For the Continent
Schluss Heinkel. I had never seen a more shameless fellow. It was as if his entire body was saying, "Do I look suspicious? Is there someone behind me?"
He didn't even bother to pretend to be trustworthy. Despite possessing such military power, he accepted no official position whatsoever.
It was clear he was blatantly signaling that he had no intention of being bound to the Empire, nor of pledging loyalty to it.
"I'll go suppress that rebellion."
What startled the Emperor was the single sentence Schluss Heinkel uttered so straightforwardly.
It was an absurd statement. It was nothing more than the barking of a naive child who had never experienced war, or even if he had, had never once commanded one.
What did he think made a war called a rebellion any different? In the end, it was no different from people killing each other for their ideologies and purposes.
Gustav had to struggle to suppress his laughter at the absurdity of how Schluss viewed war.
"Wasn't the suppression force recently dealt a major defeat?"
The moment Schluss's cold gaze uttered those words, everything changed.
The nonsense spouted by the naive boy began to sound ominous.
The major defeat of the suppression force. Gustav had heard the news at 10 a.m. today—that is, just one hour ago.
The priority of the light-speed communication magic spread throughout the country, which boasted speeds surpassing even the falcon special delivery, was given only to the imperial palace.
In other words, aside from the parties in the south, no one could receive news from the south faster than the Emperor of the Freyja Empire.
But Schluss had known about that defeat. Or perhaps he had inferred it.
The difference between knowing and inferring wasn't great. If enough grounds for inference had gathered, the event would inevitably occur.
Either way, it was certain that Schluss Heinkel possessed an information network no less than the imperial family's. Or insight comparable to it...
"I'll go. At the very least, I'll cut off support from the Great Forest, and if possible, I'll bring back Lorein's head."
I wondered if he even understood what he was saying.
Support from the Great Forest... well, anyone with even a slight grasp of the continental situation would suspect that.
But certainty was another matter. Where in the world was there a madman who would boldly speak uncertain words before the Emperor?
It meant Schluss Heinkel had an informant who could provide that certainty.
At least regarding the south, it was confirmed he had an information network that would never lose to the imperial family.
And then the words Schluss uttered next were even more remarkable.
He intended to charge into the south alone, without an army, rally the defeated suppression force, and wage war. Not just maintain the army, but turn the tide of battle with such an outrageous claim.
At this point, it wasn't a matter of believing or not; it was simply absurd. He was saying something that made no sense.
"Are you telling me to hand over the position of commander-in-chief of the suppression force right now?"
"No. The commander-in-chief should be someone suited for the position. Whoever it may be, I will merely follow their orders."
And on top of that, he wasn't even coveting the commander-in-chief's seat? I began to suspect he was just rambling whatever came to mind.
But Schluss Heinkel's gaze was utterly cold. Those empty pupils, as if seeing nothing, stared unwaveringly at Emperor Gustav.
At this point, there was nothing left to hide. What use was there in hiding anything from a madman brimming with information? It would only make one look more ridiculous.
There was no longer any reason to conceal that the suppression force had been lured into a major battle and suffered a crushing defeat, losing seventy percent of its troops.
After all, he already knew everything.
I glanced at his expression for a moment, but as expected, there was no sign of surprise.
Now I had to acknowledge it. His tremendous bluff.
If it was a lie, I could just arrest him. If it was true, the imperial family could suppress the rebellion without losing anything.
"Very well. Schluss Heinkel. I shall permit your deployment. I will bestow upon you the title of knight."
"Your Majesty, the title..."
"I know. It is only a temporary title. There will be no fief or authority granted. It will be more helpful in commanding soldiers in the south. Return it upon your safe return."
"Understood. I am deeply honored, Your Majesty."
"That 'honored' again... Hand over your sword. Ugh... It's heavy. Raise your head."
"Yes."
"I shall conduct the knighting ceremony concisely, befitting a temporary knight."
There was no fief to grant, no rights, nothing. A knighting that cost nothing. It was a ceremony perfectly suited for Schluss Heinkel, whom one could never trust.
"By the authority granted by Lord Aigis, I, Gustav Friedrich von Freyja, Emperor of the Freyja Empire Federation, command. You, Schluss Heinkel, swear loyalty as a court knight directly serving the Emperor of the Freyja Empire, the conqueror of the continent."
He demanded the usual oath phrases.
But Schluss Heinkel's reaction far exceeded the Emperor's expectations. Far beyond. An act that surpassed the scope of what he considered madness.
"Standing resolutely against death and its fear, raging against injustice and protecting justice..."
"...!"
Ziiing...
Schluss Heinkel knelt and then rose. The fact that he rose while making an oath before the Emperor wasn't particularly surprising. His oath phrases were also the usual ones, the kind that might appear in fairy tales.
The problem was what was being drawn from his right palm.
'Th-that...!'
It was the magic sword. The evil sword that dwelled deep within a person's forearm and could be summoned by devouring mana energy when needed. The description passed down orally in the imperial palace matched exactly, except that its color was blue instead of red.
"I swear to Lord Aigis here and now that I will become the sword of His Majesty the Emperor."
I couldn't even properly hear the last part of the oath. All my attention had to be focused on staring at that blade soaring high into the sky with trembling pupils.
The guards who had been startled at first upon seeing light pouring out froze in place upon confirming the sight.
The sword passed down only as legend. The magic sword was there. Held in Schluss Heinkel's right hand.
And that sword was right at Gustav's neck.
With just a slight application of force to his wrist, Schluss could sever the Emperor's head at any moment.
But he merely stood still, holding the sword made of light.
No more flowery words were needed.
At that moment, Emperor Gustav Friedrich von Freyja placed his full trust in Schluss Heinkel.
He could not help but trust Schluss Heinkel, who had revealed the legendary sword before the Emperor and brought it so close.
"For the Empire."
"For the Continent."
The final phrase of the oath echoed softly.
***
Honestly, I was a bit flustered. When the Emperor brought his sword to Bappe and tried to pull it down.
The moment the tip of the sword pointed at the Emperor's neck, if I applied just a little force, the Emperor would be a dead man.
But the Emperor chose to match swords with me.
And then he offered the final oath to the one true god, Aigis.
It was as good as declaring that he would trust me.
'It's done.'
Even if not permanently, I had at least succeeded in gaining the Emperor's trust for now.
It would be perfect if my declaration to suppress the rebellion, which seemed like a bluff, became reality.
Feeling somewhat proud, I left the audience chamber.
"Schluss..."
Amidst everything going as I expected, there was someone who completely shattered my expectations.
It was Emilia, staring at me with tears welling up.
"You're going? To the battlefield?"
"Ah..."
"You said you wouldn't go before... You liar..."
"The situation has changed."
"Take me with you too... Me too..."
Emilia rushed into my arms and buried her face in my chest.
I froze in place and couldn't move a single step.
"You can't even cook, Oppa. Without me, you won't even be able to eat proper meals... So take me with you. It's obvious you won't listen even if I tell you not to go... Please take me too."
"I can't do that."
"Why! Why...! Why can't I go! You'll take others, won't you? Right?"
"..."
"But why can't I be included!"
"If you die... there would be too many tears shed for you. So I can't."
I had no choice but to make an excuse that didn't even sound like one.
Because if Emilia died, it would be game over.
If Hurtlocker's final shackle was released, it would lead directly to the end of the world.
Therefore, there was no choice but to leave her behind, regardless of Emilia's own wishes.
"That doesn't make sense... Do you think I could accept such an excuse? If you die. If you die, do you even know how many tears would be shed?"
"..."
Tears streamed down Emilia's cheeks.
It had already transcended method acting. It was something beyond the realm of acting... something unknowable.
"Don't go... Please don't go. Please..."
"I can't. I'm sorry, Emilia."
"You bastard... You son of a bitch..."
"Instead, I'll take your handkerchief."
"...?"
I pulled out the white cloth peeking out from Emilia's pocket. Or rather, what looked like cloth.
I picked up the handkerchief made entirely of her mana, the one that had been used to find Emilia.
"Before the traces of your mana disappear. I promise I'll definitely return before then. Whether dead or alive."
"If you come back dead..."
"What do you take me for?"
"Idiot. Fool. Clueless bastard."
"..."
Any thought of denying it vanished. Because it was all true.
"The moment the mana in the handkerchief disappears. From that moment on, know that I won't forgive you. Got it?"
"Understood."
"Don't answer half-heartedly..."
"I got it, Emilia. I'll come back in one piece. I swear to Lord Aigis."
"Keep your promise. Keep it..."
I wiped the corners of Emilia's eyes with that white handkerchief decorated with a pink ribbon.
Transparent teardrops soaked into the handkerchief, gradually charging it with mana.