Published: July 5, 2025
In one corner of the main camp of the Darwei Army, a water attribute mage stood happily, having fulfilled his duty.
“The winner takes all, huh?”
“Huh?”
“The Wyvern Magic Stones that were left behind earlier. The side that wins this battle can extract the magic stones from those wyverns and take them all!”
“That’s true, but…”
“Has Abel’s perception of value changed since he became king? Back when we were on the way from the Forest of Rondo to Run, you said we should collect the Wyvern Magic Stones because they have value. Just because you’ve become a wealthy king, I don’t think it’s right to laugh at something valuable.”
As Ryo said that, it happened suddenly.
Right before their eyes, a man in white eastern attire with long black hair appeared.
“Where did you… come from?”
Abel barely managed to say that.
Ryo was speechless.
Even Ryo, who prided himself on perfect surveillance with sonar, had not noticed when the man suddenly appeared.
However, what startled Ryo even more was…
“Phantom King?”
It was his first time meeting the ‘real body.’
When he fought at Kubevasa, Duke Helb had been taken over, so the appearance had been that of Duke Helb.
But now, the presence he felt from the man in front of him was the same as back then.
So, although he was asking, he was certain.
“It’s been a while, Duke Rondo. No, it’s my first time meeting you in this appearance. Indeed, I am the Phantom King.”
In that moment, Chief Chamberlain Rinshun and Captain Ruyao positioned themselves between Prince Lyun and the Phantom King to protect their master.
Following them, Commander of the Forbidden Army Tin moved to shield Emperor Tsuin, and Chamberlain Wenshu and the other members of the Forbidden Army also moved to protect their master.
“Oh, oh, wonderful subordinates, but I’m not interested in them.”
“You’re only interested in me, then?”
“That’s right. I hear you defeated Marie at the summer villa. She’s undeniably strong. I thought she was quite powerful when we fought at Kubevasa, but honestly, I didn’t think you could defeat her. But now that you have, you pique my interest.”
“Well, I’ve already defeated you at Kubevasa, so I’m not particularly interested now.”
“You bastard…”
Ryo deliberately provoked him. The Phantom King’s cheeks twitched with anger.
After saying that, Ryo began to walk toward the battlefield.
The Phantom King, confused, stood there watching.
“Hey, Phantom King, you’ll be in the way of others if you stay there. If you want to fight, let’s do it over here.”
Ryo called out.
At the same time, he gave a small nod to Abel.
It was a signal to rely on him.
Abel nodded back slightly.
It was an acknowledgment.
Thus, the second round between Ryo and the Phantom King began, away from the main battlefield and the Darwei main camp.
“By the way, what happened to Marie?”
“Why do you ask that?”
After confronting each other, Ryo inquired, and the Phantom King responded with suspicion.
“She said she wanted to go to the Western Nations and the Dark Continent. You’re not taking her over like Duke Helb, are you?”
“Taking over Marie… that’s impossible.”
“Is it because her heart is strong?”
“...I thought so when I met you at Kubevasa, but just how much do you know?”
“The Duke Helb said, if you have a steadfast heart, you won’t be taken over. But you took over Duke Helb. The reason you could do that was probably that you made him kill his brother, causing his heart to waver at that moment, right?”
“Well, that’s true.”
The Phantom King admitted Ryo’s observation as correct.
“That’s cowardly.”
“I won’t deny that.”
“Now that you’re here, it means you can’t take over Duke Helb anymore.”
“Well, who knows?”
“That person will never waver in heart again.”
Ryo believed Duke Helb was an unpredictable opponent.
He still thought he might eventually face him as an enemy.
However, at the same time, he highly regarded him as an excellent leader.
For the recently transitioned Duchy of Atinjo, he should be thawed as soon as possible.