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People love stories of a prince fleeing and gathering comrades, overcoming arduous adventures, taking revenge for his father, and reclaiming the throne.
Thus, the royal family members who fled from Jeilliris generally received basic sympathy and goodwill from the commoners and lords of all sizes who they encountered.
There was a hidden agenda, of course.
The Great Lords all thought alike.
‘If I hold onto these royals and the Imperial Court’s power weakens, I might be able to seize the regency.’
However, they were indeed protecting them.
It was true that the commoners were benevolent toward the fleeing royals.
“Since this individual is so low in the line of succession, it’s understandable to be wary of siblings…”
“No matter what, it’s unnecessary to kill them all, isn’t it?”
“Was even imprisoning them in the monastery not enough?”
“After all that, you still spared your twin brother, didn’t you? And after all the wicked acts…”
“Tsk tsk. How did such a noble person end up here? I can’t help much, but please take this.”
“Please stay alive, Your Highness.”
Of course, Jeilliris’s great purge had a proper justification.
The royal bloodline is at the pinnacle of lineage purity, but since the blood of various heterogeneous races is mixed, it’s also easy for corruption to occur.
If such blood spreads, several powerful infiltrators would be born.
At worst, an emperor or a member of the royal family who is either sympathetic to the old faiths or is themselves an infiltrator could emerge.
Therefore, they all must be exterminated.
However, according to the analysis of the imperial officials and nobility, ignorant peasants couldn’t possibly understand such a complicated rationale.
Additionally, if it became widely known that the royal family, while powerful, is also easily corruptible, it could tarnish their sanctity and dignity, potentially weakening the loyalty of the citizens.
Then, the great nobles from all over would likely rise with their armies, shouting, “We cannot follow such a ruler!”
Furthermore, mere knowledge of corruption could cause unease among the populace, creating a desire for something to lean on, which would in turn call forth something ancient.
Thus.
Jeilliris simply did not explain.
“Kill them all. Nay, I will see to their deaths.”
The will of the divine must be followed, even if not understood.
She was the Holy Emperor, a demigod acknowledged by anyone who met her, regardless of their standing. She was also one of the most formidable warriors in the history of the Solletarass lineage.
But even the mighty Jeilliris couldn’t control the hearts of the people.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
“You don’t have to address me that way anymore. I’m just a wandering adventurer now. And a coward who can do nothing while the monster who killed my father sits on the throne. Just call me Justianus.”
“Oh, how pitiable.”
On the night of the great royal escape, Justianus fled the capital.
Contrary to Valenciaunos’ expectations, he was warmly received in many provinces.
“This theory was created during the Empire’s founding expansion era. It says that if a monarch fails in its duty to protect the people, then the Empire must conquer the land and protect the people in their stead. Though it’s an aggressive ideology, it did bring some positive effects during the time when all kinds of evil forces and heretical groups were causing chaos.”
The young duke was well-learned.
“Do you miss your days as a prince? Haha. If I didn’t miss that time, it would be a lie. However, what I yearn for aren’t the privileges of princehood, but the kindness of my brothers and sisters. Seeing you here, Selenne, by my side brings a little smile to my face.”
He was romantic.
“Is your mother fading? I’m sorry I can’t do anything about that. Ah, but I know a mage who might help. If you describe her symptoms, please ask him to investigate remedies.”
He was kind.
Justianus was a man who left a good impression on many young ladies.
He was tall with a slim figure, a gentle smile, and sparkling golden eyes.
His long hair, grown during his escape, was neatly tied back, his skin remained pale and clean, and he always wore a tidy shirt and waistcoat.
“If you’re alright with it, please stay with us for a few days.”
“Our father has invited you-.”
“We as well-.”
Though he might’ve garnered resentment from the aristocrats who were distracted by him, he was still respected.
“Hah!”
Clang!
“You, you lose.”
“Why do you think you lost?”
“Well, because I dropped my sword, of course.”
“Wrong. You lost because you thought you were going to lose. If it were me, I would’ve thrown my sword at you and charged straight in. Once your spirit is broken, even all the training in the world won’t help you.”
“Ah…”
“I’m in deep admiration, Prince Justianus.”
“You don’t need to call me that. Baelon, just ‘Yuus’ is fine. We’re friends.”
He was dignified, an adept swordsman, and he would never humiliate or complain about the defeated.
And so, he deeply ingrained himself into the local social circles.
“Selenne, what is the matter this evening?”
“Our mother spat blood. I… I don’t know what to do.”
To the point where local nobles confided in him about their troubles.
“In the last battle, my father injured his knee. It seems to be quite deep, and I’m worried about the movements of the neighboring baron.”
“Baelon, actually, I know a mage. She’s the one who helped me escape the Imperial Palace. Would you like to meet her?”
And at the moment when they took his hand.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I beg you, Your Highness.”
“No, this is my repayment for your kindness.”
Then it began.
Because it knows no satisfaction, when a king becomes ensnared, the country is shaken.
“I need power.”
“I would do anything to save my wife. Please, just save her!”
Desperate urgency blinded an intelligent noble, one who had governed his province wisely for many years.
‘It can’t be. It can’t be true. Yes, this divine emissary sent by the God of Radiance has come to save us.’
People consumed by hope only see and hear what they want.
“Your Excellency! The wizard is causing chaos in the southwestern frontier village!”
But loyal advisors’ warnings fell on deaf ears.
“Dear, since taking the medicine today, I feel so much better. I even started embroidery again. Thank you.”
Her smile transformed the advisor’s blunt warning into a demon’s whisper.
“Do you dare insult my benefactor? Do not come to this fortress until I summon you!”
“Your Excellency!”
And as the blind lord exiled his loyal followers, the Erosion Sect swiftly expanded its influence.
“Justianus, is this the village today?”
“Yes. There’s no one worth saving here, so feel free to make sacrifices of them all or transform them. Of course, you may enjoy your meal as well.”
“Thank you.”
It started with remote frontier villages and small towns.
Hooded priests and knights clad in chitinous armor marched into the village.
“Run!”
“Aaaah!”
“Bandits are coming!”
They set fire to the houses, dragged people out, and looted mercilessly.
And then they tortured the villagers horribly, feeding off their screams and the hatred they provoked.
“Please, kill me. Please.”
They swallowed those who could no longer bear it, chewing thoroughly on their flesh and souls.
“We will kill them all! We shall avenge ourselves!”
The more they desperately sought power, the more easily they were eroded.
Revenge, wealth, love, strength, peace—everything called for wishing, and that wish itself summoned the old.
Kaaah-!
They gathered those who wished and unleashed a mental wave.
“Ah, truly!”
“Gahgahgah!”
The lucky ones were reborn as devotees right there. The unlucky ones transformed into mindless monsters.
Either way, it didn’t matter to them.
Cracking, Cracking.
Justianus observed the burning village alongside a towering bishop cloaked in black.
His face was frozen in an impossibly frigid expression.
“Huff, Huff.”
He heard labored breathing from behind.
He manipulated his facial features like clay, then turned slowly with a gentle smile.
“Selenne?”
The viscountess, Selenne.
The face of the dreamy girl she once was had become a grotesque nightmare.
Her hair, disheveled by the wind, obscured her face.
“Your Highness, Your Highness! What’s going on?!”
She screamed almost as if crying.
Justianus shook his head.
“Didn’t I say you don’t need to address me like that? Just ‘Yuus’ is enough.”
His voice was gentle yet distant.
Selenne, trembling all over, asked,
The boy in front of her wasn’t the Justianus she knew.
“Yuus, this isn’t for our mother, is it? It couldn’t be, right?”
With a continual gentle smile, he answered.
“Do you not trust me, Lady? I am disappointed.”
He took a step closer and brushed Selenne’s hair behind her ear.
His warm touch had turned coarse and sticky.
With a pale face, Selenne took a step back.
Then, she finally realized what she had brought to this region, seeing the towering bishop and insect knights moving around the village.
“Ahhh! Ahhhhhhh!”
Justianus firmly held her to keep her from falling.
“We’re already on the same boat.”
“You, you son of a—!”
“I’m sorry.”
It was evening.
The village from which the Erosion Sect had departed was now completely empty.
Mudbrick walls had crumbled, thick pillars had fallen, and smoke—smoke more foul and corrupt than anything—wafted into the sky.
In the central village square were remnants of magic circles drawn in white powder and a black stone altar that had stood there.
Until just a few hours ago, hundreds of people lay there.
They were split in half and swallowed by the monsters.
The souls were taken by something ancient, and their bodies were absorbed by the Erosion Sect members—priests, knights, and bishops.
The well was dry, the livestock had all been corrupted into monsters, and the few unfortunate survivors had been eroded and wandered the village.
“Waaaahh…”
“Waaaahh…”
“Waaaahh…”
Their emaciated human forms were warped, sprouting additional limbs and heads.
They had to howl with endless hunger for souls and unrelenting bodily pain, thirsting for other lives.
Justianus slowly approached them.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
Though he was wearing the robes of an Erosion Sect priest, the Eroded in the village didn’t recognize him as one of their own.
Thus, they lunged at him, trying to devour him.
“Waaaahh!”
The next second, a flash of blue light shot from Justianus’ golden eyes.
His hand moved to his waist, and a keen single-handed sword was drawn in one fluid movement.
Tearrrr! Slashh!
A flash of blue light erupted, and the head of an eroded one flew into the air.
“I’m sorry.”
Tearrrr! Slashh!
A faint aura of mana wrapped around Justianus’ blade.
“I’m sorry.”
It was a phrase that would fill Selenne and Baelon with hatred if they heard it.
But looking at Justianus, few would think he was lying.
He wept silently, expressionless.
“I’m sorry.”
Tearrrr!
The Eroded fell into pieces, trembling briefly before ceasing all movement.
Justianus retrieved wood from the ruins and lit a fire.
Then he pushed the eroded villagers, one by one, into the flames.
His hands shook from anger, self-loathing, and fear.
‘Ah.’
Justianus believed that ends do not justify means, that process is more important than results, and that rewarding the good and punishing the evil is right.
‘I want to die.’
So, naturally, he could not recognize Jeilliris—who had literally butchered his father, the emperor, the crown prince, the first prince, and hundreds of other royals to seize the throne—as a legitimate ruler.
He believed the Church would intervene.
He gathered the great lords of the Empire and the royal nobles from the nations that believed in the God of Radiance, thinking that the Bishop Hong and the Holy Knights would lead the charge to overthrow the usurper.
But the Church remained silent.
And recently, he had heard that the Saint had placed a crown of sacred flowers that never wilt upon Jeilliris’ head.
Something was wrong.
It needed to be changed.
He needed power.
And the fastest way to gain power in this world was either alliances or erosion.
Justianus decided to combine both.
But he could not allow these people who tortured and killed innocents.
Of course, he could not forgive himself for allying with them either.
‘I want to die.’
Even by telling himself that he was just using them, the guilt did not disappear.
Every night, he saw the faces of the people he killed, the people he betrayed, in his dreams.
Aldet.
With his teeth clenched so tightly they almost shattered, he resolved.
Once he drives Jeilliris out, he would dismantle the Erosion Sect from within.
Then he would crown a worthy royal, leap into the flames and take his own life.
‘Even if I fall into hell and burn for a thousand years, it might still not be enough to atone for my sins. But please, let me suffer more than those I’ve hurt.’
For that, there was one more thing he had to do.
Justianus finished the funeral ritual and left the village, heading deep into the mountains.
He made sure there was no one around and called upon the spirits of the wind.
