“You're going to St. Romanvia?”
“Mm.”
Roland responded without even raising his head.
In the hall, he still maintained that lazy yet noble posture. From time to time, he lifted a white porcelain teacup with gold patterns, his eyes focused on the book in his other hand. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed to cast a filter over him—indolent, relaxed, and aristocratic, like a scene from a painting.
“Didn't Brother say you wouldn't go?”
“I changed my mind.”
Lucia furrowed her brow, growing even more annoyed as she watched his indifferent attitude. Even his responses were so half-hearted. Although he was usually like this on most days, if even he left, she would be the only one remaining in the entire Duke's Mansion. Their father was stationed at the northern border year-round.
“Then I'm going with Brother!”
Roland raised his gaze slightly, his golden eyes shining brighter under the light.
It was as though he could see right through a person's heart.
Making one hesitant to look at him directly.
“No.”
“Why?”
“What would you go there for?”
Roland frowned. In the past, this girl wouldn't actively come talk to him, maintaining a polite distance on ordinary days, though she had been quite clingy when she was younger.
“I want to attend school too! I'm already a First-Rank Mage!”
Lucia said firmly.
It had to be said that she was indeed extremely talented—a First-Rank Mage at fourteen years old. Someone like Thomas had been smug just entering the First-Rank at seventeen, which showed how frightening her talent was. Her ice-attribute affinity even reached a terrifying 9.3. As long as she didn't die young, she would surely reach the Eighth-Rank in the future. With enough effort, even becoming a Demigod was possible.
By the time she reached their age, she might even be promoted to a Second-Rank Mage.
Just like that Second Princess.
“St. Romanvia Imperial Academy only admits students aged seventeen to eighteen,” Roland said calmly, dog-earing a page before slowly closing the book. “You'd better stay home obediently and mind the house. Even if I let you go, Uncle Scott wouldn't agree.”
“He can't tell me what to do!”
“Don't say disrespectful things about Uncle Scott.”
He tapped the corner of the desk with the closed book, a hint of sternness on his face.
“Why do you insist on coming with me? What, could it be that just like when you were little, you can't bear to let your brother leave?” Roland asked with an amused smile.
Lucia let out a cold snort, gloom lingering between her brows. “Father left, Mother... and now even you are leaving. I don't want to stay here alone. I don't want to...”
Toward the end, her voice softened.
After all, she was only fourteen, still a child.
Roland shook his head helplessly.
“You sound so morbid. It's not like I'm dead. Besides, doesn't Father come back to visit every few months?” Roland pinched his fingers, thinking for a moment before continuing, “Counting the time, Father should be returning soon. If all else fails, let him take you to the front lines. As long as you don't go onto the battlefield, there shouldn't be any danger to your life.”
Several of their uncles were there as well.
Along with numerous Marquises, Counts, and generals.
Protecting Lucia was more than enough.
“...”
“Alright, it's settled.”
With those words, Roland stood up and stretched before walking toward the library. Traversing the tunnel corridor he knew all too well, the simple, solemn bronze doors stood tall as always.
There were sixty-four corpses of Sixth-Rank powerhouses, eighteen corpses of Seventh-Rank powerhouses, and five corpses of Eighth-Rank powerhouses. Roland rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining with excitement.
There were only two forbidden rituals about to be conducted next: one was the refinement of an 【Undead Puppet】, and the other was a 【Hell Demon Contract】. Unlike traditional forbidden rituals, the former was a corpse refinement; upon success, he would obtain a super enforcer who obeyed him completely.
The latter was signing a contract with a demon from hell.
As for what kind of contract would be signed, it all depended on the other party's mood, and what could be gained was entirely up to luck. Regardless, with 【Original Sin · King of Pride · Lucifer】 present, he wouldn't lose out no matter what trade was made—he might even be able to get something for free.
According to Roland's plan:
Four corpses of Sixth-Rank powerhouses, two corpses of Seventh-Rank powerhouses, and one corpse of an Eighth-Rank powerhouse would be taken out as sacrifices to the demon. The rest would all be funneled into refining an 【Undead Puppet】; at the very worst, it would refine a Seventh-Rank peak powerhouse to guard him.
This time, Roland did not intend to go to the Verus Mountains.
The reason was that the Church of the Fallen Mother Goddess had indeed infiltrated the Northern Territory, and in no small numbers. They even had a Sixth-Rank Grand Mage assisting them. The teleportation formation left there had already been destroyed; if he constructed it anew, it would inevitably attract attention. For now, it was better to keep a distance from those Fallen Mother Goddess folks.
Therefore, the forbidden rituals would be conducted right inside the treasury.
“Looks like I need to lay down an isolation array first.”
Fortunately, magic crystals and various rare materials in the treasury were countlessly abundant. Laying down a Seventh-Rank array solely used for masking presence was not difficult for Roland, who possessed the trait 【Array Specialization】. Even so, it took a full two days.
His slender fingers slowly engraved the final symbol.
The entire magic array almost covered the entire treasury.
Among them, the Seventh-Rank array consisted of 128 nodes.
Within each node of the Seventh-Rank array, a First-Rank array of 2 nodes was placed for reinforcement.
At the same time, two Sixth-Rank arrays of 64 nodes were set up as auxiliaries.
Not only that, Roland also arranged ten Fifth-Rank arrays of 32 nodes.
“Perfect!”
Magic crystals piled like mountains in the treasury, more than enough to maintain these arrays. With a single thought, the glow of the arrays enshrouded the entire treasury. A milky-white barrier rose up, gradually covering the whole treasury. Enhanced by the effects of special runes, it even possessed the defensive capabilities of a true barrier.
Once preparations were complete, Roland began setting up the 【Hell Demon Contract】.
This ritual was very special; it required opening the Gates of Hell. Hell, also known as the Land of Exile, was where demons resided, along with all kinds of bizarrely shaped, powerful creatures. It was a place abandoned by the gods—in short, quite dangerous even for Beyonders.
The ritual layout was completed.
Roland placed the corpse meant for sacrifice onto it.
Everything was ready, lacking only the final spark.
【Original Ritual Prayer Text: Old Ones of the Land of Exile, please respond to the plea of this humble human. May your Great Self guide my path; I am willing to offer everything for this...】
“Demons of Hell, the Great King of Pride hereby commands you to come and pay homage. I shall guide you back to the dominance of old. You shall dedicate everything to me, including your loyalty and your lives. This shall be your supreme honor...”
A perfect prayer, hardly any different from the original text.
Just modified slightly, that was all.
It shouldn't cause any problems.
Watching the ritual activate normally, Roland nodded with satisfaction.
Rate on N.U.
