Chapter 19

It was noisy.

Secundus, with the Treasure tucked under his arm, frowned.

The sunlight that had begun to seep in from a distance was also a factor.

“Has sister Leniar arrived.”

“I suppose so.”

At my answer, the two princes quickened their pace.

Sunlight poured in and the confidants they had left behind came into view.

They stood as if in a standoff with men holding axes.

If not for the blue, round barrier blocking the way, their momentum was fierce enough to throw their axes at any moment.

“…Have you returned?”

Kateka Keshulei was drenched in sweat.

That blue, round barrier was his magic.

He had boasted that half a day would be no problem, but the opponent’s strength was greater than he thought.

Secundus patted the shoulder of his hard-working brother.

“Are you alright, Kateka.”

“…I can still endure. Brother, the Treasure……?”

“Hmm.”

“…With this, that makes two, no, including Zionis, that’s already three……!

At the sight of the brilliant helmet, color returned to Kateka’s sweat-stained face.

It was impossible to know what power it held, but it was clearly one of the Treasures of the Succession War.

It was proof that their faction had gained an advantageous position.

“You can rest now.”

Only then did Kateka catch his breath.

The blue barrier was withdrawn.

The axe warriors with their fierce momentum could not rush in recklessly.

It was because the muscular giant, the Second Prince Secundus Debius, had appeared.

Looking at the hesitating warriors, Secundus took a deep breath, huuup.

“That’s enough, sister-!”

It was a shout so resounding that the entire mountain seemed to echo.

Kateka and I sat down, covering our ears.

‘You could have warned us!’

‘…Ugh, my ears…….’

Secundus paid no mind and continued to shout.

The newly acquired Treasure was held high.

“The treasure of this place is already mine, Secundus’s—!!!”

…….

A silence fell.

The momentum of the axe warriors was completely broken.

Soon, the warriors slowly began to move.

A woman was walking out from between the parting crowd of warriors.

“You were fast, Secundus.”

Long silver hair covered her shoulders.

Even in the rugged mountains, her steps did not lose their elegance.

Even her fingertips were imbued with grace, so beautiful it was chilling, yet unwavering and firm like a cliff of ice.

“This is unlike you.”

Leniar de Volmark, the First Princess.

A grace hard to believe for a twenty-four-year-old.

The vessel of a wise king, of whom it was even said that if not for being a woman, she would have already surpassed Ferbias.

Facing such a woman, his half-sister, Secundus laughed heartily.

“Unlike me, you say, adding unnecessary words.”

“My apologies if I offended you. I suppose I got a little vexed, missing the Treasure right before my eyes.”

Leniar gave a light smile.

I felt a strange sense of kinship.

That was the smile of a liar.

Because it was one I always wore, I couldn’t fail to recognize it.

“Hmm. Today is my,Secundus victory. Please withdraw now.”

“Well……”

Leniar shook her head.

She showed no sign of withdrawing and gestured with her chin at the warriors she had brought.

Secundus was still holding the Treasure high, but her attitude was as if it didn’t matter.

“Perhaps there’s a way to have that Treasure handed over here.”

“Hmph. I have no intention of handing it over.”

“Your intentions don’t matter much, my dear.”

“That would be robbery.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad either.”

Leniar snickered.

It was not a simple joke.

Moreover, she had the power to back it up.

Secundus pretended to be calm but clenched his teeth slightly.

“…Do you think it will be that easy? You would be mistaken.”

“Am I really mistaken?”

The men lined up next to Leniar were clearly Haider warriors.

The way they stood with their axes was menacing.

Elites of a different class from the underlings Secundus had subdued earlier.

There were over thirty such warriors.

“What do you think, Lord Yosef?”

“Lord? That is too much for an old man with only a knack for wielding an axe.”

There was an old man who chuckled.

“Just call me Commander, Your Highness.”

“Then Commander Yosef, how about it. Can you bring me that treasure?”

“By transfer or by force? Well, neither would be easy, but if it is Your Highness’s command, then by all means.”

The old man was short.

Yet his body was built like a rock.

His beard was braided into three strands, one eye was covered with a patch and he held an unbelievably large axe.

Secundus’s face stiffened.

Such a distinctive appearance, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize it!

“Yosef Haider……!”

“Oho, Prince Secundus. You know this old man? I shall take it as an honor for my family.”

“…How could I not know the Commander of the Haider Warrior Corps. I’ve always wanted to meet you once.”

The symbol of the Duchy of Volmark, the six warrior corps.

That old man, the leader of the Haider Warrior Corps, was one of the greatest warriors of the Duchy of Volmark.

The aura that crashed against them, as rough as a stormy sea, proved it.

“…As an enemy, I never wanted to meet you……!”

***

There were those known as the Ten Great Generals of the Empire.

They were the ten generals who symbolized the Great Empire of Cordis.

Secundus’s mother, Marina Debius, who was now an Imperial Consort, was once a member.

During her time as one of the Ten Great Generals, Marina was called the Seven-Forged General.

That was over 20 years ago.

The current Marina did not have the same skills as back then.

She had given birth to a child and was over forty years old.

The injury that had forced her to retire still remained.

However, Secundus had never once won against his mother in a duel.

Secundus Debius was said to be the prince with the strongest physique.

Yet he was no match for a member of the Ten Great Generals who had long since retired.

It was not that he was weak.

He could not be weak.

It was just that the name of the Ten Great Generals was immeasurably high.

That’s how those like the Ten Great Generals or the Volmark Six Warriors were.

Individuals who had grasped a power that became a symbol of the nation.

Completed monsters, walking calamities, for whom it would not be strange to crush mountains and part seas!

That one-eyed old man, Yosef Haider, was also such a monster and such a calamity.

“Speak your command, Princess.”

Yosef Haider awaited his orders.

His master now was the First Princess Leniar.

“No matter how difficult the command, old Yosef will do his best for you.”

By transfer, or by force, either way!

The old man said so and laughed again.

There was a justifiable leisure in his demeanor.

Unless one was one of the Ten Great Generals, they could not take away that old man’s leisure.

“……”

“……”

-A silence, so chilling.

The faces of Secundus’s faction turned pale.

Even in the capital, rumors of Yosef Haider were heard.

If that old man decided to, the heads of the three princes and their confidants would be rolling on the ground immediately.

It felt as if a beheading axe was at their throats.

Facing death, one could not help but be terrified.

Yosef Haider was that kind of man.

A calamity as vicious as he was old.

‘…Yosef Haider!’

I clicked my tongue softly.

‘This is disconcerting……’

I also knew the weight of the name ‘Volmark Six Warriors’.

No, in fact, I was the one who felt it the most.

I felt more keenly than anyone else here what kind of danger had been pushed right under their chins.

‘I might lose a limb or two.’

Regression, a second life.

I could not let it be in vain.

I planned to escape, even if alone.

I had to put an end to my fate, even if it meant that.

But even escaping would not be easy.

The plan would also change greatly.

‘Answer well, Secundus! Our lives hang on your tongue!’

“……”

As if my thoughts had reached him, Secundus slowly opened his mouth.

A deep shadow was cast on his face.

“…Hmm. The Duke of Volmark’s love for his niece is greater than the rumors.”

The muscular prince chose his words.

Not to be servile.

But to be as wise as possible.

Because even amidst the trembling, he would not let go of the Imperial Throne.

“To see Commander Yosef in the imperial capital.”

“While I can’t say he doesn’t go overboard with his love at times, I am always grateful to my uncle.”

“I was greatly surprised.”

To think he would send one of the six warriors, Yosef Haider, all the way to the imperial capital, even for the Succession War.

The intentions of the Duke of Volmark were questionable.

How had he avoided the Great Emperor’s eyes in the first place?

“But sister, make a wise choice.”

Secundus muttered in a low voice.

“If you are not confident of a complete victory, it would be better not to fight at all.”

His fists remained clenched.

Everyone here knew.

Those fists boasted a power like that of a cannon.

It wouldn’t be a great threat to Yosef Haider, but it was enough to take the lives of the other warriors.

“You’re not planning to just entertain brother Ferbias, are you?”

A clear haze began to rise.

Call it life force, magic power, ki, or mana, it didn’t matter.

The power dwelling in his trained body was so clear it was visible.

Yosef Haider let out a gasp of admiration, oho.

The momentum was greater than he had imagined.

“What more is there to say?”

Kateka Keshulei walked out from behind the rising haze.

A magical light flickered in his hand.

I also sighed and drew out my black blade.

Secundus’s confidants similarly gripped their weapons.

“What will you do? Decide quickly, sister……!”

At Secundus’s bold shout, Yosef laughed.

“Ha, haha, ha-!”

He had thought that even with the strongest physique, he was still a greenhorn, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Princess Leniar, your brother’s skills are greater than I heard. What will you do?”

“……”

At Yosef Haider’s question, Leniar quietly stroked her chin.

And she snapped her fingers twice.

Tick, tick.

There was a hint of annoyance, but it quickly disappeared.

“You have your cute side too, Secundus.”

The silver-haired princess gave a faint smile.

It was still the smile of a liar.

“To mention that Ferbias brat’s… no, our older brother’s name with that strong pride of yours. You must have been quite desperate.”

“……”

“But you have a point. If we fight amongst ourselves, only our older brother will be pleased.”

She longed for the Imperial Throne.

Which prince or princess wouldn’t, but perhaps her longing was the greatest among the eight.

“I’ll play along, my brother.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t covet Secundus’s Treasure.

It even seemed easy to obtain.

Then it felt as if she would be one step closer to the throne.

As if it were within her grasp.

That’s why she cooled her desire a little.

“Let’s go back for today, Commander Yosef.”

She turned her steps.

“It seems the time is not yet right.”

“You are wise, Your Highness.”

To eat everything in sight would make one a beast.

The pinnacle of the Great Empire of Cordis was not a position so lenient that a beast could occupy it.

“It would be difficult to achieve a complete victory against Prince Secundus.”

Yosef Haider bared his teeth and smiled.

A warrior was a tool.

But even a tool, if it is old, comes to possess a spirit.

The old warrior also felt that now was the time to withdraw.

Leniar turned away.

As quietly as she had appeared, yet she walked with grace.

At Yosef Haider’s signal, the Haider warriors followed.

Leniar de Volmark quietly muttered.

“See you next time, my brothers.”

Her eyes, as if sprinkled with silver powder, scanned the lined-up princes.

Leniar couldn’t help but chuckle.

To think the three princes who had sided together were so different from one another.

A muscular giant, a gloomy recluse, an inscrutable kid.

Even though they were her brothers, they were so much like strangers that she couldn’t help but find it amusing.

“Secundus, Kateka, and… Zionis.”

“Oh dear……”

Kateka collapsed to the ground.

The reclusive prince rarely went outside his room to begin with.

The tension was hard to bear in a state where his stamina was already depleted by the barrier.

He stuck to the floor like some kind of liquid.

“…We’re alive!”

“Hmm. We are.”

Secundus also nodded.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid.

He just didn’t show it.

If Yosef Haider had decided to, everyone in this place would have lost their lives.

To not be afraid in the face of death would make one a cripple.

“Commander Yosef, he’s more incredible than I thought!”

“To face such a man and not have a single person injured, it seems the heavens are truly helping Your Highness!”

They forced themselves to laugh heartily.

Yosef Haider was like a beast.

A calamity that made one’s knees tremble and drained all energy just by meeting him.

The confidants were all shaking in their legs, and though the degree varied, the two princes were the same.

Secundus glanced at me.

“How about you, Zionis?”

“I’m hungry. Let’s go back.”

“What? Bwahahaha!”

Laughter erupted at the unexpected answer.

Secundus laughed until he shed tears.

He had prodded him slightly because of his unchildlike behavior when he obtained the Treasure, but to say he was hungry!

It was foolish of him to even suspect.

The confidants found it just as funny.

‘He really is a child.’

‘So different from Prince Secundus.’

‘Perhaps he doesn’t even know what just happened.’

A roar of laughter, wahahaha-.

It was close to a jeer.

As if savoring the relief from escaping fear, they laughed excitedly.

But I showed no sign of embarrassment, which made me look even more like a child.

Secundus stroked his eleven-year-old brother’s head.

“Alright. Let’s have a delicious meal. A high-class restaurant in the capital, the top chef in my detached palace, whatever it is, I’ll prepare the best. With meat, if possible!”

“Then let’s hurry back.”

“Hmm. Wait just a moment. It’s embarrassing to say, but I’m drained of energy.”

But since I got the Treasure, don’t look at me so pathetically!

The muscular prince shrugged his shoulders.

The confidants and even Kateka snickered.

They all felt the same about facing Yosef Haider.

But I persisted.

“Still, we have to go.”

“Zionis, let’s just rest a bit before we go… I mean……?”

Secundus’s words trailed off.

It was because my face had become icy cold.

And because my eyes were blazing with a blue fire.

“Brother.”

The momentum was murderous.

I looked more than just annoyed; I looked enraged.

I quietly gestured.

“A moment, your ear.”

At the low voice, at those cold eyes, Secundus flinched.

But before he had a chance to feel his pride wounded, I whispered to him.

So that the still-laughing confidants could not hear.

But so that it would be seared into Secundus’s mind.

“Shut up and get up. There’s a limit to foolishness.”

“…What?”

He raised his head in surprise.

Those were not words that the powerless kid Zionis could say to the Second Prince Secundus.

Bewilderment was thicker than anger.

But I did not stop.

“You’re alive by the enemy’s whim and you’re chatting in this very spot?”

I was almost growling.

I did not let go of the last shred of courtesy, but I could not hide my anger.

“This is a time when we should be crawling away to escape.”

I shot back quickly.

“Even an insect flees immediately when injured. But to sit down and joke around… ha! I heard you were familiar with the battlefield, but it was just a rumor. And you dare to speak of the Imperial Throne?”

Foolish, foolish, foolish!

To Shion of Merion, who had crossed countless battlefields, his actions were utterly stupid and pathetic.

Even now, I was frantic.

“It’s Yosef Haider. That Yosef Haider!”

One of the Volmark Six Warriors, could he not know his strength and his whims?

It wouldn’t be strange if he came running back right now, cut off all their heads, and played ball with them.

My contorted face held not only urgency but also contempt.

“Do as you please, I have to run.”

“…You are right, Zionis.”

Secundus stood up immediately.

His face was red.

With shame.

“Retreat, on your feet!”

“““Pardon?”””

Complaints arose.

It was natural, as the confidants and Kateka did not know the reason.

But Secundus, his face hardened, shouted again.

“That’s an order. What are you all doing!”

The confidants stood up in unison.

They were soldiers.

They were used to not questioning the reason for an order.

In the blink of an eye, they formed ranks and gathered.

“Hurry back to the palace!”

They ran through the mountains.

They were used to mountain travel, so they did not make much noise.

The relatively weaker Shion and Kateka were assisted by the confidants.

As he ran, Secundus stared intently at my back.

When they were leaving, I muttered as I passed by.

‘A magnificent decision, brother.’

Those words would not leave his mind.

No, it wasn’t just that.

The whisper that had scolded him, the coaxing to take the Treasure, all of it was vivid.

“You are……”

He was about to speak without thinking but closed his mouth.

The swallowed question swirled inside him.

‘…Just what in the world are you, my brother?’

The swirling question was close to a sigh.

It became an anxiety he wanted to vomit out immediately.

But he did not vomit.

It was because he had promised.

But was it a wise choice?

He was not at all certain.

The Treasure tucked under his arm felt unusually cold.

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