Caron received the communication orb directly linked to the emperor from Leon and immediately activated it. But something was strange. Normally, the moment one infused it with mana, a voice should have come through.
Instead, a low hum vibrated, then a familiar image flickered into view before his eyes. It was a golden throne. The seat allowed only to the emperor of the Orias Empire appeared right before him.
This was no ordinary communication orb. It was an example of the famous image transmission—a channel so costly that simply maintaining it devoured an enormous fortune.
Revelio was no doubt more of a devoted lover than Caron had thought.
Caron glanced sideways and asked Leon quietly, "This works even across the Veil?"
Leon only shrugged and replied, "Lady Gratia adjusted it a little."
"Wow. For free?" Caron asked.
"Lio–I mean... His Majesty promised he'd give her something substantial later," Leon said.
"I figured as much," Caron muttered.
He couldn't tell how much time passed, but a young man clad in golden garments appeared on the other side of the orb's glow.
"I'm sorry! The meeting just ended, so I'm late! I heard reports of victory, but I hadn't heard from you. Do you know how worried I was? Honestly, only you can make me fret like this..." Revelio said urgently, but paused when he saw someone unexpected.
"Truly, Your Majesty, you're quite the devoted lover," Caron said dryly.
"What the—ugh, brother-in-law! Get that ugly face out of the way! I thought this was a message from my precious fiancée, and suddenly it's like someone smeared dung on the screen!" Revelio snapped.
"...I'm here, Lio," Leon said softly.
"Thank the gods! Are you hurt? Do you need anything? Say the word, and I'll send it immediately," Revelio asked.
"No, really, I'm fine. If you keep fussing like this, you'll just make me uncomfortable," Leon answered.
"Still!" Revelio replied.
The way Leon called the emperor "Lio" with such ease made it obvious how close they had grown. Judging from the emperor's doting tone, Leon clearly held the reins in their relationship.
Caron thought it fitting. After all, Revelio was the same type as himself—unpredictable, unrestrained. Men like that needed someone to keep a firm grip on them.
They suit each other, Caron mused. More than just politically, they make a good match.
"It was worth connecting them," he murmured aloud.
"Is there a dog barking?" Revelio asked.
"Sounds like a rabid dog," Leon replied smoothly. "Loud, isn't it, Lio?"
Caron cut in, sounding half-irritated, "Enough, both of you. Your Majesty, I've something to discuss privately with you."
"Go on. I'm listening," Revelio said.
"...As I said, privately. This isn't for other ears," Caron added.
At Caron's suddenly serious tone, Revelio caught on quickly.
Caron turned to Gratia, the Guardian Dragon standing silently at his back, and asked, "Gratia, would it be possible?"
Gratia inclined her head and replied, "I can fashion a dimensional space through the orb. It won't last long in the midst of the Void's turbulence, though. Shall I make one?"
"Yes please," Caron answered.
"Ten minutes at best," Gratia said.
"That will do," Caron replied.
With a soft clap of her claws, Gratia changed the scenery around them. In an instant, the battlefield dissolved into a serene, radiant space.
When Caron blinked, Revelio was there, golden robes shimmering, standing in front of him as if in the flesh.
The emperor looked around with quiet admiration, then remarked, "A dragon is still a dragon after all. This control of magic... So this is a dimensional space?"
"It's been a while since we spoke face-to-face like this," Caron said.
"It has," Revelio agreed with a smile. "How have you been? I heard through reports that casualties were astonishingly low. You've done well, Caron."
"The war isn't over yet. As we press toward the center, the deaths will climb exponentially," Caron said.
"Take the compliment as it is for once. It's not every day an emperor personally praises you," Revelio said with a grin, then conjured a chair with a wave of his hand and sat lazily.
Caron gave a short laugh and said, "Sometimes I forget you're a mage."
"Even I forget, since I use magic so little these days," Revelio replied. He crossed his legs and sighed. "Let's talk for at least five minutes. I'm exhausted."
"I heard some nobles have been giving you trouble," Caron remarked.
"Don't remind me. They're clamoring that the war should end now, that the expedition ought to withdraw. If not for the financiers your father gathered backing me, I'd have been cornered," Revelio explained.
His words, laced with slang unbefitting an emperor, made Caron smirk. That was what he liked about Revelio. When he spoke this way, the latter felt less like a monarch and more like a friend.
"So," Revelio said at last, leaning back. "What's this urgent matter?"
"There's something I believe you should know," Caron said.
"Me?" Revelio echoed.
"It concerns the imperial family," Caron declared.
The memories gifted by the Demon King of Void contained such truths.
The first emperor, Cardan Karien, had been half-human, half-demon. Halo had confirmed it. The World Tree and Gratia had acknowledged it. Which meant the imperial family carried demonic blood. Though it had been diluted over the centuries, the fact remained undeniable.
Rael Leston, too, had been a survivor of the Arcane Civilization. But unlike Cardan, he'd rejected the dark mana.
If it were the Revellio in the past, this would be something he was hearing for the first time—but not anymore. Now that he has ascended to the imperial throne, he had to be well aware of the secrets of the imperial family.
"Sounds like something that requires a strong drink," Revelio muttered.
"Do you know why the Demon King of Havoc was called that?" Caron asked.
"...Because everyone called him that..." Revelio replied cautiously.
"The demons named him the Demon King of Havoc first, and the continent's dark mages followed their lead. That's how all Demon Kings' titles spread. Names passed from demons to dark mages," Caron explained.
He exhaled slowly. This was a secret he had shared only with Halo. But Revelio had the right to know—for the empire, it was the most dreadful truth of all.
"The Demon King of Havoc was different. He was the first Demon King to slay another and steal his throne," Caron continued.
It was knowledge unknown to most demons, even to the Demon King of Sloth or the Demon Queen of Lust. They had only clashed endlessly, blind to the truth.
But in Rael Leston's memories, the origin of the name was clear.
"The Demon King of Havoc gave himself that name," Caron declared.
Havoc meant going against the duties that a person ought to uphold. The reason he'd chosen to call himself by that name was very simple.
"Havoc killed his own father and took his place," Caron added.
Revelio was sharp, quick to grasp the meaning. With only this much, he had pieced together Caron's intent.
Cardan Karien—half-human, half-demon, born of a demonic father. The implication was plain. Caron had chosen his words carefully for one reason only.
"You're telling me," Revelio said slowly, "that the Demon King of Havoc was the first Emperor."
"Regrettably, yes," Caron replied.
"...Damn," Revelio cursed.
***
Revelio recovered his composure faster than even Caron had expected.
"The Malevolent Emperor as the founding Emperor... That's the most shocking thing I've heard in years. You really got me with that one," Revelio said.
"You're recovering faster than I thought," Caron remarked.
Revelio gave a crooked grin as he locked eyes with Caron's blue gaze. He mocked the imperial family without hesitation, remarking, "Strangely enough, thinking of it this way actually makes me feel better. Ah, so that's why I've always had the urge to rebel! Turns out it runs in the family. Madness is hereditary, isn't it? Truly a cursed bloodline.".
Even Caron couldn't easily agree with those words. To nod along would be nothing short of treason against the imperial family.
"Are you certain this is true?" Revelio asked.
"Almost," Caron answered.
"That the founding emperor stole the bodies of his descendants, turning their lives into a living hell... I don't know if I can believe such insanity. But since it's you saying it, I suppose I must," Revelio said.
He rose from his chair and began pacing the room. Even with his ironclad will, the truth was enough to shake him.
Caron, too, had been plunged into long contemplation when he first found out the secret.
"It's a devastating truth," Revelio said quietly. "If it were to leak out, it would be enough to collapse the imperial family."
"Is it really that dire?" Caron asked.
"It strikes at their very legitimacy. The blood of demons already taints the imperial family. And now the founding emperor still lives, endangering the empire to this very day. If your Ducal Family of Leston wished, they could easily use this as pretext to topple the throne," Revelio explained.
As expected, Revelio calculated swiftly. Caron thought he had grown even sharper since ascending to the throne. Watching him weigh the politics of the matter, Caron felt an odd sense of pride.
Perhaps Revelio had become quite a decent emperor after all. When they had first met in Thebe, Caron had thought him merely a madman. Now, he was an imperial kind of madman.
"Don't worry," Caron said with a grin. "No one knows but me and my grandfather. If you want, I can share one of my secrets in return."
"Huh?" Revelio blinked.
"If we each hold a deadly secret over the other, neither of us can easily betray it," Caron explained.
"Is that necessary? I trust you. The Ducal Family of Leston placed me on the throne. Surely you wouldn't discard me?" Revelio said.
"Never trust people," Caron said flatly.
"I don't trust people. I trust you," Revelio answered.
After pacing a while longer, he sat back down and drew a long, steadying breath. He said, "Fine. I'm calm now. Thank you for telling me, Caron. Though honestly, I don't think it would have changed much even if I hadn't known."
"Well, I am going to kill your family's ancestor, so I thought I ought to give you advance warning," Caron replied with a smirk.
Revelio let out a dry laugh and said, "How unnecessarily considerate of you. I hardly know what to do with all this kindness."
He quickly replayed the reports he had received. The Malevolent Emperor had betrayed the demons. He had abandoned those who followed him, leaving the battlefield behind. Because of that, the expedition had won an unprecedented victory. Yet he wondered what kind of man condemned even his own descendants to hell.
"There's no need to dwell on it so seriously," Caron said as he caught sight of Revelio's troubled expression. "I'll carve off the Malevolent Emperor's head myself and bring you the truth. Just wait comfortably in the palace."
"Caron," Revelio said firmly.
"The Malevolent Emperor has been weaving this for three hundred years," Caron explained. "A plan that ancient can't be unraveled in a single day."
Rael's memories were only fragments. The deeper truth still lay hidden, out of reach. The Demon King of Void had returned Rael Leston's memories and revealed glimpses of the Demon King of Havoc's deeds—yet all of it was only part of a larger design. At the journey's end, the truth would be laid bare.
"Oath-bearer, the dimensional space is fading. Finish this quickly," Gratia's voice rang in Caron's ears.
Slowly, he stood and extended his hand toward Revelio, asking, "So, you permit this, right?"
"If it were up to me, I'd march to the Demon Realm myself," Revelio growled. "I'd ask that Havoc bastard why he's done such wretched things, why he's hurled his descendants into this hell."
"Leave that part to me," Caron said softly.
In truth, Revelio too was a victim. His golden eyes shone as he looked at Caron and said, "Thank you for telling me, regardless."
"If you have the time, look into the imperial records," Caron replied. "That's all I ask. No one but you can open the imperial family's secret archives."
"You want me to search for them from the perspective that the Demon King of Havoc was the founding emperor, correct? I was already considering it," Revelio answered.
Perhaps the imperial records held the key to understanding the Malevolent Emperor's true objective.
"If I find anything useful, I'll let you know," Revelio said.
"Appreciate it," Caron replied.
"Caron," Revelio said one last time before the link faded. "Make sure you come back alive."
"Since it's you who said it, I feel stronger already," Caron said with a grin.
"It is my only command," Revelio said gravely. "The sole order of your emperor. Do not forget it."
Caron chuckled faintly and nodded, then replied, "I accept your order."
"Bastard. See you next time," Revelio said.
With those final words, the dimensional space crumbled away, and Caron returned to reality. He handed the communication orb back to Leon and drew in a deep breath.
"I've given advance notice to the bereaved," Caron muttered.
Three hundred years of tragedy had led to this. Caron was approaching the end of the tale that Rael Leston had been unable to finish.