Episode 87: The Executioner #2
Yohan frowned deeply as he held the letter brought by the Imperial messenger.
His gaze slowly traced the words on the paper, and his deep blue eyes reflected a mix of complex emotions.
<Count Lahart is hereby appointed as the executioner. Cooperate with the Inspection Bureau to eliminate the Empire’s traitor, Fedelian Rozino.>
The Emperor surely knew about the ill-fated history between Yohan and Fedelian. Assigning this task to him was a clear message: to completely eradicate Fedelian.
‘…There’s no reason to refuse.’
There was no pressing need for Yohan to personally take charge, but he didn’t mind handling it himself. After all, there were too many unresolved grudges between them.
And once the job was done, there would undoubtedly be a fitting reward. Though he wasn’t sure what else he could receive at this point.
Snap.
Yohan closed the letter he had spread open. His deep blue eyes shimmered coldly.
In the meantime, Francia returned to the room after finishing her meal.
“So, what was the matter?”
“I’ve been given an execution order.”
“An execution…?”
Francia’s face stiffened.
“The Emperor has commanded me to eliminate Fedelian Rozino.”
“Why would he choose you for that…?”
She parted her lips to speak but hesitated before shaking her head. Then she asked,
“…You’re not planning to accept it, are you?”
“I don’t think it’s possible to refuse anyway.”
Technically, given Yohan’s position, he could refuse if he wanted to, but he saw no reason to do so. Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to deal with that man personally?
Moreover, Yohan had never forgotten—not even for a moment—how many innocent lives had been lost because of that man.
“Since it has come to this, I intend to personally eliminate him.”
“Such a thing…!”
Francia’s eyes trembled at Yohan’s resolute tone. She bit her lip tightly as she stared at him.
If he got involved in this, it would complicate matters. They wouldn’t be able to launch an attack on the enemy forces.
Of course, that wasn’t her only concern.
“It’s too dangerous! It’s not that I don’t trust you, Yohan, but we can’t underestimate Tenerope’s forces or that man’s skill!”
Francia’s voice rose slightly.
Even Fedelian alone was a fighter of exceptional prowess, a man who had reached the level of a Sword Master.
On top of that, there were rumors that Cassis Lenokhonen, who had recently escaped prison, had joined forces with him.
And Francia knew better than anyone that those rumors were not baseless. The two had collaborated in the previous timeline as well.
No matter how strong Yohan was, facing the two of them together would be an uphill battle.
“I understand your concerns. If I were you, I’d try to stop me too.”
Yohan nodded slowly.
Who could accept their loved one undertaking such a dangerous mission? Regardless of trust, the situation itself was upsetting.
“But I hope you’ll trust me this time. I promise I’ll complete this without any risk to myself.”
Of course, Yohan wasn’t blindly accepting the Emperor’s command out of desire for reward or revenge. He had his reasons.
“I am on the verge of transcending. No matter what happens, I won’t lose.”
Ever since Yohan began learning magic formally, he had grown stronger with every passing moment. His mana purity, circuits, and reserves had reached unparalleled levels.
Because of this, he had now reached the threshold of becoming a Transcendent Mage.
“I can still see the faces of those who died because of him. For their sake, I have to handle this myself.”
From Tersis, the deputy commander who welcomed him when he first joined the Bureau, to the knights and mages he befriended while crossing the border to escort Rudella—
Their deaths weighed heavily on Yohan’s footsteps.
“…”
Francia clenched her fists tightly as she looked at the resolute Yohan. Why did this man never back down, even in the face of clear danger?
Of course, it was precisely this side of him that had helped her so much before the regression and made her genuinely fall for him…
Sigh.
Francia lowered her head, letting out a deep sigh from her slightly parted red lips.
“…Fine. But promise me this. If it gets even slightly dangerous, you’ll retreat immediately.”
“I will.”
“And always prioritize your own safety above all else, for my sake.”
“Yes.”
Yohan nodded with a small smile. Francia sighed once more and looked at him.
“…I’ll trust and wait for you.”
“Thank you. For trusting me.”
Francia closed her eyes, recalling an artifact she had retrieved from the Transcendent Mage’s library.
Though she said she would trust and wait, she had no intention of staying idle. She would act first, using the Gladius Luminis.
It was the only way to ensure Yohan wouldn’t face danger.
***
A few days later.
The first place Yohan visited after officially becoming the executioner under imperial decree was the Office of Inquisition.
“Welcome, Special-Class Mage Lahart.”
A woman standing at the main entrance greeted him in a low voice. Her light platinum blonde hair shone softly under the sunlight, and her gray eyes carried a sharp and calculating air.
‘Her name was…’
Eris Highlander.
A Special-Class Inspector. Yohan remembered meeting her before when she had come to apprehend the Crown Prince.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Special-Class Inspector Highlander. I thought you were beautiful before, but seeing you in the light makes your beauty all the more radiant."
“Pardon…? Beautiful…?”
Eris blinked in surprise, staring at Yohan with a dazed expression. Her gray eyes became slightly unfocused, as though her mind had wandered elsewhere.
“…Special-Class Inspector Highlander?”
“Ah, yes? What?”
“Is something wrong?”
“N-No? It’s nothing. Ahem.”
She awkwardly cleared her throat, then quickly turned her gaze aside. Her pale skin, now tinged with red at the ears, made her fluster all the more noticeable.
“Would you like to begin the mission right away…?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
“I’ll guide you…”
Eris took the lead. Her stride was steady, but her steps seemed to falter slightly, almost as if something was off.
Yohan had no idea why. Maybe she’d injured herself during training?
As they walked through the Inspection Bureau’s corridors, she eventually stopped in front of a room.
The nameplate read [Grand Inspection Room].
“In this room are the elite inspectors assigned to this mission. They are highly skilled and experienced and will be of great assistance.” Eris explained, her words faltering slightly as her gaze drifted sideways.
“…Understood. Let’s go in.”
Yohan decided to let her odd behavior slide for now.
Click.
As the door opened, they entered a large, stark room. It was devoid of decoration, with only a massive round table and stacks of documents occupying the space.
“Welcome.”
“Greetings.”
The elite inspectors inside immediately rose from their seats and offered polite greetings.
““It is an honor to meet you, I am Special-Class Mage Lahart.” Yohan introduced himself.
“The honor is ours…!”
“Ha-ha, pleased to meet you…!”
“Oh…”
The male inspectors nodded respectfully, while the female inspectors stared at Yohan, as though captivated by a living work of art.
It was a reaction he was used to.
“Ahem, shall we begin the briefing?”
The one to break the awkward atmosphere was a woman seated at the head of the table. She exuded a demeanor similar to Eris and smiled faintly as she introduced herself.
“I am Javella Highlander, an special-class inspector and the Deputy Director of the Inspection Bureau.”
In truth, Javella had been just as taken aback by Yohan’s presence—he looked even more extraordinary than what her friend Raeliana had described. But as the deputy director, she was determined to keep her composure and maintain professionalism.
“…Highlander?”
Hearing her name, Yohan glanced at Eris, standing nearby.
“Y-Yes, your guess is correct…”
Startled by his gaze, Eris flinched but nodded quietly, her eyes darting away.
“Ah…”
Yohan raised an eyebrow.
‘No wonder they looked so similar—they’re sisters.’
Who was older and who was younger wasn’t particularly important at the moment. He figured he’d learn eventually.
“My apologies. Please continue the briefing.”
Yohan took an empty seat at the round table. Javella handed out documents as she began to speak.
“Fedelian Rozino, who disappeared from the empire, is currently hiding in Lazerian Territory, a key military stronghold in the kingdom of Tenerope. He is collaborating with the royal family to plot a coup against the imperial throne."
This information came from inspectors dispatched to verify the authenticity of a mysterious letter they had received.
“The Tenerope forces aren’t large, but the real problem is the Golden Steel Knights led by Duke Aegis of the kingdom.”
The Golden Steel Knights were an undefeated force throughout Tenerope’s long history.
“They are the kingdom’s most formidable force, composed entirely of First-Class Knights and led by the Grand Swordmaster Duke Aegis.”
Yohan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The enemy forces were much stronger than anticipated.
The Grand Sword Master, Duke Aegis, alone would be manageable, but adding a squad of First-Class Knights to the equation…
‘This is going to get complicated.’
Even for the empire’s inspectors, it wouldn’t be easy.
“The likelihood of betrayal by the Tenerope royal family doesn’t seem very high. They also need Fedelian Rozino’s usurpation to succeed in order to avoid their own annihilation.”
This dashed even the faint hope they had.
“Our current strategy is to infiltrate Fedelian Rozino’s location covertly, assassinate him, and then escape, but…”
Jevella pressed her lips into a thin line. She knew it was a risky plan, but it seemed to be the most viable option.
After all, the imperial family had entrusted this task to the inspectors precisely to avoid an all-out war and had appointed Count Lahart as the executioner for this mission.
Using magical bombardments on the stronghold to eliminate Fedelian wasn’t an option either; doing so would escalate the situation into a full-scale war.
Of course, the empire could try negotiating with Tenerope through diplomacy, but that wasn’t an appealing option either.
It would damage their dignity and open the door for other nations to take advantage.
“Hmm…”
“Do we have to evade their attention entirely?”
“…It won’t be easy.”
The inspectors murmured in low tones. The assassination of Fedelian Rozino seemed to be one of the most challenging tasks they’d ever faced.
“The Golden Steel Knights, though small in number, are composed entirely of First-Class Knights. To reach Fedelian Rozino, we will inevitably have to face them.”
Fedelian Rozino wouldn’t leave the stronghold, where soldiers and knights were concentrated, as a precaution.
“That means time will drag on, and Duke Aegis, the most formidable opponent, will come. If that happens, the mission will fail.”
They needed to breach the stronghold’s soldiers and knights and assassinate Fedelian before Duke Aegis could intervene. Ultimately, it was a race against time.
“…”
Yohan stroked his chin thoughtfully, then raised his hand.
“Go ahead.” Jevella said.
“I’ll handle Duke Aegis.”
“…You’ll handle Duke Aegis?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Yohan’s voice was firm, his gaze unwavering. However, Jevella’s gray eyes showed doubt.
Of course, she was well aware of his formidable abilities. But to take on a Grand Sword Master? It seemed impossible.
Sensing her skepticism from her expression, gaze, and attitude, Yohan quickly added:
“Though it hasn’t been officially announced, I am on the verge of transcending. I should at least be able to buy some time.”
Jevella narrowed her eyes.
‘If he’s truly on the verge of transcendence…’
If that were the case, perhaps he could indeed hold his own against Duke Aegis.
The powers of those who reached transcendence varied greatly, of course. But—considering he is a mage who had single-handedly taken down a Special-Grade Demonic Beast?
‘It’s worth trusting him.’
Having quickly done her calculations, Jevella nodded and made her decision.
“Then, after a simple evaluation of your abilities, we will devise a new plan centered around Count Lahart.”
Her gray eyes shimmered.
“The mission: the assassination of the traitor Fedelian Rozino.”
 |
Eris Highlander |