Chapter 147: Distrust Part 5

He had to become Emperor.

For Loki, there was nothing else.

A child born after killing his own mother. That label followed him everywhere, and he was always subjected to uneasy, wary glances from others.

And in his entire life, he had felt love only once.

Lady Aithra…

She was Theseus’s birth mother and the Empress, but she had shown Loki unwavering affection as well.

A magnificent, strong woman.

Yet even she struggled to survive within the imperial family.

Aithra died. At the hands of a servant she cherished.

The cause was poisoning.

Perhaps because of that, everyone suspected Loki might be behind it.

And maybe because of that suspicion, no proper investigation was ever conducted.

Public opinion toward him grew colder and colder, and Loki became increasingly isolated.

Even Theseus, whom he had followed like an older brother, began to distance himself, perhaps shaken by the death of his mother.

Was it because of his chivalry, or was it simply a flaw in the man himself?

Whatever the reason was, Theseus soon gave up searching for the culprit.

He was a man who moved forward, carrying the legacy left to him rather than being buried in the past.

Yes. Theseus was a hero.

But I know.

In the end, Loki was the only one still trying to find Aithra’s assassin.

The only one still consumed by the past, burning with hatred.

That was the only time in his life he had felt someone’s love.

That moment was irreplaceable.

I cannot be loved.

A child whose very existence was an ill omen.

No matter how hard he tried, there would be no one who could love him.

Every action he took, whether born of goodwill or malice, would be met with suspicion.

And so, every relationship was calculated. Nothing more than one built on deceit and exploitation.

And so he wished…

If I could become Emperor…

It wasn’t to fulfill the wish of parents whose warmth he had never once felt.

It wasn’t because he wanted to achieve something as Emperor.

It wasn’t out of a desire for wealth or power.

If at least the Empire became mine… maybe then I could love.

All he wanted was something that was wholly, completely his.

He believed that if he could have that, then even this wretched world might be something he could love, if only a little.

It wasn’t that he wanted to become Emperor.

It was that he had to become Emperor.

“Ghk—!”

At the end of the flashes of his life—

Loki regained consciousness in burning pain.

Tillis’s sword had pierced clean through his shoulder blade, and the smell of blood filled the underground air.

“I suppose I should say… as expected of an imperial member? To still be alive after a wound like that. Honestly, it’s almost impressive.”

“I… can’t die yet.”

Loki gripped the blade of the sword skewering his shoulder.

He tried to pull it out but lacked the strength.

A child far inferior to Lobelia or Theseus in every way.

He was an unqualified culprit. All he had were cunning, pettiness, and stubborn resolve.

But to him, qualifications or abilities didn’t matter.

“In the end, no matter what you look like, the one who’s standing at the end is the winner.”

Blood streamed down his hand as he clutched the sword.

No matter how hard he tried, the blade wouldn’t come free. Only tearing his wound wider and spilling more blood.

“Don’t you think so too? The sole surviving elf.”

Yet Loki didn’t stop struggling.

Falling down didn’t mean defeat. Defeat was when you couldn’t get back up.

“Do you seek revenge?”

“I’ve never thought about it.”

“Even against the Empire that killed all your family and friends?”

“Yes.”

Loki scoffed.

It was like catching a glimpse of the other side of someone the world called a saintess.

“You’re someone missing a piece… just like me.”

“……”

“Have you ever loved someone? Ever felt grief?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

The strength in Loki’s grip on the sword began to fade.

“I can guarantee it.”

His arm went limp.

His breathing grew faint.

“People like you… can never be happy.”

“……”

Yet his eyes still lived on.

A snake’s gaze stared into her fractured soul.

“Because without even the slightest shred of resolve, you don’t deserve happiness.”

“What—?”

At that moment, Tillis wavered.

Her vision warped, and strength began to leave her body.

“See? I told you. I win.”

“When?”

Only then did Tillis realize she had been poisoned.

“As if I’d tell you.”

In the cramped underground space—

The stench of blood was thick enough to sting the nose.

Loki had mixed his ability into his own blood and spread it. Tillis had been drenched in that blood, and with enough of it spilled to fill the entire underground with its metallic smell, even someone of her caliber couldn’t avoid being poisoned.

Still… for it not to reach a lethal dose…could it be because she’s an elf?

If that was the case, then he would have to kill her here and now.

But…

Not like this. I can’t kill her like this.

He didn’t need to fight to know—

Even a staggering Tillis was beyond his ability to defeat in his current state.

Normally, he would have killed her the moment the poison took effect.

The fact that she was still standing meant his plan was already in shambles.

Thud.

In the end, Loki glared at Tillis while slowly backing away.

For now, he had to survive.

If he could just stay alive, opportunities would always come.

So for the moment, all he thought was—

Survive.

He decided to focus solely on fleeing from the shadow of death.

Today’s just not my lucky day.

That was what crossed Loki’s mind as he widened the distance between himself and Tillis.

Originally, in this cramped underground, Loki had planned to use both his ability and the demon’s power to corner everyone.

No matter how many antidotes they carried, there was always a limit. If he flooded a confined underground with his poison, it wouldn’t matter whether they had an antidote or a destructive ability.

But he had never expected this underground space to be so large.

His entire plan was falling apart.

There’s still a way.

Even in this utterly hopeless situation—

In this moment when survival itself was uncertain, let alone counterattack—

There’s definitely a way.

Loki did not give up.

***

I hate to admit it, but in many ways, Loki’s a lot like me.

Good looks, decent abilities, a sharp mind, and a talent for planning.

“You’re not in your right mind.”

“Honestly, it’s not wrong, is it? The only difference is our status and where we draw the line. In that sense, Loki and I are just a matter of taste.”

“I dislike you both equally.”

“Anyway, if I were Loki, I’d focus on surviving first. And once I’m alive, I could come up with as many next moves as I wanted.”

What’s more, Loki didn’t have a line he wouldn’t cross. He’s got far more methods available than I do. That guy will do anything, absolutely anything, to win.

“So instead of avoiding Loki, we should be checking his body.”

“And if my brother turns out to be alive and unharmed? Do you think we could face him in our current state?”

“Your Highness can.”

“No, I don’t think I can. So why are you saying it’s fine? Besides, it’s your plan. Shouldn’t you be the one to fight him?”

“I’m using my strength right now to support you so you can keep moving and still get some rest, am I not?”

“Your logic is completely unsound. Did you hit your head when we fell?”

“Still, isn’t it better than rambling while drunk?”

“……”

“Alright, enough talking. Let’s walk. Lean on me a little more. We have to find Loki. That way, Your Highness will be that much closer to the throne, won’t you?”

Logically speaking, Loki’s chances of survival were slim. He had already suffered fatal injuries before the fall. And on top of that, he made a deal with a demon.

Once he made that deal, it was inevitable that he’d become Tillis’s target.

Tillis had witnessed the scene herself, and with him having fallen underground…a place where it’s easy to avoid prying eyes, the demon-obsessed judge wouldn’t hesitate.

Still… how should I put this?

I felt uneasy.

If we miss him here, it really might be irreversible.

“Johan.”

“If you’re about to argue over something that’s already been settled…”

“There’s someone ahead.”

“…Could it be Yuna?”

“I doubt it. If it were her, I wouldn’t have noticed in the first place.”

She wasn’t wrong.

There’s a reason she’s called the queen of assassins.

Her skill in close combat may not be the best, but when it comes to assassination, no one can match Yuna.

“You should fall back.”

Lobellia unwrapped her arm from around my neck and shoved me aside.

I immediately took a few steps back and hid behind her.

“……”

Lobellia looked at me like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

What? You told me to fall back.

“…Even so, shouldn’t you at least hesitate a little?”

“Your Highness said you would do it, so as your vassal, I must trust and follow you. And isn’t it said that one knows their own body best? If you stepped forward, it must be because you’re confident.”

“You’re giving me anemia… Looks like you’ll have to fight instead.”

“Stop acting like a child.”

“Are you being this merciless because I made a mistake recently?”

“Isn’t this whole situation a direct consequence of that mistake?”

“Wait! It’s coming.”

Lobelia grabbed me and rolled us across the ground.

Ah! My back! I landed on a rock!

“Shh. Let’s stay hidden and see how things play out.”

While I was tearing up from the pain, Lobelia whispered into my ear.

In all the frantic rolling, I hadn’t realized she was holding me tight.

I knew we had to conceal ourselves as much as possible, but… if Yuna or Ariel saw this, there would be hell to pay.

“That person is…”

“Who is it? I can’t see from here.”

All I could see was dirt.

“That’s strange. I could’ve sworn I sensed someone here…”

“Oh, it’s Raven.”

I immediately shook off Lobelia’s arms and stood up.

She looked at me in shock, but there was nothing I could do. I’m a man already spoken for. And one who’s practically about to be split in half.

In a situation like this, I can’t afford to do anything that could be misunderstood.

Since it was now clear the situation wasn’t dangerous, I could relax.

“Ah, Johan. It’s you?”

“Yeah.”

As I stood there like nothing had happened, Lobelia finally got up and asked me,

“Isn’t this… that transfer student? The one you dueled?”

“That’s right.”

“What’s he doing here?”

“A spy Loki planted…”

“I see.”

Crackle!

The moment I spoke, Lobelia clenched her fist. Red lightning flared from her hand, and in an instant, her figure vanished from sight.

Thud!

By the time I came to my senses, Raven was lying sprawled on the ground.

“…He is with us. I already persuaded him.”

“Ah.”

“Well done. Very well done.”

And just like that, my burdens had doubled.

On one side, a useless princess who could barely walk yet had gone all out to clobber an ally.

On the other side, a supposedly cunning spy who got knocked out cold after a single sentence.

“Am I supposed to carry him?”

“S-Sorry about that.”

“I’m asking. Am I carrying him?”

“…Regrettably, after that last strike, I’m having trouble moving myself.”

“Well done.”

I grabbed Raven’s arm and hauled him up. Unlike Lobelia, he was completely unconscious, which made him much harder to lift.

If I hadn’t kept up with my sword training, I would’ve collapsed immediately.

“Get on my back.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, you’d better be thankful.”

So now, Raven was slung over one side of me, and Lobelia was hanging off my back.

I hadn’t even started moving yet, and I was already out of breath.

I hoped Raven would wake up soon, but given Lobelia’s tendency to ignore concepts like “restraint”, her blow had probably sent his soul right to the gates of the afterlife.

It was going to take a while for him to make his way back to the living.

“Ugh…”

“Ugh… I-Im sorry.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“O-Oh. I see. I-Im sorry.”

Even with nothing more than a sigh from me, Robellia grew wary.

Well, yes. If you have any shame, that’s how you should react.

“By the way, why was he here? Did you call him?”

“I didn’t.”

“Then?”

“Well, probably for revenge.”

“…I see.”

Of course, that didn’t mean Raven had come here to take revenge on Loki.

If he knew his place, he wouldn’t take on such a reckless venture.

But Raven was a mercenary.

Even if he was in disguise, he wasn’t someone ignorant of mercenary work.

So who would have hired Raven to come all the way here?

***

Squelch.

Loki walked alone through the vast underground.

Neither his Jörmungandr subordinates nor his enemies were anywhere in sight.

He simply staggered forward through the darkness.

And then—

“You’re a mess, Loki.”

“……”

A ghost who should have been dead long ago appeared before him.

For a moment, Loki wondered if he himself had already died, as he murmured the name of the figure standing in front of him.

“…Cattleya Tales?”