114. The Empire's First Prince
"...So that's what this is."
"A dullahan's head."
Martin scowled.
No matter how charitably one tried to frame it, the dullahan's head—rotting away and reeking of decay—was utterly repulsive.
He forced his expression to steady.
"There were hundreds of dullahans, not to mention death knights and even liches."
"Death knights and liches?"
"The death knights serve as legion commanders. They lead armies numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. What I witnessed was merely a fraction. No one knows how many more undead might be nesting inside the gorge."
They were far too few to topple the empire itself.
But if they went on a full rampage, they could utterly devastate the area around Hamstline Gorge.
"There might even be multiple black mages. It'd be hard for one person to create an army that size, right?"
"...Probably."
Martin swallowed a groan at the added exaggeration.
"Hillon Kargil. You were right."
"I always speak only the truth, Your Highness. I regret not bringing more, but the situation was too urgent."
"I understand. And this is more than enough. The very existence of a black mage capable of creating dullahans ensures the empire won't stand idly by."
Black mages had been virtually eradicated from Alein. No—eradicated entirely.
Thus, a black mage summoning dullahans was quite the shock.
Especially when tied to the recent movements of the demon kings, it raised alarms.
We need to eliminate them beforehand.
Before the black mages grew into a larger force.
"I'll report to His Majesty and take action."
"I don't think that's wise, Your Highness."
"What do you mean?"
"I know Your Highness cares for the people. But this isn't something to handle so simply. I hope Your Highness prepares thoroughly before reporting and claims the credit."
"That's crossing a line."
No matter how impressive Hillon Kargil was or how much credit he'd earned here, meddling in the imperial succession was another matter entirely.
"Just advice."
"Do you take me for a fool?"
"By now—or soon enough—the other imperial princes will have noticed my presence. Me, who has entrusted himself to Your Highness to aid you."
"So you'll test your luck with me?"
"Yes, I thought I'd give it a shot."
"We don't need help from heroes or the Hero Guild."
"Of course, no one—not the other princes or even His Majesty—would want me stepping in. But these are highly dangerous black mages. They might even be connected to a demon king. No—they are connected to a demon king."
Black mages were created solely through contracts with demon kings. At least, that was the common knowledge across the continent.
"Isn't it natural for a hero to join in smashing a demon king's schemes?"
"......"
It wasn't wrong.
Heroes and the Hero Guild meddling in imperial succession was problematic, but demon king threats absolutely required heroes.
One could repel demons—or even demon kings—without heroes. But why bother? Why suffer greater losses when an easier, faster path existed?
No nation would willingly bear such costs.
"...Wait for now. We'll continue treating you as a guest."
"Yes. Thank you."
Martin issued the order to dismiss the guest. Hillon Kargil departed.
"What do you think?"
"He's not wrong."
The guard knight bowed his head.
"If it were just about succession, it'd be a bad move. But with black mages—and possibly a demon king—involved, it could work in our favor."
"Do you think Hillon Kargil foresaw all this and approached me?"
"Frankly, yes. Best to stay cautious. He's hiding something."
"You see it too, huh."
Martin's gaze shifted to the dullahan's head Hillon Kargil had left behind.
"What do you think his angle is?"
"At the very least, not exactly what he claims."
"Yeah. If he just wanted help, approaching my brothers would be more practical."
"But even if he wants much, he won't cross the line."
Arrogant, but accurate.
That was the Jespain Empire and its imperial family. No matter that he'd slain two demon kings, Hillon couldn't withstand the empire's wrath. No one could.
"And at least for this incident, accepting is more beneficial than refusing."
"Indeed."
The offer was far too sweet.
So.
"We'll accept."
Gladly.
One official dispatch arrived at the Travi An count's household, guardians of Hamstline Gorge.
The visitor who had come discreetly to the count's estate was none other than Baron Torion, a noble of the capital known as the emperor's mouthpiece.
"Please accept this, Count."
"Hm."
The luxurious sealed letter bore the golden dragon seal symbolizing the emperor.
Count Travi An accepted it carefully.
Investigate the presence of the black mage group lurking within Hamstline Gorge.
"A secret order from His Majesty."
"...Investigate the black mages operating inside Hamstline Gorge?"
"Confirm as quickly as possible and report to His Majesty."
"No, wait—what do you mean, black mages?"
"Exactly as it says."
"It's been over nine years since I inherited the countship and guarded this gorge. No one knows it better than I."
"Are you saying His Majesty fabricated this from nothing?"
"No, that's not what I—"
"We have reliable intelligence."
"Intelligence? If even I, the gorge's overseer, didn't know, who provided it?"
"I can't disclose that."
"Secrets slipping out from my own domain."
"Not slipping out—you simply didn't know. Events in your domain, unknown to you, its very overseer."
"......"
"......"
Their gazes clashed. The count ground his teeth.
"His Majesty..."
"Wishes to give you one more chance. Why else would I deliver this secret order?"
"There are really black mages?"
"You've reported a decrease in monster activity these past few years."
"Correct."
"You couldn't pinpoint the cause, but doesn't it make sense if black mages—necromancers—are using the gorge's mana to create undead?"
"Even the heroes couldn't find them."
"They're hiding in the gorge's depths, underground beneath the site of the old demon king tower. Have you searched there?"
"Underground..."
He hadn't even known there was an underground.
"Convey my gratitude for His Majesty's great mercy. I will find them."
"Yes. So I shall."
"I'll make those bastards pay."
"No, that's not it."
"What do you mean?"
"You must only identify them. That's His Majesty's will."
"Is something being planned?"
"You'll learn soon enough."
"...Understood."
"Then I leave it in your hands."
"Convey my thanks for His Majesty's great mercy—and assure him I won't disappoint this time."
"Yes, so I shall."
The baron nodded.
Berge Dayas unfolded the Jespain Empire's newspaper.
The newspaper highlighted the empire's hottest issues.
The recent undead incident in Hamstline Gorge and the unrest in the snowfields.
But the snowfields matter was months old, so attention naturally focused on the gorge.
Especially the undead stories, exaggerated endlessly, spawning nonstop rumors.
"The third prince's doing?"
"Likely. He's inflating the black mages' threat to necessitate hero involvement."
"Not just the third prince acting alone—the emperor's will, perhaps."
A guess, but also a certainty.
It had happened before regression, albeit at a different time.
That was when.
"Yo...u...r... Hi...gh...ness."
"It can't... be...!"
A crash echoed, followed by multiple footsteps and the metallic ring of drawn swords.
Click.
The door opened. Knights scanned the room and took positions. A man strode in between them.
"It's you."
He looked down arrogantly at Berge and Hillon.
"The famous Hillon Kargil and... Fail."
The man exuded nobility. His natural pressure was that of a hegemon. Born ruler, noble blood. Every flattering term fit him.
Hillon rose and bowed.
"I see Prince Rufus Jespain, Your Highness."
"You know me?"
"Few wouldn't."
"I see."
The man nodded. His radiant golden hair—like Kaede's and Martin's—fluttered. Even brighter golden pupils curved slyly.
He pulled out a chair and sat naturally. At his glance, Hillon and Berge belatedly resumed their seats.
"I've heard of your fame. They say you're the finest hero among all nowadays."
"You're too kind."
"Heroes who slay demon kings are always rare. Two demon kings? Even more so."
Rufus's lips curved naturally.
"Seeing you in person, I get it. Your presence, dignity, speech—everything suits me."
"Thank you for the praise."
"Ah, serve tea?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Maids soon brought tea.
"Have some."
"Thank you."
Rufus stirred his tea vigorously with a teaspoon.
"You came to the capital at Martin's request?"
Calm as if sipping tea, he suddenly probed.
"Yes."
"Because of the black mage uproar shaking the capital?"
"Yes."
"Did Martin really summon you first?"
"I don't follow."
"Martin claims he discovered the black mages first. But even Count Travi An was unaware? Impossible."
"I wouldn't know."
"No, I think you do."
He took a sip of tea.
"The sequence is off from the start. It wasn't discovering the anomaly and requesting hero aid—you heard of the anomaly from the hero and took the commission."
The source of that information.
"You, right?"
"A misunderstanding. I merely accepted the third prince's request."
"Mind who's before you when you speak. Lies never lead to good ends."
Hillon fell silent. Rufus shrugged.
"Kidding. It doesn't really matter."
Clink.
"If you merely took a commission, bringing the dullahan head as proof ends it, no?"
Rufus set down his teacup.
"Then there's no further reason to side with Martin."
His eyes cooled sharply.
"Not necessarily."
"Not?"
"If the third prince requests again, I might accept."
"Whatever Martin promises, I'll promise more. Come to me."
"My apologies."
"Why?"
"Heroes value 'credibility' nearly as much as mercenaries do. Especially me—a Star and Argon of the guild."
"So you've already traded something else with Martin."
Rufus clicked his tongue.
"Then break that contract. No more ties, right?"
"Of course, without a contract, there's no reason I couldn't accept another offer."
"Remember that answer well."
Rufus stood.
"Oh, just in case."
He turned.
"Choosing Martin would be a truly foolish decision."
His eyes curved.
"Heroes don't meddle in the empire's succession."
"I pray that's true. It was a pleasure."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"By the way, there was one more. Fail, was it? Nice meeting you too."
"Yes."
"Until next time."
Clink.
Rufus left. Knights followed, and the door closed.
"...Well done."
"What nonsense is that?"
"Just now. Honestly, I thought you'd snap half his retinue."
"You see me as some brainless brute who lashes out?"
"Didn't you with Prince Cain Akan?"
"Cain and that one are different."
"You seem to know him well?"
"I do. Better than anyone."
Berge's lips twisted.
How could he not?
He was the culprit behind Berge's downfall after his meteoric rise.
Berge had kidnapped him himself, so no one to blame—but the memory still grated, teeth-clenchingly so.
In the past, the crown prince who slew all rival imperial kin vying for the throne and claimed succession.
Now, merely one among many princes: the first prince.
Rufus Jespain.
"How do you know the first prince, Fail?"
"Do I have to explain to you?"
"Wouldn't it be nice?"
"Annoying. Didn't expect him to come personally, though."
"Yes. Thought he'd send someone... not this."
That was when.
Knock knock.
A servant rapped on the door.
"A guest has arrived."
"Guest?"
"Yes, Prince Florian Jespain."
"......!"
"......!"
Berge and Hillon's eyes met.
"...He won't come again after this one's done, right?"
"Can't rule it out entirely."
"You handle it."
Florian Jespain—alongside Rufus Jespain, the empire's second prince, most likely to become crown prince.
It would be a long night.