Chapter 134

Rudolf rode his horse.

Even as his overworked horse whinnied in pain, he kept spurring it on.

His sole goal was to get away from the Kingdom of Arlo.

He didn’t even sleep, keeping his eyes wide open as he increased his speed.

The strong wind slapped his face and hurt his eyes.

But this was not the time to lose patience over such things.

He had to run.

He had to use this opportunity Ludwig had given him.

“Don’t try anything foolish and escape straight to a third country.”

That’s what his nephew had said.

He smiled hollowly at the thought.

My naive, good-natured nephew!

Ludwig had always been like that. He never noticed people’s malice and just laughed off their pranks.

“Your inherent generosity doesn’t seem to suit the Duke position.”

He had no intention of following Ludwig’s advice to flee to a third country.

Rudolf considered himself no fool.

If he headed to the third country, he would certainly be caught by the Red Crow on the way.

It was better to rejoin their group of his own accord.

Ask Adam to get rid of Ludwig and…

He would not relinquish his position as Duke of Rohitham.

Even if it was just an empty shell.

“Hyah!”

The horse let out another agonized scream.

Rudolf did not hear it.

* * *

“Are you sure about what you saw?”

“Yes, Adam.”

Rudolf was deeply bowed, his forehead almost touching the floor.

Decio, who had just woken up, sat cross-legged and yawned.

“So he had it after all. But it’s strange. Why didn’t I notice it before…?”

“I heard Ludwig wander through the uninhabited forests, and the Marquis of Rowissum took it in and shaped it into a human form.”

“In that case, we should have discovered it first.”

Decio scratched his head in puzzlement.

But he decided to let the small question go.

Now that he knew the sword was there, there was only one course of action.

Take the sword from Ludwig.

Decio looked down at his palm.

He could see the intangible power crackling in his eyes.

Decio smiled with satisfaction.

It was good to see his incompetent grandson help him in this way.

“By the way… Adam, do you mind if I ask now what that sword is?”

“Ah.”

Decio smiled wryly at Rudolf.

It was a smile eerily similar to that of his grandson, Oscar.

“The key to the gates of Pandemonium.”

“Pandemonium…?”

“Yes. The lair of the demons.”

A cold sweat began to form on Rudolf’s face.

“Isn’t the Eye of Daimon engraved on the hilt of the sword?”

The Eye of Daimon.

The puzzle was finally coming together.

“The sword… isn’t just a ‘key,’ is it?”

“Of course not.”

It’s also proof of the ownership of the underground demons.

They consider the one who opens the door their master.

Rudolf clicked his tongue inwardly.

That sword is a national treasure, he understands.

None of the Dukes of Rohitham had ever dreamed of opening the subterranean gates and becoming kings of the demons.

Rather, they secretly passed the sword on to their heirs, instructing them not to let it fall into the wrong hands.

If they could have broken it, they would have done so sooner or later, but it was not a sword of that nature.

“What a noble man.”

Rudolf gritted his teeth.

‘If I had known that, I would have opened the gates of Pandemonium from my side first.’

Then I might have been able to take the country without becoming the Red Crow’s puppet.

Meanwhile, Decio smirked at Rudolf’s thoughts.

‘How stupid’

It was a sneer.

Opening the gates of Pandemonium puts a tremendous strain on the mind.

A small man like Rudolf would go insane upon opening the gate, lose control of himself, and be devoured by the demons.

Only a man of Decio’s mental strength and power could keep the creatures of Pandemonium in line.

If he opens the gates of Pandemonium…

He can break the tiresome spell of banishment.

Once summoned, the creatures would be able to travel anywhere in the shadows in an instant.

Then he would fulfill his long-held desire.

To claim the throne.

Decio patted Rudolf on the head.

“What’s it like to have a kingdom of your own? Do you like it?”

Rudolf’s back arched.

It amused Decio greatly.

“You and I are in the same boat, I suppose, since we’re both trying so hard to have a country.”

Decio, who had been speaking so sweetly, suddenly changed his voice to a sharp command.

“Prepare to leave!”

So quickly?

All the crows in the room were surprised.

But Decio was adamant that there should be no delay.

They had to hit the capital before they could build stronger defenses.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

One of the crows asked.

Decio nodded.

“Now is the perfect time.”

He was overflowing with power more than ever before.

Oscar’s vitality had provided him with unimaginable vigor. He had also accumulated enough magic to resist the banishment spell.

There was no reason not to move.

Meanwhile, he didn’t forget Rudolf, who was kneeling in front of him.

“Detain him.”

He gestured towards Rudolf with a nod.

“Adam!”

Rudolf screamed in disbelief at the unexpected order.

“It’s for your protection, your protection.”

Decio waved his hand dismissively, saying unbelievable words.

Ignoring Rudolf’s screams, he took a step forward.

Since he was young, he has always wanted a kingdom.

Two would be even better.

* * *

On the road to the Kingdom of Arlo.

Decio sped straight towards the capital, followed by his loyal subordinates.

“This is strange, Adam. There’s an unusual lack of interference.”

There were black magic detection devices installed throughout the Kingdom of Arlo.

Surely, they must have noticed the massive dark magic crossing the border, yet no one came to stop them.

Upon investigation, it was found that the guards were only in a defensive stance, not proactively moving to eliminate the Red Crow.

“It’s as if they’re luring us into the heart of the Kingdom of Arlo.”

“Wasn’t that expected?”

Decio responded cheerfully.

“I thought it was only natural. There’s no reason for the Kingdom of Arlo to move away from the capital.”

The defense against the Red Crow was strongest in the capital.

And the Duchy of Rohitham was currently swarming with Red Crows.

From the Kingdom of Arlo’s perspective, it was better to invite the Red Crows to the capital rather than go into enemy territory.

“Doesn’t that put us at a disadvantage?”

Despite the worried subordinate’s question, Decio just laughed cheerfully.

“We’ll just crush them!”

As they got closer to the capital, the restraining spell of banishment pressed down on Decio’s entire body.

It was an unpleasant resistance.

But with his writhing, dark magic, Decio easily pushed it away.

The dark magic he had condensed over a long period by kidnapping people was for today.

Hadn’t it been proven last time that he could penetrate the banishment spell and enter the capital?

The banishment spell would never stop attempting to strip him of his freedom, and Decio would have to use a lot of magic to resist it.

But if he reached the capital and finished the job quickly, what problem would there be?

Decio was confident.

He had been calculating this for a long time.

“And once the gates of Pandemonium are opened…”

A colossal power of dark magic, incomparable to now, would flow into Decio.

What did that signify?

It meant that the Red Crow could rampage without restraint in the heart of the Kingdom of Arlo.

Decio could subjugate everything.

All life above and below ground!

It was the power he had long desired.

Hadn’t he waited decades for this?

Finally, they arrived at the capital.

The marker indicating the capital of the Kingdom of Arlo was drawn.

Decio lightly crossed the line.

A sensation like a light electric current swept through his body, and he could feel the rapid increase in magic consumption.

But he could endure it.

He not only endured, but he had enough magic left to unleash high-level dark magic freely.

“Haha!”

Decio laughed heartily.

He continued towards the heart of the kingdom.

Then he sensed something unusual.

“It’s a residential area, but there are very few signs of life.”

Did they evacuate?

Remembering that they hadn’t faced any interference on their way here, it was possible.

“If so, this must be the battleground.”

Decio muttered.

At that moment,.

“Yes. This is the battleground between you and me.”

A clear, melodious voice was heard from several steps away.

Decio turned his eyes in that direction.

A young man in armor stood firmly, his golden hair fluttering in the wind as he looked at Decio.

The sword in his hand was as white as snow.

“Decio Crestwell.”

“Oh, it’s an honor to be recognized.”

Decio sneered inwardly at the young man.

It seemed he was trying to cause some disturbance by revealing his identity, but Decio felt nothing and was rather disappointed.

At this point, it didn’t matter if his identity was revealed.

“It’s too late.”

He muttered to himself.

Tension filled the air between the two men standing face to face.