Prelude to Evil

“President, bad news! The latest divination results are out!”

Inside the Divination Tower of the Augilis Kingdom, a very young-looking diviner came running frantically, and only after bursting open a door did he shout urgently at the elder inside the room.

“Calm down.

You youngsters these days are far too restless.

Don’t you know that you must remain composed and steady when doing things?”

The old man inside was reading a book.

When he heard the impatient voice, he closed the book and spoke in a calm tone.

“B-But President!

This time, the divination revealed that the Black Tide will launch a small-scale erosion.

And the place it will attack is—”

“—The venue where Her Highness the Princess is holding her banquet, correct?”

The old man cut him off and finished the words he was about to say.

“Huh?

You already know, President?

Then what should we do now?!”

“I told you to calm down.

I’ve already sent someone to notify Her Highness the Princess using a voice transmission spell.”

The old man stood up, looking at the glowing simulated Star Map before him, stroking the beard on his chin.

“Will they make it in time?”

The young man asked.

“No.

The Black Tide moves very quickly, and its trajectory is completely unpredictable.

There’s no way we can reach the venue before it arrives.”

The old man replied.

“Then we should hurry and gather people to save Her Highness!”

“No, that won’t be necessary.

When I learned that the Black Tide was coming, I personally performed a divination for the Princess.

The result was ‘Great Fortune.’

And this so-called ‘Great Fortune’ is not just for Her Highness alone, but for everyone attending the banquet.”

Hearing this, the young man widened his eyes and couldn’t help but speak.

“President, are you saying that this Black Tide invasion won’t put a single person in fatal danger?

Everyone will survive safe and sound?!”

The old man nodded and said.

“I know it’s hard to believe.

Every time the Black Tide appears, it devours everything in its path.

No living being should survive.

But I’ve done the divination multiple times, together with others, and the result was always the same—Great Fortune.

So we abandoned any rescue plans and decided to trust the prophecy.

The only thing we can do now is wait until everything is over, and then ask the people who attended the banquet what happened.”

……

Hearing Su Mo agree to his duel challenge, Graha froze for a moment.

He thought Su Mo would complain to Alice once she showed up.

“O-Of course!

I, Graha, am a man of my word!”

Coming back to his senses, Graha immediately put on a righteous expression and patted his chest to guarantee it.

But at this moment, Su Mo already felt like not fighting at all.

The mask’s warning alarm kept ringing like a death knell, reminding him that if he didn’t take it off soon, he would forcibly transform into Edenia right here in front of everyone.

‘Why is it hitting the limit now?!

I need to find an empty spot or leave immediately.

Otherwise, this mask will blow, and then I’ll turn into Edenia in front of all these people!’

Not far away, Lophiel, who could hear Su Mo’s inner voice, immediately narrowed her eyes sharply.

She knew Edenia’s charm.

If she appeared here, this banquet would instantly turn into a cult gathering, with everyone chanting “Edenia!” like fanatics.

Besides, Lophiel didn’t want these people to see Edenia’s beauty and start lusting after her.

That would make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

So she was already prepared to act.

The moment Su Mo began to change, she would immediately create a massive light curtain around him and whisk him away.

The number of people on edge because of the mask’s impending explosion had just increased from one to two.

“I see…

A duel can sometimes help build a bond between people.

Then I hope you two will give us a delightful match.”

Alice glanced at Su Mo and then at Graha.

She knew this was definitely not as simple as a ‘simulated duel’ like Su Mo claimed.

Given his more composed personality now, he wouldn’t start trouble on his own.

That meant this guy named Graha must have provoked him.

And based on what Su Mo just said, he must have agreed to the duel because the other side promised him something.

Thinking this through, Alice whispered to someone nearby.

“What’s the reward for winning the duel?”

Out of nowhere, Elia appeared and answered Alice’s question.

“Young Master Noah doesn’t owe anything if he loses.

But if he wins, he’ll receive 1,000 gold coins as a reward.”

“1,000 gold coins?

Does Noah really need money that badly?

Don’t I give him an allowance every week?”

Alice asked in confusion.

“Recently, Young Master Noah has been raising some animals.

I think he wants to use the money for them.”

“He’s raising animals now…

He really has changed a lot.

Elia, from now on, increase Noah’s weekly allowance from 1,000 silver coins to 100 gold coins.”

Looking at Noah from a distance, Alice smiled softly and said this to Elia.

“I understand, Your Highness.”

Since Alice approved the duel, Su Mo and Graha moved to a special area designed for combat practice.

It was a simulated duel arena, a magic circle created by the Royal Court Mage for training purposes.

Even the most severe injuries sustained inside would only cause unconsciousness, never life-threatening harm.

There was one of these arenas at the banquet venue, specifically for friendly matches among the guests.

Su Mo and Graha each stood at opposite ends of the arena.

A blue barrier rose around them, sealing them inside.

The other guests quietly watched from outside, while Alice naturally stood at the center spot.

Her gaze stayed on Noah, wanting to see what was different about him compared to before.

“I didn’t expect you not to complain to Her Highness the Princess.

That slightly changes my impression of you.

But I’m not going to hold back just because of that.

I’ll tell you in advance—I’ve already broken through to Second-Rank Swordsman.

You’re no match for me.

So I advise you to surrender.”

Graha didn’t rush to attack.

Instead, he twirled his sword dramatically, showing off as if to intimidate his opponent.

On the other side, Su Mo’s inner alarm was blaring louder than ever.

His pale hair was already turning pink at the tips.

His masculine face was slowly shifting toward Edenia’s features.

But Su Mo didn’t notice any of this.

All he wanted now was to end this duel as fast as possible.

The moment the barrier fully formed, Su Mo, ignoring Graha’s endless trash talk, drew his gun without a second thought.

Bang!

A single gunshot.

The barrier vanished.

Su Mo was gone.

All that remained was Graha, unconscious on the ground, nobody knowing when he had fainted.