Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Hero's Demise
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“Gah…!”
An undeniable final blow. The jet-black blade had pierced the hero's chest, protruding from his back.
“…!”
Seeing this, the Demon Sword Sephylia's expression froze. It was impossible for her not to know the weight of the blood flowing through his veins.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
Master Baro was no exception. But the Shadow Lord, who understood its meaning better than anyone, showed no hesitation.
“How… could…!”
“Did you think you wouldn't die?”
the Shadow Lord asked in return.
“Did you think my blade would stop at the very last moment, just as Prince Mikhail's did at the Fight Club?”
“Ah, ahh…”
“Let me tell you the real reason Prince Mikhail didn't kill me that day.”
From within the jet-black avatar, a condensation of all the darkness in this world.
“Prince Mikhail never had the ‘resolve to die’ from the very beginning.”
“…!”
“That's why he couldn't kill me, who carried the same weight of blood. To kill a scion of the ducal house would be to prove that Prince Mikhail himself could die. —That is why I was certain that day that Prince Mikhail would never be able to kill me.”
Mikhail's inability to kill Dale was because he was crushed by the weight of the blood that flowed through him as 'a member of the ducal house.' Paradoxically, to kill Dale and deny the weight of that blood would be the same as denying Mikhail's own.
“In this world, the weight of blood is not equal, and you must have believed that in that unfairness, no one would dare kill a 'scion of the ducal house.'”
“You, you damn brat…!”
“Did I not tell you? It was you who was looking down on the world from the very beginning.”
In agony, the expression of Mikhail, clad in the hero's skin, contorted.
“Death is equal for all, with no exceptions. Even for a member of the ducal house, it is no different.”
Even on a battlefield where common soldiers die like insects, the common sense of this world is to capture nobles and their children for ransom rather than kill them. Even mere knights were no exception. Because the weight of their blood is different.
Mikhail Lancaster, in the end, was a 'young lord' who benefited from that unfairness, ignorant of the ways of the world.
Beneath the pale, dark winter night, the hero's blood flowed. The winter ground was stained crimson. The hero's end was here.
“How dare you touch the blood of a Lancaster and expect to get away with it, you… you bastard…”
The hero, Mikhail Lancaster, muttered weakly. But his words went no further.
For the Shadow Lord looking down at his past self, there was no such thing as hesitation.
The jet-black blade swung, and that was the end.
Dale turned his head.
Leaving the corpses of Mikhail and the Rose Cross Knights sprawled on the ground, as the god who reigned over the world of the winter night, as the Shadow Lord.
At his side stood Lady Shadow, the assassin of the Shadow Court, and the Killing Sword, Master Baro.
Facing the last of Lancaster's side, the Demon Sword Sephylia.
“Heh heh, looks like you're in a real pickle, ma'am.”
“Shut your mouth, you damn gigolo.”
Vice-commander of the Iron Cross Knights and one of the Empire's war heroes. Sephylia's expression froze. A blue aura began to coil around her body, ready to unleash her full power as a knight at any moment.
It was then.
“You need not worry.”
The Shadow Lord, Dale, spoke, dispelling the jet-black avatar that enveloped him.
“…!”
“Just make me one promise.”
“A promise, you damn brat?”
Sephylia shot back sharply, not retracting her demonic energy. Dale nodded silently.
“Sachsen's 'Black Prince' and the Shadow Court were never involved in this war from the beginning.”
“What…?”
“The one who defeated Prince Mikhail was none other than 'Titania of York,' and you, Lord Sephylia, were the witness to that very act.”
“Do I look like I'll meekly follow your orders?”
“Heh heh, this lady's got quite a temper.”
Master Baro interjected, looking incredulous.
“Listen here, ma'am. When it's time to bow your head, you gotta do it quick and get it over with.”
“I'm more than willing to cut off your head and shove it into the ground.”
“Baro, for the love of god, please shut your mouth.”
Dale snapped in disbelief before turning back to Sephylia.
“Just as Prince Mikhail said, the weight of a life is not equal in this world.”
And behind the Demon Sword Sephylia is not some 'mere duke.' She is the vice-commander of the Empire's greatest knightly order.
In other words, killing the Demon Sword at this point would be the worst possible move, making an enemy of the Imperial Family.
‘Besides, there's no guarantee we can even kill her with our current strength.’
Not all of the Seven Swords are created equal. Personal relationships aside, that was the true power of the Demon Sword Sephylia.
“And what if I accept your proposal now, only to reveal the truth later?”
“I trust in Lord Sephylia the knight. The vice-commander of the Empire's proudest knightly order.”
At least, the chivalry of Lord Sephylia that the 'Hero from Another World' remembered was beyond doubt. Besides, even if she were to speak the truth, nothing would change. He had already prepared countermeasures for such an event.
“Just swear on the name of the Iron Cross Knights. That is all I ask.”
“…”
A silence fell.
“Mikhail Lancaster met his end at the hands of Titania and the forces of York. I swear on my honor as a knight, this is the truth I witnessed.”
After a moment of silence, Lord Sephylia spoke.
“That will suffice.”
Dale nodded silently and snapped his fingers.
The world of the winter night vanished, and they were once again amidst the battlefield where the forces of York and Lancaster clashed. Screams echoed from all around.
The situation was already overwhelmingly in York's favor, with Lancaster's side isolated by Dale's strategy. It was nothing more than a field of slaughter where York's soldiers were unilaterally annihilating Lancaster's.
For Lancaster's proudest and strongest asset was no longer of this world.
And so, the curtain fell on the 'Second War of the Roses.'
***
Twilight descended, and an innumerable flock of crows began their feast.
The leaders of the victorious House York also gathered in a room of a nearby fortress to celebrate their glorious victory.
However, when they heard the 'truth of Mikhail Lancaster's end' from Dale's lips, even the great Mistress Titania could not hide her astonishment.
“What did you just say…?”
“Exactly as I said.”
Dale continued calmly.
“Prince Mikhail Lancaster fought valiantly against Lady Titania and the forces of York before falling in battle, and the Demon Sword Sephylia was the witness to that act.”
“Do you have any idea what that act implies…!”
“Oh, I know very well.”
Dale smiled coldly.
“Did you really think you could play with the heir of Black like a puppet and pay no price?”
First, he was played by Mikhail, and then it was Titania of York who used Dale like a puppet. Therefore, it was only right that York bear the full responsibility for eliminating the budding threat, 'Mikhail Lancaster.'
“…!”
“But you need not worry too much. Fortunately, there is only one who will inherit the 'Lancaster succession,' and that is the eldest son, Prince Richard.”
Dale continued.
“Furthermore, our House Sachsen is willing to respond to 'York's aid.'”
Mikhail's confidence was not without reason. He was right. And the political blow House York would suffer from taking the blame would be immense.
“…How truly cunning of you.”
But at the same time, it was not without its gains. After all, to the outside world, the eldest son Richard was 'York's puppet,' and with the situation as it was, the cornered House Lancaster couldn't dare to move against York. Titania, at least, was wise enough to grasp this, and so she soon regained her composure with a smile.
“It seems I have greatly underestimated your caliber, Prince Dale.”
“I am grateful for the compliment.”
Dale laughed as if it were someone else's affair.
“And as per our original deal, the 'Sorceress Council' of the Blue Magic Tower must fulfill its promise.”
The promise between them: to secure victory for York in the war, and in return, to convene the Sorceress Council.
“We will honor our promise.”
Mistress Titania nodded with a smile.
“But first, may I ask why you wish to convene the Sorceress Council?”
“You will find out when the time comes.”
Dale fell silent, unwilling to show his hand so easily. Titania smiled as if she had expected as much.
“When the time is right, one of our people will go to the Duchy of Sachsen. In a form that you will recognize, Prince.”
“I will be waiting.”
Dale nodded. After nodding, he turned his back without a hint of hesitation.
“A celebration for our victory is about to begin. Won't you stay a little longer?”
“Unfortunately, I don't have the time.”
Dale walked away without a shred of hesitation. Having secured victory as promised, only one thing occupied his mind. But that wasn't all.
The spoils gained from this war. Mikhail's death, the political subjugation of House York, and even the father and son of the much-hated House Brandenburg.
All Dale could do now was count his gains and quietly wait for the time to come.
For the time when the Blue Magic Tower would finally break its silence.
***
The First War of the Roses had ended in a one-sided victory for Lancaster, thanks to Dale's efforts.
However, in the Second War of the Roses, which broke out after Dale's departure, the losses suffered by House Lancaster were immeasurable.
Lancaster's victory had been the 'Black Prince's' achievement from the start, and after he was gone, they experienced an irreversible defeat. That was why people spoke of only one name: the 'Black Prince.' They spoke of the weight and value he held on the battlefield, and of his unbelievable feat in the First War of the Roses, where he had even captured the Empire's war hero, the Holy Sword Master.
***
The Heavenly Sword Lancaster was there.
Before the corpse of his most trusted and beloved son, Mikhail Lancaster.
At the same time, House York expressed its deepest regrets over Mikhail's death, while also presenting Lancaster's only remaining blood relative as a hostage.
The existence of his eldest son, Richard, was what suppressed the Heavenly Sword's urge to slaughter the women of York on the spot.
He thought of the future of House Lancaster, which would now walk the path of ruin as York's puppet.
As a father who failed to realize the true nature of 'Mikhail Lancaster' until the very end, and as a mere pawn on the stage set by Dale… Archduke Lancaster, the Heavenly Sword, bit his lip.
It was around that time that a high elder of the Red Magic Tower, Lady Scarlet, came to him.