Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1044

The Grand Hall was shrouded in darkness.

Though lanterns flickered in various spots, their combined light couldn’t pierce the gloom that clung to the Grand Hall. Instead, it seemed to amplify the eerie atmosphere.

The flickering lanterns cast dancing shadows of the massive stone statues, whether they were demons or something else entirely.

It felt as if unseen spirits were constantly swirling within the Grand Hall, guarding its secrets.

The Grand Hall was also immense.

It could easily accommodate five hundred burly men standing shoulder to shoulder. The distance from the steps below the dais to the Grand Hall’s entrance was considerable, and a crimson carpet stretched across the floor.

The carpet alone seemed to be worth a king’s ransom. Its quality was unparalleled, a masterpiece crafted by a master artisan who had poured their entire life into its creation, a work never to be replicated.

And that wasn’t all.

The lanterns that adorned the Grand Hall, and the paintings on the walls, barely noticeable unless one looked closely, were all extraordinary.

If not for the dark and unsettling atmosphere, it would be no exaggeration to say that this was a space where a nation’s ruler would conduct affairs of state.

And at the far end of the Grand Hall, upon the dais, ‘he’ was present.

“Oh, Evil God.”

Someone spoke, prostrating themselves on the floor just below the steps leading to the high dais.

“Word has arrived from the Fire Demon Clan that the one who called himself the Emperor of that continent has perished.”

The figure on the dais remained silent.

The shadows were particularly deep halfway up the dais, obscuring his upper body.

All that could be seen was that the occupant of the dais was large, adorned in an extravagantly decorated dragon robe, and wore gold rings with embedded jewels on every finger of his right hand, which was not supporting his chin.

“….”

The prostrate figure spoke again.

“Therefore, they seek an answer.”

At that moment, a voice echoed from the dais.

“What answer?”

Bzzzz!

The flames in the numerous lanterns flickered wildly.

As the flames danced, the shadows of the stone statues seemed to writhe even more intensely, as if expressing their joy at the evil god’s voice.

“Whether to remain still, or to mobilize the army and station it at the enemy’s border….”

“Did the Clan Head say this?”

The man prostrating himself, the Evil Lust Emperor Yayul Daeguk, pressed his forehead against the carpet.

“Yes, he did.”

“A truly troublesome matter.”

Though he spoke of trouble, there was a hint of amusement in the voice of the dais’s occupant.

“It is indeed a troublesome matter. Dealing with someone who is merely strong and utterly foolish, that is.”

“….”

“I instructed them not to act rashly until I gave the order, yet they couldn’t wait and asked?”

“May I go and deliver the god’s words myself?”

“Why?”

“….”

“After the unification of the Three Teachings [referring to three major religious or philosophical schools], even the powerful Clan Head of the Demon Clan will be beneath your feet. Why would you go all the way there?”

It was a distant voice. Listening to it, one would feel as if the Three Teachings would be unified by tomorrow.

And that wasn’t all. It was a languid and sticky voice, yet at the same time, it was so clear that once heard, its content would be indelibly imprinted in one’s mind.

“I apologize.”

“Raise your head.”

Yayul Daeguk slowly lifted his body.

In that instant, he felt his eyes were dazzled.

‘A god.’

Behind the dais, which was half in shadow, a halo seemed to slowly materialize.

It was a sight that was hard to believe even when witnessed. It wasn’t just that it looked like it, but Yayul Daeguk actually saw a halo beginning to form behind the dais.

The halo was not blindingly bright.

It wasn’t a halo that was too intense to look at, but a soft, comforting light that spread out gently. The jade-like halo enveloped the shadowed dais, clearly revealing who was the sole existence in all of heaven and earth.

“Daeguk-ah.”

“Yes.”

“In my eyes, it seems the Emperor has not died.”

The Emperor has not died? What did that mean?

“Even if the current Emperor has died, the next, and the next Emperor will always be born. Those barbaric and uneducated children of the continent call the ruler of the world Emperor, or Son of Heaven. Perhaps as long as even one of those children’s lives remains, the title of Emperor will not disappear.”

“….”

“It is comical. Though they are insignificant and weak like insects, it is not right for one person to rule over another. One can govern, but not dominate. Since those children do not know this, the title of Emperor will not die until they gain enlightenment.”

“It is only natural that those impudent and lowly beings do not know of the existence of a god. However, just because it is natural does not mean their sins are forgiven. We, the children of the god, led by me, are always ready to guide the insignificant people of the continent.”

“You are righteous, and you will be able to see the light of the new era by my side.”

“It is nothing but endless glory.”

On Yayul Daeguk’s face, as he once again pressed his forehead against the carpet, was a look of ecstasy.

The face of the great master, called the Evil Lust Emperor, who commanded bizarre and powerful evil kings, was filled with such blind fanaticism.

“However, even if they are insignificant and unruly children, we cannot kill them all. Death in this world is nothing more than an escape. We must show mercy by enlightening them and allowing them to walk the divine land as young servants who serve the god until the end of their lives.”

“If even the insignificant beings know the mercy that the god bestows, they will forever regret their past and serve him.”

“That is why we must handle that continent with care. It is always difficult to hold a fallen leaf without crushing it. I know that you want to cross over to the continent right away and guide the foolish children.”

“I am sorry, and I apologize again.”

“Are you not the children who serve the god most closely? Though you live for the god, how can I be a god if I do not understand your hearts?”

“…!”

“If you truly believe in and follow me, there should be no impatience, but humans are imperfect, and even while knowing and serving the god, they still cast the ghost of doubt in a corner of their hearts.”

“I apologize.”

“I may be strict with my children, but I am not cruel. I will soon open the path of enlightenment, so you shall be the guide for those children who lack faith.”

“I will receive the divine command and strive to ensure that there are no problems in the enlightenment of the evil.”

“Good. I will contact the Fire Demon Clan separately, so you may return now.”

“I receive the divine command.”

Yayul Daeguk, who had risen from his seat, bowed a full nine times and then hurried out of the Grand Hall.

“….”

The occupant of the dais, left alone, opened his eyes.

Ssshhh.

A sound like snakes crawling could be heard from various places in the empty Grand Hall.

A pair of eyes shining in the shadowed darkness were dyed a strange gold color.

They were bright and beautiful, but if one looked at them for a while, they were so imposing and radiant that they brought to mind the piercing eyes of a tiger.

“A god… how ridiculous.”

It was a completely different tone from when he had faced Yayul Daeguk earlier. The timbre was the same, but the tone was relaxed.

“If a god truly existed, would he bother to crawl into the body of a sinful person? In the end, people are nothing more than weak beings who believe what they want to believe.”

If the previous him was like a madman who claimed to be a god, the current him was like a seasoned martial artist who had endured all sorts of hardships.

He was seasoned, but his depth was immense. His voice was endlessly dark and deep, yet it felt bright. It was a worldly voice that was hard to define with any single characteristic.

“Is Red Flame here?”

Swoosh.

A man appeared without a word, a young man who looked to be just past his coming-of-age ceremony.

However, the young man’s aura was unusual. Though his appearance was that of a young man, his energy had the unassuming nature of an experienced man well past middle age.

“Bring the incense burner.”

After a short while.

The young man called Red Flame placed a golden incense burner with nine holes at the bottom of the steps.

“Sprinkle it.”

The young man took out a small pouch from his sleeve.

Opening the pouch and inserting his finger, the young man picked up a strange powder and sprinkled it into the holes of the incense burner.

Whoosh!

A moment later, a cyan flame that blazed up beautifully dyed the Grand Hall.

The flame rose so high that it seemed to touch the ceiling of the Grand Hall. The dark light that illuminated the Grand Hall in various places mysteriously decorated the gloomy space.

The man sitting on the dais spoke in a calm voice.

“Come forth.”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The enlarged flames writhed continuously, and soon began to form the shape of a person.

It was huge, but it was clearly a person. Even though the flames were constantly flickering, it reproduced clear features and even the fluttering of clothing.

A burning cyan youth appeared above the incense burner. The delicate masterpiece drawn by the flames was like a divine skill that was breathtaking to behold.

The occupant of the dais spoke in a blunt voice.

“Couldn’t you wait and had to ask about the advance of the army?”

The flame youth said.

“I had no choice.”

Though it was a flame that was surging as if it would fly away at any moment, the voice of the person created by the flame was low and heavy.

“The movements of the Imperial Palace are unusual. According to intelligence, a powerful minister and a sword immortal have appeared in the Imperial Palace.”

“Since the Emperor has died, it is only natural for them to send powerful forces to block the north, from their perspective.”

“That’s not it. As you said, if the Emperor faked his death, I was thinking that we could use that to deceive the enemy.”

“How do you plan to deceive them?”

“We should advance and see their reaction first.”

“There was no other intelligence?”

“That’s right.”

“So, you have no intelligence, and you don’t know how they will react, so you’re saying you’ll just poke them to see what happens?”

“Is there a problem?”

The occupant of the dais smiled. Only his eyes were visible, but it could be inferred that he was smiling from the slight curve of his eyes.

“Do you want to kill your father that much?”

“….”

“Those martial artists are not fools. Even if you try to deceive them, it’s doubtful whether they’ll be properly deceived, and it will only complicate things. That’s not how you plan strategy and tactics.”

“….”

“Just wait a little longer. Something will happen in the Blood Abyss soon.”

“The Blood Abyss is moving? The Blood Abyss Lord is obsessed with gathering his own power. You can tell just by the fact that he’s trying to attack the Divine Forest. He will never move first.”

“Do you think that those demons will only move if the Blood Abyss Lord moves?”

“…?!”

“You’ve lived long enough. You need to learn to wait patiently instead of being impatient.”

“Don’t tell me you… have you extended your hand there too?”

“The expression ‘extended my hand’ is a bit much. And if you say that, what does that make you? I’ve only joined hands with you, I’m not controlling you.”

“….”

“Don’t worry and just enjoy a woman full of yin energy [a concept in traditional Chinese medicine referring to feminine energy]. A woman who can cool down your hot passion.”

“Don’t treat me like you.”

The flame youth, who spoke as if he was displeased, soon disappeared with a whoosh!

Above the incense burner, white smoke moved heavily.

The occupant of the dais chuckled.

“They are all so young, clumsy, and insignificant. That’s why dealing with kids is both difficult and fun.”