Chapter 112: The Greatest One

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“…Am I really your king?”

[You were.]

“I was?”

[You. Loved too many things.]

[You never became only our king.]

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Alicia gave an awkward smile.

The monsters with pitch-black fur weren’t exactly pleasant to look at, but having seen them a few times already, she wasn’t afraid.

[We. Learned the ways humans communicate.]

[We wanted to talk with you.]

[We practised for a long time.]

[Do you truly not know?]

The relentless gazes from the monsters were certainly not ordinary.

But seeing their eyes, full of expectation as if seeking praise, reminded her of her young son.

She knew it was a strange comparison, but their presence felt like baby birds chirping toward their mother.

“I don’t know what you want from me. But—”

[We want to be by your side.]

[That alone is enough.]

[We don’t want to be abandoned.]

[You definitely promised.]

“Just to stay by my side? That’s all?”

Alicia narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge if they were lying.

But the glimmering eyes were sincere.

[Always wished for it. By your side]

[Wanted to be together.]

[You didn’t look back.]

[We waited. Always. It was far too long.]

The monsters muttered weakly, but Alicia still couldn’t understand them.

Although they were imitating human speech, their clumsy tone and manner of speaking had clear limitations in conveying meaning.

“I still can’t fully understand what you’re saying.”

[We try.]

[We can understand.]

[We do what you want.]

No sooner had Alicia finished speaking than a string of excuses trailed after her words.

They were afraid.

Afraid that Alicia might turn away again.

"If you can do what I want, could you help me?"

[We do not help you.]

[You just have to give the order.]

[You command, and we follow. That’s all.]

"Then, is it possible to heal my body?"

The monster’s body was naturally strong.

If she truly were the king of monsters, she might have the chance to gain a strong body.

[Heal your body?]

[No need to heal.]

[You, not hurt.]

“No. I am hurt.”

Alicia rolled up her sleeve, revealing a frail, skinny arm.

Her emaciated arms looked pitiful just to behold.

“I made a wish. And as the price for that, I lost my lifespan.”

[Lifespan?]

[Price?]

“If things go on like this, I’m going to die. That’s why I need your help. If you’re the source of my power, then the answer must be with you as well.”

This time, there was no immediate reply.

Even so, Alicia could tell what the monsters looking down at her were thinking.

They did not understand what she was saying.

[You are not in pain.]

“That can’t be.”

[It is simply broken.]

One of the monsters suddenly poked its head forward.

Alicia flinched in surprise, but didn’t pull her hand back.

The monster sniffed Alicia’s scent several times, then straightened back up.

[It is badly broken.] 

“Broken? What do you mean by that?”

[The vessel is broken. So it cannot contain.]

“I can’t quite understand what you mean. Could you explain a bit more?”

The monster paused briefly, then nodded.

[Your power is unlike ours. It is the greatest.]

“The greatest?”

[It is your power. It would never harm you. There is no price.]

“…There’s no price to pay?”

Alicia didn’t know what expression to make, so she just stood there blankly.

Contrary to the monster’s words, her pale hands still cast the shadow of death over her.

[Your power is immense. But the vessel is small. So it broke.]

“The vessel…”

[It cannot be done. Human body. Weak. Limited.] 

The monster’s ears and tail drooped.

It seemed the monster was sadder about it than Alicia herself.

“Then, what if the vessel breaks? What happens then?”

[You die.]

“What?”

She almost bit her tongue in shock.

But the monster just wagged its tail lightly, appearing completely unbothered.

“It’s alright. You do not truly die. What dies is the human body.”

“The human body?”

[You have grown weaker. But still strong and great. That is what will happen once you shed the human shell.]

“Does that mean I can no longer live as a human?”

[You will become the Great One again.]

The monster nodded without hesitation.

“…What happens if I become the Great One?”

[You must leave this land. It was originally yours, but it was taken away. So it cannot be helped. That is the promise.]

“...”

[But it is alright. We will always be by your side.]

The monster’s eyes gleamed as if to comfort her.

But that alone didn’t reach Alicia.

“I want to keep staying here.”

[Why? Humans, nothing but weak.] 

“There are people I want to be with.”

[That man?]

[That child?]

“Both.”

Alicia clasped her hands over her chest.

She was happy with the present moment.

She no longer wanted to leave Cabelenus’s side.

[Time passed. And yet, you remain unchanged.]

[You still love humans.]

[You do not need to do that.]

[As expected, we envy humans.]

[We wish there were no humans.]

It was dangerous.

Alicia swallowed instinctively.

The monsters’ eyes, slick with jealousy, were menacing.

[Hate, humans.]

[But, we cannot.]

[We already committed a mistake. So we were punished.]

[We cannot make the same mistake. We cannot become like ‘that person.’]

The blazing fire in their eyes faded.

Alicia stared fixedly at the monsters with their tails tucked.

“…Then, will you help me?”

[Already said. We. Do not help.]

[We simply obey.]

The monsters smiled.

Given the long snout of the monsters, the idea of it ‘smiling’ was strange, but to Alicia, that was exactly how it looked.

・・・・・ 

“Monsters have appeared in Schwarhan?”

“Yes. That’s why everyone is in an uproar over it right now. They say it’s a sign of disaster.”

“It seems to be that child’s doing.”

Zerpheus’s smile deepened.

He had suspected it, and as expected, he was right.

Cabelenus’s bloodline was special.

“Do you really think the child was born with the power to command monsters?”

“Otherwise, there’s no way the monsters would have appeared suddenly. Something must have happened inside the castle.”

“It’s a shame we can’t confirm it.”

Pelsion expressed his regret.

A predator whose den had been raided became even more sensitive and wary.

They had repeatedly tried to extract information, but against the fortress-like defences, they tasted nothing but the bitter sting of failure.

“It’s thanks to my younger brother for guarding it better than I expected.”

“Then what will you do? Will you just stand by and watch?”

“Since the child’s power has been confirmed, there’s no need to go to such lengths.”

Zerpheus propped his chin up lazily.

He wasn’t particularly fond of head-on confrontations, but depending on the situation, he had to set aside his preferences for a while.

“Cabelenus likes perfection. The longer we drag this out, the more advantageous it will be for him.”

“But we have the shackles, don’t we?”

“Which is why I’m thinking of moving personally. No matter how well we train the soldiers, it was my younger brother’s strength that gave Schwarhan its greatest name.”

Zerpheus slowly moved the pieces on the map.

“We’ll open the research facilities in Talin, Heinen, and the Cain region.”

“Are you going to release the failed experiments?”

“They’re useless failures, but they’re not bad for instilling fear. The world’s a pretty grim place, after all.”

Zerpheus’s eyes curved elegantly.

The fake witches created by the temple were wreaking havoc across the imperial territories, and just now, monsters had appeared in Schwarhan.

With complaints pouring in from every region, even a small addition of provocation would quickly let the flames spread.

“We’ve spent our lives being toyed with by the will of God; now it’s our turn to use God’s name for our own purposes.”

“But we lack the justification that the temple has.”

“I heard rumours that someone claiming to be God’s representative has appeared.”

“We’ve already investigated, and that person is an imposter.”

Pelsion shook his head.

There was never just one or two charlatans appearing in times of crisis.

Even if they were skilled at handling the temple’s fake witches, it didn’t change the fact that they were impostors claiming to speak of the will of God.

“The truth doesn’t matter. What matters is that people believe it.”

Zerpheus smirked as he looked over the piled-up reports on God’s supposed representatives.

“Bring them here with courtesy. Let’s see what it’s like to play the faithful servant of God for once.”

And then, he would finally have it in his hands.

Zerpenus flicked the black horse piece and knocked it over.

A flag symbolising Schwarhan was planted on the horse.

"We must quickly kill that wicked witch and save the prince."

"But if we make a move, the temple side won’t just stay still either."

"Is staying still enough? The temple will have to move along, too."

‘Of course, only the ones from our side will return from Schwarhan.’

Zerpheus languidly licked his lips.

“Handing over God’s representative to the temple and using the witch hunt as a pretext for war will be enough to make the temple mobilise its troops.”

“Do you think the High Priest will act so rashly? The temple wouldn’t want to provoke them without cause either.”

“If they won’t act, then we’ll just make them act.”

“‘Is there such a method?’”

“Leak information about the child to the temple.”

Zerpheus smiled arrogantly and immediately continued speaking.

“Make it clear that the child is someone who can control the monsters. Stimulate the heart of that old man, who’s full of greed, just the right way.”

“Is it really okay to do that? If that happens, the temple won’t want to give up the child.”

Felsion looked uneasy.

Herman was the type who couldn’t rest until he had whatever he wanted.

The greedy old man, despite holding the High Priest’s position that demanded utmost integrity, didn’t know how to let go once something was in his grasp.

“He’ll want to be at the forefront. That old man, who usually stays behind, will come out more actively than ever before.”

“So you intend to pit the two against each other first.”

“The complacent temple foolishly believes that they are above everyone else.”

Zerpheus lifted his chin confidently.

Herman, who had spent his whole life suppressing and commanding the imperial family, had always been the victor.

Rather than worrying about how strong the royal family’s hunting dogs might be, he would naturally be thinking of victory.

“With the terrain advantage, Schwarhan’s army will be truly strong. In that case, the situation will naturally turn unfavourable for the temple.”

“Then that’s when we’ll make our move.”

“No matter how disadvantaged the temple may be, Cabelenus won’t come out of it unscathed either. And at that moment, we just have to release the dogs we’ve prepared.”

All they had to do was devour all the useless ones and bring back what was his.

Zerpheus idly toyed with the black horse piece at his fingertips.

Though the soldiers, unable to defy orders, had been turned into excellent hunting dogs, it was still not enough to satisfy him.

Having reached the highest position, it was only natural that he wanted the best.

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