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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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Emperor Agareth, who had caused a quiet storm with his announcement of imperial succession, continued speaking.
He had to broach a subject that gave him a headache just thinking about it.
“…So, the demon army is invading, you say?”
Marquis Kairos had relayed everything that the god Incrinew had said.
Brigitte slowly nodded her head.
“Yes, Incrinew mentioned something called the ‘Apocalypse’ when he said that.”
A chapter that sees the future.
Judging from Incrinew’s words, the ‘Apocalypse’ seems to be like a book of prophecies.
“Is it certain that the actual oracles, ‘The Blue-Haired Sword Saint’ and ‘The Witch’s Daughter Who Fell into the Hell of Black Plague,’ possess talents that could change the course of this empire?”
Their coming together was, in the end, half due to Incrinew’s entertainment.
Although it was for his amusement, it was clear that their talents were exceptionally outstanding.
Enough to be specifically mentioned in the ‘Apocalypse’.
“That I can affirm with certainty.”
Yuma looked straight into Agareth’ eyes as he spoke.
“Their talents are indeed heaven-sent. The Blue Sword Saint has already reached the level of Sword Master at the age of twenty. The magician is also growing rapidly.”
Agareth decided to believe Yuma’s words.
After all, he was the one who had saved the empire from crisis several times in just two months.
“I’ll trust the eyes of the God of War. Well then, if that’s the case… it means there’s a high probability that the demon army’s invasion of the continent, which was also said to be written in the Apocalypse, is true…”
As Agareth said this, his eyes slowly closed.
Marquis Kairos, Schwarze, and Brigitte simultaneously rushed to Agareth.
“Are you alright─! Your Majesty!!”
Kairos, his brown hair now streaked with white, fluttered as he grasped the Emperor’s shoulders.
“Let go… I think it would be better if I closed my eyes again.”
The Emperor, who had opened his eyes after eight long months, concluded that it would be better to close them again…!
Huuu.
The Emperor let out a sigh deep enough to extinguish the world, then opened his eyes again.
“The demon army.”
At the edge of his vision was Brigitte, the First Princess, who had been decided as the next Emperor.
“Can you stop them?”
Brigitte firmly grasped her father’s trembling hand.
“We will stop them. No matter what, that’s my responsibility now.”
It’s good that she’s not showing weakness.
Yuma thought this as he stood up. There must be more to discuss between blood relatives.
Yuma opened the door and stepped outside.
‘I should have come to check on Emperor Agareth directly.’
[Search Eye].
If he had used Search Eye to look at Emperor Agareth, he might have noticed the existence of ‘God Incrinew’ earlier.
However, he soon shook his head.
‘It’s a meaningless assumption.’
After all, when he first met Brigitte, he didn’t properly know what he could see with Search Eye.
And Brigitte had mentioned something before.
When the Emperor lost consciousness only those who had made a [Blood Oath] could guard the quarters.
Those who had sworn an oath that they would die if the Emperor was assassinated.
The rest were not even allowed to enter the quarters.
In other words, even if he clearly knew what [Search Eye] could see later on, it would have been impossible to meet the Emperor face to face.
Creak
After waiting for about 30 minutes, the door opened.
Thump─
“Hey.”
Yuma looked at the person who lightly tapped his shoulder.
Brigitte stared intently at Yuma’s face.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I think I was able to convince Father quite easily.”
“So the coronation ceremony is as scheduled?”
“Yes, it’s in 20 days. Father has approved it.”
Night was beginning to fall.
The sunset could be seen in the distance.
Yuma and Brigitte descended from the Imperial Palace. Michael, Brigitte’s personal guard knight who had been waiting for them below, moved with precision.
The Emperor’s land was filled with numerous nobles and envoys sent by high-ranking nobles.
Most of the high-ranking nobles now knew that the Emperor had awakened.
However, the nobles who could have an audience with the Emperor were still limited, so everyone was just pacing around below.
A week.
It would take about a week before the nobles could face the Emperor.
When they reached an area without people after descending from the Imperial Palace.
“Cough─!”
Yuma couldn’t hold back the rising blood.
Red blood flowed out.
Brigitte’s steps came to an abrupt halt.
“Yu…ma?”
Her blue eyes widened.
Her face turned pale in an instant.
Her heart beat heavily.
As much as when she heard that her father had regained consciousness.
Michael knew exactly what action he should take.
He widely spread the red cloak hanging from his epaulette, covering Yuma’s front and sides on three sides.
“Please compose yourself.”
Michael’s words were respectful.
He had to treat Yuma differently now, unlike right after Yuma had defeated Keingal, the 7th of the Ten Seats.
He was the Supreme commander who had led the war against the barbarian nation of Pineon to victory.
And Yuma, who had been confirmed as a Grand Duke as Brigitte was decided as the heir to the throne.
Swish…
Yuma wiped the blood from his mouth with a handkerchief.
Then he gently stroked the cheek of Brigitte, who looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.
“Don’t worry, it’s just a temporary reaction to that incident. I’ll be fine in a month.”
That incident.
Brigitte immediately understood what Yuma meant.
He must be referring to the encounter with God Incrinew.
The corners of Brigitte’s lips were trembling.
It was a reaction stemming from fear.
The fear of losing something precious.
“…A month?”
“Yes.”
Brigitte’s voice continued to shake.
Yuma.
The man who had become her sword.
And the man who had trusted and followed her until now.
A being she couldn’t have as a subordinate.
So she had started treating him as a friend.
Brigitte always carried a slight uneasiness.
That this blessing-like person called Yuma.
Wouldn’t he disappear like an illusion someday?
Wouldn’t he vanish, saying what delusion did I have, what vain hope did I harbor?
And that worry disappeared after the conversation she had with him in front of the oracle.
– Ask, Brigitte. What do you want to do?
Yuma had asked like that.
– Both. I don’t want the two who came for me to die. If it was just me dying, that would be different.
She had answered like this.
The look in Yuma’s eyes after that question and answer was infinitely warm.
Even in his cool navy blue eyes, that warmth was visible.
Brigitte was able to feel reassured by that gaze.
At last, I’ve gained Yuma’s approval.
She was able to be certain of that.
A low voice whispered in Brigitte’s ear.
“Trust me, I’ve never lied to you, have I?”
Brigitte managed to nod her head, which was not easily lowered.
“That’s right, you’ve never lied… Yuma.”
She couldn’t completely erase her anxiety.
The amount of blood Yuma had coughed up was by no means insignificant, and its color was murky, making it impossible to dismiss her unease with just Yuma’s words.
Was Yuma just saying this to reassure her?
In that fleeting moment, she doubted dozens of times.
But Brigitte decided to try her best to believe Yuma’s words nonetheless.
Because she didn’t want to make Yuma feel perplexed.
“I’ll believe those words, Yuma.”
Yuma stroked Brigitte’s right cheek once more.
The trembling of Brigitte’s shoulders, which had been shaking, slowly subsided.
Yuma noticed this change in her body, which Brigitte herself was unaware of.
Yuma slowly nodded.
“…Yes, believe. We can start again if you’d like. Michael.”
“Understood, Lord Yuma.”
Rustle….
Michael gathered up the cloak he had spread out.
Thump thump
The party started walking again.
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“Hueek!”
In the vast empty space behind the First Princess’s palace.
The feline swordswoman pricked up her burgundy ears, sharpening her senses.
It was because Cloney’s magic was flying towards her.
It was an ice arrow made of high-density ice.
As Hestia let out a scream that nearly took her breath away, Cloney burst into laughter.
“You’re overreacting while dodging well, sister.”
Hestia puffed out her cheeks and pouted her lips.
“Hey, it is scary! Your magic is so fast.”
Cloney thought that look was quite cute.
Hestia firmly planted her right foot on the ground and slowly rotated her leg to the right, centering on her knee.
It was the process of loosening up her leg.
‘…Bell would have dodged more easily.’
Talent.
Somehow, she knew how to use his body more efficiently than herself, a feline clan member.
No, beyond efficiency.
More than that.
She had never once been dissatisfied with her own movements since birth.
If you only consider physical conditions, her body as a feline race member was far superior.
Flexibility. Elasticity.
However, Bell’s talent is not just about physical ability.
Extreme efficiency.
Bell moved much less than her and avoided much more.
Hestia knew her own limitations.
‘I can never win with a sword.’
She can’t beat Bell in swordsmanship.
So she needs to prove her usefulness to Yuma in other ways.
Like playing the role of a scout who infiltrates the enemy camp in advance, as she did in the previous battlefield in Pineon.
‘I have to do something.’
She didn’t want to give up on standing by Yuma’s side yet.
Hestia placed her hands on both sides of her waist and said with a confident posture.
“Let’s do it one more time, make it a little faster this time!!”
“Okay, sister.”
Cloney smiled brightly.
Their training continued until nightfall.
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