Chapter 237

‘The Great King Colomo and his lineage?’

The Great King Colomo.

The great enemy who had summoned 72 demons and pushed humanity to the brink of extinction.

He never imagined that name would be mentioned here and now.

“Are you in pain again?”

Luina wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

More important than a mild headache was Count Patrick Pirandello right in front of him.

‘If it were anyone else, I’d doubt it. But Gardner recognized it.’

Especially because the moment he saw that symbol, the book of prophecies reacted. That was proof that the mark was real.

‘In this world, there are no coincidences. He couldn’t have just randomly signed an equal contract with a demon.’

That meant Count Patrick wasn’t a simple corrupt.

‘A descendant of the Colomo line? Weren’t they all exterminated?’

After the fall of the Great King Colomo, all those who had made pacts with demons and committed atrocities were executed by hanging.

The First Emperor, to prevent the tragedy from repeating, ordered the death of anyone with even a drop of that blood.

Today it might seem excessive, but those individuals hadn’t just ruined a single kingdom—they had dragged an entire continent into ruin.

Not just exterminating them—completely eradicating them—was the logical move.

And yet, the appearance of that “contractor” symbol meant some had survived.

‘Did one of the survivors form a contract with a demon?’

It was possible.

Corrupts had drastically increased in the last millennium.

It was more convincing to think they had gathered under a central axis than to believe they had arisen spontaneously.

‘The Great King Colomo. To the corrupt, he would be on par with the First Emperor.’

Consequently, a descendant of his would be to them what Aint represented to humanity today.

“Luina, do you sense anything special in that guy?”

“Only that he’s somewhat strong. He doesn’t seem like a corrupt.”

“I see.”

Fernan felt the same. Maybe if he fully activated his dragon senses, he could detect it, but his control wasn’t perfect yet, and he risked exposing himself.

“What will you do?”

“For now, I plan to follow him.”

“Yourself?”

“Wooden.”

“Wooden’s been busy lately.”

“That’s exactly what I made him for. Might as well use him often.”

Investing and not recovering the investment made no sense.

Even though Wooden had already proven to be of enormous value, no one invests just to break even—they do it for profit.

— Kyuu.

Wooden let out a displeased noise at the sudden exploitation.

“The shield will be ready soon. Remember? You gathered the materials yourself by hunting monsters.”

— Kyu!

And he immediately fell silent.

***

After dinner with Luina, Fernan returned to the hideout and gathered everyone—Aint, Luina, Gismond, and the headmaster.

“I’ll share what we’ve found so far.”

Fernan began speaking calmly.

“The three closest allies of the second prince, Antenor Linelt, suspected of being corrupt, are Viscount Kyren Excel, Count Wymon Gilox, and Count Patrick Pirandello. I believe another contact with a corrupt happened among them.”

Fernan described their features, territories, and even trivial habits.

“As for Count Patrick Pirandello, what’s peculiar is that he has a strange symbol on his wrist, like several signs layered together…”

He floated sand into the air, recreating the symbol.

The memory was burned into him by the intensity of the prophetic vision.

When the grains of sand completed the shape—

“……!”

Aint stood up without realizing it.

Exactly the reaction Fernan had expected. Pretending ignorance, he asked:

“What is it, Aint? Have you seen this symbol before?”

“No, it’s just…”

Aint hesitated under everyone’s gaze, thinking about how to explain.

“I’ve read many texts and never saw anything like it. It’s as if dozens of symbols were forcibly combined into one.”

“Yes. I thought the same.”

“It’s so peculiar that it’s hard to forget, even if the exact details aren’t remembered.”

It was a precise observation. Finally, Aint spoke, after organizing his thoughts.

“I saw it once in my family’s library. It was about demons.”

“Demons?”

“Yes. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the symbol of a contractor.”

“The symbol of a contractor? I’ve seen plenty of corrupts at the Academy and never anything like this.”

“Because they aren’t true contractors.”

The headmaster remained silent and prompted him to continue.

“According to the texts, that symbol only appears when a human establishes an equal contract with a demon.”

“An equal contract between demon and human? That’s…”

It was understandable that the headmaster would doubt. Neither demons would allow it, nor were humans on their level.

“Yes. Few, but apparently it was possible.”

“Incredible.”

“The clearest example was the Great King Colomo.”

“Ah, right. Someone of his level couldn’t have been just a puppet of the demons—wait a minute. It can’t be.”

The headmaster looked at him in horror, and Aint nodded gravely.

“The rest were all from Colomo’s bloodline, the Baerz. Only they could do it.”

“The Colomo bloodline?”

“Colomo? Is that true, Aint?”

The headmaster dropped the teacup he was holding. Fernan, matching the gesture, widened his eyes and mouth.

The liquid falling toward the floor froze in midair.

“You’re saying members of the Colomo lineage are still alive?”

Just as the corrupt were different from demons, so too were the descendants of Colomo.

In fact, the fear humanity held toward the Great King Colomo was even greater than that of demons.

Because although it was demons who burned half the continent, it was the Great King Colomo himself who summoned and led them.

“This is different. If he truly is of the Colomo bloodline, he must die without fail.”

There was no need to think further. Among the three close aides of the second prince, Patrick Pirandello was, without a doubt, the culprit.

“If that man is truly a descendant of the Great King Colomo, then yes, of course. But, headmaster, we can’t act just yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because they seem to be in conflict with each other.”

Fernan continued his explanation.

Patrick Pirandello’s mansions spread throughout the capital, forming a six-pointed star.

The magic circles found in the basements of each mansion.

And the second prince’s attitude and actions when meeting the Mercenary King.

“If we use that discord, we can resolve this while minimizing damage. Besides, Yuli Linelt, although under certain conditions, has promised us her full support.”

“It’s not without logic. But what if that man acts before we do? If we fail to stop him, we could regret it forever.”

“We can stop him.”

“Stop him?”

“I’ve opened, through Wooden, a hidden passage. We can ruin the magic circle at any moment.”

“…And what’s your exact plan?”

“Lord Garrett will continue acting as he has. He’ll carry out the second prince’s request to eliminate the corrupt. Then Patrick will react somehow.”

That will be the moment to act, while Fernan convinces Yuli Linelt.

And through her, expose to the public what the second prince and the corrupt have done, restoring the throne to its rightful heir.

In that process, preventing demon summoning and eradicating the corrupt infiltrated in the kingdom was only natural.

“Thus, in the Kingdom of Linelt, a king will rise who hates demons more than anyone.”

In a world on the verge of war against demons, nothing could be more reassuring.

Of course, in the meantime, the treasures stolen from the royal stores and intended for demon summoning would end up in Fernan’s hands.

“And think about it. This wasn’t prepared in a day or two. Can you imagine what that vile corrupt will feel when his whole plan crumbles?”

“That would be satisfying. Alright. But can you really convince the princess?”

“Of course.”

Fernan pulled a letter from his chest.

“One of the two conditions she asked for has already been fulfilled.”

“Which one?”

“We’ve discovered where the first prince is being held.”

“The first prince—I already know what happened with him. It caused quite a stir across the continent. Then, is that also…?”

“Surely the work of the corrupt. Although for now, that’s just my deduction.”

But it wasn’t just a deduction—it was what the book of prophecies had revealed to him.

He was certain.

“And the other condition?”

“That’s right here too.”

“Here?”

Fernan silently turned his head. Everyone followed his gaze.

“Eh? Me?”

Aint looked confused.

***

There was another banquet.

Or rather, she had called it herself.

Yuli Linelt looked at the crowd filling the ballroom and sighed.

She had organized another masquerade ball to keep up appearances, but there was no sign of Fernan.

‘When will he come?’

It seemed like he would arrive soon, but after two more banquets, he still hadn’t appeared.

‘What proof is it that he has? I hope he brings news of my brother.’

It had been years since the last time she saw the first prince.

After the scandal he caused, he was confined to an annex palace by the king’s order, and when the second prince took over as regent, he was moved to an unknown location.

The problem was, no one knew where.

“Don’t try to find out. I told you, didn’t I? Live peacefully as the kingdom’s princess, and nothing will change.”

“And if you don’t want to see your beloved brother die, you’d better obey.”

Even when she asked the second prince directly, she only received threats in return.

A demon. He was a demon. She couldn’t believe they shared the same blood.

“I need a bit of air on the terrace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The wine she had drunk without stopping had gone to her head. She needed fresh air to clear it.

“Don’t let anyone in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

While she gazed at the moon from the terrace—

“Been a while, princess.”

The voice she had longed to hear sounded behind her.

“…Fernan Pellenberg?”

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

“Coming to see me again must mean you’ve brought the proof of trust you promised, haven’t you?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

“I’m intrigued.”

Fernan pulled out a map and handed it to her.

“I discovered where the first prince is being held.”

“……!”

“He’s not in the best place, but at least he’s alive.”

“Is my brother really here?”

A tear slid down Yuli’s cheek. Realizing it, she hurried to wipe it away.

“…How embarrassing.”

“I understand. Though I have a ten-gold-coin handkerchief, if you want, I can sell it to you.”

“…What?”

“Just a joke. Today, I’d like to introduce you to someone.”

“Someone?”

Fernan stepped back. A man who had been behind him stepped forward.

“Your guard has changed?”

“He’s not a guard.”

At Fernan’s signal, the man removed his mask.

His red hair slowly turned into a brilliant gold under the moonlight. His brown eyes seemed infinitely deep.

“An honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

The man bowed his head.

“I’m Aint Armian. I’ve heard much about you from senior Fernan…”

“…You look like a hero.”

“…Huh?”

“Nothing. Then, are you really Aint Armian?”

Aint Armian.

The hero who had hunted countless corrupts and even demons. The natural enemy of demons.

Yuli’s heart was pounding.

To make sure that this lifeline was really made of gold, she examined Aint’s face carefully.

The same face she had seen in the newspapers.

“…Handsome.”

Yes, it was him.