"To switch the soul, you need a corresponding price. Two people who will change their souls should stand on the magic circle, sacrifice a dead body and a child who has been dead for less than an hour."

"It's a bit complicated."

"Is it that complicated?"

"And cruel."

"Right. So, never use it."

"I don't want to use it. I'm just curious."

Serphania stared at Phillip.

"Promise me."

"Yes, I promise."

Phillip didn't use the magic. But, it wasn't because of his promise with Ser. He forgot about such a promise the moment he said it.

He agonized over spreading the tancinol or switching his body with Rakshul until the end.

The latter was much easier than the former.

When he becomes Rakshul, Laontel and the empire will naturally come into his hands.

However, Phillip eventually chose to spread the tancinol.

He wanted to be next to Laontel as Phillip.

But Laontel's heart could not be swayed even if he became an emperor with the power of goddess and established a new empire.

Laontel was reborn as Ancia and she chose the crown prince again this time.

Even if he became a hideous monster despised by everyone, her mind did not change.

After a thousand years, Richard could admit it.

'I could never win Ancia's heart.'

Ancia said she still hated Richard after thousands of years.

For Ancia, there was only Blake. Then there was only one way.

'I could become Blake.'

Richard decided to use a method he didn't take a thousand years ago.

He will spread the tancinol and occupy Blake's body.

After becoming the crown prince, he will treat the tancinol to be respected by everyone.

Ancia will also admire his ability. If he treated Tenstheon, he'll recognize him as his son.

It's not his body, but he'll be recognized by Tenstheon and Ancia for his ability. He was able to be Ancia's lover and had a loving family.

Richard's plan went smoothly.

There was already an offering. Karan and Kaluo are siblings with the same blood, so they were more valuable as offerings.

So he deliberately set an outbreak at the Camellia orphanage.

Shulia is a child with good intuition. He tried to avoid Richard and let Kaluo know what he was like.

It kept bothering him, and there was nothing good by keeping her alive.

It was also good to test Karan's loyalty.

Criticism of tancinol would be given to Richard and the Roums, but it didn't matter.

He won't be Richard any longer. If this succeeds, Blake will be Richard.

Therefore, it was none of his business if they speak ill of Richard and the Roums. It was rather good.

In addition, all the responsibilities that will be given to the imperial palace will be taken care of, so there was nothing bad.

But Ancia found a cure for tancinol. It didn't matter.

It's a shame that he missed the chance to be a hero, but Richard's real plan was still there.

Richard used Ancia to lure Blake.

After changing each other's bodies through magic, he planned to eliminate Blake, who became Richard.

Blake had the mana, and Richard knew how to use it. If Blake's body and his soul are combined, no one will be a match to him.

After that, he can wake up Ancia who has lost consciousness due to the mana. So, the only thing she would know is that Blake saved her life after he defeated Richard.

Only happy days would be in front of him soon. He can live as Blake, Ancia's husband and Crown Prince of the Empire.

Richard went over his plan. And slowly saw Blake's beautiful face.

It was a body that would soon become his.

Although it is too pretty, it was not bad to think of it as the face that Ancia loves.

"I will be you and get everything I want."

***

I opened my eyes after feeling a strong mana wave. There was a strange wave on the ground, different from the one in the room.

I still feel the strong mana inside my body. My head hurt and my intestines were twisted, but now was not the time to think of my pain.

Blake and Richard were seen outside the door.

Blake's hands were filled with the same handcuffs as mine, and he couldn't even raise himself because of the magic circle. Richard grabbed Blake's chin and said,

"I will be you and get everything I want."

No way...!

He was going to switch his body with Blake.

That's why the method was different from a thousand years ago.

Tancinol was just to confuse everyone. Maybe he was going to take Blake's body and then solve the tancinol.

As a hero who saved the empire, he tried to start his life anew. He intended to take Blake's body away.

Ser had changed her body with me. Did she tell Richard how to do that?

On top of the huge magic circle that covered the floor were not only Blake, but also Kaluo and Karan.

Does he want to sacrifice them? He's offering a person and child who followed him, only for switching his body with Blake?

No, I have to stop it.

But it was hard to lift a finger because of the mana. Even my voice didn't come out.

No, I have to protect Blake. I couldn't lose him here.

While I was trying to break free with all my might, Richard walked leisurely over the magic circle in the middle.

There were four people on the large magic ! 'No! No! I have to stop it!'

But it's too late. The spell came out of Richard's mouth.

It must be the language of the goddess, not the word of a human. It's a language that Ser taught me.

My eyes opened wide as soon as I heard it.

When he finished the spell, light began to flow from the magic circle. Richard smiled, it was the smile of the winner who got everything.

At that moment, the calm light became strong as flames rose from the magic circle and swallowed Richard.

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

Richard screamed in the flames.

At the same time, the barriers in the room where I was trapped were also broken.

Suddenly, the wave of mana disappeared, and the mana stones of light which filled the room were

cracked and collapsed.

The cracked mana stones hanging from the ceiling were broken and fell over her head.

Is this how she will die?

As I closed my eyes tightly, a huge mana of light wrapped around my body.

"Ancia!"

Blake rushed and hugged me.

As soon as Richard was caught in the flames, he uncuffed me and put a protective spell on me.

"Ancia, are you okay? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

Blake checked my condition and released the restraints. He quickly escaped from the room while carrying me.

As soon as we came out, the mana stone of light, which had been broken, collapsed completely because of the protective shield.

When I came outside, I felt the heat.

The flames surrounding Richard grew stronger, and so did his screams.

"Ahhh! Ahh!!"

I asked Blake to drop me off, but he only looked at Richard while carrying me.

"What happened?"

"Richard Cassil casts a spell to exchange bodies."

"Body exchange?"

"No...it's a spell to sacrifice his life for saving the dead."

I once asked Ser for magic to save the dead in the past.

"To save someone who will die comes at a great price. You have to give your life for saving others. Do you still want to know?"

"Yes, let me know."

Ser warned me of the danger for saving the dead.

But I nodded out of pure curiosity as a mage.

Ser taught me how to draw a magic circle. But I shook my head while she was giving me the magic spell.

"As expected, I can't. This magic is too dangerous. Laon is so nice that you will use this magic when your loved one dies. I don't want to lose a dear friend."

In the end, Ser did not give the spell to the end.

And she was right.

When Rakshul died, I regretted again and again.

I wanted to save him that I could give up my life.

However, I couldn't use the spell because I didn't know the last part of the spell.

I could tell just now when Richard recited the spell.

It was a spell to revive one's life and save the dead.

She repeated it continuously at Rakshul's funeral. I can't be mistaken.

"Then what are these circles and sacrifices?"

Four circles were drawn in a large circle, and it seemed to be complicatedly intertwined.

After learning it from Ser, I was able to see the truth of the magic circle at once.

"The rest is a trick. Only two circles are connected."

I pointed to a circle with Richard and Karan. There were only two people needed to exchange lives.

Blake and Kaluo's circle was drawn, but it was only a trick that didn't play any role.