VOLUME 12: CHAPTER 16

VOLUME 12: CHAPTER 16

It was the eve of their departure for the Town of Cirno.

"Still awake, Your Highness?"

Vaison, the two-meter large muscular man who'd been serving the Fifth Prince since he was young, found the prince sitting by the porch, staring at the moonlit sky.

"There are only a couple of hours left before dawn. You should get at least some sleep, my prince."

Prince Rykard felt restless as the designated day loomed closer.

Although he'd seen the strength of the Blackstone Knights before, and although he knew the Dragon and King Lark were coming with them, he still couldn't help but feel anxious.

Their destination was a territory occupied by demons, after all.

"Hah… sleep?" said Prince Rykard. "Look at me, Vaison."

The prince's hand holding the teacup continued to tremble.

"I wouldn't be able to sleep even if I tried to. I feel… nauseous. Although I know this opportunity might not come again, I still ask myself if this is the right decision. If things go wrong during our mission, this might be my last time seeing the imperial capital."

Vaison could understand where the Fifth Prince was coming from.

Although the prince was probably one of the most suited ones to be the crown prince, this was his first time going into war. And to make things worse, his first opponents were demons. This was vastly different from the assassination attempts he'd been encountering his entire life.

At the very least, the prince could predict what his siblings would do. But it was impossible for him to do so to those who weren't even humans.

This uncertainty, coupled with the small number of soldiers in their army, made the prince anxious to the point of wanting to vomit.

"Vaison… since we might die in the next couple of days, let me ask you this."

There was a long pause.

Vaison patiently waited for the prince to continue his next words.

"Do you regret it?" said Prince Rykard. "If you served my second oldest brother instead, your position would have been more secured in the Empire."

Vaison frowned. It was the first time he'd seen his master this vulnerable.

"Please don't say such things, Your Highness. I already pledged my oath to you. No matter what happens, I will never abandon you. And I never regret serving you. Not even once, my prince."

Prince Rykard felt touched, and he willed his tears back.

"Vaison and General Sigismund. I'm really lucky to have the two of you."

The prince firmed his resolve.

"I promise, once I ascend the throne, I will greatly reward all of those who'd accompanied me in this journey. And I promise to become an Emperor far greater than my father."

Vaison smiled warmly. "I look forward to that day, Your Majesty."

Unable to sleep, the two simply stared at the night sky. And soon, without them realizing it, the day of their march to the Town of Cirno arrived.

***

With General Sigismund at the lead, the Rykard Army gathered outside the imperial capital. A month's worth of supplies was loaded to the carts, and the soldiers grouped up.

With the help of Captain Symon, the Rykard Army and the Blackstone Army merged and rallied under one banner.

"Is everyone here?"

When Lark arrived with Vulcan, the clanking of metals and the sound of the soldiers' footsteps died at once.

"Your Majesty, King Lark! And esteemed Lord Dragon, Vulcan!"

Prince Rykard greeted Lark immediately. Although he was the son of the Emperor, he didn't hesitate to show Lark the utmost respect and courtesy.

"All of the soldiers on my side are ready, King Lark," said Prince Rykard.

Captain Symon said, "The Blackstone Knights are ready to go at any time, Your Majesty."

Lark nodded approvingly at this. "Then we can march at any time. Please give us the signal, Your Highness."

"Eh, me?"

Prince Rykard couldn't understand why Lark was treating him so favorably. Even his father, the Emperor, had to tread carefully when dealing with King Lark.

And now, King Lark was asking him to openly lead this combined army.

"Of course, Your Highness," said Lark. "We're marching to the Town of Cirno under your banner. It's only proper for you to lead us."

"Is… that so?"

Vaison whispered to Prince Rykard, "Your Highness, I believe the soldiers wish to hear a few words of encouragement. They also feel anxious about this mission, just like you."

Prince Rykard clenched his fists.

He realized now was the time to show everyone he was entirely different from the rumors. Now that he'd decided to come out of the shadow of his former self, he needed to show everyone what he was capable of.

"Thank you for this chance, Your Majesty."

Prince Rykard didn't forget to thank Lark for giving him this chance. He knew that although they were marching under the banner of the Fifth Prince, it was really Lark who held power in this combined army.

Prince Rykard stood in front of all his soldiers and raised his voice.

"Rykard soldiers!"

These soldiers had been serving him since he was a kid. Although he was dubbed as the trash prince of the imperial family, these men continued serving him.

Although the majority of these soldiers were loyal to General Sigismund and not Prince Rykard himself, there were some who served the prince out of their own will.

And to these men, Prince Rykard was eternally grateful.

"The time for us to prove the strength of the Rykard Army has come!"

"For years, you've been training from dawn to dusk! You've swung the sword tens of thousands, no, countless times! The calluses on your palms! The scars on your arms! They are proof of how hard you've been training to achieve where you are right now!"

This was the first time the Fifth Prince openly showed his true self to the soldiers. And it came as a surprise to them.

Normally, they would see the prince drunk and reeking of women's makeup. But now, he was fully clad in armor, making a speech to a thousand people.

"I know all of you have uncertainties and doubts! But rest assured, no matter what happens, I shall not run away! No matter the outcome of this mission, I shall stay with all of you in this battle until the end."

Most nobles and royals would reassure their soldiers by promising to take care of their bereaved families. But the Fifth Prince went beyond that. He promised to stay with them until the end, even if it meant death. It was a promise that carried far heavier weight than mere monetary rewards.

"Of course, I've made arrangements to make sure the family of the soldiers who will die in this mission will be taken care of!"

"My soldiers! It's alright to feel fear! It's alright to doubt!"

"But we must take this step! Not just for the sake imperial throne succession, but for the sake of the Empire itself!!"

"The world does not listen to those who do not have power!"

"I will not be able to make reforms in this nation unless I become the Emperor! And to do that, I need to become the crown prince first!"

"The achievements we'll garner in this mission will pave the road to the throne!"

Those were bold words that would garner the enmity of all his brothers.

The Rykard soldiers never expected to hear such words from the prince. And strangely, everyone felt indescribable heat fill their entire body. They realized they'd been waiting for this chance all along. They realized they'd been honing their sword all for this moment.

If this mission ended as a success, the prince they'd been serving would definitely be recognized not only by the people, but also by the imperial family.

"Valiant soldiers of Rykard Army! We march to the Town of Cirno to reclaim our lost land!"

"Hooaahh!"

The ground trembled from the fervent shouts and stomping of the rykard soldiers.

Wiping the tears at the corner of his eyes, General Sigismund approached Prince Rykard, "Ohhh, that was such a great speech, Your Highness!"

"W-Why are you crying, general?!"

"This old man is so glad to see you all grown up," said General Sigismund. "I really want to hug Your Highness right now!"

"Wait, what are you doing, General!"

Lark laughed as he listened to the two's exchange. Even the soldiers around them were smiling.

Lark said to Reginald, "You did well choosing the Fifth Prince."

"He was strongly recommended to me by Her Highness, Princess Luna."

"By the Princess?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I initially planned on enlisting under the First Prince, as he has a larger army. But the princess talked to me one day and told me to choose the Fifth Prince instead. And looking at it now, it seems her highness was correct."

"Hmmm… I see."

Lark noticed it before. For some reason, the princess had abnormally good insight in these matters.

"King Lark," said Vulcan. "The brat from before is here."

Lark looked in the direction where Vulcan was looking. He saw Jacob Fraser approaching them at a fast speed.

The Lord Knight was about to intercept him, but Lark signaled it to let the royal court magician pass.

"Your Majesty!"

Fraser skidded to a halt in front of Lark.

"Please bring me with you!"

"Lord Fraser?"

"Please bring me with you," huffed Fraser. "I apologize for suddenly coming here like this, but it's a really important matter for me. Please take me with you to the Town of Cirno."

Instead of answering, Lark turned to Prince Rykard instead. "Your Highness, are we allowed to involve the Tower of Mages in this mission?"

Prince Rykard said, "I'm… not sure, Your Majesty. Royal court magicians like Lord Fraser normally move only when under the directives of the Emperor or the Chief Royal Advisor."

"Did the Emperor send you here?" said Lark.

Fraser shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. It's my own decision."

"I need to hear the reason why you wish to come with us Lord Fraser. The last thing we'd want is to be accused of using the Tower of Mages without the Emperor's approval."

Fraser hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell Lark everything eventually.

He told Lark how his little brother was finally healed after receiving the book. And he told Lark regarding the deal he had with Master Haldor of the Fourth Tower of Mages.

After hearing his story, Lark said, "I apologize, Lord Fraser. But I can't take you with me."

Fraser didn't expect Lark to refuse his request. He was an imperial court magician after all. And his participation would greatly improve the outcome of their mission.

"B-But why?"

"You've been given an impossible task by the Tower Master," said Lark simply. "If you go there, you will die."

Fraser's hair bristled upon hearing this.

Had other people said this to him, he would have simply dismissed it as gibberish.

But the one who said those words was King Lark himself. An extremely skilled magician who lorded over a powerful army.

"The life of those who are living precedes those who are dead. I understand you wish to take revenge on the ones who killed your parents, Lord Fraser," said Lark. "But I'm afraid your anger is clouding your judgment. If you die now, what will happen to your little brother?"

Fraser felt as though a bucket of cold water was thrown at him. He felt his mind clear in an instant.

He realized he'd been consumed by rage the moment he found the first lead to his parent's murderers.

"The fleshy obelisk you're talking about is a Corrupted Tower," said Lark. "It's a living, moving artifact capable of sucking the life of the land it stands on. It's an artifact that gives birth to flesh eaters. Just touching its flesh will corrode a human's skin, and the poison that seeps through your body will kill you eventually."

Lark continued, "Lord Fraser, even if you somehow manage to get past the demons guarding it in Meredith City, you'll end up dying the moment you start collecting a sample of it."

Hearing this, Fraser finally realized why Lark immediately rejected his request to accompany them. Fraser wanted to go to the Town of Cirno so he could reach Meredith City faster and safer, but it seemed the mission given to him by Master Haldor was something impossible to complete in the first place.

Fraser realized it was fortunate Lark stopped him here. Had he gone there on his own, he would have probably never returned alive.

"After reclaiming Cirno, the Empire plans on fortifying it and turn it into a rallying point," said Lark. "Rein in your anger, Lord Fraser. Bide your time and patiently wait until the Empire launches an all-out attack on the demons at Meredith."

Fraser closed his eyes and nodded. "I understand." After opening them, he lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry for hindering your march. I wish you success on your mission, King Lark."

Fraser also bowed to the Fifth Prince.

After Fraser left, the Rykard Army departed for the Town of Cirno.

***

Five days had passed since the Rykard Army left the imperial capital.

Lark, Vulcan, Prince Rykard, and Reginald sat inside the same carriage.

"Your Majesty… I'm just wondering," said Prince Rykard.

"Your Highness?"

"At our current pace, it'll take us around a week more to reach the Town of Cirno. But today's the seventh day…"

Lark understood what Prince Rykard was trying to say.

Today marked the seventh day since the coalition army arrived in the imperial capital. And today was the last day of deciding whether or not the Empire would join the coalition.

"Commander Khuumal will receive the Empire's decision on my behalf," said Lark. "And he'll contact me through the intercity communication device."

"And if my father refuses?"

"Then the coalition army will leave the Empire. It's what we promised, after all."

"Then, are you planning to go back to the Kingdom of Lukas?"

"No. If the Empire refuses to be part of the Coalition, we'll go to the Republic of Everfrost after we reclaim the Town of Cirno."

"The Republic? You're really keen on making all the major powers in this continent part of the Coalition, King Lark. Don't tell me you plan on going even to the Principality, too?"

"Of course, Your Highness."

"W-What…. R-Really?"

The Fifth Prince's surprise was understandable.

The Principality was located far north of this continent. Even the Empire's forces couldn't reach it due to the distance and harsh climate.

It was preposterous for someone to claim they would visit even the Principality, bringing their entire army with them.

The carriage suddenly came to a halt.

"Your Highness!" the grim voice of General Sigismund was heard outside the carriage. "It's a fire giant!"

Hearing this, everyone in the carriage went outside to look at the demon that made the entire Rykard Army stop in its tracks.

The Rykard Army was currently passing through a hill. Below, they saw the fire giant.

"What… is that?"

Prince Rykard's mouth gaped upon seeing the fire giant sitting at the center of a scorched village. There weren't any human corpses around, as everything had been turned into ashes.

Due to their position, the creature hadn't noticed them yet.

By estimate, the creature was probably thirty meters tall. Its rock-like arms and its body filled with glowing molten lava seemed capable of destroying city walls with a couple of strikes.

They'd heard of the fire giants before, but seeing one in the flesh was far more terrifying than expected.

They couldn't imagine how one could even win against that thing, even if the entire Rykard Army started attacking it.

They needed to use artifacts and spells if they wished to kill it.

"King Lark, what should we—"

"—It'll be your decision, Your Highness," said Lark. "Please don't forget, we are marching under your banner."

Prince Rykard clenched his fists.

"Of course."

Just a week ago, he'd been wasting his time away in the Red Lights District. But now, here he was, leading an army to fight against a fire giant.

Prince Rykard deeply breathed in and out.

As the fire giant hadn't noticed them yet due to the terrain, they could ignore it and head straight to the Town of Cirno. It was the logical thing to do if they wished to preserve their forces and have a higher chance of reclaiming the town.

But Prince Rykard remembered the village they stayed at yesterday. It was near this place. And if the fire giant decided to move from its location, it might see and attack the village.

"We're killing it," said Prince Rykard. "General Sigismund."

"Your Highness!"

"Prepare the fortress breaker."

"Right away!"

Lark remembered that artifact. It was the same weapon used by General Alvaren back when he tried destroying the gates of Akash City. It seemed that Prince Rykard used his status as an imperial prince to bring three of those artifacts here.

It was quite impressive.

Lark believed the fortress breaker was powerful enough to injure even a fire giant.

The Rykard soldiers quickly assembled the fortress breaker. Like before, the artifact's tube resembled a cannon, and its base was similar to a ballista. Numerous runes were carved on its walls, enabling it to fire powerful attacks after being infused with mana.

After a long metallic tube was inserted into the fortress breaker, they pointed it in the direction of the fire giant. The mages of the Rykard army started infusing their mana into it.

A loud buzzing sound was heard as the sigils started sucking in the mana of the mages.

"It noticed us!"

Finally, the fire giant noticed the Rykard Army. Quickly, it stood up and roared.

"GRUUAAAAHHH!"

But it was too late.

"Fire!"

With that single command, the fortress breakers were fired. The projectiles whizzed through the air and struck the face, torso, and right leg of the fire giant.