Chapter 350

Shortly after, familiar footsteps echoed through the room.

As expected, it was Felix.

He entered the throne room, his expression hardening as he took in the carnage, and addressed Theo.

“This wasn’t a battle.”

“No, it wasn’t. This was the Apostle’s doing. By the time I arrived, the enemy forces had already disbanded.”

“Then we can assume the enemy is no longer here?”

“I’ve begun tracking the Apostle’s residual aura, but I suspect they’ve already left the palace grounds.”

Felix hesitated, his words faltering as if he was unsure of how to proceed.

Theo, sensing what Felix was struggling to say, spoke first.

“Yes. Investigating His Majesty’s safety must take precedence.”

Knowing Felix was still grappling with the reality of his lord’s likely death, Theo couldn’t bring himself to say outright that they needed to recover the Emperor’s remains.

“Yes. I’ll begin searching the palace immediately.”

“Please do.”

Watching Felix walk away to start his search, Theo couldn’t help but feel bitter.

“I just hope the body can still be found.”

The Second Apostle would have had no reason to leave the Emperor alive.

Though the likelihood of recovery was slim, Theo moved with the faintest hope.

Early the Next Morning

Theo had been resting in one of the palace chambers when he sensed Lodbrok’s presence.

“You’re here.”

“Indeed.”

Lodbrok sank into a nearby sofa and spoke.

“I found traces of the Second Apostle leaving the palace, but nothing beyond that.”

“So you couldn’t confirm if they left the capital altogether.”

“Exactly.”

“And the Chancellor?”

“Handled. He’ll be fit for use by tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

Lodbrok leaned forward, her eyes narrowing.

“So, what will you do now?”

“I was waiting for news of the Apostle’s movements before making a decision.”

Theo’s unease only deepened. He couldn’t shake the lingering tension.

He had intended to enthrone Cassandra once matters with the Apostle were resolved.

But with the Apostle potentially still in the capital, holding a coronation would be dangerous.

Any moment could bring an act of terrorism.

“If we could just confirm they’ve left the capital, the choice would be easier.”

“Of course. That’s why they left just enough traces to keep you uncertain.”

Theo sighed, realizing the limited options before him.

“Let’s wait until morning, at least.”

“Because of the Emperor’s body?”

“Yes. To gain the full support of the capital’s nobles and knights, we need Felix’s sincere conviction.”

As expected, even after the Golden Lion Knights scoured the palace, no trace of Emperor Horik’s body was found.

The Next Day

Theo, Lodbrok, and Felix convened in the Golden Lion Knights’ commander’s office.

Looking at Felix’s somber, pale face, Theo hesitated to speak but knew the conversation couldn’t be delayed.

“Though we haven’t confirmed His Majesty’s fate, the urgency of the situation demands critical decisions now. I ask for your understanding.”

Felix nodded slowly.

“Of course. Stabilizing the imperial family is as important as finding His Majesty.”

Despite his calm tone, Felix’s clenched fists trembled ever so slightly. Yet his words didn’t stop there.

“Announce his passing. A successor must be enthroned immediately.”

“Are you sure this is acceptable?”

“We can’t afford delays. With the enemy’s intentions unclear, postponing the stabilization of the state would lead to irreversible consequences.”

Hearing Felix’s resolve, Theo knew the man hadn’t broken under the weight of his loss.

Felix spoke with measured determination, his voice unwavering.

“Thank you for granting me last night. I used that time to come to terms. If we cannot find His Majesty’s remains by tonight, then at dawn, I will dedicate myself entirely to ensuring the survival of the imperial lineage.”

At last, the word “remains” escaped Felix’s lips, and Theo felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

“Very well. We’ll escort Cassandra to the capital. For now, any public announcements should come jointly from the Golden Lion Knights’ commander and the Chancellor. This will help stabilize the state.”

At the mention of the Chancellor, Felix’s brow furrowed.

“Does that mean…?”

Understanding Felix’s concerns, Theo quickly clarified.

“The Chancellor won’t see the light of day again. He’ll remain imprisoned until we’ve extracted every possible piece of information. Once the political situation stabilizes, he’ll be executed at an appropriate time.”

“…Understood.”

“Before that, however, we need to address the matter I mentioned previously.”

The palace’s mysteries still lingered.

Theo had no answers as to why the enemy had abandoned the palace so abruptly.

But now that it had been reclaimed, he could no longer delay uncovering its secrets.

Felix nodded and rose from his seat.

“Understood. Follow me.”

***

Felix led Theo to Diana’s bedroom.

“This room holds a secret beyond the hidden passages known only to the Golden Lion Knights,” Felix explained.

He pushed the bed aside, revealing an immaculate floor beneath it.

“...Hmm?”

Theo immediately sensed something unusual emanating from the floor.

“Hoh,” Lodbrok said with interest. “Quite an elaborate setup. The arrangement of the room completes the spatial formation.”

Felix froze for a moment, staring at Lodbrok in surprise, before sighing deeply.

“If anyone else had said that, I’d assume the imperial secret had been leaked.”

“I’ll admit, it’s intriguing—nearly as fascinating as the palace’s defense magic.”

At that moment, a Golden Lion Knight entered the room carrying a small box.

“Well done,” Felix said. “Ensure no one approaches this area. All of you, maintain perimeter control outside.”

“Yes, sir.”

The knight placed the box down and left. Felix then closed the door and opened the box, revealing its contents: a vase, a small golden frame, and other antique items.

“Every piece here is an artifact,” Lodbrok observed. “A devilish key. Like a puzzle with a million combinations but only one correct solution.”

“Exactly,” Felix confirmed. “This is spatial distortion magic. Unless the exact conditions are met, the passage will remain sealed forever.”

Lodbrok rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“Not very forgiving. An incorrect attempt could sever the connection to the other side permanently.”

Felix’s expression tightened, clearly anxious. The idea of accidentally erasing the empire’s greatest secret weighed heavily on him.

“Let’s begin,” he said. “I’ve only ever been taught how to activate this; I’ve never done it myself. Be prepared for anything.”

Felix began arranging the items in seemingly random places.

The vase, large enough to sit on a table, was placed unceremoniously on the floor near the door.

The small golden frame was flipped upside down and positioned in the center of the room.

A silver candlestick was set by the window, where sunlight streamed in.

As each artifact was positioned, Theo could feel the room’s mana flow becoming increasingly unnatural, though faintly enough that even Felix likely couldn’t sense it.

Finally, Felix reached for a small ring—the last item in the box—and approached the vase he had placed first.

Wooong—!

A faint resonance began to hum from the artifacts. Felix carefully dropped the ring into the vase.

Clink.

The sound of the ring hitting the vase reverberated through the room.

Wooong—!

A small portal appeared in the center of the room.

“Finally.”

Theo turned to Lodbrok.

“Are you coming with me?”

“I’d like to,” Lodbrok admitted, clicking her tongue. “But I’ll hold off. If the portal shuts abnormally, there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to return.”

“Thank you.”

Theo then addressed Felix.

“As you said, any mistake could result in this secret being lost forever. I’ll enter alone.”

“Understood.”

Without further delay, Theo stepped into the portal.

A torrent of mana swirled around Theo, pulling him into an unknown destination.

Moments later, he arrived beyond the portal, greeted by a space cloaked in blackness.

“The same place.”

It was identical to the realm he had encountered in the Abyss of Mysteries—an endless void like the night sky, with a lone temple suspended in the air.

Theo knew what he was looking for.

“The monolith.”

The quest’s guidance had brought him here, and the monolith was the centerpiece of this realm.

Theo approached cautiously. This time, no force stopped him from nearing the massive structure. Still, he remained on high alert; Mysteries never dealt in falsehoods, and danger could arise at any moment.

When he reached the monolith’s base, a low hum resonated.

Wooong—!

Wooong—!

Two statues emerged from the ground, one on either side of the monolith.

Instinctively, Theo gripped his sword, preparing for a fight. But the statues remained motionless.

“What is this?”

He examined the statues closely, feeling a strange familiarity.

“Why do they seem so familiar?”

Though he couldn’t pinpoint why, the statues exuded immense power. Yet oddly, they didn’t evoke any hostility. Instead, it felt as if they were silently urging him to place his hand on the monolith.

“Alright. Let’s see.”

Theo placed his hand on the monolith. It glowed brightly, and the dark void around him began to transform.

BOOM—!

BOOM—!

Suddenly, Theo found himself surrounded by the chaos of a battlefield.

WAAAAAH—!!!

Massive armies clashed in a ferocious war, and amidst them were two beings who resembled the statues he had just seen.

Theo immediately understood that he was witnessing an ancient battle between godlike entities.

The sheer force of their weapons colliding sent shockwaves through the air.

BOOM—!

A message appeared before Theo’s eyes.

[Quest progress has been updated.]