episode_0172

Benity.

One of the Empire’s three great ducal families, the iron-blooded guardians who ruled the snowfield.

They were also loyal subjects who had long protected the North.

Perhaps it was not strange for them to take pride.

They had achieved immense merit in the [Great War] six years ago.

The previous head of the Benity family was exceptionally outstanding.

“Everyone, stand behind me.”

“Today, I shall lose no one on this battlefield.”

A hero.

A person befitting that short yet deeply resonant title.

The twins’ father was such a figure.

Naturally, Emilia and Ruska were greatly influenced by their father.

They also came to admire him.

“Emilia.”

“You may forget all other words, but you must live remembering this one thing.”

“Light… only holds value when there is someone to illuminate it.”

The girl chased the light of the stars.

“Ruska.”

“You shall become a guiding star.”

“So that the weak may hide in your shadow, and the strong may find their direction in your light.”

The boy yearned for the concept of a star.

A being great to everyone.

The era led by such grand strides seemed destined to forever shine brilliantly for Benity.

However, tragedy often arrives at an unexpected moment.

The noble star that had graced the night fell too fleetingly.

It was when the twins had just turned fifteen.

“The Duke and Duchess have passed away.”

“The cause is still unknown, but investigations suggest a carriage accident…”

Those who were known as the rulers of the snowfield.

The death of the Duke and Duchess left a great shock throughout the Empire.

Various conspiracy theories circulated, claiming it was an assassination or an act, but the incident ultimately concluded as a simple accidental death.

This was because even with the imperial family’s intervention and investigation into the full circumstances, there was nothing particularly unusual.

The twins also harbored no particular suspicions.

They merely felt uneasy.

However, even such sentiments were washed away by tears.

For they were too young to bear such a sense of loss.

“Do not worry.”

“This uncle will take care of the complicated family matters…”

“You two should just overcome your sorrow for your brother.”

At the time, as the twins were too young to lead the family, their uncle instead assumed the position of temporary head of the family.

Their uncle had always maintained a special relationship with them. Because of this, the children trusted the adult.

Without knowing what results that choice would bring.

The world of adults was utterly repulsive.

“Trust your uncle.”

“It’s all for your sake, you know.”

In the following years.

The atmosphere within the Benity family became unusual.

Those loyal to the previous head of the family gradually left, or were purged for some crime.

In the end, only those who treated the twins coldly remained in the ducal family.

Only then did the children feel a sense of alienation.

“Surely, Uncle…?”

But.

By the time the twins realized, everything had already gone awry.

Only those loyal to their uncle remained in the family.

For the loyal subjects who truly wished for Benity’s well-being had either been expelled or had died.

The elders had already colluded with the uncle, and even the direct assassination unit, ‘Awl,’ was reorganized, reborn as the perfect blade for the renegades.

Thanks to this, Emilia and Ruska lost their place in Benity.

Furthermore, a powerful contract was even placed upon the younger sibling’s heart.

“Swear on your mana, Ruska.”

“For your uncle to protect you, this contract is absolutely necessary.”

“There will be no unforeseen complications, so won’t you trust your uncle?”

The Oath of Mana.

It was the contract their uncle requested from Ruska on the very day he assumed the temporary headship of the family.

The boy, immersed in grief from losing his parents.

He merely nodded, trusting only his uncle.

Without knowing he had fallen into an ugly trap.

“So you finally realized. That you were deceived from the start.”

“But… what can you do, even if you did?”

“The family is already in my hands.”

“Moreover, you entrusted your lives to me, so how dare you defy me?”

“Stay quiet. If you wish to prolong your lives, that is.”

The uncle suppressed the children.

In the meticulously woven scheme, the twins were forced to play an absurd game.

The uncle refrained from eliminating them merely for disguise.

If the successors also died within three years of the previous head’s accident, it would surely arouse the imperial family’s suspicion this time.

To avoid such a situation, it was necessary to present Ruska and Emilia as unharmed.

All while slowly gnawing away at them internally.

“The Oath of Mana.”

“That’s why I bothered with the troublesome contract.”

“While I was taking control of this family… you might have done something foolish.”

“So, don’t even think of having other intentions.”

“I will kill you without hesitation.”

The oath was a leash.

A means to restrain the twins until his plan was accomplished.

Perhaps they were merely pawns to be discarded once their usefulness ran out.

“Don’t worry about the future.”

“I’ve recently met some individuals, and our interests align quite well.”

“The devil worshipers, that is.”

Cultists.

The uncle had joined hands with them.

He had colluded with those he had fought bloody battles against in the last war, merely for the sake of greed.

Ruska and Emilia were furious, but there was no other way to overthrow him.

They merely obediently followed.

“Soon, they will overturn the world… and when the imperial family collapses.”

“Then, a new emperor will be born in the Empire.”

“My brother said our homeland was the snowfield… but that’s a foolish thought.”

“This time, the name of Benity will dominate the continent.”

“In short, to make Benity great.”

The uncle intended to overthrow the Empire.

More directly, a coup d’état.

It seemed that as long as he could sit on the shining imperial throne, the means didn’t matter.

Furthermore, the uncle intended to use the twins for his own ends.

“Ruska.”

“From now on, you will have to help me in many ways.”

The uncle chose the younger sibling.

Rather than Emilia, who was naturally flashy and often drew attention, he chose the taciturn Ruska.

Additionally, Ruska himself had offered to become his subordinate.

Pleading that he not lay a hand on his older sister.

“Very well, I will respect your wishes.”

“A line will be added to our contract.”

The uncle accepted the condition.

Thereafter.

Ruska, as Benity’s subordinate, contributed to various tasks.

Such as submitting periodic reports from the academy, or investigating the structures of various buildings.

During the last raid, such information was even utilized.

Because of this, the boy constantly struggled in agony.

“What have I, exactly…?”

It was certainly for his sister’s sake, but he was slowly losing himself.

His childhood dream of being a hero soon became a sense of disparity.

His current self, tainted by adults, seemed pathetic even to him.

Ruska agonized every dawn.

And.

“What’s wrong?”

The agony that had long continued.

Finally.

“Surely, you didn’t think I’d dance to your tune until the very end?”

It made him break out of his shell.

It made his submissive, shattered heart rise again.

The girl aimed frost spikes with her breath.

Behind her, faint white snow followed.

***

A dark, rippling alley.

Ruska stood with his back to the moonlight.

“……”

Reflected on the opposite side were the renegades who had betrayed the family.

Only an ominous killing intent lingered around them.

The assassins, deprived of their prey, their eyes glinted.

They sneered slightly.

“What… is this stunt?”

“To think the young master would dream of betrayal.”

“What in the world are you going to do about the repercussions?”

“Things have gotten complicated. The target seems to have realized the danger too.”

Should one call it a complaint?

At the voices he heard, Ruska let out a short scoff.

He had always wanted to see their distorted expressions.

The boy had intended this from the very beginning.

“Well… call it a change of heart.”

He answered deliberately, leisurely.

So that the opponent’s mood would become even more foul.

“Isn’t it the fault of the one who was fooled?”

“The Oath of Mana… I heard you made a contract with the Head of the Family. Can you just break it like that?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. What’s a small price like that?”

“It’s not ‘small,’ your heart will soon be crushed.”

“So be it.”

Ruska intended to die here.

Therefore, he had called for no help, nor left any means of escape.

The reason was simple.

‘Now… it’s time to end everything.’

Emilia Benity.

The only reason she had remained in the family until now was Ruska.

Because their uncle held his life-thread. She had worried that if she even tried to escape, her younger sibling would be in danger.

As long as Ruska was alive… Emilia could not escape Benity either.

The boy’s resolve was to break those shackles.

‘Someone must carry on the Benity lineage.’

It just wouldn’t be himself.

Ruska intended to die here, to free his sister.

So that she would no longer be bound by any adult.

“They can go to hell.”

Call it the last resort he had saved.

There wasn’t even a trace of tremor in the boy’s eyes.

‘Besides.’

Yuda Snakers.

If that guy would protect Emilia, he felt he could be somewhat at ease.

In Ruska’s ears, the unwavering voice was clear.

“I will be a source of strength by her side.”

“Because I, too, like countless others, admire her.”

He should be trustworthy enough.

Since his sister trusted him.

He didn’t particularly like him, but… he had connections with the imperial family, a broad standing as an academy staff member, and as the eldest son of a count family, he was a fellow who would wield immense influence in the future.

At the very least, he would be able to protect Emilia.

Ruska revealed the end he had meticulously planned.

It was time to break free.

“My heart… will explode in 30 minutes.”

The price of violating the oath.

However, even in such a situation, the boy was calm.

His dark blue hair fluttered in the spring breeze.

“Haven’t you considered that you’ll be torn apart by us before those 30 minutes are up?”

“Perhaps.”

Ruska was exhausted.

The disparity with being a hero, and the admiration he couldn’t quite abandon.

He hadn’t been able to completely ignore the dawn.

In the end, he decided to turn his back on reality and walk towards the ideal he so desired.

The reason he devised this scheme was that, since he was going to die anyway, he wanted to land a blow.

On the uncle who had manipulated him.

“I’ll take at least one more of you as a traveling companion.”

Frost swirled around him.

The boy pointed his sword.

Towards the world of adults he had never been able to compromise with.

Blue ice was rapidly slashed.

Heavy feet leaped from the ground.

Thud-!

“Ugh…!”

Ruska clashed with one of the robed figures.

Frost coated the clashing swords.

The tempest solidified chillingly.

Behind the boy was the Academy.

And he was going to lose no one today.

A blizzard raged.