Kays Translations

Chapter 131: The Rebel Prince Resolves

“Ugh… am I… still alive…?”

He didn’t understand what had happened. Suddenly, a blinding flash of light struck the main camp where Rodel and the others were.

In reality, not only their eyes but also the entire camp had been scorched. The soldiers stationed in front of the camp had suffered the same fate.

People lay collapsed all over the burned-down camp. They were all nobles of the Queen Dowager’s faction, ostensibly supporters of Rodel.

“Tsk… They have an incredible magician on their side…”

“And you are…?”

As Rodel looked around with blinking eyes, a man stood in front of him, shielding him.

“You’re from the empire…?”

The leader of the reinforcement sent from the empire. His face was hidden under a black hood, and his name was unknown.

“Was that light magic? No, just before, it got dark around here. It seems like a magic that gathers sunlight and projects it as a laser… a Solar Ray. Rather than light attribute magic, it might even create a gravitational lens…”

“What are you… saying?”

“Clearly a strategic-level magic. Such magic shouldn’t even be listed in the Magic Registry of the Council of Sages. Is there an enemy in this country who has created a new type of magic… Damn, this is unexpected!”

The man in the black hood didn’t even react to Rodel’s words. With an annoyed click of his tongue, he kicked the body of a man lying beside him.

It was the de facto commander of the rebel army… Marquis Eiger.

“Ugh…”

“Hey, wake up! Get up quickly!”

“Ugh… I… need… treatment…”

“Tsk…”

The man in the black hood clicked his tongue loudly and forcefully pulled Eiger up by his collar.

“It hurts…!”

“It’s an order… ‘Give orders to the soldiers’ ‘Repel the enemy.'”

A mysterious purple mist emanated from the man’s hand, sucked into Eiger’s ears. Then, the expression of agony disappeared from Eiger’s face, and he stood up straight on his own.

“…Understood. I’ll order the soldiers to repel the enemy.”

Eiger stepped outside the main camp and gave orders to the shaken soldiers to repel the enemy. Meanwhile, sounds of battle and shouts could be heard from outside.

“…We’re on the defensive now. Can we win? No, impossible. The militia is probably terrified by that one strike and has fled. As well as those after money or plunder. There are probably only half the number of soldiers who can fight properly.”

“H-Hey! What are you saying…? Hurry up and treat my injuries!”

“Hah…”

Inside the black hood, the man chuckled mockingly.

“Don’t make a fuss with such a light injury. I carried you as a comrade under ‘her’ will… but it’s over now.”

“W-What…?”

“This will be settled soon. It seems impossible to further erode the Iwood Kingdom. But… I’ve played a trump card of the kingdom. Your existence wasn’t in vain. Well done.”

“…”

“Perhaps, that one is also the work of a reincarnator… If they become a comrade like ‘her,’ it’s reassuring. But if they follow the path of the ‘Celestial Emperor,’ they must be dealt with. Oh, dear! The future is quite worrisome!”

“Guah…!?”

As he rambled on alone, the man in the black robe trampled on Rodel.

“The empire will no longer support you. You’re just a puppet of a name and lineage. Whether you’re executed, killed in battle, or commit suicide… Die however you like where my eyes can’t reach. Farewell.”

The figure in the black robe vanished.

Teleportation magic. A miracle that is said to be almost impossible with modern magic technology was practiced right in front of Rodel’s eyes.

For a moment, Rodel was dumbfounded, but… eventually, his lips trembled as he muttered.

“A… lightweight… puppet…?”

Is he talking about me?

Neither Marquis Eiger nor his subordinates, nor the reinforcements from the empire… no one was paying any attention to Rodel.

He was being dismissed. Mocked.

The last shred of pride remaining within Rodel was pierced like a thick needle, causing him pain.

“… Can I just let it end like this?”

He wasn’t the grandson of the Queen Dowager. He wasn’t a shrine nor a puppet.

He was simply Rodel Iwood, a human being.

Could he really die being used like this, without showing that?

“Guhhh…!”

Rodel endured the pain and got up.

By forcefully using his body through physical enhancement, he managed to stand somehow.

Rodel was not proficient in healing magic. It wasn’t because he lacked talent or couldn’t learn it, but rather because he never intended to learn it.

There was no way someone as excellent as himself would get injured. He had no intention of using his magic power to heal others’ wounds.

While resenting his arrogant self from the past, he still managed to somehow close his wounds over time and stand up to face the battlefield.

“I’ll do it… I’ll engrave it into them!”

Rodel was a fool… but even a fool could understand.

This war was a losing battle. Defeat was only a matter of time.

Still, he had no intention of sitting idle and waiting for death.

He would engrave his existence into as many people as possible.

Not as the grandson of the Queen Dowager… but as a man named Rodel Iwood.

“Just wait… just wait…”

Rodel dragged his body and slowly walked towards the battlefield.

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