Capital, Imperial Palace.
Edgar Wassenberg visited, requesting an audience.
Two people with supernatural abilities were guarding him by his side.
Elliot Basenberg, the second son with a top-tier fire-based offensive ability,
And the seventh Princess, Bridget Wassenberg, who serves as a rapid liaison between supernatural beings through telepathy.
After confirming that the Duke had entered the audience chamber, Nike immediately dispatched a messenger to Belzer to signal the start of the operation.
It is going according to plan.
However, he couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that was somehow choking him.
It's probably because Vania isn't by his side.
It is truly a foolish power sack for regression ability users capable of handling non-unexpected situations to be gathered in one place.
So Nike was stationed at the institution that was to open fire on the uprising, and Vania was separately positioned by Ryan's side to ensure the safety of the executioner.
It was an efficient choice.
Yes, efficient.
There won't be any problem.
No problem...
'Shit.'
But why am I so anxious?
It is probably due to Duke Wassenberg, who arrived at the Imperial Palace much later than expected, and the eldest son of a family whose current whereabouts are unknown.
"Your Highness."
Just then, Kali approached and whispered quietly.
"I will now go reorganize the troops. However, by any chance..."
"Hey, can you unleash your full power to pinpoint David Wassenberg's location?"
Kali, whose words had been cut off, blinked her eyes and let out a sigh.
"The last location was his own territory, Schnel. And if we get caught following that guy at this point, it's going to be chaos. You are the one who should know the basic ironclad rules of a raid best, so why are you acting like this?"
Nike bit his lip at Kali's words, which shot out like a machine gun.
He knows. Just as Kali said, Nike knows best. That acting suspiciously will only make things worse.
"Do you have tremors?"
Nike clenched his trembling hand tightly into a fist.
"I apologize for saying this, but the young lady has a much higher chance of survival than Your Highness."
"I know."
"Besides, if a problem had arisen, she would have sent a telepathic message to Your Highness immediately, wouldn't she?"
"..."
"Actually, I had a message from the Young Lady. She asked me to convey it when I see this side of you."
Kali cleared her throat and repeated Vania's words exactly.
"One time is enough that you ruined the country because of me, so no twice. Honey, if you do anything stupid just because you're worried about me, you're banned from kissing for a month."
Fast as if reading a script, with a flat tone.
Silence fell between the two.
After a long while, Nike nodded.
"...I get it."
"I must go over the troops. So, Your High, I heard that you remember everything now."
"Yes."
Ahead of the grand undertaking, Nike carried out a task he had long put on hold. He received all of Vania's memories back. It was for the sake of perfect preparation.
Before the regression. Since Nike was the only one that fully remembered the situation of that day.
"I would like to hear your strategy on how you succeeded, my Lord."
And Nike regretted it immediately after receiving the memory.
Because on the day of the massacre, which was finally revealed, there were no surprises as expected.
Rather, it amounted to nothing more than digging up all the memories of Vania, his lover, and that became a major weakness for Nike.
Memories of love, countless memories.
He expected that the depth of his feelings for Vania was such that he wouldn't even hesitate to sacrifice his life for her, but even so, everything was beyond his imagination to the point of being bewildering.
So Nike knew.
He's the only variable that will be a perfect success.
It means that he is the only one who might be unable to make rational judgments or make mistakes because of Vania.
"Your Highness?"
"I didn't need a strategy."
Nike shook his head.
"Then. You just need to gather the people with supernatural abilities in one place. All the Duke has to do is issue a summons for them..."
He recalls Ryan, the slaughterer of that day, whom he remembers vividly now.
"There are no variables. No one survives from Ryan."
***
It was the dawn of the day Ryan Wassenberg massacred all his own flesh and blood, when a blood-red moon rose.
....
...
"Father~ Your son is here! Come crawling out quickly~!"
Nike was at the Wassenberg main castle after receiving a message from Kali, his lover's bodyguard.
The message read, 'This is ominous. Please help save the young lady.'
At the time, Vania was being held captive in the castle's basement, where not a single ray of light could penetrate.
It was the price for copying the special ability <Dark Footsteps>, which was specialized for the final rank, while attempting to escape abroad.
"Since you're going to die anyway, why hide away like a rat to avoid getting hurt?"
And it was at the place where Nike went to rescue Vania that he saw Ryan for the first time.
A man who, accompanied by mercenaries armed with modern weapons, charges straight into the stronghold of superpowered individuals without a home.
At first, he didn't know who it was.
However, seeing that he called the Duke 'father,' Nike realized that he was a person with supernatural abilities who had never been exposed to the outside world.
He soon guessed that he was the one who had been excommunicated after being falsely accused of the 'Konrad massacre'.
The purpose of this sudden intrusion at dawn is probably revenge.
"Wow. By the way, you're really good?"
Nike flinched.
He blended in among them, pretending to be Ryan's mercenaries, fighting alongside the Wassenberg soldiers blocking the way.
It wasn't the intended situation.
Nike did not know that such a massacre would take place until he arrived at the main castle that day.
He simply needed the Duke's key to open the basement door where Vania was imprisoned, but his path inevitably crossed with Ryan's ascent to capture him.
Naturally blending in with the group of intruders pushing through without hesitation was a fairly wise strategy.
The problem is... that it bounced a little.
"But why do you only use a sword? Revan must have given you tons of good weapons. Haven't you adapted yet?"
Ryan, who had been keeping an eye on Nike amidst the many mercenaries, suddenly ripped off his mask and tossed it away.
And as soon as he saw Nike's face, his eyes widened in surprise.
He wonders if Ryan recognized that he was of royal blood.
If so, the fact that he is Vania's lover is also...
"W-what?! He's totally handsome?"
...Nope.
Nike was confused. This was because he could not understand at all what kind of person Ryan was.
How can he act so nonchalantly after boldly barging into the territory of those with supernatural abilities?
The power of the formula weapons that armed the mercenaries was strong, but it was not enough to defeat the superpowered.
Nevertheless, Ryan spoke as if he would subdue all the superpowered individuals.
Surely, he must have another reason to rely on.
Nike heard from Vania that Ryan, the child abandoned long ago, is incompetent, but...
'No.'
Nike realized it instinctively.
That man who roams this place confidently with nothing but his bare hands, without a single fear.
It was clear that he was at least an offensive type of ability user.
Was the reason for the first raid on the Wassenberg Private Corps to gather the ability users together and eliminate them?
So, Nike asked out of the blue. For Vania's safety, he had to figure out Ryan's intentions.
"Oh? To think you're even curious about something like this in a money-driven employment relationship!"
Ryan said, impressed by what he saw.
"To answer your question, yes. Numbers 1, 2, 10, and 11 are a bit tricky."
It seemed to refer to people with special abilities.
David Elliott, Christa, Vania.
Holders of strong attack-type blesses.
"I have no idea where anyone is or what they are doing. They have so many titles and land that they are in this castle and that castle, wandering around like they have it easy, and I don't have the knack to keep track of every single one of them."
It is rare for a Duke to summon all members of his family. However, today was an emergency situation where he had no choice but to issue a summons.
Not long ago, he was attacked by mercenaries sent by an unknown enemy.
That was a 'trap' Ryan set to force a mobilization order to be issued.
"There are as many as four of them capable of mass murder, so we have to wipe them out all at once. Otherwise, civilians will get caught up in it too."
A contradictory human being who commits illegal intrusion and massacre to achieve their goals, yet claims to uphold moral standards.
The goal is revenge, or more specifically, the elimination of all superpowered individuals.
Just how merciful will he be?
Vania's life is...
Can I get lifesaving?
“Whoa!”
It was when his unhesitating steps turned the corner of the hallway.
He ran into Duke Edgar Wassenberg, who had come out of the meeting room in the castle due to the sudden commotion.
It wasn't just the Duke.
His children were all together, and they all had surprised expressions on their faces.
All the family members with special abilities, excluding Vania, and their escort knights
And Ryan and his mercenary group.
A standoff in silence.
"Ry, Ryan?!!!"
Elliott Wassenberg broke the silence in astonishment.
Next, after recognizing Nike by Ryan's side.
"Damn it. The Third Prince! Just as I thought!"
He shouted with bloodshot eyes.
"I told you, Father! Only the Imperial Family can do something like this!"
"...??? Time!"
Ryan looked at Nike with his mouth wide open.
"What are you talking about?! Are you royalty? Do you work as a mercenary as a side job?"
Nike could not say anything.
In the midst of this, Ryan stepped forward and calmly began his explanation.
"Everyone, it is a misunderstanding! Today's events have nothing to do with the Imperial Family! I am seeing this person here for the first time!"
"Do you think I'd believe that, you bastard!"
“You don’t have to believe it!”
Ryan, shaking his head at Elliott as he burst out in anger.
Grinning,
"We're all going to die today anyway."
He added with a chilling laugh.
A spine-chilling silence descended.
Eventually,
"This crazy bastard!"
Elliott stepped forward in anger.
< Dragon's Fury >
However, unlike when he stepped forward with such vigor, he did not attack.
"Father? What are you doing? Right now!!!"
He looks back at the Duke and gets angry.
For some reason, he was controlling all his supernatural abilities.
"Stop messing around and hurry up! I'm not going to leave a single speck of dust behind for that fucking bastard!!!"
Elliot urges.
However, the Duke stares only at Ryan with a pale face, as if he cannot even hear those words.
Sweat is dripping noticeably.
Shaking eyes.
It looked just like a terrified small animal cornered before being swallowed by a predator.
"Father!"
“Why are you doing this!”
The other children, frightened along with him, urged the Duke to hurry.
To block this ability at this point... it was a crazy thing to do.
There were only a dozen or so guards by the side of the superpowered; even if they had the spirit, they were enemies armed with modern weapons anyway.
It would not have been possible to prevent it.
From the moment the intruder appeared, it was a situation where failure to use this ability would result in certain defeat.
But why?
Those with supernatural abilities who cannot use them are utterly helpless, so they will be slaughtered in an instant...
"Heh, heh, hahahaha!!!"
Ryan suddenly clutched his stomach and laughed.
"As expected of Dad, you're incredibly quick-witted."
Then, in an instant, his eyes gleamed like a wild beast.
"Wouldn't it be nice if you had that common sense back when you kicked me out 20 years ago?"
stride, stride.
He approached the Duke without hesitation.
"You've already been given your day to die, so what's the use of realizing your mistake only after seeing my face?"
"Oh. Don't come..."
The Duke turned pale, trembled, and simply stepped back.
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