chapter_0164

163 – Recording History

163 – Recording History

Daniel wanted to extract insider information from Johannes while keeping him alive, but it was a futile endeavor. Johannes, unaware of Lucy’s true identity, could not fathom Daniel’s true intentions either.

“Do you still not know who I am? If I were to surrender, I wouldn’t have drawn my sword.”

Johannes, resolute in his determination not to back down, began to draw in the mana from the air.

Taking a deep breath, he rotated the mana accumulated within his body and assumed his stance.

He stepped forward with his left foot, bent his upper body, and tilted the hand holding the sword at an angle.

At that moment, Lucy, confirming that Johannes was about to attack, drew the dagger she had at her waist.

Bang!

Johannes, who had struck the ground, closed the distance in an instant.

‘The target is Daniel Steiner…!’

He intended to eliminate him in one strike before he could use his Neural Acceleration tricks.

For Johannes, who had accumulated countless experiences, beheading an opponent from this distance was an easy task.

Moreover, he was confident that even a Neural Acceleration Ability User would not be able to react in time.

‘Your mistake was letting your guard down with me in front of you.’

Just as Johannes tightened his grip on the hilt and prepared to swing his sword, a hazy figure loomed in front of Daniel Steiner.

He sensed something was wrong, but it was too late to withdraw his sword.

Clang!

The sword he swung collided not with Daniel’s neck but with the dagger, sending sparks flying.

Only then did Johannes see clearly.

It was Lucy Emilia, standing in front of him with her crimson eyes flashing.

“……!”

Johannes was taken aback, but before he could process his emotions, his body moved instinctively.

Calculating the angle where their blades met, Johannes instinctively twisted his sword and thrust it forward.

Whoosh—

However, the tip of the thrusting sword merely grazed a few strands of Lucy’s hair.

Daniel had also stepped back the moment Lucy intervened, causing the sword to slice through empty air.

Johannes immediately tried to retract his sword, but Lucy’s dagger was faster.

Feeling the impending danger, Johannes pulled his head back just in time to see a silver trajectory flash before him.

In that brief moment, his eyes trembled, and his fingertips twitched.

Feeling like he had encountered a wild beast, Johannes leaped back in a hurry.

Thud! Landing on the ground, Johannes wiped the cold sweat from his neck.

‘It was close…’

If the attack had been just a bit deeper, his head would have been severed.

The realization sent chills down Johannes’s spine.

Swallowing hard, Johannes looked at Lucy, who was staring at him with her dagger in hand.

“……You have the eyes of a killer. Even after crossing the line of death just now, you show no signs of agitation. How many people have you killed so far?”

Lucy did not respond.

It was as if she felt it wasn’t worth answering.

“I can’t believe it. I wouldn’t have thought someone your age could possess such skill. What’s even more surprising is…”

Johannes’s gaze turned to Daniel.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner. You act as if you know that woman’s abilities. This isn’t a normal relationship. Why on earth are you hiding such a monster?”

Boom! Johannes felt the air grow heavy in an instant and closed his mouth.

This was no mere illusion.

He could vividly sense the air around him pressing down on his body.

‘……A gravitational field?’

Did she form a reverse field within the Astral Hall in such a short time?

‘And as an individual?’

It was a bewildering phenomenon, but he couldn’t afford to be surprised.

Lucy had begun to charge at him.

Instinctively thinking that the outcome would be decided in this exchange, Johannes explosively rotated the mana within his body.

Freed from the oppressive gravity, Johannes steadied himself and waited for an opportunity.

‘That woman must think that the gravitational field she created has slowed down her opponent’s movements.’

If he could exploit that misunderstanding, he could turn the tide in his favor.

Steeling himself, Johannes pretended to struggle under the heavy gravity.

He could see Lucy steadily approaching him.

‘Not yet.’

He tightened his grip on the sword’s hilt and waited for the right moment.

Finally, as Lucy came within striking distance, Johannes swung his sword explosively.

The sword, wielded by his enhanced body, created a gust of wind that tore into Lucy’s body.

He could vividly see blood erupting from the diagonal cut on Lucy’s body.

Yet, he felt none of the unique sensation that came with cutting through flesh.

‘Ah.’

It was the moment Johannes sensed his impending defeat.

Slash—

With a sharp pain, Johannes’s arm, which had been gripping the sword, was severed.

As his blood sprayed, his arm fell to the ground, and Lucy’s figure vanished like a mirage.

Turning his gaze, he found Lucy standing not in front of him but right beside him.

Holding a dagger stained with blood.

Only then did Johannes understand everything.

‘A hallucination…!’

The moment his eyes met Lucy’s, he had been caught in an illusion and had struck at nothing.

Gritting his teeth in pain, Johannes managed to speak.

“What are you…?”

To Johannes, who had spent decades honing his skills, Lucy Emilia was a monster that far surpassed the realm of humanity.

“A monster disguised as a human…!”

Johannes’s eyes turned bloodshot.

Gritting his teeth, he glared at Lucy, but the sound of clattering boots made him turn his head.

Daniel Steiner was approaching, pulling a revolver from his coat.

Gasping for breath, Johannes found himself stepping back unconsciously as he shouted.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner! Tell me what this woman is! You must know! Why have you been hiding such a monster?”

His words were a desperate plea, but Daniel felt no need to respond.

He simply continued to walk slowly, the sound of his boots echoing.

To Johannes, it felt as if death was approaching with Daniel’s every step, and he exhaled heavily, retreating further.

Then, without realizing it, his foot slipped, and he fell to the ground.

Daniel, who had stopped in front of Johannes, raised his revolver.

The barrel was aimed at Johannes’s head.

“I told you, didn’t I? If you value your life, drop your weapon and surrender.”

“Daniel… Steiner…”

“You are the one who has thrown your life away without value, Johannes. This is the result of your choices, so do not blame anyone else.”

Even as pain clouded his mind, Johannes felt a surge of anger.

“Don’t think that killing me will end everything. History will judge you!”

That was not an incorrect statement.

“Yes. This incident will be recorded as one of the significant events in the Empire’s history. However, you are unaware of one thing: history is written by the victors.”

Johannes’s eyes widened in shock.

“You will be recorded in history as the incompetent commander of the Imperial Guard who betrayed the Emperor. Even a thousand years from now, the citizens of the Empire will regard you, Johannes, as the worst traitor alongside Belvar, the leader of the collaborators.”

Daniel Steiner knew.

This was the very thing that those obsessed with honor feared the most.

“Farewell, traitor Johannes Kunz.”

Johannes, who had opened his mouth in shock, let out a furious scream, but it was short-lived.

Bang—

The bullet that escaped the barrel pierced Johannes’s forehead precisely.

With his face contorted in rage, Johannes collapsed to the ground, bleeding profusely.

At that moment, the door to the Astral Hall opened, and the Grenadiers rushed in.

The sound of gunfire had penetrated through the thick door.

“Commander! Are you alright…?”

The Grenadiers, who had been worried about Daniel Steiner, could only stand in shock, unable to speak.

They had discovered Johannes bleeding on the ground before Daniel Steiner.

“The commander has… defeated the Imperial Guard…”

“I heard he was skilled, but…”

“Oh my God.”

Naturally, the soldiers thought that it was Daniel who had fought the Imperial Guard, not Lucy.

However, whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, the distance was such that Daniel could not hear them.

“Lieutenant.”

At Daniel’s call, Lucy lightly bowed her head.

“Yes, Commander.”

“I will go up alone, so you will lead the soldiers and apprehend all the collaborators remaining in the Imperial Palace in my stead.”

“As you command.”

After hearing Lucy’s response, Daniel nodded lightly and headed toward the exit of the Astral Hall.

The door that Commander Johannes Kunz had risked his life to defend opened easily at Daniel’s gesture.

–

At the highest level of the Imperial Palace.

Bang—

The gunfire echoing from the floor below made the Imperial Guards standing in the corridor flinch.

They knew that Johannes usually carried a sword instead of a pistol.

So, hearing gunfire meant that the commander had been attacked.

Amidst the silence of the Imperial Guards, who were bewildered and could not comprehend what was happening, Daniel appeared in the corridor, having climbed the stairs.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

The medals of the National Virtue Medal and the Golden Cross Medal, stained with blood, exuded an intimidating presence.

After briefly surveying the gathered Imperial Guards, Daniel moved forward without uttering a word.

Normally, the Imperial Guards would have been expected to stop Daniel, but they could not bring themselves to do so.

They merely bowed their heads and stepped aside, as if he were their direct superior.

As Daniel passed between the Imperial Guards, he finally reached the door of the Golden Rest, where Selvia was imprisoned.

Two officers stood at the door, but neither could meet Daniel’s gaze.

Glaring coldly at the officers, Daniel slowly spoke.

“Open the door.”

Turning his gaze, Daniel thought of Selvia, who was somewhere beyond the door.

“I will personally check if His Majesty the Emperor is alright.”