Chapter 225
Chapter 225
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Message
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"How goes the situation?"
The emperor, upon returning to the imperial palace, immediately summoned Agna and asked.
"The additional 80,000 troops recruited from Iair have joined the existing forces, forming a grand army of 130,000 marching toward the Empire, Your Majesty."
"130,000..."
The emperor tapped the armrest of his throne with his fingers.
The number of troops itself wasn't a major issue.
130,000 was certainly a large force, but the Empire operated several times that in standing armies at all times.
But the situation itself was the problem.
Iair's forces were also essential for the Descent War.
The casualties from this war between the two nations would number at least tens of thousands.
They couldn't afford such bloodshed on the eve of the Descent War.
"The problem is that Iair's neighboring kingdoms are also preparing for war, Your Majesty."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Intelligence reports indicate that Leninstang, Trien, and Brobaison are concentrating troops toward their border regions."
"Hmm."
This wasn't bad news.
It would cause far less damage than Iair clashing head-on with them alone.
Of course, Iair's perspective would differ.
"They're planning to subjugate it?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They're using the pretext of punishing Iair for stirring up chaos by raising armies at a time like this."
The emperor nodded.
The three kingdoms shared borders with Iair.
If they mobilized, Iair wouldn't be able to sustain its will to fight.
But the problem wasn't fully resolved.
War would still erode their strength.
They couldn't breathe easy just because the numbers were slightly reduced.
'In the end, must I ask that boy once more?'
It was a thought that had plagued him nonstop during his return to the Empire.
To resolve this without significant losses, he needed Seowoojin—no, the power of the 'Black Being.'
"How far has the subjugation of the heroes progressed?"
Agna tilted her head, puzzled by the emperor's sudden shift in topic.
But who would dare question him?
Recalling the latest report before the audience, she answered.
"It proceeds smoothly, Your Majesty. There were more Ancient Orcs in the Zarban Plains than expected, but they've devised appropriate tactics and continue the subjugation."
"Appropriate tactics?"
The emperor eyed her as if asking what that meant.
Agna briefly explained the tactics Seowoojin had devised.
"Thanks to that, the subjugation should conclude without much trouble, Your Majesty."
The emperor nodded.
Truth be told, he had little interest in subjugating mere Ancient Orcs.
What he was curious about was this.
"So, when do you think the subjugation will end?"
At the question, Agna quickly began calculating.
The heroes' strength and the number of Ancient Orcs.
Plugging in countless variables and conditions, she arrived at a conclusion in an instant.
"There may be a slight margin of error, but even at the latest, it should end within eight days, Your Majesty."
It was fast.
For clearing 20,000 to 30,000 Ancient Orcs, that is.
But from the emperor's perspective, it was far too slow.
He needed Seowoojin.
Right now.
"Send word to the heroes."
"...What message, Your Majesty?"
Amid the threat of Iair shaking the continent, he'd suddenly focused on the subjugation, and now he wanted to send a message.
Agna couldn't fathom the emperor's intentions.
"Iair is on the move again. That should suffice."
"I obey Your Majesty's command."
The audience ended there.
Emerging outside, Agna furrowed her brow.
"Send word?"
What on earth was the emperor thinking?
They needed to devise countermeasures.
Iair posed no real threat to the Empire, but they still needed plans to end the war with minimal losses.
Agna had already prepared several options with Crusiel's intelligence agents.
She had come today to seek the emperor's approval to implement them...
But instead, he issued strange orders.
"What could it be?"
The emperor she knew was exceptionally brilliant.
The most fitting occupant of the Empire's—superpower's—throne.
Surely, there was a hidden meaning to this as well.
But nothing came to mind immediately.
"Sending word won't make the 'Black Being' suddenly appear like last time..."
As she spoke, Agna fell silent.
'The Black Being?'
Now that she thought about it, it was strange.
Why had that one suddenly blocked Iair's advance?
Agna was fairly certain that Seowoojin equaled the 'Black Being.'
No hard proof yet, but her suspicions were firm.
Just look at the 'Black Being' appearing in Derhan this time.
It had shown up after Seowoojin left the subjugation midway.
'Suppose Seowoojin really is the 'Black Being.''
Then why block Iair?
Simply to prevent war?
This conflict had nothing to do with the heroes.
No room for them to intervene from the start.
Yet it appeared.
'As if someone had asked it to.'
Agna's mind raced.
Countless hypotheses and pieces of evidence churned in her head.
And she reached a conclusion.
"His Majesty did it himself."
Whether request, order, or deal.
Whatever the form, the only one who could task Seowoojin with such was the emperor.
"Then ordering a message to the heroes as well..."
It was undoubtedly aimed at Seowoojin, not the others.
"The odds of it being a deal are high."
Once, the emperor had commanded.
To halt the investigation into the 'Black Being.'
It seemed like a trade for that.
Agna let out a hollow laugh.
"Why would you do such a thing?"
Turning, she whispered toward the grand doors of the audience chamber.
In her eyes, Seowoojin was not trustworthy.
He hid much, and his true goals were inscrutable.
No, it wasn't even clear if he was truly a hero.
Despite being present when the 'Otherworldly Hero Summoning Magic' activated.
'I may have to commit disloyalty.'
She would obey the emperor's order to send the message.
But she couldn't stop investigating the 'Black Being'—that is, Seowoojin.
What he was thinking.
What schemes he was plotting.
Only by uncovering every detail could she ensure the Empire and emperor's safety.
"Forgive my disloyalty."
Agna bowed toward the emperor's direction.
* * *
Crack—
The sound of a skull cracking echoed.
"Ah, aaaah!"
A pain like his head shattering made Kim Taejin scream.
"Quiet."
Seowoojin's hand blade struck his throat.
"Guh, kuhk—!"
It felt like his neck was severed.
Thanks to that, Kim Taejin couldn't scream as Seowoojin intended.
With his vocal cords crushed, he couldn't cry out even if he wanted to.
Terror filled Kim Taejin's eyes.
"You didn't think I'd let this slide, did you?"
Seowoojin stared into his eyes with a coldly hardened expression.
He seemed about to say something, but Seowoojin ignored it.
He merely raised his hand and brought it down toward the face.
Crack—!
"Kuh-eeeh—"
Only a deflating groan escaped.
Drenched in the blood of Ancient Orcs and Kim Taejin, Seowoojin looked terrifying even in nightmares.
"You're dying today."
He hadn't originally planned to kill him.
But since he'd targeted not him, but Kang Byung-gyu, there was no reason to spare him.
"You and Sung Yura both begging so desperately to die—how could I refuse?"
Revenge? Fine.
But Kim Taejin should have limited it to Seowoojin alone.
"I hate most when others get hurt because of me."
It stemmed from trauma in the North.
How many soldiers had died due to Seowoojin's reckless actions?
He'd strived never to repeat such idiotic mistakes.
"And you dare touch that?"
Smack—!
Seowoojin's fist buried into Kim Taejin's already mangled, formless face.
Red blood trickled down.
Left like this, he'd die from blood loss without further touches.
"So pay the pric—"
"You bastard! Stop it!"
Then, Park Jinhan's shout interrupted Seowoojin.
"Haa—"
Seowoojin sighed.
"You all really run the gamut."
Releasing Kim Taejin's hair, he stood and turned.
In the distance, Park Jinhan's massive frame charged toward him.
Nor was that all.
Im Tae-eun, the last of the elite friends, was there, along with heroes from other teams approaching together.
'25.'
All the rest, excluding Kim Taejin, had gathered.
"What the hell are you doing!"
Rushing to Seowoojin's side in an instant, Park Jinhan saw Kim Taejin's bloodied state and roared in fury.
"Shut up."
Seowoojin scanned Park Jinhan's expression.
To check if this bastard was involved too.
'Guess not.'
Confusion filled Park Jinhan's face.
He clearly had no idea what was happening.
If he'd condoned Kim Taejin's actions, he'd show something other than confusion or fear.
"Th-this fucker!"
At Seowoojin's icy tone, Park Jinhan flinched.
Kim Taejin, who'd gone off to watch closely, suddenly unleashes a massive skill, Seowoojin blocks it and beats his friend to near death.
Park Jinhan had no clue what was going on.
Still, he couldn't stand by while his friend was on the brink of death, so he stepped up.
But facing Seowoojin's chilling killing intent, he swallowed dryly.
"You."
Seowoojin pointed at Park Jinhan.
Then said.
"Take the others and get out of here if you don't want to die too."
Normally, he might have persuaded more orderly.
Explaining why he was doing this, seeking justification.
But now, Seowoojin wasn't in that state.
Rage made him unable to control his emotions.
"This is ridiculous."
As Park Jinhan stood bound by Seowoojin's aura, unable to speak.
Someone stepped forward with a scoff.
Seowoojin's eyes narrowed.
A guy he'd seen a few times.
Name, class, rank—forgotten.
He wasn't that memorable.
Yet, with what confidence, he stepped before Seowoojin and picked a fight.
"If you say go, do we have to?"
From the 'we,' Seowoojin understood the extra's confidence.
"Don't get cocky just because there are a lot of you."
He continued, glaring with murderous eyes.
"Or you'll really die."