Blake's here. And Richard was after Blake.

"Richard, Blake...!"

"Keep quiet for a second. Everything will be over soon."

At the same time as his words. The mana, who was flowing from the mana stone, became stronger, and she was suffocated.

***

Karan and Blake walked through a secret underground passage that was as dark and humid as a cave.

Blake's hands were on cuffs made of mana stone of light.

There was a device on the handcuffs that prohibited the use of magic. A long chain was connected to the center of the handcuffs, which Karan grabbed and dragged Blake away with.

It was an insulting situation as if she was dealing with slaves, but Blake didn't care at all.

All he had to do was find Ancia. Nothing else matters. That's why he is willing to wear handcuffs on both hands as Karan demands.

Karan didn't like Blake, who kept being calm even in this situation.

He's a monster cursed by the goddess. He's much lower than Roum, yet he's arrogant!

Richard was the perfect fit for the crown prince instead.

He was so talented and well-informed.

A fortress was connected at the end of the secret passage. This secret fortress was built by Emperor Phillip a thousand years ago in preparation for what might have happened, and no one knew it.

Richard knows information that even the current emperor doesn't know. In addition, he even knew how to twist space.

Her master said that if she brings the crown prince, he could finally be the emperor.

It is not long before Karan's dream comes true.

Richard will be the Emperor.

Then, when he became the emperor...will there be a world for the Roums?

Like throwing a stone into a calm lake, a question stirred Karan's head with increasing repercussions.

"Richard has changed."

She could hear Connin's voice in the wavelength. It was also followed by Kaluo's cry.

"You did that to Shulia because of him! Sister, are you out of your mind?"

Kaluo got angry. Karan would not listen to any explanation, nor would she believe what he said, so he would secretly peek into the newspaper.

"What you want is not a better world for the Roums! You just want to look good to Richard!"

No, that's not true. Everything was for the Roums.

Of course she adored him. But she didn't dare to dream. When the world changes, she only expected that she would be next to Richard proudly, not as a woman but as a great mage.

"The real monster is Richard, not the Crown Prince! He's ashamed of us! He's ashamed that he's a Roum! He's not the Savior! It's a monster that's trying to kill all of Roums! Sister please wake up!"

Kaluo is too young to know.

Richard saved them. He buried the bodies of their family with great care and taught them black magic to avenge their enemies. He also made an orphanage for the Roums.

As long as he becomes the emperor, everything will be different.

Karan was determined to remember when she first met Richard.

As soon as Connin and Kaluo's voice gradually shrank, Blake, who was quietly following her, asked a question.

"What's your purpose?"

"To make Richard the emperor."

Karan said honestly. The Crown Prince will never make it back alive. She didn't have to hide her thoughts because he was going to die anyway.

"Are you trying to make someone who murdered your parents and the villagers the emperor?"

Richard murdered her parents...?

It was like a large rock was thrown into the calm lake.

What is that supposed to mean? But instead of finding out the truth, Karan desperately suppressed the questions that arose in her mind.

Richard is a great man. She did everything she could to make him an emperor.

But if he's not, what will happen? What has she done?

No, that couldn't be true.

"I won't be fooled like Connin!"

She shouted coldly and opened the door.

When she went inside the fortress, she saw Richard.

"Master, I brought the Crown Prince."

"Good job."

Karan smiled brightly.

How long has it been since she got a compliment?

As soon as Richard recognized her efforts, all the questions in her head disappeared. But there was something drawn on the floor.

It was a magic circle.

When did he draw that? Is he showing her another magic spell? He's really amazing.

Richard said he could become an emperor if only the crown prince was brought here. Perhaps it was the ultimate magic spell to become an emperor.

She looked at him with eyes full of respect.

There were four large circles drawn on the magic circle. And on top of the last circle was a boy.

The boy was Kaluo.

"Kaluo!"

She shouted in surprise. Why is her brother there? Why is he on top of the magic circle?

She tried to ask Richard. However, even before Karan could speak, she could feel pain in her abdomen.

A sharp knife penetrated her stomach.

"You've done a great job."

Richard said with a knife stuck in her stomach.

"Ma, master, why...?"

She can't believe Richard attacked her.

Karan mumbled hesitantly, not even thinking of

counterattack in this unbelievable situation.

Then Richard whispered in her ear.

"Lastly, I want you to be a great sacrifice for me."

Sacrifice? He's going to sacrifice her and Kaluo? To become an emperor?

On the day they spread the tancinol, Richard gave Karan permission to bring Kaluo out.

Karan was moved. She thought the master protected her brother in consideration of her.

But it wasn't like that. Richard intended to sacrifice Kaluo from the beginning. That's why he borrowed Karan's hand and brought Kaluo.

Is this Richard's true personality?

He's such a cruel man. Yet she blindly followed Richard.

She built a solid wall around her and never listened to anyone else. But as soon as the blade penetrated her abdomen, the wall began to fall apart.

She was finally ready to accept the truth.

She also realized that Richard was a cruel man and even used the Roum.

Perhaps the crown prince's words were true. But as soon as she realized the truth, the blade slipped out of her body and dug back in.

Red blood spilled from her mouth. At the same time, Karan was out of breath.

Without even sending a look of sympathy, Richard threw her body over the fourth magic circle, pointing the bloody sword at Blake.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I didn't do anything."

Blake raised his hands. His hands were still handcuffed.

"You'll be able to get rid of those handcuffs in no time."

Blake inherited the power of the goddess. A mere handcuff could not completely restrain him.

By now, he must've already known how to break free.

He must have followed her in handcuffs because he was confident to break it in the first place.

Richard stepped on one of the floor tiles. Then a door opened with a rattling sound, and he could see Ancia arrested on the chair.

"Ancia!"

Blake tried to save Ancia right away. But Richard pointed the sword at him and shouted,

"If you take a step, the mana stone that filled that room will explode, alongside Ancia's body. No matter how powerful you are, you can't save her."

Blake stood still on the spot. As Richard said, if the mana stone in there explodes, Ancia will not be safe.

"What do you want?"

"Good thing you're not a fool."

Richard pointed at the second circle of the complex magic circle, raising the corners of his mouth.

"Go there. And then she'll be fine."

"What are you trying to do?"

"Go there for now."

Blake glared at Richard and walked to the second magic circle. As Blake stood in the center of the circle, a powerful mana covered his body and restrained his limbs.

He fell on the magic circle. The mana's pressure pressed on his body and he couldn't even get up.

Richard lifted Blake's chin, which was lying on the magic circle. And he made eye contact with him.

"What's your purpose?"

Blake stared fiercely at Richard. Seeing Blake like that, Richard smiled brightly.

"I will be you."

Richard learned various magic from Serphamia when he was Phillip a thousand years ago. Among them, there was a way to switch the human soul.

"All you have to do is twist the light."

"Alright."

After teaching him, Serphania said,

"This is the last one. I've taught you everything I know."

"Is this really all you know?"

Ser's eyes fluttered nervously as Phillip asked her. She did not teach him everything, she only asked what p he needed.

Phillip held back his irritation and asked himself what he wanted.

"Is there any way to change a human soul?

"Why would you do that?"

"If you get hurt, I'll switch our body."

"You don't have to. I don't want that."

"Don't say that. How could I live without you."

Phillip hid his true feelings and pretended to be caring. However, Serphania did not say it easily.

Phillip begged for days, and she answered reluctantly.