Chapter 47

The majestic ceiling of the audience chamber rose high above.
The soft light cast by the large chandelier formed a faint sense of tension.

Kerum had already left the audience chamber.
Several hours had passed since Serpens’s group had left.

Many retainers still remained in the audience chamber after the emperor had left his seat.

“Has the Sword Saint…… has Lucas Liberator returned?”

The carefully spoken words cut through the silence.
It was an open fact everyone knew.
Even so, someone needed to point it out.

“That is correct.”

Their gazes gathered in one place.
Marquis Girium Levvels.
He was slowly walking through the audience chamber with a cold gaze.
Anyone could tell that his mood was far from pleasant.

“The problem isn’t only that man. That impudent magician has become an obstacle as well.”

His irritated voice filled the audience chamber.
The retainers each kept their silence.
A few people looked at him with especially arrogant eyes.
They were counts or viscounts.
They were people who had never learned to bow their heads to anyone except the emperor.

“I would like to ask what all of you think.”

The old man, who was close to seventy, stopped walking.
A back that had begun to bend little by little.
However, his bearing alone was as upright as ever.

And there was no one in the audience chamber who tried to oppose that bearing.

“What are you asking?”

Girium glared at each person one by one.

“Everyone, the loyalty we swore was not to the emperor, but to the empire. The reason we followed the emperor was because he had the ability to lead Oratio into becoming a powerful nation.”

The faces of several retainers stiffened.
Girium quickened the pace of his speech.

“But looking at the recent state of affairs, I believe we need to question that ability.”

Someone opened his mouth, asking, “Are you saying we should commit treason?” but Girium cut him off at once.

“Just look at what happened a few hours ago. Lucas Liberator and Lars Musica. I am sure all of you felt that each of those two possesses more influence than the emperor.”

The audience chamber stirred for a moment, then grew quiet again.
They had stood in this audience chamber for years.

Four years ago, the day Lucas stormed out of the audience chamber.
One year ago, the day Lucas came to warn Kerum.
Today, the day Lucas announced his return.
Most of them had personally experienced all three of those days.

In a way, it was only natural that one question would bloom within them.

The emperor had not been able to properly exercise authority over Lucas.
Of course, if they thought about it even a little, it was not something they couldn’t understand.
They also knew through the war just how overwhelming Lucas’s personal strength was.
But right now, they could not think about that part.
It was because they did not want to think about it.

“Of course, the emperor is benevolent and prudent. That is likely why he takes such a cautious attitude toward a figure like Lucas. However, the problem is that his benevolence and prudence are being directed the wrong way at the wrong time.”

Girium paused for a moment and swept his gaze around.
Those who had already aligned themselves with him began subtly drawing people into agreement.
They sent faint smiles toward Girium.

Girium had promised each of them a reward for their support.
At first, they had waved their hands, saying it was dangerous.
But once he raised the reward and added, “I am asking you specially because I trust you,” planting a sense of specialness, the persuasion proceeded easily.
That was how humans were. Everyone had a desire to be recognized and become special.
If one stimulated that desire and filled their pockets a little as well, anyone could be handled easily.

“What is needed now is the establishment of imperial authority. Only when the power of us, the upper class, grows stronger will the empire grow stronger! Only when the empire grows stronger can we resolve troubled times like these!”

Girium’s shout drove in the wedge.
He did not say anything direct.
He did not say a single word like, “Let us depose the emperor! Let us raise a rebellion!”
But his intention was clearly conveyed.

The audience chamber filled with murmuring.
Some were already nodding at Girium’s opinion.
A discussion edging toward rebellion had formed.
Some did voice opposing opinions.
But Girium did not care much.

Eighty percent of the people here.
They were people he had been slowly bringing over to his side for some time.
The remaining twenty percent had no choice but to come over as well.
That was crowd psychology. Once placed in an atmosphere growing hostile with talk of rebellion, it became extremely difficult to voice one’s opposition.
Also, since they were here together, they had already boarded the same boat.
They all must vaguely know that fact.

‘Yes. You will have no choice but to join me.’

The stubborn ones who would not come over had left the audience chamber with Kerum from the very start, when he departed.
Since the emperor was no longer present in a place meant for an audience with the emperor, there would have been no reason for them to remain here.

‘Is it not beautiful?’

Behind him, all sorts of words were being inflated and reshaped.
Hearing those sounds, Girium showed a satisfied smile.
He could be certain.
The seeds of rebellion had all been sown with this.

After the incident in the audience chamber had settled for the time being.
Girium was walking through the palace garden.

It was early evening, when light and darkness coexisted.
He habitually took a walk at this time every day.

‘It happened sooner than expected, but it worked to my advantage instead.’

His steps were relaxed, as if the success of the rebellion had already been foretold.
An unconcealable smile hung around Girium’s mouth as he clasped his hands behind his back.

‘But I will need to prepare for friction as well.’

The marquis’s steps slowed a little more.
His mind began to recall memories of the past.
It was when Lucas first became a knight.
That genius talent was superior even to that of House Levvels, the empire’s greatest swordsmen.
The title “empire’s greatest” had become useless.
It was probably from then.
The time when a black ripple began to form in this old man’s chest.

‘I cannot quite remember how many years ago it was. Time is simply cruel.’

He grew older, and his body weakened.
House Levvels had many outstanding talents.
Whenever the names of skilled knights were brought up, the name Levvels was never left out.
It was common for children of the house to fall into the category of genius spoken of by the world.
Girium was proud of his house for that.

“Yes, everything is for the house.”

In Girium’s life, the only priority was his house.
Now, and even before monsters began to swarm.
He had lived for his house.

Whether it was a war with other races or a war against monsters.
The reason Girium had been loyal to the empire was because he wished for the empire to stand firm for the safety of his house.
That feeling was sincere, and the passion that came from that sincerity achieved dazzling results.
Right beneath the emperor.
Aside from the unreachable seat of emperor, he had climbed to the highest place.
Girium, and the previous heads of House Levvels, had lived satisfied with that position.

But as Girium watched Kerum being swayed by Lucas, a change came to his thoughts.

So even the emperor is not absolute.
If one has power, one can challenge that seat.
There was still a place higher for my house to climb.

That was why Girium resolved to gain power.
He cultivated talent and formed connections.
Fine-sounding words and suitable rewards were perfect for bringing over those people of the imperial court who were mad for material things.
He continued such actions for three years.
Now, more than half of Oratio shared the will of House Levvels.

‘I have no intention of turning back, and I cannot turn back.’

Girium closed his eyes and faced the blowing wind.
The cold winter wind was losing its strength.
A faint warmth lingered at the edge of the wind.

“It seems spring is coming.”

The corners of Girium’s mouth rose faintly.
But they soon lowered again.

The people had gathered.
The emperor could be dealt with.
What remained were Lucas and Lars.
He needed the power to deal with the real monsters.

Girium drew in a deep breath.
Monsters could not be defeated with the power of humans.
Having judged that, he made a dangerous decision.

After steadying himself, he muttered into the air with a solemn expression.

“Are you listening, Lord Sa?”

For an instant, black sparks flew in the air as if responding to his words.
A small gap formed there.
The ominous trace of the air being torn open was visible only to Girium’s eyes.

A metallic, snake-like hiss quietly rang out.
At the same time, snake-like eyes flashed from the dark gap in the air.

“The deal you proposed is almost ready.”

The white-haired old man began speaking with the Akma in the air.

Chkang!

In a field somewhere in the southern part of the Oratio continent, the sharp sound of swords scraping against each other had been ringing out since early dawn.

“Hup!”

Serpens gritted his teeth and moved to cut Lucas.
Lucas stared at the tip of the boy’s sword with indifferent eyes.

Every time Serpens lunged at what he thought was an opening, his blade cut through empty air.
Even when he attacked the spot where he had predicted Lucas would dodge to, it was easily blocked.

Whoosh-

It was not that Serpens had failed to improve.
On the contrary, his sword strikes were surprisingly fast.
The results of his single year of training were truly remarkable.
His pure skill had reached a level comparable to an adult knight.
Of course, his physical ability was lacking to call him Expert level, but it was safe to say he had reached a level just below that.

Even so, Serpens’s sword still could not reach Lucas.
Paradoxically, that was the reason for the boy’s insane growth.

Every daily sparring session was a time for Serpens to feel the wall.
A massive wall he could not overcome.
The massive wall, one that made him laugh hollowly just by looking up at it, blocked even the slightest chance for the boy to become conceited.
But Serpens tried to overcome that wall every single day without fail.
That heart alone did not change, no matter what trial came his way.

Serpens, who had been a blank slate a year ago.
Lucas had taught him many things.
The basic stances of swordsmanship, the mindset for entering combat, and more.
Serpens quickly absorbed everything.

The explosive ability to absorb what he learned, created by unwavering will and persistence.
That was the boy’s talent.

Swish-

Serpens got behind Lucas with light steps.

Takang!

But the attack was blocked.
The boy’s sword was sent flying from the powerful impact.

Serpens didn’t panic and drew a dagger from his waist.
He had practiced several times in preparation for a situation where his sword was knocked away.

Kkat-

The dagger scraped against Lucas’s greatsword with a sharp sound.
Serpens was feeling a familiar bewilderment.

That enormous greatsword was keeping up with the dagger’s movements.
No, rather, that side was faster.

“Ah, seriously!”

Feeling a sharp ache in his wrist, Serpens widened the distance.
He threw the dagger to buy time, then quickly picked up his sword.

“You sure are training hard.”

And Lars was watching the scene from not far away.

He was eating strawberries he had bought on the way.
When he lightly froze them with simple magic, their tartness increased.

“Ah, sour.”

Lars thought the two of them were impressive.
Sweating from early morning.
As a magician, it was something he could not understand.

“Now, then.”

Lars put the last strawberry into his mouth and slowly approached the two of them.
Serpens was drenched in sweat, bent over as he caught his rough breath.

Lars stroked the boy’s head.
He found it admirable that such a young kid was working so hard.
But his hand grew damp with more sweat than expected, and he regretted it immediately.

He wiped his hand on his clothes and smiled.

“Now then, let’s head to the battlefield!”