Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: To the Grand Duchy
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Leaving my silent father behind, I headed to my room.
My mood felt off. The nobles rushing about everywhere seemed to be urging me to face reality head-on.
I arrived at my room in a daze, and everyone turned to stare at me.
Seeing my comrades who trusted me enough to follow along snapped me back to my senses, but my stomach began to churn.
"Prince! We heard the news from Lily."
"Apostle, you look awful..."
Even in this worst-case scenario, their first concern was me.
I was the center of it all. I had to take responsibility.
But did I have the right to drag them into a war?
They'd already suffered so much hunting down heretics. Was war really the payoff they deserved?
"Hey, Liam! Say something!"
Lancelot's shout jolted me back a bit.
"I'll explain the situation from now on."
I gave them a quick rundown of the meeting.
"...And that's how I ended up volunteering to lead the detachment."
Everyone nodded silently and stood up without a word.
I grabbed my comrades as they moved to head out.
"You all don't have to join the war. This is my mess, so I should take responsibility."
My comrades, on their way out, shot me looks like, What the hell's gotten into him?
"Prince, have we ever gone off causing trouble on our own?"
"Apostle, you look kinda cute today, hehe."
Their lukewarm reactions caught me off guard.
"Sigh, guys, this is war. Not just storming in and flipping tables—this is real war."
I reminded them again, and Lancelot sighed.
"Ugh... what a hopeless case! If you tell us not to follow, you think we're really gonna stay behind? Just give up and accept it. Or should we hug it out all emotional-like before we go?"
"Exactly, Prince. Why would you even think we'd stay behind?"
"Yeah, Apostle, and it's not even your fault."
Their casual attitudes left me speechless.
"Uh..."
"Let's deal with what's already happened, quick."
"Right, I wanna pray with you soon too, Prince."
What... cloying lines like 'No matter what happens, will you stay by my side?' just weren't our style.
The tension eased, and a hollow laugh escaped me.
And they probably didn't want that from me either.
I flashed a grin.
"Yeah, let's wrap this up fast and head back! Stick right by my side, everyone—I won't let a single one of you die. We deploy at dawn tomorrow, so prep thoroughly! Stock up on rations too."
Lancelot, watching me, grinned back, satisfied.
"Heh, now that's more like it."
""Yes!""
Everyone filed out briskly.
I might worry, but no need to fear—not with these lunatics on my side.
Just as I was about to start prepping, the door flew open, and Mother rushed in.
"No... no! Liam!"
Her long skirt trailing, she staggered toward me like she might collapse, then enveloped me in a crumbling embrace.
"No! What's this nonsense, Liam? How could you drive this nail into your mother's heart like this! It's not too late—cancel the deployment. Please."
The attendants who'd followed the Empress, drenched in cold sweat, threw themselves to the floor, eyes shut and ears covered to avoid witnessing the most noble lady's breakdown.
"Mother..."
Words of comfort stuck in my throat at her fragile sight.
Mother gazed at me with trembling eyes.
"I... I was wrong. I must have been out of my mind... Please, snap out of it, Liam!"
"I'll come back without a scratch, Mother. Don't worry."
"Aaaahhh!"
Mother took in my smile with quivering eyes, then screamed and collapsed.
"Mother! Mother! Call a priest! Get a priest now!"
The prostrated attendants scrambled out to fetch one.
I gently laid my unconscious mother on the bed, bit my lip hard, and left the room to prepare for deployment.
"My baby... nooo..."
I etched the sight of my mother asleep on the bed into my eyes one last time and headed out.
The damn weather was spotless, like it mocked last night's chaos with not a cloud in sight.
Gazing at the rising sun, I set off.
Arriving at the imperial training grounds, I nodded at my comrades gathering one by one.
"Alright, let's go."
"""Yes!"""
With these guys, everything might just turn out fine.
My steps lighter, I climbed the platform.
Knights stood in perfect formation, filling my view—800 strong. The enemy had 10,000 already spotted.
Probably multiples more. Worst case, ten times that.
But it was fine. Rallying the Grand Duchy's soldiers would bulk our numbers plenty.
I cleared my cluttered mind and began my speech.
"Knights honored to stand here with me! Right now, northern barbarians soaked in heretic blood dare march to defile our lands."
All faces tensed toward me.
"Who here has purged heretics before?"
A few knights nodded.
"They split human backs for marrow, devour virgin hearts, drain blood from adults and children alike for their baths. Scared? You should be—more so. Fail here, and it could be the wives, husbands, children of everyone present."
Knights gulped and flinched, but their eyes burned with resolve to avert that future.
"The Empire is no mere land or throne. It's our blood, faith, and promise to our descendants. First Imperial Prince Liam Luminaria swears here: no matter how far heretic shadows spread, I won't retreat. As heir to the Empire and a warrior, I'll fight to the end."
""Long live the Luminaria Empire!""
With that, we set off for the teleportation magic circles.
The first through the teleportation magic circle: me, my comrades, Duke Ardell, and his 15 knights under him.
Emerging, the blinding white landscape and biting chill announced our arrival in the north.
We took the first circle to scout the situation; the rest would trickle in via hastily set-up portable ones.
Mana's gonna suck those mages dry.
Thinking of the wizards getting drained, we headed for the Grand Ducal Castle.
As we walked, I checked on Jenia.
"Jenia, you okay?"
"Huh? Oh... now, as long as it's not those guys..."
Seemed she no longer cared what happened to Duke Ardell.
I patted her head, and she grinned like a fool.
Reaching the ducal residence, soldiers flung the gates wide.
Knights and servants greeted us—no heir or proxy in sight.
As I opened my mouth to question it, an old butler bowed and introduced himself.
"Greetings to the Empire's Star. I am Jansen Vers, head butler of the Grand Ducal House. The house is currently in conference. Allow us to escort you to rest after your hardships."
I couldn't believe the bullshit.
Conference? Shouldn't they rush us in to brief the situation?
He probably saw me as just some prince sent for show with reinforcements.
Whatever... I get it, but...
No time for proving myself or seeking approval.
Irritation boiled, but I held back.
"Butler, I'm not here to rest. I'm here first to assess. I understand the chaos has you greeting me, so guide us to the conference room now."
"This is an internal Grand Ducal matter, even for a prince—"
I couldn't take it, swung my hand, shattering the butler's limbs and hurling him away.
-Gaaahhh!
"You fuckers think this is a game? Anyone—guide us to the conference room now, unless you want your necks twisted for insubordination."
Anger pricked my brain; my head heated up.
Bad mood since yesterday, and I snapped into needless violence.
Finally, some servants bowed and led us.
At the conference room door, heated shouting leaked out.
I cracked open my senses...
"The north can't stay leaderless long. We need a strong hand now. My bloodline traces directly from the Grand Duke's siblings—it's natural I succeed him!"
"Nonsense! I'm his uncle and raised him myself."
Arguing over Grand Duke succession while the seat's vacant.
Something snapped in my head; I ripped the entire wall down.
-Crack! Crash!
The sudden racket drew all eyes from the vacant-headed table to us.
"Jenia, any familiar faces?"
She sidled up and whispered.
"Yes, those kids our age who look alike are Ella Arsene and Owen Arsene—villainess and a capture target male character. Those nobles there send them to the Academy at 18 and scheme to take over the house. Their crimes... no time, but feel free to handle them."
"Got it."
I nodded and strode forward.
"Greetings done. I'm First Prince Liam Luminaria. Keep the Grand Duke seat vacant and hand over military command immediately."
I unfurled the Emperor's edict from my robes.
A fat one stared blankly, then bellowed.
"Even a prince can't barge in like this! Everything must follow proper procedure—"
"Insubordination. Treason."
"What do you—"
-Rriiiip!
I grabbed the yapping bastard and tore him from the crotch up.
I chucked the spilling-guts, blood-spraying corpse out the window.
The stench of splashed blood and slight entrails flow screamed reality.
I silenced screams and took the head table seat.
A pale-faced young lady beside me had her mouth covered; a gray-haired, black-eyed young lord eyed me calmly.
"You the heir?"
"Yes."
"You'll be acting Grand Duke from now on."
"Understood."
Clean and simple. Nice.
My voice echoed over the frozen table.
"I'll release the spell, so no one spout bullshit. Pull together everything now: knights, regular soldiers, conscriptable manpower, terrain maps, food stocks, war supplies. Oh, and plenty of chairs for my crew. That's it!"