episode_0117

The Empire’s largest underground city, and the domain of the Monarch, who was known as the pinnacle of the underworld.

Until a few years ago, it was considered the heart of the shadows.

Murder, drugs, human trafficking, and more ran rampant as if daily life, truly a hell.

Even the Empire reportedly had no way to deal with them, so it was understandable how a city could be named ‘The Kingdom’.

It was like a purgatory where only human malice had gathered.

“……It reminds me of old times.”

A brief mumble.

Memories were embedded in the casually spoken sentence.

Memories I didn’t want to recall.

“Th-this way, just walk a little further!”

Injustice clumsily led the way.

We walked.

As we traversed the dark streets, a faint scent of blood seemed to brush past my nose.

Perhaps it was a real smell wafting from the alley.

In any case, it wasn’t pleasant.

“I wonder if this place has changed too.”

“Y-yes, it has… It’s already been three years since the war.”

“Haha.”

I scoffed.

No.

To my eyes, it hadn’t changed at all.

Because even if you peel off a bit of rotten skin, you can’t hide the ugly essence beneath.

The city, still full of trash, remained filthy.

A soft rustle.

As if to prove that thought, I felt gazes on me.

They were people watching, hidden in the alleys.

Every single one of them had their hands stained with others’ blood, gripping filthy sword hilts.

Their bloodthirsty eyes sought out easy targets.

“……”

Would we not be included?

If we were brazenly walking the streets like this, anyone might jump out and thrust a blade at us.

But upon spotting the girl accompanying me, they seemed to back away.

‘Quite impressive.’

She must be living up to her name, then.

The one who doesn’t rely, Injustice.

Although she had shown many ugly sides, she was also one of the nightmares ruling this city.

As a member of the Monarch’s Royal Guard, her skill was undeniable.

The pack of wolves subtly lowered their tails.

Thanks to that, we arrived at our destination without any trouble.

“W-we’ve arrived.”

Our steps halted not far from our destination.

A massive palace came into view.

It was an extravagance that didn’t fit the scenery we had just passed through.

A building that symbolized the city stained with blood and darkness, a space even crime organizations gripped by madness feared.

It was none other than the abode of the absolute ruler.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes…!”

We stepped inside.

It was a gloomy sight.

It was luxurious enough to make any ordinary castle seem paltry, yet it lacked vitality, as if viewing a monochrome screen.

Perhaps it was due to the countless tears hidden by its splendor.

I remained silent.

Click-clack.

Walking down the long corridor, we soon found a door at its far end.

It was the room where one would have an audience with the master of this place.

Upon spotting us, the guards readily opened the door.

Every movement was respectful and precise.

“Your Majesty is waiting.”

A heavy thud.

The space opened with a heavy thud.

I stepped inside without hesitation.

A floor covered with a red carpet.

At the end of that path sat a throne.

I naturally looked up at it.

“……”

Seated on the avaricious throne was the Monarch.

An old man with a sharp demeanor.

Despite making no particular movement, the surrounding mana seemed to obey and was suppressed by him.

Beside his monstrous aura, the rest of the Royal Guard could also be seen.

Unknown, Unease, Distrust, Injustice.

They were the Five Negatives.

Unknown, whom I had previously encountered, was also present, and Injustice, I don’t know when she went there, was mixed among the Royal Guard.

No one spoke first, so only silence lingered around them.

We merely glared at each other.

“……”

Should I call it a peculiar battle of wills?

A long standoff continued.

The one who broke the silence was none other than one of the Royal Guard.

A man with a fierce expression and a bulky physique roared at me.

“What are you doing, not showing respect first? Immediately kneel before His Majesty and greet him!”

“……?”

What was that?

I stared at him at the unexpected loud noise.

‘Judging by the epaulets on his shoulder… he must be Unease.’

He was the only unfamiliar face.

Since I didn’t remember him, he seemed to be a newly selected member of the Royal Guard.

I had no intention of dealing with him.

Because I had no interest to spare for a fool who couldn’t tell where to intervene and where not to.

When I let out a mocking laugh, casually dismissing him, he glared, as if ready to pounce at any moment.

A volatile situation.

“That bastard…!”

“Enough.”

Only then did the old man speak.

A voice that restrained the conflict.

Unease looked aggrieved, but his master merely stared at him with cold eyes.

The instantly chilled air forced silence.

“But, Your Majesty…!”

“Did I not tell you to stop?”

“……”

“I distinctly remember telling you. Not to act recklessly, as a valuable guest would be arriving.”

“……My apologies.”

“Step back. This is not your place.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Unease retreated, as if suppressing his anger.

Nevertheless, his eyes were incredibly disrespectful.

I sneered.

“Your subordinates’ education seems to be a mess.”

“He’s still new to this place, you see. I hope you’ll be broad-minded enough to understand.”

“Broad-minded, you say… I never thought I’d hear such words from you.”

“It’s not as if I’m completely narrow-minded.”

“How cunning.”

“Isn’t that what it means to be an adult?”

The Monarch’s sly reply.

The Monarch seemed to observe me for a moment, then spoke, combining it with a greeting of reunion.

The corners of his old mouth curled into a dangerous curve.

“In any case, it’s been a long time… Serpent.”

“I don’t think we’re on good enough terms for a friendly greeting.”

“Don’t be so unkind.”

“If I were unkind, you would already be dead.”

“My, how terrifying. How can one live like this?”

The old man didn’t lose his composure.

Had he forgotten what magic was embedded in his heart?

I could kill him at any moment, as easily as flipping a switch.

In such a situation, one might expect him to grovel, yet he greeted me with an unwavering attitude.

It felt as if he was treating me with basic respect.

But he didn’t humble himself either.

I realized anew that this person was also no ordinary individual.

‘Indeed.’

The king who once dominated the underworld.

He was the only enemy strong enough to give me a hard time when I was still inexperienced.

Did he think he was maintaining a certain dignity?

There was none of the typical obsequiousness of the weak.

But that was probably just an act.

“Well… putting other things aside.”

I shot back coldly.

“There must be a valid reason why you called me.”

“You wouldn’t accept something like… ‘I just wanted to see your face after a long time,’ would you?”

“Then I suppose I’ll take your left arm this time.”

“It was a joke, so please withdraw your killing intent. My right arm, which you tore off, still feels empty, you know.”

“I don’t have good patience.”

“Of course… I know, I know.”

The old man fiddled with the sleeve where his arm was missing.

His sly expression turned quite serious.

His wrinkled lips spoke.

“I’ve acquired some information this time. It’s too significant to exchange via letters, so I asked to meet you.”

“Information?”

“I thought it might be helpful to you.”

“I’ll listen for now.”

“Good. I’ll prepare a separate place…”

“Before that.”

Thwack!

A single black-as-pitch projectile shot out and embedded itself in the throne.

A thorn that barely missed the Monarch’s neck.

Perhaps because it passed so close to the carotid artery, a little blood was dripping from the shallow cut on his neck.

It was a blow that would have instantly cut off his breath if there had been even the slightest deviation.

I flicked my fingertips and recited.

“Whatever your reasons… if you bother my surroundings again, I won’t show mercy then.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The Monarch nodded with a calm expression.

His aged eyes were utterly serene.

It didn’t particularly matter.

Because the one I intended to provoke wasn’t the old man.

Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me.

“How dare you harm His Majesty…!”

It was none other than Unease.

He had been glaring at me annoyingly for a while, and it seemed he finally snapped when his master was attacked.

The sword he swung rushed forward with a fierce gale.

Whoosh!

“I clearly gave you a chance, you know.”

Yes.

I knew you’d react.

I turned around as if I had been waiting and muttered.

Even my closed eyelids were now open.

“You keep making me revert to my old personality.”

Perilously glowing eyes.

I extended my hand.

And then, I easily seized the throat of the shadow that had come right before me.

Caught mid-air, he flailed while coughing.

“Cough…?!”

I watched his struggles with dispassionate eyes.

I definitely tolerated it once.

This is why you shouldn’t let these criminal bastards go.

Because if you don’t completely crush them from the start, they’ll keep baring their fangs, not knowing their place.

I flicked my fingers.

Snap!

The clear snapping sound of my thumb and middle finger struck my ears.

Immediately after.

His limbs disintegrated.

Arms and legs fell with clean severance, and the torso, having lost its support, tumbled onto the floor.

His foolish face scanned his own body, then screamed.

“A-a-a-a-a-a-gh!!!”

Pain, fear, agitation, despair.

His inner self, instantly muddled with various emotions, poured out hideously.

The fragments twitched, as if still alive with sensation.

Regardless.

I stared at the throne from atop the carpet, which was becoming sticky.

The Monarch, rarely, pinched his brow and admonished.

“……You can’t control your temper today, it seems.”

“If it were up to my heart, I’d kill him.”

“Please bear with it. Wouldn’t it be a loss for you too if there’s a defect in our forces?”

“It makes me doubt your judgment in many ways. No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem like a suitable person for the Royal Guard.”

“That’s because the one who originally held the position of [Unease]… wasn’t he killed by you three years ago? There simply wasn’t a suitable replacement.”

“The future of the Kingdom seems utterly bleak.”

“I’ll make sure to re-educate him.”

“You should.”

“Now, won’t you stop sulking and return him?”

“If you insist.”

Snap!

My fingers snapped once more.

Shadows enveloped him.

The chunks scattered at my feet rewound, returning cleanly to their original unified form.

Before long, Unease’s body had returned, without a single wound.

Though his unconscious mind hadn’t reawakened.

“……”

“I will retrieve him. Please, honored guest, converse comfortably.”

Did he feel the situation needed to be settled?

Unknown, who had quietly approached, politely asked for understanding, then picked up Unease’s sprawled body from the floor and retreated.

Only silence settled in the place where a commotion had just passed.

With the annoying glares gone.

It seemed the environment for a conversation had finally been set.

I clapped my hands.

A sharp clap!

The writhing black.

Shadows, weaving tightly like threads, took shape, and then created a similar throne opposite the Monarch.

I settled onto its soft texture.

I casually crossed my legs and began the conversation that had been postponed.

The white-haired old man stared intently at me.

“Then… shall we hear it now?”

The atmosphere was completely dominated by the Serpent.

Poison dripped from his fangs.

“What is this important information you’ve acquired?”

The Monarch and the Serpent faced each other.