Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: 23. Mountain Duke, Steel Marquis, and Tactical Count (1)
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The second son of the Valencia Ducal family, Rak, left the stuffy office to calm his chaotic mind and headed to the garden.
Ten escorts followed him.
"We're inside the lord's castle. Do we really need this many guards?"
Rak said in a quiet voice. Knights were already standing guard in the garden, so he thought ten escorts were excessive. The old knight, who had been listening silently, opened his mouth with a firm expression.
"Viscount Repeat, who rebelled against the imperial authority in the Imperial Capital, has lost his life. Even if this is the lord's castle, we can't let our guard down. I think even this number of escorts is insufficient."
"The imperial authority isn't fully stabilized yet. Surely they wouldn't touch me?"
The Valencia Ducal family was one of the most historic houses in the Philius Empire and a powerhouse in the west. Because of that, Rak believed that Raymond, the emperor who had only recently ascended the throne, wouldn't take the extreme step of directly attacking the Valencia Ducal family.
"Didn't you hear this evening? The decision has already been made to change our territory into an imperial demesne. Desertions from the territorial army and nobles have already begun."
The old knight advised gravely. The noble holding the rank of baronet next to him nodded as well.
"That's right, my lord. You must make a decision before it's too late."
"A decision..."
Rak fell deep into thought. It was too grave a matter for a young man in his early twenties to decide. Though he had received lordly training since childhood, he couldn't help but hesitate now that the moment to make a choice had arrived.
"What must I do to survive?"
He asked in a calm voice. The baronet stepped forward and spoke.
"You must declare independence."
"The stench of treason reaches even here."
A chilling voice struck his ears just as the baronet finished speaking.
"Who goes there!"
"Knights!"
The old knight, who had reached a high realm, drew his sword first, and the baronet urgently called for the knight order. The knights guarding the garden rushed over in unison. The escort mages generated magical light all at once, illuminating the darkness.
The heavy darkness that had settled over the garden receded, revealing shadows. They were Shades.
"Did the emperor send you?"
The old knight asked, but the Shades didn't answer. They simply drew daggers that gleamed black from within the darkness.
The old knight raised his sword, generating a mana blade, and assumed a defensive stance. At the same time, he scanned the garden quickly with his eyes.
"How many are there?"
The baronet asked cautiously. Though not exceptional, he was a mid-level mage. As he extended both hands, blue mana gathered.
"Their presence is hard to read. At least five, that's all I can tell..."
Even the old knight, who had reached a high realm, couldn't fully detect the Shades' presence. He could barely confirm their numbers from the faint afterimages in the darkness.
"This isn't good."
It was a voice laced with deep despair. The baronet shook his head with a short sigh.
"I'll hold them here. Escort the lord away and..."
"That won't be possible."
"Why..."
"Look over there."
Three Shades in black uniforms appeared in the passageway leading out of the garden. Including them, a total of eight Shades were slowly closing in.
"I'll try to disrupt them."
The baronet invoked his mana.
"Bind!"
The mid-level spell was complete. Magical chains infused with blue mana targeted the Shades. But that was it.
"Useless."
As a dry voice rang out, a swung dagger severed all the magical chains. At the same time, the Shades behind hurled black-painted darts.
Puk! Puk!
The knights with darts embedded in their throats collapsed without even a dying scream.
"Attack."
At the cold command of the Shades' leader, his subordinates melted into the darkness.
When they reappeared, knights were collapsing with sharp screams, spraying blood.
"Damn it!"
Cursing at the sight of his subordinates falling helplessly, the old knight swung his sword. It clashed with a Shade's dagger, scattering mana fragments everywhere.
"Kuhk!"
"Krahk!"
In that brief moment, two more escorts fell. The baronet, having taken five darts to the chest, staggered weakly.
"My lord!"
The last remaining escort tumbled after blood fountained from his neck, and the old knight tried to rush to Rak. But two Shades blocked his path, forcing him to watch the legitimate heir of the Valencia Ducal family be murdered before his eyes.
"Kill him thoroughly."
"N-No!"
Their daggers mercilessly pierced Rak's vital points.
To the Shades' eyes, Rak was a traitor linked to the rebels, so they showed no mercy—ruthless and brutal.
By the time the old knight belatedly cut down one Shade and reached the young lord, his breath had already stopped.
"What about that knight?"
"Take care of him."
"Understood."
A short exchange followed. The Shades charged in unison, and the old knight couldn't hold out for five seconds before blood sprayed from his entire body.
Cassias, one of the Imperial Army's top commanders, could hardly contain his excitement. He had just received a summons from Raymond, who had rightfully ascended the throne.
He had joined the Imperial Army immediately after finishing his knight training. There was no special reason. Like any other imperial citizen, Cassias had grown up hearing tales of the Philius Empire's glorious past and enlisted to help restore that splendor.
Since ancient times, the Philius Empire's Imperial Army had demanded fanatical loyalty to the emperor and imperial family, enforced through rigorous mental training.
By the end of that training, Cassias had become a full-fledged Imperial Army knight and commander.
"Sir Cassias. His Majesty the Emperor summons you."
He was calming his buoyant heart in the wide corridor before the emperor's office when a Royal Guard emerged from the door and relayed the emperor's words.
"I shall enter."
Steadying his pounding heart, he opened the door and stepped inside.
The first person he saw was Gestain, the one-armed Guard Captain standing by the wall. He gave Cassias a quick glance and a light nod of greeting.
Gestain and Cassias had grown close while crossing the front lines together in the northeast.
"You've come, Sir Cassias."
A voice that was casual yet carried just the right amount of dignity. Its owner was the young emperor, Raymond.
"Yes! I came running at His Majesty the Emperor's call!"
Cassias replied in a vigorous voice. Seeing his readiness to follow any order faithfully, Raymond nodded with a satisfied smile.
"I have a task for you."
"I will accomplish it with all my best, no matter what it is."
His zeal showed no discrimination—he would do anything. It revealed his near-fanatical loyalty to the emperor and imperial family.
"I'll give you command of 1,000 Imperial Army troops. Join the Western Central Army and head to the Valencia Imperial Demesne."
Though Rak and his household had been eliminated, failing to send troops could cause issues. Raymond considered Cassias the most reliable commander in the current Imperial Army, so he was sending him west.
"I shall uphold the imperial command!"
The Imperial Army was ready. Cassias, overjoyed, led his 1,000 troops toward the Valencia Imperial Demesne in the west.
"Phew... Can I finally catch a breath?"
Raymond muttered as he sank into the office sofa. He'd been endlessly busy with no rest, but now he thought he could relax a bit.
But then Count Potas entered and reported that the situation with the Mountain Duke and the border was far from normal. His brief respite vanished in an instant, leaving Raymond shaking his head in dismay.
The Crimson Tower and Azure Tower hadn't fully absorbed the powerless Imperial Tower yet, and the border was unstable. A rebellion now would be the worst for Raymond and the perfect opportunity for the Mountain Duke.
"How long will it take to secure funds from the Valencia Imperial Demesne?"
Raymond asked. Count Potas, who had come for a report, scratched his chin and organized his thoughts.
"Securing the funds themselves isn't difficult, but rearming the outdated units from the Northern Central Army will take considerable time. I doubt the Mountain Duke will sit idle during that."
"Do you think the Mountain Duke will raise troops immediately?"
"He won't be able to mobilize right away. But with the suspicious movements at the border, this is their ideal moment—they'll do everything to incite civil war as quickly as possible."
Count Potas was right. Just looking at the report from Marquis Crayer, who had returned to the border, skirmishes with Free Ishiria Kingdom mercenaries in the Black Mountains had noticeably increased.
The Tripartite Alliance was exercising restraint to avoid giving pretext, but they continued power reconnaissance to gauge the Philius Empire's military strength.
"So, time is running out before the Mountain Duke acts."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I need to go outside the palace. Prepare a minimal escort."
Count Potas looked puzzled as Raymond suddenly stood and donned his uniform coat.
"What do you think the Mountain Duke will do before moving his army?"
"Remove obstacles for a perfect advance?"
Count Potas answered. Raymond nodded gravely and spoke.
"That obstacle is in the capital. If we win him over, he'll surely aid us in the civil war against the Mountain Duke."
In a rundown library near the slums of the Philius Empire's capital, a young librarian in his early thirties was teaching orphans once a week.
He provided light snacks during lessons, so the orphans always flocked to his classes.
"That's all for today's lesson."
"Thank you, Teacher Erwin Denitz."
As the young librarian, Erwin Denitz, set down the chalk and spoke, the children in the classroom shouted in unison.
Watching the children dash out of the classroom to play during break, Erwin Denitz wore a faint smile.
He hoped this small happiness would last forever. Though of noble birth, he was content with his current life.
"Teacher!"
"What is it, Timmy?"
A child who had gone out to kick a ball with friends returned.
"Some men are looking for you."
"Men?"
More than one. Feeling uneasy, he donned a worn coat and exited the library. Three figures with hoods pulled low stood in the open lot right outside.
Their robes hid their builds, but the slender jawline peeking from one hood revealed it belonged to a woman.
"Who are you?"
The young librarian's voice was sharp. One of the hooded figures stepped forward, lowering his robe to reveal a sword at his waist.
"Insolent."
"It's fine."
The apparent leader spoke in a gentle voice. Erwin Denitz soon felt the leader's gaze upon him through the hood.
Uneasy, he scanned the surroundings. Strangers were visible. All wore hoods pulled low, some openly exposing themselves.
"What brings you here? As you see, all I have is this small library."
"Can't you at least offer a cup of tea to your guests?"
"Can I call guests those who won't reveal their identities?"
Erwin Denitz said sharply.
"If that's the issue..."
The leader removed his hood. A handsome face with blond hair and blue eyes appeared. He rolled up his robe sleeve, revealing his right hand.
At that moment, Erwin Denitz's eyes widened.
On the man's right middle finger was a ring—the Philius Empire's imperial symbol, the 'Silent Absolute.'
"H-His Majesty the Empe..."
"Shh, quietly."
Raymond brought a finger to his lips. Only then did the young librarian, Erwin Denitz, close his mouth and nod.
"It's humble, but please come in."
He guided Raymond, Gestain, and Desia to the librarian's room in the old library. Soon, he brought tea and spoke calmly.
"What brings you here, Your Majesty?"
His tone remained curt. Even if the visitor was the emperor, he was still an uninvited guest.
"First, one question, Sir Erwin Denitz. Do you think the Mountain Duke will keep his promise to you?"