Chapter 88
Not long ago, the Bismarck Empire was filled with the sounds of swords clashing, people screaming, and blood splattering. Now, it had fallen silent in an instant.
The princess, Charlotte von Bismarck, who had led the Northern Alliance to victory as a soldier, now stood with her father beneath her feet.
Claude dropped the emperor’s crown to the floor, blood dripping from his forehead as he muttered.
“How… how could you do this… I helped you in everything you wanted…”
Indeed, Claude had not been a bad father. According to imperial law, female children were distanced from the line of succession compared to male children, so he had pitied Charlotte and had supported her in joining the military despite the objections of the ministers.
In reality, Charlotte had performed her duties brilliantly. With experience and skills developed in the military, she had led numerous battles to victory during the war with the Northern Alliance.
The feeling Claude had at that moment was one of happiness that could scarcely be put into words. It was almost ecstasy, and he was incredibly proud of his daughter.
“Why are you…!!”
However, this was the result of his support: betrayal. A pain etched into his bones. At this moment, nothing in the world was more resentful than his own daughter.
“…Could it be that you harmed your brother too!?”
“No. There’s no need to harm Leo. This matter is solely… something for Father to bear.”
Charlotte aimed her sword.
“Leo will become emperor.”
“…You.”
Claude wasn’t foolish. It was clear what Charlotte intended to do after placing her brother, Leo, on the throne.
“Are you planning to make Leo a mere puppet?”
She would manipulate a puppet emperor at her will, waiting for any error on his part, then seizing the throne for herself.
The reason she wouldn’t harm her brother was to provide legitimacy for her coup. She would overthrow the exiled emperor and restore a proper emperor. For that, Charlotte willingly kept her younger brother, a thorn in her side, alive.
This enabled many forces within the palace to rally behind Charlotte. The coup would not be justified by her becoming the emperor herself, but by placing the legitimate heir, Leo, on the throne.
Of course, the real power would be held by Charlotte and the coup leaders, but for those participating in the coup, there was nothing to lose.
“Indeed, it is Father. My brilliance must come from you. Although… that brilliance now seems to have faded.”
“You… you filthy traitor…! You are neither my daughter nor anything else!!! How could your mother rest peacefully in heaven upon seeing this!!!”
“…Haha, Father. I never thought you would bring up my mother.”
Charlotte laughed disdainfully. Then, bending at the waist, she spoke in a voice so quiet that others could not hear.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know who killed Mother?”
“…!!!”
“How wonderful it would have been if you had loved and cherished Mother as you did me and Leo.”
Charlotte raised her sword.
“I will send you on your way without pain. Father.”
Everything had come to an end. The palace had fallen into Charlotte’s hands, and all major departments had knelt before her power. The Empire’s Grand Marshal, Schwarte, spoke to Charlotte.
“Your Highness.”
“Is the task completed?”
“Yes, we have seized control of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Administration.”
“What about Marquis Everde?”
“He has been killed.”
Marquis Everde was a capable man. It was a waste to eliminate such a talent. However, due to his nature, he would never accept a coup, hence his early removal.
“Quickly send a letter to the Holy Kingdom. The emperor has been exiled, and Leonardo von Bismarck has ascended as the new emperor.”
“Understood.”
Even if the Empire had tried to avoid war, the Holy Kingdom would likely have used the rejection of the exile as an excuse to instigate conflict. However, if Charlotte directly exiled Claude and instituted a new emperor while fully complying with the Holy Kingdom’s demands…
‘It would eliminate any justification for them to act.’
Additionally, recovering the bizarre artifact now spreading throughout the upper echelon would resolve the issue. The Holy Kingdom also had an image and position of serving celestial beings, so even to maintain that position, they could not instigate a war without justification.
Charlotte now looked at her father, who could no longer speak. She saw her father, who could not breathe. She saw a father who could no longer love her.
“Please go ahead, Father. And there, atone to Mother and wait…”
Charlotte sheathed her sword.
“I too shall follow you to hell.”
—
Nahun left Eri resting for a while and assigned only Dein the task of monitoring the movement in the human world. The next day, when Dein returned, he brought shocking news to him.
“…There’s no war?”
“Yes.”
Nahun’s expression was genuinely surprised. Beyond surprise, he looked irritated that things weren’t progressing as he wished.
“There was a coup in the Bismarck Empire.”
“A coup? What justification was there for that?”
“From what I heard, it involves the emperor… or rather the former emperor now. Anyway, it occurred during his exile. The coup forces questioned the emperor about his crimes and supported a new emperor while firmly establishing that the Empire does not act against the celestial religion.”
Upon hearing this, Nahun realized why there would be no war. He sighed, certain that his plans had failed.
‘There might be some chaos…’
It was a coup that had not escalated into a major internal conflict. According to Dein’s report, the coup forces had already absorbed most of the Empire’s power.
Thus, war could not happen. The chaos caused by the coup would likely be resolved rather quickly. This was not the future Nahun had desired.
“Have you figured out who orchestrated this?”
“…It was the Empire’s first princess, Charlotte von Bismarck.”
Charlotte. Upon hearing that name, Nahun recalled a fact he had forgotten. He couldn’t help but give a self-deprecating smile.
“No, I can’t believe I forgot her…”
“Yes?”
“…Never mind. I understand. Thank you for your investigation, Dein.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you.”
“Dismissed.”
Dein bowed his head in greeting and left the office, while Nahun remained alone, uttering a hollow laugh.
“I knew about Adelbert, and yet I forgot about her.”
Charlotte von Bismarck. Like Adelbert, she was one of the notable figures on the human side, being the guild master of the Soter City. While both were exceptional individuals, what set her apart from Adelbert was her status.
A noble lineage in a vast nation like the Bismarck Empire allowed for numerous possibilities that a guild master could not. Unlike Adelbert, who merely led adventurers, she could mobilize soldiers, engage in diplomacy, and even wage war against the Demon World.
Especially when a hero appeared as Claude had, she could organize an assault force around him to inflict significant damage on the Demon World. Given her abilities, dealing with her would be much more complicated due to her strategic mind.
‘With my strategy…’
He had to admit that he would be no match for her. He was merely drafting plans based on ‘information he already knew’ from the game…
“Ha.”
Charlotte was different. She was inherently exceptional, capable of devising brilliant and astonishing strategies.
Moreover, the decisiveness, execution, and competence she exhibited in contemplating such significant matters were challenges for him, both in his time as a user and now.
The fact that Charlotte had gained power was not good news.
Her influence could extend beyond the human world into the Demon World. In the original work, Charlotte had been one of the most challenging human figures from the user’s perspective, alongside the hero. Going forward, it seemed highly probable that he would need to enhance surveillance on the human realm to keep track of Charlotte’s movements.
Nahun let out a deep sigh.
“Now, how should I delay the Celestial Demon War…”
The plan to instigate a war by using the Holy Kingdom had failed. Therefore, he needed to devise another scheme to create greater turmoil in the human realm. Meanwhile, he had to ascend further into the upper echelons by utilizing Gremony as an ally…
“……”
His head hurt. There was too much to do. If such a situation had occurred in the game, he could have resolved it easily, but now he could only worry alone.
Just as Nahun was deep in thought, the office door creaked open.
“Nahun-nim.”
“…Veronica?”
It was Veronica, the Daejeong of the 7th Legion. She was supposed to be training under Celestia, so why had she come here? Nahun looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“Daejeong Celestia asked me to bring you over for a moment. She said there’s something to discuss regarding me.”
“Why isn’t she coming herself?”
“She said you need to see something directly. Are you perhaps too lazy to come? You agreed to look at it properly.”
“…It’s not laziness; I just have a lot on my mind with this mess.”
“You’re in a mess?”
“Yeah. Anyway, if Daejeong Celestia said that, I guess I should go.”
For whatever reason she called him, it seemed he would know once he got there. Nahun stood up and started to follow Veronica when he suddenly stopped.
He greeted his disciple, who was looking at her from behind Veronica.
“Seere, you’re here?”
“Eek!?”
“Yeah, Teacher.”
Veronica, startled, turned, and there stood Seere, glaring slightly at Veronica. Veronica hurriedly bowed her head.
“A-Ah, hello, Your Highness!”
“…Yes, hello. Why did you come to see the Teacher?”
“Daejeong Celestia asked me to bring Nahun-nim.”
“Why?”
In response to the question, Veronica answered as she had explained to Nahun. Seere narrowed her eyes and spoke to Nahun.
“Teacher.”
“Hmm?”
“Can I come too?”
Seere wanted to tag along. Although Nahun thought it was unnecessary, he had a strong feeling that it would be inappropriate to voice that thought.
“Sure, do as you wish.”
“Really? Thank you, Teacher.”
Seere smiled brightly at Nahun before stealing a glance at Veronica. At her gaze, Veronica flinched.
‘S-So scary…’
Seere’s expression was anything but ordinary. Unbeknownst to Veronica, Seere considered her a potential threat.
Someone who could take away her precious, unique teacher.
