Chapter 220
Within the Imperial Palace of Avalon stood a tower similar to the Magic Tower. Naturally, it was Avalon’s own Magic Tower built by Emperor Marcus to rival the real Magic Tower. For the time being, Evergrant con Aswald was living in that tower.
The Magic Tower of Avalon was dubbed Orbis’ Tower, and only the Imperial Mages of Avalon were allowed entry into the tower despite its name. On the highest floor of Orbis’ Tower were two men talking to each other.
“Princess Serciarin is now in Britannia Palace, but His Majesty didn’t even react.”
His Second Highness, Kaizen ben Britten, was living in the Britannia Palace.
If one of the men was His Second Highness Kaizen, then there was no need to introduce the other man. After all, even a child could deduce who was the only one capable of residing on the highest floor of Orbis’ Tower.
“I guess it’s fine,” said Evergrant.
Kaizen looked up at the middle-aged man in front of him and asked, “Why? Why are you helping me when you refused to help me back then?”
Kaizen had always been a straightforward man who hated beating around the bush.
“Besides, you aren’t the type of person to change his mind—and it’s impossible that my brother hasn’t made a move.” He scrutinized Evergrant intently. It seemed that Kaizen truly wanted to know the answer.
“Because of how things are going right now…” said Evergrant.
Kaizen’s eyes lit up as he asked, “Are you talking about the situation?”
“I’m confident that you are smart, Your Highness. A genius like you has surely realized that this is the calm before the storm, right?”
“Are you talking about the inevitable Continental War?”
Evergrant nodded and said, “I know this is rude, but… since His Majesty is only focused on the outcome of the war, I, as his servant, have no choice but to take over. As his loyal servant, I must be prepared for everything.”
“Does that include being prepared about what would happen to Avalon if we lose?”
“Yes.”
Kaizen coldly glared at Evergrant.
“...”
“I also think that even if we win, Your Second Highness should succeed His Majesty.”
In the eyes of the world, Kaizen was an intelligent and adaptable man. However, everyone also knew that Kaizen had despotic tendencies similar to his father.
Realistically, Evergrant should be speaking to the His First Highness if he wanted to stabilize the country once the war was over.
After all, Kiser had always been the most rational and calm prince among them.
Of course, Kaizen knew that as well.
With that being said, Kaizen asked, “If you want to deal with the aftermath after we win, shouldn’t you be helping my older brother rather than me?”
“...” Evergrant remained silent.
“If you’re not gonna talk, then—”
Evergrant decisively dropped a bombshell. “I want to be the Tower Master of the Magic Tower.”
“What?!” Kaizen jumped up from his seat, and he directed an odd look at Evergrant.
There was only one way for the Imperial Chief Mage to become the Tower Master of the Magic Tower, and it meant turning his back on the Imperial Family of Avalon. How dare he say that he would betray the Imperial Family!
“You bastard…!” Kaizen started. He was about to unsheathe his sword.
However, Evergrant dropped another bombshell.
“At the same time, I want to remain as the Imperial Chief Mage of Avalo.”
“What?”
“Your Second Highness is ambitious as well, just like me, so I thought we can work together because we have something in common,” explained Evergrant.
“It will be unprecedented. The Imperial Chief Mage of Avalon and the Tower Master of Magic Tower would end up belonging to only one person. If I were to successfully earn both positions, then that would be the greatest legacy ever.”
“...” Kaizen stared agape. He didn’t expect that Evergrant would reveal his ambitions just like that. However, it seemed that he had finally seen Evergrant’s true colors. In the end, greed truly made the man.
Evergrant wasn’t really interested in the war—he was only interested in what he could get out of it.
Of course, this wasn’t the first time that someone like Evergrant appeared in history.
It was an undeniable fact that history had only proven rather than denied. It was a tale as old as time.
‘Great…’?Kaizen sat back down and chuckled before saying, “Finally, you’re being honest.”
“Don't get me wrong. The Magic Tower is more important to me than anything else you can possibly offer.”
“I apologize.” Kaizen's tone and way of speaking abruptly changed as he asked with clear curiosity in his voice and eyes, “Tell me your plans, then.”
“I know how to make a certain elixir.”
“A certain elixir?”
“Yes, it’s an elixir that, for one day, can make a terminally ill person move freely as if they were perfectly healthy. In the east, it’s known as ‘terminal lucidity,’ as you can imagine, the side effects are extremely serious and severe…”
”The elixir works by burning the rest of your lifespan to grant you a day of immunity to every sickness out there.”
Evergrant’s eyes gleamed. “It will inevitably lose its effectiveness, and once it does, the one who drank it will lose their life. They would also suffer unimaginable pain as they go—think of it as punishment for going against the laws of the heavens.”
Evergrant’s plan involved hurting the Imperial Family, specifically the poor Princess Serciarin. After all, Princess Serciarin was the only one with a terminal illness within the Imperial Family.
Obviously, they would have to use Kaizen’s sister for their scheme, but Kaizen’s expression didn’t even change. He remained indifferent when he heard about Evergrant’s plan.
“The elixir will let Princess Serciarin see the world for the first time, but it will only be for a single day.”
“That’s good for her.” Shockingly, Kaizen’s lips curled into a smile. “It makes no difference whether she dies now or dies later, but before she dies, she would at least have some peace if she were to drink that kind of elixir.”
”I also think that it will make her grateful to us for freeing her from the curse, albeit temporarily. After all, she had sacrificed her childhood for someone else’s selfish goals.”
“...” Evergrant remained silent at Kaizen’s words.
“Go ahead.”
At that, Evergrant continued to explain his plan, “Yes, and once we’re done…”
Evergrant’s plan enraptured Kaizen. When they were finally done speaking, there was an indescribable smile on Kaizen’s lips as he got up and held his hand out and said, “I wish you the best, Evergrant. And pleasant cooperation to us!”
“It is my pleasure, Crown Prince,” said Evergrant while bowing and shaking Kaizen’s hand.
***
“I-Impossible…!” The small boy—Ash—screamed in disbelief. “T-there’s no way! Even if you have everything else with you prepared, the last—”
“Are you talking about a dragon’s heart?” asked Joshua with a smile.
“...!” Ash’s eyes widened at the sight of that.
Joshua fiddled with his ear for a moment before stretching his hand out and offering a tiny object in his palm. “I already answered your second question, while the answer to your first question is this one.”
“T-the obsidian earring!” Ash flung his hands into the air and screamed, “Are you scamming me here?”
“Who’s scamming who?” asked Joshua.
“Well…” Ash had no idea what to say. He couldn’t really say that Joshua was scamming and lying to him because the evidence proved that Joshua was being sincere and honest here. “You still haven’t answered my question! Even if the obsidian earring allows you to use Dragon Fear, how can a human use it?”
Stop.
‘Yeah, how?’?Joshua froze. Honestly, he hadn’t thought of it before.
“No human can handle the power of that earring! It has a curse similar to the Eyes of Truth—it’s cursed by the most powerful being in the world, a dragon!”
”It’s made out of pure elemental energy and fury! There’s no way a human can withstand the fury of a dragon without instantly going mad, so just how are you capable of using it?!”
Once Ash was done speaking, he suddenly calmed down. He stared hard at Joshua and revealed a grim look as he slowly spoke, “You… Just who are you?”
This time, Joshua didn’t know what to say. Why and how could he use the obsidian earring? He always thought that it was only natural for him to be able to use the obsidian earring, but it seemed that it wasn’t a sufficient answer for him or for the elf.
“Hmm…” Joshua rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Lugia should have an idea about what was going on, but the spear was silent since Joshua awakened the Dullahan Lord.
Ash would only be satisfied with the truth. Unfortunately, Joshua couldn’t answer Ash with the truth because he also had no idea what was going on with him. In that case, Joshua just had to give a clever answer.
Their oath never involved revealing his true identity, so he could just fool Ash.
‘My plan to pretend to be a dragon didn’t work, so I guess I’ll just commit blasphemy.’
Joshua revealed a bitter smile. He couldn’t help but think that he had lost his mind/
Ash felt a sense of foreboding upon seeing that smile.
Finally, Joshua spoke, “Do I still look like a human to you?”
“...!” Ash gulped nervously. “You…”
“I…” Joshua smiled at Ash and finally said, “I’m a god.”
Ash’s knees gave out, and the small elf collapsed to the floor. Joshua’s answer seemed to have satisfied Ash, and he was finally willing to listen to the former.
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