Chapter 38 : Black Lion -2
Having shaken off Gorgon's temptation with a single word, I immediately put the ring on my finger, then approached the corpse of the archbishop pierced by the sword I had thrown earlier and touched his forehead.
Then, a scene of a video seeped into my head.
"Your Holiness, we will protect you, Your Holiness!"
Two men blocking the door while shouting.
The sword that flew in as soon as the door opened.
The black-haired knight fills the vision.
The fishy smell of blood filling the mouth.
The memories the archbishop held right before dying were transmitted intact into my head.
Having confirmed that fact, I nodded.
'It seems groping through the dead's memories is all it can do for now.'
Among Gorgon's authorities, this was all that had awakened at best.
I thought while looking at Ramon, who was sprawled out.
'He was an even more insignificant guy than I thought.'
Gorgon's abilities vary vastly depending on who its owner is.
In fact, the 'King of Corpses', who obtained this ring after Ramon in my previous life, had shown truly tremendous abilities.
It must have been at least several decades since Ramon obtained this ring.
Yet, to think this was all the ability he had blossomed.
I let out a short sigh and said.
"Well, perhaps this level of authority was enough to seduce foolish people."
Ramon used this authority possessed by Gorgon to seduce and brainwash countless people, and based on that, he created the current military force.
"Ughhh-"
And right now, Ramon, squirming on the floor after losing Gorgon, was presenting a truly miserable appearance.
'What method would be good?'
Pondering a method of death befitting that miserable appearance and the evil deeds he had committed, I soon hardened my resolve and reached out my hand toward Ramon.
Sizzle-
"Gaaah!"
Then, the mana dwelling in Ramon's body was sucked out into the void and began to form a sphere.
Ramon screamed at the violent pain of having all his mana forcibly dragged out while alive.
I used my unique spell 'Mana Drain' to draw out all the mana dwelling in Ramon's body.
Until just a moment ago, I had no intention of sucking out Ramon's mana.
Because Ramon's mana was so polluted that I could not possibly use it.
'But if it is this guy, the story is different.'
I opened my palm.
Slither slither.
The green jewel snake wrapping around the ring started flicking its tongue.
It had sensed Ramon's dirty mana and started swallowing its drool.
"I will give you food."
I put the ring down on the floor and took a step back.
Ramon's mana, which was clumped in the void, was sucked into the snake's snout as it was.
And the eyes of the snake, which had swallowed all the mana, flashed for a moment.
Shhh.
As the snake flicked its tongue, the ring slowly became transparent.
However, I had no intention of tolerating that.
Kyaaak!
The dagger I threw pierced the ring as it was.
Then, the ring that was becoming transparent soon regained its original appearance.
"Where are you running away to?"
As I picked up the ring and spat out a word, the snake glared at me with eyes full of grudge and flicked its tongue.
Gorgon is a ring that chooses its owner itself.
Gorgon judged that my will was too strong to corrupt according to its will, so it tried to find a new owner, but its attempt came to nothing due to my quick response.
"It became quite usable after I fed it…… but still, since there is nothing for you to do right now, just stay hidden."
I opened another unique spell, 'Dimensional Vault'.
Soon, a space that only I could open and close revealed its appearance.
Shhh.
Perhaps resentful of the owner who threw it into a warehouse as soon as he obtained it, the snake opened its mouth wide once again.
However, with an expression that it was no big deal, I formed a sealing formula to confine Gorgon and immediately threw the guy into the Dimensional Vault.
"As expected, I cannot show something like this."
This was the reason why I insisted on stopping Ismael, who said he would follow me, and came here alone.
Taking the ring worn by the wicked villain Ramon for myself, sucking the mana out of Ramon, and feeding that sucked mana to Gorgon as food; all of these were things I could not show to Ismael.
"Ah, is Ismael not the only one I cannot show this to?"
Showing a bitter smile once, I turned my back to remove the 'sole witness' who had witnessed this entire scene.
Ramon, who was struggling in lingering pain after losing Gorgon and having even his mana sucked away, had a shabby appearance like a crumpled rag.
I waited until enough pain dwelt in Ramon's wretched body, and right when the pain ripened to its peak,
I brought the blade of Axion to him and slashed without hesitation.
Thud.
Ramon's neck, having lost all vitality, separated from his body ungracefully, like a fallen fruit dropping.
I created a magic flame and burned the corpse, leaving only the torso.
And holding Ramon's head, I threw my body out the window.
"Captain!"
"Captain! Are you safe?"
The members who were waiting below for me to return safely surrounded me.
"You have worked hard all this while. Troops."
I replaced my answer by lifting Ramon's head high.
"Waaaaah! Long live the Young Master!"
Haken, confirming the victory, shouted cheers all at once.
Around the time those cheers were conveyed beyond the field…….
Rumble.
Vomiting a roar like a scream, Alcalia collapsed.
Like that, Alcala's desire, which seemed as if it would cover the world, met its end.
***
"They say that thanks to the Apostles of Alcala focusing on making our soldiers into puppets, the number of casualties on our side is at a nearly non-existent level. It is a truly fortunate thing."
"Ah, is that so?"
"They say the knights and soldiers who fell victim to the vicious curse will have no major problems if they recuperate for a while, so this must also be a fortunate thing."
"Right, right. Of course it is."
"Among them, our Reichart territorial army reportedly suffered particularly minor damage. It must be thanks to not standing at the vanguard in the all-out attack."
"Kuku, right. Isn't this all thanks to a certain person giving very good information?"
"……Tower Master, why are you making such an expression?"
Redin, who was reading the expedition report sent by Larmus, threw a question at Bolpar, who was sitting opposite him and excitedly chiming in.
"No, what did I do? I am merely waiting for your words, Family Head, as it seems there is more you wish to say."
Bolpar was showing a mischievous expression unbefitting his age and grinning continuously.
"I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, Tower Master."
"Oh my, oh my. If it is difficult for the Family Head to speak, this old man will say it instead. Ahem."
Bolpar, who let out an exaggerated fake cough, picked up the end part of the long report sent by Larmus.
"……The one who made the greatest contribution to our army's victory is undoubtedly Young Master Hein, no matter what anyone says. Perhaps the soldiers also know that fact, but because every soldier in the allied forces shouted Young Master Hein's name on the day we won the war, the dawn field was filled entirely with the name of Reichart. Look at this, Family Head. It says not only our Zodiac soldiers but also soldiers from other nations shouted this Young Master's name?"
"It is a common occurrence on the battlefield."
"Is that so? This person has not gone out to the battlefield much, but I understand that it is not a common occurrence for even soldiers collapsed on the ground to chant someone's name at the top of their lungs."
"He was just lucky. I am only concerned that the child might get drunk on a small victory and lose his humility."
"Ah, so it is luck? So right now, are you saying, Family Head, that the overwhelming military merits this Young Master established, to the point that the wildcat-like James guy cannot even dare to manipulate them, are all luck?"
Bolpar shook the report left and right and grinned continuously.
Bolpar seemed extremely happy about the fact that I had fed James a blow.
"The one who flipped the tilting war situation in an instant was this Young Master; the ones who ground those damned guys' tower to powder were this Young Master's knight order; the one who cut the ringleader's head was also this Young Master. While this Young Master established all these merits, all the capital's knight order led by that James guy did was lie down and act dizzy. Kya, well, given the situation, even the brazen James guy wouldn't be able to think of manipulating the merits. Don't you think so?"
Just as Larmus submitted the report to Redin, James would also submit an expedition report where the merits I established were written as they were.
Since my military merits were so overwhelming and the circumstances were too clear, plus there were many eyes watching, there were no grounds for manipulation.
"Anyway, this old man lives in the world these days for the taste of watching this Young Master. If this person is like this, how must the Family Head feel? Kuku."
"He is a child who still has too much to learn. Although he is showing a different appearance from the past, it would still be unreasonable for him to shoulder the family's name, so I must watch him more."
"Tsk tsk. Such a heartless gentleman. Then I should get up now. I have a place to go."
"Where do you plan to go?"
"Where else would it be? In a short while, the army that went on the expedition will return to the territory, so I intend to go see that triumphal procession. Since the Family Head says he has no intention of going to greet them, shouldn't this person at least go and applaud those who suffered?"
"A victory banquet will be held in the evening, and a place to praise the expeditionary force will also be arranged. For me to move when there is a prepared place……."
"I understand, I understand. I almost forgot what kind of person the Family Head is."
Bolpar shook his head once and stood up from his seat.
And picking up his hat and cane, he said.
"Still, if your mind changes, come to watch the triumphal procession. Since you will be able to see the territory's people going wild shouting this Young Master's name until their throats burst."
Bolpar showed a smile once again and left the meeting room.
Redin, left alone, closed his eyes with his arms crossed.
Perhaps because of the words Bolpar left behind, it seemed as if cheers chanting my name were heard in the ears of Redin, who had closed his eyes.
***
Boom boom boom!
"The expeditionary force is entering!"
"Wah! Wah!"
When the drum sound announcing the entry of the expeditionary force into the castle was heard, the streets were instantly filled with the shouts of the territory's people welcoming the expeditionary force.
"Look over there! Young Master Hein is at the front!"
The shouts, which added more intensity as time passed, reached their absolute peak the moment my figure was seen.
"Waaaaah! Young Master Hein!"
"Invincible Reichart"!
"Undefeated Reichart!"
The streets became crowded without even a gap to step in an instant with the territory's people who poured out to chant the names of Hein and Reichart.
"Black Lion! Black Lion! The Black Lion of Reichart!"
Among them, there were quite a few territory people chanting 'Black Lion', the nickname I gained through this expedition.
Standing at the front and waving my hand toward the territory's people, I glanced back and asked.
"Is it that touching?"
"N-no, Captain. Just something caught my eye."
The Haken members following behind me were startled and made an excuse about dust, but for having dust in their eyes, their eyes were wet far too moistly.
'It is understandable to be moved. Since they must have waited for a place like today for over 100 years.'
The hearts of the Haken Knight Order, enjoying the honor of standing at the front of the triumphal procession with me, were heating up hotly before they knew it.
With this, the thirst that had tormented them for the past 100 years must have been quenched to some extent.
'But it is troubling if you get satisfied with just this much. Because you guys still have much work left to do with me.'
Of course, this was not everything I had prepared for Haken.
Even while waving my hand toward the territory's people, my gaze was already directed beyond the horizon, toward the Akrishima Empire where 'he' would be.
'Wait. I promise the time of waiting will not be that long.'
And behind me, who was strengthening my resolve,
'Damn it…….'
There was Helkane, clutching his fist until it bled.
Watching me shining more than anyone else at this moment and Axion shining at my waist, Helkane, who had been biting his lip firmly, suddenly had his expression stiffen hard.
'I apologize.'
Helkane bowed his head deeply once.
The place where his gaze headed after lifting his head again was.
"……."
There was Rishu, watching the triumphal procession with a cold expression.
Rishu, who was watching the procession from the rooftop of a secluded building where the public's gaze did not reach, said to her servants in a cold voice.
"I am tired."
"We will escort you, Grand Madam."
A moment later, Rishu got into a palanquin and headed to her quarters.
The inside of the spacious palanquin was filled with the scent of fragrant herbs, and the bedding supporting her slender body was comfortable beyond measure.
However, despite that, Rishu did not look comfortable at all.
"Mmm……."
Rishu, suddenly feeling a headache, touched her forehead.
The delusion she had recalled right before I left for Haken, that I might return as a lion leading a pack of wolves, felt like a fear that had become reality.
Trickle.
Rishu poured and wet her throat with precious tea, of which one cup was worth the price of silk of the same weight.
But sadly, the headache grabbing hold of her head showed no sign of going away at all.