NMRJKM Chapter 132

However, it was nearly impossible to decipher the torn sentence.

In the end, I had no choice but to leave the book on the table and go back upstairs.

The pain in my eyes, which had tormented me all day, was now leading to a headache.

I thought it would be better to read it again tomorrow with a clear mind.

Lying in bed, I pondered.

‘By the way, what about the invitation from Seth Dolorante?’

First of all, it was confirmed that Carlotian’s sword was not a cursed object. However, I was curious about the Emperor’s intentions in bestowing a sword that felt like dark magic to his brother.

‘That’s the only interesting point about Deathrotea that comes to mind.’

I fell into deep thought. I didn’t know what Seth Dolorante would say to me.

‘Did the Emperor really know that dark magic was attached to Deathrotea and still intentionally bestow it? If so, why?’

But no clear answer came to me. For now, I decided to sleep. It was already deep into the night.

Carlothian.

That name naturally came to mind when I thought of Deathrotea.

A name that was both lovely and resentful lingered in my head, making it difficult to fall asleep.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

A few days later, news arrived from the temple.

“They say that the tree has not been purified after all.”

I frowned as I read the letter. It stated that despite the presence of at least fifteen knights and thirty priests, purification had not been achieved.

Moreover, after staying for a few days and conducting an investigation…

“As time passes, the aura of dark magic is gradually growing.”

This was similar to what I had read recently about cursed objects. The notion that cursed objects become stronger over time came to mind.

[We are waiting for your visit to the Grand Temple.]

For now, I headed straight to the Grand Temple to fulfill the request of the High Priest. The number of knights accompanying me was nearly twenty.

After the assassination attempt, or more precisely, after I had rationally committed suicide there, Carlothian had become obsessively concerned about my security.

‘Yet he never approaches me himself.’

Perhaps he knew that I felt distressed being close to him. The fact that I found it hard to see his face brought me a strange mix of bitterness and relief.

‘For now, let’s stay focused. Let’s concentrate on that tree.’

I climbed into the carriage and headed for the temple. Outside the carriage, a dozen knights rode alongside to escort me.

As we passed through the main street, people bowed their heads. Although the Duke’s family was indeed a high noble, I didn’t want such a conspicuous appearance.

The sight of everyone on the street bowing their heads was not particularly pleasant.

If it had been just Ariadeline, I would have taken it for granted, but with Ahn Hae-in mixed in, it felt somehow uncomfortable…

“Let’s get to the temple as quickly as possible.”

I urged the coachman, and he soon increased the speed, bringing us to the Grand Temple.

Upon my arrival, none other than Dorothea greeted me warmly.

“Welcome! Duchess Denaves!”

“If it’s not an official occasion, just call me Ariadeline.”

I smiled faintly, and Dorothea nodded.

“I keep forgetting. Would you like to come this way?”

Dorothea led me straight to the garden inside the temple. As soon as I arrived in the garden, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

“This is the tree that arrived this morning.”

The smooth surface of the black wood, which seemed to have been black from the start, stretched dozens of branches toward the sky. The branches, reaching out as if to grasp the heavens, resembled human hands.

“What about its aggression…?”

“Even now, the paladins are on alert and monitoring the surroundings, but they say no movements have been detected anymore.”

“Is that a relief? Or what exactly happened back then?”

As I spoke with a serious expression, Dorothea quickly replied.

“The High Priest will be arriving soon. For now, the High Priest and I tried it first, but we didn’t make any progress at all.”

Dorothea sighed. I awkwardly smiled at her words. If two people had already tried and failed, I wouldn’t be any different.

After all, overcoming the wounds of the cursed objects was likely due to dark magic.

Moreover, that time-reversing magic was probably noted to be usable only once in a lifetime.

‘That said, I can’t just tell Dorothea and the High Priest to learn dark magic to eliminate the evil species.’

Thinking this, I approached the tree.

According to the information received, this tree was said to move its branches or roots to capture and devour people, yet strangely, it had been quiet since I arrived here.

“Still, the fact that it’s quiet might mean it’s being suppressed to some extent by divine power.”

“If that’s the case, then it’s a relief.”

As we were conversing, the high priest soon arrived.

“Let’s attempt this together, the three of us.”

Dorothea and I nodded, and together with the High Priest, we began the purification ritual.

Fortunately, having taken strong painkillers beforehand, my throat didn’t hurt too much even when I sang loudly.

A little pain was unavoidable, but it was bearable.

However, despite the efforts of the three of us, the tree showed no signs of movement. This meant there was no change in the dark magic energy it emitted.

Dorothea sighed.

“What are we supposed to do? They say the dark magic energy is getting stronger day by day.”

“We need to find a way.”

I replied while looking up at the tree. The branches reaching toward the sky looked ominously threatening.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

The news about the cursed objects that arrived at the Grand Temple naturally reached the Emperor’s ears. Such an important matter could not go unreported to him.

The Emperor clicked his tongue. It was already troublesome enough with the cursed objects his daughter had created, and now another one had appeared naturally.

But on the other hand, he felt a deep intrigue.

“I should take the opportunity to seize it.”

Although he hadn’t known about the cursed objects for long, he was aware of something similar.

He knew how useful it could be.

Even the slightly inferior Deathrothea had produced such satisfactory results; how much more satisfying would the outcomes be when using something called ‘cursed objects’?

“I want to bring back that dagger made by Yermondi, even if I can’t take the tree.”

At first, he had said he would keep it in the palace, but the high priest had jumped up in protest.

There was no justification for refusing to give it, so he had no choice but to let it be taken away.

The Emperor, having lost the cursed objects due to the High Priest’s strong insistence, smacked his lips.

“But if I can’t deal with the cursed objects this time, I might be able to move those items to the palace.”

The Emperor thought leisurely. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to stash them away in the palace vault and then distribute them whenever someone became a nuisance.

He could make them meet a meaningless and futile death, just like his brother did.

“So, you failed?”

And to such an emperor, quite good news was delivered.

The High Priest, Dorothea, and Ariadeline. News arrived that the purification ritual, which had mobilized even that woman, had yielded no significant results.

A satisfied smile spread across the emperor’s face.

“That’s great. Those so-called saints and holy beings are clearly nothing special.”

Taking this as an excuse, the Emperor planned to bring one or two of the cursed objects with him as he retired to his chamber. He slowly closed his eyes and thought leisurely.

That night, he had no idea what might happen to him.

As the night deepened, a dark shadow loomed over the Emperor’s room.

The soft moonlight reflected the creeping movements. It slithered up over the sleeping emperor’s face.

It finally grasped his face in its hand.

The brow of the sleeping emperor furrowed momentarily.