Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Way of the Weak
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The shield protecting the Emperor of the Meikahel Empire, the Imperial Guard.
They are selected through rigorous screening of their martial prowess, magic, personality, appearance, and more.
The captain of the guard, their leader, faces even stricter conditions.
After all, the role demands immense responsibility, guarding the emperor from the closest possible distance.
Among them, the current Imperial Guard Captain Marco Feirigris stands unrivaled even among past captains.
So why is he here right now?
I couldnt help but question the situation.
If my memory served right, Marco didnt make his full appearance in the original story until much later.
He wouldnt be here unless the emperor had ordered him to go shopping at the department store.
There was only one conclusion.
...The emperor is keeping tabs on me.
Nothing else explained this.
Only the emperor could mobilize Marco.
There were plenty of reasons to suspect as much.
The Ruelverta familys power had already reached an undeniable level.
The imperial authority waned day by day as a result.
The emperor had to be racking his brains over how to weaken the Ruelverta family.
Naturally, I expected some surveillance on me, the family head.
But I hadnt anticipated direct intervention from the imperial family like this.
From the captain who had never left the emperors side, no less.
Because of it, two people who should never have met had crossed paths.
The two clashed.
Thud-!
Marcos mace shattered the ice with a dull thud.
Blanche had already put distance between them.
With fury in her voice, she shouted.
Why are you interfering with me!
I have orders to protect Count Tristan.
Dont make me laugh! I cant hand over the count. Not to the emperor or anyone else!
Let me hear your reason.
At that moment, the mana swirling behind Blanche like snowflakes halted all at once.
Its because that little count needs to die! I cant compromise on that!
I cant accept that reason. It goes against my orders.
If you wont accept it, Ill have to kill you too.
-Then Ill have to eliminate you with full force as well, beast.
Try it!
The two leaped forward.
Blanches form changed as she stepped through the air.
If she had been a beastkin with human features until now, she was becoming a full beast.
A towering tiger wreathed in blue chill, the beast of extreme cold roared.
So you finally show your true colors, beast.
Marco unleashed the mana flowing through his body without restraint.
His black mace turned crimson in an instant.
The flame mana of the Feirigris family.
Marco swung his mace, heavy with blazing power.
The two figures collided in midair.
A fierce exchange unfolded without an inch of retreat.
I could predict the outcome.
One of them would die when this fight ended.
This battle wouldnt stop until one fell.
Blanche or Marcoeither death would be a waste of prime characters.
For the future, I had to prevent their demise no matter what.
To face the players, I needed to gather as much strength as possible.
I have to save them.
Then, the compressed mana from Blanches icy breath exploded.
The moment her freezing mana, enough to seal breath itself, touched Marcos searing mace, a massive blast erupted.
Boom!
The two were hurled to the ground.
The explosions shock kept them from rising easily.
As expected, Marco recovered first.
The Imperial Guard Captain was still too much for Blanche now.
Marco staggered to his feet.
Blanche lay unconscious before him.
The blue tiger, the beast of extreme cold emanating chill, heaved breaths, unable to recover from the recent damage.
He muttered.
...I was mistaken, beast.
The match was decided.
But not a complete victory.
Crack.
The tip of his favored mace crumbled.
With cracks, the mace shattered into pieces.
Staring at it in dismay, Marco appraised Blanche.
You were strong. But weaker than me.
Marco gathered mana in his hand.
One of the seven great houses, the fire of Feirigris.
The mana, infused with flames that burned all, began to glow ominously.
Thats enough, Sir Marco.
I swallowed the Wrath threatening to spill out.
Marco turned and looked at me.
As if wondering what this was about.
Then, a stiff voice escaped his lips.
The count cannot command me.
Wasnt your mission to secure my safety, Sir Marco?
It was. But
Marco glanced down at the near-dead Blanche.
Its best to eliminate potential threats.
You call that beast a threat to you?
Taunting me wont work, Count. Stay there until I finish her off.
Then come quietly with me.
...Interesting.
Laughter burst out.
Pride writhed within me.
With my remaining Patience suppressing the pain, controlling my emotions was hard.
I looked at Marco as if he were ridiculous.
What if I refuse?
Are you defying the imperial order? Then Ill have to drag you by force.
Heh.
Marco tilted his head.
Ice shards from earlier fell with soft clinks.
He declared to me.
The count is weak. Thus, you cant stop me.
He wasnt wrong.
My opponent was the most acclaimed captain in Imperial Guard history.
Even at full strength, I doubted I could block him.
I didnt have that power yet.
Weak.
Powerless.
But the weak have their own ways.
I took a deep breath.
Stay there, Count. Ill secure you soon
...Ive always wondered something.
Pride boiled inside me.
With deliberate nonchalance, but clearly looking down on him, I posed the question.
Who gives you your orders, exactly?
Until then, his stoic face twisted in shock for the first time.
The question rippled through him like a massive wave.
...How does the count know that?
Did you think Tristan wouldnt know even that?
I lightly placed my hand on his shoulder.
Then whispered in his ear.
No place in the imperial family is beyond my reach.
...!
Marcos expression didnt change.
But my hand could feel it.
His shoulder trembling with rage.
I sneered at the sight.
Shes probably waiting for you all alone right now.
Count
Oh, my mistake. Come to think of it, there are two, so she wont be lonely.
...Are you threatening me now?
Marcos face was terrifying.
Even this machine-like man was human after all.
A silent warning that he wouldnt tolerate threats to his master.
His mana rippled in response to his fury.
But I wasnt afraid at all.
My Pride wouldnt allow it.
...
Threat? How could I possibly threaten you? Youre the Imperial Guard Captain protecting the emperor. Im weaker than you. So
My lips curled up.
I choose any means necessary.
The flaring mana vanished.
It wasnt a strong tone, but in that moment, I clearly saw it.
The faint fear on Marcos face.
But only for a fleeting instant.
The iron-willed Imperial Guard Captain replied in a calm tone.
...Ill withdraw.
Marcos top priority was the emperors safety.
The moment he felt the emperors life in my hands, hed lost.
He realized he had no choice but to retreat.
He gained nothing here.
As Marco turned to leave,
Wait.
I stopped him, though he was leaving empty-handed.
Is that all you have to say to me, Sir Marco?
If Id seen a mirror, it wouldve shown a smug smile.
I was subtly asking him.
Who was above whom.
...My apologies. Ill be more careful henceforth.
Marco stiffly bowed his head and walked away.
It was his usual emotionless demeanor, but it only made him seem more humiliated.
No, he probably was humiliated.
...This was entirely Tristans filthy personality at work.