Chapter 532: The Deathless King's True Goal

Sylphy hovered beside Proserpine’s shoulder, nervously twisting her fingers together. Her earlier arrogance had almost entirely disappeared, replaced by a hesitation that seemed strangely out of place for someone who had spent the past several minutes provoking Adam and Azrynn.

Azrynn stood up from her chair.

“Then tell me. Why are the old spirits afraid of my people?”

Sylphy glanced at her, then quickly looked away.

“I already said I don’t know what happened to your race! I wasn’t alive back then!”

“How old are you?”

“That’s rude!”

Adam nearly choked on his tea.

She’s willing to call an entire race cursed, but asking her age is where she draws the line?

Proserpine sighed softly.

“Sylphy, please. You don’t need to hide what you know. No one is asking you to explain something beyond your understanding.”

“But, Sephy….”

The little spirit lowered her head.

After a moment, she finally spoke.

“I heard it from the elders. They said the Dark Elves carry something that shouldn’t exist in this world. Something that can contaminate the flow of mana and even affect spirits who get too close to them.”

Azrynn’s expression stiffened.

“Contaminate mana? I’ve lived among my people my entire life, and nothing like that has ever happened to us.”

“How would you know?” Sylphy retorted, though her voice lacked its previous confidence. “The elders said the effects aren’t always visible. Sometimes, the corruption takes a long time to appear.”

“That’s enough,” Proserpine interrupted.

Her voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet Sylphy immediately fell silent.

“The words of the elders should not be treated as absolute truth, especially when even they cannot explain the origin of this supposed curse.”

Sylphy pouted but didn’t argue further.

Proserpine turned toward Azrynn.

“I apologize. It was wrong of me to allow this conversation to become more distressing without first explaining the uncertainty surrounding these claims.”

Azrynn shook her head.

“You don’t need to apologize. I came here because I wanted answers, and I won’t find them if I refuse to hear unpleasant things.”

Nevertheless, Adam noticed that her hands were trembling slightly.

He couldn’t blame her. Learning that the outside world had regarded her people as extinct was already difficult enough. Now she was being told that some spirits considered her entire race a source of corruption.

And the worst part was that nobody seemed capable of explaining why.

Adam rested his chin against one hand.

“Let’s examine this logically. If the Dark Elves really possessed some kind of corruption that could harm spirits, wouldn’t there be clear evidence of it? You mentioned that some spirits became hostile when they approached Dark Elves. Did any of those spirits actually suffer permanent damage?”

Proserpine considered the question.

“Not according to the records I have seen. Some experienced temporary disturbances in their mana circulation, while others suffered from disorientation. However, there were no confirmed cases of permanent damage caused solely by contact with a Dark Elf.”

Adam raised an eyebrow.

“So the spirits became frightened because they experienced strange symptoms, but no one proved that the Dark Elves were responsible.”

“That is correct.”

“Then calling them cursed seems rather premature.”

“Perhaps. But you must understand that spirits are deeply connected to mana. Even a minor disturbance can be alarming to those who have never experienced it before.”

Adam nodded slightly.

He could understand that much. A creature that relied on mana to sustain its existence would naturally be wary of anything that interfered with its energy. Still, fear wasn’t proof of guilt.

He glanced at Sylphy.

“Tell me something. Have you ever experienced this supposed corruption yourself?”

Sylphy’s wings twitched.

“…No.”

“Have you ever seen a Dark Elf harm a spirit?”

“No.”

“Then why were you so hostile toward Azrynn?”

The little spirit puffed out her cheeks.

“Because the elders told us to stay away from Dark Elves!”

“Ah. So you were following orders without understanding them.”

“I’m not stupid!”

“I didn’t say you were stupid. I said you were following orders without understanding them.”

“That’s even worse!”

Sylphy glared at him so fiercely that her tiny body seemed to tremble with indignation. Azrynn, despite her troubled mood, couldn’t help letting out a quiet laugh.

The little spirit immediately turned toward her.

“What’s so funny?!”

“Nothing,” Azrynn replied, covering her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re definitely laughing at me!”

Sylphy darted toward her, only to stop when Proserpine calmly raised a finger.

“Sylphy.”

The little spirit froze midair.

“…Yes, Sephy?”

“Please sit down.”

“But I-“

“Now.”

Sylphy reluctantly flew toward the table and settled on the edge of an empty teacup, crossing her arms with a disgruntled expression.

Adam watched Sylphy sulk on the edge of her teacup for a moment before sticking out his tongue at her.

The little spirit’s eyes widened.

“YOU!”

She shot toward him, her tiny fists clenched and her wings beating furiously.

Adam calmly took another sip of tea.

“What? Is something wrong? I thought you liked sticking your tongue out at people.”

“YOU’RE THE WORST!”

“That’s a rather harsh judgment coming from someone who just admitted to calling an entire race cursed without knowing anything about them.”

Sylphy’s face turned red.

“Sephy! Make him stop!”

Proserpine merely smiled as she lifted her teacup.

“I’m afraid Adam hasn’t done anything that warrants punishment.”

“BUT HE’S MOCKING ME!”

“Then perhaps you should stop giving him opportunities to do so.”

Sylphy stared at her queen in disbelief, apparently betrayed by the very person she had expected to defend her. Adam couldn’t help chuckling at the sight.

‘This little thing is surprisingly entertaining.’

However, he eventually decided to stop teasing her and turned his attention back to Proserpine.

“Putting that aside, there’s something else I’d like to ask. You mentioned that the Deathless King attacked the World Tree to obtain its energy. But from what I’ve heard, his forces have been targeting Melium as well. At first, I assumed he was simply trying to conquer the kingdom or seize its resources. However, I’m starting to think there’s more to it than that.”

Proserpine lowered her teacup.

“You’re right to be suspicious. The Deathless King has existed for a very long time, and his ambitions have never been limited to the conquest of a single territory.”

“Then what does he actually want?”

“That is difficult to say with certainty. However, if I were to make an educated guess, I would say he is searching for a way to obtain a new life… or perhaps to resurrect himself in a form that transcends his current existence.”

Adam gave her a questioning look.

“Resurrect himself? Isn’t he already undead?”

“Being undead is not the same as being truly alive.”

Proserpine’s answer was immediate.

“An undead creature can possess intelligence, retain memories, and even grow stronger through the accumulation of mana. Yet that does not necessarily mean it can restore what it has lost. Depending on the nature of its existence, it may be unable to experience life as it once did, or it may be bound by limitations that ordinary living beings do not share.”

She paused briefly.

“The Deathless King may have reached a point where ordinary methods of strengthening himself are no longer sufficient. If so, he would need something capable of fundamentally altering the nature of his existence.”

Adam settled into a more comfortable position.

“So he wants to overcome the limitations of being undead.”

“That is one possibility. Another is that he wishes to return to life in its entirety, rather than remain an existence that merely imitates it. I cannot tell you which is correct, but his actions suggest that he is searching for something far more significant than simple power.”

Adam rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

That would explain why the Deathless King had gone to such lengths to obtain the World Tree’s energy. If his objective involved changing the very nature of his existence, then an ordinary source of mana would probably be insufficient.

But there was still something he didn’t understand.

“Then why Melium? What does that kingdom have that could help him accomplish something like that?”

Proserpine looked at him for a moment before answering.

“Have you ever heard of Chaos Magic?”

Adam frowned, puzzled.

“No. Is it some kind of forbidden magic?”

“Not exactly. Although, depending on how it is used, it could certainly be considered forbidden.”

The queen laid her palms flat on the table.

“Chaos Magic is an extremely advanced form of magic. Unlike conventional magic, which generally manipulates existing elements or channels mana to produce specific effects, Chaos Magic can interfere with the fundamental principles governing the world itself.”

Adam’s expression grew more serious.

“Such as?”

“Cause and effect. The relationship between life and death. The boundaries separating different states of existence. Under the right conditions, Chaos Magic can distort or destroy these principles on a tremendous scale.”

For once, Adam didn’t immediately respond with a joke.

He understood enough about magic to recognize how terrifying that sounded. Ordinary magic could destroy cities, reshape terrain, or kill powerful monsters. But magic capable of interfering with cause and effect was an entirely different matter.

“You’re saying it can alter the laws governing reality?”

“In a limited sense, yes. However, it is not omnipotent. Chaos Magic is extraordinarily difficult to control, and its effects depend on the user’s understanding, mana capacity, and ability to withstand the consequences. Attempting to manipulate something as fundamental as life and death without sufficient mastery could result in catastrophic backlash.”

“That sounds like the sort of power someone would pursue if they wanted to resurrect themselves.”

“Precisely.”

Proserpine nodded.

“If the Deathless King wishes to regain a true living existence, Chaos Magic might provide a means of overcoming the boundaries that prevent him from doing so. Alternatively, he may intend to use it to create an entirely new form of existence, one that is no longer constrained by the weaknesses of his current body.”

Adam’s gaze sharpened.

“And Melium possesses something related to that magic?”

“Not exactly. Melium’s royal family possesses a unique magical talent known as Crimson Magic.”

Adam waited for her to continue.

“Crimson Magic is an extremely rare talent associated with the power of life. Those who inherit it possess an unusually strong affinity for life energy, allowing them to perceive and manipulate aspects of vitality that ordinary mages cannot easily access. Under certain conditions, this affinity may even allow them to influence the boundary between life and death.”

Adam tapped his fingers restlessly on the table.

“That explains why the royal family is involved, but why would the Deathless King need their bloodline specifically?”

“Because Crimson Magic comes with an unusual characteristic. Although it grants its wielder an extraordinary affinity for life, it also places a burden on the body. The stronger the talent manifests, the greater the strain it can impose on the wielder’s lifespan.”

Adam frowned.

“Wait. You’re telling me that the royal family has a talent connected to life, but using it can shorten their lives?”

“That is one of its greatest contradictions. Crimson Magic allows its users to interact with life energy at a level most people cannot reach, but the body must bear the consequences. Its precise effects vary between individuals, and not every member of the royal family suffers to the same degree. Nevertheless, the risk is real.”

Adam shook his head slightly.

‘What a terrible deal. A powerful magical talent in exchange for the very thing it specializes in manipulating.’

“Then the Deathless King wants their blood because of their affinity for life?”

“That is my theory. If he can exploit the unique properties of Crimson Magic, he may be able to use it as a foundation for his research into Chaos Magic. The royal bloodline could provide him with a means of interacting with life energy that would otherwise be inaccessible to him.”

Proserpine’s expression turned icy.

“Imagine an existence that has already surpassed the natural limits of death gaining access to a power that allows it to manipulate life itself. If the Deathless King could combine those two things, he might be able to accomplish what he has failed to achieve for centuries.”

“Which would be resurrection,” Adam concluded.