Chapter 175: To Bring a Definitive End (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175: To Bring a Definitive End (1)
Sunlight streamed through the window.
The middle-aged man lying in the sickbed struggled to open his eyes, staring blankly at the bright rays.
"...I am not dead."
His voice was dry and raspy.
The man was Count Nicholas.
Grimacing at the delayed wave of pain, he looked down to check his condition. He was a complete mess. As if to prove just how close he had come to death's door, his entire upper body was swathed in bandages.
'Though the external wounds look severe, Roman Dmitry never intended to kill me.'
That was the conclusion he reached after examining his own body.
The gash running from his upper chest down to his pubic bone was gruesome just to look at, but it had only sliced the flesh—it hadn't caused any internal damage whatsoever. Roman Dmitry had undoubtedly shown mercy. He had staged a dramatic, bloody scene for the sake of forcing a generational shift, but Nicholas's survival was absolute proof of Roman's true intentions.
Through the haze of his memories, Roman’s final words echoed in his mind.
"Do not worry about what comes next. I have no intention of betraying Cairo."
Immediately after hearing those words, Count Nicholas had been struck down by a lightning-fast blow.
The spectators had thought Count Nicholas stared wide-eyed in the face of his impending death, but the truth was that the voice echoing in his mind had utterly bewildered him. He couldn't fathom Roman Dmitry's intentions. Up until that moment, Roman's actions had shown zero connection to the Cairo royal family. If anything, he had associated with factions like Marquis Benedict's. Roman Dmitry was the weight that would tip the scales. If he aligned with the Noble Faction, it meant the Cairo royal family—even with Count Nicholas on their side—could no longer hold out.
That was exactly why Nicholas had entered the public ranking match.
By defeating Roman Dmitry, he wanted to prove that he was still an insurmountable wall protecting the crown.
But the result was an overwhelming defeat.
The public might have thought it was a fierce, closely contested battle, but Count Nicholas—who had personally clashed swords with him—knew that Roman Dmitry was at least two steps ahead. Otherwise, Roman could never have been so dominant in their continuous head-on clashes. Roman had played along with Nicholas's intentions without yielding a single inch, and in the end, he even had the composure to spare his life.
Defeat.
It was a bitter outcome.
Yet, the fact that he was still alive, combined with those final words, plunged Count Nicholas into deep thought.
'First, I need to grasp the situation.'
"Ugh."
He pushed himself up.
Though his body screamed for time to recover, understanding the current state of the Cairo royal family was far more important to Count Nicholas than his own well-being.
* * *
He summoned Simon.
Seeing Count Nicholas looking up at him from the sickbed, Simon looked as if he might burst into tears at any moment.
"...I thought you were dead, Commander. I am so, so glad you are safe."
Count Nicholas was like the heavens to Simon.
Touched by his subordinate's deep loyalty, Count Nicholas offered a warm smile.
"You have worked hard in my absence."
"No, sir. I only did what was required of me."
"If you hadn't held the line and led the Royal Knights, the chaos engulfing Cairo would have been far worse. I am truly proud of you. Because of you, I was able to enter the public ranking match with peace of mind."
Half a year ago, he had appointed Simon to the vacant position of Vice Commander.
People had questioned Simon's abilities, as he wasn't even a 4-Star Swordsman, but Count Nicholas believed Simon was the perfect fit. The Royal Knights were the guardians of the royal family. To remain unwavering in the face of countless temptations, absolute loyalty to the crown was far more important than mere swordsmanship.
That was Simon.
In his mid-forties, though his potential as a swordsman was nothing extraordinary, he was a man truly worthy of the title Royal Knight.
Count Nicholas spoke.
"Simon. Tell me what happened while I was unconscious."
"Yes, Commander. Immediately after you collapsed..."
The briefing began.
The clash between Roman Dmitry and the Noble Faction.
Simon explained how Roman Dmitry had subsequently approached the King to propose a deal, officially marking the beginning of the civil war. Throughout his explanation, Simon's voice held genuine respect for Roman. Although Roman was fighting for a clear price, the way he handled matters was truly admirable.
The disposal of the Imperial Faction.
The brilliant plan to set the stage by moving a giant like Marquis Valentino.
The Royal Faction had completely seized the upper hand.
By gaining just a single ally in Roman Dmitry, the Royal Faction was now overwhelming all other forces.
"...That is how things stand. We are on the verge of marching out. Roman Dmitry has taken command, and we intend to launch an immediate assault on Marquis Benedict's Noble Faction."
The explanation ended.
Count Nicholas fell into deep thought.
Roman Dmitry.
The greatest swordsman in Cairo's history had been born.
The entire political landscape of Cairo could have shifted in any direction depending on his choice, yet Roman Dmitry had bypassed wealth and glory to choose the King. It was something to be truly grateful for. The fact that a monster whom even Nicholas himself could not handle had not abandoned the Cairo royal family was a blessing to thank the heavens for.
This war.
If they lost, it was the end.
Even if his injuries prevented him from taking the field himself, he could not simply sit idly by.
"Simon. Take me to the departure ceremony. I have something to do there."
His emotions surged.
This was the opportunity to set the kingdom straight.
He wanted to contribute whatever strength he had left to this historic moment.
* * *
Finally, the moment of the decisive battle arrived.
With the departure ceremony about to begin, Roman Dmitry donned his armor and set out.
Clank. Clank.
His attire was different from usual.
Roman generally wore minimal armor because it hindered his movements, but since he was representing the royal family today, he was fully armored. The silver plating, engraved with the royal crest, contrasted sharply with his pale skin and pitch-black hair, exuding a charisma that instantly captivated everyone's gaze.
In the distance, he saw the crowd waiting for him.
The members of the Royal Faction, including King Daniel Cairo, were present. And standing off to one side was an unexpected figure.
Count Nicholas.
He had dragged his heavily injured body to the ceremony.
Roman Dmitry knew exactly what this meant.
'Count Nicholas is the symbol of the military. The fact that he showed up at the departure ceremony even after losing to me in the public ranking match means he is completely handing over command of the army to me. Both the King of Cairo and Count Nicholas... they haven't lost their pure intentions despite this chaotic power struggle.'
Perhaps Roman had been drawn to that very purity.
Had he aligned with Marquis Benedict, he could have easily taken over Cairo, but he knew that those consumed by insatiable greed would inevitably cause trouble. Just as Baek Joong-hyuk had maintained a friendly relationship with the Emperor during his reign over Murim, he hoped Cairo would play a similar role.
Step.
He took his place on the podium.
Countless soldiers looked up at Roman.
Roman looked back at them and spoke in a calm, steady voice.
"Cairo has endured a long period of chaos. The Noble Faction, led by Marquis Benedict, is a group that prioritizes their own self-interest over the safety of the nation. Because of them, Cairo has never been allowed a peaceful existence. We are now marching to execute these traitors. Though a civil war where people of the same blood kill one another will only bring us indelible pain, I promise you that once this war is over, the internal chaos of Cairo will be completely resolved. And..."
He drew his sword.
In war, what anxious people needed most was the absolute certainty of victory.
"I will always stand at the vanguard of this war. So, trust in me and follow. When I open the path, follow me and seize victory!"
"Waaaaaaah!"
"Roman! Roman!"
"Roman! Roman!"
The crowd erupted in deafening cheers.
The most terrifying existence in Cairo.
His declaration that he would stand at the vanguard instilled blind faith in the soldiers.
There was no turning back now.
The war—the grand battle that would decide the fate of the kingdom—had begun.
* * *
Meanwhile, within the Noble Faction.
Their response was exactly as expected.
Having gathered their forces in the Benedict territory, they held an emergency meeting upon receiving reports that the royal army was on the move.
"If they utilize the nearby Warp Gates, the royal army will descend upon Benedict in a week at the earliest. As things stand, our chances in a head-on clash are extremely slim. We must lock the castle gates, utilize the advantages of a siege defense, and look for an opportunity to turn the tide."
Just as the noble said, the Noble Faction's situation was grim.
Initially, they had believed that gathering their forces would allow them to sweep away the Cairo royal family in one fell swoop. But Marquis Valentino's sudden declaration of support and Count Fabius's betrayal had been devastating blows. Setting aside the Raccoon of Cairo, they still couldn't fathom why Marquis Valentino had changed his mind.
A key figure of the Noble Faction, Viscount Owen, spoke up.
"Marquis Valentino is a man who has always maintained strict neutrality. He drew excessively clear lines to avoid the trouble of taking sides. For such a figure to declare support for Roman Dmitry means that, objectively speaking, our forces are inferior. In truth, having lost most of our top experts in the public ranking match, we have no way to stop Roman Dmitry."
They, too, had to admit it.
Roman's plan had been flawless.
Not only had he drawn in Marquis Valentino, but when they finally realized the hidden intention behind the public ranking match, they couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of admiration.
The problem was that such a terrifying existence was their enemy.
Having heard of his monstrous exploits on the Southern Front, they dared not choose a head-on battle.
"Currently, the Noble Faction cannot properly utilize nearly half of its strength. We must accept reality and understand that we will have to endure some losses to defeat Roman Dmitry's royal army. Marquis Benedict, why don't we contact the nobles who follow the Kronos Empire and Valhalla? With their leaders currently captured, they have no choice but to worry about their futures. If we offer them the right incentives, they surely won't be able to refuse our proposal."
"...That is not a bad idea."
Marquis Benedict nodded.
The other three factions, excluding the Royal Faction—he had always kept the possibility of joining hands with them open.
Had Count Gregory and Count Denver been alive and well, they would have chosen to sit back and watch, but the remnants who had lost their leaders were ripe for persuasion.
Marquis Benedict asked, "How much time do we need to win them over?"
"We need at least a fortnight. While we need time to sway their minds, gathering and uniting their forces will also take a considerable amount of time. Therefore, I suggest we buy time through a siege defense first. While we hold the walls, we can draw support from the other factions. By launching a pincer attack with them, we can crush Roman Dmitry's royal army."
"Very well. I leave full authority regarding this matter to you."
"I shall obey your command."
Despite the new plan, the atmosphere was far from hopeful.
At the thought of the devilish Roman Dmitry descending upon them so soon, the nobles could not bring themselves to be optimistic.
The slaughter in Cairo had been entirely one-sided.
The hundreds of soldiers they had secretly brought in had meant nothing, and those who stood in Roman Dmitry's way were brutally massacred. Furthermore, they had heard that surrender was not accepted for those who failed to board the Warp Gates. The rumor that he had decapitated every last person who knelt and begged for mercy made their mouths run dry even now.
Marquis Benedict spoke up to rally them.
"Though this war broke out suddenly, we have been preparing for a conflict with the Royal Faction for a long time. Benedict is fully equipped with supplies for a siege and boasts a flawless defense system. With preparations of this caliber, we could hold out even against the Kronos Empire, let alone Roman Dmitry's royal army. Therefore, do not doubt our victory for a single moment. As always, once the dust settles, the faction that seizes ultimate power in Cairo will be none other than our Noble Faction."
"Understood."
"We will do our best."
The atmosphere shifted.
Marquis Benedict was right.
Although the flames of war had erupted suddenly, it wasn't as if the Noble Faction had been sitting idle all this time.
Confidence surged back into the room.
Time was on the Noble Faction's side.
They were certain that if they just bought enough time and took control of the situation, they could crush the Royal Faction.
They believed in their own foundation.
As always, the Noble Faction would emerge as the victors.
And one week later, Roman Dmitry's army appeared in the Benedict territory.
* * *
Immediately upon arriving in Benedict, Simon approached and asked, "Commander. To prepare for a prolonged battle, we should establish a base camp first."
Benedict Castle.
Its towering walls were renowned as an Iron Fortress.
Since this was not a battle that would end in a day or two, Simon's judgment was logically sound.
However, Roman shook his head.
"No. A swift resolution is crucial in this war. The more time we allow the Noble Faction, the more options they will have. Therefore, we will prepare for the first wave of attack before establishing a camp."
It was a bold decision.
If they failed and suffered casualties, the soldiers would have to drag their exhausted bodies back to build a camp afterward, wasting even more time.
Yet, Roman gave his order without hesitation.
"Felix, prepare for the siege."
At Roman's command, a robed figure stepped forward.
Simon looked back and forth between the robed figure and Roman Dmitry, his eyes wide with confusion.