Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: How the Rank 1 Hero Saves the World
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The sharp sounds of swords being drawn echoed from all directions. At the same time, a warning message popped up in front of my eyes.
- Warning! You must act as the corresponding character.
- Surrender will be judged as defeat regardless of reason.
The red text flashed ominously. The Knight Commander looked like he was screaming.
No, you inflexible bastard. Don't you even know the term tactical retreat?
It was annoying, but as long as it didn't immediately count as defeat, it was fine. Ignoring the message blocking my view, I smiled back at Duke Bern, who was grinning in front of me.
"Well, well, if it isn't..."
Duke Bern tossed aside his long spear with a leisurely motion and drew the sword from his waist. The blade came out silently, hinting at his opponent's skill.
The tip of the sword pointed at me.
"A dog of the fallen one, perhaps?"
His tone was aggressive and the words close to outright condemnation, but Duke Bern's face held an expression closer to amusement. It was a stark contrast to the 'Emperor' I'd faced earlier and the knights and mages around him.
He even burst into loud laughter.
"Ahahaha! This is a masterpiece. For the captive prince and the fallen Knight Commander to return together!"
At that moment, Reinhardt stepped forward.
"Now that you've confirmed my identity, that should be enough. Duke Bern, clear the way to His Majesty. I've brought the enemy commander's surrender."
"Surrender?"
"Did you just say surrender?"
The soldiers around us stirred at those words. Along with that, the message floating in the air flashed ominously.
But Bern showed no sign of being shaken, merely scanning Reinhardt and me.
"Well, Your Highness. You've stirred up something interesting."
"Insolent, Duke Bern. What nonsense is this after I've secured the enemy commander's surrender and returned?"
"Who would believe a surrender in this situation? While Your Highness was captured, our forces fought valiantly. Do you know there's a powerful mage among them?"
When Reinhardt looked startled, Bern clicked his tongue as if he'd expected it.
"As expected. You came here blindly, believing only what this Knight Commander told you."
"I, I..."
From this view, the successor's position in the enemy ranks seemed awfully precarious.
I clicked my tongue.
Was Reinhardt's usefulness at its limit here?
Still, without him, we wouldn't have infiltrated the enemy lines so easily. The situation would have been much tougher.
I'd recovered somewhat after a brief rest, but Lee Woo-yeon still hadn't regained even half his mana.
Reinhardt, his face flushed red, finally shouted at Bern.
"It's not a trick! I definitely made a contract...!"
"No, it's not a trick. I really came to surrender."
Seeing the soldiers poised to turn their swords on us, I finally stepped forward.
Talking about contracts—if I left it to Reinhardt, we'd blow it completely.
"Wait a minute. Isn't this a bit too sharp? As you can see, I'm empty-handed."
I showed Bern my sheathed waist and empty hands.
But Bern just smirked.
"Considering that sorcery you used earlier, I can't relax just because you're empty-handed now."
"Is this how you treat someone surrendering? We treated you quite hospitably, you know."
Reinhardt looked like he had plenty to say to that, but I ignored him and continued.
"I don't care if you believe me, but I sneaked His Highness out to see His Majesty the Emperor. If you have eyes, you can see those walls back there, right?"
Behind us, far in the distance, torches bustled along the visible walls.
It looked like they were searching for an escaped prisoner.
Well, it was actually just as I'd instructed Elisa beforehand.
"Hmm, so you really came to surrender?"
Bern stroked his mustache as he listened.
His gaze wasn't particularly warm, but it lacked killing intent too. It was the calculating look of a cold pragmatist.
"Yes, that's right! So open the way to His Majesty!"
Meanwhile, Reinhardt was still desperately trying to convince Bern. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Given the item's penalty was death, it was natural, but anyone could see he was clearly being coerced by me.
If only he'd just stay quiet now.
"I said I'd take all responsibility!"
"What responsibility could Your Highness possibly bear?"
But Bern was cold toward him. It felt like he was saying, "Who are you to talk?" without actually saying it.
Bern spoke in a tone laced with clear mockery.
"If I open this path, I might face charges of aiding treason later. And yet I should step aside?"
He hadn't believed the surrender talk from the start.
In other words, he recognized I'd come to assassinate the Emperor, and he was weighing how to act even if I failed.
Yes, that was Duke Bern.
I flashed a triumphant smile.
Everything up to this point was according to plan. I'd already gotten info on Bern from Reinhardt before this operation.
Reinhardt had spoken of the man without fondness.
"With His Majesty unable to command and me captured... command would have passed to Duke Bern. That's to our advantage."
"What kind of personality does he have?"
"Duke Bern isn't loyal to my father—no, the Emperor. Without the Emperor's power, he'd have killed him, and if the Emperor dies, he'd applaud through tears."
"So basically, he'll cheer and help your patricide. Perfect, right?"
"Can't you speak without being such an asshole!"
The key point was that Duke Bern harbored resentment toward the Emperor too. He was just suppressed by the Emperor's overwhelming power for now.
Just like Reinhardt.
If this Duke Bern were truly loyal, he should have drawn his sword the moment he saw my face. After all, I'd severed the Emperor's head just hours ago.
Instead, he'd glanced around, held back the crowding soldiers, and confronted me with only a few knights waiting behind.
He was probably pondering in his head whether I could really take the Emperor's head.
Well, if his mind was complicated, maybe I should simplify it for him.
As I spurred my horse forward, the conversation between Reinhardt and Bern cut off abruptly.
The soldiers around Bern tensed up toward me all at once.
"You won't have to bear any treason charges."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
I glanced sideways at Lee Woo-yeon, still wearing his hood. Fortunately, everyone was too shocked by my appearance to notice him.
Lee Woo-yeon moved his lips beneath the hood.
—Give me 30 more seconds.
Easy enough. I reached out into the air. Soon, the heavy hilt of a sword settled into my hand.
- Apex Holy Sword has been summoned.
Reinhardt and Bern, facing each other, both flinched at the sword appearing from thin air.
The soldiers drew their swords in unison.
"If you die here, it's over. So no treason, no repercussions."
You think I'd give you options? Just get out of the way.
Bern let out a roar.
"You bastard!"
"What are you doing, Commander!"
Reinhardt shouted in surprise, but my sword was already flying toward Bern.
Duke Bern drew his sword and barely blocked it.
Then, having parried my strike, Duke Bern's eyes widened in shock, and soon a faint smile crossed his lips.
"You've given me an excuse. Should I at least pretend to resist?"
A low voice pierced my ear. It carried no killing intent, but if Bern hadn't blocked, it would have deeply slashed his chest.
I'd half-meant it for real, so I clicked my tongue and eased off the sword.
"If you get it, then move. I gave you enough face."
"That's not enough. Spar a few more exchanges."
"Not on my side!"
Adjusting my strength is seriously hard!
I clashed swords a few more times, matching Bern's speed.
Reinhardt, still not grasping the situation, yelled from behind.
"Stop right now! This isn't what we agreed!"
What the hell's different, you dimwit?
I was counting down the remaining 30 seconds in my head when a message appeared.
—Done. It's not far!
"Then let's go!"
This time, putting some real force into it, I knocked Bern's sword aside, and the duke, unable to withstand, let go of his blade.
Startled by the flying sword, his horse reared up on its front legs.
"Whoa, this won't do. I might fall off."
With a sly grin, Duke Bern put on a dreadful act. As my horse brushed past him, a quiet voice whispered in my ear.
"I sincerely hope you succeed."
What a total bastard. I'd steam and eat a guy like Reinhardt no problem.
Thinking that, I spurred my horse forward.
But the ensuing power struggle was none of my business.
"Hya!"
With a spirited shout, the horse carrying Lee Woo-yeon overtook me.
His horsemanship was remarkably skilled—perhaps due to his time as castle lord. His maneuvers weaving through the tents were beyond what I could match.
I shouted ahead to Lee Woo-yeon.
"Did you find it properly?"
While I drew attention battling Bern, Lee Woo-yeon had been scouting the boss monster's location.
Lee Woo-yeon called back.
"Just keep up!"
"Easier said than done!"
It really wasn't easy. The soldiers around Duke Bern pretended to chase us half-heartedly, but deeper in, things changed.
Soldiers resting in tents rushed out, swinging swords at Lee Woo-yeon.
"Enemy!"
"The enemy has invaded!"
"Protect His Majesty! Block them!"
Enemy? Just two of us, and they make it sound grand.
While I deflected the soldiers' swords, Lee Woo-yeon pressed on relentlessly.
"There it is!"
Soon, Lee Woo-yeon pointed at a tent.
Lee Woo-yeon and I leaped off our horses almost simultaneously. I drew my sword first, while he cast his spell a beat later.
A glowing silver Shield enveloped the tent in a large circle.
"It's blocked by magic! Call the mages!"
"Keep hitting it!"
The soldiers blocked outside the Shield shouted, but breaking through immediately seemed impossible.
"Go ahead first. I'll clean up here."
Lee Woo-yeon turned his sword toward the soldiers trapped inside the Shield. As I dismounted and dashed forward, his gaze brushed past.
Lee Woo-yeon shouted briefly.
"Be careful!"
Fortunately, the number of soldiers trapped inside the Shield wasn't large.
But near the boss monster, controlling mana was difficult, so that spell wouldn't hold long.
I had to finish quickly.
With resolve, the moment I charged into the tent—
My vision went black.
- Hidden Route: 'Emperor Assassination' entry conditions fulfilled. Hidden Route activated.
"......!"
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