Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Pummeling the Apostles
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The night sky over the Daroa Empire.
A biting northern gale whistled past the spires of the imperial palace.
The audience chamber of the palace, which would normally be guarded so tightly that not even a mouse could slip through.
But tonight, only a scant handful of Royal Guards stood watch.
Screeeeech.
The doors to the audience chamber slowly creaked open.
From the darkness emerged a group cloaked in black robes.
The Apostles of Eternal Return, the insidious cult gnawing away at the empire from within.
Having the empire firmly in their grasp, their footsteps reeked of arrogance.
"H-Halt. You can't reveal your identi—"
The Royal Guard who stepped forward, spear at the ready, suddenly floated into the air.
With a mere flick of the finger from the lead apostle,
he was hurled against the wall.
Boom.
"Gaaahk."
"You filthy worm, who do you think you're blocking?"
The leader of the apostles, Lirak, furrowed his brow.
He strode arrogantly across the crimson carpet of the audience chamber, looking down at the guard on the floor like an insect.
'What's gotten into them tonight?'
Yustina, the empress of Daroa.
They had expected her to be trembling in fear at the news of her main army's annihilation, begging for help.
Yet for some reason, the atmosphere in the palace felt utterly different from before.
'And this is the first time they haven't shown up on schedule...'
Clack. Clack.
In the center of the vast audience chamber.
Lirak stopped and tilted his head up at the golden throne.
"Your Majesty, surely you haven't forgotten our appointed time?"
His eyes narrowed sharply,
and a chilling voice echoed through the chamber.
"You know better than anyone that we don't like being kept waiting."
It was a threat.
An attitude so brazen it was unthinkable before the empress of the empire.
Just like always, words meant to make her bow her head or drop to her knees and beg.
But.
"..."
For some reason tonight, not only had a worm dared to block their path,
but the expression on Yustina's face as she sat upon the throne was different too.
She stared straight at Lirak, then crossed her legs and propped her chin on one hand.
Gazing down at the apostles with a sharp glint in her eyes that she'd never shown before.
"How dare you lecture me on manners in my presence."
The words from Yustina's lips were the complete opposite of what they'd expected.
Her red lips twisted into a sneer.
"Insolent beasts, trying to bite the hand that feeds you."
There wasn't a hint of tremor in her voice.
The true aura of the empire's empress, like nothing they'd ever witnessed.
Lirak's brow twisted viciously.
"Hah... Do you even know who you're speaking to like that?"
It was an unexpected reaction.
Wasn't this the bitch who was supposed to be cowering and pleading?
"Looks like you need some re-education. Fine, I'll give you a thorough lesson in etiquette tonight."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Tyrant's Intimidation A dark crimson aura erupted from Lirak's body.
Space warped, and the marble floor of the audience chamber vibrated as if it might shatter at any moment.
Killing intent sharp enough to flay skin crept toward Yustina's throat.
Yet Yustina maintained her haughty expression.
Of course, inwardly, she was screaming.
'Eeeeek... S-Save me! Darcor, come out already!'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Cold sweat trickled down her spine.
Her heart felt like it would burst.
'Darcor, you lunatic! You said you'd time it perfectly—now's the time! Now!'
It was all an act on Darcor's orders.
Don't flinch no matter what, act like the most arrogant empress in the world.
She'd been blackmailed into it with threats of five hundred laps around the training grounds if she didn't.
Now she was about to get pummeled to death by these monsters.
It was in this dire moment.
The moon, hidden behind clouds, emerged, and light poured in through the towering windows of the audience chamber.
Swoosh.
The shadow of the throne rippled unnaturally.
Darkness coalesced and dispersed, and a man stepped out from behind Yustina.
The apostles' gazes snapped toward him in unison.
'When did he get there?'
They hadn't sensed a thing.
The man casually placed a hand on Yustina's slender shoulder.
"Her Majesty is right, you know."
Red eyes gleaming eerily from the darkness.
"Maybe you lot need the etiquette lesson."
It was Darcor.
Lirak involuntarily staggered back.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
The aura pouring from the man before him was unlike anything he'd ever felt.
"W-Who the hell are you? Do you even know who we—"
"Who else?"
Darcor smirked as he looked down at the apostles.
"Your new etiquette teacher."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kaboom!
With a thunderous crash, the audience chamber floor cracked like a spiderweb.
"Gaaahk."
Lirak couldn't even comprehend how he'd ended up smashed into the floor.
When he opened his eyes, the chamber's ceiling swam into view.
His lungs burned to the brim.
'W-What...? What just happened?'
His memory was blank.
He'd clearly been gathering mana to attack,
then everything went black in an instant, and he was embedded in the floor.
[Skill: Tyrant's Intimidation has activated.] Darcor looked down at Lirak with pity.
"You sure love to yap. If you're the villain, act like one—charge in. What's with the long tongue?"
"Y-You bastard, do you know who we— We're the servants of H—"
"Don't care."
Darcor smashed Lirak's head into the floor.
Crunch.
"You didn't come empty-handed, right?"
No sooner had Darcor spoken than hyenas emerged from the shadows.
"Oh my, look at all our old sheep with their bulging pockets?"
The Saintess Chloe appeared, eyes gleaming with greed.
"This one's mine, that one's mine too. Ooh? This is the one I failed to snag last time—it's here? Thanks!"
"Y-You bitch... Th-That's a sacred relic!"
One apostle lunged desperately for his staff,
but before the spell could fire, another shadow engulfed him.
"Heh heh. What a tempting item every time I see it. Fits perfectly, too."
It was Barkas.
Once Daroa's grand archmage, now Darcor's personal chef.
He snatched the staff from the apostle's hand and inspected it from every angle.
"This'll be perfect for tenderizing meat. I'll put it to good use."
"M-My staff..."
"Woooah, m-magical crystals!"
Finally, Eris charged in.
The girl called the Hero's eyes had already turned golden.
Kuhaha, these guys are loaded. Eris, that one's robe has more pockets inside. Shake 'em down good. The holy sword vibrated excitedly, as if thrilled itself.
Following its advice, Eris rummaged through the fallen apostle, turning him upside down and shaking.
Gold coins and magic crystals rained down.
Clink. Jingle.
"Y-You mad bastards..."
It happened in an instant.
The Apostles of Eternal Return, who had the Daroa Empire in their pocket, were stripped clean.
Save for the robes they wore.
Darcor watched his thrilled companions looting away, a satisfied smile on his face.
'Everyone's having a blast.'
This was why he couldn't quit catching bad guys.
Money, stress relief, lower Madness Level—no downsides.
"Um, Darcor?"
Yustina, seated on the throne, spoke cautiously.
Her face was slack-jawed in shock.
The objects of terror that had tormented her her whole life, stripped naked and sprawled in seconds.
"This isn't a dream, right?"
"What dream?"
Darcor chuckled and hauled Lirak up by the collar.
The man's fear-twisted face quivered.
"How's that? Etiquette sinking in yet?"
"Y-You scum... Do you even know who—"
Darcor's red eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"Still not? Guess you need more."
Thwack.
With the final blow, Lirak foamed at the mouth and passed out.
"Yustina, toss these guys in the dungeons and work out your stress. We'll be back."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Bound by the Royal Guards, the unconscious apostles were dragged away.
Drooling and senseless, they looked utterly pitiful.
In the palace forecourt, after everything was sorted.
Wyverns waited, snorting roughly.
Darcor and his party finished preparations to depart for the Eternal Return stronghold.
Chloe the Saintess was too busy counting her jewels and gold,
and Eris the Hero was gleefully rubbing magic crystals on her holy sword.
'Can I really trust them...?'
And for some reason, even the somewhat reliable Barkas had shed his dignified archmage demeanor,
now pretending to tenderize meat with the staff.
Yustina sighed deeply.
Not a single normal person in sight—just a lunatic combo.
She saw them off with a tearful face.
"B-Be careful. B-But you have to win, okay?"
Her voice trembled.
What if Darcor lost?
The thought alone was horrifying.
She knew exactly what fate awaited her after pulling this stunt.
'Please... win...'
Crunch crunch.
Darcor approached Yustina, lost in thought.
As he reached out, she flinched and shrank back.
Pat.
Darcor lightly ruffled her hair.
"Don't worry. You think I'll lose?"
"N-No, but..."
"Anyway, our empress put on a great show earlier. You've got talent."
Praise?
As Yustina's face began to brighten faintly,
Darcor's lips curled slyly.
"That said, you know you gotta work extra hard while I'm gone, right?"
"...Huh?"
Yustina's pupils shook violently.
"Every day till I get back: hundred laps in the training grounds. Five hundred squats. No skipping."
"Y-You madma—"
"I'll check when I return. If I smell any slacking..."
Darcor clenched his fist.
Crack.
"Got it? Then I get really mean."
"Y-You demon! T-Tyrant!"
Yustina wailed through tears, but
Darcor just chuckled and turned away.
"Let's go."
Kreeeeech.
As Darcor mounted the wyvern, its wings unfurled, whipping up wind.
The prepared party followed, taking to the air.
The palace shrank below.
And beneath it, the empress stomping her feet and howling.
'Work out hard. I'll be back to deep-clean.'
Darcor pulled a map from his pocket.
Between jagged canyons.
There lay the madmen's lair.
And with it, hidden rewards and clues to his Madness Level.
The wind grew fierce.
But Darcor's eyes burned hotter than ever.
"Let's go. Time to clean house, you lunatics."