The Prince Wants to Retire

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< Crown Prince Wants to Retire >

61. Without His Majesty, what now? (2)

‘To regain your peace, go to where the Purifier is!’

A phrase that has ironically become common in Hell.

Those who desired stability after death made their way to where the Purifier resided.

It was in hopes of finding true peace before they fell into eternal torment.

But there were those who aimed to prey on these seekers as well.

The Remnants of the Past sought to corrupt the wraiths at all costs to gain strength, making it exceedingly dangerous to leave their hiding spots for the Purifier’s domain.

Thus, Hell turned into a battleground between the surviving wraiths and those who had succumbed.

Intervening in their conflict was the Administrator of Hell, who did everything to help Kariel expand her purification territory.

But she wasn’t the only one receiving assistance.

Being sworn to her master, Hel, who wished for a resurrection, she merely aimed to secure a minimal territory in Hell without collapse.

Purifier (Kariel) + Wraith Legions → Administrator of Hell (Modgud) ← Corrupted Remnants of the Past

The Remnants were still weaker compared to Modgud.

Thus, Modgud took advantage of this period to effectively control the situation.

Having only purified the weakest of remnants, Kariel existed in a precarious peace that constantly urged her to make choices.

-Please… save Hell…

A young boy, dragged into battle at an early age, pleaded, tears flowing down his cheeks.

A woman held a newborn child, who had died alongside her, begging as well.

“Please grant us true peace…”

-Are you going to cruelly abandon us?

Surth asked with an expectant look.

“There is no death without a story.”

Kariel denied firmly, despite the desperate cries of the wraiths.

She could indeed become the king of Hell, as they suggested.

But what about the world?

What about the Ignit Empire, which would fall into chaos due to the Demon King and Roman Emperor?

“I will certainly return.”

Saying that, Kariel quietly focused solely on her duties amid the wraiths’ cries.

At that moment, the Green Flame, watching from a distance, vanished without a sound.

*

“Is His Majesty still absent?”

“Yes.”

In response to Achelio’s question, Talion sighed.

“Ugh… driving me mad.”

Even having long reached the status of Master, the situation was becoming increasingly dire.

He would prefer to head out and fight alone, but that was not an option.

“Isn’t it right to just sit here?”

Talion silently gazed at the sky in response to Achelio’s words.

While the Allied Forces were frantically rebuilding their army, the Roman Emperor remained occupied with his tasks, and time continued to flow.

Meanwhile, the airship that announced Kariel’s presence did not move from deep within the Empire’s front lines.

“It’s frustrating, but for now… we must execute the orders given by His Majesty.”

“Indeed.”

Perhaps because they had been stagnant for too long?

The Black Moon had been frequently prowling around the Ignit formations for the past few days.

Moreover, just yesterday, the Roman army began to mobilize.

Once they had recoiled, realizing Ignit’s army had ceased moving, they attempted to expand their territory.

“There’s a limit to blindfolding oneself.”

“Yes, it means it’s about time to enter the second phase.”

Talion sighed as he responded to Achelio’s observation.

Though airships were now actively moving for a search like when Kariel left, there were limits to that as well.

It was inevitable that even the Allied Forces sensed something was wrong with Ignit’s army, which had remained inactive for so long.

Currently, Roman was suspicious of two things.

‘Has the Emperor disappeared?’

‘Is the Emperor in critical condition?’

They began working to sow doubt towards the latter.

Given how the usually inactive Ignit army had strange personnel from the Allied Forces frequently coming and going, it was indeed time to start leaking information.

“I will gradually spread it to key figures in the Allied Forces.”

“We need to strengthen the vigil.”

In response to Talion’s words, Achelio wore a wry smile as he gazed at the empty chair.

That single seat, reserved solely for the Emperor, lay vacant.

And to protect this empty seat, the Imperial Palace Knights had to heighten their vigilance even more.

“Is it true that the Ignit Emperor is in a critical condition?”

It all began with a small newspaper office.

Indeed, while it was hushed within Ignit, hints of trouble in the kingdom had appeared in articles from nations part of the Human Alliance.

However, they couldn’t directly speak ill of the Ignit Emperor in the heart of the Human Alliance, so they stated it indirectly instead.

Yet, the audacious newspaper decided to print the rumors blatantly.

“They are really bold.”

“True.”

People thought that this bold newspaper would soon disappear without a trace.

But it did not vanish.

A slew of shocking news followed shortly after.

“Many priests and healers have been dispatched to the frontlines of Ignit…”

“Some soldiers claimed they saw the Ignit Emperor stagger when closing the massive Hell Gate…”

“Recently, the vigilance on the Ignit side has intensified!”

Continuous waves of reports.

Unlike the worried Allied Forces, Ignit remained largely unconcerned.

They thought it was just another case of Kariel engaging in seclusion training, just as she had done before.

However, this time was different.

“A massive tower erected in Roman’s formation”

“Is the Palace of Hell really nearing completion?”

“The Allied Forces must attack before it’s finished. But the Ignit army remains immobile.”

Even as the Palace of the Goddess, desired by Roman and Sandria, reached its final stages, Ignit’s army remained unyieldingly still.

This was a worrisome anomaly.

Given Kariel’s disposition, even during critical times, she would likely have made a move before the Goddess’s palace was completed.

And yet, not only did they remain motionless, but evidence of High Priests moving from the West Continent also surfaced.

“Could there truly be an issue with His Majesty’s health…?”

“Gasp! This is scandalous!”

“But it’s strange.”

Even the citizens of Ignit, who had been steadfast supporters, began to waver.

Was something wrong with Kariel, who held overwhelming support, believed to be the reincarnation of the First Emperor?

Perhaps they were teetering on the brink of life and death, spreading anxiety among the citizens of Ignit.

Their hope could vanish just like that.

In that precarious atmosphere, a few figures from the Allied Forces, having drunk too much, let slip a careless remark.

“The Ignit Emperor is in critical condition… If so, we should stop those guys… Can we manage?”

“Ugh… Is this where we finally meet our end?”

The commanders of the Allied Forces lamented.

Ultimately, their slip of the tongue led to the rumor expanding rapidly, and the article titled “Rumors of Critical Condition of the Ignit Emperor” spread across the entire continent.

“Ugh… we’ve succeeded in spreading the rumors, after all.”

“Yes.”

Talion sighed in response to Achelio’s words.

As anticipated, they had succeeded in disseminating the rumors.

The issue now was that they had to consider the possibility of Kariel emerging later than expected.

“There will be limits to just these rumors.”

“We might have to reposition to the rear.”

Achelio said, and Talion sighed again.

If only Garem had not been napping in the desert, he would have preferred to move to confront the enemy.

“Did Roman show any signs of suspicion?”

“Yes, not yet.”

Though Talion replied like that, he was just as worried about the possibility as well.

Understanding that the keen-eyed Black Moon or the clever Roman Emperor might discover the truth at any moment, they diligently followed through with Kariel’s orders.

However, there was no way that Roman, who was dominating the Eastern Continent, would calmly believe such hastily concocted schemes.

“They don’t trust it.”

“Seems so.”

Could it be that they had suffered too much from Ignit in the past?

Roman began inspecting the health rumors regarding Kariel while sending more patrols to search the area.

Simultaneously, they aimed to monitor the movements of Ignit’s airships closely.

“If this continues, it’ll become dangerous.”

“But right now, there’s nothing we can do.”

In response to Talion’s comment, Achelio pondered.

What Kariel had ordered only extended this far.

But Roman insisted on probing further as he tried to push the Black Moon into dangerous territories.

“If Roman pushes the Black Moon further in…”

“There’s no way they will reach here.”

Talion confidently said, nodding in agreement, but the issue lay in the fact that information is not simply obtained by reaching a destination.

“If they push in further, we might just need to fall back a bit.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering Achelio’s suggestion, Talion nodded slightly.

That decision turned out to be the right one.

For some unclear reason, the elite troops of Roman charged toward their position.

Since they were not the Army of Hell, the Red Ghost’s prowess was limited.

Thus, Talion and Achelio quickly withdrew. Should they approach this area, the absence of Kariel would likely be exposed.

So, the retreated Ignit army reestablished its position further back from the front line.

It was a natural reaction, and a decision that anyone could agree with.

Kariel’s disposition meant they were willing to risk moving elite troops, something well-known across the continent.

“But where exactly did they get suspicious?”

At Achelio’s words, Talion’s expression hardened.

He too couldn’t fathom how the information had leaked out.

“…Let’s have the Allied Forces move first.”

“Ugh… I’ll handle it personally. You depart first.”

Achelio said, and Talion nodded, setting off.

“The Roman army has reached the vicinity where the Emperor has vanished.”

“There were significant numbers of agents presumed to be from the Black Moon.”

Talion and Achelio could hardly believe the report from the shadows.

But as more agents from the Black Moon amassed, the Sandria forces had also begun approaching the vicinity gradually.

Only then could they confirm.

‘Gotcha!’

Without waiting any longer, Talion and Achelio immediately set the army in motion.

The Allied Forces had also managed to assemble a considerable force, promptly responding to Ignit’s call for support.

Seeing this, the Roman Emperor smiled broadly.

“Regrettable, but I shall allow this much.”

Garem, the servant of Hel and the Gatekeeper of Hell.

Since he had rejected the idea, capturing the Ignit Emperor directly would be difficult.

The reason Roman, aware of his whereabouts since Kariel entered Hell, had remained silent all this time was precisely this.

But what if that ordeal ends?

At that time, a chance would arise to capture the Ignit Emperor.

The very moment he emerged from the place protected by an unknown power, an opportunity to seize the Ignit Emperor would arise.

To make this happen, he had already created dozens of makeshift Hell Gates in the presumed desert area where Garem might be.

When the Emperor steps outside, a tremendous number of Hell’s army would encircle him.

The Palace of the Goddess, to receive her, was nearing completion, leaving only the offering required to summon her.

Roman’s Emperor chose the Ignit Emperor as that sacrifice.

“Return swiftly.”

Roman’s Emperor gazed at the orb attached to his staff.

This staff, usable solely by priests, contained the power to briefly survey Hell.

Within it, flames of red were seen purging the corrupted realm of Hell.

As Roman observed the flames gathering countless wraiths, he cast his gaze toward the towering tower he built.

“The final phase of the Great Plan?”

Roman murmured, wishing once more for peace to come to the souls of the Eastern Continent.

*

As the Grand War for supremacy readied in the desert of the Eastern Continent, ominous signs of war arose in the west of the Eastern Continent.

Boom!

Powerful surges of mana erupted from the northern snowfields.

Simultaneously, a crow delivered a piece of news to the Giant’s Fortress.

“A column of Black Light has appeared. It is presumed that the Demon King has descended.”