Chapter 153

“No one knows what will happen once we go in.”

“I know.”

“……”

Luciano had no response. Well, he must have a lot on his mind.

I decided to leave him be and looked at Carlothian.

“I can’t shake the feeling that we were lured here.”

Carlothian agreed.

“It definitely feels like they wanted us to come.”

The curses that appeared on the way to the Emperor’s palace were scattered like breadcrumbs in a fairy tale.

“We need to be careful.”

“……I’m most worried about you.”

“I feel the same way.”

I said seriously. Honestly, how could Luciano, who had gone through elite training in swordsmanship, get hurt? Or Carlothian, the genius?

The one I was most worried about was me. Me, with zero combat power. Ariadeline. Sigh, I let out a breath.

“I’ll try not to be a nuisance.”

“Be careful.”

“I take the best care of my own body.”

At my response, Carlothian looked at me quietly and then nodded. He then opened the door leading into the Emperor’s palace.

Creeeak-.

The vast, empty hall felt eerie. I held my breath and quietly followed behind them as we slowly entered.

The floor, ceiling, and walls, made of only black surfaces and lines, felt cold even just looking at them.

“……Where could the Emperor be?”

“You’re just calling him the Emperor now.”

“Excuse me, where might His Majesty be?”

“……The starting point was probably His Majesty’s bedroom.”

“Then we should head that way.”

Without needing to wander, the three of us went straight up the stairs toward the Emperor’s bedroom. The path to the Emperor’s bedroom was eerily quiet.

Not a single curse we had encountered so far was in sight. I felt a sense of unease. Why was it going so smoothly?

As if we were being awaited.

I glanced at the back of Carlothian’s head. He seemed alert, his eyes sharp as he scanned the surroundings.

‘……Let’s stay sharp for now.’

Since we couldn’t predict how things would unfold from here, we needed to be cautious, but we had no time for that.

Having fallen into the demon’s grasp, we had to do our utmost to take down the demon and survive.

If we had obtained more holy relics and brought along other knights, I might have felt a bit less anxious. But to be honest,

I stole a glance at Carlothian.

‘Using all the relics to bring a few more knights would be worse than having Carlothian alone.’

It was a complete waste of resources. Thus, we easily reached the front of the Emperor’s bedroom.

Carlothian didn’t immediately open the door; instead, he listened intently from inside. Luciano whispered and asked,

“Do you hear anything?”

Carlothian shook his head.

“I guess we have no choice but to go in.”

As I whispered this, he straightened up. Then, with his body pressed against the wall, he opened the door.

Creeeak

No sound could be heard.

It felt as if there was nothing inside at all. But we knew that couldn’t be true.

Carlothian stood in front of the door first. He frowned.

“What’s wrong? Do you see anything inside?”

“No.”

He said firmly.

“You stay here.”

Carlothian stepped into the dark room. No, this man was trying to shoulder everything again. I closely followed him inside.

Luciano came in behind me. As we entered the room, a chair placed in the middle came into view.

And there, sitting in that chair, was a figure. I gasped.

The Emperor—he was sitting there.

I covered my mouth with trembling hands. His entire body had turned black, as if consumed by darkness.

The Emperor held a sword in one hand, and he looked like a corpse.

“……What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

Despite our entry, the Emperor remained motionless.

Was he really dead? Carlothian cautiously approached the Emperor.

Even as footsteps echoed, the Emperor showed no reaction at all.

Srrrip-.

Carlothian extended his sword and brought it to the Emperor’s neck. At that moment, Luciano interjected.

“Wait, we should try to purify him first…”

But in that instant,

You’ve finally come.

A grotesque voice echoed.

“Demon…!”

As soon as I heard the voice, a chilling sensation washed over me, and the hair on my body stood on end. At the same time, the Emperor lifted his head.

Finally, you’ve come.

Whoosh!

Darkness enveloped us. Everything went pitch black. I screamed in surprise.

“Carlothian!”

“Ariadeline!”

I heard his voice in the darkness. But it felt as if I had truly gone blind; the darkness filled the room, obscuring my vision completely.

No, even looking down at my own hands, I couldn’t see anything.

‘W-what should I do?’

I glanced around anxiously.

Clang!

At that moment, the sound of swords clashing rang out. I searched for Luciano. His sword should have emitted some light, but I couldn’t see anything at all.

Swoosh!

“Ugh…!”

I heard Carlothian’s groan. I took a few steps to find him, then suddenly stopped.

In this situation, if I intervened, I could be cut by his sword.

‘The Emperor must be able to see, right?’

Clang, clang!

Amidst it all, the sound of swords clashing was deafening.

It was amazing that he could block swords in this darkness. This man’s senses are like those of a beast.

But as it was, visibility was completely obstructed. No matter how positively I thought about it, he was at a disadvantage.

Having made that judgment, I immediately opened my mouth. I began to sing. The stuttering song soon found its rhythm, and I slowly continued the melody. But then,

I flinched.

I frowned. It shouldn’t be time for the effects to wear off, but my throat ached dully.

‘It’s okay. I can endure it.’

I sang loudly. Then, faintly,

Thud, crack!

I saw a dim shadow moving. Ah, the darkness was retreating in response to the song.

Confirming that, I raised my voice even more. The louder I sang, the more my throat tingled, but it was still manageable.

“Father!”

As my vision began to clear, Luciano raised his sword and stepped between the Emperor and Carlothian.

“Gasp, gasp…”

Carlothian was already bleeding from multiple wounds. I furrowed my brow as I examined him.

It seemed he had been cut on his shoulder, thigh, and waist. But as my song continued, the wounds slowly healed.

The darkness receded, revealing the Emperor, stained in black. Luciano spoke in front of him.

“Father, it’s me. Luciano…!”

He seemed unwilling to let go of the thread of hope, desperately trying to bring the blackened Emperor back to his senses.

Luciano…

And the Emperor reacted. Amidst the mixed voices of his sister and father, Luciano’s eyes widened in surprise at the Emperor’s response.

“Yes, Father. Please come to your senses…!”

Luciano shouted. The Emperor staggered, as if he had regained his lost consciousness.

Luciano lowered his sword and rushed towards him anxiously.

But what returned was

Thud.

“Father…”

The sword in the Emperor’s hand pierced Luciano’s abdomen.

“Luciano!”

Carlothian called out to him urgently. But cough, Luciano soon spat out blood.

Gradually collapsing, he knelt and looked up at his father.

You are not needed.

“Ah, Father…”

Luciano’s eyes were wide open. Blood gushed from his mouth as he struggled. Carlothian rushed in, swinging his sword at the Emperor.

Clang!

As the swords collided, the Emperor took a few steps back.

I took the opportunity to drag Luciano away and pressed him against the wall. I examined his wounds.

The injuries were deep.

I also noted his already pale complexion. Looking at his face, I silently began to count.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

Luciano gasped for breath. The most shocking fact was that the sword piercing his abdomen belonged to his father.

No matter how much he had fallen into the hands of a demon, he thought he wouldn’t forget that he was a son.

But that was nothing but arrogance and delusion. Looking closely at the Emperor, his father, all he could see in his eyes was a seething hatred.

“…Gasp. Ugh.”

Clang, clash!

Luciano looked at Carlothian, who was opposing his father.

The one who had barely dragged him to the wall was Ariadeline. She seemed worried about Carlothian still not healing him, and her gaze…

Her gaze?

Luciano looked at Ariadeline. Her eyes were fixed on him. She was mumbling something.

Six, seven. Eight. Nine.

Luciano felt the blood draining from him. Why was she…

“Ten.”

At that moment, his head dropped.

Luciano lost consciousness. It seemed he had fainted from the loss of blood.