After arriving at the Castle of Darkness, Azazul had been unconscious for a week and three days. His physical body could handle the power of darkness to a limited degree… but his dark-red core couldn't support it for long.
Now he sat on his bed, staring at the mirror. His mind was blank, replaying the events with the vermillion-eyed deity over and over again. His life had taken another sudden turn.
Apart from protecting humanity from corrupted guardians and demons of hell… he now had a completely different problem.
"Him."
Azazul knew nothing about this mysterious figure, yet according to the vermillion-eyed deity, he had a soft spot for Azazul—soft enough to forbid the deity from killing him.
"According to his words, 'he' and I have met before… but where? Did he send spies after me? And how did I never notice?"
Azazul rose from the bed, loosened his tied hair, and walked toward the mirror. His jet-black hair had grown even longer during his unconsciousness. He wanted to cut it, but he feared he'd ruin it. He could ask Rin, but… he didn't want to.
"I'm only here for a year. How bad can a year's worth of hair be?"
He set the comb down, got dressed, and left his room with his panther at his side. He chose to leave his sword behind. After being stabbed by it more than a dozen times, he had built up trust issues with the damn weapon.
Stupid reason to leave behind the only deity-killer he had—but he felt safe enough inside the castle.
As he walked, he glanced at his panther.
What if Sally could use the murderous darkflames?
Since his shapeshifter was technically "dead," it had no soul and wouldn't be harmed by the flames. If his shapeshifter could wield them, that would be a huge advantage—only he and his shapeshifter could survive the flames.
I'll experiment later.
He reached a familiar door and stepped inside Sylvia's study. Sylvia and Rin stopped their conversation, both turning toward him. A faint smile touched Sylvia's lips.
"My prince, I've been expecting you. Take a seat."
Azazul sat down, his voice steady.
"Sylvia… they knew we were coming. It looks like we have a traitor in our midst."
"Like I told Rin," Sylvia replied calmly, "we'll find the traitor. Whoever it is, they're careful—they left no trace."
Azazul studied her for a moment.
Damn it… now I have to track down a mole too? Really? Now?
"So," he asked, "who's going to track them down and then… you know… kill them?"
Sylvia smiled faintly.
"Well, isn't it obvious, my prince?"
Here it comes…
"I'll track them down."
YES! Back to experimenting I go—
"But the killing," she continued, "I'll leave to you, my prince."
Damn it. I jinxed it.
"Why me? Can't Rin do it? She's far stronger—core-wise."
"She could," Sylvia said calmly, "and yes, she is stronger. But I'm giving this task to you for a simple reason: because I want you to do it."
In other words—it was an order. And he had agreed to help her with her problems. He had no real choice.
Azazul leaned back, rubbing his face with both hands before sighing.
"Let me know when you find the person responsible."
Sylvia nodded, then turned to Rin.
"So, Rin—what did you want to talk about?"
Azazul listened as Rin said quietly, "I lost contact with the person I trusted with my location. I don't know if she's dead, alive, or being tortured. Either way… they might know where I am. Her silence means nothing against my clan's magic."
Sylvia nodded thoughtfully.
"If your clan is willing to strike, things could get dire. If they find the prince, you know what happens. And if they infiltrated the vale I set over the castle… then yes, I believe the mole and your clan are connected."
Azazul couldn't deny it. He thought the same the moment Rin spoke.
Rin frowned. "So what you're saying is… they're already here?"
Sylvia smiled—smiled—and answered casually:
"Yes."
Azazul stared.
How is she smiling right now?!
"Sylvia," he interrupted, "why are you smiling in the face of death?"
She's insane. She has to be.
Sylvia's tone remained confident.
"Because if they're already among us, they've already seen you. And since neither the demons of hell nor the guardians are charging our front gates, that means the information hasn't left the castle yet."
Azazul frowned.
"It makes sense… but what if they're stalling?"
"They're not," Sylvia replied. "My prince… in a situation like this, I really want you to trust me more."
Azazul slowly nodded.
Sylvia continued, "Rin—your family's progress is impressive. They infiltrated the vale and entered our territory, planning to beat us even with our home advantage. That takes bravery. But they miscalculated one thing:
Once you're inside the vale… you're stuck unless I release it—or you die."
She looked at both of them.
"The enemy's numbers are unknown. This information stays between the three of us. Assume they already know about the prince. I'm giving you two the command to slaughter every traitor you find. Don't worry about damaging the castle—just kill them."
She dismissed them with a wave.
"You two may go. I'll notify you when I have more information."
---
Back in his room, Azazul collapsed onto his bed.
Problem after problem after problem! Can't I rest for a single moment?! I know I was unconscious for a week but STILL.
He groaned.
Fine. Experimenting it is.
He hadn't discovered anything new about his creation magic yet. Instead, he wanted to test whether his shapeshifter had an affinity for darkflames. With battle moments away, a trump card was necessary. He wasn't arrogant enough to think martial arts alone could save him—everyone here outclassed him.
His panther lay on the carpet.
"Hey, Sally."
The panther tilted its head, indifferent.
Azazul considered burning something in his room—then thought better of it.
He'd be the target.
"Use the darkflames," he commanded.
He expected nothing to happen. But to his shock, the shapeshifter spat a small burst of flames at his feet.
Azazul jumped back, eyes wide.
"How—? No, wrong question. How did I NOT think of this earlier?"
He slapped his forehead.
"I'm such an idiot."
But beneath his surprise, he sensed something through his core—his shapeshifter was draining him. When the shapeshifter manifested, it used Azazul's mana to control the flames.
Yet another reason to purify his core. If his core could hold more capacity, he'd have enough mana for both himself and Sally.
It was already a miracle his shapeshifter had gotten so big while he was still only at dark-red.
With a dark-red core, his shapeshifter could use the flames twice. And only if Azazul used them wisely.
It was a trump card—but a one-shot one.
He ordered the shapeshifter back to resting.
Then his eyes drifted to the counter beside his mirror.
"It's time."
He walked over, but instead of the comb… he picked up his sword. It still felt strange touching it after being stabbed by it, a small shiver running down his spine.
He unsheathed it, set the blue-bladed tachi on the counter, then returned to his bed.
Today—he was going to summon the Eye of Darkness again.
Today—he was going to explore the microscopic world.
"This is going to be fun."
If he could master the power of creation, he wouldn't be weak anymore.
Then maybe… he'd finally be strong enough to protect humanity.