Chapter 90

*

The banquet was as lavish as the Federation of Beastmen Nobles could muster. Dancers performed, meats rich with spices were served, and even fruit wine, a rarity in the desert, was presented.

Batras prayed that all this ridiculous hospitality would be effective. That even the skeletons would find material luxuries effective… And it was very effective.

[You know how to entertain an envoy. Savages.]

The skeletal envoy spoke with a satisfied tone, filling a brass cup with wine. With a noble and leisurely gesture, he poured the wine through the gap in his skull.

-Glurp.

The wine trickled down his jaw, sternum, and spine, soaking his ornate bronze armor. A servant skeleton, bowing beside him, quickly approached and wiped the wine off the armor with a dry linen cloth.

It was astonishing. Batras was grateful that they could be even more pathetic. He hoped they would be at least half as pathetic when it came time to fight. After all, they would have to fight someday.

The skeletal envoy tapped his jewel-adorned fingers and surveyed the feast. A blue light flickered in the depths of his eye sockets. It was the light of greed, luxury, and vanity.

As the night deepened, the banquet grew increasingly decadent and luxurious. Under the guise of “gifts,” various luxuries brought by the skeletons piled up in the tribe’s plaza.

The young men of the tribe gradually shed their fear and began to genuinely enjoy the banquet. The skeletal envoy’s gaze grew darker as he watched them.

*

Among the envoys who arrived with the skeletons was, surprisingly, a living human. A middle-aged man, as thin as a skeleton, was greedily eating the food brought by the tribe’s youth.

Grease dripped from his hands. The tribe’s youth chuckled as they watched the man, who looked as if he hadn’t eaten for days.

“So, how did you end up among those monsters?”

“It’s a long story. I only had two choices: die or become their servant.”

“Since we’re among the living, tell us. How do you think they’ll attack?”

“The Pharaoh isn’t stupid.”

The middle-aged man looked with dull eyes at the skeletal envoy, who was stuffing food into his skull. The envoy’s eyes flickered with joy.

“Don’t trust those monsters too much.”

“We don’t trust anyone.”

A spirited young beastman laughed heartily.

“It’s clear that the Federation of Beastmen wants to strengthen ties and at least maintain a non-aggression pact for now.”

“That’s enough.”

The young men seemed satisfied with the middle-aged man’s words. They chattered away, devouring meat and wine, then suddenly spoke up.

“Ah, there’s a human among our tribe’s guests too. Would you like to meet him?”

“…A human?”

“Not long ago, a kid came to our tribe looking for someone! He even sparred with our warriors, and for a young one, he’s really impressive.”

The middle-aged man paused his eating and looked around uneasily. A kid? Surely not… The young men cheerfully started talking about other topics, but the middle-aged man gave vague answers while keeping an eye on his surroundings.

‘It can’t be. There’s no way I was followed.’

The man wiped his greasy hands on his thighs and stood up.

“Ah, I need to relieve myself.”

“Go down that alley and take care of it in the bushes.”

The young man spoke cheerfully and soon joined the other tribesmen in conversation. It was a banquet that had come after a long period of tension, and the tribesmen were genuinely enjoying this peaceful gathering.

The man cautiously looked around as he walked through the maze of tents. The night breeze was cool.

“Sigh…”

He couldn’t help but feel bitter about how he had ended up like this. Once a member of a prestigious imperial family, one of the empire’s most feared elite agents, now reduced to a servant of skeletal wraiths…

-Swish.

A cold steel blade touched the back of his neck. The man flinched and froze. There had been no warning, how?

“B-11-CQ2. Codename Brandon. In accordance with Article 37, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Imperial Military Code, I hereby carry out your sentence.”

“…Hah.”

A young man’s clear voice followed. The man sighed, releasing the tension in his shoulders. His uneasy premonitions were never wrong.

“How did you find me?”

“I missed five times, so it was about time I got it right.”

“If you kill me, these beastmen will retaliate. Innocent blood will be shed… I am under the protection of Pharaoh Tutankhamun Gartep!”

“Are you done with your last words?”

“Tch!”

-Whoosh!

Brandon twisted his body and leaped backward. The young man’s spear gleamed in the moonlight. In an instant, both shoulders and thighs were pierced!

-Splat!

“Argh!!”

“You know why I didn’t kill you outright? I’m giving you a chance to reclaim Iron Side’s honor.”

“I… resigned… a while ago…?”

“Your resignation was rejected. You’re still part of Iron Side.”

The young man laughed cheerfully, slinging the spear over his shoulder. Brandon clutched his bleeding thigh, gasping for breath. The Pharaoh’s envoy wasn’t far away. If he screamed…





If only I could…

“I would cooperate willingly if I were you.”

-Thud.

From the end of the alley, a woman emerged. Blue magical energy entwined around her hand, sparkling in the darkness.

“Anything that happens within a 3-meter radius here will be unknown to anyone. No sound, no light, no smell.”

I’m not sure if skeletons still have a sense of smell, but… The woman chuckled. Despair slowly settled in Brandon’s eyes. He screamed in desperation.

“The Emperor’s dog! Do you think you can kill me and walk out of here alive?! You’re alone!!”

“Ah, my favorite line.”

The young man smiled brightly. He playfully adjusted his spear and lightly thrust it toward the man’s stomach. The sharp spearhead loomed closer over the fallen man.

The pattern engraved on the spearhead glimmered under the moonlight. It was a large eye within a sun—commonly known as the Emperor’s Eye. This spear alone proved the young man’s identity and simultaneously served as a death sentence for the Emperor’s enemies.

The Emperor’s hunting dog… The man swallowed dryly.

“So, stop worrying about me and tell me where your boss is.”

“…Can you show mercy?”

“If lies bring you comfort.”

At those cold words, the man let go of his last hope. For the people of the Empire, facing this spearhead meant one thing: abandoning hope and submitting to the Emperor’s authority.

“That witch is in Tutankhamun Gartep’s palace. She’s taken refuge with the Pharaoh. Just like me.”

“Then why weren’t you hiding in there?”

“Tutankhamun Gartep is a capable king. He doesn’t let his servants rest.”

“Good. Angela, that traitor won’t be resting easy either.”

“Y-you don’t need me anymore, right? Please. I’ll live quietly, doing nothing, saying nothing. I’ll live as if I’m dead.”

The young man looked down at Brandon, who was trembling and clutching at his pants. Moonlight poured over his head.

The spearhead slowly pointed downward.

“The crime of attempting to bomb a commercial city in defiance of the Empire’s orders—this constitutes insubordination, violation of military law, unauthorized preemptive attack, and war crimes.”

“Please, I beg you!”

“The crime of resurrecting the dead, looting undiscovered ancient relics, and failing to report it to superiors—this constitutes embezzlement, breach of trust, and incitement of rebellion.”

“Mercy…!”

Before the young man could finish, Brandon fell to his knees, clasping his hands together. With tearful eyes, he pleaded with the young man.

“I was just following orders! I didn’t want this! Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live His Majesty! Spare me!”

“Daryan Schryke, the Emperor’s Third Executioner, the Emperor’s Eye, bringing death to His Majesty’s enemies and protection to His Majesty’s flock.”

The young man made a quick sign and gripped his spear.

-Crunch!

The spearhead shattered the moonlight as it plunged down, piercing Brandon’s heart and driving deep into the ground. Brandon stared blankly at the spear impaling his chest before slowly stiffening.

Hot blood flowed down the spear and pooled on the ground.

-Squelch.

The spear was pulled out and swung in a wide arc. Drops of blood clinging to the spear scattered in all directions. The young man flicked the blood off the spear and spun it behind his back.

With a soft thud, Brandon’s corpse tilted to the side. He collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground. His fading eyes rested blankly at the young man’s feet.

“I hereby strip you of your rank. B-11-CQ2. Thus, His Majesty’s justice is served.”

“Only one left now?”

“Rein in the magic, Seiri. Let’s go finish the festival.”

“Are you serious? Not running away? There are over five thousand skeleton soldiers out there!”

“We’re alone?”

“Yes!”

The young man smiled deeply at those words.

“Let’s just kill three more, Seiri. After that, I’ll step back too.”

“Who?”

“The general, the ambassador, the mage.”

Facing three strong opponents is easier than dealing with five thousand grunts. The young man laughed, gripping the spear resting on his shoulder.

*

Fernandez watched Kirhas as she pushed through the jungle. She carefully navigated, her ears twitching constantly. She seemed to be retracing old memories as she searched for the path.

‘Daryan Schryke. Remember that bastard?’

-Ah, damn it.

Faijashi grumbled as soon as he heard the name. Fernandez chuckled. In his long life, Daryan Schryke was one of the most terrifying heroes. The Emperor’s Blade, Daryan Schryke. The Empire’s strongest. The Emperor’s Eye. The Undefeated.

Recalling last night’s nightmare, Fernandez tapped the hilt of his sword. Perhaps because he was more accustomed to swords than magic lately, the movements of that man in his dreams felt even more vivid.

‘Can we face him with force now?’

-At this stage, it might be possible. He’s not fully matured yet.

‘I can’t even imagine Daryan being defeated.’

-Why worry about that? He won’t become our enemy in this lifetime.

‘I hope so.’

Most of the great heroes who faced him in his prime haven’t even been born yet, and the current heroes are entangled in their own complex political situations, unable to move freely.

In such times, if there’s anyone who can act freely regardless of political or diplomatic circumstances, the first name that comes to mind is Daryan Schryke. The Emperor’s Eye, Daryan the Swallow.

-Why, do you want to fight him?

‘Yes. Surprisingly.’

Faijashi looked at Fernandez with a dissatisfied expression. That wasn’t the mindset of a mage. It was closer to that of a knight or warrior.

Fernandez seemed to feel a competitive spirit toward Daryan. Facing the great warrior hailed as the strongest of his era.

Was it because of King Dane’s memories? Faijashi gazed at Fernandez with a sinking feeling.

“Your Excellency, I think I’ve found it!”

“Good job.”

Pushing through the jungle, far in the distance, a waterfall came into view. Just as the legends described. A jungle rising in the middle of the desert. [The Fall of Kazak Kadán]. It was the secret stronghold of the Kalani Clan.