Chapter 230

Beyond the Demon King’s Realm, in the land of darkness, where even sunlight scarcely penetrated, a monstrous howl echoed through the gloom.

It was a land so bizarre it felt like gazing upon the deep sea on land, and even the creatures living upon that earth were no exception.

And across that land, which even the battle-hardened steeds of the North shrank from entering, two men walked side by side.

Unfazed by the swarm of monsters charging to hunt their prey.

Dale extended his arm. Simultaneously, shadows scattered along his fingertips, and bullets of darkness, without a single spark of light, rained down in a hail of fire.

It was a Shadow Bullet of unparalleled power, and the torrent of bullets slaughtered the beasts of the demon realm without mercy.

After delivering the strike, Dale glanced back.

His father, the Duke of Saxony, spoke calmly.

“I suppose we should call it a night here.”

“Yes.”

Hearing this, Dale silently nodded.

They were traveling without even a servant or attendant, let alone knights to escort them, each carrying a heavy backpack.

After finding a suitable spot to spend the night, Dale ignited an ember upon the demon realm’s soil.

“You’re using red magic.”

Crackle, crackle.

Gazing at the blazing campfire, the Black Mage spoke.

“It’s power I gained through Shuv’s strength, against the Purifiers of the Crimson Magic Tower.”

“Yes, you mentioned facing them during the War of the Roses in the Duchy of Lancaster.”

The Black Mage nodded silently.

Before long, the meat from the beast Dale had hunted earlier was sizzling over the campfire.

“Looks like the meat is done.”

“Looks like we can start eating soon.”

“Hmm, okay.”

Seemingly unfamiliar with cooking, the Black Knight awkwardly stretched out his arm. Watching him, Dale gave a wry smile and said.

“I’ll do it, Father.”

“……Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”

Sprinkling the spices he’d brought just in case, Dale skewered the meat onto two portions.

“Thank you.”

‘It feels just like camping with Father.’

Even at the duke’s castle, dining with family wasn’t uncommon, but sitting by the campfire like this, eating meat they’d hunted together, felt strangely new.

Even if the destination they’re heading toward lies upon the darkest and most ominous land on this continent.

“Thank you, Father.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Everything you’ve given me.”

At Dale’s words, the Black Knight smiled impassively.

“I should have talked to you like this more often.”

“It’s not too late now.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

The Black Prince nodded quietly.

So much had happened. The truth about Dale and Elena had been revealed, and yet this man never once showed his weakness. Still, within his shadow, there was always a black dragon crying like a child. The weight this man carried as a father was something Dale, as he was now, could not even begin to fathom.

“What are your thoughts regarding your relationship with Miss Charlotte?”

“……”

At that very moment, the Black Knight asked again. It was no longer a light question like before. Because now, the Black Knight knew Dale’s truth. Yet, Saxony’s Charlotte still did not know it.

That he was the despicable warrior from another realm who had struck down her father.

“Was saving her meant to atone for your mistake?”

“To be honest, to some extent, yes.”

Dale said.

“But at the same time, her talent shone brighter than anything else.”

“I suppose so.”

The Black Mage nodded silently.

“You’re not as cruel a person as you think you are. Just as Elena wasn’t the cunning mage she thought she was.”

“……”

“It’s just that I possess the cold-bloodedness to decide without hesitation what needs to be done when the time comes. Just like you.”

Dale couldn’t answer right away and gave a bitter smile. Simply because he didn’t know what to say.

Seeing a person’s truth didn’t necessarily require relying on the ability to discern their true form. At least in that regard, the Black Knight possessed insight.

“As the head of the Saxon family, you already possess the qualifications befitting that role.”

“I am grateful you would say so.”

Dale bowed his head with a smile.

“But still, Father is far too vigorous to sit in that position.”

“There’s a chance none of us will return alive from the Shadow Tower.”

Just then, the Black Orb spoke. Hearing those words, Dale swallowed hard.

“And if one of us must die, I hope it is mine, not yours.”

“That won’t happen.”

Dale shook his head quietly.

“Because I will never let that happen.”

“Yes, very reassuring.”

The Black Ball laughed.

Tap, tap.

The bonfire between them blazed, scattering sparks. Unconsciously, Ray Yuris’s figure overlapped within those sparks. It was a fleeting flame, destined to burn brightly and then fade away in the bitter cold and darkness.

In the freezing cold, two people slept, wrapped in blankets.

For ordinary people, this dark land would be a place where freezing to death would not be surprising. But these two were never ordinary people.

Humanity, precariously perched on the very edge of existence.

Tucking the blanket around himself and shifting restlessly, Dale quietly listened to the stillness around him.

He wondered what he could possibly gain by heading toward the Shadow Tower where the immortal master Frederick resided.

By defeating him and claiming the title of Shadow Lord, would he earn the right to be this continent’s overlord? He couldn’t say. Dale simply had things he must protect, and that was why he couldn’t just give up now. That was all.

To climb higher.

It was at that very moment.

In the darkness, a presence was sensed. Suspicious presences, beyond doubt.

And in this land of darkness, it meant only one thing.

「Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

A bloodcurdling scream echoed. Simultaneously, the shadows draped over the surrounding darkness began to writhe frantically.

‘Shadow Sorcerer…!’

Dale scrambled to his feet, but it was too late.

Ahead of him, the Black Orb rose, extending its arm toward the writhing shadows.

“Reveal yourselves, phantoms of the shadows.”

Eight circles accelerated around his feet, and darkness spread outward as if racing in all directions. Living darkness writhed and stretched its arms, and before long, hundreds of arms were binding the hidden presences lurking in the shadows like chains.

Like prisoners tightly bound in chains, the robed mages revealed themselves, dragged out as if being led away.

Yet beneath their robes, a thick darkness lay, concealing their forms. Soon, the robes were stripped away, and at the sight beyond, Dale quietly gasped.

There was no flesh or bone.

Silhouettes made of shadows knelt down in unison.

These are the magicians dwelling in this land of darkness, unquestionably shadowmages.

And within those shadows, their true nature was revealed. Servants loyal to the Immortal, and furthermore, loyal dogs to the Eldritch.

The Black Mage gazed at them with an emotionless expression.

“Do you intend to stand in our way?”

“Hehe, no, no way.”

A shadow chuckled.

“We… we were merely following the Tower Lord’s orders to escort the two children of Saxon with the utmost respect.”

Frederick the Immortal, founder of Saxony and master of the Shadow Magic Tower.

“……”

The Black Duke maintained silence for a moment.

After the silence, he simply flicked his finger.

Crack!

A sound like something exploding echoed. It was the absurd sound of an intangible shadow bursting apart like a human skull shattering.

One by one, their darkness burst forth, and the shadow mages’ expressions froze.

The last one.

“Return to Saxon’s progenitor, the Immortal, and deliver my words.”

The Black Mage opened his mouth toward him, his expression devoid of emotion.

“According to ancient discipline, we shall conceal the Shadow King, and the trial must be equal for all, including the Immortal.”

“Understood.”

One shadow sorcerer bowed his head, wearing an ominous smile. Black Duke swung his arm, and the dark tendrils binding him melted back into the ground beneath his feet.

Once more, only Dale and the Black Mage, father and son, remained there.

“This journey will be no easy feat, I fear.”

“I was prepared for that.”

His father spoke with concern, and Dale shook his head impassively.

Long ago, after its defeat by the Golden Empire, the ruins of the fallen Shadow Empire.

Immortal Engineer Frederick and the Eldritch were ultimately nothing more than a band of defeated stragglers who fled after losing to the Golden Monarch.

But Dale never intended to become a defeated soldier hiding at the edge of the world.

Therefore, he had an even greater duty to prove himself before those within this ruined empire.

The Shadow would rise again, and the war between Gold and Shadow would begin anew, following the ancient conflict.

Moreover, the ruler who would lead the shadows in that war would be none other than himself.

But it was never a fight for ancient fanaticism or belief. As my father said, I had no intention of dancing as a puppet of the shadows any longer.

This is not a holy war.

It was simply a task that must be done for what must be overthrown, and furthermore, for what must be protected.

A war that must be prepared for, in the name of peace.

Unfazed by that irony, Dale stepped once more into the land of darkness.

Alongside the most trustworthy father in the world.

The ruins of the Shadow Empire, defeated long ago by the Golden Empire and fleeing to the edge of the world.

The Shadow Magic Tower.

Right there, the ancient lords of Saxony once gathered. Kneeling before Frederick the Immortal, who stood at the pinnacle of their shadow tower.

“I can feel my daughter drawing near.”

The Immortal spoke softly.

“My beloved daughter, Liza, draws near to this father.”

His voice was filled with an obsession beyond compare.

“My children, the trial for you draws near.”

The Immortal said. At his words, the Eldritch beings clad in black robes emitted a sound like wind escaping beneath their hoods.

“Brother.”

It was at that very moment.

Beside the Immortal, a woman clad in robes spoke. She was a girl, like the Immortal, bound in black bandages.

“In accordance with ancient tradition, I implore you to refrain from resorting to cowardly tactics.”

“……”

“This is, after all, a trial that must be fought fairly and squarely. None who claim the title of Shadow Lord can be exempt.”

At those words, Bulsa-gong maintained a low, solemn silence. It was an unnervingly ominous silence.

“Even if it were my brother.”