Chapter 254

Chapter 254

“If it’s the Emperor I know, you wouldn’t make such a ridiculous mistake. Wouldn’t you, Your Majesty?”

I landed beside the Emperor and spoke to her. A barrier magic was in place to prevent the Imperial Knights from approaching, but it seemed that beings recognized as allies could pass through without resistance, allowing me to enter easily.

In the meantime, a minor argument, or rather a debate, had occurred between the Emperor and Isis, but from my position a little distance away, Isis’s words were a hundred times more correct.

“Elysia….”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I told you before. I am the sword of Goddess Serena, and also Your Majesty’s sword. I came to save Your Majesty.”

“…You’ve come at a good time. Hurry and take Isis with you and leave this place.”

However, the Emperor, still not comprehending the situation, told me to abandon her. Naturally, I had no intention of fulfilling her absurd request. I thought I just had to save the Emperor, but it seems I also have to correct the Emperor’s misguided thoughts.

“Your Majesty. The Hero and the Empire’s foremost Archmage are here. What exactly are you afraid of?”

Of course, what I and Isis can do with our strength alone is limited. But even so, could we really not manage to help her escape?

“…I see many things. I see that you are sincere right now, and I also see your true identity, Zeno Frentz.”

At that moment, in a completely unexpected situation, someone completely unexpected called out my name. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t flustered.

In fact, if I thought about it a little, it wasn’t strange for the Emperor to know my true identity. Even Lindy, a mere information broker, had figured out my identity, so with the Empire’s Emperor’s intelligence network, it should be within reach…

“No, that’s not it, Frentz. Your true identity doesn’t require the Empire’s intelligence network.”

However, while I was thinking, the Emperor’s voice suddenly cut in. Moreover, her tone suggested she knew what I was thinking.

“That’s why I’ve been saying it since a moment ago. I can see it. What you’re thinking right now, and what your true identity is.”

“Then, really…?”

“Yes. You finally believe me. That’s an interesting expression. So, you two should leave now.”

The Emperor, who had shown a flustered reaction to Isis’s confession and my arrival, quickly regained her composure and said.

“Still, shouldn’t we at least make a final desperate attempt!”

“Enough. This is just repeating a meaningless argument.”

Her voice was so calm that it didn’t sound like someone facing imminent death. In fact, the Emperor’s attitude made me even angrier.

“Even if I leave this place, something will surely happen. It might even cause greater damage. The arrangements I’ve made might become useless. It’s simply the end of my destined path, so please don’t be too angry.”

“…Don’t make me laugh.”

It’s natural to get angry when you’re angry. Even if the woman before me was the Emperor, I couldn’t stand it any longer. If she wasn’t going to get angry, then I would have to get angry from now on.

“Destiny? Clairvoyance or whatever, you accept the end of your lifespan as destiny?”

I grabbed the Emperor by the collar and pulled her close, declaring to her. My voice was a growl, a seething sound.

“I don’t know what ‘destiny’ Your Majesty is talking about. But if Your Majesty insists on acting like this, then I have no choice. You clearly said it yourself. That your end is here.”

Perhaps she considered it the very end, as she remained unfazed by my rudeness.

“Yes. You understand well. Then, quickly….”

“In that case, I will take the destiny that Your Majesty has given up.”

So I declared. I would steal what belonged to the Empire’s Emperor.

“Leave… What?”

“You see, I was supposed to end my life as a mere assassin. But even in that destiny, there was someone who held my hand until the very end, which is why I’m acting as the Hero.”

Celian, who held my hand through several repeated lives. If it weren’t for her, I would have met a tragic end as a being that was human in form but not in spirit. I don’t have Clairvoyance like the Emperor, but I know for a fact that this was my original destiny.

“Since you know my identity, there’s no need for further explanation. The continent’s greatest assassin is now becoming the continent’s greatest swordsman, so why should I hesitate? If Your Majesty gives up on yourself, claiming your end is near, then I will steal Your Majesty’s destiny.”

I released her collar and stepped back, raising the sword I held.

“From now on, if Your Majesty wishes to discuss your end, my head must be there as well.”

Slowly, I moved away from the Emperor and went to the edge of the barrier to look outside. The Imperial Knights were still swinging their swords, and the barrier magic, which seemed to be at its limit, was cracked in many places. It appeared that the infected individuals who came here were carefully selected elites from the Imperial Knights, as most of them were high-ranking knights, including the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Knight Commanders, and even those whose faces I recognized.

Even if they hadn’t reached the level of Sword Master, they were on the verge of it. With so many such individuals, it would be foolish for me to confront them head-on. Moreover, I have no intention of killing those controlled by Glen. Naturally, subduing them is more difficult than killing them.

But that’s precisely why I stepped outside the barrier and declared to her.

That your end is not here.

“From now on, I am Your Majesty’s destiny.”

So, sit there as always and watch obediently.

*

Despite my spirited entrance, they were, as expected, not easy opponents. Since they were from the same knight division, they displayed exquisite joint techniques, making the situation extremely challenging.

Moreover, unlike the other infected individuals I had encountered earlier, Glen seemed to have paid special attention to these knights, as their strength and reaction speed were beyond human limits. Although their mouths were shut, they seemed to be thinking to some extent.

The situation would have been much better if I hadn’t resolved to preserve the lives of the infected knights. By awkwardly controlling my power, the situation became even more difficult.

As I narrowly dodged the swords swung at me from both sides simultaneously, I naturally asked myself again.

Is it justifiable to cut them down?

But my answer remained the same.

No.

I cannot guarantee whether the infected individuals can regain their original consciousness. On the other hand, if I show half-hearted mercy, I could be in danger in this urgent situation. It’s not just my life at stake, so rationally speaking, cutting them down is the right thing to do.

Rational.

What a convenient word to use. If it were my past self, as an assassin, I would have followed reason and cut them down without hesitation. There’s no downside to following reason.

There would be no need for guilt, and I could survive as promised to my friends. Not only would I protect the Emperor, but no one would blame me even if I cut down the knights controlled by Glen.

But I declared.

That I would become the Hero in your stead.

It wasn’t a declaration to the Goddess who gave me the name of Hero, nor to the holy sword in my hand, nor to the people of the continent who placed their hopes on the Hero, nor even to myself.

It was to you.

To Celian. To her, who abandoned all reason and pursued only the irrational for my sake alone.

Even if the whole world pursues reason, the one who pursues irrationality alone is the Hero.

Thus, I was saved by you.

WHAM!

A knight, struck by my sword, flew away powerlessly. Then, unlike before, when he had gotten up and charged multiple times, he simply slumped down as if his strength had drained away.

Immediately, three sharp swords pierced towards me, filling the gap, but I dodged them with an almost effortless twist and sent them flying again. The one I sent flying this time was someone I had seen before, the 3rd Imperial Knight Commander.

However, despite his exceptional skill, even with his physical abilities enhanced by Glen, he was struck down and knocked unconscious so powerlessly.

I raised the holy sword, which shone particularly brightly today, and vowed once more.

No matter how irrational and unavoidable destiny may be, I will never yield. That is because I am the Hero.

Yes. What I want to show the Emperor is not merely that I possess the power to protect you.

All of this is to prove that, just as Celian saved my destiny, I wish to save your destiny.