episode_0318

“Ooooooh! That’s the one who annihilated the Minotaurs!”

“Somehow, his physique and armor looked like that of a greatswordsman!! I definitely heard it! They said that the class of the rumored hero is the rare class, Greatswordsman!”

“Such an amazing hero existed in the same space, and I didn’t even recognize him!!! So amazing! Looking at him again, he definitely has the aura to achieve such great feats!!!”

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The Imperial Coronation Hall was thrown into chaos by Vivian’s introduction of Eugene Schneider.

Vivian’s side had been promoting Eugene’s achievements since the monster outbreak, and it was being talked about among the refugees and displaced people as a heroic epic like a savior.

With such a dramatic stage set, the introduction of the Heroic Greatswordsman Eugene Schneider created even more spectacular enthusiasm among the public.

Swoosh…!

Eugene Schneider had heard cheers from fellow mercenary members, but this was the first time in his life that he was surrounded by the general public and received heroic cheers.

He looked at them with quite weighty eyes, as if scanning them.

‘Ah, damn it! If I had my greatsword, I could have held it up! It would have been even more epic!’

It was merely thorough acting according to the situation.

Eugene’s real feelings were that he was completely immersed in the current structure of being hailed as a hero,

feeling a surge of excitement as his heart pounded with exhilaration.

“Yes, my beloved imperial citizens. The time when a warrior from mythology descended was a thousand years ago. So, we can’t just rely on that myth. In fact, the empire has developed over that long period and produced many talented people. And here, in this time of crisis, a hero has been born who can become the empire’s sword and fight against monsters and demons!”

The cheering public, and the hero’s force, which was solemn at least on the surface,

Vivian delivered a wonderful speech that brought them all together.

To Antoine, who was trying to seize the hilt by utilizing the traditional authority that spanned several years,

Vivian put forward Eugene Schneider and emphasized a new paradigm, that is, the proactive resistance of humans who do not simply rely on God.

The symbol of this new paradigm is the Heroic Greatswordsman Eugene Schneider.

“Greatswordsman! Will you become our sword, as His Imperial Majesty said!”

“Will you protect us from monsters and demons???”

“Tell us, Greatswordsman!! Please be our sword!!!!”

The public’s cheers and earnestness reached their peak.

As Vivian said, the hero’s achievements, which were immediately visible, resonated with them more than vague myths.

Therefore, the warrior keyword that Antoine had brought to the surface was nowhere to be found, and they earnestly craved for Eugene Schneider to become their shield.

“Of course, everyone. That is why I participated in the Imperial Coronation at the request of His Imperial Majesty. If the imperial citizens and His Imperial Majesty trust me and entrust me with the mission, this Eugene Schneider will become the empire’s sword and confront the imminent threat.”

Indeed, Eugene Schneider was a strong human being to both crisis and opportunity.

Even though he was practically beside himself with excitement, after Vivian painstakingly set the stage and the public called him out, he declared his intention to serve, like a hero with a noble heart.

“Wow! The Heroic Greatswordsman promised to be our sword!”

“Thank you!!! Thank you, Greatswordsman!!!!”

“Waaaaaah!!!!”

The imperial citizens, who had come to the coronation with hearts elated by the enthronement of the new emperor, cheered like thunder and could not contain their joy at the official appearance of the hero who could alleviate their anxiety.

“Hehehehe…!”

Antoine, who had been silently watching the work Vivian had created, let out a chuckle.

“Excellent response, Emperor Vivian. To be able to unite and captivate the hearts of the imperial citizens so much.”

Then, he praised the new emperor, Vivian, for her fluent and perfect response that did not deviate from the norm in the face of his attack.

‘That look… somehow…’

However, from Eugene Schneider and Jeanne’s point of view,

‘My father definitely has more hidden cards!’

It seemed more like he was being relaxed, thinking that there was a sufficient counter to Vivian’s response.

“In that case, I shall withdraw now.”

Swooooooooosh…!!!!!

At that moment, a warp gate was created behind Antoine again.

“But before that,”

Then Antoine, who was about to turn around and enter the warp gate, said,

“I must accomplish one more goal!”

Boooom!!!

Something was summoned from his hand.

“You villain, Antoine, what are you doing!!!”

—Chwaaaaaaaaang!!!

Seeing something unusual being summoned, the chief guard Antonio finally drew his sword again,

‘That is!!!’

Besides Antonio, there was someone else who showed a rather unusual reaction.

‘Maidana’s curse totem!’

That person was none other than the former head mage of the Great Academy Magic Tower, Samantha.

—Paaaaaaaat!!!!

The thing Samantha referred to as Maidana’s curse totem emitted a flash of crimson light of immense brightness.

“What!!”

Stumble! Stumble!

“Your Majesty! Protect Her Majesty!!!”

—Dash dash dash dash dash dash!!

“—Kyaaaaaaaaak!!!”

“Uwoooo! Wh-what’s going on!!!”

Eugene immediately stepped forward to protect Vivian, Jeanne, and Samantha, who were next to him, and

the Imperial Guards also began to move in an orderly fashion while blinded.

And the imperial citizens gathered in that place screamed and turned into a scene of chaos.

“Antoine!! You villainous one!!!”

—Stumble! Stumble!!

As the holy light faded, Antonio quickly lunged towards the direction where Antoine was standing, taking a fighting stance and securing his position.

“!!!!!!”

However, his expression soon had no choice but to be dumbfounded.

“He’s gone! Duke Antoine has disappeared!!!”

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Antoine had already left through the warp gate, and the warp gate had disappeared without a trace.

At the sight of him disappearing without a trace, the imperial citizens who had been in chaos also looked bewildered and scurried around.

“Your Majesty! And Mother! Are you alright?”

Eugene quickly took care of Emperor Vivian, who was behind him, and Marianne, who was a few steps away from there.

If Antoine had prepared something of a surprise attack, the most likely target of that attack was Vivian and Marianne.

“I am fine, Greatswordsman Eugene!”

“This mother is also fine, son. Are you alright anywhere?”

“I’m fine, Mother. Jeanne! How about you?”

“I’m fine too.”

Vivian looked around and asserted her safety, and

the loving mother Marianne was busy checking if anything had gone wrong with her adopted son.

After confirming that the two most important people were safe, Eugene Schneider checked Jeanne’s condition.

‘What the heck is it? I don’t seem to be affected at all, and the imperial citizens don’t seem to have suffered any particular damage either. Was it a smokescreen to make it easier to escape? That can’t be, he definitely said another goal??’

As a quick situation check was carried out, Eugene’s mind was filled with question marks. Compared to the very flashy departure situation, there was no damage on this side at all.

It doesn’t make sense because he saw Antoine’s very confident appearance just before he disappeared.

But at that moment,

“Eugene!”

Jeanne’s urgent voice, who had just said she was safe, was heard.

“What’s wrong, Jeanne!”

—Cough!!

Then Eugene Schneider turned his body towards Jeanne,

“!!!!!!”

His expression became greatly surprised.

“Samantha-nim! Samantha-nim is coughing up blood and collapsing!!!”

Jeanne was sitting on the floor, and in her arms was Samantha, who had fainted after coughing up blood.

“It seems that Samantha-nim’s life is not in danger for now. She is currently taking rest while doing her own magic scan.”

Although it was chaotic, the Imperial Coronation was still finished, and the magician Samantha, who was greatly affected by Antoine’s last performance, was being cared for by the imperial physicians.

“That’s a relief for now. I hope there’s nothing wrong with Samantha-nim’s scan.”

Eugene Schneider let out a sigh of relief at the situation of Samantha that Jeanne had conveyed.

After all, he is more concerned because she is the teacher of his beloved younger sister.

“The curse totem has caused considerable problems in my magic circuits.”

However, Eugene Schneider’s sigh of relief was soon faced with unwelcome news.

Not having received a general influence,

As a result of Samantha diagnosing herself through a high-level magic scan, she was able to grasp that a significant defect had occurred in her magical circuits.

“What Duke Antoine summoned was Maidana’s curse totem. It is a special totem that mainly curses magicians.”

The Maidana curse totem is a debuff totem exclusively for magicians and witches.

“And Maidana is a former disciple who was under me. She became obsessed with curse magic and had conflicts with me, so she was excommunicated, but in the end, she seems to have joined hands with Tyranos.”

The warp gate that Antoine used is impossible unless a considerable level of magician or witch helps, even if he became a warrior.

The magician who helped him was none other than the magician who was excommunicated by Samantha.

Because she knew so much about Samantha, she was able to create a curse magic totem that properly targeted her.

Of course, a magician of Samantha’s level would have the ability to defend against it sufficiently,

However, Samantha had temporarily returned her magic staff while attending the Imperial Coronation.

“If she is an excommunicated disciple, is it a personal grudge against Samantha-nim?”

Eugene Schneider felt the need to understand Maidana’s exact purpose after hearing the situation.

“There may have been personal feelings, but considering that she targeted the magic circuits, I think she is sharing interests with Antoine’s goal. There are hardly any magicians in the current continent who specialize in magic against demons.”

“Ah! So, Samantha-nim is one of those rare magicians?”

“That’s right, Greatswordsman Eugene. It will probably take a considerable amount of time to restore the damaged magic circuits.”

“Ah…!”

The weakening of the empire’s ability to respond to the demon king’s army is Antoine’s top priority.

In that regard, the demon hybrid magician Samantha was an obstacle, so he temporarily neutralized the obstacle by borrowing the power of Mainada.

‘Was this the reason for Antoine’s confident smile?’

It was like being hit in an unexpected area.

Therefore, Eugene Schneider stuck out his tongue at Antoine’s meticulousness,

“Our Holy See cannot agree with His Imperial Majesty’s thoughts.”

However, the hidden card that Antoine showed confidence in was something else.