Vol 1 Chapter 20 (1/2)

Motive

AN: Gore warning[1]

Viewer discretion advised. [2]

The POV will move from Cornelia to Locke to Leticia to Locke.

AN: Sorry for the many POV changes.

She was the first princess of the Remuls.h.i.+l Empire, Cornelia Raul Kooru Remuls.h.i.+l.[3]

She was second in line to the throne.

Cornelia was the imperial family’s only daughter, so aside from blood relatives and those who married in, it was intolerable for her to be touched directly by somebody.

Knowing this, none of the n.o.bles approached her.

People from the marquis houses, such as Regin and Jade were an exception.

On the contrary, they actively approached Cornelia. They saw her as a way to immediately become part of the imperial family.

Of course, Crown Prince Alfred was first in line to the throne, but being her second in line was very valuable.

Because if anything happens to Crown Prince Alfred, she will undoubtedly inherit the crown as Empress.

However, even if they are the sons of prominent n.o.bles, they shouldn’t approach Cornelia carelessly.

If they were to approach her against her will, the emperor might even give them a death sentence.

However, not only was this to protect her, but it was also her father the Emperor’s selfish desire, which caused her to be isolated at the Knight School.

With Jade at the front, she walked through the forest, between four knights.

Due to the scout soldiers who had cleared the path, rather than a march, it was more like a walk in the park.

They continued walking, and eventually, reached the highway.

There, was a luxurious white carriage, and on it, the golden crest of the marquis house was extravagantly engraved.

“Well then, Your Highness. Your hand please…”

Jade climbed into the carriage first, then held out his hand to Cornelia.[4]

However, Cornelia didn’t accept his hand, and wordlessly boarded the carriage herself.

Jade, who was brushed off, momentarily showed a discouraged expression, but then urged Cornelia to take a seat.

Without any particular reason to reject the offer, she took a seat.

“Alright, let us set off.”

At Jade’s command, the carriage started moving.

‘Is there some sort of magic spell going on?’

‘I can’t feel the shaking of the carriage at all.’

‘This level of performance should only be found in a carriage for the imperial family.’

‘In order to make this carriage, how much gold was used?’[5]

The one servant who acted as a mediator between them held out a cup of black tea.

Judging by the smell of the tea leaves, this was also of the highest quality.

The teapot which held the tea also seemed to be magically insulated, since the steam rose from the cup.

She took a sip.

‘About these circ.u.mstances…’

‘It seems that it isn’t poisoned.’

Since her mouth and throat was parched due to the tense situations, the tea tasted extremely good.

As if it immediately disappeared down her throat, she drank the tea.

It was a reminder to herself what kind of people Jade and his company were, and it intimidated her.

After having drank the tea, Cornelia took a breath, then met Jade’s gaze.

“So, what type of role will I play in your plan?”

“Please understand. You will merely be our figurehead.”

“Your objective?”

“After we eradicate the rebel faction opposing the throne, you will ascend to the throne.”

/

“You will not stop the coup d’état?”

When Jade was asked this question, he smiled.

“At this point, even if we take action, it won’t be in time. I recommend that your highness take refuge in my territory, and plan a comeback from there.”

‘How dare you!’

Cornelia became angry, but frantically tried not to let it show.

Having been prepared to kill Regin, the Cliffdorf house definitely had prior information of the coup d’état.

Despite this, they didn’t work to prevent it, but preferred to use it to gain political strength.

Most likely, when she ascends to the throne, this man would be standing beside her.

Welt van Cliffdorf as her adviser, and Jade as her husband, it would be that sort of story.

Moreover, they would be hailed as heroes for ending the coup d’état.

Those who don’t know anything would undoubtedly praise them.

Jade did not betray any agitation in his eyes, merely sighing in admiration at the princess, who was staring at him.[?1?]

Within those pupils, it was apparent that she had almost grasped Jade and the others’ intentions.

“As expected of somebody with the royal blood. Even in this situation, you have nerves of steel. I congratulate you. I now have a slightly better opinion of you.”

“You are changing this messed up situation for better as you please. By the way, what happened to the other groups?”

“Unfortunately, I fear that they were killed.”

Contrary to his words, Jade appeared unconcerned.

From his answer, Cornelia understood that Jade’s cohort knew that there was a coup, what actions they would take, and also what would happen next.

She recalled that despite the tense atmosphere, they had still talked cheerfully.

She especially thought of Wynn, who had sparred with her countless times during practice.

If Jade’s words were true, even he would have been killed.

Last night, by the campfire, Wynn had spoken pa.s.sionately about his dream to become a knight.

Even he would have died.

Not living a desirable school life, within her lonely days of isolation, she had finally made a true friend in her training partner.

Once, she had touched his sleeve.[6]

Not as Princess Cornelia, but as Knight Cadet Cornelia, though when she returned after cla.s.s in the evening, she was scolded by the attendants.

As a knight cadet, she was overlooked, but—

But now, it will never be like that again.

A single tear streamed down her face.

“Are you crying for the people who were killed? The people will support a ruler with such deep compa.s.sion. When we retake the capital at dawn, I want you to display your condolences.”

Jade held out a white silken handkerchief.

Cornelia rejected it, and wiping her eyes, she stood up.

“… Can you say so with confidence? Among those who have died, that Brave…”

“About Wynn Byrd? Of course!”

“You know him?”

“Rescuing Your Highness was the highest priority. There was no alternative. I will use his death. If she learns that the insurgents killed him…”

“The Brave would smash the insurgents?”

Jade smiled coldly.

‘Jade would even make use of hiss death?’[7]

‘Will things really go as planned?’[8]

Certainly, the Brave would have a motive to draw her sword against the insurgents.

However, wouldn’t that blade not only be pointed at the insurgents, but also at the root of the problem, the empire itself?

The consequences of his death — the Empire might have the Brave as its enemy.

“Umm… Won’t Leticia van Mavis oppose them?”

“That is our intention.”

“With them in control of the fort, they intended to use the magic amplifier. However!”

“Gatan,” At that time, the carriage shook a little.

At that point, the carriage that did not shake up until now, as if in a building, shaking began to be felt.

“This is…?”

“It seems that they have set the plan into motion.”

“… Barrier magic.”

The empire’s anti-demon trump card.

It was a wide-area barrier that sealed any magic power.

“Even with that magic, they cannot completely seal the Brave’s magic power, but they still have yet another trump card. Well, if the Brave is killed, then we will have unparalleled influence.”

Unable to watch Jade proudly continue speaking, Cornelia looked out the window.

She gazed at the pa.s.sing landscape.

Jade and the others have taken the insurgents and the Brave too lightly.

From her Master, whom she had met after four years, she heard that Leticia has unbelievable strength.

Cornelia’s Master.

She is the one who holds the t.i.tle “Holy Woman”, Liara Sayn.

One of the Brave’s three comrades.

According to Liara, she had fought a mult.i.tude of demons and monsters.

She had fought a battle of legendary proportions, so if her magic was sealed, then she wouldn’t be a threat, or so they thought.

In the first place, she was an existence which slew the Demon Lord, who could defeat all the world’s combined armies.

If they were able to kill her by merely sealing her magic, wouldn’t the demons have already defeated the Brave long ago?

Anyways, it was already too late to be worried about that.

If Wynn was killed, the Brave’s rage would rain down on this empire.

The other countries would also direct criticisms at the empire.

Even if Jade’s plan progressed, the empire would be headed towards ruin.

‘Somehow, please calm down.’

In that moving Carriage, Cornelia voiced out that wish. [9]

…

At the time the explosion was heard from the part of the forest the fourth group was in charge of—

In the third Group, Locke and the other students were being surrounded by the knights that accompanied them.

From the beginning, Locke had felt that something was wrong with the knights.

Apart from the captain, who was from the capital, he had seen the other three hold secret conversations many times.

During a short break, even the vice-captain exchanged information behind the captain’s back.

Many times, they opened the map, and confirmed the locations of both the third group and the other groups.

They even checked the distance from the fort.

If it were normal, they wouldn’t act so strangely.

They might only confirm their route.

However, they did it behind the back of the captain, a knight, and repeatedly. However he thought about it, it was strange.

From Locke’s point of view, he held the t.i.tle of captain in name only. His body was weak from lack of practice, and he was a man that you wouldn’t believe was a knight.

But either way, a superior is a superior, or that was how it was supposed to be.

The goal of making the group, on paper (Locke had decided that the captain was captain only on paper), was supposed to be to teach the essentials of knighthood.[10]

Nevertheless, the captain merely received simple reports of which direction to go and future plans, while the vice-captain received the important reports.

‘Hey, something is up.’

“Hey.”

“What is it, Locke?”

He whispered to the person marching beside him.

“Something smells fishy.[11] Those guys may be up to something. Just in case, be careful. and tell the others too.”

Though he gave Locke a puzzled look, he easily moved beside the student in front of him, and whispered Locke’s message.

The reason that Locke could influence the other students like that was because he was from a rich mercantile house.

Due to their commoner origins, high-ranking n.o.bles such as Jade and Regin despised these upstart n.o.bles, but since they were a rare cla.s.s, the relations.h.i.+p between most n.o.bles and wealthy merchants didn’t differ.

Against the social influence of n.o.bility, money was more than enough ammunition. [12]

If they were ordinary n.o.bles, they would not oppose the Marine house.

The n.o.bles only had so much wealth.

If Locke didn’t flaunt it, he could interact with most people as equals. Compared to Wynn, he was much more well-connected.

That’s why, after the knight leaders invited them to a place dotted with holes, the knight who was captain fell into a pitfall and was killed, but none of the students did not receive a surprise attack, and the knights weren’t able to ambush them.[13]

Nonetheless, for the five inexperienced knight cadets, against the three full-fledged knights, despite outnumbering them, their victory was uncertain.

“I will take on the vice-captain. As for the two knights behind him, attack them two on one, flanking them.”

“Got it.”

Confronting the vice-captain, Locke raised his s.h.i.+eld.[14]

“Locke Marine. I heard that you were the foolish second son of the Marine house, but it seems the rumors were wrong.”

“That’s not the case. Three years ago, I was that idiot son.”

The elder brother, who was the heir received an education, while the second son Locke was given relatively more freedom.

More or less, he was taught by the same teacher as his brother, but behind his parents’ backs, he would often sneak out to play with the neighborhood children.

Even when he decided to enter the Knight School, he learned from the children of the n.o.bles who came and went that he only needed to procure the money for the admission fee.

Not wanting to study, he only wanted to get the t.i.tle of knight while just playing around.

If he graduated from knight school, instead of going to a battlefield, he would be able to work in the capital, where safety is guaranteed.

If he were a knight, the ladies would surely like him.

That was all he thought.

It was superficial.

Three years ago, Locke was no better than a good-for-nothing n.o.ble.[15]

Then, when he met Wynn, his way of thinking about knighthood changed completely.

He was a commoner, he had no family to rely on, and didn’t even have magical talent.

Compared to the other students, Wynn had nothing.

However— he, in order to achieve his dream of becoming a knight, spared no effort— and Locke continued to see that figure near himself.

It was dazzling.

He honestly felt amazed.

Wynn held his s.h.i.+eld to the front, and gripped his sword.

Until he met Wynn, all he had done was irresponsibly cut corners during sword practice.

Feeling embarra.s.sed at the difference, even when n.o.body was watching, he practiced swinging his sword.

At times, he would steal a glance and imitate Wynn’s practicing form.

Due to that, Locke was able to achieve the runner up position last year in the exam.

‘It was due to your help, that I am now not scared of fighting my first real battle.’

Locke slowly inhaled, then slowly exhaled.

He looked straight at the vice-captain.

His four teammates were skillfully forcing a two on one battle.

Being n.o.bility, they had more training in magic than the knights before them.

Though they had less live combat experience and skill, if they fought using body strengthening magic, individually, they should at least be half as good as the knights.[16]

“The other two are at a disadvantage? Until I can slay Apprentice Knight Locke, will they hold out?”

Like Locke, the vice-captain judged the situation similarly.

“If you focus on defense, and manage to hold out while waiting for the other brats to defeat my subordinates… Is that what you thought?”

“Who knows? But please don’t kill me off so quickly!”

Locke flashed an intrepid smile.[17]

If either one of the two 2-on-1 battles ended with the knight’s defeat, Locke’s group’s chances of victory would increase.

In other words, all he needed to do was gain time.

“Then show me what you’ve got!”

Locke parried the vice-captain’s blade, which came from behind the vice-captain’s s.h.i.+eld, with the s.h.i.+eld in his left hand.

As expected of a knight who worked his way up from the battlefield.

Even at the level of the mock battles against his cla.s.smates, he did not enjoy taking fierce onslaughts.[?2?]

But Locke stopped the blade’s path with his s.h.i.+eld, parrying each and every blow.

“How incredible. Even though it’s your first real battle.”

The vice-captain was surprised to notice that Locke was handling his strikes with composure.

He was somebody who had survived each of the numerous battlefields he had fought in.

Rather than fall behind like he expected of a student, Locke continued to handle his attacks admirably.

As one who had become a knight through battlefield achievements, he had thought the sword techniques of the knights from the knight school were merely a form[18], but…

In the realities of a battlefield, it was important for a technique to kill with one blow.

One hardly ever got a second or a third blow.

The vice-captain continued to interweave feints with attacks.

The blows filled with strong killing intent would weaken the mind of the still young apprentice knight, but Locke, who was concentrating on his defense, defended well.

Though the Marine house was a commoner house, they had married with n.o.bility many times, so luckily, he had better than average magic power.

Though Locke fell behind in battle experience and skill, using body reinforcement magic to strengthen himself, he was able to hold out.

‘Besides…’

‘Unlike this, the sword of the Master of the Brave is imperceptible even when up close!’

Wynn’s sword swings were unbelievably fast.

It rivals the one who holds the t.i.tle “Divine Sword Princess”, Leticia van Mavis.

He had seen the Brave, who held monstrous strength, as she fought.

Compared to the speed of those attacks, these attacks won’t reach him. He only needed to hold out until backup arrived.[?3?]

Locke braced his legs to block the vice-captain’s blade with his s.h.i.+eld— but then—

“Huh?”

From his arms, his legs, his whole body, the strength left him. [19]

With a clang, as the sword hit the s.h.i.+eld, Locke was blown backwards.

“Gah…”

The air was knocked out of his lungs as he hit a tree behind him.

“Gyaaaaaa!”

Though he was dazed, Locke was not knocked out. He rose to his knee as he heard a scream.

Tasting iron in his mouth, he looked towards the source of the scream.

There, his cla.s.smate was rolling on the ground, with his right arm cut off.

The other person was already impaled by the sword in his abdomen.

He couldn’t see the other group of fighters.

While fighting, they had moved away.

However, he heard another scream.

It was most likely a cry of agony…

‘What… the heck…?’

“It is time.”