《The Prince Wants to Retire》 CH 1 ¡°Life¡­is really miserable.¡± A thin man lying on the bed spewed out a bitter curse. Beside the bed, an elderly man with white hair was silently shedding tears, while a knight in elegant armor had a mournful expression on his face. Despite their concerns, the man lying on the bed instinctively knew that his life was coming to an end. ¡°My life¡­is really miserable.¡± As the man spoke, everyone in the old-fashioned room lowered their heads in silence. No one dared to look at the man¡¯s last moments, as his illness had left him with a sickly complexion. This man, who had suffered his entire life, was none other than the emperor of the kingdom ¡ª Kariel Frederick von Blazer, 128th emperor of Astoria. That was the name of this man, who would be recorded in the history of the empire as a tragic figure. ¡°When I die¡­I will be remembered as a tragic figure, won¡¯t I?¡± The emperor spoke while looking at the court official next to him. The official couldn¡¯t bear to look at the emperor and replied with a stern expression, ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± The knight, who had accomplished great feats in the history of the empire, including serving as the commander of the palace guards and being a grandmaster that appeared only once in several hundred years, also spoke in agreement. However, the emperor only smiled bitterly. ¡°What nonsense.¡± Even now, if he were to go outside, he would only be met with people who cursed and despised him. Perhaps he never thought that if he died, his tombstone would be inscribed with such a sad epitaph: The Worst Emperor ¡ª Died at the young age of 31 ¡°Unfair¡­¡± With a bitter expression, the emperor gazed silently out the window. He felt as though the gods beyond the blue sky were mocking him. He had worked himself to the bone, so why did he end up with such a result? If he died like this, his cause of death would surely read: Incurable Disease 20%, Poisoning 10%, Overwork 70% He had worked so hard that overwork accounted for 70%. He had grown up in an environment full of anxiety, constantly under the threat of assassination, and even had a congenital disease. Despite such unfortunate circumstances, he had worked tirelessly. However, despite all his efforts, this was the result. ¡°Gurgle¡­¡± As the emperor began to cough up black blood, he recalled his past. He had hastily taken over as emperor at the age of 21, after the previous emperor had died suddenly. He had worked hard for ten years since then. ¡°Rebellions in various parts of the empire took two years to suppress,¡± ¡°War with neighboring countries that had been waiting for an opportunity took one year,¡± ¡°Northern monster wave took two years,¡± ¡°The second Inma war fought against the demon gate opened by dark wizards took three years,¡± ¡°And the remaining period was spent defending the empire against invading armies from the continent, which had taken advantage of the weakened state of the empire due to consecutive wars.¡± Despite facing such continuous hardships, the empire was ultimately saved. However, the emperor couldn¡¯t help but be angry at how he had become the worst tyrant the empire had ever seen. Despite working like a dog for ten years, the people didn¡¯t like him. They saw him as a lucky tyrant who had become emperor even though he had no ability. In reality, his younger siblings were more talented than him, and he had become emperor simply because he was the eldest son. The people believed that if any of his younger siblings had become emperor, the empire wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a state. He had worked tirelessly to keep the empire together through multiple wars, but still, he was seen as the worst emperor the empire had ever had. He couldn¡¯t help but think how unfair it was. He just wanted to live, and it wasn¡¯t even his fault. The people called him a tyrant, but he didn¡¯t see it that way. He had done everything he could to save the empire, but it seemed like it was never enough. He was angry and frustrated, and he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he would have lived longer if he hadn¡¯t become emperor. He had hoped that becoming emperor would make him healthier, but it was just wishful thinking. He had been busy dealing with rebellions, assassins, and wars, and he had barely had time to take care of his health. He had overcome several crises and had managed to save the empire, but his health had already deteriorated beyond repair. ¡°Life is really unfair,¡± he said to the knight standing beside him. The knight was the commander of the imperial knights, and he was a brilliant strategist and warrior. The knight looked at him with a sad expression, and the emperor realized that he should have relied on him more. He had not given him enough credit for his abilities, and he regretted it. ¡°I should have trusted you more. I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said to the knight. The emperor was now nearing the end of his life, and he knew that his sister, who was ten years younger than him, would succeed him. He had never been married, so he had chosen his young sister as his heir. Even though she was talented, it would take a lifetime for her to rebuild the empire. However, he was grateful that he had managed to get rid of the bugs that had infested the empire, and he knew that with his sister¡¯s talent and dedication, she could do anything. As he felt the final moment approaching, the emperor looked out the window one last time. ¡°It was a truly¡­ miserable life.¡± ¡°You have suffered enough. May you rest in peace¡­¡± CH 2 And with the final farewell from the commander, he let go of the rope he had been barely holding onto. He thought he was finally ending his difficult life and entering eternal rest. But as his consciousness faded away, he was enveloped in a bright light and transported to a white space. ¡°Where am I¡­?¡± ¡ª Hello? A mischievous boy waved at him. The emperor asked him, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡ª I am a god. He pointed to himself as he spoke. The emperor raised both hands and said to the boy with a smile, ¡°Well, nice to meet you, kid.¡± The emperor had vowed to strike down any god he met, but now he was rushing towards the boy, shouting. Seeing the emperor charge towards him, the boy-god spoke with a mischievous grin. ¡°Your title is ¡®god,¡¯ isn¡¯t that going too far?¡± He calmly dodged the emperor¡¯s attack. The god had enjoyed watching the emperor¡¯s suffering for a long time. Even the emperor¡¯s rude attacks were entertaining to him. ¡°Huff¡­huff¡­¡± The exhausted emperor collapsed to the ground. The mischievous god approached him. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel wronged? You worked yourself to the bone, but your evaluation was the worst.¡± The god¡¯s mockery made the emperor¡¯s veins bulge. As the emperor glared at him, the god made a subtle proposal. ¡°Want to try it again? I¡¯ll send you back in time.¡± The emperor¡¯s eyes, which had been filled with anger, calmed down. He looked at the god and replied firmly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± The god was surprised by the unexpected answer. ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling wronged?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± The emperor knew better than anyone how much he had suffered. Even the mischievous god, who had enjoyed watching him suffer, couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°But if I were you, would I want to go through all that suffering again?¡± The emperor looked at the god. ¡°Are you curious about your family on Earth?¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± As the emperor looked at him in confusion, his family appeared before him. His mother, who had raised his children alone after his father died. His younger sister, who had given up on her dream of becoming a doctor because of their family¡¯s financial situation. His younger brother, who had tried to work at a factory as soon as he turned 20 because of their family¡¯s financial situation. They were all leading completely different lives from what he knew. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The emperor looked at his unfamiliar family in surprise. His mother was wearing luxury clothes, and his sister had a large private hospital. His brother drove a sports car and was a famous YouTuber. They were all living happy lives. ¡°This was your dying wish. How do you feel?¡± The sight of his happy family was very unfamiliar to him. But it was what he had longed for just before he died, so he nodded without thinking. ¡°The god of Earth who lost the bet with me granted your wish as a reward.¡± ¡°A bet?¡± ¡°Yes, the god of that planet said you couldn¡¯t maintain your empire. I bet against that, and sure enough, life is full of surprises, right? I bet on the long shot and hit the jackpot!¡± The god laughed heartily, as if a bet he made had just come through, while the emperor clenched his fists and trembled. ¡°Are you angry? Huh? I¡¯m sorry. Hehe! But I granted your wish, didn¡¯t I? Let go of your anger!¡± Twack! The emperor punched the god¡¯s teasing smile and then sat back down, acting tough. The god, who deliberately took the hit, chuckled and said, ¡°Thanks to you, I got a lot out of it. So, I¡¯ll give you an additional reward.¡± ¡°Additional reward?¡± ¡°Yes, but there¡¯s a condition.¡± ¡°¡­What is it?¡± The emperor asked, and the god smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ll have to regress.¡± At the god¡¯s words, the emperor held up one hand as if there was nothing more to see. ¡°Great!¡± Seeing the god acting cute, he raised the other hand, and said with a smirk. ¡°Aren¡¯t you disappointed?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If your body were in good shape, you could do much more than you can now.¡± The emperor grimaced at the god¡¯s words. If his body had been in good condition, he would have conquered the empire much more easily, and the outcome might have been very different. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you how to recover your body.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°On top of that, I¡¯ll give you one more special ability as a bonus!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± The emperor waved his hand as if it was out of the question, feeling like he had made some kind of bet by regressing. He had no intention of playing with the god again and firmly put his hand down. Then the god cautiously approached and whispered, ¡°Just regress. You¡¯ll get a special ability as a bonus, you know?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°There are no conditions. You just have to regress. Aren¡¯t you curious about what you can do with a normal body?¡± ¡°Well¡­.¡± ¡°Honestly, you¡¯re also disappointed, aren¡¯t you? It¡¯s not a bad idea to go back and enjoy a YOLO life, right?¡± At the god¡¯s subtle provocation, the emperor briefly imagined himself enjoying a YOLO life, thinking, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be okay?¡± And at that moment, the god¡¯s lips curled into a deep smile, and he snapped his fingers. ¡°Application complete!¡± ¡°What?¡± The emperor was surprised at the god¡¯s words, and as he looked back at him, a black hole appeared behind him and began to suck him in. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot. Live well this time. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll work out, but¡­¡± The god chuckled and spoke, and the emperor¡¯s consciousness was cut off with those words. CH 3 As Kariel¡¯s consciousness faded away, he was sucked into a black hole. When he opened his eyes again, he saw a scenery he had seen a long time ago. ¡°Where is this¡­?¡± Kariel furrowed his brow, recalling the room he had used as a child. Suddenly, he looked at his hand. It seemed like he hadn¡¯t regressed to his childhood, as he could see a hand that had grown to a certain extent. ¡°Did I regress after all?¡± Kariel muttered as he tried to make sense of what was happening. Duped by a god and forced to regress, Kariel glared at the sky outside with an angry expression. If the god were in front of him, he would want to punch him until he collapsed from exhaustion. Just then, a strange sound entered his ears. Tuuut ttuuduuut! With the sound of a trumpet ringing in his ears, a transparent window appeared in front of Kariel, and a burst of white light filled the space. ¡°Hello? Did you regress well? Hehe, I¡¯m going to give you a reward as promised. Why didn¡¯t I show up in person, you ask? If I appear in front of you, you¡¯ll hit me again, won¡¯t you? I don¡¯t want to give you another penalty!¡± Kariel winced at the painful statement as he read it on the window. The previous text disappeared, and new text appeared in its place. ¡°Stop before you die of anger. You must be curious about the promised reward. Once this message disappears, your reward will be given. I hope you will live a happy life this time. Fighting! ?¡± After the vulgar message disappeared, the reward that Kariel had been waiting for appeared on the transparent window. ¡°You will be granted a unique ability by the blessing of the god. Your unique ability is ¡®Contractor of Fire.¡± ¡ù Overwhelming talent related to fire will be manifested as a characteristic related to the contract. You have the latent ability to contract with any existence related to fire. ¡°Contractor?¡± Kariel murmured in doubt, and at that moment, Kariel¡¯s body shone brightly and the light seeped into his body. At that moment, a translucent window appeared to pay the remaining reward. ¡°Your terminal illness is caused by excessive blood power (all flame-related abilities are available). Excessive blessings of fire have accumulated in your body and are consuming your life force.¡± ¡°We are searching for a possible recovery method at present.¡± ¡°Searching for a recovery method¡­¡± The translucent window that had been paused for a long time created a change. ¡°We are searching for a way to utilize the unique ability of the contractee and blood power. Contract with a mythical existence in exchange for the accumulated fire in your body. Recommended: Fragment of the Ruined Demon, Fragment of the Sun-Eating Beast, Fragment of the Gatekeeper of Hell, Fragment of the King of Fire Elementals. ¡ù(Important) If you contract with all the recommended existences, you can become a Grand Master. Strengthen your body with a special training method. Recommended: Ware Wolf¡¯s Reinforcement Technique.¡± Reading the ways he could recover, Kariel murmured, ¡°What on earth is a fragment?¡± ¡°A part of a noble existence from the mythological era. They are sleeping in relics, ruins, and so on.¡± As Kariel asked, the letters in the air answered. The letters carved in the air answered Kariel¡¯s question. As he stared at it, trying to organize his thoughts, the translucent window generated new letters. ¡°All rewards from the god have been paid out.¡± ¡°This window will disappear in 10 seconds. 10¡­9¡­8¡­1 Poof!¡± With a ¡°poof¡± sound, the translucent window disappeared. In novels he read on Earth, there were system windows and skills like Munchkin, but this one only gave a few methods and then disappeared. Karie stared at the spot where the translucent window had been for a long time in disbelief. Then he quickly got up. Despite the pain that made his whole body ache, he gritted his teeth and sat in front of the desk, quickly writing down recovery methods. Then suddenly, he remembered the term ¡°Yolo Life¡± that the god had mentioned. ¡°Yolo Life¡­.¡± Kariel muttered quietly, lost in thought. ¡°Can it really be possible?¡± he wondered, before something flashed through his mind. ¡°If I gamble with the emperor¡¯s position¡­.¡± It was a thought that had just come to him, but soon plausible plans started to pop up one after another. The emperor¡¯s position was an obstacle to his Yolo Life. If it were a peaceful time, he might consider becoming an emperor even if he had to become a rebel. However, when he thought about the future, the emperor¡¯s position was just a burden that hindered his happiness. Like a composer who came up with a crazy melody, Kariel wrote down his plans with stiff eyes, then stood up from his seat. ¡°Should I stop here for now?¡± Muttering to himself, Kariel put everything he had written into a drawer and stood up from his seat. Clunk! As he got up from his seat, his body wavered and he collapsed to the floor. ¡°Your Highness!¡± As Kariel fell, a man who had rushed in from outside quickly rushed to support him. ¡°Tar¡­ion.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not in good shape. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard!¡± Tarion was the chief eunuch of the Emperor Palace, who had trusted Kariel to the end in his previous life and had died trying to save him. Seeing Tarion worry about him, who was alive and well, stirred strange emotions in Kariel. Tarion trembled with concern, brought a potion and made him drink it, then stood firmly by his side, telling him not to move. Looking at Tarion like that, Kariel let out a bitter laugh. I didn¡¯t know Tarion was going to die like that. He was one of the strongest people in the empire, second only to the master, and he had died because of Kariel¡¯s carelessness. This life can¡¯t be left to die like this. CH 4 With that determination, Kariel organized his thoughts while ignoring Tarion¡¯s worried nagging in one ear. ¡°Tarion.¡± ¡°Yes? Did you call for me?¡± Tarion, who was speaking eagerly in a worried tone, came to his senses and looked at Kariel. ¡°I have a request.¡± Kariel¡¯s words made Tarion¡¯s eyes widen. He always looked unenthusiastic due to his poor health, so it was moving for him to ask something from Tarion. ¡°Your Highness, please tell me anything you need. I will devote my faith and even risk my life¡­¡± ¡°No need to risk your life. It¡¯s something simple. First, bring me the paper.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Kariel refused to let Tarion, who was eager to go to war, and wrote down what he needed on the paper he brought. ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you say it was something simple?¡± Tarion started to panic as the paper was quickly filled with dense writing. The writing was more detailed than he expected. Of course, most of them were meaningless words. Some were written like whining and complaining, and some even said to go get some fruit. Initially, Tarion was surprised, but soon his pupils widened. ¡°This, this is¡­¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Kariel put his finger on his lips, and Tarion nodded his head quickly. Even though the sentences were disorganized like a child¡¯s diary, there were a few rules to follow. And those rules were something that Tarion knew very well. ¡°Because Tarion told me in the previous life.¡± He must have been told this at some point during this time too. But at that time, he was too slow to learn as he was busy finding a way to recover his health. ¡°Excellent!¡± Tarion raised his thumb and began to read the paper slowly. There were many mixed and varied things, but he caught the important points right away. The most important points were three big things. After reading through everything, Tarion looked at Kariel with concern. ¡°This is¡­too dangerous.¡± At Tarion¡¯s worried expression, Kariel chuckled and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have any immediate plans. But we need to have some understanding of the situation, don¡¯t you think?¡± Tarion sighed and nodded slightly. For a long time, the Empire had been divided into three factions. The noble families had been willing to turn a blind eye to their own factions using their names to conduct business, even to the extent of using their names to cover up crimes. Kariel, in his past life, had often allowed his name to be used to support the Imperial Faction and to keep it going. But in this life, he thought differently. Of course, at the moment, he couldn¡¯t do anything. His physical condition was terrible and he had no information or resources. However, even at this time, Tarion had a small group of people he had personally cultivated. ¡°They¡¯re a small group, but they¡¯ve got some substance. So we should be able to at least figure out what¡¯s going on in the open.¡± Thinking this, Kariel encouraged Tarion, who nodded hesitantly. ¡°It¡¯s possible. But¡­¡± ¡°I really have no intention of doing anything. We just need to gather information.¡± ¡°¡­I understand.¡± After reluctantly responding, Tarion opened his mouth as Kariel grinned. ¡°Bring me one of the servants.¡± ¡°Well, if you have orders¡­¡± ¡°Ah! I plan to send a task to the palace library to find something.¡± ¡°Please tell me!¡± Looking at him pounding his chest as if to ask him to entrust it to him, Kariel shook his head. ¡°Tarion will find out about that.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not too much, I can certainly do it.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± After Tarion spoke proudly, Kariel grinned and asked him to bring a paper and began writing down roughly remembered books, from historical books about the mythological era to martial arts and encyclopedia on monsters. Of course, he mixed in some miscellaneous items to confuse the spies. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Of course, this is just what to bring right away, and I¡¯ll have you bring documents on herbalism and this disease as well, while also finding ways to recover my body.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Is it a lot?¡± Tarion awkwardly smiled and nodded slightly at Kariel¡¯s question. ¡°Call them in.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Tarion, who answered as if saluting like a soldier, gracefully bowed and left the room with a surprised expression. After a while, when the steward came in instead of Tyrion, Kariel handed him a piece of paper with a list of books to be fetched from the library and fell into thought again. The biggest reason he lost Tyrion was because of the betrayal of those he thought were on the same side. Imperial Faction¡­ Thinking about the Imperial Faction, Kariel gritted his teeth. Looking back now, they were useless people. If it were a peaceful era, he might have thought about taking them along even though they were like garbage, but the future was hell. Moreover, he had no intention of becoming an emperor, so there was no reason to take the Imperial Faction with him. I¡¯ll sacrifice the Imperial Faction for my YOLO Life. Kariel grinned, having firmly made up his mind. He had no intention of letting his guard down or stupidly letting himself be taken advantage of like in his previous life. His belief, born of the hardships he endured as an emperor, was that ¡°if you get screwed over twice, you¡¯re f*cked..¡± What could he do to avoid that in this life? Get what I need and get out of the palace. CH 5 To destroy the Imperial Faction, who had caused him so much trouble in his past life, the crown prince thought long and hard about how to take them down before leaving the palace. He wrote down their weaknesses on paper as he went along, trying to think of ways to destroy as many members of the Imperial Faction as possible. Eventually, he settled on his first objective: ¡°I have to take down the Chancellor.¡± The current chancellor, who had been the biggest villain of the Imperial Faction and the cause of much of the crown prince¡¯s suffering in his past life. Originally, he was a genius who had taken down one of the leaders of the Imperial Faction, a marquis, and made a viscount into a marquis. He was known for his ability to balance the opinions of the nobles, neutrals, and members of the Imperial Faction. But his greatest claim to fame was his reputation for honesty. He was said to be so clean that even if he built a public works project, he would personally give away most of it to those who followed him, causing the emperor to promote him to the position of chancellor. But that was all a lie. ¡°Bullshit about being honest¡­.¡± As the crown prince sharpened his pencil, he cursed the chancellor under his breath. When he was younger, he had thought the chancellor was honest, too. ¡°That was all for show.¡± The chancellor was as greedy and conniving as they come, with a stomach full of thousands of earthworms. And his true nature would be revealed after the emperor¡¯s death. He would split the empire and indulge his own desires under the pretext of taking the place of someone who was weak in both power and foundation. Euck! Kariel gritted his teeth again and burned with anger towards the Chancellor. If it weren¡¯t for the Chancellor, Kariel would have suffered a third less in his previous life. ¡°Ha¡­let¡¯s calm down.¡± Knowing that getting angry would only make himself more miserable, Kariel meditated and tried to suppress his anger. The bundle of fire inside him was easily influenced by the emotion of anger, so if he was consumed by extreme anger, it would only be angerous. ¡°Your Highness, I have brought the books you ordered!¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Kariel ordered the servant to come in with a pile of books on a cart. ¡°Is this all of it?¡± ¡°No, Your Highness. I think we need about four more piles of books like this.¡± Kariel momentarily forgot his words, realizing the immense amount of books that already filled the room and the fact that it was expected to quadruple in the future. But then he nodded and ordered the servant to leave. ¡°It¡¯s a lot.¡± Starting with the most basic books, Kariel began to read them one by one. Although he wanted to call in prominent professors from the academy to consult with them, he had to bear the risk of leaking his own information if he did so. He found it more comfortable to look into things alone. ¡°¡­.Hmm.¡± Looking at the massive amount of books, he had a momentary thought of asking professors about unimportant information. However, he shook his head shortly after. There were too many smart people in the capital. It was a gathering place for anyone who was smart enough to be useful in the empire, so they could collect scattered pieces of information and deduce the information that Kariel wanted to hide. Eventually, he decided to investigate things on his own and started organizing things in order of importance. I planned to start with the easiest task among these four. The most clear hint given by the God was the werewolf combat technique, so I started looking for information related to it. Despite that, the books in the imperial library contained quite sophisticated information. Kariel slowly flipped through the shelves, starting with the monster encyclopedia. ¡°Hmm, monsters are not to be taken lightly either.¡± Kariel shook his head, remembering his past life. He still trembled at the thought of the monster wave. Even though the regional districts had warned them several times, they couldn¡¯t properly prepare due to the damn rebellion and the attacks of neighboring countries. As a result, they had to evacuate just before the capital was about to fall. Looking back, it was a very unfair situation. He had tried to prepare for the monsters, but had missed the timing due to the damn rebellion and attacks from neighboring countries. ¡°Damn it!¡± The flames of anger once again ignited the burning mass inside Kariel¡¯s head. He immediately closed his eyes and meditated, shouting inwardly, ¡°Stay calm,¡± to suppress his anger. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Kariel, who had barely managed to suppress his anger, began to read the monster encyclopedia. It wasn¡¯t just a simple list of their characteristics, but contained detailed information about each monster, just like a book that even the imperial family would read. Among them, there were descriptions of the powers used by each race. ¡°There is definitely value in researching mana cultivation methods,¡± muttered Kariel, nodding his head. As someone who had delved deep into the study of mana to quell the Flames, Kariel held the value of mana cultivation methods used by monsters in high esteem. Being from a different place, Kariel had a non-biased view of monster techniques. However, with the outbreak of monster waves, Kariel delved deeper into the study of monster mana utilization, discovering that in some ways, monsters had reached a level of mana utilization far beyond humans. Of course, magicians and scholars didn¡¯t appreciate Kariel¡¯s interest. After all, since the emperor was researching the techniques of primitive monsters, he must have been insane from the perspective of the scholars. ¡°Scholars have a narrow-minded view¡­¡± Kariel muttered, biting his tongue. Then, he picked up a book that contained all the ways to utilize mana on the continent. Most of them were well-known, but there were some interesting ones as well. ¡°It¡¯s definitely interesting.¡± Kariel muttered, turning the pages of the book. Even scholars couldn¡¯t imagine how many more types of mana utilization existed in modern times. Of course, when viewed broadly, there were only two types of mana utilization. These two methods, handed down from ancient times, have evolved into various ways today. Humans and other races use mana refinement methods. The majority of races called ¡°monsters,¡± excluding humans, are inclined towards the mana cultivation method. The reason why humans chose the mana purification method was simple. Each method had clear advantages and disadvantages, and the advantages of the mana purification method that humans chose were as follows: CH 6 So what are the advantages of the mana cultivation method that monsters have chosen? As the advantages are sharply different, the disadvantages were also clear. The mana purification method took a long time to become stronger and required a complex process compared to the mana cultivation method. On the other hand, the mana cultivation method was incomplete, meaning that it involved more risk. Monsters chose the mana cultivation method because they faced danger from the moment they were born. In their fierce battlefields, where every moment was a struggle, they had no choice but to choose the mana cultivation method to survive. On the other hand, humans and other species did not face the same level of danger, and thus they chose the mana purification method as a way to minimize risk. Therefore, if Kariel were to master the mana cultivation method, which is more dangerous, it could become even riskier for him, as he was already weak. However, even those who mastered the mana purification method to the extreme and renowned scholars were unable to find a way to control Kariel¡¯s fire, and thus there was no other option but to endure the risk. You can¡¯t drag on your life being pulled by the gun forever. Kariel searched for information about the werewolves with the mindset of accepting a certain level of risk, but was disappointed with the results. ¡°Nothing special, as expected.¡± Kariel sighed and shook his head. Since he had already learned about it in his past life, nothing came to mind right away. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure we looked into the Were-Wolves back then too¡­¡± According to the scholars he worked with in his past life, the Were-Wolves¡¯ use of mana wasn¡¯t much different from that of Orcs and other monsters. It was based on their powerful bodies and used a mana maturation method, along with combat techniques. Most of the information in the monster encyclopedia was already familiar to Kariel, so he flipped through the pages with a bored expression until he suddenly stopped at a certain sentence. ¡°There was a race of ancient Were-Wolves that used a unique form of mana manipulation.¡± Kariel¡¯s eyes widened at the sentence. ¡°That¡¯s right, we didn¡¯t look into the ancient period.¡± Kariel muttered as he turned the page, but there was only a brief description without any detailed information. ¡°The ancient Were-Wolf martial arts focus on maximizing physical abilities and honing instincts, rather than the typical combat techniques.¡± It was a rare technique even among the Were-Wolves, so there wasn¡¯t much information available. If it weren¡¯t for the hint given to him by the god, Kariel would have just passed over it as unremarkable. Despite this, Kariel was satisfied. ¡°I have a direction now.¡± Kariel grinned. He could find some information about the Were-Wolves as he delved deeper. The only concern was that if it was too far back in time, there might not be much information left. ¡°I hope there¡¯s enough left.¡± Trusting the Imperial Palace Library, which boasted the most books on the continent, Kariel pushed aside the books on monsters and began to look through the books on ancient history. ¡°There¡¯s quite a lot of them.¡± Kariel let out a small sigh as he began to sift through the books related to the mythological era. However, it was possible to save time by only searching for individuals related to fire. ¡°There were this many?¡± From the mythological era to ancient times, there were many beings related to fire. Moreover, there were also a tremendous number of heroes related to fire that formed the foundation of the empire. Therefore, he started searching for the most overwhelming beings. ¡°I thought it would be easy to find the Destroyer.¡± Karriel murmured as he frowned. As a being with the word ¡°destruction¡± in its name, and with the epithet of ¡°Destroyer,¡± he thought it would be easy to find. However, there was no existence named the Destroyer. ¡°If you¡¯re going to reveal it, reveal everything, you petty god.¡± Karriel cursed the god while he let out a deep sigh. In the end, he gave up on finding the Destroyer and began searching for gods related to fire. Surprisingly, he was able to find clues to other beings much faster than he had anticipated. The creature that swallowed the sun, Skoll. The gatekeeper of hell, Gareum, also known as the Hellhound. The fragments of the Lord of Fire Spirits, Ignis or Selaime. However, the problem was still that it was difficult to obtain information on other beings. Skoll, who was rejected by those who served the sun god. Gareum, the gatekeeper of hell who disappeared due to the war of black magic. Although the fragments of the Lord of Fire Spirits were available, both beings had disappeared from records after the ancient era. ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s that.¡± The author of the gods couldn¡¯t just let him easily overcome the Flame Disease. Kariel scratched his head and turned the pages with an irritated expression. Then, in the last book of the fire-related myths, he found a name. ¡°The Lord of Muspell.¡± A giant of fire that ended the faraway mythological era and was the king of Muspell. An existence that was feared even in the empire that worshipped fire. However, since he was one of the key figures that ended the mythological era, he was always the final presence to decorate the history books related to the mythological era. ¡°An existence that can destroy even the world of gods¡­¡± Thinking of the god who had humiliated him, Karriel wished for even a momentary use of Surt¡¯s power while he searched for information related to Surt. It was then, amidst the numerous titles that referred to him, that he saw small letters written: ¡°The Destroyer.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Karriel looked at the book again, thinking he had read it wrong. According to the book, there were those who called Surt the Destroyer among those who survived the mythological era. ¡°Is Surt really the Destroyer?¡± Karriel murmured in confusion. ¡°Is it true?¡± Carriel stood up abruptly, looking incredulous. ¡°The imperial treasure warehouse!¡± The thought flashed through his mind and his eyes widened. As luck would have it, one of Surt¡¯s relics was stored in the imperial palace. It was cursed and its authenticity was questionable, but he had nothing to lose. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Kariel muttered to herself, a broad smile spreading across her face. But then, he suddenly frowned and looked up. Relics of mythical beings were typically lost or sealed away in hard-to-find places. And yet, the one relic of Surt happened to be stored in the imperial treasure warehouse. But would it really help him recover from his illness? The feeling of everything, from his reward as a ¡°contractor¡± to Surt himself, being connected, made Kariel¡¯s expression distort. ¡°This bastard¡­ Did he plan this?¡± He muttered to himself, looking up at the sky and the god who was supposedly watching over him. But there was no answer. Sensing that he was being played until the very end, Kariel couldn¡¯t get out of bed for a while. CH 7 The contract with the legendary being took longer than expected, but as it seemed like it could be completed faster than anticipated, the relaxed Kariel got busy. The plan was to buy time by seeking the werewolf¡¯s strengthening technique and slowly learning about the legendary being, but the order had changed. ¡°Is it a blessing in disguise that Surtr¡¯s artifact is cursed?¡± Because of the powerful curse, it was not difficult to approach the artifact, as it was treated like a mere trinket even in the royal palace, despite Kariel only being a nominal crown prince. His authority was stronger than expected, as he could access quite high levels of the royal palace¡¯s treasure vault. ¡°It might be hard to take it out, but I should be able to at least see it,¡± Kariel thought and nodded his head. The Surtr¡¯s treasure remaining in the royal palace was not the world-shattering sword of fire, the heart of a giant, or the essence of Muspel, but a necklace said to contain a small portion of Surtr¡¯s power. A necklace containing only a tiny bit of the power that was once so formidable even the gods feared it. However, the curse leaking out from it was so powerful that it had no value as a treasure. It was only held symbolically because it contained even a little of the power of the being that once declared the end of the mythic age. ¡°If it were in the Holy Kingdom, they would have sealed it away with multiple layers,¡± Kariel chuckled at the thought. It felt like the gods had been more thorough than expected. If it were a precious treasure, it would have been difficult to approach, but Kariel could easily access it as it was a cursed artifact that nobody was interested in. Clang! The sound of a bell calling the servants outside rang, and Tarion opened the door and entered. ¡°I¡¯m going out.¡± ¡°You should rest more.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just thinking of taking a light walk around the palace,¡± Kariel replied. At Kariel¡¯s words, Tarion sighed. ¡°Alright,¡± he answered, then looked at Kariel and asked, ¡°Do you have a destination in mind?¡± ¡°The royal palace¡¯s treasury,¡± Kariel repeated, causing confusion to fill Tarion¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why the palace treasury all of a sudden¡­?¡± he asked. Kariel licked his lips before replying, ¡°It¡¯s related to the recovery of my body.¡± Despite trying various methods to heal Kariel¡¯s body, there had been no progress. All they could do was suppress the fever with various medicines and stop the progression of the illness. As a result, Kariel had to live with a weak body and lifelong limitations on his mana usage. ¡°It¡¯s not certain yet,¡± Kariel added. Tarion nodded slightly, understanding what Kariel meant. He saw the pile of books stacked like a mountain in the room, indicating that Kariel had been researching. However, Tarion didn¡¯t have much hope that Kariel would find a solution in just a few days of research. Despite this, he admired Kariel¡¯s determination to keep moving forward instead of giving up hopelessly. ¡°Get it ready,¡± Kariel said. Tarion immediately went outside to prepare for Kariel¡¯s outing. Kariel¡¯s poor health meant he had to ride in a carriage even when moving around the palace. If he was just looking at the garden in the Crown Prince¡¯s Palace for a short time, he had to ride a specially made palanquin because of his weak body. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to prepare,¡± Tarion explained when he came back in to report that the preparations were complete. Kariel carefully walked out of the room, ready to embark on his journey. Kariel boarded the carriage, gritting his teeth in frustration. Although the carriage had been crafted by skilled artisans, and the ride was smooth, the unfamiliar environment made him feel tired. He reminisced about his past life, which had been filled with challenges, and how he had managed to restore his body to a functional level with Tarion¡¯s help before becoming emperor. As he lost himself in his thoughts, the carriage arrived at its destination sooner than he expected. The knight guarding the palace treasury saluted and greeted him, and all those nearby bowed in respect to the crown prince, regardless of his sickly state. The official in charge of the palace treasury approached Kariel, bowed, and asked, ¡°Your Highness, did you come for a specific reason?¡± Kariel furrowed his brow at the official¡¯s disrespectful tone. Despite the decline in royal power, Kariel still held the title of royalty. Although most people found it difficult to deal with royalty, there were a few exceptions, namely high-ranking nobles. ¡°Your Highness, did you come for a specific reason?¡± the official in charge of the palace treasury approached Kariel and asked. Kariel¡¯s brow furrowed at the way the official spoke as if he was the owner of the place. Not only had he arrived late, but it twisted Kariel¡¯s mood. Despite the decline in royal power, royalty was still royalty, as mentioned earlier. Most people found them difficult to deal with, but there were exceptions, such as high-ranking nobles. These individuals took advantage of the crumbling royal power and acted arrogantly, behaving as if they were more important than the royalty or royalty themselves. ¡°Do I need to report to you when I arrive here?¡± Kariel asked, causing the official to widen their eyes in surprise. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant¡­ I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t serve you more sincerely if I had known you were coming,¡± the official replied. ¡°What family do you belong to?¡± Kariel inquired, causing the official to hesitate. Realizing that saying the wrong thing could lead to serious consequences, the official finally replied, ¡°I¡¯m from the Beriot family, supporters of the emperor.¡± CH 8 Before the official could finish, Kariel interrupted with a cold expression, ¡°They are trash who exploit the empire by borrowing the authority of the royalty, as if they were royalty themselves.¡± Even under Kariel¡¯s cold gaze, the official looked nervous, bowing their head in an attempt to avoid consequences. Tarion, seeing the official¡¯s reaction, wanted to kill them but restrained himself due to Kariel¡¯s presence. ¡°Tarion,¡± Kariel addressed him. ¡°Submit a request to His Majesty to replace the person in charge here.¡± The official raised their head in shock and protested, ¡°Y-Your Highness!¡± Tarion¡¯s expression twisted at the official¡¯s outburst. The official not only dared to look directly at the crown prince¡¯s face but also raised his voice, which would never have been tolerated during the days of strong royal power. ¡°You¡¯re being too loud,¡± Kariel gestured, and Tarion promptly made the official kneel down. The attendants quickly covered the official¡¯s mouth to prevent further outbursts, even blocking his attempts to resist with magic. This was because all the attendants in the Crown Prince¡¯s palace had special backgrounds and were not ordinary attendants. ¡°Someone who dares to shout at royalty and behave rudely cannot hold a senior position,¡± Tarion said as he bowed his head. ¡°I will submit the request accordingly.¡± Kariel then asked the kneeling official, ¡°Do you feel wronged?¡± The official flinched at the question, but only embarrassment remained, with no hint of fear or urgency. He just wanted this awkward moment to pass quickly. Kariel then asked, ¡°Do you think this will be forgotten once this moment passes?¡± He looked at the official coldly, causing him to flinch again. ¡°Perhaps you think that my request will be thwarted by the opposition of the nobles, given that the opinion of a powerless crown prince like me will be ignored.¡± As Kariel spoke, the official¡¯s eyes began to tremble, as if realizing his thoughts had been exposed. ¡°I will take responsibility and have you demoted to the countryside,¡± Kariel continued. ¡°I will show you that even a powerless crown prince like me can demote someone like you.¡± Kariel grinned, causing the official¡¯s expression to twist in fear. He finally realized the gravity of the situation. ¡°You should have known your limits,¡± Kariel said. ¡°Did you think I would overlook your tardiness or subtle rudeness?¡± The official¡¯s eyes trembled again at Kariel¡¯s question. He must have known that Kariel¡¯s carriage was heading this way, but he pretended to be busy and appeared late. Moreover, he committed rudeness while greeting Kariel. All these actions were on the edge of crossing the line, so depending on the situation, he might have only been warned and let go. Kariel had no intention of letting the matter go. As he knew that he would soon be dethroned from the crown prince position, he didn¡¯t care about his reputation. ¡°I¡¯ll show everyone what happens when you dare to test the royal family by relying on the emperor¡¯s faction. Be proud, for you¡¯ll be the one through whom the sternness of the imperial power is made known,¡± Kariel declared as he entered the palace treasury report room. The arrogant official tried to make excuses with muffled cries, but the palace servants would not allow it. As the official was taken away, nearby servants trembled in fear. Ignoring them, Kariel proceeded to the palace treasury report room, where another official approached him, trembling. ¡°Your Highness, without the emperor¡¯s permission, the treasures inside the palace treasury report room¡­¡± Kariel stared at the official in silence. ¡°Of course, Crown Prince, you can borrow the treasures inside. Depending on the standard, up to the 4th section¡­ no, part of the 3rd section can be¡­¡± ¡°Tsk! I¡¯ll just look at the report. That won¡¯t be a problem, will it?¡± Kariel interrupted. The official swallowed hard before carefully responding, ¡°Up to the 2nd section is fine, but from the 1st section¡­¡± ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t enter the emperor¡¯s treasure storage,¡± Kariel replied. As a crown prince, Kariel had access to any part of the palace treasury report room, except for the 1st section, which only the emperor could enter and take anything from. ¡°Wait here,¡± Kariel instructed the official, who nodded obediently. After instructing the official to wait outside for Tarion, Kariel entered the massive palace treasury report room. Despite having walked only a short distance, he was already panting and frowned as he looked around. The palace treasury report room was enormous, filled with countless treasures. Kariel sighed as he thought about how much he regretted the place being plundered during his time as emperor. The palace treasury had seen no good days due to numerous attacks, including rebellions, monster attacks, and demon invasions. In addition, numerous treasures had to be sold due to a lack of money. Despite the plummeting imperial power, Kariel briefly admired the sturdy palace treasury before moving on. He reached the 4th section, accessible to ordinary royals, the 3rd section, visible only to the direct line of royals, and finally the 2nd section, where only the crown prince and emperor could enter freely. Kariel noticed a man in a black mask blocking his path and bowed his head. Without answering, Kariel nodded, understanding that the man was a shadow. ¡°That¡¯s what shadows are for,¡± Kariel thought to himself. ¡°I have no intention of entering the 1st section, so relax,¡± Kariel said to the shadow. As Kariel wandered around, the shadow reappeared, seemingly genuinely admiring the treasures. However, the shadow warned Kariel that a particular room was dangerous, as it was filled with cursed weapons. Kariel acknowledged the warning and told the shadow to focus on its primary duties. The shadow immediately disappeared, and Kariel entered the cursed room. At that moment, a voice reached his ears. ¡°Let¡¯s make a contract!¡± CH 9 At the sudden sound of the voice, Kariel¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. He looked around at the strange rigidity that was starting to set in his body. ¡°Is this a curse?¡± he thought, feeling an eerie sense of unease in the voice. ¡°Even if they¡¯re sealed, their presence is still this strong¡­.¡± Kariel looked gravely at the cursed artifacts around him. These were cursed artifacts that had been sealed by the wizards. Among them, the most dangerous ones were double-sealed, with both self-sealing and a spell-bound box for safekeeping. Despite this, the curses that seeped out were enough to threaten Kariel. ¡°Make a contract! Make a contract! Contract! Make a contract with me! With me!¡± The voice kept ringing in his ears, causing his mind to become increasingly groggy. However, he quickly regained his senses. He had eaten countless tough meals in his previous life, so he could not allow himself to lose his mind so easily. As Kariel regained his composure and began to walk forward, other curses approached him. There were those who threatened him by stiffening his body, those who openly cursed him, those who approached him slyly under the guise of pity, and those who simply whined. Countless cursed artifacts flew at Kariel, making it difficult to handle the sheer number of curses he faced. [Due to the curse, some of your bloodline abilities have been awakened.] [The awakened bloodline abilities react to the fragments of the annihilating demon.] [The first trial that God has hidden is about to begin.] ¡°¡­What?¡± Kariel¡¯s expression stiffened at the sudden appearance of a translucent spear. And at that moment, the suppressed flames that had been subdued by drugs began to roam around his body. ¡°This is insane¡­¡± Kariel muttered, unknowingly dropping to one knee. The amount of flames that were now escaping his body was too much for his fragile physique to bear, and they were starting to crystallize outside of his body. As the flames suddenly began to rage, Kariel was wracked with intense pain. However, it wasn¡¯t all bad. ¡°The curse¡­ is gone?¡± Pure flames that even burned away curses. Kariel was momentarily surprised by the cleansing flames that purified everything unclean, but he quickly gathered himself and stood up. He had come here for this very reason. All the filthy curses had been cleansed, leaving only the dangerously powerful ones. ¡°Seems like I¡¯m doing pretty well.¡± A voice echoed in his head. ¡°Make a contract with me, and I¡¯ll make you the greatest mage!¡± ¡°No, make a contract with me,¡± another voice interjected. ¡°I, the Flame Witch, will make you the best with the power of fire!¡± A witch¡¯s hat sealed with various magical tools. A black sword that looked dangerous just to look at. Two cursed artifacts were tempting Kariel. But Kariel only furrowed his brow and kept walking forward. Then, cursed artifacts that could talk began to approach him. ¡°Get lost,¡± Kariel said as he walked past them. As a former emperor, why would he bother making deals with such creatures? Master? Mage? Even without such titles, he was still the highest authority. Their temptations were insignificant. Above all, they couldn¡¯t give him what he wanted most. ¡°You¡¯re all garbage,¡± he muttered, knowing from his past life that even making deals with cursed artifacts couldn¡¯t cure his congenital disease caused by the flames within him. Thus, despite the many temptations, he was able to walk towards his goal. [Fragment of Surt] A necklace that contains a portion of the power of Surt, the owner of Muspell. Just getting close to it gives off a dreadful feeling. The curse was so powerful that it could purify almost any curse that came its way, leaving the cursed artifacts in the room contaminated with darkness. ¡°¡­Is this worth the risk?¡± Among the cursed artifacts stored in this room for their danger was one that contained a fragment of Surt. It emitted an extremely powerful curse, even among the cursed artifacts that were kept inside the room. Despite being pushed away by the strength of the artifact, Kariel still reached out to touch the necklace. As he did, he suddenly felt dizzy and stumbled, almost losing consciousness. ¡°Ugh!¡± Feeling as if he might collapse at any moment, Kariel was confused and knelt down on one knee. At that moment, a blue flame shot out from the necklace and gathered in front of Kariel. ¡°It¡¯s the primordial fire¡­.¡± The flame suddenly transformed into the form of a human and stared at Kariel without moving. It was a weak and feeble flame, but one could sense the primordial fire that was hidden within it, even if only as a speck of dust. However, the quantity was not important. What mattered was the fact that the primordial fire could be sensed, even if only as a speck of dust. ¡°Is it connected to ¡®his¡¯ fire through his bloodline ability? That¡¯s quite remarkable.¡± The primordial fire that was barely connected still existed in the form of a spark. Despite being only a tiny amount, it was too precious to exist within such a worthless body, so Kariel bit his tongue to contain his excitement. ¡°Tsk, what a waste, what a pity.¡± Despite being only a tiny amount, the primordial fire couldn¡¯t be handled by Kariel and made him tremble with its power. Surt looked pitifully at Kariel, who was unable to handle even a small amount of his power. Seeing Surt looking pitifully at him, Kariel¡¯s expression twisted. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re in the same situation? Who would evaluate someone who can¡¯t even gather a fragment?¡± Kariel endured the pain and spoke to Surt. At that, Surt fell silent. ¡°¡­You¡¯re right. I¡¯m in no position to evaluate anyone.¡± Surt, who acknowledged his defeat without a fight, was once a formidable entity capable of destroying even the world itself. But now, he was nothing more than a pathetic existence that relied on the fragments of his power to survive. Even as they spoke, the very essence of his being was being worn away in real time. CH 10 For countless ages, he had been sealed within a necklace, and as a result, his power had been so severely depleted that even his soul had begun to crumble. Thus, the being before them, who had once been Surt, was hardly deserving of that name anymore. ¡°Still, isn¡¯t it better to be a lowly creature like you than to be nothing at all?¡± someone remarked. ¡°Nonsense. How dare you compare me, a living and breathing ghost, to something as insignificant as yourself?¡± ¡°Even if you were a ghost, you were once a prominent figure¡­¡± ¡°Still, I am nothing more than a mere specter.¡± Surt shot a piercing glance at the speaker, Kariel, who returned the gesture without flinching. For a moment, they stared at each other as if beams of light would shoot out from their eyes, but then they both turned away, falling silent. ¡°Is this the work of the gods? Have they come to strike a bargain with me?¡± Surt muttered. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kariel asked, taken aback. ¡°Have you also fallen prey to the gods?¡± Kariel asked incredulously, to which Surt nodded in confirmation. Their hostility toward each other instantly dissipated, and they grinned at the absurdity of the situation. Then they began to talk behind the gods¡¯ backs. ¡°All gods are the same, especially that bastard Loki,¡± Kariel said. ¡°Ah, Loki is famous, isn¡¯t he?¡± Surt added. As if acknowledging his knowledge about Loki, Surt recited the events he remembered. He explained how even Odin was a trash and how the so-called upper gods were also nothing but garbage at that time. He also sneered at the giants, who might seem rough but were actually weak. ¡°By the way, what is that ¡®god¡¯? It seems like you know about it too,¡± asked Kariel. Surt was about to say something in response to Kariel¡¯s question, but he remained silent as if he was restrained by something. Kariel observed Surt quietly without further inquiry, noticing that he seemed to be struggling to express something. With a frustrated expression, Surt scratched his tousled hair as if it were on fire. ¡°Ah, just consider him as an insignificant bastard. There¡¯s no need to know his identity.¡± ¡°Well¡­ what importance does knowing that bastard¡¯s identity have now?¡± Kariel asked, shaking his head and glancing at Surt. ¡°So, are you going to make the deal?¡± he continued. Surt remained silent in response to his question. ¡°What, are you afraid of being weak?¡± Surt snorted, finally pleased to meet someone who suited him. ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°If you make a contract with me, you¡¯ll die,¡± Surt said. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Kariel furrowed his brows. ¡°If you make a contract with me in your current state, you will die,¡± Surt repeated. Although the primal flame had faded and was barely present after generations, it was inevitable that it would ignite again as long as there was a trace of it left. In Surt¡¯s eyes, Kariel¡¯s capacity to handle the primal flame was far too low. ¡°You said the gods claimed you were the one who could overcome this hellfire,¡± Kariel said. ¡°¡­It¡¯s true. In the long run, if you can endure the moment of making a contract with me, I can help you control the fire to some extent,¡± Surt replied, nodding as if acknowledging Kariel¡¯s point. ¡°However, the chances of you dying at that moment are high, so there¡¯s no other way,¡± he continued. ¡°Isn¡¯t there any way to endure that moment?¡± Kariel asked. Upon hearing Surt¡¯s words, Kariel asked him if he knew about the contract. Surt replied that he had some knowledge of it, citing an example of a spirit contract or a summoning contract where the mana of the contractor is temporarily amplified. ¡°Yeah, when a summoner and a summon resonate, their mana amplifies¡­ huh? Wait, could it be?¡± Kariel said, surprised. ¡°That¡¯s right. The amplification of the hellfire,¡± Surt confirmed, causing Kariel to express confusion. ¡°Amplification is just a small matter, though,¡± Kariel said. ¡°That¡¯s because your body is too weak to handle it,¡± Surt retorted with a fact a*sault, causing Kariel to furrow his brows. He could once again realize how weak his physical body was. ¡°Then, is it possible when my body recovers to some extent?¡± Kariel asked. ¡°Maybe? But would it be possible?¡± Surt asked, shaking his head as if it was hopeless. ¡°There is one way,¡± Kariel said, explaining about the Warewolf¡¯s corporeal technique. Surt seemed unsure, as he had less interest in the lower species, and he had been sealed for a long time, unaware of events outside. ¡°Anyway, is there a possibility?¡± Kariel murmured, standing up from his seat. Just seeing the possibility was enough for him. He had already found the artifact of mythical existence much faster than expected, so it was a win. ¡°Will you come?¡± Surt asked, looking at Kariel with a melancholic gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Kariel replied, leaving with determination. Surt breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at Kariel¡¯s frail body. Then Kariel spoke while walking away. ¡°Just wait, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± As Kariel spoke, he attempted to leave the cursed barracks. Suddenly, blue flames illuminated his surroundings, creating a path for him to exit. ¡°Hurry up and come out. I¡¯m bored,¡± Surt¡¯s voice could be heard from afar. Kariel turned his head and nodded slightly in response before proceeding with his report. ¡°Your Highness,¡± he addressed upon entering the second chamber. A shadow that had been watching the second chamber with concern hastily approached Kariel. ¡°I need to make a report. Please accompany me,¡± Kariel said. ¡°Of course,¡± the shadow replied before guiding Kariel through the second chamber and towards the entrance of the palace report. ¡°My apologies, but you cannot bring anything beyond this point,¡± the shadow informed Kariel. ¡°Thank you,¡± Kariel said before exiting alone, with Tarion quickly offering support. ¡°Your Highness, are you alright?¡± Tarion asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Kariel replied, with a steward responsible for the palace report standing by anxiously. Despite being a prince, it was protocol to ensure that nothing was brought out from the palace report when leaving. This was because they needed to check if any items had been taken, and if so, whether they could be borrowed from the palace report. ¡°Check him. He shouldn¡¯t be carrying anything,¡± the steward ordered, trembling as they searched Kariel¡¯s body roughly. Then Kariel asked Tarion, ¡°Are there any surveillance guards nearby?¡± ¡°Yes, but they are far away,¡± Tarion replied. Kariel nodded and spoke in a low voice, ¡°I know you¡¯re busy, but I have a request. Bring me all the information you can find about the ancient werewolves. Prioritize this task and keep it as discreet as possible, alright?¡± Tarion grinned and responded, ¡°Of course!¡± CH 11 After commanding Tarion to bring information on the ancient werewolves, Kariel immediately returned to the palace with the task of going straight to bed. ¡°Ugh¡­.¡± Kariel reached the point of groaning and moaning as if his strength had been drained, just from walking a little after seeing the palace. He cursed his own worthless stamina, but at the same time, he was filled with anticipation. ¡°It was real.¡± The gods had said that he had to make a contract with a mythological being and gave him the ability to be a contractor, but Kariel didn¡¯t completely believe it. That was because he was so skeptical of the gods. He had thought that the process of making the contract would be difficult or that it would be stuck in a hard-to-find place, but that was not the case. Although he had failed to contract due to his poor physical condition, he could still hold on to hope. ¡°Kinetic Martial Arts¡­.¡± Kariel indulged in nostalgia as he muttered about the ancient werewolves¡¯ Kinetic Martial Arts. He had to master Kinetic Martial Arts as a way to secure the minimum physical strength needed to make the contract. The problem was that it was the most advanced skill of the ancient werewolves, making it difficult to find. That¡¯s why he took the risk and asked Tarion to get it. ¡°Ah, looks like the number of bandits will increase for a while,¡± sighed Kariel, looking out the window with a weary expression. Although there wasn¡¯t much of a threat with Tarion around, they had detected bandits on more than one occasion. Without Tarion, Kariel would have died long ago. ¡°If news of what happened at the palace gets out, things will only get more exhausting,¡± Kariel murmured to himself. The calm prince had suddenly become active. With just that, he would attract attention, and it seemed like he was planning something. Perhaps he had found a way to recover his body, or maybe he had developed some newfound belief. Whatever it was, it was tiring for them. Some factions might try to hinder Kariel¡¯s recovery before it became a problem. Before that happened, they needed to find the werewolves¡¯s Physical Techniques and complete the contract with Surt. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time,¡± Kariel muttered, looking at the stack of books. ¡°Reflections on the Werewolves (1)¡± Kariel picked up a book related to the werewolves and quickly flipped through it before throwing it far away. The book was quite thick, as if it contained a lot of information, but it was nothing but a collection of common stories. Although the books related to monsters and ancient mana utilization were the same, when they examined the contents, it was nothing more than a trivial matter. There were quite a few professors who published books for the sake of earning money, using their noble status and connections, and subtly supplying them to the palace to gain fame and continue their academic life. However, in the past life, they had to deal with such trash even if it was a rebellion or an external invasion, so the stress was no joke. It didn¡¯t matter to Kariel now since he had no intention of becoming emperor this time, but if he were to become the one who stood in for the emperor, he would face a very irritating situation. It was natural that there were no available talents when things were going wrong. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not my concern,¡± Kariel said, throwing another book. Although there were some useful ones among the ones he just read, there was no information related to physical techniques. If they hadn¡¯t been looking for Physical Techniques, there were some contents that might have been interesting, but since there was a solution, there was no need to go back. So Kariel waited patiently for Tarion with anticipation. After a while, Tarion returned, and as if he knew what was on Kariel¡¯s mind, he brought in a large number of books with his wagon. Most of them seemed useless, as if Tarion had brought them to deceive their enemies. ¡°What about the spell books?¡± Kariel asked. Tarion laughed awkwardly in response to Kariel¡¯s rebuke. ¡°Here are the ones you requested.¡± ¡°Just these?¡± Tarion pulled out two thin and old books. ¡°These were the only ones I could find with my authority.¡± ¡°So I have to find the rest myself.¡± Kariel said with a serious expression, and Tarion looked at him and asked, ¡°May I ask what you are looking for?¡± After a moment of hesitation, Kariel spoke in a soft voice, ¡°The ancient werewolves¡¯s mana utilization techniques. Specifically, I need their physical enhancement techniques.¡± ¡°Physical enhancement¡­¡± Tarion repeated, his jaw clenched as he fell deep in thought. As someone who had spent his entire life mastering Mana Refinement Techniques, Tarion was a novice in this area. ¡°Um, is it something other than the usual Mana Aging Technique?¡± Tarion asked. ¡°It seems that way,¡± Kariel nodded in agreement. Although the Mana Aging Techniques used by monsters seemed different, their fundamentals were the same. They created small Mana holes in their muscles or organs, circulated Mana through their blood vessels, and transformed pure Mana into a form suitable for their physical bodies. Some scholars called this Mana Refinement Technique ¡°Mana Utilization for Physical Enhancement.¡± However, the ancient Werewolves seemed to have gone beyond this. ¡°I presume it¡¯s a method of accumulating Mana in the body without using Mana holes,¡± Kariel explained. ¡°It could be a purely physical enhancement technique from ancient times,¡± Tarion added, understanding what Kariel meant. In the past, when the development of martial arts was not as advanced as it is now, there were inefficient Mana utilization methods that focused solely on accumulating Mana in the body. That¡¯s why Tarion nodded his head, thinking that it made sense. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous, but¡­there seems to be a possibility,¡± Tarion said, nodding his head. Unless Mana is collected and processed in one place, stability cannot be achieved. Even the Mana Aging Technique that uses multiple Mana holes is known to be extremely difficult to control the rampaging Mana. So, hitting the body with Mana itself? That¡¯s just a significant risk. Humans didn¡¯t create Mana holes in their hearts and refine Mana in just one place for no reason. Pure Mana is like a thug, rampaging around the body, making it challenging to control. Kariel began to examine the books that Tarion had brought, but to no avail. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s a bust,¡± Kariel sighed as he put down the book he was holding. He couldn¡¯t find the information he needed. CH 12 ¡°I¡¯ll have to go to the library myself.¡± He concluded that he had no choice but to use his position as the Crown Prince to inspect the books in the innermost part of the library. Tarion spoke up, ¡°Your Highness, I know someone who can a*sist in restoring the ancient method of using mana.¡± Kariel looked puzzled at Tarion¡¯s words and asked, ¡°A*sist? Who?¡± Tarion responded, ¡°Indeed. I have a friend who is an expert in matters of the flesh. However¡­¡± ¡°However?¡± Kariel inquired as he tilted his head. ¡°The issue is that he¡¯s considered a strange character,¡± Tarion hesitated before adding. Kariel immediately thought of someone who was obsessed with muscle development, a knight who was a bit insane. ¡°Is it Toto?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one,¡± Tarion confirmed and his expression turned uneasy. Toto was a weirdo who was obsessed with the study of mana maturation and muscle development. He was a lunatic who exercised every day to the point of resembling the earth¡¯s weightlifters. ¡°Of course, had he been a mere eccentric obsessed only with exercise, he would not have become famous to this extent. However, he was a powerful figure with exceptional skills in the eccentric field, a talent that was counted among the best in the Empire.¡± ¡°I had no idea you were friends with Toto?¡± Kariel asked. ¡°We grew up in the same neighborhood when we were young. After I entered the palace, we couldn¡¯t see each other often,¡± Tarion replied, his expression turning bitter. As a shadow-born, Tarion had to minimize the number of people who knew him, which meant severing many of his original relationships. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true,¡± Kariel pondered for a moment at Tarion¡¯s words, then looked up and said, ¡°If we¡¯re going to get help, let¡¯s gather more people.¡± ¡°What do you mean by people?¡± Tarion asked. ¡°Yeah, there aren¡¯t many mana ripening experts in the palace, are there? So we have to look for them outside,¡± Kariel grinned. Then, he called for paper and listed the people who came to his mind: the fire-crazed magician Arshna, the warrior Eris, and the monster surgeon Bryon. ¡°They¡¯re all famous eccentrics. Where did you hear about them?¡± Tarion asked, pointing to the pile of books that Kariel had accumulated. In response, Kariel simply gestured towards the books. At that, Tarion let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯ll be busy, but do your best.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After reminding Tarion that this was the top priority, Kariel immediately fell asleep. * * * The next day, before the crack of dawn, Kariel rode his horse to the palace library. Thanks to yesterday¡¯s incident spreading, perhaps? As he entered the library, everyone bowed their waist ninety degrees without any indication of resistance. Kariel left them behind and walked into the noble-only section, then went deeper into the library to the section reserved only for the imperial family. An old man greeted him as she pa*sed through the area exclusively for nobles. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°May I go in?¡± In response to his question, the old man smiled and took one step to the side. The innermost part of the palace library, reserved only for the emperor and the crown prince. Kariel had come to the palace library for the sole purpose of entering this place. As the books that Tarion had obtained from the noble¡¯s section with his authority were of no use, this was the only place left to search. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It is my duty, Your Highness.¡± Kariel wondered if the old librarian recognized him as the ¡°decorative prince,¡± but it seemed he did not care about such things as he led him inside. ¡°Is he from the shadow-born? The next day, before dawn, Kariel mounted his horse and headed straight to the palace library. Was it because news of what happened at the palace yesterday had spread? As he walked through the area where nobles could read, Kariel made his way into the imperial library, and even deeper into the section reserved only for the royal family. There, an old man greeted him. ¡°I greet Your Highness.¡± ¡°May I enter?¡± In response to his question, the old man smiled and took a step to the side, indicating that he could pa*s. This was the heart of the palace library, reserved only for the emperor and the heir to the throne, and Kariel had come here directly for that reason. Since Tarion¡¯s book from the nobles¡¯ section was of no use, this was his last hope. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It is my pleasure to serve you.¡± Despite Kariel¡¯s nickname as the ¡°patterned prince,¡± the old librarian did not seem to mind, guiding him without hesitation. ¡°Are you from the shadow realm?¡± Kariel wondered silently, following the hesitant footsteps of the librarian as they pa*sed through several locked doors and arrived at the deepest part of the palace library. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but could you help me a little?¡± Kariel asked, with a tone of respect that was different from his previous arrogance towards the imperial official. The old man¡¯s eyes lit up at his change in tone. ¡°That is why we librarians are here. Please feel free to ask for anything.¡± ¡°In that case, I have a request.¡± As Kariel spoke, he demanded books containing the ancient methods of mana utilization, techniques for enhancing physical abilities, and books on the mana techniques of the ancient Were Wolves. The librarian¡¯s eyes were full of interest and then vanished. ¡°If you sit and rest, I¡¯ll come back soon with the books,¡± the librarian said. Kariel nodded slightly at the librarian¡¯s words. As he sat in the palace library, he felt a slight fatigue, but before he knew it, the old librarian had quietly approached him with all the books he had requested. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Did you find them already?¡± Kariel straightened up when he saw the old librarian come in with several old books. The old librarian put the books down and said, ¡°If you¡¯re looking for the ancient Were Wolf¡¯s mana techniques, they¡¯re right here.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± As Kariel swallowed his dry throat, the old librarian grinned with his wrinkled face. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about your trust being compromised.¡± Kariel stared at the old librarian. He was someone he had seen a few times when he was young, but he disappeared after he became Emperor. ¡°Strange.¡± Although he instinctively felt that he was not to be trusted, it was not important at the moment. After quickly checking the parts that the librarian had laid out, Kariel smiled. ¡°I found it.¡± Finally, Kariel found what he had been looking for and looked back at the old librarian, who seemed to read his mind and brought out paper and pen. With gratitude and the important notes hastily scribbled down, Kariel folded the paper and put it in his pocket before rising from his seat. ¡°I will repay this kindness someday.¡± ¡°I have only done what needed to be done,¡± the old librarian replied, bowing his head. As Kariel left the library, the old librarian watched him quietly and murmured to himself, ¡°The will of fire will never be extinguished.¡± CH 13 As Kariel left the old librarian behind and stepped out into the entrance of the palace library, he caught sight of Tarion waiting for him alongside a man he did not recognize. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Is this him?¡± Kariel asked. In response to Kariel¡¯s question, the man standing beside him took a step forward and announced himself. ¡°I am Sir Toto, a knight of the palace.¡± ¡°Pleasure to meet you,¡± Kariel replied. As he greeted Toto, Kariel looked around at his surroundings, briefly nodding his head but biting his tongue as he noticed the palace guards who were watching him. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the palace for now.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± Toto and Tarion answered, bowing their heads. With that, the carriage set off, heading straight for the prince¡¯s palace. As the carriage moved slowly and steadily, the attendants, including Tarion and Toto, walked briskly behind, eager to keep up. As Kariel left the old librarian behind and entered the palace library, he caught sight of Tarion waiting for him at the entrance with another man. ¡°Well, you think you know a lot about the flesh?¡± Kariel asked Toto, as he sat down on the bed after arriving at the palace. ¡°Yes, if it¡¯s about the flesh, I know better than anyone in the empire,¡± Toto replied confidently, causing Tarion to raise an eyebrow in skepticism. Tarion made a face as he watched Toto¡¯s muscles twitching while he spoke, unable to hide his disgust. But Kariel was satisfied. ¡°Then tell me, what is my current state?¡± ¡°May I speak candidly?¡± Toto asked for permission from Kariel. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the worst it could be,¡± Toto replied honestly with Kariel¡¯s permission. Kariel had no muscular definition, nor had he even developed the minimum amount of stamina necessary for exercise. And with raging inflammation, vigorous exercise was out of the question. On top of that, the drugs used to suppress the inflammation were having an adverse effect on his body. ¡°At the moment¡­ there is no way to restore your body, Your Majesty,¡± Toto concluded with a grim expression. ¡°How could you just glance over it and say that¡­¡± Tarion began to get angry with Toto¡¯s words, but Kariel raised a hand to stop him. ¡°Thank you for your honest opinion,¡± Kariel said, lifting his chin and staring intently at Toto. To him, Toto was no mere eccentric; he was truly an expert on the human body. ¡°What a musclehead,¡± Kariel instinctively snickered as he looked at Toto, who was showing off his muscles. ¡°I know as well as anyone that there is no way to restore my body in its current state.¡± Kariel let out a bitter laugh as he spoke. It was a method he had worked tirelessly to discover in his past life but ultimately failed to find. ¡°But how about this?¡± Kariel asked, changing the subject. Kariel saw Tarion waiting for him with a man at the entrance of the palace library, leaving the old librarian behind. With these words, Kariel took out a piece of paper from his pocket. He carefully unfolded the neatly folded paper and handed it to Toto, who took it with both hands and read it calmly. Observing Toto¡¯s demeanor, Kariel added, ¡°It¡¯s the ancient werewolf¡¯s mana utilization technique, known as Ganche-sul.¡± Upon hearing Kariel¡¯s words, Toto looked amazed and raised his head. ¡°Amazing! A pure mana utilization technique that enhances the body¡­but its limitations are clear.¡± Toto¡¯s expression turned slightly disappointed as he said this. The ancient mana utilization techniques were impressive but that was all. Compared to the mana utilization techniques that had evolved over time, their efficiency was lacking. ¡°Compared to modern mana refinement methods, the efficiency may not even reach 1/5,¡± Toto said, and Kariel nodded with a smile. Even with the mana maturation technique, which was less than half as efficient, the ancient technique would still be less efficient. But efficiency didn¡¯t matter to Kariel. ¡°What if I were to apply it to myself?¡± he asked. Toto was speechless at Kariel¡¯s question. Wasting a lot of power was not a problem for Kariel. In fact, if he could waste it and release it outwardly, it would improve his physical condition even more. And if his body could be strengthened even a little during the process? ¡°It would be the best result for me, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s probably true, but we don¡¯t know what risks are involved,¡± Toto said, looking worried, and Tarion beside him was just as concerned. Without mana refinement techniques, the risks were too great. But Kariel was determined. ¡°It¡¯s already decided. All you have to do is help me learn the technique, and then create an exercise plan based on it that will help me recover my stamina,¡± Kariel said firmly, causing Toto to make a worried expression before bowing his head heavily. ¡°I will do my best to create a training plan that suits you.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯m counting on it.¡± Kariel nodded as he watched Toto leave, then smiled and looked back at the paper with the Ganche-sul technique written on it. ¡°Tarion.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Block anyone from coming here.¡± Tarion hesitated for a moment at Kariel¡¯s order, then opened his mouth with difficulty. ¡°I will do my best, sir. No, I¡¯ll do it alone.¡± Tarion, who had learned the mana refinement technique, could not help much with the mana maturation technique. It was better to do it alone than to rely on him. To cure his wretched body, Kariel had taken risks and tried various methods, from injecting drugs directly into his body to experimenting on his body to forcibly strengthen it. ¡°Compared to those times, mana maturation technique is nothing special,¡± Kariel thought, feeling the heat within him. While most people needed years to feel the mana, Kariel had felt the existence of the heat since he was born. Considering that only 20% of the continent¡¯s population had a talent for mana, Kariel was practically blessed. The problem was that excessive blessing became a curse. ¡°Ugh!¡± Just attempting to control the heat caused the creatures within him to begin to glow and rampage. From a young age, he had been together with the creature, and there had been times when he had tried to manipulate it to his own will. But every time he did, the creature would go wild and damage his body, and this time was no different. ¡°Cough!¡± As blood spurted from his injuries, Kariel forced Tarion¡¯s abandoned potion into his mouth. With a gulp, the sound of healing filled his ears. Once his injuries were healed to some extent, Kariel immediately moved to control the flames. ¡°Spread. Spread! Spread!¡± He fervently wished for the flames to spread throughout his body. Then, the flames that had been suppressed around his heart began to move slowly. The flames that had been held back by drugs and magic suddenly spread throughout his body, causing the flames to sway. The flames were wary, as if they couldn¡¯t believe in Kariel. Continuously trying to calm him down and spreading the flames gradually from his heart to his entire body, the flames soon tried to explode out of his body. Thump! Thump! CH 14 Watching the flames beating around his heart, Kariel cautiously removed his bracelet. As soon as he did, the flames that had been magically suppressed exploded throughout his body. Most of the flames are asleep thanks to the medicine. I can endure it. Thinking so, Kariel used the flames to strike his muscles directly, rather than creating a mana hole, causing his entire body to turn red hot. Gulping down another bottle of potion, Kariel imprinted more of the flames onto his flesh. As his skin turned red, he trembled and clasped the bracelet again, then the flames that were trying to escape were trapped within a newly-created barrier around his heart. ¡°Pant¡­pant¡­¡± Kariel lay on the bed, sweating coldly. ¡°Indeed, it was a crazy thing to do.¡± Kariel looked at his own body with a painful expression. I realized why humans don¡¯t use mana maturation techniques. The risks were too great. ¡°Hmm, not the time for this.¡± Kariel forced himself to stand up, his body glowing red. Unlike mana refinement techniques, mana maturation techniques required one to strengthen their body from the beginning, along with the martial arts or techniques that were pa*sed down among each race. It was like adjusting the body to use the techniques of each race. In contrast, swordsmanship or martial arts were only supplementary in mana refinement techniques. To humans, swordsmanship was just a means to efficiently and effectively use mana. But Kariel had to move like a monster. ¡°Hup!¡± Trembling, Kariel recalled the most basic movements he had seen in a book and followed them precisely. Movements that were like exercise, stimulating each muscle to make it easier for mana to take hold in the muscles, even bringing the uncontrolled flames into his body. ¡°Ughhhh¡­.¡± It felt like his entire body was screaming, but Kariel finally finished the basic movements and collapsed. ¡°T-Tarion!¡± Bang! ¡°Your Highness!¡± Hearing Kariel¡¯s call, Tarion rushed in and quickly supported Kariel on the bed. ¡°You¡¯re pushing yourself too hard.¡± Tarion frowned at the sight of the blood on the bed. Kariel¡¯s still trembling body told the story of just how much he had pushed himself. ¡°¡­But it was a success.¡± Despite the pain, Kariel smiled. Watching him, Tarion sighed and bowed his head. Although he wanted to stop Kariel, he couldn¡¯t. Kariel had finally found a way to cure his illness after a lifetime of suffering. So Tarion could only silently endure, unable to stop his master¡¯s groans of pain. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll call Toto tomorrow.¡± ¡°You need more practice. It¡¯s not fully stabilized yet.¡± ¡°Even so, I¡¯m sure that kid can find a way to solve it.¡± Kariel nodded with a wry smile as if to say that Tarion couldn¡¯t back down on this point. He couldn¡¯t help but listen to his words, knowing his concern was sincere. Following his words, which he had risked his life for her in a past life, Kariel didn¡¯t stubbornly resist and immediately fell into a deep sleep. ¡°Sunrise¡­has come.¡± Even in his sleep, Kariel smiled at the thought of having succeeded. Watching him do so, Tarion also smiled softly. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± With reddened eyes, Tarion quietly withdrew from Kariel¡¯s room. The next day, as soon as the sun rose, Kariel called for Toto to begin researching the ancient werewolf¡¯s body strengthening techniques. Was it thanks to imprinting the fire into his body somewhat forcefully the previous day? Kariel demonstrated the ancient werewolf¡¯s body strengthening techniques in front of Toto with a considerably lighter body, and Toto immediately taught him the exercise method that would support the basics of the body strengthening techniques. After stretching lightly and strengthening his muscles with light exercise, he was able to practice the basic body strengthening techniques. One week. During that time, Kariel focused all his time on practicing the body strengthening techniques and improving his physical strength with Toto¡¯s help. ¡°Hoo¡­hoo¡­¡± ¡°I can see it clearly. Your movements have improved significantly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m watching with my own eyes, but I can hardly believe it.¡± Whenever Kariel accomplished something, Tarion and Toto sent enthusiastic compliments with applause. ¡°Don¡¯t be so modest.¡± ¡°No, really. You¡¯ve improved a lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± As Toto spoke, Tarion nodded vigorously in agreement. As they said, Kariel¡¯s body was in a significantly different state. Unlike the past when even walking was difficult, his body was now strong enough to handle even intense exercise. ¡°If it¡¯s like this, will I be able to withstand an amplified fire?¡± ¡°It¡¯s important to know to what extent.¡± ¡°Double or triple the strength?¡± Kariel nodded his head at Toto¡¯s words. ¡°If it¡¯s to that extent¡­ ¡° ¡°Well¡­even so, it¡¯s best not to push yourself too hard¡­I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re going to do, but give it more time,¡± Tarion spoke with concern, but Kariel shook his head. There was no time. He had already received word from Tarion that rumors were starting to circulate about his palace. Furthermore, rumors were spreading beyond the palace to the capital that Kariel was planning to split from the Imperial faction. They needed to wrap up their deal with Surt before things escalated. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the palace immediately,¡± said Kariel. Tarion¡¯s eyes widened as he asked, ¡°Right now?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± replied Kariel, not allowing any objections as he walked straight to his carriage. ¡°Lord Toto, thank you for your hard work today,¡± said Kariel as he climbed into the carriage and urged it towards the palace, leaving Toto behind. Trembling, the courtier tried to greet Kariel, ¡°Y-your Highness, I have come to¡­ ¡° ¡°I¡¯m going to the audience chamber. I don¡¯t have time for small talk,¡± interrupted Kariel as he entered the palace, leaving the courtier behind. In no time, Kariel reached the second chamber, where he briefly exchanged greetings with the shadow before heading straight to the cursed room. With a sudden burst of blue flames, he dispelled the curses that had been lurking around him and headed towards Surt, who was waiting for him. ¡°I was bored to death waiting for you. You slept for thousands of years and yet couldn¡¯t wait for a few days?¡± complained Surt. Kariel looked at him for a moment and then said with a smirk, ¡°Let¡¯s make the deal.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, Surt looked over Kariel¡¯s body, impressed by the changes that had occurred since they last met. ¡°I¡¯m surprised. What did you do to transform like this?¡± he asked. Kariel simply replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± With a grin, Kariel looked at Surt and said, ¡°Are you going to make the deal or not?¡± Surt nodded his head defeatedly and replied, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do it.¡± At that moment, the blue flames and the fire breath that Kariel exhaled merged together and started to emit a bright light.