Chapter 51

After the Subjugation Force departed for the South, the Imperial Palace—once overflowing with youthful vigor—became desolate. The palace, which had been lively and bustling in celebration of the grand Houkijisu Tournament, soon returned to its usual tranquility.

“Finally, it’s gotten a bit quiet.”

“Do you think so, Rev? Well, you were never fond of crowds since you were young.”

“Wasn’t it Your Majesty who used to read beside me when I was a child?”

“Yes, that’s true. But people change, you see. Back when I first ascended the throne, I wanted to abolish the Houkijisu Tournament altogether. Yet now, seeing the palace filled with young people brings me nothing but joy. When I think like that, I realize I’ve grown old.”

“That’s not true. You’re still as vigorous as ever—how could you call that old?”

“Hah, I may have said I was old, but I hoped you’d deny it more convincingly.”

“Didn’t I just do that?”

The Emperor burst into laughter.

“Haha, my friend… If I were truly young, would anyone call me ‘vigorous’ in the first place?”

“Well… you have a point.”

“Exactly. Both of us have grown old.”

“…”

As if by silent agreement, the two men fell quiet. Having spent their childhood and their twenties together on the battlefield, both could keenly feel how swiftly the years had passed.

“I’ll be sixty in a couple of days. It’s about time I step down.”

“But—”

“Rev.”

The Emperor’s soft voice cut him off. Marquis Bradman could not finish his words.

“I want to rest now. The name Iron-Blooded Emperor is a relic of the past. I just want to cast off this heavy burden. You know better than anyone—I’m not who I used to be.”

Indeed, the Emperor had mellowed greatly in recent years. Though the same strength still lingered behind his composure, he was no longer the man once known as the Iron-Blooded Ruler.

“…So that’s why you involved yourself directly in this Houkijisu Tournament. You wish to determine the next heir to the throne as soon as possible.”

“Well, yes. It’s not a bad way to humble those arrogant brats who only think about clashing with each other, don’t you think?”

A faint smile appeared over the wrinkles on the Emperor’s face. It had been his idea to replace the traditional closing event of the Houkijisu Tournament—the Hunting Competition—with the grand southern subjugation mission.

“Indeed. A brilliant move, if I may say so. With this, not only will the princes and the most gifted talents of the Empire head south, but the southern provinces’ complaints about manpower shortages will also subside. And when all is done, the heir Your Majesty seeks will naturally come into view.”

“Just as you said.”

“However… if I may speak freely, isn’t this a bit harsh on the Fifth Prince, who’s only just begun to show his potential?”

“I didn’t expect to hear that from you. You’ve never shown interest in any of the princes before. Has the youngest one finally caught your eye?”

“Of course not. The only Emperor I serve is the one who once bestowed upon me my knighthood.”

The Marquis spoke in a roundabout way, reaffirming that he had no intention of influencing the choice of the next Emperor.

“The fact that you talk so much about it tells me you do like him.”

“…Even if I could deceive the world, I could never deceive Your Majesty. I’ve never seen talent like his in all my years.”

“To think that a man who spent half his life being called the Empire’s Greatest Sword would say that… It’s terrifying, even if he is my son. Where did such a talent come from, I wonder? Hahaha…”

The words were half jest, half truth. After a brief chuckle, the Emperor returned to the original topic.

“Well, there’s no denying it now. You’re right—my youngest is at a far greater disadvantage.”

“Then… is there a particular reason why Your Majesty insists on pressing forward with this?”

“Hmm… How should I put it… I feel that child may be the one to succeed me, yet perhaps part of me doesn’t want that.”

The reason, of course, was the blood that would inevitably be shed in the process. The two men, who needed no words to understand each other, fell silent for a moment.

“Do not worry too much. After all, the Fifth Prince is the one who spared the Third Prince even after their fateful duel.”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

“The Fifth Prince carries not only Your Majesty’s blood, but also that of the late Empress. Surely, a fragment of her kind heart remains within him. You may rest a little easier knowing that.”

“I hope so… but that’s what worries me. I fear he’s inherited too much of me.”

Beneath the fluttering banner of Aphahiel, the Subjugation Force marched south. As if on some grand field trip, they relied on teleportation magic from the very start.

Unlike the age of magical prosperity centuries ago, subspace had become little more than a legend. Yet now, in a time of peace, over a thousand people had used teleportation magic—truly a feat worthy of an empire.

“It’s certainly humid down here. Is it already summer in these parts?”

“Heh, you’re telling me. We’ve got a long way further south, and it’s already this hot? The southern heat has quite the reputation… I hope we’ll be fine.”

Despite their words, the mood remained bright. The Houkijisu participants—who had lived sheltered lives like greenhouse flowers—were heading to their first battlefield, their enthusiasm soaring sky-high.

After traveling a great distance in an instant, the Subjugation Force began their true journey southward from the southern edge of the Empire’s central region.

The desert stretching between the central and southern lands greeted them.

Having made thorough preparations beforehand, the Subjugation Force was ready to cross it at once.

They put away their cumbersome, gleaming armor and instead donned long robes to shield themselves from the sun. They equipped their horses and carriages with special fittings to prevent them from sinking into the sand, and before setting foot in the desert, they double- and triple-checked their remaining water supply.

A day, two days, three, then four passed. The farther south they went, the hotter and more humid it became.

“Phew… It’s hot. Where are we now?”

“Don’t even ask. We haven’t even covered a third of the way yet.”

“Not even that much?!”

All dreams of a romantic adventure were long gone. There was nothing left but the endless dunes and the ceaseless march southward.

The long-awaited thrill of real combat never came, and the luxurious equipment they had packed for their “first expedition” turned out to be nothing more than useless burdens, heavy and impractical.

From time to time, the group stopped by small villages or nearby territories along the route whenever their course allowed, but such brief visits were far from enough to satisfy the pampered Houkijisu participants who had grown up in comfort.

The stars and romance they had hoped to experience during their nights of camping were quickly buried under desert dust and sweat, transforming into irritation. The confidence and pride they had displayed at the start of their journey had long vanished, replaced by constant grumbling throughout the ranks. The atmosphere was anything but pleasant.

“Ugh… it’s hot.”

“Damn it, we’re all going to melt at this rate… How can this heat even be real? And this is just the beginning? We still have to go even further south? Forget it. I’m dropping out at the next stop.”

About ten days into the expedition, though few in number, deserters began to appear. Those who had thought the subjugation mission would simply be an extension of the Houkijisu Tournament—joining on a whim without understanding the hardship—started giving up, staying behind in the territories they passed through.

Fortunately, Tang Yuwon, who had experienced every kind of hardship in his previous life, found little difficulty in the southern march.

‘If anything, the only ordeal is how dull this all is…’

Day after day, all he did was sit on horseback, trudging southward. It was only natural that boredom crept in. Yuwon spent most of that tedious time lost in thought.

Aside from that, he occasionally spoke with companions like Terrien or the Third Prince to pass the time—though even that only lasted an hour or two a day, as talking too much in such heat made one unbearably thirsty.

He had worried that Arencar, the Second Prince, might cause trouble after what happened right before their departure, but no such thing occurred. Whether he was lying low to plot something or simply too exhausted, Arencar crossed the desert silently, muttering curses under his breath as usual.

‘Well, it’d be strange if anyone had the energy to pick a fight in this heat.’

Time flowed on uneventfully over the barren desert.

Fifteen days passed since the Subjugation Force had set out. Having finally escaped the desert, the troops reached the southern lands, looking utterly ragged from the long days of camping.

But despite their worn-out appearance, their eyes gleamed with excitement. After this long journey, they were expected to reach their destination—the Valaris County—by tonight or early tomorrow morning.

“Ah… finally, the Valaris County.”

“The first thing I’ll do when we arrive is take a bath.”

“I’d say about nine hundred people here are thinking the exact same thing.”

“Hah, every bathhouse in the county will be packed to bursting.”

Encouraging voices filled the ranks, urging one another to hold on just a bit longer. Terrien, riding beside Yuwon, responded with a faint smile.

“We’ll soon be in the Valaris County. We can finally rest from this sweat-drenched journey.”

“Indeed. I’ve had enough of this heat—it’ll be good to finally breathe easy.”

“Since it’s the homeland of Lady Valaris… did Your Highness perhaps have a quarrel with her? The atmosphere between you two lately seems… rather distant.”

“Hmm? We haven’t fought or even argued.”

It was true that Yuwon had noticed Renania Valaris keeping her distance from him recently.

‘…Ever since I spilled blood, perhaps.’

Thinking back, it had been that way ever since the incident at the Third Prince’s Palace. Still, he didn’t feel particularly regretful about it. In fact, it was somewhat easier this way.

‘We’re already broken off, after all. There’s nothing to worry about.’

It wasn’t that Yuwon was trying not to care—he genuinely didn’t. Until Terrien mentioned it, he hadn’t even considered anything unusual.

“Still, you two make quite the pair. Since we’re heading all the way to Valaris County, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to… reconcile a bit?”

“Hmm… I don’t think that’s likely…”

At that moment, an alien sensation prickled at Yuwon’s instincts. It was sticky—ominous.

‘This is…!’

“Your Highness?”

“Shh, quiet!”

“…?”

Silencing Terrien immediately, Yuwon closed his eyes and focused entirely on the sensation.

A pungent scent—footsteps—rushing closer. Then, the raw, untamed intent to kill brushed against Yuwon’s sharpened senses.

‘They’re not few…!’

He opened his eyes at once and gave a sharp order. The usual calmness in his voice was gone; in its place was a blade-like edge of battle readiness.

“Terrien, listen to me carefully.”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

Sensing the gravity in Yuwon’s tone, Terrien straightened up, his demeanor instantly changing.

“The enemy will strike soon. Return to the main unit and prepare for battle. I’ll inform the Supreme Commander myself and rejoin the formation.”

“Yes, understood. I’ll have the troops ready immediately.”

Though Terrien couldn’t yet see or hear any movement, he trusted Yuwon’s command without a hint of doubt.

“A major battle’s coming—make sure we’re fully prepared. There will be blood today.”

“Yes, leave this side to me.”

At Terrien’s firm response, Yuwon nodded silently and spurred his horse forward toward the main force’s commander.

“Hyah—!”

The Red Hare traced a crimson streak across the horizon.