Succession Round 2, Lord Ransel.

32.

KWAANG-!

The fallen knight flew and crashed onto a table in the ballroom.

“Kkeueuk!”

It was a sensation he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Cutting down knights without hesitation.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Crazy bastard, do you know who we are… do you know who we serve!”

Each swing of the sword brought the sensation of armor and flesh being torn apart to his palm.

“T-Treason! This is treason!”

Lancel raised the corner of his lips.

“How foolish. In times like these, the one who lives is righteous, and the one who dies is the traitor.”

As he lowered his stance, Marigold’s blade flashed as if she had been waiting.

“Lancel! I’ll handle it!”

She slashed the chest of a knight rushing past Lancel’s head.

“Keuk!”

“Good job, Marigold.”

With their backs to each other, Marigold was diligently scattering blades where Lancel couldn’t see.

“Shall I kill them, Master?”

“Yes. Teach them a lesson until you feel better.”

Lancel and Marigold plunged through the pouring blades.

The ballroom where nobles had been dancing had now been reduced to a battlefield where murderous intent collided.

“Keuheok!”

Marigold, who had leaped high, finished off a knight kicked by Lancel.

Lancel raised the arm of a knight who had been aiming for that moment.

The hand gripping the sword lost its master and plummeted to the floor.

“Hieeek…!”

Marigold and Lancel swept through the ballroom as if they had been practicing together for decades.

Only the screams of knights were heard.

“Euaaak!”

“Careful.”

He supported Marigold, who slipped on a puddle of blood.

In the dimly lit ballroom, only the flickering chandelier lights faintly illuminated the interior.

What if it weren’t for the blood splattered everywhere and the scattered corpses?

If this continent were a more peaceful and livable place. If Marigold’s status were more ordinary. If this game had been made more properly.

Lancel, who was helping Marigold up, quickly shook off the thoughts that came to his mind.

“Monster-like bastards…!”

The knights were increasingly intimidated by the sight of the two clinging to them with their swords gripped tightly.

“If you attack, you die. If you want to live, get out of the way.”

Lancel’s bloodshot eyes were fierce.

“That’s right. Move aside. We’re just trying to escape!”

“You don’t have to be so honest, Marigold.”

“Ah, yes.”

He chuckled.

When he thought about it, this damn Phrygia Empire had never been helpful.

To Lancel and Marigold, the Phrygia Empire had always been a thorn in their side and an obstacle.

‘I was loyal to it once, though.’

He couldn’t even remember how he had lived for decades for such a place. He just felt like he had been possessed by something.

Now, he was starting to get angry.

Wasn’t the whole world filled with things meant to drag Marigold into unhappiness?

The fact that he was included in that, Lancel was especially grinding his teeth.

“Kkeoeuk!”

A knight with his throat slit was kicked away by Lancel and collapsed far away.

The next moment.

KWAANG-!

A huge impact swept through the hall.

“You traitors.”

It was the impact created when a mass of Magic Power directly hit the ballroom floor.

It was an attack that accurately targeted the place where Lancel was.

Where the impact swept through, hard tiles scattered and a deep crater was formed. It was proof of an attack with clear murderous intent.

As the dust settled, a familiar face came into Lancel’s view.

“So, you’re Marigold.”

==========

—Encounter Event! You have encountered Third Prince Yuri Langris Phrygia in the ballroom!

※Emergency! The opponent’s disposition is very hostile! How about leaving the area first and then improving your relationship?

==========

“It took me a while to find you.”

Third Prince Yuri.

Behind him, knights reappeared.

With ominous swords in their hands, they were approaching Lancel and Marigold.

There were over a hundred of them, by rough estimate.

“Kill the man and capture the woman.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Lancel let out a hollow laugh.

‘Relationship improvement, my ass.’

==========

—Encounter Event! Second Prince Arwen Louis Phrygia, Fifth Prince Erwin Cole Phrygia, and Sixth Prince Karin Craig Phrygia are coming to the ballroom!

—Alert! Third Princess Claria Arild Phrygia has fallen from her horse and died while fleeing!

—Alert! Second Princess Sena Po Phrygia, Fourth Prince Cerild Olivia Phrygia, and Fourth Princess Artena Set Phrygia have joined the hostile Louisent Republic!

※The political situation in the Phrygia Empire is very unstable! How about leaving the area first and waiting for stability to return?

==========

‘So when is that stability coming?’

The bloodbath in the ballroom was just beginning.

The night was long, and countless guests were yet to come for Marigold.

“Let’s clean up quickly and run. It seems your popularity exceeds my imagination.”

“Is that a compliment…?”

“Maybe.”

33.

“Where are you going in such a hurry, Sister?”

The First Princess’s steps, heading towards the Imperial Palace, came to a halt.

Across the path that followed the garden, a man with long hair tied back was seen walking towards her.

“It’s unlike you, Sister. To be wandering around so defenselessly.”

“That’s not true. I have such excellent guards by my side.”

The First Princess said, placing her hands on the shoulders of the men guarding her on either side.

Rio Dante and Kyle Dante exchanged confused glances for a moment.

They sensed a strange atmosphere flowing between the princess and the prince.

They realized the situation after countless presences were felt from the surroundings.

“Your Highness the Princess…!”

They hurriedly placed their hands on their swords.

Dozens of hidden knights slowly revealed themselves.

Silver armor gleamed in the moonlight. The swords attached to their waists were by no means mere decorations.

“I would like to have a long conversation in a quiet place… Would you please follow me quietly?”

“How scary, my brother. What on earth are you planning to do by locking this frail person in a dark place?”

The First Princess did not lose her smile beneath her veil.

“What else could there be other than providing you with the utmost hospitality and helping you spend your days in leisure? I am someone who cherishes family, Sister. Please do not worry too much.”

He turned around and plucked a flower blooming in the garden. He seemed to be savoring the fragrance rising from the hydrangea with his eyes closed.

“What are you all doing? Escort her.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the knights approached, Rio Dante drew his sword.

“Your Highness the Princess, what should we do…?”

There were only two of them against dozens.

The difference in power was too embarrassing to even discuss victory or defeat.

The First Princess’s condition was more helpless than ever, as the First Prince had said.

Because there was no way for the First Princess’s personal guard, who should be in the borderlands by now, to fly here.

“What do you mean, what should we do? Fighting will only get us killed.”

Kyle Dante was busy rolling his eyes, sweating profusely.

“I gave you a chance.”

The First Prince said, looking towards the ballroom.

“Even if you struggle now, Rodniss is already completely in my grasp. Sister will be able to enjoy her remaining years in a quiet place comfortably.”

“You’re planning to send someone who is still quite young to convalesce.”

“It’s the affection of family.”

“How touching. The problem is that you’re always weak in important areas.”

“You flatter me.”

With those words, the conversation ended.

The knights, taking it as a signal, drew their swords and narrowed the distance.

“…Is today the day the Dante Family’s lineage ends?”

“Don’t say useless things, Kyle.”

Rio Dante and Kyle Dante’s faces hardened.

“Heh heh.”

Then. A smile returned to the First Princess’s lips.

“Bess Wayne. Help me.”

The moment a brilliant light burst forth from her neck was right after that.

“Magic…”

Rio Dante’s eyes shone with a different light.

The blue necklace around the First Princess’s neck floated into the air, unleashing terrifying Magic Power.

Skeung-!

Everyone saw a huge Bastard Sword emerging from the necklace. It was an extremely unrealistic sight.

Next came a muscular arm gripping the hilt, a large head, a burly torso, and legs.

“…!”

“Wh, at…!”

“Ma, ma, Magic!”

A man with a huge physique slowly revealed himself before their eyes.

“Kkeueueueueu…”

Hot haze rose from the muscular man’s entire body.

His scarred body was not covered by a single thread. Literally naked. Even the huge monstrosity was revealed without filtering.

The First Princess narrowed her eyes.

“Bess Wayne, why are you in such a state?”

“I was just working up a sweat with my newly acquired wife.”

“How vulgar. Can you cover yourself up a bit?”

“I would if I had something to cover. Just look away for a moment. I’ll take care of everything quickly.”

Bess Wayne’s mouth stretched wide from side to side.

The First Prince’s expression went blank.

“…How are you here…?”

Bess Wayne.

Empire’s Greatest Swordsman.

The smile disappeared from the First Prince’s face.

“When did you hide such an Artifact?”

“A person who will become Emperor needs to be prepared, my brother.”

“Emperor…”

Murderous intent flared in his eyes.

“Kill him.”

.

.

.

“What on earth is going on…”

The Imperial Knights who rushed to the ballroom were all speechless at the sight before them.

Countless corpses were piled up, filling every corner. The central hall, filled with stagnant blood, was still full of heat.

As they covered their noses and went inside, familiar faces came into view one by one.

“Y-Your Highness the Prince! Your Highness the Prince is here…!”

“What are you doing! Help him up quickly!”

“He’s already… passed away.”

“…Heo…”

The Imperial Knights’ expressions hardened. It was because they saw the corpses of the Imperial Family among the corpses.

Not just one, but several.

“What on earth will become of the Empire’s future?”

An era of chaos was coming.

That fact alone was engraved in everyone’s minds.

34.

“Lancel, shall we try living together in the quietest place possible?”

At dawn.

Marigold woke Lancel up.

The two, dragging their bodies covered in wounds, had escaped and were now catching their breath on a passing wagon.

“Let’s try to survive this time without dying, no matter what.”

Hmm.

“What do you think?”

It might be okay.