Chapter 196
NXkxwVThe monsters’ heads exploded as if detonated.DQ4qK
AOcSaoKnights and soldiers screamed as they were thrown into the air.ZRD19xM
8jdmZkAnd in the midst of the darkness, the light of Armian shone with an impossible-to-ignore brilliance.rcju
g5MKAn incredible spectacle, one that Tulwin Esrin didn’t want to believe. He preferred to close his eyes, but denying reality didn’t make it a dream.utt
6NrSThe knights and soldiers who had protected him fell quickly, and soon, no one was left around him.lROMQLm
c6l0Even the corrupts who had tried to flee had long since abandoned him, disintegrating into a handful of dust.Nez8VOS
sznDIZIt was over. Everything.uaxcta
KKHgO8D“…Cruel. Was it really necessary to kill them all?”nLpK
ihZX0LbNone of those who had loyally protected him were spared from Hakon Kaelin’s sword.L6wu
jLZEQzESome died from blows, others were pierced or sliced in two by his sword.Ts5
RhqLwbThe only thing in common was that now they were all simple corpses.V6PEO
6Dxqj“They had no value in living. Not only did they fail to serve their lord, they dragged him into evil.”rCqcAR
2CX6Hakon Kaelin calmly wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it after decapitating the last monster.XnWf
XQ4Ej“…What do you plan to do with me?”fgnW0AC
oB4g“I don’t know, Your Highness. My desire would be to cut off your head right here, but being a foreign noble, that would cause a bigger problem.”rC0J
UxxHakon turned his face. The third prince’s gaze followed him, and there was Fernan walking with the book in hand.fcFadQO
9ZiZ3“I don’t yet know what we’ll do with you.”fC6e
KNLfEKilling him right then would be most satisfying, but it wouldn’t be clean.Ti9OZBJ
FwgI8He first had to speak with the first prince, who had the best chance of becoming Esrin’s next king.FEu
o1jTKqEWhether he liked it or not, Tulwin was still his brother and a prince of the kingdom.m98ug67
AdEtho“Pray that your elder brother is compassionate, Your Highness. Maybe, with luck, he’ll decide to spare your life.”zlCru
h22“How dare you…!”Wy4XVCW
zrQAVCFernan knew that the third prince wouldn’t die.HB8zm
CLIuhOmOr rather, he would die someday, but through an “accident”—not now, and not because of his alliance with the corrupts.6izc
Yar2m82It was the same reason Aria wanted to get rid of Adolf quietly.QNn5krK
GxMz2If a direct connection between a royal family member and the corrupts were discovered, Fridian’s position would be in ruins.FCYgX
AHAThe same applied here. If it were revealed that a prince of the kingdom had allied with the corrupts and sacrificed his own people…ZOu8nwd
n0NdHJG‘A rebellion could break out.’UuHT
3EQ4It wouldn’t be just an international scandal.lMqzzua
Vh3bBVTo summon monsters of that level, a few lives weren’t enough.Rw1Ps
bk0zJ3If the truth came to light, Esrin would fall in a single day.NozNR
7pdh“Hyde.”qRQF96i
2jffE“Yes, young master.”gkJ3dnu
t4vpvXHyde tied Tulwin’s body. He only clenched his lips and glared, without resisting. He knew fighting was useless.ZbD
hD2Tg“By the way, could you tell us how you met those corrupts and how you ended up allied with them?”4LH8
ZDht“And why would I do that?”beIEt
Jjg“Because that might increase, even slightly, your chances of staying alive.”1dx
NXScHDY“What false words.”9dgFZ
DbvGTulwin mocked Fernan, but still opened his mouth.Qsuy
9Tg“Daniel was the first to approach. Ten years ago, at a royal family party.”NgHY4
Y9l0xlAt first, he didn’t speak of the corrupts.xGb74l
tO0He introduced himself as a foreign noble engaged in business, slowly approaching, like someone who filters in little by little.6bvq7
3ySW“And five years ago, he showed his true face.”7EYQww
lwUIAt that time, when he had already begun to give up on the throne due to the first prince’s firm position, he realized that his father still wished to see him crowned.Do1
9DQBut the situation was already too skewed in his brother’s favor.bDFpjW
5319g1EThe first prince, though not yet officially named heir, was recognized by the majority as the future king.ivvzWuM
gElEoTo break that solidity, he needed a variable.tf1MGA
nfq6And then, Count Daniel whispered sweet words.dtkFb
VWwZe9“He told me, ‘What’s the difference between using nobles and using corrupts? Both are merely tools to reach an end.’”KFyy
jHKuUR“So those words of yours were, in reality, corrupts’ sophistries.”rX0
7R56LFernan clicked his tongue. “That’s why it was full of holes from the start.”K48
55xiw“You’re still insolent.”kULIo
MIbWK“Your Highness, it seems you still don’t understand your situation. If this were the Empire, I would’ve killed you by now.”cZSSBE
IN9pBFernan looked at him coldly.PJk6
PSo2G“A piece of trash like you can only keep your eyes open and talk to me because you’re a foreign prince.”zZz5f
JQfQJ“…Perhaps you’re right.”g1s
Jxj0YZ“Then why are you telling us this so easily?”IQX
xo3eM“Because I’m already finished. And those who abandoned me don’t deserve to be covered for.”YuvCit1
tQBV‘I could betray them, but they’d never dare betray me.’ln8g
5ZCpnABTulwin spat it out like chewing venom.E4W
O3EThat was the last of it. Fernan signaled, and Hyde silently struck the prince’s neck, rendering him unconscious.7cHq
7k5gj0L“Wasn’t that a bit much?”gUkNMf
Wplv“What do you mean? He fainted on his own.”8eM9LE
RKY77“True. Seems our prince is weak after so much rolling around with corrupts.”8j8rWP
ftQ9hwbHakon Kaelin let out a rough laugh.d1yLJZN
Tps7NIThus the battle ended.08t
B52j“By the way, where’s Aint…?”OCC1T9L
0XMhIO“Seems he reached a new understanding during the fight with the Rahnas.”Tpw3
qVormSN“…That’s good.”IskB
YUOAint was seated cross-legged in front of the Rahnas’ corpse, eyes closed.8wV
3OkXud‘Is everyone around him a genius?’r0T5E
0W4Aint, Luina, Rosalia.QrTPOus
5bKZL‘Perfect.’cVonj
qcnz8oThe more they understood, the more celebrations there would be at his table and the more screams from the corrupts.yqmMEEz
Ufu‘And my money too…’GAdc955
ypYThe more they shone, the more his investment shone.Iw1d
763ewMt“…Another understanding? What does he think this is, bread you get every day?”xIa225
zz8ps“Accept it, Verian.”azVRk
d9jUqc“Easy for you to say! Are you a mage or something?”pO13xw
Sr3Not everyone shared that luck. Verian clenched his teeth in frustration.sydm
dYli***rd4rf
joomXUMeanwhile, the Rahnas had proven to be a formidable opponent.jPFKKX
dlbDhIts style was simple, but fast and powerful, like a wave of swords.jhRKmC
dtPhZ2hEven the light of Armian, which devoured darkness, felt pressured by its weight.97dT32K
u6A4Clang!NWl
77gjF9Every clash left him breathless.bxTCJ
idcBOF‘And this is while it’s weakened? What would it be like at full strength?’bLcCH
updSUQWIt wasn’t strange that it was considered a rank 1 demon, a commander of legions.5BNXU
RizTwo at once? Thinking he could handle both had been pure ignorance, arrogance, and pride.EfyG
IJpdOVm— Focus!VtzZ
HZPOGGardner shouted.JRec
9rFJSTYes, Rahnas is strong, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose.d0I
1H7QUGf— Remember when you fought the emperor’s chimera.5H4nExR
bTxWdchThat fight had seemed impossible to win. Aint fell countless times, but never broke.2LYt
PW3NnIRahnas was stronger than that chimera.zPA
L6OBut Aint had also grown since then.jorR
X9wPHe couldn’t lose.kUC1Ku2
03MAnother image appeared in his vision—that of the Royal Knight overwhelming Rahnas with sublime mastery.qzvLgT8
4pPlLb1‘…’yyPJi
iv0tBeautiful.9PCPqPw
vzqslyCleaner, more fluid, faster and heavier at once. Brilliant.A3Gh
UCCq9In Hakon Kaelin’s sword was the essence of the illusory blade, confusing Rahnas until, by the time it regained clarity, the blade was already pierced into its body.aFEM
iZjfIt was different from the Armian family’s swordsmanship, but every technique at the pinnacle had something to learn.fA7d
4Nl395HAint followed his movements with his eyes.LZiF
uxEtiClang!AOchnF
Qq4QSlash!SZ2bg
xCitKsHe repeated the trajectories. The beginning was similar, but the end was different—adapted to himself, to the Armian school.VQMUQf
8FBUWly— …Is he doing it right now?1ITOEyI
y4YWith each clash, with each gasp, with each drop of sweat and blood, his sword became softer, heavier.MiFIcZP
G1Z— Incredible… It’s like watching the former emperor.043C
MdkVXiAnd that difference, growing greater and greater, changed the course of the battle.D8b
zlV3s8lRahnas shrieked, unable to comprehend. But that was only the beginning.UiUmeS3
r1LMCrack!4mjE
q90OAt last, Aint’s sword pierced through the dark magic.z28V
u2MyClang!5ma
vfJ8eHe deflected Rahnas’s strike and pierced its armor.iN9
yeH3pbrThe chained attacks gave it no room to breathe, tearing its body apart until it was nothing but a rag.WsrYK
4T7uEven as life faded from his enemy, Aint didn’t stop.f5Vd
FshwrOJFor a moment longer, he continued drawing trajectories in the air.1jT
t2NXxAnd then, finally.JXu
hBGJ“Ah.”IKx3sQ
sNKAint, seated beside the decapitated Rahnas, closed his eyes and began to contemplate himself.nZP
m5ZIt was a long while before he opened them again.EdP
j8eI5Ym“……”8oti3wf
t0JTBy then, the battle had completely ended.wsbf9bm
gfjbAqEveryone was watching him.5FNVvQt
a5MYWU“…Ah.”lwIP38F
EDFMPNJ“Congratulations. You’ve overcome the wall.”CuC8cuY
Et1p92O“Thank you.”GaK
h0nmThe first to congratulate him was Hakon Kaelin.ejCyZC
rZnJaF“Well done.”eHr1O
dw3l“It was thanks to you, sir.”tw4x
bTCp6nDNext was Fernan, and everyone celebrated his growth.aVlnf
Mize“Aint, congrats.”x73Np
7GXHRTC“Damn it, why is it always you? Why always you?”LFR
7S1AbEven though something odd slipped in among the voices, it was still recognition.HzA9pI
wZ0xU“Congratulations. Now I’m looking forward to the jousting tournament.”las0Lf
dLxe6But what brought Aint the most joy was the look of anticipation in Luina’s eyes.EbPaD
LPr5In the last tournament, he hadn’t even been able to share the stage with her.SoExuf
yyHsbxdBut now it was different.EmQ9V
jQ6The competitive spark in Luina’s eyes made that clear.bPXWjI
U2KY“This time, I won’t lose.”lmYYf
N38c“Wouldn’t it be better to think about qualifying first?”i9WOheL
fjW“Eh?”0Sd6o0
Qep7“Kidding. I’m looking forward to it too. But don’t think it’ll be easy for me to lose.”VpgLUB
mYGz1Luina smiled sideways and returned to Fernan’s side.3fA
A10dLuina, joking?pTxv
9ffjfThe surprise left Aint with a dazed expression.a28D
Ub1yZhf“Accept it, Aint.”gU5
iWBAria placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head.tqZxBj0
m2hKeXg“Look at that. You don’t stand a chance.”Hat9B
LqIWThe way Luina smiled naturally when talking to Fernan was clearly different from how she did with him.z9xPmf
tuZAqzM“…Did you know?”xunK
JI2eS“Obviously. It’s way too obvious.”honO5
MIgt“…I just keep it in my heart. That’s not a problem, right?”E58WvlQ
sUy“I know. Feelings never follow logic.”I3fX
yDm5mAria smiled mischievously and whispered:ob3C
LS5Ma“But if it were me, I wouldn’t mind.”VHya
5tC6wgH“…Don’t joke.”yGb9I0
HZhmWW“I’m not joking.”Slg
x1juShe was.ABL1Grq
v65SxeMaybe before, she might’ve said it half-seriously, but for some time now, another man had caught her attention more than Aint.Tt4
sRNL“I need to reach an enlightenment too… me too…”8lRX4
keuotY“Ugh, is he still on that?”ZEgKktC
OHPOSIt was true—even annoyances became familiar over time.SeX7
7c1YqZAria sighed as she saw Verian sitting cross-legged, forcing his eyes shut like he was trying to achieve some sort of awakening.mqn
WuwZr“…What’s going on? So Luina isn’t Aint’s heroine?”Tc4c
JclrGismond, who had overheard nearby by chance, tilted his head, confused by the unexpected situation.GHLReG
cUj“Wow, this is a real headache.”xpV
tl8OToo many things had changed from the prophecy book—and it was all Fernan’s fault.R2ez
j4CeXoeThe good thing was, those changes weren’t negative.qWxxpjE
pt3‘If I’d kept going alone, without Fernan finding me, I probably would’ve already gotten into trouble and died.’FJBDXx
pSfThough Fernan sometimes felt like an overbearing boss, at least it was better than dying like a fool.PnA
qT9ZdK‘Better to move slowly but surely. Slowly and surely.’W2U
dUrqAbAs the saying goes—not too good, not too bad—stay in the middle.UoC
I9uThat would be Gismond’s place in Fernan’s faction.BtsKe
6edWith that resolve, he reaffirmed his goal.h8gUT
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