Chapter 214 – If It Works, It’s a Revolution (12)

Kaiden’s portal opened near the capital.

As we stepped through, it seemed the great fire had already died down.

Smoke still rose, but there were no visible flames.

“There’s something really weird on the drawbridge,”

Said Sharian, the Dark Elf, her eyes cutting through the darkness.

“They’re totally different from the one that attacked our carriage, but they’re just as grotesque. Looks like they’re all subordinates of that secret prince.”

“They’ve sealed off the capital,”

The Second Princess said.

“Looks like he plans to go beyond just helping attack me.”

“Like... trying to take the throne for himself?”

“Exactly. But it won’t be easy. He’s already been exiled. He’s no longer recognized as a member of the royal family.”

“But if the emperor promised to reinstate him in exchange for his help, wouldn’t that change things?”

At my suggestion, a look of worry crossed the Second Princess’s face.

“If they really made such a stupid deal, the emperor and the princes will all be dead the moment he’s reinstated. That man acts without thought. He might start a massacre just to see what it’s like to sit on the throne.”

“Hmm… yeah…”

Honestly, I’d been feeling it from the moment we met in the city.

She keeps talking about the Third Prince like he’s some absolute monster who deserves to be killed on sight, but something doesn’t add up.

Going by the rough timeline, she barely spent time with him as a child before he was exiled. Not exactly enough to judge someone’s character.

Sure, maybe he’s aggressive and has come back after twenty years with a vendetta—but who wouldn’t, after being cast out by their own family?

I mean, if the Third Prince had stormed in screaming that the emperor was a bastard and the other princes were scum, I’d understand.

Anyway, I promised to help the Second Princess, and she’s got her senile mother in danger too. That’s a line you don’t cross.

“Well, let’s get moving.”

As I stepped forward, the Second Princess grabbed my arm.

“Wait. There’s another route.”

“Another route?”

“I prepared a covert infiltration tunnel just in case. We’ll circle around the left side of the capital, dig into the outer wall, open the hatch and—”

“That’s too much trouble. Let’s just go through the front.”

“The front is heavily guarded. Only those freaks are on the drawbridge, but there are more waiting right behind the gates.”

“Exactly. That makes it easier. No need to hunt them down one by one.”

“Um, Professor Dian…”

The adjutant raised a hand.

“I know how impressive you are, but I’m a former Imperial Knight myself.”

“And?”

“I’m well-versed in this area. Let’s say we storm the front gate. Sure, you might cut through them, but what if one slips past and reaches Her Highness? Have you ever experienced large-scale melee combat?”

“Not really.”

“In those situations, it’s almost impossible to distinguish friend from foe. That’s why—”

“Then I’ll just go in alone.”

“...What?”

“I’ll carve a path. You just follow behind me.”

“...What?”

Leaving the others behind, I stepped onto the drawbridge.

The creatures, sprawled lazily like beasts after a meal, slowly rose to their feet.

Yep. Freaks. The one that attacked our carriage looked like a fairy compared to these guys.

They didn’t attack right away—they just stared at me.

They must’ve been ordered to kill anyone who didn’t match the Second Princess’s appearance.

Once they figured out I wasn’t her, they screamed and charged.

I raised my hand, and from behind, Kaiden launched an attack spell that blew the front gate apart.

There was a slight clash with the capital’s magical defenses, but Kaiden’s spell tore right through.

The magic barrier that had protected the capital in a wide semicircle shattered completely.

The High Mage in charge of that defense was probably losing hair from stress right now.

Alright, let’s get to work.

I pushed forward, calmly taking down each of the monster-men rushing at me.

According to the Second Princess, the tower they used to live in had burned down, so the Third Prince was likely in the banquet hall of the main palace.

Now, where was the main palace again...

“Stop right there! Move and I’ll shoot!”

I sliced an incoming enemy in half, and someone shouted from further down.

Turning around, I saw a High Mage in black robes trembling with a spell aimed at me.

“It’s me, don’t shoot.”

“Professor Dian?! Oh, merciful heavens!”

The High Mage rushed over, grabbing my clothes in a panic.

“Have you come to save the capital?!”

“Huh? No, not really…”

“The secret prince—he’s drinking in the banquet hall of the main palace!”

“Yeah, I know. I was headed there. But first—”

I pushed the clinging mage off and asked:

“What are you mages, the Guard, and the Imperial Knights even doing? If you all worked together, couldn’t you subdue these things?”

“Didn’t you see on your way in? Those chimeras can’t be handled by humans!”

“Still, if the emperor gives the order, you have to do it. That guy’s an exiled freak, not even a real prince.”

“His Majesty signed a written decree reinstating him! If we strike first, it’ll be considered treason!”

“Then why doesn’t the emperor just revoke it?”

“Well… I don’t know what His Majesty is thinking, but...”

Got it.

He’s trying to play both sides—use the Second Princess as bait, and then clean up afterward.

“Ugh, an agreement? What a dumb old man. Might as well offer up his own neck.”

The mage flinched at my words.

“It… it was a very tense situation… His Majesty did send a message to Sir Linus, but he hasn’t shown up yet…”

“Linus? He’s probably home babysitting. Forget him. Let’s settle this between singles.”

Suddenly, a powerful presence surged through the dust.

Something strong was coming from up ahead.

I’d killed plenty of monsters on the way in, but none of them had given off this kind of aura.

Which meant—it had to be the Third Prince himself.

“Step back.”

Sensing the danger, the High Mage fled.

I rushed forward.

The dust split—and there, a large figure loomed. That’s one big guy.

Once I deal with him, help the Second Princess rebuild the security office, and I’m done.

Let’s finish this and go home.

But to my surprise, the man had already shifted his body out of my attack path, as if he’d predicted it.

I was moving so fast I couldn’t change direction—and only managed to slice off some hair.

“Dian?!”

The man called out my name.

Turning, I got a clear look at his face and blurted out in shock:

“Terbal hyung?!”

What the hell? Why is he here?

I skidded to a stop, dirt flying behind me, as Terbal spoke from behind.

“Dian? Is that you?”

“Hyung! What are you doing here?!”

“Holy shit! Dian!!”

Grinning wide, Terbal rushed at me.

“How long has it been?!”

“Urgh!”

His thick arms wrapped around me, knocking the wind out of my lungs.

“I thought you were dead, but look at you—healthy as ever!”

“Let go. Talk after you let go.”

He finally released me and slapped me on the shoulder with his huge hand.

“How’ve you been, huh?!”

“Been good. But first, I’ve gotta ask—you’re here, why? Don’t tell me you joined the Third Prince? After all that drifting around with no plan?”

“What?”

Terbal looked at me for a moment—then burst out laughing.

“I’m the Third Prince, dumbass!”

“What? You’re Berken?!”

What kind of nonsense—

“Seriously?”

“Yeah!”

Still suspicious, I stared as Terbal snapped his fingers.

The monsters I’d beaten to a pulp earlier crawled over and knelt behind him, as if bowing.

“What the hell?! It’s real?! You—looking like some bandit chief—and you’re a prince?!”

Wait a second… now that I look, his silver hair and blue eyes are legit. So he’s really royalty?

“So, what brings you here?”

“Me? I came to kill you.”

Terbal’s smile froze.

“Kill me?”

“They said some crazy Third Prince was rampaging through the capital. Didn’t expect it to be you.”

“You serious? You came to kill me?”

“Well, now that I know it’s you, I need to rethink things. The situation’s changed.”

# # # #

Back in his office, the Emperor was frantically scribbling on parchment.

A letter of promise.

If someone saved the capital from the Third Prince, they would be rewarded with gold, rank, and every benefit imaginable.

No matter how he looked at it, the Third Prince had to go.

The Second Princess was troublesome, yes—but Berken was a different beast entirely.

Killing a bug and burning the house down—this was exactly that.

As he sealed the letter with the imperial crest, a thunderous explosion shook the building.

It had come from the drawbridge. The gate had been blown off—someone was forcing their way in.

Linus? Was it Linus!?

But the Emperor quickly dismissed the idea.

Linus would never charge in unannounced. He’d stop at the drawbridge, explain his intentions, and try to talk.

Not Linus, then. But who cares?

Someone is fighting those monsters right now!

“Father! Someone’s broken in!”

“I know!”

Shoving aside the First Prince, the Emperor rushed down the stairs.

Out in the courtyard, he scanned the area for the intruder.

There was Berken—and someone standing before him.

That must be the one! The one who’s come to save the capital!

Whoever it is doesn’t matter.

As long as they fix this mess—I’ll give them money, titles, whatever they want!

This letter proves it!

“Nooooooooooooooo!!!”

But when he saw that it was Dian, the Emperor let out a despairing scream.