Chapter...124

"The Quack Doctor of the Rebel Army"

A chill ran down my spine the moment I saw his gaze like he was licking his lips in front of prey.

“Kill them all. Ah, keep the women alive. His Majesty wants them brought in alive.”

What did I just hear? For a brief moment, Solter III’s ferocious smile one that felt completely devoid of any trace of humanity—flashed through my mind, freezing me in place.

But only for a moment. The fierce battle with the imperial forces snapped me back to my senses.

“Astrid”

As I snatched Jin’s staff and gripped it tightly as though it were a sword, standing in front of him, Jin called my name in confusion.

But I didn’t look back.

“Stay behind me. I’ll make sure not a single hair on your head is touched.”

It might have looked a little ridiculous, but I was serious. I gripped the staff tightly, ready to swing it at any moment.

Then bang.

A gunshot rang out from behind.

I turned toward the sound and saw Rishar standing at the doorway of the helm.

“Rishar”

Relief flooded me and I shouted his name loudly. It felt like everything was finally over.

Following Rishar, reinforcements poured in. The imperial soldiers, now overwhelmed, began to panic. Some tried to escape down the ropes they had used to board the ship, only to be shot by Rishar and fall into the sea. Others were captured without even attempting to flee.

“Astrid, I think you can put that down now. The staff, I mean.”

Ah. I was still holding it. Only then did I finally loosen my grip and return the staff to Jin. Even in that brief moment, my palm was drenched in sweat.

“You were quite dependable.”

Jin smiled playfully as he accepted it.

Embarrassed, I looked away. I had only done it because I wanted to protect him no matter what but now that I thought about it, it was a little embarrassing.

“How’s it going”

“We’ve almost subdued the imperial forces on board. Roen is attacking the ship Gregory Wighzen is on. It looks like it’s nearly over.”

Listening to Rishar’s report, I looked out the broken window. The sky was already beginning to brighten. Dawn was approaching.

By the time the night of chaos and battle ended and the sun rose, the fight was over. And soon after, good news arrived Gregory Wighzen had been captured by Roen.

The massive shield guarding the southwest had fallen.

The night of storms had passed, but I still hadn’t fully recovered from the shock of encountering imperial forces at point-blank range. I stood blankly, staring at the sea.

“Astrid, the ship will arrive at port soon.”

Jin’s voice came from beside me.

I lifted my head. I had expected it wouldn’t take long since the sea route was fully opened to Necoche, but I didn’t expect it to be this fast.

After a long voyage and a fierce battle, my exhausted body welcomed the thought of stepping onto land, but a faint unease lingered.

Even though we had captured Duke Gregory Wighzen, the commander of the imperial navy, and there was no one left to oppose us at sea… there were still imperial forces defending Necoche’s castle.

“Don’t worry, Astrid.”

Jin spoke gently, as if comforting me. My worry must have shown on my face.

“It’s almost over. Taking Necoche won’t be that difficult.”

As Jin softly smiled and brushed my cheek, some of my tension eased. Even to someone like me, who knew nothing about war, it was clear the Liberators had the upper hand.

I smiled back awkwardly. It’s fine. There’s nothing to worry about. As I forced a smile, Jin’s eyes curved warmly in return.

Soon, just as he said, the ship reached the port.

Due to possible danger, Jin and I stayed on the ship while the soldiers took control of Necoche.

And just as expected, taking over the key positions in Necoche was surprisingly easy. Without Gregory Wighzen, the imperial soldiers were nothing more than scarecrows. Most surrendered without resistance.

Even the puppet governor who had only held power under the Wighzen family quickly fell into the Liberators’ hands. Only then were we able to step onto land.

Land. The moment my feet touched solid ground, I let out a sigh of relief. There’s nothing better than land.

I was practically celebrating my reunion with the earth when I heard the unpleasant sound of metal scraping the ground in the distance.

I turned my head.

A man being dragged forward in shackles came into view.

I stared blankly at him.

Tall stature. Sharp reddish-brown eyes that still seemed to burn even now. Short brown hair, disheveled but clearly once meticulously kept. Sun-tanned, healthy skin. A face perfectly suited to a naval commander.

If anything, he didn’t look rough at all. Despite being dragged in chains, his posture remained straight, his steps elegant. Even his arrogant expression didn’t suit a defeated man. Everything about him was aristocratic.

It was strange. Gregory Wighzen was clearly captured. And yet there wasn’t even a hint of fear on his face.

“How should we handle him, leader?”

While I examined him, Jin and Roen were discussing his fate.

After a moment of thought, Jin frowned slightly and spoke.

“For now, lock him up in prison.”

At Jin’s words, Roen immediately dragged Gregory away. Listening to the fading sound of chains, I felt a strange emotion.

Gregory Wighzen had been like a king in the western region. Yet now he was being thrown into the cold prison of the very city he once ruled.

How ironic. Life truly was unpredictable.

Inside the imperial palace, the atmosphere was unbearably heavy.

Everyone whispered anxiously about who would deliver the terrible news to the Emperor. No one had the courage to tell Solter III that Necoche had fallen to the Liberators.

Reports of continuous naval defeats had already arrived, but the Emperor had not been concerned. He trusted Duke Wighzen’s abilities.

But now even Gregory Wighzen had fallen into enemy hands. Everyone believed that whoever delivered this news would not simply lose their head—it would be far worse.

Still, they could not delay reporting any longer. It was only a matter of time before the Emperor sensed something was wrong. And if he found out through another source before being told they would be punished for hiding it.

They had no choice. A decision had to be made.

“Your Majesty we have a report.”

One official cautiously stepped forward. It was daytime, but the Emperor already drunk looked down at him with half-lidded eyes. The hall, once filled with courtiers, was now nearly empty.

Only a few remained around the Emperor. In the empire, only Northa-Polis and the small city of Ues remained outside Liberator control. Even Ues might soon fall, and Northa-Polis was already a candle in the wind.

Most had fled to save themselves. Those who remained were either guilty of grave crimes or destined to fall when the Liberators finally prevailed.

“I’m listening.”

Solter III spoke indifferently.

After exchanging nervous glances, one man finally spoke.

“Necoche has fallen into the hands of the Liberators.”

For a moment, the Emperor thought he had misheard.

He had believed that soon, his loyal servant Gregory Wighzen would bring him Jin’s head on a silver platter. But that expectation his anticipation shattered instantly.

And with it came fury.

How could these lowly vermin rise so far? Why were his vast imperial forces unable to crush these insignificant rebels?

He already knew the answer. Wherever the Liberators went, the people sided with them. No matter how large the imperial army was, it could not outnumber the masses scattered like weeds along the roads.

And that angered him even more. Those who should have knelt before him and worshipped him like a god dared to follow someone else instead. It was infuriating.

“Your Majesty”

Murmurs spread through the room. They had expected a violent outburst, but his silence made them uneasy.

Solter III directed a cold gaze toward them. The room fell silent instantly.

He focused again on the rage burning within him. Even the reports from Skia had become less reliable lately. The messenger had changed, and the quality of intelligence had deteriorated.

It was said that Vigo had gone missing. Whether he betrayed them and joined the Liberators, or died at their hands his loyal hound was gone.

How had it come to this? Why had the empire, with its long and proud history, come to stand on such a precarious edge in his reign?

A voice echoed faintly in his mind.

“If your older brother had become emperor, things would have been different.”

He frowned. He did not understand why such a cursed hallucination tormented him.

“Everyone, get out.”

He forced down his rage and spoke coldly. He had no desire to indulge in slaughter as he usually did. He just wanted to be alone.

The officials hurriedly left.

Now alone, he could finally focus on his emotions. Rage and inferiority emotions that had plagued him his entire life but had no clear name.

Yes. They called it inferiority.

A hollow laugh escaped him.

He, Solter Lenum, emperor of unmatched power feared by none was nothing more than a bundle of inferiority.

It felt as though he had become a boy again, envying his half-brother.

“No.”

He muttered lowly.

No. He was nothing like his brother. Not like that pathetic man who could not even protect his beloved woman or child.

In the end, he had won. He was the one sitting on the throne now.

The inferiority inside him burned away even the effects of alcohol. With unnaturally clear mind, he reached for his sword.

Sshing.

The blade slid out, gleaming sharply.

Though his loyal subjects, his hunting dogs, and even his territories had been taken from him, he would not give up.

No matter what, he would protect this throne. He would cut down all who dared covet it.

And in the end, he would take everything he desired.

The lives of those foolish enough to challenge his authority and even the woman who resembled the one he had never been able to keep.