IWAEBS - Chapter 180 < I Didn't Betray You >



The guests gathered in the monastery dining hall exchanged glances with the people next to them, unable to digest what Emperor Lapion had just said.

The guests were once again surprised by Linel's face, whose complexion had drastically deteriorated in the past few days.

"Are you saying that the pirates from the Principality of Aklatto and Tanya Island are really coming here?"

Grand Duke Martins asked him again.

Linel nodded to the Grand Duke and opened his mouth again.

"From what I checked on the spire, the flags of the Principality of Aklatto and the flags symbolizing the pirates from Tanya Island were definitely there. They seem to be ready to attack, but unfortunately, the number of knights we have now is not enough to deal with them."

He calmly looked around at the tense guests and informed them of the reality.

"But shouldn't we do something? Are you saying that we should just sit back and take it?"

Emperor Katria asked Linel, who seemed to have already decided to surrender, while tapping his clothes in frustration.

“If we don’t fight back, we can minimize the damage.”

Linel said confidently. Then,

“But how can you be sure? What do you trust in the ignorant barbarians of Tanya Island?”

Prince Tesla countered. The majority seemed to agree with the Prince’s opinion.

“If they wanted to fight us all-out, they would have already attacked us loudly.”

He continued, not looking at Prince Tesla but at the guests.

“For now, we have placed knights around the monastery spire, the entrance, and the surrounding buildings.”

“How about a preemptive strike?”

Prince Tesla suggested.

“As Your Majesty said, our current forces are no match for them. In this situation, a preemptive strike without thinking is suicidal.”

Prince Norton crushed the Prince’s opinion on Linel’s behalf.

“If they attack indiscriminately, we will all have to fight to the death, but if there is something they want... I think the best way is to resolve it through dialogue.”

Linel knew exactly what they wanted, but he couldn’t tell the guests. They would soon find out anyway without having to explain it to them.

“Oh, and there’s something I didn’t tell you in advance.”

Linel’s deep, low voice made the atmosphere even heavier.

“The Empress’s condition has worsened since last night, so I must inform you that she had no choice but to leave for the Tebello Empire with the Magic Tower Lord this morning.”

Here and there, sighs of concern for Zelda’s condition leaked out.

“No, how bad has Her Majesty’s condition been that she went to the Tebello Empire when she didn’t know where Galako would jump out? Did she leave with a proper escort?”

Grand Duke Martins asked with a worried voice.

“As you know, Galaco is sensitive to sound, so having many escorts is more dangerous. Therefore, I decided to send her first after receiving advice from the Magic Tower Lord, who has been monitoring the Empress’s condition. I ask for your understanding.”

Linel turned his eyes to Grand Duke Martins and the guests one by one.

The guests seemed to respect his choice.

“How lucky you are. To be the only one to escape from such a dangerous situation...”

Princess Resilia muttered.

Then Melanie, sitting in front of her, glared at the Princess and muttered softly.

“Huh? I’ll lose...”

When Princess Resilia glared at Melanie, Melanie closed her eyes as if to tease the Princess and spat out a series of curses with her mouth.

After a while, when Rosie, sitting next to her, tapped Melanie’s arm, she finally opened her eyes.

***

After finishing a short meeting with the guests, Linel was the first to leave the restaurant.

As he and Raphael were walking toward the spire, Emperor Adrian’s voice was heard from behind him.

“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it? Emperor Adrian.”

“If you had told me in advance, I would have sent someone to guide Her Majesty the Empress to the Tebello Empire.”

Linel, who had been looking back at Emperor Adrian with a cold expression, changed his expression completely at his unexpected suggestion.

“How about sending my entourage after them right now?”

Emperor Adrian approached Linel and spoke to him secretly, at Linel’s reaction.

“Who do you have in mind when you say this...?”

“I think it would be better to send Empress Elan.”

“Your Empress?”

Linel tilted his head.

It was a suggestion he would not have thought strange normally, but right now, the Elanji Forest was quite dangerous because the Galacos were spread out.

And now you want her to go after the Empress's entourage, who left his favorite Empress first?

However, considering Emperor Adrian’s personality, it was not a particularly strange favor.

Wasn’t Emperor Adrian the kind of person who treated his Empresses like knights?

He thought back to the martial arts competition between the Empresses that Emperor Adrian had led during the welcoming party for the VIPs at the Lapion Imperial Palace.

Empress Elan was someone who had been talking to Zelda all along.

From Linel’s perspective, there was no reason to turn down Emperor Adrian’s favor.

He needed someone more to help Zelda. It would be a great thing if Empress Elan, who was also good at swordsmanship, arrived at the Tebello Empire and served as a guide.

“It hasn’t even been three hours since the Empress’s party left, so if we hurry, we might be able to catch up today.”

“Empress Elan is particularly good at handling horses, so there will be no problem. Then I will take your permission and tell Empress Elan to prepare to leave.”

“Thank you, Emperor Adrian.”

He expressed his sincere gratitude.

“No need. I am also someone who wishes for Her Majesty’s complete recovery.”

Emperor Adrian smiled politely and turned around.

***

“Huh? Right now?”

Empress Elan was taken aback by Emperor Adrian’s sudden order.

“Empress Zelda has business for our empire, so we must guide her there. There are two things you must take care of.”

Emperor Adrian smiled sinisterly, brushing back his short silver hair.

Emperor Adrian grabbed Empress Elan’s shoulders with both hands and gave her orders.

The first is to obtain the incarnation sword that the Magic Tower Lord possesses, and the second is to confirm the identity of the wyvern that most likely followed Zelda.

Empress Elan’s eyebrows flinched for a moment.

“Especially if you obtain the Incarnation Sword for me, I will welcome you as my Empress as soon as you arrive at the palace.”

Emperor Adrian said, looking deeply at Empress Elan.

Before her surprised expression disappeared, Emperor Adrian kissed Empress Elan on the lips for the first time.

“Your Majesty...!”

Empress Elan’s face turned hot.

“There is no time to catch up with the Empress and her party. You should leave now.”

Empress Elan, who had simply packed her bags at Emperor Adrian’s urging, picked up her sword for the last time.

“Then I will see you again in the Tebello Empire, Your Majesty.”

“Elan, my future Empress! You must not hesitate to swing your sword.”

“That means...!”

“Kill anyone who gets in your way. It means that if the Empress is in danger, there is no need to step forward.”

“...Yes, Your Majesty.”

Empress Elan answered politely as always and turned around.

***

“You must not go back now, Your Majesty!”

Bellos blocked my path.

“Get out of the way, Magic Tower Lord.” 

I turned my horse’s head and ran, but I was overtaken by Bellos on the large hill leading down to the monastery.

I pointed to the sky and shouted,

“Look, the Galacos keep coming towards the monastery!”

“That’s why you shouldn’t go.”

Bellos was calm but very firm.

And even Commander Macrom stopped me.

“The Magic Tower Lord is right. We have been ordered to safely escort Your Majesty, the Empress. Even if something happens to the monastery... You can’t turn back here.”

“Macrom, are you saying that you don’t care if His Majesty is in danger?”

“The person I have to escort right now is Your Majesty, the Empress.”

What?

It seemed like Linel had given them some kind of strict order.

As if... He had expected something like this to happen.

“There are people in the monastery that I have to protect, not just His Majesty.”

Even as we talked, I continued to ride my horse towards the monastery.

“Your Majesty, it’s really dangerous from here. This is a hilly road, so we could be seen by the group heading to the monastery right now.”

Bellos overtook me again and blocked my path.

My horse and Bellos’s horse faced each other and grumbled.

“His Majesty will never want you to come back. I guarantee it.”

“But...”

The heavy words of Commander Macrom, who was also Linel’s long-time friend, made me hesitate.

“It is in His Majesty’s best interest for Your Majesty to arrive at the Bellos Empire as soon as possible and be healed from the evil aura. And...Your fever seems to have subsided compared to yesterday. Did you take any magic potions?”

Bellos raised one hand and asked, checking my energy.

“Yes, I haven’t felt as hot lately, but I drank it because I felt like the symptoms started this morning.”

I touched the right side of my face and replied.

“Good job. You only have one potion left, so you have to get to the Tebello Empire and get the ‘Yakante’ herb before it runs out. So there’s no time to go back.”

“Let’s go now, Your Majesty, the Empress.”

I had no choice but to turn my horse back the way I came, after being stopped by the two men.

My eyes fell on Bonis, who was moving beside the Commander.

Bonis looked very scared.

I felt sorry for making her anxious with my stubbornness. If I continued to head to the monastery like this, there was a high chance that I would run into the group leading the Galacos to the monastery, just as Bellos had said.

My actions were inconsiderate of Bonis, who was not good at swordsmanship.

“I’m sorry for startling you, Bonis.”

I apologized to her.

“No, Your Majesty, the Empress. Don’t say that to me...”

This situation must have been scary because it was unfamiliar, but Bonis tried to smile.

“Ah, lemon tea, I’ll drink it now.”

I thought of Sharon, who was still at the monastery, and since I was thirsty, I wanted to drink the lemon tea she had made.

Then Bonis took out the water jug ​​that was hanging next to her saddle.

However, for some reason, Bonis held on to the lemon tea jug tightly, put it back, and handed me another jug ​​on the other saddle.

“Uh, you can drink the lemon tea later after your meal. For now, I think it would be better to replenish your water with water...”

“Yes.”

Actually, I didn’t care what I drank, so I took the jug Bonis handed me and took a long sip.

Bonis let out a small sigh as I watched myself drink the water.

When I snickered, Bonis laughed along.

At that moment, Bellos shouted urgently.

“Watch your back!!”

Keeeeek-!

I heard Galaco’s tearful cry quite close by, so I was startled and turned around.

One of the Galacos, hiding somewhere in the forest, found our group and rushed towards us, drooling.

The two snake heads of the hungry Galaco opened their mouths towards me.

I quickly drew my sword.

“I’ll have to deal with this, Moiya~.”

Moiya stuck hia head out of my uniform pocket.

“Don’t come out and stay as a squirrel.”

“But Moiya is bored, I want to fight Galaco... Yes, Master.”

When I squinted my eyes, Moiya obediently put his head back into my pocket with a timid expression.

I waited for Galaco to come closer and then knocked both heads off at once.

However, the moment Galaco died, it let out its characteristic cry, calling out to the other Galaco.

“Damn it.”

The two Galacos that had been wandering in the sky far away turned and flew towards me.

“Run as fast as you can into the forest now!”

At the shout of Commander Macrom, the party rode their horses back to the forest we had passed.

***

“What is that?”

Palto, Hetor’s right-hand man, turned and saw Galaco heading somewhere. He looked through his telescope with a strange thought.

Galaco was chasing the people on horseback.

“Your Majesty! Look toward that hill.”

Palto handed Hetor the telescope and pointed at the hill with his finger.

“Are they those who escaped from the monastery?”

Hetor muttered after looking through the telescope.

“What’s going on?”

Joe, the knight commander of the Principality of Aklatto, was standing next to him. Hetor silently handed him the telescope.

Joe looked through the telescope and shouted in surprise.

“Lord of the Tower?! No, why is Lord of the Tower here...?”

“Who? Lord of the Tower?”

Hetor asked back.

“Yes, Your Majesty. One of the people who entered the forest was definitely the Lord of the Tower. Why is he here in the Elanji Forest with the Incarnation Sword?”

When Knight Commander Paul mentioned the 'Sword of Incarnation', Hetor's indifferent gaze changed.

"Are you sure it was the Sword of Incarnation?"

"Yes, if you are a knight of the Duchy of Aklatto, you can recognize the Sword of Incarnation from afar."

"Palto! Go and capture them right now. If they resist, kill them all, and just bring me the Sword of Incarnation."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

At Hetor's order, Palto led his men and began to chase after Zelda and her party.

***

Thud-!

Arrows began to strike each tree.

In the sky, Galaco, and on the ground, a group shooting arrows blocked our path.

“Who are these people following us?!”

“Judging by their attire, they seem to be pirates from Tanya Island.”

Bellos looked back and answered me.

“Why are they on the continent...”

Before I had time to think deeply, arrows flew indiscriminately.

As we entered the forest, the Galacos hesitated and circled the sky, perhaps because of the arrows, but the pirates were unstoppable.

‘If we keep running away, more enemies might chase us.’ 

There was no more evasion.

After dealing with them, I had no choice but to deal with Galacos.

“Macrom, take care of Bonis.”

I said to the Commander as I took out my bow and arrow.

Commander Macrom didn’t answer, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw his horse standing with its back turned to Bonis.

Bellos struck down the flying arrows with his Incarnation Sword, and Commander Macrom and I took out the pirates one by one with our bows.

Fortunately, the arrows that flew hit the target as soon as they were shot.

However, the arrows were falling more and more. It was the same for them, so in the end, we had to fight with our swords. At that moment, a horse's whinny was heard, and Commander Macrom fell from his horse.

His horse was hit by an arrow and flailed, so Commander Macrom, who was aiming his bow, lost his balance.

"Macrom!"

"Commander!"

Both Bonis and I called him at the same time.

However, I couldn't get to Commander Macrom.

Instead, I shot arrows at the hearts of the pirates who were aiming at Commander Macrom.

"Commander, get on my horse."

Bonis quickly got off her horse and helped Commander Macrom up as he fell. Commander Macrom limped. He probably hurt his leg when he fell from his horse.

Bellos and I looked at Commander Macrom with worried eyes.

"I'm fine."

Commander Macrom bent down to pick up the bow he had dropped.

As soon as Commander Macrom finished speaking, Bonis's shout spread through the forest.

"Commander! Be careful, ugh! Arrows... are coming..."

Bonis wrapped her arms around Commander Macrom’s waist and fell down with him.

Two arrows were stuck in her back.

“...Bonis!!”

I got off my horse and ran to her.

“Come to your senses!”

“Zelda-sister...”

Bonis looked up at me and called me by my name, not Empress.

My tears fell like crazy on Bonis’s pale cheeks.

“I’m sorry... h, I’m really sorry... ha, but...”

“What are you talking about? It’s okay, everything’s okay, so don’t say anything, please don’t say anything!”

I kept stopping Bonis, who was trying to say something, and stroked her face with trembling hands.

The more I spoke, the weaker her breathing became.

“Thank goodness... I, I didn’t betray you...”

“No. No, Bonis... Bonis? Bonis!!”

Bonis closed her eyes in my arms, leaving an incomprehensible ending.

She was dead.

It felt like flames were rising from her entire body.

I pulled out the two arrows stuck in Bonis’s back. Then I left her to Commander Macrom and stood up.

I didn’t want to pierce the enemy’s heart with the arrowhead stained with Bonis’ blood, so I wiped the arrowhead with my hand.

Then, a flame rose from my palm and spread to the arrowhead.

I pulled my bow without hesitation, leaving the Magic Tower Lord's surprised expression behind.

The burning arrow passed through the enemy’s heart and even pierced the heart of the guy behind him, but the fire was still burning fiercely.

I quickly pulled out the arrows stuck in the tree, put them in the quiver, then wrapped the arrowhead with my hand again and lit it, shooting without hesitation.

The guys panicked and panicked at the arrows flying at them.

After I shot all the arrows I had left, they got off their horses and came toward me.

There were about twenty of them. If Commander Macrom wasn’t seriously injured, the three of us, the Magic Tower Lord and I, could easily take them out. I felt Commander Macrom limping to his feet.

You laid Bonis down well, right?

I tried not to cry, not to look back at Bonis.

You can cry after you kill them all.

I steeled myself.

“Take it.”

The Magic Tower Lord handed me the incarnation sword he was holding.

I accepted the incarnation sword as if it were mine, quite naturally.

As I held the Incarnation Sword in my hand, the red jewel embedded in the center of the sword hilt sparkled. Then, I felt heat fill my palm and flow through the entire sword.

For a moment, it was so hot that I almost dropped the sword, but I held the hilt tighter.

I quickly looked around at the men who had killed Bonis and cut off the windpipe of the one standing on the far left.

The one next to him also quickly raised his sword, but with that movement, he too fell at my feet.

I mercilessly cut them down.

The louder their screams became, the clearer Bonis’s last breath seemed to be, and it was painful.

In fact, at some point, I lost my mind.

It felt like Bonis’ death was all my fault.

I should have been more careful about safety.

If only I hadn’t been infected with evil energy in the first place.

No, if only I hadn’t headed to the Tebello Empire to obtain the ‘Yakante’ herb used in magic potions.

Guilt was running rampant.

The clothes and flesh of the enemies I cut with my sword burned.

The incarnation sword seemed to absorb the fire I had and re-radiate it.

Another group was approaching from afar.

“Knights of the Principality of Aklatto,”

Bellos said, recognizing their attire.

“Then I should kill them all.”

There were more knights than I had thought, but it was already too late to dodge.

I’m not scared.

What I was most scared of right now was Bonis’s death.

The knights of the Principality of Aklatto mounted their horses and surrounded us, pressuring us so we couldn’t escape.

I, the Magic Tower Lord, and Commander Macrom gathered in the middle, back to back.

We decided to divide up our share of the attack, and we turned our backs again, wishing each other well.

As we continued to fight frantically, I saw the Magic Tower Lord's sword fly and sink into the ground.

When I looked at the Magic Tower Lord, he was already surrounded by the knights of the Principality of Aklatto.

I ran straight to where the Magic Tower Lord was.

I threw the incarnation sword to him and rolled to the side to grab another sword that had been thrown nearby.

But the moment the Magic Tower Lord grabbed the Incarnation Sword, Galaco, who had been hovering in the sky, waiting for an opportunity, came down with sharp claws aimed at his back.

“Get down!”

When I shouted, the Magic Tower Lord turned his head and fell backwards. Just before Galaco could snatch the Magic Tower Lord away, he stabbed the Incarnation Sword into the center of Galaco’s chest.

Galaco flew to the other side with the Incarnation Sword still in his chest.

“...Damn it!”

I slammed my fist into the ground.

At that moment, a strong wind blew behind me.

When I turned around...

Kkeueek-!

Another Galaco was already ascending into the sky, biting Bonis, who was lying down as if asleep.

My heart sank.

I threw the sword I had picked up at Galaco with all my might.

The range was ridiculously short.

“Bonis... No!!!”

At the sound of my howls, Moiya, who had transformed into a squirrel in my uniform pocket, returned to his original form and quickly ascended into the sky.

“Master, I’ll bring her back!”

“...Come on!”


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