Children of the Holy Emperor

Young oracle of Delcross.

Before Seongjin could respond, taken aback, Riccardo strode over and settled himself in the chair opposite.

Crossing his legs and leaning comfortably into the plush seat, his demeanor was the epitome of a carefree scion of wealth.

“Hmm? What’s with that look? Wasn’t that the reason you sought me out? I thought you’d spend time with me as always, sharing various prophecies.”

Seongjin’s mind became cluttered.

Wait a minute, Morres was an oracle? What kind of nonsense is that?

[Lee Seongjin]

Then, the Demon King murmured as if a bit tense.

[There’s no significant change in that guy’s blood pressure or pulse. It’s a bit unsettling how overly relaxed he seems, but he doesn’t appear to be lying. It’s just…]

‘Just?’

[No matter how much I observe, I can’t be certain if that guy is Sigurd Sigurdson. And it makes sense, because his body and soul belong to a human from the real world. A proper human!]

What does that mean?

[I’m not exactly sure what this avatar concept entails. But if we assume it’s merely like a puppet being controlled, could someone like him maintain such a pristine state of soul?]

‘…That makes sense.’

So, was Sisle’s speculation wrong after all?

Frowning, Seongjin turned his gaze to Riccardo, who continued to smile broadly, observing Seongjin’s face as if amused.

With no other choice, Seongjin decided to methodically ascertain the facts.

“I told you prophecies?”

“Indeed. Hmm… It seems the rumors of your lost memory are true.”

With a look of regret, Riccardo stroked his smooth chin while gazing at Seongjin.

“You seem quite perplexed, my precious friend. Does this mean I won’t be able to hear your stories today?”

“That’s right. I didn’t come here to talk today, but to listen. So, you need to cooperate with me.”

“Of course. Ask anything you’re curious about. Aren’t you a rare gem in Delcross, the only one of its kind that’s alive and vibrant? For you, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”

A chill ran down my arm for a moment.

What’s with his way of speaking since a while ago? Is it some kind of mental attack?

“…Do people often tell you that you come off as creepy?”

“Even if it’s meant as a harmless jest, hearing it continually can be hurtful.”

He hears it a lot, then.

“Very well. Today, I’ll make special time for you, setting aside other engagements. Think of it as a gesture of respect for the days we’ve spent together.”

“Then, to start, tell me what I’ve mainly been doing here.”

“I shall do so.”

With that, Riccardo stroked his chin as if organizing his thoughts.

“How shall I put it? You and I mainly shared stories about people.”

“People?”

“Yes. We crafted narratives about the many possibilities they hold and the various futures that could unfold from those, while overlooking the banquet hall. It was a thoroughly fascinating and meaningful endeavor.”

“Does that mean I made prophecies about the people attending the banquet?”

“Well, to put it simply, yes.”

Riccardo added with a furrowed brow.

“But I wonder if there’s any point in you asking me anything. Regardless of what your memory holds, if you decide to know something, wouldn’t it be possible for you with your capabilities? Your mysterious eyes still haven’t lost their shine.”

“Eyes?”

At Seongjin’s query, he nodded.

“Yes. Those oracle eyes that penetrate the truth.”

“Oracle…”

Wait a minute. Wasn’t the oracle mentioned as a prophet of the Cornsheim clan? It was said to be extinct now.

So why is it coming up here?

Riccardo tilted his head, observing Seongjin’s complex expression.

“…You really don’t know anything, do you? Yes, the oracle. Shall we start from there?”

“…”

“Ah, by any chance, do you know about the Cornsheim clan?”

The Cornsheim clan.

Seongjin had heard a brief mention of them from Commander Bruno before.

“I am the leader of Arenja, currently acting as the oracle of Cornsheim.”

The leader of Arenja, who had possessed the commander back then, introduced himself in such a manner.

After he was quickly expelled, Commander Bruno had provided additional explanations about things Seongjin hadn’t managed to hear from him.

“The Cornsheim clan has been a secluded minority clan in Delcross from ancient times. Rumors say that they all possessed exceptional abilities to manipulate souls, using bizarre sorcery beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Looking back, it seems the entire clan might have been channelers.

They were also said to possess many extraordinary technologies that seemed not of this world. As a result, they were branded as devil worshippers and most were executed by the Inquisitors years ago.

The internal agents of Arenja are among the few Cornsheim clan members who survived that purge.

“…But now, with no oracle, I heard someone is acting in their stead?”

At Seongjin’s question, Riccardo nodded.

“Indeed. The Cornsheim clan lost their prophet decades ago. However, strictly speaking, the oracle hasn’t disappeared. It’s just that they decided to go into hiding to avoid their clan.”

Having said that, Riccardo lifted his head and gazed into the void with unfocused eyes for a moment, then smiled meaningfully.

“The same goes for the oracle of this era. He is still alive. He has simply chosen to seal his prophecies and opt for complete silence.”

…Why is it that upon hearing those words, Seongjin momentarily envisioned the familiar face of someone flickering through his mind?

“Could it be?”

“But do you know this?”

Focus gradually returned to Riccardo’s eyes. He looked down directly into Seongjin’s eyes and continued.

“An oracle who does not prophesy is like a bird that does not sing, utterly useless to this world. And the natural order of the world never lets those who defy their true calling go unpunished.”

“…”

“The oracle of the previous era met a very lonely and miserable end. And the oracle of this era was destined for the same. How he has managed to escape thus far is beyond me, but it won’t last long.”

Riccardo then stretched his lips into a suspiciously eerie smile.

“Now, there lies the riddle. What fate awaits you, the next in line?”

“…”

“If you can no longer share prophecies with me, what do you think will happen to you next?”

Seongjin felt increasingly disgusted.

It was clear that Riccardo was referring to Morres as the next oracle.

Regardless of whether that was true, Riccardo’s intentions were clear. He might pretend to be cooperative, but in fact, this guy…

“Are you threatening me right now, you bastard?”

“…”

“Let me ask you straight. Are you that Storyteller from another dimension?”

Riccardo, momentarily taken aback by Seongjin’s blunt accusation, soon burst into laughter, finding the notion highly amusing.

“Ahahaha! A threat, you say? Such words are truly disappointing between us.”

At least he’s not denying knowledge of the Dimensional Storyteller.

“Are you Sigurd Sigurdson?”

“Hahaha, well, what do you think?”

What do I think? You’re the culprit.

Despite the lack of solid evidence, Seongjin was convinced. It was a kind of intuition that was hard to explain.

How a person from the real world with a sound soul could become an avatar for another was beyond him. But this man was Riccardo Scarcepino, and at the same time, Sigurd Sigurdson.

“Was it also you who showed that butterfly demon to Seo Yi-seo? Why did you tempt her into becoming a fake saintess?”

“Ahahahaha!”

Riccardo burst into laughter as if he found the whole situation truly delightful. Despite his loud laughter, it was strange that no one in the spacious banquet hall seemed to pay any attention to them.

Feeling an ominous premonition and glancing down towards the lower floor, Riccardo, now with tears in his eyes from laughing so much, spoke up.

“Yes, it seems you’ve heard something from her. Despite appearing naive, she’s a woman with more caution than one might expect. How exactly did you manage to sway her?”

Not bothering to hide the fact that he knew Seo Yi-seo.

Feeling uneasy, Seongjin stood up, prompting Riccardo to look up at him and ask, “Leaving already? It’s a pity we haven’t fully enjoyed our time. Will you grace this friend with your presence at the next gathering?”

“I doubt that’ll be possible.”

“And why is that?”

Is this guy really asking because he doesn’t know?

Turning towards the corridor, Seongjin retorted sharply, “I have no use for unlucky friends. Our ties end here!”

“How regrettable…”

“Better not engage in any more foolishness. The imperial palace will soon conduct a formal investigation, so don’t even think of running away. Be ready to face it sincerely. I’ll make sure to report everything about you to my father.”

At that, Riccardo smiled with an air of confidence.

“Well, we’ll see about that. Do you really think the Holy Emperor is unaware of my existence? There are certain unspoken rules in this world that sometimes cannot be violated. It’s something even he cannot help.”

Something unavoidable.

Suddenly, Seongjin recalled something the emperor had said before, flashing through his mind.

“Do as you wish. If you seek to rectify such injustices, so it shall be.”

And Katrina also said:

—”His Majesty cannot help everyone unconditionally.”

—”Would my request serve as a [condition] for my father to help the Commander?”

—”Sometimes, even words spoken casually can shake and crumble the very foundations, Your Highness.”

…It feels like I’m onto something.

“How about this?”

Now, it was Seongjin’s turn to smile at Riccardo.

“What if I want it? What if I ask my father to deal with you properly?”

“…”

“Would he still leave you alone as he does now?”

The expression drained from Riccardo’s face like a receding tide.

Gone was the ease, and a slowly burgeoning menace began to flicker in his eyes as he looked at Seongjin.

‘That’s it!’

Just as Seongjin was about to turn away, he suddenly felt as though he had bumped into something.

‘…Huh?’

The corridor was clearly visible ahead, but something invisible was blocking his way forward. What on earth?

As Seongjin puzzled, feeling the air with his hand, the Demon King’s voice, tense with alarm, shouted in his mind.

[Seongjin, this is a barrier!]

A barrier?

[Yes. It’s not governed by the laws of this world, which is why I didn’t notice it sooner! I don’t know since when, but this area is now under the dominion of the rules of the Imaginary World!]

The rules of the Imaginary World.

Seongjin turned back to the one he suspected was the root cause of all this.

-“It’s truly regrettable that things have come to this.”

Riccardo, having risen from his armchair, approached Seongjin with a voice that resonated oddly as he spoke.

-“In this halted world, you were the only unique friend who could understand me.”

Then, fluttering from somewhere, a blue butterfly circled around Seongjin.

Dileraria’s butterfly?

-“It would be wise not to think of escape. You already know, don’t you?”

Fluttering. Meanwhile, the number of butterflies continued to increase.

And then.

-“I am the Demon King of Dreams.”

Like a storm, a swarm of blue butterflies surged towards Seongjin.

***

Inside a dilapidated warehouse on Bertrand Street.

Romaine, who had been clumsily stitching a shabby yellow plush doll, suddenly jerked his head up in surprise.

“What’s the matter? Pricked yourself with the needle again? That’s what you get for fussing over such pointless puppet shows.”

Leonard, who had been swigging from a bottle of liquor beside him, chided.

“…Leonard-nim.”

Excitement, though faint, tinged Romaine’s voice as he addressed Leonard.

“The [Puppeteer] has finally opened the entrance to the labyrinth!”

“…What?”

Leonard, blinking in confusion for a moment, gradually showed a look of astonishment on his face.

“Is that for real?”

“Yes, it is.”

Romaine threw aside the crochet hook and doll, standing up abruptly.

“Hahaha. After all this time of hiding, to think he’d commit such an act of suicide now!”

“Where is it? Shouldn’t we hurry before he slips away again somewhere?”

“Don’t worry, Leonard-nim. Even if he somehow manages to escape before we find him, it won’t be a problem.”

The eyes within the half-mask stared into a distant, unseen place, gleaming fiercely.

“After all, the guardians of Delcross will never let him slip through their grasp.”