Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Holy Kingdom
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Just before Yujin and his group arrived at the capital of the Espelin Kingdom—a necessary stopover on their way to the Holy Kingdom—a loud voice rang out from outside.
"Halt!"
At that shout, the carriage carrying Yujin and Sena, along with the dozens of knights riding alongside as escorts, all came to a stop.
In the midst of this bewildering situation, he quickly expanded his senses. What he detected was a massive crowd blocking the road to the capital.
...Numbers like that make it look like an army.
He rolled down the window and asked the Black Knight beside him.
"...What's going on?"
"My apologies, Your Excellency. A group of soldiers is demanding that we disarm and comply with their control."
...An army blocking the road?
Why?
There was no reason for the road to be blocked. They weren't invading the Espelin Kingdom, and all the schedules had already been coordinated in advance.
So naturally, they were supposed to enter the capital, exchange formal greetings with the Espelin King, and head straight to the Holy Kingdom...
...
Then, as if confirming he hadn't misheard, a thunderous voice boomed once more.
"Disarm immediately and submit to our control!"
"I didn't mishear it."
"...Yes, Your Excellency."
The Black Knight subtly averted his gaze. Even he had no idea what this sudden situation was about and found it absurd.
Ignoring Sena's worried look, Yujin stepped down from the carriage and moved forward.
There, he locked eyes with a man riding at the forefront, backed by a vast army. He looked like someone important at a glance.
His horse was a well-fed, high-breed steed, and his uniform was adorned with all sorts of decorations that only he wore.
Moreover, with so many sycophantic old men fawning over him, it was hard to see him as just a noble or general.
Rather, one of those fawners looks like a general.
There was an old man mixed in who gave off that distinct political-military vibe.
"Who are you?!"
"I am Yujin Banus, the leader of the Empire's delegation heading to the Holy Kingdom."
—......!!!!!
—Yujin Banus...!
—So that's him, the youngest Master and the Empire's new Duke...!
—Heavens...!!
Countless gazes turned toward Yujin, filled mostly with awe and a hint of hostility.
"You're the Empire's Duke?!"
"That's right."
"That's right? How dare you address the Crown Prince so casually...!"
...Crown Prince, huh.
No wonder he didn't seem like an ordinary noble.
"Are you the Crown Prince of the Espelin Kingdom?"
"What...? Do you not know how to show respect? How dare a mere noble speak to me informally!"
"...?"
Yujin was dumbfounded.
It was common knowledge—though not openly advertised—that an Imperial Duke held status equal to a foreign king. Even a king of one nation wouldn't treat an Imperial Duke lightly upon meeting. Yet here was this mere Crown Prince showing such audacity(?).
His head must be empty.
One could interpret it as a political move to avoid the Espelin Kingdom being seen as weak against the Empire, but that didn't seem right.
It was obvious just looking at him—his face screamed it.
This so-called Crown Prince of Espelin was of the same breed as the Empire's own Crown Prince.
In other words, an idiot.
"Tch."
"What was that tongue-click for? Are you insulting me, the rightful heir to the Espelin Kingdom?!"
"No."
So what?
"Urgh...! How dare you...!"
The Crown Prince distorted his face and drew his sword toward the sky.
"In any case! Disarm immediately and submit to our control!"
"What's the reason?"
"This is Espelin territory! Right in front of the capital, no less! And you're trying to enter armed!? Disarm now and comply!"
"...Ha."
...This is ridiculous.
To reiterate, all of this had been pre-coordinated with the Espelin Kingdom. That meant the delegation's escorts didn't need to disarm. It was even documented—with the Espelin King's seal, no less.
Yet the Crown Prince below him was acting like this?
"Does the Espelin Kingdom desire war with the Empire?"
"......!!!!!!!!"
—Wha...!!
—War?!
—!!!!!!!!!!!!
At those words, the Crown Prince's soldiers began to murmur.
Even the fawning old men beside the Crown Prince and the man himself.
"I'll ask again. Does Espelin desire war with the Empire?"
This was all a pre-arranged event. To overturn it like this?
It was not just diplomatic rudeness—it could lead straight to war.
"Does the Kingdom desire war with the Empire?"
Rumble rumble rumble———!!!!!!!!!!!
An overwhelming pressure poured down on the Crown Prince and his soldiers.
A chilling sensation, as if a massive god were glaring down at them. They began struggling just to stand on the ground.
The air itself vibrated, cracks forming in the earth.
Crack crack crack——!!!
Amid the earthquake-like tremors, the army collapsed.
Soldiers began fainting or wetting themselves one by one. The knights near the Crown Prince hurriedly drew their swords in response to the overwhelming, threatening aura—but
"Can you even handle it?"
Clang—!
The knights' swords shattered, unable to withstand Yujin's mana. Whether ancient famed blades or renowned blacksmiths' works, they all broke equally.
Like glass shards.
"......!!!!!!!!!"
Only then did the Crown Prince realize something was wrong, his face paling.
"W-Wai—"
And as the Crown Prince tried to speak,
"Please hold on for a moment!!!!!"
A balding old man came galloping from afar on horseback.
"Please, just wait a moment!!!!!!"
"...?"
The old man, glancing nervously at the collapsed army with wildly shaking eyes, soon fixed his gaze clearly on Yujin.
"Duke, Your Excellency! This is not the Kingdom's will! His Majesty the King, having grasped the situation, states that this is solely Crown Prince His Highness's independent action, and Espelin has no intention of antagonizing the Empire!!"
.
.
.
.
After the sudden old man's shout, the situation was resolved for the time being. The Crown Prince was dragged away by knights from the capital, and the army blocking Yujin's path withdrew entirely.
Afterward, Yujin met with the King, who expressed—almost obsequiously—that Espelin had no desire to antagonize the Empire.
Espelin did have Masters, but only one, far fewer than the Empire's numbers. Even excluding Masters, their national power was inferior.
Unless they were insane, they wouldn't seek conflict with the Empire alone.
Of course, this incident would inevitably be reported back to the Empire, but since physical conflict was avoided, good was good.
...Though the King must have been sweating bullets.
After the brief audience in the capital, Yujin's group set off again for the Holy Kingdom.
"G-Good work, Yujin..."
Nod.
"Y-You didn't get hurt, right?"
He'd long since given up on her informal speech. He'd told her from the start to use formal language, but she stuck to casual, so whatever.
"If you're hurt, I'll heal you."
Heal me?
...Sena?
Reading his doubt, she explained defensively.
"I can handle divine power to some extent now, so I can heal minor wounds."
"I see. But I'm not hurt."
With that, suffocating silence enveloped them once more.
Th-This won't do.
Sena fidgeted with her fingers before steeling herself.
"Y-Yujin."
Whoosh—
As Yujin's cold eyes turned to her, she flinched slightly.
"...I'm sorry."
"...?"
Her sudden words left Yujin baffled. He'd never imagined hearing "I'm sorry" from her in his lifetime.
Let alone so out of the blue.
Ignoring that, Sena continued her confession, burdened by guilt and trembling inwardly.
The misunderstandings from childhood rumors, and how she never bothered to verify them properly.
Even when Yujin tried to explain, she wouldn't listen.
And how she hurt him, ending their relationship in the worst way.
"Sorry, I'm sorry. It's all my fault..."
Sena looked at Yujin with trembling eyes. Would her sincerity reach him?
Please...
She wanted it to reach him.
The guilt toward him, the ugliness and self-loathing she felt. She couldn't go on without resolving it.
Because it was wrong as a person.
Ignoring his wounds and moving on was unacceptable...
And.
"...Ha."
What returned was a cold sigh.
"An apology? What good is it now?"
"If it feels insincere, I'm sorry. But I truly mean to apologize to you—"
"That's not what I mean."
Yujin let out a cynical laugh.
Her body trembled at that mocking, contemptuous smile. It felt like her hidden feelings were being utterly dissected.
"What use is an apology now? The wounds from you and that damned Marilsian family have long been part of me. Unerasable memories for life. And you have the gall to show your face and say what? That it's sincere?"
Ridiculous.
Truly laughable.
Everything fell apart long ago—what use was an apology now?
"Urk."
Sena clutched her chest.
She'd expected it.
Expected it, but...
It hurts so much...
Each cold, cynical word felt like it was carving out her heart. Hallucinated whispers telling her she must never be forgiven, that she was truly ugly.
Her heart ached terribly.
She felt like she was plummeting into the abyss.
...
No, even if I fall into the abyss, I deserve it...
...Compared to the wounds and pain he endured, this was nothing.
I...
...What the hell have I done?
"Or do you expect forgiveness?"
"N-No, that's not—"
"Isn't it? Trying to feel that flimsy moral superiority from your saintess position?"
"Ah, I don't mean—"
"Shut up."
Come to think of it, you'd always been like that since childhood. Thinking you had to help those in need, yet ignoring the struggling kid right beside you.
And in the end, you never looked back at the boy named Yujin closest to you. Just smiling at and deriving joy from kids you'd barely met.
"..."
Sena shut her mouth.
Her hands on her knees trembled. Not from anger, but from overwhelming sadness and pain.
Each harsh word from him stabbed into her heart, tormenting her endlessly.
But I deserve to hear it...
Tears fell one by one, soaking her clothes. She couldn't retort. Even if it sounded like lies, it was all true.
She'd ignored the pain and struggles of the man closest to her, who deserved her utmost care.
...
In the end, her sincerity didn't reach him.
It never could from the start. She'd merely ignored that fact, clinging to vain hope of possible forgiveness.
Now she realized how fleeting and repulsive that hope was.
...The carriage fell silent once more. A heavy silence no one could break.
'Master hurts...?'
'No, it doesn't hurt.'
'But you look like you're in so much pain...'
Yuseol's worried voice transmitted through his mind.
What did this child even know to comfort him?
'Don't hurt, Master... If Master hurts, I hurt too...'
...But soon, he realized it didn't matter.
What mattered was Yuseol's genuine heart, worrying and trying to comfort him.
Yujin smiled faintly in his mind.
'...I'm fine.'
'Yeah... Don't hurt, Master.'
'Okay.'
He wasn't even holding Yuseol, but warmth reached his heart.
And so, Yujin's group entered the Holy Kingdom's border and soon arrived at the Holy Capital.
And
"Are you the Empire's Duke? Nice to meet you."
He met the Pope, who appeared as a young woman.