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122nd Chapter

“…What did you just say?”

I stiffened my face and shot the question back at Tina in a sharp tone. Tina let out a heavy sigh.

‘Terror? On the National Founding Day?’

I put aside my confusion and quickly racked my brain. I was trying to remember whether such a plot existed in the original story, but it genuinely evaded me.

‘Damn it. I keep forgetting key parts of the story…

I clasped my aching head and sighed internally. As if it were determined I wouldn’t remember, my brain had completely wiped the original content clean. Every morning, I would diligently read through the notes I’d taken on the original storyline and my past life knowledge, but even that got washed away soon enough.

‘But carrying that notebook around is too risky in case it gets taken from me… Damn it. I need to go home and read it again.’

No matter how much I thought about it, I figured I wouldn’t be able to recall anything, so I settled my thoughts and faced Tina. Her expression was exceedingly serious.

“There is going to be a major terrorist attack during this National Founding Day festival in the capital. Whether you believe it or not, this is definite information.”

National Founding Day. The biggest national holiday of the Empire.

On National Founding Day, the entire capital was packed with festival-goers and vendors. It was also the day when the royal family and high-ranking officials of the temple would reveal themselves to the citizens of the Empire, just once a year.

“…The capital will be thoroughly secured on National Founding Day. How could a terror attack…”

“A high-ranking noble family is backing them.”

Tina interrupted me, causing me to pause.

Those with enough power to carry out a terror attack in the Empire’s capital and discontent with the current regime. Moreover, a family linked to Tina.

There was only one.

Seeing the look in my eyes, Tina’s face twisted, as if she swallowed something bitter.

“Indeed. It’s the Cypros family. They are planning to collaborate with the North to incite terror.”

‘The North.’

That one word froze my mind. The fact that the North was starting to move was a red flag.

I quickly asked Tina, “When exactly is it going to happen? In what way?”

“The exact timing is during the royal procession. A mana bomb will explode in the central square. The bomb’s radius is 5 kilometers. I don’t know the exact spot other than that it will detonate in the square.”

At Tina’s calm response, I narrowed my eyes.

The highlight of the National Founding Day festival was when the royal family, high-ranking officials from the temple, and noble lords paraded through the capital.

During that time, security was extremely tight as all the Empire’s leadership gathered. Unless one was officially permitted, one couldn’t even carry metal or magical tools within 500 meters.

In comparison, the square where street vendors gathered was less secure. They didn’t restrict metal or magical tools.

However, comparatively weak security didn’t change the fact that during the festival, it was virtually impossible to carry aggressive magical tools throughout the capital.

‘But recalling the barrier from the hunting tournament… it’s not entirely impossible.’

The North had audaciously separated spaces and unleashed monsters during the hunting tournament, where most of the Empire’s nobility had gathered.

The purple barrier they set up back then had prevented even sword masters from comprehending the situation, so I could infer their level of magic.

If it were the North now, they might be able to create a mana bomb capable of breaching the Empire’s defenses.

‘Moreover, the cleanup after the hunting tournament… The Empire’s investigators concluded that incident as a bizarre happening.’

The basilisk’s corpse had vanished, and even the purple barrier that separated the space had completely disappeared by the time people came to figure out what was happening and search for Leo.

With no traces left behind, the Empire had no choice but to dismiss the hunting tournament incident as a mere happenstance.

‘Although I was one of the few survivors and ended up quite injured… the Empire still underestimated the North as they couldn’t connect the incident to it.’

The idea of carrying out a terror attack on the Empire’s primary national holiday seemed utterly nonsensical.

Yet the reason this plan sounded credible was not only due to the influence of the Cypros family or the North’s magical level but primarily the Empire’s complacency.

The Empire had wielded supreme authority in the continent for too long. There had only been internal disputes, and even when the North had rebelled a few times, it was merely a minor ruckus.

In other words, foreign invasions affecting even the capital had been completely nonexistent for many years.

‘This incident will surely put the Empire on alert.’

If the terror plot succeeded, it would truly throw everything into chaos, but if it could be thwarted, it could serve as a trigger for genuine tension across the Empire.

I tried my hardest to think positively as I continued my contemplation.

‘Everyone in Crisis will participate in the festival. Especially Caesar, who will be leading the procession right at the front.’

All high-ranking noble family members were required to participate in their royal procession during National Founding Day. Aside from exceptionally special circumstances, attendance was non-negotiable.

‘Damn it. My family is in danger.’

I bit my lip until it bled. If the explosion’s range was 5 kilometers, the shockwave would surely reach the procession area as well.

At least since I was a mere noble lady with no special title, I could potentially skip out under the guise of “feeling terribly ill.”

But Caesar was the Duke and the main figure of the festival. Unless something catastrophic happened to the family, he wouldn’t be able to miss the procession.

‘As much as I’d like to keep Aria and the others from participating… if I’m absent, they’d have to represent the Crisis family in my stead.’

Even if they were relatively weaker, I wished to keep them safe, but if I had to skip out to prevent the terror, the two would certainly need to participate as representatives of the House of Crisis.

‘Therefore, to ensure no one is in danger, I will definitely stop it.’

Amidst my worries and a chaotic swirl of thoughts, my mind crystallized into a singular thought.

I made up my mind and faced Tina.

“I understand. I will do everything I can to stop it.”

Tina looked at me with a complicated expression at my heavy assertion. Her expression hinted uncertainty.

“I am the Empress… but conceitedly, I have no solid power in my hands. Plus, I’ve been under surveillance, and if I move carelessly, I would be caught. Thus, I have no choice but to rely on you, but I must admit I still don’t know. Can a mere noble lady like you really stop this?”

Well, Tina didn’t know that I was Mir, so it would be hard for her to have high hopes for me. It was evident that she was considering the strength of my family, the House of Crisis.

Tina sighed as if troubled and continued, “As you know, the Duke of Crisis can’t just ditch the festival to handle this. He would need a very convincing reason to bow out. Moreover, if he were to skip, both the Cypros and the North would sense something amiss and might act unexpectedly. This has to be handled solely by you without the Duke’s assistance.”

Tina methodically analyzed the situation. Her blue eyes were gleaming with unfathomable rationality and coolness.

“I only know a bomb will detonate in the square; I don’t know its exact location. The person handling this must be someone sensitive to mana, sufficient to detect a mana bomb that wouldn’t trigger magical detection devices. Perhaps a Sword Expert or a powerful magician would be suitable. Moreover, they should be someone who can endure the retaliation from Cypros if the truth comes to light. Do you know anyone like that?”

It seemed Tina thought I couldn’t even imagine personally dealing with the bomb; instead, she was asking me to find someone else.

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully as I listened to Tina’s words.

‘That… fits me perfectly.’

A mana-sensitive Sword Master who wouldn’t flinch even if Cypros retaliated. That was exactly me.

‘And there’s also one more person.’

The face of someone who matched Tina’s described conditions suddenly popped into my mind.

‘It’s probably better to search with two rather than one.’

I nodded silently, pressing my lips tightly. I figured I’d have to ask that person for help.

“I will… ask Sword Master Mir to handle this. I have… a close personal relationship with him. He’s someone I can trust.”

I obviously couldn’t go looking for a bomb in my capacity as a noble lady, so it was natural that Mir would take action.

As I spoke as casually as if referring to a third party, Tina’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Are you talking about the Black Calamity, Mir? So you know him?”

“Um, yes. We’re quite close.”

“If it’s Mir, he should be able to handle it without issue… but isn’t it suspicious that he keeps his identity concealed? Can we truly trust him?”

Feeling a strange sensation at Tina’s suspicion directed toward me, I managed not to show it and nodded.

“He’s absolutely reliable. If the Empire is in danger, Mir would not hesitate to help us.”

That was the truth.

Seeing my determined gaze, Tina let out a faint sigh. It was a complex breath that could reflect either anxiety or relief.

“Then… I understand. I cannot move freely during the festival anyway. I must leave everything to you.”

Her powerless voice sounded somewhat helpless. However, the way her gaze fixed on me suggested she was determined to trust me.

“…Your Majesty. May I ask you something?”

Since the image of a villainous Empress I’d heard about differed so much from reality, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Your Majesty is a member of the Cypros family. If this matter leaks out, surely you won’t be safe either. Why are you trying to stop this?”

Predictably, Tina smiled bitterly at my question. Her lips trembled slightly, resembling a crescent moon ascending in the moonlight.

‘Ah.’

In that moment, I realized.

Tina Cypros was afraid.

“Right… If it became known that Cypros collaborated with the North, it would be quite troublesome for me, too. Even if things conclude quietly, if it gets revealed I’m the informant,” she said, her voice wavering slightly, “Cypros would not let me off the hook.”

Listening to her speak calmly yet shakily, I understood; she belonged fully to no one.

The intentions of Cypros and her own were different.

“But that doesn’t mean I want to ignore Cypros’ atrocious actions. If the terror is successful, countless lives will be lost. I wish Serenon to become the Emperor but don’t want that throne to be built upon someone’s blood.”

She uttered her unwavering beliefs with a voice that trembled softly.

Lips quivering. Body slightly trembling.

Tina was indeed feeling fear, but she wouldn’t succumb to it. Her unwavering eyes locked onto mine.

“I won’t turn a blind eye to tragedy out of fear or thirst for power.”

Tina Cypros couldn’t be simply defined as a villainess.

‘There’s definitely more to this.’

In that moment, I felt it. The person who had attempted to assassinate Diego multiple times wasn’t Tina.

Someone with those eyes and who said such things wouldn’t do such things. There surely was more to her circumstances.

“I understand well, Your Majesty.”

But that was something to look into later; for now, I needed to resolve the impending terror.

I gave Tina a bright smile.

“Now, let’s discuss the details. Are you planning to hire mercenary Mir for this task?”

“Ah, um, yes. It’s similar to hiring… Besides mercenary Mir, I plan to ask one more person I can trust to handle the issue.”

“Besides Mir? Who is that?”

I nodded at Tina’s worried question, as if to reassure her.

“Definitely someone you can trust. That person is…”

 

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