Chapter 049
The dungeon monsters keep offering sacrifices – 049
EP.49 The Princess who made a pact with the Devil (Revised)
Just a moment ago, noble men and women adorned in formal attire were enjoying the scenery in the garden, holding wine glasses.
Men in well-tailored suits and women adorned in extravagant dresses and jewelry gathered together, engaging in conversations.
“Ladies and gentlemen, rejoice! Won’t our world soon see a great change? Haha.”
A gathering of aristocrats from the noble faction.
Count Derek, leading this gathering, spoke loudly with a smile.
This place was the garden behind the royal palace.
Managed by the royal family, but Count Derek spoke without hesitation, revealing his presence.
“The Count’s words are indeed true! If only they had listened to us, such things wouldn’t have happened. It would have been so much better if they had loosened the restrictions on developing the mountain range earlier.”
“Well, we’ll see. Hahaha.”
Someone didn’t hesitate to make remarks undermining the king of a certain country.
“When the Order overturns the kingdom, we just need to step forward! Then, it will be our world.”
The splendid sculptures in the garden and the jewels glistening in the sunlight added to the atmosphere as conversations and laughter flowed from all directions.
At that moment of peace and socializing.
The expression on Count Derek’s face, who was laughing and chatting, suddenly stiffened.
“Count…?”
Someone noticed his subtle change.
“……”
But Count Derek moved towards the table with the cake. A knife stuck in the cake.
The Count grabbed the knife and began to wield it wildly as if possessed.
The garden, which was lively just a moment ago, turned into a scene of horror in an instant.
As red blood splattered gruesomely, people screamed, and chaos ensued.
The faces of the women, adorned in elegant and vibrant dresses, distorted with fear and astonishment as the men couldn’t conceal their shock either.
Why would Count Derek commit such an act!
The splendid sculptures and lights in the garden turned the vibrant atmosphere into a horror one.
Laughter and conversation were replaced by screams and cries of terror.
And in the midst of this chaotic moment, there was one being observing it all.
It was Princess Elena of the Sael Kingdom.
“… Haha.”
A natural smile formed on her lips.
It felt like a mix of astonishing wonder and uneasy romance hovering on the orbit.
‘What should I call this feeling?’
Yes, this was a delightful emotion.
It was the feeling of being rewarded in an instant for all the persecution and neglect she had endured.
Then, she glanced at the demon she had summoned.
A demon with a truly beautiful appearance, even to another woman.
Looking at the horns on her head again, they were more enchanting than frightening, accentuating her as a captivating presence.
The demon introduced herself as Celia.
At the same time, celia had clearly said something like this a while ago.
As a gift before entering into a formal contract.
If…
Truly, if.
If the outcome before her eyes was just a simple gift before entering into a formal contract.
What would happen if she entered into a formal contract with her?
Elena saw a slight possibility.
And a hopeful future unfolded before her.
“Um, Lady Celia?”
Elena lifted her gaze and spoke to Celia. She realized that Celia wasn’t just a simple demon, probably a high-ranking one.
Even if Elena was ignorant about monsters, comparing her to a monster seemed inappropriate.
“I want to enter into a formal contract.”
As Elena spoke, celia smiled subtly.
“To enter into a formal contract, there are crucial matters to consider.”
Celia extended one finger, pointing upward.
Elena naturally raised her head, looking at the ceiling.
“First, Princess Elena, serve the Great One. Just harbor it in your heart and work for it. I won’t permit doubting the Supreme One.”
‘The Great One?’
For a moment, Elena thought it was an utterly bizarre request.
Honestly, from her demonic perspective, she expected a demand for her soul.
But instead, it was to serve the Great One, not just demanding her soul.
Elena didn’t even know who this Great One was.
No, could there be a more powerful being than the demon before her?
On one hand, she felt fortunate.
Fortunate that what she demanded wasn’t her soul.
“I guess you thought I might demand my soul.”
Elena felt a bit embarrassed by her words.
Celia smiled at her response and raised another finger.
“Second. Yes, that’s right. While it’s your soul, it’s not just any soul. You will become a loyal servant to the Great One.”
And another requirement was revealed.
“Show your sincerity to the Great One. To put it bluntly, think of it as a sacrifice.”
“A sacrifice?”
Elena asked, and Celia responded with a warm smile.
“Yes, a sacrifice. Send a sacrifice to the mountain range near the kingdom. I’ll leave it entirely to Princess Elena to decide whom to offer as a sacrifice.”
Elena was momentarily taken aback.
Send a sacrifice to the mountain range.
The mountain range was a dangerous place.
Since it played a role in separating the kingdom and the demon realm, the mountain range was filled with unknown monsters and perilous entities.
To offer a sacrifice in such a dangerous place.
But Celia kindly explained to her, as if dealing with a child.
“Oh, Princess Elena doesn’t need to offer the sacrifice herself.”
Celia pointed outside the window with a benevolent smile.
“Well, judging by the atmosphere earlier, wouldn’t the nobles come willingly if you just hinted a bit?”
Elena marveled at Celia’s words.
“Ah!”
As she said, Elena wouldn’t need to offer the sacrifice herself.
There were plenty of people willing to become sacrifices.
But to realize her thoughts, there was another issue.
The significant obstacle of obtaining her father’s approval.
Did Celia know about Elena’s dilemma?
Celia left a cryptic remark directed at her.
“Don’t worry about that part. Everything will go as Princess Elena says.”
It was a statement with an unknown meaning.
“But remember this. Always follow the Great One…”
Elena looked into Celia’s eyes.
“The Great One…”
Who it was, she didn’t know.
But she must never resist.
“The Great One…”
To make a pact with the demon before her, she must heed the words of the Great One.
“The Great One…”
Where was the reason she wanted to become a strong queen and strengthen the kingdom?
“……”
For a moment, the memory didn’t come to her.
But she knew one thing.
“To serve the Great One…”
Elena mumbled several times until Celia wore a satisfied smile.
She mumbled a few times more but soon regained her composure.
“Ah! Lady Celia.”
Elena wanted to ask a few more questions, but her partner didn’t wait.
“We will have many meetings in the future, Elena.”
It meant they couldn’t talk only now.
“Shortly, I’ll send you a gift.”
With these last words, celia left Elena’s room.
“Uh, if you go there…”
There was a danger that others might see if she went out there.
Although flustered, Elena followed Celia out of the room.
“Huh?”
There was no one in the corridor.
As if they never existed in the first place.
“… It couldn’t be a dream, right?”
Was it possible that she had seen nothing at all?
Elena was desperate, wanting it not to be in vain.
She followed Celia down the corridor.
“Uh?”
No one was there.
As if they never existed.
“… It couldn’t have been a dream, right?”
Was there a chance she had seen nothing?
Elena explored her room.
The parchment used as a medium to summon the demon had turned to ashes.
Looking out the window, the chaos and splattered red blood remained.
Some knights were rushing to arrest Count Derek.
Seeing the once-blue garden now tainted in red, Elena had one thought.
“It’s not a dream…”
Yes, this wasn’t a dream.
“This is an opportunity.”
A golden opportunity to change the current kingdom.
From now on, the kingdom would change under her control.
“An opportunity to serve the Great One.”
Elena’s eyes gleamed with a hint of madness.
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Armed knights traversed the rugged road.
They all wore the armor of the Sael Kingdom.
From head to toe, they were covered in knight armor.
However, one strange thing was that they seemed lifeless.
Though Lenon had doubts about it, he quickly shook his head.
This whole affair was directly commanded by Princess Elena, whom he served.
The princess always had a dark expression.
But a few days ago, she brightened up and became positive about everything.
Lenon, the princess’s bodyguard, welcomed this change.
‘Even the princess is working hard, I can’t stay still.’
Following the princess’s orders, Lenon greeted the knights in front of him.
“I’ve been waiting. I’m Lenon, who will lead the knights on Princess’s orders.”
However, the others didn’t say a word.
Lenon was momentarily perplexed but soon regained composure.
It was a common occurrence.
Although he was the princess’s bodyguard, he was a commoner.
And didn’t the princess herself say that a noble would come to help?
Lenon interpreted Elena’s words differently.
‘A noble has finally appeared to share the princess’s intentions.’
Perhaps these knights were sent by that noble.
If so, their pride might be so high it could pierce the sky.
Common knights often disliked mingling with knights from noble backgrounds.
Perhaps this situation was no different.
Lenon maintained a smile as much as possible.
Regardless, these were nobles who would assist the princess he served.
In the current kingdom, nobles were gaining and losing power.
Providing such support to the princess meant the supporter truly cared for her.
Lenon led the knights back to the royal palace.
The armed knights simply followed Lenon.
With each step, the armor creaked.
If one listened closely, they might hear the faint sound of bones moving, but it was too subtle for anyone to notice.
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“Well, since my father is unwell today, I came in his stead.”
Princess Elena burst into the meeting room.
All the nobles were surprised, but Elena quickly spoke.
“I have been granted all authority, so don’t worry.”
The princess’s atmosphere had strangely changed.
Like a child given an amusing toy, her demeanor was that of an innocent child.
But the people in the meeting room didn’t notice.
They only cared about their own interests, not a princess.
However, Elena’s next words were enough to capture their attention.
“From now on, I will allow the development of the mountain range next to the kingdom.”
“…!”
Did they hear correctly?
Suddenly revealing the kingdom’s privileges that the royalists and nobles had guarded until now was suspicious.
Royalist nobles were puzzled as the princess seemingly offered the privileges that they had safeguarded.
The nobles were already gloomy due to the recent Count Derek incident, and they couldn’t regain their composure at this sudden carrot.
The mountain range was dangerous as it was adjacent to the demon realm.
But at the same time, it was full of rare resources and offered boundless development opportunities.
The royal family had not allowed the development of the mountain range until now.
It was dangerous, and above all, they didn’t want the nobles’ influence to grow.
But Elena’s words didn’t stop there.
“I will not only allow development but also grant autonomy to the developed areas.”
Elena smiled brightly.
“However, the damages arising from the process cannot be taken responsibility for by the royal family.”