Emperor Of Steel [EN]: Chapter 183

4. Nemesis Entry

Somewhere along the road to Nemesis, the capital of the Baroque Empire.

In the desolate wasteland, about a hundred knights sat in a circle, resting.

One of them approached an old man in ornate armor, who appeared to be the captain, and spoke.

“What? Undead have appeared near the 3rd Corps of the Continental Alliance Army?”

“Yes, Your Grace. According to a magical communication from the Holy Palace, they suspect it’s zombie poison.”

Archduke Gregory frowned at the report from the 1st Division Commander of the Undying Legion and said,

“The Kingdom of Libya and the Baroque Empire have truly crossed a line they shouldn’t have.”

He had heard they had allied with black mages.

But he never imagined they would spread zombie poison within their own territory.

The Holy Empire knew better than anyone how terrible zombie poison was. It had run rampant in Saxony a few years ago.

“This is a difficult situation. I don’t know if we should still proceed to capture the runaway princess.”

At the 1st Division Commander’s words, Gregory asked, puzzled.

“Capture her? What do you mean?”

“Well… I heard in the magical communication that Her Holiness is joining our army to help the 3rd Corps suppress the zombie poison.”

“What?”

Gregory and the 1st Division of the Undying Legion had been secretly organized as a support force under Reina’s orders a few days ago, on their way to assist Luke.

It was ostensibly to help, but it was essentially a mission to capture Karen.

But now, the Pope herself was coming to the battlefield.

Even with the many Gigantes [powerful, giant warriors] in the Continental Alliance Army, no one was better suited than her, with the power of a saintess, to suppress the undead.

“It’s not an official visit, is it?”

“No, of course, she’s coming unofficially. That’s better for security.”

The 1st Division Commander continued immediately.

“Our Undying Legion, especially the 1st Division, exists to protect Her Holiness at close quarters. Therefore, we absolutely cannot watch Her Holiness go to a dangerous place.”

The other members of the Undying Legion also showed their agreement.

Gregory, who had been silent for a while, spoke as if he had made a decision.

“As you said, the Undying Legion exists for Her Holiness. But that doesn’t mean we can disobey the imperial order.”

“Then…?”

“We’ll leave Her Holiness’s escort to the 2nd or 3rd Division, and we’ll continue to Nemesis.”

The 1st Division Commander objected to Gregory’s decision.

“But the 2nd and 3rd Divisions are not as strong as our 1st Division. If an enemy they can’t handle appears…”

“It might be dangerous if Her Holiness were going into enemy territory with only a small number of guards. But she’s joining our army, so it should be fine. Considering that, the princess is in more danger.”

“That’s true, but…”

“There’s no time for arguing. We need to hurry to Nemesis now.”

Gregory, having risen from his seat, hurriedly led the Undying Legion members westward.

His worries about the Pope were set aside for the time being.

* * *

Some time later, Luke, having finished his magical communication, returned.

The special forces group, who had been waiting, were worried, thinking the war situation was serious since he had been gone for a while.

“Your Majesty, I heard there’s a problem with the 3rd Corps. Is everything alright?”

At Scarlett’s question, Luke nodded.

“I’ve taken appropriate measures. We just need to focus on infiltrating Nemesis and destroying the ruins in the imperial palace.”

Having said that, Luke continued to discuss the measures he had been instructing earlier to secure a retreat route.

“Erewin and I will take care of the security magic circle. The others will go here and here…”

He pointed to the map of Nemesis spread out on the makeshift table and gave detailed instructions, receiving opinions and suggestions to supplement them.

The most active in this was Jomi Mi.

After listening to her opinion, Luke exclaimed in admiration.

“Indeed! You can use Seonsul [a type of Eastern magic] in that way.”

At his praise, Jomi Mi shrugged and said,

“Yes, Your Majesty. The Northern Continent still lacks knowledge about Seonsul, so I think it will take them some time to deal with it.”

“Good! I’ll leave that to Princess Jo. Karen, you know about Seonsul, so help Princess Jo.”

“Yes, Papa.”

After the meeting, Luke’s group infiltrated Nemesis under the cover of night.

But it was hardly an infiltration.

They were simply entering through the main gate after changing into appropriate disguises and camouflage.

“Hmm… A transport unit from the Eastern Army, here to deliver top-grade magic stones to the imperial palace?”

“That’s right. Here’s the pass.”

Luke, disguised as the transport captain, showed the pass to the knight who was checking it.

This pass was made by Henri, who was working undercover in the Baroque Empire’s intelligence department, so there was no reason to suspect it was a forgery.

“But there are people from the Southern Continent among the soldiers.”

“I hired those guys as mercenaries and incorporated them into the regular army. We’re short on manpower.”

“Well… It’s true that no matter how many we conscript, it’s not enough. But to even incorporate such a young girl…”

When the knight looked at Karen with disapproval, Luke gave a wry smile.

“She’s quite skilled. I also have a daughter about that age back home, so I don’t feel good about it.”

“Tch, this war needs to end quickly… I’ve been talking too much. Go on in.”

The knight let Luke’s group into the castle.

The special forces members looked relieved as they passed through the gate much more easily than expected.

But Luke didn’t let his guard down. They hadn’t completely passed the gate search yet.

According to Henri’s information, there was an artifact installed inside the gate that measured mana circles and aura levels.

Luke, as well as all the special forces members, were top-notch experts, so they would definitely be caught.

‘That would be the case if there were no countermeasures.’

Whoosh!

As the head of the procession entered the area where the artifact was, the magic circle on the ground glowed with a low hum, and a bluish light swept over the special forces.

But that was all.

Perhaps because there was no other abnormality, the imperial soldiers stationed around the artifact did not show any particular movement.

As the very end of the procession completed the passage, the expressions of the special forces members, who had been tense about the activation of the artifact, relaxed as if melting snow.

“The magic circle that Your Majesty made is effective.”

“Of course, whose handiwork do you think it is?”

At Shirley’s words, Luke smiled faintly.

Although it was dark and hard to see, there was a faint magic circle drawn on the imperial army uniforms that the special forces were wearing.

It was a concealment magic circle that hid the mana or aura emitted by the wearer, making it possible to deceive the inspection artifact.

“From now on, we have to be very careful. It’s like we’ve entered the mouth of a dragon.”

Everyone nodded at Luke’s warning.

Many imperial soldiers were stationed inside the castle as well. If they made even a slightly clumsy move, they would be crushed by the enemies swarming from all directions.

“Let’s move to the safe house first. We’ll unpack and then proceed with the plan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Shh! Be careful with your tone. You never know who might be listening.”

“Understood, Captain.”

Luke frowned slightly and warned Shirley, who corrected herself immediately but still saluted playfully.

“Sir Shirley, you were in the Baroque Imperial Guard’s Iron Guard in the past, right? You need to be even more careful, considering that there are people who might recognize you.”

“Yes, sir.”

This time, it wasn’t an atmosphere to joke around, so Shirley replied seriously.

But Luke couldn’t shake off his inner worries.

Shirley was skilled, but he had joined this special forces because he was well-versed in the geography of Nemesis, the structure of the imperial palace, and information about the imperial army.

However, due to his playful personality, it was like carrying a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

‘Actually, I wanted to bring Count Ferrero instead of this guy…’

He had to be in charge of the army command, and it was also important to use Ferrero’s reputation to encourage the imperial army to surrender and defect, so he brought Shirley instead.

‘I hope this decision doesn’t turn out to be a mistake.’

Luke, trying to suppress his uneasy feelings, continued to step into the mouth of the dragon.

The safe house that Henri had prepared was the former mansion of Marquis Cabanel.

The Cabanel family was originally one of the three major factions of the Baroque Empire’s aristocratic faction.

However, they were purged in Rudolph’s massacre of the aristocratic faction, called the ‘Blood Approval Ceremony,’ and the young head of the family, his relatives, and even his employees and pets were all executed.

This mansion, which had been left neglected for being a den of traitors, was recently requisitioned by the imperial army and used as a military barracks.

Henri had secretly arranged for Luke’s group to be the only ones using it.

Thanks to that, they could stay there comfortably.

The next morning.

As the day dawned, Luke gathered all the special forces and said,

“Then, we’ll act as we discussed beforehand. Absolutely do not do anything reckless.”

“Yes, understood.”

The group, divided into several teams, scattered into the city of Nemesis and secretly carried out the work to secure a retreat route.

Luke and Erewin went to sabotage the security magic circles of Nemesis that they had marked in advance, and Karen, along with Jomi Mi, built Seonsul formations in various parts of the city, avoiding the eyes of the imperial army.

‘It’s like the kids are just drawing on the ground.’

Shirley, who had come along as an escort with some of the special forces members, thought so inwardly as she watched the Seonsul formation construction work from behind.

Unlike magic circles, which were made up of geometric shapes and the arrangement of magical characters, Seonsul formations looked somewhat irregular and free-spirited.

Moreover, unlike magic circles, which were usually drawn on flat ground or surfaces, Seonsul formations used many natural objects such as tree branches and stones in addition to drawings.

‘If it’s like that, even if they install it in the middle of Nemesis’s central square, no one will know.’

No, they might scold them for drawing on the holy square of the imperial capital.

Anyway, while Shirley was thinking that, the construction of the Seonsul formation was all finished.

Surprisingly, the completed Seonsul formation disappeared as if it had never been there.

“How do you activate that? Do you chant a spell like a magic circle?”

At Shirley’s question, Karen answered.

“No, you just have to tear this talisman. Then it will activate anytime, anywhere.”

In some ways, it might be better than magic.

Shirley thought so inwardly and followed Karen and Jomi Mi, who were already heading back to the safe house.

But on the way, her steps stopped near the market area.

Her eyes were fixed on a Lycanthrope [werewolf] mixed-blood boy trembling across the street and a knight who appeared to be from the Central Army.

“I’m sorry, I was wrong. Please forgive me just this once, sir!”

“Shut up, you furry bastard! How dare a slave dirty my uniform and expect to be unharmed?”

The knight beat the boy mercilessly with his baton.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Blood splattered and groans flowed out.

But the people around them just whispered or pretended not to see, and no one stepped forward to stop them.

It was unimaginable for an ordinary commoner to stand up to a knight, and in the Baroque Empire, all the fairy race and their mixed-bloods were slaves, except for a very few like Shirley in the past.

‘This is why I can’t help but like His Majesty Luke.’

Since the Kingdom of Symphonia had achieved considerable development in a short period through its racial harmony policy, other countries were also following suit.

But the Baroque Empire was an exception.

Rather, Emperor Rudolph said that the racial harmony policy was a trick for traitors to incite slaves, and he forbade even mentioning it.

“Ugh, please, spare me…”

“I told you to shut up, didn’t I? How dare a beast utter human words?”

The knight raised his baton high, as if to deliver the final blow to the bloodied mixed-blood boy.

Crack!

Seeing that, Shirley’s patience snapped.

The moment the knight was about to strike down his baton, she rushed like lightning and thrust the blade of her spear at his neck.

“That’s enough, Sir Knight?”

“Wh-what, who are you?”

Karen and Jomi Mi grabbed their heads at this sight.

They had also witnessed the series of events and were trying to figure out how to quietly save the boy.