CHAPTER 121: CONGRATULATIONS, HOST!

The moment the words left the King’s mouth, the throne room descended into chaos.

Gasps turned to screams.

Screams into panic.

Ministers stumbled back.

Nobles clutched at their hearts.

A few collapsed outright, their legs giving way beneath the weight of fear.

Kael stood still—stunned.

He had always known the Godbreaker’s Mark was dangerous.

But this?

This was something else entirely.

He turned slowly to Yue.

She didn’t meet his gaze.

Arms crossed, expression unreadable, she let out a long sigh—as if annoyed more than anything else.

Kael narrowed his eyes.

He had a hundred questions.

But not yet.

She’d tell him the truth... when she was ready.

Not before.

Somewhere near the royal bench, a trembling voice broke through the panic.

"Th-this can’t be real... It’s just a myth, isn’t it?"

"The Godbreaker’s Mark? I thought it was a legend..."

"If the Devil truly bears it..."

"...then we’re doomed."

"This is bad—really bad."

"We’ll be wiped off the map."

The fear spread like wildfire.

Some nobles clutched their chests.

Others prayed.

A few couldn’t even stand.

The King raised a single hand—and even that subtle motion snapped the room back into order.

Barely.

But enough.

He sighed, voice low but firm.

"Look at yourselves."

His gaze swept over the nobles—disgusted.

"If this is your reaction... how do you expect the common folk to take the news?"

Silence followed.

Shame hung heavy in the air.

No one met the King’s eyes.

Then—

A frail voice broke the quiet.

Duke Thamric of the North.

Father of Adam—the prodigy slain by the Devil.

He looked years older than he had just moments ago.

"I warned you all," he rasped.

"I begged this court to treat the Devil as a real threat. And now look..."

He stared blankly ahead, like seeing a funeral only he could recognize.

"He’s grown stronger than we imagined. And he bears the mark that defies the heavens."

No one argued.

No one dared.

Duchess Selvaris, still lounging like a coiled viper, finally sat up straight.

Her voice was calm, cold, and deliberate.

"If this information is true," she asked, "then how... exactly... do we fight something like that?"

A beat of silence.

Then the King responded, expression carved from stone.

"For now... the Devil is still under Rank Five.

That much we believe to be true."

Kael—still composed on the outside—nearly choked.

"Under Rank Five"?

Try Rank Two.

He had to resist the urge to laugh aloud.

If they knew... if they even suspected...

They’d probably drop dead on the spot.

The King continued.

"This is still within our grasp. But we must not allow him to grow stronger."

His tone darkened.

"A special investigation unit has already been assembled by the Empire.

It will arrive within the month."

Kael’s breath caught.

"The Temple of the War God,"the King said,

"And the Church of the Night Goddess... will lead the operation.

The Royal Academy is also offering aid."

A smile died on Kael’s lips.

Inside?

He was spiraling.

No. No no no.

Not this soon...

That mark.

That cursed mark.

He remembered the text he read—its warning etched into the system log itself:

[Curse Registered: Godbreaker’s Mark.]

[Description: You have angered the forgotten gods and disrupted the balance.

The peace once guarded has been defiled. You are now marked.]

[You will be hunted by their followers—without rest, without mercy.]

Every temple.

Every church.

Every divine institution would see him as a threat.

They wouldn’t investigate.

They would hunt.

This was far worse than expected.

Even with only two temples and the Academy involved—it was already too much.

Kael swallowed hard, forcing a calm exhale.

"It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine," he told himself.

His heart pounded.

A cold sweat clung to his spine.

But he kept his face still.

I just need to prepare more.

That’s all.

Just... prepare more.

The King raised his hand once again.

"This meeting," he said, voice low and final, "does not leave this chamber."

Heads nodded all around the court—nobles, generals, even ministers.

None of them spoke.

Most looked too pale to manage a word.

The weight of the Godbreaker’s Mark still hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Then the King turned to Kael.

"And as for the vacant position in the West..."

A hush fell instantly.

Several nobles shifted forward, eyes gleaming with ambition.

Someone even drew breath to speak.

But Kael moved first.

He stepped forward with perfect poise and said just one thing:

"I have the full support of the Divine General."

Silence.

Not a statement. Not a threat.

Just a sentence.

And it landed like a blade across the neck of every schemer in the room.

The Divine General—one of the most terrifying Rank 3s in the kingdom.

A man whose battlefield rage was the stuff of nightmares.

Whose loyalty was certain, whose power was unmatched, and whose wrath was legend.

To have his backing?

It meant one thing.

Don’t touch him.

The nobles sat back in their seats, lips tightening, plans unraveling before they began.

The King chuckled.

Not kindly.

Not warmly.

But with a glint of something sharper in his eyes.

"Kaelion," he said. "I find myself liking you more and more."

Then his gaze shifted to Elara.

"It’s a very good thing my daughter chose you.

Truly, the perfect son-in-law."

Kael bowed slightly, the picture of humility.

He said nothing.

Because saying nothing was always safer.

Moments later, the magic recording orbs sparked to life again—floating through the air, broadcasting the throne room to every corner of the kingdom.

The King rose and gave a grand speech.

Kael didn’t listen.

Not a word.

His attention was elsewhere.

Across the marble floor... Duchess Selvaris of the South hadn’t taken her eyes off him.

She was lounging elegantly in her seat, lips painted wine-red, fingers draped over the edge of her armrest like a cat sizing up a bird.

Beautiful. Poised. Dangerous.

Yue’s voice flickered inside his mind like a breeze across glass.

"She’s still watching you."

Kael kept his posture composed.

"The ’curious noblewoman’ look or the ’I’m plotting your downfall’ look?"

"Bit of both."

"Great."

Back on the platform, the King finished his speech with ceremonial weight.

"In light of his valor, strength, and loyalty to the Crown," the King declared,

"I hereby recognize Kaelion Drenlor as the new Duke of the Western Province.

May he serve the realm as well as his father once did."

Applause thundered across the court.

Kael stepped forward, his expression the picture of noble duty.

He knelt, bowed, accepted the sigil of the West—and rose as a Duke.

A teenage Duke.

A noble heir turned national sensation.

And then the final gift:

Six Rank 3 spell scrolls.

Presented publicly.

With a smile that was almost genuine, the King handed them over and said,

"You’ve proven yourself a formidable warrior, Kaelion."

Then, with a touch of dry humor, he added,

"And considering you’re about to become my son-in-law, I suppose these scrolls are technically still staying in the family."

Laughter swept the court.

Kael, already smiling, bowed again.

But inside?

He was laughing for a very different reason.

Because while the King thought he was celebrating his engagement—

Kael was celebrating something else entirely.

A small chime echoed in his mind.

And in front of his vision, a notification appeared in glowing gold:

[DING!]

[System Notification]

[Congratulations, Host!]

[🎯 Primary Objective: Claim the Duchy — COMPLETED ✅]