Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: The Blind Knight and the Enigmatic Mage, and the Mimas -1
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"Mima, the Second Prince's carriage is passing through the Trumpet Hall west gate."
"Okay, about time. I was starting to think my neck would snap from craning it."
I slapped my hands on my knees and shot to my feet in one go. I'd been waiting forever. Now the main actors were taking the stage one by one, and my job was to piece together the puzzle.
The Grand Unification Strategy. A terrifying master plan to link arms with every faction except the Cardinal faction and serve them a platter of Indian-style rice. It looked insanely difficult at first glance, but nah.
Once you button the first one right, the difficulty drops exponentially with each one you fasten.
Think about it. Say I've already roped in the Imperial Family, the Reformists, and the Northern Grand Duke. Then even the red-flavored ducal house wouldn't want to get screwed, so they'd pretend to play along, right?
Same with the Northern Grand Duke. If I've already got a deal with the Imperial Family, a guy like him—who coldly weighs pros and cons—would definitely sign on. No need to even pull out Heart.
So it all boils down to one thing. I just need to sweet-talk Irid right.
At this point, I'm basically starting with a win. There's that sticky bond between me and Irid, isn't there? Right?
As I geared up to go meet Irid, Bennett—who'd just come in—brought me some great news.
"Mad Wizard. Looks like Northern Grand Duke Julius's group passed through the south gate."
"They're here too? Perfect. Convince the Second Prince, then them, and the grand undertaking's done in a single night!"
"...I have no idea where that confidence comes from. Even for you, this'll be tough. These are bloodlines leading nations and a power holder who's ruled the frozen wastes. It's not like recruiting some lone black mage."
"Just watch, Bennett. I'll pluck the moon from the sky in one night. Heh heh heh..."
I mean, I've got their first loves' well-beings in my pocket—what more do I need to say?
I confidently thumped my chest. He who controls greetings controls all. That's what an unfailing plan looks like.
One day. What could possibly go wrong in that time?
Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom!
It was a magnificent procession.
Irid's carriage was surrounded by all sorts of soldiers and attendants filling three whole blocks. It looked so modest I hadn't realized, but this confirmed he was a prince alright.
They said they'd scaled it down to "show respect to the Goddess," so if they went full pomp, it'd be no joke. I watched the parade from amid the slack-jawed crowd, mouth agape.
Clack clack clack.
Then the crowd parted, and two burly knights strode toward me. In stiff voices, they said, "His Highness summons you."
"How'd they spot me?"
I'd been wondering how to get word in.
The knights meticulously checked me for weapons or anything dangerous. Being groped by two dudes was gross and uncomfortable, but they probably didn't enjoy manhandling a guy either.
So we're fellow sufferers. They're sad to touch, I'm sad to be touched. I mourned us pitiful souls.
As the knights tried to cuff my wrists with mana restraints, Irid's voice rang out from the carriage.
"Enough. Let him in."
"Your Highness, we haven't secured against his mana yet..."
"It's a waste of time. I won't say it twice."
"......"
The knights glared at me with their fierce eyes, their faces saying: harm him and you won't leave in one piece. Non-verbal threat delivered.
I shrugged and walked on. A tall female knight stood by the carriage door—pale golden hair, violet eyes.
About 176 cm tall, refreshingly built overall. Beautiful, sure, but her knightly resolve hit harder than her looks.
More than anything... her eye color screamed Yuna's bloodline.
I casually asked,
"...Yurensuto?"
"Yes. Cecile Yurensuto. His Highness told me about you—the one who'll lead me to victory."
"Ah, you're competing too. Looking forward to working with you."
"Enough chit-chat. His Highness is waiting."
Fair enough.
The knight pulled the handle, and the door slid open silently on well-oiled hinges. I hopped into the imperial carriage.
It was huge inside. No surprise. More like a mobile house than a carriage.
At the far seat lounged Second Prince Irid Crown, legs crossed. Still annoyingly handsome even after all this time. I threw out a cheeky opener.
"Your knights are loyal, huh?"
Meaning: your body search was thorough.
"You look so suspicious, they were extra jumpy. Cut them some slack."
Meaning: it's your ugly mug, deal with it. Do I look that shady? Yuna called me cool.
I glanced at the wall mirror. Under pitch-black hair, red eyes gleamed wickedly. Ever since absorbing the evil essence, my gaze had this creepy vibe that made people squirm.
I got it. With a face like this, of course they'd frisk me.
"How've you been?"
"Doing well. Work's going smoothly, and thanks to some lunatic mage sweeping up all the black mages... I've even got some breathing room."
Not empty words. Good color in his face, stronger voice—he was eating well. I rubbed my palms like a sycophant and slipped in slyly,
"If you're grateful, how about a reward?"
"Handing over that Defense Bureau agent without a gag or leash wasn't enough? A good shake-down of her should yield a box of classified docs."
"Agent Yuri Lanster's got loyalty. She won't spill unless it's critical, and I don't pry."
"If it's research funds you need, I'll look into it."
Sweet, one point scored. That might soften Yuna's anger a bit. I'd escaped the grant-strapped life, but more research cash was always better.
Small talk done. Time for the main event. Irid and I exchanged knowing glances, then checked security.
Artifacts on, spells activated. Total isolation inside and out—no leaks, no eavesdropping.
Safety confirmed, Irid cut straight to it.
"What scheme this time?"
"This Hero thing. Let's team up and keep it from the Cardinal faction. A fresh wind in the Faith of the Goddess wouldn't hurt, right? Nice and clean."
"Explain who's in this 'team.' Intriguing."
"First off, the Northern Grand Duke and..."
Thud. The carriage jolted.
"......"
"...What?"
Irid opened the window and signaled his trailing knight, who froze under the princely gaze and stammered,
"Th-the Northern Grand Duke's procession overlapped our route, Your Highness. But they insolently refuse to yield...!"
"......"
They picked a fight over who moves first.
I peeked out the window. Sure enough, a grand procession approached from afar, clashing head-on. Both too massive to budge without yielding.
Even if pride clashes happen, against the Imperial Family?
The royals had serious clout as far as I knew... Why wasn't the Grand Duke backing down? He was sharp enough to know this gained him nothing. A man who chased profit over pride.
Trouble between him and Irid? I eyed Irid, who tsked with a face full of irritation.
"...Tch. Still lost in delusions, huh."
"Delusions? The Grand Duke?"
"Yeah. You of all people should know. About Centra, a century ago... I mean, in modern times, acting as Heart to meet me."
Huh?
"Uh, yeah? Right."
"We had a summit over northern succession rights once. He saw Centra's portrait I keep and spouted nonsense. Said Heart and I are soul-bound."
"Ah... so that's why."
"Of course I denied it. Her heart's mine, no doubt. She was just earning coin as a chat buddy to stay in this world... Soul-bound? Tch."
That's why they fought...
The Crown Prince and Northern Grand Duke clashing over Heart and Centra!
Karma from the past smacked me upside the head. My brain reeled.
In short-circuit mode, my mouth ran wild.
"Please don't fight over me...!"
"...Have you finally lost it?"
Shit.
No, calm down. Not game over yet. Emotions aside, crushing the Cardinals benefits us both.
He'd stomach a little grudge match. Right? Yeah?
"If you convince that Northern Grand Duke fool, I won't interfere. Weakening the Cardinals is something I'd applaud."
Yes!
Irid was basically on board. Just don't let it escalate. Head to the Grand Duke's carriage now. Make him yield first, end the ego standoff.
I bolted from Irid's carriage. And right then—
Crack.
Craaack—the sound of my plan shattering.
Craaack craaack boom—!!
Between Irid's and the Grand Duke's processions... the fight broke out.
If it blows up big and leaves irreparable bad blood between Irid and the Grand Duke... trouble. My pride's in trouble!
I'd bragged big to Bennett on the way out!
"Dammit, no fighting! Stop—!"
I sprinted into the middle, soles sweating.
I knew even myths had grades. I still couldn't forget First Princess Elaine's bloodstorm fist.
Calculating the output that ground giants—headache city. Even a dozen Roderuses couldn't handle one of her storm punches back then.
She was ripe. Soul dyed in emotion—colored mana generated—unleashed as power, all seamless, no waste.
Even fresh-myth Nangong Cheonghwi? Gap widens. Emperor Sword Forms all day wouldn't topple a giant.
Sure, myths have matchups.
But one's first myth-step versus one's at the myth's end, brushing ascension's wall? Worlds apart.
Kagagagak—!
So the clash before me was peak-myth brutes—pre-ascension monsters—colliding.
"Final warning. Yield."
"We entered this street first, ugh—?! Our northern scouts hit this shiny pavement before yours. Ice in your ears or what!!"
Craack, craaack—!
The North's champion was a beast of a woman, wolf-like. Sky-blue hair wild, slit pupils gleaming. Half beauty, half savage.
She gripped compact hand axes two-handed, but the power wasn't compact. One swing summoned ice storms. Winter gripped her fists tight.
"First bite wins. Wanna break that rule? Come eat me and pass!!"
One swing.
Shazazzak—!!
Ice spikes erupted along the arc, dragging winter into summer. A three-story building froze solid, frosted like liquid nitrogen.
Countering it? Iron.
"Last warning. Yield before the Imperial Family."
Vwoooo—!
Greatsword slices air, vacuum sucking wind into a storm. Swing becomes gale.
The Imperials' champion was that Yurensuto knight from the carriage. Wielding a zweihander taller than her—like a toy—she cleaved the winter onslaught.
Aftermath hurled four northern warriors skyward; windows along the path shattered.
Two houses already airborne, but this was just the opener.
Sizing fangs eyeball-to-eyeball. Soon jaws unhinge, throats torn—neighborhood reduced to rubble.
Dizzying threat. For the plan, dive in, stop the fight. But my blasted left arm tingled.
...What if I get hurt and Yuna cries again?
Flutter.
Butterfly wings brushed my ear. Still sulking, no show, but watching... says it's fine.
Yeah. Silver lining in disaster. Yuna's not that mad!
Heart bursting with joy, I dove between them, giddy. Fight ends here!
"Hey everyone! What a killer day, right?"
"...You. Dangerous here—step back."
"What's this dark thing? Black mage?"
"Ow, come on, don't..."
Tongue-twisting time.