Ch.70Before I Die, I Must Kill

# 1.

Babylonia Imperial Palace.

The imperial palace, located at the heart of the empire, was so massive and magnificent that it could be seen even from beyond the borders.

Foreign envoys would bow their heads in awe at the mere sight of such grandeur.

And that wasn’t all.

As if the splendid exterior wasn’t enough, high-level barriers requiring hundreds of billions of gold to activate just once were layered as thick as the walls themselves.

Foreign envoys referred to the Babylonia Imperial Palace as an impregnable fortress of power.

But now.

“Ha! True to your criminal nature, you’re crawling through a window when there’s a perfectly good door!”

“A window is also a door.”

“…?”

The impregnable fortress that had stood for centuries was breached by a single person.

Nahan, now more accustomed to windows than doors, closed the window he had entered through and slowly walked toward Reina.

Platinum blonde hair,

Golden eyes,

Skin that seemed naturally fair but was now tanned.

And,

“…Nice pajamas.”

Bear pajamas.

Trying to remain composed despite the unexpected sleepwear preference, he complimented her, to which Reina responded with resignation.

“…Ignore it.”

“…Will do.”

An awkward silence fell over them due to the situation being somewhat different from what he had anticipated.

Only after Nahan sat on the bedside table did Reina break the silence with a question.

“Have you come to kill me?”

Though she tried to appear calm, Reina could clearly see it.

The Black Wolf before her eyes.

The quiet killing intent in those black eyes,

The aura pouring out like black fog,

The crushing pressure as if being trampled by a giant.

She knew that even if all of <The Light> rushed in, victory against this man couldn’t be guaranteed.

If he had come to assassinate her, she would have no choice but to accept her fate.

But the Black Wolf smirked as if bored and casually replied:

“If that were the case, I would have given you time to change clothes.”

“…I would have told you to ignore that.”

With that, Reina was certain.

‘He hasn’t come to kill me.’

If he truly meant to kill her, he would have done so already and left no trace.

Then why?

Seeing Reina’s tension ease, Nahan instantly withdrew the aura he had been gradually releasing and asked briefly:

“Have you been well?”

“…What?”

A question rather unfitting for a top-wanted criminal to ask an emperor.

‘…Is he insane?’

As Reina pondered this, thinking “Is he crazy?” in slightly more elegant terms, Nahan took a sip of water from the table and spoke again.

“I know you’re in a difficult situation. You may be called the emperor of a thousand-year empire, but in reality, you’re like a castaway stranded on a remote island.”

A gentle tone with a blade hidden within.

“……”

The Black Wolf’s words were true.

Currently, Reina was slowly withering away due to the noble alliance and an enigmatic helper called Eclipse.

But Reina didn’t show it.

She picked up her sword, secured it at her waist, and while warming up her aura heart, she replied:

“Black Wolf. Do you truly not realize that your every word and action is insulting to me?”

“…Well, how does it look to you?”

Trrrrr…

The Black Wolf’s aura, released once more, heavily pressed down on Reina’s entire body as she was about to draw her sword.

Like blue blades resting on her skin, Reina sensed death approaching right before her.

At the same time, she realized:

‘As I suspected, he’s hiding his true power.’

A strength so overwhelming that not just The Light, but the entire empire couldn’t guarantee victory against it.

So Reina contemplated:

‘Is it truly the right decision to reveal my situation to him without filter?’

Is it truly right for the emperor of the continent’s greatest empire to confide in the leader of the continent’s greatest criminal organization?

But Nahan had anticipated her hesitation from the beginning.

He adjusted to a more comfortable position and offered her water.

“Have you heard rumors about us?”

“…Of course.”

“Then you must have also heard that we Black Wolves execute all sorts of villains in place of the empire’s sluggish laws.”

“……”

As Reina accepted the glass of water instead of answering, Nahan calmly continued:

“The rumors are true. We only wish to restore the troubled empire to its golden age; we have no intention of destroying or consuming it.”

This too was true.

Initially, people had misunderstood their actions as they cleaned up trash, but upon reflection, Nahan needed to protect the empire.

After all, Nahan’s top priority was to save good people like the hero, the emperor, and the Black Wolf members.

For them to reach their happy ending, a prosperous empire was essential.

“But we’re reaching our limit in cleaning up trash. That’s why I’ve taken the risk to come here personally—to hear directly and take action.”

“…With such power, what risk is there for you?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

Nahan let out a short sigh, then stood up and approached Reina.

“So tell me. The problems you can’t solve alone—I’ll handle them for you.”

“How arrogant and presumptuous. I am the Emperor of the Great Babylonia Empire. Difficult matters…”

Why was it?

“…Such matters…”

Reina, wavering without realizing it, barely managed to grip her sword as it was about to slip.

“……”

“……”

After a moment of silence,

Only when the trembling tip of her sword stabilized did Reina ask Nahan:

“What is your reason?”

“Reason?”

“The reason you want to change the empire into a golden age… the reason you want to help me.”

After the death of the reliable former emperor and the disappearance of her trusted sister, Reina had endured alone for years in the battlefield that was the imperial palace.

Thus, she understood.

There were no eternal enemies or allies here, and selfless kindness was even rarer.

“Everyone claims it’s natural or necessary, but such people are practically non-existent in this world.”

Golden eyes that seemed somewhat tired, yet still hopeful.

After staring at that gaze for a long time, Nahan smiled and patted Reina’s head.

“So you’re not a completely useless fool.”

Though it was an action meant to establish who was superior, the genuinely affectionate touch only confused Reina.

“W-What insolence…!!”

Reina stepped back in fluster, but Nahan withdrew his hand indifferently and answered:

“Because it’s what your sister wants… Is that answer sufficient?”

“…My sister?”

“Yes.”

My will is your sister’s will.

Of course, it would sound different to Reina, but that wasn’t his concern.

“……Sister.”

The strategy seemed to work well, as Reina’s hardened expression crumbled instantly.

“But… but I…”

“Feeling guilty is fine, but I’d like to finish our conversation first.”

After waiting for a moment…

…Clang.

Finally putting down her sword, Reina gathered her thoughts and spoke:

“Let’s make one thing clear. Nothing happened tonight. Even if you, Black Wolf, help me from now on, I know nothing of it.”

She would accept help, but would cut ties the moment they became entangled.

It was vexing to hear such words from someone receiving help, but…

‘…I’m the one who needs this.’

Once he prevented all bad endings and reached the happy ending, he’d give her a flick on the forehead then.

“Understood.”

“…Well then.”

Based on the trust built by selling Lactea, Reina carefully began:

“The noble alliance’s goal is presumably to depose me. They scheme behind the scenes, then pin everything on me to build up my infamy.”

“Haven’t you tried to stop them?”

“Impossible. The noble alliance has a significant advantage in social and information warfare.”

Indeed, with their frequent parties and numerous servants, it would be easier for nobles to create and spread rumors than for the emperor.

Moreover,

“Though not critical, they’ve proposed reckless laws that endanger the citizens, keeping me and my officials tied to the palace so we can’t counter the rumors.”

“So you can’t find even a moment to fight back?”

“I could make time, but innocent citizens would die in masses due to the unchecked laws. Besides, even if I explained now… I’m not sure anyone would believe me.”

Nahan nodded and closed his eyes.

‘Let me summarize.’

The noble alliance commits evil acts, then frames Reina for them.

To resolve this, the emperor must act personally, but they hold citizens hostage to restrict her movement.

Reina, who prioritized citizens over politics, complied, resulting in numerous infamies piled upon her.

Now, even if she stepped forward to explain, no one would believe her as the infamy had solidified…

“So you had no choice but to endure, knowing what was happening.”

At Nahan’s sharp words, Reina’s head dropped slightly.

“You truly are incompetent, Reina.”

“……”

She couldn’t refute it.

Since being thrust into the role of emperor, she had always been incompetent.

If it had been her sister, she would have explained before the infamy solidified; if her father had been emperor, the nobles wouldn’t have dared to oppose.

The current situation was caused solely by her, Reina Babylonia.

But,

“…I have no regrets.”

If she had left the palace to clear her name, laws favorable only to the nobles would have passed relentlessly.

Citizens would have suffered from hunger or died in masses.

Though even she considered it a meager best effort, that effort had protected countless citizens.

“…No regrets…”

Yet she knew.

If she had been the former emperor,

If she had been her sister Lactea,

If she had been just a bit more capable,

She could have been an excellent emperor who protected citizens without losing her authority.

“…I really am…”

As Reina’s head lowered further.

Tap.

Nahan gently held her chin with his left hand, while his right hand stroked her platinum blonde hair as he whispered:

“But you were magnificent.”

Before Nahan’s eyes appeared a status window.

【Name: Reina Babylonia】

-Alias: Incompetent Emperor, Tyrant

-Rank: SS-class

-Information: Born good and strong, but not ruthless enough to be emperor. Throughout her reign, she strived to save her citizens, resulting in numerous infamies. But because of that, <12,325,453> citizens have survived until now.

His touch was too familiar, as if he didn’t know she was the emperor, but,

“…Thank you.”

For a brief moment, and for the first time in a very long time, Reina could cry with relief.

.

.

.

A few minutes later.

After wiping away her tears as if nothing had happened, Reina asked Nahan:

“So, what do you plan to do now? The noble alliance is more solid than you think.”

Their leader, Duke Hallorand, had military power comparable to the imperial legions and might confront her directly if given justification.

Currently, she had lost both legitimacy and power, waiting only to wither away.

No matter how strong the Black Wolf before her was,

No matter how powerful the Black Wolves he led were, what help could they offer her?

“Kill them all.”

“…? Wait. What are you—”

“Don’t worry. It won’t take more than a few days.”

“No, wai—”

“Write down the names of those who give you the most trouble, those who particularly hate you, and those who seem ready to kill you at the first opportunity.”

If I kill them one by one, you won’t have to die.

And originally,

“You have to kill before being killed.”

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【Bad Ending 9 – <Death of the Emperor>】

【In progress…】