Chapter 152 Sangvis Ferri (1)
Martha, second in the Iron Blood Knights, and Siliond, third in rank, fell.
Heinrich and Brantley lived up to my expectations.
‘Now, all that remains is to secure the emperor and the princess.’
While we dealt with the head of the Iron Blood Knights, Ferdinand and other professors were supposed to subdue the rest of the Iron Blood Knights and seize the imperial palace.
In particular, Catoleas had already sent Angela to the princess who had revealed the kidnapping plan.
After defeating the top 3 members of the Iron Blooded Knights, there is no power inside the imperial palace to stop us.
You should be able to take control of the imperial palace without difficulty.
‘The question is, what state is the emperor in? … .’
when i was thinking like that.
A sharp voice came from behind.
“Ernas Landstein!”
A woman in her late 20s came up to where I was, bleeding from her forehead.
It was Poltiana Clarion, 4th seat of the Iron Blood Knights.
“You, Captain Saphias… … !”
Poltiana opened her eyes at the sight of Catoleas who had passed away.
“Did you mean this from the beginning?! Did you enter the imperial palace to plot treason?!”
“… … .”
“Your father, Perfectio-nim, was the most loyal among the heads of the 6 famous sword families! Why would you, the son… … !”
Poltiana rushed at me while deploying her sword skills.
The sword she uses is Platino Knight Sword, which is an advanced version of Partizan Judgment Sword.
As befits a skilled person who graduated from the academy at the top of his class, it was an Eastern-style swordsmanship that was close to perfection.
“Ugh?!”
But, it didn’t work for me.
Because I was already familiar with the Platino knight swordsmanship through the lessons in the Valentiano class.
When she opened the lightning sword and attacked it, she lost the sword from her hand.
“… … !”
She looked shocked at the fact that she had missed the sword.
In my life as a swordsman up until now, the experience of dropping a sword during a battle must have been only on one hand.
Since he was hit by a junior who didn’t even graduate from the academy, the shock was bound to be great.
“What are you doing?”
“… … !”
She was taken aback by my cold words.
“Shouldn’t the traitor be punished as the 4th member of the Iron Blood Knights?”
“Eh, Aernas… … .”
“Pick up the dropped sword and attack again, Poltiana.”
I fired at her while holding Saphias’ sword.
“Fulfill your duty as a Sangvis Knight until the end.”
“Ugh… … !”
Poltiana picked up her sword and attacked again.
But, this time too, I blew it away with lightning sword steel.
“Aernas… … !”
Still, Poltiana continued to run at me.
I dodged Poltiana’s fist with the Lightning God, and then thrust the knife into her neck.
From noble mtl dot com.
“As expected, it seems you haven’t been brainwashed by Archbishop Catoleas.”
“Archbishop Catoleas… … ?”
Poltiana stared at me in surprise.
“Are you talking about the Archbishop of the Dark Heaven Demonic Cult? why all of a sudden… … .”
I drew the sword without replying.
Just now, Poltiana was overcome with a strong sense of mission and rushed with determination to die.
If, like the other knights, he had fallen for Catoleas’ trick and coveted power… I would have hesitated because my life was precious.
‘Even in the novel, Catoleas left Poltiana alone. Is it the same as a novel here?’
The daughter of Oleana Clarion, Poltiana is a righteous knight with an upright character.
Because he was young, he still had an idealistic side.
No matter how much she tried to entice her, there was a good chance she wouldn’t be involved in the conspiracy, so Catoleas didn’t mention it to Poltiana at all.
“Look at this, Poltiana.”
“What are you doing… … !”
As I cut the corpse’s face with a knife, Poltiana raised her eyes.
However, right after that, he covered his mouth with his hand and held his breath.
“Captain Saphias’s face… … !”
The leather on Saphias’ face was ripped open, revealing the real Catoleas’ face underneath.
It was the face of a featureless old man with no distinct features.
“The Black Heaven Demonic Cult has a technique that allows you to completely disguise yourself by putting on the skin of a person’s face.”
“Well, then… … .”
“Captain Safias was already killed a while ago. The one who commanded you all this time was Archbishop Catoleas, wearing the skin of Captain Saphias’s face.”
“No, that is nonsense! how… … !”
Poltiana shouted in disbelief.
However, it was an indisputable fact that the wrinkled old man was wearing the skin of Saphias’ face.
“Poltiana, the Iron Blood Knights had already been taken over by Archbishop Catoleas. It was the same for Marta, who was in second place, and Siliond, who was in third place.”
“Eh, Sir Martha and Sir Siliond?!”
“Many knights were tricked by Archbishop Catoleas and were moving to seize power by trampling on the academy and master swordsmen. Is there any corner that I can catch up on?”
“ah… … !”
Hearing my words, Poltiana held her breath.
If you look back on your memory, there will definitely be a corner that makes sense.
“Poltiana, it’s an emergency now.”
“Eh, Aernas… … .”
“As long as the captain and three seats have all been defeated, you are the one with the highest rank in the Iron Blood Knights. That’s why you can be said to be in charge of protecting the imperial palace.”
Saying that, I looked straight at Poltiana.
“Then, what should you do first in this situation?”
“ah… … !”
“Yes, we must protect His Majesty the Emperor.”
Your Majesty the Emperor.
The monarch of this empire that the Iron Blood Knights must protect.
He is now lying in bed and unable to move even a single step.
“Going to His Majesty, Poltiana.”
In order to rectify this situation, I decided to head to Area 1 where the Emperor was.
* * *
“Are you going to where His Majesty is? I leave the sword to you.”
To avoid any misunderstanding, I entrusted the sword to Poltiana.
Anyway, there was no enemy I had to fight with a sword anymore.
“Aernas, I can’t hold a sword and have an audience with the Emperor… … .”
“Now you are the temporary leader. On behalf of Captain Saphias, you must take up your sword and protect His Majesty.”
“ah… … .”
Poltiana, convinced of my logic, nodded.
Actually, Poltiana still wasn’t in a state of trusting me 100%.
Still, Poltiana’s skills can’t stop me from entering District 1… I had no choice but to accompany him.
“Eh, Sir Aernas!”
“Chaldeas Secretary.”
When I set foot in District 2, I encountered familiar faces.
They were officials from the palace, including the Chaldeas secretary.
“How did this happen? Why are the Iron Blood Knights and the Academy… … !”
“I will show you this first.”
I showed them what I had in my hand.
wrapped in cloth… It was the head of the Archbishop of Catoleas.
“This, this… … ?!”
“This is Archbishop Catoleas of the Black Heaven Demonic Cult, who was wearing the skin of the head of Saphias. The Iron Blood Knights were in a state of control by the Dark Heaven Demonic Cult.”
“… … !”
Chaldeas widened his eyes and was shocked.
Catoleas’s face still has the skin of Saphias’ face attached to it.
This was more convincing evidence than any words.
“Chaldeas Secretary, I want to check on the Emperor’s safety. They may have targeted His Majesty as well.”
“Ah, I see!”
Since he already had a relationship of trust with Chaldeas, it was easier than persuading Poltiana.
With Chaldeas, the leader of the palace, and Poltiana, the 4th seat of the Iron Blood Knights, she was able to enter the first area without any problems.
‘Even if it’s an emergency, if I go into Area 1 by myself, it could cause problems later.’
I walked through District 1, guided by Chaldeas and Poltiana.
After walking through the maze-like hallways… I reached an ordinary door that looked nothing special.
“… … .”
Chaldeas moved a finger in front of the door.
He entered the password into the magical security device.
“Come in.”
Seruk.
The door opened, allowing you to enter inside.
Like the other spaces in the imperial palace, the room was bland.
A bed was placed right in the middle, with a secretary and maids guarding the side.
‘That old man… … .’
A skinny old man was lying on the bed.
That old man who is making weak breathing sounds as if he will die at any moment… He was the emperor of this empire.
“… … .”
Even in such a state, the emperor felt a large amount of magic power.
The magic power of the graduate level is still left in the heart of the emperor.
‘If it wasn’t for that magic… The emperor must have already passed away.’
All previous emperors were at the peak of their graduate careers.
Even the emperor, who had not reached the climax at the time of ascending the throne, always reached the climax during his reign.
Even the emperor, who is now dying right in front of his eyes, made a name for himself as the strongest graduate who overpowered the six great swordsmanship families in his heyday.
“Your Majesty, since it is an emergency, I am speaking directly without risking rudeness.”
Chaldeas knelt down and spoke to the emperor.
“The Dark Heaven Demonic Cult was in control of the Iron Blood Knights. Leader Saphias, who had been walking around the imperial palace for a while… It was Archbishop Catoleas of the Dark Heaven Demonic Cult in disguise.”
“… … .”
No reply came back.
It wasn’t that the emperor was asleep.
It’s just that I don’t have the energy to answer.
“But don’t worry. Heir to the Landstein family… Ernas Landstein stepped in and killed Archbishop Catoleas. The chaos in the imperial palace will soon be settled.”
“… … .”
“Still, in case of an emergency, we intend to stand by His Majesty’s side. so… … .”
It was then.
The emperor’s fingers moved as he lay there speechless.
And that finger… pointed at me
“your majesty… … ?”
Realizing that the emperor’s eyes were also looking at me, Chaldeas was startled.
“Your Majesty… He wants a private meeting with Aernas-nim.”
When the secretary next to the bed spoke in a nervous voice, both Chaldeas and Poltiana opened their eyes wide.
“Did you say you were alone?”
“Yes, Aernas-sama wants everyone to go outside.”
“Kuhm… … .”
These are the words of the secretary who always stood by the emperor.
Even Chaldeas could not object.
“Aernas-sama, this is… … .”
“It seems I have no choice but to follow Your Majesty’s wishes.”
Hearing my words, Chaldeas nodded with a confused expression.
Poltiana also bit her lip, but couldn’t say anything.
Eventually they left the room.
“… … .”
The secretary and court ladies also left the room, leaving only me and the emperor in the room.
I slowly approached the emperor lying on the bed.
“Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Looking down at the lying emperor, he opened his mouth.
The emperor’s cloudy eyes were staring at me.
“I will tell you this first. Biederkeren magic tricks are impossible.”
“… … .”
“Archbishop Catoleas disguised himself as Captain Saphias to deceive His Majesty the Emperor. In order to get permission for all sorts of atrocities to be committed in the palace in the future, I lied about prolonging my life.”
After saying that, I waited for a while.
OK… There was a reaction.
“Aernas… … .”
A voice flowed from the mouth of the emperor, who seemed to be struggling to even breathe.
Besides, the body… The black aura began to overflow.
“me… Do you think I am an idiot?”
Whiik!
The emperor, who stood up, raised his bony left arm and grabbed me by the collar.
It was not moved by physical force.
It was moved by the power of the magical power remaining in the mana heart.
“The Biederkeren magic trick actually exists, Aernas.”
“… … .”
“Do you think I was tricked by the Dark Heaven Demonic Cult? I had already noticed from a long time ago that this guy wasn’t Saphias himself. I was using him.”
Tears of blood flowed from the emperor’s eyes.
No, it wasn’t just bloody tears.
nose, mouth, ears… Even the pores all over the body were bleeding.
Covered in blood like that, the emperor grabbed me by the collar and spoke in a resentful voice.
“All I had to do was secure a ‘new body’ with his cooperation. But you interfered and ruined it.”
“… … .”
“so… Can not help it.”
That moment.
The blood that flowed from the emperor’s whole body was concentrated in the emperor’s right hand.
“I have no choice but to secure a ‘new body’ for myself.”
A swordsmanship exclusive to the imperial family, passed down only to the descendants of the Iron Blood Sword Emperor.
The iron-blooded sword was directed at my neck.