Chapter 95: Michael #3

Chapter 95: Michael #3

‘Who was that maid?’

I couldn’t recall her name.

I remembered seeing her long ago, fighting the Lich.

She was probably a skeleton dragon. A subordinate of the Lich.

Was it Arena, or Yurice… She was quite strong.

For some reason, Anna felt a sense of familiarity.

Even though she was an enemy, it felt like meeting an old friend.

‘It was so much fun back then.’

The days when I adventured without a second thought, just following my whims.

The days when I was still pure, when we were called the Hero’s Party.

‘I was young too.’

Defeating the Lich, having adventures that would amaze everyone around the world.

Anna’s memories drifted to happier times.

Michael is still cool now, but his eyes seemed to sparkle more back then.

Eden, who is now dead, and Akasha, whose whereabouts are unknown, were also there.

‘But why am I thinking about this now?’

Suddenly, my mind snapped back to reality.

‘This isn’t that, is it? Reflecting on the past before dying… Damn it!’

Anna desperately tried to regain her composure. It wasn’t the time to reminisce about the good old days.

The appearance of that terrifying maid meant that we were in a dire situation.

*Flash!*

As a blue blade lunged at her, Anna instinctively teleported, changing her position.

Anna’s body was violently thrown nearby, as if tossed by a giant.

There was no time to calculate coordinates and perform a precise teleport. If she had been even a fraction of a second late, her head would have been severed like the chief mages.

“Ugh-“

My stomach churned, and I felt nauseous. The sudden change in spatial coordinates felt like my internal organs had been churned into a pulp.

‘This is dangerous…’

Through my blurring vision, I could see the portal. With the fierce blizzard at my back, undead were ceaselessly crossing over into our world.

Their numbers were too vast to count. By a rough estimate, there were well over a thousand.

‘Hahaha. We’re screwed. Even Michael might find this a bit overwhelming?’

I could vividly picture the scene of undead soldiers emerging from underground and sweeping through the unprepared capital.

This is cheating, Anna grumbled. So cheap. We should fight fair and square.

Swish-

A shadow moved.

Without giving me a moment’s respite, Alice targeted Anna again.

Teleport again. However, this time, my reaction was infinitesimally slower than before.

In terms of time, perhaps zero-point-something seconds. Just that much.

Crackle-!

But because of that difference, Anna lost the light in one of her eyes forever.

‘This is really bad. I can’t see.’

Eyes can be replaced with artificial ones. It’s fortunate enough that I’m still alive.

But, can I escape?

I wasn’t sure.

‘It seems it’s no use.’

As long as that persistent, hound-like maid is after me, it’ll be difficult for Anna to teleport to the surface and escape.

How wonderful it would be if Michael miraculously appeared and saved her at this moment.

‘Such a fairy tale event is impossible.’

Anna smiled bitterly.

Perhaps I knew this from the beginning.

Although Michael’s future and Anna’s future seem to be in the same direction, they are ultimately different.

Anna had only ever watched Michael’s back. She had always hoped he would turn around and reach out to her, but…

It was now a wish that would never come true.

‘Michael, I’ll do what I can before I go.’

I want to be of help. Even if it’s unrequited love.

Anna gathered all the remaining magic in her body.

Scrape-

Even amidst that, Alice’s attack continued. Something that was part of Anna’s body, whether it was an arm or a finger, was helplessly torn away.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

I have no lingering attachment to this body anymore. I couldn’t even feel pain now.

Through the blood droplets scattering in the air, Anna glared at the portal.

Even if I have to die, I must destroy that before I go.

Anna’s eyes, nose, and mouth began to emit a powerful flash. Anna felt a burning sensation coursing through her veins from head to toe.

She was now a human bomb, no, a human sun itself.

“You won’t have your way…!”

Anna burst into maniacal laughter.

Let’s die together.

She threw herself with all her might towards the portal. And waited for the light, heat, and vibrations that would fill the entire space.

That would be the end. Anna, and the portal.

However, the spectacular ending Anna had anticipated did not come.

Anna saw.

Beside the portal, Estel, looking down at her with cold eyes.

She saw her suicide attack, carried out at the cost of her life, rendered futile as if sucked away by a single gesture from Estel.

‘Ah, damn it. Nothing is going right, even at the end. My life is truly something.’

Anna sensed the end of her adventure.

It was long if you considered it long, and short if you considered it short.

It was regrettable. I regretted it anew.

If only I had made slightly different choices in the good old days.

If I had focused only on adventures that made my heart pound, instead of things like the Empire or the Emperor,

Would the outcome have been different?

A moment later, the world turned dark.

***

The capital’s defense capabilities were second to none.

This was a fact that even the Empire’s enemies acknowledged without question.

In the era before the Empire was the Empire, when it was just one of many warring minor kingdoms.

The previous king, who possessed foresight into the future, devoted himself to the defense of the capital with an obsession that bordered on madness.

He didn’t discriminate whether the technology was human, elven, or dwarven.

Some even rumored that, to strengthen the defensive barrier, human sacrifices were secretly offered under the Emperor’s command.

The Empire’s walls grew taller and thicker with each passing day.

The capital repelled the attack of a million-strong anti-Empire coalition army, gathered under the banner of destroying the Empire. Since then, no enemy had dared to challenge the capital.

Even if the Empire were to fall, as long as the capital remained intact, it could be rebuilt at any time.

The capital was the ultimate bastion designed for a thousand years of glory.

“Our army’s defense posture is flawless. Even the title of ‘Iron Wall’ would be an insult compared to the capital’s ramparts. Iron rusts, but the capital remains steadfast no matter how much time passes.”

The general in charge of the capital’s defense said, puffing out his chest.

Michael merely nodded without much reaction. His gaze swept over the triple-layered walls and the soldiers in strict formation.

Michael was, after all, merely one of the Empire’s Knight Commanders. At least, nominally.

However, Michael inspected the army’s discipline as if it were natural, and the generals did not question it.

‘I must make a good impression no matter what. The current Emperor is finished. This person, Michael, will undoubtedly be the next ruler of the Empire.’

The general was desperately trying to make a good impression on the much younger brat.

Others might laugh, but it didn’t matter.

Let them laugh if they want! The general was a pragmatic person.

Public opinion could change in an instant, like flipping a palm, within the power dynamics.

“The sunlight is quite strong today. Duke Michael, aren’t you thirsty? I just received a few bottles of excellent wine…”

Michael waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed.

The general, misunderstanding the gesture, beamed and quickly gave instructions to a soldier.

“Oh! I understand. Hey, what are you doing? Go fetch some wine from my cellar. The best one, quickly!”

The soldiers ran off. Meanwhile, the general stayed by Michael’s side, showering him with flattery.

However, Michael was not interested in the general’s rambling at the moment.

‘The report is late. Anna, your work is slow.’

Michael’s only concern was whether the sealing of the Lich had been properly completed.

Yet, even though it was noon and the sun was high in the sky, there was still no news from Anna.

‘Perhaps I should have handled it myself instead of leaving it to Anna.’

Michael’s mood soured.

Unlike when they were active together in the adventurer party, Anna had become increasingly lazy. Lately, everything she was asked to do resulted in disappointment.

‘It’s time to find someone new.’

Even if she was a young genius, replacing the head of a magic tower was easily done.

If Michael, the ruler of the Empire, summoned her, a mage like Anna would surely line up, begging to be employed.

In Michael’s opinion, Anna had long lost her former brilliance.

She was still useful as a woman. However, getting caught up in such carnal desires would lead to ruining great endeavors.

“Our capital defense forces, through realistic training… always maintaining vigilance…”

The balding general droned on beside him, showing no signs of fatigue.

Michael’s ears were starting to ache. He wanted to tell him to shut his mouth, even for a moment, but he managed to hold back.

“Hey.”

“What is it?”

Michael pointed his finger towards the capital. Not outside the walls, but inside.

The general’s eyes widened.

“Is that also part of the training?”

Where Michael was pointing, flames were rising. Black smoke was already curling towards the sky, and the murmur of people could be heard all the way to the ramparts.

“Uh…”

The general narrowed his eyes. At the point where he couldn’t answer, the general had already given his answer.

“What… what is that? Hey! Are you conducting a fire drill or something?”

The general raised his voice irritably. Even if it were a drill, it was inexcusable for the general not to be aware of the training schedule.

And to show such incompetence at a time when Michael was conducting an inspection!

‘These idiots…!’

The general gritted his teeth. When Michael left, he intended to flog and punish everyone involved, from the low-ranking soldiers to those in charge.

“No, sir. There is no fire drill scheduled. It seems to be… a real situation. And, well, it’s not just fire- there are reports of unrest…”

“What!”

The general’s face turned ashen. Without realizing it, the general looked back at Michael.

“……”

Michael, with a corpse-like expressionless face, stared at the rising black smoke.

As if sensing the fate awaiting him beneath the black smoke.