“Mima, the Second Prince’s carriage is passing through the western gate of Trumpethall.”
“Okay, he’s finally here. I was starting to think my neck would stretch out from waiting so long.”
I placed my hands on my knees and stood up in one smooth motion. I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Now that the key players were stepping onto the stage one by one, my task was to fit the pieces together.
The Grand Alliance Strategy.
A terrifyingly ambitious plan—to unite every faction except the Cardinals and deliver a decisive blow while pulling off some Indian Rice1 . At first glance, it seemed almost impossible. But it wasn’t.
If I secured the first piece properly, the rest would follow, and with each additional faction, the difficulty would drop exponentially.
Think about it—if I won over the Imperial Family, the『Reformist Faction』, and the Grand Duke of the North, then wouldn’t the Duke Red Flavor Family have no choice but to pretend to align with me? Even if only to avoid being completely fucked over?
The same logic applied to the Grand Duke of the North. If the Imperial Family was already on my side, his pragmatism would leave him with no choice but to accept the alliance. I wouldn’t even need to bring up Heart.
So ultimately, everything boiled down to one thing.
I just needed to lure in Irid.At this stage, I was practically starting the game with a guaranteed win. There was a certain connection between Irid and me, wasn’t there? Right?
Just as I was about to prepare to meet him, Bennet walked in with some rather delightful news.
“Crazy Wizard. It seems Grand Duke of the North Julius and his entourage have entered through the southern gate.”
“Oh, he’s here too? Perfect. Convince the Second Prince, then the Grand Duke—and voilà! A grand achievement, all wrapped up in a single night!”
“⋯⋯I don’t know where this confidence of yours is coming from. Even for you, this won’t be easy. One is a prince of imperial blood, the other, the ruler of a harsh land. This is nothing like persuading a Dark Wizard.”
“Well, just watch, Bennet. I’ll pluck the moon from the sky before sunrise. Kekkekkek⋯⋯.”
After all, I held the key to both of their first loves. What more needed to be said?
I thumped my chest with confidence. Anyone who mastered relationships mastered everything. This was how an infallible plan looked.
One night was all I needed. What could possibly go wrong?
===============================================================
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump!
It was a grand procession.
Irid’s carriage was flanked by soldiers and attendants, stretching across three entire blocks. He usually carried himself so modestly that I had never fully grasped his status—but seeing this, there was no mistaking it.
He really was an Imperial Prince.
And this was supposedly the scaled-down version, toned down out of respect for the Goddess. I couldn’t even imagine the full display of his status.
Amid the sea of gawking onlookers, I stood still, observing the parade.
Step. Step. Step.
The crowd parted, and two broad-shouldered knights approached me. Their expressions were rigid as they delivered their message.
“His Highness, the Imperial Prince, has summoned you.”
“How did you even find me?”
I had been wondering how to reach out to him, but I guess that problem had solved itself.
The knights meticulously searched me for any potential dangers. Having my body patted down by two men was an unpleasantly awkward experience, though I doubted they enjoyed it either.
A mutual misery.
They were unhappy to touch me. I was unhappy to be touched. In silent mourning for our collective suffering, I endured it.
Then, just as they were about to clasp a magic-suppressing cuff on my wrist, Irid’s voice rang out from the carriage.
“That’s enough. Let him in.”
“Your Highness, we haven’t secured protection against mana ye⋯⋯.”
“It is a waste of time. I won’t say it twice.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
The knights glared at me, their eyes silently delivering a message: If you try anything, you won’t leave unscathed.
I shrugged and started walking. Standing in front of the carriage was a tall female knight with light blonde hair and and purple eyes.
She was about 176 cm tall, with an undeniably fresh and commanding presence. While her beauty was undeniable, her knightly poise and upright demeanor that stood out the most.
Most notably⋯⋯ the color of her eyes alone was enough to confirm her connection to Yuna’s bloodline.
Casually, I asked,
“⋯⋯Yurensto?”
“Yes. I am Cicel Yurensto. His Highness has spoken about you. You’re the one meant to secure my victory.”
“Ah, so you’re the participant. Well then, let me extend my congratulations in advance.”
“Let’s save the small talk. His Highness is waiting.”
Shall I?
With a smooth motion, the female knight pulled open the carriage door. The hinges moved in complete silence. Without hesitation, I hopped in.
The interior was surprisingly spacious—though, if I really thought about it, it made perfect sense. This wasn’t just a carriage. It was practically a mobile residence.
At the far end, seated with one leg crossed over the other, was Second Prince Irid Crown.
Even after all this time, his absurdly handsome face still annoyed me. I greeted him with a cheeky remark.
“Your knights are certainly loyal.”
I was, of course, referring to their thorough body inspections.
“It seems they were more sensitive than usual. It’s because you look way too suspicious. You should understand.”
…He was saying that it was my face that was the problem.
Did I really look that shady? Yuna told me I looked cool.
I glanced at the mirror on the wall. Beneath my pitch-black hair, my red eyes glowed ominously. Ever since I embraced the Malice, my gaze had carried an unsettling aura—enough to make people uneasy.
…Yeah. I got it now. I definitely needed to be searched if I looked like this.
“How have you been?”
“Quite well. Work has been smooth, and thanks to a certain crazy wizard wiping out Dark Wizards left and right⋯⋯ I’ve actually had time to relax.”
His complexion looked better, his voice carried more strength than before, he looked like he was eating well.
I rubbed my hands together like a scheming little fruit fly and grinned slyly.
“If you’re so thankful, how about a reward?”
“Was handing over a Defense Bureau agent without a gag or a leash not enough for you? You could fill a box with classified information from what you squeeze out of her alone.”
“Yuri Lanster is loyal. She only tells me what’s necessary, and I don’t pry either.”
“If it’s research funds you’re after, I’ll consider it.”
Nice, that’s a win . Maybe this would help soften Yuna’s anger a little. She wasn’t exactly strapped for funding anymore, but more research money was always a good thing.
With the small talk out of the way, it was time to get to business.
Irid and I exchanged a silent glance before checking the security measures.
I activated an artifact, casting a magic barrier that completely isolated the interior of the carriage, ensuring no sound or information could be leaked.
Once the safety was confirmed, Irid got straight to the point.
“What are you scheming this time?”
“This time’s Hero selection. Let’s work together and make sure the Cardinal Faction doesn’t win. Wouldn’t it be nice to bring some fresh air into the Church of the Goddess? Refreshing, even.”
“Who exactly is included in this ‘work together’? I am intrigued.”
“For starters, the Grand Duke of the North⋯⋯.”
Clunk.
The carriage rattled.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯What is it?”
Irid opened the window and flicked his gaze toward one of the knights riding alongside the carriage. The knight, visibly tense under his superior’s gaze, stammered out a response.
“W-We’ve crossed paths with the Grand Duke of the North’s procession, Your Highness. But… they refuse to move aside—discourteously⋯⋯!”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
So it was one of those standoffs. The classic you move first dilemma.
Peering out the window, I spotted the grand procession blocking our path. Both sides were so massive in scale that neither could advance unless the other yielded.
Ego clashes were common enough—but against the Imperial Family?
As far as I knew, the Imperial Family’s authority was absolute⋯⋯ So why wasn’t the Grand Duke of the North stepping aside? He wasn’t the type to let pride dictate his actions—he was a man who weighed pros and cons of every step he took.
Had something happened between him and Irid?
I glanced at Irid, hoping for answers, but he just clicked his tongue as he expressed his frustration.
“⋯⋯ Tsk , still caught up in that ridiculous delusion, isn’t he.”
“Delusion? The Grand Duke of the North?”
“Yes. You, of all people, should know. Centra crossed over a hundred years into the past, then back into the present, acting as Heart to meet me.”
Huh?
“Uh, what? Uh, ah, yes. Right.”
“During a meeting about Northern succession issues, he saw a portrait of Centra that I kept and started spouting nonsense. Something about Heart and him being connected by their souls.”
“Ah⋯⋯ s-soooo…”
“Of course, I denied it. Her feelings were clearly directed at me. Just as a conversation partner who was used to cover the expenses that she needed to needed to remain in this timeline⋯⋯ connected by souls? Tsk. “
⋯⋯So they fought.
The Imperial Prince and the Grand Duke of the North got into a fight… because of Heart and Centra.
My past sins came back and smacked me square in the face. My head spun.
As my brain short-circuited, my mouth moved before I could stop it.
“Please, don’t fight over me⋯⋯!”
“⋯⋯Have you finally lost your mind?”
Fuck.
No, no! Let’s focus!
Things haven’t fallen apart yet. Emotions were emotions, but practicality was practicality. My proposal to push back against the Cardinal Faction was beneficial to both of them.
Surely they wouldn’t let a personal grudge get in the way of something this important, right? Right ?
“If you can convince that idiot Grand Duke of the North, I have no reason to interfere. Weakening the Cardinal Faction’s power is a cause I can wholeheartedly support.”
Good.
Irid was effectively on board. Now I just had to make sure this situation didn’t escalate. Let’s head over to the Grand Duke of the North’s carriage right now—smooth things over before egos sour and try get them to clear the way.
I quickly stepped out of Irid’s carriage.
And at that exact moment—
Crack.
A sharp, splintering sound echoed through the air.
If you’re wondering what that sound was… it was my plan shattering into pieces.
Craaaack, Pakang ──!!
Right in the middle of Irid’s procession and the Grand Duke of the North’s procession⋯⋯ a fight had broke out.
If this escalated, if irreparable bad blood formed between Irid and the Grand Duke⋯⋯ that would be a complete disaster.
My pride would be in ruins!
I had left so confidently, telling Bennet I had everything handled. And now this?!
“Ah damn it, No fighting! Don’t fight──!”
I sprinted toward the chaos, feet pounding against the ground.
===============================================================
I already knew there were levels to Metamorphosis.
I still hadn’t forgotten, the Bloodwind(血風) that First Princess Elaine had unleashed with a single punch.
Trying to calculate an output that could counter that was one of the most headache-inducing challenges I had ever faced. Even if you brought a dozen Roderus here, they wouldn’t have stood a chance against Elaine’s whirlwind punches back in the day.
She was refined.
Every stage of her Metamorphosis process—imbuing her soul with emotion, generating colored mana, channeling it into raw power—was executed with immaculate precision. Not a single ounce wasted.
The gap was even wider when compared to someone like Namgung Cheonghwi, who had only just stepped into Metamorphosis. No matter how many Emperor Sword Forms he unleashed, it wouldn’t be enough to take down a giant.
Sure, Metamorphosis users had their own variances of effectiveness against one another.
But there was an entire world of difference between someone taking their first step into Metamorphosis and someone who had reached the absolute peak—the wall of Sublimation.
Kagagagagack──!
What was unfolding before my eyes now… was a clash between two warriors standing at the very limits of Metamorphosis—two semi-Sublimation monsters.
“I will warn you one last time. Step aside.”
“We set foot on this path first, you hear?! Northern scouts were the first to set foot on this shiny ground. What, are your ears stuffed with ice?!”
Crack, craaack ──!
The Grand Duke of the North’s champion was, quite literally, a wild beast—a woman with the ferocity of a wolf.
Her disheveled sky-blue hair whipped through the air, and her vertically slit pupils glowed. She was like a blend of beauty and beast.
Her twin hand axes were small, but the power behind them was anything but. A single swing unleashed a storm of ice—winter itself was contained in her grasp.
“First come, first served! If you wanna break the rules, you’d better bite me first!”
At just one swing—
Chajajajajajack ──!!
Icicles erupted along the path of her strike, instantly turning summer into winter. A three-story building caught in the storm, then froze solid as if doused in liquid nitrogen.
And facing her—was iron(鐵).
“This is your final warning. Stand down before the Imperial family.”
Whooosh ──!
When her massive greatsword cut through the air, the vacuum left behind filled with a violent rush of wind. A single swing became a raging gale.
The Imperial Family’s champion was none other than the female knight from the Yurensto family, the one I had seen in front of Irid’s carriage earlier.
She easily wielded a zweihander taller than herself, cutting through the encroaching frost as though it were paper.
The aftermath sent four or five Northern warriors flying, while nearby buildings shattered their windows under the sheer force of the shockwave.
Two houses had already been reduced to rubble.
And this was just the warm-up.
This was still the stage where they sized each other up, testing whose fangs were sharper. But if they actually sank their teeth into each other’s throats, this entire district would be razed to the ground.
It was terrifying. I knew I had to step in and stop this before it spiraled out of control. For the sake of the plan. But suddenly, my missing left arm ached
⋯⋯What if I got hurt again?
⋯⋯What if Yuna ended up sad again?
Flap.
At that moment, a butterfly flitted past my ear.
Though she didn’t reveal herself—probably because she was still mad—it felt like she was saying it was okay⋯⋯ because she was watching over me.
Right.
A small fortune in misfortune. At the very least, it seemed like she wasn’t too mad!
A warmth filled my chest, happiness bubbling up from the bottom of my heart. I stepped in between them This fight ends here!
“Hello! Folks, isn’t today just the most amazing day?”
“⋯⋯You. It’s dangerous. Please step back.”
“What’s this, this black thing? Are you a Dark Wizard?”
“Ahaeit, let’s not do that and⋯⋯.”
It was time for my tongue to dance.
Footnotes
1. A penalty game among koreans, which someone receives penalty has too bend down while others hit the bent one on the back. It used to be a popular penalty game ***
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