Kill the Emperor

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

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Chapter 97 : Madness

The reason I acted so harshly toward Drak was not solely because of his evil deeds.

'If both he and I have decided not to think about the consequences, it's better to trample him thoroughly. That way, my name will become a bit more famous.'

I raised my head and looked around.

The duel was over, but the audience was as quiet as a dead mouse.

"……."

Just a moment ago, these were people who were applauding me.

But now, no one clapped their hands.

Clearly, it was Drak who crossed the line of the duel first, but they were appalled by the terribly firm response I showed in return.

'Perhaps it is notoriety that is rising.'

Showing a bitter smile once, I turned my gaze to Bahmut, who was still collapsed and panting.

The reason Bahmut collapsed and trembled like this was due to the energy it had absorbed.

'If you had only swallowed the aura, there would have been no reason to collapse like this. But if you want to blame someone, blame your stupid owner.'

Neither Drak nor Bahmut expected that Spirit Power was mixed in the energy I had let flow.

In fact, I knew from the first moment I saw this Bahmut that it was a mutant.

'The shape and density of the scales, the color of the eyes, the head shape, and the skeleton. It's a mutant species that absorbs Blade Aura.'

Once I knew that fact, there was nothing difficult about dealing with it.

Rather, I was just glad that the opportunity to test the 'Spirit Soul Magic Armor' I wanted to use came quickly.

'It means that even without any awakening, very weak Spirit Power can be activated. I wonder how strong it will be when Sherazade succeeds in awakening the spirits sleeping inside?'

Since the Magic Armor was still in an almost raw state, the Spirit Power I could draw out was extremely weak, but this much was enough to make Bahmut collapse from indigestion.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"Excellent! Very excellent!"

At that moment, cheerful applause and a voice that did not fit the situation at all were heard.

The owner of the voice was Themia.

Themia kicked his seat, came out, patted my shoulder, and began to praise me.

"As expected, my eyes were not wrong. Didn't I tell you when I first saw you? That you seem like a very interesting guy."

My victory? Or Drak's right leg being cut off?

What on earth was so enjoyable that Themia did not hide his smile while even clapping his hands?

"Your Highness! Youuur Highness! I…… am un…… justly treated!"

Drak's scream resonated behind the highly excited Themia's back.

"That guy, that…… despicable…… guy…… clearly pulled a trick on my Bahmut! Your Highness, that…… guy…… who insulted the sacred duel hosted by…… Your Highness…… punish him immediately!"

Even amidst extreme pain and shock, Drak did not stop pleading with Themia.

Themia, who was quietly listening to Drak's scream, which was close to instinct, ordered his attendant knights.

"Stand that guy up."

The attendant knights who were tending to Drak's wounds quickly stood him up.

Themia approached Drak, who was still pouring out blood, and asked.

"Hein Reichart pulled a cowardly trick?"

"Th-that is correct. Your Highness! If that guy hadn't pulled a trick…… cough, how could my Bahmut……."

Unable to overcome the shock, Drak did not stop talking even while vomiting blood from his mouth.

Shing-

Themia, hearing that shout, pulled out a sharp dagger.

"Retard."

And with the blade of the dagger placed against Drak's left earlobe, he shot a look full of contempt.

"Yo-Your Highness!"

"Drak, don't you get it yet? Even if Hein Reichart pulled a trick, you lost at that point. That lizard collapsed over there is the one you raised yourself. Yet you didn't even notice that a guy you met for the first time today pulled a trick, and you even fell for it?"

Slash.

As Themia applied force to the hand holding the dagger, blood flowed from Drak's thick earlobe.

"How far do I have to advertise your incompetence?"

"Yo-Your Highness!"

"Hein Reichart. I have one question for you."

Without relaxing his grip on the dagger, Themia turned his gaze to me.

"How about it? No matter how I think about it, one leg is a bit lacking, right? Would you be roughly satisfied if we add about one ear?"

"Your Highness!"

The one Themia asked was me, but the one who screamed was Drak.

"Shut your mouth. Grand Duke, you are listening too, right? This trash still hasn't come to his senses and keeps insulting you, saying it's a trick or whatever? Are you going to forgive this son of a bitch just by cutting off one leg?"

"……."

"No, no. No matter how I think about it, one leg is not enough. The calculation doesn't add up with just that. I think the calculation will fit only if we cut off this one ear as well. Just say the word, Grand Duke. If you say you will do it, I will handle all the troublesome work."

Themia repeatedly giggled and urged me for an answer.

"Your Highness, then does the right to choose lie with me?"

"Of course. You are the winner of the duel, and you are also the one who was insulted by this incompetent pig bastard. You should have the right to choose."

Themia declared that the authority over Drak's right ear lay with me……

"I am satisfied with this much."

And I declared that I would liberate Drak's ear, which was held hostage.

"What? Really?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"……Tch, what a generous Grand Duke you are."

Only then did Themia remove the dagger he had placed against Drak's ear.

And the spectators who were watching this scene with bated breath finally sighed in relief.

At that moment,

"What's with those relieved expressions? The calculation isn't finished yet."

Themia swung the dagger with a cheerful hand movement.

"Aaaaaaaack!"

A scream so loud that it couldn't be compared to anything before.

And the spot where the right eyeball was embedded just a moment ago was now completely empty.

"I told you. If you show an unsightly appearance here, my face will also be crumpled. Even if the generous Grand Duke forgives your ear, you still have to pay the price for crumpling my face."

Then, he carefully picked up the piece of meat that had fallen miserably by wrapping it in a cloth, handed it to Drak, and said.

"Swallow it."

"Uhh…… uhhhhh……."

"Swallow it. Should you go around dropping the body your parents gave you anywhere?"

He didn't explicitly say the words, 'If you swallow this right here, I will at least spare your life.'

But Drak, who could understand the intention without having to hear it, barely achieved the task given by Themia with the single thought of surviving.

"Now, you must also bow and say 'Thank you!' to the Grand Duke who reattached your ugly and foolish ear. Hurry."

"Th-thank you. Grand Duke…… uhhhhh……."

"Well done. What are you doing? Not taking Drak to the doctor immediately!"

With the greeting offered by Drak, who had become a truly terrible sight, only then did the duel conclude.

"Ah……."

In the meantime, the ladies of noble families who were watching this scene with bated breath could not overcome the shock and collapsed here and there.

'Perhaps it would have been better for that guy to die right here.'

Watching Drak heading to the doctor in a mutilated state, I shook my head.

For Drak, losing the trust of the 1st Prince was a bigger problem than losing one eye and a leg.

Since the solid backing that covered up his numerous evil deeds was gone, it was practically the same as being dead even if he was alive.

If this news was heard, there would probably be more than one or two tribesmen waiting for Drak's return.

'Perhaps he will become a fugitive unable to return to his tribe forever. Though this is only if he can escape.'

Of course, it was not a regrettable issue at all for Themia.

There are many Lindworm tamers even if it's not Drak, but there is only one 1st Prince of the Empire.

"Hey, by the way, I see you in a new light."

Themia, who had finished all the cleanup before anyone knew it, approached me while wiping his hands.

"Just yesterday you were pretending to be quiet because we were meeting for the first time, but you surprisingly have quite the guts? Going swoosh swoosh like this."

Watching Themia, who was busy praising me by patting my shoulder repeatedly as if I had done something commendable, I muttered in my mind.

'That's not something you, who gouged out a perfectly fine raw eye, should say.'

Whether he knew my mind or not, Themia was busy asking questions while casually draping his arm over my shoulder.

"But what wind blew to make you go that far? The difference in skill was obvious enough that there was no need to decide the outcome in this way."

"It was that side who crossed the line first."

"Well, that is true. It was Drak, that guy, who rushed at you aiming for your neck first. So you got angry because of that and snipped off his leg?"

"I have no intention of forgiving one who points a sword at me."

"Wow, cool. Cool! I like you more and more! But you know, you said just a moment ago. That you have no intention of forgiving the guy who pointed a sword at you?"

Themia's voice, which had been cheerful like a child, suddenly changed insidiously.

"What will happen if I point a sword at you?"

"……."

"Will I also end up in a state where I cannot be forgiven?"

"No matter what I do, in the end, it will be as Your Highness wishes."

Considering the overwhelming difference in national power between the Empire and Zodiac, if Themia seriously made me his enemy, there was no way Zodiac could withstand that attack.

However, hidden in my answer was the meaning, 'Even so, I will not give up on pointing a sword at you.'

"Kek, this is what they call a wise answer to a foolish question."

Themia, who saw through that fact, showed a smile.

"Even though I look like this, I pride myself on having quite an eye for people. But I think you are one of two things."

In fact, although Themia himself was called a scoundrel, at least he prided himself on having the best eye for people in the Empire.

"Either a very wise and interesting person, or a very, very arrogant son of a bitch."

Themia took one step closer to me.

"That wound on your neck, you could have avoided it if you wanted to, right?"

"……."

"Well, if you don't want to answer, you don't have to. I'll think whatever is comfortable for me. Since there is still quite some time left, let's get to know each other slowly from now on."

Only after saying this did Themia finally move away from me.

"Ah, you don't have to worry about the aftermath. I'll tell those tribe guys, Draco or whatever, not to even dream of picking a fight with your country using this incident as an excuse."

"Thank you."

"What thanks, I should be the one saying that since you showed me such an interesting spectacle after a long time. And considering Drak's usual behavior, I wonder if there will be any guys stepping up to take revenge. Kek."

Themia laughed for a long while with his arms crossed like that.

"Come drink tea sometime when you have time. I'll call you when Isabella is here."

And with an incredibly cheerful voice, he foreshadowed inviting me to a tea party with his sister.

"Because I think something interesting will happen if I put you and Isabella in one place."

Briefly, warmth seeped into his eyes as he mentioned his sister's name,

"I'm going. See you next time! Mr. Grand Duke. Thanks to you, it was very, very fun after a long time!"

Themia walked away from me, dripping with overflowing madness.

"……."

Among the remaining people, the only one maintaining his sanity was me.

Everyone except me was wounded by the poison filled with a lethal dose of madness emitted by 'Themia Tercios'.

'It's not even strange. That guy is a madman outside the norm.'

Come to think of it, during the Empire's civil war, the only ones who maintained their sanity until the end without getting drunk on that tremendous madness were Alexar himself and,

'Gillian…….'

Only my old friend who had the talent to suppress the 1st Prince's malice.

Thud thud.

Having achieved my goal, I left the duel site and returned to the quarters where I was staying.

At least the name 'Hein Reichart of Zodiac' would have been clearly imprinted on the people gathered there.

Since there must be someone dispatched from a country under Maganus's influence among them, Scada's delegation, which will arrive here soon, will also learn of my existence.

'Since I finished the urgent matter and have time left, shall I take care of a debt I need to repay?'

I washed off the smell of blood soaked in my body through a shower, called the servant in charge of me, and asked,

"I went through a bit of a troublesome matter today, so I want to rest comfortably. Do you know a decent place?"

"I will prepare the place you mentioned right now. The Grand Banquet Hall might be difficult, but the Small Banquet Hall can be prepared, so if you wait a moment, I will prepare a place where Your Excellency can rest."

The servant said he would make a place immediately, but I shook my head.

"No, I appreciate the words, but I want to rest in a slightly more comfortable place."

"Your Excellency, do you perhaps mean you want to go outside the Imperial Palace?"

The quick-witted servant immediately caught what I intended.

I smiled faintly and asked the servant.

"Can you recommend a decent salon in the capital?"