Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: The Archduke's Interest
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***
“The Death Knights have returned.”
“And from the Julius Kingdom?”
“No one was sent.”
“Hmm…….”
Valtre’s face hardened.
It seemed things hadn’t gone according to plan.
A short while later, the knight who had gone as envoy entered the office.
“Your Excellency.”
“Did you meet Arthur Julius?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“Well, that is…….”
The knight bowed his head like a criminal and relayed exactly what Arthur had spat out.
Valtre’s face twisted.
He was undoubtedly furious at the betrayal, but rationally speaking, he had expected acceptance.
At the very least, a reluctant conditional alliance.
He hadn’t anticipated a response tantamount to a declaration of war.
The rage from the betrayal ran deeper than expected.
Of course, they had effectively forced him into war with Marquis Mandora, only to stab him in the back. Even he wouldn’t get over that anger easily.
The plan had gone awry.
According to scout reports, Artisan was advancing unstoppable toward the Christen capital.
Without Grand Duke Natarsian’s forces, how long could they hold against Artisan’s assault?
But Ruan wasn’t one to collapse so easily.
He surely had hidden forces no one anticipated.
Valtre hoped for a drawn-out, blood-soaked battle.
The moment Artisan took Ruan’s head!
That was when the hunt would begin.
As Valtre smirked slyly, Natarsian entered the office.
“What of the Julius Kingdom matter?”
His tone was incomparably more polite than toward Emperor Ruan.
Valtre gave a wry smile as he looked at him.
“He seems thoroughly enraged.”
“I thought he was something special, but he turns out to be a brat.”
“Don’t underestimate him. If he’s reacting this way, he likely has other countermeasures in place.”
“Is that so? I’m curious what those countermeasures could even be.”
Natarsian sneered.
The Oscar Empire was on the brink of collapse.
The nobles loyal to Emperor Ruan saw their territories turned to seas of flame under Artisan’s relentless assault.
The rest had submitted to the Tomoya Kingdom.
The Julius Kingdom, branded as devil worshippers, wasn’t even worth comparing militarily.
Sure, Arthur Julius and a few others were exceptional, but his own forces alone could neutralize them all.
Valtre sensed Natarsian was underestimating Arthur Julius, but it was understandable.
His own power was overwhelming.
He and his entire elite guard were Sword Masters, and his 99 mages were all high-ranking 5th Class or above.
Moreover, the Kingdom Knight Order numbered a thousand strong, with ten thousand soldiers.
As the empire’s final bastion, it boasted immense forces.
In truth, they surpassed even the emperor’s central guard knights in strength.
But the emperor could draw on the nobles’ forces, so they couldn’t move recklessly despite their power.
“The brat will come here.”
“……?”
“He said he’s coming to take my head.”
“He really said that?”
Natarsian furrowed his brow and glared at the knight.
The knight quickly bowed his head.
“Yes.”
“What a lunatic…….”
Natarsian looked incredulous before bursting into hearty laughter.
“Uhahaha!”
Valtre smiled faintly and asked,
“What brings you such joy?”
“His thunderous rampage intrigues me to no end.”
“Shall we meet him in person?”
“Indeed. I’m dying to see what kind of fool he is, hahaha!”
Natarsian kept laughing as if he couldn’t stop.
Valtre quietly chuckled while thinking of Arthur.
After founding the Tomoya Kingdom, he had unleashed his hidden power.
He was no longer the man from before.
Even then, he had been surprised to see him, so Valtre anticipated his reaction upon their reunion.
If he came to his senses and knelt then, he was willing to form an alliance.
Of course, as a hunting dog for his forces.
Whether he died by Valtre’s hand or Artisan’s, death was death.
“Come on, then.”
***
“What do you plan to do now?”
Skevin looked at Arthur with worry etched on his face.
From watching him all this time, he never spoke idly.
He always kept his word.
Thus, Skevin could somewhat predict his next move.
But it was too reckless—he prayed his prediction was wrong.
“The envoy should have arrived by now, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then he’ll be waiting for me.”
Arthur, who had been gazing at the territory, turned back with resolve and met Skevin’s eyes.
The moment their gazes locked, Skevin’s face stiffened, certain it would unfold as he feared.
“You’ve guessed my thoughts from my face.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I must meet him once before facing Artisan. And now is the perfect time.”
“Why meet him? We’ll have to deal with them eventually—why not then?”
“A new variable has emerged.”
Arthur confessed what he’d learned at Kyapur Castle: that Artisan was the Demon King’s familiar.
He also revealed his contracts with the three great spirits and the summoning of the darkness spirit.
Skevin was stunned.
“Artisan is…….”
“One misstep, and we could fall to them before the Demon King revives.”
“What’s your plan?”
“First, we settle the Oscar Empire. While Artisan and Ruan clash, we ally with the Tomoya Kingdom and prepare for the wars ahead.”
“Your Excellency!”
“Hear me out.”
Arthur calmed Skevin before continuing.
“Whoever survives between Artisan and Ruan will demand we attack the victor. And the moment the war ends, we strike the Tomoya Kingdom.”
“Will they agree? Even if they do, they might be thinking the same of us.”
“That’s why I’ll try the same method he used.”
“What’s that?”
Skevin’s face filled with questions.
“Grand Duke Natarsian.”
Arthur smiled faintly as he continued.
“I plan to win him over.”
***
“I’ve lost track of how long it’s been.”
Natarsian’s excitement wouldn’t subside.
It rivaled the thrill when Valtre had approached him, offering betrayal of the emperor and alliance.
Back in his residence, he sat in his chair with eager anticipation.
“Arrogant brat or true prodigy—I can’t tell.”
“Something good happen?”
Demian, his son and captain of the Kingdom Knight Order, approached with a grin.
“I met the emperor and heard something amusing.”
As Natarsian recounted the office exchange, Demian wore a peculiar smile.
“Quite the bold one.”
“What’s with that smile?”
“With his own turf and power, he’s gotten cocky. I wonder how he’ll react when he realizes he’s just a frog in a well.”
“And if—if he defies expectations and proves extraordinary?”
“……!”
Demian’s eyes flashed.
“As you know, we allied with Marquis Valtre to fulfill our house’s long-cherished wish.”
“I know.”
“We judged him more useful than Emperor Ruan for that goal.”
“A sound decision.”
“Exactly.”
Natarsian smiled meaningfully.
Meanwhile, Valtre sat on his throne, staring grimly at where Natarsian had stood.
His earlier reaction gnawed at him.
Known for his taciturn nature.
But when something piqued his interest, the smile never left his face.
After Valtre won him over, that smile lingered for a time.
It faded when Emperor Ruan summoned him to official events.
Today, it peaked—he even laughed heartily.
It felt ominous.
A sly fox like him, who knew what schemes hid in his heart?
What lay behind that laugh?
Perhaps he was overthinking.
But this was the man who betrayed Emperor Ruan without hesitation.
He hadn’t even offered irresistible terms.
Just a promise to build a new world.
That single phrase had swayed him, planting unease in Valtre’s heart.
He had followed obediently so far, but Valtre couldn’t relax.
“He’s too dangerous to keep close.”
Regret crept in, but in this situation, Natarsian was gold.
He had to endure and keep him distracted.
That’s why he dangled Arthur as bait.
Just as the brat had captivated him, may he ensnare Natarsian too.
With his thirst for talent, the higher the value, the greater the obsession.
Once fixated, he’d forget other thoughts for a while.
“Brat, I’m counting on you.”
***
“How’s the battlefield progressing?”
“We’ll reach the capital tomorrow.”
“Finally, I’ll see that bastard’s face.”
Artisan curled his lip.
Twenty years ago, a mere brat—how strong had he grown?
He hoped the long journey wouldn’t end in disappointment.
Atop the mountain, Artisan gazed at the Oscar Empire wrapped in flames and laughed heartily.
He would destroy everything here and build a new empire.
To realize the dream denied in the land of death.
The fancy he’d indulged for twenty years would soon become reality—his lips rose naturally.
Then it happened.
“……!”
The seizure struck again.
His heart pounded as if to burst, followed by excruciating pain like being butchered by a blade.
“Damn it!”
Thud!
Artisan dropped to one knee, clutching his left chest.
“Your Excellency!”
“Are you alright!”
The knights rushed over in alarm, but Artisan extended an arm.
“D-don’t…… come.”
His pain-wracked voice made their faces harden as they stepped back.
Artisan gritted his teeth, enduring.
Victory was in sight—exploding now would ruin everything.
He had to overcome it.
“Ugh…….”
He strained to calm his heart, but it only raged fiercer.
“Keok-.”
He spat a mouthful of blood.
His face flushed crimson, blood streaming from eyes, nose, and ears.
“Call the mages, now!”
“Hurry!”
As the knights panicked, blood spurted from Artisan’s crown.
“Uaaaaah!”
Unable to hold back, he screamed.
Losing control of the heart seizure, his aura exploded outward.
A tidal wave of energy swept the area.
Nearby knights were caught, their bodies bursting like bombs.
The scattered blood was sucked into Artisan.
His bloodshot eyes turned black as inky dark aura billowed.
A purple monster mark appeared on his hand, manifesting before him.
-Kraaaah!
It roared once, glaring as if to devour him.
-Finally free of bondage.
Artisan stared blankly, eyes unfocused as if his soul had fled.
The monster seized his head with hook-like claws.
Then met his gaze.
-You are mine now.
Its serpentine vertical pupil overtook Artisan’s vacant eyes.
Artisan’s eyes snapped open, a wicked smile spreading.
“I’m back.”