Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 138: Fake Gold (6).

It would take time to recover all the fake gold that had already spread across the continent, but having removed the source, the Empire could breathe a sigh of relief.

However, there was no guarantee that a fake gold incident wouldn’t happen again, so the Prince planned to widely publicize this event across the continent.

Distributing counterfeit currency was an act of defying the Imperial family, which was equivalent to treason, and regardless of the severity of the crime, all would be punished with the utmost penalty…

The proof of this was the extermination of the Martolo-Bandit Group. The Prince intended to display the heads of the bandits and the mage as he returned to the capital.

In any case, having neatly resolved the fake gold crisis that the Imperial Family had been worried about, the Prince did not hold back in praising the mercenary group’s efforts. In particular, he openly expressed his affection for Group Leader Allen.

“If it weren’t for Group Leader Allen, we wouldn’t have been able to eliminate them so efficiently.”

“It was because everyone worked together that my absurd plan succeeded.”

It was certainly a very encouraging thing for Allen’s mercenary business to have caught the Prince’s eye. Although it wouldn’t immediately become a halo for his business, it would surely be of considerable help in the future.

Additionally, Allen was highly anticipating the reward for this mission. It wasn’t just any task; it was an imperial mission. Undoubtedly, the amount would be on a completely different level from the usual.

As Allen expected, the Prince specially emptied one of the many carts filled with silver bars. The number of silver bars that went to the Allen-Mercenary Group was a whopping twenty.

Fuck… Long live the Imperial Family!

It was such an enormous amount that it made him curse involuntarily. Converted to gold coins, it would be roughly five thousand.

“The amount is woefully insufficient to express the Imperial Family’s gratitude.”

“How could we ever convert His Highness’s benevolence into money?!”

Honestly, Allen felt like he could lick his toes while naked if asked. Of course, His Highness, with his refined manners, would never make such a crude request.

In any case, once the matter was settled, the Prince’s entourage returned to the small town of Amper, with the heads of the bandits mounted on stakes. Naturally, the town was in an uproar. After all, the notorious Martolo Bandits had been annihilated in an instant.

Indeed, as the Prince intended, the advertising effect was tremendous. Within a fortnight, the news would spread not only through Vermandois but also to the Iron Fortress Kalstadt. This rumor would also instill a sense of reverence towards the Imperial Family.

Around that time, the Prince’s party split into two. One group, consisting of the prince with silver bars, Baron Bornov, and the Kalim-Mercenary Group, returned to the capital. The others, including the Viola-Mercenary Group and the Allen-Mercenary Group, returned to Vermandois.

Before parting, the Prince had a touching farewell with Group Leader Allen. The Prince’s desire to make Allen his own was clearly conveyed to him.

“If you come to the capital next time, make sure to notify me. Let’s have a meal together.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will definitely do so.”

Thus, the two groups parted ways early at dawn, each heading on their own path.

This mission was invaluable to Allen, allowing him to secure both money and connections.

A colossal fire demon engulfed the entire world.

Both the land and sky were glowing red as if they had turned into a fiery hell.

In the midst of the flames, Prophetess Aloa was running naked.

Aaahhh.

The pain of burning bones and flesh. Yet, for some reason, her mind was clear enough to survey her surroundings amidst the excruciating agony of being burned.

In the high-rising flames, she saw something far off.

What came into her view was the white spire symbolizing the Holy Kingdom, and next to it, a gigantic monster spewing fire in all directions.

Aaaaaah.

It presented an indescribable terror. Greater than the pain of burning bones and flesh…

Prophetess Aloa awoke abruptly as her entire body melted away in the flames shot by the monster.

“Argh!”

In her vision, instead of the blazing flames like lava, she saw the familiar room.

Everything was a dream…. The nightmare was so vivid that she could still feel that burning pain.

Aloa couldn’t understand why she suddenly had such a dream. And that, too, was the monster hanging from the symbol of the Holy Kingdom.

Puhaaaaa.

She rubbed her dry face with her hands and got out of bed. Then she flung open the terrace doors and took a deep breath of the twilight dawn air, which had not yet seen the sun rise. If the maids knew, they would be frantic, saying it was bad for her health, but she enjoyed getting up early to breathe this cool dawn air.

Perhaps that was why she longed to be a free mercenary…

She leaned on the railing and quietly gazed at the distant horizon. And there, she vividly witnessed the birth of light.

It was a moment of profound emotion. An art of nature that no human masterpiece could express or create.

As dawn broke, the blessings of the holy spirit descended evenly across the world. With her face flushed peach pink, she thought of a man.

That man.

A handsome man.

Her future husband.

Group Leader Allen.

Although it was almost a fleeting moment, the brief encounter with him left a deep mark on her heart more intensely than anything else. A mark that would never be erased until death.

…She thought he would come again at least once…

She wanted to explain that she had sent him away because she was too flustered when they met again… But he never returned. And after the Top 10 meeting ended, he left for Vermandois with the Viola-Mercenary Group.

Every time she thought about it, Prophetess Aloa sighed like an abandoned wife. No matter what else, her pride in prophecy was unmatched, so the future husband felt as real as the current one…

But the carriage had already left. It was regrettable, but she could only wait for the future.

Returning to her bedroom, Aloa began her ordinary routine. Completely forgetting the nightmare she had dreamt the night before.

Time passed, and it was already noon.

Engrossed in reading a magic book, guests arrived.

“They’ve come from the Holy Kingdom.”

“The Holy Kingdom?”

The moment she heard the words “Holy Kingdom” unexpectedly, the terrifying nightmare she had the night before flashed through her mind.

Could the nightmare and this visit be related?

“Guide them in.”

She closed the magic book she had been reading, gently placed it beside her, and got down from the bed to sit at the table. Now that her body was fully recovered, there was no need to greet guests from the bed.

Soon, two people entered her bedroom. One was a middle-aged man as robust as Magnus the Sword Emperor, and the other was a young woman with a cold demeanor.

“Nice to meet you. I am Quintus Celon.”

“I am Monua Ermené.”

“I’m Aloa.”

Brief introductions were exchanged. Aloa skipped the formalities and got straight to the point.

“What brings the gentlemen and lady of the Holy Kingdom here…?”

“May we sit for a moment?”

“Oh, yes, please have a seat.”

The dignified Quintus sat down and took something out of his bosom, placing it on the table. It was a plaque with a certain emblem. However, she had no way of knowing which affiliation the emblem symbolized.

“We are the Holy Knights.”

!!!

The guests were much more significant than expected. The Holy Knights were those who assisted the Pope and acted for the Holy Spirit and the Holy Kingdom.

However, Quintus only explained himself to that extent and then suddenly, out of the blue, asked this.

“By any chance… have you seen something?”

“Pardon?”

“A prophecy, I mean.”

At the contextless question, the Prophetess Aloa looked at him as if in disbelief.

“I’m sorry, but my prophecies aren’t grand. I only see the futures of individuals… What prophecy are you talking about? It’s too vague.”

At that moment, the female knight standing next to Quintus suddenly inhaled deeply through her nose, her eyes momentarily glazing over; then she looked directly at Aloa and said.“I smell something burning… Fire… yes, it’s fire.”

!!!

“Is it someone’s future? Or a dream?”

At the words of the female knight with long, dark blue hair, Aloa began to talk about the nightmare she had last night.

“…I did have a dream. A dream where the entire world was engulfed in flames. And, hanging from the spire of the Holy Kingdom, there was a monstrous figure… Could it be related to that?”

The two men and women of the Holy Kingdom exchanged glances briefly.

Quintus looked at Aloa again and continued speaking in a much lower, calmer voice than before.

“…You must promise never to reveal what you are about to hear.”

Aloa wanted to say no due to a bad premonition, but… in the end, she surrendered to her damn curiosity.

“Alright. I promise. On my name.”

“Good.”

Quintus lightly exhaled through his nose and continued talking.

“Somewhere in the Holy Kingdom, a terrifying entity is sealed. An evil being that must not come into the world.”

“So, what I saw in my dream, was that it?”

“Probably.”

“Oh my god…”

“One of the roles of the Holy Knights is to maintain its seal… However, recently, there has been a problem.”

At the mention of a problem, Aloa felt a chilling sensation down her spine, as if it had been scraped with a knife.

“A problem?”

“…I’ll stop there for now.”

The middle-aged knight lightly clasped his hands on the table.

“We don’t need much… Just a small clue, that’s all. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“As I said earlier, I can’t see the big picture. I can only catch glimpses of individual lives, and only briefly.”

“Anything will do. Please, if you can.”

Haah. The Prophetess sighed lightly.

“…Alright. Give me your hand.”

She hesitated, wondering if this was right, but couldn’t refuse.

When Quintus extended both hands, Aloa took a deep breath and carefully held them.

!!!

And a scene unfolded before her eyes.

Soon, her vision suddenly darkened, turning into a pitch-black world. Then, a pair of yellow pupils flashed in the void.

-Insignificant, mere creatures…

“Aaah!”

Startled, Aloa quickly let go of his hands.

“What did you see?”

“…I-I couldn’t see anything. It was blocked. Something was stopping me from seeing.”

At those words, Quintus let out a groan. As expected, the feeling was strong.

At that moment, the blue-haired female knight, Monua, who was watching from the side, spoke up.

“Can you look at me too? It might be difficult, but please, just once more.”

Aloa’s hands trembled.

It was undoubtedly the eyes of a monster. An evil presence… it clearly acknowledged her.

The Prophetess gritted her teeth and summoned her courage, clasping the hand extended by the female knight Monua as if shaking hands.

Then, disjointed and intermittent scenes floated up again. However, they passed by too quickly.

The time frame shifted rapidly, and she met someone.

Ah.

It was someone Aloa knew well.

That man.

Group Leader Allen.

Her future husband.

They had fought many battles together.

And a deep friendship was blossoming.

Up to that point, it was a beautiful sight… Until the man and woman shared a kiss and plunged into passionate lovemaking.

“Eeek.”

Aloa, startled, let go of the hand she was holding.

Then the knight asked.

“Did you see something?”

…Indeed, she saw it.

Her future husband and his future mistress.