Ch.206206. Disturbance (2)

“We’re departing! Everyone to your positions!”

At an elf’s resonant voice, the forest guardians moved in perfect unison to form their formation.

Once the formation was completely set, as if there was no more reason to dawdle, our unwavering march began.

Of course, this decisive appearance was possible because our day’s tasks had already been determined.

‘What we’re doing today—’

A continuation of what we experienced yesterday.

‘Complete neutralization of the altar.’

Yesterday, due to the attack by the half-demon half-humans and Demonkin, we not only failed to take definitive measures against the altar, but before long the sun set and the moon rose. As a result, we couldn’t damage the altar beyond repair and had to leave that ominous place to find a campsite.

‘And we might be able to find something there about their intentions or something related to them.’

Today, our plan was to first thoroughly deal with the altar that had been staining the surroundings with demonic energy, and if possible, search for traces or clues of those demon worshippers.

Having experienced what we did, we were returning to yesterday’s battlefield with heightened vigilance.

Meanwhile, Sione quietly spoke to me.

“…Ray, don’t you think people around us are too conscious of us?”

“Isn’t that natural? It was none other than you, Lady Sione, who found all those demon minions last night. Of course they can’t help but pay attention.”

“That may be true, but…”

Sione shook her head slightly.

“Still, I wish they would react plainly like you and Diolia.”

…Diolia reacting plainly?

“I… think Lady Diolia is the one giving the most burdensome gaze…”

“Huh?”

“Haven’t you noticed?”

“Noticed what?”

“Like she’s witnessing the return of the honorable first head of the County—”

Diolia hastily interrupted our conversation.

“Ahem… Ray…?”

But what’s the point of interrupting? When you’ve done something wrong.

I quietly stared at her sword intently, then gently touched my neck while making eye contact with Diolia.

“Hmm…”

She must have felt guilty about something too.

Seeming to think it would be better to endure this level of teasing, she retreated without further protest.

“The one who was staring at Lady Sione’s back with shining eyes was Lady Diolia… Her gaze was full of admiration, as if she were looking at a historical figure.”

“No way. Ray must have seen wrong. Even so, to say I’m the return of the ancestor.”

The moment Sione turned her head sharply and looked at Diolia with a questioning expression.

“There’s no way that the cool-headed Lady Diolia would do something so obvious to others’ eyes. No matter what, that’s a bit of an exaggeration—”

Sione could see Diolia bowing her head deeply, unable to easily meet her eyes.

“…Lady, is it true?”

“I-I know nothing about it.”

“Your voice is trembling, unlike you…”

“…No, well… as a knight of the County. How could I not recall the heroic tales of the first head when seeing you accurately locate Magia and command the battlefield.”

“……”

“…I was merely showing proper respect as a knight serving the County.”

Sione and Diolia shared awkward smiles while avoiding each other’s gaze, then quietly resumed walking forward.

My master seemed to appreciate Diolia’s excessive admiration but also found it quite burdensome. And Diolia, whose cool knight personality differed quite a bit from what I had described, was experiencing internal cognitive dissonance.

Diolia, perhaps embarrassed that her private feelings had been exposed directly to the person concerned, cleared her throat several times, desperately trying to shake off her embarrassment.

Watching their varied expressions was quite an entertaining spectacle, so I observed them with a small smile before recalling what Sione had said initially.

‘People around us are being very conscious of us.’

Certainly, there was some truth to Sione’s words.

The behavior that Sione and I showed during the night was quite special. However, there was something else I could sense.

‘…It seems the Ianet side is quietly sending glances our way.’

Beyond yesterday’s events. I could feel gazes from the direction of Ianet’s forest guardians, looking at us with some kind of intention.

Especially two figures who appeared to be the most important among them.

‘One is obviously Airine.’

One elf who had begun speaking after yesterday, and.

‘And the other one is—’

The forest guardian who was always behind her, keeping only Airine’s back in sight while slaughtering enemies.

That person with the distinctive mechanical tone and fighting style, who had been completely indifferent to anyone except Airine. Finally, she had begun to actively show interest not only in Airine but also in Sione and me.

‘Could they be plotting something?’

I couldn’t help but be suspicious.

The Airine I knew was an elf who could rightfully be called the puppet of the family head. Whether it was Airine who came here on the orders of that cunning elf, or the elf attached to assist her.

They might act as variables, especially since they were showing such great interest in Sione and me, which could potentially affect us.

As I was watching the backs of those two who were most conspicuously aware of us.

“…?”

I could see Airine’s head turning slightly again.

Her gaze, which had been directed at Sione, soon reached me. The moment our eyes met, she turned her head forward again as if nothing had happened.

Friel, who was beside her, seemed to notice Airine’s action. After looking at Sione and me, she stared at Airine with a slightly hardened expression.

“……”

There was a reason Sione had mentioned that others were very conscious of her.

If she had been feeling and confirming the gazes that Airine and Friel were sending her way repeatedly, I would have found it burdensome too. For someone who quickly tires of others’ constant inexplicable stares, it would certainly have been troublesome.

‘Ianet—’

I quietly observed Airine, and the elf who followed her like a shadow, quietly to the point of tedium.

‘It would be better to remain vigilant until I understand their intentions.’

More than Arielt, Ianet. And according to my intuition—

At least in my eyes, she appeared to be nothing more than a performer who had to play according to someone else’s score. Someone who mechanically monitored and adjusted whether the performer behind her was playing the keys according to the score, ensuring no different expressions or emotions were included.

It would be better to keep a closer eye on her.

Especially, I particularly disliked her arrogant elven eyes that came from her lack of emotion.

* * *

The Emperor of the Empire had lost her light.

The woman who had once been a wise ruler had now fallen to become a tyrant, either meddling with neighboring countries or indulging in luxury and pleasure. Most of the nation’s internal affairs were handled not by those who offered honest counsel but by flatterers with oiled tongues.

For centuries, the prestige of the Empire that had commanded the world was not easily extinguished. Its brilliance still remained, but due to her misrule, it was certainly, slowly declining.

Today again, the Emperor, who was enjoying luxury with the national treasury’s wealth, was displeased by the official who came during her time of indulgence.

“So why have you come here? And—”

Her sharp eyes scrutinized the woman before her.

Soon, a wrinkle formed between the Emperor’s brows.

“Without any notice. And even wearing armor and carrying a sword in my presence.”

A sharp voice.

But the official was busy slowly presenting her report rather than trembling in fear.

“Your Majesty, urgent news has arrived.”

“Oh? Urgent news. Are you saying this urgent news is important enough to disturb my pleasure?”

“……”

“Go ahead and recite it.”

With the Emperor’s permission, the official took a moment to compose herself.

After organizing her racing heartbeat, taking a deep breath, she began to deliver the urgent news she had received to the Emperor in a resonant voice, without missing a single detail.

“Rebels have risen in the eastern and southern parts of the Empire and are marching toward the capital!”

“What?”

“Both the south and east have been confirmed to have committed sins related to demons and heresy, and they continue their march, plundering and destroying all surrounding cities and villages.”

“What are the Sword and Flame of the South, and the Spear and Shield of the East doing?”

The official’s eyes trembled greatly at the Emperor’s words.

She tried her best to suppress her trembling heart and made an effort to deliver the news in an even louder voice.

“The wicked ones of the south joined the rebels and betrayed the Empire the moment the rebellion arose!”

The major families of the south were in league with them from the beginning.

“The Shield of the East died for the country after a final resistance against the rebels and the Holy Spear… no, the traitor Demon Spear!”

In the east too, resistance forces existed at first, but the outcome was not good.

“Your Majesty! Please prepare for war for the sake of the Empire! An iron hammer against these wicked factions…!”

The Emperor listened quietly to her outcry, and then began to express her anger with a completely distorted face.

Crash!

The wine glass in her hand shattered into pieces, unable to withstand her grip.

She sat askew on the throne and began to speak.

“Do you know why I chose the path of tyranny over the path of righteousness?”

“……”

“It is because I realized that I am a ruler more suited to tyranny than righteousness.”

“……”

“Two kingdoms have disappeared by my hand to become part of the Empire. I have always crushed the struggles of those who lost their countries, subjugated them, and given benefits as imperial citizens to those who were trained and obedient. Tyranny was much more fun than boring righteousness, and this was good not only for my amusement but also for the Empire. Thanks to this, hasn’t a larger and more powerful Empire been created?”

“……”

“The next generation will surely rule an even more brilliant Empire and praise my great achievements.”

It was from then that the Emperor’s calm tone became intense.

“But… to think that there are those who would rebel against an Empire with such a brilliant future promised. It is truly lamentable.”

The Emperor was furious.

“Prepare the army.”

And so she intended to wear a sword and command the battlefield directly once again.

“I will cut off the heads of all these vermin myself. To survive, they will have to bow their heads before me and spend the rest of their lives as slaves.”

She was a ruler who never avoided battle, and an Empress with outstanding military leadership.