Rising Flames

The King of Illumina.

Arjan Al Illumina’s death spread across the entire world in an instant.

The empires and kingdoms coveting the geographical advantage of Illumina, located in the continent’s center, were the first to learn this fact.

“He lived long indeed.”

“Haha, Illumina must have a famous physician. How did they match exactly five years?”

“Now a new wind will blow through Illumina.”

Everyone had been waiting for this very moment when the royal candidates they supported would finally gain the right to challenge for the throne.

While Illumina held the state funeral, someone had to guard the vacant position.

The nobles unanimously chose the Queen.

Her role was just one.

To fairly oversee and manage until a new successor became king after Arjan’s death.

The interim Queen sat on the throne and proclaimed to all the nobles.

“As you all know, the reason we haven’t selected a successor until now is because we judged the royals’ experience and age were still insufficient.”

The nobles nodded outwardly but inwardly ridiculed the Queen’s words.

‘It took time to clean up because Arjan sowed too many seeds.’

‘She deliberately delayed using the King as an excuse while her three children persuaded the royals.’

Arjan was famous as a womanizer, and the royals who inherited his blood alone numbered nearly thirty.

Naturally, the Queen didn’t want all thirty to participate in the throne succession war.

Thus, she’d waited for time for her outstanding children to organize the royals.

‘But in the end, it’s just one person.’

Only one of those three would rise to become king.

Though the succession structure was simplified, the nobles of each faction were most wary of just one person.

First Prince Vans.

That special prince who formed relations with the Rakis Empire had used level 5 magic from birth, and now, receiving guidance from Duke Chris, was known to rival Magi.

Competent, exceptional, with no rough edges in diplomacy—he was a more desirable royal candidate than anyone for Illumina, surrounded by enemy nations on all sides.

‘That would be us.’

However, other factions also had something to believe in.

Because the royals they supported had built diplomatic relationships no less excellent than Vans.

‘The Queen believes that even if competition intensifies, Vans will safely embrace the remaining ones, so she won’t try anything in this chaotic political situation.’

Unless there were special variables, the Queen wouldn’t intervene at all in this situation where her three children had established a competitive structure.

Whoever becomes king is ultimately her child anyway.

Because she wouldn’t lend strength to either side, the nobles agreed to her sitting in the regent’s position.

“Now the King has passed away, and we must face new changes. Hoping that the remaining royals become great leaders who will guide us, I will oversee fairly from this position.”

“Glory to Illumina!”

“Loyalty to the Queen!”

Hiding their respective inner thoughts, the nobles pledged loyalty.

The Queen proclaimed.

“As soon as the state funeral ends, we’ll hold the succession ceremony!”

The moment the state funeral lasting nearly a month ends, the royals who went to solidify solid relationships in other nations will all return to the kingdom.

From that point, who would survive and who would die in the chaos that begins?

The nobles looked at each other and wore meaningful smiles.

And the state funeral began.

Mourners came from many nations.

It was when the Queen was smiling while clasping their hands one by one.

The head chamberlain whispered secretly to the Queen.

“A bouquet came from Rezhen. They said it’s a gift sent directly to the Queen.”

“To me?”

Flowers at a state funeral.

But finding it strange to give flowers to the living rather than the dead, the Queen had the gift brought in.

The moment she saw the bouquet the chamberlain brought, an inexplicable chill arose.

Because black roses were in full bloom.

“How could such an ominous thing…”

The Queen frowned and flung the bouquet away.

“Who from Rezhen?”

“Someone named Pernok.”

“Pernok?”

The chamberlain bowed and whispered.

“He leads an S-rank guild called Named and is called the Mercenary King.”

* * *

Pernok erected gravestones at the mountain range’s peak.

This place boasted beautiful scenery and was now the location where sunlight seeped in most brightly.

With the heart hoping it would become a resting place for the dead, Pernok prayed silently and turned around.

“You were here.”

Ruin walked over smiling.

“Are all those people successive inheritors who inherited Origin?”

Pernok had told only Ruin the story of Origin.

Because he thought the gentle and strong Ruin would lead Marco and the children well.

The other guild members regarded Marco and the children as somewhat special mages.

“There were more than expected. I’m fortunate. That Origin didn’t break off.”

“Hehehe, I don’t know if I can lead them well.”

“I’ve stabilized Marco’s Origin. The children’s stopped time will also flow. But they’re absolutely lacking experience in all matters.”

“If you’re telling them to fill experience, it won’t be just for that reason.”

“Marco’s Origin and your silence have something similar.”

Pernok examined Ruin’s soul.

It absolutely didn’t match the High Priest’s perfection.

But like when he first saw it, Ruin’s soul still left room for growth potential.

“If you discover something from Origin, your silence will reach a place higher than now.”

“Well. I still haven’t grasped anything.”

“Take it easy. From now on, you’ll face Origin to the point of boredom.”

Pernok and Ruin laughed while heading to the training grounds.

One of the training methods using the peak’s high-concentration mana was sparring.

A-rank guild masters or mages equivalent to them often competed in magic here.

Newly joined Marco was the same.

The guild masters who initially ignored Marco as a child now engaged in sparring without being careless.

‘The abyss settled well.’

Marco’s form, beautifully dodging Hallam’s punches while even aiming for counterattacks, was quite decent.

“Does Origin also have levels?”

“It’s divided into upper, middle, and lower depending on whether you simply manipulate objects with Origin or exert influence on space. If mental strength supports it, Origin grows faster than magic.”

“Marco has quite a bit of combat experience. If he handles that abyss well, he won’t be lacking even compared to level 7 mages.”

“Though he still doesn’t match Hallam.”

Thanks to receiving Ruin’s training, Hallam reached level 6 mage.

Adding the martial arts Pernok refined, Hallam would secure superiority even competing with enhancement-type mages of the same level.

“What level was the power of that person called Lord of Despair?”

When Ruin, watching the increasingly growing Marco, asked curiously, Pernok smiled and answered.

“He dominated every night in this world. Where darkness stayed, no one could breathe.”

“So S3 Magus level.”

“Well. Since the era’s different, it’s hard to compare, but Lord of Despair would be a person of different class. Of course, I also heard this.”

It was when Ruin and Pernok were watching the sparring intensify.

The level 6 mages Duke Ludmila assigned.

Those now active like Ruin’s shadow came from behind.

“Lord Rio has arrived.”

When Pernok nodded and clapped his hands together, the sparring stopped.

Hallam and Marco.

Even the guild masters watching it all turned their gazes upward in the training grounds.

Pernok shouted.

“The meeting begins.”

* * *

Pernok sat at the head seat, and Ruin and Rio took positions on both sides.

With the guild masters lined up below, Marco’s eyes sparkled from the very bottom.

“It’s been a while. Has everyone been well?”

Ray… now returned to Rio’s appearance, he wore a relaxed smile.

The guild masters from that time, who only knew his appearance as Ray when active for Rezhen’s Fourth Prince Isolun, wore awkward smiles.

“Though I saw Sir Zodiac and Jad during the mountain range war, it’s the first time seeing the others. My greeting is late. I’m called Rio. Currently serving as Named’s staff officer.”

“Pleased to meet you! I’m called Bemot!”

Other guild masters greeted Named’s staff officer who had been like a puzzle.

Enri and Hallam, who knew Rezhen’s inside story, laughed quietly.

When Sallio cleared his throat, everyone fixed their expressions.

And everyone’s gazes turned to Pernok.

“Let’s check the goods first.”

“Yes.”

Rio placed various weapons on the long rectangular table.

He now handled all kinds of items needed for war, including food and weapons in Rezhen.

He’d taken the role of grasping information occurring in other nations and transmitting it to Named, and now also handled the guild’s supplies.

“Good.”

When Pernok flicked the blade with his finger, a good ring flowed out.

The other guild masters also couldn’t help asking with widened eyes.

“You can distribute all these quality weapons to the guild members?”

“We brought them loaded outside right now.”

Rio’s confidence had a reason.

Because all the elements to mass-produce superior weapons in a short time were assembled.

Sending all the Tunnel Folk to the Horn Tribe island to process vast resources to make weapons, and when the Scale Tribe placed them on the uninhabited island with the floating castle, Rio’s ship carried them inland.

The weapons created by the world’s most secret and perfect workshop were pouring out.

“And we’ve also prepared the weapons you guild masters requested.”

When Rio clapped, the meeting room door opened and guild members approached carrying armfuls of weapons.

The guild masters each received the weapons they’d requested and burst into exclamations.

“Oh…”

They were one grade higher than the weapons they’d used until now.

“Made from high-purity ore, they’re much sturdier than existing ones. You can sufficiently sharpen the blades at the forge here, so if there are any uncomfortable parts, please tell us.”

“This is too good!”

“Can we really have all this?”

Rio grinned.

“Of course. Aren’t we one family?”

When the guild masters seemed moved and couldn’t continue speaking, Sallio examined the emblem on the hammer and tilted his head.

“What’s this symbol?”

It was neither Named’s nor a pattern symbolizing Illumina.

The symbol of a dragon and sword crossing didn’t exist in any nation.

The answer flowed from Pernok.

“I’ll tell you gradually later. Check the weapons when you go to your quarters, and what’s the situation in Rezhen?”

The guild masters put down the weapons and looked at Rio.

“The Third Prince also seems a bit burdened now. Prince Salavan is pushing very fiercely.”

“Did it go according to the original plan?”

“Yes. A two-way structure between Zayl and Salavan was established.”

“Did the neutrals decide to go with Salavan?”

“After Duke Ludmila stepped forward to persuade, most of the neutrals went over to Salavan. Zayl can’t make loud noises in the royal palace due to slush fund documents and illegal mana cannon modifications. The King also can’t lend strength because problems that are too big burst consecutively.”

As Rio’s calm report flowed, the guild masters’ complexions brightened.

Salavan, who supports Pernok, begins spreading his wings.

That means soon.

“Zayl sought out the Third Prince. He seems to want to pressure Salavan, but it won’t be easy now. Rather, there’s leisure surrounding Salavan’s side. Essentially, Zayl can’t provide any support to Illumina’s First Prince.”

“But he showed intent to support our side?”

“Yes. If Lord Pernok reveals yourself in Illumina’s succession war, he’ll gladly extend his hand.”

“We should move this side as desired.”

When Pernok smiled, tension swirled in the meeting room.

They’d come together on this arduous journey to go to Illumina.

Whether they’d grasp glory or collapse.

All choices rested with Pernok.

“Illumina is a truly deformed nation. With nations scattered around, it survives through diplomacy. I dislike that form. Why does no one try to break through that predicament?”

And Pernok spoke the first button for glory.

“Therefore, I will overturn the rotten nation and establish a new nation on that land.”

The guild masters had also heard these words continuously.

“What I desire isn’t the name Illumina but that land. But right now we don’t know the definite strength of those guarding that land. Most kept their positions in other nations under the name of diplomacy, so shouldn’t we pound them once?”

Pernok, who grinned, looked back at Ruin.

“When the succession war breaks out, conflicts between nations will also intensify. I want to ravage the great powers. Ruin, I’ll attach the shadows and Marco to you. Which will you face?”

“I heard the Third Prince definitely receives the mage association’s support. He intends to establish a magic tower in Illumina, which is absolutely unacceptable.”

“Come to think of it, you have one ‘debt’ to the magic tower?”

Recalling Baudelaire’s sorrow when alchemy was persecuted, Ruin’s eyes turned cold.

“If you want total war, I won’t refuse.”

“First shake them. And lead them to another side. Make them doubt each other, fight, and collapse exhausted.”

“Understood. As ordered, I’ll take the Third Prince. And if the shaking succeeds as you intend…”

“I’ll leave all disposal of the magic tower to you. Repay them thoroughly for what you suffered.”

A cold smile formed on Ruin’s lips.

“Thank you.”

The chilling appearance they’d never seen while learning from Ruin made the guild masters’ hearts turn cold.

The warm atmosphere quieted as if cold water had been poured on it.

Finally they realized the succession war had begun.

“Rio, you take the Second Princess. I’ll give you command of the different races.”

“The nation supporting the Second Princess is definitely the Tyr Kingdom. A good kingdom adjacent to the sea.”

Rio answered without hesitation.

“If you entrust it to me, I’ll do my best to shake them.”

“I’ll deploy your trading company to Tyr too.”

“Yes. I’ll prepare many supplies.”

The end of the meaningful exchange turned to the guild masters.

“And you guys.”

Pernok’s smile deepened as he recalled the half-living’s resentment.

“Strike the First Prince together with me.”