episode_0020

Thump, thump, thump!

Even after boarding the returning carriage,

Elaine’s heart refused to settle down.

In the end, she covered her face with both hands.

It seemed like that was necessary for her to feel a bit better.

Where did this courage come from?

She hadn’t intended to bring up the engagement from the start.

She just wanted to have a serious conversation with the prince once again.

However,

Seeing the two people sitting on the swing suddenly turned her stomach.

The beautiful knight with red hair.

The moment she raised her fist to strike the prince.

No other thoughts came to mind.

So, leaving the viscount who had come with her behind, she ran alone.

She lifted the hem of her dress with both hands, but unlike the maid’s attire, running wasn’t easy.

Yet she ran.

That’s how she stood in front of the prince.

When facing the prince, there was only one thought in her mind.

“You say you fell for me at first sight.”

“How stubbornly you insisted you would never marry anyone else but me…”

The emperor’s words kept echoing in her mind.

Was it courage, audacity, or desperate hope?

Honestly, I still don’t know well.

But if I just stayed still,

I felt like I would definitely lose the prince to that beautiful knight who clearly wasn’t ordinary.

So, I shouted.

Let’s get engaged.

Fearlessly.

“Sigh-”

My head hurts.

I was so confused due to the unorganized speculations and the emotions leaping around like a startled bull stung by a bee.

It was because too many things changed too suddenly.

The drastically altered situation at the viscount’s estate, the viscount now acting like my father, all of it was an unbearably strong stimulus.

I was anxious.

Like a sudden summer shower, all these changes came out of nowhere.

I feared they might vanish like foam in an instant.

Then our eyes met.

It was somewhat natural for the resentment I had been holding back for a long time to impulsively burst out.

Rather, it didn’t seem unexpected at all.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

Her uncharacteristic severity laced her voice sharply.

The viscount merely looked on with a stoic gaze, unable to utter a word. “Why now? Are you trying to act like a father all of a sudden? After driving Mother away so miserably?” Like a predator chasing its prey, Elaine’s words burst out even more fiercely. Tears streamed down her eyes. Somehow, from the moment she mentioned the engagement to the prince, she felt a dizzying sensation as if a firmly closed iron gate in her heart had swung wide open. That’s why she was freely spewing words that should never be uttered, especially considering her status. It wasn’t because she had gained trust from the emperor. Nor was it because she was soon to be engaged to the prince. It was because her unrestrained heart kept leaping around like an untethered calf, ruthlessly lashing at her like a whip-wielding overseer.

***

“……”

Elaine’s father, Asterus Bart.

Right now, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything to his daughter who was glaring at him. He had done nothing as a father for her until she turned eighteen. He knew very well that he didn’t even have the right to make excuses. The words he said in front of the emperor were not for his daughter’s sake. He would never have said them if it weren’t for her. Merdia Bart, daughter of the late Viscount Karlyan and Lady Bart, was never someone he intended to marry. Viscount Bart truly loved Elaine’s mother. He was determined to marry her. Her former status as a maid meant nothing to him. Money overflowed, and there was nothing money couldn’t solve. Then, just before their marriage, the Bart family, which held sway over the entire continent, began to rapidly decline due to repeated crises. Amidst this, he lost his own father, the former viscount. The Bart family was the largest family in the empire. The number of vassals under their control was countless. If the family were to collapse, countless people would become unemployed overnight. During those restless nights of insurmountable worries, the only one who reached out to help was none other than Viscount Karlyan, who belonged to the Shulein Duke’s faction. With his assistance, the Bart family, teetering on the brink of ruin, could barely recover. That’s why…

The demand of the viscount to marry his own daughter was something that couldn’t be refused. Even after Katia, his unwanted daughter, was born. He couldn’t forget the woman he loved. That’s why Elaine was born. As if waiting for this moment, he took Elaine and her mother as hostages. Viscount Karyan began to steadily seize control over Bart Manor. It was a cruel shackle, an endlessly cold metal that felt like it was tightening around his throat every moment. Nevertheless, in order to protect the woman and daughter he loved, there was no choice but to endure it. Thus, he had to ruthlessly drive away the woman he loved. He even had to pretend that his beloved daughter meant nothing, all while slowly stripping away the control of Viscount Karyan, who had worked tirelessly to dominate the manor. Then, something unbelievable happened. Suddenly, Elaine’s treatment changed from the Marquisate. It turned out that Katia had fought and won against her mother. The surprising events didn’t stop there. It was around that time when a royal decree arrived from the emperor. And then yesterday… a document of unknown origin arrived from Lord Gerund, who was undoubtedly in the underground prison. Everything was clearly written there. Why Bart Manor suddenly faced a crisis. Everything. It was at the direction of Duke Shuraine, who sought to put Bart Manor in jeopardy. Under the wicked man’s orders, Lord Gerund attacked Bart Manor throughout the continent, undermining its value and credibility through various despicable means. Duke Shuraine was the avenger who killed his father. Consumed with anger, I spent the night with eyes wide open. Then, as the darkness of night slowly receded and the dazzling dawn broke, the viscount finally made up his mind. He vowed to seek revenge by any means necessary. With that determination, the viscount produced the emperor’s decree. It wasn’t much, but he knew more about the personality of the emperor, a great conqueror of the past, than anyone else. The emperor cherished his first prince, Eos, far more than the second, Servis.

So much villainy had been consistently committed, and yet just by looking at his swaggering demeanor, it was evident.

In the shaking handwriting of the letter, a deep affection that could never be concealed was fervently hidden.

For many years, the intuition of the giant who led Bart to the top of the continent incessantly shouted out.

Without a doubt, the Emperor wanted to pass on the throne to Prince Eos.

If that was the case, there was absolutely no hesitation.

He would aid the Emperor and the Prince in seeking revenge.

And at the end of that path.

He would make his daughter the most noble lady in the Mersen Empire.

Until morning came. He had made such a resolution without rest.

It was definitely so… but now, he couldn’t wipe away the tears streaming down his daughter’s face.

No matter how much he thought about it.

He had no right to do so at all.

So, while struggling to conceal the expression soaked in sorrow, the Marquis looked out the window again.

Even though it was still far from noon.

Due to the thick blanket of dark clouds, the entire world had suddenly darkened.

The future was as dark as that sky, a fact that could never be denied.

Revenge wouldn’t be easy.

The biggest obstacle was undoubtedly.

The infamous Prince Eos, who had constantly committed all sorts of villainy.

***

Shoo-

The rain that started after lunch continued to pour even after nightfall.

For spring rain, it was quite a heavy downpour.

It seemed to flow endlessly, like a woman falsely accused finally letting out her sobs.

Yet, despite this.

The black cloak that covered the whole body and the deeply turned hood remained completely dry.

The sword in hand was the same.

It was because I had Wind, the spirit of the wind, wrap a thin breeze around my body.

Squelch, squelch-

I slowly tread through the muddy water in the darkness.

There were only about ten steps left.

There.

Due to a sudden gust of wind, a carriage had unavoidably tipped over.

It belonged to Duke Felios, the leader of the Half-Queen Faction.

Surrounding it were layers of masked assassins in black.

“….”

They were quite well trained.

As I approached, they silently turned one by one to face me.

They were probably raised by Duke Shleine.

If I hadn’t attached Miri Wint to Duke Pellios,

He, a retired magician now.

Would have had to end his life today.

“Who are these bastards!”

From the duke’s forehead as he opened the door, black liquid was flowing down.

It was unmistakably blood, and there was no sign of it stopping even in the pouring rain.

“Damn Shleyn’s dogs!”

“……”

Tatadadat!

The assassins, who had maintained silence until then,

Just looked at each other and nodded without a word.

Then, some approached the duke, and the rest ran towards me.

About twenty enemies.

Clearly outnumbered, but there was no disadvantage.

At this moment when rain is falling everywhere.

I could have used the water spirit Aqu to kill them all at once.

But for some reason, I didn’t want to be reckless today.

It was because I was afraid of seeing Elaine again.

It was because I accepted the engagement she proposed.

Purely for my own sake.

To use her as my healing potion.

I accepted it without any emotion between us.

Of course, I knew very well why she said that.

It was after meeting the emperor.

Clearly, the emperor must have insisted. So she must have said so reluctantly.

Even though I knew all that, I accepted the engagement.

Only to use the saint.

The deep sense of guilt in my heart remained unwashed by this heavy rain.

So today, I absolutely did not intend to be reckless.

I commanded Aqu.

First, the five surrounding Duke Pellios.

They were to be killed.

What I ordered was simple.

To manipulate the rain flowing down their faces and necks to bring death to sinful lives.

To mercilessly pierce their soft flesh by moving the small droplets on their eyelids and the water flowing down their necks.

“Gah!”

“Kek!”

“Kukh!”

Chilling screams spread in all directions, making even the raindrops tremble.

Those who had been rushing towards me like hungry hunting dogs all stopped at once.

Feeling that something was wrong, they quickly turned their heads.

Of course, what they saw were five corpses and the stiffened duke.

Rushing toward the unsuspecting enemies, I didn’t hesitate. My mana was still plentiful. Utilizing the earth spirit, Rack, I caused the footsteps of the belated sword-swinger to dim slightly as they struck the ground. The flying blades, splashing rainwater, lost their strength due to the unbalanced body. Evading was easy.

Swoosh! I effortlessly leaped up, spun forward, and diagonally sliced the throat. Thud— the lifeless body spurted a crimson death into the puddles. Four remained. They were still outnumbering me, but what was unmistakable even in the darkness was the gaze, devoid of life, consumed by terror.

Despite encircling me, they hesitated, each taking a step back. My mana was still abundant. I severed the furthest one’s windpipe. Thwack! To make it clear who did it, I flicked my finger once. “Argh!”

Letting the man, now bleeding from his eyes, fall backward was to instill greater disquiet. This was unprecedented. They must have been seasoned assassins, likely having dispatched countless mages before. They would know better than anyone how inflicting even a minor wound before casting a spell could render a fearful mage unable to muster the nerve to use magic.

It was probably why I felt fear. A mere flick of the finger would make it seem like I had cast an unknown spell. What they were feeling now was the fear brought on by an unfamiliar adversary. It was an indescribable terror spreading within the minds of those accustomed only to training and orders.

Thwack! I flicked my finger once more. “Gahh!” Thud! “Guhhh—” This time, I used more mana to maximize the fear entrenched in their hearts. Gently, with the flowing rainwater, I caressed the tendons of their wrists and ankles. If I were to use healing magic, attaching them back together would be an easy task, but for those who failed in their mission, disposal was the fate of those affiliated with Shurain.

The escalated terror from an inevitable death ultimately led to abandoning hope. Seeing a comrade writhing in agony, groaning in the muddy water, seemed to have instilled a significant sense of peril in them.

With a blue light, a red light, and a yellow light,

Each blade begins to draw in mana of various colors.

Naturally, it was something never used in covert operations.

In other words, it meant that every assassin had staked their lives.

Of course, even so, it wouldn’t be easy to survive against me.

My mana is still more than sufficient.

I drew mana into the sword I held.

My mana resembled the color of pupils – a greenish hue.

The wind that wrapped around my body became even fiercer.

This feeling was beyond compare in its lightness.

My running speed increased even further.

Swiftly.

Even stepping in muddy water hardly caused any splashing.

It felt as if I were running through the rain.

Swish!

Though the red energy enveloped sword blocked, mine was much faster.

Amidst the incessant downpour.

Crescent moons of different hues were drawn from all directions.

Neck, arms, waist, legs.

They relentlessly darted toward various parts of my body.

Yet none could touch me.

Between foe and foe. Between blade and blade.

Evading repeated attempts on my life, I moved faster than the rain.

My knowledge of swordsmanship within memory made my body move on its own.

Still, each movement was forceful like a twisting current yet gentle like a spring breeze.

There was not a hint of excess.

The sword tip emitting green light continued to trace unbroken curves.

As if fighting against the darkness of night.

Within the pitch-black darkness, countless green lines were drawn at an incredible speed.

Clang!

Finally, when the last one fell.

Standing in the rain.

There was only a drenched peacock and myself, untouched by the rain.

Ignoring the gaze of the astonished and fearful peacock,

I finally granted death to those who had been struggling.

Knowing well that no information would be leaked.

It was an act of mercy.