Chapter 48

Once, he had been a noble of great renown, but now, he had even lost his family's castle.

The family had collapsed long ago, and there was not a single inheritance to be found.

So, all he could do was resent the world and yearn for a powerful miracle.

'So I've finally come this far.......'

He was no longer attached to the lost past.

Regaining his family's prestige, amassing wealth—such things were trivial and meaningless.

Since he could not possess anything for himself, he would smash everything and upend it all instead.

'Just killing the emperor is enough. The crown prince would do as well...... and if even that is too difficult, I must kill as many as possible.'

All he had left was a feeble body and a corrupt will.

Even so, since he could handle magic power in a crude way, he eventually reached a seemingly credible level through effort.

At the same time, he discovered items his family had hidden away, among which were forbidden books of magic.

'I understand why the family was eradicated... but I can't accept it!'

The Agnes Empire had forced upon him the sins committed by his forebears.

For that reason, he had to endure all manner of humiliation while living in poverty.

Did he really have to suffer this much, just for inheriting that bloodline?

'I won't die alone. I'll sever the imperial bloodline.'

He discarded a significant amount of money to disguise himself as a typical noble.

In secret, he gathered corpses and used forbidden magic.

Thanks to this, he produced quite a number of undead, which could be sent out at any time via summoning magic circles.

'You are the ones who made me this way. You must be annihilated just like I was!'

The man quietly pushed through the crowd toward the emperor.

Though the Imperial Knights surrounded them, he was not particularly anxious.

With this many undead, he could buy as much time as he needed.

'I'll end it with my own hands. I've already thrown away everything—why would I care for this life now?'

* * *

The Imperial Knights must always, no matter the time or place, protect the emperor and the direct imperial family.

Over the long years, countless villains had challenged the emperor's authority, scheming to overthrow the imperial family through slander and intrigue.

Therefore, they could not let their guard down for even a moment. Even should they lose their lives right now, that duty must be fulfilled.

'Though he's the son of the grand duke... why would they let someone said to be cursed into the imperial palace?'

Captain of the Imperial Knights, Karaf Roberta, looked out with concern.

For some time, he had been steadily observing Alter Radiant.

Though it had been proven that the curse was not contagious, as captain of the Imperial Knights, he couldn't just watch idly.

Moreover, since the emperor had personally contacted Alter Radiant, he needed to be even more vigilant.

'But I cannot go against His Majesty's orders.......'

As a mere knight and subject, Karaf had to obey the emperor.

Even if he stood in the position of captain of the Imperial Knights, that fact did not change.

No matter what decision the emperor made, he only had to continue protecting the sovereign body as he always had.

'The grand duke of the north cannot leave the northern lands. Yet His Majesty should not journey to the north.'

Perhaps the emperor had considered the grand duke's circumstances and therefore summoned the youngest son of the grand duke's household to the imperial palace.

It would be difficult for the emperor to ever meet with the grand duke himself, so he had to connect, even through the grand duke's child.

After all, the grand duke was the only one of his rank in the Agnes Empire, and also a dear friend.

'The grand duke of the north is an honorable knight. Someone like me could hardly pass judgment upon him.'

Karaf had been at the emperor's side for a long time.

In his younger days, the emperor had fought countless battles at the northern frontiers, and Karaf himself had wielded his sword without hesitation.

Back then, the grand duke of the north had never retreated in the face of foes, carrying only pride as a knight.

Thanks to that, they had repelled the invaders and achieved a long peace.

'...... If he's the grand duke's child, he deserves due respect. Even if he is cursed, his bloodline has not vanished.'

Only then did Karaf turn his gaze away from Alter Radiant.

He knew the reason the emperor paid such particular attention to Alter Radiant.

But as the emperor's bodyguard, as one closest to him, he only maintained silence.

'He must still be unable to forget that woman.'

The emperor, before being a ruler, was human; it was impossible for him not to be swayed by emotion.

All the more in his youth, emotions could easily sweep one up.

It had been a passionate love, difficult to let go, and because he had been unable to fulfill it, perhaps he still lingered in the past.

'He certainly takes after her. Though he is a son, he inherited his mother's beauty.......'

Karaf remembered Uriel Astile vividly.

As the disciple of a great mage, she wielded magic at a considerable level.

Moreover, since she had advanced without fear of monsters, Karaf could call her a truly brave warrior.

To top it off, she possessed such clear and elegant beauty, surely the emperor's heart must have been shaken.

'If she had been a daughter, what would have happened, I wonder... Hmm?'

Karaf sensed a strange atmosphere and immediately adopted a defensive stance.

There was no obvious sign of danger, but his seasoned instincts had picked up on a change.

Of course, since it might merely be a misunderstanding, he thought he should observe more closely.

'Something is moving. Weapons are forbidden, so... it must be magic?'

Indeed, among the nobles there were those capable of casting magic.

But with the imperial mages keeping watch, any attempt at magic would be suppressed before it could be activated.

Even so, when considering the emperor's safety, it was necessary to remain prudent.

'Most of the forbidden magic should have been lost.......'

There was a time when forbidden magic had caused turmoil within the Agnes Empire.

Casualties had occurred indiscriminately among nobles and commoners, even breaking through the imperial palace's barrier.

As a result, a decree had been issued by the former emperor, and only after many dark mages were executed did forbidden magic disappear.

"I shall defy death itself!"

Someone shouted, spreading their arms wide.

A blackish magic circle spread out on the ground, and something began to pour forth.

The imperial mages responded immediately, but the dark mage, though his entire body was being suppressed, calmly continued casting.

"Oooo......."

"Uugh......"

From the magic circle, putrid and decayed corpses soon emerged into view.

They had already lost all life, yet they sluggishly moved, animated by magic power.

Forbidden magic, having defied the law of death, had created a grotesque legion of undead.

"The main unit, hold your positions! First squad, surround the enemy! Second squad, evacuate the distinguished guests!"

"Wh-what......."

"What's happening right now?"

Karaf drew his sword and began commanding the Imperial Knights.

At that moment, knights and soldiers started rapidly converging from all sides.

The dark mage had already lost his left arm and right leg, yet continued summoning undead.

"I have resolved myself to death! You will not stop me!"

The dark mage abandoned his human flesh through forbidden magic.

Thus, he no longer felt pain; all that mattered was casting the spell.

As long as his head remained intact, the magic would be maintained, so he had simply forsaken the rest of his body first.

"Hahaha... the imperial line ends here! All that's left is to collapse along with me!"

The number of zombies and skeletons continued to swell, and soon they rushed toward the distinguished guests.

The imperial mages could not cast additional spells for fear of harming guests, and the Imperial Knights were blocked by the crowd.

At this rate, countless undead would overrun the assembly in moments.

"Your Majesty, the situation is urgent......"

Karaf attempted to evacuate the emperor and direct imperial family first, but hesitated.

Another surge of magic power swept through, and a brief chill filled the banquet hall.

The undead stopped moving, and even the dark mage could not hide his confusion.

One of the guests simply exhaled a white breath, glaring at the enemies.

"Hoo......"

After completing the casting, Alter surveyed the surroundings.

The spell might have misfired, or someone else might have been caught in the attack.

But the chill had struck only the dark mage and undead; the guests were merely fleeing in panic.

"Where did such a mage come from...?"

The dark mage, protecting only his head and chest, belatedly realized Alter's presence.

The undead he had summoned had all frozen solid, and his magic casting was forcibly halted.

And since not a single person had been harmed, he only felt a surge of pointless rage.

'It's not over yet. I have to deal with him before he goes wild.'

Alter steadied his breathing, preparing to release more frost.

The undead were nothing but a ruse to spread confusion.

In truth, the dark mage would transform his own flesh to rush at the emperor.

'It's probably pushing myself too hard... but I can still go on.'

The curse branded on his heart was bothersome, but he could not back down here.

If real pressure had been placed on his body, he wouldn't even be able to stand.

But as he was able to hold out, he judged that he was still fine for now.

'If I just freeze him completely...'

"Don't step in any further."

Brillie grabbed Alter's wrist and quickly intervened.

Alter tried to say something, but could only close his mouth in the end.

"Look at you. You're already freezing, aren't you?"

Brillie gently swept over Alter's hand to check the temperature.

Of course, it would be hard to deduce his condition without direct contact.

Still, her instincts screamed that she had to stop him.

"But......"

"No. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"......"

Brillie answered firmly, not letting go of Alter's hand.

If Alter were to collapse, she would be consumed by horrible emotion.

Also, since there were still people remaining in the hall, they might get swept up in the aftereffects of magic.

No matter what, it would work against Alter, so she had to keep holding him back.

"That's enough. You've done all you can."

"If I don't handle it now......"

"I too shall... defy death!"

The dark mage bit his tongue and spewed blood.

Then his body warped grotesquely, turning into a massive zombie.

It was far off from his original plan, but as long as his goal was achieved, it didn't matter.

"...... Give me a sword!"

Brillie thrust her hand toward the Imperial Knights without hesitation.

They flinched, but could not bring themselves to hand over a weapon.

Vanderas watched the scene and immediately proclaimed the imperial command.

"Hand her a sword at once!"

At this, one of the knights threw over his sword.

Brillie snatched it up and swiftly drew the blade from its sheath.

"The imperial line shall be annihilated!"

The dark mage screamed and charged at the emperor.

Brillie assumed her stance slowly, then took two quick steps forward.

'I'll sever him with a single strike.'

Brillie recalled all the experience and skills she had accumulated so far and swung her sword.

In truth, she did not care if the emperor died, or if anyone else got hurt.

She simply wished that her fiancé, Alter Radiant, would remain safe.

'Don't step in. I... will finish this.'

Brillie naturally replicated the moves of the phantom thief, then came to a halt.

A light, swift step, an outline untouched even by shadow, a trajectory that had never before been slashed.

What would it be like to channel that motion through a sword?

"Ough... Nuaaargh......"

The dark mage took one step, then his body tilted.

He felt no pain, but he realized that his lower body had been severed.

His diagonally-cut lower half collapsed, with the remaining half tumbling to the ground.

"Here, take it."

"Uh..."

Brillie returned the sword to the Imperial Knight, then went back to Alter.

It had happened in a split second; only a few experts had glimpsed the strike.Alter, caught by the silence, could only stare at Brillie.

'That strike is supposed to be delivered by the Sword Saint... Has she already reached that level?'

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Protective mama bear is a strong mama bear...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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