Chapter 38
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Betrayed and Captured
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The young man stared at the empty seat before stepping outside.
The witch who had suddenly lifted the tent flap and chilled him to the bone.
His heart raced because of the empire's Crown Prince, rumored to be favored by that cold-blooded Emperor.
"For the sake of the country."
The young man inhaled the cool night air, cooling his heated chest.
It felt like the stuffiness in his gut was finally clearing.
Loyalty to the Queen was a talent, and the country stayed stable because of it.
Because they had power.
But this time, they had even been handed a perfect excuse, and a contest of strength was impossible.
Even if they won a battle of strength, it would still be a problem.
The empire's national power was formidable in proportion to its size, but they wouldn't even need to use all of it.
The great flood about 25 years ago was a perfect example.
"The saying 'don't make an enemy of modern Ion' came from that time."
War meant certain defeat, and trying to compensate with resources would drain the country dry.
There was no room for negotiation.
In other words, offering up the Queen was the only answer.
"For now, I need to hear what the others think."
There were five high-ranking officials gathered in this camp, including the young man.
Four, excluding the Queen.
The young man sent a nearby soldier to quietly gather them.
The dark night was perfect for avoiding the Queen's eyes.
"What reason does Your Grace have for summoning us so secretly?"
About 30 minutes later.
The key figures summoned by the young man gathered in his tent.
"Grand Prince" referred to the male royals of the northern kingdom.
In other words, it was a term proving the young man's status, position, and relations.
However, it wasn't limited to the north.
All the kingdoms surrounding Ion called their non-direct male royals "Grand Prince."
"Yes. I'll explain."
The young man stared silently at the old man who had asked before opening his mouth.
"Just a little while ago, the empire's witch came to see me. With the Crown Prince, no less."
"What?!"
In an instant, everyone's eyes in the tent widened.
They nearly shouted in shock.
Good thing they had come prepared for secrecy.
Normally, they would have yelled outright from the shock.
"That makes sense."
The young man nodded as if he understood completely.
"I get it. It's surprising."
"Y-Yes. But what did the witch say when she came? She must have had business with Your Grace."
"To sum it up, she said to hand over the Queen. Do that, and this matter ends cleanly."
"It's not just repeating the same demand..."
The old man who asked widened his eyes again.
The middle-aged men standing in a row beside him did the same.
"Yes. The Crown Prince guaranteed it. They're only after the Queen."
"So that's why he came with the witch."
"From talking with him, he seemed like a decent fellow. No pretense like the witch, and a straightforward impression."
As Grand Prince, the young man had developed a keen eye, and it was fairly accurate.
Thus, his assessment of Crown Prince Niu was spot on.
"If Your Grace saw him that way, it must be true. However..."
"Yes. Handing over Your Highness is treason in itself. But refusing is a problem too."
If they had cited some unreasonable pretext, he would have gladly fought.
Sometimes pride mattered more than pragmatism.
Everyone gathered here thought the same, but now was different.
The situation was hopelessly tangled due to the rash actions of a subordinate.
Waging war now would be laughable, and in the end, the country would crumble.
Miserably so.
The old man knew this too, so he sighed and nodded.
"Indeed. War means inevitable defeat, and Your Highness would be captured in less than half a day. That would make things far worse than submitting quietly."
"The reparations and mobilization of supplies would cause massive losses too."
"They could annihilate our troops under the pretext of war. That witch would do it without hesitation."
"It wouldn't just be the royal family at stake. We could end up worse than our colonies."
The middle-aged men who had been silent chimed in one by one.
They all thought the same.
"Everyone's on the same page."
The young man nodded silently.
With consensus reached, there was no need for more words.
"For now, we'll hold off and watch without pressing. In a week, our response will depend on what Your Highness says at the negotiation."
"Understood."
The elders bowed with resolve in their eyes.
They were prepared to commit disloyalty if needed.
Some might call it cowardice...
But there truly was no answer.
It was like a child trying to shatter a mountain with a pebble.
"No answer at all."
A complicated emotion flickered in the young man's eyes.
He had no lust for power, but what they were doing was no different from power-hungry tyrants.
Still, it had to be done.
Resistance, let alone a meaningless war, was an unforgivable luxury.
I spent the time taking turns fucking my exclusive bitches or pounding them all at once.
Thanks to that, the promised day arrived in no time.
"Let's head out."
"Yes, Aunt."
Today, I brought the invisible Aktaion and Antiope to the brook.
I was excited to see what answer they'd bring.
"We're early today."
Upon arriving at the brook, Manes muttered with a smile.
"Yeah. They'll be here soon, right?"
"Excited to hear what answer they'll bring? I hope it's something fun."
"I prefer a convenient answer over fun."
"Amazing. So modest, yet at night you turn into a savage, horny beast?"
My shoulders shrank in that instant.
My face heated up from being called out on the mating noises echoing at night.
"Ahem! Sorry."
"No need to apologize. Like I keep saying, mounting bitches is your right and sacred duty. If anything, the other humans should be watching their step around you."
I nodded with an awkward smile.
She's rough, but her words were comforting.
"Your Highness. They're coming."
"Yeah?"
Looking around, I spotted a group approaching from afar.
The Queen with a frosty expression, followed by four men.
Same lineup as a week ago, but the atmosphere was different.
"You're here? Reached a decision?"
As the Queen stepped forward to the brook's edge, Manes asked with a grin, as if she'd been waiting.
"Yes. We've chewed over your words, over and over."
A subdued voice slipped from the Queen's lips.
Not calm—genuinely furious.
"Good. Let's hear it."
"War. Even if it kills me, I'll turn the empire's north into a frozen wasteland of death."
Ah... so it came to this.
The dumbest choice, but not chosen out of stupidity.
Cornered people naturally follow instinct.
In other words, their true nature shows.
"Average."
It would have been nice if she could make a wise choice despite that...
Her abilities aside, her character was confirmed average.
"Oh? What about the rest of you? Same thinking?"
Manes asked, locking eyes with the young man.
Time to check if our ploy worked.
"Regrettably, the rest of us here disagree with Her Highness."
As the Queen flinched and turned, the young man spoke.
The ploy had landed perfectly.
"Raoul, do you know what you've just said?!"
Flames blazed in the Queen's eyes, which had been dead before.
She'd finally ignited from the bait.
"I do. The moment war starts, Your Highness will be captured in under half a day. And it won't end there."
"You dare speak of defeat before we've even begun?!"
"As long as the Emperor and her brother stand strong, war is folly. Assassination might offer a chance, but even that's no easy feat."
The young man sighed and shook his head.
Openly treating her like an idiot—it was provocative as hell.
Her rage flared hotter, chilling the air around them.
It even sparkled like scattered glass shards.
"Ice particles."
Seeing the Queen's Unique Magic, which I'd only heard about, made me chuckle.
Not scary—thrilling.
If she'd surrendered meekly, I'd have humiliated her moderately and treated her like a guest.
But now? After choosing the wrong hand, she pays the price.
"Fine. You lot are different, huh? Then we'll handle her ourselves?"
"Do as you will."
Manes asked, and the young man nodded, stepping back.
A clear signal of non-interference.
The men who came with him followed suit—opinions aligned.
Convenient and appreciated.
"You dare betray me...!"
Grinding her teeth, the betrayed Queen grimaced.
Clenching so hard her teeth might shatter.
"Enough. Healthy teeth are better."
I immediately drew white light, shaping it into needles.
Raw light lacked attack power.
So I made countless thin, sharp light needles and rained them down like arrows.
Perfect for striking from afar.
"Insolent!"
As I fired, the Queen grimaced and thrust out her hand.
Empty space froze instantly, forming a translucent wall.
Crack! The needle rain embedded in the wall with a noise.
It held, but cracks spiderwebbed across the ice, hinting at collapse.
"Blocked it, huh?"
I compressed light into my right hand and detonated it with full force.
Boom! Blinding light exploded outward.
A silent flashbang, harmless to health.
"Urk!"
The Queen squeezed her eyes shut.
Couldn't endure a point-blank burst.
Everyone else reflexively closed theirs too—but one didn't.
Antiope launched into the air like she'd been waiting, slamming into empty space.
Her landing spot: behind the Queen.
Doped up with buffs and mana enhancement, her speed and ferocity were maxed.
Like a glowing wild boar charging.
Or facing a supercar at full throttle head-on.
"Gah...!"
Thud—the Queen bulged her eyes.
A punch like an explosion slammed her side; of course it hurt.
The impact twisted her body too.
Hope her guts didn't rupture.
"Show His Highness respect."
Antiope followed the side strike by grabbing the Queen's head.
Veins bulging from the grip strength.
Then smashed it downward with all her might.
"Whoa, whoa..."
Thud—as the Queen's head cratered the ground.
I stood dumbstruck in admiration.
Dirt and dust billowing in slow motion.
A horny bitch before me, but a brutal beast against foes.
That duality was captivating.
"Already done?"
They said she was tricky with cold debuffs, wide ice waves...
Never imagined it'd end like this.
Or maybe the sneak attack did the trick.
"Your Highness. She's out cold, no worries."
Antiope sparkled at me.
Like a puppy begging for praise with all her cuteness.
"Wow. Over before I could join in? My niece has skills."
Manes chuckled, crossed the brook, and squatted before the Queen.
"Twitching means she's out. Pathetic."
Manes clicked her tongue, then beckoned Antiope.
"Lift her head. Let me check."
"Yes."
Antiope lifted—the head shed clumps of dirt.
Still filthy with soil on hair and face.
"Out cold."
Manes eyed the dirty face, then grabbed the Queen's arm.
Thought she'd toss her, but no.
"Fine. We'll take her. You lot calm down today and come back here tomorrow. That's why you said 'regrettably,' right? Isn't it?"
Manes sliced the air, opening a portal.
Beyond it: our camp.
"Yes. We'll do that."
The dazed young man blinked slowly and nodded.
Snapping back to reality.
Meanwhile, Antiope scooped up the unconscious Queen.
Classic princess carry.
"Quick on the uptake. Let's go. You too, niece standing there all blank."
"Yes, Aunt. Coming."
I stepped through with Manes and Antiope.
Before the portal closed, I glanced back.
The young man staring wistfully at the empty spot.
Men around him sighing, talking.
"Niece."
As the portal sealed and the forest appeared.
Manes gently patted my shoulder.
"Yes, Aunt. What is it?"
"What now with her? Your moment's here."
What now?
A dilemma for any man, but I'd decided long ago.
"Torment her my way first, as much as I want."
"Oh? Exciting. Gonna rape her? Spraying seed into a bitch you conquered feels great."
No, what kind of question...
Flustered, but couldn't argue—royal style.
"Not planning to."
"Huh, why? She's pretty decent-looking."
Manes's eyes widened in surprise.
Superior to any common slut, as she said—but just that.
"Pretty, but no appeal. With a body like this."
Back then, I'd have bowed and devoured her.
Not now.
What was it? Like old song lyrics—pretty face alone doesn't get me hard.
"Ah, got it for now."
A soft smile curved Manes's lips.
Dunno what she got, but if she's happy, fine by me.