The Youngest Son's Martial Awakening: Chaos's Shadow in the Imperial Banquet
The knights stationed across the grand ballroom drew their weapons with a roar that shook the very air.
“The guards!!!
Knights at every corner of the hall drew their blades and charged toward the robed bandits who had flipped their cloaks over their heads like specters.
In that instant one of the bandits pulled something from his robe and hurled it without hesitation toward the knights.
Kwaaang!!!
Another thunderous explosion erupted. Knights detonated into flames and exploded outward in showers of blood and flesh. The metallic reek of gore and acrid smoke of burning flesh spread like wildfire through the hall.
“Damn it! Call the knights! Quickly!
“Your Majesty! Protect His Majesty! Hurry!!
“All those armed—help us suppress these bandits!”
Emperor Baor Repelheim, along with a handful of nobles, broke into a sprint for safety. A few nobles who had already drawn their weapons joined the retreat.
Among them was the Empire’s First Sword, Shion Belhardt.
“Heh heh heh. Life is full of surprises.”
Shion Belhardt began drawing mana from the mana core in his chest. A dazzling column of mana light rose from his sword.
“Arrogant.”
The moment he thrust forward, several bandits hurled the very object they had thrown at the knights straight at Shion Belhardt.
Yet the target was the Empire’s First Sword himself. He did not hesitate. True to his other title—Venerable Mimicry Sword—his blade carved the air. A matching explosion bloomed in the void and swallowed the thrown bomb whole.
Kwaaang!!!
“Those flashy bombs of yours… I see. Then they’re useless.” He chuckled.
While Shion held the center, people began to appear from other directions.
“How tedious.”
Bator Belhardt, Patriarch of the Belhardt Ducal House, sighed.
“Tsk.”
Bellemian Serverki, Patriarch of the Serverki Ducal House, clicked his tongue.
“I need to find out which rat caused this. A revolutionary faction? Or a heresy?”
Sonian Mavelaine, Patriarch of the Mavelaine Ducal House, spoke in his stern noble tone.
The Dukes of the Empire’s three great ducal families stepped forward with weapons drawn, along with several high nobles who had managed to draw theirs. And far in the distance, knights guarding the imperial palace began to run toward the chaos.
***
“Luke! Come here! We’re evacuating!”
Terre Serverki, beside him, grabbed Luke’s hand tightly. But Luke immediately shook her off.
“Luke!”
“Just a moment. Sister!”
Luke’s eyes sharpened with the memories of the light novel he had read. This terror incident—exactly as described in the historical record “The Glory of All Humanity: The Complete Biography of Her Majesty the Sixth Imperial Princess Iria Repelheim.”
[The incident occurred when approximately one hundred bandits invaded the Founding Day banquet on the 693rd year of the Repelheim Empire’s founding…]
[The event was initially investigated as the actions of a rebel or heretical faction. However, as claimed by His Majesty the Sixth Imperial Princess Iria Repelheim, the Empire’s beloved sovereign…]
[It was later revealed to be a staged plot orchestrated by the Fourth Prince…]
[Based on the first suspicious details reported to Her Majesty and her subsequent investigations…]
[The result concluded it was a staged plot by the Fourth Prince’s faction, with all involved parties duly punished…]
“Staged plot. The truth hidden behind this incident is that it was a fabrication orchestrated by Iria Repelheim. She noticed the anomaly in the timeline and deduced the real truth.”
Luke’s gaze turned razor-sharp.
“I must make her believe I uncovered the truth the same way she did. That is the perfect way to prove my ability to Her Majesty Iria Repelheim.”
“Sister Terre, just a moment.”
“…Luke?”
“Perfect timing. A person who has been asking about me has appeared.”
Someone now stood directly in front of Luke.
With rough, hurried breathing, she looked at him.
“Excuse me.”
Pale blue hair and sky-blue eyes like the heavens.
Iria Repelheim stood before him, brow slightly furrowed.
“…You knew?”
Luke nodded to Iria, who had just arrived.
“I am not a co-conspirator. I simply learned of the matter by chance.”
“Heh. I see.”
Iria folded her arms and spoke.
“…Indeed. Then, do you know who the culprit is?”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
Just as the two were about to move, another figure slipped up behind Luke.
“…Sister?”
“It is dangerous to wander alone at a time like this, Luke.”
She winked softly.
“I don’t know the full details, but I will help. I’m your sister, after all, Luke?”
At Terre’s words, Luke nodded without hesitation.
Her arrival was a genuine boon.
Originally he had planned to take Shion Belhardt or Duke Bellemian Serverki, but Terre’s addition was more than acceptable.
She would later become one of the Eight Talents—the Calamity of Bright Lightning.
Even now she was exceptionally strong.
“I understand!”
“Yeah!”
Finally the three moved out of the imperial palace’s banquet hall.
***
“…This plan seems too bold.”
Fourth Prince Kalian Repelheim spoke to his subordinate Viscount Morian Belfastan and the robed bandits in a corner of the palace.
One of the bandits stepped forward and addressed Kalian.
“Fourth Prince. This is child’s play for us. Have you forgotten who we are?”
“Even so—bombing the palace?! You followers of the Eyes of Chaos! Have you forgotten who I am?!”
“We know all too well. The proud Fourth Prince of the Repelheim Empire, Kalian Repelheim, and simultaneously a collaborator with the Eyes of Chaos cult—our Kalian Repelheim, Your Highness.”
“How dare you speak such insolence!”
Viscount Morian Belfastan stepped forward, only for the bandit’s gaze to fix on him with an intense glare hidden within the robe.
Morian stumbled, unable to help it.
“Wait. If need be, we can eliminate the First Prince or the Third Prince. That would raise the chance that Fourth Prince Kalian becomes emperor.”
“Wh-what…? I only meant to threaten…!”
“Once you become emperor, our Eyes of Chaos would enjoy an excellent cooperative relationship. You are already too late. You should have been more careful when accepting our proposal.”
Kalian’s face drained of all color.
***
Tap-tap-tap—
The three sprinted briskly through the halls.
At the front was Luke, with Terre and Iria right behind him.
“According to the historical records, Iria was intrigued by the sight of Fourth Prince Kalian heading toward a different direction and, after further investigation, uncovered the truth behind the incident. Kalian, the timid and greedy prince, saw something amiss and decided to investigate.”
Luke’s brows furrowed.
“But right now, the moment Iria sensed the terror, she came straight to me. That means the timeline of the event where Iria witnesses Kalian’s movement has been erased.”
“Hey!”
“I need to find Kalian.”
“Hey! Where are you going?!”
Iria, who had been running far behind, called out. Luke turned.
“To the culprit behind the incident!”
“What? The culprit?”
“That’s right! I know exactly where the culprit is!”
“That must be true!”
“Of course it is!”
Luke muttered the trigger word he had secretly spoken earlier.
“Hear the voice of the witch. Children of the void. Follow the path I once walked and tell me the truth of the incident I am pursuing. Space rewind!”
Among the Witch’s Magic—known as the Seven Elements and Seven Fields: reverse, interference, prohibition, defiance, change, amplification.
Among them, the spatial rewind magic—tracking magic—from the reverse field activated.
Luke continued sprinting.
“Magic is still secret, huh?”
Iria looked at Luke with disbelief. Terre widened her eyes and asked Luke directly.
“Luke! Where did you even learn that…!”
“It’s still secret, isn’t it? Sister? I need at least one hidden card up my sleeve!”
“Oh my! My little brother has grown up!”
Even as Terre smiled brightly at Luke, the group continued running, with Luke at the lead through the vast, labyrinthine imperial palace.
They finally reached their destination.
“Your Highness! At this point we have no choice but to board their ship. We must survive the succession war with them…!”
“How… how could I… I was so foolish. The Eyes of Chaos. I shouldn’t have accepted their proposal…!”
Before them stood Fourth Prince Kalian, Viscount Morian Belfastan, and several robed figures.
Upon seeing the approaching trio, Kalian and Morian jolted in shock.
“What the—?”
Meanwhile, Iria pushed past Luke and stepped forward, shoulders squared, scanning the crowd.
“This situation requires a proper explanation. Fourth Prince Brother?”
Her eyes sharpened.
“No. Perhaps I should say ‘traitor’? Surely you are not colluding with these terrorists, are you?”
At that, Kalian waved his hands in panic.
“Misunderstanding! Iria! I never ordered such a thing! It’s their own madness! Madmen, I tell you!”
“It looks far too affectionate the way you’re clinging to them. Obviously. You planned this insane act out of jealousy toward Brothers Erant and Lutis! Don’t you feel ashamed before Her Majesty who once cherished you so much? Do you really think Her Majesty will forgive this?”
“Misunderstanding! It’s just a misunderstanding…!”
At that moment the bandit leader turned to Iria and then to Kalian.
“…Why are you suffering over this?”
“What?”
“Simply kill him.”
Clang.
The man drew his sword at his waist and addressed the Fourth Prince.
“The timing is perfect. With the Sixth Princess here, your spotlight is guaranteed. For the sake of the Empire’s chaos, it couldn’t be better. Watch from there, Fourth Prince. This is the moment you overtake someone in the succession war.”
The man walked slowly forward, and ten robed bandits followed.
“This guy! No way! How far do you plan to drag me into disgrace…!”
“Your Highness! This is the best course! Wait a moment! Once the Eyes of Chaos is exposed, we’ll all face the death penalty! This might actually be better!”
“Viscount Morian! How can you say something like that…!”
Meanwhile, Terre and Luke surrounded Iria to protect her.
“Hmm. Luke, our little brother. If I keep guarding you like this, my body might not last. You want me to fight without a weapon?”
“I’m sorry, Sister.”
“Oh? Our Luke even knows how to apologize!”
“In this situation, treating me like a child is difficult!”
“Don’t worry, Luke.”
In that instant.
The crimson light of lightning settled into the eyes of Terre Serverki, the third child of the Serverki Ducal House and one of the Eight Talents—the Calamity of Bright Lightning.
“Who am I? Your sister. Terre Serverki.”
Her figure vanished.
And.
Kwaaang!!!
A deafening explosion echoed.
Heavenly Light Lightning Sword.
A single crimson bolt carved a straight line through the air and blasted one of the robed bandits into the distance, shattering him.
The bandits froze for a split second.
Terre’s lips curved into a smile.
“Shall we begin? Oh, and by the way, I’m the third child of the Serverki Ducal House—Terre Serverki. I don’t even need a sword. You people can all die whenever I want.”
Her eyes half-closed in a smile.
“Come on. Let’s start. Our little brother is watching, after all. I have to look cool.”
***
“Heh. That’s already 6th Tier level, isn’t it…?”
Luke chuckled in disbelief.
Terre Serverki.
Even before joining the Eight Talents, she had shone brightly in the ducal family’s succession war. Now she was letting loose.
Kwaaang!!!
Lightning flashed wildly. Thunder roared. Crimson lightning tore through the air.
Terre Serverki, wielder of the Serverki family’s secret martial art—Heavenly Light Lightning Sword—danced amid the crimson bolts.
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
Her battle cry swept across the hall as lightning storms raged in every direction.
She stepped on the ground and shot straight into the sky in an instant.
The crimson lightning was no mere bolt—it was an entire storm!
The bandits scrambled to prepare barriers, but one strike of the lightning was enough to end them.
Terre’s body plummeted like falling lightning.
Kaaang!!!
Twirling once in mid-air, Terre crashed down and turned another bandit into a pulp.
“Everyone. Prepare to die.”
She winked at the bandits.
“A sister who protects her brother is terrifyingly strong.”
Both her hands were already stained with crimson lightning and fresh blood.
That blood included her own.
She had been using the Heavenly Light Lightning Sword without a weapon for the first time, so her technique was still somewhat clumsy.
Yet her expression remained bright. The crimson lightning in her eyes clearly proved her perfect state.
While Terre dealt with most of the bandits, Luke raised his right hand toward the sky.
“Your Highness, stay close to me.”
The moment the words left his mouth, vitality surged through the mana tree lurking inside his mana core.
“The witch’s time doesn’t spare those who aren’t witches.”
One of the Eight Talents—the Calamity of Mixed Hearts—known as the Great Witch of the Forest, Elise Bystana.
In the moment Luke’s witch’s magic was about to unfold.
Tap!
His finger snapped. The flow of witch’s time began.