Seeing that Leon finally intended to end everything with his own hands, Charlotte felt her heart race instantly.
Her eyes shone brightly, and without the slightest hesitation, she hurried after Lepn, staying almost glued to him as if afraid of missing even a single second of what was about to happen.
The journalist was completely consumed by anticipation.
This was not ordinary curiosity—it was professional excitement, pure instinct.
After all, she knew very well that the man before her was someone who constantly broke rules, twisted logic, and overturned common sense as if they were mere toys in his hands.
Now, she wanted to see it.
She wanted to witness with her own eyes how he would step over a kingdom already in ruins… and transform it into something entirely different.
But at the same time, Charlotte was absolutely certain of one thing.
"Either way… next week's headlines across the entire world… already belong to him…"
She murmured this to herself, as if it were an inevitable conclusion.
Meanwhile—
Inside the Grand Sage's office—
"…Who… is manipulating all of this from the shadows?"
He frowned deeply.
His eyes were fixed on the city below, where chaos spread like a plague. Mercenaries and Disciplinary Officers clashed directly with civilians, and the entire order of Sumeru seemed to be collapsing before his eyes.
This… had already far exceeded his expectations.
There was only one thing he could say for certain.
Whoever that person was—
At this very moment, they were watching everything from somewhere within the city.
Perhaps… even enjoying it.
For a brief moment, he had the strange sensation that he was playing a game of chess against an invisible opponent—someone whose very existence he could not even comprehend.
But if Lepn heard that…
He would probably just laugh in disdain.
("Play chess with me? You're not even qualified to sit at the table.")
"Hmph!"
The Grand Sage snorted coldly, crossing his arms.
His gaze fell once more upon the people of Sumeru below—now consumed by anger, confusion, and rebellion.
His eyes were completely cold.
No empathy. No humanity.
Only contempt remained.
"No matter who you are… you've managed to give these worms the courage to rebel against me."
His voice carried clear irritation, but also a trace of acknowledgment.
"I must admit… you are more capable than I imagined."
Then—
His expression grew even more arrogant.
"But that changes nothing."
He slightly raised his chin.
"No matter how many gather… they will never defeat the nobles."
A cold smile formed on his lips.
"They are nothing but trash, incapable of even using magic. And they dare try to shake my position? That is simply… ridiculous."
"Grand Sage, what are your orders?"
"Go. Deliver my command to the mercenaries and the Disciplinary Officers."
His voice turned even colder.
"There is no longer any need to hold back."
He paused briefly, as if savoring his own words.
"If these rebels dare to resist… suppress them immediately."
His eyes gleamed with cruelty.
"It doesn't matter how many you kill. It doesn't matter."
"Th-this… sir… but…"
The guard instantly turned pale.
His eyes trembled as he looked at the Grand Sage, as if he had finally realized that the man before him was no longer a ruler… but a true monster.
A demon wearing human skin.
The Grand Sage frowned slightly, clearly displeased by the hesitation.
"They are merely commoners."
His tone was indifferent, as though speaking about disposable objects.
"Sumeru has more than enough people. Trash that cannot use magic nor produce knowledge."
He slowly turned his gaze.
"Why concern yourself with their lives?"
Then—
His eyes locked onto the guard.
"Or… do you intend to disobey me as well?"
"N-no! Not at all!"
The guard trembled violently.
"I'll go immediately!"
He retreated in haste, cold sweat running down his back.
In his mind, only one desperate thought echoed:
[Whoever you are… please… save this kingdom…]
On the other side—
In truth, orders were not even necessary.
Among the mercenaries and Disciplinary Officers, there were already magic users.
And many of them… had long since lost any sense of humanity.
They began to act without restraint, without mercy.
After all, they knew their master well.
And deep down… they were exactly like him.
"In the eyes of nobles who wield magic… ordinary humans are nothing more than ants."
Some of them even smiled.
Their eyes gleamed with twisted excitement.
"Haha! So, you worms… are you ready to die?"
"This feeling… is addictive."
"Hunting deer was fun… but nothing compares to hunting people."
"Scream! Resist! That just makes it more interesting!"
Magic power erupted.
Transforming into an overwhelming force.
No matter how intense the civilians' rage was…
No matter how strong their will…
None of it could bridge the crushing gap created by power.
The moment magic was unleashed—
Nearly a hundred people fell.
Instantly.
Without even understanding what had happened.
Even those who charged forward, driven by fury, were met with looks of pure disdain.
A man was split in half.
His body fell heavily to the ground, sinking into a rapidly spreading pool of blood.
"Trash that can't even use magic… dares to raise a fist against me?"
The noble laughed.
"You truly don't understand the difference between life and death."
This was reality.
The power of the Grand Sage—or rather, the absolute dominance of the magical elite over the world.
No matter how many times the people resisted…
They had never succeeded.
Because magic was absolute power.
A cruel and unchanging truth.
The people of Sumeru were being massacred.
Their screams echoed through the streets.
Their bodies fell one after another.
Their hope… was crushed.
And along with it, their will.
"Why…?"
"Why is this world so irrational…?"
"Damn it… if we don't do something… who will?!"
"…Someone… please… help us…"
"Haha! Begging now?"
The nobles laughed again, raising their weapons.
But then—
At the exact moment they were about to strike again, an overwhelming pressure descended upon all of them.
As if an invisible hand had gripped their hearts.
The air grew heavy, and the ground seemed to tremble.
And in the distance—
A roar echoed, like that of a dragon awakening.
"You've truly gone too far."
"What?!"
"In short…"
The voice paused briefly.
"…you can all go to hell."
Before anyone could react—
The nobles were cut in half.
Without any resistance.
The entire city seemed to freeze.
When violence meets something even more violent—
When power encounters something greater—
There are only two outcomes.
Surrender… or death.
The desperate people slowly raised their heads.
Their eyes still held fear… disbelief… and hope.
And then, they saw him.
A young man descending slowly from the sky.
His black hair swayed in the wind.
His eyes… as deep as the starry firmament itself.
His clothes remained immaculate, as if not even a speck of dust dared touch him.
Leon landed gently before them.
His gaze swept across the crowd.
Then he spoke—his voice echoing throughout all of Sumeru.
"People of Sumeru… I have come to save you."
(End of Chapter)