Chapter 214
Chapter 214
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: Coup d'État (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Corrupted monsters are gathering around the Killamanta Duchy. They’re occupying nearby territories and heading this way. I’ve already sealed off the teleport magic circles connecting to those territories, but since his duchy isn’t far from the capital, they’ll reach us before long. You’re the only one I can trust right now.”
The emperor’s voice sounded lonely.
He had shared some power with the great nobles, but the figure of Kaisman, who once ruled the empire with centralized politics, was hard to find now.
With his most trusted Duke Killamanta having betrayed him, it was hard to trust Duke Hustape as well.
Moreover, having sent all major forces to the front lines for the war, the capital’s defensive troops were significantly weakened.
It was doubtful whether these alone could hold off Duke Killamanta’s private soldiers and the corrupted monsters, who were growing in number.
Asking other nobles for aid was out of the question, as it was impossible to be sure who was enemy or ally.
That was why Kaisman had summoned Rokan.
In The Lord’s system, where a user could ascend to the throne, it couldn’t be said that he was 100% trustworthy either.
But at this point, there was nowhere else to lean on.
“Can you stop them and deal with Duke Killamanta?”
“I will do my utmost.”
Hearing the emperor’s plea, like a grumble, Rokan bowed deeply in respect and accepted his words.
[Coup Suppression][Quest]
Stop Duke Killamanta’s ambitions, who has incited a coup using the power of corruption.
-Success Condition: Death of Duke Killamanta
-Failure Condition: Fall of the capital, Death of the emperor
-Success Reward: Absolute trust of Kaisman, No restrictions
This was a kind of deal.
What could he gain by saving the emperor?
As shown in the success reward, he could do anything.
Whether ransacking the imperial treasury or demanding something else, the emperor would have no choice but to comply.
He could even aim for a ducal seat, if not the throne.
With Duke Killamanta dead, a ducal position would open up.
Who among the marquises was fit for it?
Even considering factions, no one but Rokan qualified.
Finishing these calculations, Rokan hurriedly stood.
There was no need to worry about the capital’s defense right away.
Even if core troops had been sent to the front, the emperor had his Imperial Guard.
Composed entirely of Masters or High Masters at minimum, they could protect the emperor’s life in any situation.
“Corrupted monsters, huh…”
Exiting the imperial palace, Rokan quickly turned his mind.
Should he divert some frontline troops?
No. Considering the number of corrupted monsters wouldn’t be small, if the enemy noticed, the front line could collapse immediately.
What about mobilizing users?
They might lose in local battles, but with free movement, users could be sent back even if attacked, and kept out of sieges.
Corrupted monsters would give good experience, and their drops better than normal ones—quite attractive prey.
‘But the impact won’t be huge.’
It would be necessary, but he had to consider the opposite scenario.
What if users sided with Duke Killamanta?
If the coup failed, they’d share the traitor’s stigma, but success would make them founding heroes.
Top guilds aiming to overturn rankings might be tempted.
Relying only on users to form troops was insufficient.
“For now… activate the quest.”
Rokan first issued a quest targeted at users.
Named [Martial Law Army], it was a quest to suppress the coup.
This would spread news of the coup quickly, but there was no choice.
Hiding the coup and delaying would allow Duke Killamanta to issue his own quest first and steal top users and guilds.
Naturally, he offered titles as rewards, along with experience bonuses, drop rate bonuses, and special rewards for hunting large numbers of corrupted monsters.
This was quite generous, but Rokan didn’t relax.
If he were staging the coup, he’d offer not baronies or viscountcies, but earldoms or higher.
But there was the risk of failure, so now the choice was up to the users.
“If corrupted monsters… I need to find that place first.”
Next, Rokan sought the ‘Investigation Team’ in Taimura.
He thought those tracking the power of corruption would resist Duke Killamanta’s ambitions, who was turning monsters into his private soldiers.
“Hmm, well, about that…”
But the response he got was somewhat unexpected.
“So, you’ll sit back and watch?”
To be precise, what Rokan wanted wasn’t the Investigation Team’s power.
He just wanted to borrow their name to move the remaining forces of dwarves, gnomes, and half-elves.
However, the request was coldly refused.
They gave various excuses, but in summary, they meant to observe the situation a bit longer.
The existence of corrupted monsters was threatening, but with the war consuming troops heavily, they had neither the spare forces nor reason to sacrifice their own race for others.
“Understood.”
Even after repeated requests and confirmations, the same answer came, so Rokan turned away, exuding cold fury.
They offered some Investigation Team troops, but that was nowhere near enough.
The supporting investigators were mediocre levels below Master, and not even numerous.
‘Yeah. They’re all the same.’
He was angry at first, but Rokan soon regained his cool.
Would collaborators with corruption exist only among humans?
Surely, they had taken root within their ranks too.
With their opposition and the war, dispatching troops was naturally difficult.
“This is maddening.”
The situation wasn’t good.
Even gathering all soldiers from key points to the capital, it was nowhere near enough against the enemy.
Even if he rampaged alone, all he could do was reduce their numbers somewhat.
Should he wage guerrilla warfare moderately, then hole up in the capital?
He didn’t know how many users would gather, but interception seemed impossible no matter how he thought.
“If only the Orb of Purification remained…”
It was a regret that the Orb of Purification broke while restoring the ancient emperor.
With it, he could have reversed the corrupted monsters’ minds, making them fight each other.
“Wait.”
Then, a sudden idea struck.
If done right, it could lead to an interesting spectacle.
“Hire mercenaries.”
Immediately, Rokan used teleport magic circles to tour cities, hiring NPC mercenaries.
Even short-term hires cost a fortune, but he didn’t care.
Taxes from captured war bases were immense, and still pouring in at this moment.
After hitting the limit hiring mercenaries in each city, Rokan gathered them all at one point.
“Damn, what a money sink.”
In his previous life, he would have charged in bare-handed.
With money for mere NPC mercenaries, he’d have resolved to die a few times and grind the enemy down, or attempted assassination.
But now the situation was different. Conditions and leeway differed.
Rather than grinding himself to surpass the enemy, he chose to maximize success odds.
Of course, he’d rampage in the end.
-Rokan: First line, stand by.
Having decided, Rokan used a small trick.
He manipulated the user quest to make them conduct small-scale guerrilla warfare.
It would deal some damage, but failure was expected.
He knew they had greater forces than during the corruption wave.
The reason for sending them in headfirst like diving into bare ground was simple.
To make them complacent.
To lure their main force like sheep in the direction he wanted.
‘They’re here.’
Finally, they entered the field Rokan had prepared in advance.
Users who chose the jackpot lottery chance, and corrupted monsters.
Their confident combination began preparing for full battle.
‘Wild King, Shura, Dark Knight too… Look at these bastards.’
Like Rokan placing users on the first line, the rebels had users up front too.
But Rokan's face twisted oddly upon seeing them.
Wild King Guild, Shura Guild, Dark Knight Guild.
Other guilds mixed in, but they stood out most.
It had to be—they were the ones who stabbed Rokan in the back in his previous life.
Like enemies meeting on a log bridge. Rokan hadn’t expected past grudges to connect like this.
‘Fine. Let’s take a few hits first.’
So he decided to strike back.
Some might say past life stuff didn’t matter now, and that’s why he’d left them alone.
But now enemies, no need to hide discomfort.
“Let’s go! Let’s snag ourselves an earl, marquis, duke title!”
“Waaaaah!”
As distance closed, they grew excited.
Memories of eating up small forces hidden for guerrilla warfare thrilled them.
At the same time, concentrating troops forward misled them into thinking defenses weak.
Rebel users and corrupted monsters charged together.
Kruk.
“Huh, what’s this!”
“Enemies! Ambush!”
But before clashing with the defensive first line, they halted abruptly, looked around frantically, and began rampaging.
Users and corrupted monsters alike.
“Die!”
“S-save me!”
“Damn it. Sweep them all!”
They started fighting among themselves.
Pouring combo skills without sparing, as if mortal foes.
The rear, unaware, pushed forward relentlessly.
And reacted the same as the vanguard.
“Got ‘em!”
This was the trap Rokan made by hiring masses of NPC wizard mercenaries.
Mental magic circles implanting illusions and inducing confusion activated under their feet.
The ‘Blood Sacrifice’ effect triggered, their blood strengthening the magic further.
-Rokan: First line, commence attack.
“Commence attack!”
“Be careful not to enter there! Ranged attacks only!”
The pre-warned defenders didn’t approach.
They just unleashed ranged attacks, racking up kills gleefully.
“Bombardment!”
Rokan did the same.
Standing commander-style with hands behind back didn’t suit him.
[Title Unyielding Will effect ignores negative mental effects.]
“Wheel Wind!”
Not just gnawing with bombardment, he plunged into enemy center, unleashing power.
The potent mental magic affected allies and foes indiscriminately, but not Rokan.
Wheel Wind, Chains of Annihilation, Bombardment alternated, felling enemies.
Their corpses trampled as more surged.
The enemy commander hadn’t noticed yet.
Or maybe guessed roughly.
Sudden friendly fire suggested betrayal or mental attack.
But with Rokan in the midst, they didn’t think the whole area blanketed in magic.
So they saw it as isolated confusions, pouring in more troops faster.
To overwhelm with numbers, denying cast time.
That judgment plunged them into the pit.
“Gale Incarnation! Wheel Wind!”
Rokan created the perfect environment to rack up kills.
Rokan’s massacre began.