interlude. Change
One.
Late at night, the Imperial Castle of the Leuven Empire.
The imperial sword, Saxon Yul Orden, walked calmly along the darkened road.
How long has it been like that?
Saxony arrived at an abandoned ruin in the northern part of the imperial castle. It wasn’t a place where people were likely to be, but he looked around in silence.
“… … .”
As if looking for someone.
Meanwhile, Saxony’s eyebrows twitched once. Soon he started walking again, stopping only when he reached the edge of his ruins.
“You’re here again.”
Soon his lips softened.
Soon, where Saxony’s gaze was directed, there was a man with long platinum-colored hair that reached down to his shoulders, staring blankly at the floor.
“your majesty.”
Chartrand Monique Al Reuben.
Saxony bowed its head towards the omnipresent being who would soon become the master of the empire.
Then Chartrand also turned his head diagonally, as if he had noticed Saxony’s presence.
“Ah, the Saxony wonder.”
A voice as relaxed as a body that seems to be relaxed. He asked the question in a tone that made the listener feel drowsy.
“So, what brought you here?”
“Nothing else, I came to ask how long you plan to stay here.”
Saxony’s eyes shone brightly.
With an expression that seemed like he had a lot to say, he tried to speak again.
But I couldn’t do that.
Because Chartrand spoke first.
“Lord Saxony. “I’m talking about luggage.”
“… … ?”
“I rarely felt at ease while living in the imperial castle. “The only joy I had was the moment I stayed by Perticia’s side.”
This is a fact that Saxony is well aware of.
Saxony has served Chartrand as his master since he was young. Meanwhile, Chartrand, who had given his answer, looked at the ground again and spoke.
“But it’s different now. “Now that Perticia is gone, it’s normal for Jim to feel uncomfortable, but strangely enough, he’s not like that at all.”
“… … your majesty.”
“Whew, I wish I had known sooner that such a comfortable place existed.”
“your majesty!”
Saxony shouted with a sad face.
It had to be that way.
This is where Chartrand is currently located. This place, which looks like a ruin, was the place where many royal family members who died during the Great Purge were buried.
‘Such a hideous place… … .’
He said it was a comfortable place and was leisurely drinking tea, but Saxony couldn’t help but feel an eerie feeling and worried thoughts.
“Please come to your senses! “How can you waste precious time in such an ugly place when government affairs are piled up like a mountain?”
Therefore, Saxony remonstrated.
To awaken Chartrand’s spirit, as if he were possessed by something. But his sincere words had no effect.
“Whoa.”
Chartrand sighs.
When he raised his head, his face was filled with helpless and empty eyes, not the bright and clear eyes he usually showed.
Soon after, an order to congratulate the guests came.
“Please leave now. “I plan to rest here for a little while before heading back.”
“your majesty! I mean… … !”
“This is a royal decree.”
The hard voice returned. As if Saxony’s behavior could no longer be tolerated.
Moreover, upon seeing Chartrand completely turning his back on him, Saxony bit his lip and lowered his head.
“… … “I accept Your Majesty’s orders.”
Now that the Emperor’s Order had been said, there was nothing more Saxony could do here. Therefore, he took forty steps away from the ruins.
This gap is the territory of Saxony.
He looked back at Chartrand at the border of the realm and let out a heavy sigh.
‘Why is this happening… … .’
Since when did it start?
Chartrand has changed like that.
Saxony looked back on past memories. Then, I suddenly found a point that caught my eye.
‘If I were to be specific, it probably started when Princess Perticia was kidnapped by pagans.’
Signs of change. A sign of upheaval.
It all started after Perticia completely disappeared from Chartrand’s sight.
Afterwards, he began to become fanatically obsessed with Perticia and focused only on the reports coming from the desert.
‘And when there are no reports… … .’
Like today, I used to spend leisurely time visiting the places where the royal family was buried.
Behavior that appears as if possessed by something.
The situation was such that it made me wonder if someone was using unidentified magic to control Chartrand.
So Saxony began looking for advice on this phenomenon. But unfortunately he couldn’t find a suitable place.
‘It’s because of the summons issued by His Majesty.’
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All of the magic tower wizards who could give magical advice headed to the desert. However, that didn’t mean I could just leave it like this.
‘We have to find a solution somehow.’
Because he believed that this was the mission of a true knight, serving the master to whom he had sworn loyalty. So Saxony looked at Chartrand with eyes filled with determination.
But was it because I was focusing all my attention on him?
Saxony didn’t know. The fact that there are ‘eyes’ watching his every move from outside, a few steps away from the area he spreads out.
2.
Ruins in the northern part of the imperial castle.
A few steps away from Chartrand, who was standing there blankly. The boundary between this world and another world stretched out in a gray fog.
A special space that ordinary humans cannot perceive.
A large eyeball suddenly appeared here. It narrowed its eyes as it watched Saxony, who was about forty steps away from Chartrand.
【You are doing something useless.】
Lacus claman duratus.
One of the six monarchs of the Abyss and a being called the Eye of the Abyss. Then he tilted his eyes like a crescent moon, as if he was happy.
【Your master has already crossed the irreversible river.】
As murmurs that could not reach Saxony were scattered in the air, eyes of similar shapes appeared one after another around Lacus.
【Great King.】
【Can I leave him like this?】
【I am concerned that it may interfere with the cause.】
None other than Lacus’s descendants.
They stared at Saxony warily.
It was natural. This is because the powerful so-called masters possessed enough power to pose a threat to the beings of the abyss.
【Does not matter.】
Lacus, on the other hand, didn’t care.
【Mere humans, not the heirs of the stars, strangers, or even strangers, cannot be the slightest obstacle to the great cause.】
Lacus, who revealed a good reason, finally took his eyes off Saxony. Then he looked at Chartrand again.
“… … .”
Eyes without focus. A blank expression on his face.
It looks like a doll.
Of course, it would be correct to call it a doll in reality. Because Chartrand’s mind is currently completely controlled by Lacus.
【I originally didn’t intend to do this.】
Originally, Lacus wanted to make Chartrand an apostle of the Abyss like Demuel.
With the intention of concluding a contract by satisfying his desires, as he had done with Demuel.
However, there was a variable that even Lacus had not thought about: the difference in mental strength.
Unlike Demuel, who reached the level of a mage and possessed strong mental power, Chartrand’s mental power was only slightly stronger than that of an ordinary person.
And the result.
Chartrand’s mind, which had been in repeated contact with Lacus, was quickly contaminated, and before he knew it, his ego had reached the point of collapse.
So, he had no choice but to interfere with Chartrand, take control of his mind, and treat him like a puppet rather than an apostle.
The situation was quite different from what was expected.
Lacus licked his lips as if he was troubled, but his family members thought differently.
【No, it should have been like this a long time ago.】
【For a great king to have people like humans as his subjects, just one person is enough.】
One Demuel is enough for an apostle.
The family members said this in unison.
Lacus also silently nodded his eyes as if he did not really deny what they said.
In any case, the fact that a huge power called the Empire was in our hands was as planned.
A legion of humans prepared like that.
Lacus wondered how to deal with this powerful power. However, before that, there was some information that had to be clearly understood first.
【What is the desert like?】
It was information about the situation in the desert.
Currently, in the desert, there are not only the Imperial Army and the Desert Church, but also Largtan, the Lord of the Abyss, and the Star Warriors.
In other words, the future course of action will be determined depending on which force wins. Lacus asked a question, and soon the answer came back.
【This is the imperial army’s winning streak.】
【Currently, they have broken through the Desert Church’s forces one by one, and are said to be advancing across the southwestern plateau to the canyon where their headquarters is located.】
Now that Chartrand’s mind has been completely taken over, the victory of the imperial army was Lacus’ victory.
On the other hand, Lacus’ reaction was sour.
This was because it was not much different from what was expected. So I asked about the situation elsewhere.
【What’s going on with Largtan?】
【It hasn’t moved yet.】
【However, the giant’s descendants left the oasis and moved to each front.】
The giant’s family headed to the front.
Lacus’s large eyes sparkled at the report he received from his relatives. This meant that Largtan would soon move as well.
【Right. So what about the star heroes?】
【Arrived at Kazan Rudrik’s grave.】
Report from family members who returned immediately.
Lacus opened his only eye.
【what? already?】
【Yes, I presume it is because Ludrick’s subordinates joined them sooner than expected.】
This is faster than expected.
If he had originally expected, he should have reached Kazan Rudrik’s tomb after clashing with the giant’s family at least once.
Lacus thought about this for a moment, then gathered his family members together and spoke again.
【I will give you my orders.】
【I will listen.】
【Approach the giant’s family and inform them of the current location of the star warriors.】
【-yes?】
The family members blinking their big eyes.
He had a clear look of confusion.
【B-but then-.】
【You’re helping the giants, right?】
Giant King Largtan and his descendants were Lacus’ colleagues, but they also competed for the true throne of the Abyss.
But are you going to reveal to Largtan the information about the Star Hero that your subordinates worked so hard to obtain?
When they responded that they couldn’t understand, Lacus shook his head lightly.
【No, that’s wrong. The best way to reach the great cause is for the two forces, Largtan and the Star Hero, to annihilate each other in harmony.】
In order to prevent one side from becoming stronger, it is necessary to provide information about the other side.
Lacus decided that way.
Then, the family members responded in unison, as if they had belatedly realized Lacus’ intention.
【I understand, my king.】
【I will obey the king’s orders.】
After answering, the members disappeared like smoke.
It was to move to the desert and carry out Lacus’ orders. Lacus, left alone like that, suddenly looked into empty space.
【You can come out now.】
Who are you talking to?
Meanwhile, as soon as Lacus finished speaking, the air suddenly split in half. Then, countless hands began to creep out from inside.
Some time after that.
The countless hands that quickly took shape spoke to Lacus face to face.
【Lacus clarman duratus.】
【Observer of repetitive time.】
【You’re kicking away the opportunity we gave you.】
【Are you confident you won’t regret it?】
A series of gloomy voices pouring out.
It tempted Lacus with a sweet voice, as if to give him another chance.
On the other hand, Lacus’ reaction was cold.
【opportunity? I guess I said shackles wrong.】
【───.】
【I know Jim. That you approached Largtan. And everything, including Largtan accepting your offer.】
Lacus’ eyes shone fiercely.
As if I could see through the inner thoughts of countless hands filled with pitch-black darkness.
【However, nonsense tricks don’t work on Jim. As I said before, Jim is an observer of repetitive time and the eyes of the abyss that see through everything.】
Unlike Largtan, who accepted the suggestions made by countless hands in the past, Lacus completely turned his back on them.
As if he had no intention of holding hands.
【So stay there and watch. The journey of the burden that will soon become the only abyss.】
A loud laugh took over the hall.
It was a truly satisfying laugh.
fantasy,
