IYAMD: Episode 92

As the soldiers in front fell to Jaha’s sword, the ones who had been blocking the rear began to scatter.

“Don’t move from your positions, you bastards!”

Shouts from the commanders erupted from all around, but the soldiers, looking as if they had seen a ghost, opened a path with stunned faces.

Jaha calmly landed on the ground and walked through the gap. Darren and Marsilia followed closely behind him.

In just a brief moment, the three of them appeared as grim and terrifying as evil spirits. Covered in dust and bloodstains, they reached the castle gates without further obstruction.

Marsilia stood in front of the firmly closed gate and shouted.

“In the name of the Emperor, acknowledged by the goddess, I command you to open the gates.”

For a moment, silence lingered, but soon a response came from above the gate.

“We apologize, Your Majesty. We cannot open the gates.”

Marsilia turned to Darren.

“Darren, break down the door.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Darren raised his sword, wrapped in aura, and swung it. The thick, large gates split into four pieces, falling to the ground with a loud crash.

Inside the arched space, knights in similar attire to the Doton knights stood nervously, waiting.

Jaha looked at Marsilia and asked,

“Why are their clothes different from those outside?”

“They’re the soldiers of vassals lords. They must have gathered them while we were making our way to the capital.”

“I see. So, there are quite a few nobles involved. After all, it would have been impossible for the Archduke to gather this many soldiers on his own.”

Jaha turned around, scanning the knights who were eyeing them cautiously.

“Darren, secure the knights guarding the gate and clean up here. We don’t need to chase down those fleeing, but make sure the commanders are dealt with.”

“I’ll handle it, Your Majesty.”

Marsilia smiled at Jaha as their eyes met.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Marsilia stepped over the broken door fragments and raised his sword. The man ahead shouted loudly.

“Anyone who stands in our way will not be forgiven!”

The man surrounded by aura swung his sword forcefully. The knights in the front quickly dodged, but a few knights in the back, unable to avoid in time, were caught and lost their lives.

Jaha, following Marsilia, moved ahead. The reactions of the knights who saw Jaha for the first time were somewhat different from those when they saw Marsilia.

A few knights tried to block Jaha’s sword but were quickly struck down by his swift swings, losing their lives. As Jaha raised his sword energy, the knights murmured and retreated.

“Let’s break through.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Marsilia’s words fell, Jaha pushed through the knights. Marsilia, following closely behind, swung his sword fiercely.

The two advanced, cutting through the knights lined up along the main path. Amid the chaos of knights being swept away like falling leaves, people began to appear through the windows one by one.

“The Emperor has returned!”

Someone shouted loudly as they opened a window. At that sound, more windows opened, and some people rushed out cheering.

“The Emperor has returned!”

The crowd’s cheers spread like a wave along the street.

“Shut up! You lot, can’t you stay in your homes?”

A shout directed at the crowd came from among the Doton knights, only to be met with jeers.

“Get lost, traitors!”

“Scum of the Archduke! You worthless bastards!”

“Shut up!”

From somewhere, objects were thrown. Bronze and wooden cups, spoons, and pots rained down on the knights.

Jaha raised his head and glanced at the people cheering from the upper floors. They all genuinely welcomed the Emperor’s return.

“You’re popular.”

The man, who had stopped next to Jaha, smirked as they both looked around.

“Because I’m handsome.”

Jaha shot him a cold glance and then raised his sword again.

“We’re heading straight for the palace, right?”

“Yes, I’ll throw the Archduke head to the council meeting.”

The Archduke’s ’s knights were more numerous than imagined. Furthermore, the soldiers of other lords guarding the different gates had entered the city, providing reinforcements. Because of this, Jaha and Marsilia took a long time to reach the imperial palace.

Upon arriving at the palace, Jaha and Marsilia shared a smile as they looked at each other’s disheveled state. The first light of dawn illuminated their darkened faces with a hint of red.

At the entrance to the palace, Serez was waiting with the few knights he had.

“Why are you so late?”

Serez asked in an annoyed tone as Marsilia walked toward him with gritted teeth.

“Serez Hastings, you crazy bastard!”

Serez’s gaze shifted to Jaha. He noticed how closely Jaha and Marsilia were standing together and let out a disappointed sigh.

“Calm down and listen to me…”

Jaha, hearing the two arguing, effortlessly leaped over the palace gate. After handling the guards and opening the gates, Marsilia, who had been holding Serez by the collar, turned his head at the noise.

Jaha, feeling the eyes of the crowd on him, awkwardly shifted. Marsilia, as always, shrugged his shoulders.

“Breaking down the front gate is a bit much.”

Marsilia released his grip on Serez’s collar and quietly barked at him.

“Once everything is settled, we’ll have a private meeting, Lord Hastings.”

“I’d like to submit my resignation in advance…”

“Shut up.”

The knights Serez had brought were his men and trainees from the Black Knights, and their number was not small. Leading about fifty of them, Marsilia entered the main hall, where he came face to face with the Archduke occupying the throne.

Inside the hall, covered with a red carpet, the his knights were guarding him as he sat on the throne. As soon as the Archy saw Marsilia, he grinned fiercely and bared his teeth.

“Well, you managed to arrive safely.”

Marsilia ignored his words and laughed wearily.

“Did you really think you could stop me with just this? I thought you secretly prepared a few Sword Masters or something, but all you’ve got is this?”

The Archduke, looking tired, leaned back on the throne and responded.

“I never expected I could bring down someone favored by the Goddess with just this.”

He paused briefly before sighing.

“I was just frustrated. I was so angry I couldn’t contain it.”

Marsilia, hearing his indifferent reply, looked utterly deflated.

“Stop with the nonsense and get off that throne. No, Archduke Exion Doton. If you surrender peacefully, I’ll allow you to stand trial with the respect due to royalty.”

The Archduke smirked, resting his chin on his hand. His laughter grew louder and filled the hall. He seemed utterly insane as he burst out laughing, banging the armrests of the throne several times.

“Marsilia, my poor nephew. I’ve been waiting here just to make one prophecy.”

“I won’t listen to it. Shut up.”

Marsilia coldly retorted, but he ignored him, continuing his words.

“I’ve been waiting to tell you this, my dear nephew. When you learn the truth, you will be even more miserable than me, puppet of the Goddess. You’ll reject your entire life and suffer.”

The Archduke smiled widely, then briefly scanned Marsilia’s face.

“You look curious.”

Marsilia tilted hid head and responded nonchalantly.

“I’m not curious at all.”

The Archduke chuckled softly and whispered.

“You’ll be curious soon enough. Of course. You’ll reach the truth with your own hands. And then you’ll be devastated. The ground beneath you will feel like it’s turning over. You’ll be unable to trust anyone for the rest of your life.”

“Is that the end of your great prophecy?”

“Yes, so go ahead and search for it. You’ll face the truth at the tip of the arrow the Goddess points to.”

Jaha could barely understand the Archduke’s words. He was more concerned about the curses being hurled at Marsilia’s face. Wondering if he should strike to silence the Archduke, Jaha kept his eyes on Marsilia’s back. But Marsilia listened to the Archduke’s words without showing any concern and nodded.

“I won’t do that. I have no obligation to listen to you.” He answered calmly, and the Archduke narrowed his pale green eyes.

“No, you will find it.”

The Archduke’s gaze shifted from Marsilia to Jaha.

“I’ll take your life.”

As he finished his words, he reached out his hand. A black circle appeared beneath Marsilia’s feet. Inside the circle, another circle appeared, and unknown symbols quickly began to write themselves. The circle, starting from Marsilia, expanded rapidly to fill the entire hall.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this day.” The Archduke began muttering something inaudible when Jaha reached out his arm toward him.

The sword, which had been sheathed, pulled itself out and shot toward the Archduke. The sword, with a whistling sound, pierced through the Duke’s chest, causing his eyes to widen in shock.

“The spell is… complete…”

As his outstretched arm drooped, the he lowered his head. A stream of dark blood fell from his parted lips.

When his breath stopped, the markings that had appeared in the hall vanished without a trace. Jaha approached Marsilia and looked him over from head to toe before asking.

“Are you okay?”

Marsilia, like Jaha, looked down at himself and tilted his head.

“I think I’m fine.”

“Really?”

When Jaha asked again, Marsilia smiled, showing his white teeth.

“Yeah. I’m fine, Jaha.”

He glanced around the hall and gave orders to the knights in the back.

“Cut off the heads of everyone here.”

Then he drew his sword and led the way. The knights, who had lost their leader, stood in confusion.

“It ended so blandly.”

Jaha squinted his eyes at the man’s voice, sounding disappointed. He didn’t think it would end so easily, but to complain about it being too easy was a little strange.