Chapter 111

"Just one movement of the Dark Sonata alone is this powerful—what if all its movements were assembled and played in full?"

Morin's mind wandered into bold speculations.

"Could it actually summon the demon king? And if we reverse the entire performance, could it send the demon king away instead?"

He chuckled at his own musings. "Well, thank you very much for such a lovely idea!"

Of course, this was all just idle imagination. The prospect of Morin actually playing the Dark Sonata didn't need serious consideration—he wouldn't dare touch such a perilous thing even if all its movements were laid before him.

The cost was simply too steep. Playing any one part of the Sonata would already consume a portion of one's lifespan. To attempt the entire piece? The price would be unimaginable.

Back to the Crown's Story

After finishing the discussion about the crown, Chograuma began rambling about his personal experiences with the former queen.

Morin quickly cut him off.

He had no interest in their romantic entanglements. Instead, he focused on understanding the broader events and secrets surrounding the world and other nations during their interactions.

These were not the kind of intelligence one could gather on the outside—such information existed only within V5's tightly controlled archives.

When Chograuma finally finished, Morin motioned for him to be silent and turned his attention to the former queen, whose eyes were swollen and red.

"You should already know what your son has done, shouldn't you?"

If Chograuma, as a close confidant, was privy to the old prince's plans, then the queen—still connected to the ruling royalty—would certainly be aware as well.

Indeed, the former queen knew everything.

Initially, she had been indifferent. The lives of other nations and their citizens mattered little to her. Having lived over ninety years, there was hardly anything left for her to care about—except for her beauty.

Her unparalleled visage was the one thing she could not let go of.

The old prince's plans had initially faced various obstacles, but things changed when Chograuma, eager for the immense profits from arms deals, began influencing the queen:

"Once war breaks out, although many people will die, even more nen users will enter the fray. It's the perfect opportunity to capture them!"

He tempted her further:

"The more nen users we capture, the longer you'll be able to maintain your beauty!"

Though the queen didn't fully understand what nen users were, anything tied to preserving her looks was enough to sway her.

Thus, under Chograuma's persuasion, she became complicit, both overtly and covertly, in the prince's schemes.

Even this grand birthday celebration—marking no particularly significant milestone—was a calculated ploy. It provided a legitimate reason to invite envoys from the seven other nations to discuss plans for invasion under the guise of festivity.

The queen might not have been the mastermind, but she was undoubtedly an essential organizer of these plots.

The Confrontation

"What are you doing?!"

Seeing Morin approach her, the queen's anxiety grew. She could no longer endure the mounting pressure, especially after watching her son die before her very eyes. Finally, she broke down.

"Stay away from me!"

In desperation, she pulled out the crown and quickly placed it atop her head.

Instantly, her appearance transformed back into the breathtaking beauty of her prime.

"The effect of the Dark Sonata is truly remarkable..."

Even Morin, accustomed to encountering all kinds of stunning figures in reality, fiction, and beyond, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in mild admiration. A hint of awe flashed across his eyes.

He had to admit—her flawless face was utterly captivating, without a single flaw or blemish.

"But precisely because it's so perfect," Morin mused, "it feels fake. Sometimes, flaws are what make something truly beautiful."

He addressed her calmly, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"I-I..."

The queen appeared distraught, tears glistening in her eyes, her pitiful demeanor seemingly designed to elicit sympathy.

Unfortunately for her, Morin was utterly unfazed. He had undergone rigorous training in dealing with such emotional manipulation, particularly under Biscuit's guidance.

Maintaining his composure, Morin continued advancing toward her.

And then—suddenly, the unexpected happened.

The queen's tearful expression shifted into a triumphant smirk.

"Die!" she shrieked venomously.

In an instant, her once-youthful face aged rapidly, becoming even more withered and haggard than before. The crown atop her head erupted with power.

The nen that had previously enveloped her face to sustain her beauty turned pitch black and shot forward, surging toward Morin like a predator sensing blood.

The black nen emanating from the crown swirled like a school of sharks closing in on their prey.

The queen stared intently at Morin, eagerly anticipating the fear and panic that would soon distort his features.

But she was destined for disappointment.

"I told you—I heard everything you said earlier," Morin remarked calmly.

"I know this crown can siphon the life force of nen users, and that it's been tainted by the Dark Sonata."

"Did you really think I wouldn't take precautions after learning that?"

With a flick of his wrist, Morin activated a protective sphere hidden in his sleeve.

A translucent shield enveloped him entirely.

Unless specifically permitted to enter by a verbal command, no nen—even that derived from the Dark Sonata—could penetrate the sphere's barrier.

The artifact's rule-based design demonstrated its extraordinary capabilities.

The menacing black nen halted a mere meter away from Morin, unable to breach the shield.

"This... this is impossible!"

The queen's eyes widened in disbelief. Her now-withered face crumpled further with despair.

What had always been a foolproof weapon—one that never failed to achieve its deadly purpose—was now utterly ineffective.

The terror she had hoped to see on Morin's face instead reflected in her own.

"There is no such thing as impossible in this world," Morin said, shaking his head slowly as he observed the black aura that could not break through the shield no matter how hard it tried.

The black energy, realizing its inability to penetrate, intensified its assault.

More and more of the ominous aura surged forth from the crown, growing thicker and more ferocious with every passing second.

The intent was clear: it would not stop until Morin was torn to shreds.

However...

Nen energy was not infinite. As more of it poured out of the crown, signs of depletion began to emerge.

"No! No, stop!"

The old queen suddenly screamed in terror.

When the crown's black nen could no longer sustain itself, it instinctively sought external support. Naturally, the only source it could draw upon was its wearer.

Nen, after all, is a form of life energy—and to drain life is to drain nen.

Having worn the crown for so many years and relied on its power to restore her youthful appearance, the old queen now faced the price of her actions.

A profound connection had long been established between the old queen and the crown.

When the nen energy within the crown was depleted, it immediately began drawing energy from the old queen herself!

"Spare me! Save me!"

Her face contorted with terror as she flailed her hands wildly, her entire demeanor descending into utter hysteria.

Perhaps, deep down, she realized that this time, escape was impossible.

"Save me... please, save me..."

Her arms waved weakly in the air, the strength rapidly draining from her.

As her arms flailed, they began to thin and roughen, their texture deteriorating.

Eventually, they hung limply like the rotted bark of a dead tree.

Her entire body collapsed into an unrecognizable heap on the ground.

Aside from her slightly open eyes, which still faintly resembled a human's, every other feature was devoid of any trace of humanity.

Likewise, no sign of life remained.

"Using the lives of other nen users to sustain her beauty, only to have her own life drained away and to die with such an ugly appearance...

"Truly a cycle of cause and effect. Retribution always comes."

Morin felt little emotion at the old queen's death. From his perspective, her downfall was entirely self-inflicted and well-deserved.

In fact, he thought this end was far too merciful for her.

After the old queen died, the black nen emanating from the crown began to noticeably weaken.

Even so, it lingered, unwilling to dissipate entirely.

The next 2 chapters are just MC playing psychopathic games with the guests. Most will hate it so I let you vote. (Vote valid till tomorrow)

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