Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Chapter 15: The One Who Walks Ahead (2)
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"Sylvia, you said your younger sister is in the capital?"
"Yes, Your Highness the 5th Prince! Please, protect her—she who bears the high elf bloodline!"
Siadin answered in Sylvia's place. His cry, as if it would tear his throat apart, was enough to stir pity in anyone.
"Isn't Your Highness the 5th Prince right here in the Black Mountains?"
There was the option of using the warp gate in the Crayer Marquisate with a small group, but even wealthy nobles would find the cost burdensome. The elves couldn't afford it.
That was why Sylvia was prepared to abandon her younger sister's life.
"Isn't there communication magic? The capital and the Imperial Capital have top-tier mages."
"I'm sorry, but aren't all of Your Highness's people here? Besides, the Crimson Tower and Azure Tower are under surveillance. It won't be easy for either tower to move forces to rescue Aria."
"You know quite a lot."
"My apologies. I heard it from His Highness the 2nd Prince."
Raymond smirked at Sylvia's words. Just as she said, all of his people were here, and the Crimson and Azure Towers were being watched. But there was one fact Sylvia didn't know.
"I have one person who can move in the capital—more precisely, in the Imperial Capital."
It was the Imperial Capital Guard Captain, Ivan Lows.
He had nearly faced extreme punishment for failing to respond swiftly when the banquet hall was attacked, but Raymond's miraculous survival had allowed him to barely preserve his life and position. In gratitude, he had promised to grant one request.
Raymond had forgotten about it until now, but thanks to Sylvia, it came back to him.
"You know where your sister is, right?"
"Yes, I've pinpointed her exact location."
Sylvia nodded in response to Raymond's question. In preparation for a day like this, she had attached a spirit to her sister Aria.
It was a very small spirit, subtle enough that the 2nd Prince's subordinates wouldn't notice, but sufficient to track her position.
"That should be enough. I'll move the Imperial Capital Guard, so you don't need to worry too much."
"Thank you, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
Sylvia bowed her head once more. He was even promising to save her younger sister, whom she had thought she had to sacrifice for the clan—she could bow a hundred times over.
Even Siadin, who always prioritized her honor and position, slowly lowered his head in sincere gratitude.
"Gestain."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Release their bindings."
"Is that truly wise?"
"They've been honest with me, so I should show them some trust in return."
Raymond smirked under Gestain's gaze, which seemed to ask if they might run away.
"The concern of the Guard Captain won't come to pass."
Raymond spoke with firm conviction.
Not only had they shared the method to purify the World Tree, but he had also promised to save her sister. Unless Sylvia was foolish, she wouldn't flee or harm anyone here.
"Shall I also release the mana restraints?"
"Do so."
"Understood."
Gestain asked no more. He and Desia released the binding spells on Sylvia and Siadin.
"You must not betray my trust."
With the survival of her clan and kin firmly in his grasp, there was no risk of betrayal. Even knowing that, Raymond demanded a reaffirmation of trust.
"In this situation, Your Highness the 5th Prince knows better than anyone that I cannot betray you."
She was sharp, as expected.
Sylvia and Siadin gained limited freedom upon release from the binding spells.
Letting the two elves roam the camp freely would cause issues in many ways, so Raymond assigned a few reliable Imperial Army knights to escort—and watch— them.
He had declared protection under the 5th Prince's name to minimize chaos among the garrison's forces, but if someone with deep hatred acted on it, the elves could be harmed. Having Imperial Army knights nearby was unavoidable.
Fortunately, Sylvia seemed to understand the situation.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince, can you truly trust those two elves?"
Right after Raymond declared protection for Sylvia and Siadin, the two tower lords arrived.
The Crimson Tower Lord stayed silent, observing, but Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior did not hide his suspicious glare.
"They were deeply involved in the assassination attempt on imperial blood, even if manipulated. We mustn't trust them lightly."
"You seem to distrust humans, old man."
"They are not 'humans,' Your Highness the 5th Prince."
Distrust overflowed in Risefield's eyes. Seeing it, Raymond let out a short sigh before speaking.
"Old man. Aren't you the Azure Tower Lord before being a high mage?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
"Then you should know what the World Tree means to the elves...?"
Risefield couldn't answer immediately. His eyes darted around, glancing only at the Crimson Tower Lord and Gestain.
In the end, Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle, who had been leaning against the wall watching the Azure Tower Lord's flustered behavior, stepped forward.
"The Azure Tower Lord is simply concerned for Your Highness's safety."
"Y-Yes, that's right."
Risefield quickly nodded at Berenus's words.
"Well, it's my fault for not explaining in detail..."
Of those present at the deal, only Gestain and Desia knew besides Sylvia and Siadin.
The two tower lords didn't know what had happened inside the tent. On second thought, the Azure Tower Lord's safety concerns weren't entirely unreasonable.
Raymond gave the two tower lords a rough explanation of the situation. When they heard that the 2nd Prince had corrupted the Platinum Leaf clan's World Tree to hold them hostage, their faces paled.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince, I strongly recommend burning the Platinum Leaf clan's forest to the ground."
Berenus's red eyes gleamed sharply. His voice and gaze were unwavering, full of resolve.
"If you approve, I will mobilize all of the Crimson Tower's forces to 'cleanse' that forest."
He meant it. Why was the usually composed Crimson Tower Lord reacting so hypersensitivity, unlike the Azure Tower Lord?
After a brief moment of thought, Raymond realized the reason.
"Crimson Tower Lord."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Is this because of the tribal alliance?"
"Yes. If word spreads to them that His Highness the 2nd Prince touched what is essentially the elves' holy site—the World Tree—it could bring harm to the Philius Empire."
He was planning mass slaughter not for the 2nd Prince's safety, but to prevent damage to the Philius Empire's honor.
"There's no need for that."
Raymond was firm.
"Your Highness, after the Great War, the western continent's non-humans scattered completely, their connections severed. But the eastern continent's tribal alliance remains intact. I'm worried that if they hear this news from the deep forests, it could lead to unfortunate incidents for the Philius Empire."
Unlike the human-victorious western continent, the tribal alliance had won on the eastern continent.
The terrain was different from the start. While the western continent was mostly plains, the eastern was dominated by deep forests, putting humans at a disadvantage from the war's outset.
"Crimson Tower Lord, your concerns won't come to pass."
"Are you certain?"
Raymond grinned and nodded at Berenus's question.
"The tribal alliance won't cross the high mountains anytime soon."
He was certain. During the serialization of [Empire of the Dead] up to volume 3, the tribal alliance never once crossed the high mountains.
The biggest reason was the patrols. Defeated in the great war on the eastern continent and driven to the high mountains, they had contracted with the western continent's Steel Guardians for survival. In exchange for bodies suited to high altitudes, they were tasked with intercepting non-humans heading west.
They never left the high mountains, and the Philius Empire, unlike with the Black Mountains, only stationed forces at the border of the high mountains, finding them burdensome. Thus, the patrols were largely unknown in the west.
Even the Ice Tower of the Highfel Empire didn't know. Raymond wouldn't have either without the author's setting notes.
"But, Your Highness..."
"Is there any record of the tribal alliance's forces crossing the high mountains after the Great War?"
He thought citing history would be quicker than explaining the patrols.
"No."
Berenus slowly nodded. Even without knowing the patrols, since the tribal alliance had never invaded the west over the high mountains, he had no choice but to fall silent.
"Then trust me. The tribal alliance won't be a threat to us. 'Not yet,' that is."
Though the patrols held until volume 3 in the novel, the setting notes left 'possibilities' open. So invasion after volume 3 wasn't impossible.
'Not something to worry about right now.'
With the 2nd Prince and the Bloody Funeral unresolved, he had no desire to add more worries. Preparing for the future was good, but overdoing it wasn't.
"I will trust and follow Your Highness the 5th Prince."
The persuasion didn't drag on. The brief explanation backed by history was enough to convince Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle.
He cleanly set aside his opinion and nodded.
"Good."
Raymond nodded in satisfaction. It was unexpected for the Crimson Tower Lord, not the Azure, to overreact, but they had passed the hurdle.
"With that settled, shall we move to the next item?"
His gaze then turned to Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior. He tried to avoid it, but as Raymond's steady stare persisted, he finally gave an awkward smile.
"Do you need communication magic?"
Raymond nodded at Risefield's question before speaking.
"Can you contact the Imperial Capital Guard Captain discreetly?"
The Philius Empire's Imperial Capital had effectively suffered two attacks. Afterward, Imperial Capital Guard Captain Ivan Lows had spent nights and days strengthening defenses and increasing patrols.
Sometimes, he inspected the night watch with his subordinates.
Today, as usual, he had finished checking the defenses and was heading back to his mansion. Sensing someone tailing him, he reached for the sword hilt at his waist.
"Better to come out quietly."
The capital's security, not just the Imperial Capital's, had been chaotic lately. He was ready to stain his blade with blood and swiftly turned toward the presence, drawing his sword.
A sharp mana blade erupted along the edge.
"Ilais, top-grade mage of the Crimson Tower. Do you have a moment?"
"What business does the Crimson Tower have?"
Even after Ilais revealed himself, Ivan's attitude remained cold.
"There are many eyes around."
"Is it something that requires avoiding other gazes?"
Ilais slowly nodded at Ivan's question, then scanned the surroundings. His keen senses detected no other presences.
Not even Hashashin could evade a top-grade mage's eyes. He could relay the 5th Prince's message here, borrowing the shadows of the darkness.
After rolling his eyes and scanning once more, Ilais decided. He stepped closer to Ivan, narrowing the distance.
"A message from His Highness the 5th Prince."
Ivan's eyes lit up at Ilais's words. He owed the 5th Prince a debt.
"This doesn't seem like the place to hear it."
He had no choice but to admit it. Ivan Lows, Imperial Capital Guard Captain, was a loyal servant to the Philius Empire and the Emperor, and a supporter of the 1st Prince in the imperial succession struggle.
It wouldn't do for others to see him consorting with the 5th Prince's subordinate.
"Come to my mansion first."
There was a secret room in the mansion. The servants on duty at this hour were tight-lipped, so no risk of word leaking about a Crimson Tower mage's visit.
Ilais, mindful of external eyes, wasn't in Crimson Tower robes.
Ivan led Ilais into the mansion's secret room.
"Speak now."
"His Highness requests the use of the Capital Guard Force under the Imperial Capital Guard."
"Why?"
"To rescue a VIP."
Ivan frowned at Ilais's curt reply. Too little explanation.
He needed at least minimal information to move the Capital Guard Force. At the very least, confirm it wouldn't harm the 1st Prince.
"I need more details."
Ivan demanded elaboration, and Ilais readily nodded, continuing. Of course, nothing about the 2nd Prince.
Raymond hadn't told Ilais about the 2nd Prince in the first place.
Without solid proof linking the 2nd Prince to the Edriger Kingdom, it was too risky to act rashly.
"...That's all. The choice is yours, Lord Ivan."
The explanation ended, and Ilais left the mansion hurriedly. Alone in the secret room, Ivan pondered gravely for a long while before grabbing his sword from beside him and exiting.
"Assemble the Imperial Capital Guard and the Capital Guard Force immediately!"