Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Black Mage #2
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Strange.
No matter how I thought about it, something was off.
For starters, I hadn't arrived too late.
"Uwaaack!"
"Block them! Block them!"
I'd almost been too late.
Even rushing here as fast as I could, the battle was on the verge of exploding.
I'd thought they'd hold out longer.
Why had they crumbled in just a few days?
Was this really okay for imperial army discipline?
"Die, you empire pigs—gurk!"
"Hngh!"
First things first, I dealt with the cavalry butchering soldiers while galloping around.
I crushed the heads of the most conspicuous ones with my bare hands, and they cowered, turning passive.
"A m-monster."
"The Butcher."
"The Butcher has appeared...!"
Even so, that was a bit much.
Calling someone the Butcher right to their face?
"Hngh. Hng. Y-Your Majesty. It's Your Majesty."
"We're all gonna die...!"
"Useless trash who only get in the way—we're all gonna die!"
But why were you lot acting like that?
I'm on your side.
I even spotted a soldier foaming at the mouth.
Both sides were trembling in perfect harmony at the sight of me.
Seeing that only multiplied my questions.
The margrave's soldiers, well, whatever.
I hadn't expected anything from them anyway, so no disappointment there.
But the Varka soldiers...
They were suspiciously strong.
An invasion at a time when they shouldn't have been ready.
A force stronger than they should have mustered.
Mysteries everywhere.
"What are you lot hesitating for! The empire's emperor is right there! Go kill—!"
"Captain!!"
For now.
I killed the noisy enemy commander first.
I'll think things over after cleaning up.
Varka Kingdom cavalry captain Eax Bartus steadied his trembling hands.
"That guy's the real monster."
The battle situation had clearly favored them.
Even he, who'd opposed the empire invasion at first, had thought, This is doable.
That had been a mistake.
The empire was too weak for an empire.
The kingdom had fought better than expected.
Varka's thoroughly prepared cavalry had ravaged the empire's unprepared defenses.
It was a sweet victory.
Sweet enough that they couldn't stop.
Let's crush the empire's arrogance while we have the chance!
If we win against the empire, won't the other alliance kingdoms help?
The empire's just a ragtag bunch now! If the alliance unites, toppling them won't be hard!
Everyone had gone mad.
But Eax hadn't stopped them.
He'd been drunk on victory too.
After all, they'd unilaterally crushed a giant called the empire.
So he'd let his guard down.
Thought he could savor this victory a bit more.
And this was the result.
"Kwaaaack!"
"Monster! Monster!!"
By a single man.
His cavalry was being shattered to pieces.
Standing on the battlefield not in armor, but dragon robes.
The man had slain dozens of cavalrymen without a drop of blood on his robes, leisurely dominating the center.
As if taking a stroll.
"They said he'd gotten weaker..."
Eax sighed.
How could he have forgotten?
That monsters lived in the empire.
Ascended the throne before even reaching adulthood.
Crushed the plots of those who scorned the boy emperor with his bare hands.
The incarnation of violence that reordered the continent alone—and he was alive and well right there.
What confidence had made his kingdom bare its fangs...?
Too late for regrets now.
"Monster, monster."
"How do we beat something like that?"
The soldiers' will to fight had broken long ago.
This war was lost.
Their homeland would pay the price for humiliating defeat.
Looking back now, he couldn't understand their reckless actions.
But what could he do?
Spilled water.
As the vanguard, Eax had to take responsibility.
He steeled himself and gripped his spear.
Right then.
"You coming? I've been waiting so long I'm tired."
"...!"
As if on cue.
The Butcher stared at Eax.
How did he get so close already...!
He'd been a distant speck at the edge of vision.
Yet in an instant, close enough to hear his voice?
Cold sweat trickled down Eax's back.
The tyrant's golden eyes pierced him.
Just that made his body stiffen.
But.
"Hup!"
Separate from the rising terror, the spearman felt a thrill.
This was the pinnacle.
A fearsome foe for a Varka soldier, but for a warrior, was there a more glorious opponent?
"My name is Eax Bartus, Captain of Varka's 12th Cavalry Division—O Martial God of the Empire, will you cross blades with me?"
Martial God.
The tyrant—Khalid—laughed fiercely at Eax's utmost respectful title.
"To meet a hero in a place like this. Come. I'll entertain you."
"That my spear's final opponent is none other than you is my honor. Then, here I go."
Eax lowered his stance.
He focused a lifetime of martial prowess into the spear's tip.
This would surely reach even that monster.
It was confidence.
Pride in what he'd built over a lifetime.
"Haa—!"
The most perfect moment.
Sharper senses than ever before guided him.
He thrust without hesitation.
—!
And then.
"...Ha."
Eax laughed hollowly at the result.
With desperate resolve, he'd thrust—but it was his spear, not the emperor's, that broke.
"Kill him."
"Not a bad strike. I'll remember your name with respect. Farewell."
"...Thank you."
Recognized, was he?
That was enough.
That was Eax's final moment.
I killed the enemy army's supreme commander.
Not a bad guy.
But despite the satisfying fight, my questions only grew.
He didn't seem like a commander incapable of sound judgment—why the hasty decisions?
Even he himself seemed puzzled by his choices.
After the battle.
While soldiers cleaned the field, I muttered to myself.
"Something smells fishy."
"D-Does it mean me, Your Majesty? Do I smell?"
Lily made a sad face.
Not you.
Why was the assassin who'd been darting through shadows, cleanly decapitating foes moments ago, getting teary over this?
"Th-then what smell do you mean?"
"The situation feels awfully contrived."
It's different from the original story.
I'd chalked up the early invasion to the snowball effect of my presence.
But that didn't explain everything.
Someone had meddled.
"Is that so...?"
Lily tilted her head.
With original knowledge, I could infer—but without it, it'd just be grasping at clouds.
"Lily, any suspicious signs? Not Varka Kingdom, but traces of outside forces meddling."
"I didn't see any on the battlefield at least."
If Lily says so, it's certain. Means no direct interference on the field.
Then behind Varka Kingdom?
That complicates things.
"Well, they did launch a preemptive strike on us."
Should I use that as an excuse to invade?
"If that's Your Majesty's will."
Lily bowed deeply.
"Joking. Just joking."
"But, Your Majesty."
"Hey."
"Yes..."
I patted the sulking Lily.
Turning the tables and crushing Varka Kingdom completely would be easy.
Hell, I could do it alone.
But that would derail all my prepared plans.
The whole continent would plunge into war.
I couldn't predict the karma of destroying a nation.
No guarantee I'd even find the culprit.
"They say a healthy body eases the mind's burdens. Here, even a healthy body means headaches."
"If it's a headache, shall I offer my lap?"
"No need."
Even if the battle's over, a lap pillow right here on a former battlefield? No.
Corpses littering the ground felt off in every way.
"Your Majesty!"
Then.
A bearded middle-aged man came rushing over.
Who was that?
"That's the margrave."
That decrepit, muscle-less guy was the margrave?
For real?
"How could Your Majesty come to such a humble place without a word to me...!"
From the fawning while buddying up to me, we must have some acquaintance.
I didn't remember.
I had most memories from my tyrant days, but no recall meant he was utterly insignificant.
Even so.
A margrave, king of his domain, groveling shamelessly before the emperor.
Vice Minister of Military Affairs, you mad bastard. Seasoned veteran, my ass.
Where's the battle-hardened general in this flabby old fart?
No wonder they got steamrolled.
The empire's a mess.
Can I even save this country?
My head heated up.
"Your Majesty. Please, come inside. We've hastily prepared a banquet upon hearing you'd arrived. Heh heh heh. Not sure if it'll satisfy you after all the trouble repelling the enemy raid."
The margrave approached and draped an arm over my shoulder.
Should I kill him?
The instant killing intent boiled over and my hand twitched.
"Your Majesty! Please look at this just once!"
A soldier rushed up.
"This wretch dares act rudely in this safe—."
"Enough."
I raised a hand to stop the margrave's tirade.
"What is it?"
"W-well."
The pale-faced soldier pulled something from his bosom.
Black parchment.
"What's this?"
"Found it in the enemies' tents. Tried to check the contents, but the seal wouldn't break."
Looked like a magical seal.
A security spell just to hide one parchment's contents?
I took the offered parchment and tore the seal with my hand.
Rip! It broke easily.
What could be so important?
"...Hah, really."
I checked the contents and let out a hollow laugh.
"Elisabeth von Valerian is a black mage."