Ch.128Ruide’s Choice (4)

# First Defense Line, Windsor Family Villa

Sophia was laid neatly on the bed.

The healer who had been examining her body for quite some time stood up.

“Her physical condition is normal.”

“Do you know why she’s not waking up?”

“I’m not certain, but…”

Ruide nodded as he looked at the white-haired old man.

“In the past, I cared for a patient in a similar condition. It was twelve years ago, during that massive wave that we’ll never see again.”

He calmly gazed at Ruide.

“Have you heard of the Memory Mine?”

“No.”

“It’s the cruelest mine of all. When someone falls victim to it, their very existence disappears.”

“…Their very existence?”

Ruide’s pupils dilated.

He knew there were various types of mines, but this was the first time he’d heard one could do something like that.

“Yes. No one can remember them anymore. Not lovers, family, not even their own children.”

“What does that have to do with Sophia?”

“Her symptoms are similar to those affected by the Memory Mine. Like a doll, alive but not seeming alive. However… this young lady seems different. She remains in everyone’s memories. This is the limit of my abilities.”

The healer spoke apologetically.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

“No, you were helpful. You may go now.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

After the healer left, Ruide sighed and sat down in a chair.

“So it ends up like this after all.”

He had expected this.

Even if he exchanged the past Sophia with the present one, there was no way a dead person could come back to life.

Even if he exchanged her with the past, Sophia’s death was already “confirmed.”

Ruide was simply curious.

Deep in his heart, was he unable to save Sophia because he harbored “doubt” about his own magic?

Or—was it impossible for even magic to bring back the dead?

“Even if you replace rotten bread with fresh bread from the past, that part will still rot… This has been an educational experience.”

The magic had failed.

But there was some gain.

At least Sophia’s previously ruined body was now intact.

If only there was a way to save her soul, but that seemed far-fetched at present.

Ella was holed up in her room trying to figure out a solution, but this case seemed difficult even for someone like her.

“Is there anything else I can find out? Experimenting further would be unconscionable. So now…”

‘Saving Dellin without any medium is currently impossible. Perhaps it’s best to let the Black Mages revive her on their own.’

If possible, he wanted to save Dellin.

But it wasn’t so simple. Using the Dragon Heart wouldn’t work. Unlike the First Emperor, Dellin had no corpse.

Even in the original story, the Black Mages used the three Holy Relics, not a corpse.

This meant he needed to revive Dellin without a corpse… The only solution that came to mind was using one of the three Holy Relics: “Dellin’s Tear.”

Even that might not work properly.

Ruide stopped his contemplation and stood up.

He opened the closet and pondered for a moment. All the clothes inside were field jackets.

‘In the military, they called this a ski parka, didn’t they?’

It was a thick outer layer made from densely packed “White Bearwolf” fur to withstand the cold.

Although Ruide wasn’t particularly sensitive to cold, he enjoyed wearing it because of the soft polar bear fur lining that felt incredibly comfortable.

It came in various colors: white, black, and green.

Ruide took out the green one and put it on. He zipped it all the way up to his neck. It was a bit heavy, but the overwhelming coziness made up for it.

‘This is it.’

Satisfied, Ruide glanced at the peacefully sleeping Sophia, then opened the door and stepped outside.

It had already been a week since that incident.

Judging it unwise to send the students back to the Academy in this state, Ruide had brought them to the First Defense Line as originally planned.

The students were generally panicking, which was understandable. A friend who had been laughing and chatting with them just yesterday was now dead.

But it wasn’t as serious as it could have been. Although Sophia was just an empty shell without a soul, her outward appearance seemed fine, which earned Ruide their trust.

Thanks to that, he had gained justification to detain them under the pretext of “until Sophia wakes up.”

So the situation was neither grave nor hopeful. Or rather, if there was a problem, it was that everything was too quiet for someone having died.

…Yes, that was the problem.

After stepping outside, Ruide kicked off the ground and flew into the sky.

“…It’s strange. Too quiet. The commoners I know, especially Justin, would normally be causing an uproar. Are they intimidated?”

Ruide frowned as he quickly traversed the sky.

There was a persistent uneasiness in his chest. He spotted where the students had gathered and descended.

They were training. The Swordsmanship Club was under Amelia’s guidance, while the Magic Club was under Hersy’s.

Ruide landed beside Charlotte, who was watching with a yawn.

“Ah, young master. How’s Mafia doing?”

“It’s Sophia, not Mafia. Still the same.”

Charlotte grinned and patted her thigh.

Ruide, with half-open eyes, quietly went over and sat on Charlotte’s lap. Charlotte embraced him and whispered:

“Young master. What are you going to do?”

“……”

Ruide silently watched the training students.

‘But why is Asha over there?’

“Are you interested in that child too, young master?”

“No, not really…”

“It’s amazing, you know? I didn’t know the Academy had someone with such talent.”

“Asha has talent?”

‘Come to think of it.’

Ruide recalled the duel with the Student Council in the past.

Asha, who had been included just to make up numbers, had unexpectedly pulled her weight.

He had dismissed it then, but could she really have talent?

“She’s a coveted talent. With about two years of training, she could join the Windsor Knights without any issue.”

“That good?”

Ruide was somewhat surprised.

He knew how rigorous the process of becoming a Windsor Knight was.

“How should I put it… She swings her sword quite sloppily, but her finishing is good? The process isn’t great, but the results are. It’s a good talent, young master. Did you spot it early?”

“Ah, yeah…”

Ruide answered with a disgruntled expression.

After a moment, he spoke in a small voice.

“We can’t keep things like this forever.”

“You knew that?”

Ruide nodded.

Eventually, they would have to return.

If Sophia could be saved, there would be no problem—

But if not.

“If problems arise, what choice will our young master make?”

Charlotte smiled brightly.

“…I don’t know.”

Rationally, he understood.

What fault did the current Emperor have?

The situation should be resolved amicably.

But emotionally…

The scene he had witnessed was too impactful.

Perhaps Ruide’s heart had already tilted toward the empire’s downfall.

In that state, if the empire used Sophia’s death as an excuse to cause harm.

Then it would seem as if…

Every circumstance was pointing toward the destruction of the empire.

**

Ruide visited Irene’s office.

Having completed her mission at the Fourth Defense Line, Irene had returned to her original duty as “First Defense Line Commander.”

However, there was one unexpected thing…

“Damon. What did I say about dealing with annoyances?”

“Hmph, an easy question. Crush them and kill them. Any other method is simply primitive.”

“Hmm. You’ve learned well.”

‘…What on earth have you been teaching this child?!’

Ruide couldn’t hide his shock.

Damon had always lived with a touch of madness, but now he seemed consumed by it.

“Ah, Rui.”

“It feels like it’s been a while.”

“…What have you been up to?”

Ruide approached Irene with a disgruntled face.

“Come here.”

Irene embraced Ruide and sat down.

While Charlotte held him loosely, Irene’s grip felt like she was preventing him from moving.

It felt almost like being restrained. But it wasn’t particularly unpleasant.

‘This is.’

From his elevated position in Irene’s arms, Ruide could see a map.

The table was quite messy, showing what they had been doing with Damon until just now.

Chess-like pieces were placed throughout the map.

‘Red is for monsters, blue for knights?’

Red pieces were arranged in countless rows.

What was peculiar was that the middle section was empty, like a tunnel.

“A defense line map?”

“That’s right, Rui.”

Irene stroked Ruide’s head and briefly explained.

“As you can see, Damon and I have cleared a path deep into the Fourth Defense Line.”

“You… you hunted monsters with Damon?”

“Special training for Rui’s friend?”

Ruide looked at Damon with wavering eyes.

“It was hardly training. I merely followed behind Irene Windsor.”

“But you were helpful, weren’t you?”

“Indeed. I am grateful.”

“You’ll make a good Emperor.”

‘Really… I can never predict what Irene will do.’

Ruide let out a deep sigh.

Taking Damon along to sweep through the defense line’s monsters out of nowhere.

And even Emperor…

‘Emperor?’

“…Ah, Sister Irene?”

Ruide hastily turned his body.

“What is it? You’re so cute.”

Irene smiled brightly as she unzipped Ruide’s field jacket. His face, which had been half-hidden by the large jacket, was now fully visible.

“What do you mean by Emperor?”

Ruide asked with a sense of dread. Irene blinked and answered without hesitation.

“It means Damon will become Emperor.”

Her tone suggested it was the most natural thing in the world.

“…?”

“You’re twice as cute today, Rui.”

Irene’s eyes sparkled as she caressed his cheek.

“A friend of my adorable Rui should be at least an Emperor.”

“W-w-wait a minute.”

Ruide grabbed Irene’s arm.

“What are you saying, sister?”

“Hmm? Is there a problem?”

“Problem? Of course there is! That’s… that’s saying you’ll commit treason!”

“It doesn’t feel good when you call it treason.”

Damon frowned.

He crossed his arms and declared proudly:

“I’m merely reclaiming what was originally mine.”

“That’s treason…!”

‘How did things end up like this?’

Ruide couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

He knew Irene was eccentric, but he never expected her to gaslight a prince who was living well into declaring “I will become Emperor!” in such a short time.

“Rui.”

Irene lifted Ruide by his armpits.

“Uh, yes.”

“You don’t seem convinced.”

“…Of course not.”

“Then let me ask you the opposite.”

Irene smiled, raising the corners of her mouth as usual.

But her eyes were serious.

“Is there any reason why Damon shouldn’t become Emperor?”

“That’s…”

Ruide blinked.

Come to think of it, there wasn’t any.