3. The Upheaval for the Throne (1)
Now that they had new clothes, their next plan was simply to eat.
So, they entered a moderately crowded restaurant. One would hope that the food was at least decent.
A girl wearing a suspiciously conspicuous robe stared at them, but they didn’t care. Their sole focus was the meal.
-Why do you keep stuffing your face with food?
A giant with red hair picked a fight.
And as he received advice to mind his own business, he shot a bright red sphere at them.
[Lv.103]
The number floating above the man’s head was quite intimidating.
However, they felt that they could definitely handle this red sphere.
Therefore, they only knocked it down with a parry.
-It’s the Empire’s Sword.
It was unbelievable that they had killed one of the top ten strongest warriors in the Empire.
***
“Stand back.”
From behind the horrified knights who were crying out in disbelief, came a smooth voice.
“Prince Astes!”
Prince Schubert von Astes, the First Prince of the Astes Empire, pushed the knights aside and stepped forward. However, he did not enter the restaurant. Instead, he stood at the threshold, looking at them.
“I heard the testimony of the people outside. According to them, you, ‘Nobles’, killed Kerin Gull, one of the Eight Seats of the Empire. Is that true?”
Schubert had strikingly attractive blond hair.
And his icy eyes stood out sharply.
Nobles.
So addressed, they slowly nodded their heads.
“I killed him.”
Schubert glanced at the black-haired girl sitting at the table next to them. Should this man join the girl’s side, it would complicate matters for him.
Schubert looked at them again.
“Can you tell me why you killed him?”
They pointed to the empty bowl on the table with a flick of their chin.
“He interrupted my meal.”
Schubert’s brows furrowed.
“He… interrupted your meal?”
He had hoped the reason would be anything but protecting the girl. But wasn’t this reason too absurd? Not only Schubert, but also the knights present were dumbfounded, shaking in disbelief.
Schubert, calming his trembling heart, spoke again.
“So you killed one of the Ten Seats of the Empire, the Empire’s Sword, for that?”
Their blue eyes stared back at Schubert.
“Do I need any more reason than that?”
Schwertche swallowed hard.
Cold sweat trickled down his spine.
Without a hint of ferocity.
It was overpowering. This made it even more terrifying. Schwertche couldn’t even begin to comprehend the monster before his eyes.
The confidence to handle any situation at his own will. That’s how Schwertche perceived Yuma’s actions and words.
Schwertche stared at the figures on either side of him.
Trusty direct bodyguards, as always.
To his left was a knight in full red armor, spear in hand. Roark, the ninth seat among the Ten Seats of the Empire, known as the Spear Ghost.
To his right was his direct bodyguard, Leonard.
Can you kill him? For sure?
Roark slowly shook his head.
I cannot assure you.
What if both of you attack him?
Leonard’s eyes went over to Cainegal’s corpse. The gaping hole through his torso had been shockingly harrowing. All more so for Leonard, who knew how strong Cainegal had been.
Still, I can’t promise.
Schwertche once again fixed his gaze on Cainegal’s corpse.
At the chillingly cold body.
The skills backing up that arrogant demeanor were undoubtedly real. Thus, he couldn’t issue any orders.
In a state where not all of the empire’s ten seats were obediently following his orders. He couldn’t afford to gamble and lose one of the obedient ones.
Schwertche looked back at Yuma.
…I won’t hold you accountable for your crimes. My mission lies with the woman next to me. After observing my mission, could you please leave?
It was a clear declaration of defeat.
The prince, responsible for the empire’s security, was offering to pardon the one who killed a member of the Empire’s Swords in the heart of the capital.
But despite the prince’s hopeless situation, the knights could say nothing. They too had been swallowed by fear for a long time.
Yuma quietly studied Schwertche.
A standoff for a moment.
During that standoff, another figure appeared in front of the restaurant.
Brother Schwertche.
It was a woman with snow-white hair.
With deep blue eyes.
Schwertche turned his hardened face to look directly at her.
…Brigitte.
Brigitte von Ashtes, the first princess.
That child is my guest. I should have been out to greet him. I am late.
Schwertche frowned.
His brow furrowed for a moment.
Damn it.
He had even mobilized Cainegal, the 8th seated knight of the Empire, to prevent this very moment. Despite his fiery temperament, Cainegal was a meticulous hunter when it came to finding his kills.
Because of him.
Because of that man, who suddenly appeared out of the blue. Everything had gone wrong.
Schwertsch decided to make his last stand.
With his kind-looking, concrete smile, Schwertsch gazed at Brigitte.
“But Brigitte, it’s the seed of a witch. Even for a child with such magical talent. We don’t know what looming darkness this will sow in the empire.”
Brigitte, without changing her facial expressions, lowered her head.
“Being the daughter of a witch doesn’t mean she has inherited her parents’ characteristics. You must know that, brother.”
And she walked into the dining room without hesitation.
A knight wearing white armor, who had been behind Brigitte, followed her in. It was Michael, Brigitte’s direct knight.
Brigitte stood by the girl’s side.
“I’m sorry, Clone. I couldn’t come to pick you up, having been summoned to the capital.”
The black-haired, golden-eyed girl, Clone, nodded vehemently and knelt down.
“No, your highness! I was able to stay safe, thanks to the one beside me.”
Clone’s radiant golden eyes were fixed on Yuma.
At Clone’s words, Princess Brigitte looked at Yuma, a man with ashen hair sitting with a carefree expression.
‘This man.’
The man who killed the Empire’s Eighth Chair Kainzgal, lying dead at the entrance, in one stroke.
Brigitte approached Yuma.
“Thank you for saving my guest.”
“I didn’t intend to save her. I just intervened because my meal was being disturbed.”
Brigitte couldn’t have any doubts about Yuma not addressing her with honorifics, despite her being royalty.
Due to her royal bloodline, she felt a sense of affinity with the man before her.
The sense of superiority that doesn’t acknowledge anyone else at the top.
“I really appreciate it anyway. I would like to treat you as a guest of honor as thanks for saving my guest. How about it?”
Yuma fell into a moment of contemplation at Brigitte’s words.
He was already pondering leaving this place. Frankly, even if he were to walk out right now, it didn’t seem like anyone would try to stop him.
It was because he could tell, at a glance, that everyone was afraid of him.
It was an obvious fear. He had just killed one of the ten strongest men in the Astes Empire.
‘But avoiding the situation is not a good strategy.’
The destination he had to reach was the clear or conclusion of this game.
To achieve that, he needed to understand this world.
And who would know this world better than the current emperor or empress? Very few, if any.
If he were to choose one of the two, the conclusion was easy.
Because the ＜exploration note＞ provided it for him.
The nature of the deceased Empire’s Eighth Chair, Kainzgal, was wicked. The nature of Prince Schwertsch was neutral.
The nature of both, Princess Brigitte and Clone, was kindness.
“Should I look forward to this hospitality?”
At Yuma’s words, Brigitte smiled brightly.
“Of course.”
“In that case, let’s go.”
Yuma got up. Very gracefully.
The girl, Clone, got up while laughing happily. She was overjoyed at the fact that Yuma was joining them.
Suddenly—
As Yuma stood in front of the door, the knights surrounding the area created a distance between them as if it was a prearranged plan, which included Prince Shuverche as well.
Bridgette.
Ignoring Yuma’s idle gaze, Shuverche, gritting his teeth, halted Bridgette, who was behind Yuma.
Yes, brother.
Making your people is good, but you will also bear the responsibility for the outcomes.
Bridgette looked at Shuverche.
Allow me to give you some advice.
Their gazes coldly intersected.
Please, do not cross the line of human decency.
Shuverche grinded his teeth as he watched Bridgette’s group fade into the distance.
Bridgette led Yuma and Chloe to an elegant crimson carriage.
Clip clop, clip clop—
Yuma, unable to resist the intense gaze that was piercing through her from the seat beside her, glanced over at the person giving her that look.
Do you have something to ask me?
Fifteen years old. A girl with black hair and golden eyes, it was Chloe.
You seem to think that I saved you.
Well, thinking rationally, that was correct. It was more convincing to say that she killed an empire’s dignitary for disrupting her meal, than to help a girl in distress.
Yuma had no intention of correcting Chloe’s misunderstanding.
Excuse me, may I know your name?
You’re asking something simple in a rather difficult way.
Yuma.
Thank you…!
Chloe smiled brightly.
Yuma thought she was too thankful for something trivial.
Miss Yuma.
Chloe engraved Yuma’s name in her head.
Yuma.
The one who called Yuma was not Chloe, but Bridgette who was sitting in the front seat.
Aren’t you curious about what happened just now?
Tell me.
Bridgette laughed at the language which should not have come out of a commoner’s mouth in the presence of a princess.
Yuma, are you a noble?
I am a commoner.
The one who was upset by Yuma’s impudence was not Bridgette, but Bridgette’s direct guard, Michael.
Seeing the rage in Michael’s eyes, Bridgette shook her head to calm him down.
Michael, you can’t beat her anyway.
Michael hung his head low at Bridgette’s words. She was right.
The 8th Seat of the Empire, Cain Gale of the Red Star, killed without a scratch. It was something he could never do. Even though he was confident to match Cain Gale, he couldn’t guarantee a win.
The strong.
This rude commoner standing before me, Yuma, is most likely a strong figure surpassing even the masters’ highest realm. I had no choice but to predict so.
I’ll explain what’s going on.
Bridget returned to the main topic.
Standing at the brink of death is this empire’s center, my father, Emperor Agares.
That meant he was at the point of dying.
He has been unconscious for half a year, and his waking is unpredictable.
Yuma could anticipate what would come out of Bridget’s mouth next.
I suppose we have to decide on the next Emperor.
Bridget nodded.
Yes, that’s right.
