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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Schlus Hainkel.
He had never met someone so brazen.
It was as if his entire being screamed, ‘I’m suspicious, aren’t I? Guess who’s behind me?’
He didn’t even bother to feign trustworthiness.
Despite possessing such power, he refused to accept any official position.
He was openly declaring, ‘I have no intention of being tied down to the Empire,’ or perhaps even, ‘I have no intention of being loyal to the Empire.’
“I will go and quell the rebellion myself.”
That single, resolute statement from Schlus Hainkel had caught the Emperor off guard.
It was preposterous.
Nothing more than the barking of a naive child who had never experienced war, let alone waged one.
Did he think there was a difference between war and what they called rebellion?
In the end, it was all the same – killing and dying for one’s own ideology, one’s own purpose.
Gustav had to struggle to contain his laughter at Schlus’s naive view of war.
“Didn’t the suppression force recently suffer a major defeat?”
The moment those words left Schlus’s determined lips, everything changed.
The naive boy’s barking no longer sounded so absurd.
The suppression force’s defeat.
Gustav had received that news at 10:00 am.
Just an hour ago.
Except for the Falcon Express, only the Imperial Palace had priority access to the nationwide light-speed communication magic, which was even faster.
In other words, no one besides those in the south could have possibly received news from the south faster than the Emperor of the Freya Empire.
But Schlus knew.
Or rather, he had deduced it.
Knowing and deducing.
There wasn’t much difference between the two.
If the basis of deduction was sound, then the conclusion was inevitable.
In either case, it was clear that Schlus Hainkel possessed intelligence capabilities on par with the Imperial Family’s.
Or perhaps he possessed… comparable insight.
“I will go. I will at least cut off the Great Forest’s support, and if possible, I will bring you Lorraine’s head.”
Gustav wondered if Schlus even understood what he was saying.
The Great Forest’s support… It was something anyone with a basic understanding of the continent’s political landscape could speculate on.
But certainty was a different matter.
What madman would so boldly declare something unconfirmed before the Emperor?
It meant Schlus Hainkel had a source.
It confirmed that he had access to intelligence that rivaled even the Imperial Family’s, at least regarding the south.
And then Schlus uttered something even more outrageous.
He was going to single-handedly invade the south, rally the defeated remnants of the suppression force, and wage war.
Not just maintain the illusion of military might, but to turn the tide of war.
At this point, it was beyond belief.
It was simply absurd.
His words were beyond unreasonable.
“Are you suggesting you take command of the suppression force?”
“That is not my intention. The position of Commander-in-Chief should be filled by someone deserving. Whoever it may be, I will follow their command.”
And on top of that, he wasn’t even asking for the position of Commander-in-Chief?
Gustav wondered if Schlus was just spouting whatever came to mind.
But Schlus Hainkel’s gaze was ice-cold.
Those empty, vacant pupils stared unwaveringly at Emperor Gustav.
There was no point in hiding it anymore.
What good would it do to hide anything from this madman with his perfect intelligence?
There was no need to hide the fact that the suppression force had been lured into a decisive battle and suffered a crushing defeat, losing seventy percent of their forces.
Schlus probably already knew anyway.
As expected, the boy showed no surprise.
He had to admit it now, the boy’s absurd bluff.
If it was a lie, he could always imprison him.
And if it was true… the Empire would quell the rebellion at no cost.
“Very well. Schlus Hainkel, you have my permission to depart. I, Gustav Friedrich von Freya, Emperor of the Freya Imperial Federation, by the authority vested in me by Aegis, do hereby grant you the temporary title of knight to aid in your efforts. You may relinquish the title upon your return, should you survive.”
“Your Majesty, the title…”
“I know. It is a temporary title. It comes with no land or authority. It will merely assist you in commanding the soldiers in the south. You may return it when you return alive.”
“Understood. I am eternally grateful, Your Majesty.”
“Enough with the gratitude… Your sword. Hand it over. Ugh… Heavy. Rise.”
“Yes.”
“Let us proceed with a simple knighting ceremony, befitting your temporary status.”
No land, no authority.
A knighthood with no strings attached.
A fitting ceremony for the untrustworthy Schlus Hainkel.
“By the authority vested in me by Aegis, I, Gustav Friedrich von Freya, Emperor of the Freya Imperial Federation, do hereby command that you, Schlus Hainkel, swear your allegiance to the Emperor of the Freya Imperial Federation, the Overlord of the Continent, as a knight of the Imperial Court.”
He demanded a common oath of allegiance.
But Schlus Hainkel’s response was far beyond what the Emperor had anticipated.
Far beyond.
It surpassed even his wildest imagination.
“To face death and fear with unwavering resolve, to rage against injustice, and to uphold what is right and just…”
“…!”
Whiiiing…
Schlus Hainkel rose from his kneeling position.
That he would stand before the Emperor while reciting his oath wasn’t surprising.
Neither was his choice of words, a cliché fit for a children’s story.
The problem was what emerged from his right hand.
‘That… that’s…!’
A magic sword.
A wicked sword said to dwell deep within a person’s arm, summoned by drawing upon mana when needed.
Slowly emerging from his palm and taking the form of a sword as he made a fist…
It was exactly as described in the ancient palace records.
Except the blade wasn’t crimson.
It was azure.
“I, Schlus Hainkel, do hereby swear to be the sword of His Imperial Majesty, before Aegis.”
Gustav didn’t even register the last part of his oath.
His gaze was fixed on the ascending blade, his pupils trembling.
The guards, initially startled by the burst of light, froze in place.
The legendary blade.
The magic sword.
It was right there.
In Schlus Hainkel’s right hand.
And it was pointed a hair’s breadth away from Gustav’s throat.
A flick of Schlus’s wrist was all it would take to end the Emperor’s life.
But he stood there, the radiant blade unwavering.
No further embellishment was necessary.
At that moment, Emperor Gustav Friedrich von Freya placed his complete trust in Schlus Hainkel.
How could he not, when the boy stood before him, a legendary blade pointed at his throat, a symbol of absolute loyalty?
“For the Empire.”
“For the Continent.”
The final words of the oath echoed softly.
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To be honest, I was a little taken aback.
When the Emperor touched his own blade to Vafe, then pulled it away even though the tip of my blade was pointed at his throat, just a little pressure away from ending his life.
The Emperor chose to meet my blade with his own and then he uttered the final words of his oath before Aegis.
It was a declaration of trust.
‘It worked.’
It might not be permanent, but I had successfully earned the Emperor’s trust, at least for now.
If my seemingly impossible promise to quell the rebellion came true… even better.
Feeling somewhat accomplished, I left the audience chamber.
“Schlus…”
As everything went according to plan, someone completely shattered my expectations.
Emilia stood there, tears streaming down her face as she stared at me.
“Are you going? To the battlefield?”
“Ah…”
“You said you wouldn’t… You liar…”
“The situation has changed.”
“Take me with you… Me too…”
Emilia rushed into my arms, burying her face in my chest.
I froze, unable to move.
“You’re terrible at cooking! You won’t eat properly without me… So take me with you. I’m coming even if you say no… Please, just take me with you.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why! Why…! Why not me! You’ll take others, won’t you? Right?”
“…”
“So why can’t I be one of them!”
“If you die… Too many tears would be shed for you. That’s why I can’t.”
I had no choice but to make excuses.
If Emilia died, it was game over.
If Hertlocker’s final shackle was released, it would be the end of the world.
Therefore, I had no choice but to leave her behind, regardless of her wishes.
“That’s ridiculous… Do you think I’ll believe such an excuse? If you die… If you die, do you have any idea how many tears would be shed?!”
“…”
Tears streamed down Emilia’s face.
It was beyond method acting.
It was… something else entirely.
“Don’t go… Please don’t go… Please…”
“I have to. I’m sorry, Emilia.”
“You jerk… You asshole…”
“I’ll take your handkerchief instead.”
“…?”
I pulled out the white cloth, or what looked like cloth, from Emilia’s pocket.
Her handkerchief, woven entirely from her mana, the one I had used to find her.
“Before the trace of your mana fades… I promise to return before then. Dead or alive.”
“Don’t you dare come back dead…”
“What do you take me for?”
“An idiot. A fool. A clueless bastard.”
“…”
I couldn’t even deny it.
Because it was all true.
“The moment the handkerchief’s magic fades… I won’t forgive you. Got it?”
“I understand.”
“Don’t give me that half-hearted response…”
“I understand, Emilia. I’ll return safely. I swear to Aegis.”
“You better… You better…”
I wiped Emilia’s eyes with the white handkerchief adorned with a pink ribbon.
Transparent teardrops soaked the handkerchief, its magical energy gradually replenishing.
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[WAR ARC BABBY LETS FUCKING GOOOOO!!!! also emilia best girl…]
EMILIAAAA
EMILIA MY LOVE
Lovers
who’s rem?
Noice