26-76

EP.76 Broken Dream 

Everything was collapsing. 

By the time he realized something was wrong, a sense of unease had wrapped around his entire body. 

“An intruder…” 

It was impeccable timing. 

There was no way it was unrelated. 

The image of the princess from just moments ago came vividly to mind. 

“Treachery.” 

Hounded’s voice was cold and sharp. 

There was no hint of confusion. 

To him, everyone except himself was always a tool. 

Even his own blood was just a means to continue his achievements. 

He accepted betrayal with cold rationality, 

as if a faulty tool had simply cut his own hand. 

“This feeling… looks like someone’s cast a spell.” 

He walked to a corner he hadn’t approached in years. 

There wasn’t dust, but the sword left there bore the clear marks of long neglect. 

“How many decades has it been?” 

Memories from the past resurfaced. 

A lifetime of conquest wars, and among them, those fought at the very front lines were even further back. 

He was a warrior who knew no fear. 

Not one to be ruled, but one who ruled. 

He was here because he had cut down even his own blood and conquered all. 

The moment he gripped the sword, he felt only himself. 

“In the end… the only thing you can trust is yourself.” 

There was no more noise announcing the intrusion. 

Only the sounds of battle remained. 

The growing sounds were reaching the king. 

“I must have grown foolish with age. Conquest is ultimately a matter of force-just take what you want.” 

It was a strange sight. 

Even as the intruder approached, he was smiling, 

as if the vigor of his youth was returning. 

“Once I settle this commotion… I’ll raise an army and claim the last kingdom.” 

He had set aside the king’s dignity. 

He was ready to tear into his enemies like a wild dog. 

No matter the losses, it didn’t matter. 

Even if his people suffered, it was of no concern. 

He craved only the thrill of his power spreading without limit. 

“It’s not easy after all.” 

Casting the barrier had gone well. 

The problem was what came next: the enemy’s skill was simply too high. 

“Break through at one point!” 

“Don’t let them reach the king!” 

The two orders of knights clashed. 

Both sides’ royal guards were evenly matched. 

No, to be honest, our side was being pushed back. 

It wasn’t just the home ground advantage-each of their guards was on another level. 

“They know nothing of war! They can’t compare to us, who have always waited for battle!” 

“It doesn’t matter-as long as we take the king’s head, we win!” 

Bella’s command and fighting skill kept the line intact. 

But victory was out of reach. 

If it dragged on, defeat was inevitable. 

“I’ll have to take a risk.” 

I gathered strength in my legs. 

The front was blocked solid by the enemy. 

In situations like this, sudden action can create a variable. 

“That one!” 

I kicked off the ground and dove to the side. 

My destination was the garden-fitting for the king’s residence, it was beautifully landscaped. 

“Catch him! Don’t let him escape!” 

It was a totally unexpected move. 

Naturally, the enemy’s response was delayed. 

Now, our guards were holding them back, the opposite of just before. 

“Hold the enemy at the front! If you scatter, you’ll be easy targets!” 

Bella’s sword was faster than the enemy’s. 

She swung at the very front, making it hard for them to break through. 

“Damn… This woman…!” 

“We’ll break through the front!” 

“Send a few to chase the one who got away!” 

The enemy couldn’t spare many troops. 

I dashed at full speed toward the king’s chambers. 

It was a roundabout route, but with no obstacles, it almost felt refreshing. 

“Stop right there!” 

“…Not the ones who slipped out to the side, but those who came around back.” 

Three were following. 

Not knowing the exact route, the distance naturally closed. 

“Three should be enough.” 

“Insolent…!” 

I suddenly stopped. 

The pursuers, caught in their own momentum, rushed forward. 

Before they could regroup, I slashed at the gaps in their armor. 

“…!” 

“…Thanks for following so closely. If you’d hesitated, it would have been a problem.” 

“Argh…! The gaps in my armor…!” 

“I’m busy, so stand guard here.” 

It was just a few dozen steps to the spot Milleiyu had told me about. 

With a longer stride, it would take less than ten seconds. 

I rounded a corner and reached the king’s bedroom in one go. 

“If I take the old man’s head here, it’s over.” 

It was highly unlikely he’d escaped. 

With the barrier, there was nowhere to hide. 

I thought it would be over as soon as I killed the king- 

until the door opened on its own. 

Creak- 

It was completely unexpected. 

The king I saw for the first time was not what I’d imagined. 

“That face… I’ve seen it in a painting. You must be Eldric.” 

“…So you know me, Your Majesty.” 

“Oh… Even though you’re the enemy king, you show manners.” 

“You’ll be dead soon anyway.” 

He didn’t feel like an ordinary king. 

Honestly, he looked more like a fighting dog. 

The dazzling greatsword in his hand drew my gaze. 

“Can you really swing that greatsword at your age?” 

“We’ll see…” 

“I recommend you surrender.” 

“Ha, hahaha… Surrender? Do you really think that’s possible?” 

“I intend to unite the two kingdoms anyway. In the end, it’s no different from what I proposed as cooperation.” 

Hounded’s eyes changed. 

He clearly hadn’t known that. 

But strangely, he was smiling. 

“Heh… So that’s it. No wonder the princess betrayed me…” 

“In the end, it’s for both kingdoms. Why not cooperate?” 

“No. That’s not the dream I wanted.” 

His answer was cold and resolute. 

The old king’s eyes burned quietly. 

“That wouldn’t be mine, would it?” 

“So you have to obtain it yourself?” 

“That’s right. If it’s not mine, it’s meaningless. It has to be something I’ve taken and claimed. Even if the country prospers, if it’s not mine, it’s just garbage.” 

“You could save your life if you surrender now.” 

“Conquest wars are all like this, aren’t they? You came here risking your life because you know that, too.” 

There was no room for negotiation. 

From the start, we were just confirming what kind of opponents we were. 

In the end, there was only one outcome: one side would fall. 

“I won’t deny it completely, but I only came to deflect the sparks flying my way.” 

“Didn’t you come because you wanted to be king and seize power?” 

“I tried running a fief, but it was just a hassle. I don’t understand nobles who are obsessed with that.” 

“You’re a strange man. I suppose that’s why you rejected my offer.” 

The greatsword rose to the king’s shoulder. 

It was a bizarre sight. 

An aged body preparing an overwhelming strike. 

In my head, I calculated victory. 

But the rough, wild atmosphere sent chills down my spine. 

“Die and become my stepping stone.” 

The sword was faster than the sound. 

I felt the air twist against my skin. 

I dodged the attack, sweating coldly. 

Shiiing- 

“Even after all this time, you don’t feel any different from your prime.” 

“Must be nice to be king and eat well.” 

“That’s one of the perks of being king. My possessions always bring me the best things.” 

He looked like a madman. 

Hounded’s face was genuinely joyful. 

He couldn’t stop enjoying the act of taking something. 

It was the root of his greed. 

“It’s almost chilling.” 

“Don’t lie. You’re dodging attacks like a frog, aren’t you?” 

“I meant it’s chilling aside from your swordsmanship.” 

He was not a man who could be persuaded. 

He was only satisfied by taking things by force from the start. 

“But if you get too greedy, you end up losing everything.” 

He swung the greatsword horizontally. 

I ducked low at the right moment. 

You can’t retrieve your sword and attack at the same time. 

I targeted the vulnerable moment with my fastest thrust. 

His frail body couldn’t retreat fast enough. 

“Guh…” 

A faint groan, as if his guts were being squeezed. 

The fact that it was a fatal blow was clear from the reaction through the sword. 

Given his aged body, there was no chance of recovery. 

“Maybe I was too greedy…” 

“That’s what happens when you swing a greatsword at your age.” 

“Hmph… I just swung the sword I liked and was good with. If you hadn’t been my opponent, I might have kept going.” 

There was no trace of regret, even at the end. 

When the greatsword in his hand fell to the ground, 

Hounded was satisfied with his own greed.