All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 241

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121. Behind – 1

Schlai stared blankly at Ian, flustered.

His face was filled with unwavering conviction.

“Haha. Anyway, the Duke was about to go see His Majesty. So there’s no need to threaten like this. Will you withdraw the knights?”

Ian lightly raised his hand.

Then the Dragon Shield Knights stepped forward.

“Don’t want to.”

“This is interesting. Ian Brandon, of all people, is moving the Dragon Shield Knights. It’s as if you’ve become a vassal of His Majesty the Emperor. Or do you think of yourself as the Emperor?”

As Schlai tried to speak calmly, Ian snorted.

“Why are you using such a useless provocation?”

“Kuk.”

When his provocation didn’t work, Schlai looked around.

All the knights following the Iron-Blooded Duke were tense.

‘What should I do?’

There are fifty Dragon Shield Knights in this place.

On the other hand, there are over two hundred knights following the Iron-Blooded Duke.

In addition, the guards governing the outer districts were all part of the Iron-Blooded Duke’s faction.

Moreover, there are many nobles in the system who follow the Iron-Blooded Duke.

In other words, they could easily stop the Dragon Shield Knights with their numbers.

‘But…….’

The biggest problem was Ian.

How skilled is that guy?

‘Damn it. If I’m not joined by Kraman, I don’t want to fight…….’

Kraman, who is always mentioned when discussing the next strongest, would be able to face Ian.

Schlai bit his lip and pondered.

“I can hear the sound of rocks rolling [meaning he can sense Schlai’s hesitation]. Stop scheming and let’s go. The Iron-Blooded Duke inside, come out now.”

As Ian flicked his sword, Schlai made a choice.

“Okay. Let’s discuss it again after I tell the Duke.”

-Bang!!

Ian’s eyes flashed as he watched Schlai trying to buy time.

At the same time, the carriage the Iron-Blooded Duke was riding in was smashed.

“What are you doing!!”

“You want to discuss it? A decision has already been made, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Ian looked inside the shattered carriage.

A bluish shield was protecting the inside of the carriage.

The Iron-Blooded Duke, Foadbe, who had lived as a powerful figure in the Empire for a long time, glared at Ian with an extremely cold expression.

“Count Ian. What is the meaning of this?”

“Can’t you tell by looking?”

He wanted to punch the sneering Ian.

But Schlai couldn’t move rashly.

Because he couldn’t understand the move just now.

Magic didn’t move.

He didn’t even use Aura [a manifestation of inner energy].

The carriage exploded just because he flashed his eyes once.

So he had to be as careful as possible.

“……Duke. Retreat. After that, join Kraman and…….”

“Ah. And Kraman is dead.”

Ian shrugged, and Schlai’s shoulders stiffened.

He’s dead?

It was hard to accept, so it didn’t enter his head.

“Don’t say crazy things. Who is Kraman?”

“Was he in the basement of the Spindal Merchant Guild’s warehouse?”

The basement of the Spindal Merchant Guild’s warehouse.

There is a chapel for the Red Moon faith there.

Schlai, who knew that Kraman was staying there, trembled.

“……Did you really kill Kraman?”

“Yes.”

Ian smiled.

“I killed him.”

If that’s true, a significant portion of the plan needs to be revised.

No, beyond that, he shouldn’t stay in the system anymore.

‘First, we need to evacuate the Duke.’

“My lord!! I will open the way! Please escape quickly!!”

He heard the story the two were sharing.

That’s why the Iron-Blooded Duke Foadbe quickly released the shield and jumped out.

“I’ll leave the rest to you!!”

To retreat, he joined his knights and attacked the relatively weak rear encirclement.

Ian smiled as he watched.

“Do you know why I didn’t attack you as soon as I saw you?”

“……That’s.”

“Because there’s someone who wants to catch you with his own hands.”

Schlai was puzzled by those words, then turned his head in embarrassment.

“No way!! My lord! That side is……!!”

The regular knights of the Dragon Shield Knights have skills at the early Expert level.

If it’s them.

Even if it’s only ten or so in the rear, Duke Foadbe and his guards can break through.

The guards who thought so and rushed in were embarrassed.

“What is this……?”

Powerful Aura erupted from the swords of the regular knights.

Anyone could see that it wasn’t Aura at the early Expert level.

It could be said to be at least an Expert level close to Master.

“Are they the Black Knights?!”

That the knights directly under the Emperor are moving like this.

“How can this be……? But…….”

The Black Knights are the ones who protect the Emperor.

Moreover, the Emperor is currently poisoned and his stamina is very weak.

Since there is a risk of assassination at any time, the Black Knights will never give up his protection, so why did they come out?

“No way!!”

Schlai looked at Foadbe in embarrassment.

A regular knight was approaching him as he fought to break through the path using magic.

Foadbe, seeing that, used powerful magic.

The moment a house-sized flame was about to engulf the knights, the regular knight quickly swung his sword.

-Puh-ung!!

The flames subsided at once.

An unbelievable thing happened.

Swordsmanship that can cut down everything appeared here.

“……Y-Your Majesty…….”

Schlai slumped down.

He could tell who was wearing the regular knight’s armor and helmet.

“Damn it!!”

Foadbe cursed and waved his staff.

The regular knight erased the randomly fired magic by swinging his sword, and before he knew it, he approached and struck his abdomen.

“Keuk!!”

Foadbe, who was hit properly, knelt down, and the knight grabbed his ear as if to tear it off.

“Keuk…… You…… This…….”

As he glared, panting from the pain in his abdomen, the knight took off his helmet.

Then an old man’s face was revealed.

“Karl…… Hais…….”

“It’s been a while, Godfather.”

The Emperor smiled coldly and slammed his head into the floor while grabbing it.

Ian, who was watching, slapped the dumbfounded Schlai to knock him out, then said leisurely.

“Then let’s go back.”

The Iron-Blooded Duke’s subordinates.

They were furious and tried to rush in when they saw the Iron-Blooded Duke Foadbe being captured.

As Ian pointed at them, the Emperor drew his sword.

“Let’s just eliminate the traitors and go back.”

* * *

He captured Foadbe, the Iron-Blooded Duke, the powerful figure who controlled the Empire.

The Emperor, who brought him back to the inner palace, looked down at him bound and said.

“Godfather.”

“……Keuk.”

With a face full of humiliation, Foadbe looked up at the Emperor.

Then he slowly turned his head and glared at Ian as if to kill him.

“Ian Brandon. You have no pride. I can’t believe you’re going under the Emperor.”

“We’re just holding hands because we both have value to use.”

“Value to use?”

“We both want to catch the person behind you.”

Ian strode up and grabbed his collar.

“You know who told you how to make a Star of Talent, right?”

Foadbe’s expression hardened when he heard the word Star of Talent.

Ian smiled as he faced him.

“The way to summon him. Do you know it?”

“Ha. Hahaha. What are you talking about.”

“Gehern of the Seven Deadly Sins of Greed, or Kesin of Lust. I think it’s Gehern, though.”

Foadbe’s pupils trembled.

Ian grinned as he saw it.

“You knew it too?”

Schlai, who had been dragged along and sat down, was startled at his words.

“D-Duke. S-Surely that, that’s…….”

“Didn’t you know? The way to make a Star of Talent was originally known by demons.”

“……What does that mean? Gehern? Do you have any evidence that I am related to the Seven Deadly Sins?”

“Everything that’s come out so far is evidence, what are you talking about?”

From the Red Moon faith spreading in the system to Kraman, who gained power using the Star of Talent.

Even though all of that was connected to him, Foadbe flatly denied it.

Ian, who ridiculed him, nodded, and Krepen reported the results of the investigation so far.

The things that happened on the continent.

And the things that happened in the southern grasslands.

Finally, the things that happened in the Empire.

Foadbe gritted his teeth as Krepen mentioned all of them.

“Nonsense. That’s just a trick to ruin me.”

“So you’re not?”

“Yes. And Your Majesty the Emperor. If you wanted to get rid of me, why didn’t you just start a civil war?”

“There’s no need to waste the Empire’s power.”

“Haha. Do you think I came here without preparing anything? If they know I’ve been caught, will my subordinates in my territory and my son Selim stay still? Moreover, do you think the nobles who are working with me will just play around?”

“What can they do even if they rise up?”

“Then there’s only one answer. Kill me.”

As Foadbe spoke confidently, the Emperor stared at him blankly before nodding.

“Saintess.”

“Yes.”

Celestia looked at Foadbe and Schlai.

Then she took out the relics and began to investigate.

“……I don’t feel any evil from these people.”

“Hahaha!! Look! There! Your Majesty! Your Majesty attacked me, who had dedicated myself to the Empire for hundreds of years, just for power! Do you think the other nobles will laugh and move on?!”

“Hmm…….”

“Even if Your Majesty is strong, it doesn’t mean we have no numbers!”

He shouted confidently and glared at the Black Knights approaching him.

“If I don’t return, my territory will immediately call the Forest Keeper [a powerful, independent figure].”

Forest Keeper.

One of the continent’s strongest who has a grudge against the Emperor.

If they say they will create a path to strike the Emperor, the Forest Keeper will definitely take their side.

“Do you think that’s all? I am an Elf. That means I can request the Council of the World Tree [a powerful elven organization].”

Since they had promised support in the past, they would be able to bring in the Sword Saint as well.

“Let’s do it!! Let’s see the Empire collapse!!”

As he shouted, Ian smacked him on the head.

“Be quiet.”

“Keak!! Ian Brandon!! Do you think you’ll be safe!! If the Council of the World Tree moves, Hiral [another powerful figure] will also step in!”

As Foadbe’s rough shouts continued, Krepen’s expression worsened.

He expected the Forest Keeper.

But the Sword Saint and Hiral.

If they join the civil war, things will get quite complicated.

“Do you think you can attack me with such ridiculous accusations?! Your Majesty! It’s not too late now!”

Ian smiled as he faced his confidence.

Foadbe, who noticed it was a clear ridicule, gritted his teeth.

“Do you think you can face all of them?!”

Ian replied nonchalantly to him, who was growling.

“What’s so difficult about that?”