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Conqueror of the Verse
By ColdLink Writer
CHAPTER XXXVII
Ripples Across the Capital
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
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Dawn arrived without warmth.
The light filtered through the forest canopy, pale and distant, as if even the sun hesitated to touch the ground below.
Nothing looked different.
But everything had changed.
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The Weight of a Name
Arin sat near the edge of the clearing.
Silent.
Thinking.
The conversation from last night replayed again and again in his mind.
Demon King Xarge.
The name alone felt heavy.
Unreal.
Dangerous.
"…A demon king…"
He whispered it quietly.
As if saying it louder might make it real.
Lucas, sitting on a branch above, glanced down.
"…Scared?"
Arin didn't deny it.
"…Shouldn't I be?"
Lucas smirked faintly.
"Good."
"If you weren't, I'd be worried."
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Kashihero's Calm
Not far away—
Kashihero stood with his back to them.
Watching the forest.
Or perhaps—
Watching something beyond it.
He hadn't spoken since last night.
But his silence wasn't empty.
It was… deliberate.
Calculated.
Arin stood up slowly.
"…Teacher."
Kashihero didn't turn.
"…Speak."
Arin hesitated.
"…That man… do you trust him?"
A pause.
Then—
"…No."
The answer came without hesitation.
Arin lowered his gaze slightly.
"…Then why didn't we attack?"
This time—
Kashihero turned.
His eyes calm.
Cold.
"…Because he didn't come to fight."
Lucas added from above—
"And because he wasn't weak."
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The Truth Behind Restraint
Arin frowned.
"…He didn't feel that strong."
Lucas laughed quietly.
"…That's because you couldn't feel it."
He jumped down from the tree.
Landed lightly.
"…People like him don't show their strength."
"They let you guess."
"And that's what makes them dangerous."
Arin fell silent.
Because now—
He understood.
There were enemies he couldn't even measure.
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The Real Problem
Kashihero spoke again.
"…Strength isn't the problem."
Arin looked at him.
"…Then what is?"
Kashihero's gaze shifted toward the distant capital.
"…Information."
Lucas's expression changed slightly.
"…Yeah."
"That's the real danger."
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The Spread of Knowledge
Lucas crossed his arms.
"…If that guy knows about you…"
"…then others will too."
Kashihero nodded.
"…Eventually."
Arin felt a chill run through him.
"…Then we're being hunted?"
Kashihero's answer was calm.
"…Not yet."
Lucas smirked.
"…But we're definitely being watched."
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A City in Motion
Far beyond the forest—
The capital had already begun to shift.
The aftermath of the battlefield discovery had spread.
Not publicly.
Not openly.
But within the right circles—
The right people—
The truth had begun to move.
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Inside the Holy Guard Headquarters
Captain Darius Valen stood in a large chamber.
The atmosphere was tense.
Officers gathered around a long table.
Maps.
Reports.
Sketches of the battlefield.
Everything pointed to one conclusion—
This was not a normal incident.
"…Repeat the report."
Darius's voice was calm.
But firm.
One officer stepped forward.
"…Two high-ranking members of Hollow Sigil confirmed dead."
"…One unknown creature of underworld origin eliminated."
"…No confirmed identity of the attacker."
Silence followed.
Then—
Another officer spoke.
"…There's more."
Darius glanced at him.
"…Speak."
"…The boy."
"…Arin."
The room grew slightly quieter.
"…He confirmed the presence of two individuals."
"…His teachers."
"…Both responsible for the battle."
Darius's eyes narrowed.
"…Description."
The officer hesitated.
"…Limited."
"…But one of them…"
"…matches the behavioral pattern of a high-tier combatant."
"…Possibly beyond elite level."
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The Problem
Darius stepped toward the table.
"…And the other?"
The officer swallowed slightly.
"…Unknown."
"…No clear data."
"…But based on the boy's statement…"
"…he might be the more dangerous one."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
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The Decision
Darius looked at the map.
The forest.
The battlefield.
The possible escape routes.
"…Increase surveillance."
"…No direct engagement."
The officers looked at him.
"…Captain?"
Darius's voice lowered.
"…We don't know who we're dealing with."
"…Until we do…"
"…we observe."
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Arin's Position
Another officer spoke.
"…What about the boy?"
Darius paused.
Then—
"…Keep him under watch."
"…But do not harm him."
"…He is our only lead."
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Back in the Forest
Arin felt uneasy.
Even without knowing why.
"…Something feels wrong."
Lucas glanced at him.
"…That's because it is."
Kashihero spoke calmly.
"…The capital has already begun moving."
Arin's eyes widened.
"…How do you know?"
Kashihero's answer was simple.
"…Because they have to."
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The Reality
Lucas stretched slightly.
"…So."
"What's the plan?"
Kashihero didn't hesitate.
"…We wait."
Arin blinked.
"…Wait?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"…That's it?"
Kashihero nodded.
"…For now."
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The Reason
Arin frowned.
"…Why?"
Kashihero looked at him.
"…Because rushing now will expose everything."
Lucas added—
"And because we don't know who's watching."
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The Deeper Threat
Kashihero's eyes darkened slightly.
"…And more importantly…"
"…we don't know who already knows."
Silence.
Because that—
Was the real danger.
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The Hidden Network
Far away—
In a place untouched by the capital's authority—
The same cloaked man from before stood in silence.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
Behind him—
Another figure emerged.
"…You spoke to them."
The voice was colder.
Sharper.
The cloaked man smiled faintly.
"…Yes."
"…And?"
"…They're exactly what I expected."
The second figure stepped closer.
"…And the Devourer?"
A pause.
Then—
"…He's dangerous."
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The Truth
The second figure remained silent.
Then—
"…Good."
The air shifted slightly.
"…Then the game begins."
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Back to the Present
The forest stood quiet once more.
But now—
That silence carried meaning.
Purpose.
Tension.
Because the world—
Was beginning to move.
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End of Chapter XXXVII
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