Ch.6969. King of the Griffin

“Kuaaaaaah!”

[I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!]

[Why won’t you release us!]

[I want it to stop! I just want to close my eyes already!]

The souls escape.

With their own consciousness, filled with anger, seeking to resolve their grudges.

Each soul pouring out from the evil spirit became a powerful projectile.

The souls, their mana transformed into magic through the evil spirit, began to lash out everywhere in a swirling torrent, unable to contain their rage.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

An uncontrollable force.

Not only attacking the evil spirit, but also crashing into the pillars, ceiling, walls, and lights of the audience chamber—it almost looked like self-harm.

Even my protective magic couldn’t completely block this rampage of spirits.

But if I stopped the Lemegeton that was activating and amplifying them, the evil spirit would obviously devour the souls again.

I lower my body.

Though I would also take damage, the evil spirit was suffering far worse damage, making this a necessary procedure.

Glancing behind me, I saw Deia and Darius also taking defensive positions against the rampaging souls, though they looked like they could be overwhelmed at any moment.

The Dark Spiritmaster was protecting them, but even she had limitations as a ghost.

The servants who had rushed in earlier were all collapsed unconscious on the floor, and some were caught up in the souls’ rampage.

I couldn’t save everyone anyway.

First, I created distance from the evil spirit and returned to the two of them.

“Is… is it resolved?”

Deia asked first. I shook my head while bringing both of them within the range of my protective magic.

“It’s not over yet. I’ve only freed the souls that were condensed within it, not completely annihilated it.”

Annihilation isn’t that easy, and just because the souls escaped doesn’t mean it suddenly becomes an ordinary ghost.

Only its unfair power disappears, but its original strength still remains.

Of course, it will be several times easier to deal with now.

“When will these things end?”

I couldn’t answer Darius’s question. The souls the evil spirit had devoured over hundreds of years were beyond imagination in number.

And their grudges were deeply rooted.

“There’s no choice.”

The souls, made stronger by the softly glowing Lemegeton. It seemed necessary to stop this quickly.

At this rate, they might destroy the entire royal palace.

[What will you do?]

To the Dark Spiritmaster’s question, I turned my gaze back to the evil spirit and answered.

“We don’t have time to wait. We’ll break through first.”

If this were an empty field or barren plain, I would have waited.

Just waiting would eventually drain all the evil spirit’s power, making it manageable even for me in my current state.

But the rampage of souls it had been holding was too severe, likely to cause casualties among the servants and wreck the palace.

The good news was that it was much weaker than before and distracted by the escaping souls.

“Dark Spiritmaster, protect Deia here. Darius will come with me.”

“I-I’m coming too!”

Deia retorted angrily, but I shook my head to stop her.

“Guard that box well. When I give the signal, use it.”

Deia’s lips twitched as if she wanted to ask what was in the box she was carrying, but she didn’t ask again.

She just gripped her gun tightly, not understanding but accepting.

“Stand behind me.”

Darius and I move forward together in a crouched position. I intended to protect him with magic, but instead, Darius pushed ahead of me.

“No, you stand behind me.”

“…”

“You’re the only one who can face that evil spirit that has taken His Majesty’s body, Deus. Be careful with yourself.”

It was truly the right opinion.

I never expected Darius to step forward and volunteer as a shield.

“Deus.”

As we carefully moved forward, Darius suddenly spoke.

I didn’t bother to answer, but he continued.

“I never imagined such a future would come to us.”

“…”

“I only thought about following father and protecting the family. In truth, I didn’t know what that family was.”

I meet Darius’s eyes as he slightly turns his head.

It was the first time.

The first time I thought he was reliable.

“I don’t know about father, but to me, you two are Verdi, and the family. So if I die here…”

[Give me that stone!]

Kuuuung!

The evil spirit’s counterattack begins as it realizes we’re approaching.

Its strategy wasn’t to stop water flowing from a bottomless jar, but to eliminate me and take the Lemegeton before everything spilled out.

Black hands rising from the ground attack us from all directions.

Darius draws his sword and elegantly cuts them down while finishing his sentence.

“The next head of the family will be you.”

Crack!

He is quite an excellent warrior. He only seemed inadequate because his opponents were all impossibly strong.

But unfortunately, this time was no different. Facing a necromancer who had lived for hundreds of years, his sword couldn’t be swung many times before he fell to one knee.

“Stay still.”

I pressed down on his shoulder and stepped forward.

“Don’t leave unnecessary last words. Are you planning to close your eyes satisfied with just having emerged from your father’s shadow?”

“…”

My magic supports Darius. With a bit more leeway, he glances at me, then stands up with a hearty smile.

“Right, you’re too slender to be the northern wall!”

Gripping his sword strongly again.

He steps in front of me once more and says:

“I’ll protect you by any means necessary. Don’t think about anything else—just focus on dealing with that blasphemous creature!”

“Alright.”

I took out the Lemegeton again.

No matter what, I can’t win with magic. Since the body belongs to King Orpheus, I couldn’t harm it recklessly.

So what I needed to do now was…

Ironically, to awaken the souls more strongly.

Because the most important person was still asleep.

King Orpheus in the game had only two outcomes after learning the truth:

Either he breaks, or he overcomes.

But now I understood.

It wasn’t King Orpheus who overcame.

‘The evil spirit just took over his body.’

That’s why it was resolved so simply.

Conversely, what broke was…

Orpheus’s beliefs were too rigid and upright, so they snapped.

This time, there won’t be such an ending.

I’ll make sure of it.

With the Lemegeton emitting even more light, I opened my mouth.

“Your Majesty, can you hear me?”

* * *

It felt like being in a mud pit. One teeming with germs and insects crawling all over his body.

It was beyond uncomfortable—it was disgusting, but he couldn’t escape.

Unable to open his eyes, smell anything, or open his mouth.

He had heard that after death, one would find peace like falling asleep.

Could this be called peace?

In this half-torturous state…

King Orpheus felt a faint voice tickling his ear.

A solid voice, impassive yet self-assured.

But even though he heard the voice, his thoughts couldn’t reach it. It was familiar, but he couldn’t recall who it was.

In a state like just before falling asleep, Orpheus was about to close his eyes when…

Thud.

He felt someone grabbing his shoulder.

It wasn’t just one.

Hands suddenly clinging to his entire body were urgently yet gently trying to wake him.

‘Hmm?’

He slowly opens his eyes that were closing.

Unable to move enough to look around, he couldn’t tell who was holding him, but the voice became clearer.

– Your Majesty, we’ve almost arrived.

“D-Deus?”

It was clearly Deus Verdi’s voice. Though he couldn’t tell where it was coming from, as his voice became clearer, strength gradually returned to his body.

– Now all that’s needed is for Your Majesty to gather your resolve and rise. Then we can annihilate this great evil that has coiled around the Griffin dynasty.

“Me…?”

What resolve?

What resolve is he talking about?

– You must have seen the many atrocities committed by the Griffin dynasty until now.

“Ah…”

That’s right.

From the journals in the basement.

The cursed, vicious atrocities of the Griffin dynasty that he had witnessed.

Although they were committed while possessed by the evil spirit, that evil spirit was ultimately the ancestor of the Griffins.

– You must have felt unworthy. You must have agonized, thinking you weren’t fit to sit on the throne.

“…”

Yes.

He had to suppress the desire to throw away the crown and flee far away.

– But Your Majesty, being unworthy and being free of responsibility are different things.

“…”

– It’s too much to simply say you’re also a victim. A king leads and takes responsibility; he doesn’t make excuses and run away.

“Ah.”

– Indeed, that’s right. The Griffin dynasty has already lost its qualification to stand as the sun of this kingdom. Incompetence on the throne becomes a sin.

Understanding the meaning behind those sharp words, Orpheus thought he might be shedding tears.

– However, you must take responsibility. Mustn’t you restore this kingdom that has become structurally deformed back to its original state?

“That’s… right.”

– Step down from the position because you made mistakes? Isn’t that just enjoying what you can and then running away?

Orpheus thought Deus might be wearing a self-deprecating smile right now.

After all, what he wanted to say was ultimately one thing:

– So, bearing everything, sit on the throne again.

“…”

– It’s time to cough, Your Majesty.

He felt his thoughts rising. Like someone pulling him out of water.

As his consciousness was pulled with his waist bending, he turned his head to look at those who had shaken him awake.

Some faces he knew, others he didn’t, but…

He seemed to know who they were.

“Father, Mother.”

The late King Opert Luden Griffin, who had been devoured by the evil spirit long ago.

And his mother, Hairan Luden Griffin.

Not only them, but all the many owners of the Griffin dynasty who had been devoured by the evil spirit and had their bodies stolen.

“Ah, so that’s why you told me to be foolish.”

Now, King Orpheus understood the true meaning of his father’s last words.

Simply, always be foolish.

“Did you wish for me not to know the truth?”

Clench.

Strength enters his clenched fist. The passion burning in his chest spreads throughout his body.

“Did you wish for me not to know the ugly reality of Griffin?”

The wrinkled palm felt on his back.

Realizing it was his father’s, Orpheus shed hot tears.

“I thought you were so distant. You were someone I respected so much.”

Thud.

“Now I can see father’s back that was so far away.”

He feels his back being gently pushed.

Now.

Right now.

From the clutches of the evil spirit that no one in the Griffin dynasty could escape.

The chain of oppression that had trapped the royal family in a long, endless cycle was breaking.

“My son, I will surpass you.”

Then.

What he saw before him was the half-destroyed audience chamber and Deus Verdi, smiling with trust.

* * *

“Huk! Huk!”

With rough breathing, King Orpheus clutches his chest, descends from the throne, and kneels in pain.

I immediately withdrew the light of the Lemegeton, and the spirits that seemed ready to party forever began to calm down.

“Is, is it done?!”

Darius, who had barely withstood the evil spirit’s attacks, was already covered in wounds, with blood pooling beneath his feet.

He would need treatment, but the battle wasn’t over yet.

[Kuaaaaaaaaaah!]

The evil spirit, separated from King Orpheus, began to flail and scatter its remaining mana.

Now just an evil spirit struggling on instinct.

In the sensation of thorns flying at me, I reached out my hand.

The visualization of the soul surrounded by mana rises.

The magic I used at the family mansion to absorb evil spirits.

The method necromancers use to completely subjugate evil spirits, surrounding them with the sorcerer’s soul.

[You’re insane!]

The evil spirit, thinking I was trying to subjugate it, charged at me with its mouth wide open.

The black head swallowed me whole, and soon the control of my body began to shift.

“Keu, eurk!”

[In the end, you’re just another necromancer! You dare try to make me yours? You’re insane! How dare you…!]

Just as the original Deus possessed me.

The evil spirit began to take over my body. I staggered and fell to one knee, but at the same time, my eyes reached the woman in the distance.

My quick-witted sister immediately opened the box on her back.

“Huh?”

With Deia’s exclamation of disbelief, light began to pour throughout the dark audience chamber.

Just by its existence, evil spirits fled, and ghosts closed their eyes.

The Lemegeton is a cheating item for necromancy.

But games don’t give one-sided cheating weapons to just one side.

That was not simply the counterpart to the Lemegeton, but God’s gift that purifies all evil things.

The most perfect substance on the continent.

The silver cup that holds everything in the world.

Deia was startled as she took the Holy Grail from the box, but I shouted while struggling for control with the evil spirit:

“Now!”

[You’re insane!]

Now the situation reverses.

The evil spirit trying to escape my body, and me holding it back.

I knew it would try to flee the moment it saw the Holy Grail, so I needed a shackle to hold it securely, and I volunteered myself.

With the Holy Grail in one hand and her magic gun in the other, Deia aimed at me without hesitation.

In her eyes was not hatred for me, her second brother.

But trust.

The divine power from the Holy Grail mixed with Deia’s mana, traveling through her hand to the gun barrel.

[You borrow the power of God! Aren’t you ashamed! Necromancer!]

I snicker at this ridiculous outburst.

“I am different from you, who became an evil spirit and can no longer receive God’s blessing.”

Bang!

The gun barrel spat fire, and a bullet filled with divine power flew straight toward me.

“The dead should have remained dead.”

Thud!

The bullet lodged precisely in my left shoulder. As divine power poured throughout my body, I hastily dropped the Lemegeton.

[Kuaaaaaaaaaah!]

The evil spirit, touched by divine power, began to burn under God’s judgment, screaming.

Despite the intense pain in my shoulder, the smile on my face doesn’t fade.

“Your mistake was thinking you could possess me.”

Despite my clear warning, he was a student for whom teaching had no effect.

“What I had prepared was only annihilation, as I said.”

Clutching my throbbing shoulder, I look up at the sky.

Sunlight enters through the perforated audience chamber.

As the late dawn departs.

As the sunlight gently descends.

The ghost of Griffin achieved complete annihilation.