episode_0068

“Kill him!”

As the commander shouted, dozens of knights rushed towards me, each waving their crimson capes.

Quickly, I received a sword from Rak.

Shing! Shishishak!

With various types of mana, sharp blades ablaze, they repeatedly aimed for my throat.

Avoiding wasn’t difficult, but every time I tried to counterattack, fear of taking a life held me back.

Considering the consequences, no one should die in this situation.

Clang! Kkakang!

However, there were limits to just defending.

Seemingly willing to risk their lives to kill me, every attack was so intense that sparks flew.

It was undeniable.

Even a momentary lapse in attention would surely lead to my demise.

Ssyaek!

If only there was a chance for dialogue.

Whenever I tried to catch my breath, arrows and sharp spears relentlessly targeted every corner of my body.

After narrowly dodging under a large shield, blades once again slashed at me.

There was truly no respite.

On the stone floor with no trees around, my only refuge was the Ego Shield, yet I didn’t know if it would hold in a critical moment.

“Do you remember? You dared to threaten me, refusing to give me mana! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment! Watch closely today! Your death!”

I had no strength to retort.

Retreat, dodge, evade, retreat again.

“Everyone, stop right now!”

Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed through the chaos.

The voice belonged to a sweaty Elaine, tears streaming down her eyes.

“If you don’t stop right now, I won’t stand idly by!”

The commander, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward at that moment.

“Viscount Yeong-ae, step aside.”

“You step aside! This is treason! It’s an insult to the royal family! It’s regicide!”

Elaine was like a rain-soaked cat desperately protecting her young.

“It’s a royal decree. His Majesty has ordered the prince’s death.”

“That can’t be true! His Majesty would never do such a thing!”

Before we knew it, numerous servants had gathered in front of the Emperor’s residence.

Some had followed Elaine in a rush.

Amidst the sudden clash of shouts and clashing swords, many onlookers gathered, curious about the commotion.

The knight commander spoke solemnly.

“Everyone, withdraw. Otherwise, I will kill.”

Elaine also responded firmly.

“You have no right to do that!”

Empowered by Elaine’s words, the servants stood their ground.

“It seems like you truly want to die. Fine, let’s start with you. Then, we’ll slaughter Viscount Bart as well.”

Unfazed, Elaine walked boldly towards the knight commander.

“If you can, go ahead and try!”

I wanted to reach Elaine immediately, but dozens of knights blocked my path.

“If you interfere, I will kill you.”

“Please, kill him.”

“It seems like this will serve the Empire well.”

Their intentions seemed clear.

Whether to kill or add to my dreadful reputation.

At this point, I no longer intended to stand by and watch.

There was no need to hide my strength anymore.

No longer did I have to endure the hateful glares beneath the veil of infamy.

“Then let’s give it a try. Everyone will regret it.”

“Kill the prince!”

But before I could act, a flash of light erupted from Elaine, engulfing everything in blinding white.

“What, what is this!”

“No, what in the world!”

Everyone was left blind.

It seemed like Elaine had invoked some kind of divine power.

Soon, the light faded.

“Commander!”

He lay unconscious, fallen amidst turning heads.

Elaine was standing right in front, bowing her upper body while catching her breath.

I sensed it. This was the moment if there ever was one. There was no room for hesitation.

Driven by a surge of intense emotion, I swiftly leaped into action as guided, my mind dominated by a single thought. It was a state reminiscent of when I had kissed Elaine.

Along the slender blade of the rapier, vibrant green mana surged fiercely.

Whish! Thud! Thud!

Empowered by the wind of Wint, I began severing the veins of those audacious enough to turn their heads away from me.

“My mana isn’t coming out!”

“No! I can’t die like this—”

Thud! Swish!

Without mercy, I pierced through with the sword I held.

In the place where the deep green trail had passed, only the scent of blood lingered.

Thud—

Of course, I had no intention of killing them.

Living a life of disgrace, I intended to punish them with all sorts of humiliations and the pain of being scorned.

As blood splattered around and everyone fell writhing, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

What if the Emperor truly wanted my death?

But that couldn’t be. The Emperor cherished Eos, who resembled Weblea greatly.

In essence, there was absolutely no one who would recklessly take a life without evidence.

That is to say, the Knight Commander had lied.

I approached the unconscious commander.

He had undoubtedly tried to kill Elaine.

Already attached to the Duke, he would serve Serbis faithfully in the future, making significant contributions to the Empire’s downfall.

Therefore, it was only fitting for me to end his wretched life.

“Ugh….”

He belatedly opened his eyes, trying to grasp the hilt with trembling hands but it was too late.

“Farewell. You trash.”

Thwack!

As the commander’s head rolled, those who had been struggling began to cry out.

“No, Commander!”

“This demon!”

Wiping the blood off the blade, I spoke.

“You all are the demons. How dare you forge the Emperor’s decree?”

“That…that was all for the Empire’s sake!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. It was merely for personal advancement. Perhaps Duke Shurain had been generously providing you with pocket money. Isn’t that so? Killing innocent people under the Duke’s orders, aren’t you ashamed?”

The knights vehemently denied any wrongdoing, but I paid no heed to their words.

“Eos….”

In my eyes, only Elaine was visible.

Approaching the relieved woman, I lifted her onto my shoulders.

“Scream! Let me down! What are you doing?”

“If I let you down, will you try to escape again?”

“No, I won’t! Please, let me down! I’m asking you to let me down!”

“Nah~ I don’t want to~”

Ignoring Elaine’s struggles, I entered the Emperor’s chambers without letting her down.

I was slightly apprehensive that the Knight Commander might have died at the hands of others.

However, upon arrival, I found the Emperor lying on the bed, thrashing about like a fish out of water.

“Eos! Are you alright?”

Concerned in such a state, I couldn’t help but chuckle involuntarily.

“You’re laughing? Outrageous! Eos, you! What are you doing without untying me?”

***

Around evening, numerous nobles were summoned to the palace.

The reason for gathering them was the rebellion of the Imperial Knights.

“Service! It was you who orchestrated this!”

The Emperor did not hide his anger.

“What are you talking about, Your Majesty?”

Service appeared composed.

“Do you see this?”

In the Emperor’s hand was a chain made of a special material that had tightly bound him. There was also the oath document that the Knight Commander had forced approval on.

“What is this?”

Despite there being no one unfamiliar inside the palace, Service pretended ignorance.

“This is the chain Helcarto used to bind me.”

“How could he have committed such atrocious acts?”

“The Knight Commander said that I was the one who tied you up and made you do it. He even went so far as to say, ‘Kneel until you become emperor, and follow through with the decree.’”

A shadow fell over Servis’s face.

“I have never asked you to do such a dreadful thing.”

“Then how will you explain the fact that the Imperial Knights have been receiving money from the nobles all this time?”

The nobleman furrowed his brow.

“That was just-”

“Silence!”

Duke Shurain remained kneeling in place.

“Duke Shurain, do you still consider yourself a fool?”

“My lord, I have committed a grave sin…”

“Yes, you have sinned. Even if I were to wipe out your entire family, it wouldn’t ease my mind. However, I won’t do that. So resign. Lay down everything and confine yourself to the mansion until death.”

“…”

Duke Shurain trembled but did not respond.

“Don’t my words make sense?”

A gentle expression and a very low voice.

Duke Shurain knew all too well.

It was something that only appeared when the former emperor was determined to kill someone.

“I-I will resign. I will never leave the mansion again.”

“Of course not. The moment you step out, I will erase the name Shurain from the empire. Now go. Let others stay.”

As other nobles began to retreat, the emperor firmly stopped them.

“As of this moment, I will depose Servis.”

“No, that cannot be!”

“Please, reconsider!”

The former emperor, once known as the Conqueror, never missed an opportunity.

Once he set his sights on something, he rarely let go.

The current emperor was no different. Some had already realized that he was just as formidable as he was in his prime.

“So, are you suggesting that I hand over the throne to that treacherous scoundrel who dared to rebel?”

“My lord, I have never-”

“Are you saying that I am being lied to right now?”

Although Servis tried to explain, it only seemed to further provoke anger.

“But then who will succeed the throne?”

It was a question the emperor had been waiting for.

An oblivious courtier had fallen into the emperor’s trap by speaking out unnecessarily.

“Isn’t there the Crown Prince Eos?”

“But Eos has committed great sins-”

“He has already atoned for those sins to an extent where they are outweighed. He prevented the war with Rivengard, and even the war with Perem Kingdom. On top of that, he secured a trade deal with Masak.”

“But in the past, he-”

“Have you seen such incompetence! Just wagging your tongue without any substance. Eos, resign immediately.”

“…Yes?”

“Can’t you hear me? It is an imperial order. The courtier who always followed Duke Shurain around like a shadow, from today onwards, follow the Duke to his mansion. If you try to escape, it will be considered treason.”

“Oh, please forgive me, my lord! I have committed a grave sin!”

“You know well. So never step outside again.”

“Oh, please, I beg for your forgiveness.”

“Leave. Servis, you too. You are no longer my son. Leave the palace and reflect until you die buried in the courtyard.”

***

With a stoic face, Servis walked around the palace for a while before stopping in front of the Prince’s Palace.

“Haha…”

Finally, Servis let out a bitter laugh.

“All this time, I was ready to inherit the throne, and what? Leave? Buried in the courtyard?”

Golden mana surged from Servis’s body as if about to explode.

He wanted to kill the emperor right then and there.

The Crown Prince Eos felt the same way.

They both wanted to kill everyone and seize the throne with their own hands.

“…”

But Servis slowly shook his head.

No matter how much he thought about it, it wasn’t the right time yet.

There was no justification, either.

There was no army.

If one were to kill the Emperor and Eos here, what would happen?

The outcome was easily predictable.

Before trying anything, nobles would rally their soldiers under the banner of eradicating the tyrant, converging here to seize the throne.

No matter how formidable a monarch might be, it was not a task for individuals to confront an army.

The moment one fainted due to mana depletion, death was imminent.

So, first things first.

He had to find the 60,000-strong army scattered across the borders.

Service started walking again.

“Let’s see then, Your Majesty. And my dear brother. I am determined to provide you with the most miserable moment, making dying at my hands a rather joyful event for you. Haha. I will make sure to take good care of Elaine.”

With that laughter,

Service set out from the palace.