Chapter 217: Alforam (1)

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“……Kegh, kegh.”

Divine Power seeped into his bone marrow.

With flames rising from within, Vento seemed to be nearing his limit, yet somehow managed to endure the collapse.

“Impressive. His regenerative power doesn’t falter at all, even against an opposing force. If anything, it seems to become more active under extreme conditions.”

And yet, there were hardly any major side effects.

Except for turning into a Demon Human or a demon, never to return to being human again.

“Did you make this on your own?”

“……Krrk, kuh.”

Carl grabbed the back of Vento’s head and interrogated him.

The Mana Beads were a reproduction of an elixir using Artenia’s methods.

The Empire and its citizens were abuzz, calling it a new generation of technology, but to Carl, it wasn’t particularly special.

However, the Black Beads were a different story.

‘If the Tang Family or the Demonic Cult had seen this, they would’ve lost their minds. A latent power pill with no side effects?’

Just from seeing the Mana Beads, he managed to create something like the Black Beads in such a short time.

If given more time, it implied he could create even more than just the Black Beads.

“Seems like talking is difficult for you.”

Carl reached out his hand.

The regeneration of Demonic Energy occurred regardless of Vento’s will.

That meant it wasn’t the user’s application but the inherent ability of the Black Beads.

Tuk.

The Soul-Seizing Technique was activated.

Numerous memories started rising up, all tangled and jumbled.

Carl sifted through them for anything meaningful.

‘The location of Origin’s headquarters. The organization’s members, the researchers of the Black Beads.’

As expected, Vento hadn’t developed the Black Beads alone.

He was more like a subordinate.

He simply gathered the materials as instructed and repeated the combination formula, and after hundreds or thousands of experiments, the Black Beads were born.

‘To think it only took a few hundred or thousand attempts.’

That meant the initial combination formula was already very close to completion.

Just what kind of mastermind was hiding behind this?

Pop!

Then, the progress of the Soul-Seizing Technique began to accelerate.

A forced phenomenon, independent of the caster.

Carl could have stopped it if he wanted to, but he let it continue.

Because someone was calling out to him.

—……It’s been a while. You looked younger the last time we met, but now you’ve grown to the point of being unrecognizable.

“Ascalon.”

Carl’s eyes widened.

Could someone really become aware of him and even speak to him through a memory?

Before he could express his shock at such an irrational phenomenon, Ascalon continued.

—We’ll see each other again soon. So don’t be in such a rush.

Pop!

With those words, Vento’s regenerating head suddenly burst apart.

Perhaps it was a curse seal pre-implanted.

Regardless, it confirmed that Ascalon’s realm had reached an unfathomable height.

‘Maybe he wasn’t even human to begin with—perhaps a Demon Race or a demon.’

This was something he would need to discuss after returning to NOX.

Origin’s influence was far more widespread across the Empire and the entire continent than he had expected.

‘Especially in Alforam.’

While searching through Vento’s memories, Carl found an unexpected gain.

Even the Kingdom of Alforam, Laysis’s homeland, was deeply infiltrated by demonic forces.

The royal family, powerful nobles, and even renowned knights.

It was undoubtedly a meticulously prepared operation from long ago.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

At that moment, the sound of multiple footsteps echoed from above.

He thought it might be a pursuit squad from Origin, but there was no sign of Demonic Energy—so it seemed to be someone else.

“Empire’s Guard, perhaps.”

Well, with this level of disturbance, it made sense for them to move.

In fact, their response felt a bit delayed.

That also meant there was a chance the Guard had also been influenced by demonic forces, including Origin.

Carl looked around.

He considered igniting everything with Sammae Fire, but decided to leave it be—it would be better to instill a sense of alarm in the Empire.

He left the lab after collecting the raw materials for the Black Beads that were placed on one side.

“Nobody move! Empire Guard!”

A beat late, the Empire Guard stormed into the lab.

It was a disturbance in the middle of the night, and an explosion underground at that—the Guard had rushed here without knowing the full situation.

The base of an underground organization, hidden beneath what seemed to be an ordinary facility, had revealed an overwhelming sight.

“……W-What is this.”

Corpses strewn everywhere.

Some human, and some that looked like members of the Demon Race or demons.

Dark liquids stored in display cases along one wall—clearly not ordinary substances.

Realizing instinctively that this was beyond what he could handle, the Guard Captain issued a weak order.

“Report directly to the top. Say that the Capital might be in danger. Preserve the site. No need to search for survivors. Seal off all access until the knights arrive.”

Just before retirement, what a mess to deal with.

With wrinkles deeply etched into his forehead, the Guard Captain let out a long sigh.

A sunny afternoon.

Bavaria carried on with a routine no different from usual.

The summer heat had started to subside, and the leaves decorating the campus trees were beginning to prepare for ripening.

Rustle, rustle.

Laysis was diligently studying to maintain her top rank for the second semester.

Though she could have used the Archive to conveniently store the lecture content, she preferred writing by hand.

It was because writing things out herself helped her memorize them better.

“…….”

Usually, she wouldn’t spare a glance for anything other than the professor or the blackboard, but this time, her gaze subtly shifted to the side.

Toward Carl, who was sitting right next to her.

‘He must’ve been tired.’

Carl, unusually, was dozing off with his head slightly bowed.

Was it because he had trained late into the night, or had he been busy with something else?

Thinking back, it seemed to be the first time he had dozed off during a lecture.

“Now, here, we apply the previous spell formula……”

The professor, who would have normally bombarded Carl with questions, seemed to think he must have a valid reason and continued the lecture on his own.

Laysis shook off her thoughts and resumed writing, though her head was once again full of distractions.

‘Why did the summons have to come at such a time……?’

Tomorrow was the weekend.

That was why the royal family of Alforam had issued a recall order for her to return to her homeland by evening.

Knowing she wouldn’t come if simply asked, they had even sent a royal decree stamped with the king’s seal.

Just what kind of matter was so urgent that they were bothering her, a top student at the academy?

‘I heard rumors that it’s about a marriage arrangement……’

Squeeze.

Strength entered the hand holding her pen.

If the rumor was true, she definitely needed to go check in person.

If she stayed passive, saying she had no intention, they would go through with it swiftly, regardless of her will.

“Carl, what did you do yesterday? You were just straight-up sleeping.”

“……I had a bit of a restless night.”

Carl scratched his cheek with an awkward smile at Maximilian’s teasing.

He couldn’t very well say he’d spent the night destroying an underground facility belonging to Origin.

Even before that, he hadn’t slept for several days due to matters related to the organization.

He hadn’t even had time to circulate his energy, so the accumulated fatigue had hit him all at once during the lecture.

‘Still, I feel better after catching a breath.’

Just as he had felt before, for some reason, this was busier than when he was working as the Greatest Assassin of the Central Plains.

Was this the weight of being the head of an organization?

“So anyway, to prepare for the next class……”

The cadets chatted in a cheerful atmosphere.

The weather was good, the studies were going well, and there wasn’t anything in particular to worry about—everyone looked bright.

Except for Laysis.

‘Something wrong?’

Carl tilted his head as he looked at Laysis forcing a smile to match the mood.

She hadn’t said anything in particular.

If she needed help, she would ask first.

So he waited without stepping in.

As expected, on the way to the next lecture after the tea gathering ended, Laysis reached out and grabbed Carl’s sleeve.

“Carl, could we talk for a moment?”

“There’s still some time. I don’t mind.”

The two entered an empty classroom, stood on the podium, and faced each other.

After a brief hesitation, Laysis bit her lip slightly and asked Carl,

“About that asylum request I mentioned before… how is it progressing?”

“It’s proceeding smoothly. Thanks to Crown Prince Yulian’s help, it should be finalized by year-end.”

That part truly owed a lot to Crown Prince Yulian’s assistance.

Without his support, it would have taken three or four more years and involved a much more complex asylum screening process.

“By year-end……”

Laysis’s face darkened.

Year-end was too far off.

Given the royal family’s disposition, if a suitable match was found, they could hold the wedding ceremony as soon as the following month.

So she had to go and check the situation herself this time.

“I think I’ll need to visit Alforam for a bit. I’ve been summoned due to a marriage discussion. They want me to return by this evening……”

“Oh, that’s perfect.”

“…What?”

Perfect?

What could possibly be perfect about a marriage discussion?

As Laysis widened her eyes and looked up, Carl gave a faint smile and said,

“I had to visit Alforam anyway for a matter with the Madeira Trading House. I’ll just ask Laysis to guide me.”

“Ah, for the Mana Beads business?”

“Yes. Alforam is one of our important clients.”

The Kingdom of Alforam had always been rich in natural resources.

That was why it maintained close ties with the Empire and had risen to a somewhat significant position.

Though it seemed they weren’t satisfied with that and were struggling for more.

‘Their greed only accelerated the kingdom’s downfall.’

The royal family of Alforam had already rotted to the core.

There were barely any who weren’t directly or indirectly connected to the forces of the Demon Realm.

Even those who hadn’t joined hands with the demonic forces had taken bribes through intermediaries.

“While we’re at it, how about checking on things with Madeira as well? If you show a connection with the Mana Beads business, it’ll be harder for Alforam to recklessly decide your fate.”

“You’re right, definitely……”

Laysis nodded seriously.

She, too, was well aware of the popularity and importance of the Mana Beads.

Their reach extended beyond the Imperial Capital to the entire continent, and the neighboring kingdoms that caught wind of the trend were sending fierce offers to the Madeira Trading House.

In such a situation, becoming the bridge connecting them to Madeira?

There was no way they would carelessly force a marriage.

“…….”

Carl narrowed his eyes.

Naturally, he hadn’t had any plans to go to Alforam.

But they were the ones in a hurry, so it wouldn’t be hard to forge a trade agreement within a few hours.

While he was at it, he needed to check on the demonic forces embedded in Alforam’s royal family, and it also seemed necessary to resolve the marriage matter tying down Laysis.

‘If it comes to it, I’ll have to step in personally.’

The third son of the Count Leipzig Household.

The famed genius of Bayern Academy and a rising star in archaeology.

And now, even a representative of the storm center that was the Madeira Trading House.

With all that, wouldn’t he be more than enough as a marriage candidate for a princess whose influence in Alforam was already waning?

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