Chapter 101
Chapter 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Holy Empire (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Eek!”
The blond knight, ranked fourth, tumbled to the ground.
“No way! Even Sir Poslet?!”
“Not just eighth rank, but seventh, fifth, and now fourth...!”
The Imperial Guard Knights were stunned.
They had thought they could easily handle some young upstarts from the Holy Knight Order, but not one of them had landed a single effective blow before being taken down.
‘Frogs in a well.’
Thanks to his various achievements so far, he had assumed he wouldn’t be underestimated anywhere he went.
But these guys had decided he was just some no-name rookie and charged in anyway.
Even though they knew he was the titleless knight from the Holy Knight Order with all those accomplishments, they hadn’t truly believed it and acted on their preconceptions.
‘The Guard Captain will have his hands full.’
Agatram seemed like a decent fellow, but guarding the imperial family with guys like these would be a real ordeal.
Most Imperial Guard Knights came from noble backgrounds, so drilling some discipline into them wouldn’t be easy.
“What do we do?”
“Only Sir Tris, ranked third, can step up now, right?”
“Yeah! Show him what we’ve got!”
“I-I’m not feeling great today...”
The Imperial Guard Knights seemed to have lost their will to fight.
Just as he thought it was over and started lowering his wooden sword, a clear voice rang out from somewhere.
“You’ve all made fools of yourselves.”
“...!”
The chattering knights snapped their heads up in unison.
A man with long, unkempt brown hair was perched on the window ledge of a building.
“Ca-Cassius! Since when have you...!”
“Since Sir Poslet stepped up. I’ve got the full picture already.”
Cassius.
The name Agatram had mentioned as second-in-command of the Imperial Guard Knights.
He leaped down from the ledge with effortless grace.
“That’s what I told you. Underestimate the Holy Knight Order rookies, and you’ll get burned.”
“B-But...”
“Ca-Cassius! Defend the honor of the Imperial Guard!”
“Why should I do that?”
Cassius replied lightly as he brushed off his clothes after landing.
“And even if I win, does that erase your embarrassment?”
“Cassius...!”
“Accept the defeat gracefully. That’s the honorable path.”
“Ugh...”
Mention of honor silenced them all.
“It seems my knights have been rude, Sir Sion Aleyas.”
Cassius approached with light steps and extended his hand.
“Second-ranked in the Imperial Guard Knights, Cassius Ortus. Treat me casually if you’d like.”
“Then I will, Cassius.”
He gladly shook the offered hand.
“But I don’t see it as rudeness. I’d like to think of it as part of the exchange.”
“Is that so? I appreciate you taking it that way.”
“In that spirit, I’d like to exchange with you too, Cassius.”
“Haha. Sorry, I’ll pass. If I get one-sidedly beaten here too, what’s left of the Guard’s face?”
“I don’t think you’re the type to get one-sidedly beaten.”
This was sincere.
Not just because he’d heard the man had eight-circle mana.
Even his leap from the window ledge showed a well-honed physique.
Agatram’s praise for him as the Guard’s top prospect made sense.
[The circle count looks like eight, same as Agatram, but sturdier. Slightly superior in mana alone.]
Hearing Igzard’s assessment, he wondered if this man might be the Guard’s strongest.
With him handling the princess’s protection alongside, their forces wouldn’t be lacking.
“Cassius, I’d like to discuss specifics on how to handle Her Highness’s birthday party.”
“Straight to business, huh? Fine by me.”
Cassius nodded with a smile.
“I’ll show you to the meeting room. Follow me.”
* * *
Erwin Aleyas exited the imperial palace.
His mission had ended once he’d escorted Sion’s group.
‘Now, report to the southern branch... and head back to Lusechia.’
Erwin had been assigned as guide on the southern branch chief Gretus’s orders.
Gretus had already been assassinated, but a report to the southern branch was still required.
Erwin headed to the branch building on the outskirts of Lusechia.
“I’m Erwin Aleyas, local knight brigade leader from the Lusechia sector. I need to report to the branch chief...”
“Come this way.”
Upon arriving at the branch, Erwin was led underground.
“What am I supposed to do here?”
“Wait. The deputy branch chief will be here soon.”
“Deputy branch chief...”
That would be Avilon Aleyas, Gretus’s eldest son.
A newly titled eight-circle knight, said to be more capable than Gretus in his prime.
‘Why meet me down here? Connected to the branch chief’s assassination?’
In the end, Erwin waited alone in the dim basement.
“Kept you waiting long?”
“No, Deputy Chief!”
Avilon Aleyas finally appeared after some time.
“As you know, the branch chief met a tragic end. So I’ll be acting chief for a while.”
“Y-Yes, this incident is just...”
“Enough. I want to hear your report first. The last direct order from the chief was to escort Sion Aleyas’s group, right? Give me the details.”
“Understood. Well...”
Erwin explained everything in detail.
Avilon interjected with questions now and then. He seemed deeply interested in Sion’s group.
“Hmm, you rate them very highly.”
“Yes... I had no choice but to acknowledge it.”
Sion Aleyas went without saying, but Liz Aleyas was exceptional too.
Sena Aleyas, Kain Aleyas, and Robel Aleyas were also top-tier knights considering their ages.
“I’d heard the rumors, but wanted an eyewitness account. This helps a lot.”
“An honor to assist you, Deputy Chief!”
Erwin felt good about impressing Avilon.
But something nagged at him.
Avilon’s tone was friendlier than expected.
He’d heard the man was quite authoritarian, but this was different.
“And from your story... you seem close to them.”
“Ah, it was just exchange during the mission.”
“I’m not scolding you. Closer is better.”
“I-Is it?”
“Pretty close, right?”
“Yes, I kept some distance from Sion and Liz Aleyas, but I talked a lot with Kain and Robel Aleyas and got friendly.”
“Close to Helena’s kids, huh. Interesting.”
“But why ask about this...”
Erwin eyed Avilon cautiously.
“Erwin Aleyas, how about I give you a special mission?”
“A special mission?”
“Headquarters sent Sion’s group for the princess’s birthday security, but the southern branch is dispatching support troops too. Everyone opposed, saying it’d make us look like HQ’s sidekicks... but now’s not the time for pride.”
“Ah...”
“HQ’s eyeing the whole southern branch with suspicion. Best to cooperate fully.”
“You’re right.”
“So, I want you to command part of the support troops.”
“M-Me?”
“Yeah. Can you handle it?”
“Of course!”
This was a golden opportunity.
The princess’s birthday party—if luck held, it could lead to promotion.
He could keep ties with Sion’s group too.
“Good, I was worried you’d refuse.”
“No way! I’ll give it my all!”
“Ah, no need to go all out.”
“Huh?”
At that moment.
Erwin doubted his eyes.
Avilon’s form before him blurred.
“Ch-Chief, what’s...”
Whoosh!
A “cloth” suddenly extended from Avilon, wrapping around Erwin’s face.
“...?!”
His mouth was sealed; he couldn’t speak. Breathing was hard.
‘What is this?!’
Through gaps in the cloth, he glimpsed...
Avilon was gone.
In his place stood a woman with strange brown skin.
Eerily demonic just to look at.
“You’re not the one carrying out the mission.”
As her voice sounded, the cloth fully enveloped his face.
In pitch darkness where he saw and heard nothing, Erwin lost consciousness completely.
* * *
‘Definitely a tough spot to defend.’
The princess had chosen a small hill three hours’ horseback from Romancia for her birthday party.
Famous among Romancia nobles as a scenic spot for picnics, she’d stubbornly insisted on it after hearing about it.
“The hot springs nearby make flowers bloom earlier than elsewhere. That’s Her Highness’s main reason for wanting it.”
“Guess she wouldn’t want a birthday party in some barren, chilly field.”
Winter hadn’t fully ended; it was still brisk.
If she wanted flowers, this was the choice.
“The map shows wildflower fields next to woods and a valley—hard to secure. Who knows where weirdos might hide.”
“Numbers shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Yeah, but palace officials balked at armed soldiers swarming and ruining the party vibe.”
“Picky bunch.”
“Tell me about it.”
Cassius gave a wry smile.
Must be tough sandwiched in the middle.
“Anyway, don’t worry about that. You Holy Knights’ main job will be close protection inside the venue, staying by Her Highness like party guests.”
The palace wanted them to guard naturally, like attendees.
They had their own obsession with a successful tenth birthday for the princess.
‘Nobles have their noble worlds. Can’t be laughingstocks in high society or whatever.’
Fortunately, wearing swords was allowed.
Originally, the palace banned all weapons at the venue, but Agatram had persuaded them otherwise.
“Cassius.”
“What?”
“Since we’re here, I’d like to meet Her Highness directly.”
Sena, listening nearby, flinched.
“Si-Sion, show restraint. You can’t just meet the princess casually.”
“But wouldn’t we guard better knowing exactly who she is?”
If possible, he wanted days of close observation to map her patterns.
“Hmm... No, Her Highness seemed curious about her escorts too.”
“Cassius, mind arranging it?”
“But formal procedure goes through the palace, which takes time. So, a little trick.”
“A trick?”
“Yeah.”
Uncharacteristically casual for a Guard Knight, Cassius grinned and stood.
“Her Highness’s walk time right now. I know her route— we’ll ‘bump into’ her.”
* * *
Cassius led them to a garden west of the palace.
The princess would be strolling with maids; they’d pretend coincidence and he’d introduce them.
[Flexible guy.]
‘Yeah, at least that’s good.’
Cassius did seem different from the other stuck-up Guards.
“They’re coming. I’ll talk to the head maid—wait here.”
White-clad maids approached in the distance.
The princess was hidden among them.
“Cassius Ortus of the Imperial Guard Knights. I wish to greet Her Highness.”
“Sir Cassius, who are these with you? They don’t look like Guard Knights.”
“Holy Knights attending Her Highness’s birthday celebration.”
“Holy Knights?”
“Yes, titleless knight Sion Aleyas and his companions.”
As Cassius spoke with the older maid, someone emerged from the group.
“Sion Aleyas?”
“Your Highness, I hope you’ve been well.”
Cassius urgently dropped to one knee, head bowed.
They followed suit.
“So it really is Sion Aleyas.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He peeked up slightly.
Before the kneeling Cassius stood a girl with long, jet-black hair.
Their eyes met briefly, and a strange glint flickered in hers.
“I’d like to speak privately. Summon them to my chambers.”
The voice was calm and mature, unthinkable for a ten-year-old throwing a tantrum over a flower-field party.