novelnext Chapter 188 : Infiltrators (3)
Chapter 188 : Infiltrators (3)
While the two mages of Team One had entered combat inside Document Repository No. 7, the remaining two teams continued their search in their respective directions.Team Three, Eugene and Edel, quickly searched Repository No. 21 before moving on.
Team Two, Francia and Michel, had just entered Repository No. 16.
“……”
It was a repository containing the histories of numerous nations, including the Ribenia Empire, as well as genealogical records and historical chronicles of noble families.
Among them, the two carefully carried an old book detailing the origins of the Empire onto a table and opened the very first page.
“Year 793. Clovis II unified the surrounding tribes and established the Kingdom of Rubea…”
“793…”
“That was almost seven hundred years ago.”
Francia asked,
“Where exactly was the Kingdom of Rubea located?”
“Right here.”
“The Kingdom of Rubea eventually became what is now the Ribenia Empire.”
For quite some time, the book continued recounting the history of the Kingdom of Rubea.
Eventually, the years entered the four-digit range.
“Year 1077. The SS-Rank Beast 'Mastema of Hatred' and its subordinate Beast horde invaded the royal capital. After three years of warfare, Mastema was driven back, and the capital was successfully defended…”
Only near the very end did they finally reach the section describing the kingdom's greatest crisis.
“Year 1224. Internal strife, invasions from hostile nations, and an army of hundreds of thousands of Beasts pushed the Kingdom of Rubea to the brink of collapse. During the same period, great heroes arose across the land and began opposing those who sought to destroy the kingdom.”
“……”
“Year 1225. Among the dozens of heroes, five stood above all others. The people came to call them the Five Legendary Heroes. They were known by the following titles.”
Sword Saint Archidale.
Divine Archer Olivier.
Standard Bearer Ribenia.
Judicator Kael.
Archmage Barion.
“After seven years of struggle, they succeeded in driving back nearly every force threatening the kingdom.
However, in the process, three of the heroes lost their lives.”
“March 16, 1232.
Sword Saint Archidale Asteria fell in battle.
April 25 of the same year.
Divine Archer Olivier Platina fell in battle.
April 29 of the same year.
Judicator Kael Maleinos fell in battle.”
The moment she finished reading that passage, Michel's eyes widened.
Francia had stopped at exactly the same place.
The revelation that Sword Saint Archidale had died during that war was certainly shocking.
But something else caught their attention far more.
“…Olivier Platina.”
“The Chairman of the Platinum Dawn Society was definitely named Charlotte Platina.”
“The surname Platina isn't exactly common. Does that mean they were siblings?”
“Why wouldn't she hide it?”
“If she carried the surname of one of the nation's greatest heroes, people should've become suspicious.”
After pondering Francia's question for a moment, Michel answered,
“Perhaps she never needed to hide it.”
“We only just learned today that a hero by that name even existed.”
“That may be true…”
“But what about the members of the Platinum Dawn Society?”
“The lower-ranking members rarely meet the Chairman in person.”
“The middle ranks probably couldn't question anything because of the Code.”
“And the inner circle already knew the truth.”
“……That does make sense.”
“More importantly, we need to uncover what happened to the Five Legendary Heroes.”
Three of them had died.
The remaining two must have continued living their own lives.
But while history preserved the stories of the living, almost nothing remained regarding the dead.
Why had those three died while the other two survived?
What exactly had happened during those final years?
They had to find out.
Michel turned another page.
“August 1232. The fall of the Kingdom of Rubea…”
That was all.
Both women simultaneously looked back toward the shelf where the book had originally been stored.
Beside it stood an entire row of Imperial Chronicles.
“That's it?”
“Nothing else was recorded?”
Had the histories of the dead simply been erased because only the living mattered?
Or had someone deliberately concealed the truth of that era?
Tilting her head in confusion, Michel pulled out the first volume.
Imperial Chronicle Volume One, containing thirty-four years of records from 1232 to 1266.
The Holy Ribenia Empire succeeded the Kingdom of Rubea, which fell during the same year.
On August 9, 1232, Wilhelm Vitrich von Ribenia ascended the throne as the First Emperor.
That same day was designated as the Empire's Founding Day.
.
.
.
January 3, 1233.
Emperor Wilhelm bestowed noble titles upon those who had made great contributions to the founding of the Empire.
Aaron Bernhardt of House Bernhardt—Marquis.
Amont Chappell of House Chappell—Count.
Delmar Orbus of House Orbus—Count.
Deraval Vienis of House Vienis—Count.
.
.
.
Year 1240.
The Imperial Council was established with sixteen noble houses at its core.
Marquis Aaron Bernhardt was appointed its first Speaker of the Council.
Even after that, the Imperial Chronicles contained no further mention of the Kingdom of Rubea.
Nor of the Five Legendary Heroes.
The only reference was the very first sentence stating that the Ribenia Empire had succeeded the Kingdom of Rubea.
Michel herself had never read the Imperial Chronicles covering the 1200s.
However, while Johann had still been alive, she had often read the chronicles from the 1400s.
Judging from the writing style and level of detail, these volumes had undoubtedly been official publications issued directly by the Imperial Court.
Yet as far as she could remember, not even Bernhardt's estate—which had housed nearly every document and record within the Empire—had possessed a single volume covering the 1200s.
Which meant either the Imperial Court had intentionally withheld them…
Or only distributed an extremely limited number of copies.
“…What exactly happened during that era?”
“I can answer that for you, Master.”
The sudden voice caused Francia to immediately draw her sword.
Stepping slowly out from behind one of the bookshelves, Maximilian nodded solemnly at Michel, whose appearance was still concealed beneath another face.
“This entire area will soon become chaotic.”
“Please come this way quickly.”
Most of the underground complex was used to store documents, records, Artifacts, and similar materials.
More than eighty percent of the people stationed here remained solely to manage those collections.
“The remaining twenty percent are temporary visitors.”
“The rest are the Platinum Dawn Society's senior executives.”
“Greenwhistle ranks second within the Society.”
“No one will come in here.”
After leading them into Greenwhistle's private office, Maximilian firmly locked the door.
Looking at Michel after she removed her mask and revealed her true face, he cautiously asked,
“…Why did you choose to inherit Bernhardt?”
“……”
“There isn't a single good memory waiting for you there.”
“So why would you have any reason to save a place that's already collapsing?”
“I never expected to hear you say something like that, Maxy.”
“…What?”
Michel looked toward Francia behind her.
“So many people who suffered just as you did are still trapped there.”
“And you're saying you'll simply abandon them?”
“I…”
“You escaped Bernhardt because there were people inside who helped you.”
“They gathered evidence.”
“They risked everything alongside you.”
“And now you're going to abandon all of them?”
“Just because you've found a place where you can live comfortably?”
“…Once the coup succeeds, they'll all be freed together.”
“When every social class is united…”
“Imperials, nobles, clergy, commoners, and slaves…”
“We'll all simply become human.”
Seeing the unwavering determination in Maximilian's eyes, Michel slowly shook her head.
“No.”
“The coup will fail.”
“We'll stop it.”
“You already know the Ribenia Empire is diseased.”
“It has to change.”
“The Imperial Family must fall.”
“The noble system must be destroyed.”
“That's the only way any of us can survive.”
“Even if that's true…”
“Now isn't the time.”
“The more we fight among ourselves, the weaker we'll become against the Beasts and our enemy nations.”
“And in the end…”
“Everyone loses.”
“There won't be another chance for us, Master!”
“If we miss this opportunity…”
“There will never again be a possibility for a nation ruled by its citizens!”
As Maximilian shouted with veins bulging in his neck, Francia finally stepped forward.
“You've placed far too much faith in them.”
She slowly drew her sword and pointed it directly at him.
“You refuse to trust the Imperial Family or the nobility.”
“But you don't even leave room to question the Platinum Dawn Society you belong to.”
“Francia Brida… was it?”
“I'm surprised.”
“I assumed you wouldn't know who I was.”
“How could I not?”
“The successor of Illusion Swordsmanship.”
“A wielder of Aura Blade.”
“The descendant of the Sword Saint.”
“The sole surviving member of House Brida.”
“And the person who hates Hallenberg and Bernhardt more than anyone.”
After calmly listing her accomplishments one after another, Maximilian continued,
“I never expected someone like you to defend preserving the Empire.”
“I'm not denying that the Empire is rotten.”
“Change is absolutely necessary.”
“The whole system deserves to be torn down.”
“Then why…!”
“Because I don't want to leave that job to you.”
“We're the ones who'll do it.”
As Francia spoke, a faint golden Aura shimmered between her crimson eyes.
“Those eyes…”
“Your goals—and Greenwhistle's goals—may be exactly as you described.”
“But can you honestly say you're certain the Platinum Dawn Society as a whole shares those same ideals?”
“……”
“Can you guarantee Charlotte Platina feels the same way?”
“The abolition of class.”
“The destruction of the current system.”
“The restoration of workers' rights.”
“Can you swear she isn't hiding entirely different ambitions behind those noble-sounding ideals?”
“And can you?”
“Can you guarantee Eugene Carter…”
“Or Edel Ribenia…”
“…will truly reject the existence of the Imperial Family and nobility, and actually bring about a unified society without class?”
“……”
For a brief instant, Francia found herself unable to answer.
Then—
“I can.”
The one who interrupted was Michel Bernhardt.
“I swear upon my life…”
“And upon Johann Bernhardt's honor.”
“It will happen.”
“Why would you go that far…”
“Then tell me.”
“What really happened during that age of chaos?”
“…….”
Maximilian looked back and forth between the two women.
Neither of them showed even the slightest hesitation.
Both possessed eyes filled with unwavering conviction.
How great was the distance between their convictions…
…and his own?
The truth was…
He had already known.
He had always known that the Platinum Dawn Society's true objective could never be the same as his own wish.
Even so, he had believed this path to be the best one.
Because he had never wanted his Master to be hurt.
But it was already too late.
Now that she had come this far…
He would never be able to stop her.
If so…
Then at the very least…
He would do everything within his power for the future she envisioned.
That was the duty of a servant whose very life had been granted by her.
“…What she truly desires lies beyond the collapse of the ruling class.”
And so Maximilian calmly revealed everything he knew…
Along with everything he had deduced.
“One of the Chairman's objectives…”
“…is to erase the very concept of the Ribenia Empire from this world.”
A revelation so shocking…
That speaking of it alone could warrant immediate execution.