The Coup Begins

After three hours that felt both long and short, the moment to charge in finally arrived. All of us left the base together and headed toward the royal palace. From here, it was about a ten-minute walk.

As we walked down the main street, we encountered several townspeople, but no one tried to stop us when they saw us armed. On the contrary, some who realized we were attempting a coup even raised their hands, saying they wanted to join.

However, adding people who did not understand the operation would only create confusion, so we accepted only their goodwill and continued to the royal palace without increasing our numbers. With no knights inside the palace yet joining us, about a hundred people were heading toward the palace.

I didn’t know whether that was many or few… but if the defecting knights joined us and the enemy became confused by betrayal, we would likely have more than enough chance to win.

“We’re almost at the palace.”

The moment I heard the voice of a companion walking at the front, the great gate of the royal palace creaked open with a loud groaning sound. It seemed the plan to ensure only our allies guarded the gate had succeeded.

“Alright everyone, let’s go!”

“Yeah!!”

“We’re doing this!”

As soon as the gate fully opened, the signal was given, and we all rushed toward the royal palace at once. From here on, it was a race against time. We wanted to charge in and reduce the enemy’s numbers before the knights could reorganize themselves.

Once inside the grounds, there was first a garden, and we ran straight through it toward the palace building. However, there was a patrol of knights in the garden, and we nearly collided with several of them.

“We are those who have gathered to set this country right! If you too wish to change this rotten Empire, then follow us and raise your swords for the country!”

When someone shouted that, the knights drew their swords with confused expressions. However, those swords were not pointed at us, and they smoothly gave way.

They hadn’t gone so far as to support us yet, but they were no longer clearly enemies.

If words could remove hostility like this, it really made things easier and I was grateful…

But that hope was short-lived, because once we entered the building, the many knights who had gathered drew their swords and aimed them at us.

“Intruders! Kill them if necessary!”

“Yes, sir!”

The battle had begun before we even reached the hall, but we could not afford to stop here. Avoiding the fighting, we ran toward the venue with slightly reduced numbers.

When we reached the stairs, we scattered the enemies above with magic and ran upward while clearing a path. Soon the large doors of the venue came into view, and two knights stood before them. But since there were only two, we could defeat them quickly and enter.

Amid the roaring shouts of the knights and our own battle cries, the grand doors were flung open, and our forces flooded into the dazzling party hall.

“We have gathered to purge the corrupt upper ranks of the Empire and set it right! If you believe even slightly that something is wrong with this country, then do not point your swords at us—leave this place!”

After that declaration echoed throughout the hall, we all raised our weapons and shouted together. About ten percent of the knights looked confused and moved to the edge of the hall, while the rest drew their swords toward us.

That didn’t reduce their numbers much… well, it couldn’t be helped.

“It’s an enemy attack…! Protect His Majesty the Emperor!!”

“Do not let them enter the hall…!”

As the battle between the enemy knights and our side began, I cut down enemies with my sword while scanning the hall for Caesar.

Then I spotted a man standing beside His Majesty the Emperor, with long golden hair tied back behind his head.

“Everyone, Caesar’s there. At the back of the hall.”

“…You’re right. Where’s Ernesto?”

“He’s heading there now.”

As I continued fighting while watching Caesar and the others, I saw them secretly leaving the hall behind Ernesto.

“Alright, let’s follow them.”

“Yeah. Let’s hurry so we don’t lose them.”

“Let’s go quickly.”

“Got it.”

While Lady Seremees informed us of their movements, we followed them at a moderate distance and eventually reached our destination—the great hall.

The four of us looked at each other and opened the door… and near the stage at the back of the hall, we saw Ernesto and the others.

“W-what, pursuers!?”

The one who shouted that upon seeing us was His Majesty the Emperor. Perhaps because he had walked this far with his heavy body, he was breathing harshly and wheezing.

“Ernesto, protect me!”

The moment I heard that shout from His Majesty, I kicked off the floor and tried to drive the tip of my sword into the Emperor’s throat… but Caesar blocked it.

I thought he might abandon the Emperor, but he protected him. Perhaps he still believed the Emperor had some use left.

“You…”

Perhaps Caesar understood my strength after just one clash of swords, because he smirked and knocked my blade aside.

“Ernesto! I’ll leave His Majesty the Emperor to you—…so you were on that side as well.”

When Caesar turned around and saw Ernesto drawing his sword and pointing it at the Emperor and the others, anger flashed across his face for a moment.

But he quickly changed his expression and broke into an amused smile.

“Hahaha, so this country is finished after all. It’s a shame we couldn’t invade other nations, but being destroyed by a coup is entertaining in its own way.”

“Just who are you?”

To take advantage of the fact that he did not know we were divine servants, I asked as though I were unaware of his true identity. Caesar then grinned—a smile that made fear rise instinctively—and opened his mouth to speak.