The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

Chapter 599: The Legend of the Empire

Capeline did want to cry.

Even the Valkyrie, under Shien’s “humiliation,” couldn’t hold back anymore.

Mainly, her current situation wasn’t right either.

Thinking about everything she had endured recently, and the hope of escape that finally arrived was now in the hands of the person she least wanted to see, Capeline, a seventeen-year-old girl, it would be strange if she didn’t want to cry.

Of course, Capeline didn’t actually cry.

Even though her eyes were red, she held back her tears, even glaring stubbornly at Shien with an unyielding look, like a small wildcat that had been bullied.

Being glared at by Capeline like this, Shien shrugged and finally drew the Holy Sword from his waist.

“Clang!”

The sound of metal echoed.

Shien swung his sword at the handcuffs, shackles, and collar on Capeline with lightning speed, the sword light flashing in the dim cell, severing the restraints.

Capeline regained her freedom, but because she didn’t react in time, her body went limp, and she collapsed on the ground.

Looking at the naked princess weakly collapsing before him, Shien shook his head with a wry smile, and finally took off his cloak and threw it to Capeline.

Capeline immediately reached out, grabbed the cloak, and covered her naked body.

Clearly, this princess wasn’t without shame.

“What is this place?” Shien asked Capeline, “Is it just a prison?”

It didn’t seem like it.

Besides this basement, there were many patrolling knights and working slaves and servants outside.

“They seem to be digging something. Do you know what they’re doing?”

Shien began to gather the information he wanted.

Capeline raised her eyes, looked at Shien who was staring at her, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke.

“I don’t know where this is, nor do I know what it’s used for. I only know that after waking up, my female knights and I were imprisoned here and tortured by that venomous Consort.”

Capeline said in a low voice.

“During my time here, besides that venomous Consort, I haven’t seen anyone else come to us, until today.”

In other words, Capeline knew nothing about this place.

Shien was a little disappointed.

However, he didn’t say anything.

Since he was already here, he hadn’t expected to achieve his goal so easily.

While no one had discovered the commotion here yet, he planned to investigate this place further and see what secrets were hidden here.

As for Capeline, Shien would still rescue her.

After all, he had already entered into a cooperative relationship with Harvis, and the information about this place was provided by Harvis. In that case, taking his sister out could be considered as fulfilling his obligation.

But just as Shien was thinking this, Capeline seemed to remember something and suddenly murmured,

“—When the sky is shrouded in darkness, and the earth becomes a crimson hell, the Branch of Rejuvenation will awaken from its slumber and descend upon this universe—”

It was a verse.

A verse that sounded very pleasant and mysterious.

Capeline suddenly recited this verse, making Shien freeze.

Seeing this, Capeline didn’t wait for Shien to react and directly explained,

“This is a legend passed down in the Ragna Empire.” Capeline said, “It’s said that beneath the land of the Ragna Empire, a treasure called the Branch of Rejuvenation slumbers.”

“Treasure?” Shien raised an eyebrow in surprise, “Beneath the land of the Empire?”

“That’s right.” Capeline nodded, “I only learned about this legend after hearing my mother mention it.”

According to Capeline, this legend had been circulating in this land for a very long time, so long that few people knew about it now.

The Imperial Family had once researched this legend.

Because there were rumors that the Hero who founded the Ragna Empire came to this land to search for the treasure called the Branch of Rejuvenation.

The Hero spent many years searching for the treasure here, but he never succeeded.

So, he established a country on this land and settled here, hoping to find the treasure one day.

But he spent his entire life searching, ultimately failing.

Then, the Hero, the founding Emperor, because he settled here and stopped moving, was targeted by the Demon Race and eventually died at the hands of the Dragon Demon.

“My mother once said that this legend was quite famous at that time.”

Capeline said, as if searching her memories.

“The reason why the Empire was persecuted by various countries and races after the founding Hero’s death was also because of this legend, at least initially.”

Knowing that there was a treasure on this land that even the Hero couldn’t find after years of searching, other countries and races naturally became restless.

Because of this, the Ragna Empire, having lost its founding Hero, was gradually persecuted by outsiders, experiencing rises and falls throughout its long history, until today.

And in the long-standing conflicts and struggles, the initial purpose was gradually replaced by various other reasons and political issues, becoming unknown.

Along with it, the legend also became unknown, and today, probably few people in the Imperial Family even researched it.

Capeline remembered this because she happened to hear her deposed mother mention it.

“My mother also heard it from the previous Emperor, my grandfather.”

Capeline mentioned this.

Shien noticed something important.

“You said the previous Emperor was your grandfather?”

Shien asked reflexively.

“That’s right.”

Capeline was slightly startled, but she didn’t hide it, admitting it directly.

In other words…

“The previous Emperor was your mother’s father?” Shien said with a strange expression, “Your mother is the true descendant of the Hero?”

“…Yes.” Capeline seemed to understand what Shien was surprised about, remaining silent for a moment before saying softly, “The current Emperor was originally the older brother of the Raifurut family head. He married into the royal family through a political marriage and ascended to the throne, becoming the Emperor, because my mother had no intention of ruling.”

Alright, Shien finally understood the truth behind some things.

Why was the current Emperor so heartless, even daring to persecute his own children?

Why did the Raifurut family obey Mara so readily, becoming her lapdogs?

It was all because the Emperor was completely infatuated with Mara, following her instructions to attack the Hero’s descendants and making the Raifurut family her lapdogs.

Otherwise, as the heir to the Hero’s bloodline, he would have at least considered preserving the direct bloodline of the Imperial Family and protected Harvis and Capeline in front of Mara, right?

But the Emperor didn’t do so, instead following Mara’s instructions and persecuting these Hero descendants.

Shien could easily guess what reason Mara used to persuade the Emperor to be so heartless.

“Your father probably wants to completely eliminate the Ragna Imperial Family’s bloodline from the Empire, so that the Imperial Family will only have his family’s blood flowing through it from now on, right?”

Shien was speechless.

“Probably.” Capeline said indifferently, as if talking about a stranger, not her own father, “He was questioned by many traditional nobles because he married into the royal family. Plus, he’s incompetent, not fit to be an Emperor, or even a family head, so he was used as a marriage tool by the Raifurut family, thrown to the royal family, and then supported to ascend to the throne.”

The Raifurut family probably wanted to cultivate a puppet Emperor and control the Empire.

Under such circumstances, one could imagine how unwilling the Emperor was.

Therefore, as long as someone like Mara appeared, not only offering him advice in secret but also using various means to help him, he would naturally become her puppet.

And Mara, using the Emperor, first ousted the Imperial Consort, taking revenge on the Hero’s lineage, and then suppressed the Raifurut family, bringing them under her control. With the Emperor obeying her every command, her power in the Empire naturally grew, eventually reaching the point where she controlled the entire court.

“What can I say?” Shien shrugged indifferently, “No wonder your brother wants to usurp the throne so badly.”

“Brother Harvis?” Capeline was slightly startled, then understood, saying to Shien, “So, you’re the help my brother sought?”

“What?” Shien was a little surprised, “You know about this?”

“More or less.” Capeline relaxed and said in a low voice, “Brother Harvis has always wanted to seek help from the Kingdom. Before I disappeared, he warned me not to cause too much conflict with the Kingdom, as it would be detrimental to dealing with that venomous Consort later.”

But Capeline clearly didn’t listen.

Otherwise, in Cosmos, she wouldn’t have targeted Shien so much, nor would she have been in a constant standoff with the Strimm family.

This princess had always regarded the Kingdom as a rival and the princess of the Kingdom as her lifelong enemy.

Therefore, when she heard that Harvis was planning to cooperate with the Kingdom and seek help from them, she naturally wouldn’t agree.

Shien could imagine how much conflict this caused between the siblings.

And judging by the current situation, Harvis was the one with foresight.