Episode 169: The King of Kirchhen “What’s… the situation… right now?”

Crawling out from the rubble, Luverios surveyed his surroundings. The most powerful necromancer, Lugdura. Its malevolent presence had somehow vanished without a trace.

“Why has Lugdura’s presence disappeared?… I see, it must have slain Siegfried and returned to the ‘Underworld.’”

To Luverios, this was a natural conclusion. Even someone like Siegfried could not possibly stand against such an incarnation of death.

“Hah… haha! I see, so that’s how it is. In that case—this isn’t exactly a bad turn of events for me…!”

The troublesome Siegfried was dead, and the fearsome Lugdura had returned to the Underworld. Joachim’s death, depending on how you looked at it, was also convenient. That man was a member of the ‘Silver Falling Star.’ On the surface, he supported Luverios as chancellor, but behind the scenes, he always prioritized his mission as a member of the ‘Silver Falling Star.’ If he was gone, that was all the more refreshing.

Of course, the collapse of the royal palace and the deaths of Ignas, Zefard, and others were significant losses. But at the very least—the worst possible outcome had been avoided.

“Your Majesty Luverios…?”

Hearing his name called, Luverios turned toward the voice. There stood a city guard.

“Hey, over here! We’ve found His Majesty Luverios!”

The guard’s voice echoed, and as if on cue, soldiers began to gather one after another.

“Your Majesty… are you unharmed?”

The soldiers approached Luverios. The man at the forefront—apparently the captain—spoke in a cautious tone. Luverios furrowed his brow at the insolence.

Normally, a lowly city guard addressing the king directly was unthinkable. At the very least, they should kneel and approach with reverence. But this was an emergency. There was still the risk of being discovered by remnants of Siegfried’s forces. Luverios had enough sense to know this was no time to nitpick over etiquette.

“I am the king who rules this nation. I wouldn’t die from something like that… I refuse to die!”

Luverios spat out the words. But the response he received betrayed his expectations.

“Is that so… It would’ve been better if you had died.”

“—Wh-what!?”

Luverios’s eyes widened in shock. In that instant, the captain drew his sword and charged straight at him. The sharp blade pierced the king’s chest.

“Gah…! Y-you bastard…!”

Twisting his body at the last moment, he narrowly avoided a fatal wound. But the pain searing through his chest was excruciatingly sharp.

“You—What is the meaning of this!?”

As he shouted, a blade from another direction plunged deep into Luverios’s shoulder.

“Guaaaah!”

More soldiers joined the assault, their swords driving into the king’s body one after another.

“You! You bastards…!”

Even as the blades pierced him, Luverios glared at the soldiers.

“Lowly scum… know your place—!”

With that rage, he tried to unleash the power of Lugdura that resided within him. Though he was neither a swordsman nor a mage, with Lugdura’s power, he should have been able to sweep aside mere city guards—or so he thought.

Why…? Why… won’t the power activate…!

Even if Lugdura had returned to the ‘Underworld,’ the power he had borrowed should not have vanished. Yet, it was as if the source of that power had dissipated into thin air—Lugdura’s magic showed no response whatsoever.

“Im… impossible…!”

Countless pains tore through his flesh, pierced his bones, and despair consumed his heart.

“Guh… cough! W-why… I am—the king! The King of Kirchhen…! Why… why must I… suffer like this…!”

Blood spilled from his mouth, and tears of despair fell. Luverios’s life faded, his consciousness sinking into darkness. At the edge of his fading vision, the last thing he saw was—a silver-haired young man watching from afar.

 

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“—Hah!”

Luverios awoke in the inner district of the capital—a corner of the noble quarter.

“Hah…! Hii…!”

Frantically, he checked his body. Just moments ago, it had been pierced by the soldiers’ swords. Yet, not a single wound remained.

“What… what was that just now…!”

A dream—it was far too vivid to call it that. The pain, the fear, the overwhelming despair. Those sensations still clung to his body, testifying that what had just happened was real.

“Luverios… Your Majesty…?”

Startled by the voice calling his name, Luverios trembled and looked toward it. Standing there were—several kingdom knights. They approached, their faces showing surprise at finding the king in such an unexpected place.

Are these… enemies or allies!?

With open wariness, Luverios shouted.

“Don’t come any closer…!”

The sheer intensity of his voice made the kingdom knights halt in unison.

“The situation—explain the current state of the capital to me…!”

After a brief glance at one another, the knights responded in a calm tone.

“Currently, the capital is under the control of Count Kreving.”

“What’s that…!”

His heart froze. Luverios’s expression stiffened at the unbelievable truth.

“Impossible…! Are you saying Siegfried… won!?”

“Yes. Lord Siegfried successfully repelled the ‘Seven Great Calamities’ Lugdura… and restored peace to the capital.”

Impossible…! And they even know about Lugdura’s existence…!?

Everything was unexpected, beyond calculation. But it explained why those soldiers had attacked him earlier.

“…I see. So that’s how it is. In other words, Siegfried, having seized the capital, ordered my elimination… is that it?”

Though his chest burned with anger and humiliation, Luverios forced his mind to think.

“But… how foolish. Following Siegfried is unwise. Aligning with that man means making an enemy of the ‘Holy Church.’ Swear loyalty to me instead. Ignore the kill order and protect me. Do that, and I promise you fitting status—”

“…What are you talking about? Count Kreving has not ordered your elimination.”

“What…?”

“The Count declared, ‘I have no intention of seizing the throne. I only rose up because I was falsely accused and targeted for execution by the kingdom’s forces.’”

“What… does that mean…?”

If that were true, then why had the city guards tried to kill him earlier? It didn’t add up.

A glint of hatred flickered in the kingdom knights’ expressions. Slowly, they began to approach Luverios.

“Therefore, the reason we were searching for you—is to kill you, Your Majesty Luverios. Right now, we can make it look like ‘you perished in the chaos caused by Lugdura.’”

The kingdom knights drew their swords in unison.

“W-what!? What’s the meaning of this…!”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? We can no longer tolerate a king like you. You, who used Lugdura’s power to bring destruction and chaos to the capital!”

“Use Lugdura’s power to destroy this nation!? What are you talking about…!?”

“Don’t play dumb, Your Majesty. It’s already widely known that you summoned the ‘Seven Great Calamities’ Lugdura to this capital and caused its destruction.”

“No! It’s a misunderstanding! The one who summoned Lugdura—was Siegfried! Not me!”

“—Stop mocking us!”

The kingdom knight’s furious shout tore through the air.

“Count Kreving summoned Lugdura!? Don’t be ridiculous! What nonsense are you spouting! There’s no reason for the Count to do such a thing!”

“Exactly! Come up with a better excuse, you foolish king!”

Another knight took over the words.

“Many witnessed Count Kreving fight a desperate battle against Lugdura and ultimately defeat it. The Count risked his life to protect the capital—yet you claim he summoned Lugdura? Who would believe such a ridiculous story!”