chapter_0162

161 – The One Who Flies Above the One Who Runs

161 – The One Who Flies Above the One Who Runs

No sooner had Daniel finished speaking than the Grenadiers split to the left and right, occupying the assembly hall.

With each orderly thud of the Grenadiers’ boots, the nobles involuntarily flinched.

Duke Belvar, however, remained motionless, simply staring intently at Daniel.

Amidst the almost palpable tension, Belvar spoke first.

“…Congratulations. You’ve won, Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

Belvar leaned back in his chair.

Despite the certainty of defeat, his gesture was relaxed.

“Seeing soldiers storm the assembly hall, it’s only a matter of time before you seize the Imperial City. With the justification of overthrowing the noble alliance that sought to subvert the nation, we’ve practically given you wings.”

Belvar, with a self-deprecating laugh, shrugged.

“So, how does it feel? To have the Empire in your grasp?”

For Daniel, it was a rather unpleasant question.

Belvar was speaking as if ‘the thing you desired has come to pass.’

Daniel frowned at the subtle sarcasm.

“You’re being disingenuous. It’s not I who will have the Empire, but His Imperial Majesty.”

“Oh? You intend to return all you’ve accomplished to the Emperor?”

“You presume too much. It’s not a matter of returning it; the Empire rightfully belongs to His Imperial Majesty.”

“That’s not entirely wrong. But do you truly believe others will see it that way?”

“Duke Belvar.”

Daniel called out his name, intending to silence him, but Belvar persisted.

“Even if you return everything to His Imperial Majesty, the people will remember this day. They will remember that Daniel Steiner led nearly twenty thousand troops into the Imperial City to overthrow the noble alliance and wielded absolute power.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“It’s simple. Whether you desire it or not, the way people look at you will now be tinged with awe. That awe will include obedience to power and heartfelt loyalty. I consider this a kind of ‘privilege.'”

Belvar’s eyes narrowed.

“One’s position creates privilege, and privilege grants the power to dominate others. The reason I was able to gather the noble alliance and usurp power from the Emperor was because of the privilege inherent in my title as Duke. Have you ever heard this saying?”

Belvar leaned forward.

“Those who possess privilege are bound to become corrupt.”

If Belvar had enjoyed privilege through the power and influence stemming from his ducal family’s background, Daniel Steiner’s numerous achievements were themselves a form of privilege.

Daniel Steiner, who would now be called a master strategist beyond being a war hero, would undoubtedly enjoy even greater popularity than the Emperor.

Popularity makes people follow and swear allegiance.

That was power, privilege, and an inevitable fate for Daniel Steiner.

“Count Caledra, the leader of the Allied Nations far away, turned his own king into a puppet, and I, too, was blinded by power and started a rebellion. So let me ask you, Colonel Daniel Steiner. Do you believe your end will be any different?”

You are not fundamentally different from me.

Therefore, you too will meet a miserable end, just like me.

“Don’t become complacent and arrogant in your current victory, Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

As he listened to the almost curse-like words, one of the nobles abruptly stood up.

It was Baron Bentarto, adorned with numerous trinkets.

“I don’t know what you think you’re doing! Duke Belvar! You should be ashamed!”

Bentarto rebuked Belvar and turned to Daniel.

A smile spread across his face, but the forced smile was distorted, and his cheeks trembled.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner? There’s no need to listen to that villain’s words. I believe the Colonel simply did what he had to do. And let me add, I didn’t voluntarily join that villain; I was merely coerced into it…”

Bentarto stopped speaking.

Click! The Grenadiers standing on either side of the nobles simultaneously raised their rifles.

Bentarto was silenced by the sight of the soldiers aiming at the nobles with their rifles shouldered.

The other nobles, too, were terrified, either looking down or sighing softly.

Seeing this, Belvar burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! That’s it! Now you seem to understand how to wield power! Truly, Colonel Daniel Steiner. I guarantee it. You could become the worst and greatest dictator of all time. Just like Count Caledra far away!”

Even with soldiers aiming rifles at him, Belvar didn’t stop spouting words.

As if he wasn’t afraid of death.

‘Conversely…’

He was acting arrogantly as if he had to die here.

More precisely, as if he ‘had to die at the hands of Daniel Steiner.’

Daniel, having grasped Belvar’s intention, chuckled softly.

At this, not only the nobles but also Belvar looked at Daniel with puzzled expressions.

“I see. I understand now, Duke Belvar. You wish to become a martyr.”

A momentary look of bewilderment flickered in Belvar’s eyes, who had been acting superior all along.

Noticing this, Daniel spoke without erasing his smile.

“You’ve determined that the best course of action is to provoke Daniel Steiner here today and die. Daniel Steiner, unable to control his anger, kills Duke Belvar in a fit of rage. No matter how much Duke Belvar was the leader of the collaborators, public opinion wouldn’t be favorable.”

“…”

“The backlash wouldn’t be significant, but some media outlets would relentlessly attack me. Of course, that wouldn’t last long either. His Imperial Majesty would be sure to take control of the media first. Yet, why would Duke Belvar desire even that brief period of chaos?”

Daniel slowly moved his feet.

“It must be because causing even a brief period of chaos through his death would be necessary to tie Daniel Steiner’s feet for even a few days. If so, for what purpose?”

Daniel, pretending to think, stroked his chin and stood next to Belvar.

Daniel, looking down at Belvar who was staring straight ahead, said as if whispering.

“You’re trying to protect your family, Duke Belvar.”

Belvar felt as if every hair on his body was standing on end.

Daniel, watching Belvar involuntarily sweating, quietly continued.

“Unfortunately, I never intended to kill Duke Belvar from the start. Didn’t I say? That you wouldn’t be sent to hell, but that you would experience hell. Ah. Do you perhaps remember?”

Daniel placed his hand on Belvar’s shoulder.

“When we were talking to each other at your mansion. I clearly told you then that if you could go back to the past, you should make a wise choice, and you agreed.”

Daniel lightly brushed off the dust that had settled on Belvar’s shoulder.

“And yet, you stubbornly stepped onto the threshold of hell. Since you ignored my warning, there’s nothing I can do now. Then, shall we ask you something?”

Daniel leaned down and whispered into Belvar’s ear.

“Are your family currently heading to the Allied Nations?”

Belvar gasped and gripped the armrests of the chair tightly.

It seemed impossible to endure otherwise.

His heart was racing uncontrollably at the thought that Daniel Steiner had seen through him.

‘Calm down. Even if Daniel Steiner has noticed, he won’t be able to catch up. It’s been several days since they departed from the Imperial City…’

But contrary to his thoughts, his breath was becoming intermittently blocked.

He thought that Daniel Steiner might have prepared another plan.

Daniel, noticing Belvar’s irregular breathing, straightened his body.

“Don’t think about becoming free through death. It won’t be too late to die after witnessing the downfall of your family and hearing the resentment of your family.”

With those words, Daniel turned to the soldiers.

“Grenadier Battalion. Bind them all and take them to the central plaza!”

At Daniel’s command, some of the Grenadiers approached.

When they tried to restrain them with ropes, some of the nobles dared to scold them for being presumptuous soldiers, but of course, it was of no use.

Belvar was also forcibly raised by a soldier and restrained with ropes.

It was ironic, he thought.

The master of a prestigious family that had served three Emperors was now being swayed by a mere soldier.

“Move! Right now!”

As the soldier shouted loudly and pulled his body, Belvar staggered.

Immediately afterward, he trudged along like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

It was a truly pathetic end for someone who had briefly enjoyed the pinnacle of power.

But now was not the time to indulge in sentimentality.

“Everyone else, follow me!”

Now there was only one thing left to do in this Imperial Palace.

“We’re going to the highest floor of the Imperial Palace!”

It was to rescue His Imperial Majesty, who was imprisoned in the room called the Golden Resting Place.

Author’s Note

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