Chapter 150 : Chapter 150
Chapter 150
I had to hold out somehow.
My partner began conquering the continent. The water was spilled, the dice rolled. I tried every trick to hold on, but—
‘It’s not working.’
Continental conquest was imminent, but the fortress’s fall was just as close. It lasted longer than in the Dungeon Tournament or history books.
‘No choice.’
I issued my final command.
‘Abandon the fortress.’
Burn all the Empire’s advanced technology—finished products, valuable prototype weapons, everything!
‘Kill the engineers. Destroy the facilities!’
Leave no variables.
‘Plant bombs! Deal as much damage as possible to the Alliance when they enter!’
A ruthless retreat.
‘Good.’
Sacrificing most of the troops, I barely got Hero Duke Baxter and a few vassals to safety.
Hamerd’s forces entered the burning Imperium Fortress… and took heavy losses from my time bombs. Soon, my partner’s army, led by Lord Dominic, swept the Alliance.
‘We won.’
Despite Hero Hamerd reaching Platinum Knight status, he couldn’t handle a million veteran soldiers.
[War Studies Assessment Phase 3: 1st Place.]
Finally, first place.
[War Studies Assessment: A+, Individual Rank: 2nd.]
‘Damn.’
No helping it. The first-place holder’s skill was astonishing, even to me.
‘A bit ruthless, though.’
Similar to me in some ways—cutting what needs cutting, sacrificing what must be sacrificed to advance the army.
[Today’s assessment is complete. Return home.]
Nodding, I gathered my things and headed to the classroom. My stuff was there, including Lilac’s lemon coffee bottle.
“You’re here.”
Opening the door, I saw… Princess Adela, sitting with her chair turned toward me, as if waiting.
“No way.”
“Indeed.”
“You?”
“Yes, I took first.”
Adela smirked triumphantly and asked,
“Isn’t that right, Duke Baxter?”
“…How did you know I was your partner?”
She was certain her partner was ‘Martin.’
She wouldn’t wait like this otherwise.
“Your fortress abandonment was masterful. Truly worthy of my Black Knight. Even in a virtual simulator, it impressed me enough to clap.”
…How many could pull off something like that besides me?
‘Adela, a strategic genius?’
It was hinted in the original story, but this was extreme. Puzzled, I asked,
“Didn’t you sleep through War Studies?”
Adela furrowed her delicate brow.
“Tch, watch your words. I wasn’t sleeping, I was thinking.”
Sure, whatever.
Moments later, she pointed to the crown on her head.
“…The Desert Hierophant told me. The knowledge of its past owners, united like a collective intellect.”
That makes sense. Know-It-All’s ability is limited to recorded human knowledge. But the Desert Hierophant’s past owners were superhuman heroes or ancient kings—a collective wisdom beyond comparison.
‘No wonder I lost.’
Standing, Adela put her hands on her hips.
“Now, escort me. We have time, so you shall accompany me!”
“What? Me? Why?”
“At the award ceremony! You danced with other women twice, not me!”
“That’s ridiculous…”
In the end, I spent the day snacking or sightseeing with Princess Adela.
***
I met the Star Child after a while. Visiting abruptly for a Peacemaker meeting, he was enjoying Lilac’s cheesecake and Caramel Macchiato.
“Try this too. Please take care of my master.”
“This place has great hospitality~ Nice, Martin.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Despite his relaxed demeanor, I noticed a hint of fatigue but didn’t ask. He seemed to have more to say.
“…I see.”
Our private talk was long, explaining the ‘Law of the Scales’ governing the gap between worlds. It aligned with what the World Tree said, making it easier to understand.
“There’s a reason you’re telling me this.”
“Yes. To root out betrayers during the truce.”
The Star Child gave a wry smile.
“Thanks to you. Getting this far, delaying the Demon Lords’ plans—human sacrifices, noble demon-worshippers, holding off Brahmus’s terror the longest, reviving the World Tree, making them panic.”
“…”
It’s embarrassing to hear, but… realizing my actions had grand significance was humbling.
“If I were them, I’d lay groundwork covertly, using betrayers or spies. You said your betrayer list wasn’t complete, right?”
Right. I didn’t remember everything from the original story, and with Recola’s omissions, the gap was likely large.
“Where do we start?”
With the reliable Star Child, I asked lightly, but—
“One of the Four Great Dukes is a betrayer.”
A bombshell. My hand shook, spilling tea, but I had no time to care.
“…Who?”
“One of the Four Great Dukes betrayed humanity for the demons.”
I hoped I misheard, but no. Asking again only got the Star Child’s faintly angry reply.
‘Does that make sense?’
In the original story’s climax, all Four Great Dukes died fighting Demon Lords. A betrayer among them?
‘…Well, people are unpredictable.’
They could be coerced or tempted. Humans fall to corruption, and I distrust them.
“How did you learn of this betrayal, Star Child?”
“A revelation through prophecy.”
“…What?”
I expected evidence or eyewitness accounts, not prophecy?
The Star Child pulled out two holy relics: the Chalice and the Rosary.
“The Rosary supplies infinite stellar force and can declare a sanctuary. What does the Chalice do?”
A question, expecting my answer. The Chalice’s basic function is clear.
“Make holy water, right?”
“Yes, holy water. But that’s primary. Drink holy water, bathe in it, and pray to the Chalice for days, and you can glimpse fragments of the future through revelation. …At a steep cost.”
He tried to channel stellar force but sparked and recoiled.
“Star Child?!”
“It’s a small price for revelation. I’ll recover at the Elidore Marquisate. Once I do, I’ll investigate all Four Great Dukes.”
He couldn’t even wield stellar force… Not something to try lightly. The truce must have prompted this tough decision.
“So, I need your help. While I recover, join the Empire’s undercurrents.”
A request to focus on Peacemaker duties.
“Understood. What about the Academy? I could take a leave.”
An offer to go that far. But he wouldn’t want that. They’re there, after all.
“Admirable, but you need to attend the Academy diligently. Monitor the noble heirs, especially those of the Four Great Dukes.”
“Got it.”
Bord, Elisha, Mary, Shuga, Muller. None are easy.
“Don’t tell anyone but me about the revelation. Cosmos permitted it only to us. Leaking it could cause trouble, and it wouldn’t help. Even I, who saw it, don’t know who the betrayer is or their traits. Just…”
With a heavy expression, he lamented the fragment of the revelation from Cosmos, the great cosmic order.
“The Imperium Empire’s capital was burning. Meteors fell, a sea of flames. Smoke hid the constellations. You and I were crushed, heads used as Demon Lords’ playthings. The Emperor and Platinum Knights, all dead.”
My God. Absurd.
“What could cause such an overwhelming defeat…?”
“Five fully descended Demon Lords boasted, ‘Thanks to that foolish duke, it worked.’ That’s all I saw and heard.”
The Star Child stood, downing Lilac’s tea.
“Ha— Martin, the demons are secretly plotting to destroy the capital in one fell swoop. I said it’s a truce, but… a truce is still war.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Uncharacteristically, he donned a black robe and walked out, unable to use Flash. It was pitiful.
‘It’s going to get busy.’
Red Bow Harmadun, Raincloud Deminiyan, Blue Spear Amulrent, Shield Tauforos.
‘In the original story…’
All Four Great Dukes met heroic ends fighting demons. Not betrayers. But one is a traitor?
Not impossible. In the original, Nerjin was a mere alchemist, but in reality, he’s the heir to the Cosmos Empire’s top alchemical family. The Star Child didn’t even appear.
‘The original story’s warped, and the future’s changed.’
One of the Four Great Dukes betrays? Fine. I’ll find out. And crush them thoroughly, a lesson to others to never dare dream of it!
‘To do that…’
It’s not something to figure out by thinking. I need to act in the field, as the Star Child said.
‘Tch, what a hassle.’
No choice but to get entangled with the protagonist’s party again.
***
Early morning at the Academy. Martin arrived two hours earlier than usual. Sitting in the empty classroom, he reviewed. Sebastian, dragged up early, slept beside him.
‘So much to do. Too much.’
The Star Child. The World Tree. Their tasks for me.
‘First, the World Tree. The Authority of the Jungle and the Defardly Soul Stone.’
The Authority of the Jungle suits no one better than Bord, as seen in the original story. I need to bring Anette for the Soul Stone’s power.
‘And the Star Child. His revelation and the betrayer.’
One of the Four Great Dukes will betray. Now or later, I need to watch closely.
‘Coincidentally…’
There’s overlap. Leaning back, I felt the early autumn morning air. I opened my bag, poured Lilac’s homemade lemon coffee into the cap. It would gently wake me.
“Huh?!”
Enjoying my tea time, someone entered through the back door.
“Cadet Martin!”
It was Bord, Class A’s leader. Mr. Charisma, Mr. Diligent, Gilbert’s best friend.
“Haha! Nice to see you this early!”
Know-It-All and Wild Instinct analyzed him. The heat and moisture from his body—he’d woken up early, exercised intensely, and showered.
“You’re dedicated to training, Cadet Bord.”
“Huh?! Yeah!”
Surprised I acknowledged him, Bord walked over cheerfully.
“You noticed?! I’ve been up since dawn training!”
As expected. But… isn’t this familiar? A girl I know, contracted to the Fire Spirit King, has a similar routine.
“Aren’t you tired?”
At my question, Bord sat beside me. His friendly, warm approach was pleasant.
“Haha, I’d be lying if I said no. But it’s fine. Gotta do it. Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty powerless.”
Whose powerlessness?
“My own, it’s been rough.”
“…”