Chapter 255

“Send Secundus alone? Without any escort troops?”

Marina shouted as if scratching her throat.

“What a ridiculous sound-!!!”

She struck the table in anger.

It is a monstrous strength that destroys a large bridge with bare hands.

The table split with a crack.

If Deballo had not been in this place, Viscount Mustas might have been split apart.

She growled like a mother lion guarding her cub.

“No! I can’t send him!”

“Marina.”

“Come alone, he says! It means he intends to kill Secundus!”

“Marina-!!!”

Deballo Debius shouted towards his daughter.

Only at the Grand General’s roar did Marina shut her mouth.

However, her anger did not subside in the least, so her eyes flashed.

Deballo also sighed deeply and turned his head.

“Viscount Mustas, thank you for delivering His Majesty’s letter. But I think you will have to come back tomorrow. I have prepared lodgings, so rest for today.”

“…It seems I should do that.”

Viscount Mustas bowed and hurriedly turned his steps.

The Viscount also did not know the contents of the letter he brought.

He avoided the spot with the feeling of dodging a thunderbolt falling from the sky.

“Dad!”

Marina Debius raised her voice.

“What are you doing right now!”

“What are you doing, Marina.”

“What am I doing!”

Marina’s fist clenched tight.

Wherever her hand touched, objects shattered.

The table that had split with a crack split once more, and the chair armrest crumbled like straw.

“Then are you just going to listen to that bullshit? He says he will kill Secundus, my kid!”

“Where does it say such a thing in the Emperor’s letter?”

“Ah, please!”

She shouted in anger.

“Why do you pretend not to know when you know everything! You know that Ferbias, that colt-like guy, has been keeping Secundus in check all along! Even when giving him the position of Grand General for the merit of the Horm conquest, didn’t he act so difficultly?”

“…….”

“Now he really intends to call him out separately and kill him because he thinks his position is in danger, it’s obvious to anyone who looks!”

Deballo closed his eyes gently.

The furrows on his forehead were deep.

“…Even so, it is the Emperor’s order, Marina.”

“Dad!”

“I said it was the Emperor’s order!”

Deballo Debius eventually shouted as if vomiting fire.

His momentum was so fierce that everyone in the place shrank back.

Even though there were only those who were once Ten Great Generals or are currently Ten Great Generals in that place.

Deballo, the greatest general of the continent, glared with beast-like eyes.

“It is not a problem that will be solved by you rampaging like this! Even if you retired, if you were called the Seven-Forged General, you should have a little discretion!”

“Discretion!?”

Marina had a face that said she couldn’t believe it.

“Do you think I am failing to be discreet right now? I can’t believe it! I am sane. At least more than Dad!”

Deballo realized Marina’s words were true.

The light in her two eyes was clear.

Even though they were dyed with deep anger.

“Rather, if he says he will kill my only son and the mother hands him over saying do so, that would be crazy!”

“I am not talking about that.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

“I understand your heart. Marina.”

“No. You don’t understand!”

“Listen to me!”

Deballo spoke as if shouting her down.

Marina bit her lip.

She knew she was excited herself.

But there is no mother who would not be excited when told her cub might die.

The old general began to reason with his daughter.

“Whether you choose loyalty or maternal love, that is your choice. I have no intention of blaming either side. But the one choosing is not you!”

“…….”

“That is Secundus’s share! That child has fought through numerous battlefields and risen to the position of Three-Mi Grand General. He is not a child!”

“……But……”

Marina eventually reddened her eyes.

“He is my child whom I gave birth to with my own pain. He is my only son….”

“Mm.”

Secundus only then opened his mouth.

He had a calm face as if whatever happened to his life was fine.

“You are right, Mother. Mother has the right to interfere with me.”

“…Secundus, my son….”

“But I ask you. I want to choose.”

“……You bad rascal. Do you not know your mother’s heart so much……?”

“I am sorry.”

“…….”

Marina eventually backed down.

How did her only son, whom she always saw as young and cute, grow up like this.

Just the thought that this child with a bright future might die made her heart ache, but she could not interfere at all.

“Secundus.”

Deballo asked with his arms crossed.

“What choice do you intend to make?”

“Grandfather, what is the Debius family?”

“Ha, are you asking me about Debius? A fellow not even thirty yet….”

Deballo was astounded because Secundus was so admirable.

Secundus felt so precious that he felt ashamed for scolding Marina just now.

Secundus Debius spoke in a low voice.

“Debius is the Emperor’s greatest sword, the bravest lion beneath the imperial crown…. That is what I learned. Is it wrong.”

“You are right.”

“Then I must follow His Majesty the Emperor’s order. That is right.”

“……You.”

Deballo asked a question.

“Do you consider Ferbias your Emperor?”

“If I do not think so, does Brother Ferbias cease to be the Emperor?”

“It might be so.”

The lion-like old man continued his words.

“Depending on your choice, I can help you. It means the Cordis military will be on your side. Besides, aren’t you also the blood of Great Emperor Continua? The Great Emperor does not pay much attention to Ferbias. If I persuade him, he might rather turn his heart to you.”

“Grandfather, stop it.”

Secundus smiled slightly.

“I will only accept the sentiment gratefully. If I push out the Brother who became Emperor once, how will the Empire stand straight.”

“…….”

“Mm, isn’t it obvious what is right. However, a little time… I will need time to organize my heart….”

“……You are truly Debius.”

Indescribable pride and surprise mixed in Deballo’s eyes.

Secundus, his grandson, was unbelievably lovely and proud.

“Do so, Secundus. Think sufficiently.”

“…I will try talking with Kateka.”

Secundus sprang up from his seat.

Nana Nereyades also stood up following him.

Until now, it wasn’t a place for her to intervene, so she stayed quiet.

However, it was hard to endure any longer.

“…I also….”

Nana smacked her lips.

“…May I also go with you, General Secundus?”

“Mm. Of course, Legion Commander Nana.”

***

“…It is a trap, Brother….”

Kateka Keshulei, who heard the story from Secundus, immediately ground his teeth.

“It might not be a trap.”

“…Is that possible…? …Since the Horm conquest, there have been many words praising Brother. Given Ferbias’s personality, he must have been anxious.”

Kateka held out a small paper.

“…This matter was probably decisive.”

“What is it?”

“…They say Two-Flame Grand General Sen Hostanio requested resignation.”

“Mm. Is that so? So that was it.”

Secundus nodded.

Kateka Keshulei felt like he would go crazy with frustration.

His life was on the line, but how could he act like a bear like that?

Secundus continued speaking, whether knowing Kateka’s feelings or not.

“Brother Ferbias has reason to be anxious. Grandfather Deballo’s retirement is not far off, and if even Grand General Sen Hostanio retires, doesn’t it become a situation where this Secundus sits at the top of the military. If he thinks this Secundus is stationed right next to the capital with the 1st Legion, the elites of the military….”

“…He must have been suddenly terrified…. Since there are things he has done….”

“I understood completely. Brother Ferbias has reason to be like that. He would want to organize the anxiety factors as soon as possible.”

Secundus shook his head.

He even burst into a hearty laugh.

“Of course, I have no intention of defying him.”

“…Do not go.”

Kateka Keshulei said.

“…If you go, you die.”

“I must go, Kateka.”

“…Do not go, Brother….”

The Reclusive Prince began to weep.

“…You are too much. You are really too much no matter what. You are the one who brought me, who just wanted to read books alone, all the way here…. Yet how can you say you are going first….”

“Kateka.”

“…You cannot do this. How many young people followed looking only at Brother…? Is the duty of a subject the only duty? If you brought us, take responsibility. Rather, rather….”

Thick tears flowed down Kateka’s cheeks.

“…Rather, let’s really turn the army around, Brother. A war we didn’t want anyway, if we overturn the capital Lutilium like this….”

“That cannot be said.”

Secundus said as if scolding.

“Returning the land the Empire took unjustly to its owner, and ousting a rightful Emperor are strictly different.”

“……Brother……!”

“Stop.”

The Three-Mi Grand General’s voice is firm.

“You must know, Kateka. That I am actually quite stubborn. I have no intention of reversing what I decided once.”

You are too much, too much….

Kateka could not get angry anymore and just shed tears drip drip.

Secundus couldn’t even wipe his brother’s tears.

“I am sorry to you, Kateka. I ask you to take care of the soldiers.”

“…I cannot become a General. Maybe an adjutant….”

“Just in time, I know a very excellent general. Just lost a Chief of Staff.”

Nana Nereyades realized Secundus was talking about her.

“Legion Commander Nana, may I entrust Kateka and my soldiers to you. Grandfather Deballo will help.”

“…I will try.”

“If things really get twisted, you may cross over to the West. Since that guy Zionis is there.”

“I’ll decline that.”

As Nana and Secundus chatted, Kateka began to cry, his shoulders shaking.

Even if his size is small, he is twenty-six years old, yet acting like a child; what does he intend to do?

Secundus patted Kateka’s shoulder.

“Send me off with a smile, Kateka.”

“…Please make it so there is no reason to cry in the first place….”

“For that, I am sorry.”

Secundus laughed guffaw.

He laughed heartily, pulling up the corners of his mouth as if something was so enjoyable.

“Come to think of it, if you weren’t there 7 years ago, I wouldn’t have even thought of jumping into the Succession War.”

“…That is my first time hearing that.”

“I didn’t tell you because it was embarrassing. At that time, I was eaten up with fear. Think about it, is the resolve to fight against Sister Leniar and Brother Ferbias easy?”

“…You didn’t look like that at all.”

“I struggled to look cool in front of my younger brothers. But every day I wanted to tremble shiver shiver in fear. I also wondered if I did a useless thing.”

Talking about it makes me feel refreshed. Secundus smiled broadly.

“I was always thankful, Kateka. Ever since the Succession War.”

“…What is so thankful, Brother….”

“What do you mean what is thankful, it’s natural.”

Secundus revealed his teeth and giggled.

“Didn’t you always call this unworthy Secundus ‘Brother’.”

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