Our Krane Kingdom delegation was preparing to leave the capital when a panicked messenger arrived. The messenger requested Prince Erwin to attend an immediate, emergency meeting along with Princess Quina.
The two royals attended the closed-door conference without me. This time, the negotiations were an absolute success. The brutal war between our two nations was officially going to end peacefully, and we were scheduled to depart the very next morning after attending a celebratory farewell banquet.
“But I told you!” Quina shouted at Erwin inside the guest corridor after the meeting concluded.
“I am sorry, Quina, but we cannot take any official action without confirming the facts first,” Erwin replied, trying to calm her down.
Quina was desperately trying to convince Erwin to let her launch a full military investigation into the Crimson Card’s sudden appearance at the western outskirts. But since Erwin had not witnessed the entity himself, and the Blood Tyrant had personally denied any involvement, the official report was sealed. Ruken had claimed that a massive storage of unstable explosives was handled carelessly by the researchers, causing the crater. Quina was not satisfied with the fake excuse, but she had no power to override the treaty.
Meanwhile, I returned to our guest quarters to pack my travel luggage. Resting quietly on top of the wooden desk was a small, unmarked note.
Come to the place where we first met. —Kiro
I stared at the paper. Kiro wanted to meet one last time at the ruined church.
After the royal banquet concluded, I slipped out into the freezing night rain wearing my all-crimson outfit. There was no way to know if the card was actually from Kiro, so I had to be extremely careful.
I silently stepped inside the dark, hollow frame of the ruined church, immediately hiding my presence behind a heavy stone pillar. I had to confirm exactly who had called me to this spot.
“You can come out from behind that pillar, Erik,” Kiro’s deep voice echoed through the empty pews.
I did not move or lower my guard. I didn't know who else was lurking in the shadows, so I remained completely motionless, dressed fully as the Crimson Card.
“You can remove that mask,” a second voice spoke up from the altar. It was Grand Commander Kenon.
“Yes, I want to finally see your real face,” a third voice added.
It was the Blood Tyrant. My jaw tightened behind my mask. What were those three doing sitting together in the ruins?
“Trust them, Erik,” Kiro spoke softly into the dark. “Just like you trusted me.”
Recognizing the sincerity in Kiro's tone, I stepped out. Within a flash of silver mana from my disguise locket, I changed back into the 6'4" blonde frame of Will Gurberr, before dissolving the illusion entirely to reveal my true, fifteen-year-old original form.
“So... you were that clever rookie boy from the diplomatic summit, huh?” Kenon muttered, his eyes widening slightly as he took in my actual age.
“I have questions,” I deadpanned, keeping my hands near my waist.
“Ask,” the Blood Tyrant replied patiently.
“Are we friends, or are we enemies?”
“I see you as a true friend,” Ruken answered without a single second of hesitation.
“Why?”
“ I don’t want to say it but Because you saved me, this entire kingdom, Kiro, and Kenon,” the Tyrant explained, his crimson eyes holding a deep respect. “And now... you are going to destroy the Sacred Soul Church.”
“When did I ever say I was going to do something like that?” I countered.
“The bloody path you are currently walking is the exact path that will destroy them,” Ruken smiled darkly. “It is inevitable.”
I remained quiet for a brief moment before speaking again. “I don't know about that. But if you answer my next question honestly, then I will officially see you as a friend.”
“Ask.”
“Who, and what, is the Angel?”
Ruken sighed, looking up at the broken ceiling. “The only thing I know about it is that it is one of the fourteen Supreme Devils. But unlike the other thirteen, the Angel chooses to actively live on Earth. That is the exact reason why normal humans can forge direct, physical contracts with it.”
“Where is it located right now?” I pressed.
“I don't know,” the Tyrant admitted. “The exact second it handed me my contract fifteen years ago, it disappeared into thin air.”
“I see,” I nodded, shifting the information in my mind. “What do you plan to do with this kingdom now?”
“We will focus on making our kingdom stronger,” Ruken stated firmly. “Then, we will slowly reveal the Sacred Soul’s true identity to the public and take them down together.”
“And how exactly will you become strong?” I questioned coldly. “Your old tactics to manipulate and exploit the weaker kingdoms have completely come to light during the summit.”
Kenon let out a low chuckle. “I always knew that day would arrive eventually. Do not worry, kid. I have already put our backup plans into active motion.”
I turned my gaze toward the grey-skinned veteran. “What will you do, Kiro?”
“I will officially take over as the Grand Commander,” Kiro answered, a look of renewed purpose in his empty eyes. “I will leave all the shadow work completely to Kenon.”
“If you ever find yourself in deep trouble and need our strength, just send us a letter,” the Blood Tyrant spoke up, his deep voice carrying the weight of a king's promise. “We will come running at full speed to help you.”
“A letter will not be fast enough,” I replied. I extended my hand, calling one of Grim’s advanced miniature eagle drones down from the high rafters. I handed the mechanical bird to Kiro. “Take this drone. Through these devices, we can share information and speak face-to-face in real-time. Just input a small current of your magic into it from time to time to keep its core powered.”
Kenon leaned in, examining the intricate, glowing metal wiring of the machine. "Looks like some great craftsman is helping you from the dark."
"Yes," I thought of Grim's grumpy face. "He is great."
"What will you do now, Erik?" Kiro asked.
"Find the Angel, destroy the Nemesis organization, and bring everything hiding in the darkness out into the light," I declared behind my bangs.
Kiro broke into a warm, genuine smile. "It suits you perfectly."
The next morning, the sun rose over the capital gates. Our Krane delegation carriages were fully loaded and ready to move out.
“Erik,” a familiar voice called out from the edge of the guard wall.
I turned my head away from the horses. “Hey, Kiro. Did you actually come out here to see me off?”
“Yes,” Kiro nodded, walking up to the carriage step. “Also... I came to say thank you.”
“Why?”
“If you hadn't tracked me down inside that ruined church a few days ago, I would still be sitting in the dirt, laughing bitterly at my own miserable fate,” Kiro whispered, his eyes looking out toward the horizon with a clear, unbroken light. “But now... because of you... I can finally see a future where I can laugh. Not on my fate.”
“Sir Will, it's time to come!” a Krane vanguard knight shouted from the front line, signaling our departure.
“Take care of yourself, Kiro,” I spoke, climbing onto the wooden seat.
“You take care as well...” Kiro smiled, executing a military salute. “...Crimson Card.”
Ever since the day I turned fifteen this was the first time when I wasn’t misunderstood and was thanked for what I did actually if I think about it now then I am going to miss them even if it was for a short period of time I truly enjoyed my stay in the Blood kingdom
AUTHOR’S NOTE: THE FIRST MAJOR ARC FOR CRIMSON CARD BORN AS A NOBLE LIVED AS A PHANTOM HAS SUCCESSFULLY CAME TO AN END THE SECOND ARC WILL START AFTER TWO WEEKS SO THAT NEW READERS DON’T FEEL OVERWHELMED TO COVER 32 CHAPTERS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU GUYS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE.
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