Chapter 332 – VARIABLE (4)
I realized today that there was no need to capitalize the first letter of ‘chancellor’ since it was not a nickname like Lord Protector. ![?♀️]()
Chancellor is his official position. Frankly, I’m too lazy to edit everything just for him, so I’ll leave it as is and just use the correct one from this episode onwards.
“Long live the Sälen Kingdom!”
“Hooray!”
“We won! We won!”
“UOOOOOOO!”
The entire Cilates Plains seemed to be shaken by the cheers of the soldiers.
The excitement from the battle, the relief from surviving, and the fact that they defeated the imperial army, a long-time enemy of theirs, regardless of it being the chancellor’s army, made them all jump with more joy than usual.
“After all, righteousness will prevail.”
When a young knight clenched his fist and spoke, the knights around him nodded in excitement.
If it were the usual, he would have been teased for saying something childish, but it was different today.
Demon followers.
An evil group that mobilized demons to the battlefield.
What else would it be called but righteousness when fighting against these enemies?
‘The situation’s good.’
Having a cause was always important.
The mere fact that they fought for a cause could raise the morale of the soldiers.
On the other hand, it was clear that the general soldiers of the imperial army – no, the chancellor’s army, would lose their morale.
No matter how hard they tried to decorate it with all kinds of rhetoric, the fact that they were marching with demons would shake their hearts.
The Golden Sword Saint, Ian McCline, sheathed his sword with a pleased face. The golden armor of the Knights of the Golden Lion was full of red bloodstains.
Supreme commander.
It was a position that did not allow him to directly go to the battlefield.
But no one could underestimate the power of a Sword Saint. Moreover, the other side had the Grand Sword Master, Lucius Grande.
The only being that could stop a Sword Saint was another Sword Saint, so going to the battlefield was inevitable for him.
‘I wish Count Bayer would join us sooner.’
The Sword Saint of Wind.
Now that Musu, the wandering swordsman called the Sword Saint of Stars, was missing, the Sword Saints the Sälen Kingdom could only trust was the Golden Sword Saint and Count Bayer.
‘But… what in the world happened?’
The reason why the flow of the battlefield changed.
The information delivered through the communication wizards was very limited.
After taking down Fortress Karatum, the demon follower army who were heading towards the battlefield were annihilated and scattered.
What had happened?
Who had done this?
And the red light that was approaching the battlefield.
‘Anyway, I hope that they are allies.’
Judging from the fact that they attacked the demon follower army, they at least did not seem to be enemies, but he could not let his guard down.
“Let’s move.”
They had to first return to the main camp, reorganize their formation, and treat the injured.
At the command of the Golden Sword Saint, the Knights of the Golden Lion began to move busily.
***
“What?”
The stories that came out of Jude’s mouth.
Jude first explained what had happened in the empire as concisely as possible.
After crossing to the empire, they met the Royal Knights, rescued the emperor with them and pa.s.sed through the Shadow Forest, defeating Sword Master Elio Lombardi in the process and becoming friends with Grand Sword Master Elune. They also crushed the plot of the demon followers outside the empire and finally visited Solari’s Tomb where the last treasure of the Solari denomination was hidden.
It was actually a summary of everything except the ‘memories of the other Judes and Cordelia’ which might be from regression or parallel worlds.
“Seriously… how should I say this, you two don’t change even if you go to the empire.”
It was the same in the kingdom.
If felt like things would get really big when Jude and Cordelia were involved.
‘Or rather, it feels like they’re intervening in something that would grow big.’
In any case, these two had continued to accomplish great things even in the empire.
The older couple knew that the emperor had escaped from the imperial capital controlled by the chancellor and started a civil war with the help of the loyalists in the north, but they could not imagine that were such secrets hidden behind those events.
“No one knows about our story at all?”
Cordelia’s question was answered by Adelia with a frown.
“Because you are foreigners. From the empire’s perspective, they would be a little reluctant to announce that you had helped them.”
It was bound to become known someday, but there was no reason to talk about it for now.
“I don’t like it… but I understand.”
Adelia clicked her tongue and placed her own hand on Cordelia’s hand again.
“Unnie?”
“You did well. You did really well. I’m proud of you.”
When Adelia smiled, Cordelia’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment, but only for a short time. She could not help but cry with tears of joy.
She was happy.
“Unnie…”
She was not particularly thirsty for praise, but she was happy to be recognized.
Maybe it was because of the sad memories the other Cordelias had experienced.
Adelia did not survive in any of those memories.
“Oh my, you’re still a baby, a baby.”
Adelia hugged the crying Cordelia and patted her on the back a few times.
“Unnie.”
“Yes, yes. Your unnie is here.”
Because these two had quite a difference in age.
When Cordelia was young, Adelia became like her mother.
“By the way, Cordelia.”
“Yes, unnie.”
“After hearing that basta-… no, that Jude’s words, I have a question… When in the world did you do it?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, you didn’t have the time. You didn’t.”
It was true.
After they entered the empire, the two were really busy traveling all over the empire.
“Uh… that’s…”
Cordelia awkwardly smiled as her words trailed off, and Adelia glared at Jude in her displeasure.
She had asked the question, but she actually knew the answer to some extent.
You h.o.r.n.y beast! b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Trickster!
You should have had a fancy wedding! A well-decorated bedroom! Even if you set the mood, the surroundings should have been good!
Each of her thoughts could stab a person, but Jude was so thick-skinned that he did not refute it.
It was questionable if he properly understood her words from her gaze in the first place, but even if he understood it, he really had nothing to say.
“Ahem, ahem, let’s postpone such embarra.s.sing… I mean, such sensitive topic for a while…”
Gaël spoke with a red face, and Adelia also blushed.
Because Cordelia seemed to be embarra.s.sed to talk about it, so it was an embarra.s.sing topic as Gaël had said.
No matter how close they were, there was a line that they should not cross.
“Ehem, ehem. Anyway, Jude. You’ve become really strong.”
“Yes, brother.”
Gaël smiled at Jude’s reply.
He had not yet seen Jude fight, but he could tell from just looking at Jude now.
Jude’s atmosphere changed.
He was able to feel the unique sensation he felt when he faced his father, the Sword Saint of Wind, from just facing Jude.
‘Good.’
Although he was overtaken by his younger brother, he did not feel envious.
Rather, he was happy to know that his weak younger brother had become so strong.
‘I must work even harder.’
He just had a positive thought that he needed to work harder.
It was also because of this good and bright side of his that Adelia was attracted to Gaël.
Because someone with this kind of character was rare.
“Then I’ll summarize as much as I can on this side.”
After all, they were still on the battlefield.
Gaël was one of the Ten Great Swordmasters and treated as an independent unit fighting on the frontlines rather than as a commander, but he could not stand in this place forever and talk for a long time in a situation where he had to order his troops to move.
“The war began 50 days ago. A civil war started between the imperial family faction led by the emperor and the chancellor’s faction led by the chancellor.”
There was no huge battle yet in the center of the empire. Instead of being able to move north, the chancellor’s army could only fortify their defense line, while the emperor’s army could not hastily move either.
“Because the death of Absolute Knight Galahad was announced.”
He was the leader of the Royal Knights whom the young emperor and the many people who belonged to the imperial family faction had trusted and relied on.
At his death, the Royal Knights cried for revenge, and many of those in the imperial family faction were scared and so in shock that they could not move hastily.
“Of course, that’s not the only reason why the battlefront is stuck. Rather, the influence of the east is greater.”
Demon followers from the eastern continent joined the chancellor’s army and took full control of the eastern part of the empire.
The Guardians of the Holy Cross desperately resisted, but they could not withstand their opponent’s overwhelming numbers.
“There were rumors that many demons with t.i.tles had appeared, as well as top-ranking demonic humans. Fortunately, your masters, Landius-nim and Kamael-nim, were there so they were able to preserve their power, but there were also many opinions that if not for the heroes of Paragon, the Guardians of the Holy Cross in the east would have been wiped out.”
Jude gritted his teeth at Gaël’s explanation.
He was frustrated, but it was something that could have happened anyway.
‘Jabberwock, the top-ranking demonic human of the Devil’s Horn.’
Originally, he would have been united with Jabberwock, the monster in the Forest of Eternity, and reborn as one of the 7 major calamities – Demonic monster Jabberwock.
Although he did not become one with the monster Jabberwock, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was the avatar of Behemoth, the overlord of violence.
In the game, he was a monster capable of fighting evenly with Landius in terms of combat power.
‘Of course, I don’t think that master will lose.’
A mind of steel, an indomitable will, and an invincible body.
After thinking of those three phrases that described Landius, Jude nodded his head.
Landius was not alone as Kamael and Lena were there, and even Velkian could join them.
With the four heroes from Paragon, they could create a miracle once more.
“Our kingdom’s army had allied with the imperial family faction and went to war against the chancellor’s army. The basic tactic was to send troops to the eastern part of the empire to help the Guardians of the Holy Cross while pressuring the chancellor in the Cilates Plains at the same time.”
“I see. So this must be the first time a battle like this had happened.”
“Yes, as you had said, this was the first time a battle of this size had been fought. Thanks to the two of you, we were able to win.”
He found it hard to believe that the two of them defeated a 7,000-strong army.
Frankly, it was an unbelievable story even though they could see the results.
“Brother-in-law, what about my father and father-in-law?”
Count Chase and Count Bayer.
“Those two are… finishing the task Jude had entrusted them. They’ll probably be joining us soon.”
“Jude’s task?”
Cordelia immediately sent a magic to Jude.
[Hey, what’s that about? What else are you planning?]
[Something good.]
[What’s that something good?]
[It’s a secret for now.]
That way, you’ll be more surprised later.
Cordelia was taken aback by Jude’s answer but decided to move on for now.
Because when Jude was like that, he would not answer no matter how much in danger he was.
“Moving on, let’s finish our conversation and return now. You should also greet the Golden Sword Saint, the supreme commander.”
Jude nodded at Gaël’s suggestion.
Maybe it was because he thought that the best move right now was to help the Golden Sword Saint and advance to the north together.
But an hour later.
Jude’s thoughts were completely changed.
***
The Golden Sword Saint welcomed Jude and Cordelia greatly as Gaël had expected.
The knights under his command were also enthusiastic about the achievement of the young heroes.
They won the battle, and a tremendously powerful force joined them.
What news during the war could be more welcoming than this?
Obviously, there were people who were slightly doubtful of Jude and Cordelia because of their age and appearance, but there were only a few of them, and their doubts were only very small.
Because Jude and Cordelia had made so many contributions to the kingdom so far that it could not be reduced by just their appearance.
“Everyone, you did well. Let’s forget everything tonight and enjoy our victory!”
“OOOOOOOH!”
“Long live the Golden Sword Saint!”
“Long live the Sälen Kingdom Army!”
“Long live the Knights of the Golden Lion!”
As the young knights shouted in excitement, even the usually quiet staff officers raised their voices together.
“Come on, drink up! Glory be to the Sälen Kingdom!”
“Glory be to the kingdom!”
The knights who shouted loudly began to pour and drink alcohol, and Jude and Cordelia also filled each other’s gla.s.ses with alcohol.
But when they were about to b.u.mp their gla.s.ses to each other.
“U-urgent news!”
Everyone in the barracks looked at the entrance at once.
Panting with a red face, the communication wizard spread the urgent news with a squeezed voice.
“The chancellor’s army is on the move.”
The faces of the knights grew worse after a series of reports. There were even those who openly expressed their anger.
A huge force was advancing towards the west of the empire – to be exact, towards the Shadow Forest, the home of the elves.
Considering that the news was slow because it was from the enemy camp, the battle might already be imminent.
But the knights of the kingdom were not angry because of the empire that they had fought just now or what had happened far away.
What mattered to them was who was leading the chancellor’s army.
“First Sword… no, that traitor, Rhun Froud.”
The one who betrayed the kingdom together with the Lord Protector.
Having been completely corrupted, he became a demonic human and now led an army of demon followers.
[Jude.]
At Cordelia’s call, Jude nodded. She did not say much, but he could understand what she was trying to say.
The Sälen Kingdom Army led by the Golden Sword Saint could not help the Shadow Forest right now.
All they could do was pressure the chancellor’s army on the Cilates Plains.
But Jude and Cordelia were different.
It was impossible for the kingdom’s army to infiltrate the inside of the empire, but it was possible enough for a Grand Sword Master and Archwizard to do so.
They should go to help the Shadow Forest.
They should help Elune in stopping the chancellor’s army.
‘No, there’s something more important than that.’
The problem was the person who was leading the army.
The Sword Saint of Light.
First Sword, Rhun Froud.
According to the chancellor’s declaration, he had killed Absolute Knight Galahad.
Since he was originally from the kingdom, First Sword had the t.i.tle of Sword Saint that was on the same level as a Grand Sword Master, so it was not strange for him to defeat Galahad now that he was a demonic human.
Such a First Sword was headed to the Shadow Forest.
‘Elune.’
A woman who inherited the sword of Elf Sword Valencia.
The most powerful Grand Sword Master among the elves of the empire.
Would she be able to stop First Sword?
Would she be able to fight him and win?
His heart was pounding. Despite the fact that he could not fully grasp the power of both First Sword and Elune, he had an ominous feeling.
‘First Sword.’
The time they met in the royal capital was not long.
But his existence was imprinted so deeply and firmly in Jude’s own mind.
‘Is it now?’
Was it the time to put an end to his feud with First Sword?
“Cordelia.”
“Yes, Jude.”
Cordelia knew it too.
Now was the time for them to make a decision.
“Okay, but let’s drink first before going.”
When she said those words to relieve his tension, Jude nodded his head. He b.u.mped gla.s.ses with his lovely Cordelia.
***
The sun was setting.
The vermillion sunset mixed the sky and the ground, and purple spread between the two as it brought about a dark blue darkness.
The moment when day and night mixed.
When the dark blue darkness engulfed the vermillion sunset and greeted the white moonlight and shining starlight.
Standing by the Red Gate, Elune looked east.
Lucas who was sparring with Scarlet also unintentionally looked east.
The wind was blowing.
Inhaling the cold night air, the chancellor’s army marched westward.
And the person who took the lead.
“Somehow, I have a good feeling?”
A small smile formed on the lips of First Sword, or Duke, the top-ranking demonic human of the Devil’s Hand as he stroked the handle of his sword. He naturally turned his gaze towards the south where Jude and Cordelia were.
“I have a… really good feeling about it.”
A feeling as if he would be able to taste a once-in-a-lifetime or supreme pleasure.
First Sword moved his head again.
West.
Where the horizon was.
First Sword took a step.
He headed towards the horizon.