The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Episode 1
Back to the past (1)
“Haaak. Haaak.”
Take a quick breath and get into a good posture.
The blade in his hand was half broken and had been out of use for a long time.
The smell of blood that stung my nose was already so familiar that it didn’t even irritate me.
At that moment, a group of people appeared among the numerous corpses strewn across Daejeon and the blood soaking the floor.
Knights wearing pure white silver armor all over their bodies.
Until just yesterday, I had thought of the Royal Guardian Knights as my strong allies.
They were all holding swords, and it seemed like they were already filled with hostility.
And what followed was the appearance of several nobles and the mastermind behind all this: Duke Asus.
Clap clap clap-
“I’m surprised. Are you still trying to prolong that miserable life?”
“… … Asus.”
Before I know it, the sound of phlegm boiling comes out of my mouth.
The fishy taste that occasionally rose up my throat seemed to represent my current physical condition.
Duke Asus smiled bitterly, brushing back his aged white hair.
“But even the greatest swordsman in the world can’t handle this number.”
Sword King.
It was a word referring to me, Allen Esteban, the ruler of the country of knights, Esteban.
He cut down the enemy inspectors who came rushing in, and built up his skills by eating their flesh.
No one on the continent dared to fight with me.
That was the position of Esteban’s Sword King.
But even so, you can’t stop ten hands with one hand.
Even more so if it had been dealing with countless knights for hours while in a poisoned state.
“Phehehe. It seems like you’re feeling quite wronged.”
“Why… … .”
“I understand. I didn’t expect you to rebel like this.”
I couldn’t believe it at first.
He was the most loyal of the loyal subjects, who had continued to serve under the former king on his recommendation. How could he betray him?
But the things that came out one after another clearly pointed to one thing.
Traces of long-standing treason.
-her…….
Even the things that came out of the mansion and secret vault that the guy had been hiding were so disappointing… … .
The cause of the trouble was that he drank the alcohol his subordinate gave him to soothe his mouth that was parched with anger.
-what!
It was right after that that I felt something strange.
Before I knew it, a dagger from the arms of a subordinate I had trusted and relied on was pointed at me.
Countless dark magic balls flew over my body as I instinctively flew away.
And the feeling of helplessness that came before I could even understand the rapidly changing situation made my body dull.
-He drank poison! Hit him!
At the scream-like cry that came out of the subordinate’s mouth, a tension that I had never felt even after crossing countless death lines engulfed my body.
I tried to run away from the traitors who came rushing in from all sides, but even that was not successful.
In this way, the situation gradually became more and more disastrous.
I can’t even remember how many articles I cut down.
At the point when it passed a hundred, I almost gave up counting.
I swung my sword to survive, even though I knew it would be irreversible.
In the process, smaller and smaller sword marks were carved into my body.
It’s not just the silk sword.
A pain as if cut with a knife pierces my chest.
It was a feeling that had not dulled even after cutting down more than a hundred numbers.
Stop-
He broke the arrow that pierced his shoulder.
I felt no sensation from my shoulder where blood was gushing out.
Even the palms that used to bend arrows had long since become rags.
“But I hope you don’t think I’ve been treated unfairly.”
“… … .”
“This old man made this decision solely for the sake of the kingdom and to continue the legacy of the late king.”
Duke Asus shrugged and slowly began to approach me.
Then he pulled out the sword that was hanging on his waist as if savoring it.
I could clearly see it through my eyes, which had turned red from the shedding of bloody tears.
The royal sword that went missing after the death of the former king. It was Estella.
How on earth do you… … .
Duke Asus spoke to me, who was holding his breath and unable to ask.
“Oh, did you think the former king might have lost it?”
“… … .”
“That’s impossible. I personally took care of this sword at the request of the former king.”
I was not unaware of the hidden meaning in the words of the man who spoke as if he was giving medicine.
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The sudden death of the former king. The disappearance of the sword. And what just now appeared in his hand.
I was pushed to my limit and barely managed to open my mouth, my whole body shaking.
“You… … dare… … .”
“Hmm. It’s not good to make hasty assumptions. I was only temporarily keeping it in charge at the request of the former king.”
“… … .”
“Of course, I planned to return it to you, the King, when the time was right, but I could not return the royal treasure after becoming such a war-mad massacrer.”
Am I a war-mad murderer?
He said that it was the will of the previous king who wanted to be reborn as a great power, and that if not now, there would be no other chance.
Wasn’t it you who led the kingdom into war with the empire?
But these cries of mine never made it out of my mouth, because I was blocked by the magicians standing behind me.
Asus came close and stuck his face in.
In a small voice.
He whispered so quietly that the knights standing nearby couldn’t hear.
“You stupid puppet. Your son trusted the enemy who killed him. Your father must be crying in heaven.”
My vision was spinning with anger and helplessness.
“Hehehe, should I tell you as a last gift? The very document I’ve been looking for for years is still in your old office. It was quite funny how you couldn’t even see under the lamp.”
Every time I breathed, clumps of black blood would come out as if I was vomiting them out.
Tears of blood flow from my eyes.
Cool-
Blood drips down Asus’ white uniform and falls to the ground.
But the guy didn’t care and just laughed.
“You pretended to be noble, but what is this? It’s such an ugly ending, what a pity.”
“Ugh… … .”
“The Emperor of the Federation Empire would be truly delighted to see this.”
I regretted it.
I should have noticed this before it happened.
no.
I already knew that he was colluding with the Empire and was acting suspiciously.
However, the reason he hesitated to execute him was because he was a long-time friend of his father, the former king, and because of the phrase ‘rely on him’ written in his will.
“I will accept the throne well. I will not bid farewell to the little prince.”
It’s all my fault.
If only I had acknowledged this fact a long time ago and not acted so indecisively.
If only we had found the evidence of corruption and punished him before he noticed.
If only I had been able to clearly understand the situation in the kingdom with my own eyes and ears.
This would not have happened.
People called me a war-mad dictator.
And this abominable Duke of Asus will become a saint who saves the people who are tired from the long war.
I couldn’t admit that my blood and that of my knights had become the foundation for his wealth and honor.
I used all my strength to twist my body and rush at him.
“Dead… … Throw… … away… … .”
Phew!
“Tsk. It’s ugly until the end.”
Estella digs into my heart.
Only then did I feel the knives that had been piercing my heart disappear.
To be exact, it would be correct to say that all senses are disappearing.
dump-
Dust swirls around, obscuring the view.
My eyes, which had not been able to perceive it, opened wide.
Even at that moment, the guy was smiling.
I’ll kill you.
I will definitely kill you.
If there is a hell, I will kill you a hundred, a thousand times.
He screamed, holding onto the last remaining thread of consciousness.
Please give me one last chance to get revenge.
Hit that wicked dog’s neck and told the knights who threw them for me.
Yes, I will not repeat the stupid behavior of that time, when I was swayed by those around me.
I prayed earnestly, remembering the existence of God, whom I had never believed in before.
As I thought about that, I felt my mind, which was about to scatter, come back to normal.
* * *
“… … So, I looked for a candidate who would be a suitable attendant for Your Majesty.”
I see a familiar ceiling.
A dazzling chandelier. A statue of a knight adorned with splendidly colored jewels.
About 20 years ago.
This was the office I used when I was still a prince.
Even the statue, which I must have destroyed with my own hands in a fit of anger, was still in perfect condition.
‘Is this a dream?’
Was what just happened a dream?
No, that’s absolutely impossible.
I’m definitely dead.
I don’t remember it well because it happened so quickly, but I know one thing for sure.
It was so engraved in my mind that it still makes my blood boil.
‘So this is the afterlife?’
I can’t believe it, but there was a possibility.
Is there really an afterlife?
If I had known this would happen, I would have believed in religion a long time ago… … .
I rolled my eyes to figure out the situation.
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from the front.
It was a voice so disgusting that I couldn’t forget it.
“Your Highness the First Prince?”
Turn your gaze towards the direction from which the sound came.
There, I saw the Duke of Asus, who would not be satisfied even if I tore him to pieces.
To be exact, it was Asus from his days as a ‘Count’, with fewer wrinkles and still having sparse blond hair.
“Are you listening? May I continue?”
“… … Oh. Okay, keep going.”
Was it because he had been through something big? His personality seemed to have become colder.
Duke Asus. No, the Count felt a sense of discomfort for a moment, tilted his head, then continued speaking with the report.
“The candidate for the valedictorian is the Academy’s top graduate… … .”
I look around with the disgusting voice of Count Asus in the background.
My rough yet still tender hands.
Interiors that are reminiscent of memories.
Twenty years are young.
That’s for sure.
This space now was a place that went back in time 20 years.
I can honestly say that the current situation is even more absurd than when he rebelled.
Even if you say that what happened just now was a dream, it would be absurd, and even more so if you say it was the afterlife.
What was certain was that the one who had the clue to this situation was Count Asus, who was right before my eyes.
I said, crossing my legs.
“Is the attendant’s name Nijörðr Richard?”
“… … Yes? How did you know?”
“Oh my.”
I nodded and continued speaking.
“And Nijörðr Richard is you. No, the child who grew up in the orphanage you sponsored?”
“Um. Yes. Did I mention that before?”
“No way.”
It’s a funny situation.
This lends strength to the third hypothesis.
I waved my hands and leaned back in my chair.
“Keep talking.”
“Yes, I understand. Nijörðr also served as Viscount Herg’s attendant… … .”
He must have entered the palace after receiving a letter of recommendation from the Viscount.
“I am currently a member of the royal administration at the recommendation of Viscount Herg.”
And I would have proven my abilities through three years of practical experience.
“Also, he has proven his abilities over the course of three years… … .”
The things he’s going to say next come to mind.
There’s nothing more to hear.
Nijörðr Richard was the attendant he recommended to me 20 years ago.
‘And I accepted it.’
Now that I think about it, Nijörðr Richard was the eye that Count Asus placed to watch over me.
In the end, he even went so far as to report every single thing I did.
Am I a retarded person for knowing that and turning a blind eye to it?
A smile naturally formed on my face as I let out a hollow laugh.
But it didn’t matter.
At least not ‘anymore’.
‘That’s interesting.’
To my absolute dismay, it seemed like I had gone back in time.
That’s a long time, 20 years.
How on earth is that possible?
Moreover, I can’t even guess the cause.
I didn’t intend to say something stupid like, “It doesn’t feel real anymore.”
However, I was just confused by the sudden situation.
I stood up from my seat and muttered slowly.
“Count Asus.”
“So, Nijörður Richard… … Yes? Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If you could go back 20 years, what would you do?”
Count Asus spoke with a puzzled expression at my unexpected question.
But for a split second, I didn’t miss the way his eyebrows twitched.
“Why are you suddenly asking such a thing?”
“say.”
“Hmm. In that case, I would like to receive the oath of knighthood from His Majesty the King.”
Oh, so you’re saying that you gave up your knightly oath and continued the family line?
Now you want to take my oath of office? I guess you’re just saying that to look good to me.
It’s very touching.
Well, if it were me in the past, I would have definitely been moved by such words that made me think of royalty, but at least not now.
“okay?”
I pulled out the ceremonial sword that was displayed on the wall.
Then he slowly approached Count Asus and placed him on his shoulder.
“T-Truly not?”
Royal courtesy.
Once on the shoulder and once on the head, you are appointed as a knight of royal honor.
A sublime ritual that only the King or the one who will ascend to the throne can do so once.
And this was a title of greater honor to the nobles than any other.
Count Asus’s expression brightened.
“thank you!”
And I answered the count, who was filled with emotion.
“Then. You should be grateful.”
Crunch-
“Whoa!”
Asus’ head flew into the sky.
A fountain of blood gushed out from the body of the lost man, dyeing the office red.
At the same time, a loud scream escaped from the maid waiting nearby.
Inside the office, filled with the familiar smell of blood.
I muttered as I kicked the head of Count Asus, who was still rolling around with a bright expression on his face.
“I was well behind.”
