Chapter 893 – 893. God’S Atlantis
I, who was seriously contemplating betrayal, sighed. What do I do in this kind of situation? After thinking for a moment, I slapped her cheek with the back of my hand.
*Smack!*
“Stop talking nonsense and get a grip, Elena.”
“……!”
Elena, who had been slapped, stared at me with wide eyes. The shock therapy seemed to work, as her gloomy mood changed.
Elena’s wavering eyes calmed down.
“Haa.”
Elena, who let out a sigh filled with various meanings, stood up straight on the floor without my help. She checked her surroundings, where explosions were going off and screams were echoing. Elena grasped the situation and straightened her disheveled posture.
“That’s the second time you’ve hit me. It’s been a while since I’ve been slapped, so it really woke me up. Couldn’t you have hit me a little softer? My cheek is still tingling.”
My handprint was clearly visible on Elena’s cheek.
“The situation was urgent, so I put a little too much force into it. I’m curious who the first one was.”
“My mother. I got hit a lot.”
“…No way. Did you kill her because she slapped you?”
“I can’t say I didn’t.”
Elena chuckled. She used magic. The dress she was wearing disappeared, and she changed into her usual uniform. Unfortunately, it wasn’t like a magical girl transformation, so I didn’t get to see Elena’s naked body.
She looked around once and nodded.
“It’s a mess.”
“It’s quite a mess.”
In front of us, the Emperor of Ustia and Vanrey, the master of the Barclay Legion Alliance, were engaged in battle. The Emperor was holding his own. It was incredible. Every time they clashed, the shockwaves were blowing away parts of the palace.
“I didn’t expect the Barclay Legion to get involved. Even less that their master, Vanrey, would try to take the Emperor’s head.”
“I can roughly guess what’s going on. The Emperor has been in contact with the Barclay Legion for a while now. He probably weighed the pros and cons between the Angelus Legion and the Barclay Legion.”
“The Emperor chose the Angelus Legion, and the Barclay Legion got pissed, right?”
“That’s right. So, the Barclay Legion launched a terrorist attack to weaken the Ustia Empire. The Ustia Empire is the strongest in Atlantis. For the Barclay Legion, they’re willing to take losses to reduce the power of the Ustia Empire.”
It wasn’t a random attack.
Indeed, it was impossible for the Barclay Legion Alliance to attack the palace just because they were angry.
“But why aren’t you getting involved?”
“Unfortunately, I’m a criminal. If a criminal like me interferes recklessly, what would become of His Majesty the Emperor’s position?”
Is she really doing nothing? I don’t think so. Right now, she’s scanning her surroundings with a glint in her eyes.
“Why aren’t the attackers targeting us? I’m one thing, but you’re one of the Empire’s Five Swords.”
“Their goal isn’t us, but the Emperor and the Crown Prince. The other members of the Empire’s Five Swords, except for me, are fighting to protect the Emperor, but they’re being blocked by others and can’t help him.”
Gabriel was protecting the Crown Prince.
“…Was the Emperor always this strong?”
“The Emperor has a secret. You can’t hold the throne of Ustia just because you’re born into the royal family.”
“What’s the secret?”
“It’s a secret because I don’t know either. What’s certain is… it’s related to the Millennium Achievement. Don’t you know?”
“No.”
Building debris flew towards Elena. I summoned Stormbreaker in front of Elena and deflected the debris.
“But why isn’t the Millennium Achievement actively moving?”
“Because the Emperor hasn’t given the order. The Millennium Achievement has always been like that. It doesn’t actively help the Emperor, but it will absolutely prevent the Emperor from dying. The Millennium Achievement is even more mysterious than the Emperor.”
At that moment, Kang Myungjin, who was focused on rescuing people, approached us.
“Duke Baldert, Eugene and I will save people here, so I think it would be best if you left.”
I glanced over. I could see Seira fighting an attacker on the third floor. She didn’t seem to be in any danger that required help.
“Not bad. I’ll do that.”
Elena agreed. I roughly understood Kang Myungjin’s thoughts. Kang Myungjin was trying to cut ties with the Baldert family. Since the A-Plan Legion was sponsored by the Baldert family, they would be directly affected if the Duke of Baldert fell.
But I shook my head.
“Myungjin, I’m currently Duke Baldert’s escort knight. I will fulfill the mission I’ve been assigned to the end.”
“……I understand. I will prioritize saving people.”
Kang Myungjin answered and disappeared.
Elena looked at me with a curious expression.
“Why did you do that? Is there still something to gain from me? Let me tell you in advance, I’ve become a criminal. The Emperor and the Crown Prince will try to kill me. They’ll probably use this opportunity to make an example of me and solidify their power. The reputation of the Empire’s Five Swords was excessively high.”
“Well, you won’t fall. At most, you’ll get a fine or a suspension order. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Just like you moved Cheolhan and Gabriel? …I’m afraid of you. It’s painful that I’m starting to trust you more and more. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to handle your betrayal.”
“How many times do I have to say it for you to believe me? I won’t betray you.”
“I’m sorry. Even so, I can’t believe you. And think about your usual behavior. Can I trust you?”
If you put it that way, I have nothing to say. I quietly shut my mouth.
“Duke Baldert!!”
The Emperor, who was fighting Vanrey, shouted. Elena straightened her back.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your punishment will be postponed! Your suspension is also revoked!”
“Please give your orders.”
“You don’t need to help me! Evacuate the nobles in the ballroom! They are all capable administrators of the Empire! They must not be sacrificed here! Also, the capital is in chaos, so protect the citizens!”
“I will follow the Emperor’s orders.”
Elena began to use magic in earnest. As she intervened, the atmosphere in the ballroom changed. The explosions decreased, and the nobles who were dying began to escape more easily. When the situation didn’t go as planned, the attackers rushed towards Elena.
“Just a bunch of nobodies.”
Elena snapped her fingers. The attackers, who were caught in an illusion, either swung their swords at empty air or attacked their comrades.
I also moved. There were some who weren’t affected by Elena’s illusion, whether it was a skill or an item. I dealt with them.
‘Flash.’
I swung Stormbreaker, which had been transformed into a sword, and killed an attacker. I didn’t actively try to save people. There wasn’t much to gain, and there were quite a few stronger guys than me. I refused to get entangled in a bad relationship with the Barclay Legion.
And above all, Elena was subtly killing nobles. She was manipulating nobles who were detrimental to the Baldert family just by being alive with illusions, creating a clever situation where they would die at the hands of the attackers.
*Click-clack.*
Elena calmly walked out of the ballroom.
When she came outside, she could see the scenery of the capital. Flames were rising from various parts of the city. The sound of explosions and the screams of citizens could be heard from here.
‘Barclay Legion Alliance… they’re serious. They must have been planning this for at least a few months.’
Elena moved. Not towards the capital. She was heading towards a place where some nobles were gathered.
They were the vassals of the Baldert family, led by Baron Hyman Goldrex. Traitors who had betrayed their head, Elena, and sided with the Crown Prince.
Their faces turned pale when Elena approached.
“L-Lord!”
“W-What are you planning to do to us?!”
“Don’t come closer! His Highness the Crown Prince won’t stand idly by!”
“If you think about it, didn’t you betray our trust first, Lord! How dare you manipulate our memories with illusions! That was crossing the line!”
“……”
The vassals, who were filled with fear, protested. Only Hyman remained silent. They tried to escape, but a magical barrier surrounded them, blocking their view of the outside.
“I was complacent. The illusion I cast on you was one that I put all my power into 12 years ago. I was certain that the illusion wouldn’t break even if you died, but I didn’t expect the Crown Prince to have someone who could break my illusion…”
“Lord.”
“Yes, Hyman. Do you have anything to say?”
“I think if you hadn’t cast an illusion on me back then… this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Are you saying it’s my fault? Hmm. I admit it. But my thoughts are a little different. Even if I had trusted you and not cast an illusion, you would have sided with the Crown Prince.”
“I-I’m sorry, Lord!”
“Please spare us, Lord!”
The vassals of Baldert began to kneel and beg. Elena ignored them. Her gaze was only fixed on Hyman.
“Stop with the pathetic stories like, ‘If I hadn’t cast an illusion,’ ‘If I hadn’t listened to the Crown Prince,’ or ‘If I had trusted you.’ What’s important now is the present. You betrayed me, the Baldert family. And I do not forgive traitors.”
“…Lord. Please have mercy. We didn’t reveal the Baldert family’s secrets.”
“I acknowledge that. And you have worked for the Baldert family for a long time. I will show you the minimum amount of mercy. I will allow you to take your own life.”
“Thank you, Lord.”
Hyman took out a dagger from his pocket. He held the dagger and stabbed himself in the neck without hesitation. His old body collapsed to the floor.
Elena then waved her hand. Wind spikes pierced their necks and hearts. They all died. Elena put their corpses into a magical space.
“Wouldn’t it be faster to burn the corpses right away?”
“They betrayed me, but they were vassals of Baldert. They worked for the family for a long time, so I will at least treat their corpses with respect.”
“I’ve been thinking, the reason that old man Hyman betrayed you was…”
“I know. Hyman didn’t have much time left to live. He didn’t betray me because he was blinded by wealth or revenge after regaining his manipulated memories. He probably made a deal with the Crown Prince. Something like, in exchange for me losing my position, the safety of the Baldert family would be guaranteed.”
Elena looked up at the night sky with gloomy eyes. Black smoke could be seen rising above the night sky. Elena lowered her head again.
“Eugene. I have a request for you.”
“In this situation?”
“It’s because of this situation. I want to do it myself, but unfortunately, I have to carry out the Emperor’s orders. If I delay any longer, there’s a high chance that the Emperor or the Crown Prince will find fault with me later.”
“You know it won’t be for free, right?”
“I will repay the debt someday.”
Elena’s words were trustworthy. She was clear about her debts and favors.
“Okay. What do you want me to do?”
“There are traitors I haven’t dealt with. The Second Prince and the Third Prince. Kill them.”
“That’s a bit of a tough mission.”
“The Second and Third Princes’ strength is nothing compared to yours. Their escort knights might be annoying, but since there’s chaos due to the attack, their guards won’t be as tight as usual. You can do it. …Even if you fail, there will be another chance later.”
“I didn’t like those guys either.”
“As you know, you mustn’t leave any traces. You have the ability to hide your body and traces, so it won’t be a problem.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been active as a Heavenly Demon.”
I changed my clothes in front of her. I put the Hecate Cape in my inventory and put a ridiculous clown mask on my face. Using my unique trait, Deception (SS), I could perfectly hide my identity.
“See you later, Elena. Let’s dance when we meet again.”
“Dance, huh? I’ve learned it, but I’ve never danced with a man before, so I might make a mistake.”
“I’ll lead, so don’t worry.”
“I’m worried in a different way.”
Elena and I parted ways. She headed towards the capital, and I headed towards the palace, which she had pointed out with her finger.
‘I need to finish this quickly. Use the Blessing of the Moon.’
「You have used the Blessing of the Moon.」
「The Blessing of the Moon will last for 6 hours.」
「Your physical abilities have greatly increased.」
「The rank of your unique traits and skills has increased by one level.」
「The Moon Goddess is watching you with warm eyes.」
「The effects of the Blessing of the Moon have been slightly increased.」
