Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 205
Aden had been in a hurry, but he deliberately delayed sending the letter until three days after the Hell Gate opened. This was necessary to give the others time to grasp the reality of the situation. Would it even make sense to hold a meeting when they hadn’t yet felt the true weight of what the Hell Gate was, or what it had unleashed?
The fact that they hadn’t seen the sun for three days and that the number of undead was growing uncontrollably was enough to instill a sense of crisis among them.
“What is the cause of this eerie cloud cover?”
“Our lands are being ravaged by the undead as we speak!”
“What is this so-called apocalypse-level dungeon that has appeared in the imperial capital? We’ve never heard of a dungeon of that caliber before!”
“Explain what is happening!”
The lords of the Empire and the kings of the small kingdoms demanded an explanation from Aden. Their faces were filled with anxiety. It was understandable since humans are naturally terrified of unknown threats that lie beyond their comprehension.
“Please listen calmly to what I’m about to say,” Aden said calmly.
He then explained to them that the entire imperial capital had been annihilated, that the Hell Gate, which connected to the underworld, had opened, and that in 27 days, the Talos would be released from there.
“That... That can’t be...!”
“This is absurd!”
“Th-The Emperor... The Immortalia Empire... Ugh.”
“S-Someone help him! Get a hold of yourself!”
Several nobles collapsed. Although Aden had urged them to remain calm, it was easier said than done. Many of the rulers present had not yet learned the full extent of what had transpired in Immortaliatum, and they were utterly shocked.
The empire, which seemed eternal, had fallen overnight, and now endless hordes of monsters were expected to emerge from the Hell Gate? For those who had come to learn about the strange phenomena of the endless night and the undead roaming the lands, this was beyond their worst fears.
People tend to react similarly when faced with a truth that is too much to bear.
“This can’t be true! It’s all lies!”
“How can we believe what you’re saying, Prince Remes?”
The first reaction was always doubt and denial. The reality was too heavy for them to accept, so they chose to deny it.
Aden asked one of the doubters, Count Angert, a noble of the Empire, “Are you saying that it’s hard to believe my words?”
“That’s right! How are we supposed to believe you?”
“How are you supposed to believe it... What do you think, everyone?” Aden subtly asked as he looked towards the representatives of the three great orders.
Thud!
At that moment, the representatives who had been silent—Kertel, Merida, and Liliana—stood up from their seats.
“The Sacred Fire Order guarantees that Prince Remes is telling the truth.”
“As the First Disciple of the Great God of Slaughter, I vouch for his words.”
“The Lawful God Church also confirms the truth of his statements in the name of the God of Justice.”
“Ugh...”
Count Angert let out a brief groan. Before the guarantee and firm support of the three great orders, he could not argue any further. After all, the only reason everyone had gathered here was because of their trust in and respect for the orders. Everyone was forced to believe Aden’s words.
When doubt and denial subsided, all that remained was despair and helplessness. Sighs and murmurs of despair echoed throughout the hall.
“In that case, what can we possibly do...?”
“What should we do now?”
“We must unite our forces,” Aden said calmly but firmly.
“This is no longer an issue between territories or nations. The fate of the entire world is at stake. Therefore, within the next 27 days, all forces of the Western Continent must be assembled to form the ‘Western Continent Alliance’ and gather in the imperial capital.”
The term “Western Continent Alliance” made some people swallow nervously. Gathering all the forces of the Western Continent was unprecedented in history.
People began to murmur among themselves.
“A continental alliance? That’s impossible...”
“The Empire has fallen, so how could that even be possible?”
With the fall of the imperial capital, the existing system of the continent had collapsed. In such a situation, organizing an alliance in just one month seemed impossible.
Aden shrugged his shoulders and said, “Who said that the Empire has fallen?”
“...What?”
Everyone blinked in confusion at his calm response.
“I said that the imperial capital was destroyed, not that the Empire has fallen.”
He then addressed the nobles, “The capital is gone, and the Emperor is dead, but the imperial bloodline has not been extinguished.”
“...!”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the implications of his words.
“The imperial bloodline... Are you saying that the Crown Prince is still alive?”
“Or perhaps the Second Prince...?”
Although there was a faint glimmer of hope in their eyes, Aden did not encourage it.
“No. The Emperor, as well as his direct descendants, the First and Second Princes, no longer exist in this world.”
Of course, technically, Kalsis was still alive. But that thing was far from being considered a pure human and was the root of all evil that needed to be dealt with, so it didn’t count.
“Then who could it possibly be? Besides the Emperor and his two children, there is no one else with the Golden Eyes bloodline!”
Aden nodded coolly.
“That’s right. As ‘far as the world knows,’ those two are all there is. That’s how it’s been known.”
The nobles hesitated at Aden’s words, which hinted at something hidden.
“There’s no need for further explanation. You can see for yourselves. Hat Merchant, please bring in ‘that person.’”
-Understood.
With a flash of light, a door appeared, similar to the one they had entered through.
Creeeak.
The door opened, and someone walked in.
“Hoo... Calm down. Calm down...!”
A trembling young voice.
A boy with a face full of tension.
He was none other than the thief known by the alias “Unknown,” also called Nine.
-The Demonic Sword Seere says that this is the most handsome appearance its contractor has ever had today!
Nine looked different from usual. He was dressed in luxurious clothes and had neatly groomed hair, making him look like the scion of a noble family.
“Th-This can’t be...!”
“Who is that boy?”
The mouths of the nobles and kings who saw Nine dropped in shock.
“Ah!”
Even Border Count Tiried showed an expression of awe.
The representatives of the three great orders were also wide-eyed.
‘Just as expected.’
Aden quietly smiled as he observed their reactions. He also chuckled softly as he looked at Unknown in disbelief.
‘Honestly, even I find it hard to believe.’
If it hadn’t been for Leo, he wouldn’t have even noticed.
There was only one reason why everyone reacted that way when they saw Unknown.
The nobles murmured.
“Those hair and eye colors...!”
“The Golden Eyes bloodline!”
Unknown’s hair, which had been gray, and his eyes had turned into a brilliant golden color, reminiscent of melted gold—the mystical golden blonde hair and golden eyes that only the bloodline of Immortalia could possess!
* * *
The night before the meeting, Aden had barged into Unknown’s room.
“Ah! What are you doing! Why are you suddenly bursting in here in the middle of the night? At least knock!”
Unknown, who had been holding some kind of potion bottle, was startled and immediately hid it behind his back when Aden entered.
But there was no way Aden would miss that.
Swoosh!
With a swift motion, Aden snatched the potion bottle from him.
“Ack! Give it back! Give it back!”
“Try taking it back if you can. Run a little more.”
-The Demonic Sword Seere mocks its short-legged contractor.
“What? Seere! Did you say everything you wanted to say?”
Unknown tried to snatch the potion back from Aden’s hand, but it was impossible to outmaneuver a Master with such agile movements.
Aden examined the potion. It was one he recognized. A dyeing potion that changed the color of one’s eyes and hair. It was the same as the one Cassie had prepared when they entered Ternia’s gambling den.
Aden clicked his tongue.
“I knew it. Tch, I should have checked with my True Eye earlier.”
“...What are you suddenly talking about, barging in here like this?”
Ignoring Unknown’s complaints, Aden got straight to the point.
“Remember when we made a deal? I said I’d help you achieve your wish in exchange for you becoming my subordinate.”
“...!”
“Isn’t it about time you tell me?”
Unknown’s expression hardened as soon as Aden mentioned his wish.
-...
The Demonic Sword Seere fell silent.
As a remnant of the Lord of Wishes, Seere only contracts with those who have a strong desire to achieve something, a “wish.”
Aden and Unknown had made a curse contract. Unknown would become Aden’s subordinate in exchange for Aden helping him achieve his wish someday.
‘But I never asked what his wish was.’
For some reason, Unknown had always tried to avoid telling him, and since it wasn’t urgent, Aden had let it slide until now.
Even though he had a wish he desperately wanted to achieve, he hesitated to reveal it. It was a contradictory reaction, in a way. Aden’s eyes narrowed.
‘As if he were afraid to reveal his wish to someone.’
As expected, Unknown tried to dodge the question again.
“You said you’d only ask when you needed it. Are you backing out of that now? Are you worried that
I’ll ask for too much...?”
“The Empire has fallen.”
“...What?”
“The Emperor is dead, the imperial capital is destroyed, and so is the Ouroboros Alchemy Tower.”
Aden explained everything that was happening.
As he listened, Unknown’s face turned pale, as if all the blood had drained from his body. He looked like someone who had just heard something that should never have been.
When Aden finished speaking...
“...”
Unknown wore a blank expression, as if his soul had left his body.
Then...
“No...”
Thud.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor. He looked utterly devastated, his expression filled with despair.
“No, no, no! This can’t be happening! Then what was I even...! Those bastards shouldn’t have died like that! Damn it...!”
-Nine...
Unknown’s face twisted in agony as he let out a scream-like cry. Seere called out to its contractor with pity.
Aden already knew why Unknown was reacting this way.
**-Activating True Eye.**
The True Eye, a power that could discern the truth and falsehood of all things, read Unknown.
Golden hair and golden eyes.
His hair and eyes, dyed gray, now appeared in their true, radiant golden color.
Unknown’s appearance with golden hair and golden eyes...
‘No wonder I felt an inexplicable urge to punch him whenever I saw him.’
At first, he thought it was just his lingering resentment from his past life, but it seemed there was more to it than that.
Unknown bore a striking resemblance to Kalsis of Immortalia. So much so that one could believe they were brothers. It was almost unbelievable that he had only just realized this.
The information that Aden’s True Eye had revealed explained the reason.
**[H.K Number Nine]**
*Characteristics: Contractor of Seere, thief, stealth, self-admiration, trap dismantling, novice alchemy, petty theft...*
H.K Number Nine.
The bizarre name that didn’t sound like a person’s name was Unknown’s true full name.
Beneath that strange name were listed characteristics that perfectly represented Unknown’s personality.
But the list of his traits continued further.
*-Desires revenge, possesses the Golden Eyes bloodline, subject of Ouroboros’ experiments.*
A being with royal blood, but one who did not inherit the royal name.
A test subject of the Alchemy Tower, ruled by Kalsis, the fragment of the Demon God.
This was the reason why the thief Unknown, also known as Nine, had a wish so powerful that it allowed him to make a contract with a remnant of the Lord of Wishes.