Chapter 113: A Kingdom built on a Lie

“You are ruining Henia! You intend to kill the people of Henia? By manipulating nobles as you please? You will destroy Henia!”

Duchess Mare’s scream rather made the King smile. Even while struggling to gather the power scattering in all directions again, he laughed. As if unable to endure it.

“Why would Henia be destroyed? When I am here?”

The King spoke as if he were an omnipotent god. While being swayed by power not his own.

“You are crazy!”

“Look at them. Those moving according to my order! They know neither pain nor suffering. Isn’t that the supreme happiness God can give to humans? I can grant you such joy!”

With the King’s words, the group led by Spes Umbra at the front moved like one body. Towards the firmly closed door. To execute those singing outside the door, who fought risking their lives and now demand the price promised by the King.

The red gem scattered blood-like dark red light.

And now I could be sure.

‘Phil, the key isn’t a ruby. It looks like a ruby but is a completely different mineral.’

I had suspected since hearing the key was a 170-carat ruby, and now I could confirm that suspicion as fact. That red gem isn’t a ruby.

The gem struggling to endure the power of the magic circle began to tremble.

‘Not a ruby, you say?’

‘That is correct.’

There was a similar case on Earth. The ‘Black Prince’s Ruby,’ a symbol of the British royal family. It refers to the red gem in the center of the Imperial State Crown. But the ‘Black Prince’s Ruby’ is actually not a ruby. While ruby is aluminum oxide, the Black Prince’s Ruby is a mineral with magnesium added to aluminum oxide.

Finding such a huge ruby, especially Pigeon Blood, in a natural state is extremely difficult. Actually, rubies weighing over 3 carats are also rarely produced. So cases where more common minerals looking almost identical to the naked eye were treated as rubies can be easily found.

The minerals that looked like huge rubies were actually spinels, not rubies.

Henia’s key is also a spinel.

The circle said to be made by the founding king of Henia. That red gem, the key to operating the circle somewhere in the royal palace. Unlike the circle, the key went through several improvements. Unlike the hidden circle, the key became a symbol of the King, so it changed into a form more splendid and capable of revealing authority.

The crown decorated with a 170-carat red gem received much admiration. Although the King who lived the most extravagant and loose life among successive Kings of Henia was criticized in all aspects after death, only one thing, that crown, was passed down as is.

Because no one knew the fact that the red gem wasn’t a ruby.

The key changed into a more splendid and overwhelming form, ironically, regressed functionally.

‘That gem, spinel is weaker than ruby.’

It cannot be said spinel has no value as a gem. In terms of color and brilliance, it is a sufficiently beautiful gem. But it cannot be compared with ruby.

In terms of Mohs hardness indicating the degree of hardness, ruby at 9 is superior to spinel at 8.

And now that huge spinel was cracking from the inside.

‘Phil.’

The moment I called Philius’s name, he poured all the power he had into the key. The transformed powers flowing from the magic circle towards Philius also poured into the key according to the original owner’s will.

Over the approaching singing voice and the footsteps of the group approaching the door, a screeching roar tearing the ears was overlaid.

“Aaaaaah!”

The gem accepting unbearable power swelled up. Like a balloon filled with air. And twisted the crown holding the gem.

With the King’s scream, the steps of those moving as he said stopped.

“Don’t stop! I ordered you. Eliminate all the worms outside the door!”

The crown dug into the King’s forehead. Bleeding, he ordered again.

But they never moved their steps again.

Dark energy visible only to my eyes covered the King. The power released from the magic circle constricted the King.

“N-no…”

Screech. The crown constricted the King’s head.

The King grabbed the twisted crown belatedly. But he couldn’t throw off the crown digging into his flesh.

“I, I am…”

The King glared with wide eyes. Blood tears flowed from his unfocused eyes.

“I am, the King. This country is mine. I am the complete…”

His eyes losing light headed toward Philius standing behind my back.

Screech. Soon his words were swallowed by the roar of the twisting crown and couldn’t be heard. The key that absorbed power to the limit embedded into his forehead. The key, symbol of the King, became one body with him.

And.

Bang! An explosion sound tearing ears rang.

The key embedded in the King’s forehead eventually exploded.

His two feet were still standing on the platform, but he could no longer move the key.

The King lost his head. Along with the key embedded in his forehead.

Simultaneously with the explosion, the consciousness connected with Philius began to shake.

‘Are you okay?’

No answer returned. Only crackling noise was heard.

‘Phil.’

Calling his name was the last, and the consciousness shared with him was cut off.

Beeep. Tinnitus was heard.

The ground shook beneath my feet. Ugh, groans leaked by those released from the King’s bind but still unable to move their bodies stimulated ears.

“Jay.”

Philius’s tired voice was heard in my ear.

It was the voice I waited for. I turned my body immediately and faced him. Even in an exhausted state where it wouldn’t be strange to collapse soon, he opened his eyes with difficulty and looked at me.

“We must, get out of here.”

Gladness as if meeting again after being apart for a long time rushed in, but I had to agree with his urgent words. Cracks were appearing here and there on the expensive marble floor of the banquet hall.

The magic circle buried under the King’s body, under the platform he stood on until the end, lost its control means. Power not fully absorbed into the key shook the ground.

Aaaah! People unable to stand up screamed just like when the King caused them pain.

“I must stand up, must stand up…”

The fifteen-year-old young girl, successor of the Dime family, muttered. She collapsed on the floor unable to endure until the moment of the last explosion. Losing the strength to stand up again.

“Diane…”

It was the same for Duchess Mare and her young daughter.

The only people standing were Philius and me, just the two of us. But we were also barely standing. We didn’t have the strength left to save all those here.

“Nonsense! I can’t die like this!”

As the ground shook once again, everyone screamed. The Prime Minister was no exception.

Listening to the outcry of those fallen on the floor, I ended up chuckling. Philius also made the same expression as me.

“It’s fortunate John lied.”

It seemed they couldn’t hear that singing voice. The singing voice getting closer and closer. The song wishing for martial luck sung willfully screaming.

Before long, the singing voice became close as if singing right in front.

“Open, open the door!”

“Take us, take me out of here!”

Nobles realizing only now that singing was heard, that Betas approached right outside the door, raised their voices.

Every time the floor shook, those voices became more desperate.

“Please save me!”

Some even begged.

“Please…!”

When that desperate wish for Betas’ mercy rang, those struggling in pain opened their eyes wide as if doused with cold water. The silence that visited in an instant seemed like a lie.

“Interesting.”

Philius twisted his lips.

Rumble. The power released from the magic circle shook the floor, and the soft marble broke with a puck sound unable to withstand the aftermath.

Nobles fallen on the floor couldn’t say anything to Philius mocking them. Just looking at him as if he were the only savior.

“Cousin, do your job now.”

But Philius passed the responsibility to Duchess Mare.

“Since I can’t move even a bit either.”

Duchess Mare, looking up at Philius blankly like others, opened her eyes wide. Her face became paler than when subdued by the King. She even covered her ears as if trying to run away from the ceaselessly heard singing.

But she soon stopped all movements.

“Wife…”

Where she looked down, Duke Mare was lying. With limbs unable to move like others drooping.

“My wife who will become a dignified person. Please, as you wish.”

At her husband’s whisper, Duchess Mare bit her lip. But soon raised her head. Although her face was still pale, she wrapped the dignity learned since birth over her trembling body, just like when I first saw her in the reception room.

Duchess Mare asked all nobles here.

“None of us can move right now. Is there anyone denying this?”

No one denied her question. They couldn’t. Even clenching teeth desperately not to make begging sounds, they couldn’t hide expressions distorted with pain.

“We must ask for help from those outside there. Is there anyone denying this?”

“……”

“They are mercenaries demanding payment of the victory allowance the former King promised. Is there anyone denying this?”

Uncomfortable groans flowed from here and there. Still, no one could say her question was wrong.

“I think we should pay the price promised to them.”

Now there was no question directed at nobles in Duchess Mare’s words. So they couldn’t bring up opposing words either. Nobles agreed with her declaration in silence.

Kuh, the Prime Minister distorted his face, but life, of which unknown remaining time was left even for him an old man, was precious. He also couldn’t say anything in the end.

Duchess Mare soon shouted loudly toward the door.

“Open the door and help us! The price of the promise will return to you!”

The singing stopped. Nobles wishing for salvation of life and Betas wishing for the price of promise shared silence.

But the more desperate side was the nobles.

“Hurry, hurry…!”

Those who had to break the silence first had to be nobles.

“Please…!”

Eventually, someone begged again.

Creak. The extreme wish enough to beg even Betas brought light.

It wasn’t brilliant light. That faint light sometimes shook in the wind. Still, it was clear light.

The door no one in the banquet hall could open opened. The light nobles saw was torches held in Betas’ hands. Torches made by winding rags around branches picked up from somewhere. The cloth burning was what covered someone’s body until just a moment ago.

Betas, whose attire became lighter making torches, started singing again. Despite the cold wind, they seemed to have forgotten the cold.

Mercenaries were snickering carrying the Royal Guards fallen in front of the door on their backs. But no one could point out their rudeness. Nobles inside the banquet hall also had to be carried out on mercenaries’ backs. The figure of liar John directing mercenaries at the front was seen.

The power flowing willfully from the magic circle is certainly dangerous. Still, there was time for everyone to escape from here. Provided they don’t act recklessly without order delaying time unnecessarily.

“Here, this way!”

“Me, me first! I will reward sufficiently so please me first…!”

However, those who couldn’t see the movement of magical power raised their voices respectively asking to take their immobile bodies out of this hell quickly.

Among them was the Prime Minister’s voice too.

“Do you not know who I am! I am the Prime Minister of this country!”

John, who served as captain of the guard, couldn’t be unaware of the faces of nobles. Just as the King sent invitations in order, he knew the hierarchy of nobles properly.

“From the farthest place, in order!”

But he chose the correct rescue order over status hierarchy in this emergency. At that sight, the outcry grew louder, but there was nothing they could do except shouting.

“Do you really all want to die?”

Duchess Mare’s voice rang once again.

She shook her head to the mercenary approaching her as her turn came.

“We will leave last.”

Only after showing Duchess Mare, her husband, and even the Little Duchess keeping their places, did voices shouting that they should be saved first citing various reasons barely subside.

As shouts disturbing John’s directing voice disappeared, rescue proceeded faster.

Before we knew it, only the Duke Mare family and us remained. Rumble, the intermittent crying of the magic circle became louder and more frequent.

“Excellency.”

John’s face approaching us was covered with impatience instead of the strength shown until just now. Duke Mare’s family was seen escaping this place on mercenaries’ backs respectively.

“Let’s go.”

Philius held my hand.

“Let’s go, Jay. To our home.”

At his words, laughter was about to come out. The dark path with all lights broken reminded me of the time heading to my house in the Beta residential area. But the place I’m going now wasn’t my house but our home.

Unlike when entering, we passed the garden which lost splendor and became desolate. Torches held in Betas’ hands became milestones.

It was when leaving the royal palace gate where no one guarded. A sound like thunder resonated. It was the sound of the main palace where the banquet hall was collapsing.

The King’s body, standing on the platform even after losing his head, was buried in the debris of the collapsed palace.