Chapter 96: Secrets of the SSS-Rank

After that, Kenzo continued his tale, even as Dion grumbled while listening. As it turned out, within Eredor or more accurately, within the Eredor royal bloodline, there existed a legend about the kingdom’s founder, a being of extraordinary power who had slain the Demon King single-handedly when the demons invaded humanity thousands of years ago. The founder had left behind a pledge: if darkness ever sought to conquer the world again, he would return to turn it back and raise a new kingdom above all others. He had also instructed the realm to construct a seal in the heart of the Dark Forest, which legend held to be the center of the world.

Dion began listening intently to Kenzo’s words, though he clearly remained skeptical. Mei, on the other hand, kept shooting glances at him without uttering a single word.

"That very founder was also the one who established the Shadow Hand and served as its first leader in this realm. That is why the Shadow Hand follows his teachings, gathering intelligence and safeguarding the world from behind the scenes," Kenzo added.

"So that’s... the true legend of the Shadow Hand," Mei muttered softly.

"Precisely. That is why the founder established six clans to guard the sacred land beneath the East Land territory, which served as the seat of government when Eredor was first founded," Haruto chimed in to explain.

"Huh... the central seat of the Eredor Kingdom?" Dion asked, thoroughly bewildered.

"Correct. When this kingdom was first established, it was located in the East Land region. That is why the six villages there were tasked with guarding that land, ensuring no one entered—not even citizens of our own realm," Kenzo answered.

"Hmm." Dion stroked his chin, lost in thought. A similar story had cropped up back in Mageford, which ultimate proved to be linked to Xandor according to the subterranean reliefs and the ruins of the modern underground city.

As Dion racked his brain, the frail and emaciated King Kenzo leaned forward. Reaching out with his thin, trembling hands, he grasped Dion’s hands tightly. Dion jolted in surprise, staring at the sickly, middle-aged man before him.

"I beg of you, look after Mei from this day forward. This is the plea of a father, not merely a king fulfilling an ancestral mandate to protect the realm," Kenzo spoke with a gentle, sincere smile, sending Dion’s anxiety through the roof.

"Um... uh... emm... but... I don’t need to hand over a massive tribute or bride price... or buy a house first... or throw a lavish, insanely expensive wedding party... just to ask for Mei’s hand, right?" Dion stammered out, blurting out all his nervous thoughts at once.

"Of course not. As Mei’s father and the King of Eredor, I would be deeply grateful if you accepted Mei as one of your wives. And I assure you, this kingdom will stand firmly behind you both. You won’t ever need to worry about global intelligence, we are masters of that craft. I am certain Mei will be safe at your side... I am doing this for my daughter’s safety in the face of what is to come," Kenzo replied with an intensely solemn expression.

"Um... it feels like... I don’t really have time to think this over, do I?" Dion asked weakly.

Dion darted a glance at Mei and saw her glaring sharply at him. Though she didn’t speak a word, her face plainly read: "What is there to think about? I already told you I’m yours."

Sigh. Dion let out a heavy breath, closed his eyes for a brief moment, and opened them again, fixing a firm glare on Kenzo.

"Fine... I understand," Dion declared clearly.

Beside him, Mei let out a visible sigh of relief. Haruto, whose face had been sour up to this point, now broke into a smile, nodding in satisfaction. But Dion was far from finished.

"Why make this decision right now, though? What is actually going on out there?" Dion asked, his curiosity burning.

The expressions on Kenzo’s and Haruto’s faces changed instantly. The warm relief vanished, replaced in a split second by grim, dark solemnity. Kenzo turned to Haruto and gave a slight nod.

"There is something I must reveal to you," Haruto stated grave.

Haruto proceeded to explain that the Shadow Hand had been tracking Mei’s every move. Because Mei was constantly at Dion’s side, their eyes had been trained on Dion as well. They had witnessed everything that transpired in the capital of Minatheras, including the moment Dion threatened King Theobald with magic capable of swallowing the entire city. They had also seen Dion get injured, watched Gina fire her devastating beam into the palace, and witnessed the death of Rene.

Dion and Mei gasped in shock. Before either of them could react, Haruto pressed on.

"The very next day... I received a report that your friend Rene... was still alive and spotted inside the palace... but his condition was entirely altered... He appeared to be... an undead... or a demon," Haruto revealed.

Gasp!

Dion and Mei flinched violently. Instinctively, their hands laced together beneath the table in silent horror. Haruto continued his report.

"Then, strange anomalies began occurring. The palace guards and staff who should have perished from the Calamity Dragon’s breath rose once more. They were no longer human. Upon receiving that report, I traveled there personally to investigate the situation firsthand, only returning here today," Haruto explained.

"Tell them what you reported to me, Haruto," Kenzo instructed calmly.

"Understood, Your Majesty," Haruto replied.

Haruto detailed how, day by day, the number of undead hiding within the capital multiplied exponentially. When the city of Mageford levitated into the sky and drifted toward the northeast, Haruto grasped what was unfolding. He immediately reported to the king, penned a letter to Mei, and dispatched two of his operatives to await her return alongside Mageford.

After that, Haruto had set out on his journey back home. But en route, he received a desperate update from the Shadow Hand operatives still monitoring the Minatheras capital: almost every single knight in the realm had turned into an undead. After that final message, all communication went completely dark.

"Until today?" Dion pressed.

"Yes... A messenger bird arrived at my estate late this afternoon, right before I met Mei. The message stated that King Theobald had vanished, only to reemerge fully turned into an undead... The letter also mentioned a mysterious woman standing on the shattered balcony of the palace before cutting off mid-sentence, as if left unfinished... It is highly likely my operative was killed, managing only to release the bird moments before meeting his end," Haruto answered grimly.

A heavy silence instantly smothered the room. Dion’s mind raced with endless questions; when he had last confronted King Theobald, the monarch was alive and well, albeit utterly paralyzed with fear at the sight of him and Gina. Mei, however, was visibly trembling—especially after hearing about the woman on the palace balcony. Pale-faced, she turned to Dion and grabbed his arm tightly.

"Dion... could that woman be... the same one Luna and I saw in the palace tower?" Mei whispered, her voice shaking.

"Huh... you mean... the woman who might be a former academy classmate of Cleo, Johan, and Astrid?" Dion asked.

"Yes... exactly... The one holding an SSS-rank who threw the academy into total chaos years before us... The one Cleo said was named... Minerva," Mei answered, shuddering.

"Hmm... it seems you know something about this, Mei. Could you enlighten His Majesty and me?" Haruto requested thoughtfully.

Mei gave a firm nod and recounted everything she and Luna had discovered when infiltrating the king’s private study, an operation originally meant solely to uncover Luna’s true lineage. She described the secret staircase concealed behind the bookshelf, the hidden chamber filled with forbidden magic scrolls, and the figure at the top of the tower whose face remained hidden, but whose voice echoed with terrifying dark magic.

After hearing Mei’s account, Haruto and Kenzo plunged into deep thought. They exchanged hushed, intense remarks for several moments before turning back to Dion and Mei.

"Very well, I see. If that is indeed the case, would it be possible for me to meet Cleo of Lutherias?" Kenzo requested.

"Huh... what does Cleo have to do with any of this?" Dion asked, frowning.

"I am aware that she holds an SSS-rank All-Around Sage classification based on intel from King Alexius... and in this kingdom, there exists an ancient legend regarding the SSS-rank. I wish to question her directly regarding this figure named Minerva, who also possesses an SSS-rank," Kenzo answered.

Dion and Mei stared back in sheer bewilderment. They had never anticipated this crisis dragging Cleo into its center.

"But... why Cleo... Father?" Mei asked hesitantly.

"As I mentioned, there is a legend regarding the SSS-rank carved into the ruins of the East Land, the ancient foundation of our kingdom... The SSS-rank is a classification that has only seven ever existed in this world’s history, and every single one... belonged to the demon race... That rank was held exclusively by the Seven Demon Generals who invaded our world in ancient times," Kenzo revealed.

Gasp!

Dion and Mei shot up from their seats, their faces turning deathly pale as Kenzo’s words sank in.

"Hold on a second... are you trying to say... Cleo is actually... a demon?!" Dion demanded, his entire body tense.

"That is precisely why we must investigate. If the darkness is truly awakening, we must account for every possibility. Forgive us if it seems we are doubting your companion and fiancée, King Dion of the Dark Forest," Haruto responded gravely.

"Are the records detailing this located in the underground ruins of the East Land?" Mei asked.

"They are. But before I grant you permission to venture down there, please bring Cleo here to meet with us first," Kenzo requested.

Dion and Mei locked eyes, their faces drained of all color. This time, Dion knew with absolute certainty that he could not afford to brush off what he had just heard.