Chapter 188: Declaration of Sovereignty

“What... What do you mean by that?”

The emperor’s expression hardened as he looked at Karyl, but that only made Karyl’s smile grow wider.

“There is no need to be nervous, for I mean no harm. Or could it be... that the great Emperor Titan Shutean is afraid of the immigrant tribes standing outside the capital? That can’t be right now, can it?”

“...You bastard,” the emperor muttered under his breath, his lips twitching.

“Kadin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Show us the Magic Mirror,” the emperor ordered the Court Sorcerer, not taking his eyes off Karyl.

Oong...

With a sweep of his palm through the air, Kadin Luer instantly conjured three Magic Circles that briefly intersected before vanishing.

Before anyone could marvel at the 7th Class sorcerer’s incredible ability to cast three Magic Circles without even an incantation, a massive magic mirror materialized in the air, showing the landscape outside the capital.

“What... What is this?!”

The scene revealed by the Magic Mirror quickly stirred up a commotion within the hall.

Whooooosh...!!

Draped in black cloaks, the Free Army of Tatur stood at the entrance of the capital, facing off against the imperial guards. With forces positioned to the north and south, the capital seemed encircled. It was impossible to tell how many troops there were.

“They’ve come merely to pay their respects to Your Majesty. I simply wanted to assure you that there is no longer any need to worry about the north,” Karyl explained nonchalantly, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.

“I simply took care of a troublesome task that the empire should have handled. Although your empire is undoubtedly a formidable power on the continent, you have not yet achieved supreme domination.”

Hearing that, the emperor’s face darkened even more.

“So you’re saying you’ve conquered the north on my behalf? Or...”

He glared at Karyl with blazing eyes.

“Are you saying you intend to claim the north for yourself?”

Karyl smiled faintly and asked, “Why does that matter? A year has passed since the Extermination Decree of Heresy was issued. Despite the hardships faced by the Blue Knights, less than half of the northern territories have been conquered.”

“...”

No one knew that the reason for the temporary halt of the decree was entirely due to Karyl’s maneuvers in the south.

“It will likely continue for years to come. Your Majesty, think of it as a humble act of assistance from me, for the empire’s sake.”

In contrast to Karyl’s seemingly cheery attitude, the emperor growled, “So this whole stunt was to request Tatur’s independence? You foolish boy...”

“...!!”

The emperor’s words sent a ripple through the crowd of nobles.

Independence?

No way... Did His Majesty really recognize Tatur as a nation?

How could this be...

The vassals were particularly shocked because this decision was unilateral, made by the emperor without consulting any of them.

“You insolent fool. If I fulfilled your greedy desire, you should have just quietly accepted it. How dare you humiliate me here in front of everyone?!” the emperor roared, glaring at Karyl as if he wanted to rip him apart.

“You think you can face me with your ragtag army of less than ten thousand and those northern vermin? Your head will roll on this floor before you can even draw your sword.”

Clank—

At that moment, the knights of the Sun Hall stepped forward, blocking Karyl’s way. Kuwell watched the unfolding scene with great unease.

But unlike the enraged emperor, Karyl remained composed.

“Your Majesty, as magnanimous as the sea, surely would not do such a thing.”

Karyl smirked mockingly as he slipped his hand inside his robe and took something out.

“...!!”

The small vial in his hand contained a single red flame herb, preserved perfectly without a hint of wilting.

“You... that’s—!”

The emperor staggered forward, almost falling off his throne. He couldn’t conceal his shock at all.

“Since when was it foolish to speak candidly in front of everyone?” Karyl asked in a low voice. “Didn't I say? I only took care of a troublesome matter out of concern for Your Majesty’s health. Who here knows about Your Majesty’s health? I have... a lot to say.”

Listening to Karyl, everyone present realized he was nothing like the boy they had seen in Heim.

“Do not forget the matter we discussed last time.”

Karyl reminded the emperor of their secret pact made in the main palace.

So that’s it...

Only now did the emperor realize where Karyl’s true intention lay—at the sea. The port city of Piasta served as a bridge between the sea and the continent, and across that sea lay...

The principality.

Knowing how arrogant it was to prepare for a war with the principality in the heart of the empire, Karyl laughed at the emperor, who was staring at him in a daze.

Now that he knows not only that Kromen was poisoned, but also that he nearly died of the same cause, he can’t just turn back as if nothing had happened.

“I look forward to seeing you again in good health, Your Majesty.”

Karyl glanced at Luon and then back at the emperor.

“And keep your promise this time.”

Whether Karyl meant it that way or not, it came across as a threat to the emperor. If he did not follow through with the verdict mentioned earlier, who knew what Karyl would do with the antidote?

The emperor’s mind was racing.

Was the antidote that Karyl gave me before not the best one? Or is he lying? If I’m not fully cured, I might end up like Kromen...

Gulp—

The emperor swallowed hard without realizing it.

Satisfied with how this exchange had ended, Karyl turned to leave.

“Don’t worry too much. There will be no problems for at least a year.”

It was a grace period, but it also meant that in one year, the emperor’s condition could deteriorate.

“It would be wise not to stir up any unnecessary trouble in the meantime.”

The vassals, not understanding what the vial in Karyl’s hand meant, could only gaze in confusion at him and the emperor.

“Let’s go,” Karyl said quietly.

“S-Stop!!”

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

At that moment, the emperor’s urgent shout rang through the Sun Hall. However, looking into Karyl’s eyes, he realized he couldn’t stop him.

“...”

Karyl felt the gaze of another Shutean watching him from the crowd.

We will meet again soon. I’m carefully preparing a weapon just for you.

Karyl glanced at Olivurn.

“T-The...!”

The emperor couldn’t get the words out. The fear that Karyl could break the vial at any moment left him paralyzed. No matter how great Emperor Shutean was, when it came to his life, he was a mere man.

Step, step, step...

Only Karyl’s footsteps echoed through the hall.

Yes. Life is the same for everyone, so don’t forget this feeling, Titan Shutean. All those outside were lives you once took.

A wicked grin spread across Karyl’s face as he heard the emperor stammer behind him.

***

“They’re coming,” Kinu Mukari said in a low voice.

“Can you see them?”

“Of course.”

Aidan clicked his tongue.

“Everyone here is a monster in their own right.”

He squinted at the distant capital, but there was still nothing in sight.

Thud—!

When Kinu Mukari raised his hand, the southern barbarians all knelt in unison, waiting for Karyl.

“...”

The soldiers on the opposite side, tense and uneasy, instinctively flinched when the barbarians moved.

“Filthy scumbags... How dare you set foot on sacred imperial soil!” one of the subcommanders of the imperial guard growled.

“Hah...” Suan Hazer snorted in response.

BOOM!

It happened so quickly that no one could react. Before anyone could scream, Suan had struck the knight in front of him with all his might.

“Ugh!!”

The knight’s helmet crumpled like a piece of paper, and his neck forcefully pushed into his torso akin to a turtle.

“How does it feel to be hit by a scumbag? Watch your mouth!”

Crack!

Suan then delivered a sideway punch to the knight, sending him flying tens of meters away. With a sickening thud, the knight tumbled helplessly, twitching for a moment before going limp.

“...”

Just two blows—the other troops were speechless, their knees shaking. Despite their numerical superiority, the imperial guards couldn’t muster the courage to charge after witnessing this swift display of power.

“Huh? Don’t look at me like that. That’s why Master gave me the gauntlets, right? We were bound to clash sooner or later,” Suan explained to his peers, who were staring at him, looking somewhat relieved.

“You must have been holding back for a while,” Dushala remarked with a smirk. She had heard from Aidan that Suan had missed the opportunity to participate in the raid on the Ghost Castle, being stuck with piloting a boat instead.

“Hey, big guy. That’s not why he gave you the gauntlets.”

“...Huh?”

“Act your size,” Miliana urged in a low voice, arms crossed.

Suan scratched his head, visibly embarrassed by Miliana’s rebuke.

“But they started it...”

Suan tried to defend himself but quickly gave up. Not even he had the courage to lock eyes with a Sword Master.

“An eye for an eye. Tatur has its own way of doing things. If they pick a fight, they should pay the price,” Dushala cut in confidently, not intimidated by Miliana’s imposing presence.

Did Master really share a room with that woman?

It might be because she had heard about Karyl and Miliana's dealings in the south from Hashir, just as she had heard about the attack of the Ghost Castle from Aidan.

“An eye for an eye? How naive,” Miliana snorted. “If it were me, I’d have cut their throats. That’s what those gauntlets are for. As I said, act your size.”

“...”

With that one remark, Miliana dismissed everyone’s doubts.

“Hey, you lot.” Miliana then nodded toward the imperial soldiers standing in front of her.

“Clear the way.”

With that, the imperial soldiers parted like the sea before her, yielding to Miliana's overwhelming presence.

Step, step, step...

Moments later, Karyl emerged through the soldiers. Despite thousands of blades pointed at him, he was composed, unbothered even. The soldiers’ blades were already drooping toward the ground, crushed by Karyl’s aura.

“What about the pursuit?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Karyl replied.

Miliana nodded as though she had expected that response. She then glanced at Dushala with a knowing look.

“...Hmph.” Dushala scowled and bit her lip under Miliana’s gaze.

“I wish I could see the emperor’s face.”

“It was quite the sight.”

Miliana chuckled at Karyl’s response.

They were at the imperial capital, home to the continent’s best swordsman, hundreds of knights, and tens of thousands of soldiers. How many people could walk out of the empire’s heart as nonchalantly as Karyl? Even a dragon would find it challenging.

“Beikan.”

Instead of his usual axe, Beikan was carrying a large pole-like object over his shoulder.

“Raise the flag.”

At Karyl’s command, Beikan unwrapped the cloth from the pole’s end.

“Uff!”

His muscles bulged as he lifted the giant pole high into the sky.

Flutter...!!

Flap...!!

A few seconds later, a blue flag flapped proudly in the wind before the empire. As if responding to a signal, similar flags rose up everywhere akin to a wave.

“...”

The imperial troops could only watch in silence, shaking in their boots.

“Let’s go back.”

At Karyl's command, the thousands of soldiers moved in unison. The imperial guards, unsure of what to do, simply watched as they retreated.

On that winter day in the Imperial Year 226, a historic event unfolded—for the first time ever, the northern immigrants, the mercenaries from the Free City, and the southern barbarians united under one flag.

***

“I still don’t consider you my lord. I’m only acting on behalf of Hashir, the chief of the Wolf-Fox tribe.”

On their way to Fonein, Lilliana, who had been silent until now, spoke up to Karyl.

“I know. Thanks to you, things went smoothly,” Karyl replied. “If you want, you can return to the north. We’re not ready to accept all of you yet anyway.”

“Honest, aren’t you?”

“That’s my strong suit.”

Karyl’s air of confidence left Lilliana somewhat flabbergasted.

“I didn’t expect you to come from the Jannabi tribe. Were you planning to assassinate the emperor if things went awry? You were glaring at him back there.”

“...”

Lilliana fell silent at Karyl’s words.

“Well, you held back even though you looked like you were itching to kill him. If you’d messed up, I wouldn’t have let it slide,” Karyl said nonchalantly. “He’s mine.”

“...”

At that, Lilliana lightly bit her dry lips.

“Don’t get so cocky. We’re only helping you this one time. There are still many immigrants in the north. We will go back. If you truly want to take the north...”

“I know.”

At that moment, Karyl pulled out Agnel from his coat.

“...!”

“Yes, it’s the Grand Chief’s dagger. You must have heard from Hashir. Now return to the north and wait at the designated location. I will soon hold a Day of Unity.”

Lilliana stared at the dagger in disbelief and then looked at Karyl.

“And don’t worry about the empire. There’s the mourning period, but besides that, they won’t touch the north for a while. You saw why.”

Lilliana couldn’t take her eyes off Agnel, as if the empire no longer mattered.

“How did you—”

“Not now. I’ll explain everything later,” Karyl curtly dismissed her question, as if taming her.

“...”

“When you return to the north, give my regards to the elders. And tell them I said thanks for this time.”

Hearing Karyl speak as though he was close with the northern chiefs, Lilliana became even more suspicious about him.

“Oh, and since the death of Karliak of the Black-Eye tribe, the title of Great Warrior is still vacant, right?”

“...Yes.”

Hashir, seeing her changed demeanor after looking at Agnel, gave a knowing smile.

In response to her answer, Karyl nodded as if the plan was settled.

“Then all is good.”