episode_0284

ㅡPueooeoeoeoeok!ㅡPuaaaaaaaaak!!!

The sound of an impact piercing through a massive body,

ㅡPusyusyusyusyusyut!ㅡPyueuuuuuuuuut!

As the sound of the impact echoed, streaks of dark red blood adorned the space.

ㅡKudangtangtangtangtang!!!ㅡKudangtang!!

Subsequently, gigantic mutant orcs, measuring 2 meters in height, fell miserably onto the hard ground.

“Hoo-ah! If they keep popping out to this extent, I think there’s a high possibility that a dimensional rift has been created nearby.”

And the one who made them that way was the Sword Seeker Great Swordsman, the unrighteous man Eugene Schneider, who had incorporated both his younger sister and older sister into his harem.

Since the main purpose of this journey is not to exterminate monsters, he chose the safest route possible.

Despite that, monsters continue to appear, so Eugene cautiously speculated about the existence of a dimensional rift.

“Huh?”

At that moment, Eugene Schneider wore a slightly puzzled expression.

“Mother?”

Charlotte, his older sister, and Grand Duchess Marianne, his adoptive mother, were covering him, surveying the surroundings from behind,

And among them, Marianne’s expression seemed to be contemplating something complex.

“Ah…ah!”

Marianne also recognized her own state at Eugene’s reaction.

“It’s nothing, son. Let’s just pass by this for now. It seems right to keep going as much as possible, even if we have to stay up all night tonight.”

If they were planning to camp, it would be right to find and eliminate the dimensional rift.

Because Eugene has the ability to sense and find dimensional rifts.

However, in the case of the first day, Marianne decided to advance through the night.

“…”

Eugene Schneider silently stared at Marianne for a moment,

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

He turned his body back towards the front and began to hasten down the road again.

‘Something seems to be bothering her quite a bit? What’s wrong?’

However, Eugene was quite concerned about Marianne’s appearance just now.

For some reason, it seemed like Marianne’s focus was elsewhere.

“This is treason!!!!”

A swordsman clad in golden armor shouted at someone with enraged eyes.

The man’s name is Falcao,

And Falcao is the Commander of the Imperial Guard.

“That’s right, Commander of the Imperial Guard, Falcao. It is treason. I have come here for treason.”

The target of Falcao’s angry outburst was none other than the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Knights, the de facto number one figure of the Elysium Empire, Kaiser Antoine Dessel Oblean.

Antoine’s direct knights had finally reached right in front of the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Family, having sensed the situation to some extent, had Falcao, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, strengthen security around the Imperial Palace, and as a result, the two faced each other without fail, with the Imperial Palace’s massive gate between them.

Looking up at Falcao, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, from below the gate, Antoine spoke of plotting treason without hesitation.

“As a saber and the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Knights, who swore allegiance to the Emperor, how can you utter such nonsense! Especially in such a chaotic time as now! Are you planning to forsake not only your loyalty to the Emperor but also your faith to the Imperial citizens!!!”

Falcao expressed his resentment-filled anger, unable to accept it.

Commander of the Imperial Guard Falcao came from the Imperial Knights and was someone who had worked under Antoine.

He was not only skilled enough to rise to Sword Seeker, but he was also a talent with an upright character.

However, rather than keeping him under his command, Antoine recommended him to the Imperial Guard.

He did so precisely for this day, reassuring the Emperor and, at the same time, preventing Falcao from potentially applying internal brakes in the current situation.

“Hmm… I don’t understand why you, Falcao, of all people, are saying that to me. I, Antoine Dessel Oblean, have already clearly stated the essence to you.”

Cheoeoeoeok…!

Antoine wore an expression bordering on cold detachment and extended his hand forward.

“Do you remember, Falcao? You asked me what I should wield my sword for. So I clearly answered you.”

Seuaaaaaaaaaaaa…!

Then, in his hand, the sword of Kaiser, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Knights, and Swordmaster Antoine, Ea, was summoned.

“Be sure to make a choice you won’t be ashamed of or regret when looking up to the heavens, wasn’t that how I taught you? I am simply making that choice now. It’s just that you arbitrarily judged my heart. Rebellion is my surging desire, Falcao.”

Ssieeik…!

Passeuseseuseuseuseuseus…!!!

Soon, white sword energy, typical of a Swordmaster, rose from Antoine’s sword.

In addition, a cynical smile also appeared on his lips.

Antoine lived a thoroughly duplicitous life.

Externally, a swordsman loyal to the Empire and its people, and internally, a cold-blooded person who could betray and kill even his closest friend for personal desires.

And that’s not all. He is the one who instilled golden threats against Vivian, who was still young.

Being such a sociopathic cold-blooded person, he thoroughly enjoys the situation of deceiving and mocking people like he is doing now.

“Antoine!!! I will no longer treat you as a former superior!! For the sake of the Empire and the Emperor, I will fight you to the end!!!”

ㅡSeuaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

To that extent, externally, Antoine was the perfect knight of the Empire and the idol of all those in the Empire who dreamed of becoming knights and swordsmen.

That was the same for Falcao, so Falcao, greatly shocked by the idol’s shocking blackening, raised a blue sword energy in his sword and pointed it at Antoine.

“Are there still no signs of reinforcements arriving from Lady Vivian’s side!”

The young Emperor, Louis XV, who became emperor in his late teens and is now just over thirty years old, asked Count Van Basten, his closest aide and holder of the position of Chamberlain, about the external situation with anxiety-filled eyes.

Louis XV had requested support from Vivian, a relative, and Vivian had conveyed her intention to do her best within the limits of what she could do.

“It seems that it is taking time to secure a military force with sufficient strength, as the situation is what it is.”

Count Van Basten reported to Louis XV while wearing some combat gear, so that he could be fully armed at any time.

Count Van Basten is the current head of the Heyderon family, and the Heyderon family has served as chamberlains to the Imperial family for several generations. He also serves as the Chief of Staff.

Therefore, he also has a significant connection with the Pierre family, who are relatives of the Imperial family.

Vivian’s decision regarding Louis XV’s request was significantly influenced by that connection, but the Pieta Merchant Guild was too busy taking care of Alexandria, where monsters were rampant, so it was unable to send troops immediately.

“Ah…”

Louis XV let out a quiet sigh of despair.

The center of the Empire’s army is, above all else, the Imperial Knights. Antoine, who had been the head of the Imperial Knights for over 10 years, had also perfectly brought other Imperial army units under his control.

He merely released the Imperial Guard, thereby inducing Emperor Louis to feel at ease.

As a result, the Imperial army, which was greatly burdened by confronting the Imperial Knights at a time when monsters were rampaging, quickly sided with Antoine.

As a result, Louis XV ordered that they buy time until reinforcements arrived, but he was pathetically ignored.

He was truly a candle in the wind, the young emperor of the thousand-year empire.

‘Is it karma…’

An individual flashed through Louis XV’s mind.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

It was none other than the person who had competed for the position of the next Emperor,

Alexis Saint-Pierre, the father of Vivian Saint-Pierre, whom he had requested for help.

Alexis, a prominent candidate for Emperor who had been pushed aside by his cousin, conveyed his congratulations through a separate one-on-one interview after Louis XV’s coronation ceremony.

“I heard from Count Van Basten that Lord Alexis hopes I will distance myself from Grand Duke Antoine?”

After superficial formalities were exchanged, Louis XV, sitting on the throne, brought up what he had heard from Van Basten.

“Yes. I have said that. I thought it would be helpful to Your Majesty.”

Alexis confirmed in a calm voice.

At this point, Alexis knew all about what Antoine had done to make Louis Hayden Elysium the Emperor.

Alexis judged that Antoine had the actual power, and his cousin, who was now in his late teens, was merely a pawn, even if he was the Emperor.

Therefore, Alexis was worried about his own situation and also concerned about his cousin Louis.

“Lies! Don’t lie, Duke Alexis!”

Then, Louis XV shouted violently as if he were having a fit.

“You must not want to admit that you were pushed aside by me! You must hate admitting that you were pushed aside by me in terms of the qualifications of the Emperor! Everyone, including my father and the people of the world, had decided that you would be the next Emperor!!”

Not only that, but Louis XV poured out what had accumulated inside him, almost as if he were venting his resentment.

That’s right. Louis Hayden Elysium had a great inferiority complex towards his well-to-do cousin Alexis Saint-Pierre.

Clearly, he was the eldest in terms of bloodline, but his father, the former Emperor, as well as the nobles and the people, regarded Alexis as the true Emperor.

Antoine saw Louis’s inferiority complex and skillfully exploited it, using him as an effective pawn.

“But look! Look clearly with your own two eyes! Who is sitting on the Elysium throne? It is me, Louis XV, Alexis! Do you want to belittle me by saying that I obtained this position by being swayed by Antoine? Not at all! The vessel of the king that I possess attracted Antoine! The heavens determined that I would be the owner of this position!!”

He is not wise, but he is not stupid either. Louis also knows that he is being manipulated by Antoine.

Knowing that, his inferiority complex surged even more, and he is acting out like he is now.

“I know. You must want to beg for your daughter Vivian’s life. Even though power struggles are ruthless, you must feel at least a minimum of sympathy for your bloodline.”

Jeobeok, jeobeok, jeobeok,

Louis XV, who had vented his pitiful resentment, smiled cynically and approached Alexis.

“I promise. I will definitely protect Vivian. So don’t worry, my cousin Alexis.”

Louis XV, who was stained with inferiority complex and a victim mentality, accumulated evil deeds in that way.

‘I have become shameless…’

He did a terrible thing to the Pierre family. Nevertheless, Vivian somehow granted his request for help.

Now that Antoine’s sword has come right up to the Imperial Palace, Louis XV felt great shame.

“Count Van Basten, make sure you listen to my words.”

Louis XV, looking back on the past, called his Chamberlain, Count Van Basten, back.

And not long after.

ㅡKwaaaaaaaang!!!

The large door of his inner chamber opened with a loud noise, and

“I will thoroughly slaughter the livestock I have fed and raised today.”

Antoine, with his famous sword Ea stained with blood, revealed himself.