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Hidden History (2)
“I just want to ask you a question. Old man, what do you think about the current crown prince?”
My question caused the old man to tense up. His eyes narrowed, and his presence turned sharp.
“… You know that [Hidden History] doesn’t interfere with the Empire’s affairs. You gain nothing asking me that question.”
“Do you think so?” I smiled. “I, on the other hand, think there is a lot to gain.”
“… Prince Claus, your talent astounds me. You managed to hide your true strength for so long without the emperor even suspecting anything. Plus, you also somehow managed to learn of the emperor’s plan to send me here to kill you, but despite it, you are not afraid of standing in front of me.”
Of course, I’m not afraid. You are weaker than me after all.
“However.” The old man’s face turned enraged. “Even with such a talent, why are you still plotting for the throne when the future of the empire is at risk and the daemons are attacking the empire’s citizens!?”
I observed the man with an amused smile.
“Calm down, old man. Firstly, the crown prince is the same, is he not? Besides, don’t worry about the daemons, my allies are taking care of that.”
“Huh?”
“My allies, of course. Did you think I came to a place where someone was plotting to kill me without a plan?”
The old man’s eyes turned into slits. “… Prince, has someone told you that you are terrifying?”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“… But, someone with your talent. Someone that managed to break beyond the twelfth layer before twenty years of age. Why is someone like you interested in something so fleeting as the authority of the emperor? If you want, you can even become a god!”
“Old man, it looks like you are misunderstanding something. I’m not interested in becoming the emperor.”
“Ah?”
“Of course not. That is such a hassle. I prefer to have fun around.”
“Then… Why are you asking me about my opinion of the crown prince?”
I shrugged. “Well, the one who is going to become the emperor is my sister.”
…
……
………
“You are telling me your sister will become the emperor? A woman?” The old man was visibly surprised. It was as though I had told him a very funny joke.
I looked at him indifferently. “I never thought you were so old-fashioned, old man.”
The old man frowned, finally noticing I was serious. In the end, though, he just shook his head.
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter if it’s you or your sister who wants to become the emperor. [Hidden History] doesn’t interfere with the affairs of the empire. It’s useless to try to bring me to your side.”
“Oh, but my intention was never that… Instead, I have a request for you. I hope that [Hidden History] doesn’t interfere with my affairs.”
“… What do you mean?” The old man furrowed his brows when he heard my words.
“Think about it.” I said with an indifferent expression. “If the emperor and the crown prince dies, who do you think will have the highest chance to inherit the throne?”
“You… Are you planning to kill the emperor!?”
I just smiled without answering.
“You are crazy! [Hidden History] will not allow that! I won’t allow that!”
“Does that mean you don’t agree?”
Hearing my ice-cold voice, the old man calmed down abruptly.
He knew that according to his answer, this meeting could easily turn into a battle.
But he was not afraid.
Thus, he took a deep breath.
“… There is no problem if you kill the crown prince. Even killing all the other princes is not a problem. But killing the emperor is impossible.”
I sighed. So in the end, it came to this.
“You know about my mother, right old man?”
“… So this is the reason.” The old man finally seemed to realize the cause and effect of all of this.
“I will ask you one last time.” I said, my killing intent leaking without control. “Is [Hidden History] going to interfere in this issue?”
The old man shook his head. “… [Hidden History]’s duty is to protect the Quintin family and the empire. And the emperor is the sign of the prosperity of the Quintin family. If you kill the emperor, many ambitious people will get the same idea, making the rule of the Quintin family unstable for several generations. [Hidden History] will not allow that!”
I looked at the old man for a few seconds before heaving a disappointed sigh.
“Well, it was worth a try. It looks like I will have to do it the hard way.”
“… Boy, think about it. Your talent is too great. Don’t waste it in something that is only going to destroy you.”
“Mm… Perhaps, but I want to make the attempt.”
With these words, I unsheathed my sword.
The old man sighed. “I see. Such a pity for your talent. But if that is what you want, then I must kill you here to stop a calamity.”
I looked at the old man with an amused expression before chuckling.
“You are very confident in yourself, old man. Unfortunately, I’m not planning to die here.”
The next instant.
*Clang!*
Our two swords clashed. Sparks danced in the air, lighting the night forest.
The old man opened his eyes wide. He had moved his sword instinctively, and that instinct had saved his life.
If he would have moved one instant later, his head would be flying now.
“How…”
“Great swordsmanship, old man.” I said calmly. “As expected of an old monster. What about this then?”
My sword moved through the air at great speed. In an instant, it appeared in front of the old man’s eyes.
But the old man’s managed to react this time too. At the last second, his sword stopped mine.
*Clang!*
“Again!” I smiled. Without stopping, I brandished my sword repeatedly. From the left, right, up, and down. Hundreds of sword attacks flew towards the old man without a stop.
“Kuh!” The old man’s face changed. He did his best to stop my sword, but the number of attacks was too much for him.
Then, he felt something hot on his chest–
“Cough!”
Looking down, my sword had pierced his heart.
The old man took two steps back and vomited a mouthful of blood. Then, his sword fell to the ground.
“How…?”
“Your sword is simply too slow. It’s unable to deal with a sword that moves using the concept of space.”
“… Space, cough… S-So it was that…” The old man put a hand on his chest to try to stop the blood, but it was useless.
His heart had been destroyed. He knew his death was already decided.
But, he could not die like this.
“… I have to tell them…”
That there is a monster here…
“ARRRGGGGG!!!” With a roar, the old man’s body glowed red. A powerful wind surrounded him, carrying him hundreds of miles away in an instant!
That was a forbidden technique using his life as the cost, and he used it to escape. Even if he was going to die, he had to warn the others about the danger I represented.
He feared that otherwise, the empire would end in my hands.
But before he could leave the forest, he felt his body becoming strangely light.
Then, he saw how his headless body continued moving forward while squirming blood.
The strange scene made the old man smiled wryly.
“… So it’s my end, huh…” The old man closed his eyes, and his head fell to the ground.
As for me, I put my sword back in its cheat and turned around.
Hidden History, huh.
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