#550. That’s so sweet.
* * *
A desolate desert.
Under the scorching sun, where a strong sand wind blew, a figure stood tall and watched the people lined up in front of him.
“Listen, everyone.”
A royal scepter in the shape of a question mark.
A crown with a cobra ornament.
Masks made of gold, etc.
Even in Africa, only Egypt.
Among them, the one who wears the symbol of the kingship allowed only to the pharaoh shouted loudly.
“I am a descendant of the great Ra.”
“You are the rightful heir to the Holy Egyptian Empire.”
“From a drop of water in the Nile to a grain of wheat in the golden fields, all the riches of this land originally belonged to my ancestors.”
the far distant past.
The silver age ruled by incarnation.
A descendant of a demigod who was born between the sun god Ra and a human and formed the Egyptian dynasty.
“But that evil red dragon dared to steal the lineage of Ra and usurp the country.”
“And over the past hundreds of years, they have oppressed my ancestors, enslaved their subjects, and waged endless wars, throwing the continent into chaos.”
But the Bronze Age.
The ruling power of Egypt is taken away by the fighting dragons who ate Ra.
Even after the Age of Heroes opened, he was robbed of his royal lineage and served as a puppet for hundreds of years.
In the end, in the Iron Age, he lost even the status of a pharaoh, which was only a facade, and was exiled to a small country.
“Until now, I had no choice but to watch their atrocities because I lacked my strength.”
“But the time has come to finally defeat the descendants of the evil red dragon and take back my country.”
“The day Jim defeats that fake Pharaoh and regains his seat of power. I will allow you to enjoy infinite wealth and glory.”
“My warriors.”
Queen of the Orthodox Sun Kingdom.
Cleopatra, 28, finished her speech.
And the moment she raised her scepter high and shouted.
“Start the holy war!”
“Waaaaaaaa!”
Loud shouts resound.
A dust storm rises in the desert.
A large army of 100,000 began marching toward Egypt.
* * *
During this expedition.
The Red Dragon Clan almost mobilized their entire army.
A peacekeeping force composed of the elite of the seven guilds.
It was because there was no time to conserve power in a situation where you didn’t know how many sword masters you would have to fight.
Because of that, Egypt is non-governmental.
Except for Cairo, the capital, only security forces remained.
But only allies around Egypt.
Even the closest enemies needed to pass through several vassals and allies to attack Egypt.
I wouldn’t know if the sword master invaded alone.
The invasion of Egypt by an army was originally unlikely.
“Didn’t you say that the vassals rebelled?”
“yes.”
…until the vassals, whom they thought were Egypt’s strong allies and shields, turned their swords against them.
“Does that make sense?”
Even after confirming this over and over again, Limon couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.
Of course, there are no permanent allies.
Noh Kang-ho was well aware of how foolish it is to trust a neighboring country just because it is an alliance.
Still, there are two reasons why this situation was hard to believe.
“Anything near Egypt is a vassal state or an ally, but in reality it is the same as a territory of Egypt, right?”
“That’s right…”
Among the countries that bordered Egypt in the first place, hostile places had long since collapsed and been absorbed, so all that was left was a staunchly pro-Egyptian country.
In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is an Egyptian territory with autonomy.
It is no wonder that Nadia called this invasion a ‘civil war’ in that sense.
What wasn’t obvious was the purpose.
“Above all, the pharaoh is here, so why start a rebellion?”
The fact that Egypt is close to Muju Gongsan means that its military power is intact here.
occupied Egypt now.
Either plunder and run away.
In the end, if you don’t catch Hasneti and her legion, you’ll face severe retribution later, unless you’re an idiot.
In the midst of this, a civil war is instigated.
It was suicide by anyone’s eyes.
But what is the reason for the vassals to do such a foolish thing?
To Limon, who was dumbfounded, Nadia answered more than that.
“There are a lot of reasons for that.”
“Are there many?”
“First of all, the main axis of the invasion is the orthodox Sun Kingdom, claiming that they are the legitimate pharaohs and demanding transfer of the throne…”
“Are these guys who could only act as puppet pharaohs of the Red Dragon Clan even in the Age of Heroes?”
Limon let out a laugh.
The time when the Seven Dragons were called the Demonic Cult.
The Red Dragon Clan, who could not openly rule Egypt, made a descendant of the Egyptian royal family whose blood was not mixed as their pharaoh.
And they devoted their allegiance thoroughly as the red dragon princess’s puppets until the seven dragons were formed.
But now, after decades of losing even the pharaoh’s seat of power, they are revolting.
It was an absurd story.
But that was about half the price.
“There are many vassal states that seem to be hired simply for territory or money, like the Brotherhood of Heroes.”
A place where the entire country was bought up and caused a rebellion.
“In the last war of conquest, some of the countries that became newly subordinates declared it a war of independence.”
A country that started marching separately with only a few hundred troops.
Listening to the words that are getting more and more complicated.
Limon frowned.
“…I got a shot at them.”
“Do you think it was the World Federation’s plot?”
“At this point, if we don’t have the confidence to conquer Egypt and root out the Red Dragon Clan, there’s no way the vassals would be able to do something like this.”
after civil war broke out.
Just looking at Joan of Arc’s return, that fact was obvious.
The fact that she, who had been following only Limon until now, fell so coolly was like a declaration that they would move on.
Hasneti, who had been silent with a cigarette in his mouth, finally opened his mouth.
“Was the establishment of the Federation a bait?”
“No, that one would have been real too. Originally, they must have prepared to start a civil war in line with the establishment of the Federation.”
“But since the founding of the federation was postponed indefinitely, it means that civil war began.”
“Because the confusion would have made it easier to contact Egypt’s vassals.”
Limon clicked his tongue.
A messenger that comes and goes every day.
Over-invested material.
Even though the establishment of the federation was postponed, it should have been suspicious that the amount only increased and did not decrease.
Because it focuses too much on the federation.
And it was a mistake not to realize that the flow of goods going back and forth was suspicious because I was paying attention to the quarrel between Joan of Arc and Hasneti, who always followed me.
‘It’s like they ate each other in one room.’
Fortunately, the establishment of the federation was prevented.
If the establishment of the federation and the civil war had happened at the same time as they planned.
The Egyptian army would have been on all sides.
However, thanks to the delay in the establishment of the Federation and the tied up of the peacekeepers, they avoided being surrounded by enemies in the immediate front and rear.
To put it bluntly, you could call it a draw.
But…
‘actually, this one ate bigger.’
The Red Dragon Clan, whose home country is in danger.
The World Federation, which wasted material.
It was clear which of the two was more at a disadvantage.
‘I didn’t expect to learn the word Cheongchuleoram from that child in this way.’
That’s why I smile bitterly.
Limon remembered.
Before Joan of Arc leaves.
the conversation I had with her.
* * *
“Where is your brother going so busy?”
“…My pretty sister, Pharaoh, has issued a celebratory order to my sister, so why are you still staying?”
“Yeah, even if I go, I can’t go without saying goodbye to my sister.”
“…”
“Hmm, it looks like you want to ask something.”
twirling
Looking at Joan of Arc smiling kindly as always, I was silent for a while.
Limon let out a small sigh.
And he opened his mouth.
“Your sister made this?”
“Oh my goodness?”
I even blinked my eyes at that sudden question.
Joan of Arc tilted her head.
“How did you know?”
“It’s half a persimmon.”
In fact, I didn’t even need a sense.
The moment I heard the news that a civil war had broken out.
It was natural to know just by looking at the smile that appeared on Joan of Arc’s face.
The African Federation, the Peacekeepers, the World Federation.
In the end, it was just a puppet.
The fact that it was Joan of Arc who planned all this.
“Whoops, I wonder what the other half is.”
I feel proud to have found out that fact.
To the smiling Joan of Arc.
Limon asked quietly.
“Why?”
“A sister can do anything for her brother.”
“…You arranged a civil war in Egypt because of me alone?”
“It is.”
Malice too.
Guilt too.
Hesitation too.
Shame too.
without anything
Kind, warm, and full of goodwill as always.
That’s why Limon closed his eyes after hearing that answer that made it even more horrifying.
‘also.’
I was expecting
I just hoped it wasn’t.
But that wish was betrayed.
Well, betrayal might not be the right word for it.
From the time we met again… no, from before she died to the time she was resurrected, she was consistent.
I just couldn’t face the fact because my eyes were blinded by distant memories and delusions.
“Do you think that’s okay?”
Even so, is it regret to ask or confirmation?
And the reason why she tilts her head is question or suspicion.
“Is there any reason not to?”
“Even if many civilians are killed and injured as a result?”
“I regret that too.”
It seems really sad.
A sad face and a heavy sigh.
As a teacher, I could tell at a glance that the action was not a play or deception.
Kindness is her essence.
Originally, even the swordsmanship to fight the enemy was learned only to protect it, and finally learned the invincible swordsmanship.
But that’s exactly why.
What follows is more heterogeneous.
“But I can’t help it. Because they are Red Lizard-sama’s people.”
“Are you saying it doesn’t matter how many times you die as long as you are a citizen of the enemy country?”
“Ugh. I don’t mean to say that, but I do think they have to pay for their sins.”
“The penalty?”
“As a tyrant’s people, I’m talking about the crime of holding up the tyrant, exploiting other weak countries together with the tyrant, and suppressing wealth and glory.”
“….”
The past hundreds of years.
While Africa was engulfed in war and suffered in chaos and backwardness.
It is the fault of the Egyptians that they have been able to enjoy peace and prosperity for generations by collaborating with the Red Dragon Clan, which was called the Demonic Cult.
Looking at Joan of Arc’s affirmation.
Limon’s face hardened.
“I think that’s an outrageous exposé.”
“Explosion… Are you?”
Was it an unexpected evaluation?
The moment I even blinked my eyes.
Joan of Arc soon smiled again.
“Your brother is very kind.”
If Yuna-gyeong was here, the evaluation would have come out naturally, saying, “Are you crazy or are you blind?”
But because it was only him and her here.
Joan of Arc chuckled.
“Like the old me.”
“….”
“Shall I tell you a story from the past?”
Limon neither affirmed nor denied.
And Joan of Arc did not bother to wait for permission.
As if recalling the distant past.
Staring into space with blue eyes.
He just opened his mouth in a quieter voice than usual.
“This is a story that may or may not have actually happened.”
