The Demon King.
A title that remains a terror on the continent even after long ages.
A thousand years ago from now.
Someone who subdued countless demons declared himself the Demon King and swept across the continent.
Amidst the slaughter of not only resisting humans but also demons, there was one who stood alone against him.
“She was the first Emperor of this Jaden Vium Empire.”
Sibylius emotionlessly recounted the history related to the Demon King, as if giving a lecture to someone.
"According to legend, she was said to be a half-blood of a red dragon and a human. I don't know if it's true, but seeing her descendants, the imperial family, it's clear they possess a special bloodline and the power derived from it.”
It was the first Emperor who, for the first time, fought on equal footing against the Demon King who had boasted overwhelming power until then.
She also dealt with the damages and various dark legacies left by the Demon King, together with her vassals...
“One of those is Black Pain, held in your hand.”
Black Pain.
The weapon said to have been used by the Demon King when he massacred countless beings, a magic sword hiding wicked dark power.
The first Emperor, who obtained it, entrusted it to the founder of the Whiperion family, who followed her at the time.
“Wasn't it kept in a place known only to the head of the family and their heir, strictly sealed for generations?"
“That's right. It was sealed in a place known only to me and Ceres."
“May I ask why you brought it here?"
The person Sibylius kept addressing, Ares Whiperion, stared straight at her upon being questioned and answered.
"...You might get along surprisingly well with Alios."
Sibylius said out of frustration.
“Why kill me?"
“Do you ask because you don't know? Hand over my Ceres!"
“If you mean Ceres, he is not here right now.”
Sibylius explained the situation as calmly as possible. She said that his condition worsened during confinement, so he stopped by here for treatment before going to the Kingdom of Arsen, but...
“Do you think I'd believe such nonsense!”
Ares dismissed it as a lie.
“It's true."
“Don't make me laugh! If that's really true, why did you send Ceres, whom you supposedly cherish so much, to the neighboring country?”
“Ceres insisted on going, even if it strained him.”
“Why on earth would a sick child want to go to a kingdom he doesn't even know?!"
Ares, unaware of the circumstances, regarded everything merely as a trick to deceive her.
“As expected, you won't answer. I'll kill you and find the child myself!”
“If you weren't going to believe me, why did you ask?"
Exchanging irritated words, the woman wielding the Demon King's sword clashed with the woman who could have become a Demon King herself.
Black Pain.
It's a weapon that originally didn't appear in the novel.
However, as a result of Ceres making Hurion an ally, the magic sword that Ares could now safely wield unleashed terrifying power!
'To cut through my defense magic.'
Seeing the magic she cast first as a check disappear before Black Pain, Sibylius frowned.
'As expected, that magic sword is as troublesome as I heard.'
Sibylius, raising her guard further, now used attack magic.
She aimed for the arm to make her drop Black Pain, but Ares didn't even dodge.
The moment the sharp magic lunged and severed the tendons in her right arm, it healed instantly, the wound closing on its own.
'They did say it had a function to heal the owner.'
Sibylius had no choice but to unleash other spells in succession. She poured out various kinds of magic, making it hard to cope, but something surprising happened.
The blade of Black Pain freely transformed, countering the magic.
This too was a function of Black Pain.
According to legend, this sword was crafted using the body of a demon skilled in body transformation. Essentially, a perfect weapon in the shape of a sword!
However,
“Let's end this now.”
Unless the real Demon King was wielding it, dealing a blow to Sibylius was impossible.
Something like white ribbons surrounded Black Pain.
Ares tried to cut them off immediately, but it didn't work well. It felt like trying to cut tough cloth with a dull knife.
“What is this?"
“It's a suppression magic specifically for Black Pain.”
"You made something like that?!"
“The Emperors ordered it.”
No monarch fails to be wary of a vassal possessing a dangerous weapon.
They informed Sibylius what Black Pain was and ordered her to develop magic to counter it.
“I never thought I'd actually have to use it. You can no longer fight, so won't you give up now?"
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Clad in aura, she snapped the magic binding Black Pain.
What?
Sibylius was startled.
This magic exerts strong power only against Black Pain, so it can be broken by other means. But I never expected she'd use aura.
“Since when did you become a Sword Master?"
“To save Ceres, I can do anything.”
'Don't tell me she awakened just from the desire to save Ceres?!'
Should I call this incredible motherly love?
Or an obsession beyond that?
'At this rate, suppressing her is really impossible? Since Ceres can probably heal her anyway, should I just cut off her arms and legs?'
It seemed Black Pain wouldn't be able to regenerate limbs if they were cut off, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
'This woman is Ceres's mother.'
She hesitated, afraid of how Ceres would react.
Just then.
"Stop!"
A voice missed by both women sounded out as a golden knight interposed herself between them.
After asking the Queen of Arsen for permission, I borrowed their transfer gate.
And enduring the humiliation, I rushed over while being carried by Alios, who was faster than me.
We left Hurion, who delivered the news, behind and rushed here at top speed, just the two of us.
“We made it in time!"
Having intervened at the right moment while the two were facing off, I immediately got down from Alios's arms.
“Mother, are you okay?"
“Ceres?"
Ares looked at me with eyes that couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"Are you alright?!"
I reassured the agitated Ares.
"First, I'm fine. I even sent word through the Emperor, didn't you see it?"
“Word? You mean that one letter that just said something like, 'Ceres is fine by my side'?"
“Since even the 'news' was like that, I thought something had happened to you!"
I asked her to send news, and she sent this?
Only then did I understand why Ares had gotten so agitated and run wild.
“It's not wrong, though. He was indeed by that woman's side, and he was fine. But it was too abbreviated.” (Likely Sibylius commenting)
“Then the Emperor didn't defile you?"
“She didn't! You're too agitated, calm down..."
As I tried to calm Ares down, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind and forced me to turn.
It was Sibylius.
“You don't even glance at me, seeking her out first.”
“She's my mother, of course."
“Then what about me? What am I to you, the one attacked by your mother because of you, without even knowing why?"
“Sorry. You went through a rough time because of me.”
"...Damn it!"
What does she want me to do? She doesn't accept my apology and just curses.
Whatever was frustrating her, she was about to question me again but stopped when she saw two swords pointed at her.
“Stop it." (Alios)
“Take your hands off my child." (Ares)
Acknowledging she had lost her reason towards Alios and Ares who were threatening her, she retreated.
There was a brief commotion, but things finally calmed down.
“I'll meet with the Emperor and ask her to send me home.”
Once the commotion settled, I intended to resolve the root of all this trouble: Viol's confinement of me.
Even without Ares showing up, I planned to ask her to send me back once I returned. I couldn't just keep staying at the Imperial Palace, leaving my perfectly good home behind.
But even though I explained, Ares was stubborn.
“Ceres, that woman cannot be trusted. Let's just go back, no need to talk to her.”
“Emperor Viol will send troops to our territory."
“Then let's leave, just the two of us, to a place no one knows.”
Why is she like this today? I stopped Ares, who seemed to have lost her composure.
"Mother, you're strong, but not strong enough to shake off the Emperor's pursuit."
“I have this Black Pain now.”
Black Pain?
It's the first time I've heard that name.
She seems to be referring to the strange sword Ares is holding, but there was nothing like this in the original work.
Is this the trump card?
“Where on earth did you get this 'Black Pain'?"
It looked strange even at a glance, so curious, I asked without much thought, but the moment I did...
“What?”
Ares froze, then looked at me with a strange expression.