I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

Chapter 37: Illusionary Army (2)

Hyukseong Palace, one of the five castles circling the central Baeksung Palace.

Its master, the third prince, Enoch Agnes, was lost in thought, sitting deeply in his chair, tapping the armrest.

Lergan, the chief of Icarus, stood behind Enoch, who remained silent.

How much time had slipped by?

Just as the sunlight streaming through the window began to shift.

"So, Lergan, do you believe that kid Zion has been messing with dark magic?"

Enoch finally broke the silence.

"Yes."

Lergan gave a nod as though he'd anticipated the question.

"It's more than just dabbling in dark magic; it looks like he's borrowed some serious power from a top-level demon."

"And you're sure of this?"

"Over 90% sure."

Even though he said so, Lergan was completely convinced that Prince Zion had struck a deal with a demon.

"It's common knowledge that Prince Zion, who used to be so weak that he couldn't harm a fly, has suddenly turned so ruthless he doesn't flinch at taking a life. No one sane could change their nature that dramatically."

But there was more.

"The power that Prince Zion's been wielding lately, the dark shadow that always seems to hover nearby, his eerie aura - all those changes are absolutely impossible without meddling with dark magic, or worse, with demons."

And then, the final, damning piece of evidence.

Lergan clearly remembered seeing Zion's eyes turn completely black for a split second a few hours ago as they parted ways outside the castle.

It was over in a flash, but Lergan's keen eyes caught the change.

Lergan knew that it was a tell-tale sign of someone who has made a pact with a demon.

"Do you understand the magnitude of your accusation?"

Enoch spoke with a heavy voice, eyeing Lergan.

Dark magic.

A magic harnessed using mana.

Since mana originated from demons, dark magic was forbidden in the empire.

Merely learning dark magic could be a death sentence, with no regard for social status.

Moreover, directly drawing power from a demon - beyond just learning dark magic - was an even graver matter.

Demons are the nemesis of the Empire and humankind.

Accepting power from such an adversary was tantamount to challenging all of humanity.

And if the one accepting this demonic power wasn't a commoner but a direct blood relative of the ruling Agnes family?

The fallout would be unthinkable.

'The shame that would fall on the entire Agnes family, the likely collapse of royal power, of course...'

But it also offered a valid excuse to officially eliminate Zion.

'Taking down Zion once and for all wouldn't be too bad.'

With him gone, it'd be a breeze to win over Zion's maternal family.

Enoch, having weighed his options, glanced at Lergan and flashed a grin.

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

"Absolutely."

Facing the third prince, Lergan returned a frosty smile.

---

Raei Translations

---

Zion and Liushina's first stop after leaving the Imperial City was a well-known eatery in the capital, Hubris.

"Are you hungry, Master? Should we eat first?"

Liushina asked, her eyes on the restaurant's sign that read "Moonlit Feast". She had seldom seen Zion take pleasure in food.

"I'm not hungry, but there's something I need."

Zion responded and stepped into the restaurant, his face shielded by a cloak.

Moonlit Feast.

This was a covert outpost of the information guild 'Moon's Eye', a place Zion had visited when he needed details about the Black Forest.

Ding!

Were they expecting Zion?

Unlike his previous visit, a waiter approached Zion as soon as the clear bell on the door rang and murmured,

"We've been waiting for you. Please follow me."

"You're not going to throw a knife at me again, right?"

"...That won't happen."

After receiving that answer, Zion quietly followed the waiter, who'd already started to lead the way.

"So, we're not really here to eat."

Liushina, realizing this, clicked her tongue and followed Zion.

Had they kept everything the same?

As they walked through a dimly lit corridor, a large cavern opened up.

And at the heart of the cavern, behind a desk, was a woman with round glasses, radiating a scholarly aura.

It was Aileen, the head of the 'Moon's Eye' guild.

"Prince Zion, it's an honor to meet you."

As soon as Zion entered the cavern, Aileen stood up quickly and bowed respectfully.

"You look just like the last time, but you recognized me this time?"

Zion replied with a chuckle, removing the cloak from his head. No need to wear it now that his identity was known.

"If we didn't know who you were this time, we wouldn't be worth our salt as an information guild."

Aileen answered Zion with a dry smile.

Aileen, or rather 'Moon's Eye', had dug up a lot about Zion after discovering his identity.

That's why they were up to speed with Zion's past activities, recent actions, and even his movements.

For this reason, the guild broke its unspoken rule of staying clear of the Imperial City, expending a considerable amount of resources, but Aileen had no regrets.

'Because it's worthwhile.'

The disregarded prince, the forsaken pureblood, the disgrace of the Agnes family.

Every one of those titles had once been attached to Prince Zion, but Aileen didn't buy into the world's judgement of him.

The Zion Agnes she had observed was too different from those labels.

'If those assessments were accurate, then Prince Zion must have been fooling the world all along.'

His recent conduct, in fact, aligned more with the Zion Agnes she had seen.

Had he decided to drop his facade and reveal his true self?

"May I ask why you've come this time?"

Pushing aside those thoughts, Aileen turned her attention back to Zion.

"Isn't there only one reason anyone comes here?"

"I understand you're seeking information, but what you're after is crucial. If it concerns the 'Phantom Legion', we can't be of assistance. We have no handle on them."

The Phantom Legion of Cronos.

This was one of the seven catastrophes Prince Zion, who stood before her now, had pledged to confront. It was more elusive and challenging to deal with than any other catastrophe.

While other catastrophes had identifiable locations, this one had no discernible origin.

Its cause, pattern, and identity remained mysterious.

A legion that materialized without warning in an Empire province, exterminated all life within a city, then vanished as though it was a mere illusion.

So, people christened this legion the Ghost Legion, or the Phantom Legion.

To be honest, Aileen couldn't fathom why Zion had chosen to tackle the Phantom Legion.

There were many other equally formidable but more solvable catastrophes.

"I'm already aware of that."

Zion inclined his head towards Aileen in response.

Zion already knew where the Phantom Legion would strike next.

Moreover, he was aware of the cause and origin of the Phantom Legion's emergence.

A myth-tier relic tied to the ancient god, Cronos.

The Phantom Legion was an event triggered by such a relic, and Zion's target was that very relic.

'The heroes were supposed to resolve it later, and the hero would obtain the relic…'

Zion had no intention of handing over that relic to any hero.

"Huh? You know? What do you mean...."

As Aileen, looking startled, questioned Zion's unforeseen statement.

"I'd like you to investigate something different."

Zion switched topics and presented her with a sheet of paper.

"Learn everything you can about the people on this list by the time I return to the Imperial City. Even the smallest details."

"This is...."

Aileen's eyes flickered as she read the names penned on the list handed over by Zion.

The Light Star Council, the body holding the most power in the Empire, second only to the Emperor.

The list was densely packed with the names of the members of such a council.

"You're not planning to make a hit list, are you?"

"Well..."

To Aileen's question, Zion merely offered a cryptic smile.

Though he had already assigned this task to the Shadow of Eternity, Zion believed in the necessity of information cross-verification from various sources.

'More information is always preferable.'

Aileen, studying the list and Zion alternately, seemed to mull over something for a while. Eventually, she appeared to come to a decision, slowly nodding her head.

"…Very well."

As Zion, who seemed to have concluded his affairs, rose from his seat, he seemed to remember something and glanced back at Aileen.

"By the way, who was the informant you assigned to me last time?"

"Do you mean Nari?"

"Yes, assign her again this time. I might need to place additional requests."

"Understood. By the way, did your venture into the Black Forest go well?"

Aileen, curious, questioned Zion.

Despite the entire Black Forest vanishing overnight, it was a mysterious event about which she knew nothing.

Aileen was aware that Zion was involved in the incident.

Because he was one of two survivors who had entered and exited the forest.

She couldn't help but be curious, guessing at the identity of the entity sealed within the forest.

"Yes, thanks to you."

Zion nonchalantly nodded in response to the question.

With that, Zion's gaze momentarily drifted to Liushina.

Aileen, following his gaze to look at Liushina,

"……!"

Her eyes began to widen as if she had realized something, ultimately filling with shock.

"Are we leaving now?"

The woman who had been idly yawning by Prince Zion's side.

Aileen knew who she was.

The woman with red eyes who had been in Zion's company since his return to the Imperial City not long ago.

The power that woman was unmistakably wielding was blood magic.

'Could it be... The Thousand-Year Witch isn't dead...'

A shiver coursed through Aileen's body.

At that moment, Aileen saw it.

Zion, his finger already on his lips, smiling at her.

---

Raei Translations

---

"Miss, why did you accept that request?"

After Zion and Liushina exited the basement, the mustached employee, Allen, asked Aileen who stood by his side.

His eyes were brimming with doubt.

The request that Prince Zion had placed a little while ago was essentially asking the Eye of the Moon to work for him.

This was incompatible with the Eye of the Moon's policy of maintaining neutrality amid the contests for the throne and power struggles. It should have been a request to decline.

"Prince Zion was testing us just now."

Aileen began to speak in a grave tone.

"He was assessing whether we would serve him or refuse."

What would have transpired if they had declined outright?

While envisioning Zion's eerie gaze, Aileen shook her head to dismiss that thought.

"The Emperor's end is close. With his passing, the true chaos will commence, and we must adapt to survive."

So far, they had maintained a stance of neutrality, but the certainty of maintaining this position following the Emperor's death was uncertain.

Given that the 'Eye of the Moon' was among the Empire's leading information guilds, numerous factions would invariably strive to rope them in, as had happened today.

"We already have connections with the royal family; it might be wise to firmly pledge our allegiance now."

"…If that is your wish, Miss, I will comply. However, why select Prince Zion? There are many other noteworthy members of the royal family."

Indeed.

Regardless of Prince Zion's recent prominence, he was essentially a novice compared to other royal family members.

His origins were far too different.

"It's a gut feeling."

Without an ounce of hesitation, Aileen replied to Allen's question.

"Until now, no one has provoked such a response in me."

Moreover, if the woman accompanying Prince Zion was indeed who she suspected, Zion's influence was unfathomable.

"But I plan to observe how this catastrophe unfolds."

The phantom army.

This worst-case scenario, universally deemed impossible, was one Aileen herself found improbable to resolve, even with her knowledge of Zion's true identity.

Could Prince Zion defy the world's judgement yet again?

'It seems unlikely, yet, if he manages to rectify even this...'

A sense of unfounded anticipation gradually surfaced in Aileen's eyes as she considered the possibility.

***

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