episode_0037

Macduras looked at the man who finally put on a peaceful expression while hoping for his own death. He kicked the man’s abdomen and spoke.

“Don’t use me as a tool for your suicide. Take up your sword.”

Briphen nodded and raised his sword. He thought of Macduras’ favor as executing his final death not as suicide but in the form of a duel.

Briphen swung his sword around to attack, but as soon as it touched Macduras’ sword, it shattered into pieces. The man knelt in disappointment, looking at his broken sword, and muttered.

“Whatever I did, the result would have been the same. Macduras. I have one question. You were aware of the existence of the relic, weren’t you?”

“Of course.”

Even as Briphen made a move to throw the relic to the Emperor, Macduras did not stop him, simply because it wouldn’t work anyway.

Briphen knelt and muttered.

“If only I had as much power as you…”

“The problem lies in comparing yourself to me. You are strong enough. The fact that the late Emperor Leckan used you as a hunting dog by his side is proof of that.”

“I see… Anyway, for a knight defeated in battle, there is only death. Please take my life.”

Macduras walked towards the man and asked one question.

“I heard that you were forced to follow the Emperor’s will as a guardian for a sickly younger sister. Explain.”

“It’s a simple story. My only sister was bedridden with an incurable disease, unable to even walk properly… I had no choice but to care for a young child as a single parent when my sister suddenly fell ill.”

The people around Macduras fell silent. Macduras himself touched his cheek.

“No way…”

A little boy who protected his mother in the border area. That little boy who cried out that it didn’t matter if he died as long as his mother lived. That little boy who raised his sword until the end and swung it at Macduras came to mind.

“That can’t be true.”

The border area is one of the most dangerous places on the battlefield. Leaving only a defenseless woman and a little child in such a place is unthinkable.

Especially if the hostage was a tool to leash Bripenn, all the more so.

Macderas raised his sword to take the man’s life. Bripenn’s swordsmanship was overwhelming. He had lost to Macderas in combat, but in reality, he was a formidable opponent, handling Teckello, who was quite skilled, as if he were a toy.

If there was a definite way to firmly attach to the Pibron Empire, it was more profitable to keep Iza alive than to kill her. Even though it was the end, he was a person with such strong beliefs that he would strike the Emperor’s neck directly.

But the problem was not knowing the existence of Bripenn’s younger sister who had been forcing Bripenn’s actions. If the remnants of the imperial forces remaining in the Kaorelden Empire were to use Bripenn’s younger sister as a hostage to threaten him, there was no guarantee that he would not become an enemy again.

So he resolved to kill.

“Regrettably, there’s no other choice.”

The moment Macderas raised his sword, Bripenn spoke with empty eyes.

“There’s a picture of my sister in my possession. If by any chance you find a body on the battlefield… No… If the child is still alive… if you could take care of that child… I would be extremely grateful.”

“I can agree to that much.”

Finding them would be impossible. How could one find a woman and a child among so many people? Perhaps they had already disappeared. However, answering this way would put the man’s mind at ease.

Thinking this, the moment Macderas swung his sword.

“That…?”

He noticed the pendant Bripenn was holding. The bright picture of a smiling woman caught his eye.

Macderas stopped the swinging sword and used magic to snatch Bripenn’s pendant with telekinesis into his own hand.

Princess Braine, who was watching from the side, murmured in surprise.

“Who is this person…?”

The middle-aged woman in the border area. She looked very much like her.

After lowering his sword, Macderas asked Bripenn a question.

“Do you have a rough idea of where your younger sister might be?”

“I don’t know. However, she used to live near the border area. The Emperor always used that against me. He threatened to throw me into enemy territory for even the slightest disobedience. He said if the enemy attacked our empire, my sister would be the first to die.”

Le’Khan understood why the Emperor had treated his valuable hostage in this manner. Pushing people to the edge of a cliff, setting traps with no escape.

“He probably didn’t even anticipate the border area being breached.”

Now, thinking back, he remembered how the knights had lingered near their home until the very end, only to desperately flee after many had died.

One by one, the pieces of the puzzle began to fit.

“Lucky fellow,” MacDarras remarked to Bripenn.

“Do you not reconsider now and wield your sword for the Empire of Phebron?”

Surprising those around, no one intervened with MacDarras’ words. After all, the man was a war hero himself. They believed he must have had a good reason for whatever he did.

“I cannot. I no longer have the right to wield a sword.”

“To protect your sister and her child?”

“…”

Bripenn fell silent, then spoke with a trembling voice.

“She may already be dead. Or even if she’s alive, she will soon die. If she doesn’t receive the high dose of sacred power directly from the imperial princess every day, her blood will flow backward, causing a fatal illness. So if I ask for help finding my sister’s body, it’s to give her a proper burial. And if by some chance the child is found alive, it’s to beg for its life.”

Bripenn murmured despondently.

“But the likelihood of a child surviving alone after losing parents in war is slim. I understand. It won’t change anything even if soldiers took them. If they hadn’t taken them…”

His words were despairing, yet realistic.

If MacDarras hadn’t found them first.

“They are alive.”

Macderas spoke, but Bripenn did not believe.

“Is that so…?”

But as if to give him a definite answer, Macderas revealed the information he had not obtained.

“He said he has a child… A boy, about ten years old, yet already so brave.”

“…? How did you know the gender and age of the child, Macderas…?”

Faint hope began to rise in Bripenn’s empty, hollow eyes.

“I found them in the border area, healed your younger sister with my own power, and escorted them to the Phibron Empire. If you follow me, I will let you meet them.”

…”

Bripenn began to shed tears as if he were insane. He collapsed to the ground, sobbing endlessly. Naturally, he had thought his sister was dead, and even if she wasn’t, both his sister and her son were destined to die anyway.

It was a miracle. It was more than a miracle.

“I propose once again. Dedicate your remaining life to the suffering people of the Phibron Empire. If you do so, I will spare you.”

He raised his sword and cut his palm, letting the blood flow. Looking at the dripping drops of blood, he vowed.

“Until I die, I will live to atone for my sins.”

After hearing the man’s words, Macderas nodded. Some seemed quite puzzled by the fact that they were saving Bripenn, who had been a direct knight of the emperor, but they would eventually learn why I saved Bripenn.

— — —

The long war between the Kareldean Empire and the Phibron Empire was racing towards its end. Regardless of what anyone said, it was a perfect victory for the Phibron Empire.

The one currently holding the greatest decision-making power in the Kareldean Empire, which had lost its head of state, core forces, and officials, was the imperial knight commander Bripenn. Naturally, Bripenn immediately declared surrender.

The unofficially ended war was officially concluded by the man with authority.

In front of the citizens of the Kareldean Empire and the knights of the Phibron Empire, Macderas and Bripenn stood on the same platform.

The expressions of the people of the Empire of Cyrodiil were not good. They had lost their country overnight and had to endure the deaths of many people.

Without power, they had no say, so such a reaction was understandable.

Perhaps, if forced assimilation continued, the citizens of the Empire of Cyrodiil, who harbored this hatred, would surely cause riots someday, and then they would have to endure great sacrifices again.

Preventing recurrence was essential for true salvation.

Briarpen shouted to the citizens of the Empire of Cyrodiil.

“We have been defeated in the war.”

The citizens of the Empire of Cyrodiil poured out blame towards him. They cursed him for selling out the country, and they began to despair, saying it was all over now. Briarpen looked at Macderas, and when he signaled to do so, he seemed determined to speak.

“We have been defeated in the war, but you will have a better life. The tax rate, which was indiscriminately set at 90%, will be fixed at 10%. We will pay a fair price for the work of mages and warriors, and establish facilities for the convenience of the people.”

However, the citizens’ response remained cold. It was because they believed that hollow promises and empty words shouted to them, powerless as they were, would not be kept. They regarded it as a mockery by those who had won the war.

As if he had read their mood, Macderas reached out to the red sphere floating in the air. Then, rain began to fall from the sky.

This time, it was not red rain, which symbolized death. It was green rain, symbolizing life, that began to fall. Those who were suffering from wounds began to heal instantly as soon as they were hit by the rain.

People watched the spectacle with their own eyes and shouted towards the sky. A miracle had occurred.

It was clear who had performed the miracle. A man standing on a giant pedestal, wielding the red sphere.

Macderas shouted towards them.

“I won’t say much. Everything will proceed as Briefern has said. Even after I leave, the Phaeron Empire will not oppress you, exploit you like the previous emperor, or use the maidens like hunting dogs.”

However, the citizens of the Kaorelden Empire still looked uneasy. One brave man among them shouted, “Our empire’s weakened state will provoke retaliation from other nations for past grievances.”

“I know. That’s why for the next 20 years, the Phaeron Empire will protect you in exchange for a 10% tax. That’s what I’ve agreed to.”

No one questioned Macderas’ authority. Just moments ago, they had witnessed the miraculous power at work. It was easy to be certain that he was the feared slayer who had spread destruction.

Their concern, however, was different.

“What if… the promise isn’t kept? What will happen to us then?”

Macderas looked out over the countless people and spoke plainly, “This applies to everyone. If the merciful Phaeron Empire incites riots among the citizens of the Kaorelden Empire, or if they oppress the powerless in this war… if anyone commits such folly.”

In an instant, the crimson sphere in the sky split into thousands of shards, filling the sky with overwhelming pressure. The murmurs that had filled the air fell silent.

“At that time, I will return here.”

“And I will kill all those who have caused trouble without an ounce of mercy.”

The man who had been questioning was left speechless. There was no need for further doubt.

After witnessing such a spectacle, there would be no one to defy his words. Unless someone desired national suicide, that is.

The people around began to murmur.

“I… If only those words are kept, wouldn’t life be much better than it is now? There would be no unjust extortion by the officials, no family members being dragged to death because they couldn’t pay absurdly high taxes…”

“You’re right… The emperor’s tyranny was well known… If the treaty is kept, we powerless ones might even live more comfortably.”

Macdarras let them make enough noise.

And a little later.

He shouted to all the people of the Kaorelden Empire and the Phebron Empire.

“The war is over! Everyone, return to your daily lives.”

All the knights of the Phebron Empire began to disarm and step back, and then everyone started cheering and shouting.

Most of the cheers were from the Phebron Empire, but some were mixed with those from the Kaorelden Empire. They must have been from people who hoped to escape tyranny and lead a proper life.

Macdarras watched their figures.

I don’t know if this was the best choice, but one thing is for sure, this is my best.

Flemia embraces Macdarras, who came down from the platform, and talks to him.

“Thank you so much… really…”

Princess Breynie, Commander Tekelom of the Knights of Phebron, and the commanders of the Plutain and Bripenn Royal Knight Orders, as well as the many knights who fought together, salute me.

The sound of people cheering for Macdarras constantly. Finally, the laughter of those who are happy to be liberated from the war.

Each one was a sign announcing the end of the terrible war.

As Macdarras looked at them with a smile, a message from the system came to mind after a long time.

[You have saved an empire that was scheduled to end, and achieved a tremendous feat that no one else could accomplish. Your name will be forever recorded in this world.]

[Macdarras’s administrator points increase by 3,000 points. You can use the points to purchase desired rewards at the administrator shop.]

Numerous reward messages come to mind. Then, a cheerful sound follows.

McDerrath’s administrator level is increasing. With the increased level, additional administrator abilities are granted.

Upon seeing the administrator abilities, McDerrath couldn’t help but smirk.

“It looks like more interesting things will happen from now on.”

[Leader, Insight, Possession, Memory Inheritance, Optional Penalty Release functions have been added.]

[A possessor who needs you exists. Would you like to confirm the information?]

Without hesitation, McDerrath chose to confirm.