Read Novel Full Vol 13 Chapter 3 Part 4
Vol 13 Chapter 3 Part 4
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ED: LonelyMatter
Part 4
After the shaking subsided, Claudia stepped out into the hallway to find the Grantz soldiers running around in a hurry.
She closed the door to her room and turned her calm eyes toward the noise.
A large number of Grantz soldiers were being sucked into the darkness, and the corridor was filled with the heat released by their angry shouts. Perhaps it was because they were staring unprotected, but the two Levering soldiers guarding the room approached Claudia as if to protect her.
“Your Majesty Queen Claudia, is there an intruder?”
“If the tremors we just experienced were an attack from outside, it would be an intruder, but with such a spectacular attack, it’s getting louder inside than outside.”
One by one, the voices faded. The hallway that was so noisy, the deafening sound of armor scraping against armor, also faded with each spark that lit up in the darkness. The moaning and groaning of soldiers could be heard. The sound of fierce swordplay was also in their ears. The Levering soldiers stepped forward to protect Claudia, but their bodies were shaking.
“Your Majesty Queen Claudia, please run.”
Not because they were cowards. Rather, because they were skilled warriors, they felt the difference in strength between them and the monsters lurking in the darkness. That there were monsters in the darkness beyond their power.
Soon, a boy―Hiro―appears from the back of the corridor with a black sword in his hand, darker than the darkness.
The two Levering soldiers let out a cry of determination.
They grab the hilt with all their might, grit their teeth, and charge forward with all their might.
“Hello, Claudia, there you are!”
Raising a hand as if to greet them, Hiro smashed the helmets of the Levering soldiers with the hilt of his black sword, turned his hips violently on the spot, using his left leg as an axis, and slammed his heel into the necks of the remaining Levering soldiers. One of them fell to the ground from the back of his head as his consciousness was mowed down, and the soldier whose neck was hit fell with a flourish as his face hit the wall with great force. Judging by the fact that the soldiers showed no signs of getting up, it appeared that they had fainted.
“Your Majesty, the Black Dragon King… did you kill the others with your flashy appearance?”
“No way, I just let them sleep for a while.”
It was true that he did not take their lives. However, it also meant that even soldiers who had fought many battles in the past could not stop Hiro despite their efforts.
Because he showed so much skill, a question crossed Claudia’s mind. She wondered if Hiro really meant it when he charged into the monster hordes alone.
It could be said that it was because he was facing “humans” and “demons,” but the fact that he was in such a bad position was strangely disturbing to Claudia.
Maybe―it was all in his calculation…
Claudia couldn’t help but think.
When Hiro appeared in front of her, Claudia asked him with a calm demeanor.
“Why didn’t you kill them?”
Hiro shrugged and answered her question.
“We couldn’t afford to lose our precious fighting power in a place like this.”
“What is your purpose?”
“To bring everything together.
Strange words and actions, inexplicable behavior, incomprehensible beliefs, it’s hard to know where he’s going.
Usually, it was something that could be seen.
If you looked at the path he was on, you could usually predict where he was going.
The path had already been organized by those who came before them, and the desired place had already been cleared.
Those who lived in the world today, and those who would be born in the future, would always follow the path that their predecessors had laid out, and no one would be able to deviate from it.
The road they were on, the places that existed in the middle, and wherever they looked, everything that existed until the end of the road would be things that had been changed by someone in the past.
But the road Hiro was walking on today did not exist.
He was making it with his own hands. He was now creating a path that the predecessors could not create.
And he was trying to reach a place that no one else had been able to reach.
So Claudia could not understand his purpose in walking a path that was unseen.
――There were too many questions.
But judging from the current situation, there was not enough time to ask him everything.
As Claudia struggled, Hiro silently stepped forward, perhaps noticing that there was no animosity toward her.
Claudia noticed that he was about to disappear into the darkness and followed his back.
“Wait a minute. You still don’t listen to people.”
“Then why don’t you just tell me what you want to hear?”
With these words, Hiro knocked the soldiers blocking the passage unconscious. All who stood in his way were knocked unconscious by his hand.
His skill was so overwhelming that a normal person would lose heart just by facing him. However, the Grantz soldiers, who had been trained both mentally and physically, did not give up. Even if they were faced with an opponent they could not defeat, they would still face him ruthlessly. Claudia did not see this as barbaric.
As in fairy tales, it was always the weak who defeated the strong. Happiness never came to those who did not challenge. And heroes were rarely born.
Still, many people knew Hiro for his spectacular escape.
Though the situation would normally cause impatience, his pace remained the same, and he continued to beat down the soldiers who appeared before him without hesitation.
If it were many against one or even a few against one, they would not even be able to stop his progress. This was true not only for humans but also for monsters.
That is why it is so hard to understand.
If that was the case, why did he go straight to the place where the Faceless King was? If he had gone all the way through the place where the monsters were―if he had dealt with a small number of them like he was doing now―it would have taken longer, but he would have reached the place unharmed.
“Don’t you think it’s strange that you can’t get the head of the Faceless King with all that power?”
Claudia asked a strange question that contained a probing question. Claudia wanted to know where he was going. Hiro was aiming for a view no one had ever seen before, and if possible, it would be perfect if she could get there before him. As the queen of a country, she wanted to gain as much prestige as possible for the future.
“It is true that with some sacrifices, the head of the Faceless King could have been taken at that time. But that would have been meaningless.”
“Why? If you had defeated the Faceless King there, this battle would have been over, and we could have celebrated victory.”
The Red-Haired Princess would have just had to clean up the mess. And the Levering Kingdom would be able to take advantage of the favor and receive a huge bounty from the Great Grantz Empire.
This was the end of the road that Claudia had predicted.
However, the situation started to change two or three times now.
This even applied to one of Hiro’s current actions.
The route that Claudia predicted had been cut off. It was similar to the feeling of wandering through a forest without a foothold. She had no idea where he was going. She’s just being pulled along by the boy in front of her, forcing her to walk.
“Above all, the unnaturalness of the army’s deployment… the way it fought as if you had predicted it in advance to minimize damage while falling behind―as if you were trying to induce victory for the monster army.”
“Have you ever wondered?”
Claudia showed her displeasure when Hiro didn’t answer her question and brought up another topic, but he showed no sign of concern and continued the conversation.
“When war breaks out, someone will win, and someone will lose. Some will cry, others will laugh.”
“It is only natural. War is caused because there is profit in it. If you win, you win, and if you lose, you lose. Isn’t that natural?”
“Yes, that’s right. No one wonders about it because it is natural. The same goes for the parties involved. Everyone just assumes that they are the ones who started it all.”
Claudia stopped. Her face was filled with surprise. She stood there stunned as if she had realized the truth behind Hiro’s pun, as if she had just learned the horror of this boy.
“S-since when…did it start?”
Claudia noticed that Hiro had not stopped walking and hurried to catch up with him.
As if to show her, Hiro raised a hand and held up an index finger.
“From the beginning.”
Claudia’s mouth twitched. Her eyes widened as if she saw a monster.
“From the beginning, the Five Great Heavenly Kings and the surrounding countries have only danced on my hand.”
Her heart denied it. It is impossible, no matter how many special abilities beyond the ordinary one possesses.
Where did he start? From the time he became the fourth prince, or from the time he began to make a name for himself in this world, where in the world was his plan?
“As long as I know where I’m going, I can handle it. I would lead them down the road, set traps along the way, and give them what they wanted. Repeat the process, and at the end of it all, set up an ambush at the destination.”
It was simple, Hiro said. But Claudia muttered that it was impossible.
It is impossible to manipulate the world. Especially in this world, there were too many obstacles in the way.
It’s impossible to control the world; there are too many people in the way.
If such a thing were possible… it would be the work of a god.
“Even the Five Great Heavenly Kings are no exception?”
“Yes, they are also in my hands.”
Claudia was taken aback by Hiro’s words.
“Fuh, fufufufufu, that’s… really―it must be a lot of fun.”
Claudia laughed at the story, which was so ridiculous. She was not making fun of it. It was meant as a compliment. More than that, she couldn’t stop laughing at the inclusion of herself among the dancing clowns.
“…..But I can’t admit it.”
How could she remain silent after being made to look so hypothetical? Then she had no choice but to throw a stone. She had no choice but to remind this conceited boy that not everything is as it seems.
“Then do you understand what I am about to do?”
“Of course, there is no way I could be unaware of such a murderous intent.”
“Is it part of your plan for me to capture you?”
“Never… don’t worry, it won’t come to that.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Hiro opened the door leading to the courtyard of Fort Taoen.
As they stepped into the courtyard, the moonlight illuminated the ground.
Even more intense and fierce spirit than the moonlight filled the courtyard.
There were many Levering soldiers in the courtyard.
Hundreds of torches reflected the moonlight, and the red, flickering light of the flames reflected dully off their weapons. All were fearless, and the appearance of the absolute queen, Claudia, did not cool their fighting spirit but seemed to ignite it even more.
“Can you break through the beautiful elite troops along with me?”
In Claudia’s hand, a magic weapon left behind by Rox, the founding king, appeared out of nowhere―the “Asura,” one of the Five Demon Emperor Swords.
Claudia was still smiling, but her eyes were filled with a cold, murderous intent that sent a shiver down your spine. Without hesitation, she thrust the “Asura” at Hiro.
“Black Princess Camellia!”
As Hiro called out her name, tapping his chest, the black robe wriggled like a living creature, catching the tip of the blade as it was forcefully thrust out. Darkness began to envelop the blade, and Claudia, sensing the danger, jumped back.
“Many against one; please don’t call me a coward.”
Claudia raised her hand quickly. Then she brought her hand down with a mighty swing.
“Do it. No need to be shy!”
At Claudia’s command, the Levering soldiers rushed towards Hiro with a shout.
The wind blew, and in the blink of an eye, Hiro was out of sight of Claudia.
Hiro sprinted toward the oncoming group.
As he approached the lead group, he struck one of them in the jaw with the palm of his hand, knocking him off his feet and sending him rolling across the grass. Using him as a springboard, he kicked the soldier further back.
When he landed on the ground, he used his right hand as a fulcrum to spin his hips violently, taking the legs off several of them and causing them to fall. Standing upside down, he continued to swing both legs vigorously.
As soon as he heard the screams of those whose helmets were knocked off and their heels hit their unprotected faces, those whose noses were broken, and those moaning in extreme pain, Hiro moved on to his next action.
Sliding his feet to the ground, he took a wide stance, bent his arms, and with a powerful elbow thrust, a soldier with a sword in his upper stance was blown away; his breastplate was caving in.
He grabs the face of a confused soldier and sends him crashing to the ground, grabs his arm and lifts him lightly into the air, and as he pokes him in the throat, he uses the soldier’s hip, bent in pain, as a foothold from which he decides to kick the soldier behind him in a circular motion.
He slipped through the group like the wind, silencing the Levering soldiers.
His deft movements had the Levering soldiers at his mercy.
They cannot get a hand or a foot in front of him. They were only surpassed by his physical prowess.
This hurt the Levering soldiers’ self-esteem and made their blood boil in their heads, making them unable to make calm decisions and continue their reckless suicide attacks.
“Get out of my way!”
Claudia shouted, and at the same time, the Levering soldiers jumped and split left and right.
It seems that the blood in their heads did not allow them to ignore the queen’s order.
Rather, it may have been ingrained in their bodies.
But thanks to this, there were no obstacles in front of Claudia, and a straight path to Hiro was formed. Claudia vigorously pushed the “Asura” into the ground.
Immediately, cold air was generated, and the ground froze straight up. It was headed for Hiro, but…
“Too late.”
With a single word, Hiro slammed his foot into the ground as if to step on it.
The ice shattered slightly, and pieces floated in the air, fine crystals carried by the wind and sucked into the sky. Claudia, who clicked her tongue in anger at the sight, sprinted away.
She raised her large sword slightly and tried to swing it down, but Hiro, who had read her movement, held her by the hilt. As Hiro’s gaze shifted forward, the hilt was released, forcing Claudia’s center of gravity forward.
Claudia was almost covered by Hiro, but just before she was about to fall, a hand was placed on her stomach, her right leg was grabbed, and she was tossed slightly into the air.
After catching herself just before hitting the ground, Claudia immediately adjusted her stance, letting her sharp gaze dart around.
But Hiro had disappeared from where she had just left him.
The Levering soldiers around her also looked surprised, and judging by the way they craned their necks around her, there was no doubt that they had lost sight of him as well.
As Claudia looked for a sign of where she noticed an immense amount of high energy spilling over the breast wall.
The black robe curled like tentacles against the moon, and looking down, golden eyes glowed in the dark night.
“Are you going to run away?”
“Oh… if I keep fighting like this, I’ll get caught.”
Hiro shamelessly said that he was going to run away and turned his gaze to the entrance of Fort Taoen.
Even in the darkness, the beautiful red hair was as vivid as a flame.
The red-haired princess reigned majestically, without haze or fading, as if she was dispersing the darkness.
When she caught sight of Hiro on the breast wall, she opened her mouth, pretending to be at a loss for words a few times.
“Where are you going?”
“You have lived up to my expectations.”
Standing on the edge of the breast wall, Hiro spread his arms.
“Then next time――”
Hiro looked up at the moon, then smiled softly at Liz.
No calculation. No sarcasm.
But it was a pure and transparent smile, inappropriate for this place as if it were a loving smile.
“It’s your turn to respond.”
Hiro tilted his body to the other side and disappeared into the darkness, pulled by gravity.