist, am using the Authority of a god.]

Although it was just an imitation using mana, an Authority was an Authority.

He said that the potential of mana was no different from the Authority possessed by the ancient gods.

“I’ve shown a disgraceful side in front of the great Magic Sword.”

Diana smiled and stroked the blade of Adamas.

Her dignity as a queen was nowhere to be seen, and she had the innocent look of someone who had discovered an interesting toy.

Edan let out a small laugh and let her stroke Adamas.

“If you had served me as your master instead, your seal might have been released in this lifetime.”

[…]

“Edan only knows how to swing a sword; he has no interest in the intricacies of a formula.”

[If that were the case, you wouldn’t have even thought of getting help from the priests.]

Far from help, it would be fortunate if a war didn’t break out with them being branded as the main enemy.

[The priests of today don’t even seem to have a sense of crisis as a species, let alone their faith.]

The story of the ancient humans who rose up against the gods.

Diana admired the legend written by the Magic Sword before her.

“Does the great prophet believe we have a chance of winning?”

She asked with a mischievous face.

[Well, if even one of you two reaches 9-star, the tide of the war will turn. Just as 7-star and 8-star are different, 8-star and 9-star will be incomparable.]

“The 9-star talk again?”

Edan shook his head.

It had been several years since he had stabilized at 8-star, but he was still fighting the war without having grasped even a clue about 9-star.

“You said it’s a realm that none of your past partners have ever reached?”

Diana asked, her eyes sparkling like a child waiting for a story.

[Edan has the greatest talent among those I have met. Reaching 8-star at his age is not normal in the first place.]

“Adamas. I’m also 8-star.”

[That’s true.]

“What’s with that nonchalant reaction? Tell me properly this time. What do I have to do to reach 9-star?”

Diana poured out the questions she had always held.

[The ancient me awakened to mana on my own.]

Edan and Diana had puzzled expressions at the bland response.

[I imitated the Authorities of the gods using mana.]

It was the same now that he was trapped in a blade.

He could use the Authorities of numerous gods using mana.

He could declare that it would be stronger than what a chief priest could use, at the very least.

[But I do not have a human body.]

“A human body.”

Edan chewed on Adamas’s words.

[If I had the body of the current human race like you two, I would no longer be able to use the Authorities of the gods.]

Even if he could use the Authorities fully, his body would not be able to withstand it and would collapse.

“So, what if that really happened?”

Diana asked with curious eyes.

“If you had a human body, how would you plan to cut down the gods?”

[…]

To have a human body and be unable to use the Authorities of the gods.

It was a case that ‘I’ at that time had not considered.

[First, I would have to reach 9-star. Then I would think of a sure way to shock them.]

“For example?”

[Using mana…]

Before ‘I’ could finish his words.

Killian’s vision blurred.

“……”

He soon caught his breath and opened his eyes on the bed.

He blankly opened his mouth and repeated the last word he had heard.

‘It wasn’t a simple dream.’

A new power using mana.

A path to surpass the gods.

The method he had told his friends in the past.

“Palatium.”

Repeating that word for the first time in hundreds of years, Killian was lost in thought.

***

The Babylon Kingdom, one of the vassal states of the Empire.

In a tavern located on its outskirts, two Walkers occupied a table.

They were the Night Walkers and respective guild masters, Orchid Owl and Crimson Wolf.

Both of them, covered in human skin, were wearing black cloaks, giving off an atmosphere that fit well with the secluded corner of the tavern.

“Heung~”

After swirling the contents of her glass for a moment, Orchid Owl, who had emptied it in one go, looked at Crimson Wolf.

“You’re quiet. Are you nervous on your first outing in a while?”

“I am nervous. About the reality of having to hang out with you like this.”

Crimson Wolf looked at her as he put down his glass with a blank expression.

“Stop doing useless things and just come under Prince Killian’s wing, I told you.”

“Until a while ago, I wasn’t the type to go under anyone.”

“……”

“You know that, don’t you?”

Crimson Wolf slightly raised his eyebrows as if annoyed.

“And now such a person has infiltrated the Babylon Kingdom to find out about the Emperor?”

“U-heung.”

“Dragging me along too?”

“That’s right.”

“Amazing. I can’t even laugh.”

Unlike Crimson Wolf, Orchid Owl let out her characteristic hum.

“Killian asked for information on the Emperor.”

“Killian…? Is it just me, or does that form of address feel inappropriate?”

“An inappropriate relationship.”

Hwaljjak.

Orchid Owl licked her lips and smiled sweetly.

“Information on the Emperor isn’t easy to obtain even in the vassal states, right? That’s why I brought you. What’s there to be afraid of when two Night Walkers join forces?”

‘I’m going crazy.’

She uttered sweet words so casually.

If he hadn’t held countless women, he would have fallen for her words just now.

“You’re in a position to cooperate with the Eurasia Kingdom anyway. Don’t think badly of it.”

Crimson Wolf stared at her silently.

“So when is this ‘Tial Salamander’ you’re supposed to meet coming?”

“Soon.”

“……”

At Crimson Wolf’s furrowed face, she continued.

“Tial is the head of Bacardi.”

“I know that much.”

The Walker Guild, Bacardi.

Its head, Tial Salamander, was a figure who bought and sold secret information within the Empire and even had the power to manipulate the movements among the vassal states.

Crimson Wolf emptied the glass he was holding.

“The Walker Guild Bacardi… he’s a bigger shot than us. If things go wrong, it’ll be hard for either of us to get out.”

Hennessy and Absinthe were allied guilds of Eurasia.

In a place that was no different from the heart of enemy territory, even a Night Walker could not guarantee their life.

“Don’t worry. Tial is not a stiff man like you.”

Tuk. Tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuk-tuk.

Orchid Owl tapped her fingers on the table and continued.

“He wants to hold me. He’s a man with strong desires, just like you.”

“……”

“He might ask to sleep with me, but it’ll work out somehow. That’s our way.”

Crimson Wolf did not hide his cynical reaction.

“You’re going to drag the head of a major guild into your bedroom and manipulate him? And my life is on the line too?”

Orchid Owl burst out laughing.

“If things go wrong, we can run away together in a lover’s escape.”

“Bullshit. It would be more effective to just kidnap Tial Salamander.”

“As expected of Crimson. You get things done when you have to, huh?”

“Know that I’ll tear that crotch of yours apart if I make it back alive.”

“Ahahahaha. You think your crotch will be safe?”

While they were having their pointless conversation, a man approached.

The man pulled out the chair next to Orchid Owl and sat down.

“You’re having an interesting conversation.”

“It’s been a while, Tial.”

“……”

Crimson Wolf quietly sized up the man.

He was a little over 190 cm tall.

His exposed muscular body was covered in old scars.

His red hair stood on end like a lion’s mane, and the gaze in his eyes, which seemed to burn with flames, made one understand why his nickname was ‘Salamander’.

“And this is?”

“Crimson Wolf of Hennessy.”

“Ah. The lonely wolf of the east.”

Unlike with Orchid, he gave a perfunctory nod and met her eyes.

“It’s good to see you after a long time, but you want information on the Emperor?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s not difficult. I can’t give you as much as you want, but I can hand over a few important things.”

“As expected. The man who runs a major guild is different~”

“But not for free.”

His two eyes, looking at Orchid Owl, gleamed with desire.

“Heu-eung~ You still haven’t given up on me?”

“It’s true that I like you, but I also know very well that you’re trying to use me.”

“Do you really like me?”

Orchid Owl asked playfully.

“Well, it depends on how well you handle me in bed.”

Tial retorted with a sly smile.

“This is troublesome. What should I do, Crimson?”

“……?”

“It seems I’ll have to sleep with Tial to get the information.”

“Why are you asking me that.”

Crimson Wolf’s voice trembled slightly as he asked back.

“Because.”

Orchid Owl showed an innocent smile.

“We’re the kind of people who check each other’s crotches, aren’t we?”

At her words.

‘This crazy bitch finally did it.’

“I’ll have to deal with the wolf cub first.”

Crimson Wolf and Tial Salamander.

The two Night Walkers drew their swords at the same time.