Chapter – 63
The traitor’s name was Ahoen Ishimab.
Even if the memory wasn’t clear, I knew the name. “Ahoen” was common enough, but the surname “Ishimab” was rare.
But at that time, everything was chaotic. To me, the Prophecy Clan was a corrupt, crumbling organization, and everyone was a traitor.
So, while I remembered the name, I never thought to investigate it.
“Do you know me?”
“I’ve seen you in the future. Someone wrote your name on a wall in blood. ‘The traitor Ahoen Ishimab,’ it said.”
“Really?”
His voice trembled. His condition wasn’t improving. I signaled Vega Beros and helped him sit in a chair. When Vega Beros poured the purple liquid he had in his coat into Ahoen’s mouth, his breathing quickly stabilized.
“Anything unusual, Ahoen?”
“No, just… give me a pen.”
I handed him a pen and paper. He bit the pen and wrote his name repeatedly.
“Was it like this?”
The handwriting was messy compared to the image in my clear memory. But through the repeated writing, I realized one thing.
“Yeah.”
“Damn it.”
He let out a hollow laugh. The handwriting I had seen in the future was indeed his—Ahoen’s own writing. He had written to himself, labeling himself a traitor.
But it was strange. I understood why he wrote “traitor” to himself, but why within the Prophecy Clan?
Looking at me, Ahoen stared at the ceiling and spoke.
“Then it’s better I tell you.”
“What are you?”
“It’s natural you wouldn’t know. I’m the Palpun Prophet.”
The Palpun Prophet—an insulting term for a prophet who received eight noble tools. Hearing that, I could guess Ahoen’s true identity.
“Could it be… a retainer?”
“You got it. I am a retainer of the Prophecy Clan you belonged to.”
“A retainer…”
“From the beginning, I was drafted for a single plan among the 13 Realms. I could only be a retainer.”
Finally, he looked at me. His lips were dry, but his eyes were sharp, as if he hadn’t yet suffered the injuries of losing limbs.
“The plan given to me is one: unifying two families.”
“Unifying, as in merging them?”
“I thought so too, but no.”
Ahoen spoke something shocking.
“When the time comes, the plan is to destroy the royal family itself. And the Prophecy Clan will be positioned in the leadership so that eventually, the Prophecy Clan replaces the royal family.”
“…!”
It was hard to grasp at once. The Black Swan had already devoured the palace. There would be no reason to make the Prophecy Clan a new royal family.
I asked.
“Why?”
“I don’t know. They just call it ‘preparation.’ The rest of the 13 Realms are the same. Even those in charge of the plan don’t know why it must be done.”
“A plan no one knows or understands.”
“There must be a reason. Do you know it?”
Ahoen sneered.
“Maybe there’s someone like you who sees the future on your side too.”
“Future…”
But in the future I had seen, there was no scenario where the Prophecy Clan replaced the royal family. Then what other future could there be?
I pondered deeply, then shook my head. There was no need to think about it now. I didn’t know anyway. I would learn gradually, as before.
I focused on another point.
“So, I understand that you are responsible for this plan. But without the Prophecy Clan’s consent? Aren’t you just a retainer?”
“I’m just a retainer. But I didn’t prepare this plan alone.”
“Who else is involved?”
Ahoen thought for a moment, then said:
“…Could you perhaps reattach my arms and legs? Is that part of the deal?”
Meanwhile, Radon sat in the audience hall, speaking with someone. A finely groomed, golden-haired man stood before him. He was very thin, but the weight loss seemed deliberate, not from poor health.
Despite his gaunt cheeks, he carried dignity and vitality in his words.
“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”
“So your feelings are not hurt?”
“The Prophecy Clan must serve the royal family. Who would dare oppose that?”
“As the First Prophet, that’s an unusual statement.”
“Previous formalities were flawed.”
The golden-haired man was the First Prophet of the Prophecy Clan. He had come to the palace immediately after the announcement that Allen Bahar would become the royal palace’s primary prophet.
“I will restore everything, Your Majesty.”
“Can I trust you, Haon?”
“Trust is unnecessary. Simply await my succession.”
Yet even Haon, in his words of submission, showed some subtle confidence. Radon caught that nuance.
“Then you desire nothing further?”
“Your Majesty.”
“If you have a point, speak quickly. Did you not witness the coronation? Formalities are unnecessary.”
“Elevating only a single prophet would effectively recognize only one prophecy.”
“Meaning you want to completely remove the Prophecy Clan from authority?”
“Yes. Please give us just one chance.”
Radon already knew of the Prophecy Clan’s corruption from Allen. Yet they remained influential. He feigned a gentle demeanor, masking his anger.
“What kind of chance?”
“We do not intend to overthrow Allen Bahar. We wish to prove our prophecies still matter.”
“You could prove that right now.”
“The name is the greatest stigma. Whatever we do, unless we are the First Prophet, the Prophecy Clan will gradually decline. That would be a loss for the kingdom.”
“Be specific. What exactly do you want to do?”
“Raise the Prophecy Clan to a position equal to the First Prophet, based on our efforts.”
“You want that, huh.”
Radon pretended to consider, then smiled.
“Consider, eh?”
“…Your Majesty.”
“Why hesitate? You just said you would consider it.”
“Please promise me.”
The audience hall fell silent. Moments later, Radon’s blood boiled with the power of the Crimson Blood Sword.
“Promise?”
As the throne shook faintly, Haon realized something was wrong. What he had seen earlier was only a fraction of Radon’s anger.
“Sit, if you wish to live.”
Outside the palace outer wall, the servants of the First Prince Haon looked up at the gloomy sky.
“Is it going to rain?”
“We must leave before it pours.”
“Such matters are never easy, especially when dealing with the king.”
The servants loaded goods into the rear carriage and circled nearby, ready to run and lift the prince if necessary. The clouds looked ominous.
Then, a white light pierced through the clouds from the palace.
All eyes turned white at the majestic sight.
“The Grand Proclamation.”
One whispered dumbly.
The Grand Proclamation—a decree issued directly by the king and transmitted across the kingdom through the magical communication system. Few had seen it firsthand, so they hesitated before confirming it.
“Is this really the Grand Proclamation?”
“Has Haon done something?”
Radon’s voice thundered across the sky—but its content surprised them.
You are determined to create a tyrant.
The Grand Proclamation was unusual. It was filled with emotion, pure anger.
From now on, the royal family will grant no support to the Prophecy Clan. No policies may relate to them, nor shall they be granted authority.
It was like a bolt from the blue—severing all ties the Prophecy Clan had to the royal family’s influence.
The rain began pouring, yet no one entered the carriage. They just stared at the white light above the dark clouds.
The king’s wrath raged on.
I will not allow them to be revered above mere prophets!
Lightning struck, embedding itself in everyone’s chest. The servants finally looked at each other.
“Just now… what happened?”
“The king’s intent was…”
All of this is the crime of the First Prince Haon, who plotted rebellion!
At the same moment, the outer palace gate opened with a horrifying sound. Soldiers appeared, dragging a small wooden coffin. The coffin scraped against the ground, breaking in places.
The rain intensified. The servants could not approach and dropped to the ground.
Finally, the coffin reached them, its interior exposed. Inside lay the body of the First Prophet Haon. He rested peacefully.
“How… how can this be…? The closest to succession…”
“How is this possible?”
The servants wailed, and the soldiers brandished their spears.
“Leave in five seconds. This is the minimum courtesy.”
The servants hurriedly lifted the body into the carriage and fled. The events reached the Prophecy Clan three days later.
Yet the Prophecy Clan made no statement. In a few days, the prevailing opinion became that they dared not defy the royal family.
Thus, rumors in taverns gradually shifted.
A new era had begun.
