Chapter 37: Are You Worthy?

Chapter 37: Are You Worthy?"Damn... The Singularity of Chaos is truly powerful!" The Duke of Austin couldn’t hide his shock. A catastrophe-level dragon—one capable of destroying half a continent—had been killed so effortlessly. It defied all reason. And yet, it happened right before his eyes, witnessed by everyone. Whether he liked it or not, he had to accept the reality. The Duke of Malvain, the Duke of Ashvale, and the Duke of Valcrest all wore solemn expressions. They nodded in agreement. Especially the Duke of Valcrest. His face was filled with complicated emotions, but above all, there was gratitude. The Singularity of Chaos had once saved his territory from a catastrophe-level dragon. And now, that same figure had saved his life. He knew it wasn’t just him who had been spared—it was everyone. But still, he felt as though he personally had been saved. In a way, he owed the Singularity of Chaos two lives. At that moment, Ragan, who was standing on the main stage, stepped forward to the edge and cupped his hands respectfully. "Thank you for saving us, Singularity of Chaos," he said, bowing his head slightly. If not for that man, he—and everyone in the capital, no, the entire empire—would have perished at the hands of that black dragon. Deep down, he was sincerely grateful. But of course, there was also a hidden motive behind his respectful gesture. He wanted to bring the man into the Empire’s fold—as an ally. And so, he made his intentions clear by openly trying to win his favor. "Thank you for saving us, Singularity of Chaos." Everyone in the square—Dukes, Princes, Evalyn, Elina, Masha, and even the entire population of the capital—followed Ragan’s every movement. Their gazes were filled with respect, admiration, and burning fanaticism. The Singularities were beings who stood at the very pinnacle of the world, yet their appearances were so rare they could be counted on one hand. Moreover, not all of their identities were known to the public. The only one truly known was the Singularity of Light—Adalen’s grandfather. Meanwhile, the identities of the other Singularities—Flame, Life, Death, Nature, Star, and especially Chaos—remained hidden, shrouded in mystery. Most importantly, the Singularity of Chaos was the strongest among them. His appearance alone was a rare event, something few would ever witness in their lifetime. And after witnessing his overwhelming power, awe gave way to reverence and worship. The Singularity of Chaos turned to Ragan calmly, as if he weren’t facing an emperor with immense authority but just another man. "There’s no need to thank me, Emperor. I acted only according to my own will and desire," he replied evenly. Ragan smiled and said, "Even if you say that, the truth remains—you were the one who saved us. So, I’d like to invite you to our palace." His words caused everyone—noble family heads, dukes, and others—to stiffen slightly. They turned their eyes toward Ragan with knowing gazes. It seems the Emperor truly wants to bring the Singularity of Chaos to his side. That thought echoed in everyone’s mind. Yet none of them saw Ragan’s move as inappropriate. On the contrary, they believed it was the right decision—and they fully supported it. After all, if the Singularity of Chaos aligned himself with the Imperial Family, they, too, would benefit. They all understood that the current peace was fragile. Behind it lurked a grave threat: the Holy Empire of Valtanir. With the Singularity of Light at its side, Valtanir was powerful—nearly untouchable. If war were to break out, their empire would almost certainly be at a disadvantage. But if the Singularity of Chaos stood with them, that fear would vanish. "What my father said is true, Singularity of Chaos," Aldric said, breaking his silence. He offered a slight smile, his tone respectful. "Please come to our palace, so we can thank you properly." Aldric’s unexpected gesture caught Cedric, Adalen, Zarak, Cassian, and even Elina off guard. "What a cunning man," Cedric muttered bitterly. He had intended to say those words himself, but Aldric had beaten him to it. Meanwhile, the Singularity of Chaos simply shook his head gently at the offer. "No, I’m not interested," he replied plainly. Ragan suppressed his irritation and let out a long sigh. He had known from the start that the man was hard to approach, but he turned out to be even more stubborn than expected. Even after being treated with humility and respect, the man remained unmoved. Just then, Adalen suddenly stepped forward and clasped his hands together in a polite gesture. "Greetings, Singularity of Chaos," he said respectfully, bowing his head. "I am Adalen, the Third Prince of the Empire, and the grandson of the Singularity of Light. My grandfather has told me many stories about you." His sudden words caught Aldric—who was still quietly fuming—off guard. He turned to Adalen with a wary, hostile gaze. And he wasn’t alone. Cedric, Zarak, and even Cassian wore the same expression. If Aldric’s earlier move had irritated them, then Adalen’s was enough to truly enrage them. Adalen was leveraging his status as the grandson of the Singularity of Light to initiate a conversation—something they viewed as sly and underhanded. But there was nothing they could do about it. Within the Empire, Adalen may have lost the political game to Aldric and Cedric. Yet beyond its borders, his influence was far more significant. After all, his grandfather was the Singularity of Light—and no one would dare underestimate the grandson of such a powerful figure. "Oh?" The Singularity of Chaos sounded mildly surprised, and the look behind his mask held a hint of curiosity. "What did that old man say about me?" Adalen paused, uncertain how to reply. There was no way he could admit that his grandfather had warned him to keep his distance and not provoke the Singularity of Chaos. If he said that, his grandfather’s honor would be tarnished before everyone, and even worse, it could endanger his claim to the throne. After all, if even he found it strange that the Singularity of Light feared the Singularity of Chaos, how could anyone else not? His mind raced for an answer, but his expression remained composed, a practiced smile fixed on his lips. "My grandfather said you’re a remarkable and extraordinary person," he said smoothly, betraying no hesitation. "He also mentioned..." Adalen then proceeded to shower him with a string of compliments—all entirely fabricated. "That’s enough," the Singularity of Chaos cut in, his tone casual and uninterested. "Just get to the point. What do you want?" Adalen was taken aback, but his smile only deepened. "I don’t want anything, Singularity of Chaos. I just want to be your friend." "Be friends with me?" The Singularity of Chaos raised an eyebrow. "Yes! I want to be friends with you!" Adalen nodded with conviction. Everyone in the square—even Ragan—was stunned by Adalen’s boldness. No one had expected him to be so brave and straightforward. Yet no one opposed him. In fact, they all saw Adalen’s move as perfectly fitting—even Ragan agreed. "Sneaky one..." Elina muttered under her breath. Her hopes of turning the Singularity of Chaos into an ally shattered in that moment. Still, deep down, she knew her expectations had been too high. How could someone so brilliant and powerful ever want to side with her? The Singularity of Chaos glanced briefly at Elina, noticing the frustration on her face. He chuckled softly before turning back to Adalen, who was still waiting eagerly. Just when it seemed Adalen might succeed in befriending the Singularity of Chaos, the response he gave silenced the entire square. "Become my friend, huh? Sounds tempting... but the real question is, are you worthy?"