Chapter 33

Happy new year to All!

I will now be starting a schedule of 1free chapter and 1 advance everyday! This will only apply during weekdays, on weekends will be my freedom!

It will be around 12am and 12pm the updates (no specific minutes.) GMT+4

***

Unbelievable. When the Fifth Prince gave up using Magic and pulled out his sword, they thought he was just disguising his Mana as Aura.

As Devil’s Bloodline came to an end, no one was able to use Aura and Mana together anymore. But, not all the history and teachings had been forgotten.

Moreover, there were some talented wizards that uses their Mana as a substitute of Aura while wielding their sword. Their swordsmanship did not interfere with their magic, and they only did this for self-defense if the enemy was in their range.

However, because it was an imitation, it was weak compared to Knights using Aura.

‘It will only be a mere imitation of the Aura Blade.’

This was what they all thought.

The Fifth Prince was walking on the wizard’s path, so he couldn’t have possibly have Aura.

“What…!”

It was real Aura. It pierced the breastplate of the Moon knight and tore his heart apart.

The Fifth Prince did it so skillfully as if he had learned swordsmanship for many years already.

“!!!”

In an instant, the two Moon knights stepped back. They soon pulled themselves together and attack, but Raymond’s time reaction was fast and dodge their daggers.

“What kind of aim is that?”

Before they knew it, Gesteine, who had killed all the Moon Knights that surrounded him, rushed like a demon beside the Fifth Prince.

However, many assassins confronted him.

“Your rude!”

Gesteine swung the sword and red blood spurted up. This all happened in an instant.

Even the sharp eyes of the elite among the assassins failed to follow Gesteine’s steps.

Every time a demon-like look flashed and a sharp blade cut through the air, the Assassins fell one by one.

They were no pushovers, every time Gesteine knocked down one, his body would received a wound either big or small. And yet he did not collapse.

Gesteine, the one-armed swordsman, swore allegiance to the Fifth Prince, who restored his lost swordsmanship, and became a shield that could protect him.

More than ten people all collapsed and died.

“Darn it!”

A moon knight, who was left alone after all the assassins were killed, pressed down on the deep wound on his side to stop the bleeding and coughed up abusive language.

Since the Fifth Prince name was written on the “Black Book,” Moon knights thought he was an unusual person, but they didn’t know there would be such powerful people beside him.

They were surprised when two Tower Master slaughtered the Second Prince’s minions, but they didn’t expect two more high-ranking knights

“Is this really the power that the youngest prince of a falling empire can have?”

The Moon Knight bit his lips to the point where blood burst out. The Fifth Prince himself was not weak. Everything that happened today was unexpected.

‘All of this must be reported to the King.’

He hid himself in the shadows and stealthily went away.

***

“How dare you point your blade towards a member of the imperial family! You will soon have your retribution!”

The Imperial Army, who defeated the Second Prince’s men, joined the siege. The Moon knight remaining gave up surviving and bit his tongue at the sight of the Imperial Army lead by Casillas. He chose suicide over being captured and tortured.

“He bit his tongue!”

“Stop the bleeding!”

They tried to dig up information, but now that he had committed suicide, there’s no way.

The Moon knight life was cut off in an instant, and Casillas, who was the first to run and check his condition, shook his head with a short sigh.

“Imperial Commander.”

“Here! The Imperial Army is ready to obey the orders of Your Highness the Fifth Prince!”

“Move 50 Imperial soldiers to search the perimeter. If you find any enemies that have not yet escaped, capture them alive.”

“The Imperial Commander, I, Casillas, accept your solemn command, Your Highness the Fifth Prince.”

Among the survivors, he choose 50 soldiers with minor injuries to search the surroundings.

“Sir Jace.”

Raymond said with a calm expression as he watched the army scatter in unison.

“Go ahead.”

The retired Imperial Guard, Jace, bowed as he approached him.

“The search of these fifty Imperial soldiers has its limits.”

Even though there are many of them searching for enemies that have escaped, they were not skilled enough to find those who has hiding skills.

“Of course, a skilled assassin would easily avoid them.”

“That’s why I need your help.”

He’s retired, but he was still an Imperial Guard. As Raymond noticed a while ago, his skills seemed to be similar or slightly higher than Gesteine.

Of course, he don’t know if his power has detoriated because of old age, but he was sure that his skills and experience was still there.

“My mission is to escort the Fifth Prince.”

Jace replied in a calm voice. The role that Marquis Crayer ordered him is to be beside the Fifth Prince Raymond. That’s why he couldn’t easily agree to his order.

Jace would be troubled if the Fifth Prince will be killed while he was away. Gesteine, who he trusted second to him to protect the prince, was seriously injured.

“This is not an order.”

Raymond quietly swallowed “Please” that he was about to say. However, Jace seemed to have received its meaning. He wore a red mask and spoke again.

“I will not be going too far. I’ll be back after a quick look around.”

Raymond didn’t say thank you. Just a friendly smile, but maybe that was enough for Jace to flutter his cape and went search.

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* * *

“The Assassins and Moon Knights have been annihilated.”

Siadin was astonished by the tragedy that happened before her eyes.

“How did the Moon knights of the Kingdom of Edgar so powerless in face of the power of the Fifth Prince?”

The elite assassin group of the Kingdom of Edgar, the Moon Knights. We’re known for being the “terrors of the night” because they are highly skilled in assassination techniques compared to ordinary assassins.

More than ten Moon Knights came to kill the Fifth Prince, but none survived and the Fifth Prince remained unscratched?

Even the two tower Master, who were reported to be the main force, was not beside the Fifth Prince because they were dealing with the Second Prince’s minions.

In fact, the Secret Squad of the Fifth Prince and an unidentified man wearing a mask were the only ones who remained protecting the Fifth Prince.

If it weren’t for the assassins standing by, Sylvia and Siadin would have fled a long time ago. But it may not be too late.

Siadin pulled a sword from her waist to confront the assassins guarding them.

“Wind! Come to me!”

Wind energy gathered in her sword.

But…

“Too late.”

The assassins, who had been caught, were now lying down and bleeding. Only Sylvia, who was in a desperate position, remained sitting down.

“Who dares to point the sword at the blood of the Pilias, the Elves?”

It was Jace in a red mask who appeared in the dark with a cold voice.

His blade stretched long toward the ground was full of scarlet blood, this was an evidence that slaughter of countless enemies.

“A race that has managed to survive since the Great War was behind it?”

Siadin, who is only a high-ranking knight at best, knows that it will be hard surviving against him.

‘Hey, this is real life…….’

Sylvia felt her whole body tremble. She thought she had gotten used to pressure emmited by powerful people, but that was just her illusion.

Jace’s energy was cold and sharp, it was beyond comparison with the Moon Knights.

“I will be leaving you alive right now, because I have received a strict orders to capture you alive……. Follow me. The Fifth Prince is brave and merciful, if you cooperates, your lives may be saved.”

Can she believe that they would not be killed?

Sylvia was not sure about that part, but she decided that it would be better to cling even a slim at the possibility than to lose her life in vain while resisting. She commanded Siadin to lower her weapon.

“But, miss…….”

“We can’t win.”

“We have no choice but to meet the Fifth Prince,” she added in a very small voice. Besides, Jace, the man in the red mask in front of her, was the most powerful person she have met.

“Wise Judgement..”

The enemies who tried to harm the imperial family was in front of him, so if they dare to resist, he may kill the other and knock out one.

If Raymond hadn’t been ordered to capture them alive, they would certainly have been cut into dozens of pieces by now.

Siardin turned her head and looked at Sylvia behind her. Sylvia shook her head silently, and eventually Siadin threw a sword at the floor, and put her hands up.

“I’ll agree to speak to the Fifth Prince.”

Jace wasn’t the type to say empty words. He was very angry that they threatened the imperial family, he didn’t want to disobey their orders.

“I’ll be restraining you, so don’t resist.”

The black rope bound the bodies of the two elves tightly. At the humiliating treatment, Siadin bit her lips so hard that blood burst, but Sylvia calmly closed her eyes and started clearing her mind.

She knew that imperial orders were strict for the soldiers of the Pilias Empire.

He was ordered to capture them alive, she she was sure they wouldn’t be killed along the way.

At her calm appearance, Jace was a little bit impressed and fired a flare at the sky.

A red flare shot up into the dark sky and  the Imperial Army searching the surrounding area, immediately went to his way.

“Sir Jace! These are the guys?”

Asked a Soldier, who rushed towards him with another twelve soldiers. Half of their uniforms were red, possibly they were wounded in the combat against the assassins.

“They were the ones who dared to harm the imperial family of Pilias  We will have to take them to his Highness the Fifth.”

“I will carry out my mission under the name of the Emperor!”

In response to the Soldier’s response, Jace nodded with a satisfied expression and disappeared into the darkness to search for any other risk factors that remained.

“Don’t resist, Siadin. The Fifth Prince is our hope.”

Sylvia dissuaded Siadin, who showed signs of resistance to the rough touch of the Imperial soldiers.

Siardin, a bodyguard sent to protect her, was very reluctant but still she obeyed her orders.

“Open the way!”

As soon as they entered the base, a knight shouted in a loud voice.

Imperial soldiers gathered to see the faces of Sylvia and Siadin, who they thought was the one who wanted to harm the Fifth Prince.

“Dare to harm the Fifth Prince?”

“Why did you capture them alive? You should have cut off their arms and legs to have them face a rough life!”

The imperial soldiers gathered and vented their anger. Some of them even pulled out their sword and pointed at them.

“This was an order from His Highness the Fifth Prince to capture them alive!”

As the knight shouted, the imperial soldiers could only swallow their anger only put their sword back.

‘Obeying the Fifth Prince and respecting him…’

Sylvia had a wry smile. So far, he thought that the closest to the succession of the throne would be either the First or the Second prince, but there was an unexpected candidate.

Clearly they could lose their lives protecting the Fifty Prince, however, not only they could give up their lives for the prince, but also be angry if the safety of the Fifth Prince was threatened.

As they followed the Knight a huge barracks remained standing and it was not damaged during the battle.

‘No way…’

Did all of her companions sacrificed their lives that even the residence of the Fifth Prince was not damaged? Was the Pilias’ Empire power was at this level?

‘I heard that their power declined and they could be considered a fallen Empire…….’

This level of power resembled the peak of the Pilias Empire from the ancient times. However, it was rumored that its power had diminished significantly as years went by.

But that was not the case for today.

‘Was this only the Fifth Prince power?’

There are still only a hundred Imperial soldiers, but they fought like they were the elite Imperial soldiers of the Pilias Empire. Even the Fifth Prince’s residence was kept intact.

She thought that maybe the insides was ruined while the outside was intact, but as she stepped inside, all those thoughts vanished.

‘The Fifth Prince is awakening the sleeping power of the Pilias Empire.’

This was really scary. This was a sign that the great empire, which commanded the ancient era, would rise again.

“No matter what I say now, I can’t shake the firm will of the Fifth Prince.”

Raymond nodded slowly at Marquis Crayer’s comment. Once he makes a decision, he will surely carry it through.

“You know me very well.”

“Back when I was young, His Majesty was as righteous and brave as Your Highness the Fifth.”

Marquis Crayer’s eyes were lost in his memories as he recalled the past.

Back when he was young, the current Emperor Ronald Pilius defended the Empire from the Northern threats for three years and gained military support.

During those three years, the Emperor met him, the current Marquis Sand Crayer. Back then he was still the heir to the Crayer family.

“You two look so much alike.”

Marquis Crayer’s voice was smeared with regret and longing. In terms of justice, there was no one as valiant as Ronald who always unsheathed his sword before anyone else.

Now, he is an old and sick emperor guarding the collapsing Imperial throne.

“Well, now you know what I’m going to do.”

“You have opposed it a little while ago, but I still feel the same way now.”

He was known as the Scoundrel Prince, but now, for Marquis Crayer, he looked braver and more righteous than the First Prince, who is called the lord of knights.

When he first heard rumors that Raymond, the Fifth Prince, had declared he would take the initiative, he just smiled and shook his head. But in the recent weeks, he had seen his ‘initiative’ moves at the border. And they weren’t just impossible.

“Do you really have to go to the Black Mountains, Your Highness?”

Marquis Crayer asked. Raymond nodded and responded.

“Of course, I will return after defeating the General of the Kingdom of Fresyria, who dared to provoke the Empire.”

His voice was full of confidence. Of course, the General of the Fresyria Kingdom was not invincible.

There was definitely a way to defeat them, and Richard, the main character in the novel, once killed a General with his own squad by letting them fall into a clever trap.

Unlike the battles that were describe by one or two sentences in the novel, this process was described in great detail.

The only “power” Richard used in the novel was Desia and a hundred men, composed of top wizards.

Even if Raymond can mobilize more power, the odds are stacked against him.

The difference is that Raymond, unlike Richard, is an extra and has not yet received the “sword and magic blessing.”

‘I’ve got the soul sword, so it won’t be a big problem.’

Although receiving the Sword and Magic Blessings gave less worries, Sould Sword uses only a small amount of Aura, but it mostly uses the energy of his soul, so there is no fatal conflict between his Aura and his Mana. It wasn’t to the point where he wouldn’t be able to magic in an emergency.

“Then you should go.”

Marquis Crayer said. Although he clearly opposed it at first, he realized that he would not be able to stop him after recalling the courage that the current Emperor had shown before.

The voice of opposition disappeared sooner than he thought. A faint smile spread around Raymond’s mouth.

“But we can’t just send Your Highness, the Fifth Prince to the Black Mountains alone.”

“Marquis Crayer, I and a hundred Imperial soldiers will sacrifice our lives to escort his Highness.”

Casillas, the commander of the Imperial Army, reacted immediately. His voice was loud.

“Sir Casillas. Can I ask you one question?”

“If I can answer that, I would be happy to.”

“Honestly, do you believe that a hundred imperial soldiers can keep the Fifth Prince safe from the assault of the General and the Black Mountain range Monsters?”

Casillas froze at Marquis Crayer’s sharp question. There wasn’t enough power that could go against them.

“It wasn’t because the Emperor’s shield is strong, but because His Highness is great that you have been able to survive in the Black Mountains, right ?”

Casillas did not immediately respond. It was because Marquis Crayer’s words were true, although it hurt his pride.

If Raymond, the Fifth Prince, was a scoundrel as rumored, not only the Imperial Army but also the Shadow Squad would have been killed as soon as they entered the Black Mountains.

“The Imperial Commander, Lord Casillas.”

As Marquis Crayer spoke in with a soft voice, Casillas who was just looking at the ground, slowly raised his head.

“I don’t blame you. Your imperial army are the elites of the elites. But the Black Mountains is just too dangerous for less experienced people.”

He spoke as softly as he could. Casillas’ expression was much more relaxed than before.

When he saw it, Raymond smirked and shook his head. The Marquis of Crayer was not usually gentle, given that Casillas, who usually stand strong, was shaking first.

“I agree with you on that.”

“So I’d like to add more escorts, would that be okay?”

The eyes of Marquis Crayer, now looked towards Raymond.

Then who are is he going to send as the escort? I have some guesses but I am not sure, hmm…

“Would you excuse us for a moment?”

As Marquis Crayer raised his hand slightly, the Marquis’ retainers and knights left the meeting room without any hesitation.

This sight showed how deep their loyalty to the Marquis was.

“Please leave us alone for a moment, gentlemen.”

Raymond also ordered his entourage out of the conference room. The appearance of Marquis Crayer acting with discretion has increased the probability of his initial guess to come true.

‘Is it him…….?’

Now there are only two people left in the Chamber, Raymond and Marquis Crayer.

Even the knights guarding the conference hall left at the order of the marquis.

“Can you tell me now?”

“Of course.”

At Raymond’s question, Marquis Crayer nodded. Then he opened his mouth, raising his eyes towards the ceiling.

“You may show yourself, Lord Jace.”

Seeing the Marquis calling someone’s name, Raymond needed to hide his astonishment inside. He knew who Jace was because he had read the Novel.

There were many candidates who could be mobilized by Marquis Crayer. But he didn’t expect the name of the strongest among them to come out.

“Retired Imperial Guard…….”

“Ho, I guess the Fifth Prince has heard rumors about me.”

Seeing the owner of the red mask coming down from the ceiling of the conference hall and landing softly, Raymond unconsciously uttered his identity to himself, which was a mistake.

Because it intrigued Jace.

“Did you know about Lord Jace?”

He seen the Novel, so he knew it of course. It was just a small part, but there was definitely a description for Jace.

Retired Imperial Guard.

The current emperor, Ronald Pilius, gave Jace his escort as a courtesy to Marquis Crayer, who he had guarded the North together as a young man.

Attaching a retired Imperial Guard as an escort is the best courtesy an emperor could do.

Just by looking at the symbol of that deep friendship and the offer to lend his, could show how Marquis Crayer thought of Raymond.

By the way, the “Escort” of retired Imperial Guard was usually done in secret, so Raymond needed to come up with an excuse of how he learned about Jace’s existence now.

“I just happened to know.”

He couldn’t think of an excuse right now, so he roughly put it in a hurry.

“I don’t want to ask you any more questions.

When Raymond implicitly revealed that he didn’t want to reveal it, Marquis Crayer bowed his head quickly and stepped back.

Jace was still curious, but at the time when the Marquis had stepped down, he did not dare ask the Imperial family questions.

This prevented a series of near-pouring questions. Raymond opened his mouth with a faint smile.

“So you’re lending Lord Jace as my temporary escort?”

“Of course, Your Majesty the Fifth. I don’t think Lord Jace would object either.”

“It’s an honor for me to be able to be the shield of the imperial family again. I’ll do my best, Your Majesty the Fifth.”

Jace took a step forward and bowed his head politely.

He is said to have retired and came under Marquis Crayer’s command, but he is still an Imperial Guard, the shield of the honorable imperial family.

He had no way to refuse the glorious work of serving the imperial family.

Although he has been assigned to escort by Marquis Crayer side since his retirement, he did not accompany the Marquis even when he was kidnapped because he stayed only in Crayer Castle as a Captain security officer.

The fact that he could get some fresh air after a long time excites him.

“It’s reassuring to hear that the Emperor’s shield will escort me.”

Even though he knew he was retired, Raymond still used the words “Imperial shield” to raise his loyalty and pride. Sure enough, his response came right away.

“The spear of the Fresyrian kingdom is sharp, but they dare to pierce the shield of the imperial family! As a loyal servant once an honorable member of the Imperial Guard, I solemnly pledge here to crush all threats against His Highness the Fifth in the Black Mountains!”

Jace said, clenching his fist tightly with his right hand and pounding hard near his heart. A clear smile spread around Raymond’s mouth as he saw him.

* * *

After the commander’s meeting, Raymond was successfully being escorted temporarily by the retired Imperial Guard, Jace.

Raymond was an imperial family of the Pilias and Jace was from Imperial Guard, armed with deep loyalty to the imperial family.

Even if he had been ordered by Marquis Crayer, Jace would not have been so co-operative if he been asked to escort anyone other than the Fifth Prince, Raymond.

“The Fifth Prince. Are you out?”

Raymond and Jace came out of the conference room, the Master of the Red Tower came up with Gesteine and bowed politely.

However, the Blue tower master, Desia, and Casillas was nowhere to be seen. Raymond asked the Master of the Red Tower for their whereabouts.

“Sir Casillas headed to the training grounyd, saying he was short of training, but I don’t know where the Blue Tower and the Desia went.”

“I need to discuss something, so call the tower Master and Desia.”

“Don’t I have to look for Lord Casillas?”

At Raymond’s words, Gesteine asked carefully. He seems to have become quite close to Casillas enough to ask for him.

“He is in training, so we can’t disturb him. But he might be disappointed, so it would be better to send someone to inform him.”

“I will send a member of the SS to deliver the message.”

Leaving behind Gesteine’s answer, Rayman hastened his steps toward the parlor next to the accommodation.

The Blue tower master and Desia arrived at the Meeting room first, perhaps they went there immediately after being called by the Red tower master.

The two were courteous by slightly bowing their heads after seeing Raymond coming through the door.

“Old man, you’re late.”

“What? I arrived before the Fifth Prince…….”

“You should have came with me from the conference room.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

After a short conversation, Lisefield surrounded first.

No matter how hard he tried, he was not confident of beating the Fifth Prince to a debate. He did so because he realized from his experience that it was better to surrender quickly.

“Everyone, sit down.”

Raymond pulled the chair first and sat down.

“I’ll be guarding outside the door.”

Jace claimed to be the gatekeeper. He didn’t think he had a place in this composition yet, so he was going to leave first.

“Stay here. I don’t think the Imperial shield would betray.”

‘The Prince has faith in me!’

Jace knew what Raymond was trying to say and what he really meant. That’s why he was moved.

“Fifth Prince…….”

“I don’t don’t doubt your loyalty, but I think the shield of the Emperor is an exception.”

It wasn’t a topic deep enough to keep it as a secret from the Imperial Guard.

But he don’t have to explain it to Jace.

“The shield has no foolish mouth to spread rumors about.”

Raymond nodded with a satisfied look at Jace’s response. And he soon opened his mouth, looking alternately between the Blue Tower and the Red Tower.

“Don’t you think General’s assault team came down earlier than expected?”

It was too fast.

“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

The two towers swallowed dry saliva and Desia twisted the corners of her mouth to open her red lips.

“I smell a traitor.”