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 - 68

Chapter 68: A Pact With the Demon

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“Yo-Your Highness!! Wha-What are you doing?!”

The nobles were aghast upon witnessing the shocking turn of events. They couldn’t believe their eyes. Why? Sure, Gran had acted disrespectfully, but there was no need to kill over that! Besides… The prince said he was the demon in prophecy…. Why would he claim to be the demon in prophecy…

“Oh? I haven’t explained it yet, have I?”

In the midst of a flurry of confusion, the prince nonchalantly withdrew his fist from Gran’s lifeless body and held up the crystal so the remaining nobles could see it clearly. The eerie sound of a corpse falling behind him could be heard and despite the blood dripping from his hand, the prince’s expression remained unchanged as he flaunted the now white crystal. 

“Just before I killed Gran, I infused black magic into this crystal. This crystal will turn jet black upon receiving black magic and by putting it inside someone’s body, we can absorb that person’s life force, just like what I did to Gran.”

But then, the prince muttered softly.

“We actually don’t need to actually pierce someone’s body if we have a magic circle in place though.”

However his voice was too low to be heard by the other nobles. The prince’s calm demeanor instilled an instinctual fear in them. Even though this person was a prince, but he shouldn’t be allowed to kill a noble that easily. And yet, not one of them dared to bring this matter out loud. They knew who held the actual power in this room. 

The prince continued his explanation. Now that he was covered in Gran’s blood, the prince looked more like a mad murderer than a prince. 

“Now then, please take a good look at the color of this crystal. It’s white, as a symbol of human life force. Gran’s life force is trapped within this very crystal. The next thing to do is…”

In that very next moment, the prince raised the crystal high and stabbed his own arm with the crystal. 

“”Hii-?!”” 

Chorus of pathetic cries came from the nobles. However, the sight that followed after that was beyond their wildest imagination, so much so that all of their eyes widened in shock. 

“Phew…. Ah…. Fuh…. Haha… Hahaha!”

The crystal was melting into the prince’s skin, as if the crystal was being absorbed by the prince’s body. The white life force surged through the prince’s body and the prince shuddered with pleasure, smiling joyfully. Facing the still-stunned nobles, the prince spread his arms wide. 

“By absorbing the crystal into your body, you can take another person’s life force and extend your own lifespan.”

“Ah-Ahh…”

“Does anyone have any questions to ask? Anyone?”

The prince asked, but of course no one dared to voice any question no matter how confused they were. The prince had instilled fear into their very bones. A single wrong word could get them killed. 

The prince understood. He knew the nobles were afraid of him. Heck, this was precisely the reason why he had summoned all of them. He wanted to warn them. 

It didn’t matter if they were nobles. Their rank and status didn’t matter. If anyone dared to step out of line… They could be killed just… Like… This.

For those nobles, who were afraid of getting attacked by either the Resistance or the demons, relying on the prince was their only option now.

“Hm~ I guess it would be better to continue this conversation another time. Well then, I shall take my leave now.”

The prince walked away from the throne without giving more explanations. The prince didn’t tell them how to defeat the demons, nor whether the crystal could truly extend one’s lifespan. Even if they were to scatter black magic circles all over the town, the nobles still didn’t know for sure that they would be safe. Besides, the nobles also didn’t understand what the prince meant when he said he was the demon in prophecy. 

No further explanations were given to them. All they knew was the existence of the Mercurial Cube.

However, the prince believed that was enough for them.

“Bring the corpse to the basement. You don’t need to wrap it or anything. Just bring it down as it is. Goering will handle the rest.”

“Yes, Sir!”

The prince summoned the knight to handle the corpse before leaving the audience chamber. He didn’t have any reason to spend any more time on these nobles. While it was true that these nobles were important to keep the country running and the prince would keep them alive if he could, but the prince had no intention of sharing his secrets with them. 

Because, the protagonist of the story should act like a protagonist. The protagonist had to stay true to their role and goal.

“Phew… Maybe I should take a shower.”

Adolf muttered to himself upon returning to his office and seeing the sight of himself in the full-length mirror. 

Then, his gaze shifted to the monster sitting by the window. A demon. It had a humanoid form but the demon was two sizes taller than an adult male. The demon was entirely pitch-black and its eyes glowed in yellow. The demon looked eerily menacing. This demon had been by his side for a long time ago. 

“Am I really the demon in prophecy?”

Adolf asked again, as if he wished to receive validation from the demon. 

The demon chuckled. His tone was laced with sarcasm. 

“Yeah. As long as I have your life force then, yes.”

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“Argh…. Ugh….”

….It hurts. Where am I? Something is running around inside my body, making me feel sick. What the heck is happening to me? This is….

“….Huh?”

At that moment, something resembling a message bar appeared in front of him. The screen was blinking unsteadily, as if the screen would disappear at any given moment. And yet, the screen looked unusually bright. He read the words written on the screen. 

＜The other future that could not be walked＞

＜Do you wish to view it?＞

＜Yes / No＞

“….”

‘Yes’…? ‘No’…? What does it mean?

However, the phrase ‘another future that couldn’t be walked’ wouldn’t leave his mind. 

Does it mean I have to choose between these two options?

“Ugh… Argh-…!”

I want to see. I want to see the future that I couldn’t walk. I want to see the future where everything is going well. 

However, he didn’t understand what ‘yes’ and ‘no’ meant. Because… The words were written in English. Moreover, even if he could see it, he couldn’t move his finger to choose. It was as if something was dragging his consciousness out of his body forcibly. And yet, the man struggled on. 

No, show it to me. Please.  The fleeting wish that didn’t come true…

The square screen suddenly disappeared. 

But in the next moment…

＜The other future that could not be walked＞

＜Do you wish to view it?＞

＜Yes / No＞

Without flickering, the message bar reappeared before him. The options were still there too. 

“Ahh… Please…”

Even though his body was in tatters, he managed to utter his feeble voice out despite the intense pain coursing through his body.

“Show it to me…. Please…”

Then, the moment those words escaped his lips… 

<Viewing starts>

His vision was engulfed in bright light and his consciousness was transported to a completely different world.

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T/N: That’s Kaltz, right?? Is he going to the modern world next??? Or what??