“The Second Prince has taken control of the royal palace. The First Prince suffered minor injuries and retreated. He’s currently fleeing west.”
Jason’s eyes scanned the report with a dispassionate gaze.
It was an outcome that was bound to happen, so there was no particular excitement or surprise.
Though the two forces were evenly matched, making the outcome hard to predict, this place—the gathering point for all intelligence—and Jason Klarok, its master, saw the results clearly.
“It seems the First Prince will regroup by joining forces with Marquis Norton in the west. Meanwhile, the Second Prince has secured the palace but failed to recover the royal seal…”
Jason set the documents down and propped his chin up in boredom.
“The professor’s plan is unfolding exactly as intended. Those foolish royals don’t even realize it.”
A brutal war for the throne.
Would anyone dare imagine that this war—unpredictable even a step ahead—was actually being played like a game by a single professor?
“How are the casualties on both sides?”
The answer came from the person across from him.
“Both sides have suffered heavy losses. Since the battle took place within the confined space of the palace, it’s almost miraculous that the First Prince only sustained minor injuries before fleeing.”
“That was part of the plan, of course. It would be problematic if the First Prince died immediately.”
The professor, who was supporting the Second Prince, ultimately aimed to enthrone the Imperial Princess.
“The decisive factor that turned the tide were the Bingija the professor brought in.”
Those were the ones who decided the victor in this otherwise balanced conflict.
The Bingija brought by the professor.
They were far stronger than their reputation suggested.
Of course, only Jason knew they were Bingija.
“Not handing over the royal seal to the Second Prince must also be part of the professor’s plan. If he holds both the palace and the seal, the Royal Knights will move.”
The Royal Knights—the pinnacle of imperial military power.
They obey only the Emperor’s orders. If they accept the Second Prince holding the seal as Emperor, that would be the end.
If the Golden Lion sided with either faction, retaking the palace would be impossible, no matter what was done.
“Has the location of the royal seal been identified?”
“We haven’t pinpointed the exact location yet. I suspect the professor has pulled some trick again.”
“Tch, even the professor can’t go that far. Find its location quickly.”
“Yes.”
One of the crucial elements of this war is the royal seal.
A millennium-old symbol of the Emperor and the nation.
Whoever discovers its whereabouts first will gain a significant advantage.
“And what about the Imperial Princess’s side? Any unusual activity?”
“Still quiet for now. But since Yohn Torno is holding his position, getting close is difficult. We’re only monitoring the situation.”
‘…Only monitoring?’
Jason’s face tightened mercilessly.
“Sorry.”
“We need to know about the Imperial Princess’s movements faster than anything else.”
A variable no one was paying attention to amid the chaos.
“Of course, the chances are slim.”
Jason understood Professor Sirvert’s overall strategy, but it was extremely complex.
“Yohn Torno and the Eastern Alliance Nobles aren’t fools. They wouldn’t just raise an army. What reason would the Princess have to act so recklessly?”
That’s what they must have thought.
If not for one person joining her side, Jason would have sold this intel at a high price without hesitation, professor’s plans or not.
But Hio Pavlenko had truly become part of the Princess’s party.
‘Is there some reason the Bingija must make the Imperial Princess the Emperor?’
That alone transformed a plan with zero chance into one that held a peculiar sense of hope.
“Prioritize the Eastern Alliance’s situation. No, wait.”
Jason rose from his seat.
“I’ll go myself.”
His once dispassionate expression was now tinted with a dark thrill.
Sylvia quietly closed her eyes.
“Please rest. We are prepared to depart at a moment’s notice if you wish.”
Yohn Torno’s words implied that she could leave whenever she wanted.
That statement tore at her heart.
It felt like he was telling her she wasn’t worthy, that she should just give up.
It hurt deeply… but still, she steeled her resolve once more.
- You’re going to die soon.
She was going to die anyway.
There was no proof if this was true or not, but she had made a promise.
Until she died, she would fight with everything she had.
So she intended to keep that promise and keep struggling.
“If it’s something I have to do, then I will.”
Whether it would be a futile splash or a tidal wave swallowing the sea—no one could say.
Opening her eyes again, Sylvia’s determination shone brightly.
“I will do whatever it takes, Uncle.”
Her silver eyes, unshaken this time.
The gaze of someone who had firmly resolved something.
“I will not run away.”
Yohn Torno silently regarded Sylvia.
After a moment of heavy silence, he spoke gravely.
“In two days, all the nobles of the alliance will gather. You will attend that meeting.”
- I didn’t know.
Furnel, realizing something for the first time, asked Hio.
- The only remaining order is the Order of Liphyue, worshipping the goddess Liphyue?
“That’s right.”
As far as Hio knew, the only deity in the Ventair world was the goddess called Liphyue.
The Holy Nation worshipped only her.
- “Ha ha ha. At least during my time as a living human, there were countless gods.
Many gods ruled the world, and humans praised those gods.
So, where did all those gods go?”
- “Well… according to a dark magician studying this, the gods must have died.”
The war against the Abyss that happened during Furnel’s era.
It wasn’t only humans who died in that aftermath.
The gods weren’t spared either.
- “If the only known god now is Liphyue, it sounds quite plausible.”
“But at least the Order of Liphyue still stands. Recently, an oracle was given and a Holy Maiden was born.”
Still, their power has clearly weakened. There are very few priests who can wield divine power.
“Only bishops or higher can use divine power.”
- “That’s why it sounds even more credible. In my time, even a mere village priest could wield divine power.”
In summary, most gods vanished, only Liphyue remains, and even her divinity has become significantly weaker.
- The number of gods has decreased, and their power has weakened.
Furnel whispered softly.
- Then, who do you think would be most pleased by this?
Even just hearing the voice, Jason imagined the malicious grin on that face.
- The dark magicians. Those who deny the gods.
Mages who defy the will of the gods.
Since before Furnel’s era, they were madmen researching ways to avoid the gods’ eyes.
This gave birth to magic that manipulates the power of death.
Dark magic.
- Many forms of dark magic were born. Among them, some were designed to evade the gods’ gaze and block divinity.
Though back then, it had no effect at all.
Unless one was a grand mage skilled in dark magic, it was useless in an era where divine power was everywhere.
- But what about now?
There is no sign of divine power anywhere.
It means dark magic can fully manifest.
“Are you saying there’s a way for dark magic?”
Not just a way. You just have to try. I’ll tell you how.
“…What magic is it?”
Furnel chuckled happily.
- Darkness, the magic that shrouds divinity.
Darkness.
Originally a 1st Circle dark magic that simply obscures an opponent’s vision.
Dark magic is dark magic, but it’s only classified as such—it doesn’t require death energy and is just a simple 1st Circle spell.
- “But the Darkness studied by this dark magician is a bit different.
It did start from that idea.
But after extensive research, the completed spell didn’t block vision but rather blocked divinity.”
Fortunately, as it was inspired by a 1st Circle spell, the pattern itself wasn’t complicated.
The pattern wasn’t complicated.
Hio had already engraved similar Circles himself.
The problem was…
- The amount of death energy and mana required is beyond imagination.
The pattern is simple, but the cost is high.
It’s a matter of quality versus quantity.
“I’ve never handled death energy before.”
- Don’t worry. With your talent for manipulating mana, you’ll handle death energy easily. Besides, you have the Ring of Our School and Trait – Ghost’s Eye.
“Is that so… putting that aside, the question is whether the spell really works.”
The reasoning is clear enough.
Divine power has weakened to a degree incomparable to before, so within a magic that blocks divinity, the gods’ gaze shouldn’t reach.
- Of course, I can’t guarantee it either. The only way to be sure is to try. If it were just blocking vision… it sounds plausible.
“…Alright. We have no choice but to try.”
Sitting and wondering won’t solve anything.
Trying is the only way to know.
“Then we need to run some experiments.”
- Exactly. We should master the Darkness magic in advance and plan how to prepare all that mana and death energy.
“I have some ideas about that…”
While brainstorming plans with Furnel, a knock sounded sharply at the door.
“Knock knock”
The door opened immediately.
“Hio Pavlenko.”
Teordo, the knight, entered with his usual stern expression.
Behind him came Imperial Princess Sylvia.
Sylvia had returned from the parlor where she’d been talking with Yohn Torno alone.
“Huh? Finished talking?”
As she entered the room, the stiffness on Sylvia’s face quickly melted away.
“…….”
“Did something go wrong?”
Sylvia’s face fell heavily.
Well, it was expected.
At least the conversation ended like this, so it seemed she was willing to cooperate. That wasn’t the worst.
“All the alliance nobles will gather here in two days. They’ll lead soldiers to repel the Monster Wave. We have to somehow convince them then…”
While Sylvia’s expression was grim, Hio’s eyes sparkled.
This was it.
“Sylvia.”
Since we’re going to experiment with Darkness magic anyway, why not go all out?
“I want to go with you to that meeting.”
Very boldly said.
Two days later. Yohn Torno’s castle.
Thousands, tens of thousands of soldiers poured through the gates.
It was a familiar sight in the East, an annual event, but to anyone seeing it for the first time, the military might looked as if war was about to break out.
All the heads of noble families leading these troops gathered in the hall immediately after arrival, too exhausted to rest.
They had come to discuss the Monster Wave this year.
Only upon entering the hall did they encounter an unexpected figure.
“…Imperial Princess?”
The surprising figure sitting at the head of the hall.
It seemed so out of place that many doubted their eyes, but a person with such striking silver hair and dignified presence was not easy to mistake.
“Your Highness, how is it that you…”
The nobles of the alliance were puzzled but took their seats.
At that moment, they noticed something else strange.
Yohn Torno sat beside the Princess.
A large knight stood behind her—expected.
But who was that jester next to them?
All eyes turned to him. The jester—no, Hio—stood up abruptly.
“Greetings, everyone.”
He grinned broadly, looking around the room.
Adjusting his comically large hat, he gripped a tall staff leaning against the wall.
“The magician in charge of explaining this year’s Monster Wave operation, Hio Pavlenko.”
His jester-like appearance and—
“You must trust me completely.”
His tone sounded like a conman.
No matter how you looked at him, he was the last person fitting for such a solemn meeting.
The alliance nobles were dumbfounded, but Yohn Torno and the Princess remained calm.
“Well then, let me briefly explain the operation. The operation name is…”
Even as everyone exchanged confused glances, Hio continued confidently.
“Blind the Eye of God.”
Insane.