・・・・・
The festival named the 'Night of Heroes' would be unfamiliar to everyone, regardless of their social status. After all, I was the one who devised it and let it slip into the Emperor's ear. Naturally, I expected Lucas to take the bait — he had already been savouring the success of his circus, which had bewitched and misled the people.
Moreover, with Constantine and Benjamin out of the picture, there was no way he wouldn’t realise the urgency of expanding his support base. Though he seemed to have everything on the surface, his position was as precarious as a candle flickering in the wind. To him, this circus was absolutely vital.
Though it might appear extravagant, with numerous events and a complex façade, the core purpose of this event was strikingly simple, straightforward, and brazen. Its goal was to assemble everyone deemed a hero in the empire and have them openly reaffirm their unwavering loyalty to the imperial family for all to see.
By placing those admired by the people at the forefront, it ensured they clearly understood who they were meant to serve. After all, in every world, in every era, and regardless of social status, people have always been captivated by heroes.
・・・・・
Night of Heroes.
The sound of fireworks and vibrant bursts of colour filled the sky, heralding the start of the event. The nobles gathered in small groups in the banquet hall and gasped in awe as they peered out towards the terrace. I, too, fixed my gaze on the dazzling display in the sky before slowly lowering my eyes.
"Long live His Majesty, the Emperor! May he reign with eternal power and glory!" Someone shouted.
Lucas's inherent gift — being the ‘firstborn son of the emperor and empress, and the legitimate heir to the throne’ — would serve him for his entire life. This birthright was the source of all the privileges he enjoyed. The people would forgive all his misdeeds simply because of his noble lineage. For generations, those who opposed the imperial family faced only death, as they had been taught that ‘defiance equals death.’ Unless one was willing to sacrifice their life like a fleeting mayfly, they had no choice but to accept whatever was given to them.
I tightly gripped the glass in my hand, taking in the sight of the crowd that filled the square and beyond.
'...I've lost contact with Cedric.’
His whereabouts became unknown after he set out to subtly investigate Benjamin’s schemes. Both Cedric and I knew that once he voluntarily entered Benjamin’s grasp, things would inevitably become dangerous. That was why I suggested sending Ilypia’s doll, but Cedric firmly rejected the idea.
The first reason was that if we sent a fake, it would only be a matter of time before the ghost-like Benjamin discovered it. The second reason was that Benjamin would never sever the last remaining bloodline of the former emperor with his own hands.
I completely agreed with his reasoning.
The only thing Benjamin, who had everything, lacked was the golden bloodline. As a result, despite his immense ambition, boldness, ruthless methods, and corrupt nature, he was fated to spend his life as a puppet master, unable to claim royal status.
So, despite feeling uneasy inside, I had no choice but to send Cedric to Benjamin. However, the result was that we lost contact.
'He won't kill him. He won't kill him.’
Yes, Cedric must be alive.
‘The problem is that, aside from his life, nothing can be guaranteed.’
The sudden loss of contact without any warning was unsettling. Could it be that our collusion was exposed? If so, why was everything so quiet? There must be some scheme behind this. I kept anxiously looking around and checking my watch.
To make matters worse, I couldn't attend the banquet with Claudia because she was one of the heroes nominated by Lucas. Although Claudia hadn't performed any heroic deeds, she had summoned the Spirit King, the first of its kind in the empire. Given her abilities, she could certainly be considered a hero. Her popularity and recognition were on par with Walter's. Of course, Lucas must have nominated her for selfish reasons.
‘Anyway, he's been useless all the way till the end. Damn, bastard…’
The heroes weren’t here at the moment. This was because they had been summoned to the imperial palace a few days ago. It was also the reason I couldn’t meet Felix right away and why I couldn’t tell Claudia that Felix was risking his life with a dangerous plan. Time was steadily slipping away, and there was nothing I could do. I had thought hard, doing my best to come up with a solution, yet why did everything keep going wrong? Why was I so incompetent?
"Damn it..."
“Dear.”
At that moment, someone suddenly touched me, pushing my tension to its breaking point.
"Mum, [1] you startled me!"
"Oh my, are you calling me Mum? That makes me happy."
"No, it’s just an exclamation..."
This was a typical trait of Koreans. It seemed I still hadn’t broken the habit of calling out ‘Mum’ when I was surprised.
I quickly straightened up, awkwardly scratching the back of my head. Countess Olivia Chamberlain, the lady of the house, was looking at me with a gentle smile.
No, wait, why was she here? She wasn’t in good health and rarely went out. Perhaps reading the concern in my eyes, Olivia let out a small laugh and spoke.
"I won’t die just from attending for a moment."
Well, that was true.
But was it really okay? Over there, Hugo was giving me the signal to quickly end the conversation and send his wife away. His intense gaze felt like it could burn me alive.
"It feels good to be called ‘Mum’ again after so long. My heartless children started calling me ‘Mother’ as soon as they became fluent in the language."
“Chloe too? That’s surprising.”
"It’s because Felix always called us 'Mother' and 'Father.' When Claudia was younger, she would often imitate her older brother, saying he was the coolest person in the world."
I unexpectedly heard about Claudia’s embarrassing past. My eyes sparkled with interest for a moment, but I quickly regained my composure. This wasn’t the time for such a leisurely conversation. Somehow, from the moment Olivia appeared, it felt like all the tension had instantly melted away.
At that moment, Hugo made a throat-cutting gesture towards me. What the heck? Was he threatening to kill me if I didn’t send his wife away? No, what had I done to deserve this? The world was so unfair… I let out a sigh inwardly and, with caution, was about to suggest to her that it might be best for her to leave.
"And the two of them would secretly make secret signals. When I asked, she said it was a secret, but in reality, this mother knew everything."
Olivia gave a bitter smile and shared a few new things with me. I lost track of what I had intended to say and could only listen intently to everything she said. Then, without realising it, a thought slipped from my heart.
"Have I been overly greedy?"
Just as Liam feared, was it too much for me to want more and hope for everyone’s happiness? Had I been too ambitious?
"Irene, no matter how many times you wander, life will eventually find its way. Even if you can’t see the path ahead right now, it's not a failure — it's simply part of the process."
"...That's true."
I blinked and, as if in a trance, replied.
"There is nothing excessive in this world. It is simply the way of nature."
At that moment, the anxiety that had clouded my vision lifted, and I could suddenly see the way forward.
‘No, I actually knew this all along.’
If I had just thought for a moment, I would have remembered. Instead, I was trapped by the notion that everything was spiralling out of control.
Although I couldn't meet Felix right now, I knew where he would eventually go. Just having a potion to separate souls wasn’t enough on its own. What he truly needed were two things: a vessel to contain the soul and an immense amount of divine power.
‘He probably hasn’t done anything yet. He would have needed time to avoid the emperor’s watchful eyes.’
The path I had walked was fraught with hardship. I had cried many times, felt deep sorrow, and suffered immense pain. But the era of chaos was finally coming to an end. Now, I hoped for a future where every day could bring a smile. All these trials and tribulations would eventually bear fruit once Cedric ascended to the throne.
At present, it was not Lucas who held the true power within the imperial court, but Benjamin. And Duke Depallacion, the leader of the aristocratic faction, had sided with the Chamberlain. This was the reality I faced. No matter how difficult things became, I only needed to make a little more effort to set them right.
‘Ah, perhaps it was simply the fear of being alone.’
Without Claudia, who had always protected me, and Felix, who was no longer by my side, was that why I hesitated and thought I couldn’t do anything? Looking back, everything I had accomplished so far, no matter how much I planned and gave instructions, had ultimately relied on others. Now that my true feelings, which I had long pretended not to notice, were exposed, I had no choice but to step forward. I hated it when people didn't even try, simply reducing and limiting their own value without considering their true worth.
"When you come back, won't you call me 'Mum' again?"
Olivia asked as I took a step, as if about to rush out. I paused, looking momentarily surprised, then replied with a wide smile, regardless of who was watching.
"Yes, Mum."
・・・・
It was late. Glancing at the splendid fireworks unfolding outside the window, Lady Jonzar quickened her steps. Today was a day likely to be remembered in history — the very day she had long been awaiting.
‘Night of Heroes!'
They had announced that they would invite the heroes who had become the talk of the empire and present them in person before all the citizens. Who could have imagined that the imperial palace, so focused on tradition and endlessly repeating the same dull banquets and tiresome feasts, would plan such an exciting event?
‘I want to speak with Count Walter [2] at least once.’
Lady Jonzar panted, muttering to herself. She had met Walter only once at the previous banquet. However, under pressure from the other young ladies, who warned her to stay away from "such a barbarian," she hadn't dared to approach him. On top of that, his commanding presence had been so overwhelming that it felt impossible to even get close.
His extraordinary appearance was unlike anything she had ever witnessed before. Though everyone whispered amongst themselves, they likely had the same thought in their minds: that he resembled a god who had descended from the heavens to pass judgment on humanity. Until that moment, Lady Jonzar had secretly harboured feelings for Emperor Lucas, but the instant she saw Walter, Lucas seemed no more important than a common type of seafood. It felt like a mystical experience as if she were stepping into an entirely new dimension.
It was love at first sight. Every night before she went to sleep, she longed to see that unforgettable face again. But as the daughter of a humble family, how could she ever meet the Emperor's knight? That was what she thought, but surprisingly, the opportunity presented itself again soon — in the name of the Night of Heroes.
Lady Jonzar had been eagerly anticipating this day, and in her excitement, she ended up being late.
‘How could I make such a foolish mistake, like something out of a novel?!’
She swallowed her tears, gripping the hem of her dress, and nearly ran towards the banquet hall. However, as she turned a dimly lit corner, she suddenly collided with a man who had appeared out of nowhere.
"Kyaaah!"
Today, her luck was unusually bad. In the midst of what had been an uneventful day, misfortune had already struck twice. To make matters worse, the man she collided with was so big and solid that the impact sent her flying back with a thud.
"Ugh, I'm sorry. My legs are too long..."
However, the excuse he offered as an apology was downright ridiculous.
‘What? Because your legs are too long?’
"I tried to avoid you... but I'm not used to it yet, so I can't walk properly."
‘No, then how did you even manage to get here? Are you some kind of newborn deer?’
Harsh words bubbled up to her throat. She wanted to snap at him, but as someone from a humble family, she often found herself having to bite her tongue.
‘What’s with that outfit? Are you a servant working in the imperial palace?’
Most of the palace servants were of noble descent, but they were still employees of the imperial palace — how could he act so brazenly? She lifted her head, determined to see just how thick-skinned this shameless man was. But as her gaze met him, her eyes widened, her mouth fell open, and she froze. Without realising it, Lady Jonzar blurted out a question.
"...Would you like me to help you up?"
‘You said your legs are too long, making it hard to walk, so of course, I should help you, right?’
"No, I think I should be the one helping you."
The man let out a soft chuckle, as if he had heard something quite amusing, and extended his hand. Lady Jonzar, mesmerised, watched as the sharp, almost piercing gaze of his eyes softened into a gentle smile.
At first glance, his face, cold and distant, might have seemed harsh and unapproachable, but his smile was unexpectedly sweet. Despite being a full head taller than her, the word 'lovely' unbiddenly came to mind. Neat and orderly. His beauty wasn’t overwhelming, nor was it the kind that commanded every eye. Still, Lady Jonzar found herself unable to look away.
"Are you alright?"
Only after receiving the question did she snap back to her senses. Of course, she was fine. She nodded so vigorously that her head seemed like it might fall off, her eyes still dazed as she reached for his hand. The man chuckled at her absentminded expression, helped her up, and turned away without a second thought.
"Wait, at least tell me your name!"
She thought he would ignore her, but her desperate cry caused his golden gaze to briefly turn towards her.
"Hmm, then could you keep it a secret? I’m not supposed to be seen here by anyone."
"O-Of course! I'll take it to my grave!"
"I'm Shayne Speare."
Shayne smiled brightly and answered without hesitation. Lady Jonzar gaped for a moment before stammering out her introduction.
"M-my name is!"
"I know. Lady Urva Jonzar."
"Even though our meeting caused some trouble, I’m still glad we met."
Shayne offered a small bow, then lightly kissed the back of her hand. His lips, which barely brushed her skin, quickly withdrew, and he fluttered away like a scattering flower petal.
Urva’s face turned bright red, all the way to her ears, as she cupped her hand, still warm with the lingering sensation. By now, the image of Walter’s face had completely faded from her mind. In its place, the vivid golden eyes, beautifully curved like crescents, began to appear clearly before her.
・・・・・
‘Am I going to end up getting addicted to these potions?’
Although it had been crafted with great care to minimise side effects, no matter how good a medicine was, it could sometimes cause adverse reactions. Grumbling to myself, I downed the ‘I Become a Rock’ potion in one gulp. Its effect was to erase my presence to the point where those around me would perceive me as nothing more than a rock.
‘The effect lasts for about an hour.’
The more the potion was consumed in succession, the weaker its effects became due to the body's limits in absorbing its ingredients. After checking my watch, I boldly made my way into the temple.
As I walked, I pulled out the ‘Is This Fainting or Sleeping?’ potion I had transferred into a perfume bottle. If consumed, it had a terrifying effect, plunging the drinker into a deep slumber, like a late-winter hibernation. When sprayed, it merely induced a brief fainting spell. Still, I hoped I wouldn’t need to use it, as being caught sneaking in would be disastrous.
Holding the potion as a makeshift self-defence item, I quietly made my way towards the underground prison beneath the temple.
I knew there was a secret passage leading to the temple’s underground. It was briefly mentioned in the original novel when the female protagonist was captured by Constantine. However, comparing written descriptions to the real location was no easy task. As a result, I had no choice but to circle around, searching for the spot while trying to piece together the novel’s descriptions.
Fortunately, before the effects of the ‘I Become a Rock’ potion wore off, I was able to find the secret room. After thoroughly checking my surroundings to ensure no one was nearby, I closed the door and approached the bookshelf. I then pulled out a decorative piece embossed with the symbol of the god, triggering the mechanism.
At the same time, the mechanism leading to the secret passage began to activate.
‘Whirr-click-clunk.’
For someone attempting a secret break-in, this loud grating noise echoing through the room was particularly nerve-wracking.
It was the sound of the small semicircle drawn on the floor beneath the bookshelf flipping, its inner and outer sections reversing with a clatter. My heart raced at the thought of someone hearing the noise and rushing in, but I managed to slip into the passage without incident.
‘Ugh, it's so dark.’
I felt my way along the pitch-black walls of the secret passage. After a short time, I discovered a staircase leading underground and, with a smile, eagerly made my way towards it. Still, something felt off — it had all gone too smoothly. There had been no crisis to face, not that I wanted one, but the silence was unsettling. For a temple of such renown, its security seemed surprisingly weak.
‘This doesn’t feel right. There’s no way Felix has already been here, and it’s unlikely that someone else has infiltrated the temple…’
They said misfortune struck when you least expected it, didn't they? No sooner had the unsettling thought crossed my mind than I came face to face with Benjamin, holding a torch, in the prison. So, it turned out, it was because of Benjamin.
'Why is that bastard here?!'
Fortunately, the effect of the potion masking my presence had not yet worn off, and Benjamin casually brushed past me, frozen stiff in surprise.
'Phew...'
Relieved I hadn't been discovered, I couldn't suppress my growing irritation. I had planned to wait for Felix, but why was Benjamin wandering around the temple's underground prison? Where the hell was Cedric, you kidnapper?!
‘What is this? Did he come to persuade Constantine?’
It seemed that, with Lucas having gathered all the rumoured heroes, Benjamin was thinking of bringing Constantine back under his control... In truth, I had expected as much. Even if I managed to sow discord between them, Benjamin was the type of person who judged others based on their usefulness, not personal feelings.
Still, I concluded that there was no immediate need to worry. Even Benjamin wouldn’t have a way to get Constantine out immediately. For at least the next few months, while the Divine Trial proceeded, he would have no choice but to wait idly. That was what I thought. But…
‘A pitch-black... lump?’
I narrowed my eyes, staring intently at the dark mass shifting behind Benjamin. At first glance, it vaguely resembled a human form, yet at the same time, it resembled a swirling, smoky cloud. Was I seeing things? I rubbed my eyes and checked again, but it remained, floating silently in the same spot.
When did such a malevolent spirit attach itself to him? If anyone could walk around with thousands upon thousands of vengeful spirits trailing behind them, it would be Benjamin — but even so, this couldn’t possibly be a real ghost, could it? While I was agonising over the identity of the black mass…
It suddenly stopped moving. And then, it slowly turned to face me. At the same time, my gaze met two glowing red lights, resembling eyes, on the black figure’s face. It all happened in an instant.
"Is there something there?"
Benjamin, quick to sense something was off, strode towards me and swung his arm in my direction. His rough touch sliced through the air.
My breath caught in my throat, and I instinctively tilted my head back. I covered my mouth and pressed myself against the wall.
When Benjamin’s hand met nothing, he glanced at his palm with a faint "Hmm" and frowned. His expression tightened, the same as when someone swats at a bug on the wall, only to find no bug corpse left on their palm. That was exactly the look.
"Where did it go?"
'Creepy...'
For Benjamin, who lacked superhuman abilities, his heightened sensitivity was his greatest asset — so sharp it bordered on paranoia. He couldn’t relax until he immediately checked or dealt with anything that seemed even slightly off. This relentless vigilance was likely how he navigated the countless crises and threats he faced as the ruler of the underworld.
As I watched Benjamin, who looked uneasy, I thought to myself that he seemed more ghostlike than the phantom hovering in the air. But my idle musings didn’t last long.
Benjamin, with his unyielding persistence, began to slowly run his hand along the wall, his movements deliberate, like a predator slowly closing in on its prey.
Each time he inched closer, I recoiled in fear, stepping back instinctively. I stifled my presence and held my breath, but it still didn’t seem to work. Gripping tightly onto my 'Is This Fainting or Sleeping?' potion, I braced myself. It was at that moment—
[Are you really going to hunt down and dispose of even a single mouse if it bothers you?]
The dark mass hovering near Benjamin spoke to him.
‘What is that thing? It can talk too.’
It was a very eerie voice — more like something a grotesque creature from a movie would have than a human being.
[It doesn't seem like the right time for this. The oath ceremony is about to begin. Wouldn’t missing it be problematic? I can sense your greed.]
Right time? Greed?
"That's right. Unfortunately, nothing is more important than this."
Benjamin murmured, “Because there's something I want to have, no matter what it takes,” and then stared intently at the wall where I had been standing.
"You’re a lucky little mouse."
With those words, he shifted his gaze without hesitation, as though his earlier insistence had been nothing more than a fleeting whim, and issued a command towards the mass.
"Please begin."
Begin what? I barely had time to feel offended at being likened to a mouse when ominous words were uttered.
[As you wish.]
The pitch-black mass, the important matter, and Benjamin's visit to the temple — it all pointed to one unsettling conclusion. There was only one way for Benjamin to free Constantine: to bring about a catastrophe so severe that it would threaten the very existence of the world, pushing nations to the brink of collapse. With Constantine's immense divine power, any destruction caused by magic would be even easier to control.
‘…If you summon a devil, all of that will be possible.’
No, surely not. I doubted they would go that far. Even without such drastic measures or urgency, Constantine would eventually escape from prison. Besides, Benjamin despised relying on powers beyond his control. He must have known this just as well as he knew his own nature — that it would one day come back to him as a great loss.
Needless to say, a devil’s power, was undoubtedly beyond his control. He couldn’t possibly be foolish enough to think that Constantine’s divine power, nothing more than a human’s feeble amount, could control a devil. So then, what was it? A black mass, neither a spirit nor a ghost.
As soon as it vanished like a ghost beside Benjamin, a thunderous sound followed, loud enough to tear through my eardrums. For a moment, I thought a volcano had erupted. The ground shook violently, and dust rained down from the ceiling. Reflexively, I crouched and covered my ears. By the time I looked up, Benjamin had already disappeared, likely having escaped from the prison. I quickly retreated through the secret passage and made my way out.
The festive atmosphere, once filled with joy and cheer, had vanished. In its place, screams of utter despair erupted, as if those cast into the fiery pits of hell were wailing, tearing through the pitch-black night sky.
"The land is rotting away!"
"It’s a devil! A devil!"
"A devil has appeared!"
The black entity engulfed the land, deepening the already pitch-black night. It was decayed and rotting, giving off a foul stench. All of this was disturbingly familiar. I had seen it before, on Camoli Island, now submerged beneath the sea, never to be visited again.
With a pale face, I stared intently as I broke off a branch. The moment I touched it, the branch, drained of all vitality, snapped dryly, turning into black soot that scattered in the air.
‘That bastard, he figured it all out.’
My entire plan…
My face fell in despair as I immediately understood why Benjamin had taken such drastic measures. Considering how he mentioned the oath ceremony, it appeared he was planning to ruin everything all at once now that things had come to this.
“Oh, this is just unbelievable...”
This was all I could say at that moment.
Was this the mentality of someone who, unable to have it, would rather destroy it instead? Using Larry to eliminate Chamberlain might be understandable since it wasn't a full-fledged devil but just a fragment. But how could he summon a devil…?
I muttered hopelessly, realising that I would never understand lunatics like him. Then, gritting my teeth, I ran towards the square.
Translator's Corner:
[1] In Korea, they commonly say "엄마" (eomma) when amazed or shocked by something. The word itself means mum but it's equivalent to the expression "oh my gosh/god (OMG)."
[2] Walter (Felix) was awarded the title of Count for Roxitant (and Duke for the small kingdom of Rassa) in chapter 86 due to his achievements in war.
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