Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: I Won't Give Even a Single Drop (3)
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Lost Empire.
He had a rough idea of what it really was... but he couldn't be certain just yet.
Assuming certainty based on a few similarities could lead him straight into a trap, putting himself in danger.
Just look at Cain himself—he'd already endangered the dwarves once before.
No one was perfect. But at least you had to strive for it.
Especially if you were a commander bearing the lives of tens of thousands on your shoulders... which made the first priority reconnaissance.
"Negotiations are fine, but first we need to pinpoint the Lost Empire's base. Without that, we can't do anything."
"Fortunately, while we don't know the exact location, we do have a general sense of their territory."
"The Lost Empire possesses the power to enchant humans. So we'll send out only wyverns and beastkin for the search."
Information was power. Just learning about their enchanting ability had things moving smoothly already.
That said, they couldn't deploy every wyvern and beastkin. What if they turned around and attacked the territory?
You couldn't prepare for every possibility, but you had to cover the basics to respond if something went wrong.
"It might be best to advance slowly, building supply depots along the way."
"Fortunately, wyvern and beastkin lands are practically Renheim territory at this point, so setting up bases shouldn't be an issue."
"The one wildcard is the necromancers... but the knight orders and mage corps should handle them."
The only downside was how quickly things were moving. But that was unavoidable.
He knew the Lost Empire had this enchanting variable. But the alliance had two Masters.
Anything short of overwhelming force wouldn't faze them. Masters resisted not just magic, but most poisons and curses too.
So their enchantments likely wouldn't work on Masters.
Unless it was the Immortal Sovereign who once led the Empire—but that guy had been dead for ages.
So the alliance needed to make contact before crushing the Lost Empire outright.
"Hold on. I have a proposal."
"Let's hear it, Scardi von Leonhardt."
"Her Highness the Princess and His Highness the Crown Prince's safety is paramount, of course... but shouldn't the Empire take responsibility for Lord Blackguard's safety as well?"
"I have my wyverns and beastkin. And I can protect myself."
"I can agree with the latter to some extent... but the former? Absolutely not."
At her blatant dismissal, veins bulged on Ryuku, the beastkin leader's neck. But Scardi remained utterly composed.
A Master would naturally see everything as lacking. But objectively, their forces weren't weak.
Even battered from defeat... a decaying noble fish was still noble. They hailed from the four great powers that once dominated the Demonic Realm, after all.
Scardi surely knew that. Probably. And so Cain grasped her intent.
'That crazy bitch... she has no intention of peeling off like a leech.'
If she'd been overt, he could've invoked military law in this official setting. But no, even that was too straightforward for her.
In truth, it was almost expected. The story of Cain executing the palace maid was already known to nearly everyone in the Empire.
Beyond the anecdote, Scardi would never let personal feelings show in an official capacity.
'The Demonic Realm is no place to take lightly. Variables can pop up anywhere, anytime. I need proper protection—at least one reliable guard.'
Wyverns and beastkin.
Sure, he acknowledged their strength. But could he truly trust their loyalty to the Empire?
These were the failures who couldn't even protect their own king. Could he be certain they'd succeed this time?
"Frankly, the wyverns and beastkin could secretly ally with the Lost Empire and hand over... ahem, my lord."
"The Demonic Realm isn't that forgiving. The weak get devoured... the necromancers now, the Lost Empire next."
"How exactly am I supposed to believe that? It's all just words from you lot."
"Quiet."
Ryuku glared coldly at Scardi, her tone dripping with distrust.
Cain, who had been observing, raised a hand to halt their spat before tensions boiled over.
The pressure radiating from him subdued them instantly. Though he himself was oblivious.
"Whether to trust the beastkin and wyverns is my call. Stick to the point."
"The crux is this: we need forces capable of reliably protecting the lord in any situation."
For now, trust issues aside—the chances of running into the alliance army led by their two Masters were high.
Even setting aside achieving the objective, could they safely escort the lord while retreating?
In other words, Scardi doubted the wyverns' and beastkin's capabilities.
"Forces that can not only protect the lord from the Demonic Realm's monsters multiplying by thousands daily... but also stand against the alliance army without falling to enchantment."
"......"
"Hm. On second thought, it seems I'm the only one who fits that bill."
Crazy bitch.
So she'd come all this way just to say she wanted to tag along.
It was absurd, but not wrong. Of course the wyverns and beastkin wouldn't betray him.
They couldn't return to the Demonic Realm anyway—that's why they'd stuck with him. Otherwise, why bother?
Still, even Cain admitted the alliance's two Masters were beyond what he could solo.
Her point was valid. He just hadn't expected Scardi to bring it up.
'I planned to let it slide and ask Chris later...'
It had only been two days, but Cain had already suffered more than he imagined from Scardi.
Chris was crazy too, but if he had to differentiate, Chris was the nicer kind of crazy.
Scardi was different from the ground up. Just today, she'd waited outside his door all night...
Enough that Cain had complained directly to the Crown Prince. Please manage your subordinates properly.
[Lord Blackguard, what do you believe it means to truly live?]
[Life... I haven't found the answer to that yet.]
[Anyone can merely exist. But feeling alive? That's something else entirely.]
For the past decade, Scardi had merely survived without dying, her face devoid of any vitality...
Cain couldn't comprehend why such words came back at his plea for better subordinate management.
Soon, the Crown Prince patted his shoulder with a relieved smile.
[Thanks to you, Lord Blackguard, she feels alive now. How could I possibly stand in the way?]
[So you're just going to sit back and watch?]
[Looks like it's about time.]
Fuck!
The Crown Prince seemed content to cheer on Cain and Scardi from afar.
But Cain wasn't one to take it lying down. Not this time—he'd use the Crown Prince instead.
"I'd love to oblige, but we can't sideline His Highness the Crown Prince's protection. Therefore..."
"That's fine. Chris will stay behind for protection. Besides, aren't you heading into the jaws of death, Lord Blackguard?"
"Well... true, but..."
"Then as Crown Prince, it's only right to assign my strongest, most trusted knight as escort."
"My deepest gratitude, Your Highness."
Cain was dumbfounded. It was like having his nose slit in broad daylight.
But he couldn't protest. Their logic was impeccable.
The imperial family mattered, of course—but so did Cain, ruler of Renheim and army commander.
Thus, rather than safeguard the royals in relative safety, they'd attach top firepower to Cain venturing into peril.
It was textbook. Cain just wished it wasn't.
Unfortunately for him, it wasn't just Scardi volunteering.
"I wish to accompany Lord Blackguard as well."
"I-I may not have much power, but... I want to help too."
Not only Princess Morgana, but even Princess Anna volunteered to join.
They'd heard the whole discussion. Their reason for insisting was simple.
If they let him go off alone like this... it felt like they'd lose something precious.
'Those beastkin pests already grate on me—now the Sword Ghost too...'
'If we send them off alone, it'll feel like he's getting devoured...'
That was why they were throwing their weight around.