NOVPUB[Only one acknowledged by the will of the world as worthy to save it, who passes the trials of those stationed at the world's core, who gains the favor of the dragon residing in the deep valley, retrieves the root of the World Tree from the realm of the elves, and claims a fragment of a god from the holy land, shall acquire the weapon needed to defeat the Demon King.]
The Spirit concluded his explanation, adding:
[It’s a fairly straightforward prophecy. If all these conditions are met, you’ll obtain a weapon capable of defeating the Demon King.]
“Did you fail to accomplish that, or did you succeed but still lose?” Taesan asked.
[The former,] the Spirit replied darkly.
Taesan pondered over the prophecy.
Shortly after, Bardray came to visit him. Sitting down, he spoke.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t asked your name. You, descendant of Kariart—what do they call you?”
“Taesan.”
“Taesan? That’s a peculiar name. Did you choose it to live in hiding?” Bardray tilted his head with curiosity.
“I am Bardray Alkerite, rightful heir to the throne of this grand Empire.”
Bardray was self-assured, bearing himself with the pride of his achievements.
“Let me confirm once more, Taesan. You came here to defeat the Demon King, correct?”
Taesan nodded, and Bardray’s gaze turned somber.
“Then, how much do you know?”
“I know of the prophecy and that the Demon King will appear soon.”
“You’re well-informed. As expected of Kariart’s bloodline...”
Bardray’s expression showed surprise, quickly replaced by a serious look.
“Yes, although the exact time is uncertain, the Demon King will emerge soon. The fools of other kingdoms live their idle lives, seeing no imminent threat, but the Empire has prepared. We’ve trained our soldiers, gathered all available information on the prophecy, and are aware of the likely location where the Demon King will appear.” 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
The Empire had diligently made preparations, training soldiers and gathering knowledge about the prophecy and the Demon King’s arrival.
But there was still something missing.
“The Demon King is a being that destroys worlds, and it has always been a chosen hero who defeats him.”
Bardray continued, looking directly at Taesan.
“Originally, I intended to be that hero myself, but... I’ve changed my mind. I will recommend you as the hero to His Majesty.”
“Are you certain about that?” Taesan asked, a little surprised.
The Spirit he knew wasn’t the type to relinquish a role like that to anyone else. He wasn’t one to entrust his fate to another or yield his position so generously.
But now, Bardray was offering this role to Taesan.
Bardray spoke plainly.
“You are stronger than I am. Overwhelmingly so.”
In a single encounter, Bardray had realized that Taesan possessed a power he could never match, no matter how many times he fought.
“It’s only right that the strong take on this role. And you want this, don’t you? By becoming the hero, you’ll make a name for yourself, overcoming the persecution and disdain cast upon your bloodline.”
“I won’t deny it.”
“Then there’s no problem. A weakling vying for power would only be pathetic.”
Bardray grinned and patted Taesan on the shoulder.
“Then, it’s settled. Let us go meet His Majesty.”
---
Bardray strode confidently down the corridor. Servants and attendants cast brief, startled glances at Taesan, but they quickly bowed to Bardray.
His authority was absolute, and Bardray accepted it as his due.
‘So that’s what you were like,’ Taesan muttered under his breath, just loud enough for the Spirit to hear. The Spirit groaned.
[This is a bit embarrassing.]
After a long walk down the corridor, they arrived in the audience chamber.
Facing the throne, Bardray spoke.
“Great Emperor, lord of the Empire, your son greets you.”
“Enough with the formalities. Raise your head. The same goes for the one behind you.”
Taesan lifted his head to look at the throne.
On the two seats sat a middle-aged man and a slightly younger woman, looking at Bardray with affection. Their gaze revealed them as Bardray’s parents.
[...How nostalgic,] the Spirit murmured, his voice tinged with emotion.
But they couldn’t hear him.
The Emperor looked down at Bardray and spoke.
“So, Bardray, you intend to fulfill the prophecy?”
“Not me, precisely.”
Bardray’s gaze shifted to Taesan.
“He will be the hero.”
“I’ve heard the story. The descendant of Kariart. I knew that bloodline had survived, but I never thought it would still be intact to this day...”
The Emperor regarded Taesan with surprise, though his gaze soon turned serious.
“I’ve heard from Bardray that you are strong. But how can I be sure you won’t succumb to corruption?”
Kariart had defeated the Demon King, only to fall into madness and leave devastation in his wake.
It was a valid concern, given that Taesan claimed to be Kariart’s descendant.
Taesan answered.
“Convincing you of that with words alone won’t suffice. I will simply prove it with my strength.”
“Hm.”
The Emperor stroked his chin, observing Taesan with a slight smile.
“I like that.”
He slapped his hand down on the armrest of his throne.
“If you’d tried to dress up your words, I would have refused. There’s nothing more worthless than the words of others. What matters is strength—a simple, yet definitive force.”
Taesan, who had anticipated having to prove himself through a test, stopped, momentarily caught off guard.
The Emperor nodded.
“So, I shall test your strength. Come forward.”
Clang.
Knights hidden behind the pillars revealed themselves. The Emperor clenched his fist.
“If you are truly as powerful as Bardray claims, defeating these knights should be no challenge. Prove yourself.”
Boom!
The knights charged at Taesan, who stomped his foot.
Crash!
Swords and shields descended on him, the movements of the dozens of knights merging into perfect harmony to put pressure on Taesan.
‘Impressive.’
With strength like this, it was possible to make meaningful progress in the labyrinth, even if not enough to clear it. This world’s power level was higher than that of Arulia or Vequeseta.
But that was all.
The Emperor’s pupils widened as he watched.
Without moving his feet, Taesan fluidly dodged the onslaught of dozens of knights.
Taesan glanced at Bardray.
Bardray looked at him with a face full of admiration.
He had gathered all the information on the prophecy. With the Spirit’s knowledge, Taesan didn’t even need to stay with Bardray to proceed with the quest.
However, the rewards for this quest would depend on the emotions of the ruler of this ruined world.
The God of Regret, Rigrit, didn’t simply want the Demon King defeated.
He wanted Taesan to stay by Bardray’s side and move through the events of the world with him.
In that case, going along with it would work to his advantage.
Taesan snapped his fingers at an oncoming shield.
With a tearing sound, the knight was thrown back. The impact forced the other knights to slide backward, colliding with the wall.
“Ugh...”
The knight whose shield Taesan had touched spat blood.
His shield was mangled and reduced to scrap.
“Will that be sufficient?”
“Ha!”
The Emperor, who had been glaring intently, rose roughly from his seat.
“To bring down the Empire’s knights with just a finger! Incredible!”
He clapped his hands, his face lighting up with genuine joy.
“Good! Descendant of Kariart, you have earned the Empire’s recognition. We will call you our hero and proclaim your deeds to the world!”
---
Afterward, the Emperor detained Taesan, asking him questions.
He inquired about how he had gained such strength, where he had lived, what enemies he had encountered, and what he had conquered.
Like a noble enthralled by tales of adventure, he asked question after question, forcing Taesan to invent answers to satisfy him.
Once he finally managed to get away, Taesan muttered.
“It seems more harmonious here than I expected.”
While the Emperor was asking Taesan questions, Bardray had also engaged in conversation alongside them.
From the warm looks directed at them by the woman, likely Bardray’s mother, it seemed the family shared a close bond.
That came as a surprise to Taesan.
“I thought you’d be cold and distant since you killed all your siblings.”
[Oh, you remembered that?]
The Spirit had once mentioned that he had six siblings and had killed them all.
The Spirit explained.
[The Kabart Empire reveres strength above all else. In this place, it is expected that those of noble blood will fight and kill their siblings to prove their worth.]
“That’s quite a strange concept.”
It was an idea that would be difficult to accept from the perspective of Earth.
“Was there no resentment?”
[Not at all. I was overwhelmingly stronger than them. But... as they were dying, they asked me to make the Empire eternal and powerful.]
But the Empire had perished before the Spirit could become Emperor.
The Spirit’s energy seemed to grow heavier.
An hour later, Bardray came to Taesan.
“A ball, Your Highness?”
Taesan asked, and Bardray nodded.
“Yes, it will be held in an hour. I expect you to attend.”
“Is it really necessary?”
Taesan had already gained the Emperor’s approval. Ideally, he wanted to move forward with the prophecy as quickly as possible.
But Bardray disagreed.
“It is necessary. What is the first condition of the prophecy?”
“To be acknowledged by the will of the world as worthy to save it.”
“That will is sealed beneath this palace,” Bardray pointed to the floor.
“It is a powerful force, and a long time ago, it was bound by a seal. Releasing it will take time.”
“I understand.”
Bardray looked at Taesan for a moment, then placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Are you worried?”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you might feel uncomfortable appearing before others. Worried that they might react negatively upon seeing you.”
Considering that Taesan was now claiming to be Kariart’s descendant, it would have made sense for him to hesitate before showing himself to the public.
That seemed to be what Bardray was getting at.
“Do not worry. You possess great strength.”
Bardray spread his arms.
“This is the great Empire of Kabart. Unlike other kingdoms, we do not fuss over trivial matters; we revere strength. Your ancestor and your bloodline are unimportant.”
He grinned.
“Stand proudly. Recognize your worth and do not hide. That is all you must do.”
With those words, Bardray led Taesan to the ballroom.
There, Bardray announced his presence. He declared Taesan to be a descendant of Kariart, possessing immense strength and acknowledged by him.
True to his words, none of the attendees dismissed or feared Taesan.
Instead, he found himself fending off noble ladies who clamored for his attention.
Had Taesan truly been Kariart’s descendant, living in oppression, he would have been deeply moved by Bardray’s support.
After leaving the ballroom, Taesan went out to the terrace to rest.
Bardray approached him.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, thank you for your consideration.”
“Nothing at all. As long as you’re comfortable, that’s all that matters.”
Bardray swirled his wine.
“Those who wield power should be treated with respect. Trivial concerns have no place here. This has always been my belief.”
“I understand.”
Taesan quietly listened to Bardray’s words.
Just then, they sensed someone approaching.
“Prince Bardray, there you are.”
“Oh.”
Bardray’s face immediately changed, brightening noticeably, even to the point that Taesan could see it.
[Ah.]
The Spirit let out a soft groan.
The approaching figure was a woman in a white dress, with flowing golden hair and sparkling, gem-like blue eyes.
A radiant beauty.
And at her appearance, the Spirit’s emotions noticeably stirred.
Even when he’d seen his family, he hadn’t wavered like this, but now, his feelings were visibly shaken.
Bardray smiled.
“Rebancia, you attended the ball too.”
“How could I refuse when you invited me, Your Highness?”
Rebancia, as she was called, covered her mouth with a smile and looked at Taesan with curiosity.
“Is this the descendant of Kariart who caused the recent stir?”
“Yes, he is.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Rebancia lifted her dress slightly and bowed to Taesan.
“I am Rebancia Corrieje, of the great Kabart Empire’s duke’s lineage, and fiancée to the gentleman by your side.”
She smiled.
And the Spirit could only stare at her in silence.
---
After the ball, Taesan returned to his room.
Throughout the entire encounter, the Spirit hadn’t said a word.
He had simply gazed at Rebancia in silence as she departed.
The silence stretched on. The next day, Bardray returned with an uncertain expression.
“I apologize, but this will take a little more time. The Empire’s magicians are struggling to break the seal.”
“Could you show me to the location?”
“If you wish.”
Following Bardray’s lead, Taesan descended to the underground of the palace. There, numerous magicians were sweating over an enormous magic circle.
“Your Highness.”
“What’s going on?”
“...I hate to admit it, but the magicians of old were superior to us.”
One of the magicians bit his lip.
“We’re still stuck at understanding the nature of the seal. I regret to say that this may take some time.”
“I see.”
Bardray didn’t blame them.
He accepted the situation calmly and made arrangements.
“There’s no use blaming anyone for our lack of skill. We may have to summon those stationed at the world’s core.”
“But will they come to the Empire...?”
“They, too, are part of the prophecy. Since this is for the prophecy’s fulfillment, they won’t refuse. It will simply take some time.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Taesan stood in front of the magic circle, raising his hand. One of the magicians watching gasped.
“If you touch that without preparation—!”
Buzz!
A backlash burst forth, attempting to repel Taesan.
The circle repelled any intruder, trying to eliminate them with a lethal force.
Taesan activated his skill.
[You have activated Magic Dispel.]
Crash!
The magic circle shattered. Taesan dusted off his hands. The magicians, who had been trying to stop him, froze in shock.
Taesan spoke calmly.
“That should be sufficient now.”
