novelraw Chapter 197 : Chapter 197
Chapter 197 : Chapter 197
Chapter 197
“Why at this crucial time!”
Many felt confusion when First Prince Crusty Heinrich left the enemy camp and returned to the Imperial Capital.
At the time, the Imperial Army, under the Emperor's orders, was engaged in a fierce war against the rebellious elements who had murdered royal blood.
His departure from the battlefield caused the forces to split, and as a result, the war led by Second Prince Isaac and Prince Naskin Asran ended in defeat.
Some said Prince Crusty sacrificed the Imperial legions for his own selfish reasons.
Others blamed the Deravia Kingdom, which withdrew from the battlefield hand in hand with the Prince.
Even when the defeat in the war became certain, Crusty did not show himself.
Without an official explanation for his departure from the battlefield, the questions only grew.
In the midst of this, the Imperial Family announced the Emperor's passing.
Even before the Prince could be held accountable for the defeat in the war, countless subjects flocked to the Imperial Capital.
The reign of the 59th Emperor, Pergius Heinrich, lasted 30 years.
A period that could be considered short or long.
“The late King devoted himself to state affairs day and night for the sake of his subjects.”
According to the Empire's official document, the Emperor's cause of death was overwork.
It stated that he drove his weary body to prevent the division of the country, resulting in an early death.
It was a vain end for someone known as an 8-star Knight.
A long procession of mourning followed.
The citizens of the Empire spent three days mourning and honoring the Emperor's death.
Black flags fluttered throughout the city, and songs praising the Emperor's achievements rang out.
People honored his dedication and mourned his passing with due respect.
Ceremonies honoring his honor and merits were held everywhere.
Envoys from each country also visited the Empire to highly praise the late King's reign.
They paid their respects politely, honoring the Emperor who achieved prosperity, hoping his will would be inherited by those remaining.
Flags adorned with the symbols of each country were erected in the court, engraved with respect for the Emperor's reign.
And three days later, Prince Crusty's coronation was announced.
“The new sun of the Empire!”
A majestic voice echoing high from the ceiling filled the palace.
“The eldest son of the Imperial Family, and the great Arch Mage who mastered the 8th star!”
People's gazes were focused on the platform all at once.
“His Highness Crusty Heinrich is entering!!”
The voice of the Imperial Knight rang out boldly among the crowd, and the Imperial soldiers and ministers listened with bated breath.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Crusty Heinrich took a step toward the platform with a dignified gait.
With every step he took, the flags of the Empire unfurled and fluttered around him.
“I never expected His Highness Crusty to have mastered the 8th star.”
“Isn't mastering the 8th star at his current age the youngest in the history of the Continent?”
Cheers erupted among the people.
Expectation spread on everyone's faces that a new light would shine again on the Empire without an Emperor.
Here and there, people looked at Crusty Heinrich with awe-filled eyes.
Although he had been surrounded by numerous suspicions, the confusion seemed to settle calmly after the Emperor's will was made known.
People pledged their loyalty again to him as he ascended to the Imperial Throne.
“It is the beginning of a new era.”
One person's whisper spread among the crowd.
While the flags of the Empire fluttered high overlooking the people, Crusty Heinrich stood on the platform.
“Long live Heinrich!”
Starting with someone's shout.
“Loyalty to the Imperial Family!”
“Infinite glory to the new sun of the Empire!”
“Long live the Thousand-Year Empire!”
Voices swearing loyalty burst out sporadically.
The Empire seemed ready to unite around him.
***
One month has passed since the birth of a new Emperor in the Empire.
Killian had just returned to Eurasia's main castle and resumed his duties.
He checked the pile of reports one by one.
“I'm going to die buried in documents at this rate.”
Killian muttered with a tired face.
War does not end simply with bloodshed on the battlefield.
Someone had to fill the hole in the national treasury caused by the war and handle countless administrative tasks.
The position of Annihilation Squad Leader was also such a role.
Since this war was not ended by agreement, the victory and defeat were clear.
Prince Isaac avoided being captured alive but retreated after losing most of his forces.
The Black Duke, a Duke of the Empire and a Magic Tower Master, breathed his last at Simon's hands.
Naskin Asran and the army he led were beheaded by Escardo without a single survivor.
It was a crushing defeat for the Empire, but the damage on Eurasia's side was also significant.
Red, White, Black, Blue, Yellow.
And Simon's direct unit, the Gray Lancer Order.
All of them suffered more than half casualties during the war.
Among the victims, there were quite a few faces Killian knew.
Fred Perry, the acting Commander and Vice-commander of the Red Knight Order.
Las Veltvik, the Vice-commander of the White Knight Order.
Even Vasago, Huan, and Jesse of the Blue and Yellow Knight Orders.
The Knight Orders and Magic Orders that participated as allies were no different, as three Superhumans, including Kiel Cornelia, lost their lives.
“It will be a painful sacrifice in many ways for Cornelia.”
Not long after, Serena came to visit.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
“How is the recovery?”
“It is finished.”
She said that Aron and Gala, who had been seriously injured, were also recovering quickly.
“I caused you worry.”
“If you know, don't overdo it anymore. Because you have to lead the Annihilation Squad from now on.”
“…….”
With Serena reaching the 7th star, the power of the Annihilation Squad increased significantly.
In the current state, it would be possible to hunt most 7-star Master level Superhumans.
“You only have one life. The loss of a Superhuman, of which there are only five in the Kingdom, cannot be evaluated simply numerically.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Serena quietly looked at Killian.
“You could have told me.”
“……?”
“I mean Hazard.”
“Ah.”
“Am I not the 1st Sword of the Annihilation Squad?”
“That is true.”
Princess Sharle and the Head Apothecary know.
“I didn't know something that even Yulian knows.”
I told her there were circumstances.
I said it was an egg originally obtained from Cornelia, and to minimize those who knew, only two people in the Kingdom knew the fact.
To Serena, it seemed to sound like a mere excuse.
“Hmm.”
Killian showed a troubled reaction.
It was obvious what answer she wanted.
“I promise not to hide anything from next time.”
“Understood.”
Serena answered in a still firm voice.
Killian didn't miss her lips twitching.
It must be a delusion to feel like he had somehow been bested.
“It's late, but congratulations on becoming a Superhuman.”
“What do you intend to do about the Saintess's proposal?”
He had just told her about what happened in the abandoned temple and the boundary of the northern frontier mentioned by the Saintess.
“ shouldn't you tell His Majesty?”
“Originally, I intended to do so.”
Since it was an important matter with the Holy Nation, he tried to report it directly.
However, Simon Eurasia entered closed training immediately after the war ended.
Currently, Escardo was deciding important matters with the ministers as the acting King.
‘At this rate, I don't know who is the King and who is the Knight.’
From a family to a Kingdom.
Compared to a few years ago, Eurasia has achieved immense growth both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Talented people were recruited and placed in key positions in the Kingdom, and the size of the Knight Order was expanded to stably carry out Monster Subjugation on the eastern frontier as well.
If there was one thing that hadn't changed, it was Simon.
Although he went from Family Head to King, he still prioritized his own Sword Way above all else.
‘Well, it wouldn't be a wrong choice.’
Simon is the Knight who supports Eurasia, then and now.
Even in the war with Brussels, and at Delanor Castle, if it weren't for him, Eurasia would have eventually been annihilated.
Even if new 8-star and 7-star individuals appeared in Eurasia, he was still the absolute power.
‘That’s why I know he is trying to reach the 9th star as soon as possible.’
“I intend to report to Sir Escardo as soon as the Saintess's answer comes.”
For now, he had only briefly reported his past actions.
“It is a 7th star reached with difficulty. Focus on stabilizing your rank for now.”
“Understood.”
Serena bowed and withdrew.
It didn't take even a day for the Saintess's reply to arrive.
***
Immediately after receiving the reply, he sought out Escardo.
Even though he was surrounded by all sorts of documents, he welcomed Killian's visit.
“I never knew you would cross the wall so quickly.”
Killian smiled bitterly at Escardo's reaction.
“Because my realization was late, I couldn't reduce the sacrifices.”
“If it weren't for you, Eurasia would have had to pay a greater sacrifice. His Majesty would have said the same.”
Escardo spoke calmly.
However, unlike his voice, his complexion was not good.
“The damage is greater than I thought.”
“War is something that cannot be established without sacrifice, but... it is certainly different from when we were a family.”
Fred Perry.
Evaluated as close to being the next Superhuman along with Serena, he died in this battle.
It was because he got swept up in the Black Dragon's rampage.
Having lost the second-in-command of the Knight Order he had built, Escardo's sense of loss must be unspeakable.
“Did you say Hazard?”
“Yes.”
“I didn't know you would hide it even from me.”
It was the same question as Serena.
“I thought I should be careful even a little about parts that could be caught as a pretext by the Empire.”
I apologize for hiding a power that could be helpful to the Kingdom.
Killian asked for forgiveness.
“No, it is the right judgment. Since I was the one who said the Annihilation Squad Leader has that much discretion. Anyway, a mixed-blood of a Black Dragon and a Green Dragon... Hmmm...”
Escardo showed a reaction as if thinking about something for a moment.
“Let's talk about the treatment of the dragon as soon as His Majesty's closed training ends. And did you say the Saintess proposed a joint investigation team to dispatch to the North?”
“That is correct.”
“What are your thoughts?”
Unlike the time with Hazard, this time there seemed to be no particular feeling of disappointment.
That is because Killian is the negotiator directly chosen by the Pope.
Of course, he knew that something had happened between Simon and the Pope.
“As I reported, the Emperor obtained eternal life through sorcery. Dispatching an investigation team is inevitable.”
“Eternal life following immortality, huh.”
Escardo's face frowned.
If Killian hadn't obtained the information in time, the war would have been used for the Emperor to achieve something.
In that sense, dispatching an investigation team was something that must be done.
“How are you thinking about the organization?”
“I am thinking of about ten people composed of 6-star or higher. I plan to request Cornelia for magical knowledge support as well.”
“Does that include Princess Sharle?”
Escardo asked a peculiar question.
“Sharle is a 6-star Creation Mage. Her actual skill is sufficient to be considered 7-star.”
If she can join, she will be a great help to the investigation team.
Killian said calmly.
“You don't know women.”
“……?”
“Should I say it's regrettable that you don't resemble His Majesty at all in that regard, or should I say it's fortunate?”
“…….”
While Killian was tilting his head at the incomprehensible remark.
“Move as you will. I won't mind if you report later.”
“I will do so.”
When Killian answered briefly and tried to leave.
“Killian.”
Escardo stopped him.
“Congratulations on crossing another wall.”
A somewhat different position from when it was Serena.
“Thank you.”
Ending with a plain greeting, Killian left the room.
Now it was time to prepare to leave for the North.