#098
Bang-!
Seven o’clock on a Sunday morning.
The weather was clear.
At the deafening sound of the ceremonial cannon, I saluted toward the coffin covered in white flowers.
Click-! Click-!
Cara shutters clicked all around simultaneously.
Occasional sobs and sighs could be heard.
The Round Table Knight Order’s joint funeral service was being conducted in an atmosphere as grand as Count Elcidore’s death.
The coffins of the knights entering the ground.
Looking at that heroic sight, I thought while pressing down my military cap.
It was awful eting you, let’s never et again.
May the deceased rest in peace, rubbing with my right hand and rubbing with my left hand.
[Their spirit of sacrificing their lives to prevent the threat of the Great Rupture is enough to be a model for all knights.]
[With these sorrowful sentints, I hereby bestow the Empire’s Hero dal to the two heroes who saved the empire. And to Young Master Delling, who t his end alongside them, the Imperial Lion dal……]
The emperor’s ssage flowed in a solemn voice.
After reading all the words written in the letter, the imperial guards carefully placed the dals on the lids of the three deceased’s coffins.
“Ah… How could this happen……”
“To think that those who were ant to lead the empire would pass away so aninglessly……”
“It’s a tragedy. An unthinkable tragedy……”
As mournful music began to play, the nobles attending the funeral took out handkerchiefs to wipe their tears.
Are they really crying out of sadness? As if.
The ones mourning the death of the two heirs in this way were the regular nobles, not the magic nobles.
They were like ticks trying to establish connections with magic noble families using this tragedy as an opportunity.
Then, what were these magic nobles that these nobles were desperately seeking doing?
“Eugene Lorentz……”
“Everyone died but that guy survived. Then, that subjugation battle……”
They were cautiously observing my every move while being on high alert.
It made sense.
In just a week, I finished off Count Elcryer family, and now I had driven both the first and second seat magic noble heirs to their deaths.
‘The situation is quite amusing.’
Regular noble families condemn the Revolutionary Army for attacking the Knight Order that sacrifices so much fighting for such noble causes.
The magic nobles say this is all a plot by the imperial faction to kill the heirs, and that this matter needs to be thoroughly investigated.
But the truth?
It was the magic nobles who tried to exile Elcidore.
It was the magic nobles who conspired with the Revolutionary Army for that purpose.
It was also the magic nobles who tried to drive Eugene to his death.
In other words, they caused all that chaos to trap , but in the end, they only ended up losing their own Knight Order.
If they thoroughly investigate this matter as other nobles are saying?
At that mont, the incompetence of the empire’s two dukes would spread throughout the empire.
In the end, they have no choice but to accept all the false statents that ca from my mouth at face value.
Would they rather be seen as fools who failed after plotting to kill an allied imperial officer and even bringing in the Revolutionary Army?
Or would they rather say we worked together to kill the remnants of Elcidore, and they t heroic deaths while stopping the disaster they caused?
As I was their assassination target, I proposed an honorable death first, leaving the two dukes with no choice in the matter.
It was a situation where a single imperial officer had two dukes in the palm of his hand.
‘I don’t know who planned this subjugation, but they must be quite twisted……’
As I was thinking this while looking at the graves of enemies buried without even finding their bodies-
“Yes. Thanks to you, I got to see quite an interesting show.”
A voice ca from behind .
Dignified.
A voice that carried authority befitting its power.
Until that voice was heard, I hadn’t noticed anyone behind .
“Eugene Lorentz.”
“……!”
When I hurriedly turned around, a tall elderly man called my na in a low voice.
Similar to Carlos.
And at the sa ti, similar to Keiren.
No, it was the opposite.
Those two must have resembled this man’s face.
‘……This is insane.’
The mont I recognized him, I imdiately stood at attention and saluted.
“Your Grace, Duke Buckenheim.”
Karl Buckenheim.
The head of House Duke Buckenheim, first seat of the empire’s magic nobles.
The number one magic noble was looking at
with gleaming eyes.
***
I’m screwed.
That was my first impression when I faced Duke Buckenheim who appeared behind .
Creak, creeak.
“Kuh……”
“Hooh.”
What ca in response to my salute was an imnse magical power pressing down on .
For a while, I could only focus all my attention on enduring this pressure without any chance to resist.
After so ti had passed like this.
“……Indeed, quite different from other promising youngsters of the sa age.”
Muttering with an inscrutable expression, the duke instantly dispersed the magical power that had been pressing down on .
This sudden sense of liberation.
At the sa ti, I felt a chill running up my spine.
To not even be able to resist.
Is this really the sa seven stroke as Count Elcryer?
“When Keiren said he took in an adopted son, I didn’t pay much attention, but you possess even better qualities than expected.”
“……”
“A 7-strike imprint mage’s magical power. There aren’t many who can withstand that even if you search the entire continent.”
I couldn’t give any answer to the duke’s words as he spoke with a slight smile.
Perhaps he wasn’t expecting an answer either.
The duke smiled faintly and slowly opened his mouth to speak.
“Carlos was originally lacking in talent and not heir material. I used him significantly because I liked how loyal he was to the family… But in the end, he ssed things up like this.”
“……”
“Thanks to him, the heir position is suddenly vacant, and even Delling, who was Carlos’s son, died……”
Watching him trail off like that, I tried hard to calm my confused mind.
Since it was the heir’s funeral, I thought the head himself would co.
But I didn’t expect him to seek
out directly like this.
Think, Eugene.
The duke’s intention in seeking
out.
I need to figure out what that is.
‘Normally, the duke himself wouldn’t have ti to spare for sothing like this.’
Neither Buckenheim nor Nachtval would be in a situation to care about a morial service like this.
The power vacuum created by the disappearance of the heir.
The entire family would be in turmoil trying to fill this vacancy.
“I hear Carlos made you a proposal.”
At those words from the duke.
I imdiately answered.
“He said he would give
appropriate compensation if I worked as his confidant. However, for the sake of my loyalty to Lord Keiren who took
in……”
“Loyalty.”
Muttering that, the duke spoke with his characteristic faint smile.
“Yes. That would be quite convenient to use as an excuse.”
After saying that, the duke opened his mouth.
“When a non-noble mage enters a magic noble family, there are only two set paths. A tool, or a sacrifice. Nothing else.”
“……”
“It’s obvious you would refuse such a proposal made without even minimal trust. Carlos misjudged your caliber.”
His tone was as if scolding Carlos.
Looking at his son’s coffin buried without even finding the body, he spoke in an even voice.
“Well then, let
ask you one question.”
“Please ask.”
“If I were to make the sa proposal now, what would you do?”
Hey, you piece of.
What nonsense is this now?
“Your Grace. If I may be so bold, those words……”
“Ah, yes. It seems you don’t much care for indirect talk.”
After thinking for a mont, the duke looked at
and said.
“If I were to offer you Carlos’s heir position… Would you accept that proposal?”
“……”
For a mont, I almost failed to keep my expression in check.
My startled reaction must have been quite interesting, as a faint smile appeared on the duke’s face.
“That’s impossible.”
“Impossible?”
“Yes.”
After thinking for a mont.
I slowly gave my prepared answer.
“My magical power circuit is already incompatible with Buckenheim’s imprint. An heir who cannot inherit the family’s traditional imprint would be unthinkable.”
“A proper argunt. But not your true thoughts.”
Saying that, the duke spoke with a slight smile.
“You probably…… wouldn’t be satisfied with just Duke Buckenheim.”
“Your Grace. What do you……”
“No need to pretend to asure your words. What you want isn’t just so single family, but the empire itself, isn’t it?”
The duke said.
“Just like .”
A mont of silence.
And that brief silence was enough to answer the duke’s question.
“That’s why even at this mont, I’m endlessly pondering.”
Whoosh-!
The magical power that had been pressing down on
was once again constricting my breath.
Unlike just before when it was re pressure, this magical power now contained clear killing intent.
Magical power crystals with a structure too complex to analyze were vibrating while targeting my vital points.
“At such a young age, reaching six stroke that even Carlos couldn’t achieve, commanding your own army, and shaking the empire.”
You know about the six stroke imprint?
I hadn’t told anyone about that.
“I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to kill such a dangerous seed right here and now.”
Seven stroke imprint.
And vast magical power refined through cultivation thods passed down for generations was flowing through his magic circuit.
Buckenheim was the first seat of magic nobles.
And the fact proven by that first seat position was very simple.
The empire’s strongest.
The man standing before my eyes was the one and only strongest mage in the empire.
Such a being recognizing
as a threat and contemplating killing .
Other magic nobles including Nachtval would probably have similar thoughts.
This was the price of escaping the magic nobles’ trap.
After overcoming one adversity, an even greater adversity was closing in on .
However.
‘If they wanted to do that, they wouldn’t have prepared such an elaborate trap in the first place.’
As the intention beca clear, the tension enveloping my body gradually faded.
This series of actions suddenly appearing and threatening .
What was hidden behind that seemingly relaxed face was anxiety.
‘A duke of the empire killing an imperial officer in the middle of the imperial capital? Don’t make
laugh.’
It might have been possible when the emperor’s power was at rock bottom, but it’s too late now.
With victory in the war against the Republic, the imperial army gained the support of imperial citizens and regular nobles.
anwhile, magic nobles were only focused on protecting their own interests while struggling with fights against the Revolutionary Army.
‘And as a result, imperial citizens have started to question the very existence of magic nobles.’
If the Special Magic Unit grows larger, they can handle the monsters.
They won won the war against the Republic without the Knight Order.
Then, what reason is there for the Knight Order to exist?
A group of mages who can’t fight monsters or wars?
Then why should imperial citizens pay them enormous taxes, maintain their noble status, and grant them all sorts of privileges?
‘Even in a country ruled by an emperor, public sentint is heaven’s will.’
The Knight Order that barely saved face with this subjugation is going to kill
in the middle of the imperial capital?
A hero of the imperial army?
Go ahead and try if you can.
The empire’s next target will be Buckenheim.
“Not even blinking. What an unpleasant fellow.”
After a long silent confrontation, the duke was the first to lower his hand.
Though my legs felt like they would give out the mont the pressure disappeared, I managed to endure.
“Indeed. The sa situation as back then.”
What do you an ‘back then’.
After muttering such incomprehensible words to himself, the duke turned his back as if finished with his business.
“Since you’ve crushed the Republic’s face, there will be a brief peace for a while. This battle is undoubtedly your victory.”
“……”
“But at the sa ti, rember this.”
Duke Buckenheim slightly turned his gaze and slowly spoke while looking at .
“Eugene Lorentz… that I, Buckenheim, rember your na.”
Hearing those words, I swallowed dryly.
‘I’m in trouble.’
This situation where the empire’s strongest mage was hostile to you.
Then, there was no ti.
‘The ceasefire will last about 2 years.’
Within this ti of 2 years.
I had to awaken the final stroke.
***
“Emperor Franz has finally created a monster.”
On the airship returning to Castle Buckenheim.
Feeling a slight floating sensation, the duke muttered.
“A re sixteen-year-old boy has already beco soone that even I can’t carelessly touch.”
With achievents unbelievable for his age, a seed of change trying to shake the world alone.
That boy resembled the man who created the rebels.
And at the sa ti, he resembled that man’s archenemy.
“Maximilien. And, Lupeon.”
After ntioning the two nas, the duke looked down at the imperial capital spread below and muttered.
“I was truly surprised when I heard they fell on the sa battlefield.”
“Two inflection points that would have changed the empire, no, the world, disappeared in an instant.”
Though their thods differed, they were all those who tried to eliminate magic nobles and reach the empire’s peak.
Maximilien through revolution.
Lupeon through his own power.
But they clashed and vanished at Castle Elcidore.
Two beings who were at the center of change disappeared so futilely.
“And piercing through those corpses, that boy appeared.”
It was what he discovered after investigating Eugene’s background.
The magical power aptitude test records from Grey Quarter district.
Traces of Lupeon’s visit and the secret organization he was secretly nurturing.
The Revolutionary Army’s invasion and the complete destruction of the Elcidore territory.
That boy’s life was marked by countless misfortunes and coincidences, and he ultimately survived through that brutal death.
Those who have lived such lives don’t fall easily.
‘……No, it might be fortunate if he rely survived.’
He thought.
No, this might not be a thought, but just an uneasy premonition.
What if all those trials were intentionally orchestrated by him.
If that life from the back alleys until now was all part of his nurous plans…
‘…No, this is going too far.’
Duke Buckenheim shook his head to clear away the thoughts.
A being who could plan their entire life?
That could hardly be called human.
“But with this, one thing has beco clear.”
“Just like with Count Elcidore, it’s impossible to bring the ‘Fla’ to our side.”
“Yes. And……”
Muttering thus, the duke spoke while looking at the person standing across from him.
“If the ‘Fla’ is in his grasp…… The current emperor is dangerous.”
“Just as ‘Informant M’ was. And just as Lupeon Elcidore was.”
The response ca from a middle-aged man standing across from him.
Duke Nachtval.
Looking at him, the duke slowly nodded.
“Embers must be stamped out. For the sake of our eternal era. And for that……”
“The ceasefire agreent’s validity period of 2 years. During that ti, we must complete preparations sohow.”
The two dukes looked at each other and simultaneously spoke the sa words.
“Operation to assassinate the emperor.”
The heroes’ mission that they couldn’t complete back then.
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