Chapter 241. Prelude (2)
Caron ascended the stairs toward the imperial throne.
This wasn't an illusion; it was reality. These weren't the footsteps of Cain Latorre—they belonged to Caron Leston.
And they carried no hesitation. With Guillotine in hand, Caron advanced toward the Malevolent Emperor.
"Impressive," the Malevolent Emperor said with a smile, looking down at him. Then he turned his gaze to those behind Caron—those glaring at him with open hostility.
"Did you perhaps predict it would come to this?" the Malevolent Emperor asked.
The plan had been flawless.
He'd made the Emperor ill, pushed the Crown Prince to seize control, and finally, possessed the prince's body to plunge the empire into chaos.
Whether the possessed Crown Prince claimed the throne and shattered the empire from within, or was overthrown by the Ducal Family of Leston, the result would have been the same.
There would have been division, and then collapse.
But the Malevolent Emperor now realized that his scheme had utterly failed.
The emperor had awakened. The man who should have died in bed had, for some inexplicable reason, risen again.
As the Malevolent Emperor tilted his head slightly, Caron continued up the stairs, his voice steady.
"You've always been like this. Arrogant beyond belief, convinced of your own perfection. You always let your guard down, and in the end, you always ruin everything. The same thing happened fifty years ago, and you still haven't learned a thing," Caron said.
Everything had changed the moment the emperor awakened.
Caron and the Ducal Family of Leston were no longer rebels. They were liberators who had come to rescue the emperor from the lingering rot of the past.
"You're brimming with confidence," the Malevolent Emperor said, still smiling despite the unraveling of his plan.
Ssshhhh!
Dark mana surged and roiled.
But unlike before, the Malevolent Emperor could no longer wield it freely.
Flash!
Cor, the Master of the Magic Tower, was driving the dark mana back with containment magic.
"I told you that I'm not alone this time," Caron said with a grin, and he launched himself toward the Malevolent Emperor.
A surge of tightly compressed mana burst from Caron's feet. That overwhelming force converted into sheer speed. In a blur of motion, he shot forward like a lightning bolt, driving his sword straight at the Malevolent Emperor's chest.
Clang!
Just as Guillotine was about to pierce him, the Malevolent Emperor's body unleashed dark mana that reshaped itself into a shield.
Clang!
Guillotine punctured the shield, but it failed to reach flesh. It halted just short of the Malevolent Emperor's sternum.
"That's sharp," the Malevolent Emperor murmured. He then raised his left hand, the one not gripping a sword, and placed a fingertip on Guillotine's blade.
Drip.
The moment his skin touched the steel, it split open. The blood of the Crown Prince trickled down the blade.
"Still not quite enough. Do you truly believe a blade like this could reach the Demon Kings?" the Malevolent Emperor asked.
He gave a slight shake of his head, then suddenly, hundreds of black thorns erupted from the ground.
Thud!
Only a few managed to pierce through Caron's mana barrier. As thorns dug into his back, pain shot through him, but he simply smiled. The pain only confirmed that this was real.
Though ages had passed since his previous life, he had finally made it here. He couldn't undo the mistake of that past, but he could choose not to repeat it.
Guillotine, Caron called.
"I'm here," Guillotine answered.
Crack!
Guillotine summoned all its strength. It began to unleash the power that ravenously devoured dark mana to its very limit.
Craaaack!
The shield conjured by the Malevolent Emperor began to warp grotesquely.
And eventually, Guillotine broke free.
The moment the binding power weakened, Caron yanked the sword free from the shield and spun in a single, fluid motion, then struck.
Slice!
The imperial robe, which had been dyed deep violet, was torn asunder. Blood scattered into the air, and it splattered across the throne. That lofty seat of gold and gemstones was now stained with royal blood.
Thud!
Caron drove his left fist into the Malevolent Emperor's abdomen. The blow, loaded with condensed mana, detonated on impact, sending the Malevolent Emperor's body flying high into the air.
Whoosh.
As the dark blue light shimmered in Caron's left hand, the Malevolent Emperor's airborne form was suddenly yanked downward—dragged straight into his waiting palm.
It was the power of Pluto to devour all things.
Whoosh.
At last, Guillotine pierced the Malevolent Emperor's chest. Through the blade, an indescribably dense stream of dark mana surged into Caron.
It carried a familiar sensation. Once, this same cursed dark mana had granted him overwhelming power while chaining him to a life of servitude.
"Feeling nostalgic?" the Malevolent Emperor whispered softly. "That was the power that once ruled everything you were."
"Things are different now," Caron replied.
"Oh? How so?" the Malevolent Emperor asked.
"Now, this dark mana is just another meal for me," Caron answered.
He welcomed the surge of the dark mana without hesitation. This mana would have been overwhelming if he hadn't gone through the Coming of Age Ceremony, but not anymore.
Caron gripped the Malevolent Emperor's throat, then smiled. He asked, "This is it? This is the seed you prepared?"
The Malevolent Emperor mirrored his smile, then said, "The seed has already sprouted."
"Then I'll find that sprout," Caron replied coldly. "And crush it. That's a promise."
"You will not be able to do that," the Malevolent Emperor said, then turned his gaze to the foot of the stairs.
There, the emperor stood—his own son, now aged, staring back at him from the bottom of the throne room. The same son who had once torn him from the throne.
The Malevolent Emperor looked even further, toward the palace entrance. He saw that an uninvited guest had arrived. Just facing that figure was enough to take his breath away. A powerful being was staring his way with an icy, utterly cold expression.
The Malevolent Emperor realized then that the time had come to part from this body. And yet, a strange satisfaction bloomed within him. Things hadn't gone as he had planned, but as far as preludes went, this one wasn't bad.
"This isn't the end. It's the beginning," the Malevolent Emperor—no, the Demon King of Havoc—said solemnly to Caron. "With the cursed blood of this house's line, I declare war upon you all."
Drip.
Blood pooled at his feet, overflowing the throne and trickling down the stairs in thin red rivers.
"We'll meet again in the Demon Realm," the Malevolent Emperor said. His voice thundered through the palace.
Caron still held the man's neck, looking down at what remained. Though the body had been consumed by the Demon King, it still belonged to the crown prince.
The emperor understood what Caron intended. He gave a single, resolute nod—without hesitation, then said, "Caron Leston, I order you to execute Iorn Karien, the traitor who defiled this empire."
Iorn was a son before he was a crown prince, yet the emperor didn't hesitate for a second.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Caron replied.
He pulled Guillotine from the Crown Prince's chest, and in one fluid motion, brought the blade to Iorn's neck.
Slice!
The Crown Prince's head fell to the floor.
A shriek, inhuman and chilling, rang out across the palace. The dark mana that had dominated the main palace began to recede, fading quickly.
Caron gently gathered the headless corpse in his arms. Slowly, he descended the stairs.
"Your Majesty," he said, stopping before the emperor. He laid the body at the emperor's feet.
The emperor placed a hand gently on Caron's shoulder and said, "You only did what had to be done."
"...I apologize," Caron murmured.
"No," the emperor said as he gazed down at his son's lifeless form with a sorrowful smile. "This was not your burden. It was mine. Something I should've done long ago."
For a long while, he simply stared at his son's corpse in silence.
"Your Majesty," Halo said. He came to stand beside the emperor, and carefully supported the old man's arm.
"Duke," the emperor said.
"Leave this place to me," Halo replied. "Please return to your chambers and rest. Caron, take care of His Majesty."
"Yes, Lord," Caron answered.
Halo wondered what he could say to his grandson after the latter had done such a thing. He thought of many words, but none seemed right.
"...Good work," he said simply in the end.
At that, Caron gave a faint smile and replied, "I only did what had to be done."
"Master of the Magic Tower," Halo called, "Please help His Majesty back to his chambers."
"As you wish, Duke," Cor answered.
With a flick of his staff, a portal opened once more. Caron supported the emperor in Halo's stead and stepped into the glowing gate.
Another tragedy had just been carved into the annals of history.
***
The emperor's chamber was far more modest than Caron had expected. There were no lavish ornaments befitting the majesty of an emperor—only a spacious bed and a few essential supplies for care and rest.
Caron supported the emperor as they made their way to the bed.
"Thank you," the aged emperor said, managing a strained smile as he sat on the edge.
"Master of the Magic Tower and Sir Mason," he said. "Would you leave us for a moment?"
"Your Majesty," Mason replied, hesitant. "The palace is still in a state of unrest."
"I wish to speak alone with Caron Leston," the emperor said.
Mason had no choice but to nod. He glanced at the Magic Tower Master, who returned the gesture, and the two men quietly exited the chamber.
Now, only Caron and the emperor remained.
Caron studied the face of Emperor Pellin Karien. It was his first time seeing him in this life, but in his previous one, it had been a familiar sight.
The prince of fifty years past had become an old man. Even the ceremonial robes he wore now seemed too heavy for him.
"If not for you," the emperor said, "I would not be standing here."
"I only did what I had to do," Caron replied.
"You're not like what I've heard. Sir Mason described you as an uncontrollable troublemaker. Did Sir Mason lie to me?" the emperor asked.
Caron briefly sensed a trace of pure mana emanating from the emperor. When he recognized it, the full picture became clear.
The Dew of the World Tree, he thought.
Someone had given the Dew of the World Tree to the emperor, and it wasn't hard to guess who. It had been Revelio who had sent Sir Mason back to the palace. He had to have handed over a spare vial of the dew.
"Even the Dew of the World Tree is only a temporary measure," Guillotine had said. "The emperor's life is near its end. All the dew did was buy a little time."
Indeed, Guillotine was right. Even the mythical elixir said to cure all ills couldn't reverse the damage to the emperor's body. But the few borrowed moments it granted—those could alter the course of history.
"If not for you, the palace would be in flames by now," the emperor said. "As the ruler of this Imperial Palace, I owe you my gratitude."
Caron shook his head and answered, "I simply did what was necessary."
The emperor gazed quietly into Caron's eyes, then said, "...You remind me of Sir Cain. Your face mirrors the Grand Duke's, but the aura you carry—it's eerily similar to his."
Caron said nothing in response; he simply listened to the emperor.
"What do you think of me? I overthrew my own father to seize the throne, and in the end, I let my own son die. Am I not a man deserving of damnation?" the emperor asked.
Slowly, he rose to his feet. Caron reached to help him, but the old man lifted a hand, gently refusing the offer.
"The Grand Duke entrusted you with me," the emperor said. "I assume that means he wanted me to tell you our family's story."
He meant the story of the imperial line—the Karien bloodline.
"But before I begin... There's something I want to ask you," the emperor added.
"I'll answer sincerely," Caron replied.
"What is your goal?" the emperor asked as his golden eyes gleamed.
It wasn't a difficult question.
"My dream is to become the greatest troublemaker," Caron answered.
At that, the emperor chuckled faintly and replied, "A troublemaker, is it? That suits you surprisingly well. Then, tell me, what does it mean to be the greatest troublemaker?"
"It's nothing complicated," Caron said and smiled gently, locking eyes with those golden irises. "If something gets on my nerves, I break it. If my heart pulls me toward something, I follow it. That's all."
Caron declared his dream with the confidence of a man who knew no shame.
"You will live that way," the emperor said with satisfaction, nodding slowly. Then, after a pause, he continued, "The reason I'm telling you this now... is because I have a request."
What followed from the emperor's lips left Caron completely speechless.