Chapter 22
Kieeeek!
The moment Pirande arrived at the Imperial Palace with the carrier pigeon occurred.
“Hmm?”
The Grand General was flustered by the carrier pigeon’s blatantly glaring eyes.
“What kind of carrier pigeon is this fierce…?”
Checking belatedly, he saw a white bird dead in its talons, its neck torn open.
Wait, did it kill it while the latter was bringing a letter? To hunt and eat it?
That thought lasted only a moment.
“Isn’t this the Grand Duke of the North’s carrier pigeon?”
The Grand General, Akam Bellos, realized what kind of bird Pirande had killed.
[So you’re saying you saw the Grand Duke of the North’s carrier pigeon while flying to the Imperial Palace, and you just killed it?]
Why on earth? That thought also lasted only a moment.
Kieeeeeek!
Pirande, famous for its fierce temper, shrieked once again.
“Ah, right, I should Check that first.”
Akam collected both Pirande’s letter and the white bird’s letter.
Kieeeek!
As soon as the collection was done, as if it had no more business here.
He quietly watched Pirande leave without looking back.
“…!”
Grand General Akam Bellos was startled as soon as he checked the letter.
“What on earth is this?”
[Grand Duke of the North Grand Treason Cleanup Executioners Elite Force]
It was a list of five words.
It was short and simple, but this alone allowed Akam to immediately understand the situation in the Northern Region.
[Treason? Treason?]
How dare they do such a thing?
They had taken the Empire’s support without an ounce of gratitude.
They now forget that grace and dream of Treason.
Thud!
The momentum leaking out from his anger created spiderweb-like cracks beneath Akam’s feet.
“How could they so easily decide on such a grave matter that could spill the blood of the Northern Region’s Imperial Citizens.”
If they had instead made the absurdly arrogant demand that they wanted independence.
He might have been able to overlook it.
It was true that they were guarding the Northern Region well, and it was a fact that they had silently done the dirty work.
Of course, even that was unacceptable, but it would have produced a better outcome than this.
Treason was truly the worst possible move they could have thought of.
“Summon all the Imperial Guard Knights, and inform the Executioners of this fact as well.”
“Loyalty!”
The Grand General’s words spread quickly and secretly.
And so, they soon reached the ears of the Executioners.
“We’ve been gathering often lately.”
“…”
“Ugh, since Tin Can isn’t here, I’m the only one talking.”
The Center of the Five Palaces was where the Executioners resided.
There, Arveda scratched her head and observed the other Executioners.
“Will you die if you speak? Why isn’t anyone saying anything?”
“…”
“Ugh, whatever. What’s the point of me talking, anyway? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince summoned us all, so we have to go.”
“…”
“Using Magic in the Northern Region is a bit annoying. So, Fairy, you help out a bit.”
Fairy.
As soon as she spat out that word, Arveda turned her gaze to the side with an “oh crap” expression.
The mouth of the Executioner next to Arveda opened.
“If you look at my current appearance and call me a fairy just once more, I will tear your limbs apart and shove them into a livestock pen, and I will watch it every day. Mmph.”
A rapid-fire barrage of verbal abuse that made it hard to understand how he had held his tongue all this time.
Arveda urgently reached out with a fed-up face and covered the Executioner’s mouth.
“I get it, I get it! Ugh, you crazy pufferfish-like bastard! You’re really throwing a fit. Anyway, help out. It’s His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s order.”
“…”
What a load of bullshit.
Arveda couldn’t understand how these socially inept things listened to the Crown Prince’s words so well.
To be exact, they were listening to the Master of the Empire, but right now, that is one and the same.
“I will help you, but the time of the covenant is not far off. So, if there is no progress by then, I will mmph.”
“Stop, stop it, my ears are killing me. Arveda, why did you make Half-Pint needlessly open his mouth and cause this mess.”
“…It’s been so long since I talked to him that I forgot the part where he throws a fit.”
“Anyway, seeing him talk like that means he’ll cooperate.”
“Old Man, you’re going too, right?”
“It’s the word of the Master of the Empire; how could I disobey?”
With the words of the Executioner called Old Man.
Even the Executioner who remained silent until the end nodded.
Unanimous acceptance.
As soon as Arveda confirmed everyone’s expression of intent, she headed straight to where the Grand General was.
Figuring out the Grand General’s location was incredibly easy.
Because all she had to do was find the person exuding the fiercest momentum in the Imperial Palace right now.
“…The Executioners have all gathered as well. Then, let’s go immediately.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to ride a horse all the way to the Northern Region?”
“The Northern Region is an environment where it’s difficult to use Magic, so isn’t it unavoidable? I know Teleport carries a huge risk.”
Grand General Akam Bellos had summoned all the Imperial Guard Knights and was already mounted on his horse.
Looking ready to gallop to the Northern Region right this instant.
However, seeing that, Arveda shook her head.
“That takes too long; it seems like a matter that needs to be handled immediately.”
“Do you have a method?”
“I do; we just have to use the power of Mystic Power.”
Mystic Power.
At that word, the one called Fairy stepped forward.
Trembling his index finger as if he had germophobia, he poked Arveda’s horn.
“Gather close, we have to go all at once. By the way, everyone is fine with falling from a high place, right? Ah, but for reference, you shouldn’t go near him…”
“You crazy, trash, dirty, and disgusting Human, dare approach my Territory? I want to cut off your neck right now and use it as an alarm clock to wake me up every morning. Mmph.”
“He says he’s ready, let’s start immediately.”
Old Man covered Fairy’s mouth and immediately gave Arveda a signal.
Arveda and Fairy finished tuning their Magic and Mystic Power.
“Teleport.”
“Kailum.”
They used their respective powers to instantly transport everyone to the Grand Duke’s Castle in the Northern Region.
Figuring out the coordinates was incredibly easy.
The Covenant.
Because it strongly bound the Master of the Empire and the Executioners together.
+++++
“W-What on earth is this…”
Swooooosh!
The Northern Region was the Territory of the Grand Duke of the North.
Therefore, the Grand Duke of the North could immediately grasp the true nature of what was falling from the sky at that moment.
“The Imperial Guard Knights.”
The Empire’s Elite Force.
A Monster group entirely armed with Sword Masters.
Those who existed solely for the Imperial Family, and wielded their swords for the Imperial Family.
Their loyalty never fell behind even when compared to that of the Romper Church.
“The Grand General.”
The existence was called the Empire’s Foremost.
The strongest sword.
A superhuman who knew no defeat.
In truth, even just this much would be incredibly burdensome.
“Has the Northern Region changed like this? I think it was a bit warmer a thousand years ago.”
“…You remember that time?”
“You’re asking the obvious.”
Even the Executioners are falling leisurely.
[Even at this moment, the Northern Region’s Troops are gathering quickly, but.]
Even so, could they really defeat them?
If the battle dragged on, would there really be a chance of winning?
Various thoughts complicatedly dizzied the head of the Grand Duke of the North, Preon.
His brain, spinning faster the more urgent the situation, derived the optimal answer.
[Subjugate the Crown Prince before the incident begins in earnest.]
The Crown Prince was doing nothing and just quietly grasping the situation.
If he could just capture him, the current tide of battle would definitely be greatly overturned.
“Everyone! Strike the Crown Prince!”
A short and concise order.
This was the case since the Imperial Palace’s support had not yet arrived.
An order was given to draw out the best result during this short time.
“Loyalty!”
Following Preon’s words, the Knights drew out their fierce Aura and immediately rushed at the Crown Prince.
Swooooosh!
While the Knights' rush came smashing the floor, the Crown Prince then quietly watched the sight.
“Everyone, Turtle.”
He lightly spat out words that no one but Pavan would understand.
And right after that.
Clank, clank.
A massive amount of steam suddenly spewed out from Pavan’s armor.
“Executing.”
Slash!
The legs of the existences called Sword Masters, called the Ideal of a Knight, were severed in an instant.
“Kuaaaagh!”
“W-What! What on earth happened!”
“Was it a sword? A greatsword, he swung a greatsword!”
“Did it stretch…? I couldn’t see how.”
Even as their legs were being cut off, the Knights of the Northern Region maintained their composure.
Physical loss brought about a Human’s most fundamental fear, but.
They had resolved themselves for this much since they first thought of Treason.
With the mindset of making do with what they had, they used their severed parts as supports and charged at the Crown Prince.
[If we catch him, if we just secure the Crown Prince!]
[In the end, no matter how strong they are, they won’t be able to do anything if we hold the Crown Prince hostage.]
[His Highness the Grand Duke is behind us anyway! If we just open a path!]
They thoroughly ignored the Executioner next to him.
He wasn’t an existence they could handle in the first place by paying attention to him.
Besides, if they aimed for the Crown Prince, he would naturally focus on their side to protect him.
If that happened, it would become easier for the Grand Duke of the North to aim for the Crown Prince.
In reality, this strategy was excellent.
Tap.
He could cut off their legs in an instant.
Their arms were blocked by their torsos, so he couldn’t strike them away all at once.
Pavan blocked the front of the Knights to carry out the Turtle order.
Boom!
Right at that moment, Preon, who had been continuously aiming for an opening, moved.
He instantly approached striking distance with a rough Earth-Shattering Step that smashed the floor.
As soon as he saw the Crown Prince, whose expression was stiff as he looked at the empty air, anger surged in him, Preon wondering what the Crown Prince was looking at.
[Can you not even react? Crown Prince, you do not know battle. You, who just smile like a fool inside the Imperial Palace…!]
Right before being grabbed as a hostage, he tried to slash the Crown Prince’s body diagonally with his sword to make it easier to control the situation.
“You’re crazy. How dare you.”
Thud!
Right before Preon’s sword touched the Crown Prince’s body.
The Grand General dropped in between them and struck the sword away just like that.
“Arveda, this place is scheduled to disappear as of today, so evacuate the civilians who know nothing.”
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, could you perhaps attach one more person to me?”
“…Alright, do so.”
“Thank you very much. Fai - no, you Kid over there! Come this way!”
“…”
And in the midst of that, as if Preon wasn’t even in his sights.
The Crown Prince still maintained his composure just like at the beginning.
“Crown Prince!!!”
Preon became spiteful as soon as he saw that sight.
The Crown Prince laughed as if amused while looking at Preon’s infuriated appearance.
“You don’t have to call me like that, and don’t worry. You will definitely die.”
A chilling smile.
Preon, whose mind was briefly stolen by that smile.
“To look away while leaving me here.”
Smack!
He took the Grand General’s swinging kick head-on and was smashed into the wall.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I will definitely punish that man.”
“Grand General, thank you. Still, before he receives his punishment, I’d like him to be made into a Turtle first.”
The Crown Prince spat out those words and looked around.
He could see the Imperial Guard Knights, who had landed belatedly, slowly slaughtering the Knights of the Northern Region.
They shouldn’t be killed right away. This was troublesome.
“Today is a day to observe Northern Turtles, so everyone should go easy.”
My aquarium will be ruined at this rate.
++++++
[ All Executioners have been summoned. ]
[ The Empire’s Probability of Destruction increases. ]
[ Current Empire’s Probability of Destruction: 90% ]
[ Status Summary: The Empire has a very high probability of being destroyed within 5 years. ]
[ The Empire’s Probability of Destruction has surpassed 90%. ]
[ The Probability of Destruction caused by The Covenant does not advance the time of destruction. ]
[ Because the Probability of Destruction due to The Covenant has surpassed 90%, a clue about The Covenant is provided. ]
“…”
No, the Probability of Destruction went up by a raw 10% just because I summoned all the Executioners?
[There’s definitely a penalty for using all of them.]
They weren’t Bio-Nuclear Weapons for nothing.
[It’s like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.]
Still, it was really good to be able to confirm it this time.
Indeed, the Probability of Destruction went up, so I even got to Check the clue about The Covenant.
[The tide of battle is… too advantageous.]
Even though two Executioners were missing.
The Northern Region’s Troops, which were gathering in real-time, were no match for The Center.
The Grand Duke of the North, revealed to be a Grand Master, could not overwhelm the Grand General.
He couldn’t overwhelm him during that time. The Knights of the Northern Region were becoming Turtles one by one.
“Tin Can, no, Pavan. What on earth is a Turtle?”
“A Turtle is cutting off the arms and legs. If you cut off the neck, it’s a teapot, so you must only cut off the arms and legs.”
“Haha, wow… Understood.”
Thud! Boom!
The Executioner with the old voice swung two large hammers.
Every time he swung, the limbs of the Northern Region’s Troops could be seen being crushed, even though they didn’t touch.
And the Executioner was standing silently.
“…”
Without knowing what he had done, he was steadily reducing the number of Knights.
I don’t know how much they prepared.
The treason that the Grand Duke of the North had prepared so confidently flickered precariously like a candle in the wind.
To think they prepared Treason just with this.
Just how much did they look down on the Imperial Center?
I was having those thoughts.
Slash!
“Keugh!”
After a short engagement, he finally severed Preon’s knees.
With an Executioner intervening while he couldn’t even overwhelm the Grand General,
Preon becoming a Turtle was, in a way, a very simple sequence of events.
Step, step.
I slowly took steps toward Preon, whose eyes were still alive.
“Preon, judging by the state of things, it doesn’t seem like you’ve prepared for Treason for a very long time.”
“…What does that mean?”
“Speak, who on earth instigated you?”
“You’re saying incomprehensible things.”
“Is it the whore of the Maselin Kingdom, Mirne?”
“She is not a whore - keugh!”
Not to be able to answer the question properly.
What a pity this is.
Having one’s ears open only after being beaten is behavior fit for a beast.
How could the Grand Duke of the North, no.
The Former Grand Duke of the North be doing thatI couldn’t understand.
Like that, as I was trying to extract information before killing Preon and giving him the punishment for Treason.
“Ah, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and this…”
The Grand General took a letter from his arms and handed it to me.
“This is…?”
“It is the letter the Northern Region’s carrier pigeon was trying to send.”
“That white bird?”
Where on earth was the Northern Region trying to contact?
I actually prayed and prayed that the place they were contacting was Maselin.
Then I would have a justification for war, and I could just drop the Executioners right after lowering the Probability of Destruction.
But unfortunately
“Romper Holy Nation… Haha, you tried to borrow the power of foreign forces for treason.”
It wasn’t Maselin.
The Romper Holy Nation is in the Southern Region.
There’s probably a Male Lead of 'Jupeobae' there too.
It was such a fitting excuse to give me to make contact.
In fact, the Former Grand Duke of the North could be seen as having done a patriotic deed for the Empire in a certain sense.
[Preon probably won’t want to say a single word related to Maselin.]
Then I just need to torture him appropriately and kill him here.
Therefore.
“Grand General.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Let us begin the Empire’s tradition.”
“To use His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s metaphor, it’s Turtle and Human.”
“Yes, I will begin Turtle and Human.”
You should receive the punishment for Treason in earnest from now on, right?
Besides, the Northern Region Nobles who participated in the Treason must still be alive.
[I’m quite busy these days.]
I have to keep doing the Grand Cleanup, too.
But originally, a Grand Cleanup was inevitably a task that took a lot of time.