episode_0095
by fnovelpia
Alex wasn’t surprised when ‘that guy’ showed up.
I wasn’t particularly surprised when I heard that the royal family had returned and that the princess was trying to reclaim the empire.
After gaining freedom, I just took what I wanted and destroyed what I didn’t like.
A life where you live without any purpose.
Because as that kind of life continued, he became dull. Alex, who had lost what he truly wanted and what his purpose was, became too sensitive to stimulation.
That’s why the huge event of the royal family’s reappearance was interesting, but I dismissed it as something that would get me absorbed in for a while and then I would get tired of it, as usual.
As it boils at an incredible rate, it cools down in an instant. That’s the person called Alex.
But now, I was surprised to see the royal family again after such a long time.
The dormant passion is revived. The life that was full of boredom is about to bloom again. What he feels now is a mixture of all kinds of emotions, including excitement, anxiety, happiness, and fear.
The stimulus itself cannot be expressed as good or bad.
Alex decided to consider this a pleasure.
So, we must be careful.
The longer you wait, the greater the pleasure you will get.
I look forward to the tower this princess will build. And I look forward to the moment when the tower she has painstakingly built collapses. I want to quickly see the face of the princess who will fall into emptiness and despair.
But you have to endure it.
Rather than taking the delicious fruit right now, I would rather watch from the sidelines.
It is not yet time… .
*
“Lady… No, you were the unknown. Your Highness the Princess.”
Alex was taken aback by the honorific that came out so casually. He had thought he had completely gotten over it, but when he saw the royal family, old habits began to creep back in.
“That’s right. I’m Tricky Green. Also known as Unknown.”
“… Is it okay to reveal your identity so easily?”
I asked calmly. I felt like I would kneel down at any moment because of the power of the royal family that I could feel faintly.
At the same time, I turned my eyes and saw the fallen student, Karl Maynor. I wondered if he had revealed his identity to protect that man, and if he was the owner of the Holy Sword, he would be the natural enemy of the royal family.
The princess’s eyes glowed eerily, perhaps because she didn’t like the way Alex was looking at the sword. It was threatening.
Alex, startled by those eyes, looked at the princess again.
“There are two types of people who know my true self.”
“……”
Was waiting really the right decision? I began to doubt. I thought it might be better to just subdue the princess here and now. I had a feeling that maybe now, when I wasn’t as strong as my ancestors, was my only chance…
“Those who obey me… or, those who are dead and no longer of this world. What kind of person are you?”
Princess Trixie Green smiled.
The red glow of the early evening was reflected on her white skin.
Alex swallowed hard. It was truly a tremendous burden. The existence of the royal family, imprinted in his subconscious, was blocking his objective judgment.
‘If I fight the princess now, will I be able to win?’
Judging from his long experience and objective skills, he had a high chance of winning. Alex’s senses, honed through slaughter and fighting, were telling him so.
But at the same time, a vague fear arose because of the memory of being ruled by the Guardian Knight at one time. The more he looked into the princess’s turquoise eyes, the more uncomfortable he felt.
Only at the end of his impatience and conflict was Alex finally able to answer.
“That means you will take your life depending on the answer… right?”
Alex decided to persevere.
I will return the throne to the princess as planned when I first encountered ‘that guy’. That is why I ended my speech with honorifics rather than the harsh language of a mercenary.
“You’re quite good at understanding words. I thought you’d pounce on me.”
The princess seemed satisfied with the honorifics, and spoke as if satisfied. Then she raised her left hand and spread it out.
Pitch-black darkness gathered and sparks flew.
It was only then that Alex realized that the pitch-black curtain that had blocked his sword was the princess’s magic.
The power and terrible force of the royal family that I encountered for the first time in a long time.
Then suddenly, a creepy feeling came down my spine and I took a step back.
“!?”
If I let my guard down even a little, I might be consumed by magic. I instinctively raised my sword because of the power of the royal family that I suddenly felt.
“Wow, that’s amazing. Can you move?”
“… Not yet.”
It was a provocation.
The princess chuckled and looked at Alex.
I tried to control Alex’s mana with the power of the royal family, but I was genuinely surprised when he backed away and broke free of my control. It was the first time anyone had ever stood up to her power, except for the sword that relied on the power of the Holy Sword.
Alex gripped his sword with a cold sweat. It seemed that his plan would be disrupted by the princess’s disposition, regardless of his will. Survival might be a priority over his final promise of betrayal.
So naturally, I omitted the honorifics. I thought that the situation would become urgent, like the princess and all…
“I want it… but it’s a shame to kill it.”
Tricky Green looked up at Alex with both eyes and muttered. She was really thinking about what to do with him. Kill him or let him live.
The sin of looking at her with an impious gaze could be forgiven, but the sin of daring to wound her with a sword could not be tolerated. However, at the same time, it was true that if a knight like Alex joined the rebels, it would help in their vengeance.
Alex looked at the princess, who seemed to be in a state of pleasant contemplation. He could see through her relaxed and captivating expression that she was weighing Alex’s life and death.
“……”
Alex didn’t want to miss this rare opportunity.
Green… would do anything for the thrill of a brutal betrayal of the royal family.
dump-
So I got down on my knees.
“Please forgive me for being late in paying my respects to the true master of the empire.”
He continues his oath while kneeling, his sword in the ground with both hands.
The princess gazed at him blankly.
“Although I have lived as a lowly mercenary, it is only because I have not found an object of loyalty like you. I have waited only for you.”
He talks as he pleases. He thinks of everything, recalls his life as a guardian in the palace, and offers words of loyalty that sound as plausible as possible.
As he said that, he did not dare to look up. He vowed that he would live humbly, looking only at the ground, until she gave him permission.
“Rebel… no, please grant me the honor of becoming the knight who will reclaim the Claro Empire. Your Highness the Princess.”
Cunning Alex quickly picked out words and phrases that the princess would like.
The expression ‘Claro Empire’ instead of ‘Holy Claro Empire’ was something that could be used because the Guardian Knight was present at the scene of the rebellion. Although I don’t know about the princess.
The princess, who had been looking at Alex as if she found it amusing, smiled contentedly. Just as Alex had hoped, the name Claro Empire sounded good to hear.
Because she was thinking of abolishing the church.
“I think I misunderstood you, Alex. I didn’t know you had such great chivalry… .”
The answer I was hoping for came.
“Raise your head.”
At the princess’s words, Alex slowly raised his head and looked at the princess.
The view of the princess from below was spectacular.
At the end of the gaze that slowly rose along the curves drawn by the shape of the uniform, a mysterious and alluring princess was smiling.
The sunset shimmered in the mansion that was no different from an abandoned house. Blue-green eyes against the red sunset stared at Alex.
“But I haven’t heard the answer yet.”
“……”
A voice so cold it was chilling was heard.
“How can I trust you?”
With those words, a sharp magic surrounded Alex.
Swooo-
Alex tried to remain as calm as possible, but the magic that was closing in on him like a cold wind made him feel as if death was imminent.
I could confront her, but I had to endure it. I had no choice but to persuade her somehow. I would throw away my pride to cook that arrogant princess.
He put his sword into the ground and raised both his hands as if he had no intention of fighting. When the princess hesitated at this sight, he spoke in a way that was almost like a tantrum.
“count, contract… .”
“?”
“I heard that the great royal family can make a contract that can never be broken.”
The princess tilted her head at the sound she heard for the first time in her life.
Alex didn’t relax, but calmly nodded to the magic surrounding him.
“This darkness, it must be the power of the royal family. The wondrous power that saved the world from the great war.”
“You know quite a lot, huh?”
“I, I have traveled to many places as a mercenary. From dangerous dens of demons to ruins with traces of the ancient past… .”
The princess listened to Alex’s words silently, with a curious expression on her face.
“It was only natural that I became interested in the Great War and the Green Emperor. The great one who protected us. The savior of mankind, Green. To welcome his descendant… .”
“That’s just sweet talk. Aren’t you trying to avoid the crisis with empty words?”
“You probably don’t trust me. So I beg you, let’s make a deal!”
“……”
Alex smiled with satisfaction at the princess’s expression, which seemed to have no idea what he meant. It was a suggestion he could make because he had once been a Guardian Knight and knew the royal family well.
“According to the ancient forbidden books, the power of the royal family can perform miracles. It is called the ‘Oath of Darkness’. The ultimate contract that can never be broken.”
“Hmm… .”
“Even if Her Highness the Princess heard it for the first time, if you are a descendant of Green, you will definitely be able to do it.”
“You mean to take you in with that dark oath?”
“Yes.”
He gave all sorts of respect and honorifics to the young princess. It was partly a struggle for a purpose, and partly because old memories naturally flowed out when he actually met the royal family.
The princess thought deeply and raised her fingertips.
Swish-
“Is this how you do it?”
“… !!”
Magic gathered at the tips of his fingers. Alex was surprised by the power. He was handling the magic much more skillfully than he had expected.
Saaak- The magic gathered at his fingertips formed runes and approached Alex’s nose.
The princess slowly closed her eyes and murmured. She was drawing out the powers that had been dormant within her. Powers that she had not been able to use until now because she did not know how to use them… .
Just like now, the amazing miracle that can unfold just by someone notifying and recognizing, just by knowing what you ‘can do’.
That was the power of the one named Green.
The familiar and powerful power emanating from the magic stirred Alex’s memories. It reminded him of his days as a Guardian Knight.
Just as she was about to lapse into such sentimentality, the princess suddenly opened her eyes.
The light emanating from his eyes became even more intense.
“Okay, Alex. I’ll make that deal… work out.”
The princess’s voice had a resonance. An overwhelming resonance that stirred the soul.
Alex was overwhelmed and frozen.
“First, don’t reveal my identity. My name and face… you’ve never seen them before. You must never tell anyone that I am Beatrice de Dahlia of the Academy.”
Gugugugugu-
Alex couldn’t even answer because of the powerful magic radiating from his eyes. He just nodded blankly.
“Second, don’t hurt Carl Maynor. The kid lying there… Absolutely, no matter what happens, don’t hurt him.”
“?”
Alex was puzzled by the unexpected contract terms. It said not to harm the owner of the Holy Sword. Isn’t that the enemy the royal family should be most wary of?
“That’s it.”
“I… Your Highness, the two taboos must be chosen carefully. I really do not want to harm that little boy-”
“The ban remains unchanged. This is the end.”
Alex tried to ask about the incomprehensible gold standard, using his Guardian Knight knowledge without thinking.
Even if I were to be caught knowing too much about the ancient past for a mere mercenary with an interest in it… I couldn’t figure out the princess’s intentions at all.
But he was blocked by the princess’s glaring gaze.
“Do you accept this contract?”
“Of course, but… .”
“?”
There is no reason to hesitate.
Alex thought that the princess was not as careful as she looked. How could she have put up such a stupid ban… He wondered what would happen if she had put up such a difficult ban not to attack the princess herself.
“Isn’t a contract something you give and take? Even if it’s a dark oath, if you take pity on the person who will become your subject and later decide the price of loyalty… .”
Alex chuckled as he said that, thinking that the long, long journey was finally about to begin.
“Huh, puhaha.”
The princess couldn’t hold back her laughter. She started laughing out loud.
“You’re being cheeky, but I think you’re mistaken.”
“……”
Runes in the air gathered and rained down on Alex. Soon darkness began to burrow into his heart.
“Keuk-!”
“Your life.”
The power of the royal family began to be engraved in his heart in an instant. Alex knew what this meant.
The contract has been completed.
“Not taking your life now is the price I pay.”
“Haa. Haa, ugh… .”
Alex, breathing heavily, barely managed to look at the princess. Before he knew it, he had no choice but to kneel down and look up.
The princess, with her jet-black hair fluttering around like a magician surrounding her, had a creepy smile, but it seemed to have an arrogant air of mercy.
“So enjoy the opportunity given to you.”
I was able to feel once again the arrogance of the royal family and the aggression they gave off as absolute rulers that I had seen while living as a guardian knight.
The young royal in uniform still looked down at Alex with a haughty face.
He was the very embodiment of the self-willed royal family. He was no different from how I had seen him as a guardian knight in the past.
Alex took in the sight, trying not to forget his plan.
I’m going to drag that woman out someday and get her drunk.
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