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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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The First Prince of Schwarze gritted his teeth.
His position hadn’t greatly diminished.
However, there was clearly a significant change.
Of course, it was not in his favor.
‘Damn that 3rd Seat vampire bastard…!’
He went out on his own when told not to, and then went and died.
Thanks to that, 4 out of the Empire’s 10 Seats, who made up a large part of the Empire’s military power, had died at the hands of the Warrior Yuma.
“You’re late. Be more careful in the future.”
At the First Prince’s words, Marquis Kairos slowly nodded his head.
“You’ve arrived, Your Highness the First Prince.”
A round table.
The people surrounding that table.
They were all nobles at the center of power in the Astes Empire.
Five of the highest-ranking nobles.
Among them was Count Venosetian, the only noble who had met Yuma and the owner of the magic train
Opposite the blonde Imperial Prince, the First Prince Schwarze, was a woman with long white hair and blue eyes.
It was the First Princess Brigitte von Astes.
“Today, we’ve arranged this meeting to discuss the man called Yuma, to whom Her Highness the First Princess Brigitte has granted proxy status.”
Brigitte tilted her head.
“I don’t understand what kind of discussion you intend to have.”
Prince Schwarze frowned deeply at Brigitte’s brazen attitude.
“This meeting is to decide on the treatment of your appointed proxy, that man. It’s to question the crime of killing 4 of the Empire’s 10 Seats, who were great resources of the Empire.”
As soon as Schwarze finished speaking, the sound of Count Cedric swallowing his saliva quietly echoed.
A meeting gathered for Yuma’s punishment.
The more they recited the background for this punishment, the more such doubts arose.
A man who single-handedly ended the lives of 4 out of the Empire’s 10 Seats.
Even if they decided on a punishment for such a man, would they be able to carry it out as decided?
It was an awkward situation to even give orders to the 1st and 2nd Seats, who had the most outstanding military power.
If things went wrong, they might lose them too.
Brigitte stared at Schwarze with emotionless eyes.
Then, scanning the nobles sitting on both sides, she opened her mouth again.
Her low, beautiful voice settled over the round table.
“My proxy, Yuma, has never once attacked the deceased members of the Empire’s 10 Seats first.”
Brigitte continued.
“Those of you who sent people to the front of my castle on the second day would know.”
At those words, the eyes of the two nobles who had sent people to the front of the princess’s castle, Count Venosetian and Marquis Kairos, widened.
That’s right.
The Warrior Yuma had never… ‘attacked first’!
Not even once!
“The same goes for the most recently deceased 3rd Seat Kailon. My proxy Yuma was in Count Rubelt’s territory to carry out a task I had given him. It was clearly Kailon himself who traveled directly to Count Rubelt’s territory to kill my proxy.”
Schwarze’s brow furrowed deeply.
Brigitte continued speaking.
“He only used force to protect himself and my personal request. I can’t tell you what that request was, as it’s a matter between Brother Schwarze and me. But what’s clear is that the current situation where half of the Empire’s 10 Seats have been lost wasn’t caused by me.”
Brigitte’s blue eyes finally turned towards the First Prince Schwarze.
“It was you. Brother Schwarze.”
Schwarze raised his tightly clenched right fist high.
And brought it down.
Kwaaang!!
Turmoil arose at the round table.
Schwarze shouted with veins popping on his neck.
“This is ridiculous sophistry! Brigitte! That sword you possess, Yuma! It’s you who caused damage to the Empire’s military power by wielding that sword incorrectly!”
Brigitte slowly nodded her head.
“Your words are correct, Brother. Yuma is my sword. And the Empire’s Ten Seats, except for the 1st and 2nd Seats, are Brother Schwarze’s swords.”
Brigitte’s words fell.
“My sword was simply stronger. Brother. Next time, take better care of your swords.”
“You, you…!”
Ignoring Schwarze’s groans, Brigitte slowly rose from her seat.
Taking her eyes off Schwarze, Brigitte scanned the five nobles.
“I have no intention of giving up the Imperial throne.”
The nobles felt overwhelmed by Brigitte’s gaze.
“So make a wise choice.”
Brigitte opened the door of the conference room.
No one could think that Brigitte’s behavior was arrogant.
The overwhelmingly dominant position of First Prince Schwarze began to slowly shake.
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Step
Yuma stood again in front of Count Rubelt’s castle.
On both sides of Yuma were people wearing gray robes.
Clone and Hestia.
And the eldest son of the count’s family, Kaisen, and the count’s daughter Luine.
Lastly, the missing children who would serve as witnesses.
Because they were wearing their robes pulled down low, no one had yet recognized their identities.
Soldiers were gathered in front of the castle gate.
Clank─ Rattle─
The cold weapons in the hands of the soldiers and knights sharpened their blades.
The number of people holding weapons seemed to be at least 50.
As Yuma’s group of six moved forward, about 50 troops surrounded them.
Hestia and Clone tried calmly to take their positions.
And the two people wearing deeply pulled-down robes next to Yuma hesitated in fear.
A tense situation.
Yuma, standing at the front of the group, was just facing off with them for now.
Because one knight behind them was approaching, exuding a fierce aura from his entire body.
“I am Heiman, the captain of Count Rubelt’s knights.”
Yuma stared intently at the being who had started speaking.
“It’s Count Rubelt’s order. An order has been given not to let any of you into the count’s castle. It’s an urgent matter inside the count’s castle. So whether you’re the princess’s proxy or whoever you are-”
The stern gaze of the blonde middle-aged knight, Heiman, stared at Yuma.
Why were they blocking entry immediately, unlike yesterday?
The prison was swept away last night.
And today is just the morning of the next day.
It was difficult to believe they had fully realized the prison incident and taken such countermeasures.
Yuma could easily predict the reason.
‘That gatekeeper who died yesterday.’
Morton.
There was clearly dragon’s blood in his body.
‘Even if they don’t know the exact situation of what happened to the prison, there’s a high chance they noticed his death. Are they trying to completely block unnecessary variables?’
Dragons were able to receive life signals from beings they had bestowed their blood upon.
They felt Morton’s death last night.
So they put out troops this strongly.
Because something clearly went wrong at the prison.
Yuma didn’t have any particular thoughts.
He just decided to carry out what he had planned last night.
Yuma slowly opened his mouth.
“Conveniently, the count’s soldiers are gathered here. I have something to tell you.”
It was chilling.
Scanning the soldiers and knights surrounding Yuma’s group in a circle, he continued speaking.
“I say this, staking my position as the princess’s proxy.”
Despite the spears and swords emanating the smell of fishy steel rising from all directions.
He continued speaking leisurely.
“The current count, Count Rubelt, has committed a crime.”
He dared to declare that the master of this land was a criminal.
Yuma’s right hand carefully removed the robe of the boy standing to his left.
A fresh-faced boy with brown hair appeared.
“This boy is a child named Yoren who went missing in the count’s territory a week ago. I found him in an unidentified prison located in the Yuto Forest to the right of
“This boy is a child named Yoren who went missing in the count’s territory a week ago. I found him in an unidentified prison located in the Yuto Forest to the right of the count’s territory. And the ones standing guard at that prison were clearly soldiers of the count’s territory.”
Then the girl next to the boy also took off her robe.
The girl slowly opened her dry lips.
“I’m Hallen… I didn’t commit any crime. I was born poor and lived alone taking care of my sick mother, but I never stole even a single piece of bread.”
A faint resentment could be felt in the girl’s cracked voice.
“But suddenly, several people broke into my house, kidnapped me, covered my face with something like a leather pouch… and took me somewhere. That place is the prison in the Yuto Forest that Her Highness’s proxy mentioned.”
Of the 26 people rescued from the prison, only these two were brought here.
The rest were being protected in a safe mansion by Knight Murphy and the count’s youngest daughter, Luine.
Yuma had said he needed people to testify in front of the count.
And these two, the boy and girl, had volunteered.
The soldiers began to murmur after hearing Hallen’s words.
Among them, there seemed to be a soldier who knew Hallen, as one inadvertently shouted Hallen’s name loudly.
Ku-woong!
Someone stomped the ground hard with steel combat boots.
It was the knight captain, Heiman.
“It’s all nonsense. This is the land of Count Rubelt. In this land, the count cannot be a criminal.”
Heiman’s eyes glared at Hallen.
“You said your name was Hallen? If you were taken to prison by the hands of the count’s soldiers, you clearly have a crime. Don’t deceive yourself.”
Hallen’s short black hair shook violently.
“My… crime. I do have a crime.”
Red bloodshot lines were visible in her black eyes.
“Before coming here. I was barely able to get back to my house. And I saw my mother who had already stopped breathing. My mother with a clear knife wound on her abdomen. My dead mother. That’s my crime. Not being able to protect my mother.”
Heiman’s brow furrowed deeply.
“…There’s no value in listening any further.”
Swish!
Heiman drew his sword.
Blue flames rose from the sword.
“Get down, if you continue to spout nonsense, I will cut you down. Everyone, raise your weapons.”
Right after Heiman’s words ended.
Rustle….
Another person next to Yuma took off their robe.
“Knight Captain Heiman, this girl’s words are not lies.”
Silence fell.
The eyes of all the soldiers and knights widened in surprise.
The same was true for the knight captain.
“…Young Master Kaisen.”
Kaisen, who revealed his identity, continued speaking.
“I was also imprisoned in the same prison where this boy and girl were confined. And I too have committed no crime.”
The eldest son of the count’s family.
The blonde boy, Kaisen, carefully scanned the count’s knights and soldiers.
“I dare to question my father, Count Rubelt, for the crime of disturbing the count’s territory.”
Silence descended.
“Those who are willing to believe in this Kaisen, open the way. Those who will block me, swing your swords at me.”
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