Chapter 14

“You get straight to the point.”

I stroked my chin.

“But if you won't accept a refusal, it's hard to call it a proposal, isn't it?”

“Is that so? Then let's call it a command.”

The Second Prince, Secundus Debius, spoke once more.

He was a truly massive man.

Perhaps three times the size of the current Zionis.

Just facing him like this was intimidating.

“Be on my side, Zionis. This is a command from your older brother!”

“Haha. Even if you say so, it's difficult for me.”

“I believe I said I won't accept refusal.”

“Then what will you do?”

Secundus scoffed.

He crossed his arms and sank deeper into the sofa.

Like a rock that had been there for hundreds of years, he looked as if he could never be moved from this spot.

“I will not leave this place until you agree. So agree at once!”

“…Don't be ridiculous.”`

It had been a little over two weeks since the Succession War began.

It was still a busy time.

There were many undiscovered Treasures and attacks from other factions were fierce.

Secundus was the master of a faction; he couldn't afford to devote his time solely to me.

Yet he did not budge from his seat.

“Hmph. That is the extent of my resolve!”

“…You are being unreasonable.”

My expression soured.

Was he always this kind of man?

The Secundus Debius from before my regression had a colder, more somber side to him.

The 19 years of time were strange.

To think that the Secundus who was called the absolute ruler of the battlefield was still just a young man.

“Zionis, I am different from brother Ferbias or sister Leniar. I detest complicated mind games.”

You look the part.

I almost blurted that out.

But I couldn't even stop myself from nodding, which made a thick vein pop on Secundus’s forehead.

It would be rude to call him simple-minded and brutish, but it was hard to find a more fitting description for the man.

Then again, if I had the strength to tear a lion’s jaws apart at the age of nine, I might have lived a little more simply myself.

“But I am no fool.”

I could not deny that.

The name of the Great Empire of Cordis was by no means light.

To covet the Imperial Throne with mere brute strength was absurd.

No matter how simple he seemed, it couldn't really be true.

“How long do you intend to drag out a story that could be over quickly? I'm willing to play along, but is it necessary?”

“……”

“You, Zionis, you've been waiting for me from the beginning, haven't you?”

On the table, the pumpkin pie was getting cold.

It was because Secundus had refused the sugary treat.

It was a shame that the golden crust was losing its crispness.

I took a bite of the pie and said.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you have no other choice.”

Until now, I had been able to remain free from the intensity of the Succession War by keeping a low profile.

But that was no longer possible.

Whether he had truly obtained it by chance or not, the news that he had acquired a Treasure had spread throughout the Imperial Palace.

“Brother Ferbias has nothing to lose. He will try to control you like a puppet. With that fancy Ars of his.”

Ferbias’s Ars, the Prince’s Eye.

It seemed Secundus also knew about that power that ensnared a person’s spirit.

“Sister Leniar is a paranoid patient with a severe case of suspicion. Even if she accepts you, do you think you'll be treated as anything more than a disposable piece?”

His assessment of Leniar de Volmark was also accurate.

The silver-haired princess was famous for not trusting anyone except the confidants she had been with since childhood.

“In that case, you have no choice but to wait for the one remaining option.”

The muscular giant bared his teeth and smiled.

“This Secundus Debius, whose faction is the weakest and thus in dire need of you, and who has no choice but to protect you from the other siblings' checks!”

“…Hahaha. I can't hide it any longer.”

I chuckled.

“Yes, brother. I was waiting.”

My blue eyes and golden hair shone under the sunlight.

Still a girlish appearance.

But mixed in between was something that sent a shiver down one's spine.

“For you, who is weaker in power and slightly more foolish than the other two, and thus unable to cast me aside.”

“…Hmm. Foolish? That hurts a little.”

Suddenly insulted, the muscular giant was flustered and scratched his short hair.

“Of course, that’s just in comparison to the other two. Those two live their lives so tiresomely. Isn't a headstrong nature the virtue of a man?”

“You, with that kind of obvious flattery, do you think I… no, never mind.”

Was he always like this?

Secundus grumbled, and I chuckled again.

There were more important things to discuss right now.

Shion Pollinglight, the returned hero, smiled.

“I'll be honest with you, brother. I need your faction's power.”

“And I am in need of your one Treasure, my brother.”

I waved my hand.

From it emerged a black blade.

A part of Valziart, which I was disguising under the name of the Black Sword Zamuk.

I pretended to offer it before drawing it back into my body.

“I have no intention of giving up my Treasure.”

“It is enough that it does not go to the other two.”

The muscular giant, Secundus, still did not budge from his seat.

I finished off another pumpkin pie.

An eleven-year-old kid and a giant who looked to be three times his size.

They looked so different it was incongruous, but only the smiles on their lips were similar.

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course not.”

“We are of the same mind.”

Because they did not trust each other, the relationship was strengthened.

There were times when a relationship that followed mutual benefit was more advantageous than one based on flimsy faith.

Both I and Secundus knew that.

“Zionis, be on my side and add your strength. I don't know what you're hiding, but I need you.”

“Very well. I will lend you my strength. For how long, I do not know.”

I bowed my head.

It was just a formality.

But even formalities had meaning.

It signified that I would now join Secundus’s faction.

“In return, brother, you must become my shield. I want to live, you see.”

“Good. Use me to your heart's content. If you can, that is!”

Secundus and Zionis.

The Second Prince and the Fifth Prince.

Half-brothers with the same father.

They faced each other and chuckled.

Did their smiles hold the same meaning?

No one knew yet.

But for the first time, they felt the same blood flowing through their bodies.

“I look forward to working with you, brother Secundus.”

“Indeed, Zionis, my brother.”

“Hmm. Now that our talk is over, I shall be on my way.”

“You're in a hurry.”

“I'm busy.”

Secundus stood up immediately.

“If you knew you were so busy, why did you say you'd wait until I agreed?”

“That would have been difficult, indeed. Still, I was planning to visit every day.”

“…I'm glad I agreed quickly.”

The thought of facing this muscular giant every morning made my stomach churn for some reason.

If it was like this for me, Pies Roesti’s stomach must have been in an uproar.

Secundus opened his mouth as if he had remembered something.

“Oh, right. Now that we're on the same side, I have something to ask.”

“What is it?”

The giant spoke with a serious face.

“Do you have a dream?”

“Pardon? Such a pie-in-the-sky question all of a sudden. Are you imitating His Majesty the Emperor Father?”

“What? Ah, hahaha!”

Remembering the Great Emperor who had asked what an emperor was, Secundus burst into a roar of laughter.

He shed a tear, finding it so amusing.

“Ahaha……. It's been a while since I've laughed like this. But I asked seriously. Do you have a dream, Zionis?”

“I do not, and even if I did, I would not tell you.”

The first secret of my soul.

‘He dreams a futile dream’.

He was always chasing an ideal that would never be realized.

That longing was strong enough to create the ‘Fantasy Finger’.

But it was not something to be told to Secundus.

“At least pretend to make one up. That's an order from your brother.”

“…No, well, it's not much of a dream. I do have a thought that it would be nice to live quietly reading books later on.”

“Hmm, you sound just like Kateka.”

Kateka Keshulei, the Third Prince.

The reclusive prince enchanted by mystery.

Was he a member of Secundus's faction?

“Then I'll say the same thing I said to him.”

Oh.

I let out a small gasp.

Judging by the nuance of his words, it seemed Secundus had already brought Kateka Keshulei to his side.

I hadn't heard of that before my regression.

“Zionis, your dream will not come true!”

Secundus declared.

His thick neck tensed with force.

“Whatever your inner thoughts may be, now that you have joined my faction, you have a duty. Devote your talents and opportunities to the Empire!”

“…You sound as if you have already taken the Imperial Throne.”

“Is there a law that says I won't?”

What an optimistic man.

Secundus's faction was clearly weaker than the other two.

Bringing in Kateka and Zionis was not enough to close the gap in one fell swoop.

Yet how were his eyes so unwavering?

“I have found one Treasure and now I have you who has obtained a Treasure, so I have already obtained two Treasures. Behold, I am leading the pack!”

“…What ridiculous.”

I said so, then let out a chuckle, phht.

What a simple man.

But it wasn't bad.

I liked him much more than Ferbias.

“Very well. It's ridiculous, but I will help you as much as I can.”

“Hmm. Then take this.”

“What is it?”

“It's an artifact that prevents you from being affected by poison and the like. It would be troublesome if you fell to some petty trick. There are convenient items, aren't there?”

Secundus pulled out a small bead from his pocket.

I took it, swallowing a gasp.

It was a very precious item.

It would be several times more expensive than gold of the same size.

“This was a productive conversation. I'll be in touch soon.”

The giant patted my shoulder.

“Wait for me, Zionis.”

As soon as Secundus finished speaking, he dashed out the door.

It was clear that if he delayed any longer, the glares from his staff would become severe.

His agility was unbecoming of his size.

He seemed to take three or four steps and then quickly disappeared from view.

“I've received a precious gift. I should store it.”

A black shadow rose above his hand and swallowed the bead Secundus had given him.

It wasn't broken or anything.

It was placed in the shadow space within Valziart’s body.

It wasn't a large space, but it was convenient.

“More importantly, Zionis, Zionis……”

I repeated my name, which had been called several times.

I let out a small laugh and scratched my head.

‘Unfortunately, brother, I am Shion. Shion Pollinglight of Merion.’

I looked at the spot where Secundus had disappeared.

‘I am looking in a different direction than you.’

Even after crossing 19 years of time, it remained so.

The name Zionis was just a thing of the past.

I couldn't go back to that time, nor did I want to.

My body had become eleven years old, but my heart could not.

“The Succession War is about to get serious. It's progressing faster than before.”

It was because of me.

Because I had broken the balance that was formed when Ferbias, Leniar, and Secundus each took one Treasure.

The masters of the three factions would all start to hurry.

This too was as expected.

“I have no choice but to say, 'Just as planned'.”

It was a cliché expression, but it was true.

I had obtained Mana Armor Valziart and shaken the balance by becoming a member of Secundus’s faction.

Nevertheless, not a single piece of information beyond what I intended was revealed.

Despite the fortuneteller Amethus clinging to me.

My secrets remained secrets.

‘It was bewildering to suddenly return to the first day of the Succession War, but it's going smoothly……. So I must be even more cautious.’

Those eyes, a clear blue, sank deep.

Did they resemble the sea, or the sky?

Or did they resemble nothing at all?

Only their profound depth was certain.

Sleeping in the deepest part were the seven secrets.

‘I can't let it end as a futile dream again.’

What I rehashed was the time that had passed.

My previous lives.

The opportunities I was given and the bitter defeats.

The lives I lost and the humiliation I savored.

The dream I could not reach!

‘My second life. I will reach the Imperial Throne and put an end to this tiresome fate.’

Yes, this time for sure.

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