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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: A Feast with Plenty to Eat (4)
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7.
Leo immediately checked Karron's condition.
The blood loss was severe.
"A priest! Someone get a priest"
Just as he was frantically calling for a priest, Rebellio swiftly approached from behind and pulled a small vial from his coat. He immediately poured the liquid inside into Karron's mouth.
"This is faster than a priest."
"This is..."
"Dew of the World Tree. Very expensive stuff. Ha, I was saving this for when I was about to die... My little brother is really draining my resources."
The liquid seemed to work, as the fallen Karron opened his eyes again.
Karron's gaze fell upon Leo.
Leo's expression was thick with guilt, but this was no time for comfort.
So, Karron spoke to Leo in a firm voice.
"Brother Leo. Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"Your body first..."
"Contact Grandfather immediately. Tell him I was nearly killed in the Imperial Palace."
Karron let out a ragged breath and smirked.
"With me in this state, Grandfather will come himself. This is no longer a matter for us to handle. The situation has gotten too big."
A member of the Leston Ducal Family was attacked at a banquet hosted by the Imperial Palace.
By a succubus, no less.
This was not an issue that could be simply overlooked.
Not by the Leston Ducal Family, nor by the Imperial Family.
It was a major incident that could shake the entire Empire.
"Nothing like this has happened in fifty years. Isn't that right, Your Highness?"
"Anything related to black magic has always been a sore spot for the Imperial Family. You're right."
Rebellio nodded in agreement.
Karron took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.
A vast amount of mana was stirring within his body. It seemed Rebellio had given him something.
"By the way, what did you give me?"
"Dew of the World Tree."
"...You're crazy. Where did you get this?"
"My sister gave it to me, of course. A generous investment in you. We'll settle the bill later, alright?"
Dew of the World Tree.
A liquid only elves could obtain, a legendary elixir that granted knights and mages an immense amount of mana.
With all contact with the elves severed, it was one of those things that couldn't be bought even for a king's ransom.
A precious treasure he had never even tasted in his previous life.
To think he had used such a treasure, said to be able to revive even those on the brink of death, so freely.
Karron frowned, looking at Rebellio.
"You really got me good, huh?"
"You have to go this far if you want to back the right horse."
He had consumed something incredibly precious.
If Rebellio hadn't given him the Dew of the World Tree, he might have spent a very long time healing his mana channels.
The aftereffects of forcibly opening the Fifth Star were worse than one could imagine.
But the mana channels that had been on the verge of snapping just moments ago were already recovering.
If he could just properly absorb this mana, he felt he could easily control the newly formed fifth sea.
"I'll tell Grandfather."
"Of course you will."
He was extremely lucky.
If he were to start cultivating his mana in this state, he would become incomparably stronger than before.
Just as Karron was smiling and trying to get up, Leo pressed him down firmly.
"What are you doing?"
"I have to clean this up."
"We'll take care of the cleanup. You just get some rest."
"I'm really fine. Nothing's wrong. I'll handle it, so you go contact Grandfather quickly."
This was the guy who had just passed out from blood loss moments ago.
Rest had to come first.
Even if he was recovering thanks to the Dew of the World Tree, he still needed to be taken to a doctor and a priest.
"You're a patient."
"No, the patient himself is saying he's not a"
Just then.
CRACK!
Someone struck the back of Karron's neck with a wooden rod.
A wooden rod embedded with a mana stone.
...Rebellio's wand.
Karron turned his head to glare at Rebellio.
"What is the meaning of this..."
"Hey, when your big brothers tell you to rest, you should listen. You're so damn stubborn."
"You, you"
But Karron's words were cut short.
Crack.
Thud.
He lost consciousness after another blow from Rebellio.
Rebellio wiped his wand on his shirt and sighed.
"Didn't go down in one hit, did he? Tough bastard."
Leo, who had been watching blankly, spoke in a trembling voice.
"Your Highness. What have you done..."
Rebellio replied with a bright smile.
"A patient needs to rest. I put a little enhancement magic on my wand before I hit him. With guys like this, it's better to knock them out and then treat them."
"But, Your Highness. Can you handle him when he wakes up?"
"That's not my problem. By the time he wakes up, Grand Duke Halo will have arrived at the palace. You don't think this guy would dare attack me with Grand Duke Halo around, do you?"
It was a truly shocking way of thinking.
Leo stared at Rebellio's shameless face and clicked his tongue in disbelief.
Indeed, it takes a madman to deal with another madman.
Leo let out a deep sigh and asked Rebellio.
"It'll take quite some time to get here from the Azure Sea Estate... With Karron's recovery rate, he'll wake up before then. Your Highness. Perhaps you should run away beforehand."
"Younger Brother Leo, worrying about me... I'm touched. How about you stop Karron instead?"
"Wouldn't it be more realistic to try and stop a train than to stop him?"
"Haha. True. But Younger Brother Leo, don't worry so much. News has probably already reached the Leston Ducal Family."
Rebellio pulled over a nearby chair and sat down.
Then he continued his explanation to Leo in a gentle voice.
"There's an agreement between the Imperial Family and the Leston Ducal Family. It's automatically activated when black magic is detected in the palace... It's a bit complicated to explain in detail, so I'll put it simply."
An agreement made between the current Emperor and the Leston Ducal Family after the Evil Emperor was deposed.
The gist of the agreement is simple.
The moment a trace of black magic is found in the Imperial Palace, the Leston Ducal Family is permitted to intervene in imperial affairs.
"By now, the mages of the Mage Tower should be activating the teleportation circle connecting the Azure Sea Estate and the Imperial Palace. It's a circle that hasn't been activated once in fifty years, so it'll take some time... But at the latest, one hour. Within an hour, Grand Duke Halo himself will appear at the palace."
"If such a magic circle exists, wasn't there no need to take a train here in the first place?"
"Younger Brother Leo. Just maintaining the teleportation circle between the Azure Sea Estate and the Imperial Palace costs an astronomical sum. It's not something that can be used freely on a regular basis."
Rebellio finished his simple explanation and smiled slyly.
"So, from now on, Younger Brother Leo, you need to explain things well."
Leo's eyes widened at the sudden remark.
"Explain what..."
"Make sure you tell Grand Duke Halo that I was the one who gave Karron the Dew of the World Tree."
"Pardon?"
Just then.
"Sixth Prince."
The Imperial Guards and mages from the Mage Tower slowly approached.
The atmosphere was tense.
Rebellio waved a casual hand at them.
"I expected this. So, what's the charge?"
Ryuk of the Imperial Guard looked down at the Sixth Prince with a cold expression.
"We received a report that you used magic, Your Highness. Is this true?"
"It is."
"Then you have been hiding the fact that you learned magic until now. I doubt you were unaware that members of the Imperial Family are forbidden from learning magic."
The Imperial Guards slowly approached, holding ropes.
The mages, too, were prepared to cast spells at a moment's notice.
"Sixth Prince Rebellio. We are arresting you as a suspect in connection with this attack."
"What nonsense is this, Sir Ryuk!"
Leo raised his voice.
But Ryuk maintained his cold expression as he replied.
"This is official Imperial Guard business. Do not interfere."
"There's no way the Sixth Prince would..."
"Ah, it's fine, Younger Brother Leo. I expected this."
Rebellio raised a hand to stop Leo. Then he looked at Ryuk with a smile.
"So this is how His Highness my brother intends to play it? How petty. Let me say this now, I am completely innocent."
"We can hardly trust someone who has been hiding their knowledge of magic."
"Haha, how amusing. Where is Sir Mason?"
"Sir Mason has also been summoned and will be investigated."
"You dare? You lot?"
Rebellio smiled as he stood up.
He faced Ryuk and said.
"I'll go on my own two feet. The ropes are unnecessary."
"...As you wish."
He ran a hand through his black hair. Then he winked his right eye at Leo.
"You must grant my request, Younger Brother Leo. My bet is placed. Now it's the Leston Ducal Family's turn. Well then, I'll be off. See you later. Sir Ryuk? Let's go."
And so, surrounded by the Imperial Guard, Rebellio exited the banquet hall.
Leo bit his lip as he watched Rebellio's receding back.
The situation was growing complicated.
Karron might have been able to handle it, but it was too much for him.
So, Leo lifted the unconscious Karron onto his back.
Karron's recovery comes first.
Where should he take Karron?
As Leo pondered, his eyes soon fell upon a female knight.
A female knight standing behind the Imperial Guards with a pale expression.
The moment he saw her, Leo pointed and said.
"Miss Eimi, a moment."
As Eimi tried to step forward at Leo's call, one of the Imperial Guards in front stopped her. He spoke in a low voice.
"She has not yet been formally knighted. She is not qualified to serve the young masters, so I will escort you myself."
What would Karron have decided in a situation like this?
Leo was able to make a decision without difficulty.
Someone here could be behind this incident. He had already learned in Thebes that not even the Imperial Guard could be fully trusted.
Therefore, he had to choose someone he knew.
"I will handle it myself."
"But..."
"...I said I'll handle it."
Only after Leo spoke with a frown did the knight step back.
Having easily dismissed the Imperial Guard, Leo looked at Eimi and said.
"Miss Eimi, please lead the way."
"I'll guide you to where the priests are."
"Thank you. This one has passed the critical stage, but he needs treatment right away."
At Leo's words, Eimi nodded and checked Karron's condition.
His body was a mess of injuries.
The clothes he wore were already soaked in blood.
"Then, this way."
"Yes."
Leo began to run, following Eimi.
I must protect Karron until Grandfather arrives.
Although he couldn't fight alongside him, he would protect Karron from now on.
Wheeze.
As Leo ran through the Imperial Palace, he could hear Karron's ragged breathing.
8.
Vwoooom.
This was the teleportation circle located in the Imperial Palace garden.
The Crown Prince stood in the garden, waiting for the guest who would soon arrive.
The mages of the Mage Tower had combined their power to activate the magic circle, and the guest would be arriving shortly.
He took a deep breath and stared at the magic circle.
A moment later, the voices of the mages rang out.
"Connection complete."
"Teleportation circle status is stable."
"The circle on the Azure Sea Estate's side is activating!"
Fwoooosh!
A pure white light shot up from the magic circle. Soon, the light formed a massive gate.
A large-scale teleportation circle.
Through that circle, people began to cross over from the Azure Sea Estate one by one.
The first to arrive at the Imperial Palace were Jeras and the Sea Wolf Knights.
The vanguard of the fully armed Sea Wolf Knights strode out of the magic circle.
The Crown Prince and the Imperial Guards swallowed hard as they watched.
Their presence was overwhelming.
They looked ready to draw their swords at any moment.
In particular, the presence emanating from the Eighth-Star Knight, Jeras, was suffocating.
But not everyone had arrived yet.
The master of those Sea Wolf Knights, the great hero of the Empire, had not yet crossed over.
The Crown Prince bit his lip and kept his eyes fixed on the magic circle.
"The family head is coming. All units, protective formation."
At Jeras's command, the Sea Wolf Knights moved in perfect sync to form a protective detail.
And a moment later.
Fwoooosh!
A man slowly walked out of the magic circle.
An old knight clad in azure armor.
The wrinkles on his face and his pure white hair indicated his age, but no one present could possibly see him as a simple old man.
The overwhelming mana radiating from his imposing frame.
It proved that he was the strongest of the current era.
Halo... Leston.
The Crown Prince stared at the Empire's great hero with eyes full of fear.
A presence so overwhelming it felt like his breath would stop.
A monster who had surpassed the limits of humanity.
That was the man, Halo Leston.
He was supposed to offer a welcoming greeting, yet the Crown Prince couldn't even move his lips.
Halo strode toward the Crown Prince. He looked down at him and spoke.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince. I trust you understand this is not a situation for formalities."
"...Grand Duke Halo."
"In accordance with the agreement with the Imperial Family, the Leston Ducal Family pledges to eliminate the wicked fiends who have infiltrated the Imperial Palace. However, before that."
Halo, still looking down at the Crown Prince, spoke in a low voice.
"I must see to my grandsons first. I trust you have no objections."
His voice, laced with fierce anger, spread in all directions.
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