Chapter 258 : Chapter 258

Chapter 258

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Telesas’ queen, Siren.

She ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a mutant.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only being to adapt to Divine Power over thousands of years. Murus called her a Demigod, a half-finished being that was neither mortal nor transcendent.

Had ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍she not encountered Killian here, she might someday have taken another step toward transcendence.

Rumble.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mind Image World shook.

Crunch. Crack.

One by one, the Divine Tree’s branches and the tower’s chains that suppressed Siren’s rank snapped.

[This one seems to have gone berserk.]

“I know.”

She was a being who had overwhelmed an 8-star knight through physical ability alone. If she went berserk, it would become difficult to keep her suppressed as he was doing now.

Yet there was a reason Killian did not cut her down hastily.

“It is the first time I have seen Evil Energy and Divine Power fused.”

It was the first time in a life of thousands of years, including his life as a sword.

Divine Power was the force that symbolized Gods. Mana was the force passed down to humans like a lamp, and Evil Energy was the power monsters were born with.

But now—

For the first time, Killian had before him a monster that had fused a God’s power. Moreover, it was cornered enough to expose every bit of its strength.

‘She could be useful in researching Grotesquery later.’

[If you do not deal with her now, the Mind Image World will be damaged.]

Having noticed Killian’s thoughts, Murus warned that a damaged Mind Image World would affect the Mana Heart and Hollyheart Killian had forged.

“That is only if I cannot suppress her.”

After reaching 8-star, Killian had become able to release part of the rank of his existence.

He too had taken another step toward transcendence.

“Here, I should be able to release the rank of a thousand years.”

Rumble.

The rank he had drawn out to its limit.

The rank of existence that had been held inside his body poured out through Anima.

[My Apostle is not in his right mind either.]

“That Apostle will cut you down someday.”

Therefore—

“Until then, you will have to cooperate for both our purposes.”

[...]

The God’s silence did not last long.

[I accept.]

Boom.

Additional Barriers rose and became pillars that supported the shaking Mind Image World.

[Killian Eurasia.]

“Yes.”

Killian faced Siren, who glared at him with her trident in hand.

Even in her berserk state, the queen seemed to retain some of her reason.

[I will devour you.]

“I will not use Divine Power to cut you down.”

[And I will take that power as well.]

“That was never my power to begin with.”

As was the arrogance of transcendent beings—

Their words did not reach each other.

Whoooosh.

Three domains mingled.

Ssssss.

The three colors blended and neutralized the Evil Energy and Divine Power Siren emitted.

The distance between them closed.

Clang. Clang.

Sword and trident tangled chaotically.

Rumble.

The rank of a thousand years clashed through their weapons.

Pure swordsmanship and spearmanship.

Clang, clang, clang.

It did not take Killian long to seize the advantage.

Boom!

The queen’s body rolled across the ground from Killian’s full-force swing.

[Gahk!]

The queen cried out and drew out still more power.

Her eyes began to turn white.

It meant that she was falling into Oblivio.

Boom! Boom!

She finally broke free of the restraints imposed by the power neutralizing her.

[Adamas!]

Murus, supporting the Mind Image World, shouted urgently.

But Killian’s eyes remained calm.

“It is not Adamas.”

He did not avoid Siren’s attack as she had completely lost her reason and thrust out her trident.

Boom!!!

His body was driven back by the enormous impact.

Gush.

Blood flowed from his mouth.

“Carpe Illusion.”

The eight spheres composing a total solar eclipse shrank and surrounded Siren.

[Grrr!!]

The queen roared and sent Evil Energy into her trident.

“Carpe Illusion.”

The Magic Tower that rose behind Killian supplied Anima with limitless mana.

[Grrrrr!!]

Riiip.

The queen opened her mouth.

The mouth revealing her monstrous nature opened wide enough to swallow Killian’s upper body.

The eight spheres controlling her movements shook. In her berserk state, all her power had returned to physical ability.

“Carpe Illusion.”

Crack!

The rising Divine Tree knocked Siren’s body away.

Once again, branches of the Divine Tree and chains of the Magic Tower constricted Siren’s body.

It looked no different from before.

The difference was that, unlike Siren, who had lost her mind and could not control her power, Killian had complete control of his own.

Slice.

Anima cut the queen’s chest.

Slice.

It cut her waist.

Crunch.

It cut her leg.

Stab.

It pierced her abdomen.

Each time the sword left a mark, the queen’s mind gradually emerged from its berserk state.

[Ah... Aah...]

“It seems you have come to your senses now.”

[You were not... a Demigod...]

Gods—the absolute beings imprinted upon her species.

She realized that the man before her was an existence equal to them.

“Now we can finally converse.”

[The vanished Gods...]

“Extinction or submission.”

[How...]

“Those are your only choices.”

[G... Grrr...]

Killian did not need to wait long for the queen’s answer.

***

“You are persistent!”

[Gahk!]

When Marcelo reinforced his mana, he cut down a Telesa with a single sword strike.

‘The Telesas are stronger than I expected.’

Marcelo looked toward the sailing ship traveling about twenty oar lengths away.

The ship that carried Killian Eurasia.

It had seemed that the woman who looked like the Telesa Queen had boarded it.

‘Could he have fallen as well?’

The pure skill of the man called the royal family’s strongest knight was that of someone who had mastered 7-star.

Besides him, Aquares had an Arch Mage and a Sword Master who had mastered 7-star.

They were the former commander of the court mage order and commander of the court knight order.

But they had retired from active duty and were devoting all their efforts to stabilizing the 8-star they had reached several years ago. In practice, with them excluded, Marcelo was virtually their greatest force.

‘I believed Killian Eurasia had reached at least a level equal to mine, yet he could not deal with the queen after all?’

Marcelo intended to stake his life on suppressing the queen in this subjugation. To do that, he needed a more certain moment.

And the opportunity came before long.

Tap.

A woman suddenly landed on the deck.

Her appearance was no different from a human’s, but her blue hair and the gills where ears should have been revealed her identity.

“The queen!”

The five other Superhumans who recognized her released streams of mana.

They used Eye, Aquares’s secret technique passed down through the royal family, which Marcelo had taught them himself.

Eye enhanced the body’s abilities.

Among its techniques, Mind’s Eye raised one’s rank.

Even at the rank of a Superhuman, Mind’s Eye could be used for only around three minutes at most.

‘The queen must be exhausted too. I must settle this quickly.’

At their suddenly raised rank, the Grand Telesas began to be pushed back.

Then.

“Mind’s Eye.”

Marcelo’s rank rose swiftly.

His perception of the world and the sensitivity of his five senses changed.

[Are you Marcelo?]

Continental.

And Continental as fluent as his own.

That was not what surprised Marcelo.

‘She is strong.’

Strong enough not to take any stance even against him, after he had used Mind’s Eye and revealed his full strength.

‘My chances of victory are below twenty percent.’

He was flustered by the unexpected difference in rank.

‘I have to swing my sword.’

The moment he swung it, the battle would begin.

And his death would draw one step closer as well.

The queen’s blue eyes curved.

[What a pity. If the hidden strength you possessed were only this much, I would not have needed to wait so long.]

Marcelo’s thoughts became complicated.

The queen did not intend to kill him at once.

‘I need to make an offer.’

First, he had to preserve his life and plan for the future.

Then.

“That is enough.”

Killian Eurasia’s voice, the voice of someone he had thought dead, was heard.

His armor was dented and shattered, and he looked battered all over.

Yet he did not bear an injury that could be called serious.

Marcelo noticed belatedly that the sailing ship that had pulled away had come alongside them.

[That is what I intend.]

The queen relaxed her presence.

Srrk.

Her trident turned into a stream of water and disappeared.

“The Telesas and Eurasia have decided to form an alliance.”

Killian’s tone was casual, but the meaning was anything but light.

“What...?”

“Eurasia and Aquares are allies as well, so I can introduce you if you wish.”

Marcelo realized that the entire situation surrounding Aquares, Eurasia, and the fate of the Ocean Current Nation had been overturned.

***

“Let us say that you accomplished it, Brother.”

“...!!”

Yulian’s eyes widened.

The credit for forming an alliance between Aquares and Eurasia, and for forming an alliance with the Telesas who ruled these seas.

Killian’s words meant that he would hand over all of it.

“I-Is that really true...!!”

“You will need at least this much credit to rise again once we return.”

“Thank you... You really are on my side after all.”

Yulian’s eyes reddened.

He seemed to have been under considerable emotional strain.

“Of course, there is a condition.”

“Name anything!”

This was tremendous credit, enough to let him enter the competition for the throne again.

He did not intend to miss the chance to bring Killian entirely onto his side.

“Give me half of the shares in the Sepia Merchant Guild that you hold as an heir.”

“W-What...?!?”

“Did I not save your life and even secure you credit? I think that is worth at least that much.”

“Th-that is something I cannot do without discussing it with Mother...”

“Eurasia is becoming a kingdom and steadily expanding its power. Funding to operate the Annihilation Squad is lacking in several ways.”

“I know, but first I need to speak with Mother...”

“How long do you intend to depend on the Queen?”

“...”

“Neither Brother Demian nor Brother Paian depends on his maternal family to this extent.”

It was a pointed remark for someone who wished to step out from Emma Eurasia’s shadow.

“Whatever price you must pay, all that matters is that you take the throne, Brother.”

“...!!”

The throne.

It was a symbolic position that had always stirred Yulian’s heart.

After considering it for a long time, Yulian opened his mouth.

“...All right.”

‘If Yulian cannot give up his desire for the throne, he will lose every possession he has.’

By the time he realized that the more he grew as a knight, the less wealth he possessed, it would already be beyond recovery.

‘The temple is next.’

When Crown Prince Marcelo returned after reporting to the King, they would be able to begin sailing in earnest for the Temple of the Sea.

‘Though I need to investigate a little more why it has become impossible to use the Warp Gate.’

A day passed.

Crown Prince Marcelo brought the King’s positive answer and formally allied with Eurasia.

Yulian represented Eurasia.

While preparations for the voyage to the temple were in full swing—

Marcelo secretly summoned Killian.

“I wished to discuss Aquares and Eurasia’s future.”

“But Brother Yulian is Eurasia’s representative.”

“I know well enough that you are the one manipulating Julian Eurasia from behind the scenes.”

“Brother Yulian would be deeply hurt if he heard that.”

“Personal feelings need not be considered in a place where national interests are discussed.”

“But this does not seem an appropriate place to discuss national interests.”

Killian spoke while looking around the Crown Prince’s private training ground.

Marcelo had already dismissed even his escort.

“Before discussing national interests, I wish to cross swords with you as one knight to another.”

Marcelo made the proposal.

“Very well.”

Killian accepted.

“Are live blades acceptable?”

“Give me your best.”

Marcelo’s attitude was more respectful than before.

‘It seems he felt something through Siren.’

For some reason, there were dark hollows beneath Marcelo’s eyes.

If left alone, he might even fall into a Slump.

‘That would be troublesome for me too.’