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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Robert had awakened. The impact of this event was naturally immense, filling everyone stationed in the North with joy.
Aside from being the Grand Duchess’s lover, his single-handed defeat of two demons alone made him incredibly valuable.
All eyes were on Robert as he rose from his bed, though in reality, he was being held captive by Adele and Adriana, unable to move.
It had been a day since he woke up. He hadn’t been able to move immediately after regaining consciousness.
It wasn’t uncommon to be unable to move after dying and coming back to life. His intention to depart immediately was thwarted by the two women.
They didn’t even have to say anything, Robert couldn’t move after seeing Adele draw her sword.
“Do you think I’ll let you go? If you truly believe that, then cut me down and leave.”
“…I also object to you leaving immediately. I can’t let you go.”
His body had fully recovered. But the two women’s worries hadn’t subsided.
Adriana’s clear eyes held a faint madness, and he couldn’t say anything after hearing her calm voice. This was also a chance to confirm what he had gained.
So, it would be alright to move a little slowly.
But he wasn’t planning to delay indefinitely. Robert, rising with Adele’s support, focused on assessing the current situation.
He desperately wanted to contact Miragen, but he didn’t know how Kaitel would react if he did so now.
The other methods weren’t without risk either. If he contacted Miragen in any way, Kaitel would likely do something.
After a moment of contemplation, Robert sighed, took Adele’s hand, and stood up.
“You could have stayed in bed.”
“There’s no time for that. Rest is rest, but we have to decide what to do now. We’ve been delayed a lot… we might be too late by the time we reach the capital.”
A week.
Although it had been spent recovering, he couldn’t deny that it was lost time.
If he couldn’t move around to make up for this lost time, it would be better to reorganize the North with Adele and complete their preparations.
He smiled faintly at their worried gazes and gently stroked Adele’s hand. He could do this naturally now. With Miragen, Adele, and Adriana.
He didn’t know how the three women would accept their future relationship.
Slowly adapting them would be the best method. If he continued like this, wouldn’t it become natural for the four of them to live together eventually?
He hoped that time would come soon. A time when he could confess all these thoughts, a time when he could simply indulge in such lighthearted fantasies.
They were almost there. Robert took a deep breath, and the cold air filled his lungs. He was worried about Miragen, but it couldn’t be helped.
Even if he rested, it would only be for three days at most. He had to complete all preparations and march on the capital within that time.
“I think I need to see Lothos first. He probably handed over command while taking care of me.”
“…I won’t deny that. But are you planning to take all the soldiers with you? If the Crown Prince doesn’t make any moves, it would be better to disband them.”
Robert shook his head firmly at her words. Even if he disbanded them, they would all die if he couldn’t defeat the Four Dragons. And the most important thing was…
“The imperial palace will likely be completely destroyed by the time we arrive. It would be better to assume there’s no chance of recovery. We’ll be severely short-handed. We’ll likely be the ones fighting on the front lines.”
Robert glanced over the dust-covered table, then looked towards the square where the imperial palace was located and moved his lips.
“We’ll need the soldiers after we defeat the Four Dragons. If the capital is almost completely destroyed, the Northern troops will be the ones rebuilding it. Wouldn’t it be meaningless to continue defending the North?”
“That’s… true.”
Having been branded as rebels, their only option was rebellion. Even if they hadn’t intended to, they had to do it.
The shrinking of the empire’s territory was probably a predetermined future.
Even if he defeated the Four Dragons, it would take a considerable amount of time to recover from the damage.
Adele, understanding Robert’s words, nodded quietly. Since she understood that there was no other way, there was only one thing left to do.
“I’ll gather the troops. That’s all, right?”
“That’s enough.”
As Robert turned his gaze, dark clouds gathered in the sky.
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It hadn’t been long since he had coveted the titles of King, Emperor. It was because such desires had vanished at some point.
How many people would covet something they already possessed?
Kaitel chuckled quietly.
The soldier’s corpse, being dragged along the floor, bothered him, but it wasn’t something he needed to worry about.
Everyone in the imperial palace would die today anyway.
“Your Highness, what in the world-!”
As flames engulfed the imperial palace, the ministers began to enter one by one. It was better this way. He wouldn’t have to go looking for them to kill them.
He had dealt with all the masked figures. They hadn’t been of any help, despite calling themselves a grand organization named “Illusion.” It was about time to kill them all.
It seemed he had handled Robert well too. That was enough. Without Robert Taylor, this world would be his once again.
Once again-?
A question flashed through his mind, but a red glint flickered in his eyes, and calmness returned.
“I will ask you.”
The aura emanating from his sword was unusual. He had already cut down all the knights guarding the imperial palace.
There were no more skilled individuals who could stop him. Even if there were, he could just unleash the demons. Robert had managed to defeat two of them, but he still had two left.
“Will you follow me?”
He held his sword to their necks and counted. One, two, three. He beheaded those who hesitated and slowly listened for their answers.
Those who would follow him, those who wished to be killed. He didn’t kill those who wished to be killed.
Would he grant such a wish to those who desired death? He simply severed their limbs and threw them somewhere. If they didn’t follow him, the price would be pain.
Kaitel muttered softly, his eyes now filled with a red aura.
His head was dizzy, and he could hardly control the impulses surging within him.
There was something there. But there was something he had to do before he could figure out what it was.
Since when had he desired to become Emperor? He didn’t know, but it felt right to kill the Emperor now.
He was simply acting on that impulse. Without any reason, simply following the commands of something deep within him.
Kaitel’s unfocused eyes scanned the burning imperial palace. The place he had watched since childhood now looked horrific.
The people lying around him, they were all corpses he had killed.
Among them was his teacher. The one who had taught him academics, the principles of knighthood. Don’t kill the weak.
The Crown Prince always—prioritizes the nation and its people.
Then where were his people? Emptiness.
Kaitel stopped abruptly at the sudden emotion. He was right in front of the door to his father’s chambers.
“…I…”
What was he doing? As his fading reason returned and he looked around in confusion, something in his mind whispered.
Of course, he didn’t hear it. Because those were the last words Kaitel could utter. In his fading consciousness, it wasn’t Kaitel who rekindled, but another being.
The red glint no longer flickered in his eyes. His golden irises were simply dyed red, naturally settling in as if they had always been that way.
Silence fell as Kaitel, who had closed his eyes, opened them again. A perfect silence, where even the groans of the fallen couldn’t be heard.
He liked this. Kaitel, or rather, the being who was no longer Kaitel, smiled.
The light shining through the automatically opening door bathed Kaitel’s body, and black smoke rose as if burning.
Damn moon, Kaitel muttered, shielding the light with his hand as he walked forward.
Beyond the door, the Emperor, his father, sat on the throne.
No, he wasn’t his father anymore. He was just a creature created by the Goddess.
Kaitel, brushing off his body, which no longer burned in the light, looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor was calm, as if he had known this would happen. The retainers around him were all dead.
“Hmm… as expected of you, astute. Did you know all this would happen?”
“Since when have you been pretending to be my son?”
“Pretending? You’ve noticed something strange? I’m more pleased than I thought. Then you must have also known that you were being played.”
The Emperor didn’t answer, but his clouded eyes held regret. Kaitel, seeming to realize something from that emotion, cackled.
He had realized it too late. It was all too late now, but perhaps he had resisted to some extent because he was of the Goddess’s bloodline.
“Kaitel—no, the being impersonating Kaitel. Just who are you?!”
“I thought you had a vague idea, but I suppose it’s easier to deny it.”
It wasn’t even interesting, the typical reaction of those who followed the moon. Kaitel, dragging his sword along the floor, slowly approached the Emperor.
Until he reached the foot of the throne and stepped onto the stairs, the Emperor stared at Kaitel with wide eyes.
Finally reaching him, Kaitel looked at the Emperor, chuckled, and ran his hand over the Emperor’s heart.
He could feel the faint remnants of Kaitel’s consciousness. Well, it wasn’t his concern. He couldn’t contain the joy he felt from this.
Destruction was his instinct. Kaitel, exhaling a turbid breath, followed his inherent instinct as naturally as a human breathed.
He was getting tired of the Emperor, who still hadn’t said anything.
“If you’re not going to answer…”
Slice-
Kaitel casually kicked the cleanly severed head and roughly pushed the cooling body.
The body tumbled down the stairs with a thud, and a new owner stepped towards the empty throne.
How many times had he properly sat here? He no longer felt anything. But this time was a little different.
It was the time when all the ‘conditions’ were finally met.
“The fact that the timeline hasn’t collapsed yet means he’s still barely alive. Or the Goddess has pulled some strings.”
It was the only possibility of his death, but conversely, it meant that everything would be over when he personally dealt with it.
Kaitel, not hiding his red eyes, glared into the void. Or rather, the Four Dragons glared into the void.
“I’ll be waiting.”
Robert Taylor.
The Four Dragons chuckled lowly.
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