Chapter 47: Endurance for Sylvia

A tiny spark became the power that controlled lightning.

A small flame evolved into a blue sun with a will of its own.

Attribute magic evolved into the ultimate skill of the same element.

Then what about Vampiric Touch, the necromancer’s magic?

Could it possibly evolve into the ultimate skill related to necromancy?

It was a fleeting thought, but he clung to it stubbornly and continued pondering.

Necromancy deals with the energy of death.

• Interest

Vampiric Touch is a necromancer’s magic that steals an opponent’s life force and converts it into the caster’s mana or stamina.

In short, it steals the opponent’s ‘energy’ and makes it one’s own.

Its final evolution form might be the energy of death itself.

Moreover, could it perhaps control all kinds of energy?

The deathly energy that has deeply seeped into Sylvia’s body—couldn’t it be made to obey not Sylvia, but Hio himself?

“What do you think, Furnel?”

“Hmm? What are you talking about?”

“…Never mind.”

No use asking this chatty ghost—he’d probably just puff himself up and say, “Hmm, that sounds plausible.”

Kind of useless, honestly.

ᆞYou… just had a pretty unpleasant thought, didn’t you?

Anyway, it was a plan with enough potential.

But for that, he needed to fill his endurance to the target level.

[Hidden Trait: Violence is Not Allowed! (Endurance 398/1000)]

Isn’t the road ahead too long?

Even though there’s the Catalog of Endurance, it was impossible to know how long it would take to reach the goal.

Sylvia probably wouldn’t hold on until then.

Still, he couldn’t just fold his hands and do nothing, so Hio obediently lay down on the floor.

“Hit me, quickly.”

Clutching the Catalog of Endurance tightly to his chest.

He had thoroughly confirmed that enduring pain increases endurance by carving the emblem into the heart.

But he couldn’t raise it so quickly as before.

Unlike last time, when extreme pain to the point of fainting caused no physical damage, he couldn’t endure physical pain every day.

If he died before Sylvia did, that would be the end.

“I’m ready.”

At Hio’s resolute words, Teordo still looked uneasy and asked again,

“Are you sure… this is the way to save Lady Sylvia?”

“Yeah. This is truly the last chance. If even this doesn’t work…”

He left the rest unsaid.

Teordo’s expression was already very sorrowful.

“Understood.”

Teordo raised his hand.

“So, maximize the pain with as little physical damage as possible.”

“Right.”

A determined expression.

“Then let’s go.”

Equally resolute.

“Yeah. Come on!”

Late at night.

Strange sounds leaked through the crack in the door.

It was a relief that no one was passing by Hio’s room.

Sirbert sighed in relief and activated the artifact.

• User 4: The biggest hurdle has been overcome.

Received a report that the Eastern Imperial Princess has begun mobilizing troops.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

• User 1: The odds are sure, right?
• User 4: Definitely. Both factions don’t even pay attention to the Princess. Even if they notice troop movements in the East, they’ll just think it’s because of the monster waves.
• User 3: Indeed, there’s almost no mention of the Princess on our side either. Only ridiculous rumors like she was found dead or sold to some kingdom.
• User 4: How’s the Royal Knights’ mood?
• User 1: The Second Prince went to see the Sword Saint but, as expected, was turned away.
• User 4: That’s enough. No variables.

No variables.

Sirbert was confident.

With the informational advantage here, the two factions excluding the Princess would never imagine the Princess’s army would appear at the end of the battle.

• User 3: By the way, where is Airlights and what are they doing?

Among the five ranked players, Airlights held third place.

By artifact ranking, he was User 2.

Originally, Airlights didn’t interact much, but recently it had become worse.

• User 4: Well, he’s a bit eccentric but hasn’t caused problems. He must be busy.

You know him well from meeting often in-game.

A bit… actually, quite a bit eccentric, but nice and fun.

Of course, they haven’t met since possession, but he’s maintained steady contact and followed their orders well.

“Still… I feel a bit uneasy.”

Just paranoia.

Nothing serious would happen.

First Prince Allenbert Verden.

A man of insatiable greed.

With such a temperament and a royal background.

Plus, the crown prince position obtained just by being the eldest.

Rough, arrogant, and absolutely determined to take whatever he wants.

That was Allenbert Verden.

This noble being, the crown prince adored all his life…

“Huff. Huff!”

Was crawling on the floor.

Panting like a dog with his tongue sticking out.

“So, you’re curious about the Supreme Heavenly Demon too, aren’t you?”

And on top of that crown prince sat a woman with legs crossed.

Her alluring outfit matched her glamorous appearance.

Yet, despite her flamboyance, no one noticed her presence.

Everyone’s pupils were dilated as if dazed.

“Wondering if he really is the Supreme Heavenly Demon, right?”

She gently stroked the crown prince’s silver hair.

He answered with a wheeze.

“Gasp! Huff!”

Her crimson eyes gleamed as she stood.

“Well, we’ll know when we check.”

Wilko was an informant affiliated with the Information Guild.

Small stature by nature.

With agility and stealth that made him an excellent informant.

His current mission was to monitor the First Prince’s camp and report regularly.

A mission so important it was classified as top-tier by the Information Guild.

That meant involving multiple skill users.

Wilko wasn’t a skill user but was acknowledged for his experience and skill and thus joined the mission.

“No significant changes.”

First Prince Allenbert Verden joined forces with Western noble Marquis Norton and marched back to the capital.

Though their force was impressive, it didn’t concern Wilko’s mission.

He stayed far enough to avoid detection, just gathering intel.

To ensure perfection, countless other informants unknown even to Walter would be sending similar reports from elsewhere.

More detailed info would be handled by the top agents.

“I’ll report as is.”

Wilko quickly left to send the report.

Even if there was nothing to report, he had to report his current position at designated times.

In that moment, a flash of crimson light briefly caught Wilko’s eye.

“…Huh?”

It was too brief, so Wilko stopped and turned around.

“What was that?”

But all he saw was the path he had passed.

No crimson anything was found, and thinking he had imagined it, he turned back.

“Hello, Wilko?”

Suddenly, a crimson spectacle filled Wilko’s vision.

His pupils instantly dilated.

“Let me see.”

The woman extended her hand, and Wilko naturally handed over the paper in his hand to her.

She gave a fox-like smile, glanced at the paper, and handed it back to Wilko.

“Doing well, aren’t you, our Wilko?”

Wilko’s face lit up at those words.

“Good. Let’s keep it that way.”

He nodded, mouth agape.

He probably nodded so much he didn’t even notice drool running from his mouth.

Before he knew it, the woman with crimson eyes vanished, and Wilko wiped the drool off his mouth and resumed walking to report.

A flash of red light flickered once more in the distance, but this time, he didn’t even look.

As if nothing, as if nothing had happened.

Thanks to Jason, all information from the two factions was gathered.

They had accurate real-time information.

“Hmm… siding with one isn’t good business…”

For Jason, it was a losing deal.

He should be selling info to both sides and driving the price up.

Once he took a side, who would trust and use the Information Guild?

“I’ll just think of it as an investment.”

Jason grumbled but came to his own conclusion.

If the Princess wins this, the guild’s credibility might fall, but they would gain far greater things.

“Enough grumbling. Is it certain they promised a major battle on the Wildly Plains?”

“Absolutely. With an army that size, if another war breaks out in the capital, the city would be in ruins. They have their reasons.”

First Prince and Second Prince.

A total war was promised on the Wildly Plains.

“What’s the chance one of them will betray the other?”

“None.”

Jason answered firmly.

“There have already been movements to head to Wildly, and no reason to refuse. Each thinks they have the advantage.”

“They think they have the advantage?”

“The knights’ edge lies with the First Prince. Marquis Norton from the West joined, bringing elite knights under his command.”

On the other hand, the Second Prince barely recovered the knights lost in the capital’s battle.

The capital’s nobles were already divided, and those remaining neutral were powerful enough to resist external pressures.

Though the Second Prince pressured them, he didn’t gain much support, and the First Prince anticipated this, so they believed they would win.

“The Second Prince trusts the skill users. Especially the awakened ones.”

The main contributors to the capital battle.

The possessed warriors Sirbert sent in his place.

The Second Prince put his faith in them.

As skill users optimized for combat, a few of their powers could turn the tide of war.

“But they won’t really join the major battle. Or they’ll just pretend to and then back out.”

They would maintain the balance and then pull out.

Causing greater damage to each other.

Increasing chaos.

“And that’s when we strike.”

“Exactly.”

That was Sirbert’s plan.

“We must decisively take out both princes. Once their deaths are confirmed, the Princess will be the sole heir—a clean ending.”

The two princes were unaware, but all signs pointed to Sylvia’s victory.

At least Jason was certain of that.

Even this man, who knew the empire’s affairs best, had not known about Sylvia’s impending death so close at hand.

“Hey, did you get hit somewhere? You look hurt.”

“…I got hit. Never mind, let’s move.”

Looking down from the castle stairs, countless soldiers lined up, so dense the ground was barely visible.

Finally, the preparations for war were complete.

“Open the gates!”

The massive gates clanged loudly as they swung wide open.

Sylvia mounted her horse, her gaunt face set with determination.

Behind her, hundreds of knights mounted their horses.

“March!”

A resounding shout echoed across Yohn Torno.

Tens of thousands of soldiers began to move.

The Princess’s army.

“The destination is Wildly!”

Watching the solemn departure, Sylvia thought,

Let’s go. To the capital.

Let’s go. To where we truly belong.

“Advance!”

To end this tedious war that has dragged on for years from unseen places.

[Hidden Trait: Violence is Not Allowed! (463/1000)]