Chapter 176
With Kara’s Teleportation Spell, we all arrived at Lysquare in an instant.
After arriving, we hid in a dark alley and quietly observed the situation in Lysquare.
The situation was just as bad as we had heard.
“Everyone, get inside! Hurry, get inside!”
“No, what on earth is going on at this hour before dawn?”
“I said get inside!”
“When the army suddenly causes a commotion in the middle of dawn, they should at least give an explan— kyaaa?!”
“Be quiet! If you don’t want to die, stay quietly inside your house!”
I saw countless soldiers in the streets.
All of them were controlling the citizens who tried to come outside after sensing the disturbance.
“The atmosphere is really brutal.”
Lisa muttered as she looked at the countless soldiers filling the streets.
The soldiers kept forcing the citizens back into their homes.
And if they didn’t listen, the soldiers even threatened them by pointing their weapons.
Just as Lisa said, the atmosphere was incredibly brutal.
“It looks like they’ve dragged almost all of Muktaba’s forces here.”
Luke glanced around the street, his expression steadily darkening.
As he said, the uniforms worn by every soldier on the street carried the crest of Muktaba.
“But this is strange. If they use this many soldiers just to control the citizens, wouldn’t they lack manpower to seize the Imperial Palace?”
“Yes. Just as you said, teacher… Muktaba’s forces alone might not be enough. But it seems Rage doesn’t only have Muktaba’s soldiers.”
Jason had been observing the distant Imperial Palace through a small telescope.
Letting out a faint laugh, he put the telescope away and opened his mouth.
“There are a lot of Lysquare’s soldiers near the Imperial Palace.”
“…Aren’t those soldiers supposed to be protecting the palace?”
“No, those soldiers are attacking the palace right now.”
At Jason’s words, I also let out a short laugh.
“When did Rage manage to win over Lysquare’s standing army?”
“Exactly. Usually, the Hawkbat Family would have sensed a move like this. But the fact that they didn’t catch anything… looks like Rage prepared this very thoroughly.”
I looked toward the palace.
Numerous soldiers advancing toward the Imperial Palace came into view.
And I could faintly see the forces blocking their path.
“Since we’re ready enough, let’s hurry and move to the palace.”
“Hey, disciple. Hearing the word ‘move’ suddenly gives me chills. You’re not planning to use me as a mode of transport again, right?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not shameless enough to do that.”
I replied with a small laugh and turned to Jason.
“Jason-nim. You know a few Secret Passages around here that lead to the palace, right?”
“I do, but… how do you know that?”
“Well, I’ve traveled a lot here and there, so I ended up learning quite a few things.”
“Hah… At this point, nothing you say surprises me anymore.”
Jason stood up with a faint laugh.
“There’s an underground passage a little ways from here that connects to the palace. A long time ago, the Hawkbat Family built it for only our family members to use… but given the situation, it’s best to bring everyone in for now.”
“Then I ask for your guidance.”
“Sure, let’s go. And Gideon.”
Jason placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled.
I tilted my head.
“You can just speak casually with me from now on. No need for formality.”
“…What?”
“At this point, it’s weird for you to be polite to me. Talk to me comfortably, just like you talk to Lisa Noona.”
“…Is that really okay?”
“Of course it is. We’re already friends. Don’t you think so?”
Right, this was exactly the kind of person Jason was.
I let out a small laugh at his words.
Then I nodded and replied.
“Understood. From now on, I’ll try to speak more comfortably… no, I’ll speak comfortably, Jason.”
“Good. Let’s get even closer from now on, Gideon.”
Meanwhile, at the same time—
A hotel not far from the Imperial Palace.
In front of that hotel stood a large flag bearing the crest of the Isrinbloom Family.
And inside that hotel, Rage leisurely swirled a wine glass as he listened to the report.
“We’ve successfully completed the full encirclement of the palace. We also received information that soldiers from other regions of the Empire have begun gathering, but…”
“By the time those soldiers all gather and reach Lysquare, plenty of time will have passed. His Majesty the Emperor called for reinforcements far too late.”
Rage emptied his glass and filled it again.
Slowly savoring the wine, he gazed out the window.
His forces were completely surrounding and tightening their pressure on the Imperial Palace.
“Even if forces from other regions arrive, by then we’ll already have taken control of the palace. And as for those nobles who raise a rebellion against us… there are more than enough ways to make them mine. Isn’t that right, Suiroti-nim?”
Rage smiled and looked to his side.
Next to the chair where he sat, the illusion of a small girl was leaning against it.
“I told you not to overuse the power I granted you… You never listen to me until the end, do you?”
“My apologies for always troubling you. But for the sake of the Great One, shouldn’t you be willing to endure this much?”
“For Lord Bedir, I can do as much as this. Still… it’s damned exhausting.”
Suiroti sighed, wiping the sweat trickling down her forehead.
“The countless humans you control—keeping the mental manipulation spell on them intact while moving the nomads you gathered… doing both at once feels like my body and mind are literally wearing away.”
“As I just said, please endure a little longer for the Great One’s sake. You agreed to this plan from the very beginning, didn’t you, Lord Suiroti?”
“It was Lord Bedir’s order. Of course, I had to follow it.”
“Exactly. And I’m doing everything I can to lessen your burden, Lord Suiroti.”
When Rage waved his hand through the air, several illusions of people appeared, small and hazy, above his palm.
All of them wore the uniforms of Imperial commanders.
“They’re the ones commanding the armies stationed in the Capital. There are several who lead the troops of Lysquare, but I only manipulated the minds of the key individuals.”
“Yeah, I already heard about that. I heard you went through quite the trouble to avoid the Hawkbat Family’s eyes.”
“There are a few military officials the Hawkbat Family keeps a close watch on. I avoided them and only approached—very quietly—those officers who are genuinely loyal to the Empire and of no concern to the Hawkbat Family.”
Rage smirked faintly and continued explaining to Suiroti.
“The Hawkbat Family… really has their blind spots. They’re the Emperor’s capable eyes and ears that know everything about the Empire, but if you move in secret with proper preparation, it’s possible to stay unnoticed.”
“…Ha. I don’t like you, but I’ll admit you’ve got some ability. To overturn the Capital of an entire Empire this easily.”
“A sudden assault at dawn, and more than half the stationed army already turned to our side… With that much done, it’d be stranger if it failed. There are still a few of the Capital’s regular troops resisting, but… that’s only a matter of time.”
Suiroti’s illusion turned toward the window.
Just as Rage said, anyone could see the tide of battle had shifted entirely in his favor.
“Come to think of it, I heard the forces of House Balmuth will arrive at the Capital soon. What will you do about them?”
“The territory of House Balmuth is close to the Capital, so they’ll be the first to arrive. But even if they come, our numbers will still far outweigh theirs. The Hawkbat Family doesn’t have an army of their own, so as long as we watch out for assassinations or infiltration attempts, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“You’ve certainly prepared thoroughly.”
“It’s all thanks to the Great One. The script He bestowed upon me allowed me to prepare a plan perfectly aligned to it. And originally, the plan was even more flawless and meticulous. It only changed because of one slippery little fish.”
With those words, Rage looked behind him.
Behind him, chained and covered in blood, was Eisen.
“My brother. I trusted you, thinking at least you would understand me… You were family, so I purposely didn’t touch your mind. Never thought you’d stab me in the back like this.”
“Trust… me? …What a joke.”
Eisen coughed up blood as he struggled to speak.
“You tortured me, cursed me like this… and you expect me to believe that?”
“That curse was just a precaution. As for the torture… I’ll apologize for that. When you first found out about my plan, I panicked and thought I had to silence you somehow. Back then, I hadn’t yet obtained the power of mental manipulation, so I had to be… a little rough.”
“Ha… You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Haah. Eisen, my brother. I truly believed in you. I sincerely did. I thought you genuinely understood me… but you went and leaked everything to Gideon Kyrgram.”
At that, Rage rose from his seat and walked toward Eisen.
Then he kicked Eisen hard in the stomach.
“Gahk!”
“Because of you, my perfect plan became… a little less perfect. The only consolation is that even this less-than-perfect plan is still more than enough.”
Rage smirked again and turned back toward Suiroti’s illusion.
“The Swordsman of Water will find Suiroti and defeat her in battle. She’ll escape alive, but lose the power of the curse I granted her… That’s what was written in the Great One’s script, wasn’t it?”
“…Yes. I thought that event would happen at least a few months later, not last night. And even then, I didn’t expect to truly lose.”
“Indeed. I also thought that would only happen after I took over the Imperial Palace, as the Swordsman of Water’s final act of desperation. But thanks to my foolish brother… things turned out like this.”
Rage stomped once on Eisen’s head, then kicked him aside with a weary look.
“By the way, if I remember correctly, the Great One added this—‘The Swordsman of Water will seek aid from his old friends among the other races. But the Emperor will refuse, and that choice will lead to ruin.’”
“That’s right. So, according to His plan… I only need to go to Lysquare now and kill Kyrgram, that man?”
“Move the nomads to the Capital first, then come slowly. Kyrgram—has he already arrived in Lysquare?”
“A few hours ago, I sensed a group using magic to move from Muktaba toward the Capital. If Kyrgram’s with them, he’s probably somewhere in Lysquare by now.”
At Suiroti’s words, Rage nodded.
“Then by now, he must’ve slipped into the Imperial Palace through Jason. Well then, let’s see what kind of move that man makes in the Palace… I’m looking forward to it.”
Rage smiled as he looked out toward the Palace through the window.
And while those thoughts filled his mind—
Inside the Imperial Palace…
“Kyaaaah?! Wh-what?! Jason?! Why are you jumping out from there?!”
“Ah, so this passage connects to this room, huh? I never knew. I’ll have to report this to the family later.”
“No, seriously—what are you? Why are you suddenly popping out of my ceiling?!”
“There’s a good reason, Lady Layla. I’ll explain in a bit. And… hey, Gideon, get down here already.”
“Huh? Gideon? You’re here too?”
As Gideon followed Jason down from the ceiling, the blonde Princess tilted her head in confusion.
Gideon scratched his head awkwardly and smiled.
“It looks a bit odd, but… we’ve come to help you, Princess.”