Hearing Cian’s decision, the disappointment in the Demon Empress face lessened significantly. Instead, a happy and appreciative smile appeared on it.

She seemed to have understood what he wanted to do, “If you leave this place, leaving my side… you would then be able to experience the horror of this world. The scary side that you might not be able to accept and endure… will you still go? If you won’t and just stay here, you can have everything you wanted… riches, women, position, if you just tell, everything will be given to you… outside, I wouldn’t be able to protect you… will you still go?” Reluctance was obvious on her voice.

Listening to her, not just Cian, but all the people were flabbergasted. This Demon Empress, she wouldn’t really care about face and instead publicly show her affection to this brutal prince…!

If it was the first prince or the two princesses, then they could accept it but… why does she love this prodigal and good-for-nothing son? This world is really strange…!

If other people can feel about the affection within her words, how can Cian not? Cian smiled warmly, “Mother, a bird needs to learn how to fly or else he wouldn’t amount to anything in the future. A cub needs to learn how to hunt and become strong or else he would die from other predators. If I wanted to reach the summit, I need to suffer hardship…”

“… …” Seeing Cian’s firm and determined expression, the Demon Empress didn’t say anything anymore and just sigh helplessly. She didn’t even cover her undisguised bitterness from Cian’s decision—clearly showing to everyone that she wanted to keep him at arm’s length to shelter him if need be…

But now, the unreasonable prince had spoken his words and made up his mind.

Cian stared at her mother’s helpless looks and couldn’t help his face showing a warm and gentle expression. That bastard Aanuel was indeed fortunate, no wonder he becomes like that…!

Spoiled, self-indulgent, self-centered brat….!

“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials…” Cian muttered gently. “Mother, no matter what happens… I will stand by your side,”

“…?!” The Demon Empress whose face darkened a bit was suddenly stunned and her eyes widened in surprise. She stared at Cian and her eyes sparkled.

“If you are wrong, I will stop you even if it means my death. If this Empire broke down because of it, I would get you out from here and build another one for you… but if you are on the right, I will spare no efforts to help you on your cause and share your burden… even if it means this world will be my enemy, then, it shall be damned…!”

“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials… good, what good words,” The Demon Empress laughed heartily, her laughter covered the entire Throne Hall.

“Then so be it… My dear, Aanuel, I will give you my blessing. Whatever you wanted to do, do it without worries. If you fall, remember that you still have someone that would catch you if you do… if you make a mistake, then just recall that in even if you do, someone behind you would still make things right again…”

“Don’t hold back, let me see the power and ability my dearest possesses… let this world stunned by your presence!”

“Rosha!” The Demon Empress called out and from the side, a woman walked out holding a long rectangular box. The box was over a meter tall, made up of beautiful silver casting and golden adorned lines, resembling a flying phoenix and dragon.

“That is…!?”

“Oh my God!!’

“Is that the treasured, Demons Sword; Imagis Realis…?!”

“Why did her majesty took it out?! Don’t tell me she was planning on giving it to his Highness?!”

“That’s not possible!! Demon Sword; Imagis Realis haven’t taken a master since hundred years ago and all those who attempted would be devoured by it! Even the first prince who had tried before was almost crippled because of it! It’s not a usual Demon Sword…!”

“I heard that the Demon Sword was owned by the very first Demon Emperor, now known as the Demon God of the Hades Infernal! Made by a very precious shape-shifting ore that can take any kind of weapon that holder wanted. It’s one of the twelve precious treasures of the Demon Empire!”

“Does her majesty really wanted to give it to his highness? Isn’t this too much…?”

Whispers and discussions spread out the moment the silver box appeared on the hall. Shock, bewilderment, dread, pity, and many kinds of reactions appeared on their faces as they look at Cian standing there.

“This sword was a bit unruly… even I can’t use it.” The Demon Empress muttered as she stood up and took the rectangular box. When she opened it, an orthodox knight sword appeared. Thin and slender blade, simple adorned hilt and scabbard.

The outward appearance of the sword was nothing special. The only point worthy of note was the abnormal color of its blade, it radiated with a brilliant scarlet light. It has a flowery mithril handguard and a blade that was about 2 fingers wide and had a total length of 140 centimeters. It was a very slender one-handed sword.

“Imagis Realis, a sword that accord with the user’s imagination to create a right weapon of his choice. Although it was the relic of the first Demon Emperor, among the twelve beasts, it was one of the slightest importance to the Demon Empire, thus, it was the only one I can take out and give you. Besides, most of the twelve beasts possess power beyond your wildest imagination, I feared that it might do harm instead of good to you,” The Demon Empress explained.

“Nah, I think It’s already enough…” Cian responded. “Elder brother hasn’t managed to tame this sword, why does mother confident that I would be able to?”

“Because you are my son… my adorable son…” The Demon Empress answered. At first, she was worried, but after feeling Cian’s power, she was then relieved.

“Among your siblings, I was proud only to you… you are different. Only you are unique…” Clearly unbiased favoritism, but in this world, she was the only one who can show it without care. Her power and authority were immovable as mountain…!

“Ha ha ha,” Cian chuckled in amusement. If his older brother heard her words just now, Cian could imagine what kind of face he would make. He might even hate him enough to kill him due to jealousy.

However, with his meticulous mind, the first prince would not dare move and instead planned to kill him with a borrowed knife—which almost succeeded. Mother’s power and intelligence, the first prince would never take them lightly. Only idiots would do so…!

Before the first prince wouldn’t take action, after all, Aanuel was a waste and good-for-nothing scum, but now, the moment he heard his changes, he would surely make a move. And Cian would not wait for him to do that!

Thus, he needed to make a distance for now…!

Unlike the world of humans, Cian realized that in the Demon Empire, power is absolute!

At this moment, even if he amazes the world with a single feat, such as defeating the first prince in frontal battle, with his rotten reputation, he would just be digging his own grave! The first prince has accumulated numerous achievements, causing almost the entire Empire to acknowledge him as a Hero.

Just by defeating him alone wouldn’t make him anything…! It would just be seen as the Demon Empress doing something from the back…

What he needed right now, was to accumulate his achievements and rewrite the past infamy he had. There, he would be able to gain ground by the First Prince, no matter how big his current force was!

And to this, Cian was not worried. He would also not blindly go to the frontlines and create havoc. He has his own his goals, not just wanting to usurp the throne but something else. Besides, with his sister Oriel, Cian was sure that even if the lass were discontented with him, she wouldn’t let anything happen to him. Oriel was an intelligent lass, as long as she is standing, she could put the first prince in check.

Cian stepped forward and reached out, grabbing the sword’s hilt. In that instance, the blade was covered by a brilliant scarlet light. The blade vibrated violently and Cian’s sin started to show bristles and torn skins appeared, letting out blood.

Much less everyone within the court, the Demon Empress expression was dignified. But she didn’t say anything and instead, stared at the sword with utmost concentration.

Cian frowned from the pain. As he watched the blade slowly wavered like a wave from the ocean, his heart began to pound. He felt as though he was witnessing the birth of an unprecedented monster, and his senses tingled.

Shiiiiiiiiikkaaaaaa!!!

A piercing cry rang out. The blade suddenly bent and before Cian could react, the sword, like liquid rushed at Cian’s arm, covering it. Cian instinctively flung his arm, wanting to throw it away but the sword was like a parasite, covering his entire arm… then, under the dumbfounded gazes of the people present, Cian’s arm was covered with a weird and ominous looking gauntlet.

Obsidian colored skin that looked like covered by scales, three protruding spikes on the underarm and sharp nails that looked like claws.

“This is…?”

Looking at Cian’s arm, the Demon Empress showed a very happy and proud expression. “I knew it!! I wasn’t mistaken! Ha ha ha!!” The Demon Empress laughed out loud as she suddenly stepped forward and embrace Cian in front of the public.

However, no one can blame her, Cian did manage to tame the Wild Horse of a Sword. Now, even if he was waste in terms of magic and fighting combat, with just that sword alone, who can still be his opponent…?

That wasn’t mere Demon Sword but the sword of the very own; Demon God of the Hades Infernal!

That was a demon sword above other demon swords!

“Stay in the Palace for now… rest and accustom yourself with that sword.” The Demon Empress said gently.

“I’ll listen to mother’s wishes,” Cian smiled.

*** ***