Ch.145Chapter 145

The disaster came suddenly.

And disasters, surprisingly, could be triggered by a single word.

That was the case now.

“Kyaaaah!”

“Execute the traitors!”

The moment the Knight Commander uttered those words.

The knights who had stood as guardians of this landscape instantly transformed into killers, stabbing and slaughtering the divine folk indiscriminately.

The stronger divine folk were managing to block the knights’ attacks with their endurance and escape, but the weaker ones were being stabbed to death where they stood.

The humans present weren’t just standing idle either.

“I knew these damn creatures had evil intentions all along!”

Having heard just one statement from the Knight Commander, they suddenly erupted in extreme rage, catching a divine folk who had barely managed to escape, beating them collectively until they died.

Huh?

What’s going on?

I tried to focus my eyes to regain my normal sense of reality amid this sudden paralysis, but this utterly incomprehensible atmosphere made me lose my composure again.

Suddenly?

Why?

As I witnessed this mass hysteria, countless questions flooded my mind, but the one that struck me hardest was: ‘Without any evidence, just from hearing a single statement?’

What had the Knight Commander done?

He had merely grabbed a 10-year-old child with one hand, then claimed the Empress had assassinated the Emperor.

He hadn’t even shown the Emperor’s dead body.

Yet these people, as if following a predetermined plan, were killing the divine folk mercilessly without a moment’s hesitation.

“Damn it.”

Something was wrong.

I couldn’t help but think so.

I needed to check the situation.

How could I let such a bizarre situation continue?

But Aghartha grabbed my arm, her expression somehow anxious.

“Don’t go, Raedan.”

“Why not? People are dying out there, and you want me to just watch?!”

“You’ll be in danger.”

When I heard Aghartha’s words, it felt like a nail had been driven into my heart.

Did she think she wanted to just watch the divine folk die?

She must be shocked by this absurd situation too, but she was holding me back out of concern for my safety.

But could I call myself a true knight if I stood idle at a time like this?

A knight should never have regrets or shame about their actions.

“I’m sorry, Aghartha.”

“…!”

I quickly pulled my hand free from Aghartha’s grip and ran.

Aghartha seemed to be hurriedly following me, but she apparently had limits in keeping up with me, blessed as I was by Oko.

It pained my heart, but I had no choice.

“Raedan!”

With Aghartha’s voice echoing behind me, I rushed toward the battlefield.

#

The once peaceful plaza of Lintpia was now drenched in blood.

It was truly a scene of hell on earth, as they would say in Eastern countries.

Unable to stand by and watch, the divine folk had begun to fight back.

In their counterattack, the knights who had come to kill them met the same fate as the divine folk they had been slaughtering.

War had finally broken out.

But it was still just a small-scale conflict that could be ended if the truth was revealed now.

Twisting my body to dodge all attacks amid the battlefield where people were killing each other indiscriminately, I managed to reach the palace.

The scene in front of the palace was even more horrific.

A group of divine folk had gathered at the palace to kill the Knight Commander who had falsely accused them.

And the mages were casting spells on them, reducing them to states too terrible to describe.

“Ugh.”

The sight made me nauseous, but this was no time to hesitate.

Fortunately, all the mages and knights were focused on the divine folk.

They probably wouldn’t even notice me.

Carefully moving my feet, I successfully infiltrated the palace while avoiding them, and quickly headed to where the Knight Commander would be.

“You…!”

“No one passes without the Knight Commander’s orders!”

Other knights spotted me and blocked my path, taking defensive positions.

I was at an absolute disadvantage since I had no weapons.

But I had no reason to be intimidated.

Thud, thud!

“Ugh!”

“Gaaah!”

I easily dodged the spears and swords rushing at me with movements I had trained for years, then subdued them with strong punches to their solar plexus and the back of their necks.

Looking at their faces contorted in pain, I felt sad.

They were friendly knights who had returned from the mission with me today.

Something was definitely wrong.

My danger detection sensor was blaring loudly.

After climbing the stairs without rest, I finally reached the Emperor’s bedroom.

Now that I was about to enter, fear washed over me.

I had no idea what situation awaited me inside.

I slapped my cheek hard, making sure not to make a sound.

To think such weak thoughts now.

Whatever situation I faced, I needed to set things right.

Only then could my precious people live in peace.

Creeeeak.

When I pulled the door, it opened with a grand sound.

And inside…

The Emperor, collapsed and bleeding.

The Empress, crying as she watched him.

And.

The Knight Commander, poised as if about to stab a child he was holding.

No thoughts came to mind.

Before I knew it, I had already kicked the Knight Commander, sending him falling from a height of about four floors.

“Aaaaargh!”

Oh dear.

I committed insubordination.

That wasn’t my intention.

This is why one needs to stay focused at all times.

I often lose my rationality over trivial matters.

Sigh.

Should I really escape to another world with Oko?

Setting aside the already bleak future, I put down the child I had rescued.

With golden hair and beautiful red eyes, the child was quite beautiful.

A child destined to become a great beauty.

The cute spider-shaped mark on the chest indicated this was the child of the Emperor and Empress.

Hmm.

“Princess, are you alright?”

“Y-yes.”

The Princess still wore a shocked expression, her face reddening.

She must have been terrified by the Knight Commander.

I tried to check her condition, but she suddenly jumped back in surprise and twisted her body.

Well.

I suppose it’s right to let her compose herself alone for now.

“…F-father…”

But the Princess only looked at her father with worried words.

Despite nearly being killed herself, this Princess was worried about her father.

I thought it was usually difficult for royal families to show such love to their children.

I quickly ran to the bleeding Emperor.

At some point, the Empress had also moved to the Emperor’s side.

“Your Majesty!”

“…Is that Lord Tanthyn? Heh, I’m sorry to show you such an unsightly appearance. But this is all my own doing.”

The Emperor was coughing while uttering words I couldn’t understand.

It was probably a reflexive action to expel the blood rising up his esophagus.

And those words seemed to be directed not at me, but at the person beside me.

“…I never wanted you to die like this.”

Then, the Empress began to speak.

“I just…! I only wanted to hear one word of apology from you, just that short phrase. But why… how did things end up like this…?”

“Calm yourself, Empress. This isn’t your fault.”

The Emperor caressed the Empress’s tear-streaked face with a trembling hand.

“It was my fault. How could I let myself be manipulated by that woman over mere threats…?”

“Manipulated…?”

“It’s all my fault. If only I had thought a little more, cough! Ugh.”

“My love!”

“Your Majesty!”

The Emperor coughed several times and then breathed roughly.

It meant death was imminent due to excessive bleeding.

“To die so futilely… when there’s so much I need to say…!”

“Your Majesty!”

One thing was certain.

The Emperor’s death was definitely not self-inflicted.

I could instinctively sense that there was some hidden truth.

The Emperor, too weak to move, grabbed my arm with a trembling hand.

“Ugh, Lord Tanthyn. There is something I wish to ask of you.”

“…What is it?”

“These final words… I know they may burden you… but thinking of my people, my empire, and my beloved divine folk, I cannot remain silent.”

The Emperor’s expression grew solemn.

It was the same awe-inspiring expression he always wore when addressing his people.

“Even if this empire falls to ruin, please ensure that everyone can smile in the end. This is my final request to you, who has received The Curator of Life’s favor.”

As soon as his final plea ended, the Emperor’s body gradually lost strength, and his complexion turned pale.

Tears poured from the Empress’s eyes, and the Emperor’s clothes became soaked with her tears as if fully receiving her emotions.

“No, no!”

“Empress, though I was an untrustworthy man until the end, please believe these words.”

The Emperor, as if using his last strength, pulled the Empress’s head closer for a kiss.

When he spoke his final words, the Emperor’s expression still seemed filled with remorse.

“I never once thought of you as different just because you were of divine folk.”

As if reminiscing about something, the Emperor’s aggrieved expression gradually transformed into a smile.

It was a very happy expression.

“I simply met you, loved you, and wanted to spend… my life… with you…”

With those words, the Emperor breathed his last.

They say the Emperor’s bedroom was filled only with heart-wrenching sobs.