novelnext Chapter 191 : Rout (1)
Chapter 191 : Rout (1)
“...Ha.”As expected, my opponent reacted exactly as I had anticipated.
“A ceasefire? Do you really think I'd listen to such a ridiculous proposal?”
“If it's the existing ruling class you dislike, we can deal with that. Reforming the establishment is our goal as well.”
“......”
“We'll drive out Crown Prince Abel and Princess Rachel, purge corrupt nobles like the Bernhardts, and fill those positions with new talent.”
“......”
“As a result, the Empire will be transformed into a nation completely unlike what it has been until now. A powerful and steadfast nation that can actively confront the disasters to come.”
Charlotte clenched her teeth as she pressed a hand against her wound.
“Can't you grasp the situation? You of all people should know why I've endured all these long years.”
She glared at us viciously and declared without hesitation.
“To erase the very name of the Ribenia Empire from this world completely. That alone is my wish.”
Of course it was.
The truth was, I had asked despite already knowing the answer.
There was always the possibility I could draw more information out of her, and we still needed more time before our hidden card arrived.
In the end, everything up to this point had simply been buying time.
“No. That's impossible. Because we'll stop you.”
Edel, who undoubtedly understood my intentions, answered in my place.
“The Ribenia Empire will never fall.”
Charlotte let out a scornful snort and looked at us arrogantly.
“You people can't even eliminate me properly, yet you think you can stop the Empire's collapse? Don't tell me you actually believe this body is the only force I've prepared.”
You will lose, Eugene Carter. Edel Ribenia.
“The moment I was chosen by Abrel, this future became inevitable.”
“...Perhaps.”
Now it was my turn to answer.
“But you know...”
Most of the attempts I believed would finally be different had all ended in failure.
Even I, who had refused to give up for ten long years, had eventually been worn down and resigned myself to defeat.
But even so...
If you wanted to obtain something, there was no choice but to challenge it again.
If there was something you desired, something you wished to seize with your own hands, then no matter how many times you failed, the only option was to try again.
Especially if it was your final challenge.
That was why we would continue to fight.
Because that was the essence of what it meant to be human.
And...
“Even if we lose, that doesn't mean you've won.”
Charlotte fell silent for a brief moment.
Edel immediately shouted at her.
“Not a single member of the Volunteer Army will follow someone who joined hands with Beasts. Without the Volunteer Army, you have no way to fight the regular army. Your coup will fail. Even if you plan to unleash the Beasts, it won't matter. We've hunted enough of them to grow sick of it, and we've overcome them time and time again. Humanity will never lose.”
“...Really? Is that so? I find it hard to believe those words are coming from the very human who repeated countless regressions just to grasp a future where humanity survives.”
“......”
“Isn't the truth that you've already reached your limit? Since you can no longer regress, you're desperately trying to convince yourself that this cycle will end with humanity's victory. That's how it looks to me.”
“Quit talking nonsense. Do you think this is all we've prepared?”
“Really? Then by all means, show me your other methods.”
“......”
When Edel had no reply, Charlotte folded her arms and shook her head.
Every wound on her body except the one that had pierced her heart had already healed completely.
“This is the first time since that day that a human has managed to wound this body... I admit it. For humans, you've displayed remarkable ability.”
But...
It's already too late.
“Even if there were ten of you... no, even a hundred, you still couldn't stop this disaster. This is part of the holy war personally planned by the great Alu.”
“You seem awfully excited. Are you really that confident about this war?”
“I am. Very.”
“...Will you still be saying that once this truth spreads to every human in the world?”
“Unfortunately for humanity, that will never happen.”
Charlotte slowly stroked her right hand.
Her fingers elongated until her hand resembled a blade.
“Because every one of you is going to die here.”
The moment she released her killing intent and lunged toward us—
A deafening explosion erupted.
KWAAANG!!
“Chairwoman! Are you unharmed?!”
“Intruders! We've got intruders!”
“Please step back, Chairwoman!”
I glanced toward Charlotte.
As members flooded in from the opposite side of the study, she immediately withdrew her transformed right hand, returning it to normal.
'...Looks like she still can't reveal her true form just yet.'
So the one who had been so arrogantly overbearing a moment ago had chosen to hide it after all.
As Edel and I slowly backed away, I asked,
“You still have enough strength to run, right?”
“Of course.”
“If we're surrounded, it's over. I'll break us a path. Please cover our rear.”
“...I can't hold off that many people by myself. I'd rather be the one to open the way—”
“Ah, that's unnecessary. You only need to deal with anyone who slips through.”
“Slips through? What do you mean by—”
There was no time to explain.
I immediately poured mana into the grimoire inside my coat.
At the same time, over thirty skeleton soldiers instantly filled the space between our enemies and ourselves.
“What is this...?”
“Dark magic!”
“The Kabbalah bastards... could they really...?!”
“They're only low-grade skeletons! Smash them all!”
The enemies advanced while destroying the skeletons one by one.
However, because the corridors were so narrow instead of wide open, their advance was significantly slower than our escape.
We burst out of the study into the narrow hallway, kicked open the door, and sprinted at full speed.
— If they get too far away, you won't be able to control the skeleton soldiers, my dear!
'Then let them go berserk! I just need them to keep the enemies tied down a little longer!'
— But if you do that, the backlash you'll suffer—
'Do you think I care about backlash in a situation like this?! Just do it!'
After hurriedly replying to Clina, I sharply turned left.
Edel immediately followed.
It had taken so long earlier because we'd searched every storage room and chamber one by one.
In reality, it wasn't even a twenty-minute run.
At our current pace, we'd reach the original rendezvous point within ten minutes.
“There they are!”
“The Chairwoman promised an enormous reward for anyone who kills even one of them! Get them!”
Of course, if escaping had been that easy, we wouldn't have prepared a hidden card for this operation.
As the members appeared before us, I charged straight at them.
'If this drags on, it'll become troublesome.'
Right from the opening clash, I actively employed Illusion Swordsmanship, cutting down every enemy in my path.
There was no need to kill them.
But leaving them capable of fighting wasn't an option either.
So I neutralized them one after another by severing their legs or striking vital points to knock them unconscious.
Edel instantly subdued those I couldn't reach and continued following close behind me.
We had been cutting our way forward for nearly ten minutes.
Then, among another wave of enemies rushing toward us, I spotted several familiar faces.
“Instructor!”
Francia, Michel, and Maximilian were fleeing from a pursuit force behind them.
While running, I immediately searched for a new escape route.
If we continued straight before turning left, we'd reach our destination within five minutes...
But the timing didn't line up.
At this rate, we'd be completely surrounded.
'...No choice.'
I came to an abrupt stop and signaled to the three rushing toward us.
Taking a deep breath, I immediately unleashed a flying slash at the pursuing forces.
All three instantly ducked.
The enemies at the very front took the slash head-on and were sent flying.
The moment she saw that, Michel caused countless Wood Needles to erupt from the ground, completely sealing off the passage.
Without hesitation, we turned right and continued escaping along a different route.
As we ran, I voiced the question that had been nagging at me.
“Is it really alright for Captain Greenwhistle to join the escape?”
“We'll worry about that later! Right now, the highest priority is getting Lady Michel safely to the surface!”
The various angry shouts echoing from behind us grew louder and louder.
'I don't know whether they're getting closer, whether there are more of them, or both.'
Either way, we only needed to reach the rendezvous point.
Once we got there, somehow...
But several minutes later, the sight waiting for us was completely different from what I'd expected.
“Sir Eugene!”
More than thirty members of the Dawn Society were already confronting Rubia and Meriel.
“...What happened to the passage?”
“We haven't been able to check yet! These bastards just won't let us escape... Ngh!”
While the two defended against incoming attacks with Barrier Magic, Edel and I rushed into the gray hall connected to the passage.
And there...
“Just as the Chairwoman predicted.”
“You actually fought your way through that entire force to reach this place. Impressive.”
“Only because we weren't here.”
Standing there were Charlotte Platina and numerous enemy executives.
Many of them were faces I'd never seen before.
Yet instinctively, I knew these people formed the Platinum Dawn Society's core strength.
After all, I could sense from every one of them the same dense malice and murderous intent I'd felt when facing Charlotte herself.
The only exceptions were Dale Wedmeyer and Eric Halenber, who were kneeling on the ground with their entire bodies bound.
The two looked up at us with expressions full of shame.
The other four were gradually forced back into the hall as well.
The pursuing forces filled every corner of the chamber.
Before long, we were completely surrounded.
Charlotte spread both arms wide and shook her head.
“I told you before, didn't I? Every one of you is going to die here.”
A giant nearly two meters tall among the executives lifted Dale and Eric with one hand each before hurling them toward us.
“...I'm sorry, Princess.”
“...Sorry, Francia.”
We had only just helped the two of them up.
“But before that.”
Charlotte lightly snapped her fingers.
An overwhelming amount of mana erupted from her body.
The next instant—
“Gah?!”
“Urgh...!”
“AAAAAAARGH!”
Maximilian, Dale, and Eric all began writhing in agony simultaneously.
“I already got my farewell from Maximilian, so I don't have many complaints there. But I do feel a little sorry for you two. Normally I'd overlook most things... but this crossed the line far too much.”
“What did you do to them?!”
“Max! Get a hold of yourself, Max!”
No matter how desperately we supported them, their conditions showed no sign of improving.
The shackles of the Permanent Brand sometimes claimed the target's very life.
If death was the price for stepping into the world's darkness, then I believed it was far too cruel...
But that was simply the cost of the contract.
If they had accepted the code knowing the consequences, then they had done so prepared to die.
If they hadn't known...
Then all that could be said was that they had been unfortunate.
Whether it was an accident or a predetermined disaster, death had always been an inevitability for all living things.
Of course, that wasn't why I remained calm.
Nor was it because those three weren't among the people I needed to save.
The only reason I could stay composed...
...was because I believed.
If it was Francia Brida, then she would absolutely save all three of them.
“Enough! Everyone, get back!”
That faith was immediately rewarded.
Unknown characters filled the crimson-glowing blade.
Golden aura shone even brighter around her scarlet eyes.
Grasping the sword imbued with the power to repel evil in both hands, Francia slashed each of the three once.
Crack—! Crack—!
The sound of something shattering echoed repeatedly through the air.
Then, accompanied by an overwhelming shockwave, the code binding the three of them shattered into countless pieces.