Ch.117Chapter 117. The Shield Knight Makes a Move

Today, as she had always done, Rinasien visited the Emperor’s bedchamber.

His jade-like face had darkened with fatigue from being hounded by ministers day after day.

Stress had made his hair dry and thin.

Rumors of his irritability—lashing out at not only the handmaidens who attended him but also his ministers—had long since spread throughout the empire.

As a result, Airan’s faction had ironically grown more united.

While Rainford and the Demon God’s judgment to remove Airan from his position as regent to keep him in check had been appropriate, this was clear evidence that their choice of replacement had utterly failed.

“You are not qualified.”

And today, as soon as the Emperor heard about the Porter, he once again clearly uttered these words to Rinasien.

“Aaaaargh!”

Having finally reached her limit, Rinasien mercilessly kicked the bed where the Emperor lay.

The attendants and court officials were startled but quickly hid themselves to avoid catching the Crown Princess’s eye.

“You old man! What do you mean I’m not qualified? You appointed me Crown Princess with your own hands!”

Recently, Rinasien had received a letter from Naidrian through the World Postal Service.

The letter contained an accusation of embezzlement against Lin, the Porter.

It was a serious charge that couldn’t be ignored—that he was disposing of the Hero Party’s spoils as he pleased and accumulating private wealth.

The Hero Party had fought countless battles.

The spoils they had acquired would easily exceed a year’s budget for an average city.

Immediately after reading the letter, Rinasien ordered a secret investigation into the Porter’s misconduct.

Disappointingly easily, her informants gathered evidence that Lin had been trading monster parts and other spoils in various places.

The matter was resolved so simply that even Rinasien worried it might be a trap.

She had happily sent a letter to Rainford about it, but encountered an unexpected obstacle.

Namely, this Emperor who was on his last legs.

“All you need to do is let me into the Imperial Archives once!”

Despite screaming with bloodshot eyes, the Emperor merely repeated the same words before drooling.

Should she just strangle him to death right here?

It was a terribly tempting thought.

The Emperor who once commanded the world was now like a withered tree, drying up and dying.

Even Rinasien, who had never properly held a sword, could easily overcome this old man’s resistance if she grabbed his wrinkled neck with her own two hands or pressed a pillow over his face.

The Crown Princess, who had actually raised her arms, clenched her fists and stopped herself.

‘The aftermath would be troublesome.’

That was the only reason.

It was obvious that dealing with the two attendants hiding out of sight would require considerable effort.

Both were of noble birth and served the imperial family, so their disappearance would raise significant suspicion.

Moreover, Rainford had strictly warned the Crown Princess to consult with him before taking any action.

‘While you may not need to worry about the Hero Party or other nobles, Airan Dekarrun is popular with the public and commands his own private army, so you must never underestimate him.’

Rinasien had objected, arguing that Airan wouldn’t abandon the front line against the demon army to mobilize his troops, but Rainford had earnestly cautioned that a cornered rat could attack in unpredictable ways.

Since then, the Shield Knight had sent several letters warning her not to act rashly.

Rinasien found this deeply disappointing.

She was already growing suspicious about his dallying with Ganal in the Zramun Archipelago, and instead of asking after her wellbeing, he only cautioned her against actions she hadn’t even taken.

Suddenly, she felt lonely.

The loneliness briefly transported her back to her childhood.

Back then, in the Sewage Alley, Lin would handle anyone who expressed dissatisfaction with her.

When she got angry or irritated, Lin would approach her and try to soothe her.

Even when things didn’t go well, Lin would be there by her side.

Above all, Lin never looked away from her.

That was how it had been until she abandoned him herself.

And now?

While Rainford efficiently handled matters when he was by her side, he subtly imposed his own ideals on her.

When she refused them, he would try to hide his feelings, but the offended Shield Knight couldn’t conceal his sharp edges.

He would mock her lack of education repeatedly, stopping just short of crossing the line, then console her as if humoring a child or doing her a favor.

‘Once you understand it, it’s nothing special. It’s the people who act superior just because they know these things who are pathetic and bad.’

Today felt strange.

Why did she keep thinking about the past?

Perhaps she was tired.

In fact, it wasn’t just today.

Whenever her body was exhausted and her heart was wounded, she remembered those words that had genuinely comforted her.

Those words saying it was okay.

Those words saying she could do it.

Lately, she often thought about him—wherever he might be, farming or doing manual labor.

‘Should I summon him and actually make him my attendant?’

Besides, since he was a man, bringing him to her side might make Rainford more vigilant.

Judging that this wasn’t an entirely unreasonable plan, Rinasien finally managed to suppress her anger.

“I will return tomorrow, Your Majesty. At that time, I sincerely hope you will speak to me like a proper human being.”

Leaving this incredibly disrespectful farewell, the Crown Princess exited the chamber.

She wished this corridor she was walking through were longer.

Perhaps she should go out for fun instead of heading to the administrative office.

Today, she was particularly lost in thought.

“Your Highness! The Balkaron and Draven families are facing off with armed forces over a waterway. Today you must make a decision!”

“Your Highness! Despite the approaching harvest season, we face another year of poor crops. You must urgently decide on countermeasures for the food shortage. The elderly and children, and even able-bodied men, are starving to death!”

Words, words, words poured over Rinasien as soon as she sat in her seat at the administrative office.

She felt suffocated.

Since returning to the empire, Rinasien hadn’t resolved a single issue with her own hands.

In other words, all matters had been piling up since her return, with new problems accumulating in the meantime.

“Your Highness.”

“Your Highness!”

“Enough, enough!”

Finally, Rinasien exploded.

Rising with a bang on the desk, she shouted at the ministers.

“Is there anything you know how to handle on your own?!”

But that question was precisely what the ministers wanted to ask her.

“…”

Rinasien, still fuming, realized the atmosphere had become uncomfortably quiet.

Everyone was staring at her with hardened expressions.

Even the nobles who supported her faction.

“Ah… I was just…”

“Your Highness! I bring good news!”

Just as she regained her senses and swallowed, trying to smooth over the situation, the door to the administrative office opened and an armored messenger entered.

“What is it?”

The Crown Princess quickly asked the messenger, thinking this was a good opportunity to change the atmosphere, but his answer was hardly welcome.

“Two days ago, the Hero Party and the Lowellina army led by Duke Airan achieved a great victory at the demon army front! The monsters and demon race were annihilated, and only the demon heroes barely managed to retreat!”

“Is… is that true?”

As she tried to ask again, barely controlling her trembling body, cheers erupted from the pro-Duke faction.

“All this is thanks to His Majesty the Emperor’s grace!”

“Long live the Emperor!”

“Long live!”

When they invoked the Emperor, everyone shouted their praise.

Rinasien had no choice but to mouth “Long live the Emperor” along with them, but her beautiful face was completely distorted.

—

[The demon army lost.]

The Demon God spoke lightly about his army’s defeat, as if it were nothing.

‘Isn’t that dangerous?’

[Not at all? Rather, the demon heroes have been perfectly seasoned. Like a kind of seasoning, you might say?]

‘Seasoned?’

The Shield Knight asked incredulously, and the Demon God grinned.

[It’s finally complete! Your exclusive item!]

‘Really?’

[Yes, with this you can absorb the power of the demon heroes and corrupt the Porter to absorb him too.]

After absorbing some of the Porter’s power once he becomes a demon, the Demon God would have no further use for the Shield Knight.

Instead, he would take over the Shield Knight’s body and seduce the weakened Lin to make her his own.

Then he would transfer all the power that Rainford had diligently gathered directly to Lin.

It was a perfect plan.

Unaware of the Demon God’s true intentions, the Shield Knight was simply delighted with the completion of his exclusive item.

‘Can I test it right now?’

[Of course! Wait….]

“What are you doing here?”

A high, delicate voice.

The person who interrupted their conversation was none other than Ganal.

“I’m disappointed that you entered without knocking, Lady Ganal.”

“This is my room. How dare you enter a lady’s chamber without permission, my benefactor?”

Calm composure and unwavering dignity even in a sufficiently startling moment.

It brought an involuntary smile to his face.

Rainford felt as if his long-held dream was coming true.

“My lady.”

“Benefactor, if you would leave the room even now…”

“No, Princess.”

“…!”

At last, Ganal saw the letter in Rainford’s hand.

The very letter that the World Postal Service had delivered to her in their golden carriage.

Rainford had stolen and read the letter containing the secret of her birth.

“Do you know how happy I am?”

He could finally get rid of that woman who had nothing but her face.

For a more sophisticated, dignified, ideal woman.

“I’ve determined that the current Crown Princess cannot properly rule this empire.”

This was absolute certainty.

“In this moment of despair and darkness, I saw hope in you.”

As Rainford held out the letter, Ganal hastily snatched it away.

“Ganal Karrun, the current Emperor’s last illegitimate child. Come with me to the empire. The empire must prosper under the reign of its true master—you.”

“I have no interest in the throne. Above all, I have someone I love. I will not leave this Zramun Archipelago.”

“Princess.”

As he stood up, Ganal had to look up at him.

The intimidation from his height and muscles was overwhelmingly threatening.

“No one can live as they wish. If there are obstacles, they must be overcome, and if there are those who interfere, they must be removed.”

[Summon exclusive item.]

“What is that voice?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just the voice of my helper.”

The Demon God revealed his voice without hesitation and bestowed the exclusive item upon Rainford.

Demonic energy gathered around the Shield Knight, forming a large kite shield.

[This is your exclusive item, ‘Chaos.’]

“This power…! Truly magnificent!”

[Grasp the shield. Then you will be connected to my power and free from the goddess’s interference. You will be able to wield the power of demons while remaining human.]

Seeing the ominously glowing crimson shield, Ganal instinctively sensed that Rainford had abandoned his humanity.

“Is anyone there! Help…!”

“Ganal!”

“Gendry!”

Responding to his fiancée’s urgent call, Gendry rushed up.

However, Rainford made no effort to hide his exclusive item.

“You… you’re not human!”

“I am human.”

Rainford firmly denied it.

“I’ve merely borrowed power to bear the immense duty of being a guardian.”

“All monsters say that. You demon!”

Thwack!

Those were Gendry’s last words.

Rainford casually swung his shield and smashed Gendry’s head.

“Aaaaaaaaaah!!!!! Gendry-!!!!!!”

“Princess, whether you want it or not, you must prepare for the fate that approaches.”

Dark red demonic energy spread from the Shield Knight throughout the Zramun Archipelago.

It didn’t take long for the demonic energy to dominate the archipelago.

“You will become my companion and atone for the sins of the Karrun family through a reign of peace and prosperity.”

And so, except for Ganal Karrun, the Emperor’s last illegitimate child, all living beings were killed by Rainford’s shield and had their life force absorbed.

The Protek family, which had produced the Second Hero and a Pope and was known as the Shield of the World, along with the Zramun Archipelago, was completely destroyed by the Shield Knight’s hand that day and sank into the sea.