Chapter 99
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 99
Another day had passed since the news of Norbeck’s escape broke.
It was the day Lucian had decided to leave Colin’s fate to the Emperor. Lucian visited Glen in the morning to remind him once more, ensuring he wouldn't let the matter slide.
“Sir Glen, I hope you will speak to His Majesty as promised.”
“…I shall. However, a sudden report in the morning might be a burden to His Majesty, so I will speak to him in the afternoon.”
“Of course. You may do so whenever the time is right.”
Lucian smiled at Glen, who was clearly struggling to remain calm.
As long as he got a result by the end of the day, what did a few hours matter? Having nothing urgent to do, Lucian intended to wait patiently for an answer.
However, even after the sun set and the stars emerged, Glen did not come to the office.
Did something happen?
By this point, Lucian’s annoyance was beginning to turn into worry.
Glen was a man who followed the code of chivalry to a fault. Unless something significant had occurred, he wouldn't have kept Lucian waiting like this.
Just as Lucian was about to cast aside etiquette and go check for himself—
“Sir Glen, stop—!”
Bang!
“Your—Your Highness.”
Contrary to Lucian’s worries, Glen burst through the door physically unharmed. However, his face was so pale he looked as if he might collapse at any moment.
Lucian gave him a skeptical look; anyone could see something was wrong.
“What is the matter? The appointed time passed long ago…”
“His Majesty wishes to see Your Highness.”
“Pardon?”
“In my room—no, I will prepare it here in this room.”
Glen barely seemed to hear him, heading straight for a corner. He appeared to be setting up a soundproofing magical tool, just as he had before. He didn't even seem to realize the office door was still open, which was unlike the usual Glen who avoided exposing magical artifacts whenever possible.
“Your Highness, if you give the word, I will subdue that insolent man immediately,” Felicia whispered.
“It’s fine. Leave him be.”
Lucian shook his head at Felicia’s cold voice. He had a rough idea of why Glen was acting this way. Instead, Lucian quietly closed the door and had Felicia stand guard.
The conversation about to take place was likely something no one else should hear.
“Your Highness, are you ready? You must hurry.”
“I’ve been ready. You may begin immediately.”
“Then I will connect the link now.”
Connect what?
Before Lucian could ask, Glen pulled a red stone from his robe. As the red stone rolled in his palm a few times, light flared, and a translucent figure manifested in the air.
“…Your Majesty?!”
—Ah, yes. You aren’t late. Thank goodness.
Lucian froze the moment he saw the Emperor’s face. It wasn't because of the magical tool’s performance, but because of the Emperor’s deathly ashen complexion and the blood smeared on his lips. The Emperor was lying down, his arms resting on his stomach as if he were speaking from his sickbed.
—I apologize, but there is no time. Let us cast aside trivial etiquette and get straight to the point.
“Your Majesty, what do you mean by…”
—Sigmund is dead.
Lucian froze where he stood. He wondered if he had misheard.
Who was dead? Sigmund? Surely he didn't mean that Sigmund Valdek?
“My father?”
—Yes, your father. My friend. That man, who was more reliable than anyone else, died this morning.
The Emperor tried to speak quickly, as if he truly were out of time. However, no matter how strong the will, emotions are not so easily controlled. Mentioning the Grand Duke’s death caused the Emperor to bite his lip hard, his body trembling.
—Gah! Cough, cough! Damn it!
“Your—Your Majesty! Please, stay calm! Tend to your health!”
—I cannot even grieve or rage as I wish! This body is truly… Cough!
“Your Majesty!”
Glen cried out as a clump of blood sprayed from the Emperor’s mouth. The shocking sight finally snapped Lucian out of his daze.
Father is dead.
The most noble of nobles, a man Lucian had once respected more than anyone. In a way, being born his son had been Lucian’s greatest stroke of luck. And now, that father was dead.
“What was the cause of death?”
—He sustained a fatal wound from an unexpected attack while suppressing the rebellion.
It was a common enough cause. No matter how experienced one was on the battlefield, it was impossible to account for every variable. It was frequent for lives to be lost to a momentary lapse in focus or a stroke of unforeseen misfortune.
But that was exactly why it made no sense.
If Grand Duke Sigmund fell now, the Emperor would be the one in the most trouble. With the Imperial family’s power already laid bare, had they not even given him a single magical artifact to protect his life?
“Your Majesty. Forgive me, but may I ask how my father passed?”
“This is no time for—!”
—Enough.
The Emperor silenced Glen’s urgent exclamation. Despite his obvious illness and the vast distance between them, that single word carried immense weight.
—Every son has the right to know how his father died. This is also a courtesy to my dear friend, so do not interfere.
“But…”
—I feel a bit better after coughing up that clotted blood. I should be able to hold out for the rest of the day. It won't take long.
Glen bowed his head at the Emperor’s quiet yet firm voice. The Emperor’s face looked slightly more at ease as he turned his gaze back to Lucian.
—I did not witness it myself. I only heard the report from the knight who accompanied Sigmund…
Thoom! Rumble!
“It’s down!”
“Those bastards!”
“Kill them all!”
The soldiers cheered as they watched the wall crumble under the catapult fire. This was Krepelt, the nation that had harassed the Imperial army with all sorts of underhanded tactics since breaking the Grand Accord. From poison and assassinations to fake surrenders and the slaughter of prisoners—for the soldiers consumed by resentment, the long-awaited chance for vengeance had finally arrived.
“It is over,” Grand Duke Sigmund muttered gloomily as he listened to the soldiers' cheers.
Tristan, who was standing beside the Grand Duke, looked at his father with a puzzled expression.
“You don't look very pleased.”
“And you, conversely, look quite happy.”
“Is that not natural? It is time to make those rebels, who have forgotten the basic tenets of humanity, pay the price.”
“Those who haven't forgotten those tenets will also pay the price. Do you think their resentment will be directed only at the soldiers and the King?”
Tristan fell silent at Sigmund’s unexpected words. The Grand Duke didn't seem to expect an answer; he sighed and continued.
“The resentment has grown too deep to be satisfied merely by annihilating the enemy army and killing their King. The soldiers will crave more blood, and the nobles will be the same.”
“…They must have been prepared for this the moment they broke the Grand Accord.”
“The King and the nobles might have been. But I wonder if the common people shared that same resolve.”
“Grand Duke.”
Another person joined their conversation. It was Ludwig, the Vice-Commander of the Red Wing Knights.
“Your insight is admirable, and your concern for innocent victims is truly merciful. However, right now…”
“I know. It is a rage that cannot be stopped anyway. Playing the sage will only lower morale.”
“I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me.”
“No, it was timely advice.”
Since the wall had fallen, the enemy must have realized they were defeated. They wouldn't be fighting to win, but to take at least one more person with them before they died. There was nothing more terrifying than an enemy resolved to die, and here he was, making comments that dampened morale.
“I will save the sentimentality for later. Sir Ludwig, is the Dragon’s Tooth ready?”
“It is ready for use at any time.”
“Then let us go. It is time to take Erich’s head.”
“Yes, sir!”
Crash! Rumble!
Another boulder from a catapult struck the wall. The entire left section of the wall, already heavily damaged, began to collapse in a chain reaction. Just as even the suicide squads were falling into despair at the sight, the Imperial army, led by Grand Duke Sigmund, stormed in.
“The—the Lion Banner!”
“It’s Valdek! Sigmund Valdek is here!”
The rebels, who had suffered numerous defeats at Sigmund’s hands, were thrown into chaos at the mere sight of the lion crest. While the enemy was in disarray, Sigmund and the Red Wing Knights pushed through relentlessly to the heart of the royal palace.
Slash!
“Where is the traitor Erich?! Come out and offer your neck!”
“I am right here, you imperial pet cat!”
Sigmund, who had been cutting down the royal guards, turned his head. Just as he had declared, Erich, the King of Krepelt, was glaring at them. Sigmund flicked the blood off his sword and spoke to Erich.
“It is over. Cease this pointless resistance. Enough have died already; let us end this with your life alone.”
“And can you actually do that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I am asking if you can truly end this with just my life.”
Sigmund fell silent at the question, which held genuine weight rather than mere sarcasm. Had it been before the breach of the Grand Accord, perhaps, but things had escalated too far for it to end with only Erich’s life.
“Heh, at least you don't lie. Is that the so-called honor of the Lion?” Erich said, his lips twisting.
It looked less like a sneer and more like a face forced to hold back tears. Erich took a deep breath and raised his sword.
“I have evacuated the children and women to the west.”
“…”
“Please, just leave them be.”
“…I will try.”
“So you cannot guarantee it? Kh-kh-kh!”
Again, a sound that was somewhere between a sob and a laugh escaped Erich. After a moment of wheezing, Erich took a deep breath and stepped forward alone.
Schwing.
“Let us finish this.”
Erich pointed his sword at Sigmund. It was an act of designating a duel opponent, but Erich’s skill as a swordsman was barely at the level of a fledgling knight. Choosing to fight Sigmund, who was an exceptional warrior, was essentially choosing his own executioner.
“As you wish.”
Sigmund, recognizing this, raised his sword and stepped forward. The two took their stances a few paces apart. The outcome was obvious, so he intended to end it in a single strike.
The moment their swords swung simultaneously—
Slash!
“…?!”
Everyone nearby widened their eyes in shock.
Erich’s sword was cutting through Sigmund’s neck. Conversely, Sigmund had been unable to bring his sword down. Black tentacles, erupting from the shadows, had bound his entire body.
Clang.
“What… is this…?”
Erich recoiled in horror at his own deed. Simultaneously, the tentacles that had bound Sigmund vanished back into the shadows. Once freed from the tentacles, the runes on Sigmund’s armor, which had been dormant, began to glow again.
“Father?”
Zap!
Tristan blinked blankly and reached out toward Sigmund. Despite the gentle touch, the armor’s runes repelled Tristan to protect its master. It was hard to believe this was the same armor that had done nothing against the black tentacles.
“…You bastards.”
“No! It wasn't me!”
“We were fools to trust you. What did we expect from those who abandoned their humanity?”
“I said it wasn't me! Listen to me!”
No matter how much Erich screamed, his words reached no one’s ears. The only thing governing them now was the ceaseless, overflowing murderous intent. Tristan stood up, glaring at Erich with bloodshot eyes.
“Not a single traitor will leave this city alive today. Die, regretting what you have done.”