Ch.27791. Now I’m Curious About Your Identity… (3)

“…….”

Geornia decided to remain calm and observe the situation, suppressing her tension.

Kariel stood there for a while, looking down at Elhermina who lay pale-faced.

For a moment, he seemed about to reach out and place his hand on her face.

But he withdrew it.

“Geornia. In Paeisran, you peeked into the young Demon King’s memories to gather information to chase me away, didn’t you?”

A seemingly random question.

“…Yes. I did.”

“Then, you must have seen Trigramaton.”

“…….”

It wasn’t random after all.

An existence that should never be mentioned.

The one who once seduced, coaxed, proposed to, and threatened Irenis.

The only being capable of doing so, who could casually discuss being the master of the world.

Indeed, “it” was the entity said to have resided right beside or just below the Lord, the Heavenly One.

Some call it the King of Hell.

Others praise it as the Lord of Demons, or the Ruler.

But what is its true nature?

“From the moment you encountered it, your life thread, your fate, was already subordinated to it.”

“How… how do you know that, and how can you be so certain?”

“Because otherwise, there would be no reason for you to have been revived.”

At the moment she encountered it, she collapsed, coughing blood.

Normally…

…she should have died at that point.

Yet she survived perfectly fine, and she doesn’t know why.

So, the reason?

It wasn’t just a special coincidence.

It certainly wasn’t something to be dismissed as mere luck.

In this realm, only inevitability exists.

“At that time, you must have already formed a contract with it.”

“What? But I… I have no memory of that.”

“I know. What matters is that the contract was formed; whether you remember it or not is of no consequence to that being.”

“…So. Why are you telling me this now?”

Geornia narrowed her green eyes as she questioned him.

“Because if left alone, you will live as its servant. Whether you know it or not.”

Moreover, everything you do and think will be for its sake.

…You would live your entire life without knowing, until the moment of death.

And then you would realize.

Only when you’re on your knees with its leash around your neck, along with death.

…By then, even if blood turns to tears and flows like a river.

It would be of no use, no meaning.

“Isn’t it terrible to have such a wretched fate because of one wrong choice?”

“…….”

The taboo of the High Elves.

Was this ultimately the price paid for abusing power, coming full circle?

Thinking about it that way, in some sense, it might be fitting.

…Though it still seems too harsh.

“So, I’ll resolve it for you.”

“…At what cost?”

Someone who claims to accomplish the impossible wouldn’t harbor blind goodwill.

Even if they were… family.

Or something close to it.

“It’s not something you can pay. So don’t worry about it.”

“You, Kariel. That you possess such power… means you’ve already….”

Geornia tried to continue, but when she looked directly into his golden eyes, she instinctively closed her mouth.

For reasons she couldn’t explain.

“What happens here is a secret. At least… until everything is over.”

“You… didn’t come to see El, that child.”

“Let’s say it was killing two birds with one stone.”

Kariel neither denied nor confirmed.

“And I’ll tell you why I’m doing all this.”

Suddenly.

Geornia had the illusion that she was having a normal conversation with him.

In several exchanges, Kariel had preemptively addressed questions she had only formed in her mind or was about to ask, as if he had heard them.

Finding herself unconsciously accepting this, she felt a surge of bewilderment.

“I have formed an absolute compliance contract with the Demon King of Wisdom. Naturally, I did this of my own volition.”

Abruptly, white letters began to descend before Geornia’s eyes.

It was a contract.

One. Kariel will definitely defeat Rueld, the hero and his father, and obtain his acknowledgment of defeat.

If he breaks or loses this resolve, he will bear the most unhappy and painful despair in the world, which will continue eternally even after death, extending to all those he holds dear, until his bloodline disappears.

(This does not apply to his father Rueld, his mother Ermina, or any siblings born in the future.)

Two. No half-hearted compromises or tricks are necessary here. The standard for acknowledging this is solely the subjective judgment of the Demon King of Wisdom.

Three. Accordingly, the Demon King of Wisdom will provide Kariel with satisfactory training methods and compensation for power enhancement.

However, her own vision as the Demon King of Wisdom and current ruler of the demon realm is excluded.

Four. Contract completion is judged solely on whether it was accomplished or not.

If it is not completed and physical death is met, an appropriate additional price will be paid.

The cost of this is also determined by the Demon King of Wisdom.

Was it because her eyes were blurry?

At first, she wondered what this was.

Something that made sense, yet didn’t quite fit together…

There was actually no malice in this.

But if the contract itself is considered malicious.

This would surely be the epitome of malice.

“Is this… is this the only reason you want to fight your father?”

It’s not just “only.”

“Have you ever thought about why I entered into this contract?”

The reason is what matters.

Because the reason stemmed from my insistence in the form of a contract.

Perhaps, as she said, it originated from childish impulse.

But whatever the case, if I don’t want to pay the price.

I must properly comply with the contract and fulfill its purpose.

It’s not difficult.

The content itself.

“…So. You’ll become a Demon King to defeat Rueld? Is that what you’re saying?!”

“…….”

Although there was no mention of becoming a Demon King anywhere in the contract.

To defeat Rueld, one would need to be at least that powerful.

…Geornia implicitly acknowledged this too.

Otherwise, the very notion of competing with him wouldn’t make sense.

And.

Kariel himself had deliberately created a situation to make it appear so.

Though not written there, the Demon King of Wisdom had demanded Rueld’s full power as a prerequisite.

So for that purpose too.

He hoped she would misunderstand.

That’s why he had been maintaining this untimely charade all along.

“After the situation is resolved, whether you reveal the truth to everyone or keep it to yourself. Do as you please.”

Just as Geornia was about to speak,

Kariel preemptively raised his finger.

“I’m not holding El hostage. She… someone suitable will come for her tomorrow, so entrust her to them. With that… my previous promise will be fulfilled.”

“Why? Afraid she’ll interfere if you wake her now? Or do you need the power she passed on? Is that what you need?”

“…….”

To this question too.

He might have answered preemptively.

But regarding this, Kariel offered no excuse, not a single word.

Just.

Calmly urging.

“Let’s prepare.”

“…….”

“Your head might hurt a little.”

As if he had said all he needed to say.

He slowly extended his black hand.

Perhaps this too is part of another malicious plot.

Perhaps he has already become a Demon King, intending to destroy their world.

Just as Geornia’s sister was seduced by the Demon King of Wisdom and became its pawn.

Now perhaps Geornia herself will become the same.

“…….”

Even though I’m not trusting anyone, why am I not rejecting his touch?

If someone were to ask me this, it would truly be troubling.

I truly don’t know.

But for some reason I don’t understand…

I really don’t know why…

====

On the day of the jousting finals.

The news of the withdrawal of a finalist from the earlier martial tournament caused quite a stir in various ways.

But what can’t be helped, can’t be helped.

However, thanks to the third-place contestant being promoted to finalist, the martial tournament finals were still held properly.

A match between an imperial citizen and a non-imperial citizen.

Moreover, between the champion of Dabas’s Divine Warrior Festival and the promising heir of a famous imperial knight family.

Naturally, it lived up to everyone’s expectations with an excellent match from the start.

Nevertheless, some still expressed disappointment, but.

Above all, the victory of someone from Dabas in the martial tournament was a first since the official imperial jousting tournament began.

Perhaps that’s why it could be said to have wounded the empire’s pride.

In fact, spectators from Dabas were overjoyed as if it were their own victory.

But.

The martial tournament is just a bonus.

The true imperial competition, the event that upholds the empire’s prestige, is undoubtedly the jousting tournament.

In that sense, the match between the White Knight and the young hero of the North had naturally generated tremendous buzz.

“…….”

While soothing his horse and personally attaching the saddle, along with the horse armor,

Alesius was lost in thought.

“Is this… the end?”

Or perhaps another beginning.

Even if he won this tournament, he wouldn’t reveal his identity.

Even if someone recognized his appearance, it was different enough from before that they wouldn’t immediately know.

Still, those who should know would know.

Perhaps rumors would spread that way…

“…….”

Anyway, he must return to the North, not the central region.

One of the Monster Kings had referred to him as the future emperor.

But Alesius wanted to erase that fact from his mind until it became reality.

Although his sister’s condition was likely that person’s fault.

But he had promised to resolve the situation… probably for his own survival.

If not, his crimes would become quite clear.

Violating the imperial family, endangering an imperial descendant…

“…….”

Actually, debating this is a matter for later.

It’s a meaningless worry for now.

One thing he learned in the North was not to be swayed by idle thoughts or hasty emotions when concentration is needed.

Without that, managing physical strength and emotional balance would be impossible.

That would be equivalent to saying he would drop out of that journey where one must continuously fight, confront, and overcome on barren land, harshly, fiercely, and relentlessly.

People unconsciously envision and dream of the future.

But when each day, each moment is fierce and harsh.

…At some point, such things become completely irrelevant.

That is the life of a warrior. A soldier’s life. A knight’s life.

…That is, the miserable life of struggle, wielding blades, covered in blood, dust, and ashes.

Click!

After finishing with the horse armor, he finally checks his weapons.

Jousting lance. Imperial sword as his main weapon. A one-handed sword as backup.

Plus a few spare short spears… and throwing knives.

Checking each one.

Eventually, Alesius receives notification that he’ll soon need to enter.

He mounts his horse.

“Phew.”

He takes a short breath.

If he breathes too deeply, a cold chill would freeze his lungs, so he’s learned to breathe either short and thin, or short and thick.

He’s refined his breathing in such ways.

There’s no need for that here… but habits are truly fearsome.

Even though it wasn’t that long, life in the North had been perilous at every moment.

Even he, counted among the most skilled of his peers within the system, felt that way.

Yet there, even those infinitely weaker or more fragile than him survived without issue.

Perhaps that’s when he began to respect life.

“Please enter when announced!”

Such a voice was heard from a distance.

“…….”

Now just fifteen steps from the entrance.

Perhaps because the structure itself is slightly uphill, at this distance the interior of the arena is only faintly visible.

“Seeeecond entraaaance!”

Though the announcement rings out loudly, it’s quickly drowned out by all the noise from outside.

But it’s enough that Alesius himself heard it.

Fifteen steps.

Clop, clop.

The sound of hooves transmits clearly through the horse’s body.

Not sound but vibration.

Yet the sound seems distant, as if heard from afar.

…How strange.

Then, with five steps remaining, as if the space had transformed, cheers, responses, encouragements, and commands all merge together, exploding into a massive roar.

“…….”

Let’s go.

Towards the brightly shining entrance.

As Leius, not Alesius, appears in dark blue armor with his horse in blue barding,

The cheers completely envelop heaven and earth, making the ground rumble and the space shake, as if they couldn’t possibly grow any louder.

“…….”

Yet without being flustered.

Alesius proudly drove his horse toward the center of the arena.

Straightening his back and pulling in his chin.

Embracing the determination to never retreat under any circumstances.

Quite proudly.

When he arrived, introductions about him flowed through the announcer’s mouth.

For some, this might be an experience to feel proud of.

But Alesius simply closed his eyes, killing his emotions.

Even then, he quietly prayed inside, calmly restraining his stirring heart.

After some time had passed,

With another announcement, the White Knight slowly appeared from the opposite entrance.

Clop, clop.

The sound of hooves.

A weighty sound, as if cutting through the cheers and coming straight at him.

That sound precisely touched Alesius’s nerves.

‘Here he comes.’

This knight of unknown identity has amazed the empire with his mysterious spear and sword techniques.

His ability to manipulate mana must have reached the level of a master.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to handle power so neatly and uniquely smoothly.

Without showing off, maintaining maximum restraint.

The fact that he can do this means he is quite skilled.

But.

The games end here.

“This time will be different.”

He whispers to himself as if making a pledge.

Now he too must display his true skills.

Whether this person is a hidden talent of the empire, a foreigner, or a famous master deliberately hiding his skills.

…He will soon find out.

The announcer introduces the White Knight, but only lists his achievements in the jousting tournament.

It seems he still has no intention of revealing or proving himself.

…So he cares about nothing but winning.

“…Same here.”

I’m in no position to criticize.

Thinking this way, his tension had already diminished considerably.

The White Knight now within his field of vision.

That pure white, absorbing even light, was very different from the typical color of silver and iron.

It felt unnatural yet somehow natural and innate.

And.

This time, a full thirty paces.

If the horse charges at full speed, the distance would quickly narrow to about twenty-two or twenty-three paces.

“Are both contestants ready?!”

The announcer raises his voice.

Dragging things out unnecessarily to build anticipation, when they could just start.

“Present here today are the greatest under heaven! The one who saved the continent and gloriously guides the empire! Our hero Emperor! And the Knight of Radiance who led the salvation of the world! And all nine heroes known as the warriors who are the unparalleled allies of these two! They are all watching this match from here! Please keep this clearly in mind as you compete!”

In other words, refrain from dishonorable or disgraceful acts.

The audience might hear it differently.

Thanks to this, the cheers explode again, boiling over beyond mere heat.

“Truly! After a very long wait! Now! The 12th! Imperial Jousting Tournament Final!”

Let the match begin!