# 408
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408
Heavy steps fell from above.
Helmut raised his sword.
The moment they saw the person walking on the podium, the cheers died down and a small murmur filled the air.
It was not the Grand Duke of Rinosa who appeared there.
Emperor. The one who holds the highest position in the empire.
Just by standing on the podium, the majesty on his whole body silenced the audience.
At the same time as the bright eyes fell, a deep voice rang through the air.
“Now here is the winner of this martial arts competition. “Is there something you want from me?”
Helmut raised his hand. The iron mask was tightly held in my hand.
The moments when I hid my identity and hid myself passed by as quickly as an arrow.
So there was no need for it anymore.
Helmut threw off the shackles. The moment the mask and camouflage came off and Helmut’s appearance was revealed, someone sighed, someone held their breath, and someone screamed.
A moment of such complete victory.
The sky was dazzlingly clear, and the darkness over Helmut was thick, as if he was absorbing the light pouring down on him.
black eyes black hair. The figure, which seems to have been taken from a corner of the abyss, resembles the Grand Duke of Rinosa as if it had been cut out.
Helmut declared, catching Chairman Mutou’s gaze as if drawing it in.
“My name is Helmut. I want to find what I deserve.”
In this empire, this land, this light. So that no one can drive him out to the Forest of Pahe.
The emperor asked slowly.
“Because who are you?”
“A person born into the lineage of Rinosa. “I am the legitimate son of Prince Rinosa.”
The audience became noisy at Helmut’s frank answer.
Really? Is there a hidden son from Grand Duke Rinosa? But is it possible to lie in front of the emperor? There’s Prince Rinosa right there!
Above all, Helmut resembles him very much. Those who had seen Grand Duke Rinosa at least once could not deny that fact.
Just as the emperor was about to open his mouth again, a loud shout rang out from behind.
“Don’t listen to him! “He has evil powers!”
Before I knew it, the Servant, who had recovered from his wounds, was standing up. He shouted in excitement.
“I notarize this as a Holy Knight. The author has sprouts of darkness!”
His distorted face was filled with hostility.
What woke him up from the shock of defeat was the fact that there was a person with a sprout of darkness in front of him.
What kind of trick are you doing with Rinosa’s lineage? Achievements of the temple. It will definitely be destroyed.
If you see this in the temple, troops will be sent immediately to punish the author.
Amidst the uproar, the emperor ignored him as if nothing had happened.
“Now is the winner’s time. “Losers have no right to speak out.”
The Servant’s eyes widened in disbelief. The Servant immediately became angry as he looked at the Emperor.
“The author has sprouts of darkness! Leaving the author alone is treason against the temple!”
A cold smile appeared on the emperor’s face.
“There is no one above me in the empire, but treason is absurd.”
“Even if he is the emperor, he can’t do this…!”
The servant couldn’t even finish his words. Before we knew it, the knights who had come up to the stage had overpowered the Holy Knight.
The emperor, who watched him being dragged by the back of his neck, tied by his arms, and dragged away like a dog, turned his head.
Before he knew it, another monarch came and stood next to him.
Prince Rinosa. As he stood on the podium, doubts were naturally dispelled. Because the winner’s appearance was so similar to his own.
The Grand Duke’s face was calm and indifferent as he looked down at the person who claimed to be his son.
But his eyes had a strange heat.
“What does Grand Duke Rinosa think about the author’s claims?”
The emperor’s question echoed in all directions through the magic carried on the podium. Helmut looked straight at his father.
Our eyes met. The face I encountered for the first time contained my future to the point that it gave me chills.
I wonder if Archduke Rinosa also thought that Helmut resembled his past.
These are cold, dry, and almost colorless. But at this moment, they could feel the heat.
It is not different from lukewarm temperature, but it is a heat that boils from within.
It was not an affectionate connection. But it is a promise and confidence in the promise. Helmut felt its presence, solid as a rock.
The Grand Duke was a man who kept his word. And Helmut showed his qualifications.
It’s not easy to move a rock, but once you move it, you can’t stop it. Helmut ended up moving a mountain-like rock.
Grand Duke Rinosa’s mouth opened.
“He is the legitimate son of the Grand Duke of Bonn and also the successor of Linosa. “There are no objections to this.”
A wave spread throughout the audience. Shock after shock was so loud that it almost paralyzed my talkative mouth.
The corner of the emperor’s mouth was lifted.
“The winner will get what he wants in addition to the reward for this martial arts competition.”
There was a declaration from the emperor. That was the law in the empire.
With that, the general martial arts event came to an end.
*
‘That doesn’t make sense.’
Magritte repeated as if frozen.
The face that had a faint smile on it when the finals started suddenly turned pale. My whole body was shaking like an aspen tree.
The moment she saw the unmasked face of the winner, she stood up without realizing it and then staggered and fell down.
Her sins, which had been thrown into the forest of Pahe and buried, were vividly breathing out there.
I was astonished and scared, as if I was seeing a dead person come to life.
What I felt when I saw my son come back alive from a dead limb was not joy, but fear.
It felt like everything beneath my feet was collapsing. Magritte suddenly realized what he was truly afraid of.
Inevitably, Magritte valued the things I had. That is why it could not tolerate any danger that threatened it.
But now Magritte was facing his most fearful moment.
“The Grand Duke.”
She stood up from her seat and looked at the Archduke who had returned from the podium. A profile as firm and resolute as a stone statue.
My husband, who knew everything and prepared for this moment.
For the first time, Magritte felt a sense of complete disconnection from her monarch, whom she had trusted and followed throughout her life.
“Why…”
The voice came out as if it were being squeezed. Why didn’t you tell her? Why did you acknowledge him?
The Archduke asked calmly without looking at her.
“Grand Duchess, did I ever ask you why you did that four years ago?”
“You never did that.”
If she was wrong, I should have blamed her and punished her. How could you say nothing?
A light of resentment filled Magritte’s eyes.
“I simply made the best choice in the present that was created by the Grand Duchess’s choice.”
“Is this… what you mean?”
“This is the path for Linosa.”
And the monarch of Rinosa is he, not she. Those words bound her voice like shackles.
Marguerite covered his face and closed his eyes tightly.
There was nothing she could do now. Because that was no longer the role of the Grand Duchess.
“Your Majesty the Archduke.”
Charlotte stood up and approached him.
My eyes were red. Her face was flushed as she was unable to suppress her intense emotions.
In a storm of indescribable emotions, she opened her mouth.
“Won’t you regret it?”
Grand Duke Linosa’s gaze shifted to Charlotte.
It was a particularly gentle gaze on the woman who was right until the end towards her daughter who resembled him.
If Charlotte wanted to become Grand Duke of Linosa, she would have defeated her own goal.
Helmut is the eldest son of Archduke Rinosa and a swordsman among swordsmen who proved his skills in front of everyone.
Now no one will be able to deprive Helmut of what he holds.
Charlotte nodded without hesitation. A smile appeared on her lips.
“I just wanted to make it right. “My greatest wish has come true.”
Even if it was something I didn’t know I could have, I wouldn’t have regretted having it because there was someone better than her.
In the first place, carrying Linosa was a duty for Charlotte and not the realm of the wind.
Since the Archduke actually knew this, he was able to make an easier decision.
A solemn look appeared on the Archduke’s face.
“Charlotte we still have a ways to go.”
Although the empire is on Rinosa’s side, the temple will never remain silent like this.
Maybe I would collide head-on with the temple.
The mission of the temple is to destroy all demons. They had no history of retreating from him.
Also, isn’t there a justification for them this time: they are the sprouts of darkness?
Therefore, there were still countless tasks left before Helmut could be recognized by the world as Linosa’s successor.
“I will gladly follow your Majesty’s path.”
Charlotte was his daughter, vassal, and knight. It is up to the monarch to decide.
Grand Duke Rinosa tapped her shoulder and then walked away. Now it was time to go see his son.
*
“Helmut!”
His friends were in the waiting room.
Aska Sian and Area. Helmut looked back at them carefully.
The moment his goal was achieved was like a dream, but it was in reality.
Helmut also knew that this was just the beginning.
The allies he has secured so far will also be paying close attention to this martial arts event. You may have found out about this fact as of today. They too will soon be busy.
Even after the temple made an overtly hostile statement, there was no guarantee that their choice would be the same as before.
But it is still time to rejoice.
“Really… thank you for your hard work.”
Helmut grabbed Area’s hand as she approached him.
I wanted to pull her and hug her, but on rare occasions, my desire to look into her purple eyes full of emotions was even stronger.
She was with me every moment since we left the Forest of Pahe.
Asuka muttered, rubbing her nose.
“Congratulations on winning.”
In fact, he watched with anxiety as Helmut was recognized by the Emperor and Archduke Rinosa, and almost cried a little.
Although no one knows.
“Congratulations on your win, Helmut!”
Xian also raised his fist and shouted.
A white cat wandered between them and tapped Helmut’s leg with its tail.
[You did a good job. I will refrain from calling you weak from now on.]
At the end, I felt like I was recognized by the most difficult opponent. It was strange.
