Chapter 120 : Chapter 120

Chapter 120: The Eight Demons of the Empire

“The Empire’s plan to invade the Kingdom. From now on, tell me everything you know.”

With that, I sat cross-legged at a proper distance from Kuhn.

She paused briefly, setting aside what she was doing.

Her face, as always, seemed impassive.

Perhaps because of that, subtle changes were easier to notice.

It was as if she’d quietly steeled herself, as though she’d known this day would come.

“It might be a long story.”

As expected, she got straight to the point.

No preamble about why I was asking or how I got curious—she skipped all that.

I liked that. If she’s this direct, there’s no need to doubt her sincerity.

Well, she’s already dead and somehow part of me (?), so what’s there to hide anyway?

“Go on.”

“Yes.”

At my words, she adjusted her posture neatly and answered, slightly bowing her head so the crown of it was visible.

“Does the Young Master know of Karma?”

My eyes narrowed instinctively. An unexpected term had popped out of Kuhn’s mouth.

“Why does that matter now…?”

“It’s something we must address before the story.”

I let out a breath through my nose and nodded.

So that’s why she warned it’d be a long story.

“I know. I’m not some novice swordsman.”

If Kingdom mages use their mana as a resource to cast magic, where does the supernatural power of Imperial swordsmen come from?

In other words:

What is the ‘fuel’ for the flame of Sword Aura?

‘Karma.’

A concept tied to the causality of the universe.

An aggregate that governs all creation, orchestrating the flow of the world.

The principle of harmony, where the positive and negative converge, cycling through creation and destruction—an ethereal force.

Ancient Imperial swordsmen believed and passed down that the source of their transcendent power came from harnessing this cosmic force.

The universe is the heavens.

It’s not for nothing that the heavens often appear in swordsmanship mantras.

Even that Blood Devil rambled about the will of the heavens until his dying breath, didn’t he?

“Karma, the cosmic principle, was first established and spread by the current Imperial Family, the Igraine dynasty. They warned that Karma must not be misused, restating their ideology and judging the arrogance and corruption of the previous dynasty.”

Kuhn was now reciting the founding history of the current Imperial Family.

As she said, the Igraine Empire valued balance and harmony above all, the providence of the heavens.

This was both a virtue and a discipline for Imperial warriors, acting like a mental restraint, prohibiting the reckless abuse of Karma.

The physical toll was significant too.

But.

“Later generations had much to say. Some even debated whether Karma was a real concept. Crucially, with the Empire’s current technological capabilities, observing cosmic Karma is difficult. Some historians dismissed it as mere political justification fabricated by the Igraine dynasty. Of course, they were all purged.”

“Have you ever considered that those counterarguments might be part of another conspiracy to undermine the Igraine dynasty’s authority?”

My brow furrowed.

“…Look, Kuhn. I was just saying I’m not ignorant about Karma. I’m not questioning the Imperial Family’s legitimacy. Above all, I’m a master swordsman. Doubting Karma’s truth is like insulting my own prowess.”

“I understand.”

Kuhn raised her eyes.

For a moment, a glint flickered in her inorganic black pupils.

“Then, what if the Imperial Family’s resolve to protect Karma became the decisive justification for invading the Kingdom? What do you think of that?”

I was momentarily speechless.

I had no energy to hide my shock, nor did I want to.

I recalled my days as a fresh recruit in the Imperial Army.

If it were me from back then, I might’ve snapped at Kuhn’s question.

Back then, the answer to that question was ingrained in my mind like brainwashing.

In my past life, the Old Knight, Jayden, asked something similar.

—What’s the Empire’s goal? Why start this horrific war?

The Imperial Army’s Dragon in the Fog answered:

—To eradicate the Kingdom’s sinister magic and its mages, preventing a greater future catastrophe.

‘…’

Protecting the Kingdom’s people from the destructive act of magic on a grand, national scale—a noble and perfect justification for war.

Back then, I saw it as mere rhetoric, something to slap onto any cause. No need to think deeper or question it.

I was just a soldier blindly surviving the chaos.

Of course, that’s not me now.

“Is the Imperial Family treating mana as a form of Karma?”

“Exactly.”

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Something flashed through my mind.

Words Kuhn had spoken before, when she appeared in front of me in life.

—The Imperial Family’s millennial plan.

I opened my eyes again.

“…So, a war was planned long ago.”

“Yes.”

The Igraine dynasty was established roughly three hundred years ago.

Compare that to me.

Even counting my past life, I’m nowhere near half a century.

I felt like a speck of dust, carried by the wind, glimpsing the world faintly, now standing before the vast wall of history.

“If my memory serves, you confidently answered that you could stand against it when I asked.”

…She’s not reading all my thoughts just because she’s trapped in my unconscious, is she?

I deliberately raised my chin.

“No way.”

At this point, a question arose.

“But, Kuhn, you seem like you were waiting for me to ask this. Even the way you’re questioning me now.”

“That’s not entirely wrong.”

“Not wrong?”

“Even if the Empire’s goal is truly the salvation of the world.”

Kuhn’s face hardened as she spoke.

“Destruction for the sake of peace can never be justified.”

…Is she trying to make me laugh?

“You think it’s justified to say that? That’s ridiculous.”

“I’m leaving my personal story out. Still, knowing there’s someone who shares my thoughts is comforting.”

Kuhn… whatever. The fact that she’s even here is incomprehensible.

I waved my hand, conveying my exasperation.

“Fine. Anyway, it seems like the Imperial Family’s millennial plan is about to surface.”

I outright asked if the Empire would soon invade the Kingdom, but it shouldn’t sound strange.

This conversation started that way, after all.

The experiences I had as a soldier in my past life don’t seem like such grand secrets now.

Jewel, Kuhn, every Imperial figure I met here knew the context, even Roxley, whom Jewel recruited.

Even Adeline vaguely suspected a war with the Empire might come.

“Aren’t you curious, Young Master?”

“About what?”

“How this resolve to protect Karma began in the current Imperial Family.”

“Do I need to know that far? The ancient Empire was a time when all sorts of gods ran rampant, so the Igraine dynasty’s founder probably received an oracle or enlightenment, something like that.”

It sounded like a question meant to take a breather, so I answered absently, staring at the flames rising from the brazier.

After a slight pause, Kuhn added,“There was an ascetic who passed this resolution to the first Igraine emperor.”

“An ascetic?”

“One who erased their own traces, leaving no record, known only by that title. The origin of the Imperial Family’s ideology, revered even by the Igraines.”

Kuhn’s voice trembled faintly. Even through the brazier’s haze, I could see her caution, as if speaking of a primordial god might lead to true oblivion.

“…This nameless one achieved thirteen incarnations, walking through eras, weaving the threads of providence, and forever overseeing the flow of all things, as promised to us…”

Kuhn opened her half-closed eyes.

“Go to that land, aid the manifestation of the Eight Demons, and pave their path.”

Whoooosh—

A sudden gust chilled the back of my neck.

The brazier flames all leaned in one direction before rising again.

Was it Kuhn’s breath?

When I looked at her again, she was indeed steadying her breathing.

I swallowed the saliva pooling in my mouth and said,“Was that the Imperial Family’s command to you?”

Kuhn nodded slightly.

The Eight Demons of the Empire.

They weren’t just ancient evils from oral tradition.

‘Well, I did witness the Blood Devil myself.’

—The flower of a great cause blooms with small sacrifices as its fertilizer.

…Was it because I killed him?

It felt like his will was crawling into my mind like an insect.

“So, these revered beings call themselves ‘Demons’ because they intend to annihilate the Kingdom?”

“Yes.”

I see.

In my past life, I was faithfully following the will of these grand beings revered by the Imperial Family.

The Imperial Army was merely charging down the path paved by the eight fragments laid as their foundation.

“Now do you understand what you’re up against?”

Kuhn asked, her expression more ‘human’ than before.

“Yeah.”

I stood as I answered.

I felt a bit lighter.

“Knowing doesn’t change anything.”

“…What?”

Karma’s protection? Salvation? An ascetic?

Maybe I’m too dim, or maybe I’m just a small-minded person unfit for grand causes.

‘…No.’

There’s at least one other person.

Someone who’d tell me I’m not wrong.

—What’s so special about an Imperial warrior’s honor? Protecting my people with my power and influence. That’s all it is to me.

To think I’d have such thoughts.

Meeting that guy was worth it.

It’s come full circle like this.

“Thanks, Kuhn. I get it now.”

Where my new path leads.

“I don’t care about that stuff.”

* * *

…I said that boldly, but claiming it doesn’t affect me would be a lie.

‘Seven more things like the Blood Devil?’

When I emerged from the unconscious world, it was already the next morning, and my body was drenched in sweat.

Sometimes, just thinking can exhaust you. Like now.

Grrrr.

…First, I need to fill my stomach.

I left the inn and strolled through the blacksmith district.

The street was bustling from the morning.

Bathed in sunlight, the people and the entire street seemed to stretch energetically together.

‘Let’s sort things out.’

The coronation is still a bit away.

The weapon Gaff promised to make for me will take time to complete.

I’m mentally and physically drained from listening to Kuhn’s revelations, and I’m starving.

And I’m missing ‘The Oath of Bastion’…

“Urp.”

I’d wandered to a shack-like diner I’d visited with Janson before, but I retched at the threshold without even entering.

Rice grains floating in that monstrous dish… No way I can handle that.

‘Should I make a quick trip to Easton?’

As I turned, pondering this—

“He’s completely vanished since Easton.”

“No good. A delegation will arrive in Conwell City soon, and at this rate…”

“I thought the Litania Order was a likely bet, but he wasn’t there either. Why not search more?”

“Don’t even mention it! I nearly got preached to death by that Bolero guy. I barely escaped with my life.”

“Sigh… What do we do if he’s not here either? This is basically our last shot.”

“Let’s go in. We need to eat something hearty to keep our strength up.”

My sharpened hearing caught the murmurs from inside.

I turned toward the sound.

Are they… talking about me?

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