Escalation

Even in Illumina’s royal castle, a Magus was rampaging.

Not Rakis’s 13 Lords but the S2 Royal Mage Commander Owen.

“How about calming your anger now?”

Flemyr crossed his arms and glared at Owen with fierce eyes.

“Rakis’s Magi crossed over to the border. However, there wasn’t a single report about this to me. Why did you block information? Commander Owen.”

“You know everything, so what?”

When Owen smirked, Flemyr’s gaze became cold.

“You even arbitrarily sent His Highness Vans into the competition.”

“Didn’t the investigation end?”

“There are still parts we haven’t revealed, so I told him to stay at the royal palace.”

“Are you trying to maintain neutrality, or is competition displeasing? I can’t tell at all. His Majesty who was this nation’s pillar has passed. How long did you intend to leave that vacant position empty by tying His Highness Vans to this royal palace?”

Wrinkles formed between Flemyr’s brows.

“Since it’s come up, looking at your recent conduct, I don’t know if this is for national interest. What on earth is unsatisfactory? What point is so unpleasant that you disturb this competition!”

“Your words are excessive, commander.”

“Didn’t the leader of the truth investigation team abuse authority and send one competitor to ruin?”

“His Highness Porla’s crimes are no different from treason. Rather, it’s fortunate he avoided death penalty with the privilege of being royal.”

“Confinement was the right answer? Then, were you thinking of applying the same charges to His Highness Vans?”

“Punishment according to crime quality must be applied fairly regardless of all people. His Highness Vans also can’t escape this order. However, with the single word of being royal, it’ll end at the line of being exiled.”

“If you knock them all down like that, in the end only Her Highness Yuliana or Pernok remain.”

Flemyr replied indifferently.

“It’s His Highness Pernok.”

“Hahaha, so your heart was going that way after all? Then why didn’t you speak honestly? Hm?”

“I’ve never supported His Highness Pernok, nor do I intend to. Isn’t it natural principle that whoever utilized competition rules better than anyone becomes king? If commander is wary of His Highness Pernok, it becomes proof that His Highness Pernok is most excellent among all current royals.”

“Speak properly. You’re merely finding excuses. While making excuses for why His Highness Vans can’t ascend the throne!”

“I’m trying to view as objectively and fairly as possible. If I truly spread influence, His Highness Vans would’ve already withdrawn from royalty long ago.”

“Hahaha, is that a threat?”

“It’s fact.”

“Absurd! From long ago, people including me already supported His Highness Vans.”

“For the single reason of being firstborn son.”

“No. If merely for that reason, I would’ve supported Her Highness Yuliana. However, His Highness Vans is a rare royal possessing the justification of firstborn together with the capability of Magus and innate diplomatic ability.”

“That word diplomacy truly grates.”

Flemyr’s tone sharpened.

“Rakis is now spreading the 13 Lords throughout the entire world! And this time they arbitrarily crossed borders and invaded Illumina! Do you say tolerating this is diplomacy?”

“They won’t act messily. If the 13 Lords try to formally invade Illumina, I would’ve blocked them.”

“Then what’s the reason?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Elimination of variables.”

Flemyr’s hand lowered beneath the table trembled.

“Now…… it sounds like you’re saying you acquiesced knowing the 13 Lords head toward His Highness Pernok?”

“I don’t know that far. I merely heard words that they’d quietly do work helping the competition and leave.”

“Who would guarantee that?”

“Count Buckingham said so.”

Count Buckingham of Rakis’s 13 Lords who left the royal palace with Vans now.

Recalling that appearance maintaining cold reason in any moment, Flemyr’s coldness deepened.

“To avoid war, we must prioritize alliance. Unless you want frontal collision like Tyr.”

“I…… knew this nation was a mess but……”

Flemyr suppressed anger and glared at Owen.

“……At least, I thought you had your head screwed on properly.”

“Duke, now decide sides already. How long do you intend to speak absurd words called neutrality?”

“Owen…… Owen!”

Flemyr kicked his seat and stood up abruptly.

“How can you who promised while serving His Majesty together to properly establish this nation disturb order!”

“Haah, Flemyr. This old-fashioned human. When I’m giving opportunity with old comrade affection, why do you keep refusing?”

“Even if you sent out Vans with your authority, you shouldn’t have let Rakis cross borders! What those bastards do is obvious, and that price isn’t only eliminating one variable but can affect all the people—did you truly not know!”

“Sometimes one must know to sacrifice small things for big things. We assisted His Majesty like that and rose to this position, didn’t we? Knowing that, why do you make me repeat the same words?”

When Owen tapped the table, the reception room door opened and royal mages entered.

“If you’ll serve His Highness Vans, I’ll do my utmost to cooperate so your law properly establishes after me.”

“You still try to remain at a serpent’s tail even with that good skill.”

“Hahahaha, whether it becomes a serpent or dragon. That must be seen, but at least His Highness Vans backed by Rakis will safely take responsibility for Illumina’s decades.”

“One can never become king with greed and cunning.”

“Isn’t there already precedent of His Majesty we assisted? For me, if an upright person like you assists His Highness Vans, it’ll feel like gaining thousands of troops.”

And Owen placed a golden token on the table.

It’s a royal decree changing authority.

“From now on, I’ll lead the truth investigation team.”

“Owen!”

“You rest comfortably in your domain for the time being. If your thoughts change, speak anytime, and I’ll prepare a better position than truth investigation team leader.”

Once reputation called duke becomes distant from politics, it’s bound to lose power.

Moreover, when the owner of forces rivaling the duke who is this nation’s twin pillars even seizes the golden token, Flemyr had no sharp measures.

As if waiting only for this day from long ago, the sharp momentum of the old comrade once renowned as a swordsman sweeps over Flemyr’s chest.

“By now, probably the 13 Lords’ work is finished. Tyr must also withdraw from the front lines, and Her Highness Yuliana’s voice will lose power. You have no other choice.”

Flemyr ground his teeth.

“If you see me again after this night passes, you’ll meet me as I used to be.”

“What are you doing? Politely escort him to the duke’s domain.”

“Yes, commander!”

Watching Flemyr’s back obediently leaving the reception room with mages, Owen smirked.

‘Flemyr acting emotionally. That’s quite scary.’

Though an S1 Magus, the reason Owen watches Flemyr’s mood is remembering that appearance weathering adversity together in their youth.

Fierce god.

Flemyr who shattered the mask called coldness was truly a berserker.

So violent and fierce that those who remember that era lived holding their breath when Flemyr became truth investigation team leader.

Porla’s faction didn’t collapse for nothing.

‘However, will the day come to see your appearance again?’

As long as Rakis spreads the 13 Lords and formally aids Vans’s conduct, remaining royals have no opportunity.

Because Yuliana and Pernok will all die at the 13 Lords’ hands.

The one in charge of the 13 Lords’ cleanup in Illumina was precisely Owen.

‘I hope there aren’t many witnesses.’

Competition was always like this.

Not merely royals fighting while fiercely using their heads, but the factions supporting them actively worked in shadows and eliminated political enemies.

The previous king was born that way.

When Flemyr rampaged frontally, Owen erased variables behind.

Competition through generations entered the same sequence again.

As much as even Rakis has no intention of giving up, Owen also made a resolute decision.

‘If it truly won’t work, I should think about erasing even one castle the 13 Lords attacked.’

The general trend absolutely doesn’t change.

Vans becomes king.

Owen drank tea leisurely while wearing a subtle smile.

* * *

Flemyr who entered the duke’s domain summoned retainers to the conference room.

“I was dismissed from truth investigation team leader today.”

Retainers flowed out subtle killing intent.

Flemyr didn’t block it.

He didn’t even have thoughts of wanting to block.

“Does the current queen have such authority?”

“Though she professed neutrality, the queen is now gripping the royal palace. If she uses the golden token, it’s entirely possible.”

“The golden token…… to think she’d use the proxy’s authority that can only be used exactly three times for her son……”

It was adding fuel to the retainers’ fury.

“Hasn’t she already resolutely declared her position?”

“Probably protest about dismissing Prince Porla.”

“Duke, what shall we do about those royal mages bastards spying outside?”

“If you give orders, duke, we’ll follow together anywhere.”

They were all veterans who’d been together since the previous king’s competition.

Receiving all their gazes, Flemyr spoke calmly.

“Though His Highness Porla should properly pay the price for those crimes, he retained his life merely for being royal. However, if even that is unsatisfactory to Phillena, she crossed a line that shouldn’t be crossed.”

The corners of his lips rising slightly were very cold, so retainers hardened their expressions.

“If this nation tries to sell out even its last conscience, it can’t be helped.”

Flemyr placed his beloved sword long put to sleep on the table.

“I also have no choice but to decide intentions.”

It was called Blood Sword because blood doesn’t dry.

On the day that sword is drawn again, Flemyr who declared to use it for the nation even burning his life finally showed resolute will.

“Grasp and investigate all of His Highness Vans’s conduct and inform His Highness Pernok. And.”

Flemyr who escaped the shell called truth investigation team leader ordered retainers.

“I’ll drive out foreign Magi who dared invade this nation’s borders without even my permission. Even if you die fighting, bite down persistently. Can you do it?”

“Yes, duke!”

“Gather all evidence collected until now and burst justification.”

When Blood Sword was drawn, retainers’ killing intent was influenced together and rippled.

“Let’s first behead the royal palace bastards.”

* * *

When dawn broke, the marquis territory’s disturbance also ceased.

Before guild masters arrived, an advance guest visited.

“Keke, a pleasure. I’m called Gram of Rakis.”

Pernok turned his gaze to Ruin and Rio with eyes desiring explanation.

“Looking at it, you seem to have spent last night very intensely, but don’t worry. I merely came to do work mutually beneficial to you.”

“He directly killed a Rakis Magus. He said he wants to join hands with you, Your Highness, and proceed with great works.”

When Ruin added words, Pernok withdrew momentum and blankly looked at Gram.

Suddenly, Breia’s words surfaced.

“The 13 Lords are arbitrary. What each pursues is different. There are people who don’t follow Vans like me. If it hadn’t been the duke’s orders, I might’ve supported you.”

Gram showed eyes that looked even more greedy than Breia.

“It seems you avoided disaster thanks to the Magus hiding inside……”

“Only the main point, briefly.”

“……Kekeke, good that we communicate well. Well, no matter how many forces on this side, you can’t handle all the 13 Lords. Since autonomous action was granted, those bastards will try to bite the prince regardless of front or back.”

He had memories of hearing about Rakis’s autonomous action.

Definitely, decades ago Rakis waged war, and the 13 Lords each rampaged.

Authority to freely wage war.

It was an absurd method where the empire endures all the aftermath.

“Already including Tyr and Rezhen, the 13 Lords were also dispatched to the mage association. Of course, I was in charge of the association, and I didn’t want to fight you all, so I came together like this.”

“So?”

“This fight’s justification absolutely won’t end until one side dies. However, if I help, the story is different.”

When Pernok blankly looked, Gram grinned.

“Before Chris intervenes in this war, kill the 13 Lords and Vans. And if you take royal authority and take friendly relations with the empire saying you became king receiving my support, I’ll become duke and block even Chris. Then won’t it be a happy day for everyone? If you really can’t believe……”

“Good. Let’s do that.”

Those with strong greed are more trustworthy than hypocrites wearing benevolent masks while only pursuing that desire.

If Ruin and Rio brought Gram together, there’s even more value in joining hands.

“Good that you’re refreshing. By the way, aren’t you afraid of the 13 Lords, Your Highness?”

“Power games are good because they’re clear. When you’ve even provided justification beyond compare to kill bastards who invaded my domain, why should I be afraid?”

“Kekeke. Your nerve is better than that Vans bastard.”

“I marked the attackers.”

He buried the method Pedson used to track Pernok to the island precisely on Morpheus.

“I want to kill those bastards first then talk again. Will you follow?”

“Kwahahaha! Look at this crazy bastard. You’ll hunt the 13 Lords? Good. Very good! Aren’t they all Chris’s confidants? Let’s kill together! Erase them without a trace!”

Not suppressed at all by the killing intent Gram raised, Pernok clenched his fist.

Thanks to Priest Jean, his body recovered to normal.

The 13 Lords are holding their breath in a place not far from here.

He absolutely couldn’t leave alive potential troubles that might burst in again anytime.

“Marquis Gram and I. The two of us go.”

“You mustn’t, Your Highness!”

When Ruin tried to block, Pernok shook his head.

“Guard this place together with the Magus inside. Because other 13 Lords might possibly come.”

“However, if Gram has a change of heart……”

“If he were such a sane person, the association would also be in uproar.”

Pernok examined Gram with Observation Eye.

“When we both have far to go, is there time to employ shabby and base tricks like betrayal?”

“Right words. In a fight where time is important, we can’t drag on. Let’s go quickly! Go and achieve each other’s goals!”

Not a bit of trembling in the soul.

This person’s crazy greed was even pure, so much more trustworthy than others hiding true intentions.

“Erase those bastards without a trace.”

Gram responded with laughter, and Pernok immediately rushed toward marked Morpheus.