Chapter 228: Alforam (12)

“Demon Realm, huh.”

Carl stared at the portal.

The demonic energy billowing from within made it obvious where it was connected to, even without an explanation.

“Can we cross over to the other side?”

“It’s a one-way path from the Demon Realm to the Middle Realm, so it’s not possible.”

“Then we have no choice but to wait for them to come from that side?”

“Yes. More likely, the portal will be closed before that happens.”

“By now, news of Alforam should’ve reached them too.”

Nodding, Carl stepped forward and thrust his hand into the portal.

As Seven had said, nothing could be sensed from the other side—likely due to its one-way nature.

‘Still, that doesn’t mean it’s not truly connected.’

Even if it was one-way, a connection was still a connection.

Carl instantly detonated the divine power stored in his hand, shredding all the swirling demonic energy within the portal.

Boom!

A shockwave burst out, causing those nearby to stagger back several steps.

Queen raised an arm to shield her face and carefully approached Carl from behind.

“Did you manage to strike the other side?”

“Yes. Following the portal’s link back, I found that it wasn’t connected to just one place. So I severed all the branching paths.”

It hadn’t been all that difficult.

Analyzing the structure of magical circuits was something he had practiced countless times over the past half-year in his magic study sessions with Yuria.

Compared to that, Yuria’s Four Seasons spell was dozens of times more complicated than this portal.

“This should make travel between the Middle Realm and here difficult for a while.”

Carl brushed the demonic energy from his hand and looked at the fading portal.

“Queen.”

“Yes.”

“Organize all records related to the powers of the Demon Realm that were active here. I plan to deliver them to Crown Prince Yulian.”

“Understood.”

The Demon Realm’s forces rooted in the royal palace had been crushed by force for now.

But they would surely begin to stir again, creeping their influence upward little by little.

To prevent that, the help of Crown Prince Yulian and the Holy Nation would be essential.

“……”

Carl glanced around the room that had housed the portal.

Given the lingering cold aura soaked in resentment, it was clear that many had met their end here.

‘I couldn’t even sense this in the past.’

He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes.

Whether it was due to mastering the Primordial Unity Divine Art or the influence of Kylos’ divinity, he couldn’t say for certain.

What was clear was that each time his level rose and his divine power deepened, something inside him changed ever so slightly.

Whether that was good or bad remained to be seen—but it wasn’t something worth worrying about.

“They say all things return to their origin.”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. Anyway, what about Laysis?”

“We’re currently identifying which nobles residing in the capital are colluding with the Demon Realm’s forces.”

“Hm.”

Carl nodded.

Since he had already passed along the list, it shouldn’t be a difficult task.

With Royal Guard Commander Hate present, along with Second and other Black Labels remaining behind, suppressing any resistance should be manageable.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes.”

Carl exited the Origin Headquarters and boarded the carriage returning to the royal palace.

By the time they stepped outside, morning light had broken, and a bright sun floated in the clear blue sky.

‘Whether Alforam continues to see such bright days now depends on Laysis’ hands.’

Leaning against the carriage window, Carl gazed out at the city slowly beginning to awaken.

He thought, if ever he were to step away from the front lines and enjoy a peaceful life, living in this serene capital wouldn’t be so bad after all.

In front of the Teleport Gate.

Carl and Yuria gave awkward smiles to Laysis, who looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.

“You’ve done great so far. Even the other nobles couldn’t make a move.”

“That was only because Carl and Yuria were here! Are you really going to leave me behind like this?”

“…We have academy duties.”

Carl glanced around.

Originally, they had planned to finish everything the night before and return to Polfoardel.

But Laysis had clung to them, even grabbing at their pant legs, so they had delayed their departure to the last possible moment.

“Only an hour until class starts.”

“My great hall meeting begins in ten minutes…”

Laysis let out a sigh deep enough to collapse the ground and clutched at Carl and Yuria’s collars.

“Can’t you stay with me just until the meeting starts?”

“Hmmm…”

Yuria cast a sidelong glance.

Truthfully, what importance did academy classes hold now?

She was confident she could skip one or two lectures and still remain at the top.

More importantly, grades no longer held any weight in her current situation.

She wanted to stay behind with Laysis.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say so—because of what Carl had said before.

“Yuria, when we reach the Teleport Gate, Laysis will beg us not to go.”

“Of course she will. But are you really planning to leave? Skipping a day or two shouldn’t be a big deal.”

“That’s true. And that’s exactly why we must go. The first step is always the most important.”

If someone gave you a push or helped you, it would certainly make things easier.

But if that became a habit, you’d never stand on your own—and eventually self-destruct.

Much more so for someone who had to lead a nation.

Laysis would need to squeeze out everything she had built so far to finally break through the shell surrounding her.

“I’m sorry, Laysis.”

“…Carl.”

As Yuria took a step back, Laysis looked up at Carl.

He slowly raised his hand and gently unclasped her fingers from his collar, then nodded with an expression that said he believed in her.

“I’ve left people to support you. Think for yourself as much as you can, but don’t hesitate to ask for advice. A ruler’s virtue lies in recognizing their limitations and listening to others.”

He had left more than half of NOX’s strength here in Alforam, including Queen.

In an emergency, they would be able to buy time until he returned.

Seeing the two clearly unwilling to grant her plea, Laysis let out a deep sigh and dropped her shoulders.

“Sigh, fine. I’ll try doing it alone. While I’m at it, I’ll just kill all the traitors. Maybe then I’ll earn the title of ‘the greatest butcher in history.’”

“You don’t need to worry about that part. You won’t have to dirty your own hands.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“Among the living royals, the one with the highest succession rank is naturally you, Laysis. Right now, public opinion isn’t favorable, and your support base is weak, so you’ll be heavily shaken both inside and out. If you force through a purge in such conditions, it’s obvious what the future holds.”

There would be backlash.

They would tie it to claims that innocents were among the dead and use that as a weapon to stab at Laysis from every direction.

In that case, without a solid power base, Laysis would be left defenseless.

“But if NOX helps me…”

“Even so, NOX is a small force. What matters is building your own power.”

In a confined physical space like the royal palace, they could sweep through with brute force, but it was a very different matter when it came to the entire kingdom.

No matter how powerful NOX’s members were, they couldn’t sweep across an entire kingdom.

“I understand.”

Laysis nodded with a sulky expression.

Soon, the Teleport Gate activated, and Carl and Laysis transported to Polfoardel.

“Princess.”

After her friends left, Royal Guard Commander Hate carefully called out to the still Laysis.

She had just turned twenty and already burdens far too heavy for her age awaited her.

But if the royal Laysis did not step up, Alforam’s governance would surely fall into chaos.

Smack!

Suddenly, Laysis raised her hands and slapped both her cheeks hard.

The sound was so loud it made Commander Hate flinch.

Though her cheeks turned bright red, Laysis didn’t mind and set a determined expression on her face.

“You’re right. I can’t keep relying on others forever.”

“Princess…”

“Let’s go, Commander. There’s a mountain of work waiting to be done.”

With resolve on her face, Laysis stepped toward the royal palace.

“I beg your forgiveness…”

A pale old man prostrated himself on the floor, trembling.

It was a great hall that looked like it belonged in a palace somewhere.

Atop the throne, a figure shrouded in shadow reclined with eyes closed.

At a glance, it looked like he was sleeping, but the old man could feel from the suffocating pressure around him that the figure was enraged.

“……”

It was a pressure so immense that if he let his guard down even slightly, his body might be crushed and vanish completely.

But if he dared use force in front of that being, he would be reduced to ashes in an instant.

Just when he could barely endure a moment longer, the crushing weight suddenly lifted.

“Speak.”

A clear and distinct voice echoed.

It sounded both like a whisper in his ear and a shout from far away.

The old man nearly drove his forehead into the ground as he forced his stiff lips to move.

“A portion of the circuit… has been damaged. Because it was caused by divinity, it will take more time to repair.”

“…Without exception, all the portals?”

“I am ashamed to say… yes.”

Thud.

The old man slammed his forehead down again.

He had reported everything—now he only had to await his fate.

‘All of this is my responsibility.’

The portals were precious paths connecting the Demon Realm to the Middle Realm.

They weren’t the inefficient kind from the past that required vast resources and materials, but a new type that drastically reduced transmission time.

Their stability had been verified, and they had drawn significant investment—they were in the final stages of completion.

But everything had gone awry due to what happened in Alforam.

‘Damn NOX bastards.’

A name he had only just heard for the first time—a shadowy organization.

Why would a group from the back alleys of the imperial capital, Polfoardel, stretch their hands all the way to Alforam?

Perhaps the one on the throne might know, but to a mere researcher like himself, it was all unfamiliar.

“Leave.”

“Understood.”

Thankfully, he hadn’t been punished.

The old man inwardly sighed in relief and backed out of the great hall.

Now alone in the hall.

Ascalon, seated on the throne, slowly opened his eyes.

His vertically slit pupils gleamed in the dark like those of a reptile.

Black scales rose along the back of his hand for a moment, but as Ascalon stroked them, they calmed and retracted beneath the skin.

“NOX, huh…”

Ascalon had also been informed of all the events in Alforam.

There had been significant losses, and the central circuits of the portal had been critically damaged.

With little time remaining and his plans obstructed, he was deeply agitated.

“Sounds like it’s about time to root them out.”

He had spared them only because they were interesting—especially that soul from Artenia.

But was this the karma now come to roost?

Even an immortal who had lived thousands of years could not always foresee the flow of causality.

“And the timing is just right.”

Sshhh.

Rising from the throne, his figure vanished like a wisp of smoke.

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