Arc 4 : Epilouge

[Alisha POV]

Eight months had passed since I returned from the Aragon Empire.

By now, the Tsardom of Slavia had begun to recover from the monster attack that had devastated many regions across the nation.

It was all thanks to the investment from the Garcia family.

With their money, we were able to rebuild everything and begin rising from the devastation.

"Alisha, what is your view on the outcome of the war between the Aragon Empire and the Republic of Venetia?"

I was in Father's office, discussing the end of the war with him.

The outcome of this war would certainly affect not only the two nations involved in the conflict, but also the other nations surrounding them.

"In my opinion, politically, the Empire won the war, while economically, the Republic of Venetia came out ahead," I answered Father.

I then explained that the Empire's political relations with the nations on the western mainland of the continent had improved because of the construction of production facilities and the establishment of fixed pricing regulations in their markets.

However, because of the war reparations they had to pay to the Republic of Venetia, the costs of constructing those production facilities, and their inability to monopolize prices, the Empire's treasury would decline drastically.

This would certainly affect their economy over the next one or two years.

On the other hand, although their western territories had been devastated, the Republic of Venetia would continue receiving a considerable amount of money from the taxes imposed on goods entering from the Empire.

However, their influence over the economy of the western mainland would decrease somewhat.

I did not understand why they had agreed to this peace pact.

Could it be that they had already prepared a long-term plan for a situation like this?

I did not know.

What I did know was that their people had always understood business better than anyone else on this continent.

"I see..." Father muttered, seemingly contemplating my analysis.

He then smiled at me with an unusual expression.

"What is it, Father?" I asked him.

"It's nothing, Alisha. I'm simply happy that you've grown into such a beautiful woman and become so intelligent in handling matters concerning this country."

I smiled bitterly at Father's words.

Although I wanted desperately to lead this country toward a better future, I had less than a year left to live.

"But I'm glad that our country has finally recovered from last year's crisis," I said sincerely.

"Indeed. It's all thanks to your engagement to Duke Alvaro's son—Raul de Garcia," Father said, his tone noticeably different from before. "However, Alisha... I'm afraid karma may come back to haunt us for doing this."

Karma?

What Father was referring to was our agreement with House Garcia.

In exchange for providing our country with hundreds of thousands of Gulden in investment to rebuild the regions that had been destroyed, the House Garcia had requested the engagement of their heir to me.

However, because I would not live much longer, the agreement could be considered unfair, since in the end, our side would be the one benefiting the most.

Yet I had always assured Father that what we were doing was not wrong.

For the sake of this nation's prosperity, we had to do whatever was necessary, even if it meant resorting to methods as cunning as this.

"Don't worry, Father."

I held his cold hand.

"Whatever future awaits us, this country will surely continue to stand strong."

"Thank you, Alisha."

After talking for a while, Father stood up and prepared to leave the room.

It was unusual for Father to leave the palace at this hour of the night.

"Where are you going, Father?" I asked him.

"Ah, I'm going to meet Duke Alvaro at one of the production facilities to discuss the progress of the project," he replied casually.

"But why don't you simply invite him here? You don't have to leave the palace just to meet him, do you?" I asked again.

"Alisha, I and this country already owe him a great deal," Father said as he put on his winter coat. "I don't want him to feel that he's being looked down upon after everything he has done to help this country."

"I see..." I muttered, feeling slightly uneasy.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

For some reason, I had a bad feeling about this.

I watched as Father opened the door.

He then smiled at me and said,

"Good night, Alisha."

"Yes... Good night, Father. Please be careful on the way."

He nodded before closing the door, leaving me alone in the room.

---

[Duke Alvaro POV]

It was the middle of the night, and the weather was bitterly cold.

I was inside a room at a production facility built to meet the needs of this nation's various industries.

My meeting with Tsar Feodor would begin soon.

He was undoubtedly still on his way here.

At present, I was sitting at my desk, reading reports concerning the outcome of the war between the Aragon Empire and the Republic of Venetia.

I was rather surprised by the result.

It had not matched my previous predictions.

At the time, I had expected the Empire to lose, considering how poor their military system had been before its recent reforms.

- Meow...

As I was reading the reports, I suddenly heard a cat meowing.

I immediately stood up and bowed my body forward as though welcoming someone.

- Shriingg!

Suddenly, a blinding light appeared.

I then heard footsteps inside the room.

"You chose a gloomy place to execute your plan, Alvaro."

I straightened my body.

Before me stood a beautiful woman with black hair and bluish skin, her sensual figure giving her the appearance of an ordinary woman at first glance.

However, the true identity of this woman was that of an extremely dangerous creature.

She was an Archdemon named Lilith ur Luciferus—the youngest daughter of the Demon King.

It remained a mystery how an Archdemon like her could enter the Barrier placed by the Goddess without performing a magical ritual.

"Welcome, Your Highness," I greeted her.

"Hmm... So you are reading the reports about the war," the woman said, glancing at the documents on my desk.

"Indeed. The outcome was outside my expectations," I admitted.

"Hooo~ Was this because of the person who infiltrated your son's body again?" the Demoness asked me.

"I do not know," I replied. "However, ever since that person entered my son's body, all of my predictions have continued to be wrong. He is an unpredictable variable."

"Then why haven't you dealt with him yet?" the Demoness asked again.

"I am still being cautious because I do not want to underestimate someone capable of killing a Holy Knight," I answered. "If I act recklessly, I could be the one who dies by his hand."

Preparation was essential when executing a plan.

That was why, unless I was certain I could eliminate the man who had entered Raul's body, I would postpone it.

I would strike him when he least expected it.

"Let's change the subject," the Demoness said, looking at me with her red eyes. "After this war, the Empire did not weaken as you predicted. So, do you have another plan to make the nation that will cause us demons trouble become weak and powerless?"

"Of course," I replied with a smile as I contemplated the scenario.

"At present, only Elena de Aragon is capable of preventing the Empire from falling apart because of a civil war. Therefore, we must kill her before she can become the next Emperor."

Hearing my plan, the Demoness touched her chin as though contemplating something.

"Elena de Aragon? Didn't you say she was the weakest candidate in the succession?"

"Indeed, Your Highness. However, the person who infiltrated my son's body is currently supporting her. At the time, I did not realize that her potential would become this great," I explained. "That is why, when the time comes, could you help me execute my plan, Your Highness?"

The Demoness smiled upon hearing my words.

"Of course. I'm also quite interested in the man who infiltrated your son's body."

"However, Princess, there is still one plan I must execute tonight."

Indeed.

Tonight, I would begin my plan to destabilize this nation so that when the Demon King's forces descended upon this world, this nation would be easy to conquer without meaningful resistance.

"Ah, I almost forgot about that," the Demoness said as she walked toward the window and opened it. "But are you certain you can do this? Doesn't that man possess power equivalent to an Archwizard?"

Her words made me laugh softly.

"Fufufu~ I would not do this if the chances of success were low."

"Very well, then. Meet me again once your business is finished."

She then transformed into a bat and flew out of the room.

I waited for Tsar Feodor's arrival while preparing everything for the difficult battle that was about to come.

After approximately an hour, the door to the room opened, revealing a short-haired, gray-haired man with a rather imposing physique.

"Duke Alvaro, have you been waiting long?" Tsar Feodor asked as he offered his hand.

I accepted it and smiled.

"No, Tsar Feodor. I'm glad you came here, even though you could have asked me to come to your palace."

"Duke Alvaro, your family has already done so much for this nation. There is no way I could—"

- ARRGGHHHH!!!

His words were cut short when he heard a scream coming from outside.

"Huh? What happened to my guards!?" Tsar Feodor turned around and tried to open the door.

However, the door would not open.

I had already placed a powerful magical seal on it.

The man then turned around and stared sharply at me.

"Duke Alvaro, what does all of this mean?" the man asked me.

He seemed to have realized that I had done something to this place.

"It's exactly as it appears, Tsar Feodor."

"You will die tonight."

I said those words as I activated a spell.

"Magical Domain... Abyssal Realm!"

The room suddenly transformed into a valley illuminated by only a faint light.

Shadows moved across the area, gathering around my body.

"So this is the purpose behind your visit to this nation? You're incredibly naive if you think preparations like these alone are enough to kill me!" Tsar Feodor said as he activated his own spell.

"Magical Domain... Frosty Throne!"

A massive Ice Castle suddenly appeared behind Tsar Feodor.

Magical Domain was a mage's secret weapon.

It was the equivalent of the Awakening possessed by magic knights.

This power could release the limitations on the Mana and usage of the magic we wielded, causing the Output of our magical attacks and defenses to increase several times over.

Very well...

Let us enjoy this battle.

---

[Raul POV]

The soldiers returned to their respective hometowns seven months after the war ended.

I then returned to my home in the Duchy of Toledo because the academy had given the students who participated in the war more than two months of leave so they could rest.

During this war, thirteen third-year students were recorded as having died after participating in the conflict.

The number was higher than the casualties suffered during the war against the Kingdom of Weimar twenty years ago.

Not long afterward, the carriage I was riding finally arrived at the gates of the Garcia Family Castle.

The guards opened the gates and allowed my carriage to enter.

However, I sensed something strange as soon as I entered the castle grounds.

Alfred and several servants were standing in front of the castle entrance, their expressions grim.

I got down from the carriage and approached the Head Butler.

"Alfred, what's wrong? Why does everyone look so gloomy?" I asked him.

Hearing my question, the old man seemed to struggle to find the words.

He took a deep breath before slowly exhaling.

"Young Master, there is terrible news that has befallen this family," the old butler said.

"Your father—Duke Alvaro—has died alongside Tsar Feodor in an incident in the northern nation he was visiting."

- Thump!

My heart nearly stopped.

Duke Alvaro is dead?

That was impossible!

He was the Main Villain of the game Path of Destiny!

There was no way he could have died because of some random incident that happened while visiting the Tsardom of Slavia.

Besides, how could Tsar Feodor have also died in an incident connected to the Duke!?

Something was wrong here.

I had to investigate this in the Tsardom of Slavia.

There was no way a man as slippery and cunning as Duke Alvaro would suddenly die for some unclear reason like this.