Chapter 122: Cedric’s End
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 122: Cedric’s End
“Is that all you have to say?”
Dantalion asked, his expression turning indifferent. At his words, Cedric, who had been screaming like a child, flushed deep red. It seemed he was at least capable of feeling shame.
“You’ve lost, and it’s all over. The Marquis of Lionel’s crimes will be decided in court.”
“Nonsense.”
“What?”
Surprisingly, Cedric remained triumphant. The Quincys he had relied on were annihilated, and he himself had been captured by Dantalion.
Looking across the field, Duke Winston and Vincent were also present. The Winston Ducal Family had clearly brought their forces to stop the Quincys and Cedric.
Yet, Cedric continued to swagger as if things weren't over. I thought I knew what he was banking on—his last remaining lifeline.
“I suppose you don’t know what’s happening at the Imperial Palace yet?”
“…”
Cedric cackled like a common lowlife.
When he conspired with the Empress Dowager, they must have agreed to eliminate Dantalion and Winston here, especially since they had brought the Quincys into it.
But even if they didn't win, he likely thought that merely keeping Dantalion and Winston occupied here in the far south was a success.
The pinnacle of the Empress Dowager and the Temple’s scheme was my kidnapping from the Imperial Palace. If the Empress Dowager had used me as a sacrifice and grown powerful by absorbing my mana, the game would have been over right then and there.
However, there are many things in this world that people remain ignorant of.
“It seems you are the one who doesn't know yet.”
“What…?”
“If you mean Claudia, her dependable allies have already gone to rescue her. It’s likely all over by now.”
“What?”
A crack appeared in Cedric’s handsome, smug face. Only after seeing that distorted expression did Dantalion withdraw his sword.
“I might have understood if you weren't blood-related, but to hate your own child that much… It’s a level of depravity I have no desire to understand.”
“Urgh.”
Realizing that everything had been seen through, Cedric ground his teeth.
Just as Dantalion said, I was perfectly fine. Of course, things might have been dangerous if I hadn't summoned the Archdemon, but that, too, was my own ability. I joined Dantalion in casting a triumphant look at him.
“Aaaagh!”
‘…!’
Right then, Cedric—who I thought was rendered helpless—suddenly lunged upward. He swung his arm at Dantalion. Though he was empty-handed, a faint sword aura was infused into his arm, befitting a Sword Master.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
However, Dantalion blocked it effortlessly. When the blade met the arm, it made a sound as if two swords had clashed.
As a result of the impact, Cedric’s arm was severed. One of his arms flew through the air before thudding onto the ground. Cedric bit his lip, clutching the bleeding stump of his arm.
‘It’s completely over for him now, both as a protagonist and as a swordsman.’
As a Sword Master, Cedric considered the sword his everything. To a man born illegitimate, the sword that had brought him wealth and fame was his entire identity.
Though he was an incredibly arrogant and wicked person, his pride in his swordsmanship was genuine. Now, even that was gone.
Of course, there are swordsmen who can fight with one arm. Furthermore, since Cedric was already at the level of a Sword Master, the handicap of being one-armed might not be as devastating for him as it would be for others.
But Cedric was a man of immense pride. I knew that better than anyone. The Cedric I knew would find it agonizingly difficult to train in swordsmanship while enduring the mockery of others.
‘Well, his crimes are so severe that his head will roll anyway.’
The sins committed by the Empress Dowager and Cedric were far too great. Because of their rebellion, even their bloodline would not escape punishment.
‘Ah, I really hope Marianne is granted clemency.’
Even if I remained unconscious, Veronica and Dantalion would surely handle things well, but I was still worried about Marianne, who shared Cedric’s blood. Though she was the Saintess, the Temple was deeply involved in this matter, which would only make things more complicated.
“Woooah!”
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
However, seeing Dantalion standing calmly amidst the knights intoxicated by victory, those worries vanished.
I felt a surge of confidence that Dantalion would handle it well. He was no longer the tyrant who would blindly swing his sword, blinded by rage, as the original future had dictated. I smiled, gazing at Dantalion’s dependable back.
‘I can finally rest easy now.’
As I whispered those words, my vision turned pitch black once more. It was finally time to sleep.
*
“Purification!”
A brilliant white divine power erupted from Marianne’s outstretched hands. The children, who had been suffering from the demon’s poison, began to look a little more comfortable.
“Saintess!”
“Lucy!”
Marianne’s face brightened as she spotted Luciano and hurried toward him. She pulled his thin frame into a tight embrace, tears streaming down her face.
“Thank goodness, Lucy. I’m so glad you’re safe!”
“Saintess, but…”
“Yes?”
Luciano, trembling in her arms, spoke with a terrified face. He cried out in a desperate tone.
“The Princess was here too. But she was taken away by a priest and hasn't come back…!”
“What?”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I tried to stop them, but…”
Luciano rambled in a panic. Marianne calmly patted his shoulder.
“Calm down, Lucy. You’re saying Dia was here with you?”
“Yes, yes!”
Confirming Luciano’s nod, Marianne shifted her gaze. Her eyes met Abel’s, who was checking on the moaning children.
As expected, Claudia had been here. Agreeing with Abel’s intuition, Marianne had used his ability to infiltrate deep into the Temple. It was a place the Gideon family had been monitoring for some time under Duke Winston’s orders.
As soon as the two saw the children locked up, they revealed themselves, subdued the guarding priests, and opened the prison doors. To hear that Claudia had been here as well meant they had come to the right place.
“Do you know which way Dia was taken?”
“T-That way…”
“I understand. I’ll be right back.”
Marianne comforted Luciano and the other children before standing up. Abel quickly relayed the news to Veronica using a magical tool. Knights would soon surround the Temple.
“Let’s go this way.”
“Alright.”
The two ran in the direction Claudia had been taken. Abel pointed to a room, acting purely on instinct. Having inherited a strong manifestation of his family’s special ability, his intuition was exceptionally sharp.
Bang!
“Dia!”
They burst through the door almost simultaneously. Both of their eyes widened at the sight before them.
“Nathaniel?”
“Teacher Mel?”
Abel was shocked to see Nathaniel appear so suddenly, and Marianne was startled to see Melissa beside him.
Nathaniel didn't budge, but Melissa turned her head and gave them a gentle look.
“You’ve arrived, Saintess.”
“Teacher Mel, how are you here…?”
“Oh, we just got here ourselves.”
Melissa spoke in a casual tone, as if she had just gone for a stroll nearby. Marianne could only blink in confusion.
“Ugh.”
“…!”
Someone was collapsed at Melissa’s feet. Not just one person, but two.
“Who is this…? And is that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?”
It was Rosette and the Empress Dowager. Marianne didn't recognize Rosette, but she knew the Empress Dowager well. Melissa smiled brightly at the startled Marianne.
“The Empress Dowager is the culprit behind all of this. She was already collapsed, so it was easy to subdue her.”
“Teacher Mel, just what are you…”
Marianne, unaware that Melissa was a mage from the Magic Tower, was simply bewildered.
Regardless of their exchange, Abel focused solely on Nathaniel and approached him.
“Where’s Dia?”
“…”
“Where is Dia?!”
Nathaniel was carefully cradling someone in his arms. The long, jet-black hair brought someone to mind, but it couldn't be Claudia. Claudia was a small, fragile child.
The person currently closing her eyes as if asleep in Nathaniel’s arms was a young girl who looked slightly older than them. Abel didn't even spare her a glance.
“Hey! I asked where Dia is!”
Unable to contain himself, Abel barked the question. At his shout, Marianne and Melissa also turned their attention toward the two. Marianne’s eyes, in particular, were filled with anxiety.
“He’s right, Nathaniel. Where is Dia? Please!”
“…”
Only then did Nathaniel slowly turn his head.