CHAPTER 090
Hundreds of moist yellow eyes embedded in each scale glistened.
Urviseut’s long tongue made a lewd, slithering sound as her greedy eyes roved over every inch of the Emperor’s body.
“Those who enter the underworld are given the right to pass through the nine gates to save a soul. So, stop your nonsense and step aside.”
Emperor Maxwell, as if deeming her unworthy of a response, fixed his icy gaze on the largest eye embedded in her forehead.
The nine gates of the underworld from myth.
It was said that those who passed through the nine gates were granted the right to save a soul trapped in the underworld.
‘A “hope torture” crafted by the gods to mock human sorrow.’
That was what Maxwell had said when he studied the myth as a crown prince.
According to the myth, only one human had ever passed through the nine gates.
A father’s love led him to fight and defeat all the monsters in the nine chambers to save his beloved son’s soul.
However, the man had to send his son back to the underworld within a week of returning to the human world.
The son had eaten the fruit of the underworld, making it impossible for him to survive in the human world.
‘Humans played by the gods’ spectacle to kill time. How pitiful.’
Thirteen-year-old Maxwell had furrowed his brows when he read the story of the man who eventually fell into the underworld for his son.
Humans believed the nine gates were a gift of hope from the gods to those who lost their loved ones and cried out in despair.
But to Maxwell, it was nothing more than the gods’ torture, playing with human emotions.
Passing through the nine gates with a human body was nearly impossible.
Even if one did pass, a greater despair awaited, as seen in the man’s story.
When the man, who had lost his eyes and legs while passing through the nine gates, finally reached his son’s soul, he was met not with joy but with greater despair.
The gods must have found it amusing to watch humans experience the height of joy only to have it turn into deeper sorrow when they discovered their loved ones had eaten the underworld’s fruit.
Maxwell had thought humans foolish for being played by the gods due to their lingering attachment to the lost.
But now...
The Emperor, who had furrowed his brows at the gods’ schemes and laughed at human folly, stood gripping his sword, ready to pass through the nine gates.
“You have no choice but to step aside. The nine gates of the underworld were created before you fell here.”
At Maxwell’s cold words, the Demon King Urviseut gave a sly smile.
“Indeed, I do not have the authority to stop you. However…”
As Urviseut’s staff drew a circle, a dark forest appeared within it.
Countless wild beasts crowded part of the forest, surrounding someone.
Like a hawk’s eye focusing on its prey, a small figure appeared in the center of the circle.
“…Arabelle…”
Maxwell’s beloved’s name slipped through his tightly clenched teeth.
For a moment, his deep-set eyes trembled.
Arabelle...
My Arabelle.
In the blurry vision, Arabelle was diligently tending to injured animals.
His arms, holding the sword, twitched with blue veins as if he wanted to rush forward to the circle.
But soon, his face returned to a cold expression devoid of emotion, and he watched the receding image within the circle.
As Arabelle’s face faded away, a new scene appeared in Maxwell’s unwavering eyes.
The circle, now devoid of the forest, was filled with pitch-black darkness.
Soon, a light like a torch illuminated the darkness.
The beautiful and radiant light was rapidly losing its size and brightness.
Maxwell’s jaw tightened as his Adam’s apple bobbed.
“This is Arabelle’s true form, as you imagine.”
Urviseut’s voice came from beneath the damp floor.
Although the reptilian lips moved, the voice seemed to creep up his legs and burrow into his ears.
The voice, as if it had thousands of legs, made his skin crawl.
“Arabelle’s soul believes she is treating animals injured by a forest fire. Unaware that the more she treats them, the faster her light is absorbed by me. She is a soul that has completely forgotten you.”
The darkness around the clear light in the circle seemed to engulf it.
Cold sweat soaked Maxwell’s hands gripping the sword.
He bit down hard on his molars to keep his sanity.
“Princess Ermiore…”
A low, despairing groan escaped from below Maxwell’s waist.
“Oh, I almost forgot. You came to save Princess Ermiore’s soul as well. It’s a wonder her light hasn’t extinguished yet, given how small it’s become.”
A screeching laugh was met with a sharp roar from the white leopard.
A tiny spark, initially invisible due to Arabelle’s light, came into view.
As the Demon King said, the tiny spark was no larger than a finger and was on the verge of extinguishing.
“I cannot stop you from passing through the nine gates. But I can have you play with my pets before you reach the nine gates.”
No sooner had Urviseut finished speaking than a chimera made of a lion, a snake, and a goat, a Cerberus with six dog heads, and a hydra with dozens of snakeheads appeared behind her.
Her pets stood on either side of Urviseut, baring their sharp teeth and glaring menacingly at Maxwell.
The Demon King continued with a sinister smile.
“You might indeed defeat my pets and reach the nine gates. I’ve seen how strong you are, even in a human body. But while you’re fighting them, precious time to save your Arabelle will be wasted.”
Maxwell’s emotionless red eyes met the Demon King’s singular eye.
“Did you say five days? The time Arabelle’s body will remain preserved without dying? Hmph, I’ll tell you something even the ancient gods and elves didn’t realize. With the strength gained from almost fully absorbing Ermiore’s light, I can absorb all of Arabelle’s light within two days. You have only two days, not five.”
Urviseut’s split tongue flicked out just in front of Maxwell’s face.
“Unlike the ancient gods, I am very generous. I will give you a choice. Will you waste precious time fighting the monsters ahead, failing to pass through the nine gates?”
The flicking tongue reversed, revealing a yellow eye.
“You shall marry my daughter and live forever in the underworld. Choose.”
The reptilian, slick eyes captured all the pledges issuing from the luscious red lips.
***
Thud, thud,
With each step on the stone floor, dozens of gargoyle figures on the beams lining the ceiling and walls opened their mouths.
As the Emperor’s steps drew nearer, the folded wings of the gargoyles rose towards the ceiling.
As if unable to contain their excitement at the prey they were about to savor.
When the Emperor and the white leopard stood before the massive bronze door engraved with a crouching gargoyle,
Kuuuuung…
With a loud noise, the gargoyle split in two, and the door slowly swung open to either side.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Maxwell stepped through the first gate.
***
In the deep night, under the white crescent moon, three girls sat on the roots of a large old tree.
Sitting shoulder to shoulder and chatting quietly, they looked like eighteen-year-old young women.
“So, Arabelle, do you also live alone with your mother?”
“Yes.”
When Sephilia, who had decided to be friends upon learning they were the same age, asked, Arabelle nodded.
“I didn’t know this forest belonged to your territory. I thought it was an abandoned forest.”
“My mother has been very busy lately, so she hasn’t had time to manage the forest. That’s why she sent me.”
As Ermiore looked around the dark forest and spoke, Sephilia responded kindly.
“The castle soldiers are helping the villagers recover from the wildfire damage. In the morning, the soldiers will come to help the animals. Please endure just until then.”
As Sephilia spoke with a regretful expression, Arabelle and Ermiore shook their heads.
“No, we just need to get through tonight, and tomorrow there will be many people to help. How fortunate.”
At Arabelle’s positive words, Ermiore nodded and smiled.
“Thank you. My fiancé will arrive soon, and then we can move the injured animals to a safer place. He is very strong.”
Sephilia’s cheeks blushed as she mentioned her fiancé.
“Sephilia, you’re engaged too? So am I!”
Ermiore’s eyes sparkled with delight.
A faint vitality spread over her pale face.
Arabelle looked warmly at Sephilia, who cupped her cheeks in embarrassment.
“What kind of person is Sephilia’s fiancé? He must be beautiful like you, right?”
As Ermiore asked curiously, Arabelle’s dark eyes also sparkled with curiosity.
Who could be the person who captured the heart of the beautiful, princess-like Sephilia?
Even without seeing him, he seemed to fit perfectly.
Sephilia looked directly into Arabelle’s kind eyes and answered.
“He is the strongest and most beautiful man in the world. I fell in love the moment I first saw him on the battlefield.”
“On the battlefield…?”
Arabelle widened her eyes in surprise, and Sephilia smiled softly.
“Yes, his figure on horseback, cutting down enemies without hesitation, was so mesmerizing. Even now, my heart races when I think of our first meeting.”
“The daughter of a lord was on the battlefield? Were you, by any chance, kidnapped?”
Ermiore, thinking she had asked a difficult question, quickly closed her mouth and watched Sephilia’s reaction.
Sephilia chuckled and answered calmly.
“No, I was out exploring the world with my mother after a long time, and we happened to witness a battle. It was really exciting. The deafening cheers, the cries of horses, the sound of blades cutting through the air. Oh, just thinking about it excites me. This estate is so boring.”
Arabelle and Ermiore looked at Sephilia in amazement as she excitedly described being at the battle as if she had gone on a picnic in a park.
If they knew what she was thinking, they might have been horrified.
The scent of blood that hung in the air after the battle.
She imagined this was what humans referred to as the taste of sweet wine.
“When my fiancé arrives, this place will no longer be dull.”
Sephilia spoke dreamily, her gaze never leaving Arabelle.
“I hope I can meet Ermiore’s and Sephilia’s fiancés while I’m here.”
Arabelle said as she lifted a squirrel that had approached her.
Sephilia watched closely, smiling, as Arabelle tended to the squirrel.
She tried to mimic the precise movements of Arabelle’s transparent, elongated fingers that carefully tended to the animals.
As Arabelle habitually tilted her head slightly while stroking the head of a baby deer, her golden head moved in the same direction.
Soon, she opened her eyes wide like Arabelle, blinking her long eyelashes innocently, and smiled a shy smile resembling Arabelle’s.
“Don’t worry. You will definitely meet them. He will be very pleased to meet you, Arabelle.”
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