The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 174

137. Entering the Palace

Three arrows shot into the sky.

The tens of thousands of arrows that adorned the night sky resembled an imposing wall of flames, and everyone in the Imperial City watched the spectacle.

“Hehe, what is that?”

“Magnificent.”

“The Crown Prince’s spirit ascends to the heavens.”

“Rest in peace…”

They were merely left with questions as they didn’t know the reason. However, most citizens simply thought of it as a ceremony commemorating Kromen’s funeral.

People who came out onto the streets watched the flaming arrows being shot into the sky, kneeling reverently and beginning to pray in various places.

But the people in the Imperial Palace were different.

“Did everyone see that?”

The first to speak was Chief State Councilor, Brin Inique.

In contrast to the chaotic atmosphere outside the palace, a cold silence filled the hall despite the late hour.

They all looked worried, as if they had forgotten to sleep.

“Even though it’s far from the Imperial City, how do you explain the number of those flaming arrows? Where has the Empire’s dignity gone…? What were the defense forces doing?”

At the Chief State Councilor’s words, Court Magician Cardin Luer glared at Belin Valention, the Commander of the General Knights Order, as if rebuking him.

The leader of the Gold Knights Order and commander of the Imperial Guard let out a low sigh.

“The northern mountain range is closed to traffic during winter. Even if arrows were fired from there, they wouldn’t reach the Imperial City.”

“Does it make sense that you didn’t know that so many people infiltrated a place where traffic is prohibited?”

“…The Chief State Councilor is also aware that the Imperial Palace has been busy. It seems we missed it.”

Brin clicked his tongue, reminding himself that Kaishin, the leader of the Black Knights Order, who was appointed as the Imperial City Defense Commander, was not present at this meeting.

Gold, Red, Black.

The three Knights Orders were in charge of guarding the Imperial City, but the Gold Knights Order was the Imperial Guard, so the Knights Order effectively in charge of defending the capital was the special forces unit, the Black Knights Order.

“What would you have done if that many people had attacked the Imperial Palace?”

“That will never happen. Besides, who would dare to attack in this situation?”

It was a matter of pride, but Belin Valention frowned at Cardin Luer’s words.

The feudal lords from all over were already gathered to attend Kromen’s funeral.

Kwell Mcgerran, along with the leaders of each Knights Order, had all gathered at the Imperial Palace. Ironically, there were more knights gathered than ever before, so it could be said that this was the safest situation.

“Besides… If you knew so well, what was the Court Mage Division doing? You also have the duty of defending the capital.”

They were busy passing the blame onto each other.

That was because, among the Empire’s four dukes, except for Duke Niel Blanc, who was rumored to exist but had never shown his face in the political world, the other three had already chosen the Crown Prince they supported.

The Chief State Councilor had openly declared his support for the First Crown Prince from the beginning, but the other two were different.

Although he had declared neutrality, there was no way that Belin Valention had no influence in Azif, the Vice-Commander of the Gold Knights Order, supporting Luon.

On the other hand,

Cardin Luer was still calling himself neutral, but rumors had it that he was secretly preparing the Academy’s mages for Ollivon.

The nobles said that the proof was that Tyren, the second son of Kwell Mcgerran, who supported the Second Crown Prince, had become his disciple.

Knight and mage.

They were inherently incompatible, so their positions were extremely different.

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

Chief State Councilor Brin Inique, who had been watching quietly, said with a low sigh.

“It’s on a day when all the ministers are gathered. There has never been a day with more nobles gathered since the current Emperor ascended the throne.”

“Of course. The Third Crown Prince’s…”

Belin Valention shook his head as if he couldn’t bring himself to say the word ‘funeral’.

“The reason for gathering is not important. The problem is that so many people saw it now.”

Brin Inique shook his head.

“The meaning of the three arrows.”

At his words, the two were silent.

“How many of the nobles in the Imperial Palace wouldn’t know that meaning?”

Three flames.

The first shot straight into the sky, the second diagonally, and the last drew an arc as it was shot into the air.

Originally, it was a flame that announced the Emperor’s death, but now everyone knows who that flame is for.

‘Who the hell is it? What bastard is doing such an outrageous thing…’

The artillery unit in the Imperial Palace, which Kaie Essir created 250 years ago, was said to have such tremendous power that the flames could be seen all over the continent, so it was not comparable to that, but tens of thousands of arrows were enough to captivate the eyes of the citizens and nobles in the Imperial City.

《Third Crown Prince Kromen, assassinated.》

Now Kromen’s death will be corrected and spread again like this inside the Imperial Palace.

“Does the Chief State Councilor believe that? It’s a trick. It’s definitely a ploy to cause confusion in an already chaotic situation.”

Brin Inique smiled as he looked at Cardin Luer, who was getting angry.

‘You guys are the most suspicious ones.’

There were several questionable aspects to Kromen’s death.

However, most of them turned the arrow of resentment towards the barbarians of the South.

It was the established theory that the barbarians had used poison on him when he visited the Digon tribe.

Ollivon Schtean, who had lost his only younger brother, suppressed his grief and said that he would take the lead in subjugating the barbarians himself, rather than reconciliation.

‘From the beginning, the subjugation of the South was led by the First Crown Prince.’

However, with Luon having returned in failure, Ollivon was likely to be given the next opportunity.

However, with the Lyeo Knights Order annihilated, there were not many knights who supported Ollivon who could easily withdraw their troops.

In the current situation, the Crown Prince who could mobilize troops was Luon.

In the end,

Ollivon had no choice but to borrow a hand from Luon.

In order for Luon, who had been defeated in the Twin Armor [a famous battle or location], to regain power in the current situation, the only way was for the two of them to carry out the subjugation of the South together.

This was a very important situation.

‘The death of Crown Prince Kromen should have been quietly passed over. Both sides needed time to prepare for the next step.’

The Chief State Councilor, who was from the First Crown Prince faction, frowned.

The absurd situation of breaking the tacit truce between the Luon and Ollivon factions, which had gathered through the funeral, had occurred.

“Whoever the culprit is… they will have to pay the price.”

Kwaaaang…!!!

It was then.

Suddenly, the door to the hall was violently thrown open.

“I… I apologize!”

The eyes of the three men turned to the soldier outside.

“Speak.”

The Chief State Councilor asked directly.

He didn’t need a reason.

Knowing that this was a place where the Empire’s great feudal lords were gathered, opening the door meant that it was either an urgent situation worth risking one’s life or a serious matter.

If,

It was something that was not worth it, he would just cut off his head on the spot.

“Right now, 40,000 troops are gathering at the Imperial Palace.”

“…What?”

“What are you talking about! Where did that many troops come from…!”

“Surely the knights were dispatched to check the northern mountain range. Where did they all go!”

“That’s…”

The soldier hesitated for a moment, seemingly embarrassed by the shouts of the three men.

But it wasn’t because he was afraid of them.

Even he, who had to report, was at a loss as to how to explain this situation.

“The report is that the Black Knights Order, who went out on patrol, are heading to the palace with them.”

“That’s ridiculous…”

“Whose troops are they? There is no kingdom that can bring that many troops right now…”

The soldier lowered his head at Belin’s cry and said in a trembling voice.

“That’s… they are all soldiers of the Empire.”

* * *

The Sun Hall.

This place was always lit, but it was extremely rare for this many people to gather on a night like this.

There were many eyes, but they were just exchanging glances, and the hall was weighed down by a heavy silence due to the sudden uninvited guests, filled with questions and suspicions.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

‘300 meters from the main gate of the hall to the throne where the Emperor is. Archers are stationed on the ceiling every 50 meters.’

The moment he took his first step,

Caryl adjusted the mask he was wearing and looked ahead.

‘Magic traps are installed every 100 meters, and they are activated when the mechanism on the throne is pressed.’

Thud- Thud- Thud-

Caryl took another step and stopped exactly in the center of the golden carpet.

‘No one is allowed to get closer than this unless they are authorized.’

Then, he slowly raised his head.

The distance to the Emperor was 150 meters.

The rules of the Sun Hall that had been passed down since the Old Empire era.

People called that distance the Absolute Gap.

The Emperor’s own territory that could never be crossed.

However, for a strong person who had reached the realm of Sword Master [a master swordsman], that distance was only a moment.

Nevertheless, the gap had never been broken in the history of the Empire.

And now, the current Emperor, Tyran Schtean, was also confident that history would continue.

“…”

Caryl smiled faintly at the sharp murderous intent that he could feel even from hundreds of meters away.

The reason was,

Because of the two people standing next to the Emperor.

The continent’s greatest swordsman, Kwell Mcgerran, and the Empire’s Knights Order Commander, Belin Valention.

If it was the strongest Sword Master and an old knight with experience comparable to a Sword Master, although not one himself, even Caryl would have a hard time beheading the Emperor in one strike.

Besides, it wasn’t just them.

Zarvant, the leader of the Red Knights Order, and Cam Gray, the leader of the Lyeo Knights Order.

As many as five Knights Order leaders were gathered in one place.

‘Cam Gray. He must have suffered a lot after his Knights Order was annihilated. His pale skin has turned even whiter.’

Caryl thought as he looked at the knight with sunken eyes and a snow-white face wearing light green armor.

Even though the Empire’s most renowned martial artists were all looking at him, he didn’t seem very impressed.

‘I thought I would be captured at the main gate… To think I would enter the palace without bloodshed like this. Tyran Schtean. He’s a snake-like bastard after all.’

The Emperor seemed to have expected it.

That Caryl was the only one who could mobilize troops capable of firing that many arrows.

And he was one of the people who knew the meaning of the arrows he fired better than anyone else.

‘It’s a bit disappointing. Still, it’s an event that I put a lot of effort into preparing. I was hoping to see that man’s flustered face, even if only a little.’

Assassination.

In a continent with countless wars and incidents, it might not be a big surprise.

However, the weight changes depending on where that word has meaning.

Kromen.

The death of a young boy who was not even ten years old had a truly great impact.

The Emperor knew that his symptoms resembled his own in the past, Luon had an excuse to return to the Imperial Palace, and Ollivon had once again created an opportunity to conquer the South.

Indeed…

Would there be anyone among those in here who would mourn his death?

“…”

Caryl slowly looked around.

The faces of the Emperor and the many ministers were ironically so familiar that he felt naturally at home in this place.

Among those faces, the one he missed the most was looking at him.

That was Ollivon Schtean.

“Hoo…”

Caryl took a slow breath as if he was deeply moved.

‘It’s been a long time. This air, this energy.’

The terrible stench still vibrated, tangled with desire.