Episode 75: Dethronement
After Vera’s rough explanation concluded, Yohan quickly made his decision.
“Francia, please report this to the Imperial Inspection Bureau with the evidence of the transfer.”
The Imperial Inspection Bureau.
A formal organization dedicated to upholding law and order, emphasizing fairness and integrity in its investigations. Their mission includes probing corruption and crimes within the nobility, government officials, or the military.
Although it operates directly under the Imperial Family, the Crown Prince’s criminal acts are so evident that their investigation is inevitable.
“…Yohan, are you planning to rescue Lady Bismarck?”
Francia asked, her fingertips trembling slightly as her voice quivered.
“Yes. I must go.”
“It’s a trap…! It’s too dangerous!”
“Even so, I have to go.”
Despite her attempts to dissuade him, Yohan remained unmoved. His expression was firmly resolute.
He gently patted Francia’s head.
“Francia, this situation arose because of my own desires. I must take responsibility.”
“But…!”
“I’ll buy some time. Please bring the inspectors and the Imperial Knights.”
“Ah…”
Francia could only part her lips slightly. She tried to form words, but all that escaped her throat were trembling breaths.
“…Even if I beg you not to go, you’ll still go, won’t you?”
“Yes. This is a situation where only I can act.”
She wanted to stop him, to beg him not to go. But she simply couldn’t bring herself to do so. After all, Lady Rudella Bismarck could die at any moment.
“…It would be nice if you considered how anxious I’d be.”
That was all Francia could manage to say. She couldn’t indulge in childish whining—she had fallen in love with him precisely because of his resolve.
“I’m sorry, Francia.”
Yohan embraced her, softly brushing back her hair.
“Trust me, and I’ll go ahead.”
Francia tried to hold onto the hem of his garment, but her grip gradually loosened.
“…Take care. I’ll handle things here.”
Yohan left the mansion.
It was clear his life would be at risk. Logically, it made sense to file the report with the Inspection Bureau and leave matters to the inspectors and the Imperial Knights.
However, there are moments when one must act personally, no matter the logic.
This was one of those moments.
Though their relationship had only just begun, Rudella had become his lover.
The Crown Prince was unpredictable—he could kill Rudella in a fit of madness or commit unspeakable acts.
Yohan could not stand by and allow that.
***
The precarious state of Vera’s guidance was unnecessary. As Yohan left the mansion, he was met by shadows cloaked in black robes.
Under their silent guidance, Yohan headed to the place where Rudella was being held.
It seemed the shadows had been ordered by the Crown Prince, as they did not threaten him. They simply led the way, silently keeping a watchful eye.
Yohan also refrained from making any rash moves. In such uncertain circumstances, wasting energy on unnecessary conflict was not an option.
The knights of Fervache did not accompany him. Though Francia had recommended it, Yohan declined. It would have been a needless death.
The shadows loyal to the Crown Prince were strong—at least on par with first-class knights. While the Fervache Knights were excellent, they wouldn’t stand a chance against them.
Moreover, the knights stationed at the imperial mansion were less skilled and few in number.
Rather than following Yohan, it was better for them to stay with Francia and ensure her safety. Who knew what the Crown Prince might attempt next?
“We’re here.”
The shadow at the forefront stopped. They were in a forest not far from the imperial capital.
Yohan narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings. In front of him was a small hut, guarded by numerous black-clad figures.
‘There are too many of them.’
The number of visible shadows easily exceeded several dozen. And this was surely not all. The scale of the shadows nurtured by the Crown Prince since his youth was far greater than this.
“His Highness the Crown Prince awaits you. Enter.”
One of the shadows opened the door. Yohan’s expression hardened as he stepped inside.
He considered attacking first, but delaying with conversation was the better choice for now. Francia would bring reinforcements.
“You’ve come.”
Fedelian, seated in a chair, arrogantly raised his head. His golden eyes flickered under the moonlight.
“Where is Lady Bismarck?”
“Worried about my fiancée the moment you arrive?”
Fedelian’s eyebrow twitched.
“I thought it was just Rudella’s one-sided affection, but it seems that wasn’t entirely the case.”
“…”
Yohan’s eyes narrowed. From the way he spoke, it seemed he was aware not only of Rudella’s betrayal but also of her feelings.
“Despite having Lady Fervache, you’ve set your sights on another woman. You’re quite greedy, aren’t you? So, how does it feel to steal the Crown Prince’s fiancée? Do you feel superior or something?”
Fedelian asked with a sly grin.
“…I didn’t come here to exchange jokes.”
Yohan’s low voice echoed, resonating throughout the hut. Mana filled the space, swirling like a sharp, biting wind. The sheer intensity of it made Fedelian’s skin tingle.
The shadows flinched, gripping their weapon hilts. Their mana surged, radiating killing intent as if ready to attack at any moment.
“Hmm…”
Fedelian’s expression hardened, and he gazed at Yohan with a chilling stare.
“Well, I suppose it’s time to show you.”
At his command, the shadows entered another room and dragged Rudella out. Her arms and legs were bound.
“…”
Yohan remained calm and examined Rudella without losing his composure. Thankfully, her breathing was steady, and she didn’t appear to be physically injured.
But… something was off. Her sky-blue eyes lacked focus, and her lashes trembled faintly. Her empty gaze seemed to reach nowhere.
“Get up, Rudella. The man you love more than anyone is here.”
“…”
“Hmm, still like this? I guess the spell runs deeper than I thought.”
Yohan’s eyes widened in shock.
“…Don’t tell me you used Mind magic?”
Fedelian smirked slyly and shrugged his shoulders.
“I couldn’t harm her physically, could I? She is, after all, the future Crown Princess.”
Thump.
Yohan’s heart pounded heavily.
A weight, like a massive burden, fell onto the rationality he had been desperately holding onto.
“You used Mind magic on someone who can’t even wield mana…?”
Fedelian raised an eyebrow and smirked, lifting the corner of his lips.
“Yes, is that a problem? Considering what she’s done, I think this is a rather merciful punishment.”
Mind magic wasn’t used lightly. It triggered a person’s trauma and inflicted unbearable stress. In the worst-case scenario, it could leave them a broken shell of their former self.
At least those who could wield mana had some resistance, but Rudella was neither a knight nor a mage. She was an ordinary person, with no connection to mana.
Right now, it was as if she’d been thrown into a pit of lava with no protection.
Yohan anxiously looked at Rudella. Her sky-blue eyes wandered aimlessly. Although empty, they seemed to be silently screaming in agony.
Clench.
Yohan unconsciously clenched his right hand tightly. The reason wasn’t clear. A whirlwind of emotions churned in his grasp.
The more he looked at her, the more something boiled within him. The sticky, entangled emotions made his fingertips tingle. It was a fierce rage beyond words.
That’s when Yohan realized.
Some emotions can’t be expressed in words. They can only be released through action.
“…Fedelian, you will die here today.”
“Ha, what a coincidence. I was thinking the same thing.”
Boom!
The moment Yohan’s mana surged, the shadows leapt out and surrounded him from all sides. A blade closed in on his neck.
However—
“…!”
“What the…!”
The blades halted in midair, unable to reach Yohan’s neck. The Eternal Flow Technique’s invisible threads restrained the weapons of the shadows.
Yohan’s eyes gleamed fiercely. Mana surged from his hand and pulled Rudella’s limp body toward him. Whoosh! She collapsed into his arms.
Now was the time to escape. Yohan released his gathered mana in a burst.
Crackle!
Violent waves of energy swept through the surroundings.
Though the shadows were skilled, Yohan was a Special-Class mage. What’s more, the purity of his mana had intensified, amplifying its destructive power. Subduing him would not be easy.
Holding Rudella tightly to shield her from harm, Yohan utilized martial techniques infused with mana. The raw energy coursed through his body.
[Mana Enhancement: Mugol]
The vast, pure mana coursed through his entire body. It was almost unbearable. He felt like he might explode at any moment. But he had to endure.
Yohan’s thigh muscles tensed, swelling momentarily. Then he launched forward with explosive speed. His body shot like an arrow, crashing through the cabin’s wall.
Crash!!
Shockwaves erupted in all directions as shards of wood rained down. Yohan immediately deployed a mana barrier to protect Rudella.
Thankfully, the protective barrier he had deployed just in time ensured they were unscathed.
However—
“…”
There was no way out. Shadows surrounded them on all sides, their piercing gazes fixed squarely on him.
‘This won’t be easy.’
As Yohan assessed the presence of enemies in his vicinity, biting his lip in frustration—
“As expected of Count Lahart. To wield both martial arts and high-tier magic so effortlessly… you truly live up to the title of a Special-class mage.”
Fedelian emerged from the cabin, strolling out with a composed demeanor. Clapping his hands together, he seemed genuinely impressed.
“But whether you’ll survive… that, I’m not so sure about.”
With a slight nod from Fedelian, flashes of light began to shimmer between the trees, resembling constellations scattered throughout the forest.
Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of mana blades.
“Attack.”
As soon as the cold command left Fedelian’s lips, the shadows sprang forward like bolts of lightning. Mana-infused blades hurtled toward Yohan with ferocious speed.
Yohan’s blue eyes flashed.
Boom!
A fierce surge of mana erupted around him, sweeping through the area like a tempest. But it wasn’t enough to halt the shadows’ advance.
Of course, that wasn’t his intent.
Before him, a book materialized seemingly out of nowhere. Holding Rudella tightly in his arms, Yohan whispered a single word:
“Burning Flame Wheels.”
Rumble!
The air seemed to scream as it tore apart. Blazing wheels of fire erupted, spinning into fiery vortices that engulfed their surroundings. The crimson flames swirled, forcing back the encroaching darkness.
“It’s too hot!”
“Fall back!”
The shadows recoiled simultaneously. They couldn’t approach. The heat alone made their skin feel as if it were burning.
Yohan and Rudella, however, remained unharmed. The meticulous mana barrier continued to shield them both.
He didn’t need to worry about exhausting his mana. Yohan’s unique constitution allowed his mana to recover the more he used it.
“Haa…”
Yohan exhaled deeply, focusing his mind. Slowly, he raised his arm toward the sky, as if summoning something from above.
Mana surged violently at his fingertips. A dark orb began to form. One, two… no, dozens, then hundreds of orbs soared into the night sky.
Rupture Points.
The mana-filled orbs floated high above, their sheer numbers making it impossible to count. Yet, each one brimmed with potent energy.
Crack!
The spheres collided with one another, releasing bursts of power that tore through the sky. Lightning crackled and shockwaves rippled, fracturing the night sky into jagged shards. The air hummed with a sharp, grating sound as space itself twisted and split, raw mana churning violently within the rifts.
A thin trickle of blood ran down Yohan’s nose. He had pushed his focus to the extreme, but his gaze remained unwavering.
“…Fall.”
Yohan’s voice resonated, low and commanding.
At his words, the countless spheres in the sky began to descend, plummeting toward the ground with unstoppable force.
Poor Rudella. 😟
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