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“Let’s go! Everyone to your positions!”

At the booming voice of an elf, the forest guardians moved in perfect coordination to form their ranks.

Once the formation was complete, it was clear there was no reason to dawdle. Our unhesitating advance began.

Of course, we were able to act decisively today because our tasks had already been laid out.

‘What we have to do today—’

Was simply a continuation of what we experienced yesterday.

‘Complete dismantling of the altar.’

After the attack from the half-demon and the demons yesterday, we had barely managed to take any concrete measures against the altar. Thanks to the moon rising soon, we had to abandon the ominous site without destroying it beyond repair, and had set up camp elsewhere.

‘And perhaps there we might find something tied to their intentions or connections.’

Today, we planned to thoroughly deal with the altar, which had been tainted by demonic energies, and if possible, search for traces or clues about the demon worshippers.

Having been through so much, we returned to yesterday’s battlefield with heightened vigilance.

In the midst of this, Shione quietly spoke up.

“…Ray, don’t you think too many eyes are on us?”

“Isn’t that only natural? After all, it was you, Princess Shione, who discovered so many demon minions last night. Of course, they’d be curious.”

“That may be true… but…”

Shione shook her head lightly.

“But still, I wish you and Diolia would respond more nonchalantly.”

… Diolia responding nonchalantly?

“The one sending the most burdensome gaze, I believe, is none other than Diolia herself…”

“Eh?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Like looking upon the honored return of the Count’s esteemed head of the family—”

Hastily, Diolia interrupted the conversation.

“Umm… Ray…?”

But what was interruption going to achieve? There was something wrong here.

Warily inspecting her sword, I subtly rubbed my neck and met Diolia’s gaze.

“Ahem…”

She’s clearly feeling the pinch herself.

Perhaps she thought it would be better to just endure this light banter; without saying anything further, she seemed to retreat.

“The one who gazed at Princess Shione’s back with sparkling eyes was definitely Diolia. It was a look filled with reverence, as if gazing upon a historical figure.”

“Don’t tell me, could it be that Ray saw it wrong? After all, me being the reincarnation of an ancestor is a bit much.”

The moment Shione turned her head to question Diolia, whose face was brimming with doubt.

“There’s no way the cold-blooded Lady Diolia would be so obvious to others. That is a bit of an exaggeration—”

Shione was able to see Diolia bow her head and not easily meet her eyes.

“…Is it true?”

“I-I know nothing about it.”

“Lady, your voice seems to be trembling unnecessarily…”

“…Well, as a knight serving the Count, how could I not recall tales of the great founder’s heroics when witnessing you so deftly identifying demonic forces and commanding on the battlefield?”

“…….”

“…I was merely expressing the appropriate respect due as a knight serving the Count.”

Shione and Diolia exchanged awkward smiles, both avoiding eye contact, and resumed quietly walking forward.

While I appreciated Diolia’s excessive admiration, it seemed she was feeling quite pressured. Her personality as a cold knight was in stark contrast to my teasing words, and it created cognitive dissonance within her.

Diolia seemed to awkwardly cough several times, as if trying to shake off her embarrassment after being exposed.

Watching the two of them display such a variety of expressions was quite the amusing spectacle, and as I smiled quietly observing them, I recalled Shione’s earlier remark.

‘There are too many eyes on us.’

Indeed, Shione’s words held some truth.

The sight of me and Shione together for a single night was rather special. However, it also made me aware of something else.

‘…Ianette seems to be quietly sending glances this way.’

More so than yesterday, I felt some powerful gaze from Ianette’s forest guardians directed towards us.

Especially from two figures who appeared to be significant among them.

‘One is undoubtedly Airine.’

An elf who has finally spoken after yesterday.

‘And the other is—’

The forest guardian, always lurking behind her, focused solely on Airine’s back while cutting down enemies.

With her peculiar mechanical voice and combat style, she had shown little interest in anyone except for Airine. Now, it seemed she was finally showing proactive interest not just in Airine but also in Shione and me.

‘Could she have some hidden motives?’

It was hard not to be suspicious.

I knew Airine well enough – she was the puppet of the head of the family. Having been called upon by the crafty elf to accompany her, whether as support or otherwise, those forest elves might just be variables in this complex game. Especially now that they were focused intensely on both Shione and me, it could certainly mean trouble.

As I stood observing the two most glaring figures,

“…?”

I noticed Airine subtly turning her head again.

Her gaze that had been on Shione soon met mine, and at that moment, she quickly turned away as if nothing happened.

Beside her, Friel also seemed aware of Airine’s actions, staring at her with a somewhat stiff expression.

“……”

Shione had a reason for bringing up the fact that others were watching us.

If I were in her position, feeling the countless stares from Airine and Friel all the time would definitely be exhausting. If she were someone who quickly grew weary of such inexplicable attention, it must have been quite troublesome indeed.

‘I see you, Ianette—’

I thought quietly of Airine. And along with her, the elf silently following her like a shadow.

‘It would be wise to stay on guard until I grasp their true intentions.’

Especially keeping an eye on Ianette more than Arielte, and according to my instincts—

At least through my eyes, she was someone who had to play the role of a performer, reliant on a score written by someone else. Whether she follows it as written or adds her own emotions or expressions, she appeared to me as the one merely mechanically monitoring and adjusting things.

Indeed, keeping my focus keenly on her would be prudent.

Because I particularly disliked that haughty elf’s indifferent eyes as they stemmed from a lack of emotion.

*

The Emperor of the Empire had lost her brilliance.

The lady who had once been a virtuous ruler had now degenerated into a tyrant, immersed in manipulating neighboring nations and reveling in luxury. The state of the country was now largely in the hands of sycophants who flattered rather than earnest advisors.

For centuries, the Empire had dominated the world, and its splendor was not one to fade easily. However, due to her reign of decadence, it was undoubtedly in the slow process of decline.

Today again, as the Emperor indulged in luxury funded by the national treasury, she found herself displeased with the bureaucrat who had come to interrupt her indulgence.

“So, what brings you all the way here? Even without notice—”

Her sharp gaze ran over the woman before her.

Soon, the wrinkles on the Emperor’s forehead deepened.

“Without any word, in full armor and armed, no less.”

A cutting tone reflected her annoyance.

The bureaucrat however, busy gathering her thoughts, did not tremble in fear.

“Your Majesty, urgent news has arrived.”

“Oh? Urgent news, you say? Is it something so important that it would disrupt my good mood?”

“………”

“Let’s hear it.”

With the Emperor’s permission, the bureaucrat took a moment to catch her breath.

After steadying her racing heart, she took a deep breath and began to relay her news, every word delivered without fail.

“There are reports of rebels rising in the Empire’s east and south, marching towards the capital!”

“What?”

“Both the south and the east have confirmed wrongdoing linked to demons and cults, and they are said to continue pillaging and destroying every town and city in their path!”

“What nonsense is this? What are the southern blades and flames, and what of the eastern spears and shields doing?”

The bureaucrat’s eyes trembled at the Emperor’s words.

Suppressing her quaking heart, she did her best to report louder.

“The vile ones in the south joined the rebel forces the moment they arose and betrayed the Empire!”

The noble houses in the south had always been in league with the rebels.

“The eastern shields have reportedly fallen in the last stand against the rebels and the Holy Spear… No, the betrayer Magical Spear.”

In the east, though some resistance surely existed at first, it ended badly.

“Your Majesty! Please prepare for war for the Empire’s sake! We must strike down those vile factions!”

The Emperor listened quietly to her plea but soon began to display her fury on her increasingly contorted face.

Clash!

The wine glass in her hand shattered under the pressure of her grip.

She took a crooked posture on her throne and began to speak.

“Do you know why I chose the path of tyranny over virtue?”

“………”

“It is because I realized myself to be a ruler more fitting for the path of tyranny than virtue.”

“………”

“With two kingdoms turned into an Empire by my own hands, the struggles of those who lost their kingdoms have always been crushed and subjugated while the obedient were rewarded as Empire citizens. The path of virtue was far duller than tyranny and it was not only to my pleasure but also the good of the Empire itself. Thanks to this, did we not build a grander and stronger Empire?”

“………”

“My successor shall surely revere my great achievements and reign over an even more splendid Empire.”

The comfortable tone of the Emperor grew fiercer from that moment on.

“Yet… to think there are those daring to defy such a resplendent future for the Empire. Truly lamentable.”

The Emperor was in rage.

“Prepare the army.”

Thus, she donned her armor once more, thinking to directly command the battlefield.

“I will see to it that I take the heads of all those lowly trash. Should they wish to survive, they must bow their heads in submission before me and live out their days as slaves.”

She was no ruler to shy away from a fight, a brilliant commander of armies.

 

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