Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Final Stage of Surrender
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Baron Caron had been sobbing as he wrote his surrender oath, denying everything about the Empire and pledging loyalty to the kingdom.
But now, as if it had never happened, he was clad in standard Wyvern Knight Order armor, laughing with the soldiers as they traded jokes.
I kept writing on the palm of the elf Object.
"Look at that. Does he look like a surrendered noble anywhere?"
"Indeed, even to my eyes, it seems like a false surrender. I'll be cautious."
Object's distrustful gaze toward Baron Caron satisfied me.
I quietly summoned the Wyvern Knight Order Captain and gave him instructions.
"Put it in the study."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The Empire's legendary (A)-grade sword and relic (B)-grade armor were now part of my item collection.
"Your Highness, I was worried when you vanished without a word."
Canelian approached and spoke calmly.
Her eyes held a faint ferocity, the thrill of capturing an Empire Swordmaster still lingering.
"I was thinking of casually hunting some monsters with Prof... Professor Silvret to get the feel of it, but then I ran into Baron Caron."
"Monster hunting? The feel?"
As she glanced down, her gaze landed on my hand clasped with Object's, so I quickly released it.
"Not that feel..."
"You must have been interested in monster hunting. Then, for the next subjugation, would you move with me, Your Highness?"
"Oh, if the Duchess joins me, I'd welcome it."
"But after overcoming that crisis together, you seem quite close with the professor now?"
Come to think of it, my arm was still around Object's waist.
We'd been stuck together the whole time, so it had become natural.
Feeling the knights' and soldiers' stares, I quickly created some distance.
"To avoid arousing Baron Caron's suspicions, I passed the professor off as my maid, and I got too immersed in the role."
"So that's why you were holding her hand so tightly?"
It couldn't be jealousy from my fiancée.
She was just checking if this scoundrel had mended his wicked ways.
Still, Canelian has probably mostly abandoned any thought of eliminating me by now, right?
"We communicated by writing on each other's palms. Even the tiniest whisper could be heard by Baron Caron."
"Ah..."
Convinced, her expression softened a bit.
Only then did she survey the surrounding terrain, now a deeply gouged crater, and ask.
"What on earth happened here? The knights say there wasn't originally such a massive crater."
"That is..."
I recounted everything, from the golden goblin statue to the battle with the field boss [Fallen Earth Dragon's 13th Fang].
Object chimed in excitedly midway, making the tale even more engaging. Good girl.
"Really? But why is there no monster corpse?"
"Some monsters vanish without leaving a body. The Fallen Earth Dragon's 13th Fang was one."
And I showed her the mythic (S)-grade item I'd obtained, [Fallen Earth Dragon's Fang].
Canelian stared at it intently, tilting her head.
"If the monster's name is 13th Fang, does that mean there are at least twelve more?"
"Exactly. The fang itself is worthless, but collect all thirteen, and you get an amazing mythic artifact."
At that, Canelian clutched the [Emerald Lake Queen's Blue Brooch] hanging around her neck.
Her eyes wavered.
"It doesn't summon an Earth Dragon illusion or anything, does it?"
"It's a fantastic look-at-me item, but it's also top-tier warrior defensive gear."
"Really?"
Canelian's eyes shook wildly.
I leaned in a little closer and whispered low.
"It cuts all damage—magic, swords, everything—from a minimum of 50% up to 99%."
"Wow... incredible."
Canelian's eyes churned fiercely.
A knight—especially a Swordmaster—would covet it no matter what.
But that wasn't all.
"It's also flashy and gorgeous, drawing every eye. Most importantly, it keeps your body clean while worn."
"Keeps you clean?"
"No dirt or grime even without bathing. No tangled hair, stays fresh and fluffy like right after a bath."
A glance showed Object uninterested.
She could conjure hot bathwater anytime, after all.
But knights were different.
"For female knights on frequent field campaigns or camping outdoors, it's a dream artifact..."
"If I gather all the fangs and craft the armor, shall I gift it to you, Duchess?"
"You're serious? Not just teasing me?"
"Why would I tease the Duchess?"
I took Canelian's hand.
She seemed burdened but didn't pull away.
Favorability's up.
Satisfied, I wrote on her palm.
"My fiancée."
"Ah..."
Her eyes wavered again.
I deliberately held on, cupping her hand with my other, and spoke as tenderly as I could.
"In return, if I ask you to wear it, will you do so anytime?"
"If you bestow such a rare mythic (S)-grade defensive artifact... I'd have to obey that order."
"It's a promise, Duchess."
"Yes, I promise."
'Rashguard form at 50%, micro string bikini at 99%.'
The ultimate look-at-me bikini armor that made every gamer drool.
Freely switch among 1,024 designs on a whim.
But no one claimed the final 13th fang, so the completed set was unseen.
'The Karbalon Mountains vanish in the tutorial, so no one finishes it.'
Twelve remain.
Ten locations etched in my mind.
Two emerge later in the story.
'If I get her in bikini armor for a heroine landing, will she go for it?'
I wanted to see it in real life, not just on a monitor.
'For now, rashguard or maybe a one-piece is her limit...'
Even at 99% defense, no way she'd wear a micro string bikini.
The royal airship finally arrived.
No match for the Wyvern Knight Order in mobility, and it was enormous besides.
I, Object, Canelian, and the Empire native Baron Caron boarded.
The Prime Minister who'd piloted the airship rejoiced most at Caron's surrender, so I gave him a quiet heads-up.
"It's a false surrender. Watch for betrayal."
"To feign survival by denying loyalty to his lord... Truly Imperial! Understood, Your Highness."
I was pleased to see tension grip the Prime Minister.
Caron was led aside by the Prime Minister to discuss future lodgings and such.
I gathered with Canelian and Object in the king's office aboard.
It would take hours to reach the royal castle.
'Ugh, the mana stones for one airship ride must cost a fortune.'
But it was undeniably a thrilling experience.
I could see why Joseon kings were obsessed with hunts and hot spring outings.
"Caron won't show his hand right away. Having faked the surrender, he'll gather every kingdom secret he can before fleeing back to the Empire."
"You're saying we should devise detailed countermeasures, Your Highness."
"Yes, Professor."
Canelian looked displeased.
"Your Highness, I saw the surrender oath too. He denied everything Imperial—how could it be false?"
"The Emperor must have ordered him to survive and return at any cost."
"But he's already crossed that line."
"If the Emperor forgives him, that's the end of it."
"Will the nobles accept it? Deep down, they'll brand him a traitor, shun and isolate him."
"To avoid setting a precedent, the Emperor couldn't forgive him anyway."
"But he's a rare Swordmaster."
"..."
"Duchess, being one yourself, you don't grasp how precious monarchs find Swordmasters."
Canelian finally seemed convinced.
"Understood. I'll keep a close eye on Baron Caron."
"But Your Highness, without 24-hour close surveillance, if he steels himself for his final move, our response will be too late."
"Professor, no need to worry. I have a fine surveillance artifact."
"Understood."
Object nodded readily.
Why was she so dutiful after just one night under the same blanket?
"We need to consider his ransom ahead of time. How much could we get?"
Canelian spoke first.
"Your Highness, narrowing the Empire's power gap matters most. I think executing him outright beats ransom."
"Indeed, we think alike. Still, we should know the going rate."
Now Object chimed in.
"Your Highness, the Empire would gladly trade the Hesin Duchy for him."
"Hesin Duchy?"
Canelian and I were both stunned.
The Hesin Duchy was the buffer zone between the Empire and Arcana, an Imperial vassal.
Nearly an independent kingdom, brimming with resources.
"Uh, Your Highness... that changes everything."
"I agree, Duchess."
With the coming chaos, crippling the Empire by one sword was wise.
But gaining the Hesin Duchy promised a massive national power boost.
"Weaken the foe, or enrich ourselves. Tough choice..."
"Your Highness, you said Caron will focus on intel-gathering awhile. We can deliberate slowly."
"Agreed. We have time."
The same moment.
The Prime Minister reeled from the ducal house's critical secrets Baron Caron provided, complete with hand-drawn maps.
"Marquis, this is my concubines' bedroom. Six in total—bring them all without a single scratch."
"...And the principal wife's quarters?"
"Here, but hmm. Better to leave her. As you know, she's the Emperor's cousin. If she refuses, just let her be."
The Prime Minister personally wrote and sealed letters for the must-rescue family list, their locations, and messages.
"Deliver these to the concubines—they'll know they're from me."
"The handwriting?"
"I noted their bedroom habits. No concubine could mistake it."
"..."
Caron meticulously listed artifacts and treasures to retrieve from the ducal house.
"Especially this one that looks like a wooden sword—it's legendary grade. Take it no matter what.
If you can't, abandon all other assets, but secure this artifact."
The Prime Minister recalled the prince's words.
'A false surrender, he said.'
How was this the attitude of a false surrenderee?
The Prime Minister subtly tested him.
"Duke."
"Call me Caron. I'm no noble anymore."
"Yes, Baron Caron. One question: if feasible, could we bring every family member and territory resident without exception?
Everything from the ducal lands except the soil itself."
Caron's face lit up brighter than ever.
"You can do that?"
"We'll try."
"Ple—please! Starting from scratch empty-handed was pitch-black despair. Even 10% of the residents, and I'll honor you as brother henceforth!"
'He seems sincerely defecting to our Arcana.'
To resolve his doubts, the Prime Minister replayed the surrender oath video...
'If this goes public, the petty, narrow-minded Emperor Varmion will purge Baron Caron no matter what the nobles say.'
The Emperor was infamous for his insidious nature, distrust of vassals, and excessive pride.