Oh, John Nassen! Hero of the Empire!
Ohhh, John Nassen! Hero of the Empire!
The surrender negotiations began after the Empire formally accepted the Coalition’s surrender. In truth, calling them negotiations was a stretch; it was more accurate to see them as the Empire making demands and the Coalition accepting them unconditionally. The Empire kept its demands within the bounds of reason, and the Coalition possessed no power whatsoever with which to refuse. Even so, the matter was so important and so sensitive that it still took a considerable amount of time.
At last the days-long talks between the two nations came to an end. Mathieu, who had stood as the Coalition’s representative, let out a long sigh and stepped outside the tent.
It’s finally over.
He was exhausted. All he wanted was to go back and rest; that single thought filled his head. The aftereffects of battle could not be ignored, of course, but more than that, occasions like this one were simply too uncomfortable. A man who swung a sword belonged on the training ground, not wasting time on empty table talk.
“Lord Mathieu.”
Hearing his name, he turned. Kyle stood there. Mathieu took in the younger man’s face, allowed a faint smile, and inclined his head. For a powerhouse on the level of the Imperial Ten Strongest, he was remarkably polite.
“It seems everything regarding the surrender has been settled.”
“Yes. Magical communication has already reached the Imperial Palace, and Grand Duke Schurelitz has obtained the Emperor’s approval and finished confirming every point we discussed.”
This was the man who had dealt the decisive blow to the Coalition’s defeat and surrender—the one who had defeated him, no, utterly crushed him, when Mathieu himself had stood as a powerhouse comparable to the Imperial Ten. And yet Mathieu’s manner toward Kyle remained unbelievably gentle.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Not at all. It was work that had to be done by someone, and I was the proper person for it. It was only natural.”
“And you thoroughly discussed the matter of the mana frenzy as well.”
At Kyle’s question Mathieu tensed slightly and nodded. The reason Kyle—who had not shown himself since the Coalition’s surrender—had come looking for him personally was surely that. Both Lear and Lea of John Nassen were reacting with extreme sensitivity to the issue. Mathieu was by no means so foolish as to miss the fact. He also knew full well that if, by any chance, it were not handled properly, there would be hell to pay.
“We have already arrested everyone involved. They will be extradited to the Empire at once, and we are making every effort to recover all of the items that were distributed among the Coalition’s knights. However…”
“More of it was released than expected, and no one knows exactly who received how much. So the Coalition itself may face unexpected problems it never wanted. Something like that, right?”
At Kyle’s words Mathieu let out a low groan. When that absurd answer of mana frenzy had first surfaced, he should have opposed it more actively. He had believed that a swordsman meddling in politics would only make matters worse, so he had simply kept his mouth shut and watched the situation unfold—and thanks to that, everything had become thoroughly tangled. When he inquired back home, he learned that a great many mana frenzy agents had already been handed out even to ordinary knights. In the event the Imperial army defeated the Coalition forces and came flooding into Coalition territory, they were to use them. Resist to the bitter end and die gloriously—that had been the intended purpose!
It’s a relief that those who already knew about the side effects of mana frenzy felt rebellious about it. They told the truth of their own accord and even collected the mana frenzy agents themselves.
Only the higher-ups cried for noble sacrifice and desperate last stands. Because if they lost, they would lose everything; those who had reigned would now have to be ruled. But the people below who would be forced to make that sacrifice did not understand it at all. Even if it was the Empire, even if they were the Coalition’s enemies—at the bare minimum, a person’s life had to be guaranteed before you told them to do anything. If the Empire invaded and you said, “Let’s all die together,” would they really all die? No. They would try to live.
“Still, you’ll have to keep trying until the very end.”
Lea, who had approached at some point, appeared from behind Kyle and threw her arms around her younger brother in a fierce hug. Thanks to that, Kyle went “Kweh!” and frantically tapped her arm in a desperate plea to be released.
“I told you, Three Heroes. If that thing is ever used again in the Coalition, it won’t end with just us next time. Right now you’re reflecting and saying you’ll correct your mistakes, so we’re giving you one chance.”
“…I will keep that in mind. No matter what means I must employ, I will recover every last one of those items distributed throughout the Coalition and destroy them.”
“Guh. S-Sister. Please, my arm…”
“You promise? It’ll be a problem if you play dumb later.”
“I surrender, I surrender. Sister. I’m dying.”
“I swear it. I will devote every ounce of my strength to recovering and destroying those items.”
Mathieu Philibert, one of the Three Heroes whom even the Coalition’s leadership dared not treat lightly. Before the king of the kingdom he served, he had never needed to lower himself. No matter how noble the bloodline or how central the power, in the end it was mere wordplay before strength. But even that Mathieu had no choice but to bow his waist before John Nassen. No—he had to flatten himself on the ground, begging for mercy and praying only that they would pass him by. No human dared act up in the face of a massive typhoon.
Tap-tap-tap!!
“S-Sister. Sister. I surrender! I surrender!!”
“Ah! Sorry, Kyle! I forgot while I was talking!!”
“Kugh!!”
I almost died for real. I almost died for real!! She knows her little brother is weak and still hugs him with full power, damn it!!
Kyle barely managed to draw breath while Lea fretted, not knowing what to do with herself. Mathieu simply stared blankly at the two of them.
They look so ordinary like this—just like any other older sister and younger brother.
Inside them were terrifying things that would chew up the Imperial Ten and the Three Heroes alike. He had no desire to awaken that existence again. He absolutely wanted to avoid it. As a strong man, fighting another strong man was of course joyful and exciting. But this, no matter how he thought about it, crossed a line. He was a little—no, very—afraid.
Regardless of the other terms, those damned mana frenzy agents at least must all be destroyed.
Mathieu Philibert, one of the Three Heroes who had never cared about anything except growing stronger himself. For the first time today, he held something very intensely in his heart. The mana frenzy agents—cursed items that made light of sacred effort and training. Their complete eradication! Yes, for the sake of the Coalition as well, they had to be eradicated no matter what!!
On the way back after finishing everything, Kyle wore a happy smile. He had thwarted the schemes of the demons who had tried to mass-produce Roiders, and he had also enjoyed a good match. In particular, the romance of a true strong man that Mathieu had shown still lingered in Kyle’s mind. The way he had charged in resolutely even knowing he would lose—that was the mark of a genuine powerhouse.
That’s the kind of person who deserves to be a real Three Hero. The other two bastards… ugh. Let’s not even talk about them.
It wasn’t enough just to be strong; you needed character too. You shouldn’t obsess only over results; you should know how to show respect for the process. The other two of the Three Heroes had forgotten that part and paid a steep price for it. According to the last news he had heard, both of them were completely in despair. It was understandable—they had fallen from being equals of the Imperial Ten to the level of ordinary knights. But what could you do? It was something they had brought on themselves, and they were lucky just to be alive. Rather than despairing, it would be better for them to train even a little. The path might have completely disappeared, but they hadn’t forgotten the method, had they? If you put in bloody effort, a two-lane road can become a four-lane highway.
“Kyle John Nassen.”
In a good mood, he was lightly doing some cardio with a run when Grand Duke Schurelitz approached on horseback from the side.
“Might I have a brief word?”
“Pardon? Ah… yes. We can talk, but could you wait just a little longer?”
My body hasn’t fully heated up yet. I need to run more.
“Very well. Sorry if I interrupted. Come to my carriage when you’re finished.”
Fortunately, Grand Duke Schurelitz readily nodded at Kyle’s request. Seeing him even apologize made it clear he had not been a former member of the Imperial Ten for nothing. After finishing his cardio, Kyle caught his breath and sought out Grand Duke Schurelitz. All along the way, knights belonging to the Grand Ducal house’s “Brothers of the Sword” sent glances his way—looks of admiration, gazes of awe, and even a faint emotion of longing.
Plenty of solid future friends here. To raise knights like these… Schurelitz! Pass!!
Applauding inwardly, Kyle climbed into the Grand Duke’s carriage.
“Come in. Hmm, may I call you Kyle comfortably?”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Kyle.”
The John Nassen family was strong, but swaggering about it was not the John Nassen way. Treatment was not something you browbeat others into giving you because you wanted it; it was something others sincerely offered of their own accord. Even Baron John Nassen, who had not given much other education, had continually emphasized that point to his children.
“People like us dislike beating around the bush. So I’ll get straight to the point. I was surprised; it was unexpected.”
At Grand Duke Schurelitz’s words, Kyle asked what he meant.
“I mean the treatment of the Coalition. I thought you lot would overturn the entire Coalition.”
“Ahh.”
“You, and your older brother and sister as well. You all showed tremendous hostility and rage toward the mana frenzy agents. So I thought you would dig through the entire Coalition.”
About that, Your Grace. We just wanted to hurry back and work out. I’m already super stressed that I might be getting muscle loss right now.
“I wanted to thank you regarding that part.”
“Words of gratitude? Why is that…”
“Thanks to you, the atmosphere in the Coalition hasn’t become excessively chaotic, and the Empire was able to show a moderate victor’s face. Think about it. What would have happened if you had gone in and turned every corner of the Coalition upside down.”
At the Grand Duke’s words, Kyle nodded to show he understood. For things to end well, the John Nassen family’s cooperation had been necessary, and he was thanking them for providing it.
So I’m just backing off because I’m afraid of muscle loss, Your Grace.
Kyle muttered that inwardly while simply smiling and nodding.
“Once we near the Imperial Capital, there will be a meritorious service award ceremony.”
“Pardon?”
“The award ceremony. It seems the assessment of merits has already been completed. Your John Nassen family has been recognized as the foremost contributors to this war… hmm, is it a war? Anyway, to this affair. Since it’s a medal bestowed by the Imperial Family, they’ll probably raise your peerage as well.”
Raise our peerage, huh. I’d rather they just send more of the Imperial Ten. To the John Nassen family, peerage was nothing more than useless baggage.
“And, from what I’ve heard, Her Highness the Fifth Princess will personally bestow the medals upon you, Kyle, and your older brother and sister.”
“Wait a moment, Your Grace? Who did you just say?”
“Her Highness the Fifth Princess.”
“….”
A scene painted itself in Kyle’s mind. On the day of the award ceremony, the princess charging in demanding a proper rematch. And his brother and sister smashing her head in.
Why is that woman coming!!
Kyle was terrified that the Empire’s day of celebration would turn into a day of royal funeral rites.