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Chapter 372

However, the trial on the highest floor was totally different from the trials downstairs. In contrast to before, Joshua had received the reward first and gone through the trial later. The price for obtaining the primordial stone was for him to take the trial in the Demon Realm—that was how Joshua had ended up in the Demon Realm.

In that realm, Joshua was able to use Gaia and take a peek at a memory from eons ago. The memory was about the Demon Spirit, a being which the demons worshiped as a god, as well a certain special being that was the strongest in both Angel and Demon Realms. The Demon Spirit feared that being, so he had betrayed the being in spite of the fact that the being trusted the Demon Spirit more than anyone else.

However, the Demon Spirit’s treachery almost resulted in his own annihilation—the curse that the Demon Spirit had left directly on his victim’s soul proved too much, even for a godlike being such as the Demon Spirit.

Through this curse, the Demon Spirit had to make the being’s wheel of destiny repeat until the victim found the Demon Spirit; by regressing several times, the cursed soul itself would be annihilated.

When Joshua had found out the whole truth, he wandered around the entire Demon Realm. For an eternity, Joshua had gone through millions of battles and killed the Demon Spirit’s minions one after another.

Joshua had finally realized after taking a peek at the memory through Gaia that the spear wasn’t the Demon Spirit’s weapon, and Magic Spear Art, which Joshua had thought he was born gifted at, wasn’t the Demon Spirit’s secret technique. They both had belonged to someone else, but the Demon Spirit had taken them away from the original owner.

* * *

The biggest space within the Auxiliary Battalion’s headquarters was a hall that was over one thousand square meters large. In the center was a long table. The numerous people seated around it were gathered for one purpose, and not a single one of these people was ordinary.

“Long time no see, Sir Ranger,” Kingaitu, the commander of Reinhardt’s Willhelm Knight, opened.

“It has been a while, but I didn’t know the Wilhelm Knights would come all the way over here.”

“We were actually staying nearby. We were concerned, but we were more worried about His Majesty,” Kingaitu explained.

Ranger nodded understandingly. “Yes, no matter how small the group is, there is a big difference between crossing the border and getting into the Empire’s capital. Technically, the Wilhelm Knights aren’t knights of Avalon…”

“It’s all thanks to His Majesty.” Kingaitu smiled faintly. “We’re really in his debt.”

“Well, His Highness is quite talented.” Ranger grinned.

“Yes, that’s why I want to help His Majesty.”

“Oh? But are you sure you’ve brought enough knights?”

“I know there are few of us, but I’m certain that I and my knights are as skilled as the Imperial Knights of the Avalon Empire,” Kingaitu confidently stated.

“…It’s hard to let that comment slide. Shall I see how skilled you are?”

“Certainly.”

An intense staredown between Ranger and Kingaitu started, but the rest of the Auxiliary Battalion wasn’t even listening.

“Umm… Vice-Captain Viper?” Atoba, a Willhelm Knight, leaned toward Viper.

“Huh?” Viper, a knight of the Auxiliary Battalion, stopped eating.

“The two women over there… are they who I think they are?” Atoba looked intently at the women.

Viper followed his gaze. However, all of the Auxiliary Battalion and Wilhelm Knights were looking in the same direction and Viper couldn’t understand what was going on.

“The beauty of the century with blazing red hair and impressive, cat-like eyes… just like the rumors, right?”

“Lady Charles is certainly the most beautiful woman in the Avalon Empire.”

“No, it’s too soon to say that. If I remember correctly, that woman who looks like a flower in the snow is surely…”

The Wilhelm Knights murmured amongst themselves. In contrast, the Auxiliary Battalion had gotten used to Charles’s beauty, so they were busy shouting about something else.

“The Seven Mages!”

“The daughter of Count Rebrecca? Oh my god. That young lady grew up so much!”

“I know it’s said that anyone’s appearance can change after sixteen[1], but she’s still just as beautiful. She and Lady Charles are indeed the most beautiful women on the continent.”

“Shit, I shouldn’t do this, but I’m envying His Highness for the first time. I couldn’t imagine reaching his level, so I was fine with that. But…”

“Why are you saying you envy His Highness?”

“You didn’t know? Both women over there are head over heels with His Highness.”

“Re-really?”

After listening to the conversation, Viper shook his head in disbelief. When men gathered, they always talked like that, but…

“Don’t mind them. Men do that.” Atoba quietly chuckled.

“…I’m just worried that His Highness might hear it.”

“From what I know, His Majesty wouldn’t mind one bit. ”

Atoba stole a glance at the two women and smiled faintly. “…Anyhow, they’re really reliable.”

“I agree.” Viper nodded. “A mage of the Magic Tower like Miss Iceline and a leader of a big merchant guild like Lady Charles will surely be a big help to His Highness.”

The two knights turned to look at the heart-fluttering maidens.

“It has been a while, Miss Iceline,” Charles began, smiling. “I’ve heard the news of you becoming the youngest of the Seven Mages even after you went through all those hardships. I genuinely respect you. I know that it’s late, but congratulations.”

Charles spoke with deep sincerity. Iceline looked cold like a flower on a snowfield, but her face lit up with an uncharacteristic smile, making the knights all around them exclaim.

“Thank you, Lady Charles,” Iceline gratefully replied.

“Oh, my god. Look at your snow-white skin. You’ve become more pretty. Even I’d fall in love with you. Wow, your hair…” Charles reached out and fiddled with Iceline’s hair.

“W-wait—” Iceline began to protest.

“Are you here to help him, Miss Iceline?”

“Yes,” the mage replied. “Sir Cain and Mr. Akshuller are busy in the Swallow Empire, so I, at least, should be here to help.”

“Well, Icarus is also there, so it’ll be very good for Joshua to receive help from the Magic Tower.”

Iceline shook her head. “It’s not the Magic Tower that is going to help him.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m here for personal reasons, not representing the MagicTower.”

At that moment, Charle’s ruby eyes widened.

“To help my friend, Joshua,” Iceline added.

“Woaaahh!”

The knights that had been watching the two women’s conversation erupted into shouts, unable to contain their excitement any longer. Some even whistled.

Maybe they were affected by the knights exclaiming, because the two women started an intense staredown.

“…Is that so?” Charles smiled mischievously. “It looks like I’m not the only one who changed, but if it’s not too much, can I ask how are you going to help my Joshua on your own, Miss Iceline?”

“Your…?” Iceline’s eyes turned cold. “I’m already a Class 6 mage, so of course—”

“Of course, you wouldn’t say you’re going to help him with your magic.”

Iceline flinched in surprise and shut her mouth.

“I think Joshua has enough combat power. Besides, the war is already over.”

“That’s…”

“So I think it’ll be important to assist him in the areas that he lacks, like politics or money.”

“O-okay, I get money, but politics?” Iceline asked, her eyes widening like a rabbit\'s.

Charles nodded. “As the substitute head of the Pontier family, from now on my efforts will be directed toward winning the other nobles over to his side. The truth is, he’s not detailed enough to do it himself.”

A vein bulged faintly on Iceline’s forehead. “That’s true. Icarus was doing everything you brought up, but can you fill her shoes, Lady Charles?”

“…Of course.”

The staredown between the two women became more intense.

“Shouldn’t we… stop them?” Kingaitu mumbled quietly as he blankly watched the staredown.

Ranger awkwardly straightened his back. “How? As you can see, I don’t think it’s going to end unless he shows up.”

“Wel-well, that’s true, but …”

Speak of the devil, and he shall arrive. A loud voice washed over the dining hall.

“His Highness Joshua has arrived!”

* * *

The pitch-black dungeon was now covered with a red light tinged with madness. A spear shook continuously, making the sky tremble and the ground writhe.

-Hehehehehe. Hahaha!

Of course, a god’s weapon couldn\'t be ordinary because most materials weren’t able to withstand god’s transcendental power. Therefore, most gods always put one material in particular inside their weapon—no, could it be called a material? Gods put a part of their souls into their weapons so that the weapons could absorb the gods’ energies, allowing them to use their transcendental powers to the full extent.

-The preparation is complete.

The voice made the entire dungeon shake.

-Your physical power belongs to Lucifer, the strongest in the Angel Realm. The one inside you is me, a mighty part of the Demon Spirit. Now, I offer up the finest sacrifice, a soul that has killed tens of thousands of people with his own hands, in order to integrate completely.

The dungeon was wracked by a thunderous rumbling, but that was just the start. The entire dungeon threatened to crumble from the vibrations at any moment, which was surprising—the dungeon was made from the sturdiest materials. And yet, there was still something more shocking.

“You’ll suffer a devastating defeat once again, Lucifer. Hehehehe.”

The doppelganger’s voice was… surprisingly, a human’s, unlike before.

1. This is slang in Korea. It’s mostly used for child actors who changed a lot after growing up. ☜