Necromancer Of The Black Bible (175)

“Originally, the Towermaster’s strategy was to draw the Demon King into this war. Seeing the Demon King’s forces appear, it is clear the Towermaster’s plan succeeded. Even if contact with the Towermaster has been cut off, it remains true that we must receive their aid to drive out the Necromancer. I believe we should at least attempt dialogue with them before confronting them.”

The Emperor’s gaze deepened.

It was because this was the Crown Prince’s hopeful plan, and the Emperor could not simply dismiss it.

After staring at Eric for a long while, the Emperor spoke heavily.

“You suggest we speak with the Demon King?”

“Yes.”

An answer given without the slightest hesitation.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of the Emperor’s mouth at the sight of Eric, who showed no trace of fear.

“You know what sort of being the Demon King is, and you still say this?”

“A master of deception, a villain among villains who exploits tiny logical flaws to enforce unfair pacts. I’ve read everything written about him.”

“Even so, you still think we must negotiate with him?”

“I do.”

Eric continued without a hint of hesitation.

“The reason the Demon King plays word games is because contracts bind him absolutely. In other words, he cannot act unless by contract. And the Towermaster told me what terms he intended to conclude with the Demon King. Using that, I believe we can negotiate with him.”

It was a statement full of boldness.

However, the Emperor spotted an oversight he could not ignore.

With a stern expression he pointed out that flaw.

“If contact with the Towermaster was severed because his contract with the Demon King went wrong, and he entered into a pact different from what he declared, do you still think negotiation is possible?”

It was a probing, cunning question.

But Eric answered without appearing to dwell on it.

“We must make the negotiation with the Demon King succeed. Not because it’s likely, but because even if it’s impossible, it must be attempted. If we do not negotiate here, our forces will be annihilated.”

The Emperor was surprised for the first time at that moment.

He had not expected the Crown Prince’s insight to be of this caliber.

Eric looked at the Emperor and continued unabashedly.

“A thousand years ago, to subdue Belzemon who ruled the surface, we borrowed the power of Ancient Dragons, Elves, and Dwarves. What about now? Are they here? Even putting Elves and Dwarves aside, can we alone defeat the Demon King’s army in a situation where not even Dragons remain? Unless the Demon King’s target is clearly shown to be us, we must negotiate and persuade him. His enemy is not the Empire but the Necromancer who commands the immortal beings.”

Every single word was correct.

Not only the Emperor, but everyone in the Palace regarded the Crown Prince’s words as right.

Most ministers nodded in agreement, and even the knights found themselves nodding.

The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince with deep eyes, then spoke.

“Can you take responsibility for your words?”

Eric’s eyebrows twitched.

But he did not avert his gaze.

The Emperor asked again.

“I ask: can you go and persuade the Demon King?”

Eric rose from his seat.

He strode to the Emperor, knelt, and said,

“If you order it, I will go personally.”

“You know you might die, do you not?”

“Death at the hands of the Demon King would be light in comparison. If I can save the Empire, I will gladly accept a curse lasting eons.”

Eric’s gaze did not waver.

The Emperor stared down at the Crown Prince for a long while, then finally spoke.

“Go. But remember this: if three days pass from your departure with no word, the Empire will commence the war.”

“I will remember.”

The Emperor rose from his throne.

He then approached his most beloved son and embraced him.

After finishing the farewell, Crown Prince Eric departed through the north gate with ten guard soldiers.

Eric rode swiftly.

‘The time allotted is only three days.’

He must complete the mission within that time.

Only then can the senseless war be prevented.

‘I must succeed.’

Eric moved forward, reaffirming his resolve.

Before leaving the north gate, he estimated the Demon King’s army to be half a day’s ride away.

It was a distance he could reach before sundown.

Then a soldier at the front halted his horse.

Eric approached him and asked.

“What is it?”

“Look over there.”

They stood on a hill.

Thanks to that, the wide plain below was fully visible.

It was a plain he often saw, so he could sense how grotesque the current sight was.

‘What on earth is this…’

Where a green field once stretched to the horizon, the scene was now completely different.

A vast number of monsters were arrayed in formation, approaching this way.

Even with the sun tilting westward, they showed no sign of camping or resting.

Only forward.

Perhaps because of that, the green plain they passed had become a desolate wasteland.

Each step of the massive beasts rose thick smoke and flames, and those fires consumed every tree and blade of grass around them.

It was a sight that would induce terror just by looking at it.

The soldier looking down at it spoke.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince. Are you truly going?”

Eric swallowed dryly.

What he had read in books was entirely different from reality.

Above all, the weight of the fear was different.

Acrid smoke and rising flames.

And the piercing murderous intent exuded by the monsters.

All of it subdued Eric’s heart in an instant.

‘I’m supposed to go there?’

Just imagining it made his body tremble.

But he could not turn back from here.

Above all, he had promised the Emperor, so he absolutely could not.

At that moment the soldier spoke.

“Before we left, the Emperor told me: if it seems utterly impossible, bring His Highness back. He said beginning a fight with no chance of success is foolhardy.”

Eric’s expression hardened.

He felt ashamed of himself for being unable to escape the Emperor’s prudence.

In the end, he spoke resolutely.

“I will meet the Demon King. You all wait here.”

“But…”

“It is an order.”

Without delay, Eric urged his horse on.

He felt that if he stayed any longer, he would return having done nothing.

“Giddy up!”

Eric continued to lash his horse to chase away the fear.

The horse dashed at full speed.

Before long, Eric reached the Demon King’s army.

When he halted his horse before them, the monsters all stopped in unison.

Then a single monster from the front approached Eric.

The creature was red all over with four huge muscular arms, and the ground trembled with each step it took.

Kuung, kuung, kuung-

The monster blocked Eric’s path and spoke in a voice like breaking pottery.

“What are you?”

It was a horrifying voice that felt like metal scraping the mind.

Its long mouth, torn to the ears, revealed jagged teeth here and there and drool flowed between them, making it look even more appalling.

Eric forced himself to regain composure and spoke.

“I am Crown Prince Eric. As an envoy of the Empire, I request an audience with the Demon King Illinas.”

His voice trembled, but his words were conveyed clearly to the other side.

The monster let out an inscrutable laugh, then took a horn trumpet from its waist and blew it.

Pruuuuuu, pru, pruuu-

The formations of monsters split open, revealing a path.

The creature spoke to Eric.

“The Demon King waits. Go on.”

Eric, feeling a chill, proceeded along the path that had appeared before him.

After walking for some time, he felt a massive presence.

A dreadful aura far beyond the murderous intent he had felt from the monsters lining both sides.

Simply sensing it made him dizzy as if he might lose consciousness.

Eric instinctively dismounted.

He then slowly approached the front, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.

He had not yet seen the Demon King, but somehow he felt he must act this way.

“I come to see the Demon King.”

He spoke softly, but the other seemed to hear.

Soon the voice came.

-To dare come here alone. Childish courage, admirable indeed.

The voice did not come from beside his ear.

It echoed within Eric’s mind.

Sensing this, Eric realized all his previous expectations had been off the mark.

What sort of conversation or negotiation could he possibly have with a being that could unsettle even his innermost thoughts like this?

As this thought crossed him, the voice spoke again.

-You have come to negotiate with me. Yes. A good thought. Come this way.

Eric could not refuse that voice.

He slowly rose and walked forward as if entranced.

As he drew nearer to the presence, he first saw a tail.

A long shadow brushing the ground made a rounded circle, moving slowly like a snake finding its place.

Then huge black wings came into view, and when he raised his head fully he saw two immense goat-like horns.

Though goat horns are symbols of corruption, the luminous aura around them made them feel sacred.

He then met the eyes beneath those horns.

Those pupils were deeper and darker than an abyss, their end impossible to gauge.

Just holding that gaze felt like being sucked in.

Eric felt the strength drain from his body, yet he could not slump down.

It was as if the being before him held him fast.

At that moment the voice spoke again.

-Who are you?

“E…ric. I am the Crown Prince.”

-Oh ho… I see. Why did the Emperor send you here?

“To… negotiate.”

-Negotiate? What for?

Although he should have planned his answer, Eric could not.

The Demon King’s voice that shook his heart was irresistible.

In the end, Eric began to speak his true thoughts.

“It is to persuade the Demon King.”

-Is that so… Very well. Then try to persuade me.

The Demon King’s whispering voice within his mind was unbearably sweet.

Lured by that sweetness, Eric began to honestly reveal what he had thought so far.

“The Empire is not your enemy. The true enemy is the Necromancer stationed at Graneum Castle. He wields the power to defy death. We hope you will defeat him for us.”

-Hmm… Is that truly what you desire?

“It is.”

Eric answered calmly, and a smile spread across Illinas’s lips.

He approached Eric and lifted his chin.

Black, deep eyes swept across Eric’s face.

Eric could not resist.

After scrutinizing him for a long while, the Demon King spoke himself.

“Who do you think I am?”

“…The Demon King, the sole omnipotent Demon King of this world.”

“You know that asking such a Demon King for a favor requires compensation, do you not?”

Eric’s pupils trembled.

He had not expected the Demon King to pose such a question at all.