Chapter 9

The Emperor’s consort.

Reverently called the Mage Empress, this being was nothing short of legendary.

Melinos.

And she, too, having joined the golden bloodline that ruled the Berke Empire, naturally inherited both the nation’s name and the prestigious lineage tied to it.

Melinos Berke Enzul.

Though the Enzul family wasn’t originally of royal blood, their history now stretched nearly 300 years into the past.

About 20 years after the Sorrowspire Demon King’s invasion—an era recorded in history as one of great upheaval and chaos—most races couldn’t escape the turmoil. But among them, human nations were particularly torn apart by conflict.

A weakened monarchy due to the Demon King’s assault.

Nobles flaunting their power, taking advantage of the situation for selfish gain.

With the land ravaged by war and compounded by years of famine, mercenaries and barbarians from across the continent roamed freely in groups.

It was during this time that knights truly came to prominence—but initially, they were little more than armed bandits or reckless thugs.

For ten long years, chaos reigned without end. Trust was nonexistent; even faith crumbled, marking an age often referred to as “the Era of Savagery.”

Yet amidst all this, the Enzul family stood out as minor lords protecting the Order. The Pope at the time recognized their efforts and bestowed upon them a sacred blessing.

From there, the ideals of chivalry began to take root and formalize under the Pope’s guidance, leading to widespread councils where regional customs were codified.

Knights must never swear false oaths or make empty promises.

Do not fight recklessly.

Protect the weak.

Do not attack churches while armed.

Do not kill unarmed priests.

Do not covet others’ possessions through force.

These restrictions grew increasingly detailed, covering everything from basic principles to minute specifics. Naturally, many knights hesitated to take such vows.

Organizations formed to punish those who broke these vows—or worse, refused them altogether. Foremost among these were mages and magicians, once branded as heretics by the Church but now aligned with its doctrines.

Through this alliance, mages transitioned from being seen as demon-summoning villains into wise sages brimming with knowledge.

And humanity, despite possessing vast territories they could barely manage, continued to swell in population. Still, the mighty Berke Empire endured without fracturing, declaring itself an empire and spreading its influence far and wide.

Lords swore allegiance to remain within its sphere of power—a key factor in building what we know today as the modern empire.

Knights are protectors of the people and guardians of the Church.

Mages illuminate the path ahead with intellect and wisdom.

All of this is part of God’s grand design.

“……??”

She was none other than the empress of this great empire.

But then…

“Mother, have you awakened?”

Her body wouldn’t move. It felt like something heavy pressed down on her entire frame.

Shaking violently, she managed to lift her arm—but it fell limply back down, lifeless like a bird whose wings had been clipped.

Still, someone caught her hand just in time.

“…?”

El?

Empress Melinos.

The only daughter of herself and her beloved emperor.

What had happened?

Holding her left hand, El seemed unusually frail, her right arm looking eerily absent. And when she tried to raise her head, she noticed her left eye was covered by a golden patch.

Her complexion was gaunt, her once ivory skin now pale and cold like marble.

“A… uh…”

No sound would come out. Immediately, Melinos understood the situation.

‘Is this a dream?’

This wasn’t just any dream. This was a premonition—one of the abilities that made her known as the Great Magician.

An innate talent that had saved countless heroes in times of peril. Beyond mere intuition, it was a deeper sense of foresight.

As a child, these visions were vague inklings, but once she became a hero, she learned to harness them to some degree.

Even so, controlling them was impossible. All she could do was receive them.

But what did this vision mean? Why was her daughter in such a pitiful state…?

“The empire’s stability hangs by a thread, but rest assured, Uncle Ruelde has resolved himself.”

Uncle?

El? What’s wrong? You wouldn’t address anyone this way—not even Hero Ruelde.

Calm yourself.

Melinos. Focus on the present phenomena. Stay composed and observe rationally.

Understand the situation. Remember every detail. This glimpse might hold clues to future events.

Not necessarily inevitable, but dangerous if ignored.

A grim future awaited.

“Ugh…!”

“Don’t strain yourself.”

No! I need answers!

Why is everything like this…?

But no words came forth, her throat feeling scorched as though exposed to dragonfire.

Similar to the sensation when her lungs burned from a dragon’s breath—but different. That time, the pain was instantaneous. Now, it lingered, leaving behind a hollow ache.

“I still sometimes wonder if this is all just a bad dream, a nightmare.”

A nightmare? Yes, surely it must be.

Deep down, Melinos yearned for El to share vital information instead of indulging in sentimentality.

“It hasn’t been long since Father passed away. And Mother… Your Majesty… collapsed shortly afterward. Nevertheless, we managed to complete the coronation successfully.”

…

He’s dead? What happened to Ruelde?

Tears streamed involuntarily, her insides twisting in anguish.

Not her current self, but the original owner of this body—Melinos—cried bitterly in sorrow and despair.

“This may be our last meeting.”

Last?

“In a few days, he will arrive.”

He? Who…?

“I will remain steadfast as a pillar of the empire. Even at the cost of my life.”

“Uh…uh!”

“…Worry not. If I die, I’ll merely follow Father into the afterlife. That is an honor I gladly accept.”

No! Never!

Rather me first!

You…you…

“If the system collapses, Alesius will look after you.”

So Aleisius survived?

“Well then, I should go. Please try to rest.”

“!!!”

Even knowing this was a dream, Melinos screamed inwardly.

A whirlwind of emotions surged through her.

At the same time, she realized: her time was running out.

Elhermina’s steady steps leaving the room belied their apparent unsteadiness.

Click!

Surrounded only by emptiness, the opulent chamber felt strangely desolate.

How much time passed before the door creaked open again?

…And a young girl entered.

“Oh, took you long enough. For a second, I thought this was some kind of prank—but ah, it’s you after all.”

The girl who approached radiated gold itself.

Her striking appearance matched her confident strides. Despite wearing a simple white dress designed for comfort rather than elegance, it paled in comparison to her breathtaking beauty.

Her presence was overwhelming, undeniable. Even in her worst condition, could anyone fail to notice her?

Most alarming was the strange, indescribable aura surrounding her. So oppressive it seemed capable of tearing the very air apart.

Truly, it brought back memories of nightmares past.

Creak!

Kicking over a chair toward the bed, the girl plopped down carelessly, crossing her legs.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Melinos focused intently on this unexpected visitor.

“So, you dragged me here for fun…or wait, did I just stumble into this by accident? Huh, this is oddly entertaining.”

Seemingly piecing things together, the girl quickly reached a conclusion.

Still, Melinos couldn’t fully grasp the situation—or who this mysterious girl truly was.

“So, if we mix things up nicely and push hard enough, even Carriel could become a Demon King. Fascinating possibilities indeed. Wow, this is getting interesting.”

“…?”

What…are you saying?

“Your body’s trashed, so let me summarize.”

In short:

Carriel became the Demon King.

Plunging the world into ruin.

A five-second explanation. Concise yet terrifyingly succinct.

“Half of the nine heroes, including your husband, are dead. Seeing that, Ruelde decided to kill his own son next.”

Then suddenly,

“Hmm, hmm…”

Clamping her mouth shut, the girl burst into laughter.

No, it didn’t stop there.

“Haha! Oh man! HAHAHA! Crazy! My teeth hurt! Run! This is too delicious! Wine! Bring me some cheese and wine! Holy cow! This storyline is epic! Is this paradise?! You’re trying to drown me in happiness, aren’t you?!”

Shaking with excitement, the girl laughed uncontrollably, rolling around in pure joy.

Half-slumped, she forgot to clutch her stomach as she howled with laughter.

“Ah! My teeth are rotting! This is insane! Who knew things could unfold like this? Incredible! Truly, the Demon King’s foresight is unmatched!”

“Gah, gah!”

“Save your voice. Your vocal cords are fried. Just enjoy the moment. Isn’t it hilarious?”

The Golden Girl laughed uproariously.

Her laughter soon turned manic, shaking the grand palace halls with sheer madness.

“Tears are coming! Too funny! I want to see how this ends…but judging by your mental state, you won’t last much longer. Is this some alternate reality observation? The mechanics intrigue me. Even the realm of wisdom struggles to comprehend it—this is pure superpower stuff! Anyway, I must be pretty lucky to witness all this…”

Then abruptly,

Her jovial expression vanished, replaced by a stoic face.

“So, do you know who I am?”

“…”

In response to that mischievous question, Melinos realized:

This wasn’t just a nightmare—it was something far worse.

And somehow…

She already knew.

She’d always known.

“But carrying this memory back to reality might spell doom for Carriel. Hmm, will this world resemble the other one? Or maybe someone will try to prevent it by cutting off his head?”

Lost in thought.

What thoughts?

“Torturing someone in hell can be amusing, but I prefer refinement. Fine wines, aged cheeses…there’s beauty in letting things mature.”

Thus,

“This memory stays here. Sorry about that.”

“Wha-?!”

“You’ll recall it eventually, but not now. Besides, isn’t this fortunate?”

Thanks to my generosity,

“You’ve preserved the bonds between your heroes.”

No!

Absolutely not!

I must keep this memory!

“Don’t resist, kid.”

Originally,

“No amount of magic or sorcery against a Demon King matters. To me, you and your master are mere ants.”

Indeed.

Despite being hailed as a Great Magician and Witch, Melinos’ true contribution to the world stemmed from her ability to foresee the future—just like now.

Had she foreseen and acted earlier, perhaps this calamity could’ve been avoided.

Demon King…

Why scheme from beyond the grave…?

Or…

Was your death…a lie?

If so,

Who is this girl before me?

Just as Melinos grasped the truth, terror struck her heart—and her consciousness snapped like a broken rope.

-Ah, I wanted to see the ending…

With those regretful words fading away,

Drenched in cold sweat, she bolted awake from her bed.

“What…was that dream…?”

Fear gripped her as shivers ran down her spine.

Nothing remained in her memory.

I must remember.

I cannot forget—not ever!

All that lingered was residual unease, causing her body to tremble momentarily.

“Are you alright, my dear?”

“…”

Ah.

You’re alive.

For reasons unknown, his gentle inquiry moved her deeply. Tears streaming down her face, she embraced him tightly.

My other half.

My everything.

He held her close—not as an emperor, but as a hero who truly understood her.

At least…

Queen Melinos cherished the happiness of owning and monopolizing him.

Something she vowed never to forget.

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