Chapter 414
Chapter 414
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 414
Chapter Title: 2-37. Fugitive (1)
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#37
I was so dumbfounded I could barely speak.
Me, one of Schlieffen's lackeys? The day had finally come when I'd hear such bullshit.
The man who looked the highest-ranking... damn, with that bushy mustache, I'd just call him "Mustache."
Mustache furrowed his brow at my words.
"What did you call it, dogshit?"
"You want me to take that seriously? There's a limit to rudeness."
I pulled out my pipe and stuck it in my mouth.
I didn't think I could stay calm without taking a drag or two.
Mustache and the soldiers behind him turned pale.
"I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but I'm not that bastard's underling, and I have no idea how he's been living. If anything, I want to ask you. What the hell happened with the Grancia family and Schlieffen?"
I stated the plain facts.
In some ways, it was more bewildering than the previous world overrun by those baldheads.
A timely breeze scattered the smoke I'd exhaled toward the soldiers.
"Cough! Cough!"
"Even in this situation, pretending not to know... You maggot who's lived off the traitors' family stipend has no loyalty to your master?"
"No, I'm really telling you I don't know, you blockhead. Did people always tell you you were stupid as a kid?"
"Don't play dumb! You think anyone would buy you denying what every citizen of the Empire knows? The swordsman revered as the Empire's Rising Star tried to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor!"
"......What?"
I nearly dropped my pipe.
It felt like a massive rock had slammed into my temple.
The Schlieffen I knew had tried to assassinate the Emperor?
And that's why a regent had taken over?
I couldn't even grasp how history had been twisted.
Mustache continued in an angry voice.
"And there's plenty of evidence you're a Grancia spy. Sneaking around a restricted facility—no, the Imperial Phileon Academy, suspected as a meeting spot for Grancia trash—and even destroying the barrier... Good thing we mobilized right after the report."
"No. Explain a bit more. What exactly happened?"
"Looks like you have no intention of confessing to the end. Everyone, seize him!"
Mustache thrust his spear forward and shouted.
I still wanted to talk more, but he clearly didn't.
The waiting soldiers fired their crossbows in unison.
Shwoosh!
Six bolts cut through the air toward me.
The arrowheads coated in paralyzing poison targeted my limbs, not vitals.
No need to draw my sword this time either.
I lightly twisted my body, and the missed bolts flew past into the academy grounds.
"He dodged again!"
"That guy..."
The soldiers gasped in shock.
Even Mustache's face showed clear panic.
I tapped the hilt of my sword and sighed.
"Ah, seriously. Such a pain."
I should've just gone looking for Akasha right away.
I'd wanted to take a stroll around the school after so long, and now this.
Ignoring them to do my own thing might've been more efficient, but I couldn't.
One of my few friends (though we were total strangers in this world), and a guy who absolutely wouldn't do something like that, was now a criminal on the run.
I couldn't hold back my curiosity.
Mustache raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad. So even a Grancia mad dog is different from the usual ones?"
"Hey, mister. How about toning down the crap and backing off? If you retreat now, I won't hassle you and will ask someone else."
"Enough of your nonsense. I'll handle you myself. Hiyouup...!"
Suddenly, Mustache let out a ridiculous grunt.
A murky energy climbed the spear shaft and gathered at the tip.
The unique mana pattern marked it as aura.
I'd thought he was just some random Imperial Guard hack, but he had real skill.
"Huh?"
Something felt off, though.
A strange sense of familiarity emanated from the murky, ash-water-like aura.
Even though this was the first time I'd met him.
'Where have I seen that before?'
It lingered vaguely in my memory.
As I racked my brain while fighting nausea...
Mustache kicked off the ground and lunged, thrusting his spear.
I sidestepped slightly, and a gray line slashed across my vision.
"Oh."
"Good eyes. Dodging that..."
Looking down, I saw the spear shaft halted right before my chest.
A truly excellent strike.
Mustache smirked on one side.
"But that's as far as you go. You'll spill everything you know in the end. The interrogators at the Fortress of Screams will dismantle your flesh and bones."
"What, Rodolan's still running the place?"
That was pretty good news.
If the Empire was in this mess and he was still in business, professionals really were something.
Made me think of old man Karaka. Wonder how he's doing?
As I smiled at the fond memory...
"Hah!"
The spear came at me again.
This time even fiercer than before.
The blade, infused with gray aura, writhed like a living thing, relentlessly pursuing me.
Definitely mana I'd seen somewhere before.
The soldiers didn't dare intervene, just watching their captain fight.
"As expected of the captain."
'Not just anyone makes Imperial Guard. Of course.'
"Haha, I'll chop off your limbs and drag you in!"
Mustache laughed.
Shwick!
As I crouched, the blade grazed over my head.
In his eyes, I probably looked like I was trembling, barely dodging.
Seeing his excited face, it was time to reap some hope.
"Limbs, huh... Sounds good."
Imperial Guardsmen would know plenty, after all.
I removed the pipe from my mouth.
Then blew smoke right into Mustache's cackling face.
"Phew."
"Cough! Gah! How dare you...!"
Mustache coughed.
Only natural.
The Southern Mountain tobacco I smoked was no mild stuff.
For the first time since encountering the soldiers, I gripped my hilt and drew.
As the white blade emerged, red lines traced across Mustache's limbs.
The lightly dancing sword returned to its sheath.
Splash!
Four geysers of blood erupted as his limbs flew.
"Huh?"
His eyes widened.
He hadn't even registered it.
His trunk thudded to the ground.
Gushing blood formed a pool.
The watching soldiers gasped.
A chilling scream burst from the prone Mustache's mouth.
"Argh, aaaaagh!!"
"Now, what should I do with you lot?"
I spun my sword once and turned to the soldiers.
They were frozen solid, mouths agape.
"Ah... aaah..."
"M-monster."
Their trembling legs were pitiful.
I hesitated.
Chopping them like stew carrots would be effortless.
I'd just fought a space-ripping mage a few hours ago.
'The sorrow of those who chop when told to.'
But their shaking eyes stopped me from switching to human chef.
Honestly, I wanted to avoid killing if possible. This world would persist after I left, and unlike the last one, it wasn't completely ruined yet.
After a brief ponder, I waved them off like flies.
"Eh, forget it. Get lost."
"Heek! Yes, sir!"
"Everyone, run!"
The soldiers bolted like they'd been waiting.
Weapons clattered as they discarded them.
Yeah, that felt right.
The residential area was right ahead; someone must've seen me already.
Unless they directly threatened me or were heinous criminals, I didn't want to judge personally.
Having sent the soldiers packing, I grabbed Mustache by the hair.
"You, come with me."
"Aaaagh! Let... let go!"
He writhed, dripping blood, but it was futile.
Cry or beg, severed limbs don't regrow.
My gaze swept around and stopped inside the gate.
Definitely better to talk deeper in the Phileon grounds.
"Huuuuh..."
I inhaled, thighs swelling.
Holding Mustache in one hand, I leaped through the gate.
Boom!
Paving stones cracked as I soared.
The nostalgic campus unfolded before me.
Over a hundred spires.
The grand plaza for entrance ceremonies, the river winding around the lake...
Almost everything matched my memories.
"Miss this place."
"S-save me!"
Far better off than the original world destroyed by Abel.
Just overgrown trees and weeds.
Stains on building exteriors showed long neglect.
No blemishes back in the day.
Mid-parabolic descent...
Gallerion Hall's massive balcony came into view.
"Perfect."
Ideal for a private chat.
I'd frequented it for Instructor Naviroje's classes.
Speaking of, wonder what happened to her.
Hope she's still alive.
'I'll find out soon enough.'
Chasing Akasha would reveal it anyway.
Not enough momentum for Gallerion Hall.
I swung my sword at my feet.
Bang!
A small explosion accelerated me.
"Guh!"
Mustache vomited blood from the shock, but not my problem.
We landed on the balcony with a boom.
High up, the view was stunning.
I leaned against the wall, arm around Mustache's shoulder.
"Nice view, right?"
"Hahk... haaah... mercy... please..."
He pleaded through tears.
His spirit broke quicker than expected—my hope-harvesting strategy worked.
Pretending to struggle before crushing was more efficient than outright smashing.
I stuck my pipe back in my mouth.
"Depends. Ready to answer questions?"
"Anything... anything you want."
"Good. First... what's going on with the Empire? How'd Schlieffen end up plotting to assassinate the Emperor, and who's the regent?"
"Guhk... It all started the day His Majesty summoned Schlieffen... To commend his excellent mission results... His Majesty and he entered the audience chamber... A scream echoed. By the time the Imperial Guard Captain rushed in... His Majesty was already down."
"Schlieffen did it for sure? Witnesses?"
"No witnesses, but... circumstances point to it. The sword in his hand was covered in His Majesty's blood... Cough, cough... He fled immediately. Fortunately, His Majesty survived but remains comatose..."
The sudden reason for the regency.
The Emperor, stabbed by Schlieffen's blade, reduced to a vegetable-like state.
Mustache continued in a blood-choked voice.
"So... huff, the most trusted minister, Lord Barca, ascended as regent."
An unbelievable name popped up.
If I didn't have dementia, it was definitely in my memory.
Barca.
Barca of the North.
Barca Tergeun, Jaifa's younger brother.
I swept back my bangs and asked him.
"......Hold on. Is this Barca the Barca Tergeun I know?"
"Yes... The pillar of the Northern Unification Policy will lead the Empire better than anyone... Grrgh."
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Suddenly, Mustache showed strange symptoms.
Veins bulged along his thick neck.
Blackened and grotesque.
As I pulled away in disgust...
His eyes rolled back, and a squeezed voice emerged.
"Great... grk. His Majesty Barca's name...!"
He turned to me.
His gaping mouth revealed a massive eyeball from his throat.
"What the fuck."
The eye fixed on me.
Its vertically slit pupil looked more beast than human.
In this bizarre horror, as I reached for my sword...
Slash!
A sword beam from somewhere struck Mustache's chest.
"Huh?"
No time to react.
His bisected body collapsed.
As I sensed dire threat and leaped up...
Kagagagak!
A massive whirlwind erupted, shredding Mustache's remains.
Not a hair left of the man.
"This...!"
A moment later and I'd have been caught.
But I wasn't shocked by the near-death.
A familiar voice came from the sword beam's direction.
"Reckless. Didn't you know what happens when you kill an Imperial Guard?"
A small mutter, but my ears caught it clearly.
Turning, I saw a cloaked man standing there.
Indigo eyes gleamed sharply from the deep shadows.
The distance was far, but I felt it clearly.
Locking eyes with him, I murmured the name like intoning the dead.
"Schlieffen."