Chapter 100: The Promise from 80 Years Ago

“Was he missing in the coexistence zone? How did you even find out he was missing in the first place?”

Lumi had no way to contact Kerhen.

So how had she learned of Kerhen’s disappearance?

At Gaon’s question, Lumi took out a communication crystal and answered.

“Unlike usual, it wasn’t a direct communication—a message arrived instead.”

“A message?”

“Yes.”

Answering the counter-question, Lumi infused energy into the crystal.

A familiar voice then rang from it.

• Lumi, this place is the Aletars Swamp in the northeast of Coexistence Zone 15.
  
• Request the Holy Order from the Pope of the Holy Empire.
  
• Or the Sword Order of the Schutaren Duchy, or the Spirit Order of the Valen Duchy!
  
• The time I can hold out is 10 days…

The voice cut off midway.

Gaon asked.

“That’s the end?”

“Yes, the message ends there.”

“…”

Gaon let out a low groan.

Lumi glanced at him cautiously and continued.

“Should we request help from the Holy Empire or the Rios Empire…?”

Originally, Lumi had come to the Varta Kingdom to ask Gaon for help.

But upon arriving, she learned of Varta’s situation.

Rifts to the demon world had appeared in neighboring countries.

Varta was already in a precarious state due to civil war.

In other words, it was awkward to ask Gaon for help.

At Lumi’s words, Gaon stopped thinking and replied.

“No need for that. I was planning to go to the coexistence zones anyway.”

The reason Gaon groaned wasn’t hesitation about whether to go.

He was calculating the time to arrival.

With 10 days, I can stop by somewhere else first.

Coexistence Zone 15 was very far from the Varta Kingdom.

But for Gaon, who could now use long-distance Teleport, it was half a day’s distance.

I’ll stop by Coexistence Zone 14 first.

Half a day was when not pushing himself.

If he pushed, he could halve that again.

In other words, time was not lacking.

It would be fine even if he stopped elsewhere to achieve his goals.

“Th-Thank you!”

Lumi expressed her gratitude.

Gaon asked.

“Is the matter in the Nail Kingdom finished?”

“Yes, it’s almost done. To the point where it won’t be a problem even without us.”

“Then you plan to head to the coexistence zones now?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

Since Gaon had agreed to help, there would be no major issues.

But the original goal—the war—had been prevented, and Nail Kingdom’s stabilization was complete, so there was no reason to stay longer.

In other words, it was time to return to the main stage, the coexistence zones.

“I’ll depart first, so see you later.”

Gaon nodded as if he understood.

He cast Teleport again and returned to Lepra’s office.

Upon arrival, Gaon said to Lepra.

“I need to leave right away. Will it be okay without me?”

“Yes, this much I must handle. By the time you return, I’ll have everything sorted, including the Nail Kingdom.”

Gaon smiled.

The resolve was very pleasing.

Swish.

Gaon looked up above Lepra’s head.

Kring, in transparent state, came into view.

Even if those guys try something, it should be fine.

Gaon planned to leave Kring by Lepra’s side.

Even if Abyss caused trouble, with Kring?

It wouldn’t escalate into a major issue.

“If something arises you can’t handle alone, request help from Gardion. I’ve already told them.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Lepra expressed gratitude, and Gaon immediately cast Teleport to exit the capital.

He replenished Pacheonki in the spatial force curtain and cast Teleport again.

Continuing to Teleport like that, he neared Kranium.

“Hm?”

Gaon stopped moving.

This energy…

It was because of the energies detected in Kranium.

Energies of a very familiar nature.

Holy power.

Did they come to investigate?

The Holy Empire Seionia had the holy relic ‘Eye of God’ that monitored demonic energy.

Perhaps they grasped the situation in Kranium through the Eye of God and sent an investigation team.

“…”

Gaon pondered briefly.

Kranium was currently empty.

No one was there, and no one had approached yet.

Literally, yet.

It was a place Varta Kingdom would soon occupy.

But if Seionia didn’t stop at investigation?

Of course, given the distance, the probability was low.

But to prepare for the unlikely, it seemed good to warn them before leaving.

Having decided, Gaon cast Teleport toward the being with the strongest holy power in Kranium.

***

The Golden Lion Knight Order of the Holy Empire Seionia.

The Golden Lion Knight Order was one of Seionia’s ten great knight orders, with a total membership of one.

Why a knight order with only one member?

Because that one alone possessed strength equal to a knight order.

Marma, the sole knight and leader of the Golden Lion Knight Order.

Having come to Kranium at High Priest Rai’s request to escort Investigation Team 1, Marma scanned the surroundings.

A 5-star rift to the demon world appeared, they said…

A 5-star rift had appeared and vanished in Kranium.

Yet he couldn’t believe it.

Because not a trace of demonic energy was visible.

Right then.

“…!”

Marma couldn’t help but flinch.

Because of the being that appeared before him.

A young man in his early twenties with deep black hair, sturdy build, and jade-like skin.

The problem was that nothing was felt from the young man.

Marma raised his holy power and quickly racked his brain.

Soon he realized.

A blasphemer!

He had heard the story before departing.

The one who eliminated the rifts to the demon world was the 8th-Circle mage who vanished decades ago—the damned worst blasphemer, Gaon Varta.

He had also heard Gaon Varta’s appearance.

It matched the man before him exactly.

“Gaon…

is it?”

Marma asked while watching the man closely.

The man smirked and replied.

“Your speech is casual.”

As expected.

It was definitely Gaon.

“Hm, my apologies.”

Marma apologized immediately.

The reason he apologized without hesitation wasn’t true remorse.

The Golden Lion Knight Order had a diary passed down through generations.

The diary contained stories about Gaon.

Written by the third and second previous leaders—normally, anyone would give the Golden Lion Knight Order some leeway.

But with Gaon, there was none.

The third and second previous leaders had clashed with Gaon relying on their status and suffered greatly.

That was why he apologized right away.

“Apologies, you say…”

Gaon slightly furrowed his brow.

It was a displeased face.

But that was all.

He only showed irritation—no further action followed.

“What business do you have here?”

“…We came to investigate reports of a rift to the demon world.”

“Are you sure it’s just investigation? Not occupation or…”

Gaon trailed off.

Marma answered in a firm voice.

“Absolutely not.”

Honestly, he didn’t know.

Marma’s mission was to escort the investigation team.

“Can you swear to God?”

Gaon asked.

Marma smiled and said.

“I can swear. My orders are to escort the team investigating the rift to the demon world.”

“…?”

Gaon wore an incredulous expression at Marma’s answer.

Marma couldn’t help but be puzzled by Gaon’s reaction.

Gaon furrowed his brow and said.

“That’s not how you should ask.”

“What do you mean?”

Marma swallowed hard and countered.

“Why keep focusing on orders? As team leader, you should know a lot.”

Gaon’s smile deepened.

He turned his head to look at Hector.

“Can you swear to God that Seionia has no plans to occupy Kranium?”

Hector said nothing.

“Hector?”

Marma softly called Hector, who was silent and only gauging the mood.

Even at Marma’s call, Hector remained silent.

That was answer enough.

Hector had only been ordered to investigate.

But he knew.

That there was an occupation plan.

“These bastards…!”

Gaon, who had been smiling, erased it as if it had never been.

“Trying to sneak in a spoon again?”

Gaon’s voice was filled with anger.

Marma urgently shouted.

“L-Lord Gaon. J-Just a moment, a misunderstanding…”

But the instant their eyes met, Marma had to shut his mouth.

From the gaze, it seemed if he misspoke here, he would see the ‘madman’ described in the diary.

Gaon opened his mouth.

“Tell the Pope.”

“…!”

“Don’t forget the promise from 80 years ago.”

“…?”

Marma, who had flinched at the mention of the Pope, couldn’t help but be puzzled by Gaon’s following words.

Don’t forget the promise from 80 years ago?

“…Understood.”

He didn’t know what it meant, but Marma answered for now.

Gaon continued.

“Stop the nonsense and get out of Kranium now.”

“…Understood.”

Hearing Marma’s reply, Gaon used Teleport and vanished.

Marma blankly stared at where Gaon had been.

But only briefly.

Regaining composure, Marma said to Hector.

“Is further investigation needed?”

Gaon had said to stop nonsense and leave.

Of course, he didn’t have to follow Gaon’s orders.

But if they didn’t leave, who knew what would happen.

Marma had no confidence in protecting the investigation team from Gaon.

Even if investigation wasn’t complete, he wanted to withdraw immediately.

“It’s not finished yet, but…”

Trailing off, Hector looked where Gaon had been and said.

“I don’t think further investigation is necessary.”

“I see.”

Marma nodded at Hector’s words.

“Then let’s withdraw immediately.”

“Yes.”

At Marma’s words, Hector took a signal flare from his pocket.

Whoosh! Boom!

The flare burst, spreading red smoke in the sky.

Watching the red smoke, Marma thought.

What was the promise from 80 years ago?

It was the first he’d heard of it.

But it wasn’t said lightly.

What promise had been made?

Marma recalled the diary.

80 years ago would be the era of the third previous leader, Brigona.

Perhaps there was a clue in the diary?

“…Huh?”

Soon Marma flinched.

Not 80 years ago, but 82 years ago—because of the entry left by Brigona.

[That madman Gaon. How can an emperor of a nation act like this?]

[To future generations: Do not get involved with that mad bastard Gaon.]

[Ha, Your Holiness. I’m sorry. For such humiliation…]