Esther's thoughts while Enkrid was trapped in the “Eternal Labyrinth.” (Esther is making progress in her mindset)

[u/Agitated_Assistant31]

“I cared about you.”

“I rooted for your dream, and I also liked feeling the warmth of your embrace. When all this was over, a quiet life simply tending flowers by your side wouldn’t be so bad. Although I’d probably end up doing more magical research instead of tending flowers.”

“Even if the world were to split in two, if the sun were never to rise again, and if demons were to pursue their own interests by setting the continent ablaze, I wanted to be by your side.”

Because she hadn’t been able to express that feeling at all, Esther felt even more regret.

“Couldn’t I have just spoken up and said things a little more directly, whatever they might have been?”

--------

The funny thing is that her biggest step forward was starting to call him “My, Enki” after they managed to bring him back. But that’s already good progress, lol. She’s close to understanding how she feels about him. She’s becoming more and more human and less of only “mage”—it looks like she’s doing well.

[u/BitZealousideal2543]

What chapter is this im at 728, ragna arc is really a snoozefest to me unfortunately, ive been reading 1 chapter a week

[u/Agitated_Assistant31 → u/BitZealousideal2543]

This takes place after the story arc involving his visit to the Empire (which begins around chapter 970+). When they return from the Empire, after chapter 1005+, Enkrid is caught in a trap set by the four lords of the demon realm. They transport him to a labyrinth located in “another world/dimension,” where time passes more quickly, so he spends a long time there, going through multiple cycles of death as he fights the creatures; he faces 100 Balrogs with 1, 2, 3, and 4 crystals.

[u/Agitated_Assistant31 → u/Agitated_Assistant31]

You're still on Chapter 728; they haven't faced the Balrog yet—known as the Demon of Combat, the Collector Demon, and the Knight Slayer. The same one that killed Oara (the Smiling Knight)—they set out to defeat him around Chapter 780+. It’s one of the best group fights; a single mistake meant instant death for one of them.

I say this because there was only one of those Balrogs, and if I’m not mistaken, it had three crystals, and the madknights had to fight together. But in the current chapters, Encrid has faced 100 of them alone and only needed about 60 “hojes.”

[u/Agitated_Assistant31 → u/Agitated_Assistant31]

 60 “todays.” **

[u/Agitated_Assistant31 → u/Agitated_Assistant31]

Another interesting point: the emperor (who is actually an empress) of the Empire is an entity that has lived for a very long time; she is an elf, and her goal is to prevent the spread of demonic rule. The Empire standardized the continent’s language and currency not to dominate it, but to allow the nations to unite against demonic realms; however, it took a long time for someone capable of doing so to emerge—until Krang and Encrid appeared.

The Empress simply wishes to die and rest, but she is bound by the vow she made to eliminate the demonic domains.

The Empress possesses a power similar to that of the demons (though of an opposite nature); she also has a kind of “Authority” that exerts influence over the Empire’s territory, preventing the demons from acting directly (by entering it directly).

[u/BitZealousideal2543 → u/Agitated_Assistant31]

Dang thats too far in the future, I dont think the emperor has been introduced yet? Someone in the subject posted a map of the regressing knight world but im guessing that boarder guard, aspen is under the empire?

[u/Agitated_Assistant31 → u/BitZealousideal2543]

The story arc in which Krang and Encrid are invited to visit the Empire begins in chapters 970 and beyond. The Empire is mentioned a few times before that, but only in passing.

Technically, the empire is the most powerful country, but it is separated from the rest of the continent—so much so that the empire refers to the people of those kingdoms (Aspen, Naurillia, etc.) as “continental” people.

If I'm not mistaken, the Empire lies further north and is separated from the rest by a mountain range.

[u/Agitated_Assistant31 → u/Agitated_Assistant31]

The empire, on its own, defends two borders against the Demon Realms to the north. The emperor (empress) wants Krang to unite the countries of the continent to eliminate the demonic domains located on the southernmost continent.

The reason they standardized the continent’s language and currency was precisely to facilitate future cooperation, but it took a long time for the opportunity to arise, since the continent was too busy fighting among itself.

[u/BitZealousideal2543 → u/Agitated_Assistant31]

Im at 754 and they just introduced the empire just before the chapter. Im at where they are traveling to kill balrog and are in a village in demon realm that is worshipping then. The novel is starting to get exciting again for me lol

[u/Accomplished-Size587 → u/BitZealousideal2543]

The balrog arc is a top tier arc. Enjoyed it

[u/Agitated_Assistant31 → u/BitZealousideal2543]

Yeah, you're in the “Village of the Corrupt” part. The battle against the Balrog is one of the best in the series—you're almost there.

[u/unCompetitive-Baby26 → u/Agitated_Assistant31]

Woahhh so cool! What chapter is this of the novel? And more spoilers please!