I Obtained the Final Boss' Power

Chapter 64 : To the Empire's Capital (6)

To the Empire's Capital (6)

The squad members, riding in a fine carriage they would never have dreamt of boarding in their lives, were deep in thought for a moment.

They recalled the reaction of Paulo, the commander of the 7th Legion, upon learning that Dimo was the Hero from the prophecy.

[Is the Empire really coming to an end like this?]

Though they didn't know the details of the prophecy, just those few words made the point clear.

The Hero who was to save this world had died.

The fact that the deceased Dimo was that Hero left their heads spinning.

Since the Hero was dead, there was no one left to save the Empire.

That fear weighed on them, but there was another emotion as well.

It was the sense of guilt that they had survived while Dimo had not.

Remembering the grave look on that elder known as a Swordmaster, they couldn't help but feel the weight.

[Golden aura... Are you sure?]

That day, the squad members had seen the aura Dimo had used just before his death.

It was a golden color, shining like the last light from a dying life.

True to his sense of duty, sacrificing himself for his squad members until the end, it was indescribably beautiful.

That miracle was something they would never forget.

[An aura only the chosen can use. What a disaster. To lose a talent destined to become a 'Paladin' so meaninglessly...!]

They asked Young Master Louis what a Paladin was.

According to the answer, it was the ultimate level of a knight, even beyond a Swordmaster.

While there are about five Swordmasters in this generation, apparently only one Paladin emerges per generation.

Just seeing that Paulo-grandfather was already so incredible, what level must a Paladin be?

Having felt the tremendous strength of the Swordmaster, their regret grew even larger.

[It's a shame we only learned this crucial fact now... But thank you for telling me anyway.]

Immediately after that, Paulo sent off a bird in haste to the capital, saying the situation was urgent.

It was to serve as a medium for a communication spell to be forwarded to His Majesty.

Afterwards, tensed up, the squad members cautiously asked Paulo what they should do now.

When Paulo answered, he had a bleak look on his face.

[For now, just survive.]

Remembering those words, after several days of travel, the squad members finally arrived at the capital.

Their jaws dropped the moment they saw it.

"It's been a really long time since I've been here."

Silia, who got off the carriage last, commented as she looked at the city streets.

She had once been part of the Imperial Court rather than the 7th Legion, so she was fairly familiar with the place.

"This is the capital. What do you think?"

Silia asked the squad members, their eyes sparkling. To her, their curiosity-filled faces were endearing.

"It's so huge! It can't even compare to our home domain."

Compared to the Seifert domain, which was just an ordinary village, this was the capital—its scale overwhelming enough to be called a metropolis.

The ground was paved not with dirt or grass but with tiles, and countless people moved about the streets.

Seeing the many structures and shops placed throughout the city, the squad members' curiosity only grew.

"Hey, everyone. Want to check out that place?"

Pram spotted a beautifully decorated teahouse and pointed it out just as the others were about to agree.

"Where do you think you're going? You think we're here on vacation?"

"Aagh—owwww!"

Silia grabbed Pram's hair, stopping her. Then she showed Pram the spell engraved on her own hand.

"If any of you even think about disobeying, I'll activate this thing right away. Got it?"

"... Yes."

"Speak up!!"

― Yes!!

At Klein's order, the squad members shouted their reply in unison.

And so, they started following behind Klein and Silia.

There was nothing particularly strange about them, yet for knights of the 7th Legion, they looked rather out of place.

Rather than fearsome officers who worked their soldiers to death, they looked more like camp counselors leading students on a field trip.

"How come you aren't using the spell right away anymore?"

Back when they first went out, she'd cast spells as soon as she got annoyed.

To Louis's question, Silia replied,

"This is the capital. If we cause a scene with screams, we'll only get ourselves in trouble."

Just looking around, Louis could understand what Klein meant.

On the streets were people smiling and laughing, and others energetically carrying out their duties.

In the square ahead, children holding toys ran among bright fountains and dazzling lights.

It was peace itself, with not a hint of war to be seen. What would happen if a scream were suddenly heard in such a place?

"Unless it's an emergency, I shouldn't activate the spell."

"So, I set the tracking function but turned off the ability for it to trigger if you go more than 50 meters away."

Klein chimed in at that point.

"Besides, your squad members are victims much like myself. They shouldn't have been branded with stigmata in the first place."

Klein had once been falsely accused alongside Kelian while investigating the Crown Prince.

He understood the situation of the squad members and could sympathize to an extent.

"Didn't expect you to have that side to you, old man."

"I'm not simply a torture-obsessed maniac, all right? Wait, did you just call me old man?"

He was only 33 this year.

"Want to see a true maniac in action?"

"Fine, I'll call you big bro from now on."

With the term of address changed, Klein grinned and shrugged in satisfaction.

"Should've just done that from the start."

He turned his head away, trying to hide his face, but couldn't hide the delighted heartbeat.

It was a bit much, an old man being shy like that, but seeing he already looked old at 33, one could only feel sorry for him.

"So, where are we actually headed?"

They were following him, but no one had mentioned the destination.

They thought they were headed straight for the palace, but if that was the case, there would have been no need to get off the carriage.

"In your current state, you wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the palace."

The squad members' clothes were in tatters from their time in the 7th Legion, and they'd had scant chance to wash up, so they must have stunk to high heaven.

"We really do look like beggars. And we've hardly ever washed, even after getting covered in monster blood."

Hearing Louis's words, the squad members sniffed themselves.

"I don't smell anything?"

When Victor said that, Silia shook her head.

"That's just because you've gotten used to it."

They'd become utterly desensitized to the stench. In fact, their sense of smell had grown dull from the environment.

"I should use this chance to get new equipment and clothes too. There's still time before we meet His Majesty."

By this time, they'd reached a less crowded street on foot. Entering an inn, the innkeeper greeted them warmly.

"Welcome—oh, it's you!"

"Long time no see, Toby. How've you been?"

"I'm so glad you're alive! I was so worried I'd hear word of your death, young master!"

When the innkeeper saw Klein, he greeted him as if they knew each other well.

"Let me introduce you. He's Toby, currently the innkeeper but once served me at the Imperial Magic Tower."

"You used to be with the Magic Tower?"

Victor asked, and Klein snorted.

"I used to be the Tower Master's son, you brat."

Klein was from a distinguished family, after all. Learning that he was called 'young master' left the squad members stunned.

"No way. That foul-tempered old man..."

"Stop lying! How could this guy be a young master?"

"He looks more like a Lord, or even a grandparent."

As the squad members doubted him all at once, Klein's temples bulged as he extended his hand.

"Can't you see this?"

Emphasizing his spell, the squad members quailed. Since there were no other guests, perhaps screams wouldn't matter much.

They hastily apologized.

"Watch yourselves."

"... Yes."

"Speak up!!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

Klein then introduced Silia and the squad members to Toby, explaining what happened in the 7th Legion and why they'd come to the capital.

"I heard the despicable Crown Prince was deposed and His Majesty regained his senses."

"It's because the Great Devil was killed."

"Then the hero who defeated the Great Devil is..."

Klein jerked his head toward Louis, and Toby looked at him in disbelief. The expression was as if to say, "How could that little brat...?"

"I see, I understand the situation now. But you arrived at the capital earlier than expected. His Majesty is currently away in the Holy Nation for some negotiations."

"That's right. That's why I hurried here to get ready."

Klein showed Toby the squad members' sorry state.

"Indeed. If you'd like, the baths are available right now."

"Did you hear that? Go wash up, now."

The moment Pram heard this, her eyes sparkled.

"Really? We can?"

"Do it. That's an order."

"Yes, sir!!"

With a shriek of glee, Pram dashed to the baths.

The other squad members followed, delighted for the rare opportunity to get a proper bath.

"Do you all like this that much?"

Silia, following behind, asked, and the squad members replied like elementary students listening to their teacher, "Yes."

And Silia, unbuttoning her top, said,

"Good. It really is something you should enjoy. So don't start talking about how you wish you had died instead of Dimo."

"..."

Somber as they'd been on the way, upon arriving in the capital they'd changed entirely.

Living here for a few days was the perfect chance to lighten their heavy feelings.

****

That night, after their bath, the squad members slept comfortably at the inn.

Unlike the perpetually unwashed blankets of the 7th Legion, the inn's comforters were luxurious.

Some of the squad members fell asleep the moment their bodies touched the bedding.

Their rooms were divided into male and female groups.

While they slept in their respective rooms, a serious discussion was underway downstairs.

"Do you know what the current military strength in the palace is, now that His Majesty is absent?"

"The main forces likely followed His Majesty to the Holy Nation's capital."

Klein felt uneasy about Toby's line of questioning. Military strength and security could not be taken lightly.

"Recently, there have been eyewitness reports of suspicious individuals nearby. Apparently they have brown skin and pointed ears."

"Demonkin, then."

Klein realized who they were and frowned.

"They wouldn't be loitering in the capital for no reason."

"So I thought, too, but after you arrived, the pieces fit together."

"What do you mean?"

Toby paused briefly, glancing at the staircase up to the second floor.

"Among your group... is there someone from the prophecy?"

Klein's face hardened instantly.

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden..."

"There's a soldier among you who defeated the Great Devil, is there not?"

That soldier was Louis. So, were the demonkin gathering here because of him?

The demonkin were desperate to kill the Hero from the prophecy.

The dark mages who worshipped demons were no different.

"So, they're gathering in the capital because of Louis?"

"Obviously, if someone defeated the Great Devil, they'd assume it was the prophesied Hero."

In truth, it's impossible to defeat an Great Devil with human strength alone.

One would have to possess the power of an Great Devil to critically wound such a being.

The Holy Nation possessed holy power, but it was unrealistic for someone with great holy power to have been conscripted into the 7th Legion.

Only someone who had reached transcendent heights—like a Paladin or a Great Mage—might possibly do it, but none had emerged in this generation.

The only credible candidate was the Hero. The prophecy said the Hero could share the power to resist demons with others.

"Anyone blessed by the Hero gains the strength to face demons. If all those soldiers fought the Great Devil with that strength, I suppose it's possible."

"Even so, realistically speaking, it's impossible. Would sticking a toothpick in an Great Devil's body kill it? And do you think a bunch of criminals would have the guts to fight such a monster?"

"But apart from the Hero, there's no other suspect."

Toby's reasoning for the demonkin assuming it was the Hero wasn't completely wrong.

But Klein was dumbfounded by their lack of consideration for the details.

Even if there were a real Hero, he would still be immature at this point.

"So, they're gathering around the capital, plotting something to kill the Hero? Such fools."

This was the capital, after all. Demonkin couldn't possibly breach its impregnable defenses.

Even with His Majesty absent, their plans would hardly go so smoothly.

"The Crown Prince they trusted has long been deposed."

They were digging their own graves, coming here now. Klein chuckled bitterly.

"Maybe they have someone else they trust besides the Crown Prince?"

Louis, descending from the second floor, joined the conversation. When Klein asked why he was awake, Louis responded,

"How could I sleep with such serious voices coming from downstairs?"

****

Even in a busy capital, there were always districts no one visited.

Over time, abandoned areas became infamous for ghost stories and were finally sealed off.

Southeast of the city center was a mountain, and beneath it, a wide underground corridor thick with sinister energy.

In that forsaken place, people with brown skin and pointed ears had gathered in droves.

At their feet lay the split-open corpses of knights, and before them, a small girl in a dress stood trembling.

"Well, you need to make a decision now. You know what'll happen otherwise, don't you?"

"I'll never give in to you demonkin..."

The girl tried to resist, but the leader, a man with a tattoo covering half his face, snorted.

He covered one eye and spoke.

"Still not fully trained, I see."

When he reopened the eye, it turned into a demonic eye. As it glowed red, the girl suddenly coughed up blood.

"Guh...!!"

"You're well aware that I can kill you anytime I want, yes?"

Terrified by the blood flowing from her mouth, the girl's eyebrows quivered.

A curse.

What the demonkin had placed on her was a curse that could kill the target at any time, anywhere, even if the word 'curse' was merely spoken, and it would activate just by reacting to holy power that could break it.

Meaning, even trying to lift the curse would kill her.

"If you're going to resent someone, resent your dear brother. He's the one who put the curse on you at our request. He's deposed and no longer in the capital, though."

"... I'll cooperate..."

Driven by the terror of the curse, the girl accepted their offer.

At this, the demonkin behind them began absorbing the corpses with their hands.

Having absorbed them, the demonkin transformed into exact replicas of the dead knights.

The girl flinched at the sight.

"It's a trait of the bug monsters inhabiting the demon realm. They can freely mimic life forms they've absorbed."

Now disguised as knights, the demonkin could cause untold trouble in the capital.

The girl, anxious, watched as the demonkin leader, now also disguised as a knight, spoke.

"Now, go and find out who the prophesied Hero is. Princess."

Intimidated by the command, the girl responded quietly.

"... Yes."