Chapter 64…………………..
Roziana’s violet eyes trembled violently.
She pulled her lips away and pushed his body back.
“Ars! Are you alright?”
Roziana braced herself against the bed and sat upright. Her head had already cleared, the dizziness was gone, yet the man before her, Asterios, was the opposite.
She helped him sit up, noticing the weakness draining from him. His complexion was returning, but he was still pale, sweat beading on his forehead. His eyelids lifted sluggishly as if weighed down.
What should she do?
Roziana bit her lip hard.
“Sorry for pushing you too far.”
“Please, do not say such things. I will not collapse from this much anymore, so you need not worry.”
Indeed, she had drawn as much mana as before, yet he still held on. Since their lips and bodies had separated, his color was gradually returning.
At this level, he should’ve collapsed… but he really does look better than before. Is it because of the Broken Chalice that his body is recovering faster?
Relief washed over her, but it did not erase her guilt.
She quickly checked the circles within her body. The mana, which had been tangled and swirling as if enraged, was now calm. She was truly on the verge of reaching the 12th stage.
But as she recalled her thirst for power and her reckless hunger just moments ago, an image overlapped in her mind—the Demon King Beelzebub devouring lives without reason.
No matter how close I am to the Demon King’s level, if I lose myself to desire like that, am I any different from a monster?
Surely, this couldn’t mean she was becoming a Demon King herself.
No. Absolutely not.
She shut her eyes tight and shook her head.
The thought that excessive power might devour her filled her with sudden unease.
To fight a monster, one must become a monster.
She knew this truth.
But she had never wished to become a Demon King if it meant losing someone precious.
“I must have gone mad. It was like… I was possessed by something.”
The words slipped out like an excuse, heavy with guilt.
She had her reason, yet the moment his lips touched hers, she had drawn in his strength as though she had been waiting for it. If she had kissed him any longer, he might have collapsed completely. The thought made her shudder.
“It is not Your Highness’s fault. It is only speculation for now, but it seems there is a correlation between excessively powerful holy energy and mana.”
Asterios spoke slowly in his low voice, steadying her reason. He had noticed she was not herself, being swayed unlike her usual self. Roziana narrowed her eyes.
Wait. Since earlier… I’ve been anxious, afraid, and now blaming myself endlessly?
This was unlike her.
“You’re right, Ars. Ever since His Holiness used his holy power, I’ve felt as though my mind were being manipulated.”
She had been thinking and acting unlike herself, as though under a spell.
“If this is truly the Holy Pope’s ability, then it’s quite dangerous.”
When she calmed her circle, the violet mana that had been surging wildly settled as though nothing had happened.
“You’re right. Anything excessive becomes poison.”
Asterios, too, was breathing more comfortably now. Thankfully, she had only drawn enough of his mana to allow for recovery.
“From now on, I’ll be careful not to lose myself like today. Whether it’s because of mana or holy power, I was swept away by strength and lost myself.”
Now that she had regained her reason, she spoke calmly.
“My thoughts are the same as yours, Ars. Perhaps excessively strong holy power begins to resonate on the same wavelength as mana.”
Those words shook Asterios’s composure.
Because he had felt that uncanny familiarity before.
Strong holy power… resonating like mana?
That was exactly what he had witnessed centuries ago.
The gods of Heaven, who had tried to dominate the world through humanity—and the Demon King.
“If holy power in moderation heals, then perhaps, when it grows excessive, it becomes indistinguishable from mana. You must have noticed too, Ars—when Pope Gregorian used his power, it wasn’t his holy energy that surged, but my mana.”
Her explanation gave weight to her theory.
Like energies resonate with each other.
“Then, what you’re saying is…”
“Beelzebub’s destruction—are you absolutely sure?”
The unexpected question left Asterios stunned.
“I am certain. I destroyed him myself.”
“I thought so. Still, I wondered if perhaps the former Demon King was somehow connected to Gregorian.”
Her quick leap of thought left him momentarily flustered.
“Personally, I believe it is more related to those who fell to earth during the great war among Heaven, Humanity, and the Demon Realm.”
“The Three Realms War?”
“Yes.”
But with demonic spies lurking unseen in the palace, now was not the time for details.
“In any case, it’s best we keep our minds open to all possibilities.”
“I agree. I’ve already sent Nox on a mission. I’ll report back as soon as we learn anything.”
“Already? You’re a step ahead of me, Ars.”
Roziana smiled and kissed his cheek briefly.
Looking into his trembling golden eyes, she whispered softly.
“Thank you. You must already be exhausted because of me. Rest a little before we head to the Secret Fog.”
You must become the champion of the tournament.
She whispered faintly and gently pushed him toward the door.
“…Yes, Your Highness. I will take my leave.”
His face flushed slightly, Asterios left the room in a daze. Her gentle hand that had urged him to rest lingered warmly on his arm.
And he still felt that warmth upon his skin.
The tournament was to begin right after dinner.
The candidates were all restless, and the entire annex buzzed with both energy and tension.
There were three dining halls, though some chose to eat in their own rooms.
Asterios and Izeph dined together after exchanging letters of caution, then moved to the gathering place.
“So, Her Highness is alright now.”
“That is fortunate.”
At Asterios’s report, Izeph nodded. He had waited long in his room, but she never called for him.
“So, the issue wasn’t holy power? That’s surprising.”
“I thought so too. By the way, Izeph, have you ever heard that two opposing forces might resonate with the same wavelength?”
Izeph’s eyes widened.
“This is my first time hearing such a thing.”
Seeing the former priest’s reaction, Asterios decided not to press further.
From that look, if I tell him that holy power at its extreme may become indistinguishable from mana, he’ll faint.
Indeed, to clergy who believed holy power was divine, such a notion would be blasphemy, truth or not.
“But are you well, sir? You seem drained.”
As expected, the ever-perceptive Izeph read his state and looked worried. His gentle nature made Asterios smile faintly.
“This much is nothing.”
He had received the Broken Chalice back from Edwin, but it was not wholly his yet.
Keeping it close let him recover strength close to his former power, but he could not use it openly yet.
He carried it only as part of his greater plan.
“And you? Are you not feeling drowsy?”
“Fortunately, I am well.”
Though he spoke calmly, Izeph’s tone betrayed a trace of disappointment. He could clearly see Asterios had overexerted himself, and he knew why.
No doubt, His Highness the Princess will be worried sick about him.
That alone made him envy Asterios, and he chuckled inwardly at himself.
Just then, a murmur rose.
“I don’t feel like I slept at all.”
“Same here. I dozed a bit earlier, but it was restless. I don’t even remember eating dinner.”
Candidates appeared, haggard and hollow-eyed, as though they had endured something in just half a day.
“I haven’t dreamed like that in ages.”
“You too?”
“It was just a dream, but so vivid I lost myself in it completely. When I woke, I felt utterly drained.”
“Same. In the dream I was burning with passion, but when I woke, I felt like a corpse.”
From their talk, it was clear many had experienced something similar.
“Even the symptoms are the same… It really has been a long time since I had such an ecstatic dream.”
“What sorcery is this?”
Some whispered, faces pale, others blushed as they spoke of strange dreams.
From their expressions, the nature of the dreams could easily be guessed.
Still, their faces showed caution and tension as they eyed one another before the first trial of the tournament.
Then, the crowd parted with a stir as famous figures made their entrance.
“Ohh, here they come.”
