Chapter 123: Judgment

“Adelaide-sama, is this location suitable?”

On the upper deck of the flagship’s main bridge of the magic-powered ship, there was a bustling observation deck filled with people.

In the center, there was a simple desk and chair.

Standing beside it were Lady Adelaide and the admiral, the supreme commander of the fleet.

“Certainly.”

It was documented that in exchange for handing over the northern, eastern, and southern regions to the Empire, the western region would continue to exist as an Imperial vassal state, with governance retained by the West-Windsor family.

Lady Adelaide signed the paper placed in front of her with a feather pen.

“Lady, you are quite wise. Every nation that once decided to thoroughly resist the War Emperor has perished. The only ones remaining as vassal states are countries like yours, led by skilled negotiators who swiftly engaged in negotiations.”

The admiral, who received the document, handed it satisfactorily to his adjutant after acknowledging the contents..

“Indeed. Why is it that those around us cannot even handle simple arithmetic? One cannot dam the flow of a great river with mere pebb

The nobles from the western region around Lady Adelaide nodded exaggeratedly. They all brought their family members with them and carried in an excessive amount of luggage.

“Yes, indeed.”

The viewpoint rose.

The flagship where Adelaide and others were aboard remained in the outskirts of the western region, planning to watch from afar as other units ravaged the three provinces except for the west.

After reuniting with her son Dion, who had retreated to the tower, they would triumphantly return to the capital as rulers of a new country.

Not only the capitals of the southeast and north, but even the royal capital would begin purging factions outside the “ship,” including traitors.

Although some commoners would inevitably turn out to become sacrifices, it was a necessary pain and sacrifice.

Lady Adelaide and her companions looked out with curious eyes.

They cheered as if they were on a pleasure flight, despite their homeland about to be invaded. Rather, some were so excited about the arrival of a new world.

Glaring at this scene from the side was an Imperial officer. He approached the admiral who had just finished the signing ceremony with a look of disdain as if he were looking at a piece of filth.

“Admiral, is it appropriate to allow those people onto the bridge?”

He spoke quietly.

“I would rather not have them roaming around the ship.”

“…Those who easily sell their own country. I just can’t like them.”

“Neither can I. Well, they wouldn’t know. In the Empire, the weight of a position corresponds to the weight of responsibility. Falling from a high place hurts more.”

“You didn’t explain that.”

“Frankly, I had no obligation to explain it to them. We have no intention of wasting beast warriors needlessly. It’s better if the enemy crumbles on its own due to the plan. There’s only one concern remaining right now.”

The admiral wore a bitter expression.

“The one who pushed back the War Emperor claimed to be in this country. It’s hard to believe. Such a person capable of defeating His Majesty.”

“It’s a fact. Even though it wasn’t with our main forces, His Majesty himself acknowledged his defeat and announced it throughout the entire country.”

“But why would a kingdom with such talent go along with this kind of plan now? Could it be that they’re luring us into a trap?”

“Yeah, that was our initial concern at headquarters. But with the evidence of insurrection presented, it seems genuine. It’s truly unbelievable. Truly some foolish humans see anyone who doesn’t conform to their intentions as beneath them.”

As if he couldn’t understand even more, the Imperial officer sent a glance to the western nobles looking down with a tour-like feeling, who were feeling the excitement of a new world.

The admiral could only smile wryly as he watched the western nobles.

“Well, then, was it necessary to bring such a force?”

The magic-powered ship carried Imperial officers and a vast number of beast warriors, enough to ravage the kingdom twice over.

“Just in case, just in case…”

Suddenly, an alarm rang out.

“We have detected a high magic reaction! Distance, 210 units. Heading straight towards our flagship! Estimated to be gun magic technique!”

The admiral responded with a puzzled voice to the report from the communications team on the bridge.

“Gun magic technique? From where?”

“From the Royal Capital, Bradford, no, from the Tower! …What… this magic power… surpasses that of gun magic techniques!?”

The admiral turned back, glaring at Adelaide.

His expression clearly showed suspicion that this might have been a trap.

“I know nothing of this. Besides, gun techniques are supposed to be a technology unique to the Empire.”

Lady Adelaide’s words made the admiral click his tongue and issue orders.

“Full starboard evasion! Deploy multiple magic defense barriers across the ship! Hurry with the deployment!!”

“What… this movement and speed…?”

“What happened? Don’t slack off! Report!!”

“Th-the gun magic technique has changed direction to 8 o’clock!”

“They changed the gun magic technique’s direction!? Are you sure!?”

“No mistake!”

“Damn it! What’s going on! Transmit to all ships! Deploy multiple magic defense barriers!! Hurry!!”

Immediately, the magic-powered ships visible from the main bridge’s windows deployed magic defense barriers without gaps.

It was a highly coordinated maneuver.

In the next instant, they witnessed something unbelievable.

The surroundings were bathed in red light.

Even though it was midday, red light covered everything.

Immediately after,

Eight magic-powered ships visible in front burst like balloons.

“Huh?”

The admiral, known for his high judgment and popularity, uttered a foolish-sounding voice that echoed through out the entire bridge.

What passed was a streak of red light.

It was a battleship, driven deep into the kingdom by a large-scale teleportation.

The latest battleship.

A battleship carrying many officers and beast warriors.

That battleship exploded right before their very eyes.

The admiral first doubted his sanity.

Next, he thought it was an illusion.

However, the information displayed on the instruments before him and the expressions of all the crew members indicated that it was indeed true.

Incredibly, drawing seemingly infinite magic from first-class monsters and magic stones, the deployed magic defense barriers were pierced in a single blow.

And not just one ship.

But eight ships were destroyed in total.

“What… is that…?”

The identity of the piercing light becomes apparent.

A red dragon, or rather a serpent dragon.

A serpent dragon made of light with six wings.

Furthermore, it continued to pierce one freshly teleported magic-powered ship after another.

The red light illuminating the surroundings was so dazzling that it was unbearable.

Amidst the stunned silence,

“Whoa!!”

One of the crew members exclaimed.

The man’s face had turned to stone.

“Kyaaaahhhh!”

“Aaahhhh!!”

Voices rose one after another.

“What!?”

The confused admiral and officers.

They saw Imperial soldiers transforming one after another.

Some were bleeding black from their eyes.

Others had arms turning into bird wings.

Some seemed to have gone mad, banging on equipment.

Confusion overlapped with more confusion, and the admiral began to calm down as if flipped inside out.

“It can’t be… curses…?”

Lady Adelaide muttered beside him.

“Curses!? Is this all because of curses!?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen or heard of so many curses being spread at once.”

Ignoring the perplexed Lady Adelaide beside him, the admiral turned to face forward.

Outside, they were enveloped in red light.

When that red light touched the admiral’s fingertips,

“Guuh!”

His fingertips, present just moments ago, melted into a void-like space of nothingness.

In its place, there were only fingertips covered in a clinging shadow.

“That red light… is the cause… Seal the windows immediately! Right now!!!”

The red light emitted by Samael is the light of calamity.

It serves as a catalyst for every curse imaginable, the very root of the Tower’s curses.

At the time of the contract with Samael, those with high magic power and strong formulas have resistance to curses, making them less susceptible.

Therefore, Lucius, who contracted with two first-class formulas, did not fall victim to the curses.

Furthermore, thanks to Kyrgyz and the puppet Sol, who immediately dispelled the curses as instructed by Lucius upon seeing Samael’s light, they escaped unscathed.

However, the Imperial soldiers, who do not even possess a magic core, have absolutely no resistance to curses.

Immediately, the window frames were covered with partitions.

Just as they were about to close completely,

Everyone felt a chilling gaze down their spine.

The admiral, the Imperial officers, the nobles from the West.

Naturally, Lady Adelaide as well.

What could be seen through the narrowing gaps was the third eye of the glowing red serpent dragon.

“Open all magic defense barriers!! Use all available power in our arsenal!!!”

The specially made flagship that the admiral was on.

A supremely sturdy magic defense barrier, using three first-class magic stones, was deployed.

However, Samael still spread its wings.

As if there was nothing in front of it.

Magic barriers and the serpent dragon clashed.

As a result, the magic defense barrier…

Disappeared in an instant as though it was never there.

Red light poured onto the ship.

Not just the bridge, but the operations room, the arsenal, residential areas, everywhere.

The ship was filled with curses.

Every crew member’s body and mind twisted into grotesque forms, turning the situation into something akin to being swallowed by hell.

However, those curses did not bring suffering.

Because they quickly returned everything to nothingness.

As if it were a mercy filled with deception.

While receiving curses throughout her body, Adelaide muttered quietly.

“…Dion… I will… die again—”

Everything was engulfed in red light.

◆ ◆ ◆

“Aaaahhhhhh!!!”

Accompanied by Dion’s scream, it was over 40 magic-powered ships that scattered debris.

Behind were the speechless Royal Guard and the people of Kyrgyz.

“Only six wings, huh? Although I poured in most of my magic, I could only manifest in an incomplete form.”

Even though the contract was recent and assimilation of magic power hadn’t progressed, Lucius felt no confidence in manifesting in a complete form.

Lucius opened and closed his right hand.

Claiming many lives. Even more than the previous battle.

His right hand trembled slightly, and a sense of nausea crept up.

Yet, he forcefully held it down with his left hand.

As if sifting through and casting off sins, he had no right to even tremble.

He had to continue accepting punishment.

As long as he lived, the fact that he had killed would remain engraved in his heart.

Even so, what had to be done must be done.

“…Let’s descend from the Tower.”

From Lucius’ shadow, dozens of armored soldiers rise.

They lift fallen knights and Kyrgyz people who are too exhausted to move.

Lucius himself picks up Sol, who has stopped moving, once again.

“I won’t forgive you, I won’t forgive you, I won’t forgive you, I won’t forgive you…”

Even as he is restrained by the Royal Guard, Dion throws these words like curses from his back.

“The crimes you have committed will be judged under the law. You cannot escape the death penalty.”

“…Law? I am the law. I will take everything from you. Your family, friends, subjects, all of them will be slaughtered.”

The nobles who supported Dion crumbled to dust along with the magic ships. The words of the king about those who stood in factions came back.

No matter how many curses he might spew now, the outcome will not change.

Lucius entrusts Dion to the Royal Guard and disappears into the magic circle.

The evil dragon and lesser dragons were flying in the sky as soon as they left the tower.

The capital was in the midst of chaos.

Flames and screams were rising everywhere, and everyone was running in confusion.

But there was no sign of Empire soldiers. They probably started retreating.

However, now that they had lost their flagship deep in the kingdom, it seemed unlikely they had any choice other than to become prisoners.

“Lord of a Thousand Dragon. I’ve been waiting for you.”

A young man came running towards them as soon as they left the tower. He was around twenty years old and exuded intelligence.

He seemed vaguely familiar.

“Who are you?”

“I am Cyril West Windsor. I am the grandson of the former king.”

“…Grandson.”

“I will explain more about myself later. For now, I urgently need your permission, Lord Dragon.”

“What permission do you seek?”

“Permission for the mixed units from the West and South, stationed in the East and North, to deploy. Only Lord Dragon has the authority to exercise conscription.”

It was the first time he had heard that units were stationed in the East and North.

What was even more surprising was the news that only Lucius had the authority to exercise conscription.

After the king’s death, usually, a council of prime ministers and ministers would be formed to replace the royal authority. Otherwise, the governance of the country would collapse until the next king was decided.

“Where are the prime ministers and ministers? And why are the units from the West and South stationed in other states?”

Cyril looked embarrassed.

“I presume that the gun magic released from the tower earlier was sent by Lord Dragon. It is thought that about half of those involved were killed.”

It seemed that quite a few had switched sides to Adelaide’s faction at the end.

Therefore, the council must be dysfunctional.

Cyril continued speaking.

“There is also the defense of the evil dragon and lesser dragons, so the soldiers from the West are no longer a problem. However, this operation is probably a flanking attack by the Empire Army. Therefore, it is highly likely that they are simultaneously invading the East and North, among other places. If my grandfather had prepared for the worst, he would have deployed troops under the guise of military exercises in the East and North. Please, give your instructions immediately.”

Lucius smiled wryly to himself.

――I don’t feel like I stand any chance against His Majesty at all…

How far had he foreseen this?

Surely, he hadn’t anticipated Lucius bringing down Samael, but he must have expected one scenario: that Lucius would defend the royal capital with the power bestowed upon him by the Fairy King and launch a counteroffensive.

“I understand. In the name of Lord Thousand Dragon, I authorize the deployment.”

“Thank you very much.”

Cyril immediately turned to leave.

“Oh, wait. Which units are in the South?”

“The South?”

Cyril didn’t seem to immediately recall.

Considering the fleet had appeared through a large-scale teleportation and Lucius had immediately shot them down, he probably didn’t yet have a grasp on their exact direction.

The West and South were allied. Cyril likely assumed the South hadn’t been attacked.

Probably from the disposition of the units, even the king hadn’t thought the South would be sacrificed.

“Well, it appears the Empire magic ships were heading to the South as well. Please send units to the South as much as possible.”

“…Understood.”

Although Cyril responded, he looked troubled.

Their military strength was limited, and they were already at a disadvantage compared to the Empire. If they dispersed their forces carelessly, they wouldn’t be able to maintain their defensive capabilities.

Lucius understood his intention well enough.

“In that case, I will go to the South myself. Move the forces from the North and East…”

Interrupting Lucius, Commander Mark of the Royal Guard spoke up.

“If the Empire learns Lord Thousand Dragon isn’t in the North and East, they will concentrate their forces there. Command the overall defense from the capital. Send the Royal Guard and remnants from the West to the South. There’s no longer… a king to protect.”

Mark’s face reflected regret and mourning.

He must have felt responsible.

Lucius felt the same.

“…Understood. Please proceed.”

Even so, they would now be crossing state borders.

With the movement of troops, it would take more than a day or two.

Undoubtedly, the South would suffer the most damage in this invasion.

Even if Lucius had to dirty his hands or face a death sentence, he had tried to avoid this situation.

The majority of those exposed to this damage were likely innocent civilians who knew nothing.

It’s too unproductive.

Still, Lucius turned back and faced forward.

In his sight were the terrified civilians, the soldiers guarding the wounded royal capital, and the nobles in despair as their magic nearly depleted.

Word spread throughout the royal capital that Lucius and the Royal Guard had descended from the tower, gathering a crowd.

Everyone sent clinging glances toward Lucius.

“…Cyril-sama. Please gather the remaining ministers, nobles, and knights in the royal capital. We will establish the headquarters for our defense strategy. Let’s expedite the collection of information and unify the command structure.”

“Lord Thousand Dragon, please call me Cyril. For now, you are the acting king.”

With Cyril’s words, an invisible weight descended upon Lucius’s shoulders.

It felt as if a great boulder had been placed upon him.

This must have always been what the king felt.

The anxiety that if his decisions were wrong, the country might perish.

The crisis that if his judgment was mistaken, many people might die.

And the responsibility that with his orders, many nobles and knights would risk their lives—a responsibility that must not be in vain.

Lucius raised his voice to those around him.

“I once repelled the Empire!”

All eyes turned to Lucius at once, everyone listening intently.

“Today, I promise victory for our kingdom!”

At Lucius’s words, a cheer erupted from the gathered crowd.

The cheers reverberated throughout the chaotic royal capital, bringing hope amidst the turmoil.

In the royal capital where evil dragons and a thousand lesser dragons danced, vitality returned all at once.

Now, they needed to spread this revitalization throughout the entire country.

“…It’s really not that easy. But being a baron might just suit me fine after all.”

With these thoughts, Lucius began walking with Cyril toward the royal castle.

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