1.
<Babylonia> Imperial Palace.
Located at the heart of the Empire, the imperial palace was so massive and splendid that it could be seen even from outside the capital.
Just facing that palace was enough to make envoys from foreign nations lower their heads in intimidation.
And that wasn’t all.
As if the magnificent exterior meant nothing, high-level barriers that cost tens of billions of gold to activate even once were layered over the walls.
Foreign envoys called <Babylonia>’s Imperial Palace a bastion of invincible authority.
But now—
“Hah! As expected of a criminal—ignoring the door and climbing in through a window!”
“A window is a door, too.”
“…?”
The authority that had remained impregnable for hundreds of years was broken by a single man.
Now more familiar with windows than doors, Nahan closed the window he had entered through and slowly walked toward Reina.
Platinum-blonde hair.
Golden eyes.
Skin as if originally white but now sun-kissed.
And—
“…Nice pajamas.”
Teddy bear pajamas.
Complimenting her with forced composure, surprised by her unexpected sleepwear choice, Reina responded in resignation.
“…Mind your own business.”
“…Fair.”
An awkward silence settled over the situation, which was somewhat different from what either of them had expected.
It was only after Nahan sat on the bedside table that Reina broke the silence with a question.
“Did you come to kill me?”
Though she was pretending to stay calm, Reina’s eyes revealed the truth.
The Black Wolf standing before her—
The quiet killing intent in those black eyes.
The Aura gushing like black fog.
The overwhelming pressure like being trampled by a giant.
She could clearly tell—even if the entire Hero Party of Light rushed him, they couldn’t be sure of victory.
If he had come to assassinate her, she could only accept it.
But the Black Wolf smirked, as if bored, and replied casually.
“If I had, I would’ve at least given you time to change clothes.”
“…I told you to mind your own business.”
If he really had, he would’ve already done it—without leaving a single trace.
Then why?
Once he confirmed that Reina’s tension had eased, Nahan instantly retracted the Aura that had been leaking from him and asked briefly,
“Have you been well?”
“…What?”
Not exactly words you’d expect from a top-ranked fugitive to the Empress.
‘…Is he insane?’
As Reina pondered the more refined version of ‘Is this guy nuts?’, Nahan took a sip of the water from the table and spoke again.
“I know things have been tough. You may bear the title of the thousand-year empire’s Empress, but in truth, aren’t you like a castaway stranded on an isolated island?”
Soft-spoken words, yet sharp as blades.
“…”
The Black Wolf was right.
Reina was slowly withering away, besieged by the noble coalition and the enigmatic supporter known only as <Eclipse>.
Still, Reina didn’t show it.
Instead, she grabbed her sword, sheathed it at her waist, and began warming up her Aura Heart as she responded.
“Black Wolf. Do you not realize that your every word and action is an affront to the throne?”
“…Well, how do you see it?”
Crack, Crack…
The Black Wolf’s Aura, once again flaring, crushed Reina’s entire body just as she was about to draw her sword.
Like icy blades pressing against her skin, Reina sensed death looming right before her.
At the same time, she realized.
‘As expected… he’s holding back his power.’
A strength so immense, not even the full might of the Empire, let alone the Hero Party of Light, could guarantee victory.
So Reina hesitated.
‘Is it truly wise… to bare the truth of my situation to him?’
Would it be right for the Empress of the continent’s greatest empire to confess everything to the leader of the continent’s most wanted mercenary corps?
But Nahan had anticipated this hesitation.
He shifted into a more comfortable position and offered her water.
“Have you heard the rumors about us?”
“…Of course.”
“Then I suppose you’ve also heard that we of the <Black Wolf> execute the scum of the world in place of your lenient imperial law?”
“…”
When Reina accepted the glass of water instead of answering, Nahan continued calmly.
“The rumors are true. We only wish to return this chaotic empire to an era of peace and prosperity. We have no intention of destroying or devouring the Empire.”
This, too, was the truth.
At first, people misunderstood the process of clearing out the trash, but when he thought about it, Nahan had to protect the Empire.
After all, his top priority was saving the righteous ones—the Hero, the Empress, the members of <Black Wolf>.
If they were to reach a happy ending, a peaceful Empire was essential.
“But removing trash will soon reach its limit. That’s why I took the risk to come here, to hear directly from you—and act accordingly.”
“With that kind of power, risk hardly seems like the right word.”
“Don’t deflect.”
Letting out a short sigh, Nahan stood up and approached Reina.
“So speak. The things you can’t handle alone—I’ll deal with them for you.”
“How arrogant and insolent. I am the Empress of the great Babylonia Empire. Petty burdens such as—”
Why was it?
“…Petty burdens such as……”
Before she realized it, Reina’s hand trembled slightly as she barely managed to grip her sword tighter.
“…”
“…”
A brief silence followed.
Only after the tip of her quivering blade regained stability did Reina speak.
“What is your reason?”
“My reason?”
“The reason why you want to turn the Empire into a peaceful land… the reason you wish to help me.”
Since the death of the dependable former emperor and the disappearance of her beloved older sister, Reina had endured for years alone in the battlefield known as the imperial palace.
She had learned a truth.
That in this place, there were no eternal enemies or allies—and there was no such thing as kindness without reason.
“They all say it’s only natural, that it’s the right thing to do—but such people barely exist in this world.”
Golden eyes, tinged with fatigue—yet still hoping for something.
Staring into those eyes for a long while, Nahan chuckled softly and patted Reina’s head.
“You’re not a complete fool, after all.”
It was a gesture meant to reinforce who stood above whom, but the genuine warmth in his touch only left Reina flustered.
“W-What insolence…!!”
Stumbling back, Reina tried to protest, but Nahan, unfazed, withdrew his hand and answered.
“Because it’s what your sister wanted… Well, would that answer suffice?”
“…My sister?”
“Yes.”
My will is your sister’s will.
It would sound a bit different to Reina, but—was that his problem?
“…Sister.”
Whether his plan worked or not, the steel mask that had been Reina’s face shattered all at once.
“But… But I… my sister…”
“Guilt is fine, but can we finish the conversation first?”
He waited a moment.
…Clang.
In the end, Reina laid down her sword, steadied her breath, and spoke again.
“Let’s make one thing clear. Nothing happened tonight. Even if you, the Black Wolf, aid me in the future, I will claim ignorance of it.”
She would accept help—but the moment they were tied together, she would sever the tail.
A frustrating response from someone on the receiving end of help, but—
‘…I’m the one who needs this.’
If he could stop every bad ending and lead things to a happy one, he’d settle for flicking her forehead later.
“I understand.”
“…Then.”
Building on the trust forged through Lactea, Reina carefully continued.
“The Noble Coalition appears to be aiming to depose me. They act from the shadows, manipulating events, and then pin all the blame on me—piling false charges high.”
“You didn’t try to stop it?”
“That’s impossible. In diplomacy and intelligence, the Noble Coalition holds a far greater advantage.”
Of course—always hosting parties, commanding countless servants—it would be easy for nobles to generate and spread rumors, putting the Empress at a disadvantage.
On top of that—
“It may seem minor, but if not dealt with quickly, the citizens will begin proposing dangerous laws in droves, and both I and my retainers will be bound here in the palace, unable to counter the rumors.”
“You’re saying you haven’t been able to spare a single moment to respond?”
“I could make time, of course. But in that time, countless innocent citizens would die due to unchecked laws. And now… even if I tried to explain myself, who would believe me?”
Nahan nodded, then closed his eyes.
‘Let’s sum it up.’
The Noble Coalition commits atrocities, then frames Reina for them.
To fix it, Reina herself would need to act—but the citizens are effectively being held hostage, stopping her from moving.
And because she valued her people over politics, Reina let herself take the hit—and the result was a mountain of infamy upon her.
At this point, even if she tried to explain, no one would believe her…
“You knew, and yet had no choice but to endure it.”
At Nahan’s sharp words, Reina’s head slowly bowed.
“Utterly incompetent, Reina.”
“…”
She couldn’t refute it.
Ever since being thrust into the position of Empress, she had always felt nothing but incompetence.
If it had been her sister, she would’ve cleared her name before the slander stuck.
If their father had still been Emperor, the nobles wouldn’t have even dared to oppose him.
The one who brought about this current situation was none other than herself—Reina Babylonia.
And yet—
“…I have no regrets.”
If she had left the imperial palace in order to clear her name, laws favorable only to the nobles would have been passed in rapid succession.
The people would’ve starved… or died in droves.
Even if it was a pitiful “best effort” by her own judgment, it had still protected countless citizens.
“…No regrets…”
But she knew.
If she had been the former emperor.
If she had been her sister Lactea.
If only she had been a little more capable—
She could’ve become a great Empress, one who protected her people and her authority.
“…I really am just…”
As Reina lowered her head even further—
Tap.
With one hand, Nahan gently lifted her chin, while the other softly brushed through her platinum hair.
And he whispered.
“But you were magnificent.”
In front of Nahan, a familiar status window appeared.
【Name: Reina Babylonia】
– Alias: Incompetent Empress, Tyrant
– Rank: SS
– Information: Born righteous and strong, but not ruthless enough to be an Emperor. Throughout her reign, she tirelessly worked to protect her people. As a result, she became the scapegoat for countless false accusations. However, thanks to her efforts, <12,325,453 citizens> are still alive today.
Though his touch was far too familiar for someone addressing an Empress, it didn’t seem to matter.
“…Thank you.”
For the first time in a very long while, Reina allowed herself to cry—freely and without restraint.
.
.
.
A few minutes later—
As if nothing had happened, Reina wiped away her tears and turned to Nahan with a question.
“So then, what do you plan to do now? The Noble Coalition is more solid than you think.”
Their leader, Duke Halorand, commanded a force nearly equal to the Imperial Legion. If given the right justification, he could directly challenge the Imperial authority.
She herself had lost both justification and power, left only to wait and wither away.
No matter how strong the Black Wolf.
No matter how powerful the mercenaries he led were.
What help could they possibly offer her?
“Kill them all.”
“…? Wait, what?”
“Don’t worry. It won’t take more than a few days.”
“No, wai—”
“Just give me a list. The ones who mouth off the most, the ones who especially hate you, and the ones who look like they’d try to kill you if they saw an opening. Write their names down and hand it over.”
If we start killing them one by one.
There won’t be anyone left who could threaten your life.
And after all—
“You have to kill them before they kill you.”
.
.
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【Bad Ending #9 – <The Empress’s Death>】
【In Progress…】
