Overgeared

“Fourth Prince Edan captured Dukes Grenhal, Morse, and Basara and imprisoned them in the Abyss. The soldiers of the three dukes ignored the warnings and advanced to the capital, but they disappeared immediately upon arrival. The Tower of Eternity reported sensing a large-scale Mass Teleport.”

In the imperial capital, Titan...

Emperor Juander returned only to receive ridiculous news. When he found out the situation, he immediately ordered, “Release the dukes and deem Edan a traitor.”

Long sentences weren’t necessary. The moment he was proclaimed a traitor, Edan was deprived of all rights. All the troops in Titan moved in unison. Thousands of soldiers entered Edan’s palace and confiscated all of his property. The property naturally included his army. All of his forces, including the magic machines unit, was under the emperor’s control. However, the four operable magic machines had already disappeared.

“Damn bastard! Get out of here! I am the empress of the empire! I am the mother of the future emperor! How dare you, soldiers of the empire, block my way?”

The palace of Empress Marie was also besieged by thousands of soldiers. The empress had immediately rushed to find the emperor when she heard her son had been declared a traitor, but the knights stopped her.

“Are you saying a traitor will become the emperor? He committed treason. Treason. Please be careful with your words.”

“W-What? A mere guard dares to...!”

“The empress seems to be very agitated. Please take her inside.”

“Yes!”

“Let go! Let go of me!”

The knights didn’t blink no matter how loudly the empress raised her voice. Did they know she was the real murderer of Empress Aria? No, they didn’t know. The emperor had yet to announce the truth. Nevertheless, the attitude of the knights was apathetic because they were imperial knights. The imperial knights were the emperor’s knights. The other person wasn’t important when carrying out the emperor’s orders. No matter who it was, they only carried out the emperor’s will.

“Marquis Aileen?”

“There is news that he immediately left the capital after Edan was declared a traitor. We’ve already dispatched 5,000 people to chase him.”

“5,000 aren’t enough. Send an additional 10,000 troops and contact the generals of each army to march to Marquis Aileen’s territory.”

“Yes!”

Armored Cavalryman Chensler was the only imperial knight among the Five Pillars, and he actively started eradicating the traitors. He thoroughly used the military power entrusted to him by the emperor to pressure the faction of Edan and the empress. It was his judgment that the forces who helped Edan had to be thoroughly trampled in advance. The handling of the Red Knights was in the same vein. There were doubts about them because Sword Duke Limit was part of the empress’ faction.

“What about the Sword Duke and the Red Knights?”

“The whereabouts of the Sword Duke are unknown. However, the rest of the knights are gathered in the barracks. I have sent an official letter to the Neo Red Knights to punish them, and news should be forthcoming.”

“Yes.”

Obviously, the Red Knights were also loyal to the empire and the imperial family. The problem was that Limit, the leader of the Red Knights, was a traitor. Since Limit had contaminated the Red Knights’ thoughts, it was better to handle all of them so they didn’t become a variable later on. The Red Knights’ skills were outstanding, but they weren’t a match for the Neo Red Knights that the grandmaster had been involved in training.

“Did the Sword Duke escape with Edan?”

In fact, the empress’s palace and the Red Knights were all additional factors. The greatest sinners were Empress Marie, Edan, and Sword Duke Limit. Additionally, the magic machines had to be obtained unconditionally. They couldn’t be missed.

“Hurry,” Chensler urged the soldiers.

***

“How interesting.”

of the Five Pillars, had come to visit the Abyss. It was to carry out the order to release the dukes. Yet

“Limit is dead?”

intruder wanted to escape

the chief guard, Biplonz—a mysterious demonkin whose identity was unknown even to Bain. Only the emperor and the grandmaster knew Biplonz’s identity. Even Biplonz himself didn’t know, but Bain

“Who was the intruder?”

kill Limit. However, none of the Five Pillars would do such a thing. First, Kyle and Chensler were dogs who only moved according to the emperor’s orders. They couldn’t have recognized and resolved a problem the emperor didn’t

“Outsiders.”

best spearman, the descendant of the

outside the empire one by

“The Overgeared King.”

Grid was now perceived

with the intruder, so how should I know his identity?

keep lying. Well, it doesn’t matter if you answer or not. Someone already knows the answer.” Bain turned his attention to various parts of the Abyss covered in darkness. He glanced at exactly 14 places. They were the locations of the surveillance spells that the grandmaster had

Bain sniffed. ‘Smelly guy.’

grandmaster was up to. He just had to protect the emperor’s back

Bain disappeared from Biplonz’ vision in an instant and left the tunnel. Biplonz was left behind and clicked his tongue. “I couldn’t see it.

order to empty air, “Look for traces of

‘Eclipse’ started moving.

***

was going to report

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

looked well. The emperor stood up and greeted them, only to feel a sense of alienation. The wounds that could be seen on Grenhal’s body were gone. Was this someone else

energy and

many things

scars. They were badges of loyalty to the emperor and the empire. The way that they were erased wasn’t important. However, the fact that they were erased was important. It was proof that Grenhal’s loyalty to the empire

“Who helped you?”

“The Overgeared King.”

“...?”

to tell you before explaining our relationship with the

she worked with the Yatan Church to

“...!”

time ago,

“I see...”

ashamed. Without knowing her true identity, I hid in the empress’ skirt as she made the country

want to lose the few remaining dukes. Now that the imperial family was in great

has become

white hair. The blood of the founding emperor, Saharan, ran deep in him. Yet the only ‘natural born transcendent’ was becoming helpless before time like ordinary humans. Grenhal’s heart was heavy when he saw how great a mental pain the emperor must’ve suffered after learning

support His Majesty. I can’t let the country that my ancestors built—that my father and previous

Grenhal had been feeling troubled whilst on the way here. Maybe it would be right to leave the empire. This was the aftermath

heart stabilized. He stared at the emperor and knelt down. “Your Majesty, please reveal Marie’s sins and impose

them. The greatest punishment of the Saharan Empire was to place sinners in the Abyss and make them die after a long time in despair. Moreover, in the present

in the Abyss was unforgivable to any noble,

was the same. It was time to show his courage. The

will reveal the sins of both people and then lock them up