“…That is what has happened.”
[Flashing Spear Ignis, quite a big gamble you’ve taken there.]
At the words of the person on the other end of the communication device, King Ramon the First nodded solemnly.
Possessing a 6th class artifact, especially a weapon artifact, allows its owner to momentarily exert superhuman military force, making it a strategic weapon. Moreover, the magic contained within Ignis is most effective during the knights’ grand charge into battle.
Among the few known 6th class artifacts, its offensive power was proven—a national treasure in the truest sense.
Should things go awry, Triya could stand to lose far too much.
With a worried heart, King Ramon once again emphasized to the voice through the communication device,
“We must insist you keep your promise.”
Given the identity of the other party, his request was nearly a plea for mercy.
[Of course, you need not worry. Surely you aren’t doubting the capabilities of the Empire?]After he spoke, the tense look on Ramon’s face slightly eased.
“Of course not. However, due to the gravity of the matter, it wouldn’t be out of the question for us to lend a hand…”
[No need. You gambled on the national treasure; we wouldn’t want to impose by allowing you to make such an effort. We are fully capable ourselves.]
No need.
Don’t unnecessarily get in the way.
Both parties understood the polite refusals’ underlying message.
Yet Ramon simply smiled wryly and bowed his head, unable to express discomfort or worry when dealing with such a significant figure.
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”
[Think nothing of it.]
Prince Baros Van Ares explained the plan once more, as if to reassure Ramon.
[The McLain isn’t as vast as the Empire, hence limited talent. To meet your demands, notable talents from the kingdom must act, and that in itself, will become a noose tightening around their necks.]
Nod.
As Ramon clenched his lips and nodded, Prince Baros gave a faint smile.
[Simply lay the board for us, and after the ‘tragedy’ in Tytis occurs, you’ll be able to denounce McLain and regain the lead of the alliance.]
“What about Ignis then…”
[We will retrieve it beforehand; don’t worry. Even if we do not, we’ll provide a compensation equivalent to it.]
Compensation equivalent to it.
How does one value a national treasure, a 6th class artifact?
But the words came from the soon-to-be Emperor, Prince Baros.
Still trying to hide his anxiety, King Ramon nodded.
“Then I shall rest assured.”
[We appreciate your cooperation.]
Just as their negotiation concluded and Baros was about to close the communication,
“Ah, Your Highness. If I’m not mistaken, you’re yet to be wed.”
[…Yes, what of it?]
“I have an unmarried daughter, renowned throughout the kingdom for her beauty and talents. If I may, without being too presumptuous…”
[…]
King Ramon’s shining eyes were reluctant to let the matter drop.
* * *
“King of Triya must be quite desperate to offer Ignis as collateral.”
“If we hold Triya’s symbol, they won’t dare any foolish tricks. But it’s a bit unsettling how easily they complied.”
“They did say they would return it, perhaps that’s why?”
“Well, given McLain’s dire straits, that could be the case. Your reports suggest near bankruptcy.”
“Yes, indeed. Which would explain the attached conditions.”
King Ramon agreed to use Ignis as collateral under one condition:
– In return, I would like you to sign a non-aggression pact with our Alliance, specifically between Triya, Liberty, and the Kingdom of Teronan.
A non-aggression pact.
Asking for such a pact with neighboring nations suggests there’s only one reason.
“Once we handle Donati Pello, those three will clean up the rest.”
“If the alliance’s power weakens internally, eventually, as His Majesty desired, they would be easier to draw in…”
“It would significantly weaken the alliance’s overall strength. Which would be problematic… Can’t we just stop the war?”
“Judging from the King of Triya’s willingness to offer up Ignis, it seems his resolve is strong.”
“Nothing else for it, then. We must help the war conclude as swiftly as possible.”
As Logan’s lips formed a sinister smile, Damian trembled with an ominous premonition.
“What do you intend to do?”
“Ah, that can wait till the emissaries arrive. For now, let’s consider how we might assist Triya.”
Logan’s meaningful smile steered the conversation elsewhere, and Damian felt he understood Logan’s intentions.
‘Again, something that’ll give Minister Dwayne a heart attack… Well, he’ll manage.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’
That’s the conclusion Damian reached.
Unlike Minister Dwayne, whose blood pressure would spike, Damian had almost become indifferent.
As Damian remained silent, Logan promptly changed the subject.
“So, who shall we send? It’d be wise to send a few strong yet loyal individuals. Someone inconspicuous.”
“If you consider the knights, the selection needs to be cautious.”
“Indeed.”
They were discussing an assassination mission for the nation’s sake.
Though McLain’s knights were known for their loyalty, it was not a task to be taken lightly.
“…It would have been perfect to have Bordell for such a time.”
Logan regretted the timing.
As a beast hunter approaching a superhuman level and destined to become one, Bordell, who once worked as an Imperial superhuman mercenary, ended up leading other conquest wars, specializing in sniping key figures. After the conquest, he became a grim reaper hunting notable resistance members, like those from Grandia’s liberation front.
Phantom Archer.
A name unknown to no one in his past life 20 years later.
Yet now, only those beast hunters active around the Imperial Northern Beast Forest were aware of Bordell’s name.
But…
“Sir Bordell went south after the Prince of Ronian and has been out of contact ever since.”
“I know. What exactly is Ronian doing there…”
While Logan grew increasingly worried about his brother and preferred to believe he was safe and sound, for peace of mind, he had to focus on the current affairs.
‘It’ll be fine. Surely.’
Logan forced his concerns about his brother away and returned to the present.
“How much power do we need to dispose just Donati Pello and the Duke of Leon Tahiti?”
“At least five warriors of the highest knight level or a superhuman to deal with Tahiti, even if it’s a lesser state equivalent to one of our great territories in McLain.”
“Is it so? To quietly remove just those two?”
“…Sire. That’s the bare minimum estimate. It’s known that Donati Pello brought two of the highest level knights and one 5th circle magician to Tahiti. The security of the duke’s fortress is also quite formidable.”
“Is it now? Hmmm…”
Faced with limited options, Logan had to choose someone absolutely trustworthy.
Plus, they needed the skill and a knight unwavering in the face of ambush or assassination missions.
Logan’s gaze naturally shifted to his side, where Victor, recognizing his look, stepped forward without expression.
“Leave it to me. I will ensure its success.”
Young for a highest-level knight and always beside him, he was relatively unknown—a perfect candidate for the mission.
Even Damian seemed to have made a similar assessment, but his reaction was a bit different.
“Your Majesty. No matter what, Sir Victor is too young and inexperienced for such tasks…”
“No, it’s fine.”
“What?”
“Is there anyone more suitable than Victor among the other highest level knights?”
The others were middle-aged men who had lived as knights for decades.
Would they be able to carry out such a mission?
Without a word to offer, Damian fell silent.
‘We need those accustomed to dirty work. And with time to nurture such warriors. But for now…’
The kingdom, no, the dynasty, had too short a history to have fostered such shadows.
As Damian mulled regretfully, biting his lip, Logan confidently patted Victor on the shoulder.
‘The former nobility executioner.’
The one who would leap into a lord’s castle and decapitate its owner, as a favorite pastime.
Even if he hadn’t walked that path in this life, Logan believed his talent was still intact.
“Victor. After understanding the information from Damian, gather a team with Lia and report back. Make sure it is bound to succeed…”
But was his trust misplaced?
“Your Majesty. I would like to handle this mission alone.”
Victor boldly made an unexpected declaration.
“…What?”
“I believe I found a clue to overcome my barrier recently. To test my life in real combat, I was considering requesting special leave to go to the demonic realm. This mission, especially of this nature, would give me an opportunity to challenge my limits. Please let me.”
“Ha…?”
“That’s the way! A real fight, risking one’s life to overcome limits… isn’t as simple and easy as it sounds! It’s not something from a heroic novel!”
Death wasn’t just a difficult outcome to avoid—it was a typical result, something out of stories.
To Logan, common sense dictated, but Victor calmly countered.
“Your Majesty, have you not experienced a breakthrough on the battlefield?”
“Me?”
“Yes. I clearly remember witnessing it during my first battle as a soldier.”
Ah…
The battle at Sylvan’s Earldom.
At the time, he’d almost crossed into a higher realm, breaking through while fighting an enemy knight.
But that was…
“At that time, I was still young and half sure I was breaking through. It was a deliberate attempt to shatter what remained. Plus, challenging the wall of superhuman is on a different level!”
Indeed, a different level.
However, Victor remained undeterred.
“Didn’t the queen experience a similar change during the last assault incident?”
“Er…”
Caught off-guard, Logan lost his words momentarily, and Victor’s gaze became even more intense.
“I felt something then too. I need only to step one, no, half a step further, but ordinary training won’t be enough.”
“To undertake such a vital mission for personal reasons…”
“I knew it was the right path the moment you mentioned it. I’ll also keep in mind the trait design direction you mentioned. This mission may hold the path I’ve been seeking. I can succeed. Trust me!”
Your path, what is it that you’re looking for in this mission?
Assassination…
Like that shattered being to me?
Left speechless by Victor’s words, Damian suddenly spoke.
“Are you referring to that unique superhuman trait only heard through hearsay? Sir Victor is… Ah, then I’m in favor.”
“Damian?”
Ignoring Logan’s stunned look, Damian drifted into his thoughts, mumbling.
“That assassin-like skill, where even Your Majesty couldn’t detect their presence. Fantastic. We could use… Oh, sorry, a slip of the tongue. A slip. Ha ha.”
Feeling a lethal glare, Damian shifted his gaze, and Logan returned his calm demeanor to Victor.
“I’m assigning you because of necessity, but I don’t want someone like you to end up just an assassin because of what I’ve taught. If it’s because of that, redo the trait design entirely. I’ll assign the task to someone else.”
“I understand.”
“Hm?”
“I have no interest in walking the path of a dark assassin like those people. But I’m sure of it. Please entrust me with this. Otherwise, just like His Highness, I may be compelled to venture into the Southern Mountains or the beast forests.”
“…You hit a nerve there.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“No, it’s fine. You’re on the verge of breaking through… Are you sure you’ve seen beyond that?”
“Yes.”
Victor’s dichromatic eyes—his heterochromia—gazed back full of certainty.
For the first time, Logan sensed his state calmly.
Victor’s heart pulsed with four force cores, ready to burst at any moment, and his force flowed from them, ready to move at will throughout his body.
‘The pinnacle of highest-level knights… Seems it isn’t a false claim…’
Logan sighed softly.
“If I don’t assign this mission, you’ll go to the demonic realm?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Ronian’s influence on you… You’re starting to act like him.”
“My wish is to grow stronger and protect Your Majesty.”
Victor was so insistent, even Logan couldn’t refuse.
“Okay, I grant you the mission. But know the information through and through, and if you’re not certain, abandon the mission immediately. Got it?”
“Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Three days after Victor’s vigorous affirmation.
The King’s royal bodyguard, Victor, could no longer be found anywhere in the palace.