Chapter 93: Seed of Corruption

“When are we returning to the Imperial Capital? Are we going after the Third Legion first? Honestly, the distance from the capital to Ashtar’s main territory is too far. I think it would be better to handle everything here before we go.”

“Hmm, not sure. To be honest, I’d rather just stay here and rest. There’s not much to learn in Atlerina anyway. Although there are some practical lessons from Galedo, I don’t really need them since they aren’t about imperial theory.”

“The nuns have the assassin guild, so their military training should continue regardless.”

“Even though teleportation makes it possible to come and go, isn’t there no real reason for you to stay in Atlerina, Olivia?”

“True. Seeing how Atlerina’s students are educated now, I feel like they’d just let me graduate immediately.”

As a librarian, I’ve already acquired all the essential knowledge required of an imperial citizen.

I even know most of the basic liberal arts subjects.

I’ve learned things I never thought I would, like how to dance at social gatherings or even embroidery.

What’s surprising is that other noble ladies wanted to learn from me.

[Oh my, Olivia. You’re truly amazing.]

[Even embroidery? Honestly, isn’t Prince Aslan a fool?]

[Could you teach me? I want to make something as a gift for a knight I admire.]

At times like those, I couldn’t help but feel a bit strange.

It felt like they were recognizing me as a woman.

“And what about you?”

“I have an agreement with the Empire about Atlerina. I’m here to restore Atlerina’s damaged reputation.”

“Sounds like some arrangement made by those higher up.”

“Not that it’s my concern. In any case, at this rate, whether it’s the Ashtar family or not, a clash between the Empire and the Four Heavenly Kings is inevitable. We’ll need to prepare for an all-out war.”

“I’ll step out for a moment. I might be late, so I’ll contact the Mage Tower. While I’m at it, I plan to lift the restrictions on the teddy bear.”

Well, if she just releases that teddy bear, I won’t have to deal with any annoying matters.

“By the way, since you mentioned the Mage Tower, how’s our relationship with them?”

“My, are you finally giving it serious thought?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Oh, it’s fine. The Ashtar family is a major house, and even if relations aren’t great, it’s only on the surface. The mages are always competing over whether the Mage Tower or the mage corps is superior.”

“I heard the old folks there are pretty stubborn.”

“Stubbornness is different from what I can persuade them to do.”

‘Does that mean she can persuade those around me now?’

“Is that so? Alright, you can go.”

“Understood.”

Syria left.

***

I retrieved a chest I had closed earlier.

There were still things inside I hadn’t revealed.

At the very bottom was an old notebook.

“Should I give this to the head of the family? Even if I keep the magic books, he might appreciate it since it was his father’s.”

Judging from his reaction, the head of the family seemed completely unaware of this chest’s existence.

Besides, this wasn’t the only thing Eldakrad had left behind.

There were various old records as well.

These were something Syria might covet, so I didn’t share them.

“Eldakrad also investigated the Four Heavenly Kings and the Demon King?”

Unlike his journal, this seemed to be his own research and writing.

It detailed the existence of the Four Heavenly Kings.

And I learned something new.

During Eldakrad’s time, the Four Heavenly Kings operated as a trio until the Fallen Saintess took her place.

His records also stated that the Four Heavenly Kings could be replaced at any time.

Seto was predicted to take one of their seats.

It seems Eldakrad already knew a lot back then.

That’s probably why he didn’t flee from the Demon King’s castle.

[Clanis created ‘fragments’ and embedded them in humans to artificially create demons. I tracked Clanis’s base and captured those victimized by these fragments, discovering what he had left behind.]

‘What could it be?’

[The experimental records of the Demon King’s fragments indicate that if a human fails to properly absorb one, they will go berserk and die. If successful, however, the fragment draws out the person’s dark side, leading to complete corruption. This dark side merges with their existing personality to create a fully corrupted being. These fragments are said to be pieces torn from the Demon King. But what exactly is the Demon King?]

Although Clanis’s records were cited, they weren’t perfect. I need to filter them appropriately.

At least when I absorbed this fragment, I didn’t experience any dark side.

The hatred and murderous intent toward humans that Zerato planted in me surfaced briefly, but that was all.

To begin with, I’ve always acted on my own desires.

Maybe that’s why I’ve never been tempted by a dark side.

[Clanis isn’t the only dangerous figure. Seto of Hell leads the demon army and corrupts humans directly. Unlike Clanis, who fanatically worships the Demon King, Seto behaves as though he controls the Demon King.]

This was crucial information.

“Does Seto know this?”

Seto is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, and his specialty is ambushing enemies from the skies with his gargoyles.

He’s a mysterious figure who leads the strongest demon army in the Demon King’s forces.

‘If he’s behind this, then the Demon King might not even be a living entity.’

‘Where did the Demon King come from, anyway?’

‘Wasn’t it Seto who corrupted Bernoa too?’

[Perhaps there’s something even greater than the Demon King. Seto is merely his servant, and the Demon King might have been created as part of a larger plan.]

It made sense.

‘Something greater than the Demon King?’

‘That’s another problem.’

Until now, people only knew about the Demon King.

Eldakrad is the first to propose a new theory.

[Seto, who clashed with me, said, “Only those who are evil to begin with can fall into corruption. I merely draw out their true nature.”]

There were many other records as well.

And then, I organized my thoughts.

The conclusion was that I might uncover something by beating up Seto.

Eldakrad’s era had at least some records of the Demon King and the Four Heavenly Kings’ history.

That’s probably why Eldakrad wrote as much as he did.

However, the part about human corruption eventually creating demons bothered me.

The fragment of the Demon King that Zerato planted in me had successfully merged instead of corrupting me.

‘So, what does that make me?’

Eldakrad’s records aren’t meant to be spread widely.

The Four Heavenly Kings must have erased similar records.

If so, it likely happened when Eldakrad died.

I carefully summoned my mana sword again.

As always, the blade radiated an enchanting black mist.

This sword, imbued with the power of the Four Heavenly Kings, could have its effects concealed if needed.

Even in urgency, I should’ve tried appealing emotionally to Eldakrad.

Judging by how he moved to save his granddaughter at the end, he might have regained his senses and broken free of manipulation in the worst-case scenario.

“There’s no need to hand it over, is there?”

This item was meant for my father, but my grandfather entrusted everything to me.

It’d be troublesome if I got entangled in issues related to fragments or demons because of the records.

There’s no reason to hand it over to my father.

I carefully placed the chest into a spatial pocket and secured the magic book with a small chain around my waist.

“The urgent matter is the Third Legion.”

Once the Third Legion is dealt with, the Ashtar family would gain both revenge and honor.

I could only hope my father made a wise decision.

***

Syria stood in the backyard of the estate, retrieving a communication crystal to contact the Mage Tower.

“Elder, it’s Syria.”

“It’s been a while, Syria. I hear you’re in Ashtar. How long do you plan to stay there?”

‘If I say I’ll participate in the war, they’ll lose their minds.’

If a Mage Tower-affiliated magician fought alongside Ashtar’s mage corps in a war—even against demons—the Mage Tower wouldn’t take it lightly.

For now, I decided to keep it vague.

“The head of the Ashtar family seems to be planning for war. I’ll have to observe for a while.”

“You’re saying you’ll stay there for some time?”

“Not there, but with Lady Olivia!”

I had already mentioned Olivia to them before.

“Olivia? The Saintess? Not bad. But isn’t there a mage corps there? I heard she was interested in magic. She’s not staying there to join the mage corps, is she?”

That was surprisingly sharp.

“Ah, actually, I wanted to discuss that.”

Syria explained that it would be difficult for Olivia to officially qualify as a mage.

“I see. Well, she may be the Saintess, but it would indeed be awkward for her to formally learn magic.”

“Yes, it can’t be helped.”

“Understood. But since the Saintess is Ashtar’s princess, I’ll make sure she’s treated well. Just ensure she doesn’t clash with the mage corps. That would create issues between the Mage Tower and Ashtar.”

“Understood. Also, about the teddy bear restrictions—it nearly buried me in that dungeon before. Could they be adjusted?”

“I’ll increase them tenfold.”

The restrictions on the teddy bear were lifted.

Outside the Empire, those limits were already relaxed, but it’s always good to be certain.

“One more thing. I’d like to ask about human corruption—specifically becoming one of the Four Heavenly Kings.”

“Go on.”

“I hadn’t told Lady Olivia, but the Mage Tower’s knowledge included records about the Four Heavenly Kings and corruption.”

“The current elders had even faced past Four Heavenly Kings. “

“There might be valuable information I could gather.”

“As far as I learned from the Mage Tower, the Four Heavenly Kings are empowered by the Demon King. Is it possible for someone to gain their authority? For instance, if someone obtained a weapon infused with their power, like Pector’s sword?”

“Hmm. Theoretically, it’s possible, depending on how the power is granted. However, an ordinary human wouldn’t be able to handle it. Without a dark side to resonate with, they’d likely fail. Of course, someone with strong mana might manage to possess the weapon, but that’s about it.”

“Possess it?”

“But Lady Olivia uses it.”

“And what if someone could use the power of the Four Heavenly Kings without falling into corruption? Could they control it freely?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“What?”

“No one can use it. While mages might imitate its effects with magic, the power itself operates on a different concept. Not even the most skilled magician could suppress or control it with mana.”

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I had to keep listening.

“So you’re saying…”

“Only through corruption can the powers of the Four Heavenly Kings be used.”

For a moment, I held my breath.

That’s ridiculous.

‘If that were true, then what is Olivia?’

‘Noelle was with her, so it couldn’t be that she was corrupted by Berna.’

‘Besides, Olivia herself wielded that power.’

‘Outwardly, she was Olivia, but inwardly, she was Noah.’

‘Yeah. Maybe this is something even the elders don’t know.’

‘If the essence is Noah, she might be able to wield the power.’

Syria carefully set down the crystal ball.

Nothing is certain yet.

Which means…

“I’ll use this as an excuse to stay close to Lady Olivia.”

After all, as long as Lady Olivia is herself, there’s nothing to worry about.

Honestly, there’s no way to know how much of the First Olivia remains within her.

‘Maybe that presence has something to do with corruption.’

But one thing is clear—Lady Olivia holds full control of her body right now.

If she were to fall into corruption, it would likely be because of the lingering remnants of the First Olivia’s spirit.

In that case, staying by her side would solve the problem.