Episode 111: Volfirio

“Alright… preparations are complete.”

The defense force at the northern wall had finished their arrangements for opening the gate. They had gathered inside the gate.

Among them, Volfirio, blending in with the soldiers, gave a low command to the defense captain.

“Follow the plan. Open the gate, and when the enemy rushes in, launch a simultaneous attack… Got it?”

“…Yes.”

The moment the defense captain nodded—

“C-Captain…! The enemy!”

One of the soldiers shouted.

At the end of his gaze—from the corner of a building emerged a silver-haired young man and his subordinates.

A beastman with a bow, infantry wielding spears, and even a knight clad in armor stood at the ready behind him.

(Siegfried…! He’s brought his troops and come this far…!)

Until moments ago, Siegfried had been alone, but it seemed he had now joined up with his forces.

“N-No matter, just open the gate—”

Volfirio whispered to the defense captain, but at that moment—

“—Don’t move. If anyone makes an unnecessary move, I’ll have you all shot dead.”

Siegfried’s voice rang out sharply. The beastmen behind him instantly readied their bows, aiming arrows at Volfirio and his men.

If they tried to open the gate now, a rain of arrows would surely descend upon them.

(So close…!)

Volfirio ground his teeth but forced his mind to race.

(No, stay calm… He doesn’t know my face.)

If he played this calmly, he could overcome this crisis. He reassured himself.

“Listen, all of you… no matter what happens, don’t reveal my identity.”

He whispered to the surrounding soldiers in a low but firm voice.

“I’m just a common soldier—that’s the story. You, captain… show them our intent to surrender.”

Following Volfirio’s orders, the defense captain called out to Siegfried.

“W-We are… the defense force of the northern wall. We were just about to open the gate to surrender. W-We have no intention of fighting.”

“Oh? Surrender, is it?”

Siegfried halted his steps.

“Then follow my orders.”

“Y-Yes…”

“I’m currently looking for someone.”

“Someone…? Do you mean Prince Volfirio? If so, we don’t know his whereabouts either.”

(You idiot! Don’t blabber about things no one asked!)

Volfirio cursed inwardly.

But Siegfried slowly shook his head.

“No. The one I’m looking for isn’t Volfirio. It’s the soldier who attacked me earlier.”

“A soldier…?”

“Yes. I was ambushed in this castle. I dealt with most of them, but one got away. I’m tracking him down. —All of you, draw your swords.”

“Huh?”

“That soldier killed Vice-Commander Almants and escaped. His sword should still have blood on it. Everyone, draw your swords and show me.”

“T-That’s…”

“If you can’t follow orders—consider it an act of defiance.”

The archers behind Siegfried drew their arrows in unison.

The soldiers paled and hurriedly drew their swords.

Each blade bore scratches and grime from daily use, but none showed the fresh blood of a recent kill.

—Except for one man, who kept his sword sheathed. Needless to say, it was Volfirio.

He stood there, frozen in shock.

He knew that drawing his sword would reveal the evidence of Almants’ murder.

“You. Why aren’t you drawing your sword?”

Siegfried slowly approached Volfirio.

“Guh…”

Beneath his helmet, Volfirio’s face twisted, unable to find words.

Siegfried reached for the sword at his waist without hesitation.

“Stop…!”

Volfirio tried to resist, but the difference in strength between him and Siegfried was stark.

In the next moment, the drawn sword was laid bare. Its blade—stained with dark red blood.

“I see. It was you.”

Siegfried grabbed Volfirio’s arm and yanked him closer.

“Guh… Let go! P-Please, stop…!”

Ignoring his pleas, Siegfried slammed him to the ground.

“Ugh…!”

“I’m a commander. I must uphold discipline. I’ll spare those who surrender, but those who raise a blade against me will be punished—as an example. Furthermore, you killed Vice-Commander Almants, a key witness to the illicit trade. That crime is far from light. Therefore… right here, right now, I will execute you.”

“W-What…!”

Siegfried tossed Volfirio’s sword to the ground and drew his own from its scabbard.

Volfirio hurriedly raised his voice.

“W-Wait! Hold on! I-I’m—”

(Damn it! Damn it…!)

Amidst a whirlwind of anger and panic, Volfirio made his decision.

(There’s no other choice now… I have to reveal who I am!)

Siegfried seemed to believe he was just a common soldier.

If this continued, he’d be killed as an ordinary soldier who targeted Siegfried. He had no choice but to reveal his royal status to survive.

“I am—Volfirio! The second prince of the Serodonia Kingdom—Volfirio Borbon de Serodonia!”

Tears welling in his eyes, Volfirio tore off his helmet.

(Damn it… this means my escape to the Holy Church… is over…!)

His fate now was likely confinement in the royal palace.

Still—at least it was better than dying here.

“Volfirio, you say?”

Siegfried stared intently at his face and spoke coldly.

“—That’s a lie.”

“W-What…?”

“You’re spouting nonsense to save your skin. If you’re going to beg for your life… come up with something better.”

“I-It’s not a lie! I-I’m Volfirio! H-Hey, you lot!”

Volfirio turned a desperate gaze toward his allies.

“Speak! Testify right now that I am Volfirio!”

The soldiers exchanged glances, their faces etched with hesitation.

As one of them opened his mouth to speak—the defense captain raised a hand to silence him and stepped forward.

Facing Siegfried, the captain declared calmly.

“That man is not Prince Volfirio. —He’s just a common soldier.”

“W-What…! You bastard!”

Volfirio roared in fury.

“You! You bastard! What are you saying?!”

“If I may say one thing… I am merely fulfilling my duty as a soldier. That is all.”

“What…?”

A soldier’s duty—obedience to a superior’s orders.

And just moments ago, Volfirio had commanded him: ‘No matter what happens, don’t reveal my identity.’

“You idiot!”

Spittle flying from his mouth, Volfirio shouted.

“Use your judgment! That order is rescinded! Now, all of you, testify that I’m Volfirio—gah!”

Siegfried mercilessly stomped on Volfirio’s back.

“…Sorry, but I don’t have time for this. After I execute you, I still need to find and capture the real Prince Volfirio.”

“I… I’m telling you! I am Volfirio! …W-Wait, yes!”

Volfirio tore off his soldier’s leather gloves, revealing an ornate ring on his finger.

“Look at this! A common soldier couldn’t possibly have such an expensive ring! That means—”

“That means you stole it.”

Siegfried pressed his foot harder into Volfirio’s back.

“With the crime of theft added to your list—there’s no choice but to kill you now.”

“W-Why does it come to that!? Listen, I really am Volfirio!”

Volfirio screamed, pleading desperately.

“If you kill me, you’ll bear the stain of regicide for the rest of your life! My father won’t stay silent!”

His father—King Ladfilias III of Serodonia.

No matter how disappointing a son Volfirio might be, he was still his flesh and blood.

“Being hated by a king isn’t something you’d want, is it?!”

“You’re right.”

“And regarding the illicit trade, I know far more than Almants ever did! The hiding places for the amassed wealth… I’ll confess it all willingly! So… killing me would only bring you disadvantages!”

“Indeed, it would be more convenient for me if Prince Volfirio were alive.”

“E-Exactly! So—”

“—But you are not Volfirio. You’re just a common soldier.”

Siegfried slowly raised his sword. The blade glinted ominously in the sunlight.

“N-No! I’m telling you, you’re wrong! I… I am…!”

Volfirio looked up at Siegfried, clinging to hope.

But in that moment, he realized.

This man could not be persuaded—he was certain of it.

There wasn’t a trace of doubt in Siegfried’s eyes.

He already knew exactly who the man before him was.

And yet—he intended to kill him.

(Why…? Why would he kill me, knowing I’m Volfirio!?) 

As if answering the cry of his heart, Siegfried whispered.

“One last thing before you go. My desire—is to make villains shine. Compared to that… everything else is trivial.”

Indeed, killing Volfirio would brand him a ‘kingslayer.’

It might even earn him the deep resentment of King Ladfilias of Serodonia.

But—such things were inconsequential to Siegfried.

Right now, he sought only one thing.

To give the villain Volfirio a fitting end.

Siegfried would not forgive him. A soft conclusion like confinement in the palace—

Such an ending was unworthy of Volfirio.

“Now—receive the end you deserve.”

“Stop! Stop, stop, stop! I am! A prince of Serodonia! A prince!”

“—And yet, not a single person here acknowledges that.”

Yes… that was the truth, in the end.

By blood, Volfirio was indeed a prince.

But even his own subordinates—the guards—did not deem him worthy of royalty.

“…Let’s end this.”

“Stop…!”

The merciless blade came down.

With a single stroke, it severed Volfirio’s head, and blood sprayed across the cobblestones.

The blood of a prince was no different from a commoner’s… just red liquid.

(No…! I… I…)

From the severed head, the flame of life rapidly faded.

The second prince of the Serodonia Kingdom, Volfirio.

The man who dreamed of becoming king—ended his life as a nameless common soldier.