The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 239

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Part 2, Chapter 86

Ch. 6

The basement of the Golden Tower.

A damp chill lingered in the stone round table room shrouded in darkness.

“You were so confident, yet the bait died before you could even accuse the Princess.”

The Northern Black Mage spoke. Beneath his indifferent voice lurked blade-like anger.

An unexpected situation had occurred at the memorial service where Mariyu killed Samon.

Naturally, Rachel’s scheme to bring down Medeia had failed. Once again.

“Is it my fault that fool earned unnecessary resentment and got himself killed?”

“In the end, we’re returning to the Holy Kingdom with no gains whatsoever. We brought the Golden Tower’s talents along but couldn’t even draw our swords.”

The Northern Black Mage spat.

“Is it because you were raised as a fake that your head can’t match the real one either?”

The moment he mentioned Medeia, Rachel’s composure, which had been sneering, cracked.

“What about you lot obsessing over that fake?”

Her beautiful voice didn’t hide her sarcasm.

“Who here can replace me? Without me, can you even bring back the primordial darkness?”

God had directly annihilated the primordial darkness.

Therefore, to revive the darkness, they had to scatter God’s order and destroy the balance of this world.

The greatest obstacle in that process was the Saint—God’s representative.

The representative was chosen directly by the Goddess. As long as she existed, God’s authority would be maintained.

In other words.

“If the representative’s fate is twisted, we can sever the connection with the Goddess. So between you and me, who’s really worthless here?”

Ptui! Rachel spat back in the Northern Black Mage’s face.

“If I don’t steal Medeia’s fate, everything you’ve prepared so painstakingly until now becomes completely useless.”

“This insolent bitch doesn’t know the grace that saved her—!”

Just as the insulted Northern Black Mage shot up from his seat.

Bang!

“Enough.”

The Central Black Mage struck the round table.

The dense magical power in his voice made the air hum and vibrate.

“Now is not the time to bare our fangs at each other. The 1st Prince of Kazen is tracking us. My disciple died while fleeing. He might have even discovered the Golden Tower’s existence.”

“That can’t be…! Even the Matap Master hasn’t succeeded until now!”

The round table stirred for a moment. Horror flashed across the faces of those seated on the golden chairs.

Chezare Dwaisler Kazen.

The first human to survive the primordial darkness was now trying to dig up even that darkness and hunt them down.

“That’s why I said he must be eliminated at all costs. That he would become the greatest obstacle to our grand plan.”

The black mage seated in the northeast direction spoke. His black magic was the curse of darkness.

The primordial curse that had once consumed 1st Prince Chezare was also his creation.

The twelve black mages seated on the golden chairs here were those who could freely manipulate various forms of darkness: erosion, specters, curses, corruption, and more.

“I don’t know how that bastard came back alive, but it’s too early to despair. Since Medeia Valdina hasn’t awakened the Saint’s power of foresight yet, the opportunity is ours.”

The Central Black Mage turned toward Rachel.

“However, I must add that we don’t have much time to spare.”

Though his voice was deep and mature, it was sharper than any threat. A chill arose that made one’s hair stand on end.

“Rachel, this is your last chance.”

“Fine. But this time, give me all your support.”

Rachel’s eyes became meaningful.

“Putting her on the judgment stand won’t be enough. I need something more powerful. Something that can bind that bitch so tightly she can’t do anything…”

She recalled Medeia’s green eyes that had gazed at her with detachment. Those clear eyes that seemed to see through everything…

Rachel’s index finger swept across the old magic circle carved into the round table.

“A divine oracle would be good.”

“…How dare you! Do you know what kind of magic that is to speak of it so carelessly!”

The Northern Black Mage, who had exchanged insulting words with Rachel earlier, shot up from his seat.

A divine oracle.

That was the Goddess’s pure will delivered directly to this land.

It was a sacred providence existing beyond boundaries that black magic could never invade.

Even the primordial darkness couldn’t touch it, so how could a mortal manipulate a divine oracle?

Even the Golden Tower had never dared to tamper with divine oracles until now.

“It’s impossible. We don’t know what consequences might come from violating the taboo that goes against this world’s golden rule.”

“There’s nowhere left to retreat now. You said with your own mouth that if Medeia awakens her abilities, we’re finished. Is there a more certain way to stop that bitch than this?!”

“You who only dabbled superficially don’t understand. How ruthless this world’s laws are. If the golden rule discovers that our darkness has invaded God’s domain…”

Impossible. Even with Rachel’s persuasion, the Golden Tower remained adamant.

“Put the Princess on the judgment stand as planned. Understood?”

“…”

Reading Rachel’s tacit resistance, the black mage reached out his hand. Cold fingers wrapped around her neck like a snake.

“Rachel, answer me!”

“…Ah, haak, ah, I understand so stop, haaah…!”

When Rachel barely managed to nod, the choking pressure around her neck disappeared.

“I said I understand! Haah, I’ll do as you say, so make sure your subordinates don’t talk back to me.”

But the black mages didn’t notice.

Just as they had secretly nurtured darkness behind the Goddess’s back, once-rooted malice could never disappear.

‘Incompetent cowards. Fine, I’ll find a way not to get caught by the golden rule myself.’

The fake Saint firmly resolved to commit the forbidden act.

Rachel’s eyes burned with defiance as she left the Golden Tower.

* * *

Deep in the night, the Holy Kingdom Sacramontes.

The Central Temple, shrouded in darkness, was immersed in deep silence where even moonlight couldn’t reach.

The pure white marble pillars supporting the temple were each imposing like giant statues.

The quiet, cold air stung the cheeks of those moving through the corridors.

“Luca! I told you to take the candlesticks I polished to the altar, didn’t I?”

Even when everyone should be asleep, the nights were harsh for the newly entered novice priests.

“You little runt, just because you were lucky enough to enter the Central Temple in one go, you think you’re something? Don’t make me laugh!”

Luca was so small that his issued priest robes dragged at his feet, and his build was also frail.

But the senior priest seemed to feel no sympathy for such a Luca.

“Polish the candlesticks behind the altar too and move them to the storehouse. Don’t even dream of sleeping until you finish that!”

“Ow, yes, yes sir…”

Luca nodded while holding his forehead where he’d been flicked.

Tears welled up, but he’d long since learned through experience at the orphanage that crying would only get him in more trouble.

“I’m not scared. I’m not scared…”

On the way to the storehouse with candlesticks in both hands, the corridor was pitch dark.

To overcome his rising fear, Luca sang softly.

“I’ll build up holy power and defeat the Masu… Like the Saint… I’ll become light…”

That’s when it happened.

Crash!

A sharp shattering sound came from an empty prayer room.

Luca nearly dropped all the precious candlesticks.

“Wha, what! Who…!”

But when he encountered a figure emerging from the prayer room in the darkness, this time he actually dropped the candlesticks.

“Saint! You are the Saint, aren’t you? Are, are you hurt?”

Even in the dim candlelight, the abundant golden hair and kind face—it was exactly the person Luca had dreamed of.

“As expected, praying until this late hour, you truly have deep faith.”

Without even noticing the miserable fragments of the shattered goddess statue on the floor, awe filled Luca’s round eyes.

“It’s truly an honor to meet you like this.”

The overwhelmed child didn’t notice the slight irritation that crept into the Saint’s beautiful brow.

And also that the place she had come from was not the prayer room, but the library.

“Before, during the street welcome ceremony, I threw lilies at your carriage, Saint, but no, that’s not it, a few days ago during the return ceremony I cleaned the seat where you sat, Saint. You probably don’t remember, do you?”

“Ah, yes. Well done.”

Rachel gave Luca a perfunctory smile.

‘If it’s a sacrifice that uses divine power, it can avoid the golden rule’s eyes.’

She had just confirmed in the library that historical oracles contained divine power.

If that were the case, a fake oracle summoned using divine power as a sacrifice would also be perceived as originating from the Goddess.

‘The problem is that there’s no such sacrifice.’

Currently, except for the Pope, only the High Priests and Temple Knights could use divine power.

But none of them could be sacrificed as offerings for a fake oracle.

‘The High Priests are each too important, and the Temple Knights are… dangerous.’

If she used a holy knight as a sacrifice, it would be difficult to avoid suspicion from Knight Commander Leonor.

‘What to do…’

She had found the path, but the door was locked and she had no key, leaving her stamping her feet in frustration.

Crunch.. Crunch…

Rachel bit her nails while staring at the goddess statue.

That peaceful face seemed to be mocking her.

“Acting so smug when your soul has already rotted away.”

She raised her hand. Then the goat horn-shaped mark glowed black and swirled,

Crack-!

The goddess statue shattered into pieces.

And that’s when she collided with Luca, who had heard the sound.

While hiding her rising irritation, the child still spoke with a moved expression, dabbing at tears.

“I, I also want to defeat Masu and save poor people like you do, Saint. My divine power is still far from ready, but…”

Rachel’s departing steps faltered.

“I want to serve by your side, Saint, but they say it won’t work because of my lowly origins… But I’m really confident I can work hard. I’ll do my absolute best at anything-“

“Divine power… you’ve awakened it?”

A strange light appeared in Rachel’s eyes. Like a predator that had discovered prey.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————