Chapter 114 : The Empire’s First Prince
Chapter 114: The Empire’s First Prince
“...So this is, right now.”
“It is a Dullahan’s head.”
Martin frowned.
No matter how generously one tried to dress it up, the Dullahan’s head, reeking of decay and rot as though it were almost completely decomposed, was utterly revolting.
He forced his expression back under control.
“There were hundreds of Dullahans alone, and even Death Knights and Liches.”
“Death Knights and Liches as well?”
“The Death Knights are commanders of legions. They command armies numbering in the hundreds to thousands. What I witnessed was only a very small part. No one knows just how many more undead have made their nests inside Hapstrain Gorge.”
They were nowhere near enough to collapse the Empire itself.
But if they rampaged in earnest, they were enough to completely wipe out the areas around Hapstrain Gorge.
“There may be several Black Mages involved. Would it not be difficult for a single individual to create such a massive force?”
“...That would be so.”
At the additional exaggeration, Martin swallowed a groan.
“Hillan Cargill. It seems your words were correct.”
“I always speak only the truth, Your Highness. I wished to bring back more, but the situation was urgent, and I regret that I could not.”
“I understand. And it is sufficient. From the very fact that there exists a Black Mage capable of creating Dullahans, the Empire will not remain idle.”
The Black Mages of Arein had been almost completely eradicated. No—eradicated outright.
For that reason, the appearance of a Black Mage capable of summoning Dullahans was a considerable shock.
Especially when combined with the recent movements of the Demon Kings, it raised alarm.
‘They must be eliminated in advance.’
Before the group of Black Mages grew any larger.
“I should report this to His Majesty and take action.”
“I do not think that would be wise, Your Highness.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know that Your Highness cherishes the people. However, this matter is not one that should be handled so simply. I hope that Your Highness will make thorough preparations first, then report it and claim the merit.”
“That is somewhat presumptuous.”
No matter how remarkable Hillan Cargill was, no matter how great a contribution he had made this time, intervening in the succession to the throne was another matter entirely.
“It is merely advice.”
“Do you take me for a fool?”
“By now, or if not now then soon, the other members of the imperial family will have noticed my existence. That I am relying on Your Highness and aiding you, that is.”
“So you intend to wager on me?”
“Yes, I think I shall place a bet.”
“The help of a hero and the Hero Guild is unnecessary.”
“Of course, neither the other members of the imperial family nor His Majesty would wish for me to step forward. However, these are extremely dangerous Black Mages. It may be that a Demon King is involved. No—there is a Demon King involved.”
Black Mages were created only through contracts with Demon Kings. At least, that was the common knowledge spread across the continent.
“Is it strange for a hero to join in breaking a Demon King’s scheme?”
“....”
It was not an incorrect statement.
It was problematic for a hero and the Hero Guild to involve themselves in the succession to the throne, but when it came to the matter of Demon Kings, it could be said that heroes were almost always necessary.
Even without heroes, one could defeat demons, perhaps even a Demon King. But why would one? When there was an easier and faster path available, would one willingly endure greater damage?
No nation wished to bear that cost.
“...For now, wait. I will continue to treat you as a guest.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Martin dismissed his guest. Hillan Cargill departed.
“What do you think?”
“It is not incorrect.”
The escort knight bowed his head.
“If this were merely entangled in the matter of succession, it would be a misstep. But Black Mages—and further, a Demon King—are involved. There is a strong possibility that it will work in our favor.”
“Do you think Hillan Cargill anticipated all of this and approached me?”
“Honestly speaking, yes. You would do well to be cautious. He is harboring a raccoon inside.”
“So you saw it the same way I did.”
Martin shifted his gaze to the Dullahan’s head Hillan Cargill had left behind.
“What do you think Hillan Cargill’s ulterior motive is?”
“At the very least, it will not be exactly as he said.”
“That figures. If he merely wanted help, would it not be more realistic to seek out my older brothers rather than me?”
“Even if he desires much, he will not cross the line.”
It was an arrogant statement, but an accurate one.
That was what the name of the Empire and the imperial family meant. No matter how he had slain two Demon Kings, if the Empire were to become enraged, Hillan could not bear it. No—no one could.
“And at least for this matter, acceptance benefits Your Highness more than refusal.”
“Indeed.”
The proposal was far too sweet.
And so—
“I will accept it.”
Willingly.
* * *
An official document was delivered to the House of Count Travian, which guarded Hapstrain Gorge.
The one who visited the count’s estate in secrecy was Baron Torion, a man well known even to him—a noble of the imperial capital, called the Emperor’s mouth.
“Please receive it, Your Excellency.”
“Mm.”
The high-grade sealed letter bore the golden dragon seal symbolizing the Emperor.
Count Travian carefully accepted the letter.
“It is a secret imperial order bestowed by His Majesty.”
“...Ascertain the existence of a group of Black Mages operating covertly within Hapstrain Gorge?”
“You are to confirm it as quickly as possible and report to His Majesty.”
“No, wait a moment—Black Mages? What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly as it sounds.”
“I have inherited the countship and guarded the gorge for over nine years now. There is no one who knows the gorge better than I.”
“Then are you saying His Majesty is fabricating something that does not exist?”
“No, that is not what I meant....”
“There was reliable intelligence.”
“Intelligence? If I, the one in charge of the gorge, do not know, then who could possibly have provided intelligence?”
“That is something I cannot tell you.”
“So something leaked from my territory without my knowing.”
“It did not leak. It was something you did not know. An occurrence within Your Excellency’s domain, of which you, as the one responsible, were unaware.”
“....”
“....”
Their gazes collided. The count ground his teeth.
“His Majesty is....”
“Wishing to grant you one more chance. That is why I have come down with this secret order, is it not?”
“Is there truly a Black Mage?”
“I believe you reported that the monsters’ disturbances have been decreasing over the past few years.”
“That is correct.”
“You said you could not determine the cause, but if Black Mages—necromancers—are using the gorge’s demonic energy to turn them into undead, would that not explain it?”
“Even the heroes could not find them.”
“It is said they are hiding in the depths of the gorge, underground, where the Demon King’s Tower once stood in the past. Have you gone that far?”
“Underground....”
He had not even known there was an underground area.
“Please convey to His Majesty my gratitude for his great mercy, and tell him that I will most certainly find them.”
“Yes. I shall do so.”
“I will absolutely make those wretches answer for their crimes.”
“No, that will not be the case.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your Excellency is to stop at merely identifying them. That is His Majesty’s will.”
“Is he planning something?”
“You will know soon enough.”
“...Very well.”
“Then I look forward to your cooperation.”
“Please tell His Majesty that I am grateful for his great mercy, and that this time I will never disappoint him.”
“Yes. I shall do so.”
The baron nodded his head again.
* * *
Berje unfolded the imperial newspaper.
【Shock, traces of undead discovered in Hapstrain Gorge....】
【Is Hapstrain Gorge a hideout for Black Mages?】
【What was the one responsible for the gorge doing?】
【Skeletons, zombies, even Dullahans—how did the gorge become a den of undead?】
【As many as hundreds of thousands of undead operating covertly within the gorge? The real reason the Empire is in serious trouble!】
【Chernian Frontier Count, assault on the Tower of Frost is premature....】
【Why has the snowfield fallen into chaos? The northern barbarians’ aim?】
Newspapers reflected the hottest issues in the Empire.
The recent outbreak of the undead incident in Hapstrain Gorge, and the disturbance in the snowfields.
However, the events in the snowfields had already passed several months ago, and most attention naturally turned toward Hapstrain.
In particular, matters related to the undead were exaggerated, endlessly spawning rumors.
“Is it the Third Prince’s doing?”
“That would be my guess. He is inflating the level of the Black Mages to ensure that the intervention of a hero becomes absolutely necessary, setting the stage accordingly.”
“He could not have done this on his own, so it may well be the Emperor’s will.”
They were speculations, yet at the same time convictions.
Although there was a difference in timing, it had been the same before the regression.
It was then—
“Y-yo..., th-this....”
“St-stop...!”
A crash rang out. The presence of multiple people and the metallic sound of swords being drawn were felt at once.
Click—
The door opened. Knights scanned the surroundings and took up positions. Through them, a man walked in.
“So it is you.”
He looked down arrogantly at Berje and Hillan.
“The famous Hillan Cargill and Pale.”
The man overflowed with dignity. His natural pressure carried the momentum of a hegemon. A born ruler, noble blood. All manner of epithets clung to him.
Hillan rose from his seat and bowed his head.
“I greet Prince Rufus Zespine.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“I believe there are fewer who do not.”
“Is that so?”
The man nodded. Brilliant golden hair, like Martin’s, fluttered lightly. Even more brilliant golden pupils traced a gentle arc.
He naturally pulled out a chair and sat down. At his glance, Hillan and Berje belatedly returned to their seats.
“I have long heard of your reputation. They say you are the finest among all heroes these days.”
“You flatter me.”
“A hero who slays a Demon King is always rare. Let alone one who has slain two.”
A natural smile curved Rufus’s lips.
“Seeing you in person, I understand why. Your bearing, your dignity, even your manner of speech—everything pleases me.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Ah, bring some tea.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Soon, maids brought in tea.
“Drink.”
“Thank you.”
Rufus stirred the tea with a teaspoon.
“You came to the imperial capital at Martin’s request?”
As casually as taking a sip of tea, he suddenly stabbed straight in.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Because of the group of Black Mages in Hapstrain that has the capital in an uproar?”
“Yes.”
“Was it truly Martin who summoned you first?”
“I do not understand what you mean.”
“Martin says he learned of the Black Mages first. But something even Count Travian did not know—him? That does not seem possible, does it?”
“I am not sure.”
“No, I believe you do know.”
He took a sip of tea.
“The sequence of events was wrong from the start. Rather than encountering an anomaly and requesting a hero’s help, it was that he heard of the anomaly from a hero and then accepted the commission.”
The source of that information—
“Was it not you?”
“That is a misunderstanding. I merely accepted the Third Prince’s request.”
“Be mindful of who stands before you when you speak. Lies will never lead to a good ending.”
Hillan fell silent. Rufus shrugged his shoulders.
“Just a joke. It doesn’t really matter.”
Clack—
“If you merely accepted a commission, then wouldn’t it be fair to say it ended the moment you brought back proof in the form of a Dullahan’s head?”
Rufus set his teacup down.
“If that is the case, then there is no longer any reason for you to remain with Martin either.”
His eyes sank coldly.
“That is still something we do not know.”
“You do not know?”
“Because if the Third Prince were to make another request, I might accept it.”
“Whatever compensation Martin promises, I will promise more. Come to me.”
“I apologize.”
“And why is that?”
“Even if not to the same degree as mercenaries, heroes also place great importance on ‘trust’. Especially since I am a Star and Argann of the Guild.”
“So you have already agreed to exchange something else with Martin.”
Rufus clicked his tongue.
“Then if that contract were broken, there would be no reason for you to remain bound. Is that not so?”
“Of course, if the contract were to disappear, there would be no reason I could not accept another person’s request.”
“Remember that answer well.”
Rufus rose from his seat.
“Ah, just in case, let me say this.”
He turned his head.
“If you choose Martin, I truly think it would be a foolish choice.”
The corners of his eyes traced a gentle arc.
“A hero does not intervene in the Empire’s succession to the throne.”
“I hope that will be the case. I enjoyed today.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Come to think of it, there was one more. Pale, was it? It was good to meet you as well.”
“Yes.”
“Then we shall meet again next time.”
Clack—
Rufus left. The knights followed after him, and the door closed.
“...You did well.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Just now. To be honest, I thought you would use half-formal speech.”
“Do you take me for a fool who runs around without knowing his place?”
“Did you not do that with Prince Cain Arkan?”
“Cain and that bastard are different.”
“You seem to know him well?”
“I do. Better than anyone.”
The corner of Berje’s mouth twisted.
There was no way he could not.
He was the ringleader who caused Berje, who had been rising smoothly, to begin his downfall.
Since the kidnapping had been Berje’s own doing, there was no one else to blame, but it remained a bad memory that made his teeth grind.
In the past, the Crown Prince who had slaughtered all the other imperial family members aiming for the throne and ascended to the position of heir.
Yet now, merely one among the many imperial family members—
The First Prince.
Rufus Zespine.
“How do you know the First Prince, Lord Pale?”
“Do I have to explain that to you as well?”
“Would that not be nice?”
“It is a bother. That aside, I did not expect him to come in person.”
“Yes. I thought he would send someone, but to think that he himself....”
It was then—
Knock knock—
A servant knocked on the door.
“A guest has arrived.”
“A guest?”
“Yes, it is His Highness Prince Floyan Zespine.”
“...!”
“...!”
Berje and Hillan’s eyes met.
“...Surely he is not coming again right after this?”
“That possibility cannot be completely ruled out.”
“You deal with him yourself.”
Floyan Zespine—together with Rufus Zespine, he was the Empire’s Second Prince, considered the most likely to become the Crown Prince.
It seemed it would be a long night.