Chapter 162 : There Was No Need
Chapter 162: There Was No Need
“What kind of bullshit is that!”
“The Red Dragon Sword, Barstain, was not there.”
The place where Barstain should have been was completely empty.
Flustered, Martin checked every relic in the archive, but it was the same.
“The Red Dragon Sword has already gone to find its owner.”
If someone had stolen it, there was no way the administrator would not have known. That meant it had been taken legitimately.
“Are you daring to lie to me?”
“I would stake everything I have. The Red Dragon Sword was not in the records, and the most bewildered one here is me.”
The Red Dragon Sword was the symbol of the Empire. If someone had taken it, would it really end with simply taking it?
No. The Red Dragon Sword was an object that could never be buried quietly.
“If someone took the Red Dragon Sword, the Empire should have been in an uproar.”
Whether it was a good sign—of an heir who would become the new owner of the Red Dragon Sword and lead the Empire to even greater heights—or a bad one—an ominous seed threatening the Empire and the Emperor.
Yet there were no rumors whatsoever about the Red Dragon Sword. Quietly, utterly quietly, it had been buried.
“What did the administrator say?”
“I asked, but he did not answer. There is no other way to see it than that His Majesty gave tacit approval.”
And the Emperor had concealed the very fact that the Red Dragon Sword had welcomed a new owner.
“...Why.”
“Were there any members of the imperial family who entered the archive?”
“Besides me, the other three already took relics out of the archive.”
“And before that?”
“They are all dead and have become wandering souls. The relics they possessed were recovered.”
The relics of the archive ultimately belonged to the Empire. When the life of one who had gained the qualifications and obtained a relic came to an end, it returned to the archive once more.
“Then in the end, it must be one of those three.”
“Isn’t that even stranger? If they had the Red Dragon Sword, they should have spread the rumors instead. Loudly.”
The justification of having obtained the Red Dragon Sword was never light. It might even have allowed one to knock out the other heirs at a stroke and become Crown Prince.
“...No, perhaps.”
Martin, who had been speaking, closed his mouth.
“Looks like something came to mind. I also just thought of one possibility.”
“...His Majesty did not receive the Red Dragon Sword’s choice. In fact, among the past Emperors of the Empire, those who were chosen were rare.”
“Then the symbol and meaning of the Red Dragon Sword would be even greater.”
Perhaps enough to threaten even the Emperor.
‘If that is the case.’
The Red Dragon Sword was already in someone’s hands—specifically, in the hands of one of the other three imperial siblings.
‘Then one of those bastards....’
Was the son of a bitch who was deeply involved in killing Berje.
“Find them no matter what. Who took that sword. If you find just that.”
Berje’s eyes sank coldly.
“I will give you cooperation beyond what you desire.”
Martin shuddered at the subtle killing intent leaking through the blank expression.
“...Understood.”
He nodded.
* * *
“Martin met someone, and after that entered the archive....”
Rufus Zespine. The Empire’s First Prince always kept a close watch on his siblings’ movements.
Even aside from that, rumors that someone had entered the archive quietly spread throughout the entire imperial family.
“Has the identity of who he met been confirmed?”
“Yes. A man named Pale.”
“Pale?”
“He is said to possess pure mana like a spirit. You must have heard the stories that the Kingdom of Arkan is desperate to obtain his blood.”
“That man was that man? But why would he approach Martin?”
“Pale is connected to Hero Hillan Cargill. He acted together with Hillan during the suppression at Hapstrain Gorge, when there was a Black Mage subjugation. And Hillan is....”
“Connected to Martin. In the end, that Pale fellow could be considered an envoy Hillan Cargill sent to Martin.”
“That is our assessment.”
“Interesting.”
Every relic that could be obtained from the archive was an object that more than deserved the name ‘relic’.
They could not help but be of great help, and naturally, the moment one obtained a token, it was common to enter the archive.
Rather than saving them, actively using them—or hiding them as a dagger—was better.
Yet Martin was the only imperial who had a token and still had not entered the archive.
And then he met Hillan Cargill’s envoy and immediately entered the archive.
“We won’t know what he took out, will we?”
“My apologies.”
“Can we assume Hillan Cargill has fully sided with Martin?”
“Yes.”
“He makes a foolish choice in the end.”
The corner of Rufus’s mouth twisted.
A hero was the symbol of humanity. The adversary who opposed the Demon King.
Because of that, the fame and value of a hero were never light. That was why, even while the Empire had friction with the Hero Guild, it did not cut ties entirely and tried in every way to recruit outstanding heroes.
The current political climate could not be discussed without heroes.
Naturally, among heroes, outstanding stars shone with even greater value. Hillan Cargill, who had slain two Demon Kings and continued to rise, all the more so.
“What about Balraf Dislode?”
“There has been no contact yet.”
“He’ll be able to find the tower, won’t he?”
He did not ask whether the Demon King could be slain. Balraf Dislode was the strongest hero, and even if the Demon King showed a different pattern than before, he believed there was no way Balraf would not be a match.
There was only one case in which Balraf Dislode would fail to subjugate the Demon King of Dark Flame—if he once again failed to find the tower.
“He will find it. Even if he doesn’t, it won’t tarnish his reputation.”
“I don’t see it that way.”
“Hero Hillan Cargill also failed to find the Tower of Dark Flame.”
“But this time, he saved the Crown Princess of Hilderan. The one who saved her....”
Rufus, who had been speaking, closed his mouth. His brow slowly creased.
“...Why didn’t I think of that?”
“What do you mean?”
“That Pale fellow is Hillan Cargill’s envoy. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
“And Hillan Cargill is not just a hero, but a star, and Argann. At the same time, he is the hero of Hilderan.”
That fame had soared even higher after he saved the Crown Princess of Hilderan.
“It’s no secret that Hillan Cargill appeared in various social circles alongside the Crown Princess of Hilderan.”
“Then he might not simply be Hillan Cargill’s envoy, but Hilderan’s envoy.”
“That’s exactly it!”
He had been too fixated on the position of ‘hero’ alone. Even though heroes and politics were inseparable.
“Keep a close eye on that Pale fellow.”
“What will you do?”
“Hilderan and the Empire aren’t that far apart, are they? They say people sometimes go missing or fall ill during pilgrimages.”
A faint killing intent gleamed.
“It seems Hillan Cargill’s people deserve special attention.”
“Indeed. Is dragging another country into the Empire’s affairs anything but the act of a worm with no pride as an imperial?”
It was not yet certain, but that did not matter. The very act of involving another country displeased him.
“You are correct.”
“Pure mana that even Arkan covets. I would like to see it myself.”
And he was also curious about what kind of conversation had passed between that man and Martin.
“That will come to pass.”
The prince and his aide exchanged a sinister smile.
* * *
After finishing his meeting with the Third Prince, Berje decided on his next destination.
‘To Hilderan....’
Ernan’s voice, telling him to be sure to stop by Hilderan if he ever left the tower, still lingered in his ears.
For the sake of goodwill, he could meet Hillan Cargill, give the next order, and show his face once.
‘It pisses me off that the sword has already found its owner, but I confirmed that it was that sword.’
Barstain was the symbol of the Empire, and many records remained.
And through the scrying orb Martin had procured, Berje confirmed the sword’s appearance.
It was right.
That sword—it was that sword.
‘In the end, it’s the Empire.’
The hero who killed Berje and the Empire were connected.
In a way, it was a natural result.
What drove Berje to death in the end was that he had kidnapped the Empire’s Crown Prince—Rufus Zespine, now the First Prince.
“Welcome.”
“I would like to use a transport magic circle.”
Arriving at the magic tower of the imperial capital, Berje stepped onto the transport magic circle heading for the border city, Frisia.
And then—
“...Whose doing is this?”
In a sticky, humid swamp, he came face to face with masked men glaring at him.
No matter how he looked at it, it did not seem like Frisia.
‘The coordinates were distorted.’
It was not the original destination.
For the coordinates to be distorted in the imperial capital, at the magic tower of the imperial capital, meant it was not distortion but intentional alteration.
Someone with enough influence to affect the imperial magic tower was targeting Berje.
Who?
One of the four.
The Empire’s First Prince.
The Empire’s Second Prince.
The Empire’s First Princess.
Or nobles with power.
Or, though the possibility was slim, the Emperor.
‘Did they confirm that I met Martin? Even that we went together as far as the archive entrance?’
He had been distracted by the red sword. He could not deny his carelessness.
The identity of Pale was no longer that of a man with no ties who fell from the sky, and Martin was the Empire’s Third Prince.
There were too many people who would take interest, too many who would investigate.
“Do you not intend to answer?”
‘Ten.’
Berje slowly examined them. One by one, none of them were ordinary.
“If you come quietly, we will not harm you.”
The man at the front spoke. His voice was stiff, without inflection.
“I’d at least like to know the reason.”
“There is someone who wishes to see you.”
“Who? The First Prince? The Second Prince? The First Princess? Or else—”
The Emperor?
“...You would do well not to wag your tongue carelessly.”
“And if I don’t go quietly?”
“Your opinion is not important.”
Sching—
Ten swords were drawn.
“They say you’re an outstanding mage?”
Aura resonated. Like magic, it vibrated the air and pressed down on Berje.
It shook mana into instability.
“Can you use magic even in this situation?”
Crack—
The ground shattered. Berje’s body was crushed under intense pressure.
The corner of Berje’s mouth rose.
“You’re laughing?”
“There doesn’t seem to be any presence around here in particular.”
No matter what happened, no one would know.
“Fine. Then even if one person like you dies, no one will—”
Know.
Berje flicked his hand. Fine cracks ran through the circle of ten.
“Do you know why I came alone to the imperial capital, even though the Third Prince could betray me?”
“What are you—?”
“Because I was confident.”
Confident that he could survive no matter what they did.
────!
The cracks widened.
A massive tearing wave surged, and the aura wavered. The masked men gritted their teeth.
“Because after sinking the tower into the sea, I no longer needed to worry about being discovered.”
“...The tower?”
Black energy collided with the aura. At the ominous, chilling energy completely different from mana, the masked men were horrified.
“A, a demon?”
“I avoided the hero’s march, kidnapped eight princesses in addition, and the accumulated demonic energy—nearly twenty million worth of it.”
All of it.
“It’s a demon! Don’t let your guard—!”
“Because I used it to解除 the interference power.”
The demonic energy exploded.
Not too wide-ranging. But more than enough to instill terror into the knights.
“So there’s no longer any need to endure.”
How dare you.
“There’s no need to tolerate that filthy tongue that dares threaten me.”
“There’s no reason not to crush those disgustingly wide-open eyes.”
One step—Berje moved forward.
“One mouth to reveal the mastermind will be enough. The rest.”
Die.
Darkness—
Swallowed everything.
When the flames died down, nothing remained.
And then—
Red flames purified the darkness.
* * *
“Annihilated?”
“...Yes. All of the Black Lion knights who were waiting to abduct him have disappeared. Only traces of a fierce battle, ashes presumed to be the knights, and pure heat and firepower remain.”
“You’re saying he’s strong enough to annihilate the Black Lion knights alone? Even with Othor leading them?”
Othor was the commander of the Black Lion Knight Order.
Even within the Osrian Ducal House, he was among the top three strongest.
The reason he had taken on such a dirty task was because the Black Lion Knight Order’s strength had been reduced by nearly half during the Hapstrain suppression.
To restore their collapsed power, he had taken the hand Rufus extended and received promises of support. That was why he must have clung to it so desperately.
Yet to kill ten Black Lion knights, including their commander, alone.
“Is there a chance they confessed everything—”
“They are perfectly trained against torture and even have mental-type prohibitions. Unless the Succubus Queen, the Lust Demon King, cast mental magic on them, that won’t happen.”
But she was already dead. From the start, there was no way Pale, said to be Hillan Cargill’s pawn, would have any connection to the Lust Demon King.
“Any further movements?”
“There are no traces of using a transport magic circle.”
“He’s not someone we can capture at a reasonable level. We’ve just stirred up a hornet’s nest.”
Rufus frowned.
“There was someone under Hillan Cargill we should have worried about even more. For now, don’t make any further moves. Track his movements and dig into his past.”
“Yes.”
“Even if not now, I will definitely collect this blood price someday.”
Rufus’s eyes gleamed with killing intent.