Chapter 154
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154
-Ha, ha, hahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!
Ivan’s laughter rang out.
-Since the time of the ancient nations on Old Earth, rule has been the will of heaven, granted to the Son of Heaven. ‘Heaven’ did not simply mean the sky, but nature itself—the universe beyond. Even when humanity's wisdom was bound to the earth, we knew. We knew that a ruler is born from the choice of a transcendent will. That was the ‘heaven’ of the past. Today, we call it the universe.
Ivan's mechanical voice crackled from the terminal, distorted and low-resolution. Yet the emotion behind it was raw and vibrant, like a primary color at full saturation.
Ecstasy.
Ivan had fallen to the absolute bottom, only to rise to the very peak of the Empire. The fall had been as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.
-Even if we lay out the most meticulous plans, they are but the calculations of mere humans. How could we, who are nothing but a fleeting moment in the universe, fully comprehend its will and causality? Rise, my knights.
At Ivan's command, the Shadows rose. They formed a wall around him—they were here to protect Ivan, the next Emperor.
-There is no way to explain this situation other than the mandate of heaven. That is why the Emperor is sacred. Just as chaotic planets sometimes align into perfect order, so too does the order born from chaos now rest upon my shoulders. Just as the great First Cracia was chosen by destiny.
This was an unexpected outcome.
Ivan Cracia is becoming the Emperor.
The one outcome I had completely ruled out had become reality. Ivan called it the mandate of heaven. From where I stood, it was nothing more than a cruel joke played by the universe.
-Look at me now, spears and swords of the Empire! Everyone sought to tear me down, but the mandate of heaven dwelling within me has guided me to the throne. Yes, you may not understand the situation right now. But you will soon see. For the new Emperor will lead the Empire into eternal prosperity.
Most of those present didn't even know Ivan existed; to the public, the Crown Prince was Fransek.
Yet Ivan spoke with a conviction that bordered on madness, and Fransek failed to deny it in time. Because of that, no one doubted for a moment that Ivan was a member of the Imperial Family.
-Our father made a mistake. In that moment, he lost the right to rule. I will not make the same mistake. Let all who hear my voice cease fighting. Iron unity is the strength of the Empire. Tonight, no one was disloyal, and no one was rebellious. Heeding the counsel of my brother, Fransek, I will mend the fractures of the Empire.
Ivan's own voice was a low muffle from the terminal's speaker.
Vroooom, hummm.
But the Shadows broadcast his words far and wide through the audio systems of their Full-Armor Prosthetics. The overlapping voices created a low, heavy bass that vibrated through the very air. The deep resonance was enough to make one’s bones shudder.
-The Former Emperor sat upon the throne for far too long. He even forgot that soldiers are Imperial subjects whom he must protect. Hear me, Imperial Guard! You do not need to lose your human dignity for the sake of your duty. I will do my utmost to ensure that those who stand with me now can reclaim their humanity as well.
The civil war within the Imperial Guard had long since ground to a halt. They were all looking in our direction.
-I swear that the events of these past few days will be stricken from the record. There will be no retaliation.
...The Empire would not be weakened by civil war.
The Emperor is dead. Whether by suicide or assassination.
The man who had caused this entire crisis was dead, and Ivan was promising a peaceful resolution rather than a harsh crackdown.
The reason to fight was vanishing.
All that remains is Fransek's choice.
Fransek still held power. Many still believed him to be the legitimate successor.
If Fransek rejects Ivan's offer and declares himself Emperor, the chaos and fighting will continue.
If I could somehow smuggle Fransek to the Imperial Guard at the Arch of Triumph, the united Guard would follow him, at least for now. They wouldn't blindly accept some unknown imperial relative claiming to be the Emperor.
For Ivan to be recognized as Emperor right now, he needs Fransek's consent.
Even if Ivan was registered as the next Emperor in the system network, the people on the ground believed Fransek was the true heir.
One could not become Emperor without the support of either the system or the public.
But Fransek's choice is obvious.
I already knew.
Fransek was not suited for this kind of dark struggle, and he had reached his limit. He would accept the sweet peace Ivan was offering.
Step, step.
Fransek walked forward. The Shadows parted to let him pass.
"I will gladly assist you in your rule, brother. No… Your Majesty. With this, the Empire will be whole once more."
With just a few words, the soaring tension and sharp conflict collapsed.
For now, none of it made much sense. The people wouldn't understand why some strange imperial relative was becoming Emperor instead of Fransek.
But because Fransek acknowledged him, the people were beginning to accept Ivan's existence. Everyone was exhausted by the desperate struggles and conspiracies; they were all looking for a good enough excuse to stop.
As for why the succession had become so twisted... a plausible story could always be fabricated later. That was the Empire's way.
"Lu...caus... Custo...ria. Go... to... His Majesty."
One of the Shadow Full-Armor Prosthetics spoke to me. Feeling their hollow gazes on me, I walked between the Shadows and approached Ivan.
Ivan listened to a report from one of the Shadows, then turned his head with great effort. They must have been briefing him on the major events that had transpired in Akbaran.
Creak, creak.
Ivan fixed his neck to look at me. With his broken limbs, even the slightest movement seemed agonizing. His shattered jaw was my doing.
-Your brain is about to break down, isn't it? You'll either end up completely incapacitated or dead.
"Probably," I said honestly. There was no point in hiding it now.
-Since things turned out well in the end, I hold no grudge against you. Above all, your choices and actions must have contributed to this outcome. Before you become incapacitated, I have something to ask.
"I have a condition—"
-I promise the safety and survival of the Custoria family. They won't be a threat anymore, anyway.
I widened my sightless eyes. Then, understanding dawned, and I bit my lower lip.
The Custoria family is no longer a threat.
Myself, destined to be incapacitated, and the somewhat incompetent Jupe. The two of us were hardly a threat. Even if the Custoria family was a legendary military house, it could exert no power without a figure to rally behind.
...But Custoria had Heilas, who could serve as a rallying point not just for the family, but for the entire military. Heilas's very existence was an existential threat.
My deduction finished, I gnashed my teeth. For once, I hated myself for being this way.
"My father, Heilas… he's dead, isn't he?"
I forced the words out. One of my core objectives had failed.
If only my mind had deteriorated enough to ignore the clues… I could have slipped into incapacitation or death blissfully believing I had succeeded. The thought was a sweet dream I never wanted to wake from.
-Heilas's body is at the Central Communication Tower. He did something reckless trying to restore communications. If you want, I can let you have your revenge. After all, if I order it, they will offer their own lives to you.
...It seemed the Shadows had killed Heilas after all. The Emperor must have deployed a massive number of them, making Heilas his top priority.
"What meaning is there in breaking a sword that has no will of its own?"
I couldn't believe Heilas was dead. That invincible soldier… was dead. It felt as if he might appear at any moment and prove this all to be a lie.
Heilas, too, was not a transcendent being, but a human just like me. Even though I knew that, I relied on him until the very end. I vaguely believed that Heilas would somehow take care of everything. Like a spoiled child...
Heilas had been a mortal man who agonized and struggled just like anyone else, yet he always acted as if he knew everything, as if he could do anything.
That was why everyone feared him, and why even the Emperor felt threatened by him.
If only Heilas and I had known about each other a little sooner...
It was a regret I had felt time and time again. We had shielded ourselves with secrets, and because of that, we had become dangerously isolated.
Even if we feared betrayal, we should have stood back-to-back and protected each other.
Missed opportunities flickered before my eyes.
-Akies Domini, Lucaus Custoria.
Ivan’s voice broke through my thoughts.
-In the end, you truly became my Watcher. Your countless erratic actions are what made me Emperor. Whether it was your will or mere coincidence, it matters not. I consider you my Watcher, and I pay tribute to your efforts. These are not empty words meant to win you over, but my sincere feelings.
He had summoned me for my judgment, and this flattery was merely a means to an end.
-So, I wish to hear your thoughts and judgment. Why do you think Yuri Cracia died?
This was a crucial question for Ivan. He, too, did not know why the Emperor had died. The Shadows had only confirmed the Emperor's death.
I organized my thoughts and reported my conclusions, a task I excelled at.
"First, His Majesty Yuri Cracia faked his death to prevent a civil war. He is waiting for the chaos to subside and for the Empire to normalize."
-Impossible. An Emperor of the Empire would never stoop to such an ugly public deception.
"I agree. The second possibility is suicide to prevent the fracturing of the Empire. Let me ask you one thing, Your Majesty, and Prince Fransek. Was your father a man who could throw away his own life for the sake of the Empire?"
I waited for their response.
"I don't know, Lucaus. I thought I knew a great deal about our father. But it was nothing more than a fabricated mask."
Fransek’s voice trembled. His gaze was locked on Ivan.
The seeds of discord lie between Fransek and Ivan.
For now, the brothers' feud seemed to have vanished. But those embers would not die out so easily. They were merely waiting for new fuel.
-……And the third possibility? Surely that isn't all. You know more. I have promised the safety of the Custoria family. If you fall into incapacitation, I intend to spare no expense on your medical support. I hope you do not disappoint me.
A monster lives in the Empire. A monster that doesn't dwell at the very top, but hides in the shadows of the spires, watching over everything.
Perhaps the thought that just crossed my mind was correct. A part of me was certain of it. The other possibilities felt weak.
I decided to borrow Heilas's assessment for a moment. His insight was so outstanding that he could stand on equal footing with entire factions despite having insufficient information.
Kinuan is not someone who will benefit the Empire. If Upper Command is preparing a plan through Kinuan, they are being deceived by him.
That was how Heilas had evaluated Kinuan. That insight was likely close to the truth.
"Kinuan assassinated Yuri Cracia."
This was the only conclusion I could reach. This had been Kinuan's goal all along. His true purpose, veiled and hidden from everyone.
An Akies Victima weaponizes variables and chaos. The greater the chaos I created, the more Kinuan must have been laughing.
I didn't know what had happened in the Imperial Palace.
But the variables I created became the perfect opportunity for Kinuan.
I could imagine several scenarios. Perhaps the Shadows guarding the Emperor had left their posts. Perhaps the Emperor had moved alone to use the 'Arcane Legacy.'
Whatever it was, my actions had cornered the Emperor and forced him to make a choice. And that had presented Kinuan with the perfect opportunity.
The detailed circumstances would come to light once the internal investigation was complete. But by then, I would either be out of my mind or dead.
Kinuan, Kinuan, Kinuan...
The more I thought of his name, the more I felt like I was going mad. Even after burning myself to ashes, I still couldn't understand him.
Murmur, murmur.
The Shadows around me began to distort. In my auditory vision, their forms twisted and coiled until they resembled Kinuan.
"If that is true..."
Fransek, too, took the shape of Kinuan.
Do you really think that is true?
The unspoken words rang in my head. A delusion.
-I see. You...
Ivan, too, was Kinuan. I clutched my head. Even the moon in the night sky—something my auditory vision shouldn't have been able to perceive at all—took the shape of Kinuan's face.
Clack.
Even the pebble kicked by my stumbling foot bore Kinuan's face. The sound of it rolling away was his laughter.
...The entire world, and everything in it, was Kinuan.
"If you feel even a shred of pity for me, please call Ilay Kartika. Just one last time."
Before I went completely mad... I called for the one friend I could trust.