Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Empire's Heir
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Rat-tat-tat-tat!
I unleashed a barrage of gunfire along the enemy's escape route.
He swiftly changed direction and bolted elsewhere, but Arthur had predicted that path too and completely blocked off the intersection.
In the meantime, the Phoenix Knight Order rushed in, surrounding and encircling him.
“Damn it!”
Just as he drew a dagger to disembowel himself.
Thwack!
“Wh-what?”
He turned his head to stare at the mysterious needle embedded in his arm.
His entire body stiffened like stone.
He couldn’t twitch a single finger, nor could he move his mouth.
‘Why all of a sudden!’
As his eyes shook wildly in panic, men clad in animal hides burst out from the forest in a group.
They were the Horcamun tribesmen who had been patrolling the western mountains.
They had heard from the sentries that an unidentified ship had appeared on the eastern coast, prompting Arthur and the knights to deploy, and had rushed over.
‘Th-those guys are all…….’
A deep shadow fell over his face at the sight of the beastly men.
***
Alteon stepped forward alongside Bukas in front of Arthur.
“Where’s the enemy?”
Alteon scanned the surroundings, but all he saw was a middle-aged man collapsed in front of Helm.
His condition seemed off somehow.
A bright light, like that from pouring a potion, was intensely shining from his body.
Even stranger was the atmosphere among the Del Knight Order watching him—solemn to the point of being steeped in grief.
That was when it happened.
“Father! Uwaaaah!”
‘What?’
Only then did Alteon and Bukas notice Adran embracing someone behind the Del Knight Order.
And beside her lay the Kandara Count’s insignia.
“Ah…….”
Now they understood the situation.
The people Adran had been waiting for so desperately had returned, but contrary to her hopes, it was in the worst possible circumstances.
Alteon silently gazed at Helm, who lay collapsed before Helot, receiving potion treatment, assessing his condition.
“Hmm. It’s a miracle he’s even alive.”
Arthur, who had been watching over Helm, walked to the bow of the ship.
He leaped down to Kan waiting below. Then he headed toward where the Phoenix Knight Order had gathered.
There, the man who had tried to flee knelt bound.
The man paled in terror at the sight of the massive horse approaching, snorting heavily.
“H-heek!”
He slammed his head to the ground and trembled in fear.
Arthur asked coldly.
“State your affiliation.”
“I-I don’t know…….”
The man shuddered violently as he gave the trained response.
“You’ll pretend not to know until the end, huh.”
Arthur spat the meaningful words before shifting his gaze to the knights.
“Take him to the castle.”
***
“H-heek!”
Wyman, gazing out the window, startled at the sudden appearance before him and fell on his rear.
Jackal had climbed through the open window and landed in front of him.
“What is this rude behavior?”
Wyman frowned as he stood.
Jackal silently handed him the document he had received from Arthur.
“What is it?”
“It’s from the Count.”
“From the Count?”
Wyman snatched it up and unfolded it.
For a moment.
His eyes widened as if they might tear.
“Th-this…….”
“They’ve been wiped out.”
“No way. All those troops, defeated?”
Wyman shook his head in disbelief.
“To save the Count, we must meet the demands listed there.”
“So much…….”
Wyman looked dazed for a moment before regaining his composure. He then eyed Jackal with a meaningful gaze.
“Did the Count say anything else?”
Jackal met his eyes and replied in a somewhat agitated voice.
“Our king is Marquis Valtre.”
A fact known only to Yarve and Wyman.
The key to the secret chamber, as well.
“Hmm.”
Wyman nodded.
“We’ll proceed as per protocol. Follow me.”
He stepped out with Jackal and headed to Yarve’s office.
Standing before the bookshelf, he fiddled with one of the books.
The shelf split aside, revealing an iron door.
“You wouldn’t have known about this facility.”
“Hmm.”
Jackal feigned slight surprise.
But having always stuck close to Yarve, he couldn’t not know.
He was just pretending to fool Wyman.
Turning the round lever opened the iron door.
Jackal’s jaw dropped as he entered with him.
The small cave was filled with gold, and beside it were stacks of various documents.
“Wait here. I’ll bring the knights.”
Wyman exited.
Only after his presence faded did Jackal let out a low exclamation.
“Impressive.”
He approached the gold, caressed it, then turned his gaze to the documents.
They were filled with deeds to lands and slaves.
Among them, a black-covered book caught his eye.
“What’s this?”
Curiosity piqued, Jackal unconsciously picked it up and opened it.
“……!”
He frowned instantly.
It detailed the list of people Count Yarve had killed over the years, along with the reasons.
His murder ledger.
He suddenly wondered how many he had killed before Jackal joined him, and at what age he had started.
He flipped to the very first page.
[Meshia. Age 21. Maid.]
‘His first murder was a maid.’
Jackal read the reason for the killing with a hardened expression.
[While I was away on a trip, she caught eyes with another man and bore his bastard child.]
‘He fancied the maid?’
Jackal continued reading.
[That man’s name was Adas. I considered killing him along with her, but then a brilliant plan came to mind. Raise the child, who resembled its mother so closely, into an assassin…….]
“……!”
Jackal’s eyes shook violently.
“Th-this…….”
His hands trembled, and he dropped the book.
At the same time, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
“This can’t be. I…….”
He had always believed he was born to some beggar in the slums. But that wasn’t true.
As the secret of his birth was revealed, uncontrollable rage surged.
“Yarve, you bastard…….”
He heard knights entering from outside.
Jackal rose, radiating killing intent. He drew his dagger from his waist.
“I’ll eliminate you all.”
He vanished.
A moment later.
Slice!
“What! Gurk.”
The knights collapsed without knowing what hit them.
Wyman, entering the office late, gasped at the sight of the fallen knights.
“Wh-what!”
“You.”
“……!”
Wyman’s nape bristled like thorns.
Jackal, appearing behind him, held a dagger to his throat and continued.
“You’ve served the count’s family long enough to know most incidents, right?”
“Wh-why are you doing this……?”
Thwack!
“Urk!”
Wyman clutched his side, staggering but barely regaining balance.
Jackal whispered in his ear.
“Answer my questions if you want to live.”
“G-got it.”
“Do you know who Meshia is?”
“Meshia…….”
After thinking for a while, he raised his hand slightly and answered.
“I know. She was the Count’s maid.”
“Did she have family?”
“Y-yes…….”
“Where can I find them?”
“The head maid would know. But why are you suddenly asking?”
“Ask your master.”
Jackal mercilessly slit his throat and tossed him to the floor.
He then coldly stared at Wyman, eyes bulging in death, before vanishing.
And shortly after.
“Uwaaak!”
“Spare me!”
“Uwaak!”
The count’s estate was dyed red amid screams.
***
“How’d it go?”
Arthur asked Aild, who had entered the office after finishing Helm’s treatment.
Aild replied with a stiff face.
“I treated all the injured areas, but the wounds were so severe that it seems Sir Millerph will need to step in.”
“I see.”
“But he’s passed the critical point, so you can relax.”
“That’s a relief.”
As Arthur sighed in relief, Aild cautiously asked.
“They say he fought you in that state……?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve heard Sword Masters have incredible mental fortitude, but this surpasses imagination.”
“I was pretty shocked too.”
Arthur didn’t know much about Sir Helm, but he was the only one who had reached Sword Master realm with a bow.
Even gravely wounded, he had unleashed powerful attacks, so in perfect condition, his destructive power would have been immense.
In their position of facing formidable enemies, his aid would be invaluable.
As expectation lit Arthur’s face, a knock sounded.
Helot entered and bowed politely.
“We’ve finished cleanup, and the prisoner is in the underground dungeon.”
“What about Adran?”
“She’s with the knights at the coast, preparing Count Hoiron’s funeral.”
“Nothing we can help with?”
“I asked, and she said to tell you she’ll stay on the eastern coast for three days.”
As Arthur nodded, another knock came, and someone entered.
It was his squire, Andrew.
“Young Master.”
“What’s up?”
“A guest has arrived…… a child.”
“A kid came to see me?”
Arthur looked puzzled, and Helot frowned disapprovingly.
“Young Master doesn’t have time for that. Handle it yourself.”
“I planned to, but the vibe wasn’t ordinary…….”
“What do you mean?”
As Helot’s brow furrowed slightly, Andrew bowed quickly and replied.
“He seemed like nobility!”
“Nobility?”
“Yes, even like an heir from a very high house, so I couldn’t handle it lightly.”
Arthur asked Andrew.
“Was he alone?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, coming to see me alone in these times…….”
Arthur pondered briefly before nodding.
“I need to meet him. Take me to him.”
“Understood.”
Andrew led the way quickly, and they exited together.
As Arthur entered the reception room, a boy of about ten sat drinking juice.
Andrew pointed at the boy.
“That’s him.”
Arthur looked at the boy.
The boy, sensing someone enter, set down his juice and turned.
Behind Andrew, who had guided him here, stood two burly men.
At first, both gave off a knightly aura, so Arthur thought they were Julius Count family escorts.
But one’s attire was slightly unusual.
It looked like armor at a glance, but up close, it was a very thin, leather-like red cloth garment.
Moreover, his shoulders bore ornate gold embroidery, and his chest featured the Julius Count family’s emblem: a gold dragon.
The boy smiled with his eyes and said.
“You must be Arthur Julius, the youngest son of Count Malcolm.”
“……!”
Arthur’s eyes flickered momentarily.
The casual disrespect toward Count Malcolm revealed him as a noble family scion.
At minimum, a marquis or higher!
Contrary to his swirling thoughts, Arthur calmly regarded the boy.
‘Who the hell is he?’
As question marked his face, he faintly sensed an aura from behind the boy.
Dark and cold, like an assassin with Jackal-level skills serving as escort knight.
‘Stronger than that guy…….’
Curiosity surged; he wanted to test it immediately but held back and stood before the boy.
“You came to see me?”
The boy nodded.
“You seem like a noble heir. Who sent you?”
“As rumored, quite arrogant.”
The boy grinned, locking eyes with Arthur.
“Ingenium Barotas.”
“What!”
Arthur’s eyes flashed.
The boy’s smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.
“The sole blood of Emperor Ruan and heir to the Oscar Empire. I’ve come a long way to meet you, heir of the Julius Count family.”