episode_0203

* * *

Serpina, who had come down to the dungeon, was taking steps to meet Arc, a key figure in the rebel army.

Arc was a long-time friend of Lenny, who served as his guard, and the two were generals who had served the Eingart Empire ever since they were young.

Is that why? He was a person who had some connection with Serpina from her childhood.

This moment when we face the rebels.

So far, this has been an embarrassing time for Serpina.

It was a time when people who said they would follow him had to see themselves hating themselves with completely different words on their tongues.

Even, hatred caused by evil deeds that one did not commit.

Of course, she was the one who decided to accept everything, not anyone else, but no one gets used to being hated.

No matter how absolute one is, one cannot avoid the feeling of extreme loneliness that comes from the public’s failure to respect oneself.

Moreover, this time, he was stabbed in the back by the escort driver he trusted.

If she was who she was up to now, it wouldn’t be surprising if she collapsed alone again and again.

It’s different now.

After arriving at the prison with relatively light steps, Serpina raised her head, looked down at him, and asked in a confident tone.

“If you have something to say, say it, Arc. Anyway, I won’t be able to do it tomorrow even if I want to.”

“… … Princess Serpina.”

“Who are you? Algot? Sid Mead? There are a lot of idiots other than you who threw their lives away while chasing after the dead.”

“Princess.”

Arc raised his head and looked directly at Serphina.

“I do not represent anyone, princess. What I wanted to overthrow was the Eingart family… … That was it.”

Arc slowly closed his eyes.

“From the moment we saw up close the countless victims sacrificed for the succession to the throne, Lenny and I kept it in mind. When the time comes, I will definitely drive out the sinful family called Eingart. Since you killed them all anyway, all we had to do was get rid of you. Thanks to you, my plan became more specific. Ironically enough.”

Then, he opened his closed eyes and glared fiercely at Serpina.

“The princess was so kind-hearted… … okay. Serpina, I realized this when I saw that even you, in the end, had the blood of your brothers on your hands. It is said that the blood of the Eingart family is a curse itself. Since he was born with that blood, he craves blood!”

“… … .”

Serpina doesn’t answer.

Without taking out what was in my heart, I silently listened to Arc’s plea.

“Why do you think we revealed that we were behind it in the first place, princess? Because that was a promise between me and Lenny. The Eingart family no longer deserves to be the losers of this continent. Isn’t it shocking to even think about it now that he continues to act as emperor while suffering so many casualties?”

“Are you saying you just wanted to become the new emperor? Without even thinking that the continent would fall into chaos.”

“After all, these are difficult times, princess. Don’t you know that 2/3 of the continent’s people are already living under a flag other than the Eingart flag?”

“… … It’s a trivial story.”

Serpina slowly stood up and looked down at Arc coldly.

“If it were given to you, there would be no need to listen to the noise that is only muttered by a man who would not even be able to bear the weight and would be crushed.”

“Princess. Like I said, I won’t be the end. Let me give you advice considering our past feelings. If you want to save your life even now, it would be better to quit and live as if you were dead. The empire is over. We will never be able to stop the wave of a new era!”

“… … If only it were like before.”

After saying that, Serpina slowly turned around and finally-

“Not now.”

After saying this, he left the prison.

okay.

If it were like before, I would have been so intimidated by his words that I couldn’t even give him a proper response.

It was clear that I must have spent my time lamenting my fate, just like when Rachelven was cut off, being pushed around with no one to lean on.

But, not now.

‘To me, that man… … There’s Swen.’

With Swen, we can build an empire again.

If only he had the ability of his mind’s eye to always say the right thing.

I was confident that I could overcome even the terrible karma of the royal family as long as the kind person who warmly embraced me was by my side and protected me.

Just by thinking about that man, the confused emotions left her without a place in her mind.

Swen became her psychological shield.

are you okay.

Even if no one understands you-

If only Swen would understand him, and if only Swen would follow him until the end… … Serpina wasn’t afraid of anything.

‘I will definitely prove it. That my thoughts are right… … !’

So, as time goes by, more and more… …

The existence of Swen slowly seeped into every part of Serpina.

This flow was something that not only Swen but even Serpina herself could stop.

*

next day.

All of the rebels who dared aim for Serpina’s head disappeared as dew on the execution ground.

The three generations of Arc, a key figure, were exterminated, and the soldiers who actively participated were also executed.

In the first place, because I continued to fire magic in conjunction with Reika, there weren’t many survivors.

And, what is the situation with Reika, the person who used magic?

“Ugh… … Sorry, Swen. Hurry up and cheer up… … I have to practice again… … .”

“No. Since you worked extremely hard on the battlefield, let’s rest for a while.”

He collapsed shortly after using the magic, and was confined to bed until he returned to the mansion.

It was safe to say that this battle was the first time she used magical magic.

Until now, rather than just pouring out magic, the idea was to float it in your hand for practice, or make it small and throw it somewhere like a scarecrow, but this time, since you have collected all the mana that exists in your body, it will inevitably put a strain on your body.

Originally, in the game on which this world is based, when wizards used magic, there was a kind of cooldown for balance since it was such a powerful ability, but in this world, it appeared as ‘mana exhaustion’ and was implemented as affecting Reika’s body. It was.

No, on the contrary, it was not possible to express the effect on the body in the game, so it would be correct to say that the cooldown was roughly set in.

This time, in order to maximize the amplification effect with my rapier, I continued to create the largest magic she could create, so it will be quite a while before she can display her abilities like before.

“I can’t even help with housework… … Even if I try to collect mana again, it doesn’t work… … Swen, is there something wrong with me? … ? I’m an incompetent woman who can’t even use magic, so I’m no different from an animal that just eats food… … .”

“No. Since you’ve been pouring it out in earnest, your abilities will come back if you rest a little more. As Reika’s teacher, I will guarantee this.”

“Really… … ?”

Nod.

I wasn’t lying, I thought I would be able to use magic again little by little if I rested during what was considered a sort of ‘cool time’ period, so I put on a confident expression.

That sight must have comforted her, and then she lightly covered her mouth with her white hand and smiled-

“Because the teacher said so… … It’ll be okay, right? Hehe.”

“And, please don’t say things like animals or anything like that. Reika, how talented you are. He is good at making bread and cookies, and is also good at housework. Even if you don’t have any talent, I will take good care of you, so don’t worry too much.”

“Ah… … .”

Reika, who heard those words, blushed profusely, and this time she pulled the blanket up further to cover her face.

It was strangely cute to see only her pink bangs slightly sticking out of the blanket.

“… … Kamahaehyo… … .”

I couldn’t hear it properly because I said it while I was buried under a blanket, but in context, I guess it was ‘thank you.’

However, it was I who had to say thank you.

“Thank you so much. Mr. Reika. I will not forget this grace.”

No matter how much my rapier is a kind of amplifier, I wouldn’t have been able to avenge Iren-sama so cleanly and without any damage if Reika hadn’t helped me by sacrificing herself and getting blood on her hands.

The magic itself was an amazing power, but I was a little more grateful now for the determination to use it.

For the next few days, I spent my time at the mansion lightly nursing Reika.

One way or another, the person named Reika was slowly seeping into my life like clothes getting wet in a light rain.

*

As time goes by-

Although her mana has not been fully recovered and cannot be used in combat, Reika has regained some strength.

“Listen to Reika Nighthart.”

In the middle of the throne room, Serpina extends her hand to Reika, who is kneeling, and announces her intention.

What was taking place here was a kind of commissioning ceremony.

It was as if the commissioning ceremony, which had been postponed due to Reika’s collapse, was now held.

Because there were more than one person who moved his enemy in difficult times, it was rare for a grand investiture ceremony to be held for the arrival of a general. In the case of Swen and Irene, they also became members of Serpina’s army as if they had jumped over a swamp.

This investiture ceremony was proof that Reika was recognized by Serpina.

She was saying that she, as the monarch, knew very well that if it had not been for her in suppressing the rebels not long ago, more soldiers would have lost their lives for no reason.

“Reika. Do you swear that from now on you will sacrifice your whole body for me with all your heart?”

Reika didn’t tremble like usual, but had a very calm expression… …

Carefully, open your mouth.

“… … Yes, I swear!”

… … Because I chewed my tongue, a rather foolish answer came out –

She, who seemed to be genuine, went into her usual sloppy mode and began to sweat profusely.

“Ah… … I, that… … Sorry, sorry. I’m dying… … I’m going to die right now… … So, forgive me… … .”

“If you die, won’t the meaning of forgiveness disappear?”

“Ah, now that I think about it, I guess so. Then just… … Separately, I will go to a place where my master is not and die alone. I’m sorry about something… … .”

“… … Hehehe.”

There would have been enough people to say that Reika’s actions were extremely rude during the sacred coronation ceremony.

Fortunately, Serpina was the type of person who did not attach much importance to such protocols.

“Reika. I’m sorry, but I can’t grant your request. I don’t want to lose you, the person I had by my side for so long.”

“Serpina… … .”

Reika slowly looked up at Serphina’s face looking down at her.

That moment.

For the first time, I felt like I understood what Irene had said when she explained to me, ‘The master is like an absolute being.’

“I understand what you mean. From today onwards, we will accept you as a member of our Serpina army.”

“… … Yes, old… … !! Choi, I will do my best… … !”

This time, fortunately, I answered without chewing my tongue –

Reika Nighthart became a general in the Serpina army.

She was no longer a civilian from this point on.

As a military officer who was secretly an enemy of the country, he showed himself in earnest during these difficult times.

This was all Reika’s meaning when she said, ‘I also want to be of some help.’

In order to use her abilities smoothly on the battlefield, she had to first resolve her current ambiguous status.

Reika also knew full well that Swen and Irene could not carry her around alone forever.

Just like that, the inauguration ceremony ended successfully.

Among those present, those with excellent political insight were able to instinctively sense this.

Swen, Irene, and Reika.

In the future, these three people will become Serpina’s closest associates, both in name and reality, and will become a new power.

And, in Serpina County, where the talent pool has dried up due to the continued rebellion… … Even the fact that there are only a few military officers outstanding enough to stop these three people from leading alone.

Just as the emergence of wizards opened a new era of battle on the continent –

Even in Serpina County, a new power was shining and rising.

――A precarious power that seems likely to disappear like a mirage at any moment.