Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Breakwater
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Less than a day had passed before the emperor's delegation arrived.
The lengthy scroll, extending from head to toe, was filled with the same repeated message.
'There has been a misunderstanding, so please return to the capital.' No matter how elaborately it was worded, that was the only content.
"...The emperor does not use such phrasing. This letter was likely fabricated by someone else, or it never came from the emperor's mouth to begin with."
The envoy's representative, a vassal, bowed his head low.
"That can't be. This is undoubtedly a record of His Majesty's words."
"And if it's not?"
"If not? Then I will stake my life on it."
He was resolute.
But I had already discerned his intentions. The purpose of summoning me to the capital now, and the reason for sending this letter.
'And.'
Would the emperor of the empire dispatch a full delegation just to summon a single kingdom's king? This was an unprecedented absurdity I had never heard of.
Not even when my father, Roys—the most honorable and dignified figure in Strange family history—was alive.
"What is your name?"
"Peter. Peter de Bartholomew, Count."
Upon hearing his name, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Bartholomew was a special surname given to those who came from beyond the continent.
"Bartholomew, eh? A name I've always wanted to meet."
"Me, you say?"
"Not necessarily you, but anyone bearing that name."
"Haha, then it's an honor. All the nobles I've met so far have scorned me."
It was inevitable.
How could anyone warmly welcome someone from an unknown world?
"I won't drag this out. I received your letter. I'll send a timely reply to the emperor."
"Might I take that reply back with me? I've been ordered to do so."
"Ordered? By whom?"
"By His Majesty the emperor."
"The emperor?"
"Yes."
"...So you've met His Majesty in person?"
"Indeed."
Then this man was lying to me right now. I was certain the emperor was dead.
I knew exactly how that came to be. It was an event I had experienced in my previous life, so I knew it without a doubt.
"Arrest him."
At my single command, the knights in the room drew their swords. The emperor's delegation jumped in alarm, raising their voices.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this? How dare you treat the empire's delegation this way!"
I approached Bartholomew and placed in his hand a dagger emblazoned with the Strange family crest.
"That dagger was given to me by my sister when I was young. It was for protecting myself amid my siblings' scrutiny."
"...I don't understand what you're saying."
"Will that blade turn on you? Or protect you? Think about it."
"Lord Berddin, forgive me, but I have no idea what you're trying to tell me."
I grinned at him.
"You said you met the emperor before coming here?"
"Yes."
"Then let me ask you this. By my knowledge, the emperor is already dead. How could you receive orders from him?"
"?!"
"Your face doesn't even flinch as you lie. I can tell you're no ordinary man. But it sours my mood to hear it when I already know."
Peter de Bartholomew's hand trembled.
"N-no. His Majesty... hasn't passed! How can you speak such nonsense just because you can't see him?"
I pulled out Hagen's ring from Glazer Castle and showed it to him as I replied.
"Do you know what this is?"
"No, I don't."
"It's the ring of the mage that Hagen, head of the Glazer family, possessed."
"Ring of the mage?"
"Yes. It's not something humans made. It was created in ancient times by elven ancestors for mages."
"......"
"It's an item akin to a curse, made to preserve peace between races."
I extended the ring toward him and continued.
"It's used for oaths that link the lives of two or more ring-bearers."
Peter de Bartholomew raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"As I said, this ring's owner is Hagen. Do you know who wears the other one?"
My question carried its own answer. From the context of our conversation so far, the person I meant was obvious.
"No way..."
"His Majesty the emperor."
He tilted his head in confusion, as if he couldn't comprehend. It wasn't mere ignorance; it was a vehement denial of everything he had believed.
"Impossible! I met His Majesty with my own eyes and received his command!!"
I stopped talking and locked eyes with him for a long moment before chuckling softly.
"Is that so."
From Peter's reaction, I could piece it together. If he truly knew everything, he would have boasted or brazened it out.
'That reaction is genuine from someone ignorant of the emperor's death.'
Then they must have set up a puppet emperor.
And the only ones with the power to pull that off were the 'Rothschilds'—those bearing both imperial and divine blood.
"The only thing I can tell you now, Lord Peter, is this: I can't tell if you truly didn't know or if you were pretending."
"...Lord Berddin. I really didn't know. No, it's even harder to believe this story now."
"Which means it's time for both of us to find out the truth."
"Find out?"
I tapped the dagger I'd given him with my finger as I replied.
"Yes. You, Lord Peter de Bartholomew, return to the capital and verify if the one on the throne is real or fake."
"Real or fake..."
"And I will prepare and head to the capital to bear the weight of what I just said."
After the emperor's delegation departed.
I immediately loaded Kang Gradra and Kang Gret into a carriage and sent them north.
"All who came from Louisnes Academy are gathered there. Carry out your will from that place."
This wasn't just to send them somewhere safe; it was to protect my siblings there.
'Though it wouldn't matter much if Tony, Jony, or Rony died.'
Still, they bolstered the Strange family's strength, so it was better to keep them alive.
'Even if they become my enemies later.'
They would strengthen the Strange family.
"We won't forget this favor, Master."
"You don't need to call me Master anymore. We're walking different paths now. And you've learned you're Glazers."
"...We're not sure we deserve to carry that name."
"You have no choice. I've already met with Dictri and explained everything."
Kang Gradra startled and replied.
"Dictri?!"
"Yes. With Hagen dead, the war is over. No need for more pointless sacrifices. We've agreed to a truce at this point."
"...I can't understand it. Wasn't the Strange family's wish to exterminate all mages?"
I shook my head firmly.
There was no choice. My goal in this war was solely to test my strength and protect the Strange family.
Not to massacre the innocent without cause or justification.
'And.'
That goal was already achieved.
Not only had I preserved the Strange family's prestige and my honor, but I'd also swallowed the Glazer family—one of the continent's four great powers.
'No need to wipe out the mages.'
The moment had come when they could become the Strange family's strength, just like the alliance my father forged with the Glazers in his previous life.
I stayed by Kang Gradra and Kang Gret's side until they departed north.
When it was time to leave and they boarded the carriage, I handed them Strange family uniforms I'd prepared in advance.
"You're Glazers, but also Strange. Use these clothes when the time comes."
Kang Gradra gently stroked the Strange crest on the neatly folded uniform with her palm.
"...Yes, Master."
Kang Gret, pleased with the cross-sword emblem on the badge, lightly kissed it and replied.
"May glory always be with the great lord of the Strange family, Lord Berddin—."
Knights in white armor emblazoned with golden lion crests arrived at the capital. Marching with imperial pomp, they summoned the gate captain.
"Grand Duke Asabrag has arrived. Pay your respects and guide us to His Majesty."
As the mustachioed knight drew his long sword warningly, Tristan, captain of the 1st Knight Order guarding the gates, rushed over and knelt on one knee.
Thud.
"Welcome, Grand Duke Asabrag. His Majesty has awaited you long."
Clank.
The iron carriage door opened, and Asabrag slowly stepped out.
Step, step, step.
At his appearance, everyone gathered before the gates froze. His suddenly grown stature and the overwhelming killing intent they'd never seen before.
Even Tristan, who had faced him recently, trembled at the transformed Asabrag's presence.
"Grand Duke... Asabrag?"
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Asabrag looked down at Tristan and lightly placed a hand on his head.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes. N-no, what happened? Your appearance..."
"I've grown."
"Grown?"
"Yes. To block this wave, my old power won't suffice."
"...Is the wave truly beginning?"
"Yes, soon. Probably within days. Father will tell you when the time comes."
Tristan bowed deeper.
"I see."
"So decide where you stand. Time is short."
"Understood."
"...By the way, I heard Berddin stopped by?"
Asabrag grabbed his chin and lifted his face.
"Can you tell me what was said?"
"...He only said he came to see His Majesty. I told him it was impossible and sent him back."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, so he didn't enter the capital and headed south."
"Headed south?"
"Yes. You had instructed earlier not to let Strange into the capital..."
No sooner had Tristan finished than Asabrag clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.
"Kahahahaha!"
The divine knights accompanying Asabrag glanced around nervously before joining in.
"Hahaha."
"Hahaha."
"You really followed my will to the letter?"
Tristan smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"Amusing. Very well. I'll meet His Majesty first. Wait here."
"Yes, Grand Duke."
With that, Asabrag's unit entered the castle. Once they were gone, one of Tristan's aides tossed him a coin.
Spin—clink.
Tristan caught it.
One side bore the Strange cross-sword, the other the Rothschild golden lion.
"I used this one. Seemed like you might need it."
Tristan swallowed hard.
"Decide now?"
"You planning to wait till it's all over? By then, your head won't be on your shoulders."
"...Damn it."
Bang! The coin flew from Tristan's palm. Seconds later, it landed showing the Strange cross-sword.
"So, will you follow your chosen fate? Or resist?"
Tristan glanced around and replied to his aide.
"I'll follow."
"Good choice. I'm walking the same path as you."
"?!"
The aide removed his deeply visored helmet, revealing Philip—one of the five generals who had allied with Berddin.
"Lucky for you. I don't have to kill you now."