VOLUME 11: CHAPTER 11

VOLUME 11: CHAPTER 11

“Report,” said Emperor Sylvius. “What’s the current status of the Northeastern Border? And the Witches of Aravark – did they agree to our offer?”

“Regarding Lady Alice,” General Lazarus said in embarrassment. “She didn’t even listen and outright rejected our offer.”

“Hmmm…,” said the Emperor. “This is within our expectations. Although they’re citizens of the Empire, they hold no true loyalty to this nation.”

The Witches of Aravark were loyal only to Lady Alice and the City of Atarus, their place of birth. Unless that city was directly attacked by the demons, Lady Alice and her group wouldn’t have any reason to move.

Like the Master of the First Tower of Mages, Lady Alice hated wars and unnecessary bloodshed. This was ironic since she was a necromancer capable of utilizing death and chaos to her advantage. A magician that excelled the most in large-scale battles.

“Minister Sevei,” said the Emperor.

“Your Majesty,” said one of the ministers.

“I want you to find ways to bring those witches to our side at any cost. And if that isn’t possible, make sure to maintain our friendly relations.”

“I hear and obey, Your Majesty.” Minister Sevei clasped his hands together and lowered his head.

Emperor Sylvius turned his attention to General Lazarus, wordlessly prompting him to continue his report. Seeing this, General Lazarus spoke.

“As for the current status of the northeastern border,” said General Lazarus. “I believe the Master of the Fourth Tower of Mages is more qualified to deliver this report to His Majesty.”

“Haldor?” said the Emperor.

This was unexpected. Why was that eccentric man being mentioned suddenly in this place?

General Lazarus nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. He’s already been informed and is currently on standby. If you give us the order, we shall bring him here right away.”

Emperor Sylvius stroked his beard. “Very well. Summon him.”

Upon receiving the Emperor’s orders, the imperial knights immediately escorted the Master of the Fourth Tower of Mages inside. He was an old man with a shiny, bald head, and sinister-looking eyes. He reeked of sweat and medicine, as though he hadn’t bathed for several days.

The Fourth Tower of Mages was located in the capital. While the First Tower of Mages was considered the strongest, the Fourth Tower of Mages was considered the most controversial.

The Fourth Tower was also the most funded among the towers, as it was tasked with the greatest number of researches. From poison to medicine, from monsters to human bodies – they studied it all. The mages of the Fourth Tower spared no effort in increasing their knowledge. They were fanatics who did not care about the morality of their projects.

And Haldor, the Fourth Tower’s Master, was the most eccentric one of them all.

“I greet the Sun and the Moon of the Empire,” said Haldor as soon as he entered the throne room. “I am honored to be in the presence of His Majesty, Emperor Sylvius Lockhart Mavis.”

Haldor didn’t kneel, but instead bowed his head before the throne. The royal knights who’d brought him here didn’t like this. One of them said in a low voice, “You are in the presence of His Majesty, the Emperor. Master Haldor, please mind your—”

“—Mind what?” said Haldor. In a low, but threatening voice, he angrily spat, “You damn knight. Know your place. You dare interrupt the meeting between us and the Emperor? Want me to dismember you and use your body for our latest research?”

“T-That’s not what—”

“—That’s enough,” interjected Emperor Sylvius in a relatively calm voice. “Knights, back to your posts.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

After the knights went back to their posts, Haldor walked even closer to the throne. While observing him, the Emperor thought that all of the Tower Masters in the Empire were quite difficult to deal with. They knew that they hold real power within the nation, that even the Emperor couldn’t carelessly touch them. And thus, they could afford to act this boldly.

It was said that a Tower Master held power comparable to that of a small army. In order for Emperor Sylvius to enact his future plans, he couldn’t afford to treat them poorly. This was the reason why although Emperor Sylvius was cold, strict, and cruel, he treated the Masters of the Towers with a certain degree of leniency and respect.

They were among the Emperor’s trump cards, and were thus treated accordingly.

“Haldor,” said Emperor Sylvius. “It’s been a while.”

Although the Fourth Tower was located in the capital, the Master of the Fourth Tower hardly went out of his research room. It had been several months since the Emperor had seen Haldor. Just like the Vice Master, Jacob Fraser, he was a freak obsessed with magical research.

“Indeed, Your Majesty,” said Haldor. “I heard you wish to hear the news regarding the northeastern border?”

“Yes, including the City of Meredith,” said Emperor Sylvius. “Tell me all of it.”

“The City of Meredith…” said Haldor in a voice filled with mockery and amusement. “Ah, such tragedy! While I was cooped up in my research room, my old friend, Harris, suddenly died in the hands of those demons! Oh, how… terrible!”

Old friend? How laughable.

No one in the throne room believed that statement.

The Masters of the First and Fourth Towers were total opposites. Master Harris used all of his wealth for charity and for improving the lives of the impoverished in the city, while Master Haldor used all of his fortunes for his research.

Moreover, unlike Master Harris, Master Haldor did not have any qualms regarding killing and slaughter. He was connected to the Underworld, and the Emperor was aware that he was one of their most prominent clients. He was a madman who would be pleased whenever he heard of wars brewing, as it meant more dead bodies for his research. A fanatic who would do anything for the sake of magical advancement.

If not for his strength and influence, the Emperor would have long ordered the knights to execute this eccentric magician. There was something sinister about him, and the Emperor was certain that if given a chance, he wouldn’t hesitate to stab even him in the back.

Still, despite his character, his strength was the real deal. And the Emperor couldn’t afford to lose such a powerful magician, especially during this time.

Haldor took out a gemstone from his sleeves. “Before Adriel, the Vice Master of the First Tower, died, he sent a message to the Fourth Tower.”

Haldor lifted the fist-size gemstone. Slowly, he started infusing his mana into it.

“The artifact in my hand used to belong to Harris Mavis. After desperately needing money to support a new orphanage, he sold this item to me. Who would have known that this would come in handy?” said Haldor. “You see, Your Majesty… this is an artifact capable of transmitting recorded images. Isn’t it wonderful! And that stupid Harris sold it to me for a meagre sum of two thousand gold coins!”

If the artifact was truly capable of such functions, then it was probably worth far more. Considering Master Harris’ personality, he must have been really desperate back then, for him to sell that artifact for only two thousand gold coins.

“I do not care about that artifact’s origins,” said Emperor Sylvius. “Get straight to the point.”

“Of course! Of course!” said Haldor. His voice was high-pitched and grating to the ears. “This artifact is connected to the First Tower, you see. The message sent to me by Adriel before he died! Please take a look at it yourself, Your Majesty!”

The artifact glowed, and rays of light shot out of it, forming translucent images. The images revealed the events that transpired right after Master Harris’ death.

A city, whose ground had turned dry and barren, as though all life from it had been sucked dry, was revealed before everyone.

“Is that… Meredith?”

Everyone in the throne room, including the Emperor, was stunned upon seeing the recorded images being displayed to them by the artifact.

“As you can see in this image, the City of Meredith had been completely overtaken by the demons,” said Haldor. He failed to hide the subtle smirk on his face. He seemed really pleased for some reason. “That large obelisk you’re seeing is the First Tower of Mages. If you look closely, you’ll see the obscured symbol of the First Tower.”

The ministers gasped.

The First Tower of Mages held historical significance. They couldn’t believe that such a popular structure had been reduced to such a state.

“Good heavens! That’s the First Tower of Mages? That… that thing?!”

They couldn’t even call it a tower any longer. The First Tower of Mages had been nearly completely covered up by numerous fleshy tentacles. The tentacles were alive and squirming. Every now and then, it would shoot toward the ground and grab a human. Like a leech, it would such all of the fluids within its prey’s body, turning it into a dry, shriveled corpse.

Above the obelisk, thousands of sky demons and dozens of twin-headed wyverns covered the sky. Below, tens of thousands of demons roamed the city. The images showed several surviving soldiers who were desperately fighting back, along with the civilians who’d failed to escape the city on time.

A good distance away from the obelisk, a portion of the city was ablaze. A fire giant towered right above the walls, breathing torrents of fire and throwing boulders at the fleeing humans every now and then.

The Emperor and everyone else in the throne room also saw several demons which resembled ghosts, demonic ogres, and demonic trolls. They even saw the parasitic demons which attacked the Empire back then.

It was a horrifying scene that rendered everyone speechless.

For nearly a minute, everyone fell silent.

One of the ministers mustered up the courage and spoke, “W-When were these images recorded?”

“I believe it’s already been a week since then,” said Haldor.

“A… week,” said the minister weakly. “Then… those demons must have crossed considerable distance by now. What if they reach the capital?”

Even after seeing the current state of Meredith City, all the minister thought about was his safety.

Another minister said, “T-That’s right! S-Shouldn’t we immediately rally all of our armies? We should send out the soldiers to block those damn demons advance!”

Another minister scoffed, “What are you talking about? We can’t move recklessly! Isn’t the reason why we’re gathered here today to discuss what we’re supposed to do with those goddamn demons?!”

“B-But can the army even stop those things!”

“That’s not for us to decide! We should consult with the military officials first!”

“That’s enough!” said the Chief Royal Advisor. “Be quiet! You are before His Majesty, the Emperor!”

The ministers immediately hushed and lowered their heads. Out of fear, they momentarily lost their composure and forgot that they were in the throne room.

Thankfully, the Emperor was currently in deep thought and didn’t pay attention to their rumblings. Otherwise, they would have been sent to the chopping block by now.

“As everyone can see,” said Haldor. “The City of Meredith, as we know it, no longer exists. Before Adriel died, he said that the number of demons is far greater than what’s shown in the images.”

His last words made those who heard it tremble. Even the Emperor felt uneasy at that revelation.

“And if you’ll look closely at this one,” said Haldor. He manipulated the gemstone and froze the image at a particular scene. “Look, over there. At the top of the obelisk.”

They hadn’t seen it before, but after Haldor pointed it out, they saw a creature wearing a black hooded cloak. Although he resembled a certain species of demons seen in the capture images, he looked thin and feeble.

“Adriel said that that creature was the one who summoned the obelisk and willed it to cover the entire First Tower of Mages,” said Haldor. “I believe that it’s the leader of the demons. The one controlling that massive horde, Your Majesty.”

This was a significant find.

If they could somehow kill that leader, they might be able to stop the demon’s advance.

“A leader,” mumbled one of the ministers. “If it’s just killing the demon’s commander… it should be doable.”

“Quinn,” the Emperor called the name of the Second Prince.

“Your Majesty,” said Prince Quinn. He didn’t dare call him father, as this was a formal gathering of vassals.

Prince Quinn was a man in his middle thirties. His auburn hair, which he inherited from the late Empress, was combed slickly to the back. His eyes were sharp and fierce, and his body was well trained and muscular.

“Do you still have the glaive left behind by General Alvaren?”

The Emperor was pertaining to the maginus, the anti-magic weapon capable of nullifying most magical attacks.

Prince Quinn was a student of General Alvaren. And after the Mage Slayer died from Sword Saint Alexander’s hands, his glaive was passed on to the Second Prince.

“I’ve been keeping it with me, Your Majesty,” said Prince Quinn.

“You’ve fought those demons before and managed to emerge victorious,” said the Emperor. “Even now, the people hadn’t forgotten how you saved them from peril.”

It was a reckless counterattack that nearly costed Prince Quinn his life. Luckily, for some strange reason, the Witches of Aravark decided to intervene in that fight, saving him from harm. With the help of Lady Alice, Prince Quinn rallied the soldiers and pushed the parasitic demons back.

It was an achievement that further solidified the Second Prince’s position in the Empire.

“As someone who’d experienced fighting those abominations, I believe you’re the one most qualified to lead the soldiers this time,” said the Emperor.

The first, third, fourth, and fifth princes who’d been silently listening until now glared at the second prince. They even started regretting not rallying the army back then to fight back against the parasitic demons. Had they known that it would garner praises only from the people but also the Emperor, they would have charged into battlefield, no matter how dangerous it would have been.

“Use that glaive and lead the soldiers in battle!” said the Emperor authoritatively. “I, Sylvius Lockhart Mavis, Emperor of the Great Empire, order you to destroy that demonic army! I shall ask General Moldark to assist you in this war. Come back victorious! For the sake of our Empire!”

“I shall come back victorious, Your Majesty!” said Prince Quinn passionately.

“F-Father, how about me? Let me fight, too! I can lead the soldiers too!” said Zelroth, the First Prince. He was a man in his early forties. Unlike his other brothers, he did not have a muscular body. Instead, he was stubby, with a very prominent belly.

“Address me as the Emperor,” spat Emperor Sylvius angrily.

“Y-Your Majesty, I apologize. But ho—”

“And did I permit you to speak?”

Unlike when speaking with Quinn, who’d already garnered numerous achievements, the Emperor treated the First Prince with contempt.

The Emperor bellowed, “I’ve heard from your sword instructor that you skipped training several times this week! You damn, shameless lout! And you dare ask me to entrust to you the lives of our soldiers!?”

The First Prince trembled and lowered his head. Seeing this, the other princes smirked in satisfaction.

“Knights! Get that imbecile out of my sight!” shouted the Emperor.

Several knights ceremoniously walked toward the First Prince and respectfully asked him to follow them out of the throne room. Afraid of getting forcefully dragged out, the First Prince meekly followed suit.

After the First Prince was gone, the Emperor said angrily, “Pathetic fool. I can’t believe that my blood flows through the veins of that spineless bastard.”

Emperor Sylvius looked at his other sons. Unlike the first prince, the other princes weren’t so bad. The Second Prince, in particular, stood out. He was a warrior as powerful as a high-ranking knight, and he was popular with the people. Birth order aside, he was currently the one who held the highest chance of inheriting the throne.