Chapter 271 : Chapter 271

Chapter 271

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Imperial Castle of the Heinrich Empire.

“Your ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Majesty, the Boundary and Barrier have begun to waver.”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍White Duke, who had secretly sought out the Emperor, delivered his report.

“The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Curse of the Anomaly that the Barrier had held back will begin spreading more actively.”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Emperor was already aware of that fact.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was also the moment he had long awaited.

“The age of transcendents is ending, and the age of those striving to attain the Presence of Transcendence is beginning.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

The White Duke congratulated him as the course of the world flowed according to the Emperor’s will.

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s attention, Eurasia and Cornelia have grown tremendously.”

When he mentioned the two kingdoms that had recently begun to make their names known across the Continent once more, the corners of the Emperor’s lips rose faintly.

“Fruit tastes best when plucked at the peak of ripeness.”

Hundreds of years ago.

Even Edan Eurasia, who was considered the man closest to attaining the Presence of Transcendence, ultimately failed to cross that threshold.

“Because he lacked enemies who could serve as stepping-stones for his growth.”

That was why he put Simon Eurasia and Hegel Cornelia, the Superhumans hostile to the Empire, through trials.

And then.

“Killian Eurasia.”

“…….”

“I expect a great deal from that boy. He may reach 9-Star faster than Simon Eurasia did.”

9-Star was merely a stepping-stone toward the realm of transcendence.

At the proper time, they would all become sacrifices for his own transcendence.

“What has become of Isaac?”

“The first experiment was a success. We will soon begin the second experiment to bring him to 9-Star.”

The White Duke answered respectfully.

There was no need to report that he had captured a Eurasian knight during a brief excursion and spirited him away for his personal use.

“I shall commit the Magic Tower’s full strength to collecting the Curse of the Anomaly.”

With that final report—one that would not incur the Emperor’s displeasure—the White Duke withdrew.

“Lord.”

Left alone, the Emperor looked down at the shadow writhing beneath his feet.

“The time you promised is drawing near.”

As though conveying its will, the shadow writhed violently.

“Chaos will descend upon the world.”

The smiling Emperor declared it with certainty.

***

Clink.

When he moved his arm, the chain binding it rattled.

Clink. Clink.

His feet were bound as well.

Even when he tried to use Mana, his Mana Heart did not respond.

That meant these were no ordinary chains.

‘Damn it.’

Yulian cursed inwardly and let his straining body go limp.

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

The northern Frontier.

He had personally pursued a mage lurking near the Boundary and discovered that the man appeared to be an Archmage connected to the White Magic Tower.

Yulian had immediately asked Portran, Aron, and Gala for help. Since Killian was away, they had also needed permission from Serena, the acting commander.

“It’s dangerous. Knowing how to use Carpe Illusion doesn’t mean you can hunt every Superhuman.”

Serena had told him to wait until Commander Killian returned.

“Don’t you know that time is everything when gathering intelligence? I’m the Second Sword of the Extermination Squad. As far as I know, that gives me at least this much discretion.”

He had persuaded her by invoking his position as the Second Sword.

Of course, the fact that the other three members of the Extermination Squad agreed with him had also played a part.

And so, they resumed the pursuit.

The White Magic Tower mage, who appeared to be an Archmage, traveled to a private estate on the outskirts of the Empire. After infiltrating it, Yulian witnessed an enormous experiment.

‘I have to tell the Commander about this.’

Otherwise, Eurasia was certain to lose the coming war.

‘I hope the others make it out and deliver the news…….’

While he held their pursuers back with Carpe Illusion, the members of the Extermination Squad scattered and fled.

‘If it hadn’t been for that monster…….’

At that moment, a voice spoke.

“Knight of Eurasia, you are entertaining some interesting thoughts.”

A man had approached without betraying the slightest trace of his presence and now stood before him.

“Isaac Heinrich…….”

“You dare speak the name of an imperial family member so freely.”

Tap. Tap.

Isaac approached and prodded the spot over Yulian’s Mana Heart.

“Ghk…….”

Yulian coughed up blood as the backflow began.

“If I put my mind to it, disposing of a wretch like you would be nothing.”

Press.

He drove an index finger shrouded in Evil Energy into Yulian’s chest.

“Kahk…….”

‘Had I not intervened personally, even this one would have escaped.’

High-ranking knights trained in the movements of Walkers.

The Extermination Squad—the hidden blades of Eurasia, personally forged by Simon Eurasia and Escardo Schtenberg.

They were the bastards who had hindered imperial espionage along the eastern Frontier for years.

Their achievements had gone beyond all bounds after Killian Eurasia became their commander.

Tap. Tap.

“Kaaaargh…….”

“I hear the Extermination Squad ranks its members by strength.”

Isaac knew that the squad’s First Sword, the right hand of its commander, Killian Eurasia, was a green-haired female knight.

“Which Sword are you?”

“The Empire’s intelligence really is pathetic.”

“…….”

“You don’t even recognize Lord Yulian, Second Sword of the Extermination Squad.”

Yulian, who had been writhing from the backflow moments before, looked at him with contempt.

“Come to think of it, you were the Second Prince too…….”

“……?”

“Couldn’t you…… show a little mercy?”

His face brimmed with sincerity.

Isaac stared at him in disbelief for a moment.

“Pfft, hahahaha!”

Then he burst into raucous laughter.

Few could say such a thing while their lives hung by a thread.

Isaac had lost the struggle for the throne and been stripped of everything he had built.

All his Superhumans had been absorbed into Krusty’s forces, leaving him with nothing but his wretched body and his life.

To Isaac, who was swallowing his rage and waiting for an opportunity, Yulian’s attitude felt refreshing.

“Listen, Yulian.”

“As fellow second-in-commands…… can’t you sympathize with my plight?”

“Come under my command. Do that, and I will spare you.”

“…….”

“If you wish, I will even grant you a title. And I’ll make you…”

Poke, poke.

Isaac jabbed his index finger over Yulian’s heart.

“A Superhuman.”

“……!!”

Yulian’s eyes trembled at the completely unexpected offer.

The realm sought by all who walked the path of the sword.

Sword Master.

“You know it yourself. Reaching 6-Star at a young age and breaking through the wall are two entirely different matters.”

It was the stage at which countless so-called geniuses met with despair.

There was a reason people said that even someone who mastered 6-Star at a young age might devote the rest of his life to training without ever setting foot beyond the wall of 7-Star.

Fred Perry, who had been personally instructed by Escardo Schtenberg, had failed to cross the wall. Head Apothecary Loen Favre had reached 7-Star at an age when a knight would normally be considering retirement.

There was no knowing what the future held for Yulian either.

“I will help you.”

Isaac continued with a confident smile.

“Countless Superhumans have been born by my hand.”

Whoosh.

An immense Existence Force radiated from his body.

The black Mana represented the level he had achieved as a knight, while his Evil Energy, akin to that of a ruler of the mountains, was a trait he alone had brought into bloom.

“Take my hand.”

Though he had lost the struggle for the throne, his abilities as a knight had earned him the title of duke.

If Yulian took his hand, he could wield power comparable to the royalty of a kingdom with the Empire’s authority behind him.

And on top of that, he had even been promised the realm of a Superhuman in private.

“Heh heh heh.”

Yulian chuckled.

“When you say you’ll make me a Superhuman, do you mean through ‘that method’?”

The corners of Isaac’s lips rose at Yulian’s courteous response.

No one could refuse when the realm of a Superhuman was dangled before them. Even Isaac himself had been unable to do so while training under the Black Duke.

“Yes. I do not care for certainties, but someone at your level would have a high probability of success.”

It was an intuition he had acquired from watching countless test subjects succeed and fail.

According to that intuition, this man named Yulian had a high probability of reaching the realm of a Superhuman.

“I see. So that’s how it is…….”

Yulian’s eyes gleamed as if he were picturing himself as a Superhuman.

Then Yulian grinned and met Isaac’s gaze.

“I refuse.”

“…….”

Isaac’s face twisted violently.

“Did you fail to understand what I meant?”

“The offer to make me a Superhuman was tempting.”

There was someone Yulian desperately wanted to defeat.

“But she’s an even greater genius than I am. If I reached the realm of a Superhuman through ‘that method,’ I don’t think she’d acknowledge me.”

“You have a woman in your heart.”

“Huh, how did you……? No, no! This is a knight’s desire to prevail—yes, something like a competitive spirit!!”

Yulian rambled with a flustered expression.

“Stop trying to shake me with such strange claims!”

Then he suddenly shouted at Isaac.

“Now that I look at you, you do seem somewhat mentally unstable.”

“Do you think I’d trust a man who resorted to sorcery after losing to our Commander?”

He was not such a foolish knight that he would betray his dead comrades.

“I’m Yulian, Second Sword of the Extermination Squad!”

Isaac laughed loudly at the shout that sprayed blood without regard for the backflow.

“I have changed my mind.”

Whoooooosh.

“You need to die.”

Yulian’s face stiffened at the immense Evil Energy radiating from Isaac’s body.

“H-haha……. Damn it. We’ve got a bond as fellow second-in-commands, so couldn’t you at least kill me in one…….”

CRUNCH—!

“Kgh…….”

Yulian looked down at the hand piercing his body.

The pain was incomparable to the backflow, and he vomited blood again and again.

His consciousness blurred.

Clench.

He felt Isaac Heinrich seize his Mana Heart.

“Die.”

Sssssss.

The Evil Energy radiating from Isaac’s body coiled around Yulian.

“Die and become a piece I can use to capture Killian Eurasia.”

As the pain began to devour his mind, a woman appeared in his thoughts.

“That isn’t good enough. Don’t hold the Commander back.”

She had always been exceptionally cold toward him.

***

“Orchid, this information is reliable, right?”

“Mmm-hmm~ Tial Salamander of Bacardi personally looked into it for me.”

Orchid answered with a nasal hum.

She had entered into a personal contract with Tial Salamander.

Bacardi had no ties to Eurasia, but its leader, Tial Salamander, had been providing Orchid Owl with information as part of their dealings.

‘None of the information Orchid has brought me so far has been wrong.’

As the guild master of Absinthe, she would have verified it in her own way before reporting it.

‘Yulian wouldn’t have gone in so deep without a reason…….’

On the surface, he seemed frivolous and obsessed with besting Serena, but in truth, he was more thoughtful than anyone else in the Extermination Squad.

‘Did he see something he had to confirm even at the risk of his life?’

Around the time that thought crossed Killian’s mind, Serena, whom he had summoned through a servant, arrived.

“Hello~”

Serena’s eyes lit up briefly when she entered the bedroom and saw Orchid Owl.

“That idiot finally did it…….”

Her expression stiffened when she heard Orchid Owl’s information.

“Leading his squadmates into danger like that—Yulian doesn’t deserve to be the Second Sword.”

Her voice rose.

The memory of losing squadmates before her very eyes had returned to her.

“Calm down, Serena. This isn’t the time to assign blame. I called you here to discuss a solution.”

“……I’m sorry.”

Serena bowed her head.

“So, where do you think Yulian is being held?”

“A private estate on the outskirts of the Empire~”

“A private estate?”

“The estate belongs to Isaac Heinrich~ Ehehehehe.”

Killian’s and Serena’s expressions stiffened at once.

“The only one definitely captured is that husk Yulian. I don’t know what happened to the others.”

The Extermination Squad always secured escape routes in case something went wrong.

‘Yulian probably made himself the bait.’

The situation was so dire that even those who had escaped could not make contact.

In that case, there was only one thing to do.

“Serena, prepare yourself.”

Killian issued the order as he watched Serena regain her composure in an instant.

“We’ll find them ourselves.”