Ch.216215. Starting Point (1)

# 215. The Starting Point (1)

On a pitch-black night when darkness seemed to have swallowed the world.

It was exactly three months since they had become the dragon’s head.

That night, at the heavily guarded imperial border.

An uninvited guest arrived at the walls protected by at least hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

And without anyone noticing.

‘This is rather easy.’

Though there was clearly a proper barrier standing firmly in place, the guest broke through it as if to make a point.

Then, as promised, headed toward a nearby tavern.

Despite it being nighttime, the tavern had only one customer. Wearing a black cloak and black hat, the guest approached that lone customer.

A young man who was visibly still young, yet tremendous energy poured out from him.

“As always, I’m curious how you manage to break through.”

“Barriers are meant to be broken if you know how.”

The woman said as she took a seat.

She possessed so much magical power that it was suspicious to call her human.

Almost like a demon.

The woman greeted the young man, whom she hadn’t seen in quite some time, albeit a bit late.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, not really.”

“How was I supposed to know they would do that… I didn’t know either…”

The young man stared at her sharply for a while before saying:

“Well, it can’t be helped… More importantly, is it starting now?”

“Yes, only about a week? That’s all we have left.”

A week. Even so, a week was relatively plenty of time.

The young man asked the woman with a serious expression.

“But why so soon?”

“I received a mission.”

“A mission?”

“Yes, an assassination mission.”

The people they were targeting weren’t just one or two.

However, if there was one person who needed to be killed first, there was a clear candidate.

“Her Majesty the Empress?”

“You know well. They told me to kill her as soon as possible. That’s why I’m here.”

“Seems like you’ve earned their trust?”

It was truly an important mission.

Not some minor task, but one that could completely overturn the dynamics of the war.

Bael had entrusted such a mission to this woman.

“I doubt that’s the case.”

“Then what?”

“They’re just giving it to me because I’m the only one who can do it. And that one-week timeframe I mentioned is just my estimate. Originally, they asked me to invade by the day after tomorrow.”

It seems they consider Lilith a nuisance and plan to discard her after she completes the mission.

Just let Lilith die and use the ensuing chaos to invade…

“But how will he know if Her Majesty is dead? Unlike before, there’s no way to confirm it…”

“Who knows? Anyway! Are the preparations properly in place?”

“Yes, as far as we can manage.”

Of course, no matter how much money is spent on barriers and numerous devices, they would all be cut down by that Solomon.

In the end, the actions of the powerful are what matter most.

And Lilith knew this fact very well.

“As long as you and I do well, that’s all that matters, understand?”

“Easy to say…”

“Saying it like that makes me feel like I’m putting pressure on you.”

“It’s not just a feeling; you are putting pressure on me.”

“Don’t feel too burdened by what I’m saying. There’s nothing good that comes from it anyway.”

Hearing those words, the young man put down the fork he was holding and stood up.

Then he extended his hand toward the woman.

“Whatever happens, let’s do our best. We’re already in the same boat.”

Hearing those words, Lilith accepted the handshake.

And then she replied:

“Right, if we die, we die together.”

“That’s a bit…”

“What? Don’t like it?”

“Talking about dying feels strange. I want to live a long life…”

The young man’s expression became complicated as he said those words.

There was clear anxiety in his eyes.

But they weren’t entirely dark eyes.

He was clearly thinking positively about the current situation.

“And it’s not so bad, actually.”

***

The scale might have grown larger, but the possibility itself was greater now than before.

However, my feelings were different from back then.

Back then, no matter how unfavorable the situation, I felt we would win. Now, even though the situation seemed manageable, I couldn’t shake the feeling we might lose.

The man who had been silently listening to my story finally spoke.

“So there’s really not much time left?”

“Yes, according to my estimates.”

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Of course I’m worried. It’s war, after all.”

War inflicts countless wounds, and those wounds make this world painful.

Yet, war has always been a part of human history.

Knowing this, people still continue to wage wars.

“It feels like it’s just beginning now, even though this war has been going on for quite some time.”

“It is just the beginning, you’re right. But…”

The Emperor shifted his gaze toward where Lucerne was, with a gloomy look.

I knew who that gaze was directed at.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Since the Empress couldn’t come to the border, we left her in the imperial palace and headed to the border.

Of course, there were guards protecting the Empress.

But naturally, it was more unsettling than when he was protecting her directly.

“I just can’t help but feel uneasy…”

The Emperor was anxious despite Andres being there to protect her.

Of course, I understood his feelings.

If I were in his situation, I wouldn’t be much different.

“If you’re that concerned, perhaps adding more soldiers would…”

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“How much do you know about the enemy forces?”

“I know about the number of executioners and their abilities.”

He suddenly approached me.

Then, with an intensely serious expression, he grabbed my shoulders with both hands.

“Then… when the battle begins, if the enemy’s numbers are overwhelming, could you return to Lucerne?”

“That’s not impossible… but there’s one problem.”

“What is it?”

It takes quite some time to get from here to Lucerne.

Even by train, it would take days, and even though I’m known for my speed, I would clearly be too late.

However, it seemed he had already thought of this.

And for quite some time…

“If you’re worried about being late, don’t worry. I’ve made preparations.”

“Perhaps… a teleportation magic circle?”

“Of course.”

He was far more meticulous than I had thought.

A teleportation magic circle from here to Lucerne would have required preparation at least a week in advance.

“Then it’s possible.”

“If you go, take Ally with you. I think it’s better for you two to move together.”

“Yes, understood.”

I wasn’t particularly thrilled about that, but caution was certainly necessary.

Even if the main force achieved victory, if the Empress died, everything we had done so far would be for nothing.

‘But if someone comes, it would be either Agareus or Bael… can we win?’

Agareus would be somewhat manageable, but against Bael, there would be no answer.

Bael not only freely used numerous spells but also possessed considerable raw power.

With sheer force alone, he could defeat someone like me.

That’s why, even if she went with me, there was no guarantee we could save the Empress.

“I hope such a situation doesn’t arise.”

“Of course, that would be best. But life isn’t so accommodating.”

“I know that too.”

“So even if it’s a bit troublesome, please do as I ask.”

“Yes…”

With those final words, he ended the conversation and headed to his room.

The loneliness felt from his retreating figure.

That figure so blatantly conveyed the responsibility shouldered by an emperor of a nation.

Moreover, he was now separated from the Empress, who had been his only support.

‘He’s just like Her Majesty the Queen back then…’

She had the exact same look back then.

More troubled than anyone else, but unable to easily confide in anyone.

Especially with his personality, he wouldn’t open up to anyone except the Empress.

“I hope this ends well.”

I wish this would end quickly so I wouldn’t have to see him like that anymore.

Though given the current state of the war, that seems unlikely…

“By the way… when did you arrive?”

An uninvited guest.

That guest had been beside me for some time.

And when I spoke, she was startled.

“How did you know?”

“Just a feeling, that’s all.”

“You’re better than that barrier.”

“That’s a given.”

“You seem a bit sensitive lately?”

Maybe I was.

But this was natural.

It would be more rational to think that person who acted as if nothing was wrong was the strange one.

“I can’t help it…”

“By the way, I haven’t seen her much lately?”

“Who?”

“Your girlfriend. Is it okay to leave your boyfriend alone like this?”

“…”

I didn’t give any particular answer.

Instead, I looked at her tilting her head behind the person who had spoken.

“Where are you looking… oh? Hello?”

“It’s been a while.”

“You brought her?”

“Yes, just as you said, she came along when I mentioned her.”

Lilith was looking back and forth between the two of us for some reason.

I asked the distractedly behaving Lilith:

“Why are you looking at us like that?”

“Nothing… you two just seem to get along really well.”

“What a pointless thing to say…”

I stopped such trivial conversation and gazed at the vast plain stretched out before me.

Originally, this place was a beautiful forest full of greenery, but now it was hard to find even a single blade of grass or living creature.

However, this empty plain would soon be filled in some form or another.

“I’m looking forward to it.”