Episode 72
The strong are often burdened by their own weight. They understand the gravity of their presence and power more than anyone else.
Yet, in the empire after the Unification War, the “Holy Maiden Aurelia” led an independence movement, overcoming an army four times her size and annihilating the imperial forces.
The birth of the new Kingdom of Britannia.
This was not a situation where the empire could afford to be complacent. Thus, the Purifier unit, led by the esteemed executor of the empire’s spirit, Lady Scarlet of the Red Tower, was deployed in full force.
Alongside them were the “White Mages” of the White Tower, led by Cardinal Nikolai of the Sistine Goddess Church, to discern the truth of the revelations claimed by the Holy Maiden.
The first of the Continent’s Seven Swords, the unparalleled Count of Brandenburg, also set out with his Order of St. Magdalena, accompanied by his eldest son, the notorious libertine, Philip.
Finally, the “Black Prince,” who had etched the Geass of Absolute Obedience into Cardinal Nikolai’s heart and captured the Count’s wayward son Philip during the Black and White Battle, only to release him for a hefty ransom, joined the imperial command.
With him came five hundred heavily armored infantry from the Black Armor Company and the Night Raven Knights of the Saxon family.
The prodigy of the empire’s most talented duke’s family. The mercenary captain of the Black Armor Company, renowned across the continent.
And the infamous “Black Prince,” known for his boundless cruelty and notoriety.
The wind carried the scent of salt. Seagulls cried out as sunlight shattered like gold dust across the rippling horizon.
In the port city of Dover on the island of Britannia, facing the continent across the Strait of Calais, the imperial forces had completed their landing.
In the fortress of Dover, the imperial command gathered after the final landing on Britannia.
“Ah, Prince Philip.”
”…”
“And Cardinal Nikolai.”
”…!”
Dale, the eldest son of the Saxon family, was also present, accompanied by his lieutenant, the sixth-circle elf mage, Sepia. He stood before the empire’s formidable figures, whom he despised.
“You, you dare show your face here…!”
Seeing this, Philip, the Count’s wayward son, raised his voice.
The historical battle whispered among the gossipers… the defeated of the “Black and White Battle.” A living sacrifice for Dale’s growing reputation.
He recalled the bitter defeat on the battlefield, the days spent in unforgettable humiliation and disgrace after being captured by the Saxon family.
“Ha, the world is truly unfair.”
It was then that Lady Scarlet chuckled, glancing at Philip with amusement.
”…!”
Philip’s gaze shamelessly drifted toward her cleavage. Lady Scarlet, as if to flaunt, adjusted her attire and continued speaking.
“In a single war, there are those who experience unforgettable disgrace and defeat…”
She winked with an alluring smile.
“And then there are those who, based on their victory and achievements, spread their fame throughout the empire.”
Not to Philip, but to Dale of Saxon.
“That, that battle was nothing but a cunning and cowardly trick…!”
Philip tried to raise his voice in protest against Scarlet’s words.
“Pathetic loser.”
The voice of the Holy Sword, devoid of any emotion, cut through.
“What makes a dullard like you think you can wag your tongue at the ‘Black Prince’ of Saxon?”
“F-Father…!”
“Please forgive my son’s rudeness.”
The Holy Sword, bowing his head slightly, addressed Dale.
“Forgive? There’s no need.”
Dale sneered coldly at those words.
“In fact, I owe Prince Philip a debt of gratitude beyond measure.”
Recalling the victory that skyrocketed his reputation.
“The name ‘Black Prince’ I bear… is an honor I could never have achieved without Prince Philip’s valiant efforts.”
Philip’s foolishness in the Black and White Battle, crying for a last stand, had transformed Dale into a symbol of malice and cruelty. A military strategist who showed no mercy to his enemies.
“Don’t be ridiculous…! That battle was never my defeat!”
Philip shouted, unwilling to accept it.
“I never lost to you!”
As if it was never his fault.
“It was all because of my incompetent subordinates who disobeyed my orders…”
Blaming the knights who were annihilated under an inept commander.
“Indeed, those knights were not enough to handle the ‘vessel’ of Prince Philip.”
“Exactly! That’s right!”
Philip nodded vigorously, raising his voice at Dale’s words.
“Those mere knights! How dare they defy me…!”
Blaming the knights of St. Magdalena, who were slaughtered due to an incompetent commander, Philip raised his voice. It was a truly disgraceful display.
“Shut your mouth.”
Finally, unable to bear his son’s disgrace any longer, the Holy Sword broke his silence. Quietly, yet with a barely contained fury simmering like magma.
“Close it immediately.”
Unaware that he was being mocked, Philip desperately echoed Dale’s words. The Holy Sword continued, suppressing the urge to thrash his son.
“If you continue to spout nonsense about my knights, I’ll throw you into the sea.”
“Eek!”
At least the Count of Brandenburg was no fool. He recalled the mountain of corpses from that day’s defeat, the knights who had piled up under his command.
The eldest son of the Saxon family was a monster that a dullard like Philip could never hope to match, even if he dedicated his entire life.
Thus, the humiliation and self-loathing tightened around his heart. Watching his incompetent, worthless son babble in front of a monster for whom even the word “genius” was insufficient.
How could such an inept, worthless child be born of his blood?
Indeed, it must be because of the “blood of the untalented” mixed in. That’s why he needed Charlotte of Orhart, the daughter of the Divine Sword. He believed that by mixing her blood with his, he could produce the “ultimate swordsman.”
To create the perfect vessel worthy of the Holy Sword.
But he failed. The Black Prince before him, and the Duke of Saxon, had beaten him to it.
Moreover, when he heard that the daughter of the Divine Sword was training as a knight under the Saxon family, becoming a knight supporting the eldest son of Saxon, and honing her swordsmanship day by day, the Holy Sword’s fury was indescribable.
Yet, the Count of Brandenburg no longer cared.
For a “perfect vessel” that might surpass even the daughter of the Divine Sword had appeared.
Right here, on the island of Britannia.
“Holy Maiden Aurelia…”
When he heard the full story of the events on Britannia, the Holy Sword did not hesitate.
A female knight hailed as the descent of a goddess. A savior who had reached the ultimate form of combat as a knight, known as the Avatar.
“I will plant my seed in that woman and create the perfect vessel worthy of the Holy Sword.”
Every tale of her sword only fueled the Count of Brandenburg’s desire.
A twisted, warped desire aimed at perpetuating his lineage. A desire to plant his seed in the Holy Maiden’s womb. And he was not the only one with such sinister intentions.
Though their goals might differ, this was the true nature of the “noble cause” that gathered under the empire’s banner.
A facade of unity, hiding individual ambitions. This “facade of unity” was the empire itself, and it was why the empire could not recklessly deploy its “unparalleled strongmen” stationed in the capital.
“A complete mess of an organization.”
Dale was no exception to this.
“Then, let’s begin the strategy meeting.”
Gathering his thoughts, Dale opened his mouth to speak. Or at least, he tried to.
“What right does a wretch like you have to command the proud imperial army?”
Philip shouted at Dale, who was trying to take charge. It was a pitiful, almost pathetic display of inferiority.
“Ah, then I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”
Dale shrugged and closed his mouth.
“Philip, dear.”
Seeing this, Lady Scarlet spoke softly, her voice dripping with allure and seduction that left the libertine Philip dazed.
“L-Lady Scarlet?”
Philip looked at her with a glimmer of hope, drawn in by Scarlet’s meaningful smile.
“Would you kindly shut that disgusting, pig-smelling mouth of yours?”
Immediately, a cold, emotionless response followed.
“Not even a single thing, not even the tip of your toe, can compare to the brilliance of Lord Dale.”
”…!”
“You’re wallowing in your inferiority, grunting like a pig without knowing your place.”
Her expression was as cold as if she were looking at an insect. It was a stark contrast to the demeanor she showed in front of Dale, a chill that couldn’t be compared. Yet, the malice in her eyes was fleeting.
“Oh, but compared to that, the radiance of Lord Dale!”
Scarlett turned her head towards Dale.
“Oh my, I can hardly contain my excitement for Lord Dale’s upcoming triumphs.”
Scarlett’s blatant adoration, dripping with enchantment, left Sepia’s face frozen. Dale, unfazed, simply turned his head away.
“You, you, you…!”
Amidst the humiliation pouring in from all sides, there stood Philip, trembling with rage.
‘That fool’s going to cause a real mess at this rate.’
On the island of Britannia, two forces coexisted.
The imperial territory governed by the ‘Governor of Burgundy,’ under the Empire’s rule, and the newly reclaimed lands of the ‘New Britannia Kingdom,’ led by the holy maiden Aurelia and her independence army.
At that time, it wasn’t hard to predict the holy maiden’s next target as she led her forces forward.
The heart of the old Britannia Kingdom, still beyond their grasp. The city where the heirs of the Britannia royal family had been crowned for generations, serving as the kingdom’s capital.
Reims.
Thus, the newly landed imperial forces on Britannia began to move in response to the independence army’s maneuvers. Each side sought a swift resolution, their objectives and interests intertwining.
With dark ambitions stirring from all directions, the curtain of war finally began to rise.