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[Episode 317 begins!]

After several attempts, I finally managed to fully seize control of the Ruelberta Family.

It wasn’t an easy process.

Just distinguishing between those who would side with me and those who would become enemies within the Ruelberta Family consumed dozens of episodes.

In the process, I waged wars against relatives and suffered hardships, but through repeated regressions, I succeeded in purging them all.

As soon as the episode began, I unleashed the “black dogs” to purge all the enemies within the family. Now, none of my relatives could defy me.

Later, rumors of a bloody purge circulated among the people, but I didn’t care.

Everything was for the sake of saving this world.

After securing control of the family, I immediately invested heavily in Aslan. I spared no expense to create a military force so powerful that it would be unprecedented in the empire’s history.

In a way, power and wealth were true magic.

Aslan was no longer just a private army of a strong noble family but was transforming into a legion capable of waging wars against neighboring countries.

If this continues, perhaps… I might grow strong enough to not fall behind the players. Maybe the day I can truly save this world isn’t far off.

I even allowed myself a glimmer of hope.

Until they interfered.

“Count Ruelberta. I arrest you on charges of plotting rebellion.”

The sudden intruders were knights clad in armor tinged with red. They were the Imperial Guard, the emperor’s direct unit tasked with protecting the royal family.

Forget why they showed up here—arresting me? And for such a ridiculous reason?

“Rebellion?”

“Yes. Cooperate with the investigation.”

Marco, the captain of the Imperial Guard, nodded.

I was dumbfounded by the absurd charge and asked again.

“…Do you have any evidence that I’m plotting a rebellion?”

“The evidence is right here, Count. The enormous number of soldiers you’ve been training is proof enough.”

His confident words left me speechless.

“That’s nonsense. These troops are prepared to fight the Demon Lord.”

“Preparing such a massive force to fight a Demon Lord who may or may not appear? That’s not a sufficient explanation, Count.”

The real reason for organizing such a force was, of course, to stop the players. But since no one would believe that, I had been claiming it was to fight the Demon Lord’s army.

However, the hostile imperial family seemed to have interpreted my actions entirely differently.

“…So, what are you trying to say?”

“Come with us for an investigation.”

Marco, the captain of the Imperial Guard and the emperor’s confidant, as well as Leon’s son, delivered the message in a stiff tone.

It was called an investigation, but in reality, they had already decided I was guilty of plotting rebellion and had come to punish me.

‘Anger’ boiled within me.

What crime have I committed to deserve this?

I’m fighting for you.

I’ve shed so much blood for you.

I suppressed the urge to scream.

‘So… this is how you’re going to treat me?’

No matter how much I plead, they won’t understand. No, they won’t even try to understand. They’ll think I’m scheming something because I’m the villain, because I’m Tristan.

‘Pride’ stirred within me.

“What if I refuse to cooperate?”

“If you refuse, His Majesty has ordered your immediate execution.”

Marco looked ready to draw his sword at any moment. The Imperial Guard knights with him also glared at me with murderous intent.

Not only that, but I could see the dust kicked up by cavalry hundreds of meters away. They had even brought the Imperial Army, clearly prepared to fight us if necessary.

But to me, it was laughable.

“With just these numbers? You think you can execute me here?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting. Go ahead, try. ‘Deal’ with me.”

“?!”

Crunch—!

A chilling sound of something being crushed echoed, and two Imperial Guard knights floated into the air. No, they weren’t floating—they were being lifted.

“Wahaha! The quality of the Imperial Guard knights has really dropped!”

A giant man in black armor appeared out of nowhere, grabbed the knights’ heads, and crushed them.

The Imperial Guard knights, caught off guard by the sudden ambush, were overwhelmed by the man’s presence.

In this situation, only Marco, the captain, managed to speak.

“You are…”

“Oh, my apologies for the late introduction. I am Wylie, the leader of Aslan.”

Wylie casually tossed aside the Imperial Guard knights he was holding.

“I am the one who will kill those who dare to raise their swords against the Count.”

[Episode 335 begins!]

Thud—!

“Y-you… How could you… Why…”

“Forgive me…”

The emperor of the empire, Luna Meikhael, coughed up blood and collapsed. Her wide-open eyes were filled with shock and sorrow.

I coldly looked down at her.

“Good job, Marco.”

Marco, the captain of the Imperial Guard, stared at me with empty eyes. In his hand was the dagger that had stabbed the emperor.

“You’ve worked hard serving that bratty emperor all this time.”

“……”

Marco Peiriguris, a man as cold and mechanical as if he wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed. It wasn’t hard to manipulate him. I knew his weakness.

“Even someone as cold and calculating as you couldn’t resist the bonds of family, huh?”

“My sister… What will happen to my sister now?”

“Don’t worry. I, Tristan, swear on my name that I will cure her illness.”

Marco’s sister suffered from a rare, incurable disease related to her magic system. The only hospital in the empire capable of treating such a patient was the Meikhael University Hospital, which I owned.

I used her treatment as bait to slowly manipulate Marco. And when the time was ripe, I ordered him to assassinate the emperor.

The emperor, Lucy Meikhael, who had trusted Marco so deeply, died without even thinking to use a death spell.

“I see… I understand… I will gladly accept the punishment for assassinating His Majesty.”

Kneeling before the emperor’s bloodied corpse, Marco resigned himself to his fate.

“Huh…”

I laughed.

It was so absurdly funny to see him betray his master for the sake of his sister’s life.

To risk everything for something as trivial as family.

As someone without siblings, I could never understand such feelings.

“……?”

Suddenly, my laughter stopped. Something inside me welled up.

Especially the words “sister” and “brother” felt strangely nostalgic.

What’s this? The emperor, who had been a thorn in my side, is dead… I should be feeling good…

Bewildered, I shook my head.

No… Let’s not think about it.

The only thing that matters is driving the players out of this world.

Everything else can be forgotten.

[Episode 359 begins!]

This time, I even mobilized the Imperial Army.

After removing the emperor, I placed a powerless puppet on the throne and moved the Imperial Army.

The entire country fought against the players.

In a battle of unprecedented scale in the empire’s history, we succeeded in cornering the players.

“Count. Do we really have to send even a child like that to the battlefield…?”

Bella, clad in armor, asked with concern in her voice. At the end of her gaze was a young boy clumsily putting on armor.

“We have no choice. Tomorrow’s battle is crucial for us. We need every soldier we can get.”

“I understand, but this is too harsh. Not just that boy, but even the elderly are being mobilized…”

“Don’t be weak, Bella.”

I spoke to her sternly.

“Have you forgotten? Tomorrow’s battle will determine the fate of this nation.”

“Ugh…”

The humiliating defeat from the previous episode and the faces of those who died then flashed vividly in my mind.

And Bella was one of them. She had fought with me to the bitter end in every episode. Having witnessed her death countless times, I vowed.

In the next episode, I would save her. I would save this world. I would do whatever it takes to save everyone.

“Anyone who can hold a sword will be considered a soldier. Even children are no exception.”

“But…”

“Even a child can serve as a shield.”

“Count?! That’s going too far!”

“I’m just stating the facts. To win tomorrow’s battle, we must be prepared to make any sacrifice. Think about it, Bella. If we lose tomorrow, that child’s future will be gone too. Isn’t that something you don’t want either?”

At those words, Bella finally bowed her head.

“In the end, you haven’t changed at all, Count…”

“What?”

“I thought you might have changed a little… just a little… It seems I was mistaken.”

“What are you…”

“I’m here, Count.”

Bella looked up at me with transparent eyes. A fragile, glass-like emotion trembled faintly within them.

“Even when all sorts of ominous rumors swirled around you, I ignored them. I believed that the rumors of you killing relatives or being behind the emperor’s assassination were all lies spread by those who hated you. I believed you weren’t that kind of person…”

Why are you making such a sad face?

“But… lately, when I look at you, I lose confidence. It feels like the you I believed in has become the you from the rumors…”

“Bella, I’m just…!”

“Promise me, Count. We… must meet again alive.”

With a bitter smile, Bella left.

Watching her ride away, I was overcome with an inexplicable sadness.

And soon, that sadness turned into ‘anger.’

“Damn it…!”

I threw the helmet I was holding to the ground.

Do you know whose fault this is?

Do you know why I’m doing all this?

“You don’t understand anything…!”

I resented her to the point of madness.

It was all to save you.

Why can’t you see that?

[Episode 359 begins!]

Once again, we tasted the bitterness of defeat against the players, led by those who had leveled up repeatedly.

[Episode 363 begins!]

It was written in the diary.

I need power. More power than I have now.

I need power overwhelming enough to crush the leveled-up players.

And I must eliminate anyone who stands in the way.

[Episode 384 begins!]

Everyone died.

I failed again.

What’s the problem?

Why do I keep failing?

I feel like I’m going to go insane.

[Episode 399 begins!]

Everyone died again.

Once again, I was left alone.

[Episode 423 begins!]

What… should I do?

What do I need to do…?

How can I survive?

Someone, please answer me.

[Episode 459 begins!]

[Episode 471 begins!]

[Episode 480 begins!]

[Episode 492 begins!]

[Episode 505 begins!]

When I opened my eyes, I saw a world engulfed in flames.

“Ahaha…”

Looking at the capital consumed by fire, a hollow laugh escaped me.

Somehow, it felt satisfying.

Seeing those who mocked and plotted against me screaming in agony within the flames.

Yes. I should have done this from the start.

A world filled with anger and hatred like this shouldn’t exist. It shouldn’t continue. It deserves to burn. It deserves to turn to ashes.

And my beautiful fiancée, those who trusted and followed me, this country, and even this cursed family… all of it should disappear.

‘But…’

The fire spread to my arms and legs. Even as I burned alive, an inexplicable question lingered in my mind.

‘What have I been living for…?’

Whoosh…

‘What have I existed for?’

The flames consumed me.

‘What have I been striving for?’

[Big brother.]

I opened and closed my eyes several times.

But the strange message still floated before me.

“…What is this? Magic?”

[Snap out of it.]

My face twisted involuntarily.

Who dares to tell me to snap out of it?

“Don’t speak so casually.”

[Did you forget? We agreed to drop formalities.]

“…I never agreed to drop formalities with anyone.”

[I’m hurt.]

“So what…?”

It was an incredibly audacious message.

If they knew I was Tristan Ruelberta, the most notorious man in this country, they would be horrified.

They’d probably beg for forgiveness. But by then, it would be too late. I would never forgive someone who played such a reckless prank.

But that’s beside the point…

“Who are you?”

[……]

The mysterious message paused for a moment before a new message appeared.

[It’s me. Sora. Your little sister.]

 

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