However, Rudehrn was also a man who had lived through the passage of time. He would not be easily fooled.
He kept in mind the possibility that Carlyn’s words were deceptive.
But that’s not to say they were without effect. As Rudehrn’s original role was an imperial guard knight.
Protecting the emperor was a more important task for him than capturing the empress’ killer.
In other words, Carlyn’s words were enough to make waves in the Sword Master’s tranquil heart like a lake.
It was a reversal of the situation brought about by just a few words.
“What do you mean by that?”
“The emperor’s lung disease. Do you think that was a natural illness?”
Currently, only the emperor, the two Sword Masters, and the Chief of Intelligence knew about the emperor’s lung disease.
Although they were looking around the empire for divine healing, only four people knew the reason. (+)[1]TLN: I’m sorry, I’m not sure if it’s either divine healing/divine healer/divine medicine. Since, by the time I translated this, I didn’t have any single information about this character /or item. I’m sorry for asking you this but for now, just keep in mind these 3 possible characters/items.Of course, Carlyn knew because of the information in the game, but for Rudehrn it was startling words.
He couldn’t even scold the rudeness of not attaching the honorific “His Majesty” when referring to the emperor.
Was the emperor’s illness the plot of someone? If someone could harm the emperor, who was behind it?
The troubled Rudehrn gritted his teeth subtly.
Though the combat had moved from swords to words, they were still in combat.
“If they really targeted His Majesty, they should have aimed for when the war with the West was happening.”
Rudehrn was conflicted even as he spoke. Because he didn’t have confidence, the emperor’s protection was even more strict.
“If that’s what you think, you can chase after me. I’m planning to run now with all my might.”
“There’s a contradiction. If your words are true, you shouldn’t have stopped here.”
Carlyn didn’t bother to answer.
Rudehrn already suspected that he was trying to catch two birds with one stone – assassinating the empress and surviving.
“And if it’s really too late as you say, it’s better for me to catch you than to go back.”
Rudehrn gripped his sword anew. But Carlyn maintained his composure and shrugged.
“Do as your heart leads. Following the will of the great Father of Darkness, I have already fulfilled my duty.”
“….”
“Even if I die today, I have no regrets. My grave must be here.”
Seeing Rudehrn’s expression, Carlyn smiled to himself. The answer was already decided.
Carlyn, the empress, Haisen, the devil worshippers, and the empire.
Things were too tangled up for Rudehrn to guess Carlyn’s inside story.
The bodyguard who was called by the empress for being the princess’s bodyguard, killed the empress. It was an incomprehensible situation.
Naturally, Rudehrn could only think that Carlyn had some other force behind him.
That was also why he wanted to capture him.
Faced with Carlyn’s fabricated lies, Rudehrn had no choice but to make a binary decision.
‘Damn it.’
Rudehrn cursed inwardly. He knew he should capture Carlyn.
Beside the Emperor stood the Sword Master. He had to trust him.
But if someone like Carlyn, especially someone with the status of a hero of the empire, was backed by someone willing to risk their life to ensnare him…
Hadn’t he already prepared countermeasures for at least one Sword Master? Such suspicions lingered in his mind.
In truth, the conclusion was already set anyway.
Faced with the possibility of the emperor’s life and the empress’ killer, he had to choose one.
Even if Carlyn’s words were false, as a loyal guard knight Rudehrn could only choose the former.
Rudehrn was in no position to take risks with the emperor’s life.
‘If I go back at full speed… Maybe I can make it before it gets dangerous.’
He racked his brains.
He knew the skill of the Sword Master at the emperor’s side. He wouldn’t go down easily either.
Without leaving any words, Rudehrn turned his body after making his decision. He returns along the path he had chased at tremendous speed.
Carlyn found that silence quite heavy.
It would have been less scary if he had left some words like See you later or I’ll remember this humiliation.
Nevertheless, the crisis had passed, so he let out a genuine sigh of relief.
‘Phew. Almost got caught there.’
He thought the probability was high that this adventure would work out, but there was still a tiny possibility.
Carlyn could have died here today. Being captured would have been more painful than death.
Although he was tired from the combat with the Sword Master, he couldn’t just stay still.
Of course, the empire would pursue him, and Rudehrn could come back too. He had to get away as quickly as possible.
With the bright moonlight, Carlyn dashed with all his might to the west.
From experience, his top condition was maintained until falling asleep. Although it did degrade slightly if he stayed up all night.
He didn’t know how much longer the Devil’s Blood would last.
That is, before this fortunate time ended, Carlyn had to run away as far as possible.
After escaping, the Devil’s Blood manifestation ended after two hours had passed.
It would be a lie to say there were no regrets, but it was sufficient that optimal condition still remained.
I stayed awake all night and exhausted all my strength running west until dawn.
Did I run for about 32 hours?
I skipped two cities and stopped running when I reached the third city.
It was a judgment that at least for the moment I wouldn’t have to worry about the empire’s pursuit.
There were two reasons.
First, physically it would be hard for even the empire’s side to imagine covering the tremendous distance.
Also, the fact that I ran only west was based on my estimate of the Imperial Intelligence Agency’s emergency response.
After Rudehrn left, I erased my tracks.
Since my last direction of escape was west, the empire would probably search more south and north.
Of course, they would still look west, but especially north. Because the devil worshippers were in the north.
“Ugh….”
As soon as I got up, I checked the time. 11 AM. I dug a hole and slept from 6 AM, so about 5 hours of sleep.
Not nearly enough sleep. Deep fatigue and exhaustion, emptiness, pain, and more tormented me.
Just because I ran in optimal condition doesn’t mean the physical strain disappears.
In fact, more difficult than the fatigue was the exhaustion and emptiness.
With the Devil’s Blood and my top condition, I had exerted over 6 times my normal strength. The impression was significant.
Clearly my normal self, but an indescribable feeling of weakness.
‘It was expected.’
Maybe because I fought the Sword Master, there was a deeper regret than usual.
Next was the pain. The hole in my left armpit and the big and small injuries from the bloody battle with Rudehrn.
Especially where Teme’s Spear pierced was a problem. Although I applied a hemostatic and wrapped it in bandages, there was a hole in my shoulder.
I would have to focus on treatment for at least a few weeks.
“Whew.”
In the forest. Listening to the chirping birds, I replayed the combat with the Sword Master.
Since the pursuit hadn’t arrived just yet, it was something I had to do while I had time.
There were many other worries, but what’s done is done. Putting it off a bit wouldn’t change anything.
Before I forgot the flow of the combat, etching it into my brain again was the priority.
Hmm. At the time of the fight it felt like I was touching something, but now I don’t even have a sense of what it was.
With my weakened physical body and senses, it can’t be helped.
Maybe I could realize something when I develop further or am in optimal condition again.
I replayed that combat about three times.
It made me wonder how I fought so well.
Although it was movement I felt and did through my senses, with my current body it was a realm I couldn’t reach.
‘This much is enough for now.’
Just remembering the series of combat is sufficient. There are many urgent things.
What I had to think about now was the incident I had caused.
Killing the leader was part of the plan, but killing the empress was an unexpected development.
I was swept away by an unseen current.
But it wasn’t a bad thing at all.
Although the plan was entangled because I didn’t see through the leader’s moves, in the long run, it was beneficial.
By killing the empress, a latent danger, and dealing with the devil’s seeds, it was a profitable deal.
As I thought before, the devil’s seeds were two in the game. It was that important.
I had eliminated one of them.
‘What great fortune.’
If I wasn’t careful, at the same time as Erendil’s death a devil could have descended on the imperial capital.
It could have been an even greater ordeal than I experienced in the game.
Also, I ruined the plot using the empress and disposed of Demorick Ruessfel, the leader.
He was quite famous even in the game, so the blow will be great.
And when you consider the infamous reputation of the devil worshippers will spread, the profit is beyond imagination.
As I thought before, that reputation will surely trigger advantageous butterfly effects.
In other words, in one night I tremendously upset the devil worshippers’ plans.
‘Erendil will have bought enormously valuable time just by becoming emperor.’
Right now it’s hard for me to jump into the succession dispute. Now Haisen’s role was bigger.
Since I took all the blame and left, it was like feeding everything into Haisen’s mouth.
Ah, who will appreciate my efforts made with resolve for death? It can’t be helped to sigh.
But Haisen should handle it well.
‘It wouldn’t hurt to expose the princes’ weaknesses right now.’
Since the Empress’s death and the disgrace that her bodyguard and war hero, Erendil, faced, there would surely be repercussions for her too.
After things quiet down a bit, if I exploit the princes’ vulnerabilities, it could not only mitigate the damage but also strengthen our position.
Choosing a princess rather than someone not of the imperial bloodline, even if slightly problematic, would be better.
Well, they’ll probably handle it sensibly on their own. Duke Brusek is also a clever man.
In fact, it’s not bad to leave it as an ace up my sleeve. The princes will certainly make their moves too.
It’s also good to counterattack then.
‘If it doesn’t look good I can always reveal their weaknesses myself.’
The problem was my relationship with Erendil. Until this incident happened, I had built up a fairly good friendly relationship.
To dispose of the devils and their worshippers, it will be better to continue that way.
But things got too tangled up. Even if I explain the circumstances, will Erendil understand?
She has eyes to see the truth so she’ll know if it’s true or not…
But even the wisest person can change when it comes to family relationships. Let alone killed right before her eyes.
Even if she understands, it will be difficult to keep by her side the one who killed her mother.
‘It can’t be helped.’
If it doesn’t look like our relationship can improve, I’ll have to plant someone else to help from the outside.
Personally, it’s very regrettable, but isn’t that enough?
The original plan was to make contact with Erendil again soon after taking the blame.
Because I was planning to go back and assassinate the empress too.
But now I might need to keep some distance. Time heals all wounds after all.
The same words might be better received after the shock has subsided a bit.
“Whew.”
I stood up. Was it because I hadn’t eaten properly while escaping? My head was throbbing.
Since there was a city nearby, I should eat first.
The reason I didn’t enter at dawn was just to avoid standing out.
A man entering and getting lodging at dawn, even in disguise, would draw attention in this situation.
Now there would also be a lot of foot traffic, so it was just right. I also had to check the situation and eat and wash up.
The discomfort was already reaching the point where it was hard to endure.
After disguising myself with prepared items, I could lightly enter the city by slipping some money.
How far did I walk? What caught my eye was a newspaper.
[The Empire’s War Hero Bewitched by the Devil]
The text filling the front page was of course about me. I quickly read through it.
The article focused more on the devil and its worshippers than my misdeeds.
Explanations about the Devil’s Blood from ancient texts and the return of devil worshippers.
I understood the empire’s intent.
After all, the downfall of the war hero would also greatly impact the empire’s authority.
They judged it was better to shock with the devil rather than interest in me.
‘From the devil worshippers’ perspective, it must feel like a bolt from the blue.’
The emperor must have also been quite surprised after the incident to hear about the devil worshippers.
I wonder if the Chief of Intelligence who had been hiding it is still alive. There are probably internal storms.
Of course, they didn’t completely ignore me. On page 2 was a wanted poster for me.
Looking around, wanted posters like that seemed to be in every back alley. It looks quite like me.
Hmm.
Even though I’m in disguise, should I cut my hair?
‘Oh?’
At that moment, as if to indicate this chaotic major incident had settled down for now, the system message I had been waiting for appeared before my eyes.
- 1. TLN: I’m sorry, I’m not sure if it’s either divine healing/divine healer/divine medicine. Since, by the time I translated this, I didn’t have any single information about this character /or item. I’m sorry for asking you this but for now, just keep in mind these 3 possible characters/items.
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