CH 161 The Monarch And Those Who Serve Him

The wind was howling outside the window, and the clouds were rolling in the sky. The pale and thin crescent moon appeared and disappeared in the surging dark clouds. Even before the Devil appeared in the room, the King had sensed signs of his coming.

This was completely different from the previous silent arrival of the Devil.

He was gradually becoming extremely powerful.

The scent of blood lingered around the Devil. He was the first ancient existence to crawl out of the Wall of Insects. Killing and avenging quickly restored his strength. Under the pale and cold appearance, he was approaching his original image—-—the true form that symbolizes chaos, evil and killing.

The King looked through the window at the moon hanging high in the sky, looking at the dark clouds like waves carried by the strong wind in front of the moon, thinking about something that happened a long time ago.

On the barren rocky beach at the end of the world, there were countless jagged black boulders, criss-crossing the earth, like the fangs and claws of the earth. Bones were everywhere, and the wind wailed as it passed through the black boulders. He walked through the white bones, through the black boulders, through the strong winds coming from all directions, and reached the deepest depth.

There, he saw the existence he was looking for.

The moment the contract was signed, a strong wind rose in the sky, as if the winds of the entire world had gathered there. Dark clouds like thick ink rolled in the wind, and in an instant the dark red sky was filled with black clouds as big as mountains. The layers of black clouds were rapidly changing shapes in the wind, and they were as ferocious as all the resentful souls who were trapped and died at the end of the world were roaring with jealousy, roaring to keep the Devil who could break out of here, and leave behind them. Wanting to tear the King into pieces, he who dared to take the Devil out of this prison.

The endless white bones on the ground were rolled up into the sky, like a continuous rainstorm.

The hatred and malice of countless monsters filled the black clouds, and the clouds overturned from the sky and reached toward the ground.

"Piss off."

The freed Devil flashed a cold smile, and countless chains engraved with ancient scriptures, centered on the black boulder where he stood, rose into the sky with a harsh screeching sound.

White bones, black clouds and chains collided, causing white bones to turn to ashes, and black clouds to roll back.

Those were the chains that were originally used to trap the Devil. The moment he regained his freedom, they were corroded and manipulated by him, and were shattered into pieces together with the malice.

The black clouds dissipated, but the heaven and earth did not recover.

The thick black mist surged in all directions with the most terrifying evil aura. Amidst the shattering of the iron chains, the freed Devil spread his arms, and countless black butterflies swirled and rushed out of the ground. The sky and the earth were filled with murderous intent and hatred, hatred for the gods and the entire world.

The King stood in the fierce wind, and at that moment he clearly realized that he had unleashed the most terrifying devil in the world.

The sounds of the flapping wings of black butterflies gathered together and poured into his mind. He put his hand on the hilt of the sword and calmly looked at the Devil venting his anger. Before he traveled thousands of miles to the end of the world, he already knew what kind of existence he would face... the most terrifying devil in hell who was known for his cunning and treachery.

"Your Majesty?"

The Devil approached the King, followed the King's line of sight, and looked out the window.

His dark pupils stared at the sky. The surging black clouds instantly dissipated, the wind stopped, and the crescent moon and stars reappeared in the sky. The night in Yoringshire County returned to tranquility.

……

A hand that was extremely pale and cold compared to humans pressed on his own.

The tidal black mist calmed down, the black butterflies landed on the white bones that turned into fine sand, and the earth was covered with evil. In the center of the evil, the newly contracted monarch and the knight stood face to face. The monarch's sword was half unsheathed, the cold light was sharp, and the hell knight was still shrouded in murderous intent.

They were in a stalemate for a while.

The murderous intent surrounding the Devil subsided and dissipated. He slowly pushed back the King's half-unsheathed sword, then let go and stepped back halfway, half kneeling on the ground.

At your service, Your Majesty.

……

The Devil's voice rang in his ears, and the King came back from the intertwined memories. He lowered his head to look at the map on the table.

"For the Holy Legion of the Holy Land, Douro City and Newt City are both good footholds. Currently, the old Bressi nobles account for half of the Holy Legion of the Holy Land. The establishment of the Holy Empire has naturally suppressed their power and influence so it will not be easy for Theolde to make this part of the army obey him. Before the construction of the Throne of God Pier is even completed, the Blessed Ones are already mobilized to join the military operation. Theolde putting such an important chess piece on the battlefield means his goal would not be only limited to just Douro City or Newt City..."

The King frowned slightly and examined the map.

"Your Majesty."

The Devil suddenly interrupted him.

His face looked a bit gloomy under the dim candlelight.

"You seem to be in a bad mood lately?" The Devil asked in a half-joking tone, but his expression clearly didn't mean that. "I can feel your unhappiness even in hell… Did someone make you angry?"

The King realized that the reason why the Devil rushed to the mortal world today covered in the scent of blood not dissipated was not just for the saints who were about to be sent to the war by the Pope.

There were other reasons.

The Devil sighed and said in a complaining tone: "You were very sad some time ago... I couldn't help but want to leave hell and burn the world with fire. Our contract will let your emotions affect me, Your Majesty.”

The calmness on the King's face suddenly disappeared. He stood up, took a step back, and his face disappeared into the darkness.

"They were destined to leave you, and serving you was their honor, not your sin. Besides… who else will always stand by your side besides me?"

The Devil took a step forward with a smile that seemed careless.

"Don't feel sad for them all the time."

He stretched out his hand, covered the King's eyes, pressed his pale and cold fingers on the King's brow, and exerted slight pressure. With a hint of coldness and dissatisfaction, he wanted to wipe away the fatigue and depression from the King's brow.

"You will make your most loyal knight feel aggrieved. My dear majesty."

He whispered in the King's ear, still carrying the bloody scent from the battlefield.

Even if he wore the most human-like skin, he was still a devil, possessing the characteristics of hell creatures… evil, chaotic and deeply hostile. In the past, he didn't mind pretending to be harmless in front of the King, but under this human skin, he was always a monster from hell.

"Be fair, Your Majesty."

The Devil said, bowing his head to kiss his lord.

The King realized again——

He had indeed unleashed one of the most terrible devils, and he was currently serving him.

……………………

The sun shone on the earth, and the long army marched on the Donard Plain.

The terrain in central Legrand was relatively less rugged than in the south, and was generally flatter. But this was only from an overall perspective. In fact, in this area extending from the central coastline, the terrain was mainly flat land and hills, with the terrain slightly sloping from west to east. Small mountain ranges were distributed longitudinally in parallel, and plains were mixed between hills and mountains.

West unfolded a map provided by the priest and tried hard to confirm his route based on the icons on the map. 

Summer had come, but there was still a bit of sultry heat in early autumn. West was wearing heavy armor, and his forehead was covered with sweat.

"Damn the weather."

He muttered and complained, reflecting on why he wasn't enjoying wine and women back in Bressi... no, what should be the territory of the Holy Empire now, but came to suffer in Legrand, the country of madmen.

Well, it was all because of the damn Holy Empire, damn Theolde——though he didn't dare to say this out loud.

West was the commander of this advancing Holy Legion. He was originally a duke of the Kingdom of Bressi, with a vast territory in a wealthy area of Bressi. However, since the Bressi Kingdom became the Holy Empire, his status as a duke, who had to be respected even by King Bressi, had deteriorated day by day.

The reason why Duke West joined the Holy Legion movement was for this reason.

The Emperor of the Holy Empire, Pope Theolde, was a strong and ruthless ruler. In the Holy Empire under his rule, Duke West could not find a way to restore himself to his previous status and prestige. And this Holy Legion movement was a unique opportunity.

He was determined to make Theolde understand through this Holy Legion movement that even though he was ruling the Holy Empire now, without the military support of nobles like them, Theolde was just an emperor in name. If he wanted to continue ruling Bressi for a long time he must rely on their strength. To take a step back, even if Theolde failed to make concessions to them and restore their status, they could still occupy land on Legrand and collect wealth to make up for their losses from "Bressi" becoming the "Holy Empire".

There were many old Bressi nobles who had the same intentions as West, and they assembled a large army to participate in this war.

However, now, on the way to Douro City, Duke West had begun to doubt whether his decision was correct.

But now that the matter had come to this, they actually had no choice but to move forward.

After Duke West confirmed that the direction was correct, he raised his head and glanced at the hills ahead, and ordered to continue moving forward.

"Oh Holy Lord, may we be able to successfully capture Douro City before the Knights Templar do."

Duke West made the sign of the cross on his chest.

——It would be great if that guy Theolde led the Knights Templar into a big pit.

He added in his heart.

………………

While Duke West was leading his Holy Legion, which was mostly composed of Bressi's old nobles, in another place, the Knights Templar were traveling on another march route, heading for another target.

In the silent and majestic torrent of silver armor, there was an iron carriage with exquisite decoration and safety. Inside, Pope Theolde was playing chess with his old friend Sisian.

"West seems to have another purpose, Your Majesty." Sisian said while moving the chess pieces.

"What means are we going to use to make those who don't obey us obey us?"

Pope Theolde pushed the black "knight" to move one space diagonally outward on the chessboard.

The knight was sent to Sisian's chess piece by Theolde, and Sisian took advantage of the opportunity to eat it.

"Let them suffer a little first." The Pope answered unhurriedly.

"Compared to Hermóðr' and Ferri III, you seem to be more wary of Pureland?" Sisian asked speculatively.

"Yes."

"But he is the youngest."

"Pureland..." Theolde started, then he stopped and looked at the chess game, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head slightly, "That is a terrifying monarch who is like a monster."

After a pause, he added meaningfully.

"A true monarch."