After giving some rough instructions, Amun took a moment to rest before saying to handle the matters at hand.
Not long after that, Achilles stepped out personally to greet the guests waiting at the castle gate.
In front of him stood a group of people.
Familiar to the point of being somewhat tiresome were Cassandra and Helene.
And following them, as he looked at the Demon King and his subordinates, Achilles began to feel a heavy sense of tension.
‘Is that the Demon King…? It’s my first time seeing him in person, but I can definitely sense an extraordinary power.’
Excluding Amun, the “God” who possesses an unparalleled strength that one cannot approach, this being radiated a power stronger than anyone Achilles had encountered so far.
As he gazed at him,
Achilles couldn’t help but feel a slight wariness even though he was currently an ally rather than an enemy, knowing the risk of facing blades at any point in the future.
‘It’s my first time seeing him in person, but he’s truly exceptional; moreover, just the retainers he has with him feel like no lightweight either…’
The beings accompanying him appeared to be three aides clad in armor and a mix of a Dark Elf and ordinary Elf woman, somehow emanating a subtle sense of familiarity.
The commonality among them was that none were ordinary; they had a strength equal to or slightly inferior to Achilles.
It was a scene that clearly indicated the extent of the Demon Kingdom’s power.
Understanding this, Achilles formally greeted those in front of him, who were, after all, his superiors.
“Welcome, Cassandra. And… it’s a pleasure to meet you, Demon King. I am Achilles, a devotee of Amun and in charge of the current situation in the Imperial Capital.”
“Good to meet you, Achilles.”
“Though we were once enemies, we are in the same boat now, so I look forward to your cooperation moving forward.”
“I understand. If you do not oppose us Demon Races, I shall do so.”
The Demon King’s voice was cold yet unwaveringly clear.
In response, Achilles lowered his head, acknowledging the dignity that comes with being the ruler of a nation.
*
Cassandra’s forces entered the Imperial Capital without any problems.
Strictly speaking, they could be categorized as rebels, but with 40% of the residents having vanished in an instant, there was no one to stop them in this desolate place.
There was also Achilles, who had sorted out the internal situation, but even he had decided to simply join hands with Cassandra without any discussion.
Immediately after seizing control of the Imperial Capital, the factions began to seriously discuss how they would proceed.
“First, we’ve come here with a declaration to rectify the confusion caused by the sudden demise of Your Majesty. Therefore, shouldn’t we hastily select a suitable figure from the imperial family to crown as Emperor?”
“What are you talking about? Are you suggesting we throw away the opportunity we just caught?”
“Why not have General Cassandra ascend to the throne immediately?”
“The imperial family is under our control. No one will oppose.”
“Perhaps, but that does not provide grounds for persuading the lords of other regions.”
“Imagine the rumors that will spread if it becomes known that we seized the throne amid the chaos of war! The Empire will fragment and fall prey to invaders by that very day!”
“Even if the General were to become Emperor in the future, now is not the right time.”
There were voices advocating for Cassandra to be crowned immediately as Emperor, while others insisted it was not a good timing and that they should amass more justification before acting.
In relation to this,
Cassandra, who had remained silent during their discussions, smiled and said to them,
“Indeed, such a crucial matter should be decided with more caution.”
“B-but, Cassandra…”
“It is certainly impractical for me to ascend to the throne right now; despite the significant fall in the emperor’s authority due to my past actions, legitimacy and justification are always crucial. Especially in times of war like the current one.”
“B-but even so, wouldn’t it be dangerous to hand over the Emperor’s seat like this? If that person harbors grudges against the General and does something…?”
“No need to worry about that. I have a reasonable plan.”
“Excuse me?”
Cassandra wore a meaning-laden smile.
As the emotions on the faces of those present shifted to confusion, Helene by her side began to discreetly smile wryly.
*
In the Imperial Palace, a bloodbath unleashed by Amun’s beasts.
Though infidelity, like NTR, was rampant even among ordinary citizens, the occurrences in the Falcon Empire’s royal family were particularly severe, with almost no survivors remaining.
However, among the aftermath of this massacre, one person remained alive.
The youngest son of the Emperor, now just a 6-year-old boy, had no part to play in such matters.
Prince Agamemnon of the Falcon Empire trembled in deep fear, locked away in the depths of the palace.
The scenes vividly replayed in his mind.
The image of his mother lying naked on the bed with her attendants, murdered right in front of him as he tried to enter the room.
And shortly after, the soldiers who unexpectedly appeared, locked him away, bringing him here.
At that time, he had no understanding of why two people were behaving as they did or why the soldiers had imprisoned him, but the series of events had instilled a heavy fear within Agamemnon’s heart.
‘I… what is happening? Could it be… am I going to die too?…’
Thus, the boy, unable to understand the current situation and overwhelmed by a deep sense of dread, wept alone. Agamemnon.
At that moment.
-Creeeek…
The sudden loud sound of a door opening echoed in his ears.
The young prince slowly raised his head and began to observe the person who entered the room.
An individual whom young Agamemnon knew all too well.
It was none other than…
“Prince, here you are.”
“!… Ca… Cassandra!”
Approaching him with a bright smile, she was someone he was intimately familiar with, serving as a substitute for his mother, who had shown him kindness instead of indifference.
The Three Knights of the Empire, Cassandra.
At that moment, the appearance of the one who had comforted his long-held fear made Agamemnon rush into her embrace without a moment’s hesitation.
“Are you alright, Prince? Are you hurt anywhere…?”
“I… I’m fine, Cassandra. B-but my mother…”
“…I see. But you needn’t worry, Prince. From now on, I will… No, I will protect you, Your Majesty.”
“Your… Majesty?”
Cassandra spoke words that Agamemnon found incomprehensible.
In an instant, a look of confusion crossed Agamemnon’s face, but Cassandra gently patted his head while smiling.
“Yes, from now on, you, Prince Agamemnon, will become the Emperor of this nation. But there’s no need to worry. I, Cassandra, will never leave your side, so just trust me and act freely without any concerns…”
“U-uh… okay… I don’t know what this means, but I’ll trust Cassandra for now.”
The young prince, who was now to be called an Emperor, showed signs of intense reliance alongside his fear.
Cassandra, holding him tightly, began to wear a deep smile.
‘You don’t need to worry at all, Your Majesty… From now on, I will take care of everything. Your entire life. And… that Emperor’s seat you’ve temporarily left to me.’
*
As one of the remaining survivors of the royal family, the young Emperor Agamemnon ascended the throne.
However, in practice, he was merely a puppet of Cassandra… or more accurately, just a decorative figure, while Achilles showed no interest in his coronation and simply stayed quietly within his home.
With this, it could be said that Cassandra had seized control not only of the Imperial Capital but effectively of the entire Empire, alongside her partner Hestia.
Yet despite having enough of a stake in this situation to assert himself, Achilles chose to retreat, leaving it all behind.
In his life, he had only run towards vengeance.
However, now that the revenge was over, he found himself gripped by an overwhelming sense of emptiness, realizing that nothing remained for him.
‘… It’s all so hollow… truly…’
A sensation as if everything had been emptied out.
Now, with both burning anger and deep joy extinguished, he floated in a void of despair, akin to a ship lost at sea.
At that moment…
“General, a guest has arrived.”
“…A guest? I clearly instructed no one to be admitted, did I not?”
“W-well, it turns out that the guest insisted strongly. After I continued to refuse, they at least requested that I convey the name Antonius.”
“!… A… Antonius?”
Achilles was quickly wrapped in deep surprise as the unexpected name struck him.
The name of a friend, a devotee of Amun who was reported to have been killed after failing in a mission related to the Demon Kingdom, snapped Achilles back to reality, and he spoke urgently.
“U-usher them in immediately.”
“Y-yes? O-Okay, General.”
The aide, bewildered by the master’s unforeseen reaction, went outside.
However, shortly afterward,
“…? Who are you?”
Before Achilles stood not the elven warrior he had anticipated.
Instead, the elven woman he had seen earlier with the Demon King started to appear.
Though she had a notably charming figure and emitted an inexplicable sense of familiarity, relating to the mention of Antonius, Achilles felt a hint of irritation and suspicion.
However…
“It’s been a while, Achilles. It’s me, your friend, and Amun’s loyal servant, Antonius.”
“….!? What?”