Chapter 184: Founding Anniversary Ball (1) (1/2)

The ball is about to begin. The battle for this current arc will last for around 14 episodes, with a twist coming around in 3-4 episodes from now (actually, the battle will start at the twist). I’ll try not to take a break day in releasing the chapters, since I’m excited with this arc too. As for why this chapter was late, it’s all that Seven-Killings fault. It took me a while to realize that ‘Seven-Killings’ was a name and not some weird attack move.

Terms used in this chapter:

Forward operating base – a secured military base used to conduct further operations and act as a strategic center. They are supported by the main operating base.

Seven-Killings – An ancient Chinese deity and one of the 10 Gods used in BaZi, a Chinese astrology thing. It also refers to a warrior or general. In this series though, it is mostly used as an alias of a character.

Deep-rooted trees are not shaken by the wind.

This was a common saying used to describe the country since the Sälen Kingdom was indeed a great and large country with a vast territory and immense national strength. To the extent that it wouldn’t even budge if it got pushed a bit.

‘That’s why they raised the scale.’

Even deep-rooted trees could shake.

‘Just like how even a healthy person wouldn’t survive if they suffer from a series of serious illnesses.’

The demon followers prepared three events to destroy the Sälen Kingdom.

‘One is the barbarians’ invasion of the north.’

The horrors of war engulfed the wild lands and the north, causing great chaos.

They directly destroyed the north.

‘The other is the annihilation of the royal family.’

They erased the royal capital and the royal family, turning the Sälen Kingdom into a headless nation.

At the same time, they destroyed the barrier of the royal capital and opened the Hell Gate to maximize the confusion in the center.

‘The last one.’

Their final plan to plunge the south into the depths of destruction.

All three of these were successful in the game, which led to the disastrous fall of the Sälen Kingdom.

‘And the seven major calamities that followed.’

Their nightmarish scheme to destroy the Argon Empire after the Sälen Kingdom.

After a long adventure in the mid-to-late half of Legend of Heroes 2, the protagonists eventually succeeded in defeating all the seven major calamities.

However, their victory was nothing but a painful victory.

The Argon Empire had already been destroyed, and the entire continent was burned to ashes by the flames of war.

‘It would have been a good thing if it had ended there.’

But that didn’t happen.

Because the Great Summons began.

A gate linking the three worlds of hell, earth, and heaven was created, and through this, the demons of hell and the angels of heaven appeared directly on earth.

The overlords of hell tried to conquer the earth and make it a forward operating base to strike the heavens.

The archangels of heaven tried to keep the army of hell on earth, and not get to heaven.

The life of humans, who were the earth’s inhabitants, did not matter to either side.

‘Armageddon.’

The Great War of Hell and Heaven.

The clash of the otherworldly beings caused the destruction of earth, and countless humans died.

Apocalypse.

Human kingdoms ceased to exist.

Compared to before the downfall of the Sälen Kingdom, not even a tenth of humans survived, and those who managed to save their lives simply continued their lives amidst hunger and fear.

‘Legend of Heroes 3 took place a few years after Armageddon.’

A story of finding hope again in a world that had turned into ashes.

‘Yes, it’s good if it does not fall into utter despair.’

But even that wasn’t an acceptable ‘future.’

Pleiades was no longer a world seen on the computer monitor, but a real world where Jude himself was born and grew up in.

‘We’ve already prevented one of the three.’

The wild lands maintained its power, unlike the original, though it suffered great damage. And the northern part of the Sälen Kingdom was able to literally avoid complete destruction.

‘On the contrary, the Devil’s Eye was severely hit.’

Not only did they lose as many as fifteen mid-ranking demonic humans, but even Haraken, a high-ranking demonic human, was killed.

‘And there’s the Hell Gate.’

In the Devil’s Eye, or even among all the demon follower groups, there were only a few catalysts that could open the Hell Gate, and it was not easy to increase that number either. Moreover, it was no exaggeration to say that it was a blow greater than losing demonic humans since they lost one catalyst.

‘Even Kriemler couldn’t come to earth.’

Kriemler was the great demon who killed Count Bayer and Gaël in the game.

Jude closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Because of his relief and happiness in saving his father and older brother.

“And the genocide of the royal family.”

The flow in the game was as follows.

Right after the ball, which was the last part of the founding anniversary celebration, was over.

Black Moon, the hunting dog of the Lord Protector, caused terror throughout the royal capital, and the Lord Protector used it as an excuse to gather the royal family into an emergency shelter hidden in the basement of the royal palace.

‘And genocide.’

Not only King Henry II, but all his siblings and children.

To cut off the blood of the founder king and neutralize the barrier in the royal capital.

‘It’s more terrible after that.’

The Lord Protector did not leave the royal capital after collecting the divine sword, Claíomh Solais, which served as the core of the barrier.

He appeared in front of the nobles who were confused with the sudden ‘disappearance’ of the royal family, and while leading the search, he attracted the demon followers to the royal capital where the barrier had disappeared in order to create a bigger disturbance.

‘He’s eventually killed by a playable character though…’

It was after the royal capital had already lost all its functions as a capital.

‘We have to stop him before that.’

They had already done all the necessary measures they could do.

They neutralized the Black Moon, the main culprit of the terror attacks, and also made the Lord Protector’s close allies, the ones who helped him in the royal family’s genocide, withdraw from the front line.

‘It’s impossible to stop the Lord Protector in advance.’

Although they had become close to the royal family, it was only a friendship that began a month ago.

The Lord Protector had dedicated his entire life to the Sälen Kingdom, so it was impossible for them to compete with him.

‘In the end, we have no choice but to solve it on the spot.’

The moment the Lord Protector revealed his true colors, they would instantly stop him and save the royal family.

It was an operation that was truly like walking on a tightrope.

‘But we have to do it.’

Jude took a deep breath and looked at the plan and map in front of him.

The things that the Lord Protector could do under the current situation.

And all of Jude’s countermeasures to it.

‘It’s like chess. You win if you capture the king.’

But the situation was like they needed to immediately capture the king if they wanted a chance to win.

For this reason, Jude had also prepared measures in order to capture the king- the Lord Protector.

‘Though there are a lot of conditions… and it’s not complete.’

It was impossible to set up a trap in advance at the royal palace.

Therefore, the only thing they could do was a head-to-head match.

‘In order to defeat the Lord Protector, who is one of the Ten Great Swordmasters, we need someone from the Ten Great Swordmasters too.’

Count Bayer and First Sword.

And Count Chase, who were on the same level as the two.

The problem was that none of the three could be told about this.

‘The only thing possible is to give them a few clues.’

As for the rest, they had no choice but to make the three face the Lord Protector directly on the spot.

‘I can just get anyone of them to accompany me and then face the Lord Protector.’

His colleagues who worked with him in his past life would obviously have something to say about that if they saw his current plan, but this was the best he could do right now.

‘There are a lot of strong people in the royal capital.’

Not only on their side, but also on the other side.

There were also some people in the Royal Guard Knights and the Royal Guard Magic Corps who were on the Lord Protector’s side.

In particular, the Lord Protector had many disciples in the Royal Guard Knights.

‘Four out of the Ten Great Swordmasters would be in the royal capital on the day of the founding anniversary celebration.’

The remaining six were not present for reasons such as keeping the border, like Count Hræsvelgr did.

‘My father and First Sword will be on our side, and the Lord Protector would be on the other side. And having Seven-Killings Sword is better than nothing.’

One of the Ten Great Swordmasters was Seven-Killings Sword, Seryu.

Born in the far eastern continent, she was someone like the wind.

She had a habit of wandering around, so she couldn’t settle in one place and wandered all over the Sälen Kingdom. Unlike First Sword who belonged to an organization called the Sword School, Seryu did not belong to any group.

‘She’s known for her random encounters since you can’t even guess where, when, and how she will appear.’

First of all, given that her name was on the guest list, it seemed that she was in the royal capital, but it was unclear whether she would appear at the ball.

‘I tried to contact her in advance, but it was impossible.’

After spending time with First Sword, whom they clearly knew his location, they had been busy with tea parties and the Rogue Master’s activities.

‘Of course, I tried to search for her but…’

It was in vain. He even put a request in the Blue Moon, but they couldn’t find Seryu, the Seven-Killings Sword, in the end.

‘Well…she’s a generous person who’ll help anyway, so I’ll just let her be.’

After all, she was one of the Ten Great Swordmasters who swore their loyalty to the Sälen Kingdom.

Like First Sword, she wasn’t a person who would ignore the crisis that would befall the royal capital.

‘In the end, the key is for the Ten Great Swordmasters to confront each other.’

The best thing would be his father and First Sword working together to stop the Lord Protector, but if only one of them was present, it was still possible to stop the Lord Protector.

‘Because both are likely to be stronger than the Lord Protector in a one-on-one fight.’

As First Sword had said, even if they were the Ten Great Swordmasters, a decline of their skills due to aging was inevitable.

‘If they fight one-on-one, our side will win.’

Jude took a deep breath and looked at the plan once again, checking the details.

It was a crude plan that had to rely on improvisation for almost everything because the enemy’s tactics were clearly unknown, and that they had severely changed the original course of events.

‘However.’

Even if that was so, it was still meaningful to prepare.

If ever an unexpected situation occurred, he would be able to respond to it more calmly if he had ever thought about it at least once.

“Tomorrow night.”

The night of the big fight that will determine the fate of the royal capital.

And at the same time, a night where his incredibly anticipated event will occur.

‘Founding anniversary ball.’

Jude covered his face with his hands and said to himself.

‘Yes, I know.’

I must be crazy for thinking and wanting to dance with Cordelia at the ball in the midst of all these events.

‘But… I can’t help it, okay?’

We’ll be attending a ball anyway.

The event will happen after the ball is actually over.

Then… isn’t it okay for me to enjoy it a bit?

‘Furthermore…’

It’s my first time.

To dance with Cordelia at an official event.

“I want to see Cordelia.”

Jude unconsciously spoke, and he soon smiled bitterly.

‘This is serious.’

I really am a serious case in many ways.

“Cordelia.”

Jude spoke out loud again and closed his eyes.

He imagined what she would look like tomorrow.

***

“Miss.”

Despite Dahlia’s call, Cordelia did not answer as she pretended to not have heard it.

What’s going on?

Is she suddenly going into puberty?

“Miss?”

Dahlia called again, and Cordelia slightly pouted her lips.