I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“A choice to gain something without paying a price? Do you think such a thing exists? And what’s wrong with being hated? There’s hardly a more insignificant price in this world than being despised.”

“It is wrong. Hatred can eventually return as revenge and more hatred.”

“Then overcome it with fear.”

“So, did you want me to feel fear toward you, Your Majesty?”

“Don’t you think our conversation has gone somewhat askew? What exactly do you want? For me to shamelessly handle matters without paying any price whenever something happens? Or to simply sit back and wait for things to be resolved around me?”

Either way, these were things I would never do. Paying a price to get what you want is self-evident—whether that price is affection, life, or anything else. I finally let out a deep sigh.

“It was my mistake to think there would be some grand reason behind this. You may leave now. And don’t even dream about resigning.”

I waved my hand dismissively, signaling him to leave. However, Rigan simply smiled lightly at my words, quietly picked up the file of documents, and spoke.

“I wish Your Majesty wouldn’t start with the assumption of being hated.”

“What?”

“I wish you wouldn’t accept negative evaluations and emotions from others so readily. And…”

“…”

“I wish you wouldn’t think you must offer a price for everything. A price should be the final fortress to fall back on, not the first weapon you draw.”

After finishing his words, Rigan bowed his head and left the room.

As soon as the door closed, I felt strangely unsettled. Don’t start with the assumption of being hated, don’t readily accept negative evaluations, don’t think about offering a price first…

‘When have I ever done that?’

I grumbled inwardly, but truthfully, I knew to some extent. The “price” I spoke of in my heart had always been a fortress for my peace of mind, a line of defense of sorts.

‘But having a price makes me feel at ease.’

I had lived my life paying countless prices. From the moment I ascended to the throne, the times when true power was in my hands and people’s eyes were on me were always moments when I paid various “prices.”

Who would love me if I just stayed still? In this world, does anyone bestow kindness and emotion on others without reason? 

Perhaps such people exist, but receiving such things without giving anything in return made me uncomfortable.

Yes, I’m uncomfortable. I’m uncomfortable hoping someone will save me in a crisis, and I’m uncomfortable when someone tries to consider my feelings. 

It’s strange to me that someone doesn’t want me to die, and it’s strange to receive a lecture instead of anger after doing something expecting hatred.

‘When did he ever lecture me? That Rigan, of all people.’

In my life of receiving nothing but hatred, the first time I received respect and recognition was when I bloodied my hands. No, come to think of it, I didn’t even receive full recognition then. If that’s how it was even with blood on my hands, then how much more…

I deliberately ignored Rigan’s words, dismissing them as mere complaints. I wasn’t wrong. I’m sufficiently selfish, and what I do isn’t sacrifice but merely transactions. Thinking this way made me feel somewhat better.

However, when I thought about sacrifice and price, a memory I had forgotten for a while inexplicably resurfaced.

‘I think Lerrhagen said something similar during the previous kidnapping incident.’

And at that time too, I said what I did wasn’t sacrifice but what was proper. Thinking about it made me feel even more conflicted, giving me the strange feeling that I might be wrong.

‘Come to think of it, where has Lerrhagen gone? I’ve been waiting, thinking he’d show up eventually, but he hasn’t shown his face for days. I’ve been busy with my own affairs, so I let it slide, but this is too much.’

I ended up grumbling for no reason. Things were clearly being resolved well, yet a corner of my heart kept feeling uncomfortable.

* * *

Bapfchet Forest, a place one must pass through before reaching the Death Gorge, was untouched by the chill of late autumn. Strangely lush green trees swayed year-round in this place beyond human reach, with warm sunlight filtering through—truly a fantastical location.

Lerrhagen was drenching this very place in blood.

BOOM-!

With a tremendous roar, the land that had been peaceful just half an hour ago split in half, seemingly scorched by lightning. In the blink of an eye, countless magical beast corpses piled up, and the humans who had desperately fled looked back repeatedly with terror-filled eyes.

But no matter how much they struggled, their opponent was a Dragon Lord—not someone a mere black mage who had sold their soul to the devil could face. Proving this, another explosion erupted in front of the black mages who had been fleeing without rest.

BOOM!

Pitter-patter.

The shattered remains of magical beasts fell before their eyes, and through the gaps came a low, rumbling voice.

“Where is Karen?”

“Ugh… argh.”

The black mages’ eyes were pickled in fear at the utterly brutal scene before them. No matter how prepared they were to forfeit their lives when dealing with demon folk, they couldn’t help but be terrified before a being who destroyed their magical beasts—products of years of research—like squashing insects.

Lerrhagen gazed indifferently at the black mages trembling on the ground. His cold, wall-like eyes contained not a trace of interest or even negative emotion. That gaze was hardly different from when he had been facing the magical beasts he had torn to shreds moments ago.

The only difference was that while he had granted the magical beasts a swift death out of mercy, no such mercy was visible before the black mages.

“I’ll ask once more.”

“…urgh.”

“Where is Karen?”

At the eerie voice ringing in their ears, the black mage at the front gritted his teeth and shouted loudly.

“I-I don’t know!”

“…”

“We don’t know where he resides. W-we’ve never even met him. We just followed his will… ugh.”

But the black mage who had been speaking suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

It was a clean disposal. Without even looking at the person he had just killed, seemingly unwilling to waste even a moment, Lerrhagen turned his gaze to the black mage behind.

The black mages trembled uniformly under his languid gaze.

They had been on their way to the Death Gorge with their modified magical beasts, just like usual. This Dragon Lord who suddenly appeared had shattered their magical beasts into countless pieces and calmly asked:

– Where is Karen?

They had tried to escape from his apathetic attitude, but it was futile. Traitors among humans who colluded with demon folk. Wicked beings who sold their souls to devils and sacrificed other humans. Those who had fantasized about ruling over humans since they gained the ability to use black magic now trembled at the thought of their imminent end.

“I-I don’t know.”

“…”

“I really don’t know. We have someone else who gives us orders. So we truly don’t know where the Demon King is.”

“…”

“If you wish, the one who gives us orders might… he might not even know the Demon King’s whereabouts…”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

“…!”

“My daughter wishes for that person not to die.”

“Argh.”

“Urghh.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the black mages began to collapse one by one.

Having witnessed everything, Lerrhagen let out a light sigh. His gaze, which had been scanning the devastated forest, fell upon the magical beasts scattered in pieces on the ground.

‘As expected, it’s of no use.’

Lerrhagen, who had spent the past few days eradicating magical beasts and black mages throughout the empire, still maintained eyes devoid of even a trace of interest. The scent of blood seeping into his clothes was none of his concern. If there was any consolation, it was that having disposed of as many magical beasts and black mages as possible, the empire would be peaceful for a while.

In truth, now that a long time had passed since Gela’s death, he felt that the peace of the human world was something humans should handle themselves. But as long as there was someone beside him who cared about the empire’s well-being, this wasn’t such a meaningless action.

With this thought, Lerrhagen moved on.

There had been no significant harvest in the past few days, and he hadn’t particularly expected any. While he had no interest in killing small fry, he didn’t plan to interrogate “that person” who held the biggest clue, knowing full well that Esht would tell him not to touch them.

So what should he do now?

‘I should return to the Imperial Palace.’

He had been away from the palace for too long. Of course, Hasis or Ilian would have reported if anything had happened, but urgent situations weren’t the only important matters.

Esht often sought him out for minor issues as well. He needed to stop by at least once to check if anything was wrong.

Just as he was thinking this, dense darkness suddenly poured down in front of him as he was about to return to the Imperial Palace through warp magic.

Simultaneously, a sharp blade grazed his face. Leisurely touching the wound, Lerrhagen slowly raised his head.

A pitch-black crow was there. And the moment their eyes met—

A jet-black light pierced through Lerrhagen. At that moment, Lerrhagen smiled indifferently. It seemed his efforts over the past few days hadn’t been in vain after all.

“It’s been a while, Lerrhagen.”

To prove this, an elegant male voice echoed through the forest.

The ground was stained with blood.

* * *

“Still no news from Lord? Surely he hasn’t been away from the palace this entire time?”

“That’s exactly what happened. I think he’s run away from home.”

“What? Really? Where did he run off to?”

Hasis looked dumbfounded at my words. Well, even I thought it sounded absurd. Lerrhagen, of all people, running away from home? Not without going mad first.