episode_0013

-Passion!

As soon as the artifact exploded with an intense sound, Leader Kel’Thazar let out a scream.

“How dare he!”

The man was angry and shouted, but immediately corrected himself because it was impossible to catch the culprit. If you keep getting excited, nothing will happen. You must think and judge as rationally and calmly as possible. Kelthasar thought so.

“Check the video every second and check who did the attack. Because there is a possibility that it is Leos.”

It is rare for a normal person to see a long-distance flying artifact and call for rescue, but to destroy it like this. However, since there was a possibility that a monster may have done it, Kelthasar was cautious. The place where the artifact was destroyed is the center of where the Red Gate chain reaction is occurring.

This is because if troops were to be deployed, they would have to endure enormous damage. It is not right to waste troops on suspicion alone. There was a need to be cautious as we had to prepare for a long-term war.

‘Of course, if that guy Leo did it, I’ll go catch him.’

In the current situation, Leos’ value cannot be compared to anything else. He was the only person who could kill all the mutant monsters coming out of the Red Gate, and the only person who could seal the upper-level Red Gate.

“Have all the lower-level Red Gates been subdued and sealed?”

As Kelthasar spoke, his subordinate bowed his head and answered.

“The low- and mid-level Red Gates around the imperial palace were subjugated and sealed with the help of the imperial wizards and gatekeepers. However, in the case of a high-risk Red Gate, as mentioned above, sealing is not possible without Leos’ ability…”

“How many people were affected?”

“5 low-level Red Gates and 7 medium-level Red Gates were subdued and sealed, resulting in the deaths of approximately 500 knights.”

“You can’t do it that way!”

Kel’thasar shouted, slamming the table furiously.

“Leos single-handedly defeated the mutant monster appearing at Red Gate. It probably wouldn’t take him less than a minute to defeat a low-mid level Red Gate. Why is it that what a single man can do on his own can only be achieved by investing the lives of knights!”

“That is…”

As the members of the Imperial Shadow Corps spoke while looking at each other, Rakart, who was listening next to them, spoke.

“Kel’Thazar. What’s making you so hot? Of course, it’s not because your empire’s shadow group lacks the capabilities.”

“Do you want to die?”

When Kelthasar glared at Rakart, the man shook his head and responded.

“Yes, that attitude is the problem. Do you think you can give truthful advice to your subordinates when they glare at others and make a fuss just by saying one word like that? No matter how much you fly and crawl, you are only one person. So, open your ears and listen when I give you advice. There aren’t many people who can tell you this, right?”

“The Imperial Shadow Corps is not lacking in capabilities. We are the empire’s most elite troops…”

“So, those so-called elite units are kicking out Leos, who is said to have outstanding abilities? They even made me go to trial and put me in prison, so even if it were me, I wouldn’t come back.”

“Apparently all gates throughout the empire had disappeared.”

“Like a fool, they immediately abolished the department just because the gate disappeared for a few years, and this is what the division is like. Pathetic guy.”

“It was an order from superiors.”

“It’s idiotic to criticize everything just because it’s mentioned above. Kel’Thazar, you need to act with confidence. Just looking at the tail that says yes makes you feel like a dog of the empire?”

“What’s bad about that? The Imperial Shadow Corps exists solely for the sake of the Empire. That goes for other people too. We are just fulfilling that calling a little closer.”

“You did it that way and now this division arose. What do you think would have happened now if Leos’ achievements had been properly recognized and the department had been properly maintained?”

“…”

“This is what happened when the top saw everyone as a tool. If you had treated me like a human being, this wouldn’t have happened. Leos thought that he was a used product and threw it away. The result is this.”

“What do you want to say?”

“They are saying that even the Emperor will be taken to kneel before Leos.”

Kel’Thazar immediately thrust his sword at Rakart’s neck.

“Any words or actions that insult His Majesty are subject to immediate death. Rakarte, if it weren’t for your achievements, I would have already killed you.”

“For how long we’ve been together, you’re so cold-hearted. And I have to say Kel’Thazar’s words straight.”

Rakarte took one look at the sword around his neck, then struck it down with his hand and smashed it.

-Changerang!

With the sound of metal being shattered, Rakarte turned his back and walked out, speaking.

“Kel’Thazar, I was the one who saved your life. I never let those who point a knife at me live.”

*

Rakart muttered, looking blankly at the whirlpool stained with the Red Gate above the Empire.

“The world is tilting.”

The man next to Rakarte lowered his head and answered.

“The empire is in ruin. The Empire’s response is very slow compared to the speed of the Red Gate creation.”

“I know too. If we continue like this, we will be unable to do anything and be devoured by monsters. No matter how you block the low-level and mid-level gates, you cannot block the high-level gates, so monsters continue to pour in from there every 24 hours, and in the meantime, new gates are created, and the vicious cycle repeats.”

“What would you like to do?”

“What can we do? Our role is to kill people, not politics or monster hunting.”

Leader of the Empire’s assassination team. Rakart muttered while looking at his sword.

“You are being punished. It is clear that he is being punished for blindly following the empire.”

“Didn’t you work for the empire more than anyone else?”

“Yes, but even I will end up being replaced like that guy Leos one day. The emperor and his associates will think that all institutions are just accessories that work for them.”

“…Why do you say such things if I am a spy for the imperial family? You must be careful. There may be a royal henchman hiding within our assassination team.”

“Faron.”

“Yes, Lacarte.”

“You can’t be a spy for the imperial family, right? You’ve been with me for several years.”

“…”

Faron was silent.

“Right, Faron?”

“Do you want to answer honestly?”

“No. Don’t do it.”

Rakart threw the sword in his arms in front of Faron.

When Faron looked at him as if asking what he was doing, Rakarte smiled and said.

“It’s the only weapon I carry. From now on, I will tell you my actions, so if you want to go to the imperial court and report, you should stab me with it. I think that would be less miserable.”

“…”

Faron slowly took the sword in his hand. Rakarte turned his head and walked towards Faron step by step as he spoke.

“The empire is rotten. People who should be recognized are not recognized, and countless people are dying because even one gate has not been resolved, but they are turning a blind eye to this. All institutions under the empire are the same. Even though they know about the emperor’s tyranny, they pretend not to know.”

“…”

“Leos is also one of the victims of the imperial tyranny. I saw the video he left. He’s an expert. So much so that I can’t think of anyone who can compare to it. We need him. But if we leave this rotten empire as it is, he will never help us.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I will cause a coup.”

Faron looked at Rakarte with startled eyes for a moment. However, the man moved towards the knife that Faron was holding, and now he was close enough that his neck was stabbed by the tip of the sword and blood was dripping from it.

“Calm down. You’d better change your mind.”

“I’m not saying I’m going to wake it up right away. I’m going to stage a coup, kill a few damn people, and head to the center of the Red Gate Vortex.”

“Why is there…”

“One of the assassination team discovered it. The high-level Red Gate is sealed there.”

“…!”

“There is only one person in the empire who can seal the Upper Red Gate. The higher-ups don’t know yet. I intentionally concealed the information. There is our hope.”

“I don’t know anything else, but you shouldn’t stage a coup.”

“Then change the order. Let’s find that man, make him join us, and destroy the empire together. how is it? If you were a Leos with a grudge against the Empire, wouldn’t you want to join us?”

“What will you do if we don’t do it together?”

“I will hit my head in the imperial palace and die alone. Regardless of whether he responds or not, my actions will be no different. I thought about this series of situations. They won’t change the regime of this trash empire. Otherwise, even if the gate is resolved, the same thing will happen every time another threat comes.”

Rakarte smiled and raised his head.

“Faron, what do you want to do? If you just push the sword in, you can block me.”

“…”

Faron dropped his sword on the ground and lowered his head.

“If I follow you, I will be chased for the rest of my life.”

“To whom?”

“Of course it’s an empire.”

“I’m about to bring down that empire.”

“…”

Faron thought for a moment, then knelt on the ground and spoke.

“I will abandon the empire and follow you.”

Rakarte smiled and turned his head. And then he shouted to the assassins around him.

“We all head to the vortex of Redgate in search of Leos. He will be the key to this coup.”