Chapter 74:

Chapter 74:

Chapter 74: Return

Sirius looked at Windwall.

The path to Windwall touches the heart of the Empire.

If Windwall is taken, the Empire dies.

“Brothers and sisters, today we rewrite history. Yulia, that wicked and bloodthirsty tyrant, has stained this land with poverty and fear through her greed.”

Sirius recalled the past.

The memory of starving at the Haven Orphanage.

No matter how many times he pleaded, the Empire abandoned the orphanage.

“Remember our friends and family who perished under the Empire’s oppression. While we starved and shivered in the cold, they were simply drinking wine in front of their warm fireplaces.”

The commander of the anti-Empire forces, Sirius, could not forgive the Empire.

“Saintness of Vengeance, bless us!”

The saintess, Eileen, stepped forward.

And quietly prayed.

“The starlight is watching over us. We will not lose our way even in the darkness!”

Sirius spoke.

“Everyone, advance! Fight until our swords pierce the tyrant’s heart, until our spears bring down her minions! Until freedom spreads across this land, until the starlight proclaims our victory!”

The anti-Empire forces advanced.

The tide had already turned.

The Empire could never bear the weight of its karma.

​​***

“Hmm. What a load of nonsense.”

Yulia remarked simply.

From atop her tank, she assessed the battlefield.

Troops, disadvantaged.

Morale, broken.

Righteous cause, lost.

Ascal, gone.

Yulia was no fool.

This war was likely unwinnable.

Still, she chose to be here because it was better to grasp at a slight chance than to face a slow and certain death.

“Prime Minister Debrue, where is our Empire’s Devil?”

“He fled.”

“How... How can this be? Without him, what are we to do...”

How laughable.

For a general to be so weak.

The Empire had been rotting from the core since Yulia became Empress. No matter how competent Yulia was, she couldn’t revive a decayed tree.

‘If only I had found Ascal a little sooner.’

Would she have been able to save the Empire then?

This was a time too late for regret.

​Yulia had already let Ascal go.

She wanted him to live happily.

But a small part of her hoped.

That in this crisis, he would appear like a hero.

‘Ascal. What are you doing right now?’

Yulia slowly opened her eyes.

“As expected, there’s no way he would... What, what is that?”

There was something in the sky.

A white horse with wings and a giant white dragon were flying in the sky!

“Isn’t that... the legendary Pegasus?”

“Then, is that the mythical White Dragon?”

Like children, everyone looked up at the sky.

Both the Empire and anti-Empire forces stared dumbfounded at the sky.

Why on earth are there Pegasus and White Dragon here?Visitt novelbin(.)co/m for the latest updates

And then, a song began to be heard.

A voice amplified by a mana stone echoed in their ears.

「Bellum cessate, fratres, pax sit in terris」

It was a beautiful woman’s voice.

But then.

“She really can’t sing...”

“Wow, that’s terrible...”

They lost their strength.

The adrenaline that had been surging drained away at this ridiculous sight.

And so.

Both sides lost the timing to advance.

​​***

“We’ll arrive at Windwall soon! Ascal, what should I do?”

“If you have nothing to do, just sing to relax.”

“Shall I?”

Ascal took out the mana stone amplifier he had sneaked from Bernstein and placed it near Sushia.

Thanks to that, everyone heard Sushia’s song.

It was a terrible singing voice.

“Hihing!”

Fer expressed its pain.

Thanks to that, Ascal almost fell from the sky.

“But what’s our goal, Ascal? What can we do by getting involved in this war now?”

“Have some peanuts, Bernstein.”

“Thank you, Miss Sushia.”

Ascal looked at Yulia.

“...Lia.”

“Yes, it’s me. Yulia, your Lia.”

“I’ve realized.”

“Tell me. Yes, keep talking. You mustn’t lose consciousness.”

Ascal spoke with a fading voice.

“How to escape from the Empire. This time, for sure.”

“Even at this point, you’re talking about running away again... you’re really consistent.”

Yulia let out a hollow laugh.

“Fine. Keep running, Ascal. No matter where you flee, I’ll find you dozens, hundreds of times.”

Definitely.

“...Ascal?”

“He’s gone. He’s left us.”

Sushia said calmly.

“I’ll follow him. I’ll die with him.”

“No. You have to escape.”

“What’s the use of escaping now?”

“It matters.”

Above Sushia’s head as she spoke, the starlight was shining. It was an unusually bright light.

“Let’s try one more time. Everyone, let’s start over and do it together.”

​​***

“Gasp!”

Ascal woke up.

His whole body was drenched in sweat. It felt like he had been having a nightmare.

His memory was hazy. But the thought that he absolutely had to slay the dragon remained clear.

As he looked around, he was surprised.

There were so many people.

“He’s awake!”

“He’s finally awake!”

Ascal looked around.

Before him stood the Crown Prince, Kain, Devon, Laika, Jerobe, Serena, and Yulia. Along with others.

Elenia and Sushia knelt behind, hands raised.

“You didn’t wake up for a whole week. We were so worried, thinking you were dead!”

The Crown Prince said with concern.

“Of course, if we’re talking about who worried the most, it would be your aid here.”

“I worried a lot too, you know.”

Serena grumbled.

“...Lia?”

Lia, half-collapsed, was sleeping while holding onto Ascal’s bed.

Then, Lia opened her eyes.

“Ascal.”

“Lia. Perfect timing. I have something to say.”

“...Yes?”

Lia looked confused.

“The next Minister of Evaluation is you. I’ll retire after slaying the dragon. I realized that a minister who appoints a successor can legally retire from the Empire.”

“Hahaha! The first thing you say after waking up is retirement! Truly like you!”

“That, that position is too much for me.”

“Ah, no vetoes allowed.”

The Crown Prince laughed.

“Well, you were going to step down as Minister of Evaluation soon anyway.”

“Really? I hope my next position isn’t the guillotine.”

“Such jokes. You’ll like it, I’m sure.”

The Crown Prince hid the appointment letter for the Prime minister behind his back.

It might be too stimulating to show to a recovering patient.

​​***

Ascal resumed his ministerial duties after a long time.

“This can’t be. Why is this work so easy?”

Oddly enough, the work was easy.

It felt like an experienced veteran of over ten years had taken over his body.

​***

Ascal swung his sword.

Seeing this, Lia spoke.

“...I didn’t expect you to be so skilled.”

Then Lia, holding a sword, said,

“I’ll help you with your training.”

“It’ll just sully your eyes.”

“No. Ascal, you’re very skilled right now. It’s as if, with just a small push, you could break through a wall.”

“...A wall?”

Lia’s voice changed.

“You’re close to becoming a Swordmaster, Ascal.”

Ascal squinted.

“The evil spirit hasn’t left, I see.”

“Yes. Call me that if you want. It doesn’t matter. I’m far more useful for training than that other one. Come at me, Ascal.”

“Die, evil spirit!”

Yulia sighed.

Then, she smiled softly.

[TL: You can support the translation and read 5 chapters ahead of the release here on Patreon: /OracleTls]