Chapter 29

The capital, Lutilium, the heart of the Great Empire, was clamorous all around with the sound of horse hooves.

The sound of hooves striking the well-paved stone road was, at a glance, almost reverent.

Riding the snorting warhorses were two hundred young men.

Two hundred youths who would be responsible for the future of the military.

Their armor shone brilliantly under the sunlight.

The well-maintained spears and swords were so sharp that they conveyed a chill even from afar.

The people gathered on the roadside all let out gasps of admiration.

“It’s today, today!”

“Look at that horse, it’s bigger than a bear!”

“Glory to Cordis!”

The day of the Grand Convergence of the Succession War, the fateful time that would decide the next emperor.

No one in the Great Empire could help but be excited.

They threw flower petals, let out cheers and even shouted the names of those they supported.

Joyful clamors.

A murmur as if excited.

‘May the great sons and daughters of Continua also be great!’

‘Wake up, honey! You asked me to wake you when the procession starts!’

‘Hmm, just a little more…….’

‘How about some grilled chicken skewers?’

The sounds of people that were bound to arise when all sorts of lives gathered.

“Whose procession is this?”

“Don’t you know by looking at that chariot? Look. He’s three heads taller than the others!”

“Ah, Prince Secundus! Seeing him like this, the story that he tore a lion’s jaws apart at nine doesn’t seem strange!”

Leading the two hundred young men was the Second Prince, Secundus Debius.

He was riding in a chariot pulled by eight horses bigger than bears.

His presence was so grand that the ground seemed to rumble with the steps of the horses.

“Wow. Is that the Sky Crystal Helm, one of the Treasures? It’s truly beautiful.”

“The spear slung on his back is also a Treasure. What was its name again……”

The people observed Secundus with interested faces.

The attention of the capital’s people was focused on which prince had obtained which Treasure, and how great a treasure it was.

“Then the two standing on either side must be……”

“The Third Prince Kateka and the Fifth Prince Zionis.”

“I heard that Prince Zionis also has a Treasure, where could it be?”

Hearing the chatter about myself, I let out a soft laugh.

“It’s a complete festival atmosphere, brother.”

“It can’t be helped.”

Secundus was waving to the crowd.

He looked quite used to it.

It was because, unlike me who had been an outcast, he had often stood in front of people.

“We ourselves are bewildered that the rules of the Succession War were overturned in the middle, but if we don’t create an enthusiastic atmosphere, the crowd won’t just let it go.”

“I know, but I’m just not used to it.”

“For someone like that, you’re quite popular.”

I gave a bright smile towards the crowd, and a flurry of shrieking female voices erupted.

‘Oh my! Is that Prince Zionis?’

‘I heard rumors that he was handsome, but I never thought he’d be that handsome……!’

‘Oh, my goodness!’

‘A sculpture! That face must be carved into a sculpture and preserved forever!’

The girls giggled and made a huge fuss.

Hearing this, Secundus also gave a wide smile towards the crowd.

Cheers poured out for him as well.

‘My goodness! Look at Prince Secundus’s broad shoulders!’

‘Ah, those biceps! How I wish I were a lion. It would be an honor to have my jaws torn by those arms!’

‘Please eat my chicken breast, Your Highness!’

Though the sweaty cheers of the men were appreciated, Secundus couldn’t hide a somewhat wistful feeling.

Wanting to change the subject, he quickly opened his mouth.

“…Anyway, Zionis, your royal guard definitely needs training.”

“He says so, Pies.”

I let out a soft laugh.

My gaze was on the chestnut-haired man sitting in the driver’s seat.

It was my one and only confidant, Pies Roesti.

“I-I-I’m, f-f-fine, Y-Y-Your Highness!”

“You don’t seem f-f-fine at all.”

“I-I-I will j-j-just d-d-do my d-duty!”

At the sight of Pies, who was trembling yet pledging his loyalty, I gave a bitter smile.

“Yes, Pies. I know your loyalty better than anyone. Isn’t that right? Who would know how loyal you are, if not me?”

“You have a good relationship with your royal guard, Zionis.”

“We’ve been together since we were young.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Secundus nodded his head.

He looked at Kateka, who was standing on his right.

The Reclusive Prince was almost in a state of panic.

Secundus, after stroking his brother’s head once, whispered quietly to me.

“Anyway, Zionis, I really need to hear it now. Are you truly satisfied with my faction?”

His voice was lower than ever before.

“Don’t you want the Imperial Throne?”

“I will be honest with you too.”

Though I had always been honest.

“I do wish to reach it, the Imperial Throne. And I must.”

“Then, why?”

I raised my head.

I was smiling.

As always, with my face covered by a deep, deep mask of a smile.

“It’s a secret, brother.”

“Just like before?”

“Yes, just like before.”

“Hmm.”

The Succession War was ending, so how did he intend to reach the Imperial Throne?

He couldn’t understand, but he didn’t ask any further.

Just like before.

Secundus also lightly stroked my head.

I did not avoid it.

“Alright. Let’s just focus on victory.”

***

Not far past the walls of Lutilium, there was a small plain.

Secundus led the two hundred young men there.

The gaze of the crowd did not cease, but it gradually lessened.

“This is the place. Plant the flag.”

At Secundus’s command, the two hundred young men skillfully set up a flagpole and began to pitch camp.

I looked around from the top of the chariot.

Here, the Grand Convergence, the final battle of the Succession War, would take place.

“Wake up, brother Kateka. We’re here.”

“…Ugh, the people……?”

“There are almost none.”

Kateka Keshulei slowly opened his eyes.

He was a complete stranger to the ways of dealing with people comfortably.

There were no cheers, no crowd.

That brought peace back to Kateka’s heart.

“It seems we’re the first.”

“…Is that so? Thank good… agh!”

Whoosh, a large beast leaped over our heads.

Kateka Keshulei screamed as if he would faint, and Secundus gripped his spear.

I nonchalantly waved at the large beast that had jumped over my head.

“A pack of wolves is coming.”

Three hundred gray wolves came running, kicking up dust.

“From the north.”

Though they had the appearance of four-legged beasts, there was no sound of hooves.

Those beasts had sharp claws instead of hooves.

Even the trained warhorses were startled and whinnied.

“Ha, haha, ha-!”

A one-eyed wolf led the charge.

“Haider, hum!”

“““Ha-ider, hum–!!!”””

What erupted from the wolves’ mouths were human voices.

Three hundred wolves joined in with the shout of the unusually large one-eyed wolf.

They shouted as if singing.

Ha, ha, ha-ider, hum!

The singing wolves shivered and soon returned to their human forms.

They were the Haider Warrior Corps.

The wolf beastmen of Volmark who loved their axes.

“The beast form of the Haider Warrior Corps. A rare sight indeed.”

“…Seeing it in person, the power is incredible……!”

There was one wolf that had not returned to its human form.

It was the giant one-eyed wolf that had howled first.

The Haider warriors paid their respects to their leader, and to the master riding upon him.

“Are you all well?”

From atop the one-eyed wolf, the silver-haired princess greeted her half-brothers.

“My brothers, who are neither allies nor enemies.”

“Hmm. We are well. My sister, who is neither an ally nor an enemy.”

Even in front of the three hundred Haider warriors, Secundus did not back down in the slightest.

The same went for his subordinates, the two hundred young men.

The axes and claws of the Haider warriors were sharp, but the spears and swords of Secundus’s soldiers were sharp enough.

“Huhu. To be honest, I never thought I would end up fighting you until the very end, Secundus.”

“It’s thanks to Kateka and Zionis’s help.”

“Benevolence is also a clear ability.”

Leniar and Secundus, the masters of the factions, looked at each other.

Their gazes were not like those of siblings, but they were not cold either.

It was because they had a common enemy.

“I have no intention of yielding the Imperial Throne, but you are still better than our damned older brother.”

“I have no intention of yielding either, but you are still better than our accursed brother, sister.”

The muscular prince extended his hand.

The silver-haired princess giggled, took off her glove, and clasped his hand.

“Do not become my enemy.”

“Hmm. The same goes for you, sister.”

Leniar whipped her head around.

“I’m talking to you too, Zionis.”

“Me? So suddenly?”

“You seem to be the biggest variable in Secundus’s faction. I’ll be watching you.”

I feigned a shrug, but it didn’t work.

‘Zionis is suspicious indeed!’

Secundus laughed heartily.

I scratched my head awkwardly and changed the subject.

“Anyway, it’s about time……”

My finger pointed towards the capital.

A group of people was approaching.

Even though there was still a considerable distance, the commotion was loud.

The faces of Leniar and Secundus contorted.

“Yes, Ferbias, that son of a bitch… no, our older brother is coming.”

“Hmm. Ferbias, that lightning-struck… no, our brother is coming.”

A trumpeting sound, buuuu.

Giant forms mixed in with the group.

Looking at the splendid, no, magnificent group, I muttered.

“Yes. He’s coming in a very splendid manner.”

***

The military force numbered at least a thousand.

Splendid war chariots were seen here and there, and expensive magi-soldiers were also mixed in.

I clicked my tongue.

No matter how much it was a fight for the Imperial Throne, it was just a mock war.

A thousand soldiers and magi-soldiers.

The maintenance cost alone must be enormous.

“It’s annoying, but as expected of our older brother.”

“Hmm. It really is annoying.”

Leniar clicked her tongue.

Power, wealth, military strength, and on top of that, legitimacy.

Ferbias was overwhelming in all of them.

Most of the imperial nobles wanted him to be the next emperor.

A golden war chariot approached them.

It moved as if sliding on the ground, with no horses pulling it.

It was a new model of magi-chariot, said to be several times more expensive than gold of the same size.

The man with blonde hair and golden eyes, who led a thousand soldiers and looked down from a high place, the First Prince Ferbias Caseptus.

“Hahaha, my dear siblings!”

Ferbias let out a cheerful, hearty laugh.

He had turned the tables according to his will, so there was no reason not to be in a good mood.

Leniar let out a deep sigh and swept back her silver hair.

Her reluctance to open her mouth was palpable.

“…I hope you’ve been well, older brother.”

“Did you wish for me not to be well?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Hahaha. You’re joking.”

He paid no mind to Leniar’s glare and waved at Secundus.

“Secundus, aren’t you happy to see this brother of yours?”

“No, I am not.”

“How sulky!”

Ferbias was an arrogant man.

However, if he was confident that he was ahead, he did not spare his benevolence.

Therefore, he was in the mood to show magnanimity to his siblings.

“Leniar, Secundus. You must know that I am not a man who is merciful to his enemies.”

He said with a great deal of self-importance.

“I will give you one last chance. If you turn back even now, I am willing to accept you.”

Terribly arrogant words.

But because they came from the mouth of Ferbias Caseptus, they could not be ignored.

“……”

“……”

Leniar and Secundus glanced at each other.

Then, without anyone starting first, they opened their mouths.

“I respectfully decline, older brother.”

“I refuse, brother.”

Ferbias shrugged his shoulders.

“So you’ve decided to become my enemies.”

There was not a hint of regret on his face.

He hadn’t expected it from the beginning.

“Alright. I will once again show you who is truly worthy of the throne.”

He gestured.

The jade-eyed man standing next to him, Amethus, turned the direction of the military force.

Ferbias Caseptus laughed heartily as he headed towards his own camp.

“It’s the Grand Convergence, my dear siblings!”

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