The Holy Tower, the Royal Capital of the Human Central Empire.

In this era, it's considered the "center of the world."

It's the core of humanity's economy, politics, culture, transportation, and technology.

Within the city of the Holy Tower, there once stood a coliseum.

The "Coughing Blood Beast Fighting Arena."

This coliseum was once renowned far and wide, with the blood of countless people and beasts spilled inside, becoming a tool for the amusement of the nobility. Sin and blood were the symbols of this coliseum—during the campaign against the Demon King, the Hero's party eradicated the coliseum's sins, and the Wise King renovated it, now transforming it into a theater to praise human civilization.

Named the "Singer Theater."

The theater business was quite booming, yet it is completely closed today, and inside the theater, a meeting is taking place.

The host of the meeting, the original Hero's team Priest, the Saintess Charlette.

Attendees:

The original Hero's team Mage, now Wise Adriana, commonly known as Anna.

The original Hero's team Alchemist, now Miracle Source Adeline.

The original Hero's team Curse Master, now Song of the End "Hidden Nephilim."

These are the main participants. Besides them, there are many of their followers, as well as numerous mid-level officers of the newly formed Demon King Crusader Corps, also known as the Holy Legion.

Saintess Charlette raised her pair of alchemy arms high, without hesitation revealing to everyone present the violence she had suffered: "The new Hero has fallen, and the old Hero has colluded with the Demon King who should have been extinguished. We have reason to believe that the revival of the Demon King is not unrelated to the old Hero A·Gedora! He has long since fallen!"

The mid-level officers present all had solemn expressions; in this era, more than a decade after the Demon King was vanquished, everyone sitting here, participating in this meeting, had directly battled against the Demon King's army, aware of the Demon King and familiar with the power of the old Hero A·Gedora.

They well knew what kind of power these two possessed, and what consequences their union might bring.

However, the members of the original Hero's team did not appear nervous.

Wise Adriana, with her beautiful long gray hair, wore round glasses that made her appear cultured and refined: "Charlette, we didn't come here today to see you wallow in misery. I still need to suppress the Demon King's horns. I hope you can quickly get to the main point. If the Demon King becomes aware of such a meeting, it would be catastrophic if he took advantage of the situation. Those are the horns presiding over both creation and destruction."

"Adriana, what's the point of saying that? At this stage, what good does your provocation do? You should be hoping the Demon King finds his way over, right?"

This woman, standing at the pinnacle of magic and bearing the title of "strongest" in the Magic Domain, had likely long awaited the Demon King's arrival over the passing decade. The Demon King... rumor had it this title originally meant "King of Magic." This theory came from Dwarf research into certain relics, suggesting it was a forgotten remnant of history. However, only the Demon King himself might know if it's true; even the longest-living Elf knew not all histories.

In this world, the truly ancient beings are only the Demon King and the gods.

Without a doubt, Adriana had set up an inescapable trap at the place where the Demon King's horns were suppressed. Compared to the "guardianship" elsewhere, this Wise Person must be hoping for the Demon King's arrival. She probably believed that her current magical prowess had already surpassed the Demon King's.

Charlette couldn't help but recall the scene of breaking the seal in the church using the Blinding Flower, a material that's not all that rare. She didn't think Adriana had reached such a level, even though it had actually been some years since they last met.

"In this allied military action, in the name of the White Church's Saintess, I bring the Central Empire's Wise King's decree, requesting the Mage Union leader, Wise Adriana, to provide ten thousand intermediate or higher level mages as an auxiliary corps to join the Holy Legion. Together, let us fulfill the mission of defeating the old Hero and the resurrected Demon King!"

"Ten thousand!"

Adriana couldn't help but retort: "Do you think intermediate and higher-level mages are as common as cabbages? The Mage Union is not a legion nor your church! We are an assembly of magic enthusiasts! A group gathered to protect the interests of mages! As the guild leader, I don't even have such authority!"

"That's a matter for your Mage Union!" Charlette's attitude was stronger than expected, "Regardless of the methods you employ, the Mage Union, as the world's largest guild, must contribute to this world. Otherwise, the White Church and the Human Central Empire will unite with the two major races to sanction the Mage Union!"

"You!"

Adriana met Charlette's gaze and suddenly seemed deflated: "Fine, I will get it done."

She had already understood the essence of this "meeting."

This is not a discussion on how to defeat the Demon King and Hero, but an announcement—an announcement about the power of the White Church and the Human Central Empire's meeting... The true purpose of Charlette and that Wise King is not to defeat the Demon King and Hero; that is merely an excuse. Over the years following the war, they feel that they have accumulated enough.

To redefine the order after this war against the Demon King! The Human Central Empire and the White Church believe they have fully digested the "legacy" of the Demon King!

Therefore, this is a command, a ruling, but certainly not a negotiation.

Just as the Wise Person imagined.

"Miracle Source Adeline!" Charlette looked at another woman. This person held a massive staff that could be used for combat and appears to be a magic staff but is actually an entirely different Alchemy Staff. She appeared petite but possessed abundant knowledge, capable of creating "miracles" as an alchemist.

"Ah! Yes!"

Suddenly called by Charlette, this Miracle Source was clearly a bit at a loss, having already sensed the odd atmosphere of the meeting but not yet prepared mentally.

"I also issue a notice from the White Church and the Human Central Empire to the Alchemist Association, requiring your side to unconditionally supply all the alchemy items needed to defeat the Demon King to the allied forces!"

"But! Miss Charlette! Isn't unconditional a bit..."

"We will send experts to audit! To avoid any corruption within, you are contributing to the human endeavor! Do you have any more questions?"

Adeline opened her mouth instinctively looking towards Wise Adriana, only to see the latter slightly shake her head.

"Yes, the Alchemist Association complies with the orders of the White Church and the Human Central Empire."

Charlette nodded with satisfaction, she then looked at the last woman present, the Song of the End, "Hidden Nephilim."

This woman had a head of eerie purple long hair; she appeared noble and mysterious, and was the most troublesome person—Charlette first pressured the other two to express their stance to put pressure on this woman: "Hidden Nephilim, the White Church and the Human Central Empire also have directives for you, requiring... "

"Stop, Charlette, I don't want to hear it."

The woman's icy voice echoed in the theater's center: "The power of Divine Art restrains curses; you have naturally no reverence towards me now after furthering yourself in Divine Art, but—should you be aware, curse masters and the church have never been of one mind, we will not comply with the church. In the past, when defeating the Demon King, the three major races made a pact, only then did we cooperate. Now, does the church dare order us? What does that mean? The Human Central Empire, the White Church, truly think they are invincible in the world? Want to become the next Demon King?"

A group of intermediate leaders hearing these words wished to block their ears; curse masters and the Church not getting along was naturally expected, before the Demon King was defeated, people once believed curses belonged to the Demon Race's power, that humans using curses were life forms and traitors to the Demon King's side.

In fact, most of those using curses lived and grew in the "Demon King's Domain" as lifeforms. They used to be enemies to the human coalition forces.

Only after certain events did this group "switch sides" and truly form the allied forces. Prior to that, the church and those using curses were the two most antagonistic groups.

The opposition was not unexpected to Charlette, her eyes narrowing slightly: "We are also challenging the Demon King."

"The Demon King merely regained the left hand, even if powerful, how strong can he be? Or are you referring to the old Hero? My curse is still on him—how powerful can he be? Is this operation truly meant to defeat the Demon King and old Hero? Isn't it really just to eliminate us?"

Hidden Nephilim.

Corresponding to the high-ranking members of the church with the name "White." Those with the name "Hidden" are among the strong curse masters; in recent years, it was said this name was bestowed to the curse masters by the former Demon King... The curse masters did not refute it.

"What you mean is, you do not wish to cooperate?" Charlette showed no intention to debate or explain with Hidden Nephilim, "Over the years, the church frequently received notices of the crimes committed by the curse masters. All have factual evidence, need me to hand these over to you to take a look?"

Hidden Nephilim's gaze sharpened: "What do you mean?"

"I mean, if you feel our actions as such are to eliminate you. Then you might not cooperate. I don't compel you."

Hidden Nephilim fell silent, not afraid of Charlette arguing, just afraid of her indifference.

The church and the Human Central Empire had grown powerful to such an extent, that they truly do not mind confronting the entire curse master community? Knowing this constitutes the most troublesome power...

Not participating in the action means the church and the Wise King truly intend to act against the curse masters.

"...We will send people to follow the allied forces."

"That would be best."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.