Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Magnet Branch (4)
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In the center of Tenasta Square stood a towering clock tower.
It had been newly erected on the very spot where I had been executed.
"Let's go over there."
I pulled Iriel along.
The closer we got to the clock tower, the faster my heart began to beat.
Even I, who feared nothing under heaven, was vividly reminded of that moment of death by those clear memories.
The ruins of the city and the ragged citizens staring at me came sharply into focus.
At the same time, the sorrow and resentment from that day felt as fresh as if it had happened yesterday.
Back then, I had been dragged like a beast through these streets by the brutish hands of the imperial soldiers.
Now, I was walking those same streets again.
And finally, I stood at the exact spot where my past self had died.
"This is the place."
"Ah-."
Iriel let out a short gasp.
She would understand the meaning of my words without me needing to explain.
No one in Tenasta Square was unaware that the crown prince had been executed here.
She looked up at the clock tower with sad eyes.
"...So this is where it happened."
"Do you want to see the view he saw before he died?"
"Pardon?"
Iriel turned to me with a questioning look.
"I do."
I swept Iriel up into my arms like a princess.
"W-What are you doing!"
Startled, Iriel's eyes widened like saucers, her face flushing red.
"Just a moment."
Bending my knees and channeling strength into my toes, I kicked off the ground.
Flash!
A fierce wind whipped up, and my figure sliced through it, shooting straight up vertically. Iriel's short scream was swallowed by the howling gale.
I kicked off the clock tower's wall and landed in the bell tower—an arched opening high up.
East, west, south, north. All four sides were open, and in the center hung a massive bell.
I set Iriel down and said,
"It's high, but this should be close enough."
The entire square came into view at a glance.
The people walking the streets, the cityscape.
And at the end of the straight boulevard, the royal castle.
Everything had changed.
Unlike back then, the neatly restored city appeared peaceful on the surface.
I lifted my head to gaze at the imperial flag fluttering in the distance.
It was the spot where Francia's flag—navy blue with a roaring Leonir Lancer—had once flown.
"......"
We silently took in the scene for a moment.
Countless thoughts seemed to swirl in her mind as well.
Iriel broke the heavy silence.
"He's probably there, right? Halent Barrein."
She was staring at the royal castle, now the governor-general's office.
"Most likely."
We still hadn't confirmed if he was actually in the governor-general's residence.
But what we were discussing was symbolic.
He was the pinnacle of the governor-general's office, after all.
"It's a bit sudden, but... do you think it's possible?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Iriel smiled faintly.
I nodded silently.
The first step toward independence was right before us.
Soon enough, we'd come face to face.
And when that time came,
His head would roll on the ground.
That was when mana fluctuations stirred from behind us.
Wooong.
Iriel flinched in surprise and pressed close to me. Turning around, I saw the massive ram etched with a magic circle glowing blue.
Swoosh.
The ram began to move on its own, as if pulled by an invisible hand. It soon struck the bell's surface, producing a massive toll.
Dong-!
I muffled the expected bell toll with a barrier. The massive sound waves spread outward from above.
Dong-!
The ram continued striking the bell in slow, deliberate beats.
What did it mean?
It wasn't signaling the hour, at least.
"...People are acting strange."
At Iriel's words, I followed her gaze outward.
Moments ago, people had been going about their ways, but now they had all stopped and turned in unison toward one direction.
Not just those on the streets—people inside buildings opened windows or stepped onto balconies, all gazing at the same spot while placing hands over their left chests.
It was a salute of reverence.
They were all facing the governor-general's office.
More precisely, the imperial flag flapping in the sky above it.
It wasn't just those near the square.
The bells tolled from elsewhere too.
The clock towers in Magnet's east, west, south, and north were ringing simultaneously.
Meaning everyone in the capital was saluting the imperial flag.
Dong-!
As the bell rang on, time in Magnet seemed to freeze.
No one moved, and no sounds could be heard besides the tolling.
The scene, almost reverent, lasted a full minute, and only after the bells fell completely silent did people start moving again.
The square's noise revived as if nothing had happened.
It was exactly like time had stopped and then resumed flowing.
* * *
"What do you mean, you two went somewhere without me!"
As soon as we returned to the branch, Allen greeted us furiously.
"We went to the square."
"You left me out!"
"Allen, you wouldn't wake up."
"Ah, did you try waking me?"
"Y-Yes."
Iriel nodded awkwardly.
"You just wouldn't get up no matter how much we tried, so we left."
"Oh, really?"
It was obvious they hadn't even tried properly, but the simple Allen bought it. Iriel quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, how'd it go yesterday?"
"Oh, perfectly. I told everyone at the branch all about Sir Genes's exploits without missing a thing. They're all totally smitten with you now."
"I knew it! I can confidently say there's no better storyteller in Francia than you, brother."
"Umuhaha! Not quite yet."
Allen burst into laughter at Iriel's praise.
After dancing to Iriel's tune for a while, he suddenly remembered something and turned to me.
"By the way, Sir Genes. The branch chief says we should all have dinner together tonight."
I nodded.
I had things to ask and favors to request anyway.
.
.
.
The evening meal began as the sun set.
The table was laden with appetizing dishes.
"It's the handiwork of Pogret, who runs the kitchen at 'Harab's Dawn.' His cooking is top-notch, so it should suit your tastes. You two might eat so much you'd miss one dying. Of course, it'd be me, so eat up without worry."
At Harab's praise, Pogret beamed and added,
"Haha. I put extra effort in especially for Sir Genes. And for Allen and Iriel too, of course."
As Harab had said, Pogret's culinary skills were excellent.
Just as he had poured his heart into the food, we dove in eagerly.
One must always approach food with sincerity.
Once the mood had ripened, Harab spoke up.
"I heard you went to the square today."
"Yes. What was that about?"
I had been about to ask the same thing.
That scene we'd witnessed earlier in the day.
It was clearly no one- or two-day routine.
Harab gave a wry smile.
"It's a weekly event."
"Weekly?"
Iriel raised her voice in surprise, and he nodded, continuing.
"Yes. Every Friday at 1 p.m., the bells toll. They always ring at the exact time, so no one's allowed to even use the bathroom then. Everyone—whether at home or with urgent business—must salute the flag without exception."
"What fucking scum."
The sudden curse came from Yuria.
The girl, usually all smiles, now glared murderously while stabbing her salad with her fork.
Her expression far more agitated than before.
Harab sternly addressed her.
"Go get some air."
"I didn't say anything wrong!"
"Now."
"......"
Puffing her cheeks, Yuria shot up and stomped out, venting her frustration with heavy footsteps.
Watching her go, I thought of Iriel.
Do all girls act like that?
The tantrums were identical.
Harab gazed sadly at the empty seat before turning back to me.
"When they first started the salute, the citizens rebelled fiercely. Who would want to salute the empire that shattered their daily lives and stole their country? Naturally, enforcement was just as strict."
It was predictable.
Though the country had been annexed, the imperial soldiers were the ones who had destroyed their homes and killed their families. Saluting their flag must have been horrific for the people.
The governor-general's office would have crushed that resistance with brute force.
"Yuria lost her parents back then. She was only six, but she still remembers it vividly. With that memory dredged up every week, how could she forget?"
Once a week, for just a minute—but for Yuria, even a second must have been unbearable.
Each time, the moment she lost her parents would replay.
And in this city, there were surely more than just her like that.
"The capital really is different."
Allen said bitterly.
As he noted, no other city had forced such loyalty to the empire.
With the governor-general's headquarters here, the control was naturally tighter.
It was the city with the most frequent assassination attempts by independence fighters, so strict measures were essential.
Hence the separate military police handling security.
Harab sighed deeply, agreeing with Allen.
"You're right. That's why you especially need to watch your step in the capital. The empire's eyes and ears are everywhere."
The once-lively dinner mood sank in an instant.
And rightly so.
It wasn't pleasant news.
I spoke up.
"You said to let you know if we need help."
"Of course. Why? Something come up?"
I nodded.
"Yes. I have a favor to ask."