Chapter 221
Chapter 221
"There haven't been any incidents since?"
"That's right. After your—ahem—escape, there have been no attacks on dwarf craftsmen or raids on warehouses. Of course, we've also increased security several times over."
"As I thought..."
"What?"
"Nothing, it's nothing."
I still needed to organize my thoughts further, but I felt I had nearly found the answer to the dilemma that had plagued me throughout my return to the territory.
The moment I escaped, the accidents and terror attacks in MacLaine ceased?
'There must be conspirators pulling strings behind the scenes.'
One face naturally came to mind—the middle-aged official who claimed to admire me as a hero and urged me to escape.
'Cleo. That bastard manipulated the king, or someone behind him did.'
I couldn't help but conclude as much.
The king's actions had been too extreme to think otherwise.
He had acted with terrifying composure, engaging in reckless behavior that could have cost him everything with a single misstep, and he had pressured me and MacLaine excessively.
This wasn't about whether he was a wise ruler or a tyrant—it was irrational behavior, devoid of reason.
'He's incapable of rational judgment.'
Thinking this, I felt even more relieved that I had escaped when I did.
Had I delayed any longer, bloodshed and pursuit might have erupted right in the royal palace.
The thought made my blood boil again.
'Damn it. How did things come to this...?'
The grand plan I had envisioned to prepare for the Empire's invasion was crumbling at its very foundation.
My seething emotions naturally turned toward the one I believed to be the mastermind.
'Cleo. I'll smash you and whoever stands behind you to pieces.'
I clenched my teeth, channeling all my killing intent into that thought.
"I can no longer tolerate the king's tyranny. The king I placed on the throne must now be brought down by my own hands."
"Good. Let's do it."
As the crimson eyes of father and son burned with ferocious intent—
That news reached MacLaine.
- The Sword Duke has personally declared his intent to subjugate MacLaine.
For everyone in the family except me—who had mentally prepared for this—the news was nothing short of shocking.
"We've tried contacting him repeatedly, but he still refuses to answer."
"Naturally."
- If you leave like this, you will truly become a traitor, Logan.
Recalling my master's warning, I let out a bitter smile.
'Well, since things have come to this, there's no point hesitating anymore.'
Just as I steeled my resolve—
The thoughts of those around me differed starkly from mine.
"Logan. No matter how I think about it, making an enemy of the Sword Duke seems too rash. If there's any way to persuade him, we should try that first."
My father's face was stiff with concern.
"Lord Logan. Are you confident in facing the Sword Duke? If not, we should attempt to resolve this through dialogue. The sacrifices would be too great otherwise..."
Ellen wore a worried expression.
"He's right. An all-out war with the Grand Duchy would be too burdensome, wouldn't it? The losses would be immense. I, too, believe attempting dialogue should come first."
Even Heinkel chimed in agreement.
But despite their numerous concerns, I shook my head firmly.
"He isn't the type to change his mind once it's made up. War is unavoidable now."
At my declaration, everyone present let out a collective sigh.
But soon—
"If we can contain the Sword Duke, we can minimize casualties. If you're not confident, the knight order will devise a countermeasure."
My father immediately proposed a plan to neutralize the Sword Duke.
"The Grand Duchy of Esperanza... It's daunting, but not impossible to fight. The soldiers' morale is high. Seeing their seniors awaken as Force Users one after another has even made some eager for war."
The former knight commander clenched his fist, speaking of the soldiers' fighting spirit.
"The female soldiers feel the same. All twelve hundred of them are itching to prove their worth."
Even Ellen, who had been wearing a worried expression, now flashed a determined glint in her eyes.
No one flinched at the prospect of facing the combined forces of the kingdom's strongest—the Esperanza Knights—and other nobles.
'And rightfully so.'
MacLaine's current military strength was formidable enough to justify their confidence.
Despite recent minor issues, Liberatio's production had already reached full capacity, and the knight order had long surpassed a thousand members.
Moreover, over a third of those knights were equipped with artifacts developed by Clayton.
The only potential weakness was our transcendent forces—myself, Luther, and Clayton—compared to the Sword Duke and Wicken Calria.
But—
"Contrary to public perception, we hold the advantage in transcendent forces. Keep that in mind."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. I'm certain."
"...Good. I'll trust you. Then our chances are indeed greater."
Luther Kyle had been breaking through the plateau that had stalled him for over a decade through repeated sparring with me.
Clayton was now strong enough to hold his own even against Juan Douglas in his prime.
And I was a special case even among transcendents.
'I might even be able to handle Master alone.'
That confidence bled into my voice.
There was no concern about our military strength—only the psychological burden of facing my master remained.
And—
'How many more talented individuals will die in this conflict?'
How great would the resulting variables be?
The thought weighed heavily on my mind.
But even that vanished without a trace when I recalled the shadow of the giant lurking far to the west.
The Emperor.
Thinking of him made me unwilling to drag this out with half-hearted hesitation.
'Even if dialogue were possible, now is not the time.'
If I stepped back once to seek compromise, I'd keep stepping back.
There was no time to waste like that.
So—
"If this is what must be done, let's do it decisively. Let's show the world just how strong MacLaine truly is!"
"Yes!"
My declaration ignited everyone's fighting spirit without end.
Amidst MacLaine's feverish preparations for war, I received an unexpected communication.
Buzz.
"Hm?"
The faint pulse of mana from my pocket made my brow furrow.
The source was easy to identify—a small, bead-like communication device I had kept on me, suspecting foul play.
The disposable communicator gifted by the Second Prince, embodying the Empire's pinnacle communication technology, was vibrating intensely.
'He said I could use it to contact him, but...?'
The Second Prince's handsome face flashed in my mind, stirring distrust as I grimaced and channeled a wisp of force into the bead.
The expected face materialized above it.
[It's been a while, Lord Logan.]
"...It has, Your Highness. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
This was no time for pleasantries, and I had no interest in questioning why he was contacting me when he had given me the means to reach out.
Yet, even in the face of my bluntness, the prince maintained his smile.
[I heard Lord Logan finds himself in a difficult position. So I took the liberty of contacting you. Obtaining MacLaine's direct coordinates from abroad was no easy task.]
A difficult position...
He knew well.
My wariness deepened at his words, confirming he still had his finger on the kingdom's pulse.
"I am in a somewhat troublesome situation, but I fail to see how that warrants Your Highness contacting me."
Get to the point.
[Ah. I previously gifted you this communicator, did I not? I mentioned that if you ever needed my assistance, you could reach out.]
"...And your point is?"
[I contacted you first, fearing you might have forgotten. Given your predicament, I thought I might be of help.]
Predicament had subtly replaced difficult position.
Studying the prince's smiling face, I tilted my head.
"What kind of help are you referring to? Surely you don't mean to deploy imperial troops?"
That would be invasion, not aid.
'Though it would technically solve my problem...'
Pfft.
'What a pointless thought.'
The Second Prince, the Empire's future emperor, was no fool.
As I marveled at my own convoluted thoughts—
The prince smiled again and continued.
[Of course not. Though you wouldn't want that, nor do I wish to stir international conflict.]
"Then?"
[You may not know this, but I have a few talented individuals at my disposal. Some possess... exceptional skills. Should you desire it, assassinating that 'Stormblade' transcendent—if not the Sword Duke—would be feasible.]
His voice dropped to a whisper at the word assassination, and my expression hardened instantly.
'Assassinate a transcendent?'
It wasn't impossible if another transcendent were sent as the assassin.
But whether a transcendent's pride would allow such work was doubtful, and if imperial transcendents were discovered operating within the kingdom, it would be tantamount to a full-scale invasion.
So—
"You mean there are those who can kill a transcendent... without being one themselves?"
[Haha. Such individuals are hardly common. If they were, His Majesty the Emperor wouldn't have taken such interest in you, Lord Logan.]
"Then?"
[They may pale in comparison to you, Lord Logan, but when working together, they can accomplish such tasks without leaving evidence. That's all I'll say.]
Assassins capable of killing a transcendent.
'If he's this confident, they must truly exist.'
My face stiffened, and cold sweat trickled down my spine.
Simultaneously, a certain organization I had only heard rumors of in my past life finally came to mind.
A shiver ran down my spine at this reminder of the Empire's hidden might, but I kept my composure.
"Hm. And why would you go so far?"
[Hahaha. I seek no compensation. I only ask that you remember my goodwill and maintain our friendship moving forward. Mutual benefit is all I desire.]
To me, his words sounded like this:
- I'll collect a price far beyond what you imagine later.
My expression cooled further.
Moreover, as our conversation dragged on, I sensed something peculiar about this communicator.
My instincts told me its mana pattern differed entirely from standard communication devices.
Between the suspicious feeling and the too-generous offer, I could roughly guess its function.
'Recording... isn't it?'
If footage of me soliciting the assassination of our kingdom's transcendents from an imperial agent were made public—
The repercussions would be catastrophic.
Even victory in war wouldn't yield a positive outcome.
So—
"I see. I appreciate your kindness, Your Highness. But I must regrettably decline."
[Oh? You're in dire straits, are you not? I didn't take you for one to let pride override pragmatism...]
"Hahaha. You've misjudged me. If I were the type to cling to pride, would I have refused His Majesty the Emperor's offer?"
[Hah... Are you truly rejecting aid out of pride?]
"Call it confidence rather than pride. I believe MacLaine's strength alone will suffice."
[Hmm... If you insist, I'll respect your decision.]
The regret in his expression—what did it signify?
Disappointment at a fish that wouldn't bite?
[But the Empire and I deeply regret that a hero like you must endure such trials. Though you refuse our aid, please remember this sentiment.]
"Of course."
[And should your confidence prove misplaced, come to the Empire anytime. His Majesty will extend the same offer, and I will support you wholeheartedly.]
Ah. So you think my family will lose.
I scoffed internally, but something about this situation felt off.
'This timing... and this sudden contact?'
The Second Prince's face overlapped in my mind with Cleo's suspicious behavior.
Of course, even if Cleo were connected to the prince, I had no evidence—nor any means to act on it now.
'...We'll see.'
Though burdened by the Empire's unexpected shadow, I channeled it into fiercer determination.
"Thank you for your words. Though such a scenario won't come to pass."
[...I wish you the best of luck.]
Pfft.
Having no desire to prolong the conversation, I crushed the communicator in my grip.
Crack.
As the shattered fragments dispersed into the air alongside bluish mana, I turned to Dwain standing nearby, my expression brimming with killing intent.
"Preparations are complete. Proclaim it across the kingdom—that we will overthrow the tyrannical king and build a new Grandia. Any noble who sides with the despot will face MacLaine's retribution."
The second civil war.
This was the declaration of its beginning.