The Second Strongest
And at that very moment, in the royal castle of Ramark.
"Kuhahaha! This is just splendid!"
Sergail burst into roaring laughter as he watched the magic projection.
The image floating in the air showed Gillian with his eyes closed, surrounded by people sobbing in grief.
"Your Majesty, isn't it truly magnificent? He served you right up to his very last breath. It's the epitome of tear-jerking loyalty!"
"Ah... ah... General..."
"The fame of Continent 11-Strong wasn't empty hype after all. Even I didn't expect General Gillian to wipe out every last one of the Black Wings."
But thanks to that, it had turned into an even better scene than anticipated.
The grand general standing alone against the revolutionary army after crushing the Black Wings. And the king's face twisted in regret as he watched.
To Sergail, that sight was more exquisite than any delicacy in the world.
"Hahaha!"
Unable to contain his surging emotions, Sergail let out a mad cackle.
In stark contrast to his expression, the king was shedding thick tears like a child.
Regret crashed over him in waves.
"Ahh..."
How could he have been so foolish?
Many had warned him to keep his distance from the prime minister, but he hadn't listened.
Even when he saw the man filling the Royal Guard with his own people, he hadn't suspected a thing.
Blind despite having eyes, deaf despite having ears—what right did he have to call himself human?
He had been a king more foolish than any beast.
"Well, the ending is a tad disappointing, but this is more than satisfying enough."
In truth, Sergail had hoped Gillian would side with the people in his final moments.
The instant a loyal retainer of over a century betrayed him—that was the king's agonized expression he truly craved.
"Not everything in the world goes as planned. Now, Your Majesty, have you savored my final mercy enough? Time's up. Prepare yourself."
It had been a truly long time.
Nearly a decade had passed since he infiltrated Ramark upon reaching adulthood.
Finally, farewell to this wretched kingdom.
At least he'd wrapped up his final game perfectly—a fitting end worthy of the term "graceful exit."
"...Die."
"Pardon? Your Majesty? I didn't catch that. Could you say it again?"
"I said die, Sergail. I will not go to the Empire."
"...Hoo. Well now."
The king glared at Sergail with bloodshot eyes, veins bulging.
He himself hadn't trusted his own judgment, yet Gillian had believed in him to the end.
No king—no human worthy of the name—could witness that faith with their own eyes and still choose exile.
In his final moments, the king realized just how much he'd been blessed beyond his worth.
"This is all my fault, born of my own foolishness and failings. But Sergail—you, I will curse even in death!"
"...Tch. How boring."
Sergail clicked his tongue sharply.
He'd wanted to see the exiled king torment himself daily in self-recrimination, not eyes burning with venom like that.
He glanced sideways at the spot beside the king.
There stood the queen, her face as impassive as ever. Even when Gillian closed his eyes, she'd been the same.
As if she knew that suffering here would only please him.
"...Hah. Fine. Whatever. If you want to die that badly, I'll grant your wish."
Sparing them had only been for his own amusement anyway. They were useless pawns diplomatically speaking.
If they wouldn't comply, disposal was all that remained.
"How disappointing at the end, Your Majesty. Ah, what about you, my queen? I'm more than willing to spare just you—if you pledge eternal loyalty to me, of course."
At those words, the queen—who had maintained silence until now—finally spoke.
"I've felt it since the day we met: you're truly a venomous serpent. Shut your filthy mouth. My king is one alone."
"...No fun at all. Truly. No helping it, then. I wish you both better choices in your next lives."
With a wave of Sergail's hand, the knights standing beside the royal couple raised their swords high.
Whoosh—!
The two blades flew unerringly toward the necks of the king and queen.
And just like that, two heads soared into the air.
* * *
Two days earlier.
Carpe and Gillian had stayed up late drinking, sharing stories deep into the night.
With the alcohol hitting him just right, Gillian's flushed face launched into a classic "Back in my day."
'Eh! These young folks nowadays got no grit. Whine at the drop of a hat! Ain't got anyone as tenacious as you, lad! Back then, we'd go a full week without food or sleep on the grind.'
'...Isn't that just 'cause you're a monster, old man?'
'Sure, I was a bit extreme, but that was the average back then! Everyone's just lookin' for the easy path to power these days... End times, I tell ya!'
Gillian downed another cup in succession.
His mood lifted, and he soon burst into hearty chuckles.
'Heh heh! But it ain't all bad. There's a couple standouts, you included. Two I'd approve of with my own eyes.'
'Two? First time hearing this... Who's the other one?'
'Hm? Never mentioned it? Right you are! Lemme ask you somethin', lad.'
Gillian grinned like he was posing a fun quiz and continued.
'As you know, I'm the strongest in Ramark Kingdom. Not self-praise—pure objective fact.'
'Agreed.'
'So, who d'you reckon is second strongest?'
'...Eh? Second?'
Carpe had never even considered it.
Cheonma had said Ramark was all nobodies once you exclude Gillian.
'Dunno... Normally, I'd say the king's Royal Guard captain or your aide?'
'They're decent enough. But not up to my standards.'
-Aw, this old coot's teasin' again. Who is it?
'So who then?'
'Heh heh. Don't be shocked. Someone you've already met.'
'Huh?'
Met before?
Carpe racked his brain but couldn't recall any such powerhouse.
'No way it's Drek?'
'Ugh, don't sour my drink mentionin' that stiff. He's no slouch in a fight, but not top-tier.'
Then who?
No matter how he thought, no candidates came to mind.
After groaning in frustration, Carpe threw in the towel.
'Argh, spill it already! Who is it?!'
'Heh heh. It's...'
Gillian set his cup down on the table with a proud thunk!.
'My own granddaughter.'
* * *
Splash—!
The instant the two knights swung at the royal couple, two heads flew into the air.
But they weren't the king and queen's.
They belonged to the knights who had swung the blades.
"Hic! Heh... Wh-what the hell... Guwaaak!"
"Speak out of turn again, and I'll cut that serpent tongue from your mouth."
"Guhhh."
A silver rapier gleamed in the queen's hand.
Incredibly, she had swung it at speeds too fast for the eye to follow, severing both knights' heads.
Slower to swing, yet striking first.
Something impossible without an overwhelming gap in skill.
After felling the knights, she leaped straight at Sergail.
And plunged the rapier into his shoulder.
"I won't let you die so easily. There's much I need to hear from you."
"N-no way... You've been hiding your strength all this time?!"
"I didn't hide it. There was just no opportunity to show it."
She might seem carefree on the surface, but Gillian was no fool.
A grand general of a nation wouldn't overlook a suspicious figure close to the king whose origins were unknown.
When Sergail filled the Royal Guard with his cronies, Gillian hadn't opposed it with his life—not because he approved, but for this very reason.
Elenoa Hillskain.
A woman whose talent was rated on par with Gillian's even in the long history of the illustrious Hillskain lineage.
The kingdom already had its unbreakable strongest bodyguard right at the king's side.
No one in Ramark could best her except Gillian.
"This... this can't be!"
Sergail denied reality.
His perfect plan shattered by one person?
Someone he hadn't even considered...!
"You dare... Guhek!"
"I can't stomach that repulsive voice any longer. When you wake, hell awaits."
Elenoa struck Sergail across the face with the flat of her blade, knocking him out cold.
The king, too, stared in stunned disbelief, unable to process it.
Seeing that, Elenoa gave a faint smile.
"Wh-what in the world...?"
"Your Majesty, forgive my impertinence. I simply hadn't found the moment to reveal it."
Gillian had long recognized Elenoa's talent and trained her in secret.
Only a handful knew her true power—even the king was unaware.
To deceive the enemy, first deceive your allies.
It was Gillian's precaution against the info reaching Sergail's ears.
"I've finally repaid the grace you showed me as a girl, Your Majesty."
"Heh... You still remember that?"
"Of course. It's a cherished memory I'll never forget."
"...I see."
In his youth, the little girl he'd saved from a warhound now protected him in turn.
"General... you... guhk."
The king bowed his head and wept once more.
Fool that he was, deluded by the prime minister and distant from him—yet the general had believed and protected him to the end.
Even if that flesh had perished...
"Your Majesty, lift your head. It's over."
"How can I face anyone? I must atone for life."
"...You must atone. Many may condemn you. But."
Elenoa approached and took the king's hand.
"I alone will believe in and follow you to the end, my king."
"Huuu... guhk."
The king wept endlessly, as if it were Gillian's voice speaking to him.
The rain had completely stopped.
Bright sunlight pierced the parting clouds, bathing the palace in warm light.