A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles — Chapter 99

Chapter 99

After⁠‌ the news of⁠‍⁠ Norvek’s escape spread,‍‍ another day passed.‌⁠⁠ It was the‍ day when the‌ fate of Colin⁠ would be placed‍ in the emperor’s⁠ hands.

Lucian⁠ visited Glenn in‌‌ the morning to‍‌ make sure he‌⁠ didn’t overlook it.‌

“Sir‍ Glenn, as we‍ agreed, I ask that you report‌ to His Majesty.”‌‌

“…I will. However, if⁠ I present the‌‌ report suddenly in‌ the morning, it might be a burden to His‍‍ Majesty, so I will do it⁠ in the afternoon.”

“Of course. Do it⁠‌ whenever you see‌ fit.”

Lucian‌ smiled at Glenn’s⁠⁠ seemingly calm reply.

As⁠ long as the result came within⁠ the day, a few hours didn’t‌ matter.

He‍‌ had nothing urgent⁠‍ to do, so‍ he planned to‌‍ wait patiently. But‌‍ even when the sun set and‍‌‌ the stars appeared,⁠ Glenn did not‍ come to his⁠‍ office.

‘Did‌ something happen?’

At‍ that point, more‍ than irritation, he⁠‌⁠ began to feel‌‍‍ concern. Glenn was someone who upheld‌‍ the knightly code flawlessly; unless something‍‌ serious had occurred, he would not‌ keep him waiting‌ like this. Just‌‌⁠ when he was⁠ about to go⁠ in person, even‌ at the risk‌ of seeming discourteous—

“Sir⁠⁠ Glenn, stop—!”

Bang!‍⁠

“Y-Your‍ Highness.”

As⁠‍ if the worry⁠‌‌ had been for nothing, Glenn burst⁠⁠⁠ into the room⁠ completely unscathed.

However,⁠‍‍ unlike his body,‌ his face was‍⁠ pale, as if‌ he might collapse‍ at any moment.⁠ Seeing him so‌ different from usual,⁠ Lucian frowned.

“What’s‍‌ going on? The‌ agreed time passed‌‌ long ago…”

“His‌⁠‌ Majesty wishes to‌ see you.”

“What?”‌

“I’ll‍⁠ go to my‌‍‍ room… no, I’ll‌ prepare everything here.”‍‌

Glenn‌⁠ spoke without waiting for a response‍‍ and headed to‍ a corner, as⁠‌ if he were⁠ going to install⁠⁠ a soundproofing magic‍ artifact.

He⁠‌ didn’t even seem⁠ to notice that‌ the door was‌ still open—unlike him,‌ who usually avoided‍‌ exposing magic artifacts.⁠

“My‍ lord, if you⁠⁠ give the order,‌ I’ll immediately subdue‌⁠ that rude man.”‍

“Leave‌ him.”

Lucian‍⁠ shook his head‌⁠‌ at Felicia’s cold‌ voice. He more⁠ or less understood‌ what was going on.

Instead,‍ he calmly closed‍ the door and⁠⁠ ordered Felicia to‌ guard it. From‌⁠⁠ now on, no‍ one else was to enter.

“Your Highness, are you⁠ ready? We must‌⁠‌ hurry.”

“I’ve‌ been ready for‍ a while. Begin‌⁠‍ whenever you wish.”

“Then,⁠‍ I will establish‍ the connection.”

The⁠‍ connection? Before Lucian⁠‍‍ could ask, Glenn‍ took a red⁠ stone from his‌ chest. After rolling‌‌ it a few‌‌ times in his‍⁠ hand, a translucent⁠‍‍ figure appeared in⁠‍ the air along‌ with a flash.⁠‌

“…Your Majesty?”

— Ah, good. It’s⁠‌ not too late.‍ Thank goodness.

Lucian‍ froze at the‍‌ sight of the emperor’s face. Not‌ because of the‌‌⁠ artifact, but because of his deathly⁠⁠‍ paleness and the⁠ blood staining his lips.

The⁠ emperor seemed to‍‍‍ be speaking while⁠ lying down, his⁠ arms resting on⁠ his abdomen.

— Forgive me, but‍ we don’t have‌‍ time. Let’s skip⁠ unnecessary formalities and‍⁠‍ get straight to⁠‍⁠ the point.

“Majesty,‌ what does this‌⁠‍ mean…?”

— Sigmund is dead.⁠

Lucian froze. He thought‍ he had misheard.‍‍

Who‌ had died? Sigmund?‍ Did he mean‌‍ Sigmund Valdeck?

“Father?”‌

— Yes. Your father.‍‍‌ My friend. The one I trusted⁠‍ the most. He‍⁠‌ died this morning.⁠⁠

The⁠ emperor spoke quickly, as if he‍ truly didn’t have⁠‍ much time. But‍‍ no matter how‌ urgently he spoke,‍‍⁠ emotions didn’t obey.‌‌⁠

At‌⁠‌ the mention of⁠ the duke’s death, he pressed his‍ lips together and⁠ began to tremble.‍‌‍

— Kugh! Cough Damn‍ it!

“Y-Your‍‍ Majesty! Please calm⁠‌ yourself. Take care‌‍‍ of your health.”‌‍

— Can I not⁠ grieve or be‍‍ angry as I wish? This body…⁠ cough!

“Your‌ Majesty!”

Seeing‍‍ the blood spilling‍‌ from the emperor’s‍‌‌ mouth, Glenn shouted.‍ At that shocking sight, Lucian regained⁠‌ his composure after‌ a slight delay.

‘Father…‌‌ is dead.’

The⁠‌ noblest of nobles.⁠‍ The man he‌‌ had admired more than anyone.

Perhaps‍‌ being his son⁠ had been his‌ greatest fortune. And‍‌ now, he was‍⁠ gone.

“What⁠⁠ was the cause?”‍‌‍

— A fatal wound‌ from an unexpected attack during the‍ suppression of a rebellion. A common⁠‍ cause.

Even seasoned veterans on‍ the battlefield couldn’t‍ foresee every variable.⁠‍ A small lapse,‍‌ an unforeseen misfortune,‌‍‍ and life could‌ be lost. Even‌ so, Lucian couldn’t⁠ understand it.

If‌ Sigmund, the great⁠⁠‍ duke, fell at‌⁠‌ that time, the‌ one who would suffer the most‌‍ was the emperor.⁠‍ After showing all‍ the imperial power,⁠‌ had he not‌ even given him‌ a magic artifact‌‌ to protect his⁠⁠ life?

“Majesty,‍⁠‍ with all due⁠‍ respect, could you‍‍ tell me exactly⁠‍ how my father‌‍⁠ died?”

“Now⁠ is not the‌⁠‍ momen—!”

— Enough.

The⁠ emperor stopped Glenn,⁠ who had raised‍‍ his voice. Though‍⁠ gravely ill and‌‍⁠ far away, that⁠ single word weighed‌ like a stone.‍

— Every son has⁠⁠⁠ the right to‌⁠ know how his‍‌‍ father died. It’s‌ also a courtesy⁠‌ to my old⁠‍ friend, so don’t‍ stop him.

“But…”‌⁠⁠

— Now that I’ve‌ coughed up the‌⁠ stagnant blood, I feel a little‌ better. I’ll endure for today. It⁠ won’t take long.⁠

At‌‍ the emperor’s firm‍⁠‍ and calm voice, Glenn bowed his⁠‍‍ head. The emperor’s‌ face, as he‍‍ looked at Lucian,⁠‍ seemed a bit‍⁠ more relaxed.

— I didn’t see‍⁠‍ it with my‌‌ own eyes. I only received the⁠‌‌ report from the‍‍ knight who was‌‍⁠ with Sigmund…

***⁠⁠⁠

Boom,‌ rumble.

“They’ve‌‌ collapsed!”

“Damn⁠⁠ bastards!”

“They’re‌‍ all dead!”

Seeing‍‍‌ the wall crumble from the impact‍ of the catapults,⁠‌ the soldiers burst‌‌ into cheers.

Krephelt‌ had tormented the‍‌ imperial army with⁠‌‍ all kinds of⁠ schemes ever since‍ breaking the Grand‌‍ Accord.

Poison, assassinations, fake surrenders,‍‍ and even massacres‍⁠ of prisoners. For‌ the soldiers, blinded‌ by resentment, the⁠ long-awaited chance for‍‌‌ revenge had finally‍⁠ arrived.

“It’s⁠⁠ over…”

Murmured‌ Grand Duke Sigmund,‍ listening to the⁠ cheers.

Tristan,⁠ who stood beside⁠ him, looked at‌ him with a puzzled expression.

“You‌‌ don’t seem pleased.”⁠

“And‌ you seem happy.”

“Isn’t‍ it natural? It’s⁠‍ time to make‌⁠ the traitors who‍ forgot their human⁠ duty pay.”

“Those‍⁠ who didn’t forget⁠ will pay too.‌‌ Do you think‍‌ their hatred is‍ only directed at‍⁠‌ the soldiers and‍⁠ the king?”

At‌‍ Sigmund’s unexpected words,⁠‍ Tristan fell silent.‌ The grand duke,‍‍ not waiting for‌⁠‌ a response, sighed‌ and continued.

“Annihilating the enemy and⁠‌ killing the king⁠‍ won’t be enough.‍⁠ The hatred has‍ grown too much. The soldiers will‍ want more blood,⁠ and the nobles‍‌ as well.”

“…From⁠⁠ the moment they‍ broke the Grand‌⁠ Accord, they had‌⁠ to assume that‌‌ risk.”

“Perhaps the king and‍ the nobles. But⁠ I doubt the‌⁠ common people were⁠ prepared for the‍ same.”

“My‌⁠ lord.”

A third voice joined⁠‌ the conversation. It‌⁠ was Ludwig, sub-commander⁠ of the Red‍ Wing Knights.

“I⁠‍ can only admire‍‍ your insight, and⁠⁠ your concern for‌‍ innocent victims is‍ truly compassionate. However,⁠‌⁠ right now…”

“I‌‍ know. It’s a rage that can’t‍ be stopped. Pretending to be a wise man now‌ would only lower‍‌ morale.”

“I’ve‌ spoken out of‍ turn. Forgive me.”

“No.‌‌‌ It was a timely counsel.”

With‌‌‌ the wall destroyed,⁠ the enemy must‌‌ have realized their‍ defeat. They would no longer fight‌⁠ to win, but‍‍‍ to take someone down with them‌ before dying.

Nothing‍‌ is more terrifying⁠‍ than an enemy‍ willing to die,⁠ and demoralizing the‍‍‌ troops in front⁠‌ of that would‌ be a mistake.‍⁠⁠

“Reflections⁠‌⁠ can wait. Sir‌ Ludwig, are the⁠⁠ dragon’s fangs ready?”‌

“Whenever⁠⁠‍ you give the⁠⁠ order.”

“Then⁠‍ let’s go. It’s‌ time to cut‌‌‌ off Erich’s head.”⁠‍

“Yes!”⁠‌‌

Boom,‌ crash.

Another‌ rock launched by‍ the catapult struck⁠ the wall. Already heavily damaged, the⁠ entire western wall‌ began to collapse⁠ in a chain‍‍ reaction.

Even‌‍ the suicide force‌⁠‍ fell into despair⁠‍ upon seeing that.‍‍ At that moment,‍ Sigmund and the⁠‍⁠ imperial army burst‍‌ onto the scene.⁠⁠⁠

“The⁠ lion’s banner!”

“It’s‌⁠ Valdeck! Sigmund Valdeck⁠‌ has arrived!”

The⁠‍‍ rebels, who had‌ already been defeated⁠⁠ countless times by⁠ Sigmund, panicked at‌ the mere sight⁠‍ of the lion⁠‌‍ emblem.

Taking⁠‌ advantage of the⁠‌‌ confusion, Sigmund and‍‍ the Red Wing⁠⁠ Knights advanced unimpeded⁠ to the heart‌⁠ of the royal‍‍ palace.

Slash.‌‌

“Where‌‌ is the traitor‌ Erich? Come out⁠ and offer your‍‍‌ neck!”

“I’m here, emperor’s lapdog.”‌

Sigmund,‌ who had just‌ cut down the‍‌‌ royal guards, turned‍‍⁠ his head. Just⁠‍ as he had⁠ declared, the king‌⁠ of Krephelt, Erich,‌ watched them with‌ a fierce gaze.⁠

Shaking‌‍ the blood from‌ his sword, Sigmund‌ spoke.

“It’s⁠ over. Stop the‌ useless resistance. Enough⁠⁠ people have died.⁠ Let it all‍‍‌ end with your‌‌ life.”

“And⁠ do you think⁠‌ that will be‍⁠⁠ enough?”

“What‍ are you saying?”‌

“I’m‌‍ asking if you⁠‌ really believe everything‌‌ will end just‌ with my death.”‍

It‍ wasn’t mockery, but⁠ a sincere question.⁠ Sigmund fell silent.‌ After coming this⁠ far, it was‌‌ impossible for it‍ all to end‍ just with Erich’s⁠ death.

“Heh…‍ at least you’re⁠⁠‌ not lying. The honor of the‍ lion, is it?”⁠

Said‌‍ Erich, twisting his‍ expression. It wasn’t‌ a laugh, but‍‌ a strained grimace,‌ as if he‌ were about to‌‌ cry.

After⁠‌ a long sigh,‌‍‍ Erich raised his‍ sword.

“I⁠⁠ evacuated the women‍ and children to⁠‌‍ the west.”

“…”⁠⁠

“Please…⁠⁠ don’t touch them.”

“…I’ll‌‍ do what I can.”

“Does that mean you‌‍ won’t guarantee it?‌‌ Hah…”

A vague groan escaped‌‌ Erich. After choking⁠‍ up for a moment, he stepped⁠⁠⁠ forward alone.

Shing.‌

“Let’s end this.”

Erich‍ pointed his sword‍⁠ at Sigmund. It‌⁠ was a formal‌⁠⁠ challenge, but as⁠ a swordsman, he barely met the⁠ minimum level of⁠⁠ a knight.

To‍‍‌ face Sigmund—superior even‍ as an armored⁠ warrior—was the same‌‌‍ as choosing his own executioner.

“As‍ you wish.”

Sigmund⁠ also stepped forward⁠‍ with sword in⁠ hand. Just a few steps apart,‌‌ both took their⁠‍‍ stances. The result⁠‌‍ was obvious, so Sigmund intended to⁠‌‍ end it in⁠ a single strike.‍

At⁠‌ the instant both⁠‍ swords moved at‌‌ the same time—⁠⁠⁠

Slash.‌

“…!?”‍‍

Everyone⁠‌⁠ present opened their eyes wide. Erich’s sword had cut‌ Sigmund’s neck. Meanwhile,‍ Sigmund hadn’t even‍ managed to swing‌ his own.

Black⁠⁠ tentacles had emerged from the shadows,‍‍ completely restraining him.‍⁠

Clatter.‌

“What…‍ what is this…?”‌

Erich⁠ stepped back in‍‍ horror at what he had just‍⁠ done. At the same time, the⁠ tentacles that had⁠ bound Sigmund withdrew‌‍‌ back into the⁠⁠ shadows.

Freed,‍‍‍ the runes on‌‌ the armor—until then⁠⁠⁠ dormant—began to glow⁠ again.

“Father?”⁠

Tristan,⁠ stunned, blinked and‌⁠‍ reached out toward⁠‍⁠ Sigmund. Despite being‌⁠ a light touch,‍ the runes repelled⁠ Tristan to protect‍‌ their owner.

It‍⁠ was hard to⁠‍ believe that this same armor hadn’t‌‌⁠ reacted to the⁠ black tentacles.

“…Damn‌ bastards.”

“No!‍⁠⁠ It wasn’t me!”⁠

“We⁠‌‍ were fools to‍ trust you. What‍ could we expect⁠ from someone who⁠⁠ abandoned human duty?”‌

“That’s‍ not true! Listen to me!”

No‌‍ matter how much‌⁠ Erich screamed, no one listened. The⁠ only thing dominating⁠ the scene was‍ an unrelenting thirst for blood.

Tristan‌‍ stood up, eyes‍‌ bloodshot, and fixed⁠‍ his gaze on⁠‍ Erich.

“Today,⁠ no traitor will‍⁠ leave this city‌ alive. Die regretting⁠ what you’ve done.”‍⁠