Chapter 617
My Villains Episode 617
71. sword teacher(20)
There were two messengers who ran here from across the Bay of Blades to deliver unexpected news..
Of course, it wasn't just the two of us traveling that far away. This means that although there were more than ten people who came to the capital, only two were trustworthy enough to let them into the rabbit hole..
One was ‘Spearman’ McCaig, a messenger who received orders from Hayla..
Originally a mercenary active at the mouth of the Great Mountains, he came under my command after confronting Luke, the 'King of Death', at Seteniora Monastery, where he stopped by on a pilgrimage. Since then, in addition to surviving all kinds of battles and incidents, he has also achieved merit in his own right..
Thanks to this, I am now serving as an officer in the Red Guards with the rank of captain. He is the commander of Icebovald's guards and the right-hand man of Dylan, the 'Silent Watcher', one of my nine knights..
Sitting next to Maccaig was Master Lymond, a messenger sent by Sir Lyam..
Master Lymond was a high-level wizard who freely manipulated water spirits, and was Prince Ulkar's longtime confidant and advisor..
Until I crossed the blade, he was serving as an advisor to the 'arrogant' Lord Lyam in Bulfurt, the capital of the former 'Obdorf', now the 'Vermik-Strom Empire'..
Heyla and Lord Lyam have also selected people I can trust and sent them as messengers..
It is said that they ran day and night for more than 15 days from the eastern part of the empire to this royal capital to deliver urgent news to me. They stayed in a village outside the royal capital for a few days and secretly interrogated each other. A detachment under Major Almain recognized their identity and approached them first, resulting in the current dramatic confrontation..
I was filled with surprise and joy at the same time, but before I could properly discuss it with them, I had to hear shocking news..
“This is ridiculous. Ruyan, that kid rebelled? What kind of bullshit is this??”
“Calm down, Your Excellency. And to be precise,,”
When I couldn't hide my bewilderment and opened my mouth wide, Master Lymond, whose new hair had turned grey, corrected me in a low voice..
“The one who was pointed out as the leader of the rebellion was Judevic IV - no, it was the family of Grand Duke Antashka. It is nothing more than a one-sided claim by Emperor Ruilix II that the Imperial Empress is the vassal..”
“If it's a one-sided claim, does that mean it's not true??”
Master Lymond nodded resolutely..
“Yes. The reason I came here in person is to prevent any misunderstandings..”
“Okay.”
It's a pain in the ass. What does this all mean?.
Out of frustration, I wanted to scold him, but Master Lymond was not a person who could be that arrogant. We've been in a relationship since we were just mercenaries, before I was even made a knight, let alone a count, so I'm becoming cautious for no reason..
“First of all, there was an assassination attempt on King Ruilix II not long ago..”
“……Assassination? The emperor? who the hell-”
As I thoughtlessly questioned myself, I realized that I was asking myself a stupid question..
“Must be the Archduke.”
“That is what the emperor and southern electors claim..”
“What exactly happened??”
“I don't know if your Excellency knows, but King Ruilix II often travels to the 'Bissurm Cathedral' near Mittelthang in the winter. It was the same last December..”
“As for Bishrm Cathedral... … . Ah, a hot spring.?”
Master Lymond nodded slightly..
“It is said that while enjoying the hot springs, which are a specialty of Vissur, an explosion occurred at the bottom of the bath without any sign. Several of his subjects were killed or injured, and King Ruilix II himself barely survived..”
I was truly dumbfounded and opened my mouth..
“What kind of idiot... … . What were the escorts doing??”
“The detailed circumstances are not known. However, it is said that the explosion was caused by gunpowder, not magic..”
“gunpowder?”
In short, is this a bombing?.
Basically, this is a world where magic is very advanced. On the other hand, despite the great efforts of some eccentric alchemists, pure scientific technology without magic was barely at the basic level..
So even if it was called gunpowder, it would at best be at the level of primitive black gunpowder. But you used something like that to create an explosion big enough to blow up a bath full of hot spring water? is that possible?
“It's understandable that you couldn't see through it. Because it's not a common method. Since it doesn't use magical power, it wouldn't have been detected..”
“Yes, that's what it looks like.”
Suho-gyeong’s face suddenly came to mind. Also known as ‘Aurora’s Spear’, it is the strongest warrior in the empire..
I don't know much about him, but he didn't seem like a fool who couldn't stop a terrorist attack..
“……Well then, there is evidence that it was the Archduke's work.?”
Master Lymond immediately shook his head..
“There doesn't seem to be any concrete evidence. First of all, when you think of gunpowder in the world, the place that usually comes to mind is 'Jeria', and the most powerful next emperor at the moment is Prince Judevik IV, who rules that region.,”
“It would be impossible to label a nobleman as high as an elector as a traitor. Besides, isn't Antashka the family that founded the Mittergerand Empire??”
“In addition, the imperial faction provided some additional circumstantial evidence. Still, it's not enough to be conclusive evidence. I think I decided to use this opportunity to press Antashica..”
“hmm.”
“In addition, there were three victims, so the emperor was given a justification other than just cause..”
“If you are a strict victim?”
“It was the emperor's gun barrel that was caught in the explosion and lost his life. How outrageous is it that even a prince died?.”
“……that.”
It turned out that one of the victims was someone I knew. Court bag Rupyrtus - a man called 'Tutu', who was present at one side of Ruilix II when he met him near Direnz the year before last..
It is said that the chamberlain, who had served the emperor for over 40 years, was also sacrificed, but there was one person who was most noteworthy. He is the second son of Ruilix II, named ‘Hoys’..
Heus was the second son, but the emperor's eldest son died before he was even ten years old, so he was practically the eldest son..
“The old man must be going crazy..”
“yes. When we left Bulfurt, we acted like we were going to raise an army right away... … . The situation became very serious because the Empress of the Empire got caught up in it..”
“Why is Lu Yan involved??”
“that is.”
Master Lymond hesitated for a moment and then continued..
“In fact, the Empress was communicating with Grand Duke Antashka behind the scenes. Even before what happened in Vishurm..”
“……consensus? What kind of rapport??”
“It was a conversation between myself. We didn't discuss treason or anything like that, but it was obvious that we would be checked, so we proceeded in secret..”
“…….”
“However, the Duke of Gorond, the treacherous bastard who caught the situation, is making ridiculous excuses. It is said that Archduke Judek IV and the Imperial Empress had conspired with each other to plot treason..”
I can't help but sigh.
After listening to Master Lymond's explanation for some more time, I provided him with a place to rest. I had come a long way, so I needed some rest..
However, the spearman McCaig was left behind. I had a separate story to tell from a guy who could be said to be my direct subordinate..
“I'm completely in love with Ruyan. If the wizard who listens to the master is like that, then everyone else is…….”
McCaig nodded calmly at what I muttered..
“Heyla also said something similar..”
“okay? Whatever you say?”
“Bulfurt said he was already halfway to that kid..”
“……Ha, indeed. This is a ridiculous situation..”
Through Prince Ulcar's design and Theodora's help, Rujan was given the title of Imperial Prince and took over Obdorf and Angst..
But this guy was a boss after all. It was impossible to give real power to a guy full of greed, let alone being only fifteen or sixteen years old. Perhaps the prince was planning to use him as a puppet to control a huge territory..
The knights, including myself, divided and distributed the authority as great lords in accordance with the prince's wishes. The person who got the biggest chunk was me, the direct vassal of the Empire and the Emperor's lifelong marshal, while 'painter' Hylter and Ariad, 'the viper with shining eyes', who served as gatekeepers of the territory in the west, each got a large share as well..
And in Bulfurt, the castle, there are the 'arrogant' Sir Lyam, the 'prince's commander' Mr. Harald, and the 'Waterfall' Lymond who I just spoke with. Their mission was to mark Ruyan while acting as de facto great lords..
“But the city is halfway over? Sir Lyam was eaten by a sixteen-year-old boy.?”
“However, it is said that control over the military remains intact..”
“Are you kidding? That's natural.”
When I narrowed my eyes, McCaig added, as if making an excuse..
“Immediately after entering Bulfurt, the little boy got involved in all kinds of work, from rebuilding the city and repairing the walls to trading and wheat farming. There hasn't been a single day that I've slept in the residence's bedroom. It is said that there were no public slaves..”
“…….”
“Besides, since he was the lord of the lord, he seemed to have the power to resolve even the most trivial complaints. Thanks to this, I think I completely captivated the citizens of Bulfurt for two years.…….”
I remember hearing a few times in Eisbowald about this guy wandering around the city doing all kinds of crazy things..
But I thought it was ridiculous for a teenage kid to get caught up in helping people, and since the military was tightly controlled by Lord Lyam and others anyway, I thought there was no need to worry about it..
But now that I see it, it seems like Luyan has developed a presence through a series of outrageous acts over the past two years. To disparage it as something that was limited to one city at best, the sight that Master Lymond showed just now was completely unreasonable..
“I'm sure Lu Yan really didn't do anything.?”
“He said if it's treason, you don't have to worry too much..”
“Heyla?”
“yes. Lu Yan is not stupid. There is no reason to act so hastily. And in the first place, you said that the rebellion itself was nothing more than something planned by the emperor..”
“……This is all the Emperor's own play.?”
“Ruilix II greatly enhanced his dignity through the Battle of the Edge of Blades and the Battle of the Desert, and he also amassed sufficient wealth through the conquest of the Southern Continent. The plan is to put aside all things like electors and elections and seize the throne..”
McCaig seemed a bit unlucky in pretending to be smart with something he must have heard from Heyla, but I decided to exercise a little patience..
“So, what should Hayla do? Me too, but you brought along a lot of elite soldiers, including the bodyguard and detachment. It will be difficult to respond if the emperor starts to set up..”
“I heard you are thinking of attracting other electors..”
“Bringing in the Elector? who and how?”
“I don't know.”
“…….”
Seeing me at a loss for words, McCaig continued speaking with a slightly puzzled look..
“And, I think you're misunderstanding something.…….”
“what?”
“You may be Master Limond, but the reason I came here is not to make you worry..”
“What kind of nonsense is that all of a sudden??”
The guy lightly shrugged his shoulders..
“Won’t the rumor soon spread here too? Rumors of treason by the Archduke and civil war in the empire. He told me to tell him that even if he hears something like that, it's nothing to worry about..”
“Heyla?”
“yes.”
“……That's it?”
“No, and.”
McCaig added, scratching his hair, which had become shaggy from the long journey..
“He also said that Youngji and the child would be well taken care of, so he told them to focus on his safe return..”
“He too, I am vaguely-”
I burst out laughing and suddenly closed my mouth. And then I asked McCaig, who was smiling heartily, again..
“……kid?”
“yes. I think you should go back before the first snow falls..”
“…….”
“Ah, this is just my opinion. I'm not talking about the Countess..”
I belatedly understood what he said and quietly touched my forehead..
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