On the morning of the funeral, Elze had a dream. It was the first dream in a very long time.
At first, she knew it was a dream, but as time went by, her awareness began to fade. The deep and intense awareness gradually became as hazy as fog, and soon she forgot that it was a dream.
Elze looked around. Everything was white. Elze walked slowly in the white space.
As she walked, black smoke was leaking out from somewhere. The writhing smoke repeatedly lingered around Elze and dispersed. Elze walked toward where the smoke was coming from. She didn’t know for sure, but she had a strong intuition that she had to go there.
How long had it been since she walked? Something black and thick rose from the ground into the sky, forming a huge mass and blocking her path.
And there was Shan.
Elze was startled and ran towards him, shouting his name.
"Shan!!"
It was like a thick swamp, slowly sucking Shan in. The dark, sticky mass had already swallowed up a significant portion of Shan’s body. Elze desperately grabbed Shan’s hand.
"Shan, wake up!!"
Shan, who had been lying limp like a doll, slowly raised his head. He slowly stared at Elze. Elze, who met Shan’s eyes, flinched.
Shan's pupils were not human. He had seen those slit pupils before. She had seen them when Shan had revealed his evil nature. Elze paused for a moment in embarrassment. Shan calmly called Elze's name.
“Priests. There are also bishops...?”
They were the bishops and priests of the Order of Ines. Dressed in their order’s uniforms, they lined up on either side of Duke Seraph and declared in a refreshing voice.
“In the name of Ines, I testify that Enoch Seraph is the savior who will punish Shan Cirxus.”
When the bishop and priests of Ines came forward, the crowd suddenly fell into chaos.
The authority of the Ines Order on the continent was beyond imagination. The story of Duke Seraph was hard to believe, but the moment the priests and bishops of the Order gave weight to it, things changed.
The story that Ilwooz had told yesterday flashed through Elze’s head like lightning. The story that there were people within the church who were against not killing demons...
They continued to harbor resentment and took the hand that the Duke Seraph extended. Eventually, they reached the point of selling Ines' name and declaring a lie.
In this case, there was no use in rebelling by force. Since the Duke Seraph was good and Targayel was evil, even if Targayel succeeded in his rebellion, the people of the empire could not help but feel resentful.
The people around Elze and Shan began to flinch and retreat. Eyes began to fly in and fixate on them as if they were looking at a monster.
Shan heard the sound of his teeth grinding. He grabbed Elze's hand. During the tense situation, Duke Seraph was about to open his mouth again.
“...?”
A man slowly walked out of the crowd. He was walking towards the stage with his hood pulled down low. The man’s steps were slow and feeble. But no one could stop him. It was because of an unknown sense of oppression.
A strangely enormous energy flowed from him. Everyone looked at the man as if they were being weighed down by something heavy. The man stopped walking exactly in front of the stage. And looked up at Duke Seraph.
“..."
Duke Seraph furrowed his brows silently. The knights, who had come to their senses late, came running in a hurry to drag the man out. At that moment, the man whispered softly.
"Untruth..."
And then he said it again.
“The Duke's words are false...”
The moment Elze heard the voice, she immediately knew who it was. The man slowly took off the hood he had been wearing.
Between the fluttering of pure white hair, a string with an intricate pattern covered her eyes.
The priests and bishops of Ines who saw that sight all turned pale. Only Duke Seraph, who was still unaware of the situation, frowned elegantly and said.
“Why are you being so rude in a place where you are supposed to convey God’s revelations?”
The man answered calmly.
“I tried not to come forward...”
His voice was weak and dreamy, but strangely enough, it lingered in the ear and could be heard by people far away.
“However, in the name of Ines, telling lies is unforgivable...”
Duke Seraph, who had been quietly looking down at him, asked briefly.
“...Why?”
The man untied the knot of the string that was covering his eyes. The string slowly flowed down, soon turning into a white light and disappearing into the air. And what appeared were brilliant rainbow eyes.
The man's vague presence became clear as if engraved. A huge wind blew, causing his clothes to flutter violently, and a sacred energy spread out in all directions. He shouted from the center of the surging energy.
“Because I am the first servant of Ines, Ilwooz!!”
The room that had been chaotic until just a moment ago has now become a scene of chaos.
People couldn't believe their eyes. The Church of Ines was a religion that most people on the continent believed in, but many things were shrouded in mystery. Most people never saw the face of a priest in their entire lives.
And now, priests, bishops, and even the Pope himself, Ilwooz, are present here.
Ilwooz looked up at the stage with his rainbow-colored eyes fully exposed. The priests and bishops who met Ilwooz’s eyes took a step back without realizing it. They clenched their molars and shouted.
“That man is lying!”
“That’s right. It’s the devil’s trick!!”
When the priests and bishops all said it was a lie, the people began to wander around, not knowing what to do. Ilwooz did not say anything amid the commotion. He just stared at them quietly.
Duke Seraph didn't miss the opportunity. He quickly stepped forward and shouted.
“How dare you impersonate the Pope! Arrest him and all of Targayel!!”
As soon as Duke Seraph finished speaking, the knights all drew their swords. They rushed toward Elze and Shan without hesitation. Shan shouted loudly.
“Targayel!!”
At Shan's shout, Targayel's hidden soldiers also rushed forward, drawing their swords.
"Captain!!"
Tarkun was the first to call out to Elze. He ran out and threw a long bag at her.
Elze, who saw the bag flying towards her, ran forward. Then, she jumped into the air and caught the bag.
There was no time to unlock it. She hit the bag with her knee. With a thud, the bag opened as if it was going to break. Elze grabbed the rapier and mangosh in both hands as they fell down. When she looked back at Shan, he was already holding his sword.
“Slay the devil!!”
The commander's roar rings out loud. Shan shouted back.
“The devil! Nonsense!!”
But the two men's cries were soon drowned out by the sound of swords clashing against each other. The square in front of the gates was transformed into a battlefield in an instant.
The imperial people and nobles who did not know anything ran away screaming. However, many did not run away and only retreated to a certain distance. They wonder what the outcome of the current situation will be.
As soon as Elze took hold of the sword in her hand, she immediately took off her flowing dress. She cut the dress short to just below her knees, revealing her white calves.
Since it was a dress worn as mourning attire, there was no crinoline to hold it up. Elxe, who had confirmed that her movements had become freer, looked at the knights.
The knights who had been rushing towards her in their outrageous attire flinched. Elze swung her rapier and mangoshoe in a large X shape and shouted.
“Tarkun! Cover!!”
And without looking back, she ran forward. The rapier extended straight out, and the mangosh followed suit and stabbed. The two swords swung around as if dancing a circle, and the hem of her tattered dress rose and fell like a flower in bloom.
As she cut into someone's flesh, a stream of blood spurted onto her cheek, obscuring her vision. Elze, who had been doused with hot liquid, roughly wiped her face with the back of her hand.
At that moment, a flurry of swords aimed at Elze were launched, but Tarkun, who was supporting from behind, immediately struck them down. The knights on both sides that he could not control were struck by Rapine’s arrows that came flying from somewhere.
Elze, who had a moment to spare, checked the situation on the battlefield. Shan was leading the private soldiers of Liv and Targayel, who had rushed towards her.
The situation was chaotic, with nobles who sided with Targayel and nobles who sided with Duke Seraph. In the midst of all this, Shan calmly distinguished between the enemy and the ally, gave orders, and suppressed the knights.
Ivanna guided those who had not been able to escape so that they would not be swept away. If a blind sword flew in, she would immediately retaliate. Rapine kept a close watch by shooting arrows from the sniping point. Whenever a dangerous situation arose, his arrows would fly like ghosts.
And Ilwooz...
“...!!”
Ilwooz was still standing in front of the podium. However, he was surrounded by the Imperial Knights. The priests and bishops standing on the podium were seen hurling accusations at Ilwooz. Ilwooz had an incomprehensible expression on his face and just quietly listened to them all.
Elze again took up her rapier and mangosh. Then, she quickly ran forward and dug through the thick armor of the knights who were tangled together. When Elze landed a fatal blow, Tarkun followed suit and cleaned up.
“Captain!! Head!!”
Elze lowered her head at Tarkun's shout. Woof, the sound of a sword cutting through the wind brushed her hair.
Elze rolled forward and out of the way. Then she cut the back of the neck of the knight who had just attacked her. The artery was cut, and a fountain of blood gushed out. The pungent smell of blood wafted out.
Elze stepped over the body of the fallen knight and ran forward again. The place where Elze reached was a platform. In front of it, surrounded by several layers of imperial knights, Elze and Duke Seraph’s eyes met.
The heat of battle mixed with anger. Unable to hold back the emotions welling up deep in her chest, Elze shouted his name.
“Enoch Seraph!!”
She ran past the knights. Swords rained down from all directions. Elze quickly dodged the sharp blades and struck them with her sword.
“Captain! Where are you going!!”
Leaving Tarkun's shouts behind her, Elze's feet kicked the ground. The hem of her dress fluttered wildly, and she leaped onto the platform in an instant.
Boom! With a crashing sound, Elze landed on the platform.
“...!!”
Those who had been safely sheltered on the platform stumbled backwards, making a hissing sound. Elze looked at Duke Seraph.
“...Why!”
Elze spoke with her blue eyes burning brightly.
“Why do you lie so much! Even though you know the truth!! Reveal the truth right now!!”
At the angry eyes, Duke Seraph smiled silently. Elze turned to Crown Prince Raymond. He knew that Elze was the savior. However, when his eyes met with Elze's, Raymond avoided her gaze and turned his head to one side. The priests stepped forward and spoke shamelessly.
“We believe that Seraph is the true savior.”
“That’s right. A savior married to the devil! Is this even possible?”
Elze bit her lower lip. Ilwooz accepted Shan and Elze’s relationship. However, some could not accept it until the end.
In terms of appearance alone, Duke Seraph was a perfect savior. He had such a beautiful appearance that rumors spread that he had inherited the blood of an angel. Perhaps the savior of the Duke was what most people wanted. However, God chose Elze, and that was an unchangeable fate.
However, some could not accept God's will. They wanted to change their fate by tarnishing the name of Ines and even denying Ilwooz.
How on earth can one persuade these people? Is this the only way left to do so? Just as Elze was thinking this, a low, firm voice rang out.
“Foolish things.”
Everyone looked down at the stage. Finally, Ilwooz spoke. He continued slowly.
“You shouldn’t add or subtract from the words of Ines, so why do you keep repeating the same mistakes I made?”
At Ilwooz's words, the priests and bishops' faces hardened. In front of them, who were as white as lead, Ilwooz spoke.
“I will prove it to you.”
In a place where there was no wind, the hem of Ilwooz's clothes began to flutter. White light began to bloom like a mist.
“I will prove to you here that I am right, that this is Ines’ will.”
As he tried to summon up his divine power, the priests and bishops shouted:
“Oh, Ilwooz!”
They had denied being Ilwooz until just a moment ago, but when they became anxious, they started calling him Ilwooz again and shouting.
“Why do you think you know everything about Ines?”
They didn't use force. They knew that no matter how much they flew and crawled with divine power, they couldn't even reach the tip of Ilwooz's hair. Instead, they chose a different method. They tried to persuade Ilwooz with all their heart.
“You must never let that devil bastard live!”
“You are the one who misinterpreted the word of God!”
“Why are you trying to drive the continent to destruction!!”
Ilwooz bit his lower lip in front of the desperate cries. Their beliefs were upright. Although they had lied in Ines' name, in the end, it was also a path they had chosen for Ines. From the beginning, he had to lead them so that they could understand and accept it.
But Ilwooz couldn't do that. He didn't have time, and he naturally thought that the people in the church would have realized the truth of the prophecy just like he did.
The moment the thought of their own incompetence came to mind, Ilwooz's spirit wavered. The bishop and priests did not miss the wavering and hung on.
“Hear our earnest plea!”
“Please save the church and the continent!!”
Elze shouted at Ilwooz.
“Ilwooz! Don’t listen to them! They are only criticizing you for their own personal reasons!!”
That's when things got messy again.
"Stop!!"
Crown Princess Iarin leaped forward. She held the hem of her dress and stood between Elze and Duke Seraph. As if she was trying to protect Elze, she blocked Duke Seraph and spoke.
“Stop it.”
It was a frail voice. The hands that were tightly holding the hem of her dress were trembling and turning pale to a pitiful degree. Iarin spoke while trembling.
“Enoch Seraph is not some noble savior.”
The nobles who were with Crown Prince Raymond stared blankly at Iarin’s words. Raymond and Elze were also surprised. Raymond, in particular, seemed really surprised at Iarin, who always acted like a dead person, saying this. Duke Seraph raised his eyebrows at his sister who was confronting him.
“Iarin Seraph Baluar, I swear on the name of Seraph.”
Iarin said, looking straight at Duke Seraph.
“He is worse than trash.”
There was a brief moment of silence. Even Duke Seraph was momentarily frozen in silence. But soon, Duke Seraph opened his mouth softly.
"This."
He approached Iarin and whispered.
“I never thought the devil’s hand would reach even my sister...”
Duke Seraph said in a sad voice.
“She is now possessed by the devil and is out of her mind. Please ignore her.”
"No!!"
Iarin screamed. She continued to speak courageously, even though she was trembling.
“The devil... the devil is you!! Me...!”
But Iarin’s voice suddenly stopped. Duke Seraph’s fingers were placed on her neck. The hand pressing firmly on her neck brought back Iarin’s trauma. Iarin’s body began to tremble like an aspen tree. Tears welled up in her eyes.
In front of Iarin, who was too scared to say anything, Duke Seraph smiled elegantly and said.
“It looks like madness has set in. I will take care of it.”
At the same time, the Imperial Knights surged onto the stage. Dozens of swords surrounded Elze.
“Put your sword down!!”
“Traitor Targayel, surrender obediently!!”
Seeing Elxe's completely surrounded figure, Duke Seraph's eyes widened. Elze raised the corners of her lips at her smiling face as if everything was over. And then she kindly explained.
“It’s not over yet, Your Excellency.”
Elze slowly raised her rapier.
“If you have no intention of telling the truth...”
The slender tip of the sword was aimed at Duke Seraph. Blood flowed down the unwavering blade and pooled at the tip. Elze whispered as the drops of blood fell.
“I will make you confess.”
At first, she knew it was a dream, but as time went by, her awareness began to fade. The deep and intense awareness gradually became as hazy as fog, and soon she forgot that it was a dream.
Elze looked around. Everything was white. Elze walked slowly in the white space.
As she walked, black smoke was leaking out from somewhere. The writhing smoke repeatedly lingered around Elze and dispersed. Elze walked toward where the smoke was coming from. She didn’t know for sure, but she had a strong intuition that she had to go there.
How long had it been since she walked? Something black and thick rose from the ground into the sky, forming a huge mass and blocking her path.
And there was Shan.
Elze was startled and ran towards him, shouting his name.
"Shan!!"
It was like a thick swamp, slowly sucking Shan in. The dark, sticky mass had already swallowed up a significant portion of Shan’s body. Elze desperately grabbed Shan’s hand.
"Shan, wake up!!"
Shan, who had been lying limp like a doll, slowly raised his head. He slowly stared at Elze. Elze, who met Shan’s eyes, flinched.
Shan's pupils were not human. He had seen those slit pupils before. She had seen them when Shan had revealed his evil nature. Elze paused for a moment in embarrassment. Shan calmly called Elze's name.
"Elze."
His voice brought her to her senses. She didn't know what this dark stuff was, but she knew it wasn't good. Elze said, pulling Shan closer.
"I have to get out of here."
But Shan didn't take Elze's hand. He slowly closed and opened his eyes and said.
"Let go of my hand."
"What are you talking about? Hurry up and grab my hand!"
Instead, he pushed Elze away.
"I can't leave you in the dark."
The hand that pushed her away made her heart ache. Elze screamed.
"Stop talking nonsense! I'll get you out of here... !!"
Her eyes were hot. Tears flowed down her cheeks. Elze pulled at Shan with all her might. However, despite Elze's desperate pulling, Shan was only sucked in deeper.
He gradually disappeared into the darkness. Elze clenched her molars as she watched Shan being slowly consumed by the darkness. She could sense deep resignation from Shan. He had already given up. Fear suddenly surged up in her. Elze struggled even harder to hide her fear.
"Shan! Come on, Shan!!"
The black darkness shook once. Then, more than half of Shan’s body was sucked in. Elze’s body, which had been pulling him, staggered. Darkness touched Elze’s feet. The moment it touched her, the pitch-black darkness was cold and chilling enough to make her gasp.
But the danger of being buried in the darkness was not even on Elze's mind. Thinking of Shan buried in something like this ice, she only felt the need to get him out as soon as possible. Shan smiled faintly and said to Elze, who was desperately pulling him.
"Tell me you love me, Elze."
He whispered again in a pitiful, pleading voice.
"Tell me you love me..."
Elze repeated to him over and over again.
"I love you. Because I love you, so..."
But Elze's words didn't last long. Shan, who heard Elze's words, smiled slowly and then pushed Elze away strongly.
Elze screamed and fell backwards. She quickly raised her head, but Shan had already been completely sucked into the darkness. His purple eyes gave off a final light before being lost in the darkness.
"Shan...?"
Elze called his name, but even her longing voice was lost in the darkness. Left alone, Elze called out to Shan again and again.
"Shan! Damn it, Shan!! Answer me!!"
But there was no answer, and only darkness remained. The darkness that had engulfed Shan began to shake even more violently. In front of the darkness that shook violently as if it were going to cover everything, Elze screamed Shan’s name.
"Shan!!!"
“...Shan!!”
Elze screamed. The moment she kicked off the bed, her vision went black. After struggling for a while, Elze finally began to perceive her surroundings.
In Targayel's mansion, in her bedroom, and on her bed.
When she realized that it was a dream, all the strength left her body. Elze collapsed back onto the bed. Her body was drenched in cold sweat. Elze tried to calm herself down by breathing evenly.
The bedside was empty. Shan was still busy with work. He had been late more than once or twice, but today, Elze was so nervous that her heart was pounding. Her heart was pounding like it was going to burst, and the trembling wouldn't stop easily. After suffering for a long time, Elze was finally able to return to her usual state.
"Ha..."
Elze sighed. She didn't feel like going back to sleep, so she put the shawl over her shoulders and went out of the bedroom. She didn't really want to do anything. She just felt like her chest was going to burst because she was so suffocated in the bedroom.
She came out impulsively, but there was nothing to do. She thought about going to Shan's study, but she soon shook her head.
Shan already had a lot to think about. She didn't want to give him something to worry about. It was even more so because she knew Shan would do anything for Elze.
Elze, who was walking aimlessly down the hallway, almost ran into a few maids. She didn't want to be bothered, so she avoided them. As she did so, she gradually ended up in a corner of the mansion, and instead of the maids, she met someone else.
“...!”
He was standing in a dark hallway enveloped in moonlight. Standing next to a large window, he stared up at the moon, his face pale as if he would melt under the moonlight at any moment. He was a dreamy man, like a part of a dream. Elze cautiously called his name.
“Ilwooz?”
The person who had been bathed in moonlight slowly looked back.
“Ah... Lady Elze...”
Elze approached Ilwooz, pulling out her shawl.
“You’re awake.”
“Isn’t today the big day...I can’t sleep a little..”
Ilwooz said with a faint smile.
“For a thousand years, no Ilwooz has ever participated in a rebellion...”
His words were so funny that Elze couldn't help but laugh. Ilwooz followed suit with a slightly embarrassed smile.
Thanks to Ilwooz, Elze was able to laugh comfortably for a moment, forgetting about the nightmare she had just had and the funeral that would be held in a few hours. After laughing for a while, Elze called Ilwooz with a much lighter heart.
“I, Ilwooz.”
Originally, she had planned to keep the nightmare to herself and not tell anyone. She was worried that if she said it out loud, it would become a reality. But now, she felt like she could talk about it.
And it was none other than Ilwooz. If she consults him, she will get good answers.
“Actually, I had a strange dream. It was a dream about Shan...”
When Ilwooz heard that he had a dream about Shan, his expression became strange. Looking at Ilwooz’s reaction, he thought that it was indeed an unusual dream. Elze continued speaking cautiously.
“I’ve had dreams about Shan a few times before.”
Elze told him about the dream she had had today, as well as the dreams she had had in the past. Ilwooz listened to Elze’s story with a serious expression. Then, when he heard about the dream in which she had rainbow-colored eyes, he looked a little surprised. After talking about her dream for a while, Elze finished talking.
“...I had dreams like that. And today’s dream is similar to that time.”
Elze hesitated for a moment and then added.
“A nightmare that will never be forgotten...”
Elze closed her mouth after saying those words. As the silence settled, Ilwooz let out a soft sigh.
“The Savior’s dream is not an ordinary one..."
He spoke slowly to Elze.
“The rainbow-colored eyes must be my eyes... Since Lady Elze is the savior, she can respond to my divine power... And since it’s about the devil..."
At the time when Elze had a dream of rainbow-colored eyes, Ilwooz announced to the priests of the Ines cult spread across the continent that Shan Cirxus was a demon.
It seems that Elze, the savior, began to dream about him as Ilwooz generated a great divine power and announced the existence of the devil.
“Elze’s dream could be called a precognitive dream...”
Ilwooz continued speaking with difficulty.
“This is a glimpse of the future that Ines is showing you, so there must be a meaning to it... It would be best not to interpret it carelessly...”
At Ilwooz's words, Elze bit her lips tightly.
"...If."
And Elze asked a question she really didn't want to ask.
“Does today’s dream mean that Shan will become a demon?”
As soon as she asked the question, she immediately regretted it. It was a question that had been on her mind all along, but she was afraid to hear Ilwooz’s answer. Elze looked at Ilwooz with frightened eyes.
Ilwooz covered his eyes, but he seemed to see Elze's expression clearly. He silently placed his hand on Elze's shoulder.
A warm sensation spread from where his hand had touched. Her heartbeat, which had been pounding violently just a moment ago, began to calm down little by little.
“Do not be afraid...”
A round voice enveloped Elze. Unlike the nightmare, it was a warm and cozy voice.
“What you should worry about is your own safety...”
Elze's eyes widened at Ilwooz's words.
“If Lady Elze gets hurt, Lord Cirxus will definitely get angry... That would be the most dangerous... You just have to be careful about that...”
Ilwooz strongly advised Elze to be careful, saying that her suffering was the awakening of evil.
“You absolutely must not get hurt... You understand...?”
When she promised not to get hurt, Ilwooz smiled happily. Elze smiled back and said.
“By the way, I was a little surprised that even Ilwooz was nervous.”
“Why did you think so...?”
“I always felt like you were so calm and collected in everything you did. I felt like you could do anything perfectly.”
Ilwooz let out a small laugh at Elze's words.
“How can anything be perfect...”
He looked out the window quietly. Under the pale moonlight of dawn, Ilwooz looked a little lonely.
“I am a person who cannot properly unify even one Ines sect...”
“Yes? Are there any groups within the church that are rebelling against Ilwooz?”
Elze asked in surprise, and Ilwooz only smiled faintly. However, Elze noticed right away.
Ilwooz chooses to embrace the demon Shan instead of killing him. Even within the church, there would be hardliners and moderates, and the hardliners would have insisted that the demon must be killed. However, since Ilwooz sided with the moderates, there would be those who were dissatisfied with him.
Elze suddenly felt very sorry. It wasn't Elze's fault, but it was because Ilwooz had become troubled by taking Elze's side anyway.
“It is not something for the Savior to worry about...”
Ilwooz changed the subject to Elze.
“The funeral will be in a few hours...”
He gave a short congratulatory speech to Elze. A sparkling white light surrounded Elze and then dispersed like mist. In the dim light, Ilwooz whispered softly.
“I hope your wishes come true...”
Elze clenched her fists invisibly. This was not the time to be so gloomy. The fate of many people was at stake at the funeral tomorrow. She had to succeed at all costs. Elze took a deep breath and answered briskly.
“Don't worry.”
And she smiled like the goddess of victory and said:
“I will make sure that we win.”
As it was a mourning dress for attending a funeral, the dress had minimal decoration. Finally, she finished her preparations by wearing a black mesh hat and a white flower-decorated hat.
Elze looked at herself in the mirror. The black dress and Elze's white face were in stark contrast. Her face was a little pale today, which made it even more so. It was because she didn't sleep well last night.
Shan, who had come to escort her, quickly noticed that Elze's condition was not as usual.
“Elze.”
He called her name anxiously and grabbed her hand. Elze held his hand tightly. Thinking back to last night’s dream where she had let go of Shan’s hand, it came naturally. Shan didn’t ask anything. She just looked at Elze for a moment and then grabbed her hand tightly.
The final journey of the Emperor of the most powerful empire on the continent was a grand one.
A carriage carrying a coffin made of stone slabs would circle the capital, drawn by eight black horses. When the funeral procession returned to the city gates, the Crown Prince would read a eulogy from the podium and then place the coffin in the imperial tomb.
The empire mourns for a month by hanging black flags from every house, and the Crown Prince wears black clothes. Then, a year later, he is crowned as the official Emperor.
Elze and Shan waited for the funeral procession with other nobles in front of the castle gate.
The Emperor's coffin gradually approached the city gate. The procession came closer like a black wave. Then, some people were seen wailing loudly.
Elze sneered at their appearance. The Emperor had been a recluse for years. He was a man who had spent all his time lying in bed. Who would shed real tears for him? It was more likely that they had been hired just to create a funeral atmosphere.
White flower petals were scattered everywhere, and black croakers were fluttering in long lines. Tears and wailing heavily enveloped the surroundings. However, unlike the gloomy atmosphere around her, Elze was calm, if not indifferent.
The first meeting with the Emperor, whose face he had never seen before, was at a funeral. The sight of the coffin decorated with white flowers circling the capital was compared to the military parade held with the Kingdom of Ryeo in the past.
Elze waited for the procession to arrive at the gates, looking around carefully. There were some people in the crowd who gave off an unusual vibe.
They were Targayel's private soldiers hiding in plain clothes. Of course, there were also Elijahs among them. The moment Elze or Shan gave the signal, they would come running out with their swords drawn. Elze's rapier and mangosh were also held by Elijahs.
While checking the location of the funeral parlor, Elze realized that others were hiding in addition to Targayel. They were probably people from the Duke Seraph's side.
But Targayel would not strike first.
The mere use of force at a funeral was an action that could easily be met with considerable resentment. Targayel needed to give the impression that he was using force out of necessity for defense. There was no need to rush anyway. All Targayel could do now was wait.
Duke Seraph will move today. She doesn't know what he has prepared, but she plans to respond to the Duke's move anyway. The moment Targayel steps forward, the nobles who have agreed to join him will also join in.
In front of the numerous nobles and citizens of the empire gathered for the funeral, she will reveal the crimes of Duke Seraph and the Baluar family one by one and establish the legitimacy of their treason.
If she had time, she would have gradually pushed his forces up from the border. However, Duke Seraph grabbed Targayel by the collar and threw them into the fray. He had challenged them to a fight, so they intended to respond properly.
Anyway, everything had gone according to plan so far. How things would go from here on out... it was all up to Elze and Shan. Elze took a slow breath.
The black procession arrived at the gates. The coffin containing the Emperor's body was placed before a dais and covered with the flag of Baluar.
Crown Prince Raymond, who was at the very front of the procession, climbed onto the platform. He was followed by Duke Seraph, several high-ranking nobles, and others. Crown Princess Iarin stood at the very back and bowed her head in silence. Many people fell silent at once. In the solemn silence, Raymond opened his mouth.
“He was a good father.”
His eyes were moist. Still, it seemed that he had been affectionate toward his father. Raymond's face, which she had not seen in a long time, had become much more haggard. Raymond continued his eulogy, looking a little emaciated.
“He was the father of thousands and tens of thousands of imperial subjects, but he was also the father of one man.”
Tears ran down Raymond's cheeks. He wiped them away with the back of his hand and spoke softly.
“Today, I offer my condolences here not as the Crown Prince, but as his son...”
And he read the eulogy quite calmly. Instead of looking at Raymond, Elze looked at Duke Seraph. His gaze was also directed at Elze.
Elze tried to read the meaning behind those inorganic blue-gray eyes but soon gave up. For now, it seemed right to just watch intently.
Raymond's eulogy went on for quite some time, and it was only when the people's concentration began to wane that it finally came to an end. Raymond stepped back, wiping away tears of emotion. Then, the Duke of Seraph stepped forward.
He stood on the podium in place of the Crown Prince. As if on cue, the sun, which had been hidden behind the clouds just a moment ago, peeped out. The bright sunlight shone down on him like a halo. He was so beautiful today that even the nobles who were familiar with the appearance of Duke Seraph gasped. A commotion spread through the crowd at the appearance of this unbelievably beautiful man.
“My name is Enoch Seraph... I am the Duke of the Baluar Empire.”
All the people of the empire listened to his voice. Under the concentrated attention, Duke Seraph smiled sadly. He always did. He knew how to use his appearance well.
“I have something to say to the people of the empire gathered here, so I would like to take a break from the topic for a moment.”
Duke Seraph continued speaking with a truly pitiful expression on his face.
“Today, I must express my deepest condolences, but I must take this opportunity as the future of the empire is at stake.”
His words flowed out in all directions, as if he was singing. Elze and Shan exchanged glances with nervous faces, waiting for Duke Seraph to speak.
There isn't much time left...
However, Duke Seraph's next words were a little different from what was expected.
“The millennium is just around the corner.”
Elze slightly rolled her eyes at the sudden appearance of the word "millennium."
“You’ve all heard the story about the Demon of the Millennium.”
Duke Seraph lowered his voice seriously.
“A while ago, I received a revelation from the Ines Church. The demon of the Millennium was in the Baluar Empire.”
Her body trembled. Elze looked at Duke Seraph without realizing it, trembling. However, he did not stop talking.
“The demon that will drive the continent to destruction...”
Duke Seraph's gaze was directed straight at Elze and Shan.
“He is Shan Cirxus, Count Targayel, and second-in-command of the Imperial forces.”
“!!”
There was a gasp of breath. Screams and gasps of horror erupted from all sides.
Elze forced her stiffened mind to think. The fact that Elze was the savior was something that Duke Seraph could easily know. It was because he had shown Ilwooz banging his head on the ground in front of Crown Prince Raymond.
But the fact that Shan was a demon was... something that only a few people knew. She couldn’t guess how he found out. During the confusion, Duke Seraph continued to speak.
“I couldn’t believe it myself as I was reporting this fact. The Millennium Demon was considered to be a fairy tale from long ago. However, I am not talking about something like a dream.”
Duke Seraph paused for a moment and placed his hand on his heart.
“It’s me...”
He declared with a face as beautiful as an angel.
“Because he is the savior who gave the revelation to punish the devil by the god Ines.”
Ah...
Elze felt like her eyes were spinning. This was truly an unexpected development. While Elze was lost in thought, Duke Seraph, who had been impersonating the savior, continued speaking.
“The priests of the Church of Ines will testify to the truth of my words.”
Those who had been standing behind Duke Seraph with their hoods pulled down stepped forward. They took off their hoods and revealed themselves. And the people held their breath at the clothes that were revealed.
“The Church of Ines...!”
His voice brought her to her senses. She didn't know what this dark stuff was, but she knew it wasn't good. Elze said, pulling Shan closer.
"I have to get out of here."
But Shan didn't take Elze's hand. He slowly closed and opened his eyes and said.
"Let go of my hand."
"What are you talking about? Hurry up and grab my hand!"
Instead, he pushed Elze away.
"I can't leave you in the dark."
The hand that pushed her away made her heart ache. Elze screamed.
"Stop talking nonsense! I'll get you out of here... !!"
Her eyes were hot. Tears flowed down her cheeks. Elze pulled at Shan with all her might. However, despite Elze's desperate pulling, Shan was only sucked in deeper.
He gradually disappeared into the darkness. Elze clenched her molars as she watched Shan being slowly consumed by the darkness. She could sense deep resignation from Shan. He had already given up. Fear suddenly surged up in her. Elze struggled even harder to hide her fear.
"Shan! Come on, Shan!!"
The black darkness shook once. Then, more than half of Shan’s body was sucked in. Elze’s body, which had been pulling him, staggered. Darkness touched Elze’s feet. The moment it touched her, the pitch-black darkness was cold and chilling enough to make her gasp.
But the danger of being buried in the darkness was not even on Elze's mind. Thinking of Shan buried in something like this ice, she only felt the need to get him out as soon as possible. Shan smiled faintly and said to Elze, who was desperately pulling him.
"Tell me you love me, Elze."
He whispered again in a pitiful, pleading voice.
"Tell me you love me..."
Elze repeated to him over and over again.
"I love you. Because I love you, so..."
But Elze's words didn't last long. Shan, who heard Elze's words, smiled slowly and then pushed Elze away strongly.
Elze screamed and fell backwards. She quickly raised her head, but Shan had already been completely sucked into the darkness. His purple eyes gave off a final light before being lost in the darkness.
"Shan...?"
Elze called his name, but even her longing voice was lost in the darkness. Left alone, Elze called out to Shan again and again.
"Shan! Damn it, Shan!! Answer me!!"
But there was no answer, and only darkness remained. The darkness that had engulfed Shan began to shake even more violently. In front of the darkness that shook violently as if it were going to cover everything, Elze screamed Shan’s name.
"Shan!!!"
***
“...Shan!!”
Elze screamed. The moment she kicked off the bed, her vision went black. After struggling for a while, Elze finally began to perceive her surroundings.
In Targayel's mansion, in her bedroom, and on her bed.
When she realized that it was a dream, all the strength left her body. Elze collapsed back onto the bed. Her body was drenched in cold sweat. Elze tried to calm herself down by breathing evenly.
The bedside was empty. Shan was still busy with work. He had been late more than once or twice, but today, Elze was so nervous that her heart was pounding. Her heart was pounding like it was going to burst, and the trembling wouldn't stop easily. After suffering for a long time, Elze was finally able to return to her usual state.
"Ha..."
Elze sighed. She didn't feel like going back to sleep, so she put the shawl over her shoulders and went out of the bedroom. She didn't really want to do anything. She just felt like her chest was going to burst because she was so suffocated in the bedroom.
She came out impulsively, but there was nothing to do. She thought about going to Shan's study, but she soon shook her head.
Shan already had a lot to think about. She didn't want to give him something to worry about. It was even more so because she knew Shan would do anything for Elze.
Elze, who was walking aimlessly down the hallway, almost ran into a few maids. She didn't want to be bothered, so she avoided them. As she did so, she gradually ended up in a corner of the mansion, and instead of the maids, she met someone else.
“...!”
He was standing in a dark hallway enveloped in moonlight. Standing next to a large window, he stared up at the moon, his face pale as if he would melt under the moonlight at any moment. He was a dreamy man, like a part of a dream. Elze cautiously called his name.
“Ilwooz?”
The person who had been bathed in moonlight slowly looked back.
“Ah... Lady Elze...”
Elze approached Ilwooz, pulling out her shawl.
“You’re awake.”
“Isn’t today the big day...I can’t sleep a little..”
Ilwooz said with a faint smile.
“For a thousand years, no Ilwooz has ever participated in a rebellion...”
His words were so funny that Elze couldn't help but laugh. Ilwooz followed suit with a slightly embarrassed smile.
Thanks to Ilwooz, Elze was able to laugh comfortably for a moment, forgetting about the nightmare she had just had and the funeral that would be held in a few hours. After laughing for a while, Elze called Ilwooz with a much lighter heart.
“I, Ilwooz.”
Originally, she had planned to keep the nightmare to herself and not tell anyone. She was worried that if she said it out loud, it would become a reality. But now, she felt like she could talk about it.
And it was none other than Ilwooz. If she consults him, she will get good answers.
“Actually, I had a strange dream. It was a dream about Shan...”
When Ilwooz heard that he had a dream about Shan, his expression became strange. Looking at Ilwooz’s reaction, he thought that it was indeed an unusual dream. Elze continued speaking cautiously.
“I’ve had dreams about Shan a few times before.”
Elze told him about the dream she had had today, as well as the dreams she had had in the past. Ilwooz listened to Elze’s story with a serious expression. Then, when he heard about the dream in which she had rainbow-colored eyes, he looked a little surprised. After talking about her dream for a while, Elze finished talking.
“...I had dreams like that. And today’s dream is similar to that time.”
Elze hesitated for a moment and then added.
“A nightmare that will never be forgotten...”
Elze closed her mouth after saying those words. As the silence settled, Ilwooz let out a soft sigh.
“The Savior’s dream is not an ordinary one..."
He spoke slowly to Elze.
“The rainbow-colored eyes must be my eyes... Since Lady Elze is the savior, she can respond to my divine power... And since it’s about the devil..."
At the time when Elze had a dream of rainbow-colored eyes, Ilwooz announced to the priests of the Ines cult spread across the continent that Shan Cirxus was a demon.
It seems that Elze, the savior, began to dream about him as Ilwooz generated a great divine power and announced the existence of the devil.
“Elze’s dream could be called a precognitive dream...”
Ilwooz continued speaking with difficulty.
“This is a glimpse of the future that Ines is showing you, so there must be a meaning to it... It would be best not to interpret it carelessly...”
At Ilwooz's words, Elze bit her lips tightly.
"...If."
And Elze asked a question she really didn't want to ask.
“Does today’s dream mean that Shan will become a demon?”
As soon as she asked the question, she immediately regretted it. It was a question that had been on her mind all along, but she was afraid to hear Ilwooz’s answer. Elze looked at Ilwooz with frightened eyes.
Ilwooz covered his eyes, but he seemed to see Elze's expression clearly. He silently placed his hand on Elze's shoulder.
A warm sensation spread from where his hand had touched. Her heartbeat, which had been pounding violently just a moment ago, began to calm down little by little.
“Do not be afraid...”
A round voice enveloped Elze. Unlike the nightmare, it was a warm and cozy voice.
“What you should worry about is your own safety...”
Elze's eyes widened at Ilwooz's words.
“If Lady Elze gets hurt, Lord Cirxus will definitely get angry... That would be the most dangerous... You just have to be careful about that...”
Ilwooz strongly advised Elze to be careful, saying that her suffering was the awakening of evil.
“You absolutely must not get hurt... You understand...?”
When she promised not to get hurt, Ilwooz smiled happily. Elze smiled back and said.
“By the way, I was a little surprised that even Ilwooz was nervous.”
“Why did you think so...?”
“I always felt like you were so calm and collected in everything you did. I felt like you could do anything perfectly.”
Ilwooz let out a small laugh at Elze's words.
“How can anything be perfect...”
He looked out the window quietly. Under the pale moonlight of dawn, Ilwooz looked a little lonely.
“I am a person who cannot properly unify even one Ines sect...”
“Yes? Are there any groups within the church that are rebelling against Ilwooz?”
Elze asked in surprise, and Ilwooz only smiled faintly. However, Elze noticed right away.
Ilwooz chooses to embrace the demon Shan instead of killing him. Even within the church, there would be hardliners and moderates, and the hardliners would have insisted that the demon must be killed. However, since Ilwooz sided with the moderates, there would be those who were dissatisfied with him.
Elze suddenly felt very sorry. It wasn't Elze's fault, but it was because Ilwooz had become troubled by taking Elze's side anyway.
“It is not something for the Savior to worry about...”
Ilwooz changed the subject to Elze.
“The funeral will be in a few hours...”
He gave a short congratulatory speech to Elze. A sparkling white light surrounded Elze and then dispersed like mist. In the dim light, Ilwooz whispered softly.
“I hope your wishes come true...”
Elze clenched her fists invisibly. This was not the time to be so gloomy. The fate of many people was at stake at the funeral tomorrow. She had to succeed at all costs. Elze took a deep breath and answered briskly.
“Don't worry.”
And she smiled like the goddess of victory and said:
“I will make sure that we win.”
***
As it was a mourning dress for attending a funeral, the dress had minimal decoration. Finally, she finished her preparations by wearing a black mesh hat and a white flower-decorated hat.
Elze looked at herself in the mirror. The black dress and Elze's white face were in stark contrast. Her face was a little pale today, which made it even more so. It was because she didn't sleep well last night.
Shan, who had come to escort her, quickly noticed that Elze's condition was not as usual.
“Elze.”
He called her name anxiously and grabbed her hand. Elze held his hand tightly. Thinking back to last night’s dream where she had let go of Shan’s hand, it came naturally. Shan didn’t ask anything. She just looked at Elze for a moment and then grabbed her hand tightly.
The final journey of the Emperor of the most powerful empire on the continent was a grand one.
A carriage carrying a coffin made of stone slabs would circle the capital, drawn by eight black horses. When the funeral procession returned to the city gates, the Crown Prince would read a eulogy from the podium and then place the coffin in the imperial tomb.
The empire mourns for a month by hanging black flags from every house, and the Crown Prince wears black clothes. Then, a year later, he is crowned as the official Emperor.
Elze and Shan waited for the funeral procession with other nobles in front of the castle gate.
The Emperor's coffin gradually approached the city gate. The procession came closer like a black wave. Then, some people were seen wailing loudly.
Elze sneered at their appearance. The Emperor had been a recluse for years. He was a man who had spent all his time lying in bed. Who would shed real tears for him? It was more likely that they had been hired just to create a funeral atmosphere.
White flower petals were scattered everywhere, and black croakers were fluttering in long lines. Tears and wailing heavily enveloped the surroundings. However, unlike the gloomy atmosphere around her, Elze was calm, if not indifferent.
The first meeting with the Emperor, whose face he had never seen before, was at a funeral. The sight of the coffin decorated with white flowers circling the capital was compared to the military parade held with the Kingdom of Ryeo in the past.
Elze waited for the procession to arrive at the gates, looking around carefully. There were some people in the crowd who gave off an unusual vibe.
They were Targayel's private soldiers hiding in plain clothes. Of course, there were also Elijahs among them. The moment Elze or Shan gave the signal, they would come running out with their swords drawn. Elze's rapier and mangosh were also held by Elijahs.
While checking the location of the funeral parlor, Elze realized that others were hiding in addition to Targayel. They were probably people from the Duke Seraph's side.
But Targayel would not strike first.
The mere use of force at a funeral was an action that could easily be met with considerable resentment. Targayel needed to give the impression that he was using force out of necessity for defense. There was no need to rush anyway. All Targayel could do now was wait.
Duke Seraph will move today. She doesn't know what he has prepared, but she plans to respond to the Duke's move anyway. The moment Targayel steps forward, the nobles who have agreed to join him will also join in.
In front of the numerous nobles and citizens of the empire gathered for the funeral, she will reveal the crimes of Duke Seraph and the Baluar family one by one and establish the legitimacy of their treason.
If she had time, she would have gradually pushed his forces up from the border. However, Duke Seraph grabbed Targayel by the collar and threw them into the fray. He had challenged them to a fight, so they intended to respond properly.
Anyway, everything had gone according to plan so far. How things would go from here on out... it was all up to Elze and Shan. Elze took a slow breath.
The black procession arrived at the gates. The coffin containing the Emperor's body was placed before a dais and covered with the flag of Baluar.
Crown Prince Raymond, who was at the very front of the procession, climbed onto the platform. He was followed by Duke Seraph, several high-ranking nobles, and others. Crown Princess Iarin stood at the very back and bowed her head in silence. Many people fell silent at once. In the solemn silence, Raymond opened his mouth.
“He was a good father.”
His eyes were moist. Still, it seemed that he had been affectionate toward his father. Raymond's face, which she had not seen in a long time, had become much more haggard. Raymond continued his eulogy, looking a little emaciated.
“He was the father of thousands and tens of thousands of imperial subjects, but he was also the father of one man.”
Tears ran down Raymond's cheeks. He wiped them away with the back of his hand and spoke softly.
“Today, I offer my condolences here not as the Crown Prince, but as his son...”
And he read the eulogy quite calmly. Instead of looking at Raymond, Elze looked at Duke Seraph. His gaze was also directed at Elze.
Elze tried to read the meaning behind those inorganic blue-gray eyes but soon gave up. For now, it seemed right to just watch intently.
Raymond's eulogy went on for quite some time, and it was only when the people's concentration began to wane that it finally came to an end. Raymond stepped back, wiping away tears of emotion. Then, the Duke of Seraph stepped forward.
He stood on the podium in place of the Crown Prince. As if on cue, the sun, which had been hidden behind the clouds just a moment ago, peeped out. The bright sunlight shone down on him like a halo. He was so beautiful today that even the nobles who were familiar with the appearance of Duke Seraph gasped. A commotion spread through the crowd at the appearance of this unbelievably beautiful man.
“My name is Enoch Seraph... I am the Duke of the Baluar Empire.”
All the people of the empire listened to his voice. Under the concentrated attention, Duke Seraph smiled sadly. He always did. He knew how to use his appearance well.
“I have something to say to the people of the empire gathered here, so I would like to take a break from the topic for a moment.”
Duke Seraph continued speaking with a truly pitiful expression on his face.
“Today, I must express my deepest condolences, but I must take this opportunity as the future of the empire is at stake.”
His words flowed out in all directions, as if he was singing. Elze and Shan exchanged glances with nervous faces, waiting for Duke Seraph to speak.
There isn't much time left...
However, Duke Seraph's next words were a little different from what was expected.
“The millennium is just around the corner.”
Elze slightly rolled her eyes at the sudden appearance of the word "millennium."
“You’ve all heard the story about the Demon of the Millennium.”
Duke Seraph lowered his voice seriously.
“A while ago, I received a revelation from the Ines Church. The demon of the Millennium was in the Baluar Empire.”
Her body trembled. Elze looked at Duke Seraph without realizing it, trembling. However, he did not stop talking.
“The demon that will drive the continent to destruction...”
Duke Seraph's gaze was directed straight at Elze and Shan.
“He is Shan Cirxus, Count Targayel, and second-in-command of the Imperial forces.”
“!!”
There was a gasp of breath. Screams and gasps of horror erupted from all sides.
Elze forced her stiffened mind to think. The fact that Elze was the savior was something that Duke Seraph could easily know. It was because he had shown Ilwooz banging his head on the ground in front of Crown Prince Raymond.
But the fact that Shan was a demon was... something that only a few people knew. She couldn’t guess how he found out. During the confusion, Duke Seraph continued to speak.
“I couldn’t believe it myself as I was reporting this fact. The Millennium Demon was considered to be a fairy tale from long ago. However, I am not talking about something like a dream.”
Duke Seraph paused for a moment and placed his hand on his heart.
“It’s me...”
He declared with a face as beautiful as an angel.
“Because he is the savior who gave the revelation to punish the devil by the god Ines.”
Ah...
Elze felt like her eyes were spinning. This was truly an unexpected development. While Elze was lost in thought, Duke Seraph, who had been impersonating the savior, continued speaking.
“The priests of the Church of Ines will testify to the truth of my words.”
Those who had been standing behind Duke Seraph with their hoods pulled down stepped forward. They took off their hoods and revealed themselves. And the people held their breath at the clothes that were revealed.
“The Church of Ines...!”
“Priests. There are also bishops...?”
They were the bishops and priests of the Order of Ines. Dressed in their order’s uniforms, they lined up on either side of Duke Seraph and declared in a refreshing voice.
“In the name of Ines, I testify that Enoch Seraph is the savior who will punish Shan Cirxus.”
When the bishop and priests of Ines came forward, the crowd suddenly fell into chaos.
The authority of the Ines Order on the continent was beyond imagination. The story of Duke Seraph was hard to believe, but the moment the priests and bishops of the Order gave weight to it, things changed.
The story that Ilwooz had told yesterday flashed through Elze’s head like lightning. The story that there were people within the church who were against not killing demons...
They continued to harbor resentment and took the hand that the Duke Seraph extended. Eventually, they reached the point of selling Ines' name and declaring a lie.
In this case, there was no use in rebelling by force. Since the Duke Seraph was good and Targayel was evil, even if Targayel succeeded in his rebellion, the people of the empire could not help but feel resentful.
The people around Elze and Shan began to flinch and retreat. Eyes began to fly in and fixate on them as if they were looking at a monster.
Shan heard the sound of his teeth grinding. He grabbed Elze's hand. During the tense situation, Duke Seraph was about to open his mouth again.
“...?”
A man slowly walked out of the crowd. He was walking towards the stage with his hood pulled down low. The man’s steps were slow and feeble. But no one could stop him. It was because of an unknown sense of oppression.
A strangely enormous energy flowed from him. Everyone looked at the man as if they were being weighed down by something heavy. The man stopped walking exactly in front of the stage. And looked up at Duke Seraph.
“..."
Duke Seraph furrowed his brows silently. The knights, who had come to their senses late, came running in a hurry to drag the man out. At that moment, the man whispered softly.
"Untruth..."
And then he said it again.
“The Duke's words are false...”
The moment Elze heard the voice, she immediately knew who it was. The man slowly took off the hood he had been wearing.
Between the fluttering of pure white hair, a string with an intricate pattern covered her eyes.
The priests and bishops of Ines who saw that sight all turned pale. Only Duke Seraph, who was still unaware of the situation, frowned elegantly and said.
“Why are you being so rude in a place where you are supposed to convey God’s revelations?”
The man answered calmly.
“I tried not to come forward...”
His voice was weak and dreamy, but strangely enough, it lingered in the ear and could be heard by people far away.
“However, in the name of Ines, telling lies is unforgivable...”
Duke Seraph, who had been quietly looking down at him, asked briefly.
“...Why?”
The man untied the knot of the string that was covering his eyes. The string slowly flowed down, soon turning into a white light and disappearing into the air. And what appeared were brilliant rainbow eyes.
The man's vague presence became clear as if engraved. A huge wind blew, causing his clothes to flutter violently, and a sacred energy spread out in all directions. He shouted from the center of the surging energy.
“Because I am the first servant of Ines, Ilwooz!!”
The room that had been chaotic until just a moment ago has now become a scene of chaos.
People couldn't believe their eyes. The Church of Ines was a religion that most people on the continent believed in, but many things were shrouded in mystery. Most people never saw the face of a priest in their entire lives.
And now, priests, bishops, and even the Pope himself, Ilwooz, are present here.
Ilwooz looked up at the stage with his rainbow-colored eyes fully exposed. The priests and bishops who met Ilwooz’s eyes took a step back without realizing it. They clenched their molars and shouted.
“That man is lying!”
“That’s right. It’s the devil’s trick!!”
When the priests and bishops all said it was a lie, the people began to wander around, not knowing what to do. Ilwooz did not say anything amid the commotion. He just stared at them quietly.
Duke Seraph didn't miss the opportunity. He quickly stepped forward and shouted.
“How dare you impersonate the Pope! Arrest him and all of Targayel!!”
As soon as Duke Seraph finished speaking, the knights all drew their swords. They rushed toward Elze and Shan without hesitation. Shan shouted loudly.
“Targayel!!”
At Shan's shout, Targayel's hidden soldiers also rushed forward, drawing their swords.
"Captain!!"
Tarkun was the first to call out to Elze. He ran out and threw a long bag at her.
Elze, who saw the bag flying towards her, ran forward. Then, she jumped into the air and caught the bag.
There was no time to unlock it. She hit the bag with her knee. With a thud, the bag opened as if it was going to break. Elze grabbed the rapier and mangosh in both hands as they fell down. When she looked back at Shan, he was already holding his sword.
“Slay the devil!!”
The commander's roar rings out loud. Shan shouted back.
“The devil! Nonsense!!”
But the two men's cries were soon drowned out by the sound of swords clashing against each other. The square in front of the gates was transformed into a battlefield in an instant.
The imperial people and nobles who did not know anything ran away screaming. However, many did not run away and only retreated to a certain distance. They wonder what the outcome of the current situation will be.
As soon as Elze took hold of the sword in her hand, she immediately took off her flowing dress. She cut the dress short to just below her knees, revealing her white calves.
Since it was a dress worn as mourning attire, there was no crinoline to hold it up. Elxe, who had confirmed that her movements had become freer, looked at the knights.
The knights who had been rushing towards her in their outrageous attire flinched. Elze swung her rapier and mangoshoe in a large X shape and shouted.
“Tarkun! Cover!!”
And without looking back, she ran forward. The rapier extended straight out, and the mangosh followed suit and stabbed. The two swords swung around as if dancing a circle, and the hem of her tattered dress rose and fell like a flower in bloom.
As she cut into someone's flesh, a stream of blood spurted onto her cheek, obscuring her vision. Elze, who had been doused with hot liquid, roughly wiped her face with the back of her hand.
At that moment, a flurry of swords aimed at Elze were launched, but Tarkun, who was supporting from behind, immediately struck them down. The knights on both sides that he could not control were struck by Rapine’s arrows that came flying from somewhere.
Elze, who had a moment to spare, checked the situation on the battlefield. Shan was leading the private soldiers of Liv and Targayel, who had rushed towards her.
The situation was chaotic, with nobles who sided with Targayel and nobles who sided with Duke Seraph. In the midst of all this, Shan calmly distinguished between the enemy and the ally, gave orders, and suppressed the knights.
Ivanna guided those who had not been able to escape so that they would not be swept away. If a blind sword flew in, she would immediately retaliate. Rapine kept a close watch by shooting arrows from the sniping point. Whenever a dangerous situation arose, his arrows would fly like ghosts.
And Ilwooz...
“...!!”
Ilwooz was still standing in front of the podium. However, he was surrounded by the Imperial Knights. The priests and bishops standing on the podium were seen hurling accusations at Ilwooz. Ilwooz had an incomprehensible expression on his face and just quietly listened to them all.
Elze again took up her rapier and mangosh. Then, she quickly ran forward and dug through the thick armor of the knights who were tangled together. When Elze landed a fatal blow, Tarkun followed suit and cleaned up.
“Captain!! Head!!”
Elze lowered her head at Tarkun's shout. Woof, the sound of a sword cutting through the wind brushed her hair.
Elze rolled forward and out of the way. Then she cut the back of the neck of the knight who had just attacked her. The artery was cut, and a fountain of blood gushed out. The pungent smell of blood wafted out.
Elze stepped over the body of the fallen knight and ran forward again. The place where Elze reached was a platform. In front of it, surrounded by several layers of imperial knights, Elze and Duke Seraph’s eyes met.
The heat of battle mixed with anger. Unable to hold back the emotions welling up deep in her chest, Elze shouted his name.
“Enoch Seraph!!”
She ran past the knights. Swords rained down from all directions. Elze quickly dodged the sharp blades and struck them with her sword.
“Captain! Where are you going!!”
Leaving Tarkun's shouts behind her, Elze's feet kicked the ground. The hem of her dress fluttered wildly, and she leaped onto the platform in an instant.
Boom! With a crashing sound, Elze landed on the platform.
“...!!”
Those who had been safely sheltered on the platform stumbled backwards, making a hissing sound. Elze looked at Duke Seraph.
“...Why!”
Elze spoke with her blue eyes burning brightly.
“Why do you lie so much! Even though you know the truth!! Reveal the truth right now!!”
At the angry eyes, Duke Seraph smiled silently. Elze turned to Crown Prince Raymond. He knew that Elze was the savior. However, when his eyes met with Elze's, Raymond avoided her gaze and turned his head to one side. The priests stepped forward and spoke shamelessly.
“We believe that Seraph is the true savior.”
“That’s right. A savior married to the devil! Is this even possible?”
Elze bit her lower lip. Ilwooz accepted Shan and Elze’s relationship. However, some could not accept it until the end.
In terms of appearance alone, Duke Seraph was a perfect savior. He had such a beautiful appearance that rumors spread that he had inherited the blood of an angel. Perhaps the savior of the Duke was what most people wanted. However, God chose Elze, and that was an unchangeable fate.
However, some could not accept God's will. They wanted to change their fate by tarnishing the name of Ines and even denying Ilwooz.
How on earth can one persuade these people? Is this the only way left to do so? Just as Elze was thinking this, a low, firm voice rang out.
“Foolish things.”
Everyone looked down at the stage. Finally, Ilwooz spoke. He continued slowly.
“You shouldn’t add or subtract from the words of Ines, so why do you keep repeating the same mistakes I made?”
At Ilwooz's words, the priests and bishops' faces hardened. In front of them, who were as white as lead, Ilwooz spoke.
“I will prove it to you.”
In a place where there was no wind, the hem of Ilwooz's clothes began to flutter. White light began to bloom like a mist.
“I will prove to you here that I am right, that this is Ines’ will.”
As he tried to summon up his divine power, the priests and bishops shouted:
“Oh, Ilwooz!”
They had denied being Ilwooz until just a moment ago, but when they became anxious, they started calling him Ilwooz again and shouting.
“Why do you think you know everything about Ines?”
They didn't use force. They knew that no matter how much they flew and crawled with divine power, they couldn't even reach the tip of Ilwooz's hair. Instead, they chose a different method. They tried to persuade Ilwooz with all their heart.
“You must never let that devil bastard live!”
“You are the one who misinterpreted the word of God!”
“Why are you trying to drive the continent to destruction!!”
Ilwooz bit his lower lip in front of the desperate cries. Their beliefs were upright. Although they had lied in Ines' name, in the end, it was also a path they had chosen for Ines. From the beginning, he had to lead them so that they could understand and accept it.
But Ilwooz couldn't do that. He didn't have time, and he naturally thought that the people in the church would have realized the truth of the prophecy just like he did.
The moment the thought of their own incompetence came to mind, Ilwooz's spirit wavered. The bishop and priests did not miss the wavering and hung on.
“Hear our earnest plea!”
“Please save the church and the continent!!”
Elze shouted at Ilwooz.
“Ilwooz! Don’t listen to them! They are only criticizing you for their own personal reasons!!”
That's when things got messy again.
"Stop!!"
Crown Princess Iarin leaped forward. She held the hem of her dress and stood between Elze and Duke Seraph. As if she was trying to protect Elze, she blocked Duke Seraph and spoke.
“Stop it.”
It was a frail voice. The hands that were tightly holding the hem of her dress were trembling and turning pale to a pitiful degree. Iarin spoke while trembling.
“Enoch Seraph is not some noble savior.”
The nobles who were with Crown Prince Raymond stared blankly at Iarin’s words. Raymond and Elze were also surprised. Raymond, in particular, seemed really surprised at Iarin, who always acted like a dead person, saying this. Duke Seraph raised his eyebrows at his sister who was confronting him.
“Iarin Seraph Baluar, I swear on the name of Seraph.”
Iarin said, looking straight at Duke Seraph.
“He is worse than trash.”
There was a brief moment of silence. Even Duke Seraph was momentarily frozen in silence. But soon, Duke Seraph opened his mouth softly.
"This."
He approached Iarin and whispered.
“I never thought the devil’s hand would reach even my sister...”
Duke Seraph said in a sad voice.
“She is now possessed by the devil and is out of her mind. Please ignore her.”
"No!!"
Iarin screamed. She continued to speak courageously, even though she was trembling.
“The devil... the devil is you!! Me...!”
But Iarin’s voice suddenly stopped. Duke Seraph’s fingers were placed on her neck. The hand pressing firmly on her neck brought back Iarin’s trauma. Iarin’s body began to tremble like an aspen tree. Tears welled up in her eyes.
In front of Iarin, who was too scared to say anything, Duke Seraph smiled elegantly and said.
“It looks like madness has set in. I will take care of it.”
At the same time, the Imperial Knights surged onto the stage. Dozens of swords surrounded Elze.
“Put your sword down!!”
“Traitor Targayel, surrender obediently!!”
Seeing Elxe's completely surrounded figure, Duke Seraph's eyes widened. Elze raised the corners of her lips at her smiling face as if everything was over. And then she kindly explained.
“It’s not over yet, Your Excellency.”
Elze slowly raised her rapier.
“If you have no intention of telling the truth...”
The slender tip of the sword was aimed at Duke Seraph. Blood flowed down the unwavering blade and pooled at the tip. Elze whispered as the drops of blood fell.
“I will make you confess.”
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