Chapter 130
Mind-Reading Eye
“Allow me to ask you one question. What is your ultimate objective?”
Ever since possessing this body in this world, Johan had sought only to survive.
He had simply struggled desperately to stay alive.
That remained true even now.
Every action Johan took was part of his desperate attempt to avoid death.
He had cultivated power and influence to preserve his life.
Yet the results were still insufficient.
In the latter half of the original story, the world was destroyed.
Demons and humans alike met their deaths.
To prevent that predetermined ending, Johan needed overwhelming dominion.
He intended to bring every intelligent life-form under his rule.
Mapheltan spoke calmly.
“I will reign as the embodiment of all evil and the god of all people.”
The Count stared at Mapheltan without answering.
Only after a long silence did he finally speak.
“…At the very least, that means you do not desire humanity’s extinction.”
Every Apostle lived to exterminate humanity.
They harbored endless hatred toward humans and the Great Saint.
The Apostles had once been the gods of forgotten ancient races before Margiel corrupted them. Naturally, they could not help but hate Margiel and his flock.
Mapheltan was different.
Although he was an Apostle, he did not herald the end of humanity.
Instead, he sought to reign over it.
He was an aberration among aberrations.
Mapheltan said,
“As I told you earlier, I am a half-demon. Human blood also flows through my veins, so why would I desire humanity’s destruction?”
After organizing his thoughts, the Count opened his mouth.
“I understand your objective. If you resurrect Yeriyan and do not become her enemy afterward, then I, Cromwell Staviana, shall forever stand beside the Watcher of Narak and the Thirteenth Apostle of the End.”
The Count made his pledge with a composed expression.
Whether his words were sincere was unclear.
It could have been a lie intended merely to escape the present situation.
Mapheltan had no way to determine the Count’s true intentions.
He did not yet possess the Mind-Reading Eye.
‘I need Serena.’
Serena Marcano.
Only by recruiting her as soon as possible could he free himself from suspicions like this.
Mapheltan slowly nodded.
“Cromwell, I hope the words you just spoke were sincere.”
The Count looked directly into Mapheltan’s red eyes.
“And I can only hope that your declaration was sincere as well.”
If Mapheltan did not become the enemy of the angel Yeriyan—in other words, if he did not destroy humanity—the Count would lend him his strength.
That was what the Count was saying.
Mapheltan chuckled.
“Very well. We truly are in the same boat now, so let us remain faithful to each other.”
He extended a black demonic hand.
The Count clasped it with his wrinkled hand.
“Faithfulness is hardly a word one expects to hear from a demon. Still, since you are a half-demon, I suppose I can understand it to some extent.”
The two briefly shook hands.
Mapheltan was quite pleased.
He had completely secured the Count’s power.
At least, that was how things appeared on the surface.
Lumina, who had been watching them, opened her mouth.
“So, what do we do now? O King of All Evil, please bestow your solemn command upon me.”
Her tone was slightly sarcastic.
She held no sincere reverence toward an Apostle.
To Lumina, only Muel was her true master.
Mapheltan would first have to uproot that deep-seated loyalty.
He looked at Lumina.
“Before we begin, I want to confirm one thing. Lumina, what happened to your magical rank?”
Numerous conditions had to be met before one could advance from Archmage to Origin Circler.
One of them was a direct contract with a transcendent demon.
Lumina had formed a contract with Mapheltan moments ago.
Yet she had not advanced.
Although she had fulfilled all the other requirements beforehand, she remained an Archmage.
Lumina’s expression darkened slightly.
She answered in a subdued voice.
“…Nothing has changed yet.”
Mapheltan sneered.
“So Muel was telling the truth after all. It seems you lack the talent to break through your ‘wall.’”
Muel had previously told Lumina that she did not possess what it took to become an Origin Circler.
His words had now become reality.
Lumina’s face contorted.
“Do not presume to judge me!”
Mapheltan shrugged.
“I was merely repeating Muel’s words.”
“E-Enough!”
“Besides, that is merely Muel’s opinion.”
Lumina furrowed her brow.
“…What are you trying to say, O End?”
“I know how to break down your wall and awaken your talent.”
Lumina was someone who had attained the rank of Archmage while possessing nothing more than a mortal human body.
She had already surpassed what should have been her natural limits.
With the right fortuitous encounter, coincidence, or trigger, Lumina could undoubtedly become an Origin Circler.
She glared at Mapheltan.
“You were born a transcendent being. There is no possible way for you to understand the struggles of mortals like us.”
Mapheltan chuckled.
“What an inflexible way of thinking. That is a fatal flaw for a mage. Such preconceptions are precisely what impose limits upon you. Open your mind. The moment that brain of yours—hardened by Muel’s indoctrination—becomes flexible again, you will step into an entirely new world.”
Mages were beings who thought flexibly.
They confronted every phenomenon while leaving themselves open to every possibility.
They ceaselessly investigated the unknown.
Lumina was somewhat different.
She moved solely according to Muel’s will.
Without a will of her own, she had lived like a puppet as Muel’s servant for no less than 150 years.
That had allowed her to become an Archmage, but what came afterward was the problem.
Beginning with the rank of Origin Circler, one required personal enlightenment.
A fettered mind could never comprehend that realm.
Only by overcoming Muel could Lumina advance toward the Supreme Heaven.
She said,
“…Do not attempt to drive a wedge between us. No matter what methods you employ, you will never break the bond between Lord Muel and me.”
Mapheltan shrugged.
“Well, I was only offering advice. Whether you advance or not has little to do with me. You need only assist me for the contracted year as an Archmage—the limit of your abilities.”
Lumina shot Mapheltan a piercing glare.
“Just tell me what I must do. I no longer wish to speak with you.”
Mapheltan nodded.
“Go to the execution grounds and retrieve Verdan’s corpse. No one must discover that you were replaced.”
The Mimic Verdan was currently tied to the stake in Lumina’s place.
He would be burned alive in her stead.
Mapheltan found it regrettable to expend Verdan in this manner, but circumstances left him with no other option.
He needed to use Verdan to fabricate Lumina’s death.
Lumina turned away.
Without another word, she left the study.
Mapheltan clicked his tongue as he watched her depart.
‘She has certainly wasted her years.’
Neither her manner of speaking nor her conduct suited someone who was 150 years old.
It seemed that when she shed her old body, her mind had been scrubbed clean as well.
Seeing Mapheltan’s displeasure, the Count said,
“Mages tend to be like that. Ilea is the unusual one.”
Despite her youth, Ilea was remarkably mature.
“Ilea is not a mage. She is a witch. Though I suppose you know that now, Cromwell.”
Lumina had referred to Ilea as a witch earlier.
The Count could not possibly have overlooked that word.
He replied calmly,
“I never imagined that witches still survived in this age.”
“From now on, you will continue encountering things that defy common sense. Get used to it, although that may be somewhat difficult for an old man.”
The Count laughed softly.
“I am not as rigid as you might think. I am prepared to accept anything.”
Mapheltan also chuckled.
“That is an answer I like.”
“So, what should I do now?”
“Get a good day’s rest. Before long, you will be so busy that you will hardly have time to breathe.”
Mapheltan waved his hand dismissively.
He was ordering the Count to leave.
As the Count headed out of the study, he asked,
“And you?”
“As soon as the sun rises, I will meet Horentz Marcano. It is time for me to acquire the Mind-Reading Eye.”
Johan intended to become engaged to Serena.
He wanted her Mind-Reading Eye.
After a moment’s thought, the Count said,
“Viscount Marcano probably will not refuse.”
Horentz was an extremely calculating man, and House Myatro was the perfect marriage prospect.
The outcome had already been decided.
Mapheltan agreed with the Count’s assessment.
“There is a high probability that he will accept.”
“I wish you good fortune.”
The Count left the study.
Mapheltan remained lost in thought until sunrise.
***
The morning sun rose.
After personally witnessing Archmage Lumina’s execution, Horentz Marcano immediately returned to his estate.
He wanted nothing more than to throw himself onto his bed.
He had barely slept over the past several days because he had been so busy.
Ever since the incident involving the ritual to summon Muel, he had been called to all manner of gatherings—the Council, royal administrative meetings, conferences between cardinals, and countless others.
Horentz wanted to rest.
That wish could not be fulfilled.
Instead of going to his bedroom, he headed to the drawing room.
Another appointment had been arranged.
This time, it was with the Watcher of Narak.
Johan Myatro had requested a private audience.
Horentz could not refuse the Watcher’s request.
Johan was now indisputably the most powerful man in the Kingdom.
Both the royal family and the Count gave him their full support.
Numerous nobles had recognized the shifting tide and were working tirelessly to secure a meeting with Johan.
The Marcano family could not resist the prevailing trend either.
They were in a position where they had to welcome Johan’s visit with open arms.
However, Horentz felt uneasy.
He had already glimpsed Johan’s dark intentions.
Johan intended to take several wives.
He would undoubtedly use Serena for her Mind-Reading Eye and political influence.
As a father, Horentz found Johan deeply troubling.
That cunning young serpent was the foremost person he needed to guard against.
Horentz sighed.
His narrow eyes drooped.
He only ever displayed such an expression when he was alone.
As he remained lost in thought, a knock sounded, followed by the butler’s voice.
“My lord, the Watcher of Narak has arrived.”
So the moment had finally come.
Horentz composed his expression and cleared his throat.
In his usual cheerful voice, he said,
“Show him in.”
The door opened.
Johan’s smiling face appeared.
“Viscount, it is good to see you. It has been a while… No, I suppose it has not.”
They had encountered each other several times during the various meetings.
Horentz rose from his seat.
“Ha-ha! We even dined together yesterday. My apologies for failing to greet you properly.”
Johan shook his head as he entered.
“We were hardly in a position to leisurely exchange pleasantries. Let us be generous and forgive one another.”
Horentz put on an affable smile.
“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Ha-ha!”
The door to the drawing room closed.
The instant they were cut off from the outside, Johan’s demeanor changed slightly.
His smile vanished.
With an expressionless face, he opened his mouth.
“Viscount, have you given any thought to my proposal?”
He went straight to the point—the matter of marriage.
“Ha-ha, if by your proposal you mean…”
Johan frowned slightly.
“I have given you more than enough time. I would like your answer now.”
Horentz felt a peculiar pressure bearing down on him.
A thin layer of cold sweat formed on his forehead.