Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 461



Only Noblemtl

461. Congratulatory remarks (1)

‘Should I kill him?’

That was the thought that instantly occupied Sungjin’s mind.

Today was a day when he had to take the lives of many people without fail. But this time, Sungjin felt a pure murderous impulse rising from the depths of his heart.

It was the first time since I first opened my eyes in Delcross that I had encountered Sigurd Sigurdsson or the former Countess Sigismund.

‘Should I kill him?’

The justification was also sufficient. It was not only for the safety of his father or the people of Seonghwangga. A strong premonition had been ringing the alarm bell in his head since a while ago.

If we leave it like this, that woman will one day return as a great harm to the empire.

‘Should I kill him?’

However, there were two reasons why Seongjin did not pull out the nutcracker right away.

First, if the woman was ordered by someone to harm her father, it means that the problem will not be solved by simply cutting off the woman’s head, whether it was the order of one person or the intention of the entire ‘Breath of Kaya’.

‘Even if you cut off the leaves, the weeds won’t disappear completely. You have to block the water path, find the roots, and eradicate them.’

Second, Sungjin had been feeling a strong sense of discomfort from that woman since earlier. The clumsy, innocent-looking Korakseoni wasn’t the typical assassin’s attitude that Sungjin knew.

‘What on earth are you thinking? There’s no chance of escape, no hope of rescue. Why are you making excuses to save your life?’

It’s not that I didn’t like it, but just looking at those bushy eyebrows made me feel uneasy to a degree that I can’t describe.

Yes. For example, to Sungjin, that woman was like a rock at the very bottom. She was like a bomb that could cause the entire building to collapse the moment he carelessly pulled her out because she was annoying.

“… … .”

Kuk.

As I was gripping the nutcracker tightly without realizing it, I heard the twins – or rather, the assassins they were possessed by – talking to themselves behind me.

“Is it okay to leave it like that? Shouldn’t we stop Mores?”

“Well? I guess it’s better than being mad at that kid.”

“Yeah, he’s more rational than you might think. You know what? He’s a lot scarier when he’s like that.”

“Well, if it doesn’t work out, he’ll create a slush fund out of nothing and beat you up with interest, point by point.”

Shut up, you guys! I can hear you all!

‘I can’t tell if those guys are trying to stop me or provoke me sometimes.’

Anyway, as his heart grew hot with anger, Sungjin’s mind gradually grew colder.

‘There’s definitely something about that woman.’

If you think about it carefully, there were many other questions.

‘Why was that real eyebrow acting like the leader?’

Of course, he seems to have outstanding skills for his age. He is on par with Dasha, the best elite agent in the Monkey Watchtower.

But in reality, it was true that the skills of those she commanded were superior. Each of the dozen or so assassins was spewing out prayers that rivaled those of the woman who had fought Sungjin upstairs.

And one more thing.

‘How did Minjja Eyebrow control his subordinates?’

I heard that he uses the souls of the dead to subordinate them to the soul stone, but if that’s true, wouldn’t his subordinates actually be more senior than his real eyebrows?

Also, it seemed like they couldn’t even speak properly in the first place, so how on earth were they able to communicate with each other?

‘Hmm… … .’

A red light flashed again in Sungjin’s pupils. However, no matter how much he washed and examined his eyes, there was no salt crystal in Minja’s head.

[Lee Seong-jin.]

It was at that very moment that the Demon King, who had been loitering around, flew in front of Seongjin as a prisoner and opened his mouth.

[That thing’s soul, there’s something strange about it.]

That’s nice to hear!

“What? What did you find out? Could it be that guy is also a spirit from the world of Kyu-sang?”

[No. That’s not it. Both body and soul are clearly human from the real world. But… … .]

The Demon King, having said that, slowly walked up to Seongjin’s ear and whispered in a cautious voice.

[There was something like an imprint engraved on its soul.]

…imprint?

[Yes. It is a spiritual imprint engraved by a higher spirit. It took me a while to make out because it was so shallow and blurry, but it was definitely a demonic script engraved with magic. It is a method that demons commonly use to engrave blessings on souls.]

“Blessing? A human being is blessed by the devil?”

[Well, I don’t know for sure. Whether that prophecy is a blessing or a curse is largely subjective.]

Since it was just engraved by the devil himself, it can’t possibly have purely good intentions, right?

“So what is it engraved on?”

[Well, I don’t really know about that… … .]

The Demon King twisted his body in an awkward manner, waving the flames this way and that.

[No matter how carefully I look at the congratulatory message, I can’t make out the content properly.]

“Even though the letters are clearly visible? Why on earth?”

[Perhaps the person who engraved this wanted to keep it a secret.]

And that means something quite serious, the Demon King added.

[Think about it. Such restrictions are usually only applied to beings of lower status than you. But even this great Fire Lord is not able to read it properly?]

What that means is-

[Maybe, no, it’s almost certain, but that eyebrow-less woman might be a servant of one of the high-ranking demon lords.]

“… … .”

[What is a bit strange is how it survived the imprinting process. The soul of an ordinary human would most likely be powerless and annihilated if it were to be touched by the will of a high-ranking Demon King.]

“hmm.”

Sungjin glanced back at the assassins his twin had killed. They were extremely vicious chess terrorists, but when it came to matters related to the soul, they were the most trustworthy of them all.

but-

“It would be foul play to ask us directly, Mores.”

“That’s right, we also have our own line that we must maintain.”

“Of course that doesn’t mean we don’t know.”

“Well, there’s very little we don’t know.”

Despite their sharp rejection, the twins never forget to show off.

I looked at Hayes and Belinda just in case, and they also shook their heads with dead expressions.

[I am truly ashamed of not being able to help you, Your Majesty.]

[Keuheuk! Master of my soul! Please punish this useless and worthless servant severely!]

Gulp gulp gulp!

‘Hey, Haze. Please don’t cry. If I look at you, you’re really scary!’

In the end, Seongjin had no choice but to sigh and ask the Demon King.

“I can’t help it. Then show me.”

[what?]

“Where exactly is that blessing? Just tell me where it is and I’ll take a look.”

Then, the Demon King looked a little embarrassed and circled his eyebrows around his head.

[Well, what do you think? Lee Seong-jin, strictly speaking, you don’t have a proper spiritual eye. Your wonderful salt crystals merely substitute visual information for information that cannot be directly perceived. But would you be able to see the incantations of the demon world precisely engraved on your soul? You don’t even know the demon world script, do you?]

“It doesn’t matter. I think it’s okay.”

[Ummm… … .]

The Demon King looked half-doubting, but he obediently approached Minjja Eyebrows as requested by Seongjin. Then he performed a trick around the woman’s shoulder.

“Eek?! What is this? Mika?”

“It’s a fairy. Don’t move and stay still.”

“Yeah… … .”

“… … .”

Unfortunately, as the Demon King said, Sungjin could not see any proper letters. Only a dark stain-like shadow showed that the woman’s soul had been intervened by the demon.

But even though he couldn’t see it clearly, just by staring at it, the meaning of the words were completely conveyed to Sungjin’s mind.

-Do not fear the fall, for your ashes and your flesh will become countless seeds, which will sprout from the ashes and eventually fall.

Oh, somehow, I think I know who engraved this inscription.

Seongjin glared at the woman in front of him with a slightly serious expression. A woman who was a member of the high-ranking Demon King’s retinue, yet she was acting so innocent in a truly disgusting way.

“But you. You look familiar. Haven’t we seen each other somewhere?”

“Huh? Haha, how could that be… .”

“Really? What’s your name?”

“Ang-i, if you keep calling the name of an assassin who has abandoned his name… … .”

“So what is it?”

“Hey, forget it!”

“… … .”

“Really… … .”

Judging from the fact that he refuses to reveal his name even if he dies, it seems like he must be someone Seongjin met somewhere. It was a bit surprising that he didn’t mention an alias.

‘Or is it that you can’t lie about your own name?’

Well, it doesn’t matter either way.

For a while after that, Sungjin persistently questioned the woman about the organization structure of ‘Kaya’s Breath’ and the structure they created called the ‘Head Tower’.

“A wizard? He created the bio-doll and the head tower?”

“Yes. But I don’t know his true identity either… … .”

Of course, there wasn’t much core information that the woman really knew.

[It’s true.]

Although the Demon King occasionally gave definitive answers, Seongjin still felt a strange sense of discomfort from her attitude.

He is so good at lying that he seems to be able to control even involuntary signs such as blood pressure and pulse.

How many questions and answers did they exchange like that?

“… Hey, but aren’t you going to kill me, Mr. Black?”

A strange green light flashes across the woman’s eyes, along with an innocent question.

And at that moment, strangely enough, Sungjin was able to read a faint fragment of thought in her eyes that she hadn’t spoken out loud.

-Why don’t you kill me? How do you avoid this?

Seongjin raised the corners of his mouth fiercely. It was such a sinister smile that No. 21, who was looking at him, flinched for a moment and took a step back.

“…okay.”

Since they sent a gift, we should return the favor appropriately.

The idea came naturally. Hadn’t I unintentionally experimented on the soul of Sir Marsain a while ago?

How to whisper curses that aren’t strong enough to destroy a soul, but strong enough to strangle a human life.

So, Seongjin slowly lowered his head and quietly brought his lips to her ear.

“… … .”

“… … !”

Minjja’s eyebrows widened as she heard Sungjin’s long whisper.

“… Then… Will you really spare my life?”

“Right now, yes. Of course, there is a price to pay.”

“The price… is?”

“Yeah. If you look closely, there’s a big bump on the head of my group that I’ve never seen before.”

When Sungjin smiled and raised his fist, Minjja’s eyebrows furrowed in fear and protested.

“Ang! How could that be possible! Then what on earth have you been hitting me with… …!”

Boom!

* * *

“Eww!”

When the young man suddenly screamed loudly and fell to the ground, the woman next to him was startled and ran over.

“Wh, what is it, my lord?”

“no…….”

The young man, [Sowing], put down the lute with a trembling face.

Suddenly, Jeong Su-ri was shocked and felt cold. After a long time, she returned to the terminal and was trying to enjoy her leisure life, but what the hell is this?

“What? Someone has sensed the connection with the seed I planted. It was light, but it sent a direct blow here. It can’t have been that easy… … .”

However, the woman still seemed unaware of the seriousness of the situation. Looking at her, Pajong sighed softly.

“Look here. I am the high priest of sowing.”

“Yes, my true master.”

“When did your predecessor die? Which high priest are you now? Why do the children become more and more stupid as each generation passes?”

“… … .”

The woman bit her lip in a moment of deep sorrow, but soon hid her expression and bowed her head politely.

“… I’ll probably be the third.”

“I see.”

Sowing nodded and fell down on the bed.

The guy who had just been hit was probably not an ordinary seed. If he had such a close connection to me, he must have been a member of the High Priest or higher. But since he had sown so many seeds, I couldn’t pinpoint who it was.

‘Wow, was it a mistake to appoint high priests here and there like sowing seeds? I have to remember who is who… … .’

But it’s strange. Why have I been feeling chills all this time? I feel a strange sense of unease, as if a bug has stuck to me.

‘It’s not a disease, is it? I’ve got a pretty healthy body this time.’

Sowing frowned, still caressing his slightly chilled head.

* * *

The journey back to Terre felt quite long, perhaps even more so because I was carrying the unconscious No. 13.

Number 21 took a moment to catch his breath and looked at Prince Mores, who was walking ahead.

The great drama of dawn, the suspicious altar set up in the enemy’s stronghold, and the terrifying evil spirits summoned by the prince from hell.

Today, No. 21 seemed to have shared with the prince some not-so-light secrets. Secrets that he couldn’t judge right from wrong, and that he didn’t even know how to report to His Majesty.

‘but……,’

When you don’t know something, think about the outcome first.

‘Anyway, we safely rescued Senior No. 13, and most importantly, we protected His Majesty’s homunculus from ‘Kaya’s Breath’.’

Yeah, I think that’ll be fine.

Number 21, who was organizing his thoughts like that, cautiously opened his mouth to the prince when he almost reached the village.

“Your Majesty. Actually, I met that eyebrow-less woman before.”

“okay?”

A reaction that seemed not so surprising. The sight strangely resembled the person he served, and No. 21 felt complicated.

“Some time ago, while carrying out Your Majesty’s orders, I exchanged swords with that woman near the imperial capital.”

“Yeah, you managed to escape with your skills.”

“… … .”

It must have been possible because it was a fleeting encounter. Also, thanks to the warning Seonghwang had given in advance.

– Engagement and pursuit are absolutely prohibited.

When I explained this to the prince, he looked a little complicated.

“Hmm. My father… … .”

“Why are you doing this, Your Majesty?”

“Actually, there’s something I’ve been worried about about my father for a while now.”

Prince Mores, who had been so lucky, looked back at No. 21 with a dejected expression.

“Actually, I killed someone for the first time today.”

“… … .”

Number 21 didn’t understand what he was saying at first.

“…yes?”

“It’s not exactly the first time, but it is the first time I’ve taken someone’s life with my own hands.”

“… … !”

“Of course, I thought it was unavoidable and tried to act as rationally as possible. But as a child, how can I honestly tell my parents about this?”

“Of course, as a father you already know everything,” the prince added.

“that……!”

“I’m in a difficult situation. What on earth should I say to my father?”

No. 21 opened his mouth but had no words to say in response. He had just been shocked by something so great.

That’s true. Prince Mores is a boy who hasn’t even turned sixteen yet. He grew up in the palace, so there’s no way he’d ever killed anyone!

“Ugh… … .”

“… … .”

Prince Mores continued to worry after that, but No. 21 did not dare to say anything more to him.

They arrived at Teres’s inn in such complete silence. It was already well after daybreak.

“…father.”

And the prince faced the emperor with his head bowed, as if he were a child who had done something wrong.

“… … .”

But there was no need for them to talk much, because Seonghwang was a person who knew and understood everything without having to explain everything in detail.

He silently placed his hand on Prince Mores’ head and soon began to pat him gently as if to comfort him.

“uh…….”

The prince’s tense face suddenly relaxes.

No. 21, who confirmed that appearance, quietly closed his eyes, overcome with extremely complicated emotions.