novelnext Chapter 185 : Successor (6)
Chapter 185 : Successor (6)
Once the entire infusion process was complete, Edgar's body went limp.Charlotte supported him with magic, seated him in a chair, and then Robert asked,
“What... did you do to my father?”
The Silencing Barrier had already been dispelled.
“Nothing in particular.”
Her expression had grown cold, as though she'd reached an utterly unremarkable conclusion.
“I merely infused him with my magic so he could make better use of the Code.”
“Ridiculous. I've never once heard of Permanent Brand magic functioning like that. Tell me the truth!”
Charlotte answered without even looking at Robert as he pressed her.
“Robert Bernhardt.”
“You're a mage superior to your father, Edgar Bernhardt, in every respect.”
“Except for one thing.”
“You were never born with exceptional resistance to anti-magic.”
“So you desperately mastered chantless casting—the fastest form of magic—under the belief that offense was the best defense.”
“Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden...?”
“Whatever I may have done to your father...”
“Don't even think about making me your enemy over something so trivial.”
“You don't have the slightest chance of defeating me.”
Charlotte smiled faintly at the still bewildered Robert before continuing.
“Besides, you never had a choice to begin with, did you?”
“I came all the way here to help you.”
“You should simply bow your head and thank me.”
“Just like your father.”
“……”
“If you understand, then lead your forces properly and cross over without incident.”
“And don't cause any unnecessary trouble.”
With those final words, Charlotte opened the conference room door and walked out.
Following behind her, Maximilian glanced at Robert before quietly shaking his head.
The moment the door closed, the familiar silence returned.
Robert instinctively ran to the window and leaned outside.
“…Impossible.”
The uproar that had engulfed the estate only moments earlier had completely vanished.
At the same time Charlotte was visiting the Bernhardt estate,
Rubia Magnus was busily selecting Artifacts in Mallet.
“You can take more if you want.”
“Even if I do, we probably won't end up using them all.”
Taking each member's strengths and weaknesses into consideration, she selected Artifacts that would eliminate their shortcomings while enhancing their advantages.
There were fifteen Artifacts in total, covering eight categories— offense, defense, evasion, counterattack, special abilities, amplification,enhancement, and weakening.
Together with Meriel, she carefully finished selecting them all.
After placing them inside a Shrink Bag, she cast Lightening Magic on it before tucking it away.
The moment her preparations were complete, Rubia headed toward the office of the Master of the Magic Tower.
There were too many developments that had occurred recently.
As the current leader of Duel—Mallet,
Master Gustav needed to hear everything.
The external situation itself required little explanation, since he had already learned most of it through newspapers.
But this would be the first time hearing that they were about to confront the Platinum Dawn Society directly.
“…So you're planning to infiltrate first and gather information?”
“Yes.”
“…Hmm.”
After listening to the entire story,
Gustav remained silent for quite a while,
rubbing his forehead with a troubled expression.
“This might actually turn into a blessing in disguise.”
“What do you mean?”
“The truth is...”
“I requested support from Kali Arta about a month ago.”
“Kali Arta... wasn't that...?”
“That's right.”
“The head of the Arta Family.”
“And the leader of Second Princess Rachel's noble faction.”
Rubia had never paid much attention to domestic politics.
But circumstances had changed.
Now that Eugene Carter and Edel Ribenia were drawing up the blueprint for a new Empire, the other members of the Imperial Family were nothing more than rivals.
And those serving them would inevitably become obstacles as well.
Gustav had once been their enemy.
After surviving countless life-and-death battles together,
they had become allies.
She never would've imagined that he'd once sought assistance from such a rival.
The hostility in Rubia's eyes stemmed from exactly that thought.
Knowing precisely what she was thinking,
Gustav hurriedly waved his hands in protest.
“You know what the situation was back then!”
“We were still carefully testing the waters ourselves!”
“I was just reaching out here and there!”
Of course,
Rubia had never intended to argue over something that had happened in the past.
She waved dismissively,
cutting off Gustav before he could continue rambling.
“Yes, yes, I get it.”
“Just explain what you meant by calling it a blessing in disguise.”
Gustav scratched the corner of his mouth before changing the subject.
“…After ignoring me all this time...”
“Kali Arta finally sent a very long letter a few days ago.”
As he spoke,
he took out the letter.
Rubia immediately snatched it and began reading.
To Master Gustav of Duel—Mallet.
This is Kali Arta.
My reply came rather late.
My apologies.
I'll skip the formalities and get straight to the point.
The Empire will soon descend into complete chaos.
Scoundrels plotting the collapse of the Imperial Household will advance beyond the capital and storm the Imperial Palace.
Naturally, we intend to exterminate every last one of them.
It's simply a precaution against future trouble.
I would like Mallet to assist us.
If you do, then when Princess Rachel ascends as the Twentieth Emperor of the Empire,
I'll ensure that your Magic Tower is officially recognized as a legitimate member of the Empire.
Perhaps you're worried because there's never been a case of a Magic Tower becoming part of a Holy Nation.
But don't be.
The Ribenian Orthodox Faith will be completely dismantled.
For the first time since Luprecht's reign, the Empire will cease to be a Holy Nation.
That is both our plan—
and Princess Rachel's.
I'm aware you've been cooperating with Karbenna and the Special Task Force.
You've fought alongside them.
You've probably grown attached to them.
Perhaps you've even come to trust them.
But there is no real benefit in remaining at their side.
Princess Edel is the leader of the people.
And the people never willingly give up what belongs to them.
If anything, they'll seek even more, perhaps even taking what belongs to Mallet.
As long as you side with a leader who strongly advocates wealth redistribution, the independent operation of the Magic Tower that Mallet desires will face significant restrictions.
Shouldn't a leader prioritize practical gain over sentiment or loyalty?
I've gone on longer than intended.
There isn't much time left.
I'll give you exactly ten days to decide.
This will be our first—
and last—
offer.
I'll await your reply.
As Rubia finished reading,
her thoughts raced.
“…It looks like they know at least part of the Platinum Dawn Society's coup plan.”
“And the informant...”
“There's a very high probability it was Director Dale.”
Gustav nodded before speaking carefully.
“As Kali Arta said...”
“Choosing whichever side offers the greater benefit would certainly be more like me.”
“But?”
“No one knows whether standing with Princess Rachel will ultimately be more profitable than standing with Princess Edel.”
“……”
“When the potential reward is uncertain...”
“Common sense says you choose the option carrying less risk.”
“Wouldn't you agree?”
“…So that's why you chose our side?”
“At the very least...”
“I know one thing.”
A cynical smile twisted across Gustav's lips.
“I know just how dangerous it is to make an enemy of Eugene Carter.”
“…Is that so?”
“And if we're going to survive the disasters to come...”
“Our current system has already reached its limits.”
Gustav stood from his seat.
“If I had to compare them...”
“Princess Rachel wants to preserve the Empire's traditions while introducing gradual change.”
“Princess Edel intends to tear the Empire down completely and rebuild it.”
“In my opinion...”
“The latter has a far better chance of succeeding.”
Then,
turning around slowly,
he spoke.
“So go.”
“Lend them your strength.”
“Agent Meriel.”
“Yes.”
Meriel naturally stepped forward to Rubia's side.
Watching her companion smile with fighting spirit,
Rubia scratched the back of her head.
“I did ask for personnel support...”
“But are you really sure about this?”
“You're sending Mallet's strongest Agent?”
“You're planning to infiltrate the Platinum Dawn Society's headquarters.”
“Taking mediocre people along would only get in your way.”
“If I'm sending someone...”
“I might as well send the very best.”
“…If you insist that much...”
“I can't exactly refuse.”
Rubia looked toward Meriel before giving her a serious warning.
“Prepare yourself, Meriel.”
“This battle may become even fiercer than the war.”
Even so,
the expression on her face looked incredibly reassuring.
Clank.
Clank.
Rattle.
Rattle.
The carriages were loaded with as many supplies as possible.
Each departed in teams of two.
Every five wagons were escorted by several guards.
The workers repeated the transportation process over and over, their expressions completely vacant, as though possessed.
Until every last supply within the estate had been moved.
Charlotte watched the scene for quite some time before lightly landing from the top of the guard tower.
“Shall we go, Maximilian?”
“Y-Yes.”
As he cautiously took the elegantly offered hand, his vision went completely black.
A moment later, the two of them found themselves in an alley beside the station in the center of Parcel, far from Centre.
The dizziness hit him only afterward, causing him to frown, but he swallowed every complaint.
From the day he chose to join them, he had decided to stop questioning anything.
There was nothing he could possibly understand.
If anything, asking questions would merely give Charlotte more excuses to find fault with him.
Only after they arrived at Count Bilfor's territory, the headquarters of the Platinum Dawn Society, did Charlotte finally speak.
“Once the transportation of supplies is complete...”
“The mental control will naturally wear off.”
“When that happens...”
“Feel free to complete your revenge.”
“…Thank you.”
“For being so considerate.”
“Think nothing of it.”
She walked forward with light, almost cheerful footsteps.
“To me...”
“Human malice is the finest fruit.”
“The greatest gift.”
“And the justification that sharpens my resolve whenever it begins to dull.”
“That's why...”
“I have no choice but to praise those who harbor such malice.”
“Well...”
“It seems you've been entertaining quite a few different thoughts lately.”
“……”
Maximilian had intended to remain silent the entire time.
But he'd reached his limit.
“…For the past ten years, I've followed you because I believed your words.”
“That we'd overthrow the nobles and the Imperial Household who rule this Empire.”
“That we'd distribute their authority among the people.”
“That we'd abolish the absolute discrimination of class.”
“And create a world where everyone was equal.”
Stopping in his tracks,
Maximilian looked toward Charlotte,
who was walking toward the main residence with obvious excitement.
“Is that really... all?”
“You have no interest in the Empire that comes afterward?”
“Will you truly be satisfied after driving out the privileged classes and dismantling the system itself?”
“…I believe you've asked me something similar before.”
Charlotte slowly turned to face him.
“And didn't I already answer you back then?”
“There's absolutely no point in you imagining a future beyond that.”
The smile had long since vanished from her face.
“Because by then...”
“You'll already be dead.”
“…Is that another prophecy?”
“Like when you took me in and made me the leader of Greenwhistle?”
Charlotte answered without hesitation.
“It's fate.”
“In other words...”
“Inevitability.”
“……”
“At the end of an era...”
“Death inevitably follows.”
“Everything born of the old age will perish on that day.”
“Yes.”
“They'll all die.”
“That...”
“Is my answer to the world that stole my brother's life.”
“And...”
“The destiny of Charlotte Platina.”
“To reach that inevitable end...”
“I accepted the Devil's bargain.”
“Well then.”
“Farewell.”
Without looking back even once, she continued walking away.
Watching the Chairman's figure disappear into the distance,
Maximilian remained standing there, his legs drained of all strength.
Dust drifted across the ground several times in the wind.
Eventually, even her silhouette disappeared without a trace.
Only the moonlight shone quietly across the silent earth beneath the deep night sky.