Chapter 43
The killers were, as expected, wizards from the Eastern Kingdom.
They were recognizable by their intricate tattoos, and medallions engraved with charms, which allowed them to use magic.
The leadership announced that they would officially protest against the Eastern Kingdom, and praised the destruction of the notorious group of assassins.
They also politely offered to bury the knights, but Victor refused everything and only informed Morte.
He knew that the war would be long, and he would not be able to bring back the bodies.
There was no point in having a luxurious funeral.
This was just the battlefield where they died.
Victor gathered the knights and made his plan.
He ignored command orders to stand still.
They loaded their boats and prepared to leave.
The Grand Duke's operation was clear.
“We will invade the Southern Kingdom.”
Victor pointed to some places on the map.
“Unlike the Navy, the enemy’s infantry is very weak. We have already sunk quite a few of their ships, so their Navy will not be able to move freely. If you attract the Navy’s attention with a large ship, turn around and you will be able to land easily.”
"Aren't you going to call for reinforcements?"
“No, there is no need.”
The knights exchanged glances.
Victor continued without hesitation.
“They think we won't attack for a while now that we've been hit so hard we need to quickly seize a port during this time.”
“The difference in power is huge, is that okay?”
"You guys take one step back. I don't want any injuries."
“…Your Highness, we don’t want you to get hurt too.”
He raised his head.
A look of worry was evident on the worn faces of his knights.
This was a concern for their colleague, whom they had been watching since his childhood.
Victor smiled bitterly.
"Thank you for your interest."
"my lord."
"But do as I'm told because that won't happen."
He got up from his seat.
He tightened his cloak around him and picked up his sword.
His yellow eyes sparkle like the eyes of the sunset.
It's time for revenge.
***
The process went surprisingly smoothly.
On a moonless night, the Morte Knights secretly attacked a port where the navy was absent.
Victor swung his sword carelessly.
Every time he moved his sword, people and things were easily cut and broken.
His sword stopped wavering, and he could no longer be called a human.
Instead, it was more like some kind of natural disaster.
After swinging his sword until it became dull, there was nothing left.
The knights who followed could not hide their astonishment.
They knew that Victor was strong, but they had never seen him walk without restrictions.
Inevitable fear was revealed in their eyes.
But Victor didn't care.
He just regretted it.
He should have done this before.
If he had done this earlier, the war would have ended quickly and his brother might not have died.
"What should we do to clean up?"
Carls asked.
Victor replied, washing the blood from his hands with water.
"What should I do?"
“…If I were you, I would report to headquarters and say that we have captured a southern port and then we can attack the mainland with this as a base and start negotiations with the Southern Kingdom.”
"Then do it."
Victor answered succinctly.
The red-haired knight bowed his head silently.
The Grand Duke sheathed his sword and continued
"But we won't wait for them. We leave tomorrow morning, leaving the wounded behind."
"Where are we going?"
"To the nearest city."
He didn't think about it anymore.
He just wanted to make his enemies suffer the same way.
He added, "If the damage increases, it will be beneficial for the end of the war negotiations. Perhaps we will devour the entire country."
Victor expected an objection, but after a moment of silence, Karls spoke calmly.
“It is possible. Or at least the leadership will change to someone friendly to the Empire.”
"Aren't you against that? Aggression against chivalry."
Karls smiled bitterly.
“Unlike Leonard, I am not a proper knight for you sir, so I follow your will.”
"..."
"And."
Carls bit his lip for a moment.
“I would never tell a friend who lost his family to be patient.”
Karls bowed his head and disappeared.
Victor watched the knight's back droop as he walked away without a word.
Suddenly he remembered what Mortheon had said.
“Because you are strong, you have to protect your family, friends and colleagues.”
His brother was right.
He failed once, but he still had one chance.
Victor sat down
Sword in hand
He guards the tent where the knights slept all night.
***
The Land of Indigo, also known as the Southern Kingdom.
It was ruled by a senate made up of nobles and a lord elected by them.
It was ruled by a Senate composed of nobles and a lord elected by them.
To this extent, politics changed a lot depending on who was elected Lord.
According to what the leadership discovered, the reason why the Southern Kingdom, which was preparing for a ceasefire, suddenly attacked, was because the newly elected lord hated the empire.
In the Southern Kingdom, where printing was exceptionally developed, propaganda...
When traveling around the Southern Kingdom, Victor could completely feel the atmosphere.
In the Southern Kingdom, where printing was exceptionally developed, propaganda letters defaming the empire were published everywhere.
Victor didn't bother tearing up the papers.
Because everything will burn to ashes anyway.
In the mainland of the Southern Kingdom, the Morty Knights had never lost.
Whether it was a village, a castle, or an army, Victor broke through the defenses very easily and destroyed everything in an instant.
He gave civilians time to evacuate early, but was merciless against the soldiers.
Victor cut down his enemies, even if they begged for their lives.
His notoriety only grew.
“Death is coming to get you, the Grand Duke of Death is flying over the walls in the middle of the night.”
I wrote such a song and it spread throughout the Southern Kingdom.
The tide of war turned sharply.
In an instant, a third of the mainland was ablaze, and the Southern Kingdom rushed into a ceasefire.
The Master seemed against it, but the Senate wanted to stop the war. They were even ready to hang the master.
When the leadership entered negotiations, the Morte Knights' advance was halted.
Since landing on the mainland, the knights had suffered less than ten casualties.
It was an incredibly small group that won many battles.
It was all thanks to Victor's inhuman duel.
His sword became sharper the more he used it, and now it was able to cut through rocks.
However, he did not feel satisfied.
Victor sat in camp to eat.
The bread topped with pickled olives and smoked ham, taken from the Southern Kingdom army, did not suit his taste, so he ate a few bites and left.
A knight with a stern face approached, washing his face with water.
It was Leonard.
“I got a message from the command that will conclude the end of the war negotiations soon.”
“Is my order included?”
Leonard nodded silently.
There was only one thing Victor asked for.
Execution of the current lord, who sent the assassination squad.
The Grand Duke thought that Leonard would protest this time.
Ever since this brutal invasion began, he had been suffering in silence.
But Leonard said something unexpected.
"Are you feeling a little better now?"
At first glance, it seemed like a sarcastic remark.
But Victor knew he wasn't being sarcastic, let alone joking.
Leonard spoke slowly.
"I know how painful it must be so no matter what you do, we will follow it but for now you have to go back."
Victor looked calmly at the blue sea.
The Southern Kingdom was a beautiful place.
The sea was not clear but transparent blue, and the people were all beautiful.
The villages had dark blue roofs over pure white houses, making it look like a land out of a fairy tale.
He was the one who burned such beautiful earth for months.
At the same time, the anger burning in his heart slowly subsided.
There was only bitter pain left.
“Stop your revenge here, you should rest.”
“I'm not tired.”
“I know you can't sleep at night.”
It was an undeniable fact.
The Grand Duke could hardly sleep at night.
Especially after knowing that the magic the killers used was magic that could only be used on sleeping people.
The Eastern Kingdom revealed its secrets to deny its connection to the Assassins, but it was of no consolation to Victor.
He regretted falling asleep that day and was restless every night.
Even if he was told that no one could use magic anymore, he wouldn't be able to sleep at all.
"When you get home, you might be able to sleep besides. Isn't Morthe the land that Mortheon was cultivating? You shouldn't leave it behind."
Leonard was right, as always.
Upon hearing the indifferent truth, he suddenly missed his hometown very much.
The cold, mountainous land where he lived with Morthion.
Victor spoke, still looking at the sea.
“You are annoying even though I have become the Grand Duke.”
“I'm telling you because you became my lord, the master is in charge of their lands, and the knights protect the weak...”
"Okay, shut up."
Victor laughed for the first time in a long time.
Mortheon's warm brown eyes flashed in his mind.
His older brother had always wanted to create a beautiful place where they could laugh and live freely.
Regret flows with memories.
“Yes, what's the point of doing more?”
His older brother died, but the things he loved were still in the North.
Victor cleared his mind as he smelled the salty sea air.
Since I've had enough revenge,
Let us stop here, return to our hometown where my brother's traces will remain, and take care of the earth by... imitating my brother.
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
My Instagram account [@I.n.w.4].