Chapter 142
Dale knew exactly how to save the dying Enya.
There was only one way—dangerous and impossible even for the High Priest to perform—that could save her life. And now, that way was right in front of Dale.
“……”
Dale stepped into the emperor’s blood-soaked office.
His uncle had been stabbed to death, and this office now belonged to Dale. He was still young, so fear didn’t entirely disappear.
Though he didn’t show it, a tiny corner of Dale’s heart carried some apprehension.
Rumble.
Placing his hand on a small orb in the office, the transparent sphere glowed green and the floor opened. A secret room lay beneath a dark staircase.
‘My uncle used to come here often.’
He had said that opening this door drained a lot of energy from the orb.
This wasn’t an ordinary door. Every time it opened, it sapped life force.
That’s why his uncle always used Dale to preserve his own strength.
Now, Dale felt fortunate. Not because of his uncle’s intention, but because it worked to his advantage.
Click.
Thud.
As Dale opened the door, overwhelming power surged in all directions. Invisible waves crashed, but he finally reached the object at the center.
“That’s it.”
A tremendous protective barrier surrounded the sacred relic.
The powerful wards made it difficult to approach.
“Ugh…”
Enduring the burning pain in his hands, Dale finally grabbed the relic.
His sleeves were tattered, but he didn’t let go. He clutched it to his chest.
The quivering relic soon calmed.
“Now…”
“No. That belongs to me.”
Just as hope filled Dale’s face, someone grabbed him by the collar and lifted him.
“!”
Standing before him with blazing eyes was the former emperor.
The emperor, whom Dale had believed dead, appeared in front of him in a grotesque, battered state. But his gaze was not on Dale—it was on the relic in his arms.
“What are you doing here?”
The emperor approached, his voice questioning.
“What do you intend to do with this?”
“……”
“Hand it over. I came for it.”
“……”
Dale stepped back silently, and the emperor furrowed his brow.
“I said hand it over! This isn’t something to waste on trivial matters! It’s a divine gift that grants any wish!”
“I refuse.”
“…What? You refuse?”
Dale rejected him with unwavering resolve.
“I am no longer afraid of my uncle.”
“Hah, you wretched—”
Grinding his teeth, the emperor suppressed his fury, slowly driving Dale toward a corner.
“I don’t know what you plan to do with it, but this isn’t something for you to covet. What is it you want? Fine—then I’ll grant your wish, and you can give me the relic, yes?”
Dale shook his head.
“What do you want, the throne? Fine. Take it. I don’t need it anymore. I need nothing! I just want to save my own life.”
Dale had long sensed that these words were a blatant lie.
“I refuse.”
“You wretched brat—”
As the emperor rose unsteadily, Dale lowered his body and dodged quickly.
“Hand it over! I need it right now!”
“My wish is something my uncle cannot grant.”
The emperor’s own mortal wounds caused red blood to seep from beneath his pressing hand.
“Hurry… quickly…”
With reddened eyes, he stepped forward hesitantly, glaring at Dale.
“You really take after your father. Even your disdainful gaze…”
The emperor drew the sword from the wall, completely losing his reason.
“You….”
“!”
“How dare you—!”
Shhiiik!
The emperor swung the sword at Dale, but his body faltered. Dale rolled aside without missing the chance.
At the emperor’s momentary loss of balance, a short, dull sound rang out.
The decorated statue’s sword pierced the emperor’s abdomen.
Unable to maintain his footing, the emperor fell, fatally struck.
“……!”
Dale’s eyes widened.
The relic in his arms began to heat intensely.
The emperor’s blood splashed onto it, causing unusual mutations.
The once-white relic now burned crimson.
‘I have to hurry.’
Dale instinctively realized there wasn’t much time left before the relic could fully perform its function.
“Your Majesty!”
“There’s no time. Hurry. It must be used on Enya immediately.”
“What is this blood? Are you hurt?”
“It’s not mine. It has to go to Enya.”
Dale burst into the Lockhart estate, desperately searching for Enya.
Sweat drenched his entire body from running recklessly.
“What is this object?”
“The relic.”
“!”
“This is the only way to save Enya. She is dying because of Hexagon’s special magical potion.”
“Duke Hexagon has been captured. You can interrogate him.”
“No. He won’t make the antidote.”
Dale knew exactly what Hexagon and the emperor had been conspiring to produce, which meant there was no alternative way to save Enya.
Watching the situation helplessly, Enya felt a mixture of fear and frustration.
‘It’s come to this.’
Though she couldn’t open her eyes, her mind remained alert, fully aware of what was happening.
She could even vividly sense what had happened to Dale.
‘He can’t use that on me… I came to the past to stop this.’
But Dale seemed determined to use the relic on her anyway.
“Your Majesty, using the relic recklessly may have unknown consequences.”
“Better than letting Enya die.”
Marcus tried to stop Dale from taking a dangerous risk.
“The relic was meant for the empire’s stability.”
“True.”
“Which is why we need it even more.”
“……I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Marquis, you and I may have deposed my uncle and succeeded in rebellion, but our justification isn’t enough.”
Marcus was quietly impressed by the cold, precise words of a boy.
Some nobles, opposed to the rebellion despite its thorough execution, had turned negative. Even those who had stayed neutral were swayed.
It wasn’t unexpected, but Marcus deemed it tolerable.
“Someday, people may try to remove me from the throne for insufficient reasons, just like I did.”
“……!”
Dale wasn’t wrong. He had not publicly declared himself as the former emperor’s son. Only a few knew.
Outwardly, Dale had killed his father and taken the throne—stained with blood and scandal from the start.
So it was entirely possible that someone could attempt the same justification to overthrow him.
This made the former emperor’s allies dangerous.
“But, Marquis—”
Dale’s golden eyes cooled.
“If the justification for seizing my uncle’s position is the loss of the divine relic, any resentment will reverse itself.”
“……!”
“The relic’s loss is a grave mistake of the emperor. It’s enough to justify rebellion.”
Marcus couldn’t help but admire the young boy’s strategy.
For the empire’s citizens, the relic had extraordinary significance from the empire’s founding. Protecting it was the emperor’s duty.
This young emperor was extraordinary.
Perhaps even more capable than Marcus at his age. His eyes showed no hesitation, no fear.
“……Your Majesty is correct.”
Marcus’s gaze landed on his daughter, still breathing raggedly from pain.
He quietly stepped aside, allowing the emperor to reach Enya.
“……Please, Your Majesty.”
Seconds later, Enya felt her chest burning with pain.
‘This isn’t right…’
But she could feel it clearly.
The relic entered her body, releasing miraculous healing power. Her burning body slowly returned to its normal state.
“Enya.”
She heard Dale whisper.
“I’m sorry.”
Hearing his voice, her vision finally returned.
Her sight slowly cleared.
Focus returned, and she saw the face of the man before her.
“Are you conscious?”
It was Kasion.
I raised my fist but then let it fall weakly. My head throbbed like it was splitting.
“Father? Why are you crying?”
And all the memories I had forgotten came rushing back.
