The relationship between the Second Prince and the Astrape Special Forces.
If you follow him, you will reach Schneider, my former Commander.
Schneider was once the Guardian Knight of the Second Prince.
The reason he became a member of the Astrape Special Forces was because he fell victim to the First Prince’s scheme.
At that time, it was widely believed that the First Prince, being the eldest, would become the Crown Prince.
This incident marked the complete downfall of the Second Prince.
However, no one anticipated that this downfall would bring about a tremendous storm in the imperial power struggle.
As time passed, war broke out.
Given the nature of covert operations, the role of the Special Forces becomes disproportionately significant when war begins.
Combat, assassination, intelligence, espionage.
The Astrape Special Forces excelled in all areas except direct combat.
The Emperor, recognizing their value, gave them additional support.
Many of the 108 trainees who were being trained as elite soldiers in the Empire at that time were integrated into the Astrape Special Forces.
The true potential of these children, who had excelled from a young age, shone even more as they grew older.
And Commander Schneider would have been in charge.
With the end of the war, all of the 108 trainees reached the peak of their abilities.
Being a loyal follower of the Second Prince from the beginning, Schneider naturally followed the Second Prince’s orders.
He secretly assassinated nobles who supported the First Prince and attributed the war’s achievements to the Second Prince.
Schneider was a faithful servant to the Second Prince.
The Second Prince, aware of this, did not neglect Schneider.
Even when Schneider reached retirement age, the Second Prince appointed him as the Supreme Commander of the 1st Corps and allowed him to choose the new leader of the Special Forces.
That new leader was me.
Ern Astra.
*****
I arrived at the Imperial Palace.
It wasn’t my first time, but it felt oddly new.
Upon reflection, I realized it was because this was the first time I was formally invited.
Before I could fully enjoy this feeling, the Prince belittled me.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had the pleasure of having tea with you, Lord Astra. If I didn’t want to lose such a talented individual like you, I should have invested more time and effort. It’s all my fault.”
He smiled and spoke kindly, but his true meaning was entirely different.
I haven’t seen you often because you ran away, you ungrateful wretch.
So, I replied in kind.
“Please retract the title of Lord. My current status is too lowly for such an honor.”
I retired with permission, so don’t bother me.
“That’s not possible. How could I call someone who has rendered such great service to my position anything less?”
I haven’t given you permission to retire.
“Moreover, I held you in high regard. It’s a bit sad to see you leave without a word.”
Come back.
“It’s also sad for me that I cannot share peaceful times with Your Highness and the country. But isn’t life full of both joy and sorrow?”
No.
After exchanging our true intentions, we sipped our tea.
We savored the taste with the cups at our lips.
With a clink, I set my cup down.
His eyes grew deeply troubled.
Now the real conversation begins.
“Lord Astra.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve had my eye on you for a long time. Ever since Lord Schneider recommended you as the next leader of the Special Forces.”
So, it started back then.
The root of all evil.
It was that old man Schneider.
“Would you consider becoming my Guard?”
“Please retract the offer.”
“May I ask why?”
“The Empire is a nation cleansed with blood. It is not suitable for someone like me, who has operated in the shadows, to serve as the Emperor’s guard.”
“Thank you for your words.”
The Prince’s eyes grew bitter.
“A nation cleansed with blood…”
He knew how contradictory this statement was.
“…Hah.”
The prince laughed.
Not at Ern, but at this country.
‘A nation cleansed with blood, indeed. Though that blood was washed away with more blood.’
A nation cleansed with blood.
However, it was a nation where blood was washed away with more blood.
The Grandeum Empire is such a country.
A conquest war against four immense powers that one might think everyone has gone mad.
Just as the Empire that had ruled the continent’s peak for a thousand years was about to fall, everyone awaited the moment.
The Empire proudly annihilated the Eastern Principality.
They subdued the barbarians of the western plains.
Slayed the Demon King of the Northern Winter Monsters and took his essence.
Established vassal relations with the shamans of different races.
At the end, such words began to circulate.
The Empire is of iron and invincible.
In the veins of the Grandeum Empire’s people flows iron instead of blood.
They fill their stomachs not with ordinary food but with the flesh of gods, possessing boundless vitality.
The Empire did not try to control such rumors; rather, they flaunted them.
This is the nature of the Empire.
It is not a place where petty kingdoms dare to gather and scheme.
To call such a country “a nation cleansed with blood” is accurate yet ironically amusing.
The prince took a short breath.
Then…
“Cough…!!”
A chilling began to circulate in his heart.
After coughing a few more times, a maid beside him handed him medicine.
The prince swallowed it in one gulp.
“Cough, cough…!!”
After a few more coughs, the prince’s condition stabilized.
“Hah… This damn cold just won’t go away.”
The prince, lifting his tea cup again, said,
“…It seems everything has cooled down. It seems our conversation for today is over.”
The prince hurriedly concluded the conversation.
“As the position of the Imperial Guard is a significant one, I also respect your intentions. I hope for a better answer next time.”
*****
– Hah… This damn cold just won’t go away.
Critical condition.
-…It seems everything has cooled down. It seems our conversation for today is over.
Somebody’s watching.
-As the position of the Imperial Guard is a significant one, I also respect your intentions. I hope for a better answer next time.
Let’s put it off for later.
The prince conveyed his intentions as he always did.
“… It’s a mess.”
The Second Prince, who will become the crown prince, is in critical condition.
And a traitor within the Imperial Palace.
If this isn’t a mess, what else would I call it?
To be blunt, a coup could happen anytime.
I understand why they want to appoint me as the Imperial Guard.
There’s hardly anyone else they can trust.
‘How is the Empire always like this?’
The war ended, and so did the struggle for the throne.
Yet now, a coup?
Is the Empire heading towards its demise?
Or perhaps… it’s preparing for a new beginning.
As I walked, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.
With a familiar presence, I greeted with relief,
“…Chester?”
“Yes, Commander.”
Obrang Chester.
No, now there’s only Chester left of that man.
“I regret what happened to Obrang.”
“…”
“Have you sent him off well?”
“…Not yet.”
“Take your time.”
Yeah. It must be difficult to console a brother you’ve spent half your life with.
Obrang Chester’s Magic Awakening.
Dual personality.
In exchange for gaining two personalities, the awakener gains an extra life.
If they lose one life, one of the personalities disappears at random.
With a 50% chance, Chester survived, and Obrang did not.
-You idiot. Times will eventually change. Whether we kill the Second Prince or start a revolution, the current state won’t last forever.
Obrang.
So you’re going this way after all.
As you said, the times are indeed changing.
Those changes won’t be small.
Perhaps everything that upheld the world could collapse.
Watching over him and throwing myself into it has exhausted me both mentally and physically.
Just like how you created Chester because it seemed you couldn’t endure.
I retired in search of someone who could support me.
‘I hope the Little One is doing alright.’
Before going to the Imperial Palace, I asked Ray for a favor.
I wanted him to ensure her safety, the kid who lives with me.
According to Ray’s report, the kid was safe.
Well, if they went so far as to invoke the Black Jade Barrier, there was no need to worry about the kid.
I wouldn’t have thought I wouldn’t die.
Those idiots.
“…Right. A gift.”
Come to think of it, I had promised to buy a gift for the Little One.
I wonder what would be nice.
I’ve never bought a gift before, so I’m not sure.
Now that I’ve finally made it to the Few Inner, I want to buy something good, but nothing catches my eye.
I don’t have much money to spend, so buying fine jewelry isn’t an option.
Maybe something to eat.
She’d probably like that.
And then, something caught my eye.
“Huh?”
This should be it.
It would suit the Little One well.
*****
I returned home.
It feels comfortable.
Home is indeed home.
I took off my coat and hung it on the coat rack.
I loosely undid the buttons of my shirt.
Sitting back on the sofa, I finally feel some of my fatigue dissipating.
“Hey, did you come, Mister?”
The kid came downstairs from the second floor.
“Nothing happened, right?”
“Nothing.”
The Little One approached and sat on my lap.
Folding her knees and body, just like a cat.
“But… what’s with your appearance?”
The Little One has fox ears on her head.
There are even nine fluffy-looking tails on her back.
It seems to resemble the Nine-Tailed Fox from legends.
Nonchalantly, the Little One replied.
“I turned out like this while reading a book.”
