The Neweiton Empire had numerous nobles with titles because it had swallowed vast territories through countless wars, and each family had its own diverse history.
Among them, the only Grand Ducal family of the empire, the House of Gwendhill, was special.
-The House of Gwendhill has an absolute relationship with the Neweiton Imperial Family.
-That’s because the Gwendhill family has protected the Emperor Neweiton for generations.
-Who could possibly defy the Emperor Neweiton who possesses the invincible sword?
{The Gwendhill family has a duty to protect the Emperor of the Neweiton Empire.}
As long as this symbiotic relationship was maintained, the Emperor Neweiton sanctioned any offense committed by the Gwendhill family, provided they did not commit treason.
Meanwhile, the envious eyes and voices directed at the House of Gwendhill, which enjoyed the emperor’s favor and the imperial family’s backing, grew more secretive and persistent.
-Why do you think the imperial family has been so generous to the House of Gwendhill until now? They’re supporting a noble they don’t have to worry about backstabbing them.
-Even when sent to deadly wars, they return alive like ghosts.
-That’s why all the spoils of war have become the property of the House of Gwendhill!
The House of Gwendhill had everything and showed no weaknesses. Naturally, as time passed, it was inevitable that the power of the House of Gwendhill would increase.
Yes. That was the reason.
-No matter how much we struggle. No matter how much we lick the imperial boots, we’ll remain stagnant in our positions.
-Isn’t it unfair that the balance of power is tilted so heavily toward one side?
-The Neweiton Empire has remained stagnant. That’s because one power has oppressed other powers for a long time.
Admiration, reverence, and longing were the sentiments of the commoners.
But wasn’t greed, envy, and jealousy—the desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with or even step on others to rise—the sentiment of the nobility?
The nobles joined forces.
-No weaknesses? Humans, people all have flaws. If they’re human who bleeds, isn’t that natural?
The primal desire to rise higher and possess more was intrinsic to human nature. It was an evil that Grand Duke Gwendhill, known as a ghost without emotions, would neither recognize nor understand.
-I hear the war will end soon.
-Not much time left. We need to act now.
-If the Grand Duke returns, he’ll be hailed as a hero who led numerous wars to great victories. It will be too late after it’s complete. We should eliminate him right before completion.
As the long war finally showed signs of ending, the noble faction of the Neweiton Empire grew impatient.
The noble faction united to maintain the power structure they had easily secured while the Grand Duke was away at war.
-We only have one chance. Let’s strike properly.
The sinister schemes of the noble faction, who had been enriching themselves regardless of the war, proceeded silently beneath the surface.
****
Five years earlier, the great war that the Neweiton Empire had declared in full force, simultaneously with swallowing the Kingdom of Krianet, was finally coming to an end.
[Captain, are we returning to the Grand Duchy now?]
[Hey, what do you mean ‘Captain’! You should call him ‘Commander’!]
[I’ve called him Captain since childhood, so it’s stuck in my mouth.]
The Neweiton Imperial Army was excited at the thought of finally returning home.
Thanks to Grand Duke Gwendhill, who was in overall command, they had survived through countless wars.
Especially for the knights of the Gwendhill family and the territory’s citizens, who made up more than half of the Neweiton Imperial Army, the emotions were even more profound.
[Thanks to the Commander-in-Chief, all the wounded will survive and return home.]
[He even provided expensive potions that even lowly soldiers could use.]
Contrary to public belief, Grand Duke Leodelt Gwendhill’s reputation within the imperial army was excellent.
Grand Duke Gwendhill respected the personhood of each and every soldier in the imperial army, regardless of status or rank, and valued their lives.
Though always expressionless, with few words and an unapproachable atmosphere, no soldier doubted the Grand Duke’s character.
[Enough. Maintain strict vigilance until we reach the capital.]
[Yes, Captain!]
Leodelt’s gaze quietly settled as he watched the imperial army swept up in joy and relief.
Just beyond Harv Mountain, with its impressive waterfall, lay the border of the Neweiton Empire.
Throb, throb.
[Commander, where are you going?]
[Do I need to report my movements?]
[Ah, no. I misspoke.]
Leodelt moved on, ignoring the gazes of soldiers from other families fixed on his back.
His teal eyes flickered as he gazed beyond the dizzying cliff created by the waterfall.
[…It’s vast.]
Standing on the cliff of the Harv Mountain waterfall and looking down, the view was breathtaking. The wide, fertile land was visible at a glance.
Once he delivered the news of victory to the Emperor, that border would expand even further.
[So vast.]
Leodelt concealed a self-mocking smile.
The capital would probably be busy preparing for the homecoming ceremony.
Now the imperial army he led would have to head to the imperial palace amidst a cumbersome ceremony. And then they would have to stay at the palace for quite a while, playing along with the formalities.
-You know, Grand Duke. I intend to make you a hero of my empire. So that no one would dare touch my empire, on a grand scale. Ha-ha. Then the noble faction would also restrain themselves for a while. They won’t unnecessarily open their mouths before me, and I won’t unnecessarily have to bloody my hands through the Grand Duke.
Despite being the owner of the largest piece of land in the world, the current Emperor of the Neweiton Empire was greedy for more territory.
The good thing was that he was a monarch with enough capacity to embrace surrounding lands and more. Because he was an emperor who cared more about public sentiment than pleasing the nobles, Leodelt was also going along with him.
Peace. And the steadfast influence of the House of Gwendhill that no one would dare covet. For these two things, Leodelt merely moved according to the imperial orders.
[……]
The sound of the powerfully cascading waterfall accompanied his brief contemplation.
Leodelt quietly regulated his breathing, ignoring the persistent pain in his thigh.
After going through countless battlefields, how could he not have sustained any injuries? Of course, this injury wasn’t due to the skill of an opponent.
-Die!! You devil’s servant who worships that murderer!!!
-Ca-Captain!!
Unfortunately, the most inexperienced and young soldier in the imperial army had caught the eye of an enemy soldier. Just as the young apprentice knight of the House of Gwendhill, who admired the Grand Duke, was about to lose his head, Leodelt offered his own thigh to the enemy’s sword to save the boy.
-Captain! We need to stop the bleeding immediately…
-Quiet. It’s nothing.
Some of Leodelt’s subordinates had noticed early on, but they didn’t dare speak up.
The Commander-in-Chief, Grand Duke Gwendhill, had to be a flawless being without weaknesses.
For the morale of the imperial army, and to remain as a symbol of the Neweiton Empire.
[…Tsk.]
Having increased the speed of the horses for the sake of soldiers who wanted to return as quickly as possible, the wound on his thigh had deepened.
Of course, such an injury wasn’t significant, but the smell of blood wasn’t particularly pleasant.
[……]
Swish-. Through the deafening sound of the waterfall, he sensed a presence.
[Too late.]
A cold smile without humor crossed Leodelt’s lips.
He slowly turned his body, his back to the edge of the cliff.
[I wondered when you’d come.]
As Leodelt muttered ominously, the bushes around the waterfall shook all at once. Soon, human-shaped shadows emerged from the bushes.
[Now that the war is won, it’s time to hunt the dog. That’s what His Majesty said. That the noble kind never changes.]
The end of Leodelt’s indifferent voice was filled with self-mocking contempt.
The shadows armed with blades gradually narrowed the distance, trying to drive Leodelt to the edge of the cliff.
[Come.]
Leodelt quietly drew his sword and nodded.
Swoosh-! Blades containing poison flew all at once toward Leodelt’s vital spots.
Clang-. Clang!
Leodelt’s sword, which easily deflected the blades, split the bodies of the shadows.
But the shadows didn’t disappear. Instead, they clung tenaciously, exuding killing intent.
Leodelt’s brow furrowed at the formless sequences that aimed only at vital spots.
[There’s a mage.]
No matter how much he cut or stabbed, there was no end.
Dealing with the mage controlling the shadows was the priority.
[Unnecessary.]
After tearing apart the shadows all at once with his sword aura, Leodelt tilted his head. His emotionless teal eyes swept beyond the shadows.
That’s when it happened.
[Commander-in-Chief!]
Imperial soldiers rushed over. As the soldiers joined, the number of shadows rapidly decreased.
[How dare they target the Commander-in-Chief!!]
[They’ll be damned!!]
These were soldiers whose lives had been saved by Leodelt on various battlefields. They shouted in anger to protect Leodelt.
The waterfall swallowed all those sounds.
[Phew, it’s all over!]
[This is the last one, Commander.]
The soldiers who had cut down the last shadow approached Leodelt with broad smiles.
Leodelt looked around before speaking.
[Were you on patrol?]
[Yes. We can’t let our guard down.]
A soldier grinned.
[Anytime.]
At that moment, the soldiers swung their swords at Leodelt as they got closer.
[Aargh!]
Of course, Leodelt wasn’t someone who would believe their clumsy acting.
However, the problem was that Leodelt had developed a weakness.
[Hehe, our Commander is injured, isn’t he? The smell of blood wafts all the way here.]
[Your loyal subordinates won’t come. They’re probably in the midst of a sword fight by now.]
[Even for a moment! Aim for the thigh!!]
The soldiers persisted tenaciously, even as their shoulders were gouged by Leodelt’s sword.
That’s when Leodelt saw the soldiers’ bodies strangely starting to swell.
[…!]
The mage who had been controlling the shadows had finally decided to use the soldiers’ bodies as bombs.
Boom-! As Leodelt’s body tilted for a moment trying to avoid the explosion, the enemies didn’t miss the opportunity.
All the soldiers clung to Leodelt’s body and ruthlessly stabbed themselves with their blades.
[Foolish.]
Even in the pain of his torn abdomen, Leodelt showed no signs of agitation. He merely swung his sword with an annoyed expression.
Thud. At that moment, one soldier swung the handle of his sword, striking Leodelt’s forehead.
[For the Neweiton Empire!!!!]
As blood flowed from the wound on his forehead, causing Leodelt to frown, the soldiers, on the verge of death, all clung to Leodelt and jumped off the cliff.
Crack-. Before being swept away by the waterfall, Leodelt avoided the fall by stabbing his sword into the cliff.
The problem was that the mage who had leaned over from the top of the cliff summoned the shadows again.
[….Do you intend to end this?]
It was a determination not to let down their guard for a perfect execution.
The decision was quick.
Leodelt pulled out his sword and fell into the waterfall.
A blurry sky, violently surging waters.
And the impact on his entire body.
The death he had always longed for was right in front of him.
However, as always, God did not accept him.
Holding onto only a faint unconsciousness, Leodelt survived the crisis.
And his last memory was of a damp and dark cave.
