DSB 143

Before Norman could even call out Biakin’s name, the radiance exploded. When Norman turned at the blinding light and terrifying force he felt from behind, it was already too late.

He twisted his body, but the sword strike that flew toward him with lightning speed sliced deep into his side. He crashed to the ground.

Meanwhile, Yutis summoned his last ounce of strength to sever Biakin’s magic. Yutis ignored the man staring at him with an empty expression, and walked toward Norman.

“It’s finally over.”

“Over…? Who decided it’s over? Have you forgotten this body is merely a shell?”

Just as Norman tried to abandon the body and flee, a massive shadow appeared overhead. Then something flew down and pierced Norman’s chest.

Norman became bound to the human body. He stammered in panic as he stared at the spear lodged in his chest.

“Th-this is…”

[How does it feel to be struck by the artifact you prepared? You’ll never escape from there. ]

No sooner had Karon, mounted atop Luceris, than Yutis swung the holy sword without hesitation.

Just like that day, Norman’s head rolled across the floor.

The difference this time was that he couldn’t even escape as a soul and simply died. Yutis finally caught his breath, staring at the dead Norman.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, y-yes. Yes. Yes….”

The person who had nearly been attacked by Norman sat on his butt, staring up at Yutis.

Luceris scanned Yutis’s body. He was seeing the result of giving his power to a human with his own eyes. It felt like this whole situation was his fault, and he felt a little sorry about it.

[Are you alright? Edmund was really worried.]

[Is this why you’ve been floundering all this time? Of course it was hard without me. But where is Lord Lebel? Did you leave Lord Lebel alone just to chase after Norman?!]

Unlike Luceris, Karon was preoccupied with finding Lebel, regardless of whether Yutis was hurt or not.

“I’m unharmed too, so don’t worry.”

Yutis, who noticed Lebel approaching faster than anyone else, tossed aside the holy sword and ran to Lebel before embracing him.

“I did it.”

He hugged him so tightly he couldn’t breathe, forcing Lebel to pat his back.

“Well done.”

“It’s thanks to you.”

“You were the one who finished it.”

Checking on Yutis, Lebel saw how exhausted he was. Fighting Norman had completely drained Yutis’s demonic energy.

“Should I give you a kiss?”

Yutis flinched briefly but quickly shook his head in refusal.

“I’ll make up for it when we get back. I can’t keep you standing around in a place like this.”

The area around Norman and Yutis’s fight was devastated.

The capital’s people finally realized the situation was over and began to cautiously crawl out. But one person was missing.

“Karon, bring him here.”

[Luceris has already captured him.]

Just as they wondered where the big fellow was, he appeared with Biakin in his jaws. Biakin fell before Yutis and Lebel.

“Your… Highness?”

“Why is Your Highness here… he was heading to the front lines because of the war with the North…”

The people who had been looking at Yutis and Lebel with confused expressions finally recognized the Crown Prince. Lebel walked forward confidently and declared.

“The one you trusted and followed made a pact with demons. As a result, countless humans died. Did you see those creatures attack Yutis? This one sacrificed them as prey to a demon.”

“That’s not—”

Lebel sealed Biakin’s mouth with magic.

“If that’s not the case, then why did those humans bear faces you all knew so well? How could the North turn the people of the imperial capital into that? They weren’t even participating in the war.”

Just as unrest spread like wildfire, someone screamed.

“Give me back my son!”

A middle-aged woman spotted a familiar face among the charred human soldiers and cried out. Others nearby reacted the same way.

“Didn’t you say you couldn’t return home for a while because of a confidential investigation? Was it all a lie?!”

“I thought it was strange… I begged to know if he was safe, but I was refused every time and never received a single letter!”

“After we received an oracle saying that demons were bringing chaos to the human world, we had no choice but to fight against the imperial army. That army was made up entirely of men like that.”

People’s gazes turned to the human soldiers, now burned to ashes.

“The North knew the Empire had fallen into the demon’s hands. Proof of that was Yutis obtaining the holy sword, and the god even sent a guardian capable of opposing the demon.”

As many eyes fell upon him, Luceris grew flustered, but he straightened his posture.

“I too, once a member of the imperial family, believed I had to stop my brother.”

Only then did the people realize who Lebel was. Called the Foolish Prince, he had never engaged in public affairs, so none of them had seen him before and could not recognize him immediately.

However, his golden hair, crimson eyes, and beautiful features were widely known, and there was no one who did not know he had become Yutis’s bride.

“So clear the way for us. We will thoroughly investigate what the demon did within the imperial palace. Do you refuse to acknowledge what you saw with your own eyes?”

The imperial knights, who had hesitated over whether to save Biakin or not, stood with their swords drawn.

“Shouldn’t you also see the true face of the imperial family? Or have you all become accomplices?”

Luceris spread his wings wide, while Yutis and Karon glared at them, ready to attack at any moment.

The suspicious gaze of the citizens weighed heavily upon the imperial knights.

“Just in time, Father-in-law and Father have arrived.”

Timely, the northern knights led by Merick quickly cleared the surrounding area.

They cleared the rubble, rescuing those trapped beneath or unable to move, while priests tended to the wounded.

The northern army was cleaning up the aftermath left by the war.

“Step aside. Your duty is not to protect the imperial family, but the citizens living in the empire.”

At Yutis’s words, the imperial knights glanced around warily before slowly lowering their swords.

Damian wondered what had happened as he looked around in stunned silence, then he spotted Lebel and rushed over breathlessly.

“You… Wh-what did you do?!”

“Father, now that I’ve seized the Empire, what shall I do?”

At Lebel’s calm reply, Damian’s jaw dropped to the floor. Edmund glanced at the subdued Biakin, then quietly signaled to the knights.

Biakin resisted, but was dragged away by the northern knights. He would be branded a criminal who sought to destroy the nation.

Lebel left the frozen Damian behind and approached Edmund.

“Father-in-law…”

Just as he was about to ask his opinion, Edmund abruptly excused himself.

‘Shouldn’t he be happy?’

Biakin had killed his own father and even brought demons to harm the nation; he had no right to be emperor.

He was an unpleasant man, but crossing the line actually made things easier. With the major nobles already gone, they couldn’t oppose whatever happened to the Empire.

Once the northern knights marched on the capital, the North had effectively seized control of the Empire. Imperial authority naturally fell into the North’s hands.

Lebel realized there was another person and turned his head. The emperor Lebel wished to elevate was him.

He had only asked the two elders because he feared Yutis might feel burdened. As the heir, whoever among them became emperor, Yutis would naturally succeed to the throne.

Despite the battle’s aftermath, Yutis was busy with his knights, tending to the wounded and clearing the ruins. Lebel approached him.

“Yutis, will you become emperor? If you wish it, you can.”

Yutis’s eyes widened at the unexpected words. Those around them held their breath.

“I… would much rather live as a husband to my wife than as emperor.”

Lebel’s eyes widened, then blinked slowly. A moment later, he smiled.

A clear, refreshing laugh rang out, one out of place in the heart of the devastated capital. It was a bright, pure resonance, as if it sought to sweep away all darkness.