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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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Alexis Imperator Valtaria, the only prince and crown prince of the Valtarian Empire, had left to study abroad in the Holy Kingdom while attending the Imperial Academy because it was his wish.
He was the prince of the empire and a devout believer of the Earth Mother.
The crown prince was so deeply religious that he had casually mentioned privately that if he hadn’t been born as the crown prince, he would have liked to become a priest of the Holy Kingdom.
At the same time, Alexis was very interested in the Saintess Party.
Hero. Saintess. Sword Saint. Sage. Mercenary King.
He loved the stories of the heroes who had subjugated the Demon King like a child.
He would show such admiration every time he read their heroic tales.
In other words, a “fanboy.”
His fanatical level of curiosity made even his father and sisters sigh.
There was even a rumor that he suddenly left to study abroad in the Holy Kingdom while attending the prestigious Imperial Academy, which had produced the Saintess Party, to imitate their actions.
This was because Beatrice, who had awakened the holiness of the Earth Mother, had taken a leave of absence from the academy in response to the Holy King’s call and became the Second Saintess of the Holy Kingdom.
“Your Highness, it’s time to board now.”
“Understood.”
The knight commander escorting the crown prince bowed his head and announced.
At that, Alexis stood up.
“Have my sisters all arrived in the imperial city?”
“Yes, they should have.”
“It’s my first return home in half a year. Ah! I need to prepare souvenirs for my sisters!”
“I have prepared everything. Don’t worry.”
I wonder how my sisters are doing,
Alexis lifted his trunk with excitement while imagining.
“Where could the missing Saintess Party have gone? Perhaps they’re fighting the forces behind the Demon King…”
“……”
The forces behind the king who had ruled the demons… Does that mean the Demon King was someone’s puppet?
What nonsense.
It was the kind of delusion a boy who liked to create crisis theories would come up with.
But it was perfect for alleviating boredom.
It would take about six more days to reach the imperial city of the Valtarian Empire.
The knight commander signaled to a staff member waiting behind to bring drinks.
“Lord Malbert, I heard there’s a member of the Saintess Party whose identity hasn’t been revealed to the public!”
“Are you perhaps referring to… the Warmonger?”
“Ah, you knew about it?!”
“I participated in the Racial War, after all.”
Knight Commander Malbert, who was in charge of escorting the crown prince, was one of the key figures who had led the imperial forces to support the Saintess Party.
Therefore, he knew several confidential matters that were unknown to the public.
The Warmonger.
The sixth member of the Saintess Party.
How could he forget the man who had ravaged the battlefield, spewing out a fierce barrage of bullets?
Even though three years had passed, he still remembered the thunderous gunshots that had reverberated.
Alexis perked up at Malbert’s response.
It was a habit the crown prince showed whenever his chronic curiosity was triggered.
“The first time I encountered the Warmonger was… probably during the siege of Raigir.”
“The siege of Raigir? That’s when the Saintess Party brought down the impregnable fortress defended by the Demon King’s army’s main force! It was the turning point when the Holy Kingdom, which had been facing consecutive setbacks, finally gained the upper hand!”
What are you, an encyclopedia?
Without hesitation, Malbert broke out in a cold sweat at Alexis’s fluent response.
“The one who completely destroyed the impregnable fortress that hadn’t fallen despite numerous fierce attacks was the Warmonger. He razed the fortress along with its walls.”
“Ooh!”
The siege of Raigir was the battle where the Holy Kingdom, which had been consecutively pushed back by the Demon King’s army, gained the upper hand.
However, strangely, despite it being such a crucial battle, few documents recorded it in detail.
Only the outcome was briefly recorded.
Only a short victory report stated that the fortress had fallen due to the Saintess Party’s efforts.
Why was that?
As if there had been a need to urgently hide the truth.
It was a historic battle where the noble believers of the Earth Mother had eradicated an evil force.
Naturally, it should have been recorded in detail and passed down to future generations.
Feeling suspicious, Alexis pouted his lips.
‘Did I bring this up unnecessarily… He’s going to keep asking questions incessantly for the six days until we reach the imperial city.’
Malbert’s uneasy prediction hit the mark accurately.
This was because, for six whole days, he faced a barrage of questions from the crown prince at the level of a parliamentary hearing.
“Lord Malbert! Lord Malbert!”
“……”
The knight commander realized.
What consequences could result from stimulating a fanboy’s interest?
He let out a heavy sigh.
Gradually, the crown prince’s graceful appearance began to seem like a noisy parrot.
“Y-Your Highness…! I think we need to stop at the next platform.”
When the train that had departed from the Holy Kingdom had already passed through the border of the Valtarian Empire and well beyond the Hohenberc Marquis Territory,
The train driver spoke in a voice filled with evident bewilderment.
“What on earth is happening, driver?”
They had passed the Hohenberc Marquis Territory, but it would still take five more days to reach the imperial city.
So why stop?
What reason could there be to halt a train advancing like an unstoppable force?
Malbert looked at the driver with questioning eyes.
At that, the driver explained the order that had just arrived on the train.
“It seems an unidentified group has cut off the monorail. I heard that Her Highness Ludmilla, who was traveling by train, has also been held up because of this.”
“It’s treason against the imperial family…!”
Nothing had been confirmed yet.
However, it was clearly an act of rebellion against the Valtarian Imperial Family.
They had cut off the monorail of the train carrying the crown prince and imperial princess.
It could only be seen as an attempt to assassinate members of the imperial family.
“Her Highness Ludmilla is waiting at the next platform.”
“My sister, you say?”
Alexis, who had been wearing a tense expression, brightened up at the driver’s words.
Despite an unidentified group launching an attack, the crown prince showed genuine joy at the prospect of reuniting with his sister.
My sister is waiting.
He fidgeted, eagerly waiting for the train to arrive at the platform.
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There was a high possibility it was an internal affair of the empire.
Finally, after pondering for a while, Ludmilla opened her mouth.
“It might be an internal rebel force hostile to the Valtarian Imperial Family.”
“…A rebel force, you say?”
The status of the Valtarian Empire, which had reigned as the hegemon of the continent, was at an unparalleled pinnacle.
This was thanks to its development through consecutive conquests and internal reforms.
But change always requires sacrifice.
The current emperor, Barbarossa, was considered a wise and bold ruler.
Still, in his younger days, he was famous for carrying out numerous purges.
This was because he had continuously eliminated dissidents under the pretext of reform.
“They don’t have the guts to stage a rebellion, so they’ve resorted to sabotage. Judging by the clumsy plot, it’s clearly the work of amateurs.”
Although I hate to admit it, the cult forces were unrivaled professionals when it came to sabotage.
It takes one to know one.
Looking at the sloppy way they had cut off the monorail, there was no doubt.
A soldier patrolling the area had reportedly discovered a bomb installed on the monorail.
And when they were detected in advance, the culprits planning the sabotage must have lit the fuse.
It was a mess from start to finish, an amateurish malice.
“Your Highness Ludmilla, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”
“Is that true?”
A knight rushed from the platform while Ludmilla was searching the monorail.
The crown prince had arrived.
It must surely be referring to Alexis.
It seems he’s returned from the Holy Kingdom. I heard he was majoring in theology at the academy.
“Sister!”
“I’m glad to see you look healthy, Alex.”
A beautiful young man with messy curly hair appeared, smiling brightly.
There was no trace of resemblance to the emperor in the gentle appearance of the boy filled with warmth.
The miracle of genetics is genuinely remarkable.
To think such a gentle son was born from the rough-tempered mustachioed emperor.
Hmm.
Does that mean Ludmilla and Elizaveta are the only offspring directly inherited his violent nature?
“I received the news. I heard an unidentified group cut off the monorail?”
“That’s why I was investigating with Young Master Edanant.”
The crown prince’s gaze, savoring the joy of reunion, turned towards me.
At that, I bowed and opened my mouth.
“I am Edanant von Hohenberc, the second son of the Hohenberc family.”
“A holy sword wielder…! I-Isn’t that right?! And I heard you’re the younger brother of the hero Maximilian!”
“That’s correct.”
“Wow!!”
The blonde young man jumped up and down, sending an admiring gaze.
What’s with him?
It’s like he’s welcoming some idol.
Even though I’ve become famous, this excessive reaction is troublesome.
I sent a glance to Ludmilla, hoping she would restrain him.
But Ludmilla just burst into laughter and let her excited younger brother be.
“You must have seen the Saintess Party in person, of course!”
“Yes, they visited the Hohenberc family several times.”
“Wow! I’m so envious! To have faced the heroes of the era who subjugated the Demon King in person…!”
“……”
I had encountered many people who admired the Saintess Party before.
Still, Crown Prince Alexis boasted a level close to madness.
Is there really anything to envy?
What’s the big deal about hosting some freeloaders who invaded our family?
“Th-The holy sword…! Is that weapon you’re armed with now the holy sword?!”
“It’s Aldebaran of the Yellow Star.”
“Aldebaran! One of the Four Star Swords of Demon Extermination symbolizing the hero of the Holy Kingdom…! It’s my first time seeing it in person!”
“Is that so?”
Alexis swallowed dry saliva.
The crown prince’s blue eyes were overflowing with intense interest and admiration.
Is he a fervent fan of the Saintess Party?
What a low-grade taste, to the point where I can’t help but feel sorry for him.
“Here it is.”
I unfastened my belt and handed over Aldebaran along with its scabbard.
Alexis trembled all over at that, not knowing what to do with himself.
“Th-The hero must have surely wielded Aldebaran, right?”
“Of course he would have.”
At my answer, Alexis’ reaction became even more intense.
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Dear god