Chapter 99

Chapter 99

"Ugh, even my back hurts now," Phillion said as he entered his room and sat in his chair. He stretched his body lightly.

'This really is a bit odd,’ Phillion thought to himself.

Since arriving at the royal palace, he met with many people.

"There are definitely neutral groups who are staying silent, but there seem to be no loyalists to Harmatti.”

Those who were especially close to Harmatti had long been executed or exiled from the palace.

'The king must have been preparing to pass the throne onto the prince. He had already started the process of removing the weeds so that there wouldn’t be anyone opposing the succession of the prince.’

Contrary to the rumors, the Royal Guard was not on Harmatti's side. They remained neutral, focusing solely on the king's safety.

"...Where did the rumor that Harmatti wanted to kill the prince come from?"

Even though it was taken as a fact, there was no solid evidence for it. Killing a prince who was hidden in the palace was not only difficult but even if Harmatti succeeded, it would only tarnish his legitimacy.

'It was Princess Damia who asked me to escort the prince. She said the Royal Guard and surrounding knights were untrustworthy, that they were bribed by Harmatti... and asked me to escort him.'

Phillion shook his head.

"That can't be."

A sinister and uneasy thought crossed his mind.

'The ship Princess Damia said she had prepared never arrived.'

Was it merely a coincidence?

The so-called untrustworthy guards didn't seem like they were bribed by Harmatti. If they were truly bought by Harmatti, they should have shown up on Harmatti's side on the battlefield of the civil war.

Phillion's mind was troubled.

'I have to be cautious. I should not be jumping to conclusions. I will wait for the prince to return to discuss more details...'

Phillion sighed and clasped his head. After hesitating for a while, he swallowed a packet of deer antler powder, a gift he had received earlier.

"It feels like it's working, but then again, maybe not. Cough."

The scratchy powder was stuck in his throat. As he searched for the water, he grimaced after seeing the empty bottle.

"Bring, cough, some water!"

Phillion coughed out his request. A maid hurried in with a glass of water.

Phillion gulped down the water and washed down the powder.

"Phew."

After swallowing the powder, he felt a tingling sensation in his mouth, perhaps due to the powder itself.

He walked over to his bed, planning to rest briefly. As soon as he closed his eyes, sleep overcame him.

How long he slept, Phillion couldn't tell. He woke up still feeling exhausted despite having rested for a good while.

'I need to get up.’

The pile of tasks on his desk was not going to go away on its own. He intended to remain diligent until the very end. However, he could not move his limbs. Only his toes and fingertips trembled slightly.

'Is this sleep paralysis?'

That was Phillion’s first thought. As he gained full consciousness, he could only blink, staring at the ceiling. His breathing became labored as if he was drowning. Unbearable pain followed, overwhelming his body. However, he could neither scream nor struggle.

While being fully aware of what was happening, Phillion slowly died. Calmly, in dry silence, his life extinguished on the bed.

* * *

Drip-drop.

Rain poured down, heralding the onset of winter.

"Phillion is dead."

The army had entered the city two days ago. But the celebratory festivities hadn't taken off. Pahell was in mourning, and that prevented anyone from hosting a banquet to celebrate his victory. The nobles were cautious even for holding simple dinner gatherings as they tried not to upset Pahell's feelings.

"Yup, he's dead."

Urich replied to Pahell as he stood beside him. He watched the smoke rising from the temple's cremation site, piercing through the rain and reaching the sky.

"Phillion's soul will wander this world, unable to return to Lou’s embrace. And it's all because of me."

Pahell was filled with self-blame. Urich looked at him emotionlessly.

‘This is not good.'

Recently, Pahell had been showing decisive judgment and action one after another, impressing even Urich, who watched from the sidelines.

'But now, he's exactly like what he was like before.'

Shaken by several consecutive shocks, Pahell had become dispirited. With such a demeanor, even the loyal followers might distance themselves from him.

"Pahell, arrest Damia."

Urich concluded. Damia was a clear enemy. There was no reason to hold back anymore.

"Shut your mouth, Urich," Pahell said fiercely as he raised his wet eyes.

"Your sister is an enemy. Arrest her, interrogate her, destroy her. If you can't do it, I will."

"My sister is not an enemy. My uncle was delirious, so he was just spitting nonsense, and Phillion died in bed from natural causes. There were no external injuries." Pahell said monotonically. His eyes were hollow. Urich smacked the back of Pahell's head.

Thump.

Suddenly, Count Kanna sat up. He realized there was a commotion outside. He peeked his head out the door to try to assess the situation.

“U-Urich!”

Count Kanna fell on his butt in shock.

The knights guarding the door were arguing with Urich.

“Man, just let me in for a moment. I have something to ask that Kanna guy or whatever his name is.”

Urich stepped forward as he spoke.

“We haven’t heard about your visit, Sir Urich.”

The knight addressed Urich with the utmost respect. At the moment, Urich held more influence than any other noble in the kingdom. Although he was just a mercenary leader, he was practically a nobleman, owning a private domain.

“So, you’re going to stand in my way?” Urich threatened, and the knights to flinch.

‘Damn it, Urich here.’

Count Kanna trembled behind his door. He had heard the rumors about Urich several times.

The wandering bards of the Porcana Kingdom had eagerly crafted songs about Urich.

'They say he skins people alive or folds a human's spine with his bare hands... I’m sure the songs are all massively exaggerated, but such rumors must in fact imply his brutal nature.'

Urich was the prince's closest friend. There was a possibility that he had come all this way to avenge Phillion on behalf of the prince.

'I'm i-innocent, but if that barbarian could d-definitely kill me before I even get a trial.'

Count Kanna stepped back as he trembled in fear.

'Please, don't let the door open. Protect me, you knights.'

Count Kanna pulled out a silver sun relic from his pocket and prayed.

Creak.

The door opened. The knights looked at Count Kanna with a sense of mourning, as if they were bidding him farewell.

"Are you Count Kanna?"

Urich entered and immediately asked him, tapping his wooden club on his shoulder.

"Y-yes, that's me."

Count Kanna tried his best to stand tall.

'I'm not a criminal. Be brave. Lou will acknowledge me.'

Urich sat down and gestured Count Kanna to sit with his chin.

"Sit down. Pa..., no, Varca thinks you killed Phillion."

"I swear to Lou, I did no such thing."

Count Kanna responded immediately. He was terrified of Urich's every word. He felt like he might wet himself.

"Whether you're innocent or guilty doesn't matter. What's important is that Varca believes that you were the one who killed Phillion."

Urich twirled the wooden club, making a menacing sound as it cut through the air.

"But I believe you're innocent. So, let's go and prove it to the prince."

Thump.

Urich moved his hand, striking Count Kanna's ribs with the club.

"Urgh, Ack."

Count Kanna clutched his ribs with a stream of saliva drooling out of his mouth. He looked up at Urich.

"Y-you just said you believe me!"

"I do believe you. That's why you should trust me. I'll prove your innocence for you."

Urich's eyes gleamed as he raised the club high, proceeding to beat Count Kanna.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Count Kanna screamed in protest, but Urich was deaf to his pleas. Casually, he continued swinging the club, turning Count Kanna into a bloody mess.

'I'm going to d-die. I'll die at this rate.'

Count Kanna crawled on the floor with blood dripping down. Urich grabbed him by his leg.

"Phew, this should be enough."

Urich wiped the sweat from his forehead. Count Kanna's body seemed sufficiently battered.

"P-please, spare me. I-I really didn't do it."

Count Kanna trembled and begged. Urich laughed, dragging him by the leg.

"You don't have to tell me twice. I know that you didn’t do it. You're innocent, don't forget that."

Clunk.

Urich opened the door. The knights gawked in horror at the sight of a man turned into a bloody pulp.

Drag.

Count Kanna resembled a pig being dragged to the slaughterhouse, leaving a long trail of blood.

Urich walked across the palace courtyard as he whistled joyously. Maids screamed upon seeing the bloody Kanna, and nobles covered their mouths, whispering 'barbarian.'