Chapter 254 Coronation (2)
Among the countless mansions in the capital,
In that secret place, the First Prince and the members of the secret social hall had gathered together, raising their cups.
The civil war had ended in its natural conclusion, and now only the process of Valrgna ascending to the throne remained.
Everyone was drunk on victory, gulping down the finest wines, and grabbing hold of foods so expensive that commoners dared not even touch them.
The northern drug dealer, the madman Tolav.
He staggered to his feet.
"Ugh! Your Highness, today, hic, I will show you some fine entertainment!"
"Entertainment, what, do you intend to play the clown?"
"Clown… hehehe, indeed, if that is your wish, then I shall become a clown! What difficulty is there in that, when it is for Prince Valrgna, soon to sit on the throne!"
Tolav hiccupped.
Already several bottles of wine had been emptied, and being drunk as he was, his already haggard face looked all the more weary and wasted.
He asked for leave and picked up four table knives.
Then he stood his subordinate, El, in front of a wall. He placed an apple on top of his head.
"Heh… do not move, hm?"
The madman licked his wine-soaked lips and swung his arm.
Whoosh───thwack!
The knives flew and stuck into their mark all at once.
But not a single one pierced the apple, instead digging into El's body.
Because the blades were dull, they could not cause fatal injuries, but blood dripped down from the wounds.
The mercenary captain, Geul, frowned.
"The apple remains untouched."
"I never said I would hit the apple, did I, Your Highness? Kikikikik!"
Tolav clapped his hands, giggling alone.
What in the world was funny about such a thing.
As expected of a madman addicted to drugs, his mind was incomprehensible. Ignoring him, the others continued their conversation.
The great merchant, Dario, sipped his wine.
"By the way, I did not think the dark merchant would be absent."
"Robert as well. The civil war is over, so surely Vintert should be enjoying some leisure by now. Could it be that something happened in Roafra?"
The architect, Nelita, looked at the empty seats.
It bothered her that the two who always held important positions had not come.
Of course, they had sent word in advance, but only saying they had work to do, without specifying the reason.
"Tsk."
At the word "dark merchant", Geul clicked his tongue.
He had not forgotten. That the mercenaries he had sent, including Jarolf, to take revenge for his humiliation in the secret social hall, had disappeared.
It must have been at the hands of the dark merchant and that man called Maltead.
'Maltead…!'
Geul chewed his meat, simmering in resentment.
Naturally, he did not know that Maltead was actually Verden. He bore a grudge against nothing more than a straw figure.
The First Prince, listening, shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, let it be. The dark merchant and Vintert are surely busy with their own affairs. In any case, we will meet them at the coronation at the latest, so it does not matter if we postpone our reunion until then."
If it had been the usual Valrgna, he would have revealed his displeasure.
But today he was different.
Even after watching Tolav's vile clowning, which soured the atmosphere, he still wore a smile, for his mood was exceedingly good.
"Haha, indeed, Your Highness is most generous."
Dario laughed, nodding his head.
Meanwhile, Geul came forward, bowing, and filled Valrgna's empty cup.
"To forgive one's subordinates is itself a virtue. Congratulations on ascending to the throne, Prince Valrgna, no, Your Majesty."
Your Majesty.
What a sweet sound that was.
'At last, I have come this far.'
Valrgna recalled the past.
He had struggled and struggled, trying desperately to secure the succession.
He had done all he could to win the eye of his father, who was obsessed with the hollow dream of being a conqueror king.
Among those deeds was the eradication of the Ducal House of Rubinelian.
'Though I still do not know why he was so intent on destroying that ducal house.'
Well, hard as it was, it had been enjoyable in its own way.
Hunting down the people of a ducal house was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
In any case, there was no need to linger in the old castle any longer.
Soon, the true royal castle in the capital would become his own possession.
The timing had been fortunate.
No sooner had the succession been decided than the King of Estiria took to his sickbed.
It was said his health was deteriorating by the day. Lately, they said, he could barely even distinguish things.
'In the end, he gives me a fine parting gift.'
A king who could not fulfill his role would vanish into the mists of history, and the vacant seat would belong to none other than Valrgna.
As he indulged in happy imaginings, he furrowed his brow.
'But Vintert is bothersome.'
He could not deny that the underworld's support had been immense.
Thus, it would be impossible to ignore the influence of Vintert, especially the king of the underworld.
However, they could no longer pressure him as before.
Once he ascended the throne, the royal family's power, Leonil himself, would protect him.
'Grond, I will graciously share with you a portion of the spoils of victory.'
But he would not permit anyone to strip him of his authority.
Valrgna twisted his lips and drained his cup.
***
Bapien, age 38, living in Roafra.
As a third-tier lower mage, he lived a fairly stable life.
No matter how much Roafra was a den of crime syndicates, not all groups enjoyed wealth and glory.
He merely joined a group operating in the outskirts, playing the role of a mage. That alone was enough to earn him a decent livelihood.
But then,
'Why in the world am I here?'
Suddenly regaining his senses, Bapien looked around.
Casting a glance, he saw mages of the underworld he recognized, stationed at intervals, surrounding Roafra.
They all had one thing in common, they all could use wind magic.
'And also…'
Between them, he saw strangers clad in white armor.
They were the mages of the White Crest Knight Order, subordinates of the famed White Steel Calia.
'Vintert did say to obey the orders of the knights, but…'
What had they said again?
Something about creating a ring of wind that encircled the entirety of Roafra, wasn't it?
Bapien could not hide his confusion.
He had no idea what the purpose of such a thing could be, nor could he understand the current abnormal situation in Roafra.
But refusing was not an option.
This was the command of none other than Roafra's new ruler.
Though he himself had not participated in the hunt, Bapien knew.
The mage who had slain Grond, who had ruled the underworld, was unimaginably powerful. Far beyond what someone like him could even fathom.
Thus, if ordered, he obeyed.
For in Roafra, the strong were the law.
"That man over there…"
"Yes, he is the mage who killed Grond."
At the noise, Bapien rolled his eyes.
A stranger was walking toward them from afar.
Ash-gray hair and blue eyes. No doubt this was the new king he had only heard about.
"Hah…"
Looking closely, he was young, and strikingly handsome.
His garments were priceless, and yet he was strong enough to overwhelm even Vintert.
It was such an irrational existence that Bapien could think of nothing to say.
Only one thought came to mind.
"The world, truly…"
Is fucked up unfair.
***
"As you said, the mages have been positioned."
"Orders have been passed through the knights. Once you give the signal, they will all activate their spells at once."
Perne and Calia spoke in turn.
In Verden's view, the mages stationed along the outer edge of Roafra came into sight.
"Efficient work."
"Well, this much is nothing. But Asher, I do not know what means you intend to use, yet is there no method other than going alone?"
"Yes, it is restricted to an individual, there is no helping it."
The second method Verden had devised.
It was spatial teleportation through Ainber. With that, he could pass through the barrier without breaking it.
Naturally, it was only for one person.
'But before I depart,'
Verden stepped closer to the two,
whispering softly so no one else could hear.
"If something goes wrong, go into the castle, the necessary measures have already been arranged."
Verden was Roafra's deterrent.
Therefore, if he were absent, Vintert or Roafra might begin to harbor other thoughts.
There were no individuals worth noting, but the numbers were many, so for Calia's group to handle it safely on their own would be difficult.
"Yes, understood, Asher-nim!"
"Ah, mm, I understand what you mean, I will keep it in mind."
Verden cast his gaze at Karans, who was standing nearby.
The elf, as if knowing without words, drew a dagger.
It was a magical item Verden had taken from Grond's vault.
A dagger that, when infused with magic power, formed a physical blade about one meter in length. Its performance was leagues beyond the dagger he had previously given him to use.
This was Karans's payment.
'Next, Galliark.'
When Verden turned his head, Galliark thumped his armor.
He wore the new armor he had purchased cheaply from Verden.
His wounds remained, but with a body so sturdy, he would not fall easily.
There was nothing more to attend to.
"Then I shall see you later."
Glancing at them briefly, Verden soared into the sky.
From above, overlooking Roafra clearly, he gave a slight nod.
With Robert taking command on the left, and Calia on the right, the mages who had received orders began casting spells aimed at Roafra's walls.
Dozens of paths of wind formed.
All flowed in the same direction, linking together, soon becoming a single current.
Along Roafra's walls, a ring of wind encircled the entire city.
Verden, lowering his altitude, hurled himself without hesitation into the airflow.
Whoooosh!
Verden was swept along the path, pulled in as if swallowed.
Even though he used
As Verden circled Roafra, upon reaching the speed's threshold point, a halo of light wrapped around him.
An explosively accelerated speed.
'Here, I strengthen the current.'
Verden activated Mado.
Wind burst forth, surging like a storm.
It was groundwork for creating the second and third halos, transforming the paths of wind made by the mages into a ring of storm.
"Uuugh… aaaaagh!"
"Kh…!"
Groans of pain echoed from every side, even from the knights.
Because Verden's Mado was intermingled, maintaining
Yet no one let their mind falter.
The White Crest Knight Order was disciplined in spirit, and the mages of Roafra simply feared their new king.
It was submission before the strong.
Swaaaaash!
Verden, now wrapped in the second halo, could not be seen clearly.
Only the trails of light left along the ring of storm proved his existence.
People stared at the rings of light,
entranced by a radiance Roafra had never seen before.
'It is ready.'
At the moment his speed reached the target, three halos were formed at last.
His gaze turned immediately to Roafra's center,
to the space beyond the veil, atop the mana elevator.
Whoooosh!
A pillar of light engulfed Verden.
People shielded their eyes from the brilliance that shredded the darkness.
Perhaps because Roafra was always dim, it felt as though a sun was rising within the underground city.
Then, with the light, Verden vanished.
Moments later, the storm ring dispersed, and the weary mages collapsed, some even fainting.
The mages of the White Crest Knight Order steadied their breaths and returned to their positions.
Clap, clap.
Galliark applauded.
Though he had intended to stay silent, he could not as a spectator.
To move through space by means of light.
"Wow, that's fucking cool."
***
Night descended upon the streets of the capital.
A man, dressed no differently from any ordinary citizen, walked aimlessly. Reaching the outskirts, he entered a dark alley without hesitation.
Before him loomed the city wall.
Creak, crack.
Into a small crevice, he forced in a strangely worked magic stone.
Even by daylight, even examined closely, it would not be noticed, for it was hidden with meticulous care.
Whoooosh.
Having finished his work, the man dissipated into magic power.
No presence remained, not even a trace of his existence. The same event was happening all across the outer walls.
Flona, Silis's close aide.
Through Gluttony's experiment, she had gained the acquired special trait [Puppeteer].
The ability to create puppets made of magic power, indistinguishable from humans, that was Flona's power.
Originally, she could control no more than two.
But thanks to Lorian's [Mind Resonance] serving as a medium, she could now move dozens at will.
At the cost of exponentially increased consumption of mental strength.
"Haa, haa…"
Sweat poured down as Flona staggered.
Her consciousness blurred, but she had done her task.
───Your Highness, the foundation of the 'Nightmare' is complete.
───The preparations for 'infiltration' of the coronation are secure.
A thought-message sent through concentration.
It seemed not only Flona, but Adel too had just finished.
Silis, eyes closed in silence, responded.
───Well done, you may rest now, Flona, Adel.
───Understood.
───Yes, then…
Flona's connection broke.
No doubt she had fallen asleep as if fainting.
Thus, all preparations were finished.
"..."
Silis raised his eyes beyond the bars, toward the sky.
The moon was hidden, unseen, yet the stars scattered in the black heavens gleamed brightly.
Within his heart, expectation and unease mingled.
The punctuation of revenge, and the fear of failure, a complex emotion.
Surely he was not the only one who felt this.
Sebas and Chemion too, who had to watch as the people of the Ducal House of Rubinelian they had served with all sincerity were executed or turned into experiments of the royal family.
Adel, Flona, and Lorian too, who by royal permission had to endure being made test subjects for Gluttony, themselves and their families.
'They must all feel the same.'
But in Silis's heart was lodged one foreign object.
It pressed like a lump, bothersome, gnawing at him.
He knew what it was.
This discomfort was guilt.
'…Marquis Esperanza.'
The Marquis was stern, yet altruistic.
Unlike other nobles of the kingdom, he did not only crave wealth and power, but protected his domain as a true noble, seeking to guide the kingdom toward good.
Yes, he was a man worthy of respect.
And so Silis had used him.
Stirring the Marquis's rare humanity, and the guilt rooted within him, to make him an ally.
In that process, he had accepted the Marquis's persuasion toward a more peaceful revenge.
But the moment he learned of his mother's heart, that plan was discarded.
In the end, the Marquis, unable to speak further, accepted Silis's fury.
'In truth…'
He wanted to destroy the kingdom immediately.
Had it not been for his mother, Remien's, sacrifice, the kingdom would already have vanished long ago.
The peaceful lives all had enjoyed should never have existed to begin with.
Yet the more he steeled his heart, the more he wavered.
Even decades ago, and now again.
The Marquis Esperanza's unchanging sincerity, pursuing his own righteous path for the sake of the kingdom, kept holding him back.
'Perhaps I should not have borrowed his strength.'
Had that been the case, preparing for revenge would have taken at least ten years longer, or perhaps he would have died without ever fulfilling it… but at least his heart would have been at ease.
Throb.
His head ached. His thoughts were heavy. Everything was tangled.
It had not been so at first. When he lived solely for revenge for his mother, he had seen nothing but hatred, never felt such things as this.
But now, on the very brink of vengeance, countless images clouded his sight.
'What in the world…'
He longed for his mother's touch.
At the same time, the screams of his mother, dissected alive, echoed in his ears, the memory of her dying with Silis in her thoughts, seared deep.
That night, Silis could not sleep.
Over and over, he anguished, hesitated, and struggled, until the very end.
Over the final destination of revenge.
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