CHAPTER 085
Maxwell the Emperor and Caligo locked eyes, their gazes meeting for an extended moment.
Maxwell's unwavering red eyes pierced through the flickering glassy eyes of Caligo.
The calm before a red volcano's eruption.
Caligo, staring at the Emperor who was choking him, thought.
The hand that will bring back Princess Ermiore's light is not my frail, thin hand, but this large, strong man's hand that easily grips my throat.
That’s why he wanted the Emperor’s body.
His own human body, now just skin and bones, wouldn’t even be able to pass through the door to the underworld, let alone enter it.
He knew his time in this world was running out.
The body of the half-human, half-beast that had endured a thousand years would soon rot and seep into the ground, becoming food for the demons of the underworld.
Perhaps...
It might be this man instead.
Beyond the frozen red eyes, his desperation and determination surged like boiling lava.
The Emperor truly loved Arabelle, who lay as if asleep.
The desperate pulse beating against his throat conveyed his urgency deep into Caligo's skin.
Just as I waited a thousand years to save Princess Ermiore...
The Emperor would pay any price to save his love.
For once, his tattered soul, betrayed and used by humans, decided to trust a human again.
A man who lived mocking the faith and trust of humans.
Caligo's lips twisted into a smile.
"To enter the gate to the underworld... you need the Sword of Musatre."
Thud.
At that moment, the large hand released, and Caligo fell to the ground.
"Ugh, cough, cough."
Caligo coughed, massaging his slender throat with both hands.
His dry chest heaved as he gulped down the air.
A long, rough bare foot pinned down his silver tail, preventing him from moving.
The red eyes looking down at Caligo burned fiercely.
The Sword of Musatre.
It was said that thousands of years ago, the human world was on the brink of destruction by the demons of the underworld.
Legend has it that the ancient gods gave the hero Musatre a sword to save the humans.
It was said that the sword, crafted with the blood of the ancient gods, made its wielder invincible.
The Emperor growled through gritted teeth.
"The Sword of Musatre is a mythical weapon that does not exist in reality. The kingdoms of the continent have searched for it for centuries but failed to find it, concluding it was a creation of ancient poets to mock future generations."
"Don’t you think it’s because you are not worthy and the gods do not reveal it to you? If you don't get that sword, you’ll be torn to pieces by the gargoyles guarding the gate to the underworld. Only the Sword of Musatre can stand against the demons of the underworld."
Caligo glanced at Count Corald standing beside him, then sneered.
"You don't think the demons of the underworld are the same as the low-grade demons that roam the human world, do you? The demons of the underworld were powerful enough to threaten even the ancient gods."
Caligo was right.
The demons of the underworld, who ravaged the human world, had grown so powerful that they even threatened the existence of the gods.
These demons brought calamities, devoured human souls, and grew stronger, causing the collapse of the world that believed in the ancient gods.
Without the temples, offerings, prayers, and praises from humans, the ancient gods would have to wander the cosmos until humanity re-emerged to worship them.
"Do you know why the ancient gods particularly despise your empire, Helterd?"
Caligo stood on his feet, looking around at the imperial knights.
His glassy eyes settled on Maxwell, who was looking down at him with a haughty gaze.
"When the goddess of nature cursed the Helterd Empire for annihilating the Lumen Savior tribe, none of the gods intervened. They knew well how full of greed your bloodline was. Your blood carries cruelty and treachery that threaten not only the human world but also the realm of the gods."
The hero Musatre was a prince of the Helterd tribe, which began with the golden lion born from the egg of the red dragon.
Swinging the "Blood Sword" gifted by the ancient gods, he imprisoned the rampaging demons back in the underworld, symbolizing bravery.
The gods blessed Musatre and the Helterd tribe immensely for protecting their temples, and Helterd soon became a powerful kingdom on the continent.
However, Musatre, who had received the gods' favor, secretly stole the key to the gate of the underworld and passed it down to his descendants.
He planned for Helterd to use the demons of the underworld whenever necessary.
The kings of Helterd negotiated with the great demon king of the underworld, bringing demons to the surface to fight against opposing forces and enemy nations, and in return, allowed a few demons to live and thrive in the human world.
The reason the once-vanished demons reappeared was because of the kings of the Helterd Kingdom.
"Do you know what the later kings of Helterd did to turn orphans into human weapons?"
Caligo's pale face contorted with rage.
"They handed us over to the great demon king of the underworld. Like me, those who turned into demons lived blood-soaked lives for the kingdom and were disposed of, while my friends who failed to become demons turned into deformed monsters, left in the underworld to become servants or food for the demons! All for the glory of your beloved Helterd Empire!"
It was horrifying just to hear.
The anguished cry of a frail boy, whose time had stopped at sixteen, echoed across Lake Innis.
"He’s a demon, Your Majesty. He could be lying."
Sir Jacob stepped forward and spoke in a somber voice.
The Emperor must be confused right now.
If not careful, he could be used by the demon.
At that moment, a strange voice quietly emerged from behind.
"Unfortunately, Caligo speaks the truth."
The startled knights turned their heads to see two young men standing right behind them.
The sudden appearance of the two men, unnoticed even by the keen senses of the seasoned knights, made them raise their swords in unison.
The two beautiful men slightly raised their arms, showing they were unarmed.
Their dreamy eyes showed no hostility.
Under the moonlight, the Emperor's red gaze moved from their silver hair that sparkled like gold dust and lavender hair to their pointed ears.
"Elves."
The Emperor's jaw clenched tightly as he looked at the tall, slender elf with silver hair.
He resembled the mentor Arabelle often described.
“Espearel…”
His red lips called out the name and then opened to address the delicate-looking boy next to him.
He called the name of the boy who resembled the fluffy white rabbit Arabelle often talked about.
“Barrel.”
Espearel nodded with a faint smile.
Maxwell commanded his retainers, who were blocking the path of the elves.
“Lower your swords.”
At the emperor’s command, the knights lowered their swords, clearing the way.
Their gazes, still tense, followed the two elves walking towards the emperor.
Count Corald’s eyes widened as he watched Esperal and Beryl approach the emperor, and he shouted involuntarily.
“If that’s Esperal… the elf responsible for the barrier between the world of mythical creatures and the human world!”
Esperal nodded once in affirmation and then spoke to the emperor and the gathered knights.
“Normally, elves do not interfere in human affairs. We are travelers between the human world and the world of myths, and guardians of the barrier that separates the two.”
As Esperal raised one hand and drew a circle in the air, a beautiful and peaceful world of mythical creatures appeared within the circle.
“However, we have been forced to intervene in human affairs. It is because of the love between the emperor of the Helterd Empire, cursed to transform into a black panther and a woman with the blood of the Lumen Savior.”
When Esperal drew another circle in the air with his other hand, countless monsters and creatures infested the underground world that appeared.
Grotesque monsters were building a giant tower with their bodies.
The monsters at the top struck the ceiling with their shoulders and fists, causing the ceiling door to start trembling.
“The thing that gives the greatest power to the monsters that feed on human souls…”
Before Esperal could finish, Caligo interrupted.
“The light of the Lumen Savior’s soul.”
Esperal glanced at Caligo briefly before turning his gaze back to the emperor and continuing.
“The great demon king, who had obtained the light of Princess Arabelle of the Lumen Savior lineage, equivalent to that of Princess Ermier, was preparing his army. However, it was still insufficient to open the door sealed by the gods. At least, until today.”
For the first time, Maxwell’s eyes showed a hint of distortion.
“The great demon king has now obtained the light of Arabelle’s soul, equal to that of Princess Ermier. He will continue to grow his power, sharing it with the monsters until the light of both women is extinguished. In less than a week, in the time of the human world, the door to the underground world will open.”
It was a sign that not just the empire, but the entire continent was approaching its worst moment.
Hearing this sent chills down their spines, and Esperal kindly created a vision to show the future.
The knights, watching the destruction of the empire and the continent in a daze, turned pale.
Esperal sighed softly as he saw the faces of the once renowned brave knights contorted with fear.
He should have taken Arabelle away when he found out she was of the Lumen Savior bloodline.
He had promised to take her when she turned eighteen, hesitant to burden the young Arabelle.
But she met the emperor, whom she should never have met, fell in love, and sacrificed her life for him.
Esperal’s eyes, looking down at Arabelle lying on the grass, wavered with pity and guilt.
Maxwell’s cold voice shattered the silence by the lakeshore.
“For a bystander who doesn’t care what happens to the human world to show himself, there must be a good reason, correct?”
As if pleased, the corners of Esperal’s mouth lifted slightly.
The guardian of the barrier looked around Inis Lake.
Not even a trace of the once majestic temple from centuries ago remained.
“The ancient gods, who are no longer worshipped by humans, lack the power to seal the great demon king and the monsters. They cannot bestow blessings or weapons upon heroes. If the monsters conquer the human world, it will only be a matter of time before they break through the barrier to the world of mythical beings. If that happens, both worlds will face their end.”
At the word “end,” everyone held their breath and looked back and forth between Esperal and the emperor.
With a benevolent smile, Esperal spoke.
His gentle green eyes met Maxwell’s piercing red ones.
“The ancient gods and mythical beings have decided to place their hopes once again on the bloodline of Helterd. Emperor Maxwell de Fonte August, the last remaining ancient gods bless the hero’s quest. May you go to the underground world and retrieve the light of Lady Arabelle… I leave it in your hands.”
Esperal pulled his left hand, which had been inside the long and wide right sleeve of his robe, out.
A long, crimson object followed his hand.
The shape of a lion and a dragon, intertwined as if fighting, became one and transformed into a longsword.
Esperal placed the longsword on his palms and brought it before the emperor.
Everyone, including the emperor, stared in disbelief at the crimson longsword exuding immense energy.
Maxwell slowly opened his mouth and called out the name of the sword.
“The Sword of Musatre.”
As Maxwell’s voice fell upon the blade, the sword made a heavy sound of wind, greeting its master.
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