I Got Reincarnated Into a Game I Was a Top-Ranker in and I Became the Leader of a Villain Group That Will Destroy This Shitty Country - 67

Chapter 67: The Demon in Prophecy

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The second prince, Adolf, sat down on the throne confidently. From across the seat of the emperor, he looked down at the gathered nobles pompously. 

The nobles showed a mix of various emotions. Fear of the demons and the Resistance. Resentment at themselves for remaining silent until things had come to this and then… a faint glimmer of hope. 

Adolf couldn’t stop laughing out loud seeing those nobles. Dozens of his pawns were sitting nervously. They were cornered like a filthy rat. It was a rather amusing sight to watch. 

“Well, first of all, I believe I owe an apology to everyone.”

However, the nobles here were important tools to uphold the empire. The prince knew he’d be in trouble if they were to stop supporting him, hence why Adolf started his speech with an apology.

“I didn’t expect the demons—Shadows— would infiltrate the capital and destroy the church. I truly never imagined they could annihilate over a hundred trained Crusaders in just one night… Indeed… As expected from the demons.”

“…”

“However, it turned out refusing the Pope’s plea for help was the right thing after all. I couldn’t afford to lose the support of the citizens.”

One of the nobles frowned, wondering how come the prince could remain so composed. 

“Your Highness.”

Count Gran, the person who had expressed his dissatisfaction earlier, stood up and called to Adolf. 

“I’m aware I may be overstepping my boundaries, but I believe it’s about time for Your Highness to take action soon! The Resistance and the demon in prophecy are in the capital! In the heart of the empire! The nobles are living in fear since we might get attacked by them at any moment!”

“Ah, yeah. I’m well aware of that.”

“Tch-…!! But this is different from what was promised! Your Highness, we were promised to be given immortal bodies and unimaginable power in exchange for helping with your experiments…!”

“Yeah and the experiment was a success.”

“…Pardon?”

The room fell silent in an instant upon hearing how nonchalant the prince was being. 

What did the prince just say? The experiment was a success? But the timing…?

“As you can see, I’m not stupid. I’m not that foolish enough to just sit here and do nothing when the demons and rebels are nearby.:

“Re-Really..? The experiment? It was a success?”

“That’s right. Congratulations. Now all of you can continue to wield great power in this country forever. After all, this is the kind of magic that absorbs human life force.”

The faces of the previously discontented nobles lit up all at once. The prince stood up from the throne and smirked.

“I will place black magic circles in various places throughout the capital. Then, I will be able to absorb the life force of the people in that area. That life force then will be condensed into a crystal….”

The prince took out a small, diamond-shaped crystal from his pocket. This crystal was the result of his experiments.

“This is the result of the experiment I’ve told all of you. This is the Mercurial Cube. This crystal can hold both human life force and black magic concurrently, allowing it to serve as the perfect medium for all magic power.”

The sound of audible gulping could be heard in the room. The nobles stared intently at the small crystal. However, Count Gran only furrowed his eyebrows. 

“..I see. So we can absorb the life force of the Resistance by activating the magic circle while holding that crystal. Then, we can extend our lifespan by using the life force accumulated in that crystal…”

“Wonderful! Contrary to your appearance, you’re quick on the uptake! How surprising! Even though you look like a brainless monkey…”

“-!!”

The prince smiled mockingly and Count Gran’s face immediately turned bright red. His unsightly face and his commoner background were Count Gran’s insecurities. Unable to withstand the insult, Count Gran immediately stood up. However, the prince only continued to smirk at him, as if pouring fuel on the fire. 

“Ah, my apologies. I didn’t know a monkey such as yourself can understand human language.”

“…Your Highness, may I ask you one last question?”

“Why yes, of course you may.”

“Putting the issue with the Resistance aside, how do you plan to defeat the demons? I don’t see the demons mentioned in the plan you mentioned.”

“Ah~ I see~”

Gran’s question was perfectly valid. Indeed. They wouldn’t be able to defeat the demons with black magic circle. After all, the demons were more talented in black magic than mere humans. The nobles’ attention was entirely focused on the prince. 

Enjoying the attention, the prince’s smirk grew wider. 

“Well then, I will explain how to use this crystal to everyone while answering Count Gran’s question at the same time.”

The prince walked to the center of the room. He slowly approached Count Gran while holding the crystal in his hand.

Count Gran glared at the prince. His eyes were filled with intense hatred from being insulted right in front of the other nobles. He hated being looked down more than anything in the world. His fists were trembling from anger. 

The prince then dangled the transparent crystal in front of his face. The crystal then suddenly turned black and at the same time…

“….Argh-?! A-Agh-…”

Squelch!! The sound of human flesh being torn apart reverberated in the room. Gran suddenly felt an immense pain in his stomach. Looking down, he saw a fist was lodged in his stomach. He had been punched by the prince straight through his abdomen. 

“Hmm… Not deep enough.”

Frowning in displeasure, the prince pulled his fist out. His whole hand was covered in blood. 

Why-? Why is this happening-

Gran thought to himself when suddenly, his stomach was punched by the prince again. This time, the pain shot through to his back, giving him the illusion of being pierced by something. However, unfortunately for Count Gran, it wasn’t an illusion.

“Cough!! Pwahh-!! Gah-…! A-Argh…!!”

This time, the prince’s fist pierced through Gran’s body and finally, the prince smiled in satisfaction. Red blood splattered to Gran’s own face. Seeing Gran’s face covered in his own blood brought the prince great joy. He actually felt pleasure from it. After all, this was the kind of pleasure he should feel. This emotion made him feel more like himself. 

“Yo-You…. You bastard..!!!”

“Ah, right. Regarding your earlier question…”

The prince spoke softly. He was basking in the pleasure from hearing Gran’s blood-choked screams. 

“The reason why Shadow can never defeat me… Do you know why?”

“You!! You bastard….!! You fuc-…!!”

“Because I am a demon.”

Count Gran breathed his last breath by coughing his blood at the demon’s face.

With deep crimson blood staining his face, the demon continued on. 

“They’re not the demon in prophecy. It’s me. I’m the demon in the prophecy.”

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T/N: Alright but the way the prince kills Count Gran is kinda….