EP.143
Early Dawn –
Imperial Palace.
A man with a bushy beard wearing a black coat opened the door to the throne room.
The face of Lucius, who had been waiting impatiently for someone, brightened.
“The Earl of Sheffield. “It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lucius stood up from the throne and approached the Earl of Sheffield with happy steps.
The Earl of Sheffield bent one knee and prostrated himself.
“I couldn’t be happier to see you, a war hero of the glorious Prime Empire.”
“That’s too much praise.”
Crisis Margrave of Sheffield.
A family of war heroes of the Empire, they had the feat of conquering half of the continent together with the Duke of Windsor.
If Windsor is a loyal subject who quietly stays by the emperor’s side, Sheffield is the emperor’s sword.
Wherever the tip of the Emperor’s sword went, Sheffield was always there.
Along with the Duke of Windsor, it was also a family that contributed absolutely to the founding of the empire.
“Get up quickly. “I don’t know what to do after being treated with respect by Sheffield, who is said to have lived for a thousand years.”
Sheffield, who had prostrated himself motionlessly, raised his head at the emperor’s call.
1000 years ago – The Earl of Sheffield’s name is now Crisis.
Sheffield has a tradition of inheriting the names of ancestors. There is no individuality for them, only eternal honor.
That’s why there are rumors like this in the world. ‘Maybe the current Earl of Sheffield is the same person as he was 1,000 years ago.’
“Those are just rumors, Your Majesty.”
“Haha, that’s a shame. “If he is the same hero as that hero a thousand years ago, he will definitely be able to easily overcome this crisis of the empire.”
“Do not worry. your majesty. Sheffield is still Sheffield no matter how much time passes. Just as Windsor is Windsor.”
Lucius’ expression, which had been smiling, became serious.
“Would you like to come this way? “The story I have to tell from now on is one that no one should hear.”
“of course.”
Lucius took a step forward. I touched the device on the wall and a secret passage appeared.
It was a narrow passage. At first glance, it looks like an evacuation facility, but it is not. This place is called the ‘secret meeting room’.
This is mainly used to discuss war. It was Lucius’ first time entering this space.
On the other hand, Sheffield walked without hesitation as if he was used to it.
“…I am always grateful to the war heroes of the Sheffield family for their hard work. How is the South these days?”
“Thieves appear occasionally, but trends in both countries are stable. The Earl of Sheffield is always ready to go to war for the Empire.”
There are three main enemies of the empire. The barbarians in the west and the monsters in the north. Lastly – two neighboring kingdoms.
One is the Zinatva Union, which boasts the largest size after the Empire.
Another is a holy country whose power cannot be measured.
The Earl of Sheffield was alone in blocking the border between the two countries. Therefore, he was given the title ‘marginal’ and allowed to deploy several private soldiers.
Although his title is Count, his actual authority is greater than that of Marquess.
“Aren’t you disappointed? “Sheffield is still in the earldom.”
“at all. It has been passed down from our ancestors, but our will not to interfere in politics has not changed. “All Sheffield cares about is the nape of his enemy’s neck.”
“Those are very reassuring words.”
Lucius nodded with a stern face.
Arrived at the secret conference room.
Even though it had been left empty for a long time, there was not even a single speck of dust in this space.
This is because it has been well preserved through magic.
“Am I the only commander?”
“The only person who can resolve this situation is the Earl of Sheffield, so no one else was called. But if you want, use it. “I plan to support you with all my might.”
Lucius sat at the head table. Sheffield did not sit down but stood with his back to me.
“Who is the enemy that Sheffield should ask this time?”
“…Don’t you already know?”
Lucius smiled bitterly.
“The only enemy in this world the empire cannot handle is Windsor.”
“You are a difficult opponent.”
After hearing the enemy, the Earl of Sheffield nodded solemnly and sat down.
I took the map out of my pocket and rolled it on the table.
It was a map of the empire. He drew out a few words with his thick fingers and began to arrange them.
“The North is an impregnable fortress. “Even though it is a natural fortress covered in snowy mountains, each and every one of them is a genius who surpasses criminals.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Lucius asked with nervous eyes.
“Is there a chance?”
Sheffield spoke firmly.
“If the intelligence that Windsor is preparing for war is true, the probability of the Empire winning an invasion of Windsor is zero.”
Windsor is a legendary being.
The same goes for Sheffield.
Perhaps he is the only one with power equal to Windsor.
He felt like grasping at straws, but
the Earl of Sheffield’s firm words shattered Lucius’ dreams.
‘Do you really have no choice but to use it?’
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
There is bound to be one in every person that is saved as a last resort.
Especially if you are the emperor who rules this huge empire.
I wanted to save this number as much as possible. Lucius lowered his weight as emperor and spoke.
“Is there no way?”
“There is a way.”
“Okay, I know it’s difficult… What?”
Lucius’ eyes widened.
“It’s a preemptive strike.”
“What does that mean?”
Fortunately –
as Lucius expected, Sheffield was able to counter Windsor to some extent.
The amount of accumulated knowledge is different. Sheffield served as the sword and shield of the empire and lived as a loyal subject for a thousand years.
There is no way that you would not have prepared for the most threatening entity when you become an enemy.
“There are currently signs of a catastrophe in Windsor.”
“Apocalypse?”
“Instead of a monster wave that occurs once a month, this is a phenomenon where monsters in the north invade to target fertile land.”
“I’ve heard of it. But didn’t that happen hundreds of years ago?”
“Because I know that even if I gather all my strength, I will be no match for that Windsor.”
The Earl of Sheffield spoke.
The Duchy of Windsor was suddenly surrounded by monsters.
“…But if they fail to prevent the apocalypse, it is the empire that will suffer.”
“Your Majesty doesn’t know Windsor very well yet.”
“Tell me. “What is Jim missing?”
A somewhat rude remark.
However, such trivial courtesy was not important to Lucius now.
“The first and current Duke of Windsor, Victoria, is not someone who will neglect eradicating demons even if it means going to war with the Empire.”
Lucius wanted to ask.
How can you be sure of that?
Sheffield continued as if he were answering that question.
“Second Windsor has been dealing with northern monsters for a long time. “For that to be possible, multiple interests have to be intertwined.”
“interest? “Are you talking about monsters?”
“yes. There are some monsters in the north that can communicate. For example, monsters whose species became extinct because they were pushed out of their own battle for rank, or who experienced such events. They probably all hate the same monsters. Even for the sake of such monsters, it is impossible to intentionally prevent the invasion of monsters.”
Lucius’ eyes widened.
How does the Earl of Sheffield in the south know about the situation in the north, which even the emperor himself does not know about?
At the same time, this thought occurred to me.
It would be somewhat possible for the Earl of Sheffield to resist Windsor.
Even without using the last resort, the ‘crown of the first emperor’.
‘If- if things go well.’
Lucius saw a hopeful future.
If we break Windsor’s momentum this time and make him completely subordinate to the imperial family –
The benefits the empire can gain as a result are astronomical.
“In other words, the situation in Windsor is not good at the moment. Your Majesty, there is no chance but now. We must attack Windsor first.”
The Earl of Sheffield was wedged.
**
“It’s really… it’s okay, right?”
Amelia asked, looking at Irene. Ruid next to Irene tilted his head.
“huh? “Same as usual.”
Ruid could confidently say that he was extremely normal.
Rather, I didn’t understand Amelia and Charlotte’s reactions.
Everyone looked so serious.
‘I just took simple revenge.’
I was just avenging Colon for him, but I couldn’t understand what was wrong with that.
“Are you upset? Ame. Could it be that I would do something strange to Louis?”
As Irene smiled quietly and said, Amelia hurriedly waved her hand.
“Is that possible? “I never doubted my sister.”
“Then that’s a good thing.”
Ruid munched on some bread. I eat this bread every day, but it seems a little dry today.
‘I should have eaten a lot of delicious food while I was at the academy.’
At the time, I was too lazy to even think about it. Because I thought all I had to do was fill my stomach.
‘Oh, that’s fine then.’
Ruid’s eyes widened as a thought passed by for a moment.
It’s hard to eat delicious food in the north. Because it’s so barren.
In that case, all you have to do is go to a place where you can eat delicious food.
‘All we have to do is destroy the empire and expand our territory, right?’
“…I, Irene. “No, Captain.”
“Speak.”
“Can I borrow Louis for a while?”
Amelia said with great determination. Ruid blinked.
‘I am not an object.’
“Why?”
“I don’t think I can stop the wave with my skills. “I need Ruid’s power.”
When I personally went to the scene, I found out that it was a monster that Amelia could handle even if she only used half of her strength.
But Ruid had no idea that Amelia was lying. Because there is no reason for it to be that way.
‘Hmm… Is it because of the apocalypse? ‘If it’s because of that.’
I can help. Thanks to Irene, my mindset has changed a little.
If you have the power, it’s better to use it.
“It won’t work.”
“why…”
“Because there will be no more monster waves in the first line of defense.”
“yes?”
Amelia was startled.
“Ha, but there are still many monsters waiting near the first defense line.”
“I negotiated with Mine. They no longer target the first line of defense. “What we are aiming for is the 9th line of defense.”
Ruid nodded.
Victoria is on the 9th defense line.
No matter how many monsters come, Victoria has enough power to handle them.
‘There’s no need to waste your energy.’
At that time, Amelia suddenly stood up.
“Why…did you do that?”
Amelia’s eyes shook like aspen trees.
Irene spoke with a bright smile.
“The war will start soon, so won’t it be a hindrance if there are monsters?”
