NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 79
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The descent of the Sword Saint, now fallen to the title of King Assassin.
The appearance of Maximilian, “The Hero of All Times.”
The intrusion of the warmonger, previously recorded only as an unidentified ghost.
Shocking news struck the Empire and the Holy Kingdom that the heroes leading the Third Racial War to victory fought fiercely enough to turn the Immortal Fortress into a wreck.
I can’t believe it.
Countless nations gaped in shock at the series of events.
However, the ruins of the Immortal Fortress revealed the truth of the infighting within the Saintess Party. The Boemon Kingdom suffered devastating damage from the clash of top-tier warriors.
“Maximilian…! Even Maximilian has shown up!”
Ludmilla swallowed her breath and clenched her fist.
The Hero of All Times.
The strongest warrior in history.
The Hero and the warmonger clashed at the Immortal Fortress.
The Valtarian Empire’s intelligence reported the developments that erupted at the Immortal Fortress. Upon receiving this, Ludmilla furrowed her brow, recognizing that the Hero and the warmonger, the brothers of the Hohenberc Family, had been fighting.
“What on earth are they fighting over in the Boemon Kingdom? Is there any more detailed information yet?”
“We haven’t uncovered that yet.”
They were yet to determine the cause of the Saintess Party’s disappearance. Yet, unexpectedly, the missing Saintess Party appeared at the Immortal Fortress and caused infighting.
It was natural for the many nations, including the Valtarian Empire, to be in chaos.
I need to get to the bottom of this.
And find out why the Saintess Party had split.
Ludmilla was most worried about Edan’s safety. If he had faced the Hero in a head-on battle, he must have sustained serious injuries.
‘Even if he hasn’t been injured… the mental shock would be devastating.’
Edan always complained to Maximilian, but he had never shown any true hate towards him.
After all, they were brothers and comrades.
Therefore, it was impossible to cut ties.
His annulment of engagement with the Valtarian Imperial Family had indeed dragged the Hohenberc Family into the depths of despair, yet Maximilian remained a member of the family.
“Edan…”
With a heavy sigh that expressed her complex feelings, Ludmilla ruffled her hair.
She wanted to rush to the Boemon Kingdom immediately.
She wanted to embrace Edan, who would be in despair, and comfort him.
However, she was currently tied up with a multitude of important tasks, unable to escape her duties. Thus, she could only pace anxiously while ultimately being unable to leave the Imperial City.
“Mila! Sister!”
Bang-!
The door swung open with a loud noise.
The only person who would dare barge into the Second Imperial Princess’s office without knocking was one person. Unless we’re talking about the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, who had stormed in earlier.
“You can leave now.”
“Understood.”
The intelligence officer from the intelligence department bowed and retreated.
At that moment, a striking blonde woman approached and slammed her hands on the table.
“Did they say Maximilian appeared?! What in the world is happening?”
“I was just hearing about the events that unfolded in the Boemon Kingdom from the intelligence officer.”
Once the news of the Hero Maximilian’s emergence spread, the Imperial Palace was buzzing with excitement.
Naturally, Elizaveta rushed over to Ludmilla as soon as she heard the news.
‘She must still have lingering feelings for Maximilian… It wouldn’t be easy to sever a heart that has been unwavering for over a decade.’
Ludmilla thought Elizaveta had come barging in to find out about her former fiancé’s whereabouts.
But Elizaveta’s response was unexpected.
“Does Edan know the truth? I heard he went down to the Marquisate!”
“Probably… he must know.”
“I have to go down and meet Edan! He must be absolutely shocked to hear that Maximilian has shown up!”
“……”
Elizaveta, still feeling nostalgia for Maximilian while genuinely loving Edan, fussed anxiously.
She appeared quite determined.
It felt like she’d hop on the first train at dawn.
Ludmilla, taken aback, crossed her arms.
‘Should I tell Liza that Edan is the warmonger of the Saintess Party? No, it would be better to decide after discussing it with Edan… That’s something that should be decided by Edan himself.’
If Elizaveta were to find out, she wouldn’t just be shocked; she might faint altogether.
Ludmilla chose silence as she pondered deeply.
*
I couldn’t say it.
That I would take their place,
That I would become the symbol of evil to stop the end of the world.
Coward.
I had the chance to speak, but I remained silent.
Even when they declared they would take on the sacrifice, I hesitated.
‘Father came to mind. Ludmilla and Zebeline… Rue and Elizaveta’s faces flashed in my mind because I fear I may have to sever all connections formed until now… and I hesitated to the very end.’
Those were mere excuses.
Being afraid of ending things and being unable to take action.
I clenched my head and let out a sigh.
Then I slammed my hands on the table, mocking my own foolishness.
“Edan, is it okay for a moment?” “…Yes.”
A short knock followed by a bright voice could be heard.
As permission was granted, a girl with silver hair entered with a faint smile.
“Rue is still sleeping.”
“I see.”
Zebeline seemed to predict Ludmilla would ask about Rue’s condition and spoke immediately. Ludmilla nodded and sighed in relief.
There had been a lot going on today.
It must have been an overwhelming shock for Rue.
As her guardian, she felt a sense of guilt. She feared that the innocent heart of the little rascal might bear an unbearable scar.
“I’m sorry for involving the Saintess as well. It’s turned into a brotherly fight, hasn’t it?”
“I’m fine. If anything happens, Edan will protect me.”
In response to the worried apology, Zebeline smiled warmly and stepped closer to give her a gentle hug.
Light breaths could be heard.
The closeness made even the sound of swallowed saliva audible.
And every time her flowing silver hair brushed against her, the soft scent stimulated her senses.
“You’ve felt guilty ever since the Hero left, haven’t you? Blaming yourself for not reaching out until their parting moment.”
“…….”
“I can see it just by looking at Edan’s wistful face and the guilt in his eyes.”
“…You really are something, Saintess. Do you have some sort of insight?”
Asked with a bewildered voice, Zebeline burst into playful laughter.
It was likely a corny joke.
Yet it seemed to fit her taste, as the Saintess’s laughter continued.
“Reviving the Disaster God of Death is a self-destructive act that can only fail. I will stop them, no matter what. Even if I have to become the Demon King who wields war.”
“……”
She intends to become the Demon King.
To become a new source of threat to humanity.
That would undoubtedly be hard for the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom to overlook. It wouldn’t be surprising if she informed the Holy Kingdom’s Holy Knights immediately.
But Zebeline did not let go of the embrace.
She continued to smile benevolently at the foolish friend lost in thought.
“It’s okay. I will never leave Edan… We finally met, so how could I possibly leave you after all this trouble?”
It was the same again.
Zebeline spoke kindly while recalling a past that I was unaware of.
Where had we met?
She clearly knew me. Yet, I did not know her.
Perhaps Zebeline was the apprentice priest I had met on the battlefield, but I couldn’t comprehend it at all. It was too hard to accept that the apprentice who treated the wounded had now become the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom.
“I think I now understand. Where I met you, and who you are, Saintess…”
“I’ve thought this for a while, but Edan really is a handful.”
I raised my hands.
And gently stroked Zebeline’s head.
Fwoosh-.
The soft touch of her silver hair was vivid.
It felt like the same sensation I had when I stroked the apprentice priest who was silently crying in pain amidst a serious atmosphere.
“I won’t let you be alone ever again.”
Zebeline bowed her head.
Then, she pressed her warm lips against my forehead, making me feel a gentle warmth.
*
Maximilian’s footfalls, as swift as lightning, suddenly came to a halt.
What could be the matter?
Regnas, having noticed him, spoke up.
“Max?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
Maximilian maintained a stiff expression, as if fearing his true feelings would be exposed.
He only occasionally showed a slight smile to his beloved Beatrice.
But today was an exception.
Maximilian’s complexion was heavy, like a dark new moon. Regnas quickly realized that Maximilian was in a troubled state.
“Edan intends to become the Demon King on his own.”
“I think so too. Edan is a kind person who takes it upon himself for the sake of his comrades. Though his way of speaking might be a bit rough.”
The reason Maximilian and the other companions, including Beatrice, excluded Edan from their plans was that they did not want to burden a comrade who had always volunteered for sacrifice and devotion.
He had already done more than enough.
Even though he was an outsider, he had always been sincere in saving the people inside.
They wished him to be a hero.
Let the ones who fall into disgrace be the protagonists of the inside.
“What will happen if Edan becomes the Demon King?”
“A Demon King will be born that cannot even be compared to a lesser Death.”
“A being stronger than the Undying Demon King is hard to imagine. While I acknowledge Edan’s potential, surpassing the Undying Demon King… that’s a tall order.”
“……”
Maximilian did not respond to Regnas’s continued words.
He merely resumed his halted steps.
“…Can I briefly stop by the Hohenberc Family? I won’t take long.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
There is still plenty of time left.
Having delivered the main point to Edan, it was only a hasty exit from the Boemon Kingdom.
Could it be a change in mindset?
Or perhaps a need for space to untangle his complex feelings?
Maximilian, who had always relied on reason and common sense for judgment, rarely expressed emotions. Regnas was taken aback, but he accepted Maximilian’s suggestion cheerfully.