March

Illumina’s forces were largely five types.

Border garrison.

Royal army.

Palace guards.

Royal Magus unit.

Noble private soldiers.

Among these, when war broke out, forces that could move were all except the palace guards.

But while unable to gather nobles’ private soldiers scattered across territories, turmoil broke out at the border, tying up even the garrison.

Though the royal army and royal Magus unit should move together, everything stirred at the fierce blade tip of a man like a natural disaster.

“Duke Flemyr broke through the eastern-western border!”

“Magus Commander Owen departed to subjugate Prince Pernok!”

“Confronting Duke Flemyr’s private soldiers!”

“Tyr’s army is gathering toward the border… It’s Princess Yuliana!”

“Half the royal Magus unit will join here!”

The command center was crossed with countless information in untimely war.

McDonnell rubbed his throbbing temples while compiling information in his head.

‘If the royal army struggles against a single duke, there’s no capacity to support situations occurring elsewhere.’

Until serving as truth investigation team leader, Flemyr had overseen the military.

Knowing his terrible aspects, McDonnell also couldn’t rashly send soldiers toward Pernok.

Tens of thousands of forces were tied up before Flemyr.

“Are you saying the border garrison has no capacity to separately extract forces?”

“Yes! Even the southern garrison must be sent west where Tyr is gathering. In emergencies, you must even consider sending the royal army to the border.”

“What about Commander Owen?”

“He departed this afternoon. The Magus unit will arrive by tomorrow morning.”

“Then crush the duke’s domain entirely.”

“The duke’s domain… do you mean even the castle?”

McDonnell spoke firmly.

“Flemyr raised rebellion against the nation. There’s no mercy to bestow on traitors.”

“Understood!”

The adjutant immediately issued orders. Each messenger moved hastily, and McDonnell buried his body deeply in the chair while shaking his head.

‘It’s reckless, duke. Why did you make such a choice?’

As someone who’d once admired the battlefield demon, Flemyr’s destination only felt regrettable.

Ultimately, this war would end with Illumina’s victory, able to move tens of thousands immediately.

The moment Flemyr left the neutral’s position, Phillena might also move the palace guards.

If all Illumina’s forces gathered on Pernok, even Yuliana in Tyr would distance from the throne.

Vans would win.

He was confident this fact would never change.

Until the roar rang out.

BOOOOM!

McDonnell sprang up from his seat sensing eerie mana.

A wounded soldier entered the command center.

“D-duke…”

At the spot where the soldier who couldn’t finish words collapsed, only a long slashed wound remained.

That was clearly Flemyr’s swordsmanship.

WHIIIIINE!

The alarm rang out in all directions, and McDonnell unconsciously gripped his sword.

It was unbelievable.

How could Flemyr, confronting a great army, strike all the way to the command center?

“Block the assailant!”

McDonnell shouted while leaving the command center. And he saw the Blood Sword’s owner walking silently in the middle surrounded by countless soldiers.

A group of mages followed behind.

They were Flemyr’s retainers whom McDonnell recognized.

All veterans who reached level 7.

Their momentum walking with Flemyr was unusual.

“Duke Flemyr!”

McDonnell drew his sword while dispersing soldiers.

Though ten thousand troops began rapidly gathering, Flemyr’s steps held no hesitation.

“Don’t tell me you sacrificed your forces as offering and infiltrated here?”

“Neither offering nor sacrifice.”

Flemyr looked at McDonnell indifferently.

“If I quickly sever your neck, the royal army will collapse.”

“Ha… That violent method is still the same. But it’s not a situation that changes by killing me alone.”

“Then I’ll blow away the command center itself. Either way, the royal army can’t move without this place’s orders.”

Truly a terrible person.

Though decades had passed since leaving the battlefield, he knew well when and where to stake victory.

As he said, the royal army couldn’t move freely without the general’s approval.

If the command center was smashed here, the royal army and duke’s forces would flow endlessly in confrontation.

“The messenger method remained the same after decades.”

That he came to this place while killing even all messengers meant Flemyr had also firmly resolved.

“Do you truly want to die desperately? Don’t you want to preserve even remaining honor? Don’t tell me you plan to erase the duke’s house from history like this?”

“Didn’t you bastards thoroughly trample my pride?”

When Flemyr’s mana seeped out stickily, mages instinctively widened distance at the unpleasant feeling.

“You bastard who oversees one nation’s military dared let Rakis’s Magi inside to kill royals?”

“…”

“You don’t deny it.”

“You already knew everything coming. Moreover, this choice will ultimately determine the nation’s rise and fall. So I ask. If we resist Rakis, can we survive?”

“It’ll be difficult.”

“Then if we don’t follow Rakis, with whom must we join hands?”

“Why do you only think we must join?”

“Because this nation survived that way from long ago.”

“No, at first Illumina was also a great power possessing vast continents. However, through generations of politics and compromise, we reached today. If we can change this structure, shouldn’t we change it at any cost?”

“That’s impossible for anyone.”

“Royals exist to open possibilities. Yet Vans… with that good talent, ultimately tramples the nation’s dignity with his own feet.”

“What remains if we protect that damned dignity?”

Red like blood covered Flemyr’s blade.

“The nation’s pride. You bastard who protects the state turns away from even this simple fact, youngster!”

When the nickname he’d heard every time being scolded by Flemyr since military days burst out again, McDonnell also excitedly snorted.

“You and your household will all disappear from history as traitor hordes!”

“March!”

In words crossing each other, ten thousand troops and dozens of retainers began colliding.

Slash!

Through it, the Blood Sword flowed like water, weaving smoothly.

Flemyr’s Magus Arts, which didn’t expand space but contained everything in one sword, absorbed blood and mana of severed opponents and heated up more red.

No mage could block the amplifying physical abilities and sword growing sharp while absorbing blood.

When even McDonnell only hardened his complexion while just watching Flemyr’s march.

“As expected, you’re targeting here first.”

An unfamiliar voice dug in holding a nauseating smell.

Bang!

For the first time, Flemyr couldn’t cut and stepped back three steps.

McDonnell widened his eyes while examining the intruder’s insignia.

“C-Count Buckingham?”

Though Flemyr’s eyes narrowed thinly, Buckingham leisurely chatted.

“Please forgive the rudeness of sudden visit.”

“N-no. But how are you…?”

“I heard the royal army is blocked by the duke’s forces. So I came here worrying you might strike the commander’s neck to overturn inferiority, and fortunately my thought hit the mark.”

“Everyone retreat!”

When Flemyr suddenly shouted, retainers stopped combat and clustered behind.

Only then did McDonnell come sharply to his senses.

‘Right. Buckingham’s Magus Arts is certainly…’

Vans had said his Magus Arts was poison.

“Ah, I forgot and failed to inform you.”

At the toxic energy flowing from Buckingham’s breath, nearby soldiers were poisoned and died instantly.

Even mages staggered while grabbing their heads whether dizzy.

Even though it was just simple breathing without using magic yet.

“Retreat all forces here. I’ll handle Duke Flemyr.”

“Re-retreat! Behind the command center… No, far from here!”

Though McDonnell’s shout shook the battlefield, Flemyr and retainers couldn’t budge.

Because bubbling poison was already engraved on the floor like a ring.

When McDonnell covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve while leaving, Buckingham earnestly flowed mana.

Flemyr cut over poison riding and flowing in the air with his Blood Sword.

“The nature of absorbing mana of severed targets. Interesting. Are you saying you turn even magic null?”

“Why does Rakis’s Magus attempt assassination in Illumina?”

“Thanks to you all, work began tangling, so we’re trying to fix it before Duke Chris steps in. Why does someone who should know make such dull judgments? Rather, how about this? If you, Duke Flemyr, join the vacant 13 Lords, we’ll smooth over everything.”

“Rakis’s arrogance is still the same.”

Flemyr deeply inhaled while placing all the blood and mana he’d severed until now into his sword.

When the sword heated up red as if melting, Buckingham felt his spine chill.

Such a sharp weapon recalled the young days holding the 13 Lords’ initiation ceremony after a long time.

“You all who illegally infiltrated this nation must all apologize with death.”

“You’re more passionate than reports. But you should distinguish time and place.”

Buckingham’s lips rose.

“Does an Illumina Magus parasiting on other nations dare point blades at Rakis?”

Poison mixed in the air revealed distinct color while surging like a barrier.

Extreme poison that couldn’t escape anywhere and would infiltrate the body to cause instant death if even grazed came rolling like waves.

Into the middle of a green sea, the blood-red sword began dancing.

* * *

“Why are you here!”

Phillena looked down with flustered eyes at Vans kneeling below the throne.

“I returned with Count Buckingham.”

“The clues? Competition!?”

“I roughly confirmed the tomb’s location.”

“Yet why did you return!?”

“Aren’t my factions being mercilessly slaughtered? It didn’t seem like it would end by finding the tomb, so I’m trying to finish in my own way.”

“…!”

“Your Majesty, I’ll subjugate the traitors.”

Though Phillena shook her head, she couldn’t command him to stop.

She was ultimately the competition’s observer.

If this was also an extension of competition, she had to watch for Vans’s will to be realized.

“I’ll kill Pernok, punish even Yuliana together, then proudly proclaim from the tomb that I’m king.”

Vans’s pupils raising his head were filled with killing intent.

* * *

The sixth castle fell very easily.

Because the lord who heard Pernok’s news fled to the rear.

“Forces are gathering at the seventh castle.”

“Is it Vans faction’s coalition?”

“Yes. Their number reaches as many as ten thousand.”

Around then, Pernok’s rearguard also joined the advance party, safely completing eight thousand five hundred forces.

If mixing the floating fortress and different races here, he’d guarantee easy victory, but it was still early to draw out decisive cards.

Because he had to consider even battle with Rakis that placed even Illumina below.

“However, a messenger arrived. The kingdom’s situation seems to turn urgently.”

“Was there someone in the kingdom to block Flemyr?”

“They say Count Buckingham returned to the kingdom with Prince Vans.”

“Unexpected. I thought he’d go find the tomb.”

Vans was also sensing it.

The fact that even if ignoring the spark called Pernok to find the tomb, ultimately not a single faction would remain to uphold him as king.

“Buckingham will block Flemyr. But in the process of confronting, the royal army and duke’s forces won’t move.”

“Yes. Both armies are waiting for instructions.”

“Then Vans will come this way… What about Owen?”

“He reached the eighth castle and there’s a report he’s moving to the seventh. It seems he extracted half the royal Magus unit and two thousand from the inner castle garrison.”

“Twelve thousand with S2 and S1 Magi. And the royal palace’s elite Magus unit…”

Pernok smiled.

“…We must make the first move, Gram.”

“Don’t tell me you’ll send me to the enemy camp’s middle?”

“That side seems good for effectively using your Magus Arts. Why? No confidence?”

“Kekeke, even I can’t block an equal-rank Magus and great army together.”

“It doesn’t matter. The act of shaking enemies itself has meaning.”

Pernok’s smile grew cold.

“Don’t think other thoughts, just go and move as I say.”

At the thought that Vans’s neck was right before his nose, the half-living’s memories excited, heating Pernok up.

“I’ll sweep away the rest on my own.”

The seventh castle where they gathered.

That place was this war’s decisive point.

* * *

Rakis’s remaining 13 Lords couldn’t hide pitiful gazes while receiving reports of the world’s trends.

“Those three died in Illumina?”

“Are you saying they can’t even drive Tyr?”

“Rezhen and the association seem handled well by the two marquises…”

“Well now, those bastards cause all the empire’s disgrace. How can we face His Majesty?”

They all visited Chris’s estate.

Though receiving orders for autonomous action, they were 13 Lords who remained saying minimum personnel must remain to protect the empire.

Sensing they must also intervene in the board as the situation flowed strangely now.

“Let’s persuade the duke to overturn the situation together.”

The 13 Lords who entered Chris’s estate to receive permission were conveyed unexpected news.

“Duke Chris is not in the empire now.”

“Not in the empire?”

“Where did he go without any word to us?”

To the curious 13 Lords, a calm voice was heard.

“Two weeks ago, he headed for Illumina.”