Chapter 741: Chaos

It was an ordinary day as usual.

Though, the holy power had disappeared from the world, dark sorcerers were running amok, apocalyptic rumors were spreading, and even the Queen had fallen.

The world still went on, somewhat normal.

Even in a chaotic world, there’s a certain inertia. It was like some kind of natural phenomenon.

Much like the dull skies of Seland… though, today they seemed particularly gloomier. Still, it was an ordinary day.

Then, it happened.

Zzzzzzt—!

A sound tore through the ordinary day, utterly shattering the word ‘ordinary.’ It came from the radio.

A displeasing signal that swallowed the usual broadcast—an ominous warning, signaling some unwelcome truth.

“……”

Astonishing as it was, as soon as that sound echoed, an eerie, suffocating silence fell over the entire capital of the kingdom. It was as if all voices were suddenly snatched away.

This was nothing short of a trauma for the people.

A type of scar left behind by unforgettable experiences.

And it wasn’t wrong.

Zzzzzzt—! That sound came again from the radio, followed by an unknown voice that started to speak, sharing news no one had asked for but couldn’t ignore.

[What you’re about to hear is the truth. Right now, Crown Prince Edward is conspiring with dark sorcerers to sacrifice the entire capital for his eternal life, wealth, and glory. Let me repeat—all of this is true…]

It was an exposure of Crown Prince Edward X and the Puppet, plotting to perform some kind of ritual.

It was eerily similar to the conversation leaked between Brigadier General Billy of the Royal Army and Woodsman Dave, transmitted to the entire United Kingdom just days before.

Coincidentally, this news appeared to be an extension of that very conversation. The problem was that the details were far more horrifying.

No longer vague accusations of an alliance. This was a concrete and dangerous revelation—plans to sacrifice the entire capital as part of some nefarious scheme.

“Wh-What the hell…?”

“Who’s behind this prank again?”

“Where are the police?”

“Seriously… with the Queen still sick, and now this…”

The public reaction was almost identical to before.

The capital, being loyal to the Royal Family, dismissed it swiftly as nonsense.

There were a few who worried, but most didn’t think so.

After all, this was a stronghold of Royal Family support, and with the Queen ailing, siding with such slander was seen as not only shameful but deeply disloyal.

At a time when respect for the Queen was paramount, getting swept up in such rumors was disgraceful for any Knight faithful to Her Majesty.

Thus, most made up their minds to ignore it.

Or, to be more accurate, they tried to.

But they couldn’t.

Because the truth became harder to ignore.

[I know it’s hard to believe, but what I’m saying is indeed the truth. The filthy alliance between the Puppet and the Crown Prince… It’s real. They regularly meet at a place known as the Patriot’s Club…]

The voice claiming collusion between the Puppet and Crown Prince didn’t end with mere accusations.

It spewed out specific details—locations, times, connections—everything down to unsettling particulars.

It was impossible to ignore, even for those trying to dismiss it.

The final nail in the coffin came through inescapably with what followed from the radio.

[Crown Prince Edward plans to sacrifice the capital and its citizens to secure eternal life, youth, wealth, and power… Citizens, believe me! The Prince’s plan has already begun! First, he’s using orphans and prostitutes to set fires all across the city-]

“-AIEEE!!”

The panicked cry from the radio was drowned out by another scream.

“-Fire! Fire’s broken out!”

Fires had erupted sporadically all over the capital.

“Someone, bring water! Contact the firefighters!”

“The flames are out of control!”

“Who could’ve done this?! Who…?!!”

An elderly man screamed into the air, watching a building go up in flames.

His assessment was extremely accurate.

The fires, which had started simultaneously as the radio broadcast, seemed less natural and more like a coordinated attack.

Coordinated… which meant someone was behind it. The question was, who.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, the answer soon became clear.

It came from the tip of a young man’s finger.

“Over there! It’s them! Those kids started the fires! The rumors are true—the Prince is using orphans to burn the city!”

With that accusation, the crowd, caught in a storm of doubt, anxiety, confusion, worry, and fear, suddenly ignited in fury.

Then they charged towards the orphans, who were presumed to be the arsonists.

In almost all locations where fires had begun.

Like flames spreading, the people’s outrage and hatred erupted across the city, filling the capital’s heart faster than the fires themselves.

No one noticed that the capital’s sky was growing even gloomier because of it.

***

“What a mess.”

“Indeed.”

Deep, deep underground, at the center of the United Kingdom’s capital.

Puppet and Lilith sat across from each other with a long table between them, sharing a brief conversation.

Lilith was using the body of Gretel, the most powerful and beautiful Zombie Puppet Puppet had ever created.

Puppet, on the other hand, was using a Zombie Puppet with gray, thinning hair and a mustache—an old man’s body that, after the battle with Oliver, appeared frail and weak.

Lilith placed her hand on the puppet’s shoulder, showing Puppet the state of the capital above.

The chaos triggered by the radio broadcast, the sight of orphans setting fires.

Scenes of utter pandemonium, as the people were consumed by their anger and confusion.

It might have seemed sudden. But it really wasn’t.

Though inertia made the days appear normal, cracks had already begun to form.

The people had anxiously ignored them, too scared to address what they couldn’t control.

Those cracks could spread any time, and with the right push, ordinary life could shatter completely. It could all be broken too easily.

“Placing Zombie Puppets among the orphans and using them to start fires was a surprisingly effective move. To think they’d try to kill every orphan. I must say, it was quite an efficient method.”

Lilith forced conversation with Puppet, who had been silent, whether due to fatigue or injury.

“But why orphans, of all people?”

“…Because they’re weak.”

“Huh?”

“I said, because they’re weak,” Puppet answered in a terribly frail, cracked voice, as though on the verge of death.

Lilith wondered if it was the nature of Zombie Puppets or simply the state of Puppet himself.

“Humans are clever creatures. Even when they’re angry, they choose a target they can safely vent their rage on. What matters isn’t whether the target is truly deserving, but whether venting on them is safe.”

“So they’re going mad over orphans?”

“Exactly… Orphans are weak, without anyone to defend them, and most people already see them as filthy beggars or thieves—perfect scapegoats both physically and emotionally… Does it bother you?”

Puppet asked, sensing something in Lilith’s reply.

Whether she was troubled by the current situation—of using innocent orphans as kindling for their chaos.

Lilith didn’t answer right away, and Puppet interpreted her silence as an answer, offering something like an apology.

“I hope you can understand. Before we begin the ritual, the heart of this sin must be properly heated. In my experience, this is the most reliable method.”

Lilith finally spoke.

“I don’t really get what you mean, but I’m not particularly bothered.”

Puppet turned his head slightly before returning his gaze forward.

“Then that’s fine… Could you let go for a moment? A guest has arrived.”

Just as Puppet suggested, a loud noise echoed from the entrance of the deep underground chamber.

“Sssiiiickkk!”

It was a curse. A shout.

The type of scream an entitled child, who believes the world revolves around him, would make.

As the screech echoed through the underground chamber, the source of the outburst finally arrived.

His name was Edward. Edward X.

“Puppet! How dare you do this?!!”

The formerly beloved prince of the kingdom, once praised for his looks, was now shouting in a way that mismatched both his face and his status as a prince.

Puppet initially lied.

“What might you be referring to, Your Highness?”

But it didn’t fool him.

“Don’t play dumb with me! Do I look like an idiot to you?! Stop this BS!!”

The prince, usually composed and suave, had abandoned all pretenses, screaming at the top of his lungs.

Puppet and Lilith looked him over calmly—it was a familiar sight by now.

For all his projecting of sophistication and charm, if something displeased him even slightly, he couldn’t help but grow agitated and whine. It was easy to manage.

But today was special. Puppet decided to take a different approach.

“What’s the issue?”

“What…??”

“I asked, what’s the issue, Prince? It’s already done, hasn’t it?”

Tension filled the air. Even the self-centered prince sensed something was wrong and became cautious.

“Right now…”

“Do not be afraid, Your Highness… Think it over calmly. Wasn’t the point to cause an end, anyway?”

“But Albert ran away, didn’t he? You said we needed at least one prince alive, right?”

“Indeed. But he didn’t run away.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Your people lost him!”

“He merely left the palace. He’s still in the capital, so he hasn’t truly escaped. This entire city is like a pile of wood. Whether the firewood is inside or outside the center makes little difference. It’s better if he’s at the center, but even outside won’t change much.”

Puppet’s answer left the prince speechless.

Not because the explanation made perfect sense, but mainly because Edward didn’t fully grasp the situation.

In part, it was because Puppet hadn’t properly explained anything about the ritual. But Edward’s lack of attention was also to blame.

That kind of ignorance hadn’t been a problem for him, as he was the Crown Prince.

So Edward X found another issue to focus on.

“So that’s why you acted so relaxed earlier? …But even so, shouldn’t you have told me first? Do you even realize what’s going on outside?”

“Ah, my apologies. I’ve made an error in judgment after the incident in Randa. Please, forgive me…”

Puppet bowed politely, asking for forgiveness—or at least, pretending to.

Normally, Edward would have let it go at that. But this time, he didn’t, as he feared for his authority.

“Even if that’s the case, this is outrageous. You went ahead with this plan without my authorization. Do you realize just how much I—how much my dignity—is being trampled outside right now? Are you aware of the state of the capital?”

“The way the capital looks at you can easily be remedied once the ritual is complete. The chaos in the city won’t do you any harm, either… But, I suppose this doesn’t really answer your question.”

The Puppet, with eyes that had witnessed centuries and possessed the Warlock’s Eye, gazed at the prince. The real issue wasn’t about the capital.

The prince conceded the point.

“Yes, you’re right. You’re the real problem. You haven’t forgotten our deal, have you?”

“I swore to serve you, Prince, to become human.”

“And you’ve done well—admirably well. But now you’ve stepped out of line.”

“Consider it a necessary measure. My condition has worsened, so I’ve grown desperate… Still, it was all part of the process.”

“But there’s a proper order to things. In times like these, order matters even more.”

As soon as Edward X finished speaking, the air shimmered, and from the distortion, several figures emerged.

Druids allied with the Royal Family, magicians from the Traditional Faction, high officers of the Pinkman organization—all of them had sided with the prince through Puppet.

They were the prince’s supporters, promised survival and new opportunities amid the apocalypse.

But now, they had betrayed Puppet, standing behind Edward.

“I think it’s time to reestablish our understanding of this…”

“Pffft… hahahaha…”

Puppet’s chuckle interrupted the prince as he was about to assert his authority.

Edward’s words were cut short, his face flushing red with anger at such disrespect—the likes of which he had never experienced.

Yet Puppet didn’t care, because this moment revealed everything about his enemies.

“You’re all scared, aren’t you? Terrified… The prince and all of you. It’s not anger—but fear. You’re afraid to take that final step.”

“……”

“It’s not surprising, really. People are always brave when they’re hungry, but once they’re fed, a little fear is bound to creep in, and they hesitate. I don’t blame you. God designed humans well… Though, there are a few exceptions.”

As the tension thickened, Lilith stood behind Puppet, while Druids, magicians, and Pinkman’s forces moved subtly, ready to pounce.

The silence was suffocating.

“You suffered every humiliation in Randa, but do you think you’re ready for this?”

Edward X spoke harshly. He wasn’t just here because of his bad temper—he had made some calculations.

He believed that Puppet had weakened and that, with his supporters’ betrayal, the situation was now tipped in his favor.

But the problem with that calculation was that it was only his calculation.

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine, Your Highness. After all, I always prepare contingencies. Isn’t that right?”

Puppet, weakened as he was, turned his gaze to a corner.

Everyone naturally followed Puppet’s gaze, turning their heads toward the same direction. There stood a Red One.

Donning a Thistle Crown, holding a flesh-forged sword shaped like a spike, scars marred its skin with a patchy, discolored appearance.

The Red One stood among the Druids and users of magic, as if it had always been there.

It said nothing, only raising its sword and swinging it silently.

Then it silenced everyone in the chamber but Edward X, Puppet, and Lilith.