episode_0046

The huge ship of the blazing mast was flying high in the blue sky.

Despite the uncomfortable expressions of the wizards who kept glancing around, I stood at the front of the ship, enjoying the cool breeze.

As a flock of geese flew by in a wedge shape from the side, they glanced at me as if fascinated and then flew higher as if fleeing.

In truth, I had no intention of boarding a ship to fly back.

However, Ardor’s words about Servis and his army hiding on the way back were something that could not be ignored.

“….”

To think that I, with numerous notorious deeds, would consider erasing my accomplishments of preventing wars.

Truly living up to the role of the strongest villain in a novel.

The movements of the army clearly anticipated a war with Rivengard.

It must have been designed by the Empress and supported by Duke Shleyn.

And the current situation, where the strongest swordsman, Servis, whose victory was still uncertain, readily carried out the plan.

But no matter how you looked at it, it was all pointless if we didn’t come face to face.

Even after riding Aquila back to the Lord’s Castle, I waited a little longer touring the city until the ship arrived for that reason.

“You bat-like brat!”

Turning at the loud voice, Duke Felios was berating Ardor, who knelt down, occasionally slapping him.

“No, but still, I have sworn allegiance to His Highness the Crown Prince now…”

Ardor looked quite aggrieved, but the stern Duke paid no attention.

“If it weren’t for His Highness the Crown Prince, scum like you would have been dead by now!”

In fact, in such a situation…

When the Duke asked me to determine the hierarchy between Ardor and Lergio, it was already decided.

Since he had pledged allegiance first, he had cheerfully asked me to follow Ardor’s orders.

I couldn’t help but know that Ardor, who had sworn an oath at the cost of mana, was trying to manipulate me, but I willingly complied with his words.

I intended to treat Ardor much worse than a slave and exploit him recklessly.

It seemed not too bad to inflict that degree of punishment on a sinner who had committed irredeemable sins.

Of course, even at this moment, I excluded Lergio, who was standing on the deck chatting and laughing with Astia.

Soon, the capital of Mersen came into view.

From now on, it would begin to buzz with talk about me.

The Empress’s vigilance would increase significantly, and Servis, who had seemed indifferent so far, would now overtly try to torment me.

***

The Crown Prince Servis of the Mersen Empire had been lurking in the forest for a week now.

Something was definitely off.

“How can there be no trace for so long?”

The security of Tenafel’s Lord’s Castle was so tight that it was impossible to plant spies.

From the spies planted in the city, news had come that the prince and his entourage were wandering around the bustling city like tourists even the day after the meeting.

But since then, there had been no news at all.

“For so long, what on earth are they doing holed up in the castle… Could it be that they’re already heading towards the capital…?”

But there was hardly any possibility of that.

To reach the capital comfortably from there, they would have to pass through the vast forest path where the army was lying in ambush.

Did he miss something?

No, that couldn’t be the case.

Although it was strange that only the knights with vacant expressions and the prince’s retinue had passed by earlier, Eos was undoubtedly not among them.

So, he must still be in Tenafel.

Moreover, just in case, he had sent scouts to all the main roads and detours of the territory.

For so long, no news had come, and it was an undeniable fact that I felt anxious.

It was as if I had become the head of a wolf waiting aimlessly in an empty rabbit hole without a single rabbit left.

Considering the war with the elves, it was an urgent situation to digest the unreasonable schedule and bring the army hastily.

And commanding the army was by no means an easy task.

In a situation where soldiers were just waiting without any action, morale was plummeting, and provisions were being rapidly consumed.

The tasteless meals and the uncertain waiting situation were continuing to worsen.

It must have been three days ago.

Soldiers who had started to harbor complaints were raising their voices and even fighting in various places.

It was a situation where we could no longer just wait.

Whether it be battle, plunder, or retreat. It was time to do something.

Of course, there was a way to demand provisions from the Tenafel territory, but that would expose our lurking presence here.

“……”

It might have been better to attack the Tenafel territory, seize control, and kill Eos.

But there was no justification for that, and if the Marquis locked the gates and began a siege, it would be difficult to guarantee victory in our current state of food shortage.

In a situation that was completely unexpected, it was too hasty.

“If only the High Priestess wasn’t there at that time, this wouldn’t have happened….”

That was true.

If I had swiftly cut down Eos and the elven commander during the meeting, it would have been a problem easily solved.

But there was the High Priestess present.

It was not wise to show weakness or make foolish moves that could be exploited in a temple that recognized her legitimacy in the name of the gods.

But if things continued like this, eventually leading the demoralized soldiers without achieving anything might lead to a retreat.

Thud!

He punched the nearby tree for that reason.

The startled tree shook its leaves vigorously due to the powerful impact.

Unbearable anger surged in his chest.

“Eos….”

If things continued like this, that incompetent fool would eventually take credit for preventing the war with the elves.

“Your Highness!”

It was then that the bewildered subordinate rushed over.

As usual, Servis simply gave his command with a single nod.

“Prince Eos has already arrived at the palace….”

Servis’s eyes trembled.

A year ago, while fighting the barbarians raiding the western border of Mersen, he had never shown such an expression.

No, how…?

Rather, why…?

“When…?”

With a slightly absent-minded face, the subordinate swallowed hard.

“That was… five days ago.”

Five days ago.

“Ha! Hahaha!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

In the end, unable to withstand the repeated blows from two fists that seemed capable of enduring hundreds of years, the bark of the giant tree finally cracked and broke.

“Speak. What exactly happened?”

In front of the subordinate, whose face showed a rage never seen before, the purple eyes were filled with a fierce light.

Unable to overcome the dizzying fear, the subordinate finally closed his eyes tightly and said, “T-the soldiers sent from the palace to deliver the news… they were all… subdued by a black-haired woman for a while and are only now coming back…”

“All of them?”

“A black-haired woman?”

Although she had disguised herself as Astia when she received Eos’s orders and went to rescue Duke Felios, Servis had no idea who she was.

“And who is that?”

“Her face was covered, so I couldn’t-”

Swoosh-

Suddenly, a drawn blade sliced through the air.

Thunk- Thok- Thok- Thud-

The head that had been flying through the air until the body fell suddenly dropped late and rolled across the grass.

“Useless brat.”

Chyahak – Serbis, who wiped the blood off his smooth face, sheathed his sword and gestured to another officer.

“We’re heading to the palace.”

***

“Well, then, please tell me now.”

I was in the reception room of the prince’s palace, sipping tea and engaging in a disguised conversation with Viscount Bart.

“What were you thinking when you went somewhere with my daughter? Surely you didn’t go together to Tenafel, where war was about to break out?”

A few days ago, when I brought Elaine to the Viscount’s estate, Viscount Bart had rushed out calling his daughter’s name like a madman, along with his wife.

His menacing gaze required some time to calm his anger, so he had said he would explain if I came to the palace.

Having postponed various things in search of his daughter, the Viscount finally showed up after five days.

In fact, I thought he must have calmed down significantly after hearing an explanation from Elaine. However, as he hadn’t heard any explanation at all, suspicions escalated, making him appear even angrier.

As always, how much to reveal when speaking the truth was a constant concern.

“The goddess appeared in my dream. I saw the prince in danger there, so I came. After having that dream, I gained the ability to freely use divine power.”

I knew from novels that the goddess could bestow prophecies.

But gaining strength through dreams, enhancing the stamina of horses, and even creating a shield of light to block meteorites were details I had never read in any novel, making it hard for me to believe.

If I, who had not even read about worldly matters in novels, found it difficult to believe such words, would the Viscount, who was just like me, believe them?

Just considering Elaine being a saint, it would have been fortunate if he didn’t see me as insane.

However, to prevent the imminent disaster, I felt the need to tell some truth to seek the Viscount’s help.

So, within the limits of what was acceptable, I told the truth.

To increase credibility, I showed all four spirits.

“What… How is this possible…”

The Viscount, unable to believe, remained in shock even as the tea grew cold.

And I thought that this moment of his confusion was the perfect opportunity to ask for his help.

When rational judgment was impossible, it was the best time to make a request.

“Ahem. In fact, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“W-What is it…”

Having heard such unbelievable words, he now seemed ready to accept anything.

“I need some magic stones. A lot of them.”

“Why… do you need them?”

“On the day of my engagement ceremony, a major upheaval will occur in the empire. I need them to prevent that.”

The Viscount looked bewildered.

Of course, I was equally bewildered while speaking.

The day after I returned to the palace, the emperor set the date for my engagement ceremony. And it was scheduled for a week later, on the day of the founding of the empire.

I wasn’t sure how it happened, but the fact that I had prevented a war with the elves was already being talked about by many people within the palace.

It was easy to infer the emperor’s intentions behind such events.

By holding my engagement ceremony at the Empire’s grand festival, the founding day, he seemed to be planning to somewhat cleanse my reputation.

In a way, it was like a form of image laundering.

But having read novels, I already knew.

That day.

On the western border of the empire.

An army of barbarians, numbering tens of thousands united by dozens of tribes, would rush forth like a flood.