âKeep quiet for a second. Everything will be over soon.â
At the same time as his words. The mana, who was flowing from the mana stone, became stronger, and she was suffocated.
***
Karan and Blake walked through a secret underground passage that was as dark and humid as a cave.
Blakeâs hands were on cuffs made of mana stone of light.
There was a device on the handcuffs that prohibited the use of magic. A long chain was connected to the center of the handcuffs, which Karan grabbed and dragged Blake away with.
It was an insulting situation as if she was dealing with slaves, but Blake didnât care at all.
All he had to do was find Ancia. Nothing else matters. Thatâs why he is willing to wear handcuffs on both hands as Karan demands.
Karan didnât like Blake, who kept being calm even in this situation.
Heâs a monster cursed by the goddess. Heâs much lower than Roum, yet heâs arrogant!
Richard was the perfect fit for the crown prince instead.
He was so talented and well-informed.
A fortress was connected at the end of the secret passage. This secret fortress was built by Emperor Phillip a thousand years ago in preparation for what might have happened, and no one knew it.
Richard knows information that even the current emperor doesnât know. In addition, he even knew how to twist space.
Her master said that if she brings the crown prince, he could finally be the emperor.
It is not long before Karanâs dream comes true.
Richard will be the Emperor.
Then, when he became the emperorâŚwill there be a world for the Roums?
Like throwing a stone into a calm lake, a question stirred Karanâs head with increasing repercussions.
âRichard has changed.â
She could hear Conninâs voice in the wavelength. It was also followed by Kaluoâs cry.
âYou did that to Shulia because of him! Sister, are you out of your mind?â
Kaluo got angry. Karan would not listen to any explanation, nor would she believe what he said, so he would secretly peek into the newspaper.
âWhat you want is not a better world for the Roums! You just want to look good to Richard!â
No, thatâs not true. Everything was for the Roums.
Of course she adored him. But she didnât dare to dream. When the world changes, she only expected that she would be next to Richard proudly, not as a woman but as a great mage.
âThe real monster is Richard, not the Crown Prince! Heâs ashamed of us! Heâs ashamed that heâs a Roum! Heâs not the Savior! Itâs a monster thatâs trying to kill all of Roums! Sister please wake up!â
Kaluo is too young to know.
Richard saved them. He buried the bodies of their family with great care and taught them black magic to avenge their enemies. He also made an orphanage for the Roums.
As long as he becomes the emperor, everything will be different.
Karan was determined to remember when she first met Richard.
As soon as Connin and Kaluoâs voice gradually shrank, Blake, who was quietly following her, asked a question.
âWhatâs your purpose?â
âTo make Richard the emperor.â
Karan said honestly. The Crown Prince will never make it back alive. She didnât have to hide her thoughts because he was going to die anyway.
âAre you trying to make someone who murdered your parents and the villagers the emperor?â
Richard murdered her parents�
It was like a large rock was thrown into the calm lake.
What is that supposed to mean? But instead of finding out the truth, Karan desperately suppressed the questions that arose in her mind.
Richard is a great man. She did everything she could to make him an emperor.
But if heâs not, what will happen? What has she done?
No, that couldnât be true.
âI wonât be fooled like Connin!â
She shouted coldly and opened the door.
When she went inside the fortress, she saw Richard.
âMaster, I brought the Crown Prince.â
âGood job.â
Karan smiled brightly.
How long has it been since she got a compliment?
As soon as Richard recognized her efforts, all the questions in her head disappeared. But there was something drawn on the floor.
It was a magic circle.
When did he draw that? Is he showing her another magic spell? Heâs really amazing.
Richard said he could become an emperor if only the crown prince was brought here. Perhaps it was the ultimate magic spell to become an emperor.
She looked at him with eyes full of respect.
There were four large circles drawn on the magic circle. And on top of the last circle was a boy.
The boy was Kaluo.
âKaluo!â
She shouted in surprise. Why is her brother there? Why is he on top of the magic circle?
She tried to ask Richard. However, even before Karan could speak, she could feel pain in her abdomen.
A sharp knife penetrated her stomach.
âYouâve done a great job.â
Richard said with a knife stuck in her stomach.
âMa, master, whyâŚ?â
She canât believe Richard attacked her.
Karan mumbled hesitantly, not even thinking of
counterattack in this unbelievable situation.
Then Richard whispered in her ear.
âLastly, I want you to be a great sacrifice for me.â
Sacrifice? Heâs going to sacrifice her and Kaluo? To become an emperor?
On the day they spread the tancinol, Richard gave Karan permission to bring Kaluo out.
Karan was moved. She thought the master protected her brother in consideration of her.
But it wasnât like that. Richard intended to sacrifice Kaluo from the beginning. Thatâs why he borrowed Karanâs hand and brought Kaluo.
Is this Richardâs true personality?
Heâs such a cruel man. Yet she blindly followed Richard.
She built a solid wall around her and never listened to anyone else. But as soon as the blade penetrated her abdomen, the wall began to fall apart.
She was finally ready to accept the truth.
She also realized that Richard was a cruel man and even used the Roum.
Perhaps the crown princeâs words were true. But as soon as she realized the truth, the blade slipped out of her body and dug back in.
Red blood spilled from her mouth. At the same time, Karan was out of breath.
Without even sending a look of sympathy, Richard threw her body over the fourth magic circle, pointing the bloody sword at Blake.
âDonât be ridiculous.â
âI didnât do anything.â
Blake raised his hands. His hands were still handcuffed.
âYouâll be able to get rid of those handcuffs in no time.â
Blake inherited the power of the goddess. A mere handcuff could not completely restrain him.
By now, he mustâve already known how to break free.
He must have followed her in handcuffs because he was confident to break it in the first place.
Richard stepped on one of the floor tiles. Then a door opened with a rattling sound, and he could see Ancia arrested on the chair.
âAncia!â
Blake tried to save Ancia right away. But Richard pointed the sword at him and shouted,
âIf you take a step, the mana stone that filled that room will explode, alongside Anciaâs body. No matter how powerful you are, you canât save her.â
Blake stood still on the spot. As Richard said, if the mana stone in there explodes, Ancia will not be safe.
âWhat do you want?â
âGood thing youâre not a fool.â
Richard pointed at the second circle of the complex magic circle, raising the corners of his mouth.
âGo there. And then sheâll be fine.â
âWhat are you trying to do?â
âGo there for now.â
Blake glared at Richard and walked to the second magic circle. As Blake stood in the center of the circle, a powerful mana covered his body and restrained his limbs.
He fell on the magic circle. The manaâs pressure pressed on his body and he couldnât even get up.
Richard lifted Blakeâs chin, which was lying on the magic circle. And he made eye contact with him.
âWhatâs your purpose?â
Blake stared fiercely at Richard. Seeing Blake like that, Richard smiled brightly.
âI will be you.â
Richard learned various magic from Serphamia when he was Phillip a thousand years ago. Among them, there was a way to switch the human soul.
âAll you have to do is twist the light.â
âAlright.â
After teaching him, Serphania said,
âThis is the last one. Iâve taught you everything I know.â
âIs this really all you know?â
Serâs eyes fluttered nervously as Phillip asked her. She did not teach him everything, she only asked what p he needed.
Phillip held back his irritation and asked himself what he wanted.
âIs there any way to change a human soul?
âWhy would you do that?â
âIf you get hurt, Iâll switch our body.â
âYou donât have to. I donât want that.â
âDonât say that. How could I live without you.â
Phillip hid his true feelings and pretended to be caring. However, Serphania did not say it easily.
Phillip begged for days, and she answered reluctantly.