chapter 21
21. Count Castle (1)
First Prince Schwerce gritted his teeth.
The location has not decreased significantly. However, there were clearly significant changes. Of course, it’s not good for you.
‘Damn three-legged vampire… !’
I was told not to come forward, but he came forward on his own accord, and died quickly. Thanks to this, 4 out of the 10 members of the empire, who accounted for a large portion of the empire’s military manpower, died at the hands of the war god Yuma.
“It’s late. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
1 Marquis Kairos slowly nodded his head at the prince’s words.
“Are you here, Your Majesty the First Prince?”
Round table.
People surrounding the table.
They were all nobles at the center of power in the Astes Empire.
5 Highest nobles.
Among them, there was Count Venocetian, the only nobleman familiar with Yuma and the owner of the magic train .
Across from the blonde imperial prince, 1st Prince Schwerze, there was a woman with long pure white hair and blue eyes.
Her 1st princess was Bridgette von Astes.
“Today, Her Majesty 1st Princess Brigitte has come to share her story about a man named Yuma whom she has granted as her representative.”
Brigitte tilted her head.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
Prince Schwerce furrowed his brows at Brigitte’s shameless attitude.
“This is a position created to decide on the treatment of the agent you appointed. This is a position created to hold you responsible for killing 4 of the 10 members of the empire, the great resources of the empire.”
As soon as Schwerche finished speaking, the sound of Count Cederic swallowing his saliva was heard quietly.
A gathering for Yuma’s punishment.
The more she recited her history for punishment, the more questions arose.
A man who single-handedly cut off the lives of four of the ten rulers of the Astes Empire.
Even if we decide to punish such a man, will we be able to implement that decision?
It was an ambiguous situation to give orders to the 1st and 2nd lieutenants, who had the most military power. If something goes wrong, you could lose them too.
Brigitte stared at Schwerze with her emotionless eyes.
She opened her mouth again, looking not at him but at the nobles sitting on both sides.
A low voice fell on the round table.
“My agent, Yuma, has never attacked the dead members of the Empire’s 10 seats first.”
Brigitte continued.
“On the second day, those of you who sent people in front of my castle would know.”
At those words, the eyes of the two nobles who had sent people to the princess’s castle, Count Venosetian and Marquis Kairos, widened.
That’s right.
Mushin Yuma. He never ‘played first’… !
Not even once!
“This is also the case with Kylon, the most recently deceased third seat of the Empire. My agent, Yuma, is in Count Rubelt to carry out the work I have given him. He personally went to Count Rubelt to kill my representative. It’s clearly Kylon himself.”
Schwerce’s brow furrowed.
Brigitte continued his words.
“Everyone only used force to protect Yuma and my personal request. I cannot tell you what that request was because it is a matter between Brother Schwerche and I. What is clear is the loss of half of the 10 seats of the empire. “It was not I who caused this current situation.”
Brigitte’s blue eyes then turned to the first prince, Schwerce.
“I mean you. Brother Schwerce.”
Schwerche raised his right hand clenched into a fist. And he struck down.
Quaaang!!
There was turbulence at the round table.
Schwerze cried out, blood rising in his neck.
“This is ridiculous sophistry! Brigitte! You have a sword called Yuma! You are the one who wielded that sword incorrectly and caused damage to the empire’s military power!”
Brigitte nodded slowly.
“What your brother said is correct. Yuma is my sword. And the ten thrones of the empire, excluding the first and second thrones, are brother Schwerce’s swords.”
Brigitte was at a loss for words.
“It’s just that my sword was stronger, brother. From next time, hold your sword properly.”
“This, this…!”
Brigitte slowly got up from her seat, leaving Schwerce’s groans behind.
Brigitte took her eyes off Schwerce and glanced at the five nobles.
“I have no intention of giving up the throne.”
The nobles felt overwhelmed by Brigitte’s eyes.
“So make a wise choice.”
Brigitte opened the door to the conference room.
No one could think of Brigitte as arrogant.
The position of 1st Prince Schwerce, who had been overwhelmingly superior, gradually began to shake.
***
Jerbeok
Yuma stood again in front of Count Rubelt’s castle. Both sides of her Yuma were filled with people wearing gray robes.
Clone and Hestia. And Kaisen, the count’s eldest son, and Louise, the count’s daughter. Lastly, the missing children who will serve as witnesses.
Because he was wearing a robe tightly, no one has yet noticed his identity.
Soldiers were gathered in front of the castle gate.
Crash─ Clap─ Clap─
The cold weapons held in the hands of the soldiers and knights sharpened their blades.
The number of people holding weapons seemed to be around 50.
As Yuma’s group of six advanced upward, about 50 troops surrounded Yuma’s group.
Hestia and Clone tried to calmly take their respective positions.
The two people next to Yuma, who were deeply pressed into their robes, winced in fear.
Immediately.
Yuma, who was at the head of the group, was quietly confronting them. This was because a knight behind them was approaching with a vicious force radiating from his entire body.
“This is Hyman, the commander of the Count Rubelt family’s knights.”
Yuma stared intently at the being who started speaking.
[Lv.101] Hyman
“This is an order from His Excellency Count Rubelt. An order has been given not to allow any of you into the Countess Castle. It is an urgent matter within the Countess Castle. So, are you an agent of the Princess or who?
Hyman, the blond middle-aged knight, stared at Yuma with his strong gaze.
Why are they blocking entry right away, unlike yesterday?
The prison was swept out last night.
And today is just the morning of the next day. It was difficult to say that they were fully aware of the prison incident and took such measures.
Yuma was able to predict the reason without difficulty.
‘The gatekeeper who died yesterday.’
Morton.
There was definitely dragon blood in his body.
‘Even if you don’t know what happened to the prison itself, there is a high probability that you were aware of the guy’s death. ‘Are you thinking of completely blocking out unnecessary variables?’
It was possible for the dragon to receive the life signals of the beings to whom it had given blood.
I felt Morton’s death last night.
That’s probably why they put up such a strong military force. It’s clear there’s something wrong in the prison.
Yuma didn’t think anything of it. All she had to do last night was make the decision to put her plan into action.
Yuma slowly opened her mouth.
“The Count’s soldiers are gathered together. I have something to tell you.”
It’s cool.
He continued speaking while looking at the soldiers and knights surrounding Yuma and the others.
“I say this on the basis of my position as the princess’ representative.”
Even though spears and swords, giving off the fishy smell of steel, are rising from all directions. She continued her words leisurely.
“The current Count, Count Rubelt, committed a sin.”
I dared to declare that the owner of this land was a sinner.
Yuma’s right hand carefully removed the robe of the boy standing to his left.
The face of a fresh-faced boy with brown hair appeared.
“This boy is named Yoren, who went missing within the county a week ago. We found him in an unidentified prison in the Yuto Forest located on the right side of the county. And the person standing guard in that prison is clearly a soldier of the county. “I heard it.”
And the girl next to the boy also took off her robe. The girl slowly opened her dry lips.
“It’s Harlen… I haven’t committed any crime. I was born poor and lived alone with my sick mother, but I’ve never stolen even a single loaf of bread.”
Even a slight hint of resentment could be felt in the girl’s cracked voice.
“Then suddenly, several people came into the house, kidnapped me, covered my face with something like a leather bag, and dragged me somewhere. That place is the prison in the Yuto Forest that the princess’s agent mentioned.”
Out of the 26 people who escaped from prison, these two were the only ones brought here.
The rest were being protected in a safe mansion by Knight Murphy and the count’s youngest daughter, Ruine.
Yuma said he needed someone to testify in front of the count. These two boys and girls came forward voluntarily.
The soldiers who heard Harlen’s words began to mutter. Among them, there were soldiers who seemed to be close friends with Harlen, and there were also soldiers who shouted Harlen’s name out loud without even realizing it.
Woah!
Someone struck the ground violently with a steel combat boot.
It was Hyman, the commander of the knights.
“It’s just nonsense. This is Count Rubelt’s land. You cannot be a criminal in this land.”
Hyman’s eyes glared at Hallen.
“Did you say Harlen? If you were taken by a county soldier and thrown into prison, you must be guilty. Don’t deceive yourself.”
Harlen’s short black hair shook violently.
“My…Sin. I have my sin.”
Red veins were bursting in the black eyes.
“Before I came here. I barely managed to get to my house. And I saw my mother, who had already stopped breathing. My mother had a clear cut on her abdomen. My mother was dead. That was my sin. Mother. “Failed to protect.”
Haiman’s brow furrowed.
“…It’s not worth listening to anymore.”
Sreung!
Hayman drew his sword.
A blue flame rose from the sword.
“Go down. If you talk any more nonsense, I will cut you down. Everyone raise your weapons.”
Right after Hyman finished speaking.
Sreuk….
Another person next to Yuma took off his robe.
“Knight Commander Hyman, what this girl said is not a lie.”
There was silence.
The eyes of all the soldiers and knights widened. The same was true for the knight commander.
“…Master Kaisen.”
Kaisen, who revealed his identity, continued speaking.
“I was also imprisoned in the prison where this boy and girl were imprisoned. And I have never committed a crime either.”
The eldest son of the count. The blonde boy, Kaisen, took a close look at the knights and soldiers of the count family.
“I dare to hold my father, Count Rubelt, responsible for disturbing the county.”
Silence fell.
“Those who will believe in this Kaisen, open the way. Those who will stop me, swing their swords at me.”