Thinking about it, I don’t even know who my enemy is.
Even though I’ve faced him directly and fought him, I still don’t know Grimudo.
Why would he build his fortress in a desolate snowy wasteland and live there alone?
With his power, he could have taken over the demon race, or even the entire continent.
What does he desire? What values does he pursue?
Does he even have a purpose?
There’s nothing known, nothing discovered. He remains hidden behind a veil, never revealing himself.
Thinking about it, I’ve never seriously considered Grimudo. I just thought of him as the village’s enemy who needed to be defeated someday.
That hatred might have blinded me, preventing me from seeing him as a person.
“On the other hand, I know a fair bit about Harmail, whom I’ve never even seen, but I know almost nothing about Grimudo.”
The unifier of the demon race, the Demon King who brought the divided demons together.
Harmail, the Immortal Demon King, is a looming threat to the empire. Everyone knows she’s strong, and much about her has been revealed through various channels.
In contrast, Grimudo, who has lived long enough to be called the Primal Demon King, is almost a complete mystery. Even after defeating other Demon Kings, we’ve tried to learn more about him, but they knew almost nothing. Whether he’s strong or weak, what abilities he possesses—it’s all shrouded in mystery.
One thing is known: every Demon King revered him, almost as if he were a legendary figure. Now that I’ve faced him directly, I think I understand why they felt that way.
Even after clashing swords and whips with him, all we know is that he’s incredibly strong.
What his weaknesses are, if he has any vulnerabilities, or even how to approach defeating him—all of it remains unknown. Every technique he uses is something we’ve never seen or heard of.
I need to learn more about Grimudo.
As I was thinking this, the Princess spoke.
“Of course, that’s only if the empire doesn’t intervene.”
Leidain—no, Ardein—smiled faintly.
“Saint. When I return, I’ll reorganize the empire’s intelligence department. I’ve given up on my ambition for the throne, but in the current situation, whoever becomes emperor will just be a puppet of the temple and the nobles.”
She bowed her head to me in gratitude.
“My life is worth a lot, Saint. I may not have much to offer now, but when we meet again, I will repay you for saving me. Once I oversee the empire’s intelligence department, information about the Cycle will eventually come to light.”
“Princess, do you have the funds to return to the capital?”
“If you lend me some, I’ll repay you tenfold.”
Truly, she deserves the title of the Iron Princess. To ask for a loan so boldly.
“Money aside, can you make it back to the capital alone?”
“I came here alone, so… Ah!”
My cautious question seemed to hit a nerve. The Princess blushed and sat down.
“I’m no longer a leper. Bandits and mountain thieves won’t avoid me anymore.”
“Did you really come here alone? Even if people avoided you, what about wild beasts or monsters?”
“Honestly, I left it to fate.”
Her voice grew softer.
It seems she just relied on luck.
“At the time, I didn’t think I’d survive. I thought I’d die on the way here. Even if I made it, I thought you wouldn’t be able to cure me.”
So, she survived because she was ready to die.
Even if people avoided her, monsters and wild animals wouldn’t pass up rotten meat. If she made it here safely from the capital, avoiding all those threats…
Was this the Lord’s guidance? Or just a coincidence?
Either way, it’s clear she can’t rely on luck for the return trip.
Especially now that she’s cured and has a bright future ahead.
“Perhaps we should hire mercenaries?”
“If I hadn’t been weakened by illness, this journey wouldn’t have been difficult. It would have been a simple matter…”
The Princess sighed. Anyone would feel the same after losing so much.
When your body is rotting, how can your martial arts remain intact? Even though her leprosy is cured, the Iron Princess is already rusted and broken. Right now, she’s barely at the level of a swordsman who can hold a sword.
She needs time to recover her magical power, relearn her lost swordsmanship, and regain her strength and muscle.
Time, which flows equally for everyone.
I don’t have the ability to give her that time, but I do have the Phylogenetic Seedling.
“The Lord guided the Princess to me, so I’ll take a gamble.”
Since the Lord is behind this dice game, I can gamble with some confidence.
Though, I’m not entirely sure if this is the right decision. I just have faith.
That the connection between her and me wasn’t just a coincidence.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“That today’s decision will lead to saving more people.”
Between my hands, the seedling sprouted. A divine seedling unlike any other.
A miracle from the Lord that brings results without effort.
“I’ll bet on that possibility.”
I decided to bet on the possibility that quickly restoring the Princess, and perhaps even helping her grow stronger than before, would help stop the unknown threat of the Cycle.
The angel said there’s a reason the Lord gave me the Phylogenetic Seedling, and it certainly wasn’t to let it rot unused.
*
The darker and more twisted one’s life, the deeper the karma they accumulate.
The Princess’s accumulated karma was incomparable to Roka’s. Naturally, the shock she felt upon seeing her own branches was far greater than what Roka experienced.
“This is unbelievable.”
The Princess muttered in shock and horror. The infinite branches of the future showed all her possibilities.
Some branches showed her learning painting, others music. Some focused on improving her craftsmanship, others on honing her swordsmanship. She could do anything! Becoming a polymath wasn’t just a dream.
If this is possible, why did I study until I coughed up blood?
If this is possible, why did I swing my sword through the night?
If I accumulate achievements and offer them to the Phylogenetic Seedling, I can achieve anything immediately. The Princess trembled in shock, unable to even think about choosing a branch.
I’ve never heard of such a miracle. No, this is a miracle. Only a god can bestow such a miracle.
Only a miracle can make this possible, so there’s no doubt this is a miracle. The question is, who is this Kyle guy to wield such a miracle so freely?
“Unlike divine power, miracles are bestowed directly by the gods.”
Even saints or saintesses might only perform a miracle once or twice in their lifetime.
Even if he’s the Saint of the Ancient God, this is crossing a line. The miracle itself is crossing a line, and Kyle’s ability to perform it is also crossing a line. It’s terrifying that such a powerful being has been hidden away. The value of this seedling is beyond measure.
“Who exactly is he…?”
“Are you not going to choose? If not…”
Of course, she was in shock, but letting this golden opportunity slip away was unthinkable.
The Princess shook her head firmly and decisively. It was time for some serious shopping.
“First, the future where I invest time to recover my strength.”
As she felt about a third of her accumulated karma being consumed, she was shocked by the surge of magical power. The sudden appearance of magical power felt so natural.
Truly, the strength of her prime had returned. As if it had always been there.
It was so sudden yet natural that it felt unreal.
“Was I just dreaming that I had weakened? Was the leprosy just a nightmare, and I’ll wake up in bed?”
As her strength returned, her body felt as light as a feather. She picked up a kitchen knife and swung it, and it moved just as she remembered.
She was so shocked that she didn’t even feel joy. She was just dazed. This was truly unbelievable.
“It’s not a lie. It’s really working. I don’t understand the principles or anything, but… the fact that it’s working is what matters. Let’s not think about it anymore.”
Now that she knew this opportunity was real, she needed to carefully choose the remaining branches.
The Princess scrutinized each branch like a meticulous housewife, trying to find the best possibility. Unlike Roka, who went all-in on one, the Princess took her time.
“The possibility where I break through the Master’s realm and create the Dragon Form Technique.”
But as they say, all roads lead to Rome. Her choice wasn’t much different from Roka’s.
She went all-in.
“I’m betting everything on this branch!”
Kyle nodded. The seedling needed his approval to activate.
In that moment, an incomprehensible realization flashed through her mind, and it began to be interpreted and forcibly absorbed. Her body naturally broke through a barrier, and her magical power surged and began to condense. Soon, it took the form of a dragon and roared.
“Wow…”
Both the Princess and Kyle were shocked. The dragon’s roar shook the space where there was no sky or ground. Unlike mages, swordsmen refine their magical power to create Power Techniques.
That’s why martial artists, including knights, can create their own schools without being overshadowed by magic or divine power.
Mastering the method of compressing and exploding magical power to develop Power Techniques earns one the title of Expert. Going further, realizing and embodying one’s own Power Technique makes one a Master.
How long has the Princess lived to have such a subjective understanding of herself and create her own Power Technique? Becoming a Master requires not just talent but also a certain level of experience and years.
But the Phylogenetic Seedling allowed her to surpass all those obstacles and break through the realm. Just thinking about it made her tremble, and her breath grew short. The Princess’s heart pounded.
With this miracle that tramples over effort, even the empire’s soldiers could become a superhuman army. Having confirmed this, there was no way she could let it remain hidden.
Even if I can’t make it mine, I can’t let it fall into someone else’s hands. Even if that’s not the end of her thoughts, the god bestowed the Phylogenetic Seedling upon the Apostle.
Such is the will of the gods. Humans only realize fragments of it after the fact.
The foolish woman, repeating the same mistakes, was captivated by the miracle before her and failed to grasp even a part of its meaning. She was merely enchanted by the seedling’s power.
With this miracle, she thought of gathering the half-collapsed imperial faction.
Since it was Ardein’s fault that things fell apart, it should be Ardein who restores it.
She hasn’t learned nothing from the past. She no longer desires the throne. But she wants to help her father, who suffered because of her. Whoever becomes the next emperor, she doesn’t want their imperial authority to remain as it is now.
“Saint, won’t you come to the capital with me?”
“I’m sorry. There are still many in Larpentia who need the Lord’s divine power.”
“There are many such people in the capital as well. Even a brief visit would be enough. I’ll make sure to compensate you from the imperial treasury, so please come to the capital. I beg of you.”
She not only bowed her head but even knelt to make her request.
Opposing the temple is dangerous, but it’s also necessary.
The Three God Faith has held sway over the continent for too long, and it’s too late to rein them in now. Except for the Heavenly God Aldehir and the Evil God Oberta, most sects have fallen to the point where they can’t even oppose the Three God Faith.
Even though the Three God Faith has established a nation under the name of the Church Country, their foundation is still a religious sect. They can never seize secular power on their own.
If the local nobles, central bureaucrats, and frontier generals hadn’t sided with the Three God Faith, would the imperial authority have fallen to this state?
If they hadn’t all turned on the Princess, even if she had leprosy, Ardein would have at least received minimal treatment.
To exclude them from politics, we need someone with divine power on our side.
If Kyle joins her, it’s entirely possible. We can break the Three God Faith’s influence and force those who sided with the Church Country to step back.
She didn’t want to drag her benefactor Kyle into politics.
But what he had shown was too much.
“I’ll pass through the capital, but I won’t stay long. If that’s alright, would you accompany me to the capital?”
After much deliberation, Kyle made his decision.
But his destination wasn’t the capital; it was far to the north.
The Arctic. Specifically, the Polaris Fortress where Grimudo resides.
The quickest way to find out what the Cycle is, at least for now, seems to be asking the Primal Demon King.
Whether he’ll answer is another matter, but if there’s only one way, we have to try. At least it’s better than sitting at home praying.
The Lord helps those who help themselves.
If Kyle does nothing, the Lord generally does nothing either.
“Of course!”
The Princess nodded happily. What comes later can be thought about later. For now, it was important that this priest was coming to the capital.
What happens next can be thought about later. To receive Kyle’s help and the divine power behind him, she was willing to offer anything.
“Brother. You have to watch from heaven.”
Not as the Princess, but as a woman named Ardein, she bit her lip and muttered.
“The sight of me taking revenge on those who drove you to death.”
Her enemies are strong, but the Phylogenetic Seedling has given her power.
Power that surpasses her prime, power she only dreamed of.
Now, the woman who no longer burns with confidence slowly began to plan.
