DSB 144

1. My Emperor.

The war ended inconclusively. Not only did the Empire lack the manpower to fight the North, but the exposure of the crimes committed by Biakin, the leader who had declared the war, had the greatest impact.

The Emperor was found dead in his own bedroom, and everyone in the Imperial Palace returned to their families as cold corpses.

Rumors that Biakin had made a pact with a demon spread like wildfire. People even speculated that he intended to conquer the world, starting with the North, by gaining power through this contract with the demon.

However, the safety of the Empire was more important than the rumors that were growing in volume. The only remaining bloodline of the imperial family had lost the right to become Emperor.

Those who witnessed the battle between Yutis and Norman in the capital unleashed their greatest rage upon Biakin. However, those who did not witness it had no choice but to voice their dissatisfaction in a different direction.

While it was certainly reprehensible that Biakin had made a pact with a demon, their pride could not tolerate the fact that the Empire had been occupied by the North, whom they called barbarians. Empowered by this, provincial nobles seized the opportunity and led their armies toward the capital. From the perspective of most citizens of the Empire, the northerners who had caused this chaos were inevitably more detestable than Biakin.

Meanwhile, since most of the powerful central nobles had been killed by Biakin, the provincial nobles sought to seize wealth and power during the Emperor’s absence. Other individuals attempted to challenge for the imperial throne, a goal they had never dared to dream of before.

Lebel saw right through such human desires; he left the gates wide open. The meaning was, “If you dare challenge, go ahead.”

Despite seeing the gates open, the uprising entered the capital without much suspicion. The inhabitants of the capital were also citizens of the Empire. They believed that they had aided their entry in order to reclaim the Empire from the northerners.

Flags bearing the imperial crest and noble insignias fluttered as they passed through the gates. The iron-clad troops stormed in with faces full of tension, yet the capital, which the northern army had occupied, was excessively peaceful.

Although the aftermath of the battle had not completely vanished, reconstruction work was proceeding. Broken roads and buildings quickly returned to their original state, and the people walking the streets were as calm as ever. It was to the point where no one could have imagined that northerners were among them.

Count Lordren, who had entered leading his troops with dignity at the forefront, puffed out his shoulders. Soon after, with the imperial place right before his eyes, he raised his sword and spear high proclaiming the legitimacy of their cause and shouted.

“Do you believe the North has defeated the Empire? No, they have merely taken advantage of the chaos to occupy the capital! Do you see legitimacy in a war in which a cowardly demon has intervened? Are you not ashamed to invoke the name of God? We must reclaim the capital, the symbol of the Empire, from those barbarians with our own hands!!”

Flags emblazoned with the Empire’s crest fluttered as they passed through the gates. However, the citizens of the Empire lining both sides of the street did not cheer. They looked down at what was happening through their windows or passed by in silence. Their gazes were tinged with weariness rather than anticipation.

“If you care for the Empire, you must join us!”

No one responded, yet the army did not halt its march. As Lordren crossed the capital, no northern knights were blocking the army’s path or roaming the interior. Through this, Lordren was convinced that the knights, led by his ally Count Nefar, had driven out the northern army.

However, since there was no news, he thought that something unexpected must have happened within the palace.

That was why he could not have suspected that this silence itself was caused by the North. He did not know the exact size of the northern army, but this was the capital, the center of the Empire. They had not even believed that the northern army had suddenly appeared in the capital in the first place.

The number of people that could be moved by magic was fixed, and unless it was a large-scale spell, moving an entire army was difficult. Therefore, if some knights from the North were hiding in the capital, they were already trapped like rats in a cage. Putting all this information together, common sense dictated that the news of the North occupying the capital was likely false.

According to secretly obtained intelligence, there were more than a few provincial nobles who shared their views. There were also rumors that as central nobles who supported the imperial family met mysterious deaths one after another, armies led by other nobles seeking to seize power had stormed the capital several times.

Now was the time to leave open the possibility that, rather than a war with the North, a power struggle among the nobles would break out amidst the chaos.

Lordren boldly crossed the gates of the capital. Although the empty, deserted city felt strange, he hurried toward the palace. However, at that moment, a strange magic circle appeared beneath his feet, and the scenery changed in an instant.

“I was bored waiting. That’s your friend over there, right?”

He blinked foolishly. A man he had never seen before was sitting in the seat where the Emperor ought to be. Although his stature was diminutive for the massive throne, he exuded dignity with every gesture. Above all, his beautiful appearance was enough to leave everyone speechless.

Everyone could not take their eyes off him. Lordren glared at the man. He tried to grasp the situation as quickly as possible.

“W-where is this….”

“The Emperor’s audience chamber. Did you come to the imperial palace to steal the imperial seal? What you want is in my hands, so try to take it away if you can.”

The man tossed the imperial seal, which was meant to be kept in pristine condition, into the air as if it were a mere stone. Lordren did not recognize him. He was not that infamous monster of the North, either. Since the Empire had already driven the North out, he assumed the man was just one of the nobles he did not know.

It seemed he had seized the throne by sheer luck, but with sufficient troops by his side, Lordren believed it would not be difficult for him to take the throne. Moreover, there were no soldiers or knights near the man at that moment.

“Strike him!”

Even amidst the chaos, the army followed the order without question. Even if unexpected forces appeared, there was no need to hesitate, as they had resolved to fight and win.

“How foolish.”

The man murmured calmly.

“I don’t need anything else but him.”

He pointed only at Lordren, the commander of the army.

“Understood. I will handle the other soldiers and knights as usual.”

No sooner had the man finished speaking than a mist-like cloud rippled, and a man who hadn’t been there just moments before appeared. Then, the soldiers and knights who had charged began to vanish. Lordren gaped in disbelief as he watched his troops disappear one by one.

“W-what is going on….”

“You’re slow to understand the situation. That’s probably why you brought your army here.”

He clicked his tongue briefly and leaned back in his chair. His posture made him look languid and bored, yet his eyes were cold. Meeting those blood-red eyes, Lordren felt as though he were being stripped bare.

“To think you’ve brought such a force here, knowing that the northern army has already occupied the capital. Why is it that none of you are willing to surrender and bow your heads in submission? Since the North has no way to send reinforcements or supplies here, did you look for an opportunity to seize the vacant throne?”

Lordren simply swallowed nervously. No lie or excuse would work in his presence. The man scoffed; it was obvious without even being told.

“If you were going to attack, you should have come all at once. It’s tiresome that you’re coming separately.”

“It is because they belong to different factions. Still, most have gathered here. Even if you become Emperor, won’t you need servants to command?”

“I told you I won’t become Emperor.”

“That is merely my wish.”

Lordren’s eyes widened in surprise. Upon hearing the name Lebel, he recalled the prince who had been sold to the North.

“H-how could you become Emperor….”

However, Lordren could not properly finish his sentence. His shadow rippled, and from it, a huge wolf suddenly emerged.

He reflexively drew his sword, but sharp fangs chewed through even solid iron, shattering the blade. Sticky saliva dripped onto his face. It felt as though the wolf before him was about to swallow him whole in a single gulp.

“Karon, don’t eat anything strange.”

At Lebel’s gesture, the wolf wagged his tail vigorously and ran toward him.

“Hmm, since such things might happen again, how about hanging a few of them at the castle gate as an example? I see a few foolish humans who refuse to obey even after witnessing Lord Lebel’s power. Those with disrespectful hearts must be niped out quickly.”

“Enough. That bastard has killed too many people. We need to keep a reasonable number alive for the Empire to function. However, with so much free labor coming in, it looks like the reconstruction of the capital will be quick. Since they are swordsmen, they must be strong.”

“The reconstruction is proceeding smoothly, just as Lord Lebel wishes. It will be finished soon.”

“Hmm. Good.”

Lordren realized that his fate rested on a single word from that man. It wasn’t just him. The same was true for the other nobles who had invaded first.

Only then did he notice the other nobles trembling in terror, unable to even breathe. Although nothing was binding them, they all knelt, like those who had lost the will to flee. There were many who were covered in blood, and others who had turned pale from sweating profusely.

“Does anyone really have no intention of becoming Emperor?”

“Is there anyone more suitable than Lord Lebel? Since you have inherited the bloodline of the imperial family, you are the legitimate heir.”

“You are the only one who thinks that way. I have already married and become an outsider.”

[Even so, I believe there is no one worthy of the throne other than Lord Lebel!]

Lebel tapped the armrest of his chair with a dissatisfied expression.

He did not covet the throne, nor did he refuse it because the weight of the position was too heavy. Faced with this unexpected sight, Lordren was left speechless.

“Is bloodline really that important? It’ll all mix eventually. It would be a perfect fit if my father-in-law or Yutis took it… I didn’t want to be king even in the Demon Realm. But if you tell me to become Emperor even here, what am I supposed to do? The land is so vast that there will be even more work to do. I can’t just cut it in half, either.”

Just then, the doors burst open. The person who walked in, making heavy, majestic footsteps, was someone Lordren knew well. The one known as the monster and demon of the North. As he appeared, Lebel, who had been sitting on the throne, rose.