Episode 306 – …If the war of conquest proceeds as planned, it is expected that the Eastern 8th Corps alone will suffer significant damage.
The eyebrows of the ruler sitting on the throne twitched at the voice that rang through the air.
I wondered if the report on the growth of the McLane Kingdom was unpleasant.
The words that came out of his mouth were a little different from what I expected from his voice.
“Are you going to report the entire process to me? There is a huge gap in the dark sword.”
– …I apologize for the shortcomings. The captain informed me that I would be able to move within a month.
Tsk.
“No, it’s not true. It’s McLane. I just saw the buds of longevity, but did that child also have the qualities of a king? Huh…”
The voice in the air was silent, knowing that it was not a question that required an answer.
The emperor was lost in thought for a moment and then quietly opened his mouth again.
“Ask Clid and King Dongyik to go to the palace. If the road is bumpy, it should be prepared in advance.”
Breathe.
When the first prince’s name and the name of the one who symbolizes the wings of a dragon among the four kings were mentioned, a voice in the dark took a breath for a moment.
As the emperor’s expression hardened slightly again, his voice hurriedly continued.
– I will follow your orders.
The voice did not bother to mention that both of them were conducting official business quite far away from Aserian.
Because the emperor’s orders take precedence over any other official duties.
“…What is the trend of the black snakes?”
– There has been no news since the Mage of the Cold Wind withdrew. I think it will take some time to get back on track.
“Hmm…”
The emperor’s expression, which rarely changed, changed frequently today.
That too in a bad way.
And soon, a report came from outside the office that made his expression even more serious.
– His Majesty the 2nd Prince, who went missing, has returned!
* * * It took an entire week for the imperial mage to thoroughly examine Baros’s body and mind.
However, Baros’ face, which fell before the emperor again amidst all kinds of surveillance, was full of confidence rather than tension and fear.
“We apologize for causing you concern.”
So much so that even the voice of apology sounds confident.
The emperor, seeing this unexpected appearance, had a strange glow in his eyes.
“That’s interesting. What happened?”
The simple question, with both subject and object omitted, touched Baros’ heart heavily.
“Due to lack of resources, we have fallen prey to the enemy’s means. Please punish us.”
“I’m asking why.”
Baros swallowed his saliva at those words.
His fate will be determined by the outcome of what he says from now on.
When I thought that, my face, which had been trying hard to act confident, suddenly became tense.
Somehow I came back alive.
Such ‘useless’ explanations would be of no interest to the emperor.
To the emperor, he is not a child, but just one of several bloodlines.
The difference was very big.
Since the reason he was asking did not mean how he came back alive, Baros got straight to the point.
“Matapju Kassel has conveyed his intention to surrender to the imperial family.”
The pinnacle of imperial wizardry. This means that the Grand Mage and his subordinates, who unilaterally defeated the Mage of the Dead Wind, will come under the control of the empire.
If it is the emperor’s nature to cherish talented people regardless of enemy or enemy, this would be better than annihilating them.
Baros’s expectant gaze turned towards the emperor.
Hoping that the expression he was thinking of would appear on the expressionless face of the emperor.
And, as expected, the corners of the emperor’s mouth were seen slightly rising.
But it was only one side.
Obvious ridicule.
It was a completely different reaction than expected.
“At best?”
Words that make my heart drop.
The emperor’s attitude of living with cynicism clearly showed that he had no intention of accepting the Magic Tower’s wishes.
“You’re saying that those who were kicked out for their tricks want to find their original place. Is that the whole reason you’re here?”
Barros, taken aback by the completely unexpected response, hurriedly continued.
“It already happened over a hundred years ago, Your Majesty. What happened during the pre-war era…”
Bang!
“They are the ones who deceived the imperial family and toyed with the empire!”
The Emperor’s blatant anger that is rarely revealed.
The moment I encountered it, I came to my senses as if I had drunk cold water all at once.
Black Snake Kassel Magic Tower.
Descendants of the ancient transcendental Jibrik Cassel and one of the contributors who had a great influence on the construction of the Ares Empire.
And those who committed a terrible treason a hundred years ago by trying to control the imperial family and the empire by brainwashing the mind of the pre-war emperor.
As a result, they created a tradition where members of the royal family were thoroughly protected against mental magic from an early age.
That was all Baros knew about their past.
However, if that were truly all, they were the ones who had the strength to make the current emperor smile and embrace them.
“A man with imperial blood, the prince of the empire, survived only by becoming their trumpeter? Tell me, Baros!”
However, the meaning of such a strong reaction, rather than being pleased, was clear.
‘There’s something more I don’t know!’
The moment his thoughts reached that point, Baros had no choice but to take out the card he had been trying to hide for as long as possible.
“Matapju Kassel promised to dedicate the castle to the imperial family!”
Although the words were spoken hastily, their content was enough to attract the emperor’s attention.
“…what?”
A strange light flashed again in the emperor’s eyes, which were as cold as thin ice, and the murder that had covered the office suddenly disappeared without a trace.
“…Please continue.”
That stark change in atmosphere alone was enough to convince Baros that his guess was correct.
The anger of the emperor who rules the empire is different from the anger of ordinary humans.
The emperor only expresses anger when he feels that the authority of the empire and the imperial family has been violated, and he endures any anger if there is any further benefit to the empire and the imperial family.
Such was the anger of a ruler who had been educated and lived that way his whole life.
so.
‘There is a past that cannot be satisfied by simply putting the Kassel Magic Tower back under your command. A secret history handed down only to the emperor, not the imperial family.’
And the unknown past seemed to be definitely less valuable than Seongguk. Of course, there is nothing of greater value than that in the current empire.
A holy nation represented by priests and temples.
Those who act on behalf of the nine great gods, who are not simply the strongest nation on the continent but the spiritual leaders of the continent’s subjects.
Therefore, it was another name for another empire that even the continent’s strongest nation and empire, which had reached its peak, could not hastily care about or touch.
“Offering the Holy Kingdom? Those guys? By what means?”
As if he had been thinking for too long, the emperor’s voice rushed into Baros’s ears, urging him to explain.
His expression is already slightly frowning. If he talks nonsense here, his anger from before will turn into a mace several times the size and will hit him.
Now is the watershed that will determine our true fate.
“That…”
Baros licked his dry lips with his tongue and recalled his conversation with Kassel Matapju.
Could it be that he even predicted this situation?
– If we cannot quell the Emperor’s anger just by submitting, then say that you will sacrifice the Holy Kingdom.
– you? By what means?
– Now that the long-awaited relic of our ancestors has appeared in the world, it is simple to utilize it. It’s easy to deceive the blind.
Wizards often say that.
It is said that priests who only follow God and providence are blind compared to wizards who manipulate providence and use it.
– We just need some time.
For some reason, I trusted the words of the great mage who appeared in the legend of the highest level of wizardry.
No, honestly, rather than trust.
– I will make you a true emperor who rules over all territory and all humans on the continent. Then you gave us….
I couldn’t refuse such an extremely tempting deal.
“They said there was a way to do it by using the relics of their ancient ancestors. Of course, they said it would take some time.”
No matter how much time it takes, the reward is prosperity.
How can I ignore it?
Fortunately, this time the emperor’s reaction did not differ much from expectations.
“It’s a relic of a magic saint. Oh, that Pope’s… bracelet. Yes, that’s right. That could be it.”
It was a bit surprising to see him muttering to himself, which was unbefitting of a supreme emperor, but he was not stupid enough to interrupt the emperor’s words just now.
and.
“It doesn’t seem like there is any possibility at all.”
Only after the emperor, whose face had become expressionless again, looked at him with his strange eyes, was he able to be sure that he had passed the critical moment of fate.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
thud.
Baros hit his head on the floor and breathed a sigh of relief at the fate he had barely recovered from, but the emperor’s words froze him again.
“But you have to be punished for breaking the taboo.”
Baros forcibly lifted his head, which was hardly willing to move.
“The crime of breaking the taboo and collaborating with a traitor. It is right to strip him of his status as a member of the royal family and punish him with death.”
“Your Majesty!”
I screamed involuntarily as I felt goosebumps rising all over my body.
“…However, the intention is for the good of the empire and the possibility appears to be sufficient. The disposition will be postponed until the presence or absence of that possibility is determined.”
The moment the cool glare of his father, or rather the emperor, passed over his face, Baros was able to barely breathe warmth into his nearly frozen heart.
Of course, he couldn’t help it that at that moment, his legs suddenly lost their strength and he fell down.
“Heh heh. Heh….”
“The Holy Kingdom also has my eyes and ears, so if your bet goes wrong, you too will suffer the same fate as those bastards.”
The cold look in his eyes seemed to be scolding him for his own indecency, so Baros quickly straightened his posture and lowered his head again.
“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”
“Go away.”
“Hwang Eun is devastated!”
thud.
Baros, who once again hit his head on the floor and bowed his head, sighed in relief and took a step back.
He was not able to keep his initial resolution to act confidently and was treated in a disgraceful manner, but fortunately his life was saved.
‘Now it’s time to start again.’
He thought so and gritted his teeth.
There was a lot of work to be done.
On the day he went out to negotiate with the Kassel Mateap, most of his associates were killed, except for Leos, who managed to escape.
I had to form connections again and prepare for competition.
But then I heard a voice outside the door that I couldn’t ignore.
– His Royal Highness Prince Clid and King Gerard request an audience.
‘older brother? King Dongyik?’
The most powerful rival and king of the four directions of the empire, King Dongyik, who ruled the eastern part of the country.
When that incongruous combination of characters appeared at the same time, Baros’s mind became complicated.
“Come on in.”
– yes.
Kiyi.
The door to the huge office opens and the two people enter with confident steps.
Among them, the first one that caught his eye was a young man with black hair like himself, black eyes, yellow skin, and an imposing physique of nearly 2 meters.
Although it does not have an expressionless face that makes it difficult to tell what it is thinking, its physique and facial contour resemble the ruler sitting on the throne.
It was his half-brother and biggest rival, the 1st Prince Clid van Ares.
The first prince met his gaze and stared at him for a moment, then immediately turned his head.
Baros bites his lip tightly because he feels like he’s laughing at himself for some reason because his steps don’t even falter.
The black hair next to him showed that he had royal blood, but a middle-aged handsome man with pure white skin and blue eyes nodded his head slightly and smiled at him.
It was a smile that seemed humane, but Baros ignored it.
– Smile, Your Highness. Those who are powerless can survive only by smiling.
-Who is looking down on you? That’s why I’m telling you to smile. It most certainly looks easy enough to deceive the enemy.
It was mandatory for the princes to be entrusted to one of the four kings during their childhood and receive education for several years. Because the person who was his godfather and gave him advice that decided his life was that damned human being.
‘King Dongik.’
Why does one of his rivals and the King of Four Directions come in together?
It was not because of that, since King Sabang could not get involved in the succession battle.
But what causes this anxiety?
Clyde Dongyikwang.
It is something that the imperial family and the Eastern King can move together.
‘Could it be… Macline?’
I could have dismissed it as an inference without much evidence, or even a delusion, but I felt strangely confident.
At that moment, Baros stopped walking backwards and raised his head again.
“Your Majesty. Your Majesty, I have a request to make to you.”
The moment when Clid and King Dongyik, who were about to kneel in front of the emperor, turned to him.
“Soja. I want to finish what I did in the east in the past. Please give me just one more chance.”
Baros knelt down and shouted.
“under…?”
Then, seeing the Emperor’s expression harden again, he spoke quickly.
“We will use their power. The empire’s power will not be wasted.”
In fact, something had already been done.
It was rude because it should not happen that it accidentally becomes a competitor’s ball.
“Hmm.”
Fortunately, the emperor’s reaction was not bad.
“It would also be proof that they have surrendered to the Empire.”
Seeing the emperor’s eyes showing interest again, Baros remembered ‘another’ promise with that scary old man.
