episode_0058

“Damn it all….”

Teredoan Shulrain.

His face, armor, and entire body covered in soot-like stains, he hadn’t slept a wink last night.

No.

In fact, he hadn’t had a proper rest for the past few days.

By now, he should have already reached Eisen as scheduled.

However, with fierce flames suddenly erupting along the path he kept advancing on, twisting and turning to circumvent them whenever possible,

he had inadvertently crossed the expected arrival date long ago.

He was well aware that magic was blocking the way.

It was unmistakably magic to anyone.

No matter how you looked at it, it was magic; even if you rubbed your eyes, it was clearly someone’s spell.

To dare to trip up the foot of an Imperial Army general like himself.

Yet, he couldn’t identify the source.

The only clue he had was the blazing magic tower.

Although he didn’t know what method was used,

he had heard stories from his father that when requested, they would rain down fireballs from the sky, reducing everything to ashes.

But with lightning spells also frequently striking, that assumption had long been shattered.

In truth, it no longer mattered who was persistently tormenting them.

He just wanted to fill his stomach with a good meal, let loose, and get some deep sleep.

Yet, with fireballs flying every night and lightning striking out of nowhere, he was on the brink of going insane from lack of sleep due to constant interruptions.

Fortunately, there were skilled knights who could ward off the magic.

But due to the extensive range of nightly attacks, those capable of using mana had to stay awake to provide immediate responses.

They could doze off but couldn’t sleep soundly.

It was driving everyone mad.

The soldiers felt the same way.

With magic raining down from the sky constantly, who could sleep peacefully?

Before they knew it, fatigue had accumulated throughout the entire army, and the situation was likely no different for the Servis unit.

If only the supplies hadn’t run out, things might have been a bit better.

But it had been several days already.

Including the Servis army, the entire force had been unable to have a proper meal.

That damn magic, when they least expected it, had burned all their provisions to ashes.

And yet, they still had at least another two days to go before reaching Eisen.

Deserters were increasing, trying to stop them, and the number of casualties was rising.

“Sigh….”

He hadn’t even experienced real combat.

Yet, it felt as if he were marching through the deepest part of hell depicted in myths.

Beep-

It wasn’t long after a golden bird with a red gem embedded in its forehead brought the Emperor’s decree.

Immediately retreat.

Written on the paper tied around his leg was just that brief sentence.

“Why….”

Teredoan’s anger flared up.

“If this was going to happen, why did I have to endure all that suffering!”

Why the Emperor had ordered a retreat was no longer a question.

It was so disappointing, so truly regrettable that it made his whole body shiver.

Just a couple more days to go.

Once they reached Eisen, they could fill their bellies, soak in hot water, and finally rest deeply.

Without supplies, without knowing the situation well.

The Emperor was ordering an immediate return to the capital.

And if this message were relayed, the Crown Prince and the army he led would feel exactly the same as he did now.

Probably deep despair.

Nothing else would come to mind.

It was certain.

Apart from the word “despair,” there was no other way to express this profound dejection.

And when such a bleak emotion spread among the entire army, the frequency of desertions would undoubtedly skyrocket.

“Sigh….”

However, there was no way to resist Hwangmyeong without consequences.

Resisting meant proving a different intention. This was especially true when moving the army.

So, no matter how unfair it felt, it was something that had to be followed.

Feeling an unavoidable sense of powerlessness, it felt like aging another ten years.

“Haha….”

In the end, even a weak laughter burst out.

Thinking about going back to the territories from which they had already collected a considerable amount of provisions on their way here, and begging for food again on the way back, it felt like twisting one’s insides somehow.

Moreover,

Through the soldiers’ carefree chatter, today’s retreat would be remembered by many for a long time.

Having gained nothing, just stocking up on provisions and returning empty-handed felt hollow.

For that reason,

Being so absorbed in killing the deposed prince that he couldn’t even predict being attacked late at night, the painful complacency now felt overwhelmingly regrettable.

But still, having successfully removed the deposed prince was not a total loss.

Furthermore, despite having regained his abilities, he foolishly died due to complacency.

Even in extreme bitterness, a hint of a joyful smile could be seen due to that very reason.

“Yes, let’s be satisfied with killing the troublesome deposed prince this time.”

So, now it was time to do what needed to be done.

Terdoan said laboriously to the officer who had come at his summons.

“Again… we return to the capital.”

***

I was sitting in the captain’s cabin of the Helios, heading back to the capital.

In front of me, Wint was diligently scribbling something on several sheets of paper floating in the air, moving multiple pens at once.

They were all propaganda messages written swiftly in Cervis’s handwriting, directed towards neighboring countries of the Empire.

After finishing writing, I stamped the letters with the prince’s seal on my desk.

Once all were stamped, the papers floated up together and almost simultaneously went into envelopes.

From then on, dripping sealing wax melted by candlelight to seal them was considered my duty.

I went out onto the deck with a stack of envelopes.

The Felios Count and Aldor, who used to bicker every day, had stayed up for several nights and were now unable to bear it any longer, retiring to their cabins to sleep.

Elaine and Astia were still conversing affectionately like sisters today, and Aquila was perched, basking in the sunlight and nodding off.

And the mages were uncomfortably glancing around with suspicious looks.

Leaning on the railing and looking down below, the Imperial cities shining in the sunlight looked incredibly beautiful.

It wasn’t a bad choice to have visited Eisen.

Viscount Eisen had knelt and sworn loyalty to me, promising not to forget the favor of saving his territory.

For someone like me who only sought minimal support when needed, it was quite a substantial gain.

Thus, I was gradually approaching the Emperor.

Nevertheless, I was worried about the future events.

From now on, the Empress would actively try to restrain me.

Of course, Viscount Shurein and the deposed prince would likely do the same.

It seemed evident that they would resort to all sorts of malicious means.

Just looking at how Terdoan had already killed a human-shaped golem similar to me was proof enough.

Who knew what they would attempt next.

In the worst-case scenario, they might even try to storm the palace with the army they had rallied.

As most within the palace were loyal to the Empress, if they truly set their minds to it, a bloodless entry was possible.

Moreover, having sent the Crown Prince of Perem Kingdom to play tricks, the Empress and the Grand Chamberlain were sure to be furious.

‘What on earth will happen next?’

I pondered, putting myself in their shoes.

If I were them, what should I do to gain the most benefit with the least effort?

“……”

No matter how many times I pondered, there was only one conclusion.

“Remove the emperor.”

There was nothing simpler and more advantageous than that.

However, it wouldn’t be easy.

I would thoroughly impede their plans.

Firstly, I needed to obstruct the Crown Prince’s army from heading towards the capital.

Dividing the troops into multiple groups and scattering them along the borders seemed like the best course of action.

The reason I wrote so many declarations of war was precisely for this purpose.

Standing before Aquila, I tossed a letter into the air, which Rak promptly caught.

“Aquila, get up. Let’s go have some fun.”

“Uh… Huh…? F-fun?!!! Alright, let’s go! To hunt dragons!”

I wasn’t sure what was going through her mind, but Aquila, filled with ecstatic dreams, carried me as we soared high into the sky.

“Your Highness, where are you going? Let me come with you!”

“Hey, you crazy bastard, where are you going alone without any guards again!!”

Elaine and Astia waved their arms on the deck, urging us to take them along, but we had already flown too high.

“I’ll be back soon!”

For now, my destination was Rivengard.

***

It had been a day since Eos returned to the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Mersen sat in his office, leaning back in his chair with a smile, unintentionally reminiscing about his memories with Wiblea while recalling the ball that Eos had organized.

“Your Majesty!”

However, the peaceful moment was abruptly shattered by the sudden influx of reports from all directions.

“Your Majesty, something big has happened in the southern border right now-”

“But an even bigger issue is brewing at the northern border-”

“The situation in the eastern border is urgent-”

“And of course, the western border-”

Four ministers simultaneously clamored about invasions occurring at their respective territories.

“……”

The Emperor couldn’t make sense of what they were saying at all.

After enduring their continuous chatter, he could vaguely grasp the gist of it, but it gave him a splitting headache.

“Silence!”

Despite his warning shout, the ministers continued to babble about their own concerns.

Thud!

“I said, be quiet!”

Finally, after slamming his desk and shouting, the ministers fell silent.

The Emperor gazed sternly at Duke Shurlein with a troubled expression.

“What are the sizes of each faction?”

The Duke accurately grasped the intent behind the question and provided the most useful answer.

“Based on the reports, they are all relatively equal in strength, Your Majesty.”

“Immediately send orders to the Crown Prince and the Grand General. Divide the forces into four groups and guard the empire’s borders tightly, without any leaks.”

Duke Shurlein was slightly surprised.

The Emperor’s decisive command reminded him of the Emperor’s prime days when he made the best decisions swiftly.

‘As expected, perhaps the Emperor has regained his acumen, just as Herpina predicted… This won’t do; I must eliminate him as quickly as possible. Otherwise…’

If Servis became Emperor, things would undoubtedly become more challenging.

“My Lord, there are already sufficient defense forces stationed at the borders…”

The Duke was already resolute in his decision to remove the Emperor.

Therefore, it would be much better to maintain Servis’s army as a precaution for any unforeseen circumstances.

“It seems it’s time for me to retire.”

Duke Shurlein was visibly taken aback, as if his inner thoughts had been laid bare.

“Don’t you see these self-serving ministers making such a ruckus? If they truly care for the Empire even a speck, they should focus on sending orders rather than wasting time with useless chatter. If they have even a speck of loyalty to the Empire.”

“……”

No matter how hard he tried to think of a retort, the Duke couldn’t find the right words.

In truth, fear had clouded his mind, hindering his ability to think clearly.

The Emperor’s body straightened, his eyes noticeably brightened.

What he was feeling now was clearly reminiscent of the past momentum.

To the current Emperor, the imposing aura of his former self as a great conqueror had suddenly returned.

‘When did he become so composed…!’

Therefore, the Duke felt a shiver run down his spine like a caught thief.

‘If he were to discover the Empress’s poisoning….’

‘If the Emperor were to find out that Serbis is not his own son….’

Himself, his daughter, his son, Serbis.

All would be unable to escape death.

That’s why he had to find a way to kill the Emperor.

If Serbis’s army were to split, killing the Emperor could result in Mersen splitting into multiple kingdoms.

So there was no other choice.

Until Serbis gained firmer legitimacy, all he could do for now was watch and wait.