The Die Is Cast
I walked along the long corridor. Was it because of the banquet? The soldiers who usually patrolled every corner of the hallway were nowhere to be seen today. Of course, the guard detail had been intentionally thinned out, told to take it easy on a night like this. Passing by the few remaining guards, I arrived at the guest wing where the VIPs visiting the Imperial Palace stayed. From this point on, there were no more soldiers. After all, few would be mad enough to attempt to assassinate a Grand Duke who had reached the realm of a Sword Master. Valorang's own overconfidence in his martial prowess played a part in this as well. Slowly, I made my way up to the floor where we were staying. A red carpet lined the corridor. Outside the windows lay a heavy darkness, while bright lamps illuminated the hallway to my left. Just one more left turn, and the Grand Duke's chamber would be right there.
"Everyone... wait here," I whispered.
They all halted.
"Until I give the signal..." I pointed toward a door. "Hide in there for a moment."
I pointed to my own room. The mercenaries nodded in understanding. Once I saw them slip quietly inside, I turned and walked toward the Grand Duke's chamber.
Two guards stood watch outside the Grand Duke's door. I greeted them with a warm, friendly smile. "Ah... sorry, everyone. I hear the relief shift is running a bit late."
I had intentionally ordered the next shift to arrive an hour later. Naturally... they wouldn't be showing up anytime soon.
Unaware of this, the exhausted guards grumbled. "Young Master! I know the banquet has started, but this is just too much."
"Exactly. We wanted to mingle with the noble ladies too."
The soldiers tapped their spears against the floor, venting their frustration. I chuckled. "Haha... Well, how about I stand guard for now? You two can head down and enjoy yourselves for a bit."
Their eyes lit up. "Are you serious, Young Master?"
I smiled and nodded. "Of course. They said they'd be about fifteen minutes late anyway."
The senior guard, trying to be polite, demurred. "If it's only thirty minutes... we can just wait it out."
Damn... that ruins everything.
Suppressing my rising anxiety, I forced a bright, joking tone. "Nonsense. If you want to charm those picky noble ladies, you need time to freshen up, don't you?"
I played the part of the easygoing master perfectly, but the senior guard still looked apologetic. "It's not that... but aren't you far busier than us, Young Master? So..."
Fortunately, he didn't find my behavior suspicious; he was just declining out of genuine consideration. That was a relief. I offered a bright, reassuring smile. "Think nothing of it. Consider how much you've dedicated to our family. This is an order. Go enjoy the banquet, and get some early rest. I'll watch the door for a while."
A mix of sheepishness and excitement washed over the guards' faces. "If... if you insist..."
"Come on, Ian! Why are you hesitating? Well then, Young Master, we'll take our leave."
"Haha... Have a wonderful evening with the ladies."
The junior guard, practically dragging his reluctant senior away, smiled and handed me a whistle. "Thank you so much, Lord Deviang!"
I watched them walk away, the metallic clinking of their armor fading down the hall. First step complete... the guards were gone. Once I was sure they were out of sight, I opened the door to my room next door. "Everything is ready," I whispered.
The mercenaries nodded, their expressions grim and resolute.
I stood before the Grand Duke's door. *Knock, knock.*
"Who is it?" Valorang's voice barked from within.
"It is I."
"...I have no desire to see your face."
It was a blatant rejection, but I delivered my prepared line. "Your Grace, there is an urgent matter."
"What is it?"
"Well... it is something that must not be overheard..."
I lowered my voice to a cautious whisper. Sensing something unusual, the Grand Duke commanded, "If this is a trivial matter, I will have your head! Enter!"
At his words, I gestured to the mercenaries, signaling them to press against the wall. "Did I not tell you to enter?" Valorang urged.
Ensuring the mercenaries were completely hidden from the doorway's line of sight, I opened the door.
Valorang was seated on a luxurious sofa. Irritated by the interruption of his rest, he glared at me. "What is it?"
"It is nothing other than... we have just captured a Demon Worshipper attempting to infiltrate the Imperial Palace."
It was a complete lie, designed solely to catch him off guard.
Valorang scoffed, dismissing the possibility. *Thud!* "Nonsense! Do you have any idea who those people are?"
I replied calmly. "During the interrogation... they claimed to have something to show you, Your Grace. I brought it here in secret."
Valorang furrowed his brow. "What is it? Bring it here at once."
At his command, I reached into my coat and pulled out an object wrapped in a white cloth. "It is... right here."
I approached the Grand Duke. One step, two steps... With every inch I drew closer to Valorang, my heart hammered against my ribs. *Thump... thump...* A maddening tremor ran through me. Calm down... Just once... I only need to succeed once... Forcing my racing heart to quiet, I stopped right in front of Valorang. And then—
*Shhhk! Stab!*
Crimson blood splattered everywhere.
"Argh!"
"Die, you bastard!"
I had aimed for his throat, but Valorang, sensing the danger at the last second, threw his body backward. The blade plunged deep into his shoulder instead.
"You... insane wretch!" Valorang clutched his bleeding shoulder with one hand while throwing a kick at me— *Thud!*
"Ugh!"
The powerful kick sent me rolling across the floor. *Creeeak!* The door burst open, and the mercenaries I hired rushed into the room.
"Young Master!"
*Slide.*
"How dare you! You ungrateful beast, committing treason after everything I've done for you?! Who are you people?!"
In the blink of an eye, Valorang drew the sword resting beside him. The title of the continent's greatest swordsman was not just for show; the fountain of blood from his shoulder was already beginning to stem.
"Monster..."
"Young Master, catch!"
I caught the sword Karl threw to me. Glaring at the Grand Duke, I snarled, "Shut up, you bastard!"
In that instant— *Clang! Clang!* Projectiles flew toward Valorang, but he deflected them with blinding speed. Hans and Jason pressed forward, closing the distance. *Vrrr!* A sudden light flashed from Valorang's blade, shattering Hans's dual swords. No, it doesn't just shatter them—it cleaves right through the steel.
At that moment, Jason thrust his spear in a dazzling flurry, keeping the pressure on Valorang. Just as Valorang's blade was about to connect, Jason miraculously retracted his spear in a display of supreme martial skill. Enraged, Valorang scowed. "Insects! I will slaughter you all!"
A volley of daggers flew toward him. *Clash! Clang!* Valorang deflected them with uncanny precision. Rebecca smirked. "The daggers are poisoned. I wouldn't underestimate me if I were you."
Karl and I joined the fray. "The poison will take effect soon! Keep pushing!"
The dagger I had plunged into Valorang's shoulder was coated in poison. A toxin designed to disrupt mana flow and coagulate the blood. It was an incredibly rare poison; even a Sword Master would struggle to withstand it once it spread.
"Aaaaargh!" Valorang roared, his sword blazing with light. He targeted Hans first. Hans tried to block the incoming sword qi with his broken blade, but it was futile. *Slash!*
Next was Jason, who had been keeping Valorang at bay with his long reach and exquisite spearplay. His spear was sliced through like a radish. *Snap!*
"Ugh!" Valorang's blade pierced straight through Jason's chest.
In that split second— "You... monster!" *Thud!*
A dagger sank deep into Valorang's abdomen. Seizing the opportunity, Rebecca retreated to maintain her distance, continuously raining daggers down upon him, while Karl and I flanked him.
*Clang! Clash!* Sparks flew as our blades clashed. Valorang's breathing grew ragged. "Pant... pant..."
Fortunately, the poison seemed to be taking effect. "The poison is finally kicking in, I see."
Valorang glared at me. "You wretched boy! Do you possess not a shred of pride as a member of the great House of Lion?! *Cough... blegh!*"
Valorang vomited a mouthful of dark blood. Looking down at his pathetic state, a cold smile spread across my face. "I couldn't care less about that. Tell me, how does it feel to plummet into the abyss just when you were on the verge of achieving everything?"
"You... *cough, cough*... to a mere worm like you... to someone like you..."
I swung my sword at the sputtering tyrant. Valorang desperately raised his blade to block, but two daggers ruthlessly embedded themselves in his thighs.
"Argh!"
As Valorang lost his balance and collapsed, I stepped forward. *Slash!* I severed his right arm. A fresh geyser of blood erupted into the air.
"Aaaaargh!" He screamed in agony, clutching his bleeding stump.
"Shut up! This is far from over!" *Squelch!*
"This is for my mother!" The sharp tip of my sword pierced Valorang's chest. "And this..."
I gripped the hilt tightly and twisted. *Crack!*
"Gah... cough!"
"This is the price for every single atrocity you have committed!" *Stab!*
"Die! Just die!"
How long had I dreamed of this moment? Born as this bastard's son, my life had been nothing but relentless abuse. "Hah. I suppose being a Sword Master makes you incredibly hard to kill." I mocked him, though I was intentionally avoiding his vital organs with each strike.
"You... you bastard..." He slowly raised his left hand, trying to grab me. His sluggish movement was almost pitiful. Well, I suppose moving at all with such severe injuries was a testament to his monstrous strength. *Slash!* I severed his left arm as well.
"Go to hell."
I drove my sword straight between Valorang's eyes. *Crack!* With a sickening crunch, the blade pierced through his skull.
Valorang died with his eyes wide open, staring at me with lingering hatred. Looking down at his lifeless face, a dull ache throbbed in my chest. I have finally done it... Mother...!
But this was not the end. I had no time to indulge in sentimentality. This was merely the very first step. First, I had to do what needed to be done. I turned to Karl and Rebecca, who were staring at me in stunned silence. "If you head back the way you came, you will find Agrippa. He will show you how to escape. I will handle things here, so please, save yourselves."
Perhaps my face looked like that of a demon, for the two of them trembled slightly. "Y-Young Master..."
There was no time. The guards would return soon. I urged them forward. "I told you to leave. Now."
At my sharp tone, they finally nodded, opened the door, and slipped out.
"Whew..."
Once they were gone, I opened the cigar box on Valorang's desk. I picked up a premium, wood-colored cylinder, sliced off the tip with my sword, and placed it between my lips. Picking up a nearby burning candelabra, I lit the tip. *Whoosh...* I took a deep drag.
"Puff... exhale... Now... it begins."
Valorang's rebellion had succeeded. And my own rebellion, which ended in his death, had succeeded as well. From this moment on, a chaotic political storm would sweep the empire. If luck was not on my side, I might die tomorrow. Or perhaps the day after. But... the die was already cast.