84 episodes
24 Fallen Stars (4)
behind Zion.
To be precise, the leader of the vigilante corps begins to line up behind Liam, who is by Zion’s side.
Had it been talked about beforehand?
Their movements were so natural.
“ How can the border corps… … .”
The voice that came out of the mouth of someone who saw it.
That was the sentiment of most of the people here.
Hundreds of years ago, when the first war with the devil was waged, until now.
It was a border corps that had never intervened in the power struggle between the imperial families.
For them to line up behind Zion, who had not yet ascended to the throne, it was as if they were willing to take the side of Zion.
Something unprecedented in the history of the Empire.
However, unlike the others, Shion’s expression was as calm as before.
‘ After all, this is just for performance.’
At least in the area of the border between the Empire and the Demonic War, he borrowed the name of Liam, who is still the best known, and attracted the Border Corps through several pacts, but it was not really a force that could be used.
They wanted to keep the boundaries with the demon, and in fact, it was the right thing to do.
I’ll probably go back to the border as soon as this funeral is over.
‘ That’s enough.’
By bringing in the vigilante corps that he thought he would never be able to bring in, he made a strong enough impression on everyone gathered here.
Sometimes, the impact of a moment like this was more important than the real thing.
In fact, the faces of many people, including the royal family, who were looking at this place changed in an instant, and some of them even had strange looks.
‘ It still looks fine.’
Sion looked at Tarahal with the face of Utekan among them.
4 The demon, covered in the prince’s skin, usually thought and acted thoroughly like a Utekan.
That is why it must be very heartbreaking to hear that the Border Corps, which is nominally a member of the military, has come here.
However, his face was only slightly contorted, and he looked unexpectedly calm.
Zion already knew the reason.
‘ Because there are still things he prepared.’
Presumably, according to Zion’s own expectations, it was highly likely that this would happen before the funeral was over.
‘ I hope it starts as soon as possible.’
Sion’s eyes were filled with strange anticipation.
* * *
Is he even mourning the death of Emperor Urdios?
The sky of Hwangseong is starting to get dark clouds.
Beneath it, the emperor’s funeral was proceeding smoothly.
“… … Always put the people first and the nobles should work hard for them… … .”
Soliman’s chirping voice as he reads Yujo down in front of the emperor’s coffin fills the empty space where the funeral is taking place.
It was the duty of the attendees to listen to the voice and engraved it deeply in their hearts, but most of the attendees turned their attention to Zion.
‘ You are surprised many times today.’
One of them, Groud Ozurima, thought as he looked at the back of Prince Sion, who was standing toward the emperor’s coffin.
It was also impressive to see him not being pushed back by the previous 1st Prince Rubrios, but the scene that Prince Sion showed a little while ago was what surprised him the most.
‘ By deliberately introducing Liam Reiner late to grab people’s attention for a moment, and then aligning the vigilante corps backwards to decorate the end.’
Impossible if you didn’t plan everything from scratch and calculate the exact timing.
Of course, it was surprising just to bring in the vigilante corps, but by doing it like before, he was maximizing the effect.
A heart that is truly unremarkable.
‘ I knew that he had a deep heart from what he showed at the last national meeting, but… … .’
This time, it seemed more than then, but not less.
‘ If it’s like this, it might be more difficult to deal with… … .’
When Groud’s eyes fell down, thinking like that,
“ Now, the next order will be the reading of the heir’s eulogy.”
The voice of Soliman, who had read all of the emperor’s death and achievements, was heard.
Reading the eulogy of the successor.
The ‘successor’ referred to here was not the royal family who passed the succession ceremony or Evelyn who led the funeral.
The only royal family designated as the successor to the previous emperor.
Only the royal family was worthy of that ‘successor’.
Therefore, Zion was the only one who had the right to read the eulogy here.
“ Then, Prince Zion, please come up on the platform… … .”
It was when Soliman opened his mouth straight toward Zion.
“ Wait, do you have something to say before that?”
A loud voice interrupted his words.
It was Utecan.
The 4th Prince ascends to the front pedestal, receiving people’s attention.
After a quick glance at the people who were looking at him, he opened his mouth in a hoarse tone.
“ First, let me apologize for disturbing the Emperor’s funeral in this way.”
Actually saying that, Utekan bowed his head slightly.
“ Nevertheless, the reason I am moving forward like this is because there is one thing that is difficult to understand in this situation.”
The eyes of the 4th prince look at Zion.
“ The fact that 6th Prince Zion Agnes is the orthodox heir.”
There was no emotion in those eyes, so I couldn’t guess what he was thinking.
“ Isn’t that already over? I know that even the Emperor has mentioned Zion twice.”
“ No.”
At Ivelyn’s words, Utekan shook her head.
“ The Emperor and our father, His Majesty Urdios, has been in bed for many years. The symptoms were so severe that it was difficult to even stand up, let alone do simple tasks. It is said that Zion was designated as the successor just a few months before the death of such an emperor.”
“ That means… … .”
“ Yeah, the Emperor may have been unable to make a proper judgment because of his illness.”
“ What! What a rude thing to say!”
Evelyn roared in anger at him.
Even among the envoys and nobles who attended the funeral with him, turmoil began to arise.
However, Utekan continued to speak in a calm voice, without changing a single expression on his face.
“ I understand you are angry. But think of you too. How was Zion being called when the Emperor designated Zion as his successor?”
“… … .”
“ The imprisoned prince, the shame of the imperial family. The Emperor even imprisoned Zion in Chimseonggung himself. Of course, after that, Zion continued to show a different side, but it was clearly before that the Emperor pointed out Zion.”
“ It’s definitely not wrong.”
At Utekan’s words, Diena also smiled and added Chuimsae.
“ Then you are saying that the Emperor may have designated him as the successor because he felt sorry for our youngest brother?”
Of course, she knew that wasn’t the case either.
In fact, he was one of those people who had seen Shion’s abilities.
However, the situation was not bad for her, and it seemed that she could use Utecan to undermine Shion’s prestige, so she only helped.
“ I think it is very likely. However, the position of an orthodox successor is not a position that can only be obtained through recognition. In addition, the subjugation of the 7 plagues, which was a proof test, was also questionable.”
“ So what are we going to do? Are you going to deprive me of Zion’s successor qualifications now?”
As if interested in him, the 1st Prince Rubrios also asked with a soft smile.
“ No, not that. I just want you to judge him fairly here.”
Is this the point from now on?
As if waiting, Utekan raised a hand.
That moment,
Drooling-
One thing prepared next to Utecan.
It was a sword.
A very old and unsightly sword with even the handle half blown away.
What was unusual was that the sword was embedded in a thick slab full of unrecognizable inscriptions.
“ It’s a relic of the antidote. I found it in the basement of the People’s Palace.”
“… … !”
People’s eyes filled with surprise at the insignificant words that came out of Utekan’s mouth.
Agnes, Irmadeon, the necromancer.
It was because he was the second emperor to become the ruler of the empire after the Eternal Empire.
4 As the prince said, if that sword was a relic of such a rebellion, it was an item of great historical value.
“ The Vengeful Emperor was more obsessed with the blood of Agnes, the bloodline than anyone else. That’s why he created a relic like this sword. When a person with Agnes’ blood grabs the handle of the sword… … .”
With those words, Utekan grabbed the handle of the sword.
That moment,
Whoa!
A white light erupted from the sword half embedded in the stone slab, and in an instant, it began to color the entire area.
A light as if seeing the starlight of the heavenly sea.
“… … You’re supposed to react like this. The thicker the blood of Agnes, the greater the reaction.”
The light disappeared as if washed as soon as Utekan took his hand off the handle.
“ If this is the case, I think it will be possible to determine the degree of qualifications for succession without knowing the throne. Of course, I’ll stake my head on the proof that this is real. Anyway, just seeing it now is enough.”
Unlike general blood, it has been said that since ancient times, Agnes’ blood contains the qualities of a ruler, and the darker it is, the stronger that quality is expressed.
And in fact, many people believed it.
That’s why Agnes’ bloodline was so special and noble.
“ It’s definitely not a bad proposition. I am in favor And I think it would be better not only for Zion, but for all the members of the royal family to hold that sword.”
As soon as Utekan finished speaking, Rubrios was the first to cast an affirmative vote with an interesting expression on his face.
A smile crept onto Utekan’s lips at that.
Relic Sword of Rebellion.
The sword he discovered in the basement of the People’s Palace by accidental access to information was actually made to react to the natural sea, not Agnes’ blood.
Contrary to history, the rebellious system was not attached to blood, but to the power of Agnes itself, the natural sea, and it was this sword that was created to determine its realm.
‘ So if you hold the sword, the 1st or 2nd princess will shine the brightest… … .’
It didn’t really matter.
Utekan, no, because the purpose of the demon Tarahal was to disqualify him as the successor of Sion rather than to gain the upper hand here.
Tarahal knew.
that Zion did not learn the natural sea.
‘ The power used by Zion Agnes. No matter how you look at it, it’s not heavenly.’
So, if Shion, who was unaware of that fact, held the sword, it was clear that there would be no reaction at all.
This was a trap.
A trap he prepared for Zion Agnes.
‘ There’s no need to consume precious mental erosion power to swallow that body.’
Two of the same Omaryeong bowed their heads and asked for it, so they accepted it, but in Tarahal’s eyes, it was still not worth it to Zion.
It would be enough just to break it down little by little like this.
‘ Of course, I don’t know if I get out of here… … .’
That will never happen.
After thinking like that, Utekan immediately looked at Shion as if she didn’t need to hear Yvelin and Diena’s answers.
Because the most important thing right now was the person’s answer.
at that time,
“ Why me?”
A low voice came out of Shion’s mouth.
The voice was very small, but it resounded clearly in the ears of everyone who had gathered in front of the people’s palace.
The atmosphere that quickly tightens with him.
“ I am already the official heir. Even if you do, you won’t get anything… … Do I really need to?”
People’s eyes are focused on such Zion.
They weren’t looking because they wanted to.
With the first word, the ominous ominous emanating from Zion’s body was forcibly drawing their attention.
For the first time in my life, I felt a strange sensation.
The eyes of the envoys gathered from all over the empire fluttered at him.
“… … What do you want, Sion?”
Utekan, who had struggled to shake off that ominous feeling that even affected him, asked Shion.
You must know that if you refuse to hold the sword here, you are telling people that you do not have the qualities of a successor.
Still, to say that meant that there was something he wanted.
“You are Jeong-ro.”
Shion looks at Utekan with drowsy eyes and answers.
“ Give one of them to me.”
Jeongroo-gun.
4th Prince Utekan.
Now Zion was telling me to hand over one of them.
“ Ah ha ha ha ha!”
At those words, a big laugh erupted from Utekan’s mouth to the extent that it rumbled around.
“ Yeah, it is.”
The words of acceptance that came out of the mouth of the 4th prince who finally stopped laughing.
“ But only if you keep your successor status.”
Originally, it was a request that was so vague that it was not even worth thinking about, but it didn’t matter.
After all, it was impossible for Shion to maintain his successor status.
“ Keep that promise.”
Shion’s eyes looking at Utekan like that were narrowly curved.