25-277

EP.277. [Antoine Attempts to Summon the Goddess Through the Demon King.] 

“Antoine de Sel Oblaing?” 

Anastasia spoke with a blank expression, as if about to drop a bombshell. Elizabeth, confident and curious to see what would come from Anastasia, was soon left frozen in shock. The “snake-hearted” one who entered the Demon Eclipse and awakened the Demon God’s Eye was none other than her own father, Antoine de Sel Oblaing. 

“Yes. Your father, Antoine de Sel Oblaing, was the one who opened the Demon God’s Eye at that time.” 

Anastasia confirmed this without any room for doubt, leaving Elizabeth to question whether she had heard correctly. She tried to deny it, recalling that her master had said only Ulysses Schneider entered the Demon Eclipse with her support. If her father had been involved, surely her master would have told her. But even as she protested, Elizabeth realized her own argument was full of contradictions. 

“It’s simple. He entered without Ulysses and without Samantha’s support. The very act of opening the Demon God’s Eye means he was fully prepared. It was a personal, calculated move, unrelated to the Empire.” 

Anastasia, showing no sympathy for Elizabeth’s confusion, explained coldly and matter-of-factly. Antoine had prepared everything himself, acting for personal reasons. 

‘Why… Why would Father open the Demon God’s Eye…? Why would he need the snake-like heart required to do so…?’ 

Elizabeth’s expression shifted to one of reluctant acceptance. The real significance was not just that Antoine entered the Demon Eclipse and opened the Demon God’s Eye, but that he was the “darkness” Drake referred to someone standing in opposition to Eugene. 

“I myself was surprised when he appeared. Unlike Ulysses Schneider, he didn’t have Samantha’s support.” 

Anastasia continued describing what she had witnessed at the time. 

“But when I saw the Demon God’s Eye begin to react, I understood.” 

She suddenly summoned a crystal orb in her right hand. 

“Demonic energy is created by the corrupt hearts of intelligent beings violence, selfishness, perverse lust, and so on. The demon tribe’s violence and lust make them susceptible to demonic energy.” 

Many beings can react to demonic energy, including humans, but only certain ones survive after accepting it those who became the demon tribe. 

“But the demon tribe’s genes have a weakness: their violence and lust are powerful but lack the depth needed for a truly corrupt motive. The Demon God’s Eye requires a motivation with deep abyssal roots.” 

Despite countless ancient projects to open the Demon God’s Eye and summon a demon king, the demon tribe always failed because their motives lacked depth. In contrast, it was always humans rarely, but always humans who succeeded. 

Anastasia looked meaningfully at Elizabeth as she explained. Although many races exist on Gaia, humans, despite being physically weaker, possess desires of unparalleled depth and complexity. This is why humanity, through its boundless ambition, has come to dominate the continent. The Demon God’s Eye responds to such human desires. 

“When I saw Antoine de Sel Oblaing open the Demon God’s Eye, I could sense the depth of his abyss and the preparation he had made to reach it.” 

Just as a key proves itself by opening a door, Antoine’s sudden appearance and his act of opening the Demon God’s Eye convinced Anastasia of his nature. 

“Why… Why would my father open the Demon God’s Eye…?” 

Elizabeth, now forced to accept that her father possessed such a corrupt heart, wanted to know his motive. 

“I can’t know his deepest, most specific motive, but when he connected with the Demon God’s Eye and opened it, I could sense his wish.” 

Anastasia closed her eyes, recalling the moment. When Antoine entered the Demon Eclipse, she could clearly see his energy and general form, but once the sacred Demon God’s Eye activated, her perception became abstract and symbolic. 

“He wished for the descent of the Demon King. And by killing the Demon King, he wanted to resolve the deep-seated wish within himself.” 

Anastasia pieced together the symbolic fragments in her mind and explained her conclusion to Elizabeth. Given the “snake-hearted” way he opened the Demon God’s Eye, this motivation made sense. 

“He wants to summon the goddess, doesn’t he?” 

Elizabeth, with her wide knowledge, interpreted it differently. 

“That’s right. Antoine wishes to use the special talent of the Demon King, born of the Demon God’s grace, to achieve his wish through the descent of the goddess.” 

The Demon King created by opening the Demon God’s Eye is a being made by the Demon God’s intervention. Unlike demon kings born from the demon tribe, this kind of Demon King has a hidden feature: it brings about the descent of the goddess. 

‘The world seeks balance. If the Demon God intervenes, the goddess has grounds to intervene as well! Father wants to use that!’ 

This principle of balance is not officially taught by the Holy See, as it would put the Demon God and the goddess on equal footing. But Elizabeth, a mage and a scholar of black magic, could see right through Antoine’s calculation. 

[Welcome, Imperial Knights, who have come to claim my life…] 

After about ten minutes traversing the underground passage, Victoria’s party finally encountered their quest target, Raonjena. Like an island in a vast chasm, Raonjena stood on a platform surrounded by a bottomless cliff, as if he were the most dangerous prisoner in a subterranean prison. 

“Is that Raonjena, Victoria?” 

Even as sword experts, Victoria’s group found the chasm impossible to cross. Parneze and Vincent were shocked not only by the terrain but also by Raonjena’s appearance: due to the side effects of the elixir, he now looked almost like an ancient demon, with pale purple skin, dark red veins, and wild, mane-like hair. 

“What is your intention? Judging by the structure, if you hadn’t called out, it would have taken us much longer to find you. Did you want us to find you?” 

Victoria, as quest leader, was more interested in Raonjena’s attitude than his appearance. He seemed ready for a confrontation, almost as if he wanted to be found. 

[Let me confirm something. Are you Victoria von Bayern, daughter of Konstantin von Bayern?] 

Raonjena asked an unexpected question. 

“Are you curious about my identity? Why?” 

Victoria tried to cut off his games. 

[You were curious about my intentions. I’m asking to answer that.] 

Raonjena insisted his question was relevant. 

After a moment of silence, Victoria answered, “Yes. I am Victoria von Bayern.” 

With the passage sealed, Raonjena held all the cards, so Victoria confirmed his guess. 

[So it’s true. Heh… Antoine is thorough. He’s trying to eliminate me and fulfill his personal goals at the same time.] 

Raonjena, realizing his suspicion was correct, mocked Antoine. 

[You want to kill me and escape. But it won’t be easy.] 

He continued to address Victoria’s group. 

[But if you accept my proposal, I’ll give you my life and a way out.] 

He then made a mysterious offer. 

“What’s your proposal?” 

Victoria, curious, wanted to know more. 

[Send all the other swordsmen back. If you come here alone when I lower the bridge, I’ll speak with you directly.] 

Raonjena demanded a one-on-one meeting with Victoria. 

“Absurd!” 

“That’s out of the question, Victoria! There’s no reason to accept such an offer!” 

Parneze and Vincent objected, knowing that even weakened by the elixir, Raonjena was still too dangerous for Victoria to face alone. 

“Why should I accept such a ridiculous demand, Raonjena?” 

Victoria was unimpressed. 

At that moment, Raonjena mentioned a keyword Victoria could not ignore. 

“It concerns your mother, Adrienne von Bayern.” 

Her mother, Adrienne, who had died when Victoria was a child.