Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

Chapter 145




Disasters come so suddenly.

And also, disasters can arise from an unexpectedly simple word.

This is how it was now.

“Ahhh!”

“Punish the traitor!”

The moment the Knight Commander spat out those words, the knights who were standing as guardians of this scene instantly transformed into executioners, stabbing and killing the divine race indiscriminately.

The stronger divine beings were managing to fend off the knights’ attacks with their endurance and escape, but the weaker ones were being stabbed to death on the spot.

The people present weren’t just standing still either.

“These damn bastards, they were harboring evil intentions!”

Just hearing a single word from the Knight Commander triggered an explosive rage, leading them to catch a fleeing divine being and beat them to death en masse.

Whoa.

What was happening?

I tried to focus my eyes in an effort to regain my suddenly numbed sense of reality, but this atmosphere that was utterly unthinkable left me in a daze once again.

Suddenly?

Why?

As I watched this collective madness unfold, countless questions poured into my mind, the most jarring being the thought, “Are they acting on just a single word without any evidence?”

What had the Knight Commander just done?

She had merely grabbed a ten-year-old child and said the Empress had assassinated the Emperor.

We hadn’t even seen the Emperor’s dead body, had we?

But these people, as if they were following a preordained plan, were ruthlessly slaughtering the divine beings without a trace of hesitation.

“Damn it.”

Something was off.

I couldn’t help but think that.

I had to check the situation.

Was I really going to let such an oddity continue?

But Apta grabbed my arm, her expression anxious.

“Don’t go, Leydan.”

“Why not? People are dying like that, and you want me to just watch?!”

“You’ll be in danger.”

The moment I heard Apta’s words, it felt like a nail was suddenly driven into my chest.

Would Apta really want to stand by and watch the divine beings die?

She would be just as shocked by this absurd situation, yet still worried for my safety and reluctant to let me go.

But could a true knight just stand still at times like this?

A knight must never carry even an ounce of regret or shame for their actions.

“I’m sorry, Apta.”

“…!”

I quickly pulled my hand free from Apta’s grasp and dashed away.

It seemed Apta was hurriedly chasing after me, but with the blessing of Oko, there seemed to be a limit to how fast she could catch up.

It hurt my heart, but there was nothing I could do.

“Leydan!”

Ignoring Apta’s voice calling after me, I rushed onto the battlefield.

The once peaceful square of Lintpia was now pouring with blood.

It truly resembled a hellish scene from a country in the East.

Unable to just stand by, the divine beings began to counter-attack.

In their retaliation, the knights who had come to kill the divine beings were meeting the same fate as those they were trying to slay.

In the end, the war had begun.

But even now, if we could uncover the truth, it would just be a minor skirmish that could end.

We twisted and turned to dodge attacks as we maneuvered through the battlefield, ultimately arriving at the palace.

And the front of the palace was even more horrifying.

In a bid to kill the Knight Commander who had conspired against them, groups of divine beings surrounded the palace.

Magicians were also present, conjuring spells to turn things into a state that words could hardly describe.

“Ugh.”

It was a sight that made my stomach churn, but there was no time for this.

Fortunately, all the magicians and knights were fixated on those divine beings.

They probably wouldn’t have time to notice me.

Cautiously, I stepped forward, successfully sneaking into the palace while avoiding them and hurrying to where the Knight Commander was.

“You can’t pass without the Knight Commander’s orders!”

Other knights positioned themselves defensively, blocking my path as they spotted me.

With no weapon on me, I was in an exceptionally unfavorable situation.

But there was no reason for me to be afraid of that.

Thud, thud!

“Ugh!”

“Ugh!”

I easily dodged the incoming spears and swords with movements I had trained in and fiercely struck their solar plexus and nape to subdue them.

Seeing the pained expressions on their faces, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me.

After all, they were my close knight friends who had returned from the operation today.

Something was definitely amiss.

My danger detection sensor was blaring loudly.

After climbing the stairs without a break, I finally reached the Emperor’s chambers.

But as I was about to enter, fear overwhelmed me.

I had no idea what sort of situation awaited me inside.

Thud.

I slapped my cheek hard to make no sound.

What am I thinking at a time like this?

No matter the situation, I had to restore what was wrong to its original state.

For the sake of my precious people, I had to ensure they could live without worry.

Creeeak.

As I pulled the door, it creaked loudly open.

And inside…

There lay the Emperor, bleeding and collapsed.

The Empress was there, crying as she looked upon him.

And I could see the Knight Commander about to stab the child she was holding with a sword.

No thoughts crossed my mind.

Before I knew it, I had kicked the Knight Commander, sending her plummeting from about the fourth floor to the ground.

“Ugh!”

Oh no.

I really messed up there.

This isn’t what I intended at all.

This is why keeping focused in the moment is crucial.

One can easily lose their sanity over trivial matters.

Hah.

Should I just run away to another world with Oko?

Putting aside the increasingly bleak future for now, I gently placed the rescued child on the ground.

She had golden hair and beautiful red eyes.

It was a child expected to grow into a stunning beauty.

The cute spider marking on her chest indicated she was the Emperor and Empress’s child.

Hmm.

“Princess, are you alright?”

“Yes, yes.”

The princess was still in shock, her face flushed.

It seemed that the Knight Commander had truly startled her.

I tried to check on her condition, but she suddenly stumbled back in surprise, twisting her body away.

Hmm.

Right.

It might indeed be best for her to collect herself on her own for now.

“…Ah, Father…”

But the princess could only gaze at her father, speaking worriedly.

Despite nearly dying, this princess was more concerned about her father.

I had heard that for royals, loving a child is often much more challenging than it seems.

I rushed over to the bleeding Emperor.

At some point, the Empress had also moved close to him.

“Your Majesty!”

“…Sir Tanton? Haha, I’m sorry for showing such a dreadful sight. But I suppose this is all just the result of my actions.”

The Emperor was coughing, uttering words that made no sense.

It was probably a reflex to spit out blood coming up his esophagus.

And that comment seemed directed more at the person beside me than at me.

“I didn’t wish for you to die like this.”

At that moment, the Empress began to speak.

“I just…! I only wanted to hear a simple word of apology from you. But why… how did things get so out of hand…?”

“Calm down, Empress. This isn’t your fault.”

The Emperor, with trembling hands, caressed the Empress’s tear-stained face.

“It was my mistake. What kind of threat made me waver against that woman….”

“Waver…?”

“It’s all my fault, if only I had thought it through a little more—cough! Ugh.”

“You!”

“Your Majesty!”

The Emperor coughed a few times, breathing heavily.

Too much blood loss indicated that he was nearing death.

“To die like this so futilely… there were so many things I wanted to say…!”

“Your Majesty!”

One thing was certain.

The Emperor’s death was not a result of his own actions, no way.

I could instinctively sense that there was some hidden truth.

The Emperor seemed unable to muster the strength to move, gripping my arm with his trembling hand.

“Cough! Sir Tanton. I have a request to make of you.”

“…What is it?”

“This last request… I know it may burden you, but… for the sake of my people, my empire, and my beloved divine beings, I cannot help but voice it.”

The Emperor’s expression turned serious.

It was the kind of awe-inspiring expression one would expect when addressing the people during a speech.

“Even if this empire reaches its end, ensure that everyone can smile in the end. This is my final request to you, who has the Watcher’s favor.”

As soon as the Emperor finished his last appeal, his body began to lose strength, his complexion growing pale.

Tears poured from the Empress’s eyes, soaking the Emperor’s robe as if she was entirely receiving his heart.

“No, no!”

“Empress, I know I may not seem trustworthy till the end, but please believe me on this.”

With his last of strength, the Emperor pulled the Empress close for a kiss.

When he spoke his final words, the Emperor’s expression still seemed to bear the guilt of his conscience.

“I never once thought of you as anything other than my own just because you were of the divine race.”

As if recalling something, the Emperor’s previously pained expression began to morph into a faint smile.

He looked immensely happy.

“I just wished to meet you, to love you, and spend my life with you…”

With those final words, the Emperor breathed his last.

The Emperor’s chamber was filled with nothing but the heartbreaking sounds of weeping.

 

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