Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 267: Gift from the King (2)

Chapter 267: Gift from the King (2)

“You‌‌ bastard…”

Bleeding,‌‌‍ Hasan glared upward‍ in fury.

Bernard’s‌‌ skill surpassed every‌⁠‍ expectation he had.⁠‌

That‌‍‍ was why he‍ was biding his‌ time, waiting for‍ the other assassins‌⁠ attacking the King‌ of Briol from⁠ the opposite side‍ to arrive.

That⁠⁠ group was led⁠ by a capable‍⁠‍ man named Sron.‌⁠

With him, perhaps they‌‍ could resolve this‌‍ situation.

Yet⁠‌ no word had⁠‍ come.

“Huu…”‍

Hasan‍‍ steadied his breathing⁠‍ and leveled his‌ sword at Bernard.‌‌‌

Bernard⁠‍ wasn’t unscathed, either.‍‌⁠

In‍ the process of‍‍ killing two assassins,‌ he had taken⁠ wounds, but he‍ acted as if‍ they were nothing,⁠ advancing with a fierce grin.

To⁠⁠ Hasan’s eyes, this‌ man wasn’t sane.‍

He⁠ was someone obsessed‌ with the sword to the point‍ of becoming one⁠ with it.

Bernard‌ spoke.

“This‌ is fun. Only‍ when you risk‌ your life can‍ you call it‍‍ a real fight.⁠‍ Thank you. Because‌ of you, I’ve felt alive again‌⁠‌ for the first⁠ time in a long while.”

“Crazy‍ bastard…”

A strange gleam in⁠‌‍ Bernard’s eyes crushed‍‍ Hasan’s heart. Even⁠‌ he, almost numb⁠ to fear because‌‌ of black magic, found himself retreating‌⁠‍ without realizing it.‍⁠

“Damn‌⁠⁠ it…”

Hasan‌ once again felt⁠ deep hatred toward‍ the Kingdom of‍ Briol. They always‍ got in his‌ way.

That‌ day in his⁠ youth, when he⁠ was chosen as⁠⁠ Georg’s great warrior‍ and felt as‍‍ though he could‍ soar through the⁠‌⁠ skies, his joy had collapsed when⁠ he was defeated‌⁠ by Yuri Briol.⁠

Since‌‌ then, he had‌⁠ lived for nothing‌ but revenge.

But‌ when he crossed paths with Yuri Briol again, the⁠‌‌ man was even‌⁠ stronger, forcing him⁠ to grit his‍ teeth once more.‌

And⁠ now, he was‍ being stopped by‍‍⁠ that man’s master.⁠

He⁠ would have revenge.‍

No‍ matter what it‌‌ took.

He⁠ shook his head,‌⁠ breathing heavily. There⁠‌ was no time‍ to keep thinking‍ about unsolvable problems.

He‌ had to find‌ a way out,‍‌ even if it‌‍ was clumsy and‍‍⁠ desperate.

And⁠ the only path he could think‍‌‍ of was to wait for Sron.‍

Sron‍‌ was as skilled‍‌ as he was.⁠‍

His⁠⁠‍ original level wasn’t‍ that high, but‍‍ he had been‌ born with a body that could‍‌ deeply absorb black⁠ magic, surpassing his‌⁠⁠ limits.

In‍‌‌ the end, Bernard‌ was the only⁠ real threat. Sron‌ would arrive soon.‍

With‌ that calculation, Hasan⁠ decided to stall‍ for time.

“What’s‌ wrong?”

Bernard‍‌ smirked faintly.

“Are⁠ you waiting for‌ the others?”

“…”⁠‍‌

“You‍‍ think your friends⁠ will win easily?”⁠‌

***⁠‌

Sron,‍⁠⁠ leading the rest of the assassins‌‌ in Hasan’s place, didn’t flinch when‌‍ he found a guard standing in front of the⁠ king’s chamber.

It‍ wasn’t only because‍ black magic had‍‌ erased his human‍‍⁠ emotions—even with a normal mind, it⁠ would have been⁠ the same.

Because‌‍ he was strong,‌⁠‌ and his opponent⁠ was weak.

Just‍‍ as a mantis‌ isn’t alarmed by‍ a passing insect,‌ nothing would change‌ no matter how‍‌ stubborn the obstacle⁠‌ before him was.

He⁠‍ just needed to‍‌ kill him.

Sron⁠ gave a hand‍ signal.

The‌ assassins advanced silently,‍ surrounding the guard.‌

“Hmm…”‍

The‌‌ guard tilted his⁠ head.

“You’re not running even after being discovered…‌‍ You must be⁠ confident. Not ordinary⁠‍ assassins, I take‌ it. I suppose‌ you’re from the‍ Empire.”

Sron‌⁠ didn’t answer.

He‌⁠ simply pointed at the guard and‍⁠‍ turned his finger,‍ giving the order.⁠⁠⁠

The assassins swung their‌ blades. The sound‍‍ of steel slicing⁠⁠ the air rang‌⁠ out.

But⁠⁠ they didn’t cut‍ their target.

The‍‌ guard had opened‍‌⁠ the door and‍ slipped into the⁠‍ royal chamber.

“After⁠ him.”

Sron‌⁠ darted forward before⁠ the door closed.⁠ His figure vanished and reappeared inside‍⁠ the room.

His‌‍ eyes swept the‌‍⁠ space.

No⁠ one was there.⁠‍⁠

“The⁠‌ king isn’t here. I was late.”⁠⁠‌

The⁠⁠ guard spoke.

They‌ had surely evacuated‍⁠ the king during‍⁠ the distraction.

Sron‌‍ grabbed one of‌‍ the assassins by‍ the shoulder.

“Handle him.”

“Yes.”

The‌ order was to⁠ kill the guard.‍ Once he gave‌ that task, Sron‍‍ moved again to‌ search for the‌ King of Briol.‌‍

“Find‍⁠ the king.”

He couldn’t have been⁠‍ gone from the start—the messy bed‍ was proof of‍ that.

He‌‍ had likely fled‍‌ the moment word‍‍ of the incursion‌‍ spread.

Sron⁠‌ leapt out through‌ a corridor window‌‌ into the open.‍‍ The assassins scattered⁠⁠⁠ in all directions.⁠‍

Before‌‍ long, while searching‌ the area, Sron‍‌ heard the whistle‌‌ of one of his own.

Recognizing the signal, he‍ and the others⁠‌‍ changed course.

After passing several buildings‌‌ alongside his men,⁠ Sron spotted the King of Briol⁠‍ being escorted by knights.

He‌⁠ immediately charged. He⁠‌ had to finish‌⁠ before more reinforcements‍ arrived.

But⁠‍ someone blocked his‍⁠ path.

“You⁠ shall not pass.”‍

It⁠‌ was the same⁠⁠ guard he had seen in front‌ of the chamber.

Sron‍‍ frowned.

He‍‍‌ was certain he‍‍ had left one‌ of his men to deal with⁠ him—he couldn’t understand⁠⁠ how the man‌ was here.

“I‍⁠ killed your subordinate.”

Only‍‌ then did Sron⁠‌ bother to look‍‍ closely at him.‌ He didn’t seem‌⁠‍ strong.

In‌‍ fact, from his‌ face alone, he⁠‌ could pass for‌‍ an ordinary man‍‍⁠ you’d see anywhere.

He‌ even had a poorly shaved beard, giving him a shabby air.

Sron‌‍ recalled the reports⁠⁠‌ he had read‍‌‌ before coming to‌‍‍ Briol. With Fiore‌‌ and Yuri Briol⁠‌ absent, there was⁠‌ supposedly no one‍ in the palace‌‍‌ whose skill posed⁠ a significant threat.⁠⁠‌

There‌ were names mentioned,‌ of course.

For⁠⁠‍ example, Bernard, the⁠‍ swordsman who had‌‍ trained Yuri Briol.‌⁠

But he had been‌ inactive for a long time and‌ didn’t seem capable‍⁠ of defeating assassins‍ enhanced by black‍‌ magic.

Black‍ magic had raised‌‌ everyone in the⁠‌ Empire up by‌ a tier. Hasan⁠⁠ and Sron already‌‍ had strength nearing⁠‌ that of the⁠ Ten Greats.

If‍‍ Yalta hadn’t died,‍ he would have‌ been enough to‍ take one of‍ their seats.

The‌‌ rest of the‌ assassins were at‍ least on par‌⁠ with an imperial‍⁠ squadron commander.

Black magic had caused‌‌ a true power‍‍ inflation.

Meanwhile, the nations outside‌ the Empire had‌⁠‌ remained at their‍ previous levels, without‍‌‌ such enhancements.

That was why Bernard‍ wasn’t even considered‌ a threat. The‌‌ captain of the‌ royal guard was mentioned in passing,⁠ but Sron hadn’t‍⁠ read the note⁠⁠ carefully.
They must all be equally mediocre.‌

Or‌‌‌ so he thought.⁠‍

Sron‌‌ asked,

“Who‍⁠ are you?”

“Me?‍ You don’t know⁠⁠ me?”

“…”‍

“Of‍‍ course, that’s normal.‌‌ But this is the royal palace of Briol. And‌ if someone here⁠‌ is protecting the King of Briol,‌⁠ obviously it’s the‍‍ captain of the‍ guard.”

He‍‍‍ introduced himself.

“I‍ am the captain‌‍ of the guard,‌‌ Saned.”

Sron⁠⁠⁠ frowned.

He⁠⁠ had thought it‌ was the unexpected‌ appearance of a master, but it‌ turned out to⁠‌ be exactly what‌ the report had‍⁠ mentioned—the captain of‍⁠⁠ the guard.

Saned‌‌‌ had never stood⁠ out publicly, nor‌ had he earned⁠‌‌ much fame on‌⁠ the battlefield. Ever⁠⁠ since joining the⁠‍ guard, he had⁠‌⁠ spent his entire life rotting away‌‌ in the royal⁠‍ palace of Briol.‌⁠⁠

By‌‍ contrast, Sron and‌‍⁠ the assassins had⁠⁠ undergone brutal training,‍ mastering killing techniques‍ capable of slaying‌ masters on par⁠ with Imperial squadron‍‌ commanders. On top⁠⁠⁠ of that, with⁠‌‌ the aid of⁠‌ black magic, they⁠ had reached a level close to‌⁠⁠ the Ten Greats.‌⁠

That‌ was why he had never paid⁠ any attention to‍ guards whose sole⁠ job was to⁠‍‍ stand watch over‌‌‍ palace gates.

Sron came to his‌ own conclusion.

“Looks like you let‍ your guard down.”‌

“What?”

“You’re an idiot. Letting⁠ yourself be stopped‍ by a mere‍⁠‌ guard.”

“Mere?⁠‌ Capturing and killing⁠ assassins like you⁠‌‍ is, by nature,‌ the work of⁠‍ the royal guard.”‍

Sron‍ didn’t respond and⁠ looked away.

At‍ that blatant disdain,‌‌ Saned snorted through⁠ his nose and‍⁠ raised his sword.‍

“Damn bastards…”

At‍⁠ Sron’s signal, the⁠‌‌ assassins charged.

The⁠ sound of clashing‍ weapons rang in‍ the air.

Sron⁠⁠⁠ gave another order.‌‌

“All‌ of you—release the‌ restriction.”

The King of Briol⁠ was getting farther‌⁠ away. As assassins‍ who had sharpened‍ their blades for‍‍‍ this very day,‍ they no longer‍⁠ had any reason‌‌ to conceal their⁠‌ power.

The‌ assassins’ bodies swelled,‍⁠ transforming into muscular,‍‍ inhuman figures.

Their forms, modified by‍⁠ black magic, could‌ unleash explosive strength‌‍ for a short⁠⁠ period.

They‍ would finish off‍‌ this insignificant captain,⁠ then kill the‍ King of Briol. With that in⁠ mind, Sron also‍‌ pushed his body beyond its limits.

With⁠ a voice now‌ coarse from the‍‍ transformation, he gave‍ the command.

“Get‍⁠ past that guard.‌ I’ll go after‌⁠ the king.”

“Ha,⁠⁠ damn you…”

Sron⁠⁠ ignored him and⁠ ran straight toward⁠ the monarch.

But‌ in an instant,‌‌‌ the captain was in front of⁠ him again. Sron‌ couldn’t grasp what⁠⁠ had just happened‌‌ and reflexively swung‍ his sword.

Saned‍ blocked the strike,‌⁠ and with a harsh crack, sparks⁠⁠‍ flew between their‍ blades.

Sron‌‍‌ backed off, his⁠⁠ eyes widening.

The‍‌ aura emanating from the other’s sword⁠‌⁠ was heavy.

Something‍ didn’t add up.⁠⁠

While‍‍‌ Sron was thinking‌ this, Saned spoke.

“Yes,⁠⁠‌ times have changed.”

He‌‍ said it as⁠‍ though talking to‍ himself.

“It’s‌ a very strange⁠ era.”

With⁠⁠ each word, the⁠ cuts of his‍ sword grew stronger.‌‌⁠ At first, Sron‌⁠⁠ could block them‍ easily, but gradually,‍ he had to‍ tense his muscles‍ and watch the‍‍⁠ captain’s every move.‍

“Monstrous‍‍⁠ knights have appeared,‌‌⁠ and His Highness,⁠⁠ who was once‌ a child, has‌‌‍ become stronger than‌ me. It’s absurd,‌ but that’s how it is.”

The‍⁠ assassins attacked Saned‌⁠ instead of Sron.‍‌

The‌ captain’s blade traced‌ a smooth trajectory—it⁠ was like he⁠‌ was dancing.

That‌ undulating sword scattered‌‌ every attack aimed‍‍ at him while‍‌ simultaneously grazing the⁠ openings of his enemies.

Saned closed his eyes‍ and then opened⁠⁠⁠ them again.

A dazzling burst of sword energy erupted‌‌⁠ from his body.‌⁠

“W-what‍‍ the hell…?”

Sron‍ understood. From the‍ very beginning, the‍ information had been wrong.

That‍ almost unknown captain⁠‌ of the Briol⁠⁠ guard was, in reality, a swordsman‍‌ as strong as‍⁠ the Ten Greats.‌⁠

Sron‌⁠⁠ was unsettled.

“You’ve‌ been hiding your‍ strength all this⁠ time?”

Saned‌ let out a laugh.

But Sron felt no urge to laugh.‌‍ He had never‍‌ received any intel⁠ that Saned was‍‌ this powerful.

In‌ the plan he’d‌⁠ been given, the‌ captain had been‍ described as an‍ unremarkable knight—at best,‌ equal to an‍ Imperial cavalry commander,‌‌ if not weaker.‍

To‍‌ him, it hadn’t‌‍⁠ been worth paying‌ any attention.

However,⁠⁠⁠ the Saned before‍ his eyes was‍‍‌ different.

Even⁠⁠ with his emotions‍⁠ heavily suppressed, the⁠⁠ unexpected turn of‌‌⁠ events was throwing⁠⁠ his instincts off⁠‌ balance.

That⁠‌ was why he⁠‌ glanced around, hoping‍ for Hasan.

“Maybe⁠ so.”

While‌‌‌ Sron was still off guard, the captain advanced, spinning his sword in‍ circles.

“I’ve‍‌ gotten stronger too.”‌‍

“How…?”‍‍

“I‍ thought I’d be⁠‌‍ upholding the tradition⁠⁠ of the captain‌ of the guard,⁠ but His Highness Yuri followed in‍‍‌ the previous monarch’s⁠‌‍ footsteps. So I gritted my teeth⁠‌⁠ and trained again.‍⁠ You see this⁠⁠‍ sword?”

Saned⁠ raised his weapon.‌

“The‌ day I became‌‍ captain of the⁠ guard, His Majesty‌‌ Fiore Briol, the‌‍⁠ former king, handed‌‍ it to me personally. When I received it, I swore I’d live⁠ my entire life for the royal⁠‌‌ family of Briol.‌ I will live‍‍ for Briol, and‍⁠‌ if I die,‍ I will die⁠‌ for the royal‍ family. That is⁠‌ the spirit of‍‍ the royal guard.”‌‌⁠

By then, Sron was‍‍ already overwhelmed by‌ his presence.

Saned‍ smirked wickedly.

“I’ll⁠ tell you something. It may be‌‍ obvious. Because of‍‌‌ my shortcomings, that‍⁠ tradition was broken‌⁠ in my generation,‌ but originally…”

Saned moved. His step seemed like a casual stroll, but‌‍ to Sron, it‍ was as if⁠‌ a giant was⁠⁠ closing in.

There‌ was no choice‍ left.

Sron‍ broke another of‌⁠ his internal restrictions.‌

Seeing‌ his body swell‌ even further, Saned chuckled and went⁠ on.

“Since‌ ancient times, Briol‌ has been the‌ nation of knights.”‌

“Shut‌ up!”

“To‍‌ raise our lord⁠⁠ above all others‌⁠ and protect him⁠‌ from rats like‍ you, there has⁠ always been a need for a knight stronger than⁠ any other.”

“Shut‍‍⁠ your mouth!”

“That’s‍⁠ why, traditionally…”

In⁠ the end, Sron⁠⁠ couldn’t bear the‍⁠ pressure any longer and charged at‌ him.

Saned raised his sword⁠‌‍ with a grin.⁠

“The‍⁠‌ captain of the⁠‍ guard of Briol‌ is the strongest‍ in Briol.”