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Chapter 323

“Kaiser,” Kiser quietly said. “Don’t lose it right now.”

“Brother Kiser…” Kaiser trailed off.

“Is your seal really the original?” Kiser asked.

Kaiser went quiet as he recalled that day.

* * *

“Three years would be enough,” the man muttered.

“…Pardon?” Kaiser tilted his head in confusion; he’d just entered the secret room.

“I mean I’ve made a decision,” the man said, and nodded.

“Does that mean…?” Kaiser’s eyes narrowed.

“Within several days, the War God will exterminate the Ducal Family of Agnus,” the man declared.

Kaiser goggled at him. “The Du-Ducal Family of Agnus? But that’s…”

“It’s enough, so I’d just be greedy if I let them live any further.” The man shrugged.

“Then…?” Kaiser asked cautiously.

“Although the Second Prince’s influence has weakened, the Agnus name means more than that of a mere ducal house to the nobles.”

“I know.” Kaiser nodded.

“You’ll lead the operation and earn the First Prince’s trust. And…” The man trailed off and pulled out something. “Put an end to everything with this.”

“That- that’s…!” Kaiser’s eyes bulged.“Is-isn’t that the imperial seal? Heimdall, how did you get…?”

“The deceased’s belongings don’t belong to anyone anymore, do they?”

Kaiser shivered violently as if he’d been struck by lightning.

The man turned Kaiser’s suspicion into a conviction as he nodded.

“Yes, I killed the emperor.”

* * *

Kaiser clenched his teeth after being lost in his thoughts for a moment.

‘Was he planning to backstab me from the start? No, I would have noticed immediately if that was the case unless his every word was a lie… ’

“Kaiser,” Kiser called. “Are you okay? You don’t look too good…”

“It-it’s okay.” Kaiser turned to look at Kiser, wiping the sweat off his forehead. Kiser was looking back at Kaiser with cold eyes.

“…Things are also turning bad for us,” the First Prince warned him, “not just for you, so you’d better answer me, Kaiser.”

“You idiot! You want to be sly but you’re too incompetent to be sly! If you were going to be greedy, then you should have at least gotten the job done!” Kaizen growled.

“I do have some idea about what is going on,” Kiser suddenly said, grabbing both Kaiser’s and Kaizen’s attention, “but… it would take more than a day at least to make such an exquisite seal.”

“…Ah!” Kaiser gasped. Kiser was right: the imperial seal was engraved with the golden dragon that symbolized the Avalon Empire. The way the dragon spread its wings wide and roared at the sky was marvelously elaborate and beautiful as it was made by the dwarf king, the god-sent craftsman himself.

“People of power always prepare two seals just in case; an emperor wouldn\'t be an exception,” Kiser reminded them.

“That means…” Kaiser trailed off.

“One of them is a good-looking imitation.” Kiser’s eyes narrowed.

The hot-tempered Kaizen leaned forward first. “Is there a way to authenticate the seal?”

“I once heard from Father that the imperial seal will only respond to the current emperor’s mana, so we’d better beat him first if we want to have it…”

“That’s one way to say do not ever dream about getting the throne.” Kaizen shook his head in disbelief.

“…But there is a method,” Kiser said.

“What’s that?” Kaizen wondered.

“Magic Tower,” Kiser mumbled.

Kaizen and Kaiser boggled at him.

“They’re the ones who designed the imperial seal so that it would only react to the current emperor’s mana, so we can request the mages of the Magic Tower verify it. The process will take at least three days, and there is a danger of other countries finding out about our current situation…” Kiser trailed off, glancing down at the colosseum stage. Joshua had continued to spin his spear mockingly the entire time, as if showing off how relaxed he was.

Kiser’s eyes turned cold. “Since he made a big mess, it’s only a matter of time before the rumor spreads.”

“So what do you suggest we do?” Kaizen asked.

“This is for the better. We have three days, so even if that child has the original…” Kiser’s eyes filled with uncharacteristic murderous intent. Only a fool would need to hear the end of Kiser’s sentence to understand what he meant.

‘Brother Kiser is showing such a reaction…’ Surprised, Kaizen watched Kiser glare down at the colosseum stage. Is it because of that girl? Yes, if he’s still fond of her, then I can make good use of that.’

Kaizen smiled slyly in his mind as he reached a decision, firmly believing that he was going to be the final victor.

At that moment, he heard a quiet footstep, making him flinch.

“It seems like that’s the only possible decision right now,” Tremblin said with a nod.

“Duke Tremblin…?” Kiser murmured.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.” Tremblin, who moved from behind Kiser to stand in front of him and bowed slightly. “I have the duty to find out the truth.”

“Th-that means…” Kiser stuttered.

“Depending on what happens in the future, I might change my decisions, but… please understand that this is my only possible decision right now…”

“Wa-wait!” Kiser shouted.

Before Kiser could react, Tremblin jumped down to the stage. The spectators, already suffocatingly silent due to the shock, were petrified.

“The Sw-Sword Emperor?”

“H-he’s not trying to cut off the Hero King’s head, is he?”

“There are so many unanswered questions, so…”

The spectator couldn’t finish their sentences—Tremblin’s unexpected next move after he landed in the center of the colosseum stage made them hold their breaths.

“What does this mean?”

“Shh! Be quiet! Don’t you know one wrong word will cost your head in a situation like this? ”

“Bu-but how can I stay still when I see that…?”

When Tremblin was five steps away from Joshua, he stopped walking and stood behind him as if he was Joshua’s guard. The sight made the spectators gradually quiet down. The Duke’s actions needed no further explanation.

At that moment, two legendary figures, the hopes of the Empire, were gathered in one place.

* * *

While the morning part of Berche’s Bloody Battle was in full swing, four people stood together inside the waiting room of the colosseum.

“Unless anything special happens, the knight combat will proceed as scheduled,” Tremblin said, now that he had become their colleague.

Icarus tilted her head in confusion. “Does it mean anything now?”

“The princes already came to an agreement,” Tremblin informed her.

“By ‘an agreement,’ you mean…?”

Tremblin turned his head to Joshua and asked, “Do you want to know?”

“…Not really.” Joshua shrugged.

Tremblin’s eyes turned sharp. “If you truly want to become the Emperor of Avalon, you’ll have to ask even if you aren’t curious.”

“You’re being rude!” Cain growled before Joshua could say something. “Since you’ve found out that my master has imperial blood, you should pay respect like you would to any other member of the imperial family.”

“That’s funny,” Tremblin smirked, drawing up his energy.

The storm of energy Tremblin threw out right before Cain’s eyes made him flinch.

“If you want my respect, then you’ll have to tell me the full truth,” Tremblin said, locking eyes with Joshua. “You’ll tell me about His Majesty’s death and how you ended up with the imperial seal.”

“Wait, do you think my master murdered His Majesty and took the imperial seal?” Icarus asked disbelievingly.

“I can’t rule out the possibility,” Tremblin said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

“That’s…” Icarus became petrified as she considered Tremblin’s words. She had thought Tremblin had become their ally, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.

“You’ll find out soon,” Joshua quietly replied.

“I’m not a patient person,” Tremblin warned him.

“Maybe you’ll be able to find out before midnight.” Joshua tilted his head.

Tremblin frowned. “You’re playing with words.”

“It’s my specialty.”

Tremblin’s eyes turned sharper. “In that case… is it fine to test my temporary colleague’s ability?”

“If I can earn the Sword Emperor’s recognition,” Joshua replied with a little smile, “then of course.”

“…Just like I said, there will be group battles between the battalions of the Imperial Knights. We have to exclude Prince Kaiser since he decided to join His Highness Kiser’s side, so these battles are practically between the First and Second Princes,” Tremblin explained.

“That means…” Icarus trailed off.

“The princes were going to accept the results of the knights’ battle, and the winner was going to become the next emperor.” Tremblin pointed at Joshua. “But then you showed up.”

Cain confidently stepped forward. “Master, in that case, you and I will be enough—”

“Do you think they’ll let you do that?” Tremblin asked.

“Pardon?” Cain tilted his head in confusion.

“I told you that this group battle is only for the Imperial Knights, so obviously you can’t join. And your master also can’t participate because his position was already revoked.” Tremblin shrugged.

The realization hit Cain hard.

“M-my master’s Auxiliary Battalion is still part of the Imperial Knights, isn’t it? If they win—”

“They’re one battalion, so do you really think there is a chance of them winning? On top of that, we can’t use them even if they win unless one of us has nerves of steel—because it was your master himself who abandoned them.”

“In the end, I have to be reinstated before this Berche’s Bloody Battle comes to an end,” Joshua concluded.

“…If you can do that, then there is no better method,” Tremblin said, nodding.

Joshua grinned.

“I have a way,” he said.

“Let’s hear it, shall we?” Tremblin prompted.

Joshua’s smile deepened.

“Before any of that… I have to earn the trust of the colleague who is standing right beside me, no?”

“…What?” Tremblin’s jaw dropped.

“I’ll tell you.” Joshua nodded.

Tremblin frowned. “Stop messing with me…”

“—About the death of the Emperor Marcus ben Britten and…” Joshua said, clear as day, making Tremblin go still as a statue. “...and everything that happened three years ago.”