Chapter 261 : Chapter 261
Chapter 261 : The Kingdom's Legacy (4)
"Ah, ahhh..........! Master! You've returned..........!"
The woman crawled along the floor while trembling. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks. An ecstasy lingered in her eyes that had been filled with contempt.
The mountain was the same. Having become docile in an instant, the guy alternately looked between the woman and me with a bewildered expression, then soon crouched down as if crumpling his body.
"M-Milord..........?"
Ramba looked up at me. His pupils and lips trembled violently. The shock must be great. How could he casually accept the fact that the Leader of the Wild Dogs and Sewer Rats—whom they served as if worshiping, and who had even tried to kill him—was none other than me?
I lightly patted his shoulder as his face turned stark white. There's no way to explain it right now. I've no choice but to hope he trusts me and holds on for now.
"I'm not your master."
"Th-That can't be..........! Are you testing me?"
"That works. A test."
"Pardon?"
GURGLE— GURGLE—
The eyeball insects vanished without a trace. It didn't require any special effort to command them. They could be controlled with just a simple will.
"Do you want to meet your master again?"
The sensation of a foreign object that had filled up over my face also subsided. At the same time, the woman's eyes, which had been fixed on me, shook with astonishment once more.
"Bi-, Bihen Benkou..........?!"
"Haha, this isn't bad."
The woman hurriedly backed away. She covered her open mouth with her hand.
"W-What are you? How are you here..........!"
I approached and crouched in front of the woman. I waved Isaac's letter of recommendation, pinched between my fingers, before her eyes.
"I hate saying things twice. I've never said anything three times."
".........."
"Guide me to Simone's meeting place."
***
True to being a territory under the direct control of the King, the Imperial Capital Aleos possessed a city structure like a massive fortress.
Originally, the inner castle closest to the royal palace was the prime location, but lately, the influential figures of Aleos tended to secretly move their residences to the outskirts.
It was due to King Philinus II's frequent inspections.
Rumors were widespread that the royal palace would soon be opened along with a grand coronation ceremony. At the same time, the King's processions also became frequent.
Whenever an inspection took place, businesses were suspended, and a solemn atmosphere weighed down on the entire downtown area.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Today, as well, the downtown area near the royal palace was as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it. Only a suffocating silence flowed.
The Royal Guards cleared the way. A luxurious palanquin followed behind them.
Inside the palanquin, Philinus II stole a glance out the window.
"..........Somehow, I feel like I can hear their inner thoughts."
Philinus II averted his gaze and closed the curtain. Seated opposite him, Zisair asked.
"You are indeed worthy of one born with the qualities of a sage king. Well, what words do you hear?"
"They're saying that none of this matters, and they just want to go inside quickly to stuff their faces with pie."
Philinus II spat that out, then burst into laughter a moment later. Zisair also responded with a light smile.
"Is it not truly unfair? They only have to worry about their own individual lives, but We are aging by the day from worrying even about the future of the nation."
"That is exactly what is called the vessel of a monarch. A monarch must rightfully be capable of fully containing the lives of all his subjects within himself."
Philinus II waved his hand dismissively.
"Chancellor, a single nagger is enough with just the Palace Official."
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty."
"I know, I know. How could I not know your intentions, Chancellor? The Monarchology you taught me back when you acted as my Royal Tutor is the very foundation that made me who I am today. Please continue to give me sharp, loyal advice in the future as well."
"Of course, Your Majesty. Your servant only thinks of Your Majesty's prestige."
Suddenly, the palanquin rattled and came to a halt. The impact wasn't grand enough to lean his body, but it was enough to displease Philinus II.
An urgent report from a Royal Guard was heard from outside.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty! Some fellow suddenly cut in front of us..........!"
"What?! Ha..........! Which crazy bastard dares to fearlessly block the King's procession?"
"It, it is a male child about five years old."
Philinus II's burning, flushed face gradually subsided. Clutching the back of his neck, he snorted hot breaths.
"..........Huu. Severely admonish the child and the parents, and bring the situation to a swift conclusion."
He didn't want to make a big deal out of it with a nationwide grand event like the coronation ceremony and the Pantheon's completion ceremony ahead. At times like this, showing a moderate amount of tolerance was beneficial externally as well.
It was when the loud response of the Royal Guard from outside, followed by the servile yet earnest pleading of those presumed to be the child's parents, drifted into the palanquin.
Zisair, who had been quietly observing the situation, opened his mouth in a low voice.
"Your Majesty's mercy is like the sea."
"Fufu, why bring it up anew? Something of this level, I will just show some leniency and let it slide appropriately—"
"Sometimes, that wide sea also sinks ships."
Philinus II's complexion hardened. He suddenly felt that the inside of the palanquin was cramped. It was because Zisair, sitting opposite him, suddenly looked large.
"The subjects do not learn love from the monarch's benevolence, but rather arrogance. If you send that child away like this today, tomorrow the entire downtown will block Your Majesty's path and whine about their respective circumstances."
".........."
"Would you call that a sage king, or would you call it a helpless patriarch?"
Philinus II bobbed his lips, which wouldn't close properly due to his prominent lower jaw. Zisair, who was staring intently at the King with an emotionless face, continued speaking.
"A monarch must not be a father to his subjects, but a god who determines their destiny. A god often proves his existence by casting down lightning bolts without warning. Do you remember what the content of the first chapter of the Monarchology you personally learned was, Your Majesty?"
Philinus II swallowed his saliva. The Monarchology of unknown authorship that had been passed down like a secret manual of the Aleos royal family. The thrill of the moment he opened that thick book suddenly came to mind.
"..........It, it said that a monarch's unnecessary compassion only breeds the suffering of more people. That cold-headed cruelty is precisely the virtue of a monarch that makes a nation prosper.........."
Only then did Zisair slightly twist the corners of his mouth as if satisfied. He overlapped and pressed down on the King's minutely trembling hands with his own.
"To the ignorant, it is far more beneficial to engrave a memory that they will chew over for a lifetime rather than giving admonishments with words. The fact that those lowly people find the King's procession tedious is all because they lack such teachings."
Philinus II's thick eyelids trembled.
Zisair whispered lowly into the King's ear.
"If it had been the late King, he likely would have handed down a far more severe punishment."
"..........!"
"Please personally share the suffering experienced by a king. That would truly be the greatest mercy a sage king can bestow."
Zisair lightly patted his knee as if to console him. It was his uncomfortable leg that Philinus II had cursed his entire life.
CRASH!
The door flung open as if it would break. Flustered by the sudden impact, the palanquin bearers hurriedly put the palanquin down.
Philinus II finally revealed his figure. His bloodshot eyes gleamed with madness. He roughly pushed aside the Royal Guards who approached to escort him.
TREAD, TREAD.
Suddenly, the surrounding area fell silent. Philinus II advanced while dragging his uncomfortable leg amidst that stillness. The Royal Guards who had been standing and blocking the front retreated to the left and right, clearing the way.
The parents, who were grinding their heads into the ground and begging earnestly, finally burst into despairing wails the moment they saw the King who had descended in person.
"Heuuuk, heuuuk.........."
Philinus II heaved rough breaths. Drawing his waist straight up, he looked down at the parents and child prostrated at his feet.
The child only blinked its eyes without knowing anything.
"Y-You dare to humiliate Us..........!"
SHING—!
Philinus II drew the sword of the Royal Guard next to him. Presently, a wretched scream erupted from the parents' mouths. Simultaneously, the surrounding murmurs that had been hushed grew louder.
"We shall personally bestow mercy. Live your entire life considering it an honor..........!"
Philinus II took a step toward the child. Intuitively sensing fear, only then did the child burst into hysterical crying.
"I won't kill you. Instead, I'll make you exactly like me. Wouldn't you be my true subject only then?!"
Philinus II raised his sword high above his head. His twisted shoulder shot up at a bizarre angle.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Philinus II let out a battle cry mixed with resentment. It was the moment the sword was dropping ruthlessly toward the child's leg.
CLANG—!
"..........Euk?!"
Philinus II's body lurched to the side. If not for the metallic sound, it would have been a comical sight, appearing as if he had stumbled and staggered on his own.
Thud.
A certain dagger fell right beside the King's feet.
The flying dagger had accurately struck the flat of Philinus II's sword.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
"It's an ambush! Protect His Majesty!"
The Royal Guards surrounded the fallen Philinus II. With their shouts, the surroundings instantly became a scene of absolute chaos. Amidst the crowd fleeing in panic, Philinus II chattered his teeth. His pupils, which had been soaked in madness, were rapidly dyed with bewilderment and shame.
***
"Tsk, my senses are rusty."
I caressed my wrist. I should've struck a bit further up so the impact would be greater and he'd fall over more unsightly.
"Ah, aigo! Milord! We were almost caught!"
"That wouldn't have been so bad in its own way."
I laughed lightly. Ramba, ducking his body low beneath the railing, swept out a sigh.
"If you were going to do that, why didn't you just kill him instead?"
The stairs leading beneath the roof. The red woman standing with her arms crossed, commonly known as the Queen of the Underground, asked me in a low voice.
Her name was said to be Vena.
"If I did, it wouldn't end with just that foolish guy's life. Thousands of innocent lives would be blown away as a bonus."
War must not happen. I can't watch Adeline sit on a blood-stained throne.
Above all—
"I'm a swordsman who knows honor."
Vena subtly snorted and went down ahead. Her wine-colored hair wafted a sweet scent.
'..........'
At that moment, somehow it felt as if blood was rushing downward.......... At the same time, my heart throbbed wildly of its own accord.
'Dammit.'
..........Should I call this a price? The way my body reacted on its own was utterly unpleasant. No, rather than unpleasant, it was closer to an instinctive wariness of an unfamiliar sensation.
Ramba, who happened to be walking side by side next to me, pointed his finger at the back of Vena's head.
"Milord, did you see that?! Didn't this woman openly mock you just now?!"
"..........Ramba, you're quite high and mighty?"
"W-What?!"
Vena suddenly stopped walking. Following behind her, Ramba and I also came to a halt.
Because we were two steps above, her eye level roughly matched Ramba's.
Vena slowly approached and lightly tilted Ramba's chin up with the tip of her finger.
Ramba swallowed his dry saliva while avoiding her sticky gaze.
"Utter even one more word. Because I'll rip out that tongue and use it as my toy."
I've no intention of taking anyone's side particularly, but I decline to ruin things with useless emotional games.
I lightly brushed Vena's hand away.
"Hey, Queen. Don't forget the fact that I hold the power over your life and death. Shut up and just guide the way."
At my warning, Vena twisted the corner of her mouth. It was far too plain to be a sneer, and boundlessly arrogant to be obedient.
"Those are my words, Bihen Benkou. I don't care about a life like mine. Instead—"
Vena narrowed her eyes. Along with the frown on her forehead, her double eyelids creased deeply. It was to the extent that obsession could be felt.
"The promise to return Master. Be sure to keep it."
The Wild Dogs and Sewer Rats, who were said to watch all kinds of rumors in this land on the palm of their hands. Perhaps because it was the main branch, which was the core among them, the quality and depth of the information were certainly different.
Vena knew the fact that the Sword Fiend Bihen Benkou wasn't a simple swordsman. To be precise, she seemed to know that I wielded something akin to dark magic.
Whether my swordsmanship merely looked like a mystery to their illiterate eyes, or if the miracles I'd performed by borrowing Kuhn's power during the War of the Roses had been distorted, there's no way to know, but...
Anyway, I willingly took advantage of that misunderstanding to conciliate her. Though it was closer to deception than conciliation.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure to untie your Leader's soul."
".........."
At my nonchalant answer, Vena's pupils trembled finely. Somehow, I ended up being treated as a sorcerer, whom I'd loathed so much, but well, it isn't so bad. It must mean I've also become quite flexible by now.