NOVPUBTL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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The Emperor's 'Moving' Palace.
Wizard Forendal stepped outside the tent for a moment.
A familiar face, an elderly knight, was dozing while leaning against the wall.
'He has every right to be tired.'
From intense training? Returning from grueling reconnaissance?
No.
Sir Salvador, the elderly knight, was approaching 60 years of age.
In medieval times, a 60-year-old man was truly ancient—someone who could die today without anyone finding it strange.
Forendal, a wizard also advanced in years, didn't wake Salvador despite catching him napping.
He sympathized with the old man's fatigue.
When you get older, simply standing becomes exhausting.
"Hey! Old man!"
But a passing knight nudged Sir Salvador.
A young, spirited knight who knew no fear.
"If you're tired, go back to your quarters! Stop hanging around in armor for no reason!"
Several knights snickered.
They knew this old man was 'Sword Master' Salvador.
They also knew he was a knight who had once campaigned alongside the previous Emperor.
But... what did that matter?
How impressive he might have been in his prime wasn't visible to the naked eye.
What the knights saw was—
An old man who couldn't shed his armor even in his twilight years, someone who had grown weak with age.
A knight should earn military achievements in his youth and acquire land.
That way, he could live comfortably in old age.
Seeing someone wearing full armor at an age when death loomed close was a subject of mockery, not reverence.
"Ha ha. I dozed off. Thank you for waking me."
"If you fall asleep in front of me one more time... I'll put you right in a soft bed! I'll even tuck you in!"
Since there was no word for 'tsundere' in medieval times, Forendal merely chuckled.
My, what a respectfully disrespectful fellow—
"I told him to get some rest."
"...Sir Forendal?"
"Sir Salvador isn't the Emperor's servant. Respect a free knight."
"Ahem."
After chasing away the young knight, Forendal approached Sir Salvador.
Salvador smiled awkwardly and said:
"I'm indebted to you."
"Not at all. If anything, I'm the one indebted to you."
This wasn't an empty pleasantry.
Sir Salvador was guarding the Emperor at Ian's request.
[Be wary of black wizards, Sir Knight.]
[I'll keep that in mind.]
Ian had warned Sir Salvador.
If negotiations concluded and the southern war ended—
All the covert activities of the black wizards would become useless.
That's why Ian predicted the black wizards would make at least one more move.
The problem was that these opponents were like medieval terrorists—impossible to predict when or where they might appear.
Ian had assigned guards to people the black wizards might target.
The Emperor, specifically.
"It's truly reassuring to have you standing guard day and night."
Forendal said with a smile.
"After all, you were honored with the title of [Master of the Sword] by the previous Emperor."
"Ha ha."
Sir Salvador gave an awkward laugh.
All that was from his younger days.
Now he was just an old, worn-out knight.
Especially after being beaten by the black dragon Predius, Salvador felt his body deteriorating rapidly.
Yet there was just one reason he couldn't put down his sword.
There were still too many enemies of the sacred heavens in this world.
"Would you like to come in for a late supper?"
"Ah... well."
"Leave the watch to the young ones and rest a while."
Salvador rubbed his face tiredly and nodded.
Better to rest properly and switch shifts quickly than to doze while on guard.
Salvador shared bread and stew with Forendal, exchanging idle conversation.
The discussion between two men at the end of their lives was pleasant.
...So pleasant they didn't immediately notice the commotion outside.
"F-Forendal, sir!"
A knight came running in, stumbling over his words.
"A dragon...! A dragon has appeared!"
"?"
Forendal and Salvador stopped their conversation.
Only then did they realize there was quite a commotion outside.
Forendal asked in bewilderment:
"A dragon? You say a dragon has appeared?"
The knight nodded frantically.
"Yes! The knights are trying to stop it now...!"
A gust of wind swept past them.
Sir Salvador had moved with lightning speed.
Forendal hurriedly followed behind him.
Shortly after—
Forendal confirmed the reality of the dragon that had suddenly appeared.
...Along with the fiercely billowing flames.
"AAAAARGH!"
"S-save meeee!"
The dragon hovered low above the ground, spewing hot flames.
Knights' bodies burned like kindling.
Neither steel armor nor sharp blades were of any use against the dragon's flames.
Through the fire, the dragon's pitch-black body was revealed.
...Sir Salvador cried out in shock:
"Predius...!"
It wasn't a mistake.
This enormous black dragon was indeed Predius.
The very same dragon that Wizard Ian had defeated in Talian territory!
'It didn't die back then?!'
Dozens of knights were guarding the Emperor, but...
They were woefully inadequate against a dragon.
It couldn't be helped.
Even Ian had undergone extensive preparations to face the dragon.
But here, there was no way to counter it.
The Emperor had merely come to mediate between the dukes!
"[Flames! Soar upward!]"
Suddenly, the flames the dragon was breathing shot straight up into the air.
The knights who had been fleeing the flames breathed sighs of relief.
And shouted:
"A wizard! A wizard has come!"
A red-haired wizard appeared, parting the fire and smoke.
It was Kira, the fire wizard.
Kira spotted Sir Salvador and called out:
"Sir Salvador! It's Predius! The black wizards have made their move!"
"...Yes. My eyes weren't deceiving me!"
Belenka also frowned.
Salvador, Kira, and Belenka.
They were all warriors who had faced the evil black dragon Predius in Talian, but...
None were confident they could defeat the black dragon a second time.
Unlike in Talian, they were completely unprepared for this situation!
Sir Salvador drew his longsword, but couldn't think of any way to defeat the dragon.
KYAAAAAAAH!
The black dragon, Predius, roared.
A terrible sound that scattered despair in everyone's hearts.
***
'This is unbearably uncomfortable.'
Ian focused intently on observing the meeting.
Duke Fargar and Duke Roxlan's proxy.
The two great nobles glared at each other in silence, as if unwilling to yield an inch.
They both knew.
That whoever lost here would lose everything.
Nevertheless...
The advantage was tilting toward Duke Roxlan's proxy.
Toward Count Francis.
'Fargar will eventually back down.'
This wasn't something that could be resolved by making a scene.
Both sides claimed to have the Silverwind heir, but...
While Lisa Silverwind only had a face resembling her parents,
Maria had the family signet ring.
People would think:
'Maria must be the rightful heir since she received the signet ring from her parents.'
It was small evidence, but evidence nonetheless.
Duke Fargar's army would eventually withdraw.
After all, he couldn't possibly defeat both Duke Roxlan and the Emperor in one stroke!
It was just as Ian was thinking this.
"Your Grace."
Someone appeared from Duke Fargar's side.
He whispered something quickly to the Duke.
"Hmm."
Duke Fargar uttered a single word.
Then he stood up abruptly.
Count Francis frowned and said:
"Where are you going so suddenly?"
The Duke answered without looking back:
"This stupid waste of time is over, Count."
"?"
"Your shallow schemes don't even match your father's footsteps."
"???"
Duke Fargar mounted his horse and promptly departed for his camp.
Count Francis, suddenly abandoned(?), looked dumbfounded.
"What's wrong with that man?"
The Count's curiosity was satisfied in less than ten seconds.
A messenger arrived for the Roxlan contingent as well.
"Your Grace! Your Grace!"
"What is it?"
"Someone... someone has attacked Duke Fargar!"
"...?"
Count Francis stared at the messenger with a bewildered expression.
What nonsense is this—
At that very moment.
BWOOOOOOOM!
The heavy sound of a horn resonated through the air.
"That... war-crazed lunatic!"
Count Francis was shocked.
The horn they just heard was Duke Fargar's signal to attack!
The Duke had given the order to advance!
"W-we need to return immediately!"
The Roxlan nobles scrambled to their feet.
Though they weren't entirely sure what was happening...
None wanted to be the fool who sat still and got captured.
When they returned to the Roxlan camp, they were horrified.
They could see Duke Fargar's cavalry gradually defeating Roxlan's mercenary units.
Count Francis growled:
"Tell me! Who attacked Duke Fargar?"
"I-I don't know!"
"Do you want to die?!"
"I'm sorry! A mercenary unit without a banner charged in on their own...!"
The Roxlan nobles wore expressions of utter disbelief.
They couldn't help it.
If they had just sat quietly, Roxlan would have won the negotiations decisively.
But some crazed mercenary unit couldn't wait and struck Duke Fargar first!
What glory-obsessed madman would do such a thing?!
When Roxlan's mercenaries attacked, Fargar's soldiers responded in kind.
The Roxlan knights who witnessed this—
'Huh? Our side is getting beaten?'
—rushed out to save their allies.
And thus, small-scale local conflicts between baronial forces erupted here and there!
From Roxlan's perspective, this was absolutely not what they wanted.
...But from Fargar's view, they had been unexpectedly struck during negotiations.
Duke Fargar, who was already dissatisfied with the situation, immediately sounded the horn for advance.
"Your Grace! Baron Vairin has dispatched troops to support the front!"
"Your Grace! A report from the Iron Brothers. They're advancing to block the enemy cavalry charge..."
Reports came flooding in without pause.
Count Francis exhaled a defeated sigh.
Given how things had turned out, the war had slipped beyond his control.
Battles were fought by knights and soldiers on the battlefield.
All commanders could do was make the best tactical decisions to secure victory.
The current situation was extremely chaotic.
Though it was difficult to determine right from wrong, someone had to make decisions.
And Ian thought to himself,
This situation was a truly unpleasant coincidence.
"Your Grace."
"Ah. Yes, Wizard Ian."
Count Francis looked at Ian with gleaming eyes.
They were the eyes of a commander considering where to deploy the wizard most effectively.
But Ian had no intention of rushing to the battlefield.
"I'll go check on His Imperial Majesty."
"Hmm... there's no need for you to go personally."
Of course someone should go to the Emperor.
But why Ian specifically?
'Black wizards might be involved.'
Ian thought calmly.
If this sudden outbreak of war was a black wizard's scheme...
They would somehow try to prevent the Emperor from intervening.
Ian wanted to confirm the Emperor's safety with his own eyes.
"I'll be back shortly. Please look after my wife."
"Ah. Very well. Go ahead."
Since Ian was leaving Maria behind, the Count let him go without protest.
Ian immediately mounted a horse and rode toward the Emperor's palace. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝙢
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