CHAPTER 36
Something felt suspicious.
Though Asterios had used Nox to secretly enter the Demon King’s castle, he was already aware that Mephisto had noticed their incursion into the Demon Realm.
“And yet, he’s preparing for a wedding as if nothing’s wrong?”
A smirk lifted one corner of Asterios’s lips.
“It’s a trap.”
It made no sense that the Demon Realm would remain this quiet, even after learning that intruders had entered.
Unless it meant that Asterios and Nox had stepped right into the game board Mephisto had set up.
Moreover—
“There’s no way Mephisto would leave the bride’s side so easily.”
There was no doubt Roziana was somewhere in this place.
“If the bride’s room and the birdcage are the trap, where is the real Roziana?”
Asterios scanned both ends of the hallway where Mephisto had disappeared.
Nox, keep watch for any sign of Mephisto. Let me know the moment he gets close.
[Yes, master. But if he’s actively hiding his presence, there may be moments we lose track of him.]
“Understood. I’ll account for that.”
Asterios responded to Nox and quietly concentrated, trying to detect the unique mana of the Demon Realm.
Sweet, fragrant, and powerful—the mana of the violet witch.
He sensed it coming from a place connected to this hallway.
“The scent of Erika’s soul within Roziana…”
That’s the place.
Without a sound and with his presence completely hidden, Asterios moved toward it.
Meanwhile, in the Holy Kingdom of Graham, the great sage Daniel visited the Sovereign Pontiff for the first time in a while, bearing exciting news.
“I greet His Holiness, the Sovereign King of Graham, Gregoryon Greas Graham!”
Daniel burst into the holy temple, nearly running, and the pontiff welcomed him with a kind smile.
“You must bring good news, Daniel.”
“Indeed, Your Holiness. Roziana of Dreat has vanished into the Demon Realm with Mephisto.”
“Oh…”
The eyes of the beautiful King of the Holy Nation sparkled with curiosity.
His silver irises shimmered with the brilliance and mystery of a rainbow.
“Surely now is the time for us to step in, rescue her, and welcome her as the new Saintess.”
Daniel declared proudly.
The prophecy he had received from God was unfolding perfectly. Though his plan to take the princess of Dreat while she was still young had failed, the prophecy never specifically stated that the Saintess would come to Graham on her own. He had merely assumed she would, since she had been born.
Each divine phrase of the prophecy had been fulfilled:
The princess of Dreat would be born on the day of Orphe’s morning star.
She would manifest divine power.
If she did not become the Saintess—
The Demon King would return to the mortal world.
“And then… there will be a choice…”
He still didn’t understand who was to make the choice, or what the choice was about.
Even Daniel, who had interpreted divine revelations for decades, could not decipher that final line.
So he had merely reported it as-is to Gregoryon.
When the Pontiff heard the final line, he had shown a rare moment of surprise—but then returned to his usual gentle smile.
“It was the first time I’d seen His Holiness surprised.”
Gregoryon’s eyes curved with subtle amusement.
“Indeed, that is good news.”
“The black sorcerer Mephisto must have taken her to make her his bride and become the Demon King.”
“Quite likely.”
“Then please, allow me to ensnare Mephisto with Your Holiness’s sacred relic, the Snare, and bring back the Saintess.”
Daniel placed a fist over his chest and shouted with pride.
The Snare was a divine artifact gifted to Graham by God himself. No living being could escape it.
“And before I go, I’ll stop by Dreat to wipe that arrogant emperor’s smirk off his face.”
Daniel recalled the humiliation he had suffered.
When the princess disappeared, Emperor Leodian of Dreat had nearly attacked him in a rage.
Daniel could still see the emperor’s blazing gaze in his mind’s eye.
But what he felt now was not fear—it was a thirst for vengeance.
“That emperor will crawl at my feet once he knows I’m the only one who can stop the Demon King’s return and rescue the princess.”
Daniel was already giddy with the anticipation of triumph.
The Pontiff, seeing the gloating expression on Daniel’s face, smiled lightly instead of immediately handing over the relic, and asked:
“Hmm… By the way, sage, what happened to your chief disciple?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Daniel stammered.
“T-that is…”
Unbelievably, not long ago, his most talented disciple had requested to be excommunicated due to “family matters.”
A priest of God should hold nothing above serving the divine. Yet Izeph, Daniel’s chief disciple, hadn’t even come to him in person—he had submitted the request in writing.
The letter was polite and filled with heartfelt explanations, but Daniel hadn’t cared about the reasoning.
“In all my centuries, no disciple of mine has ever asked for excommunication!”
The humiliation had been enough that Daniel had exiled Izeph from his temple without a second thought—just as the boy had wished.
“What a shame. He was rather… useful.”
“Izeph, you mean?”
Daniel was surprised but quickly masked his emotion.
He looked back at the Pontiff and pleaded once more.
“Your Holiness, there will be no better opportunity than now. If you grant your blessing, I will bring the Saintess back—and I will retrieve Izeph too.”
“Very well. Do so, sage.”
As the Pontiff nodded, two young priests in white robes appeared from either side, carrying a large, veiled object.
When they uncovered it, a beautiful, dazzlingly radiant staff was revealed.
Made from polished, silver-white branches intricately woven together and engraved with elegant patterns—it drew gasps of awe from those present.
Even the attendants and priests had not seen this relic in ages.
“This is… the Holy Divine Wood.”
Though it looked like a staff, it was a sacred treasure—known as the Tree of the Divine.
“Use it well in my stead.”
Gregoryon’s smile was radiant as light streamed behind him, as if declaring that he was the most divine being in existence.
“Oh, God!”
“For the glory of Graham and the embodiment of the divine!”
All those present fell prostrate before the Pontiff’s sacred presence.
“Daniel, I cannot go myself. You are the only suitable candidate—but beware, the Demon Realm may be more troublesome than you expect.”
“Do you mean…”
“Sage, have you ever set foot in the Demon Realm?”
Daniel blinked in surprise.
His expression said, ‘With this sacred staff, what could possibly be difficult?’
“This will be my first time.”
“Then you’ll understand what I mean the moment you arrive.”
Without losing his gentle smile, Gregoryon explained how to use the staff. Remarkably, the divine energy within it could open and close the passage to the Demon Realm once every hundred years.
“But once you go, you won’t be able to return for another hundred years. So take care of everything before coming back.”
“Yes, Your Holiness. I will bring the Saintess back without fail.”
“I look forward to the day you pass through the Gate of Light.”
That meant he expected Daniel to return with the Saintess—to enter the Holy Kingdom not as Mephisto’s bride, but as the consort of King Gregoryon.
Roziana stood in front of a massive portrait inside the Demon King’s castle with her temporary attendant—a succubus named Naer.
“Demon King Beelzebub!”
Beside him was the painting of a beautiful elf.
Naer began explaining with excitement.
“The former Demon King became one with the Elf Princess Stella, thereby becoming the true King of the Demon Realm. The one destined to rule chooses a bride that the Demon Realm instinctively desires. Once united with her, he becomes one with the realm itself.”
So… she was just a sacrifice to the Demon King and this place?
Roziana was appalled—but what came next was more important. She held back her retort and aimed her question at what she wanted to know.
“But Princess Stella died, didn’t she?”
“Yes. Sadly, if the bride exhausts her usefulness and cannot survive, a new one is chosen. Occasionally, a truly powerful bride can endure the Demon King’s power and even bear an heir.”
Thus, the second bride was chosen.
The one whom both the Demon Realm and King Beelzebub selected—a witch.
“And who was this second witch?”
“She is right here.”
Naer carefully unrolled a scroll beside the massive portrait.
“I knew it!”
The reason she had to be sealed away for nearly 200 years was revealed.
Inside the scroll was the portrait of a smiling witch—bright, beautiful, and unmistakable.
With curly red hair flowing like gold and violet eyes that sparkled like amethyst—
It was Erika, the Central Witch.
