Chapter 16 - History Written by the Victors
History Written by the Victors
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Translator: Dusky90
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: History Written by the Victors
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Cannibal Emperor Kairos.
Officially, he lived during the same era as Nazrak. Originally a monk from a sect, he conquered one-third of the continent as his domain and rose to the throne as a legendary figure.
However, from the point when he was almost about to unify the continent, he wielded excessive tyranny, and after being dethroned by rebels, he was executed.
How terrible must he have been to earn the fearsome title of [Cannibal Emperor]?
Looking back, the rebel leader Argonne went on to unify the continent and earn the honorable title of Great Emperor, which makes Kairos a rather tragic figure in some ways.
“Are those really the remains of the Cannibal Emperor Kairos?”
“That's right.”
“How did you know Kairos’s remains are here? And besides, it’s said that Kairos was executed by Great Emperor Argonne…”
“Camille.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t usually read books, right?”
“Are you talking about me?”
Camille was honestly taken aback by Otto’s question.
After all, it was Otto who usually stayed away from books, not Camille.
“Have you seen this?”
Otto pulled out a book called [The Nigelros Saga] from inside his coat and showed it to Camille.
“Isn’t that a private chronicle? It’s not an official history book.”
[The Weizen Saga] contains stories from the time of Nazrak and Kairos, and it’s more like a fairy tale book than a true historical record.
So, anyone who considered themselves somewhat knowledgeable wouldn’t even look at the book.
It presented untrustworthy folk tales and rumors as if they were facts, making it impossible to take seriously.
“Camille.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know who decides what counts as official history and what’s just a private chronicle?”
“Well…”
Camille answered.
“Isn’t it determined by whoever writes it?”
“That’s right? History is written by the victors.”
“That’s true.”
“The official records say Kairos was executed by Great Emperor Argonne. But this book claims Argonne never actually caught Kairos. It says Kairos hid in this region, suffered severe injuries, and died alone.”
“So you believed that book?”
“I figured I’d check it out anyway, even if I might be fooled. Like grasping at straws.”
Otto said with a bitter smile.
‘You have no idea how much hardship I went through.’
Kim Dojin did everything he could to clear [Territory War] as Otto de Scuderia, and even read all the books in the library.
He thoroughly searched the map, uncovered hidden dungeons, collected the objects and items inside, and even found ancient ruins that no one else had discovered.
Finding the remains of the Cannibal Emperor Kairos was also the result of that relentless effort.
“I understand what you’re saying, my lord. But what does finding Kairos’s remains have to do with the return of Condor?”
“You’ll find out in time.”
Saying this, Otto removed a golden fake eyeball from Kairos’s remains and tucked it into his chest pocket.
“I’m going to sell this and buy something delicious to eat. Hehehe.”
"......"
“And this… I have to move it carefully. Easy does it.”
Using a long pair of tongs, Otto retrieved the mace lying scattered on the ground and tucked it into the sack.
“Why are you using tongs? You could just carry it easily with your hands…”
“If I touch it, I’ll die.”
“No way.”
Camille’s expression stiffened.
“That mace… is it some kind of magical war weapon?”
“That’s correct.”
“No way, you can’t just handle something like this recklessly…”
“I told you, there’s a plan.”
“No matter what, if you mess with a magic weapon…”
“There won’t be anything to worry about, so just watch for now. Got it?”
“…Understood.”
In the end, Camille gave in.
Otto had pulled baffling stunts more than once before, and Camille believed this time as well that there must be a reasonable plan behind it.
* * *
A month passed since then.
Otto used the time to win the people’s hearts cutting taxes, offering condolences to the families of soldiers killed in the recent war, and working to improve the livelihood of his citizens.
As a result, public opinion of Otto shifted greatly.
After showing a reformed attitude for more than two months, the hearts of the territory’s residents began to change.
This was partly because the people of Orth Territory had never personally suffered under Otto’s tyranny.
The people of the Racene Territory and the Orth Territory had only heard rumors about Otto, but had never experienced him directly.
Perhaps because of that, the people of Sorun Territory, who had been enemies with his home territory, Lota Territory, still hated Otto greatly and could not trust him.
Thus, while sentiment in Orth and Racene was slowly improving, in Lota and Sorun it stayed unchanged.
But Otto didn’t let it discourage him.
‘The people’s support will grow in time. I just have to take it one step at a time.’
He knew very well that changing the deeply ingrained negative image the people held of him would be anything but easy.
And so, time passed, bringing the [Condor’s Counterattack] event to just one day away.
That night.
“It’s about time they showed up.”
While stirring the fireplace with a long poker, Otto spoke quietly to himself.
“What is it that’s coming?”
Camille, who had come late at night to deliver his report, asked Otto.
“Condor, you know.”
“Is he really coming back?”
“He’ll come back incredibly strong. Terrifyingly so.”
“So you’re actually going to fight with the Cannibal Emperor Kairos’s mace? Surely not?”
“That’s right.”
“I’d rather be the one to fight.”
Camille showed his determination.
“My lord, you can’t even use mana. If you take on such a monster…”
“Camille.”
“Yes?”
“I’m grateful for your concern, but I’ll be fine.”
“But…”
“Think about it.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
"Let’s say you Brother Camille, fought off Condor wielding the mace."
“Okay.”
“Then who’s going to stop you?”
".....!"
“Me? Or our knights and soldiers? Do you think anyone could stop you if you went wild with a mace in hand?”
“Well, of course…”
“But if it’s me, it’s a different story. I’m weak. No matter how much I go on a rampage, how much damage could I really do? At least it would be weaker than you going wild, right?
“You’re not wrong, but…”
"You have a different role to play."
"What is it?"
"I’ll tell you when the time comes."
Otto said that, then stirred the fire in the fireplace with a poker.
"Why do you keep poking at the fire?"
"It's cold."
It was the season just before the harvest.
Since the wind had started to grow chilly, it was essential to sleep with the fireplace lit at night.
"And also…"
Otto used a poker to stir the fireplace, pulled out something that looked like a lump of black charcoal, and blew on it to cool it down.
"Nothing beats roasted sweet potatoes when the weather gets cold. They're wonderfully sweet and tasty."
"...So, that’s what it was all along."
Camille shut his eyes tightly, as if resigned to the fact that he couldn’t stop it.
* * *
A day had passed.
*Pitter-Patter* Pitter-Patter
Cold autumn rain was pelting down in torrents.
"Once this rain lets up, the real chill will set in."
"Yeah, it’s concerning. I hope this winter’s a bit warmer. Last winter was unbearably cold."
"Yeah, it was."
The soldiers guarding the front gate of Orth Territory’s castle spent their watch as usual, passing the time with idle conversation.
Just then.
*Step* Step
A hooded figure, robe drawn tight and hood pulled low, started making their way toward the castle gate.
"Stop right there."
The soldiers stopped the man who had his hood pulled low.
"Who are you, and where have you come from? State your identity."
"I am."
The hooded man answered.
"The rightful owner of this land."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
The soldier, intent on confirming the man’s identity, frowned.
"The rightful owner of this land? You think you’re the lord here or something…?"
At that moment.
Slash!
With a sharp, tearing sound, the hooded figure’s sword flashed like lightning, cleaving the questioning soldier clean in two.
"You crazy bastard!"
"Put that sword down!"
Startled, the soldiers tightened their grip on their spears and encircled the hooded man.
"Those who betray their oath… deserve nothing but death."
With that muttered under his breath, the hooded man swept his sword through, slaughtering every soldier standing guard at the castle gate.
"Eek?!"
Only one soldier was left alive.
Paralyzed by fear, he collapsed to the ground, shaking uncontrollably as he wet himself.
The man who had just carried out a massacre finally slowly lifted the hood he had been wearing low over his head.
Beneath it was Condor’s face.
Although his skin was stained a dusky purple and both eyes were bloodshot red, it was unmistakably Condor’s face.
"Huh…?! L-Lord Con…?!"
The lone surviving soldier realized who the man was and recoiled in shock.
"Go."
Condor said to the surviving soldier.
"Go and spread the word that I’ve returned, The rightful and true master of this land. Tell them the Lord of the Ort Territory is back."
"Aaaaagh!"
The soldier, overwhelmed with shock, bolted with every last bit of strength in his body.
* * *
"My lord!"
As soon as he heard the report, Camille rushed straight toward Otto.
"They're here?"
"From the city gates until now… he’s been slaughtering everyone in his path. No one who tried to stop him has lived."
"Just tell them not to get in his way. Trying to stop him is nothing but a pointless death. Just let him through."
"I figured as much, so I already ordered them not to interfere."
"Well done."
"What will you do now?"
"I’m going."
Otto hoisted the sack with the mace onto his back and got up from his seat.
"Will you really be alright?"
"Do you think I will?"
Otto let out a wry smile.
*Thump* Thump
To be honest, he was scared.
Since entering this game world, he had witnessed death firsthand and even taken part in battles, but he had never once fought a one-on-one duel with his life at stake.
"Even if I’m not fine, I still have to do it."
"My lord..."
"No one else can handle this but me. I have to be the one to do it."
If Condor wasn’t stopped, Otto wouldn’t be the only one to die.
Failing to clear [Condor’s Counterattack] would cause the screen to fade to gray with the message, “Failed to clear Condor’s Counterattack.”
Then, another line of text would appear.
After reclaiming his land, Condor, consumed by vengeance, began slaughtering the territory’s people without distinction and ruling with ruthless tyranny.
A year later, a Demon stole Condor’s soul and took over his body, opening the gates of hell in the Orth Territory.
After that, an army made up of demons swept across the world, and at last, when the Great Demon descended, the world became a hell filled only with grief and despair.
He had seen those words countless times while searching for a way to bring Condor down.
In short, failing to defeat Condor would mean the destruction of the world itself.
And the only person who knows this fact in this world is Otto.
‘I hate being the one to carry the burden.’
But with no one else to do it, he has no choice but to step up himself.
“You’ve come.”
When he went outside, Condor was waiting for Otto in the rain.
“Uh, what’s going on?”
“That’s not... what the lord used to look like!”
“Now he’s killing even our own soldiers…”
“Has he sold his soul to a Demon?”
In front of everyone watching.
Slip
Otto put his hand into the sack.
Chill!
A cold chill radiated from the mace’s handle and spread through his entire body.
It was like being trapped beneath the frozen surface of a lake.
“Ugh!”
Tremble
Otto trembled all over but gritted his teeth and tightly gripped the mace.
Before awakening, the only way to defeat Condor was to use [Cannibal Emperor Kairos’s] mace…
“Cough, cough cough!”
The cold emanating from the mace, combined with the heavy rain, made him cough uncontrollably.
Just then.
- Who’s there?
An unknown voice was heard.