Episode 987 Judgment of the Commandments (1)
The broken blade pierced halfway through Rateon’s neck.It was no ordinary blade.A power that repelled life could be felt. Even Verden had never seen such a concentrated evil since Draven Lemarque and Lunesica Anternoa.
It barely missed the vital spot.
The insidious blade was thrust between the trachea and the esophagus.It could not have been due to luck.A fighter of Rateon’s caliber would have twisted his head in an instant to avoid instant death.
‘… … But that’s all.’
Verden lightly touched the puncture site of Rateon with his fingertips.Insight and senses contemplated the condition.
The energy emanating from the metal burrowed deep into Lateon’s spinal cord. As if infected, the nerve bundles were dead from that point onward.The nerve ends were still alive, but the spine and most of the nervous system had lost their vitality. Before long, even the remaining nerves would die.The organs would be next.
If the blade is pulled out recklessly, the brainstem and blood vessels will be ripped out intact, and he will die before even using Lysandro’s fruit potion.This is the reason Cain was unable to heal Rateon and was maintaining the status quo.
Even with the regenerative power to repair physical damage, if the lifeline is completely severed even once, it can never be restored.
Ultimately, since the cause could not be eliminated, no matter what measures were taken, it was nothing more than a stopgap measure. Lateon’s life force, being eroded by morale, was running low.
“Mr. Lateon…… while trying to protect me…….”
Cain staggered for a moment before slumping weakly into a chair. He hadn’t slept properly since becoming Tinfold’s hope.Cain was a human, not a transcendent being.Even with repeated training, his physical strength would decline if he didn’t get enough sleep. This precarious situation was also eating away at his mental fortitude.
The bloody battle against the undead forces under command was by no means an easy task.
Relieved by Verden’s return, Cain felt as though he would collapse at any moment, but he barely managed to maintain his consciousness and moved his lips.
“I succeeded in temporarily repelling the evil spirit with the life force of Lysandro’s fruit potion, but…… because of this blade, I could not fundamentally heal it.”
Cain wanted to hear a definitive answer as to whether Lateon could be healed.Otherwise, he could not sleep peacefully.
“Is treatment possible, Senior?”
Verden possesses a legendary elixir. Using it might save Rateon’s life, but the elixir is a limited trump card.Cain did not mention the elixir because he understood its value, but deep down, he wanted to save Rateon even if it meant using it.
Because we’re colleagues.
“Just like Lissandro’s Fruit Potion, the Elixir cannot prevent death itself. The evil spirit has already taken root throughout Rateon’s entire body. It is impossible to target and remove it.”“Is that so?”
Verden activated the magic circuit.
“Of course, if it were the past.”“The past.”
Cain stood there in a daze, only then realizing why Verden had left. The robe, which had turned from pitch black to ash, fluttered.
“8th rank…….”
Verden’s unique magical color stained Rateon’s infirmary dark red.
Ruin
The blade of the sword that was taking Rateon’s life began to tremble violently. No matter how much evil spirit had penetrated the body, it was limited to the realm of the physical body.Whether the body rotted or not, the existence of Rateon would not be corrupted.
Fully recognizes Lateon Offniel.Judges all elements excluding Lateon Offniel as foreign substances.
A clear distinction between abstractions.
Verden’s power and intuition, having mastered the concept of destruction following infinity, reached a level of ideas that transcended the physical realm.
Squeak, squeak.
The broken blade could not withstand the magic and twisted, then let out a monstrous scream.
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!]
“Ugh!”
Cain’s mental state was shaken.
Sharp screams echoed in all directions, but were controlled by Verden’s spatial domination and could not escape.
A desperate struggle.
Verden grasped the blade. Destruction seeped into Rateon. Without any physical loss, only the aura of death tormenting him crumbled from its very roots. Adazzling dark red radiance emanated from the sweating Rateon and reflected into Cain’s blue eyes.
“The Sword God……!”
Crunch!
The unpleasant blade crumbled and was soon destroyed without a trace. Clean blood flowed from the wound remaining on Rateon’s neck.
Whoosh!
I took out a diluted Lissandro’s fruit potion from the subspace and poured it in.
That’s the end of the treatment.
Now, all that remains is to awaken the deeply asleep Lateon. Verden spoke to him, partially revealing his presence.
Didn’t you say you wanted to make a name for yourself?
A voice directed inward.
“Rise, Rateon Opniel.”
Rateon suddenly opened his eyes and reflexively sat up.
“C-success!”
Lateon, who had been gasping for breath, suddenly realized his mistake and fumbled around his neck. He could only feel skin. His last memory was escaping with Cain after a blade had been thrust between his helmet and armor.
“……Are you alive?”“Your mind is safe.”“Hmm?”
Rateon, realizing Verden’s presence belatedly, was startled. *Slap!* He slapped his own cheek without hesitation and took the full force of the pain.
“It wasn’t a dream. The fact that Your Majesty has returned… does that mean you have reached that level?”“I have achieved it.”“Hmph.”
Lateon let out a sigh of disbelief and pulled the corners of his mouth.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. Hahahahaha!”
The being he served as the only superior has become even stronger. The already unapproachable monster has become an even greater monster.
I cannot help but laugh.Noble loyalty wells up.
Rateon’s background has reached a level that most people would not dare to associate with. Rateon is the left arm (planned) of an 8th-tier transcendent being.
That is a relief.
… … Thump.
Cain, having watched Rateon recover to the very end, breathed a sigh of relief and lost consciousness. He had fallen asleep.Verden grabbed the nape of Cain’s neck as he collapsed and lifted him onto his shoulder.
“It seems that leading the survivors has pushed his mind and body to their limit. Everyone calls Cain the hope of Tinfold.”“Hope, huh.”
Rateon, who had a rough idea of the situation in the Kingdom of Ronia, let out a chuckle.
“You’re quite something for someone who doesn’t even know how to govern.”“Because he’s my junior. And he’s higher in rank than you.”“…….”
Verden turned around.
“You’ve just woken up, so your mind probably isn’t fully organized yet. I’ll give you a moment to prepare to report.”“I’ll be right there.”
Rateon, who had been keeping his head down until Verden disappeared, twitched the tip of his nose.Frowning, he subtly lifted his armor.
Because the blade embedded in his neck prevented the careless removal of his war armor, it was difficult to meticulously maintain his cleanliness as he lay dying.
That’s nasty.
The smell of war… … .
Rateon unlocked the fasteners on his armor at the stench he had smelled time and time again on the battlefield. Indeed. The war in the Kingdom of Ronia was not yet over.
Maybe this is just the beginning.
Bang!
The war weapon that fell from Rateon hit the ground, spreading a heavy metallic sound.
* * *
Even Cain, who usually doesn’t have big mood swings, became irritable… Cain fell into a sleep as deep as the fatigue that had accumulated over time.
Gulp, gulp.
Rateon washed himself with cold water, put on a light tunic, and drank the wine straight from the bottle. The finest jerky stored in Verden’s subspace disappeared one by one.
“Phew, your hunger is subsiding a bit now.”“I have plenty, so just let me know if you need anything. Then let’s talk while we eat.”
Gloomy clouds are gathering.
They sat facing each other with a window overlooking the street to their side.
I heard you were the last person to see Adrian.
The reason for seeking out Rateon first was not only that his condition was critical, but also because he knew the last whereabouts of the missing Adrian.
“What happened?”
Rateon closed his eyes for a moment and vividly recalled the memory of that time.
Verden intended to first hear the general situation, extract only the key points, and then execute
“It is her doing. She is probably the one who brought the Kingdom of Ronia to this state as well.”“A woman?”“She was a beautiful woman.”
Rateon had rarely seen a woman of such outstanding beauty in his life. Subjectively speaking, it was safe to say she was on par with Isabella.
It was Ravenholt who saw that woman for the second time.
Ravenholt.
This was the capital of the Kingdom of Ronia… …and the operational area where Eon’s judgment of commandments was to be executed this time.
The story goes back several tens of days.
* * *
Before the incident broke out… … .
A fact-finding committee was held in the Iderat Confederation, and when the search for the traitor began, Rateon infiltrated the Kingdom of Ronia via the sea.Cain, Rateon, and Grave, who were in charge of the Judgment of the Commandments, each took a different route.
To be precise about their roles, Lateon was the guide, while Cain and Grave were the main force heading toward the kingdom’s capital along that path, accompanied by their subordinates.
Up until this point, the communication devices were functioning properly, so there were no problems with the communication system.
Boooooo───
The port city of Belfort stretched out in the view of Rateon, who was standing at the front of the fleet. Seagulls cawed and circled around the trading ship.
It’s been a while. To this place, too.
As soon as they arrived at the dock, they packed their bags like tourists and disembarked. Grave was planning to bring back the attention-grabbing war equipment.
As he walked, enjoying the sea breeze, a familiar man was waiting for him.
“……To think you were really alive.”
The man who had walked over neatly took off his fedora and placed it on his chest. A war scar not covered by his clothes stood out.
How have you been, Lord Lateon?
Rateon smiled with a hint of longing.
You don’t seem to be doing well, Sir Valen.
Valen, Knight of the Kingdom of Ronia.
He was a comrade who fought alongside Rateon in the conflict zone with the lower beastmen tribes, and a fellow soldier who risked his life to hide Rateon, who later became a traitor to the state, and secretly boarded him onto a merchant ship to get him out of the kingdom.
* * *
Rateon and Valen raised their glasses to celebrate their reunion in a thoroughly soundproofed private room of a tavern for wealthy nobles.
“Ever since the ship carrying you departed for the Central Continent… I hoped you would live well, but honestly, I doubted you could. Your character is so stubborn. It is a world where it is difficult to survive long without compromising.”
Rateon shrugged his shoulders.
“So I learned how to compromise.”“It must not have been easy.”
Although Valen had retired from the front lines several years ago and was living as a knight of the Marquis Raunik family, he was a man who had made a living on rough battlefields, so he had quite a keen eye.
Has it been roughly 13 years?
It seemed that in the time he hadn’t seen him, Lateon had reached a level beyond Valen’s comprehension. The quality of his muscles was incomparable to before.His ki must have been the same.Even without hearing what kind of combat experience he had accumulated, the stench of blood wafted through the air.
“Phew.”
Valen wiped the half-empty glass.
“Lord Rateon… do you remember the last words I told you?”“I remember.”“I told you never to come back to the Kingdom of Ronia. To forget everything and just live your life, to let everything that happened here flow away as a nightmare.”
He asked.
“But why did you return to this country?”
Rateon contacted a former comrade through Eon’s intelligence officer. It was Pale’s resourcefulness. To infiltrate deep into the Royal Castle of Ronia, the help of an insider connected to high-ranking officials was absolutely necessary.
“You could call it revenge and work.”
Valen was the perfect fit as such an assistant.
However, he had only requested a meeting and had not yet stated his purpose. It was naturally Lateon’s job to persuade Valen at this point.
“Revenge… Even after all this time, do you still live trapped in a nightmare? Even though you have grown stronger, your opponent is still a nation. Didn’t you realize painfully long ago that there is nothing an individual can do?”“I know the power of the collective better than anyone.”“That is not all. I hear that the Kingdom of Ronia was recently incorporated into the realm of the Transcendent. I do not know who that being is, but in any case, the kingdom’s power has grown even stronger. If you were to stage a rebellion alone like before, you wouldn’t be able to handle even a single city and would end up being trampled even more miserably.”
Valen tried to dissuade Lateon, thinking within the bounds of extreme common sense.
“Do not waste your precious life consumed by a long-held thirst for revenge.”“Hahaha, you are judging me by the past, Lord Valen. Do I look that naive? Do you see me as a fool who has come to throw away his life for a revenge that is truly unattainable?”
Lateon’s gaze was filled with unwavering determination. I had never forgotten the sound of his confident laughter.
“And I bet I told you. It’s revenge and ‘business.’”“If you mean business…”“A judgment order has been issued to the corrupt Kingdom of Ronia, which disregards dignity. The power of summary execution against the King of Ronia is also in my hands.”
Valen opened his eyes wide.
“To… to dispose of the King…? There is no way such an absurd authority exists….”
The silence subsided.
As I mentioned earlier, Valen still had a sharp eye.
“What immense power are you backing?”“Eon.”
The bottle tilted and filled Valen’s glass.
I serve His Majesty Verden as a ruler.
Rateon operated in the Central Continent for a long time without revealing his real name. This was to prevent any possible tracking by the Kingdom of Ronia.
Ruler of the Central Continent’s Four Powers.The Aspect of Eon.
Valen’s mouth dropped open as he finally realized Rateon’s true identity. He gulped down the sloshing liquor in one go and leaned back against the sofa’s backrest, looking completely drained.
“Lord Rateon… uh, you’ve risen tremendously.”“You still have a long way to go.”
The glass was refilled.
“But the long-cherished dream I had practically given up on is finally right before my eyes. I have absolutely no intention of repeating the failures of the past, which were driven by emotion.”
Rateon bowed his head.
“I need your help. The power of you, the Knight Commander of the Marquis Raunik family.”“……As expected.”
Valen showed his anger.
“I am a knight who swore unwavering loyalty to the Marquisate of Raunik. No matter how wretched the Marquisate may be, a knight is a knight. Lord Rateon, do you wish for me to become a knight who has broken my oath! Haven’t I already repaid the debt of gratitude you owed me when your troops saved my life in the past!”“Lord Valen.”“Of course, I was joking.”
Valen laughed heartily as if nothing had happened.
“If I had intended to refuse your request, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”“I know it is an unreasonable request. Still, breaking a knight’s oath is a grave matter.”“It is alright. I did not follow the proper procedures when I was newly knighted by the Marquisate. The Marquisate, finding it bothersome, just gathered all the knights and knighted them indiscriminately, so I barely moved my lips when it was time to declare the oath. No matter how I thought about it, it felt like a waste to devote my loyalty to a trashy Marquisate. It would have been better if I had refused the Marquisate’s offer outright, but I wasn’t as brave as you.”
Rateon shook his head.
“If one who aids a traitor to the state is not brave, then who is?”“How can one be called a soldier without saving a comrade?”
Their glasses clinked together.
“Moreover, to think you would find someone to whom you can pledge your loyalty again. How is it? Did you find the right person this time?”“I have no regrets. And there is nothing to regret.”“As a knight, I am simply envious.”
Laughter spread. The numberof empty liquor bottles continued to increase.
“A Judgment of Dignity upon the Kingdom of Ronia! Hahaha, to be entrusted with a mission of this magnitude. Lord Rateon, it seems you are trusted by His Majesty.”“Well, that is true. Strictly speaking, you could say I am his closest confidant. His Majesty Verden personally sought me out to recruit me.”“The-Transcendent One… you…?! Can you tell me how this happened? Huh? Let me pour you a drink.”“It was one day, reigning over a masterless land just like any other…”
Recalling the conversation he had with Verden when he visited his royal castle, Rateon spoke to his comrade about what true success meant.Of course, he left out the part where he swung his sword energy at Verden and got beaten up.
* * *
Having secured Valen’s assistance, Rateon stepped out into the night-shrouded harbor. The effects of alcohol could not disturb Rateon’s body or mind in the slightest.
I wonder how it will turn out.
라테온은 발렌을 믿어 의심치 않았지만 13년의 간극은 크다. 발렌이 그를 배신할지도 모른다. 정보관의 우려였다. 그래서 이미 그때를 대비한 두 번째, 세 번째, 네 번째 등등의 계획이 준비되어 있다.물론 발렌이 도와준다면 계획은 확실히 순조로워지리라.
만일 발렌이 불온한 조짐을 보일 경우 라우니크 후작가에 소식이 채 닿기도 전에 라테온에게 정보가 전해질 것이다.라테온이 모르는 정보원들이 로니아 왕국 곳곳에 존재했다.
‘정보관 페일…… 리비안트 공국의 그레이에서 굴러먹던 정보상이라고 들었는데, 괜히 폐하께서 데려온 자가 아니군.’
라테온이 밤바다를 보며 상념에 잠겼다. 머릿속에 스쳐 지나가는 기억 속엔 로니아 왕국 시절의 순간도 포함되어 있었다.
“…….”
로니아 왕국은 썩어 빠졌지만, 그래도 나고 자란 고향이기에 라테온은 마음을 다해 한 명의 기사로서 충성을 바쳤다. 나라를 위해서 싸우고자 했다.한때는.성격적으로 유연함은 부족했지만 실력과 재능이 있어 분쟁 지대에서 활약할 수 있었고, 선임 기사가 돼 아홉 명의 기사를 이끌었다.
최선을 다해 임무를 완수했다.악착같이 살아남았다.
부하를 잃을 때도 있었지만, 그 슬픔마저 딛고서 전장을 누볐다. 하부 수인 부족은 라테온이란 기사를 예의 주시했다.
이윽고 전선에 등장한 하부 수인 부족의 족장 중 한 명을 처리하라는 명령이 떨어졌고, 라테온은 휘하 기사들을 지휘해 은밀하게 길을 우회하여 적진 깊숙이 돌입했다.
본진으로 돌아가는 족장을 기습해 숨통을 끊고 상부에서 준비한 퇴각 경로로 몸을 빼내는 작전부의 계획이었다.마침 비바람이 불었던 터라 냄새로 발각될 일은 없었다.
그런데 그곳에는 함정이 있었다.
라테온의 부대가 분투해도 사방에서 들이닥치는 수백 명의 수인을 감당할 수 없었다.
이, 이건 말도 안 됩니다! 이 숫자라니. 저희가 올 걸 미리 알고 있지 않고서야……! 족장이 세, 셋? 안 돼. 도, 도망쳐야 해요! 젠장, 도주로가 없어! 드윈이 당했습니다. 스티…… 스티네!!! 이 짐승 새끼들이!!!!! 으아아아아아! 죽기 싫어…… 개시발, 죽어도 혼자는 못 죽지! 어머니, 아버지. 정신 차리십시오, 대장님. 이제 저희 셋밖에 남지 않았습니다. 아까 당한 상처가 안 좋아서 같이는 못 가겠군요. 당신도 그래요? 저도 마찬가지예요. 이렇게 죽을 줄 몰랐지만 그래도 딱히 후회는 없습니다. 아하하. 라테온 대장님, 대장, 부디 살아남으십시오.
풍덩.
이미 지쳐 버린 라테온은 가벼운 손길에 떠밀려 절벽에서 추락했다. 밑에는 폭우 때문에 일시적으로 생겨난 강이 굽이치고 있었다.그가 마지막으로 기억하는 것은 절단된 부하들의 머리였다.
천운이었을까.
라테온은 로니아 왕국 진영에 속한 분쟁 지대에서 정신을 차렸다.그는 하류의 가장자리에 있었다.축축하고 너덜거리는 욱신을 이끌고 군영으로 복귀했다. 만약 전멸에 대한 죄를 묻는다면 기꺼이 대가를 치를 생각이었다.
그리고.
지휘관들이 모인 작전실에 들어가기 직전 참극의 진상을 이해했다.
───하하핫, 드디어 라테온이 죽었군. 목 안에 박힌 가시가 내려가는 기분이야.
───라테온과 함께 보낸 기사들이 아깝기는 합니다. 예정대로 저희 부대에 편입되었으면 이용 가치가 많았을 텐데.
───그래서 아버지가 자네들에게 섭섭하지 않게 챙겨 주지 않았나. 수인들에게도 두둑이 받기도 했고 말이야.
고위 귀족 가문의 차남인 상관이 주도하여 하부 수인 부족에 상당히 비싼 값으로 라테온을 팔아먹은 것이다. 개인적으로 라테온이 싫기도 했지만 결국엔 귀족 사회의 뜻이었다.
라테온은 평민 출신이니까.
귀족들은 라테온 같은 자들의 신분 상승을 항상 경계했다. 사다리를 확 걷어차야만 자신들의 권력과 이권을 보존할 수 있으니.
───하하핫! 그렇긴 합니다. 그나저나 내기의 결과는 어떨까요. 라테온 부대가 오래 버틴 걸 보아 이쯤에서 죽었을 것 같은데. 이거 아무래도 제가 이긴 걸지도 모르겠습니다.
───쯧! 아깝군, 아까워……! 쓸데없이 명줄이 끈질겨서는. 안 그렇소?
죽은 부하들은 라테온과 함께 있었다는 이유로 별 의미 없이 죽임을 당했다. 그뿐만 아니라 작전부에서는 라테온 일행이 대충 어디쯤에서 몰살당할지 추측하며 거금을 내걸고 내기했다.
───음?! 지휘관이 계시는데 누가 문을 이리 세게……! 어? 라테온?
───죽여 주마.
라테온은 상관의 검을 단숨에 빼앗아 작전실에서 날뛰었다. 문이 닫혔다. 몇 분이 채 지나지 않아 피와 시체 조각이 난무했다.작전부의 참사를 뒤늦게 눈치챈 병사들이 움직였으나 라테온 한 명을 막지 못했다.
라테온은 귀족 지휘관의 머리를 챙겨서 군마를 타고 놈의 가문으로 직행했다. 단신으로 기사단을 참살한 그가 가주와 후계인 장남의 목까지 베어서 죽은 부하들에게 바쳤다.로니아 왕국의 지체 높은 백작 가문 하나가 그렇게 사라졌다.
상관 살해자.귀족 참살자.국가 반역자.
왕국 최악의 범죄자가 된 라테온은 추적자들을 패퇴시켰다. 왕실의 수배령이 떨어졌음에도 그의 분노는 식지 않았다.
───우리가 바친 충정은 어디로 갔는가!!
하지만 중과부적이다.
피로와 부상이 쌓이며 라테온은 궁지에 몰렸고, 곧 잡힐 지경에 이르렀다. 그때 손을 내민 것이 바로 발렌이었다.발렌과 라테온은 서로 다른 부대였지만 그들은 몇 번이나 같은 전장에서 싸우며 빌어먹을 사선을 넘어왔다.
───다시는 왕국으로 돌아오지 말게! 라테온 경, 전부! 전부 잊어버려! 비극에 매달리지 말고 전부 악몽으로 흘려보내! 무슨 말인지 알겠나!
발렌은 전 재산을 바쳐서 구입한 최상급 포션과 함께 중상을 입어 몸을 가누지 못하는 라테온을 화물 상자에 넣었다.
폭풍우가 몰아치는 밤이었다.
───잘 지내게, 전우여.
And so, Lateon survived by being put on a trading ship bound for the Central Continent. Had it not been for Valen, Lateon would have already been executed.
Afterwards, Rateon worked as a mercenary and built his own power, went to the ownerless lands, eliminated the western lords, and gained power and land.
I did try to forget my desire for revenge, just as Valen had advised. No matter how many soldiers I had, attacking the Kingdom of Ronia was impossible.The international community wouldn’t just sit by and watch Rateon.
Instead, Lateon sought to create a country far better than the Kingdom of Ronia. As a knight whose loyalty had been betrayed, he desired a nation worthy of his allegiance.
And so, Lateon Offniel became the ‘Reigner’.
However… as if God had forsaken him, a golden opportunity presented itself. Rateon finally returned to his homeland with legitimacy and power.
I barely made it this far.
Crunch.
The railing buckled under his grip.Ecstasy surged through him.Rateon was the judge of those who had turned the Kingdom of Ronia into this state. The obese King of Ronia would be deposed by his own hand.
“……hmm?”
Rateon turned his head at the sound of hooves waking up the night streets. A woman was galloping in a carriage, tying eight well-trained-looking horses to it.
I was too lazy to walk, but this is quite fast. I’ll get to the capital in no time.
A woman passed right beside Rateon while talking to someone inside a carriage. Rateon’s hair was blown by the strong wind.
“What the hell, that crazy bitch.”
Rateon stood still for a moment, gazing at the path the woman’s carriage had taken.The beauty of the woman serving purely as a coachman was so vivid and extraordinary that it was hard to say he had been mistaken.
“A noblewoman’s daughter… what a waste of her face.”
Lateon clicked his tongue and withdrew his interest.
Assassination of Grimnax officers whose reason for staying in the Kingdom of Ronia is unknown.The Judgment of the Commandments against the Kingdom of Ronia.
It is time to focus on the mission.
Not only Rateon, but also Eon’s executives and other magic towers are on the move in the Kingdom of Ronia. The time has come to invade the kingdom’s capital in earnest.
