Chapter 68
Quite uniquely, the Imperial North and the Eastern Region did not use Cultivation Methods derived from Sol Bellos.
If one had to be precise, they possessed properties so different they could be considered exact opposites.
Rather, Cultivation Methods that seemed to stand on the opposite side of Sol Bellos had taken root.
In the case of the North, the power of winter did so.
And the Eastern Region received such an assessment because it used the power of the sea.
Was that why?
Knights of the Northern Region and Eastern Region did not have a good relationship with knights who learned Cultivation Methods derived from Sol Bellos.
Since the direction of their powers was fundamentally incompatible, one could say they naturally drifted apart.
Nowadays, that aspect has been alleviated to some extent.
But in the past, when the Crown Prince was acting like a pushover, it was truly severe.
And naturally, the bad blood from those severe times still remained.
However, even that bad blood was built upon the underlying belief that they were all on the same side.
A mindset of “if anyone”s going to insult them, it’s us, and if anyone’s going to hate them, it’s us.'
They genuinely disliked each other, but there was enough trust to entrust their backs to one another during a war.
You could call it a love-hate relationship.
But for that power.
“I do not think Kailen Marin betrayed us. No matter how much of a love-struck fool he is, and even though he committed a crime, I don’t believe he lacks judgment to that extent.”
To appear in such an unexpected place - the expressions of the Imperial Knights instantly rotted away.
Some were completely expressionless, revealing a coldly chilled anger.
“I can also understand why you brought out that power. Thinking simply, you probably assumed the Wave Aura would have a type advantage against us.”
It merely possessed the opposite property; there was nothing more to it than that.
If there had been, the lineage of Sol Bellos would have been severed long ago.
Furthermore, the Imperial Center would have had to walk on eggshells around the Grand Dukes.
“Seeing as you brought out that power without knowing anything, Kailen Marin must not have taught you. If he had, you would have hidden it thoroughly.”
It was just a difference in nature; it did not hold superiority.
The power of the Empire was absolute, and that absolute power came from Sol Bellos.
They didn’t think Kailen Marin would have taught them while leaving out this core information.
He was a fool, but his talent was still among the top in the Empire, which was why he was able to become a Grand Duke at a young age.
If he had taught them, he would have informed them thoroughly, and that thoroughness would have included the rule: “Never bring out this power against the Empire.”
“Besides, I don’t see the undulating Aura unique to the Eastern Knights. I should say you’re merely imitating a wave.”
Grrrnd.
The Imperial Knights slowly twisted the swords lodged in the lower backs of the Maselin Knights as they continued speaking.
“Let’s form a hypothesis. Someone asked Kailen Marin to try using the Marin Cultivation Method… and while he was demonstrating it, you copied that Cultivation Method.”
Kuaaaagh!
They completely ignored the screams that followed.
“But it probably didn’t go well, since Kailen Marin’s dantian was shattered in the first place. It wasn’t broken by just anyone, but by His Highness himself, so the difficulty of recovery must be absurd… That’s why this half-baked wave came out. Am I right?”
They weren’t asking any specific person.
It was a question thrown at all the Maselin Knights present.
This was a situation where Imperial Knights were interrogating Maselin Knights right in the middle of the Kanda Kingdom.
If one were to set aside the difference in martial prowess and look only at the situation, it would have been right for the knights of the Kanda Kingdom to intervene.
['What should we do?']
['Stay still, stay perfectly still. Never offend them.']
['I will even breathe carefully.']
['Yes, you’re doing well. Do not try to stand against a natural disaster. Can you defeat a calamity? Can you fight against a drought, a tidal wave, or an earthquake?']
['We cannot.']
['Just pray that it passes. Pray earnestly.']
The knights of the Kanda Kingdom knew what was most important at this moment.
Face? Chivalry? Pride? Honor? Ego? None of that mattered.
The core issue was the survival of the Kingdom.
Only if the Kingdom existed could they keep their titles as knights.
Therefore, the Kanda Kingdom’s Troops quietly observed the situation, as silent as dead mice.
“Is no one going to speak? Speaking now is the only chance to make things easier for everyone.”
The Imperial Knights swept their gazes over the Maselin Knights.
Obviously terrified figures entered their sight.
“Abandon the expectation that keeping your mouths shut will make us treat this as an individual Knight’s deviation.”
The Imperial Knights explained to them what would happen next.
“We will use this as justification to invade the Maselin Kingdom. We will hunt down every Knight residing in the Maselin Kingdom and ask if he or she knows about Kailen Marin’s Cultivation Method, and if he or she hesitates even slightly, we will kill him or her. To show that there is no mercy for those who covet what belongs to the Empire, we might just wipe out the seed of every living, breathing Knight in the Maselin Kingdom.”
If they truly thought these words were just spat out to scare them, that was fine too.
At those calmly spoken words, the expressions of the Maselin Knights turned pale in real time.
Some were so overwhelmed with fear that they slumped to the Ground, pissing themselves.
Some had the tips of their hair start to turn white, and some lost consciousness imagining the impending future.
“So speak, before you step out of the Shadow of the Empire and face the True Sun.”
“Keuhhuk… Ugh… Uuugh…”
The Knight who had first used the Marin Cultivation Method cried, unaware that a blade was still lodged in his lower back.
Despite his legs being severed and having no sensation in his lower half, a terror far greater than that consumed his brain.
Thus,
“…Th-That’s right. That hypothesis is correct… That is what happened…”
He spat out the truth.
“Was the one who asked Kailen Marin for a demonstration of the Cultivation Method Mirne?”
Even though a mere Knight was calling the Kingdom’s Crown Princess by her name without honorifics.
No one could point out the disrespect.
“…To be exact, because His Highness Kailen Marin’s dantian was shattered… it happened during the process of trying to recover it.”
“Recovering a shattered dantian?”
“Y-Yes. Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess… in order to help His Highness Kailen Marin recover his dantian… asked for a demonstration of the Cultivation Method… and since it wasn’t just for a day or two, it naturally took place in public areas as well… so the knights naturally ended up seeing it…”
“And among the knights who saw it, there are those who imitated it like you did, is that it?”
“…I am not certain. I only know about myself.”
“I suppose so.”
Slash.
With those final words, the Knight’s head rolled vainly across the Ground.
“Since the situation has come to this, it can’t be helped.”
The Imperial Knights continued to discuss through their gazes how things would unfold from here.
It didn’t take long. In truth, what they had to do was clearly decided.
“Every Knight of the Maselin Kingdom will have to undergo the Empire’s inspection.”
“…”
“If there are many who learned the Marin Cultivation Method, we have no choice but to inspect them all.”
Of course, this plan could only be executed once final approval from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was given.
“Staff #1, Teo! I have just received a message from His Highness!”
Teo, who knew this better than anyone, had been relaying the situation to the Crown Prince in real time.
Thus, as soon as the knights reached their conclusion, Teo took a stance to deliver the Crown Prince’s will.
“Everyone, smash your heads into the Ground.”
At that moment, the knights exuded a fierce Aura.
“Consider it the honor of your lifetimes that the Noble will of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince enters your ears.”
The place where an imperial command is received must be solemn.
It doesn’t matter if it was in the middle of a Battlefield or in another’s Kingdom.
When a supreme will touches the Ground, how could the location matter?
Thud!
The knights of the Maselin Kingdom and the Kanda Kingdom hastily slammed their heads into the Ground, without exception.
Confirming that everyone had bowed his head, the Imperial Knights showed proper etiquette and waited for the Crown Prince’s decree.
“My Swords, listen.”
Ruuuumble.
My Swords.
At those words, the Imperial Knights barely suppressed the corners of their mouths from reaching their ears.
It was a place to hear an imperial command. They knew it was right to maintain a solemn expression.
But they were incredibly overjoyed that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had used the expression “My Swords”.
And in this situation, Teo silently continued speaking.
“Do as you will, do not hesitate, and remember that the Sun is behind you.”
As soon as Teo’s words ended, the Imperial Knights simultaneously unleashed their maximum Aura.
An era where a Sword Master became the pillar of a Kingdom.
In the Empire, being a Sword Master was merely the foundational groundwork to be called an “Imperial Knight”.
“Heuuuuk…”
“Uuuugh…”
The knights of other nations, who had been barely holding on, collapsed without resistance under the pressure they emitted at full power.
“As you command!!!”
Remember that the Sun is behind you.
Recalling those words, the Imperial Knights looked down at the Maselin Kingdom’s knights, who were trembling with their heads shoved into the Ground.
“You will all have to become our prisoners.”
They didn’t do anything like tying them up.
“Rebellion will not be tolerated.”
Because there was no need to.
“If you’re curious, you’re welcome to try.”
A multitude of Sword Masters with overwhelming martial prowess.
“Guide us to the Maselin Kingdom.”
They began preparations to head to the Maselin Kingdom to verify the Cultivation Method.
+++++
Right after hearing the report that the Imperial Knights were heading to the Maselin Kingdom.
['I see why Mirne placed such importance on the Original Plot Development.']
I understood why Mirne had tried so faithfully to follow the Original Plot Development.
It was surprising to think things would turn out like this just by deviating from the plot a little bit.
['Originally, I was planning to go to Maselin myself with Eiloren.']
I’ll have to put that off for a bit.
If I intervened now, the knights might think they weren’t being trusted.
I decided to leave them time to shine, and instead, what I needed to do now was…
“I should resolve the third covenant.”
[ The World Tree Context:
If I intervened now, the knights might think they weren’t being trusted.
I decided to leave them time to shine, and instead, what I needed to do now was…
“I should resolve the third covenant.”
[ The World Tree says it remembers the regressions with you. ]
[ If you consume the World Tree Root, you can read the Memories of Regression more clearly. ]
[ As a reward for saving Eiloren, the root imbued with Memories of Regression holds the regressions with you. ]
[ If you consume the World Tree Root, you can read the Memories of Regression more clearly. ]
[ As a reward for saving Eiloren, the root imbued with memories related to Pavan’s Covenant is revealed. ]
…to clearly figure out what Pavan’s Covenant was.