Chapter 243: The Weight of the Name 'Reinhardt' (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 243: The Weight of the Name 'Reinhardt' (2)
Rumble!
With a deafening roar, the entire tomb shook violently.
It was as if warning of divine punishment upon grave robbers seeking its treasures.
Thick dust rained down from the ceiling.
"A-Aaargh! It's a trap!"
"Everyone, dodge! Fall back! Move to the rear!"
Beinstern's close aides recoiled in horror and scrambled backward.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Splat!
Crossbow bolts shot out from between the walls.
Mages, their entire bodies impaled, coughed up blood and collapsed, lifeless.
"Gah!"
"Cough..."
Because the bolts were enchanted with magic specifically designed to pierce shields, the damage was beyond imagination.
Even the knights, who possessed superior physical capabilities, barely managed to escape with their lives.
Clack!
"Huh? What?"
"H-Help me!"
This time, the floor gave way, revealing pit traps bristling with sharp spears below.
It was a relentless, storm-like onslaught of traps.
"As expected, trapping the enemies like this is just like you. Well done. Thanks to you, we can catch our breath."
Cheon Yu-seong patted Jinhyuk's shoulder with a reassured expression.
Since they had also managed to secure the 'Heaven's Selection Stone' amidst the chaos, their primary objective could be considered accomplished.
Well.
I appreciate the praise, but...
"The activation range of this thing is the entire tomb."
"You... what?"
"We have to dodge like crazy too. Oh, to be precise, there's a secret passage at the end of the tomb leading outside, so you can just take the Emperor and head out."
"Are you insane?! What kind of plan is this?!"
"Hey, hey. Don't be like that. It's just a few traps, we can easily dodge them. Watch."
Jinhyuk tilted his head slightly, dodging a flying crossbow bolt.
One, two. And another one.
The bolts grazed past his body and embedded themselves into the opposite wall.
Poison darts and spears shot out in off-beat rhythms from the floor and ceiling, but Jinhyuk had already slipped through them like an eel.
"The tension is too high, so trying to deflect them or alter their trajectory is actually more dangerous. Dodging like this is the best way, and you'll get used to it after a few tries. Also, the rest of the traps have about a 0.13-second delay before they activate. Just use that window to move quickly."
There were about seventeen more types of traps, but as long as they recognized the patterns, reaching the exit wouldn't be difficult.
Wow.
Honestly, at this point, I'm practically chewing their food and feeding it to them.
I had to sweat blood to memorize all of this, and now I'm just giving it away for free. They must be deeply moved.
"Damn it. That's easier said than done! You expect us to dodge all of those flying at that speed?"
"...That's only possible because it's you, Jinhyuk-ssi."
Cheon Yu-seong ground his teeth hard enough to break them, while Teresa let out a soft sigh.
"Tsk, tsk. You didn't even consider whether that elderly Emperor could make those kinds of movements, did you?"
Even Alice clicked her tongue, looking at him with pity.
"It seems I chose the wrong side. Perhaps I should apologize to the Duke even now."
Even Abraham despaired over his choice.
Hmm... Is it really that hard?
Once you get the hang of it, it feels like something you could do with your eyes closed...
I really don't understand their standard of "difficult."
But I can agree that it would be hard for the Emperor, if not the others.
In that case.
"I'll create an opening with a barrier, so form a formation and head out in the meantime. Since Phesis-ssi can act as a guide, it shouldn't be too hard to get outside."
They could weaken the force of the crossbow bolts with a defensive barrier and protect the Emperor from all sides.
With Phesis, who was optimized for finding paths, the risk could be minimized.
"What do you plan to do?"
"I have to stay behind. We need someone to buy time until this incident can be made known to the outside world."
Even if the nobles in the imperial palace ignored it, the kings of the other kingdoms would have no choice but to take this matter seriously.
It was only natural.
Because this could very well be their own future.
And if they could just get the word out to them...
They would have a dagger capable of completely shattering Beinstern's conspiracy.
"Not a bad idea. Indeed, if we do it that way, we will be the ones holding the moral high ground."
Abraham nodded.
"Damn it. Whenever I'm with you, I feel like I'm always in the eye of a storm."
Cheon Yu-seong grumbled, but he didn't offer any counterarguments.
He, too, realized that this was the only way.
"Please be careful, Jinhyuk-ssi."
"Don't worry too much about this side. I'll make sure to lead everyone out safely, no matter what."
Teresa and Phesis added their words of encouragement.
"Thanks to you, I am able to dream once more. I pray that we may meet again above."
Finally, Reinhardt offered his gratitude and respect.
With that brief farewell...
Hummmmm!
Jinhyuk deployed a barrier.
At the same time, everyone bolted toward the exit.
Well, not quite everyone.
Just one person.
"Why aren't you going?"
Alice stood quietly next to Jinhyuk, making no move to leave.
"I figured it would be tough for you to face so many of them alone. Losing my contractor in a place like this was never part of my plan."
"That's sweet of you, but your mana hasn't even fully recovered yet. Don't you think you'll just be a burden?"
"I don't need to use much power. Even without it, I have a way to handle the Empire's forces on my own. At the very least, I won't drag you down."
Before he knew it, Alice was holding a sword that symbolized 'Reinhardt'.
"Isn't that... the First Emperor's sword?"
It wasn't a weapon meant for combat, but for ceremonial use.
Thus, it was nothing more than an ornament decorating the tomb.
"Yes, that's right. It's that fellow's sword."
Alice swung the sword lightly, as if reminiscing about the past.
* * *
In the wake of the passing storm.
Beinstern and the nobles had suffered immense damage due to the countless traps.
"Ugh..."
Beinstern wiped the blood trickling down his forehead with the back of his hand.
Failing to realize that traps of this nature would be triggered had been a grave miscalculation.
But it wasn't too late.
The opponents must have also struggled to dodge these traps.
He just needed to form a pursuit party now and finish them off.
But right then.
Someone appeared before Beinstern.
It was the white-haired girl who had been constantly clinging to that human's side.
"I thought you had fled, but you are still here."
"I hate getting dragged into annoying matters more than death itself. Honestly, I'd rather be sipping wine in a plush bed."
"Your words contradict your actions. Then why didn't you escape?"
"Because my contractor wants me to stay."
"Isn't that a rather pathetic reason to die? Well, if that is your choice, I pray you do not regret it."
It was just as Beinstern was about to order the knights beside him.
"Before we begin, may I ask you one thing?"
"Hmph. A final question? Very well. I shall grant you that much."
"You humans emphasize loyalty and honor so much, yet why do you seek to betray your Emperor?"
"A question not even worth answering. Loyalty is something to be given to those who deserve it. But the Emperor does not possess such merit."
"How strange."
At Beinstern's words, Alice tilted her head.
"What is so strange?"
"Didn't your family swear to protect the name 'Reinhardt' for generations? The First Reinhardt certainly said so."
"Pfft, hahaha! Ridiculous! There is a limit to lies. To think you would make up such nonsense. Although the First Emperor lived a long life after transcending the wall and undergoing a complete metamorphosis, he did not live long enough to meet a little brat like you."
Beinstern burst into laughter, but Alice did not smile.
"It seems you are gravely mistaken about something..."
Alice spoke slowly.
"The 'brat' is the fellow who used to swing this sword."
And I...
"Am the very witness who watched that sword take its first baby steps."
“Tersencio. Te Arpem.”
At the brief word of power that slipped from Alice's lips...
...the runes engraved on the sword reacted.
What followed was a light radiating from the blade, which coalesced into the figure of a young man.
Though it was merely an illusion and not a physical entity, the illusion exuded a presence far greater than any living person in the room.
The nobles' eyes shook violently.
"T-This can't be."
"Could that be..."
There was no mistake.
The great Emperor who had unified the Empire.
Specifically, it was the image of Reinhardt I in his youth.
"I-I greet Your Imperial Majesty."
"To think the sword... was a sacred relic containing the Emperor's image."
Among the elderly vassals, there were those who remembered Reinhardt's appearance.
They were sages of the Magic Tower or Sword Masters who had transcended the wall.
Right then.
The man enveloped in the shroud of light looked at Alice.
"It has been a long time since I last saw my dear friend. Haha. If only this were during my lifetime. It is a pity to face you like this, projected only from past memories."
A sorrowful smile appeared on Reinhardt's face.
Though it was not reality, but merely a fragment of a shattered ego evoking that smile.
"Yes. The feeling is mutual."
"Still, seeing you here, it seems you have escaped the corridor that bound you."
"I met someone good. He overlaps with you a bit."
"That is a relief. A true relief."
Reinhardt and Alice conversed calmly.
The way they exchanged casual pleasantries was a common sight that could be seen anywhere.
Yet, to those watching, every single word of their trivial conversation was nothing short of a massive shock.
"Does that girl really... know the First Emperor?"
"I-I can't believe it."
Even as time passed, all the vassals of the Empire remembered the achievements of the Conqueror King, Reinhardt I.
Sword Masters and Archmages blessed with long lives had met the Emperor in person.
Even those who had never met him had learned and heard of the great Conqueror King through countless history books and textbooks.
The First Emperor is the Empire itself. His will and intent precede all laws and regulations.
An absolute being who made the impossible possible.
A ruler who granted a stable life to the citizens of the Empire, who had lived in constant anxiety day by day.
It was no exaggeration to say that the current peace and vast territory were all achievements established by the First Emperor.
And now, the avatar of that very Emperor had heard the truth from Alice.
Reinhardt's gaze turned toward the nobles.
"The tower with the hexagram is the symbol of the White Tower. In that case, you must belong to the magic family led by Terhere."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty. Terhere was my father. I, too, had the honor of audience with Your Majesty in my youth."
At Reinhardt's question, the robed old man bowed his head deeply.
"Then you must also remember. The White Tower swore an oath. To protect the Empire and my bloodline."
His voice sank heavily.
Yet, rather than rebuke or blame, his question was steeped in deep sorrow.
Perhaps... he was reminiscing about those days when he founded the Empire, longing for the loyal subjects who had dedicated their lives to him.
"..."
The Master of the White Tower lowered his head with a stiff expression.
He had no excuses, even if he had ten mouths to speak with.
Reinhardt's gaze shifted to another man.
"The red cavalry is the symbol of the Tryon family. When the beacon fires signal an enemy invasion of the Empire, your banners are always the first to be seen on the plains leading to the imperial capital. Am I wrong?"
To be the first to fight the enemy and the last to retreat.
That was the conviction of the Tryon family, known as the Spear of the Empire.
"...You are correct, Your Majesty."
"It is simply tragic that the tip of that spear is pointed not at the enemy, but at the imperial family. If Tryon were here, he would have wept with me."
"..."
The Emperor's voice continued.
The singled-out nobles let out heavy groans and fell silent.
"It is true that my descendant is incompetent. It is also true that, because of that, the future of your families may grow dark."
But.
Even so.
"Your families and your ancestors swore an oath. That even when the Empire crumbles and all things turn to dust, you would meet your end by my side and the side of my descendants."
If that fate was to be their end.
They would accept even that with a smile.
The first heads of the families had sworn so.
Because they knew that was the way to repay the Emperor's grace.
"Remember that oath."
Reinhardt commanded for the last time.
A profound silence hung over the tomb.
The nobles and the knights they led could not bring themselves to raise their swords and shields.
The mages, unable to chant, kept their mouths shut.
"W-What are you doing?! Do not be swayed by the words of a long-dead specter! Raise your swords! Cast your magic and wipe them out!"
Yet, despite Beinstern's roaring commands, not a single person moved.
The atmosphere was shifting.
Anxiety, bordering on despair, began to seep into Beinstern's face.
"Nirasha!"
He could not delay any longer.
Now, he had to overturn this situation by any means necessary.
Otherwise, he would be the one executed for high treason.
Then.
"This situation is yielding quite a few variables. Well, since things have turned out this way, I have no choice."
['Goddess of Destruction' smiles.]
A terrifying storm raged.
Mana imbued with divine power began to manifest through Nirasha's body.
At the same time.
"I'm sorry, but you're not the only one who can reach a divinity."
Jinhyuk also channeled his mana into the purple gemstone.
['Heaven's Selection Stone' reacts.]
In the upper floors of the tower, invisible from this place.
From that far-off distance.
Someone answered Jinhyuk's call.