Chapter 4: However, the pain increasesThe location returned to the Roland Empire again.
Sion proceeded with a large-scale change in the internal affairs, giving most of the important positions to his trusted companions, a few days after that…
After a peaceful period.
Nothing happened…
The n.o.bles did not make any strange moves because of this forceful manipulation of affairs, and trigger the rebellion that everyone was worried would happen one day…
There was no movements, the n.o.bles didn’t even complain…
It was a nearly terrifying peace.
During this period, Sion remained in his room, continuing to fight with the expanding pile of paperwork.
Claugh, Calne, Eslina and Nea who would come to disturb him at definite periods, had disappeared completely from Sion’s side for this period… because they were very busy with their promotions and the changes in their subordinates.
Especially Claugh, he had to take up the duty of handling the whole Roland army, and he also had to deal with the paperwork that came with the promotion and whatnot, he was busy with dealing with things that he was unfamiliar with every day…
At that moment, Sion finished reading through a pile of doc.u.ments, after signing it and writing some instructions, he continued with the next one.
This was the doc.u.ment that the Field-Marshal of Roland Empire had handed in…
This was written on this:
“You actually gave me such a boring a.s.signment! Sion, I will definitely kill you! Wait till I finish what you’ve given me, I will definitely kill you!”
This was a doc.u.ment with a terrifying tone…
Its contents may have even made some people blanch, but…
Sion laughed.
“Ah~ Claugh seems to be having a hard time too. Good…”
So, he wrote on the doc.u.ment:
“You will kill me after you finish working, that’s troubling, then I’ll give you some of my work. So you can look forward to it even more.”
Then, he pulled out a pile of work that he had planned to give Claugh, that needed the Field-Marshal’s signature, doc.u.ments about the plans after today…
He moved it to the pile that was to be given to Claugh.
Sion smiled widely.
“This way, he’ll probably yell at me again?”
He said…
At the same time his hands stopped sorting out the paper work.
Then he looked out of the window.
He could see the whole of Roland’s capital, Reylude, from his office window.
He looked at the whole capital…
It was a peaceful scene.
These few days, the situation had been very peaceful, there completely wasn’t anything that was happening as predicted.
And…
It was very, very quiet…
And, this country was in the midst of changing rapidly.
The streets looked like normal from where they were sprawled outside the window, but…
This country was changing.
With this move in the personnel, had ensured that all of the important positions in Roland were occupied by Sion’s people…
It was a strange movement, this time, the people who were chosen weren’t all n.o.ble born.
But, that didn’t mean that there weren’t any n.o.bles in there. Sion didn’t want to offend the n.o.bles who opposed the king, he did not use any violent methods to proceed with the change in personnel as he wanted to.
He only chose the people according to their abilities, and it had turned out like that.
As long as they had power, Sion didn’t oppose to the background of that person.
He thought that this was expected, and he trusted that this would allow the country to grow rapidly, gaining the power to go against other countries.
But…
The strange action of changing the personnel… a few days after the order had been announced, it had brought about an effect that was far more than what Sion expected…
The country had awoken in one breath.
They had thrown off the control off the n.o.bles who only knew how to consider the benefits to them…
This country had awoken.
Many people with talents and expectations had came in from everywhere, their numbers were so large that it made him want to ask, where had these people been hiding before this?
The n.o.bles still existed.
And they had a large power.
They had large lands, finances, personal armies.
But, the people could gain the highest positions in the army and internal government, this was currently the most important matter.
As long as they worked hard, they could replace the n.o.bles, moving Roland.
Building a better country.
Pushing forward a better government.
Creating a better life.
Although the change in jobs had not ended, but most of the doc.u.ments in the internal government were now flowing towards Sion.
They were files that were directed towards the expansion of Roland’s progress, suggestions that people were making…
They were all different opinions and perspectives that were different from the n.o.bles’, that Sion had never thought of…
They were voices that wanted the best of this country.
They were different from the previous n.o.bles whose voices were selfish, l.u.s.tful and filled with lies, these were the voices of people who really thought well for this country.
If they did this, would the processing of goods be smoother? Would the movements of the merchant industry be more active?
In the time of a few days… Sion had only thought of giving the people an opportunity to think of the direction in which the country could expand…
Sion looked at the towering piles of doc.u.ments in front him…
“I didn’t think that there would be that many people making suggestions…”
He smiled in relief, then he narrowed his eyes.
“But…”
It was silent outside.
“…It’s too quiet.”
Sion muttered softly.
The n.o.bles had not uttered a word towards the current situation, it was very clear, this was a strange occurrence.
It shouldn’t be like that.
Sion’s eyes sharpened.
“They couldn’t… be so docile? If they understood it so much, that they could be so insightful about the future… I wouldn’t need to be so troubled, to think of plans to make them submit…”
At this moment, Sion stopped muttering, having a self-mocking smile on his face…
“…No, if the n.o.bles had that kind of tolerance… I wouldn’t need to be king, this country would be in their hands.”
But…
That was not the truth.
The n.o.bles were silly and cowardly, for their personal gain, they could even betray their own country…
They didn’t have any visions of their future.
They only cared about whether they were happy now; they only cared about their own current satisfaction…
The present, present, present, present…
The future of this country…
The future of the people of this country…
They had never thought of it. They only thought of themselves.
Even if they had awakened they couldn’t defeat Sion if they continued…
At that moment, wouldn’t they sell out this country without panting or being red in the face? They would betray this country so that they would be able to drink the sweet nectar?
And, they planned to defeat Sion.
Sion understood that very well.
He understood those n.o.bles who had called his mother a lowly b.i.t.c.h.
They only had l.u.s.tful thoughts.
“…Yes. A dirty bloodline…”
Sion stared at his own hands, saying softly.
“My body has… dirty blood. The n.o.bles who had been strung along by l.u.s.t… my father who abandoned my mother… the blood line of my predecessor tells me…”
What are the n.o.bles thinking? What do they want to do…
It is too quiet.
But, it wouldn’t last if this continues.
Then, what are the n.o.bles thinking?
Why have they not reacted?
Why…
Would the n.o.bles do that to defeat me…?
Sion glared out of the window.
At that moment, someone knocked on the office door…
“…Report. In the Akmer region… the n.o.bles have started to rouse…”
Sion didn’t hear the rest of the report.
It’s coming.
He thought.
It’s finally beginning. The short rest had ended, the real Roland was showing itself…
The n.o.bles would definitely not show their weaknesses.
They probably would turn it into a large war? And it was a war that was abnormally deep and ugly like a swamp…
The first light was…
Sion narrowed his eyes.
“Yes… the source is Akmer… right?”
That was the territory of Baron Kellar Froaude.
Yes.
It was the territory of Miran Froaude’s father.
Sion ordered the subordinate outside the door:
“Call… Claugh…”
The Akmer region was slightly north of Froaude’s capital, its geographic location, was closer to the neighbouring country.
Because it was near to the allied country Runa, it was the reason that it was responsible for all dealings with Runa.
There was a piece of fertile land in that large territory…
But, because Roland was near the southern end of the Menoris Continent, the weather was warm, and it was steady for all four seasons, hence every district had fertile land…
And Froaude’s mansion was in the wealthy Akmer district.
No, compared to a mansion, it should be a small palace… or it should be more accurately a walled city.
Although the neighbouring Runa was an allied country, but, if there was war between the two countries, Roland would use this as their fort, to defend against the Runa army.
So, the mansion that Kellar Froaude stayed in was quite secure.
But the interior designs were not simple, on the other hand they were colourful but graceful, filled with the tastes of the baron who was the second richest.
Many n.o.bles started to gather here…
The hall was now noisy with the society party…
While the orchestra played its beautiful songs, the n.o.bles enjoyed rich wine, gourmet food as they casually interacted…
In that time, there would be n.o.bles who continued to stream in, the banquet would become more noisy, and sophisticated…
Miran Froaude stared fixedly at this…
This scene.
With his cold eyes.
With that cold, extremely cold expression.
He stared at the gathered n.o.bles coldly.
“As expected of Otou-sama. If you spread the order, there would be many n.o.bles who turn up…”
He said politely.
The smiling man by his side said:
“Ah, this is thanks to your hard work, Miran. Because you gave me the chance to speak with Duke Stearead, so I was able to call over so many famous people.”
Saying that, he looked at Froaude.
He was a short, plump old man. It wasn’t hot in the room, but his face was slick with oil… he had a faint demeaning smile, and a small aura.
But, Froaude looked at the old man, smiling.
“How can that be, my abilities aren’t as good as Father’s. I will still need your protection even after today.”
He said.
He called this man Father…
Yes, this old man was the person who was in charge of governing this land… the head of the Froaude family, Kellar Froaude.
Comparing the father and son, although he was a man, but he had a slim figure, and had a sharp beauty, Froaude didn’t look like his father at all…
Actually, that was to be expected?
Because they weren’t related by blood…
Kellar stared at Froaude.
“Oh. I will continue to protect you, don’t worry! Because you are my son whom I’m proud of. My adorable child… My choice was the right one… When you were still small, from the first time I saw you… You’ve grown up well to be talented and handsome. And your performance has displayed your abilities. Although I love the other lads too, but… you’re the best.”
He said.
When Kellar looked at Froaude, his eyes didn’t look like they were looking at his son, but rather like he was looking at his lover…
Froaude smiled when he heard this.
“It is an honor to be Father’s son.”
“…Oh. Adorable child.”
Saying that, Kellar stroked Froaude’s back gently.
In a moment.
Froaude narrowed his eyes slightly.
Cold eyes.
Those devil-like eyes that as if had no light, narrowed slightly…
Staring at Kellar with an expression like a black hole.
His eyes at that moment…
Froaude gently pulled Kellar’s arm away.
“Otou-sama. It has just begun. Let’s leave the pleasure for later. So that we do not waste this night, let us finish up with boring work, alright? Your guests have almost all reached…”
Kellar nodded forcefully when he heard this.
“Yes. You’re right. Duke Stearead is coming too… I must let him see my best side…”
Froaude shook his head when he heard this:
“Otou-sama should have any problems. Then…”
He raised his hand lightly, the orchestra stopped their performance when they saw this, the music circulating in the hall stopped suddenly.
Followed by—
“Everyone, today you have all come to attend my banquet, I am very grateful for that.”
Froaude said with a bland, clear voice.
A voice that was clear, but like a devil whose emotions had all been wiped away.
The n.o.bles gathered turned to Froaude when they heard his voice.
Froaude bowed to them politely.
“The organizer of this banquet… is Duke Shetelud Stearead, and my father Kellar Froaude.”
The thundering applause made Kellar nodded his head, pleased, then he raised his hands to express his feelings.
Froaude looked at all of this, then checked that the five doors in the hall had started to close.
Kellar continued:
“I am very thankful that everyone here has accepted the invitation by Duke Stearead and me. Everyone gathered must know, why we’re gathered here?”
Everyone chorused:
“To teach that arrogant brat, Sion Astal a lesson!”
“If we hand over our country to that tyranny who underestimates us, and surrounds himself with trash, we will definitely be destroyed!”
“Pull that man off the throne!”
Everyone expressed their opinions, Kellar nodded.
“Yes. Now we must stand out. Although he has the blood of royalty, but he is only a dirty lad brought into this world by a lowly woman… Having that person as our king, would make us the b.u.t.t of jokes by the neighbouring countries. Before his power continues to grow, we should push him back.
“And the moment is now! My brilliant son Miran has thought of a great plan. I believe that it has spread to everyone… We will lend the power of the Runa Empire who the previous king had deep ties with, to pull down Astal. I hope that everyone can help me.”
The whole hall was immediately drowned with agreements from everyone.
The plan seemed to have succeeded.
Froaude’s eyes gleamed sharply.
At this moment, the doors to the hall closed slowly—
One, two…
Kellar said:
“I will let our hound Miran explain the specifics of this plan. Perhaps my teachings have been lacking somewhere… This child is not good at dealing with people… Please understand, and give him your warmest protection.”
There was a wave of laughter in the hall…
So, Kellar turned to Froaude with a satisfied expression, proud at his son…
“Ne, Miran, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
In this period, the doors continued to close one by one.
Three… Four…
Four… when the last door was still open, Froaude turned his attention back to the gathered group.
Then, he bowed his head to express his regards… then spoke:
“First I wish to ask something of everyone… Lately have you been attacked by an unknown person? According to my research, the king has hired a.s.sa.s.sins, trying to wipe out the n.o.bles who oppose the king…”
Froaude’s voice had not fallen silent, when the n.o.bles started to murmur.
“Yes, they did come.”
“They came after me too! I was nearly killed… It was a good thing that the other person wasn’t able to get what they wanted.”
The hall started to buzz with these.
Froaude nodded when he heard this.
“As expected? So there would be that many people gathered here. The king didn’t succeed, right? He’s underestimating us. He actually sent a.s.sa.s.sins of that standard after us… Actually, those lowly acts would only make us love our country more…There must be some people who would feel that, making that Astal man the king, is a very dangerous thing, after being targeted by the a.s.sa.s.sins? I believe it too, that there may be some people here who don’t agree with allowing that man to become king…
“The king failed. Because he sent those ineffective a.s.sa.s.sins, us n.o.bles who have the power and love the country very much were allowed to gather here. That we were able to summon so many people… My plan has succeeded. Firstly I must express my grat.i.tude to everyone who has come forward to the banquet.”
Saying that, he bowed his head.
The n.o.bles applauded pa.s.sionately to Froaude’s speech.
Froaude accepted this thunderous applause…
Then when he raised his head again, he smiled faintly…
He stared at the n.o.bles in the hall.
The n.o.bles were sure of their own stands, and they did not doubt that they would win—
They would save this country personally.
Everyone was filled with hope.
Froaude looked at the faces of the n.o.bles… he looked at every face, seeming to smile mockingly…
At this moment, Kellar told Froaude:
“Ne, Miran, don’t pretend, tell the plan to everyone. Even I don’t know about the details… how will we join forces with Runa to defeat Astal?”
The n.o.bles looked at Froaude again when they heard this…
Froaude nodded.
“The plan… yes. Then, I’ll begin. Firstly I’d like everyone to…”
Froaude paused, looking around…
Then simply said:
“… Please die.”
He only said that.
In a moment, the hall fell silent.
“You, you actually said something so disrespectful…”
“What are you saying…”
But Froaude interrupted them.
“Ah, you’re so stupid that you can’t understand what I’m saying? No… for my personal wishes, I can betray my country without changing my expression… Someone like you or perhaps you don’t understand this language? You ate my bait without hesitation, free bait…”
At this moment, Froaude checked that the last door had been closed.
“…Even if I say more, it’s useless. Anyway you will die here. All the doors have been closed. And you will be unable to leave. Now…” Saying that, he raised his finger slowly.
He raised that finger with a special black ring…
At this moment Kellar said:
“What, what is going on? Miran, why did you say something so strange…”
But, Froaude didn’t turn back and said:
“Darkness… appear…”
In the moment he muttered softly.
Something unbelievable happened.
Resting under Froaude’s feet, the shadows lying on the ground suddenly swelled, breaking into several dark shapes…
Attacking the n.o.bles.
In a moment—
The hall became h.e.l.l.
Brains, bodies, arms, legs continued to be stripped from the n.o.bles, flying into their air.
Every time the shadows crossed, blood, blood, blood…
Flooded the hall…
“You…”
Kellar’s legs folded in, and he collapsed on the ground.
Froaude turned back slowly…
He laughed.
Froaude laughed. Seeing the n.o.ble’s foolish appearance…
Seeing the piteous appearance of his father who had slumped down in front of him, he laughed.
“This- what’s going on, Miran… Unless you’re going to make me…”
Froaude nodded simply.
“I had planned this from the start, Father, I have been awaiting for this day very patiently.”
Kellar looked stunned when he heard this.
“You, you’re joking… Miran. Tell me, this, this is a lie… I, I have always, always loved you since the day I saw you as a child…”
Froaude laughed again when he heard this.
“…So what? Do you want me to love a person as ugly and foolish as you? Do you want me to love the foolish you, who has no future? If you’re joking, please keep it to a minimum. From the beginning, I have always treated you like a p.a.w.n. I have already decided where I want to go. And you, are only one of the p.a.w.ns that I am using to reach my goal.”
Kellar said:
“Don’t, don’t say such nonsense! You were only five years old when I met you?! You… you couldn’t have been tricking me the whole time… You love me, your father…”
But, Froaude smiled at this moment.
Those red lips parted in the darkness…
“…At that moment you didn’t have the large authority that you have now. You had your brother, who was the original lord of the Froaude family was your brother. But, he died. And not only that, your relatives pa.s.sed away because of accidents… leaving you as the only one. You gained a large land, money, power… After you set everything in order, I moved in… But, that was what I gave to you, now, I want it back…”
Kellar’s face blanched even further…
“How, how can that be… Then, it was a five year old child who killed the Froaude family…”
“Not yet. You’re left. But that’s going to end tonight…”
Saying that, Froaude slowly put his hand on Kellar’s head…
Kellar said:
“…Please, I beg you, wait. But, but, we had seventeen years together as father and son, and as lovers. You…”
Froaude smiled when he heard that.
“…Lower your voice, it’s very piercing. Goodbye, my lord father.”
“No, don’t…”
His voice disappeared.
As if enveloping Kellar, a silver black shadow seemed to swell in a moment…
His head, arms and legs disappeared… leaving a body that seemed to have been gnawed on thoroughly by beasts…
The voice of the other organizer of this party sounded from behind Froaude…
Stearead who had been threatened by Froaude to change to the royalist faction said with a shaking voice:
“You, you actually dared to kill… your father… and…”
Saying that, he looked at the center of the hall.
An unbearable sight laid before him. The n.o.bles were continually a.s.saulted by the shadows… they were dying.
Stearead looked upon this and said:
“…It seems that it was right to stand on your side, Colonel Miran Froaude… No, after that surprising shift in internal affairs, you have been promoted to Lieutenant General, right? Or, perhaps I should call you Baron Froaude?”
Froaude turned back.
“Remember, if you ever dare to betray me, I will kill you mercilessly.”
Stearead glanced around the h.e.l.l-like scene in the hall when he heard that…
Nearly all the n.o.bles were killed…
Stearead smiled self-mockingly and said:
“After witnessing this scene, who would dare to betray you? We… how would we be able to… fight with this kind of monster? I will never betray you…”
But, he had not finished.
In the next moment, his body disappeared, leaving behind Stearead’s head that was smiling sadly…
Froaude said:
“…Eh? This situation… it isn’t the power of my… ring that caused that…”
So he turned to the middle of the hall.
In the middle of the hall, nearly all the n.o.bles were eaten by the shadows that Froaude had created…
But, at the back…
A man was standing by the side of the door that had closed first…
Froaude narrowed his eyes...
“…”
It was a strange man.
He had messy and pink-coloured hair, a colour that was rare. He wasn’t as tall as Froaude, but he could be counted as tall? A fairly proportionate body figure… it could be seen that had been trained well.
Even though he was facing a situation like this, those slim eyes still brimmed with confidence, staring at Froaude…
Froaude asked:
“…You actually defeated my shadows, who are you?”
The man shrugged.
“If I am here, it means that I’m obviously a guest…”
Froaude shook his head immediately.
“No. You are a visitor from another country, right? Just based on your pink hair colour… Roland almost has no one with that hair colour.”
The man smiled when he heard that.
“…Oh? Everything was seen through? As I thought, you are a very capable person. Those icy eyes are terrifying.”
“I want to thank you for your praise, and take it as a compliment… But, you say that with a casual smile, it doesn’t seem like a compliment. Then, your presence in Roland… What are you here for?”
“Eh? Do I look like someone who has to answer that?”
Froaude hearing that, raised his hand slowly.
“Then, no matter whether you’re willing, I will have you answer…”
The man whistled when he heard that.
“Is that it, the black ring your wear on your finger? The weapon that summoned those black shadows earlier? It seems as if it shouldn’t be meddled with. You controlling such a large amount of shadows casually… and to be able to use that weapon so skillfully… to reach that height, it must have been quite painful? You are indeed are very skillful person. I really don’t want to clash head-on with you. And I have a job to do. I don’t want to waste any energy here…”
Then.
“Darkness…”
The man frowned.
“That wouldn’t do…”
Saying that, he raised the golden ring that he was wearing on his finger.
“Lightning beasts…”
“Appear!”
The two of them shouted at the same time.
In a moment, the darkness beneath Froaude’s feet swelled…
Contrary to that, light appeared around the man… no, it would be more appropriate to say that it was lightning instead of light…
Several lightning blocks appeared…
They slowly formed several beasts.
Froaude narrowed his eyes when he saw this…
“…As expected. I saw the ability that vanished Duke Stearead’s body, it was clearly not caused by magic. You have the same weapon as me…”
He said midly.
The man shrugged.
“Ah, I really don’t want to fight with you. Seeing my lightning beasts and having that reaction… that is my first time seeing that happen. Was this matter within your expectations?”
Froaude shook his head.
“It’s not like that. I’m still quite surprised. You appearing here is already beyond my expectations. Of course I didn’t think that someone among the n.o.bles would have realized my plan and attempt to kill me, but… if it were a normal opponent, this shadow could have solved everything.
But, with someone like you existing…
And you killed Duke Stearead…
I know. You are here to kill Duke Stearead who had contact with me. And along the way you would clear away the n.o.bles who followed Duke Stearead…
From that, your origins doesn’t need to be spoken out loud.
Who was it who had to kill Duke Stearead? Who was it to command you to kill him…?
Which n.o.ble was it? It should be the person behind the scenes, who remains unseen and commanded Duke Stearead…
Which country did that person sell Roland and Sion out to…?
“Which country are you from? Eh, I have two or three theories in mind…”
The man frowned when he heard this, having an expression as if wanting Froaude to release him.
“…How terrible… Just by exchanging a few sentences with you, it seems that I have leaked everything out without my notice… It seems that I am going to get someone mad at me. So, from now on, I will say nothing else.”
Froaude replied:
“Eh. It doesn’t matter. I will cut down that ring along with that finger, then I will capture you, slowly delaying you, until I have gotten all my answers, until you die.”
The man laughed when he heard this.
“How scary… If that is so, so that I can explain, no matter what I cannot capture you… that means, I can only kill you…”
Saying that, the man waved a hand in Froaude’s direction.
“I want your ring!”
In a moment, the lightning beasts moved towards Froaude at the speed of light…
But, Froaude had several shadow beasts collide with them at an unexpected speed…
Froaude ran forward quickly.
He used the hand without the ring to point at the man, tracing out a magical formation in the air.
“WHAT I SEEK IS BURNING FIELDS>>>…”
The man scowled when he saw this.
“Urgh… he’s using magic… That’s not good!”
Yelling, he charged towards Froaude, waving his ring finger.
“Lightning beasts!”
He materialized a lightning beast in front of Froaude’s magic formation, cancelling the magic formation.
Froaude moved a step back and said:
“Appear!”
A shadow was released in the direction of the lightning beast.
Both sides separated.
Six shadow and lightning beasts were fighting against each other…
Both sides were equally matched.
It seemed as if they were unable to get ahead of each other.
The man had a distressed expression.
“Ah, you’re good. I could see this from our clash. This is troubling… it seems that it would be hard to have a conclusion…”
But Froaude smiled faintly.
“No. You should have discovered it? You can’t use magic. No, I should say, you have forbidden yourself from using magic. Perhaps it is to cover your ident.i.ty, so that no one would be able to know which country’s a.s.sa.s.sin you are, right? You can’t let me see you using your country’s magic… so, you cannot use magic. That is the largest difference between you and I… If the power of the rings are equal, then I am at an advantage because I can use magic.
This is the first reason why this situation has benefits for me.”
The man frowned when he heard this.
“Oh, the first? Don’t tell me there are other reasons…”
“Yes, that"s right, you also have a disadvantage. Because you cannot use magic, you will be unable to match up to my strength, so even if it seems you are talking to me casually, in actual fact you are actually searching for a way to escape. But, unless I give the command, otherwise the doors to the hall will not open. This way, your lightning beasts and you will have no choice but to break down the doors to escape, but… I will not let you have that chance. If you send one lightning beast to break down the door, I will use that opportunity to rip out your throat…”
The man shrugged when he heard this, seeming to want to surrender with his hands up.
“…Hey, that can’t be? It was only an exchange of a few blows, but you could interpret so many things? Wouldn’t you feel tired? Even if you aren’t tired, someone probably has told you that you’re annoying? You must have had no friends?”
Froaude smiled bitterly when he heard that.
“I wouldn’t feel tired, but the latter part is right. Ne, let’s stop with the nonsense. Please make a choice. Are you going to surrender? Or knowing that you will be killed, attempt to escape…”
The man simply said:
“Or suicide? There should at least be this option? If I am unluckily caught by you, I may not want to reveal my country’s top secrets under intense questioning.”
Froaude narrowed his eyes.
“Are you going to do that?”
The man shook his head, laughing.
“No, I wouldn’t. I have a better plan.”
Saying that, he reached into his pocket…
“The fourth choice.”
He took out a blue gem…
“The crystal of Iino Dwoe… This thing can let me win this fight.”
Saying that, he threw the gem up, in a moment, the gem stopped in mid-air…
Then it started to vibrate.
Something seemed to resonate with it and release a piercing sound, the gem vibrated in the air…
The man immediately controlled the lightning beasts, releasing the shadow beast, making to chase after it…
Then, he stopped…
Looking at the gem.
The man took out the gem without hesitation and wanted to use the lightning beasts to destroy the door. He clearly knew that Froaude would attack him… but he attempted to destroy the door…
At that moment—
“…d.a.m.n it.”
Froaude seemed to groan, then he used the darkness to destroy the door nearest to him.
The man seeing that.
“As expected of a highly-skilled opponent, you’ve made a good judgment. But… it’s too late.”
With that, the man bounded off.
Following that, Froaude made preparations to escape…
But, the gem suddenly cracked.
In a moment, blue flames spat out from the gem, destroying the ceiling and floor… yes, it wasn’t burning them into pieces, but destroying them.
In a moment, the temperature in the room rose by several hundred degrees… then the difference in temperature caused the walls and ornaments to be destroyed even though they were not in contact with the fire…
The flames reached out quickly.
Approaching Froaude’s back…
Suddenly, the shadows protected his back, but…
Even that shadow was burnt away by that blue flame… no matter how much shadow he released, it was all destroyed.
At that moment—
Froaude had reached the door that led out of the hall, suddenly…
“Urgh…”
Froaude frowned.
The door had collapsed with the walls, blocking the exit…
It was the end.
He thought.
There wasn’t any time to escape from the other routes, even if there were sufficient time, the flames had already approached areas where the strength of the darkness was unable to defend against.
If he used the darkness to destroy the door and wall in front of him, there would be a gap behind him, Froaude would be burnt to death…
“…”
He had lost.
He thought.
He had lost terribly.
He had underestimated his opponent…
Froaude stopped suddenly, closing his eyes…
And at this moment—
“Hey! What are you doing! Aren’t you going to escape?!”
Someone caught his arm, pulling him over forcefully.
A strong power.
Froaude raised his head, for some reason, Claugh was actually in front of him…
“…How did you… Cla…”
But he didn’t say anything much.
The flames that could destroy everything, were quickly swallowing them.
Froaude turned back, glaring steadily at the blue flames, waving his ring.
In a moment, a large amount of darkness appeared…
The largest amount of darkness that he could create so far continued to expand…
He was struck dizzy for a moment.
His arms were almost bursting with the effort. Even so, he frantically held on…
“Field-Marshal Cl-Claugh. Eight, eight seconds. I can only hold back the flames for eight seconds…or so…”
This was the limit.
No matter how many darkness was created, they were all extinguished one by one…
But Claugh smiled broadly.
“Froaude, you’re very strong! Enough. Hold on!”
He shouted, swinging his right arm. Then, the tattoo on his arm glowed…
Claugh touched his arm gently to the wall in front of them, and… in an instant, the wall cracked into pieces…
“We’re going!”
Claugh grabbed Froaude’s clothes, pulling him out.
They escaped out of the mansion quickly…
After that.
The whole mansion was swallowed by tongues of flame.
But, the fire continued to spread.
The flames expanded as if wanting to burn everything in this world pa.s.sionately…
“d.a.m.n it~ How far is it going to go!!”
Claugh dragged Froaude, running at an unbelievable speed…
The scene was distorting.
The scene was warping.
Froaude watched this as he was dragged along.
The air was expanding because of the high temperature, so everything was distorting…
Then, when the flames had reached their maximum range, they suddenly vanished…
And…
The world returned to normal.
The mansion had completely been decimated.
It was a stunning display of power.
If the flames had continued to spread, they probably wouldn’t be able to escape?
Froaude narrowed his eyes.
No, if Claugh had not appeared at that crux in time, he would not have been able to escape from that hall, he would have been burnt alive…
Then at that moment, he already had prepared to die.
But, that man…
He had grabbed Froaude’s clothes without turning around, running frantically, Froaude looked at him…
Froaude stared at Claugh for a long while in their current state…
Looking at Claugh who was desperately dragging Froaude and running…
He thought.
“…”
Then—
“…That, I have something I want to talk about… Field-Marshal Claugh.”
Claugh hearing this.
“Ah? It’s not the time for that now! We’ll talk about it later, later!”
But Froaude said:
“It’s fine if it’s later, but… I have some information that you must know about. Will you give me a little time?”
“Ah that’s enough. How annoying! What is it!”
Froaude said with his usual mild tone:
“Field-Marshal Claugh is using his full strength to escape… But in truth the fire has already extinguished. In other words, what are you escaping from?”
“Ah?”
Claugh yelled foolishly, turning back.
He had a dumb-founded expression, looking in shock at the scene were there wasn’t any flames, then… he released Frouade’s collar…
“Why didn’t you say that earlier!”
He shouted angrily at Froaude.
Froaude dusted off his dirty clothes as he stood, shrugging:
“It’s because, even though the fire had stopped, the funny situation where you were dragging me and running desperately was quite amusing… so, I didn’t notify you in time.”
Claugh hearing this.
“You… you’re the same as ever, an annoying person…”
“Then I apologize. Have I made you angry?”
Claugh hearing that, glared viciously at Froaude.
“Ah? You have always made me angry. This time too, Sion worked so hard, hoping to reduce the sacrifices, so that he can govern the country in this peaceful situation, but you moved by yourself, moving first—”
Froaude nodded:
“The funny thing that I referred to just now is this. I’m very aware that you hate me. But why did you come to save me then? What’s happening now?”
Claugh frowned.
“This… Because Sion wanted me to come and help you, so I could only come. I didn’t want to come at all…”
But Froaude tilted his head in suspicion.
“His Majesty? But, that’s strange. His Majesty only sent you, the Field-Marshal to come and help me?”
“Of course not! He wanted me to bring the soldiers. Sion said, Froaude is aiming to wipe out the n.o.bles, but the other side will want to retaliate. He said that it was too dangerous for you alone, so he told me to take a large group of soldiers and leave the capital… But, you are always acting by yourself, taking the first step, this made me feel concerned… I wanted to punch you, so I quickly came here, and went ahead of everyone else.”
He said…
Froaude hearing that, felt more confused.
“You left the other soldiers, and came here first?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But you clearly said it yourself, you didn’t want to come, you’re here on His Majesty’s orders, you came here reluctantly, but you abandoned your soldiers and came here first…? I don’t understand…”
Claugh revealed an irritated expression when he heard that.
“I’ve had enough, you’re very annoying, so didn’t I say, I was here to punch you!”
“You clearly didn’t want to come, but you came to save my life… You are a strange person.”
“Do you have the rights to say that?!”
Froaude smiled lightly.
“But, I still have to express my thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, I could have probably died, thank you for saving my life.”
Claugh’s expression turned serious.
“...Before you sincerely thank me, tell me, what were those blue flames? What was that, what happened? I have never seen magic like that.”
Froaude looked back when he heard that, he looked at the mansion that had been destroyed and left ashes and an empty land.
“That… It was my first time seeing something like that, too. But I know one thing…”
Claugh hearing that, stared at Froaude.
“What?”
But Froaude ignored his gaze, closing his eyes, then opening them again, staring at the destroyed mansion… then raising his head to look at the sky unfurled behind the mansion.
The sky was clear.
It was a cloudless sky.
It was so clear, as if there were no worries…
But…
Everything now looked so fake.
It was a fake steadiness.
It was a fake silence.
Froaude glared at the sky.
“…It seems, our war… has already started.”
He muttered with his usual bland and calm voice.
The scene changed back to Roland again.
This time it was solemn and quiet.
The throne where the king of Roland would seat on.
Sion was sitting on it…
He was looking at a strange scene in front of him.
Looking ahead, beasts that were made of lightning suddenly appeared…
The beasts locked down on Sion, attacking.
But…
“…”
Sion didn’t move. Not only that, he didn’t look nervous at all, staring at these beasts…
“It’s useless.”
As he said that…
The beasts plunged towards Sion…
But, things happened in a blink of an eye.
Holding something, it swept past, faster than thunder and lightning…
The lightning beasts disappeared.
It was incredible.
The lightning beasts were killed, as if they did not exist at all.
In exchange, what appeared in front of Sion was…
Someone who had blond hair and narrow eyes, and unearthly beautiful features.
A handsome man.
But he didn’t hold any weapons.
But, he turned his gaze to the entrance to the throne room…
He said with a clear voice:
“…Eh, an interesting attack tactic. Lightning beasts huh… But, it’s only fun. It wouldn’t work in front of me. If you have any conspiracies on the king of this country…”
In a moment.
The man had an unbelievably strong killing aura…
Sion nearly made a noise.
The man in front of him…
The killing intent that the current head of the Sword Family Eris who was tasked with protecting the country’s king, Lucile Eris was releasing…
Sion was trembling because of the killing aura that the man who was protecting him was giving out.
Although he had seen it a few times, but he felt that this man was like a monster.
Then, Lucile slowly smiled at the person who was standing to the left of the entrance:
“You will disappear. You wouldn’t feel any pain, just vanish. You can tell your companions, tell them, if they dare to touch Roland… there will be consequences.”
But, he didn’t need to explain.
Lucile was very special.
As long as he stayed in this country… no one would be able to harm Sion.
The other party seemed to understand this. The presence disappeared immediately.
Or perhaps he escaped?
Confirming that, Sion said:
“Perhaps it would be better if we caught him?”
Lucile turned back, smiling warmly.
“That is for you to decide. Or are you begging me? If that’s the case, I can catch him back for you. Strange lightning beasts are quite interesting, what about it? Do you want me to go?”
As has asked, he stared at Sion in amus.e.m.e.nt.
But Sion shook his head.
“No need, I’m not requesting for you to do anything. I’m concerned that if I ask something of you that I should not ask for and make you angry, I would be killed by you. Anyway, letting him see the pressuring and terrifying presence that you have, and letting the person behind the scenes know about this; this is currently the most effective method, right?”
Lucile even smiled, looking at Sion, as if he were evaluating the value of something, and listened carefully.
No, in actual fact he was really evalutating.
He was evaluating whether Sion had the ability to fully make good use of his function as the king of this country? If that were the case, then protect him, or else…
This man could kill Sion without a change in expression?
He was that kind of person.
And, no one could go against him.
Lucile stared at Sion for a while, then said:
“Yes. You’re fine. You haven’t spoiled yet. This country has a good king. The chaotic era is coming soon? But I believe, as long as you are king, this country can survive.”
Saying that, Lucile’s body slowly thinned out like how he had first appeared, as if he were a light ray.
He was a monster indeed.
To Lucile, he was only erasing his presence, but, people could no longer see him.
The presence was beyond Sion’s detection.
But, Sion was already used to this scene…
Sion told Lucile who was invisible:
“If I couldn’t protect this country, what would you do?”
And, a voice spoke simply…
“At that time, I would kill you, then set up a new, stronger king, so, you don’t have to think too much about it, just let go and do your best. At the time, when you lose your power, I will kill you.”
Sion smiled bitterly.
“How comforting.”
He muttered softly.
Then he hugged his arms.
“…Let go and do what?”
Saying that, he lapsed into silence.
Then he thought.
The lightning monster just now…
It wasn’t any normal magic.
That was…
What had actually happened?
If that was an a.s.sa.s.sin sent by the n.o.bles…
Claugh and Froaude had not returned.
He didn’t know if they were safe.
There was not enough information.
The information was really lacking.
What had happened to change in the country…
Sion remained like this, unmoving for some time.
The scene changed again…
Somewhere in Roland.
An elderly man…
“Indeed… Never mind. Anyway we have already killed the traitor Stearead. This way, that guy Astal wouldn’t be able to grab a hold of my tail? Now…”
He said to the man with messy and uncommon pink-coloured hair standing beside him:
“In the future… How many futures will this country have? Going against that country… will there be many futures?”
Saying that, the old man smiled.
Then… the location changed again.
Runa Empire.
In a city that was close to the Roland Empire’s boundary…
There was a man and girl with pink hair that was rarely seen.
It was a girl who was very cute. She was tiny, and looked to be about twelve or thirteen years old.
She had long hair and her fringe was cut right above her eyebrows. She wore a black dress that was outfit, but at the same time looked like a fashionable uniform… She had slim eyes, although she was young, she was a beautiful girl who would endear people.
But her tone—
“Really! Why do you laugh foolishly in front of the king, don’t you feel embarra.s.sed? Sui Onii-san!”
She scolded anxiously, without stopping.
The man beside her who was called Sui looked to be a little cowardly, but he smiled mysteriously…
“Ah? Kuu-chan, I don’t think that I was laughing foolishly…”
He had the same hair colour as the girl called Kuu-chan, and they looked alike…
They were probably brother and sister?
But their personalities…
Kuu said:
“Look! Again!! That’s enough! It’s so embarra.s.sing in front of so many people. Be more serious. We are the amba.s.sadors from Gastark! If Sui Onii-san is not more serious, we will be mocked at by the Runa people!”
“That, that’s right. I’m sorry, Kuu-chan. Then, then, what do you think of this?”
Saying that, Sui pressed his lips firmly together, but those eyes that were always smiling and that gentle face had no trace of nervousness…
“There’s no change!”
Kuu got even more angry…
This wasn’t the capital of the Runa Empire.
But, the king of Runa Empire was sitting in front of them…
And it was clear that even if Sui wasn’t smiling cheekily, these two people were proceeding with an unnecessary conversation, it was clear that they weren’t very suited as amba.s.sadors…
But…
“…You, what are you…”
The king of Runa spoke with a trembling voice.
“…Who…are you…”
Sui and Kuu hearing that, turned to look at the king…
Kuu said:
“Didn’t I say we are the amba.s.sadors from Gastark! Our king says that he wants to work with Runa, so we are here to build relations with you! Of course we wouldn’t let you oppose us.”
The king hearing that…
“But, but… the Runa Empire are allied to Roland already…”
Sui shook his head:
“Don’t say such pretty words. We already know of the secret contract between you and the n.o.bles from Roland, attempting to pull down the current king of Roland. If I didn’t remember wrongly, it should be Duke Stearead who is at the center of these n.o.bles, who pushed forward this plan?”
When the king of Runa heard that, he froze momentarily.
“You, you even know about this…”
But Sui beamed from the beginning to the end.
“But Duke Stearead is already dead. He was killed by our companion. And we have already successfully contacted the most powerful n.o.bles in Roland. It’s only sooner or later before Roland is taken down? Then, let me ask you again… Your Majesty, what is your choice? To depend on us Gastark… or…”
At this moment, he turned his head.
Countless bodies were lying in front of him.
It wasn’t ten or a dozen corpses.
A hundred, two hundred… A large number of Runa soldiers were on the ground…
It was an unbelievable sight.
This siblings, lending each other’s power, had cleared out the Runa soldiers… and the elite soldiers by the king’s side.
The king was trembling.
Looking at the two monsters in front of him…
Seeing the king shivering uncontrollably, Sui said with a steady expression:
“Ah, please don’t be scared. As long as you listen obediently, we wouldn’t do anything to you. I think it would be wise if you chose us? But, I think you are unable to make up your mind? Then I’ll give you a little time to think, we still have some things to do in Runa, when we finish that job, we will come back to find you… I hope we will have an answer by then.
If you value your life…. No, or I should say, if you value the life of your precious daughter, Princess Eina… this would be more effective, right?”
In a moment. The king’s face turned green…
Sui smiled when he saw that.
“Ahaha! You don’t care about the other commoners’ lives, but your daughter’s? Ahaha… How interesting. Then, we look forward to your reply. Ne, Kuu-chan, where do we go next?”
Kuu hearing that, pouted.
“You already forgot?! Really, so I can’t leave Sui Onii-san alone! You should at least be independent! Ne, think back for yourself. Answer in five seconds. Come, five… four…”
Saying that, Kuu started to count, Sui seeing that, had a troubled expression.
“Don’t, don’t say it like that… Tell me. I really forgot… I think it’s some mountain with a village, right?”
Kuu hearing that, revealed a bemused expression.
“You’re really hopeless. It’s Rajit Village. It’s said that the Runa army has been researching on a child with Alpha Stigma.”
Sui modded.
“Then we should go to look at this Rajit Village? And we have to get to the Alpha Stigma…”
“Anyway, we have to be quick. If he loses control and destroys himself, we can’t get the crystal…”
“Then let’s go!”
“Yes!”
The duo left the hall as they conversed casually.
They stepped over the bodies without any comment…
Looking at this…
The king who had eighty thousands soldiers and controlled everything in the Runa Empire…
Curled up in terror, unable to move at all.