Book 10: Prologue
Vol. 10: Prologue
"Where did I go wrong?"
It was a guide, kneeling at the top of a pile of garbage that led to such questions constantly.
"Liam has got the power to defeat us, what do we do now?"
Liam's true One-Flash against Gudwar? The first time I saw him, he was defeated.
That meant that the attack could reach the guide.
"Should I just leave Liam like this? But that doesn't make me feel any better! I will surely have my revenge, and I swore to you!"
Liam has moved up the ranks from being an existence that cannot be easily touched to one in which he is in danger if he is touched badly.
This is because of the One-Flash school, which does not originally exist.
"He is the one who is crazy! What is One-Flash? It's wrong to take that kind of street art seriously and recreate it!"
He has reproduced a swordsmanship that should not exist through his own misunderstanding and skill, and his ability is about to exceed the boundaries of human beings.
By nature, an existence like Liam's could not be created even if one wanted to.
Liam's existence itself was a miracle.
"But if I continue to approach him, I will be erased."
The guide shudders and recalls the incarnation of power that Liam unwittingly created. The Giant of Light, the embodiment of his own strength, is grateful without question when he finds the guide.
It was thanks to Liam's constant gratitude to the guide.
Whether unconscious or not, the Giant of Light presses his gratitude on the guide.
Liam, now that he has acquired power beyond that of a human being, is not an existence that the guide can easily approach.
If he approaches him carelessly, he will be forced to thank him and disappear.
"--If this happens, I will make Liam disappear in the real world. That would be more realistic."
If I can't do it myself, let the same people erase him.
Fortunately, Liam has many enemies.
Supporting them to defeat Liam was a realistic plan that the current guide could make.
"But wait--I've failed so many times before."
The guide had lost confidence because the forces he had supported had been destroyed at every turn.
The guide slowly stood up, which felt heavy, and looked up at the sky.
Surrounded by metal, the sky of the capital star reflected the night sky.
At first glance, the night sky looked very beautiful, but it was all man-made.
A single planet encased in metal is what the Capital Star looks like from the outside.
"The air on this shell-shrouded capital star of the empire is truly stagnant and wonderful. Just being here heals the wounds Liam inflicted on me."
The guide, who loves negative emotions, was very comfortable with the ill will and desires of people that have accumulated over thousands of years.
The metal shells that protect themselves make the capital planet more stagnant.
It was just the right place for the wounded guide to heal himself.
"Well, I suppose it's time to go and see how things are going. The most promising one right now--I guess it's Calvin."
Calvin - the crown prince of the Algrand Empire, and an opponent of Cleo, the third prince whom Liam is trying to retain.
In effect, Cleo has no power and is in a fierce struggle with Liam, who is behind him.
At the moment, Calvin is the only one who can compete with Liam, who has become one of the most powerful figures in the empire.
However, Calvin has his own problems.
"Calvin, too, is inferior to Liam. Can he win by supporting Liam? In the first place, it is doubtful that I would be able to compete even if I provided support."
The guide has assisted Liam's opponents many times in the past.
Each time he has been defeated, and in fact, it might be better if he did not help. I have thought about it that way.
But if I don't put my hand out, Liam will win.
"Let's just see what happens."
The guide decided to explore the capital planet.
Having stayed in another interstellar nation for a while, he is not familiar with the inner workings of the empire.
He is also concerned about Calvin's movements and heads off to investigate with heavy steps.
The building in which Calvin resided, located in the rear palace, had the appearance of a palace.
The palace is very large, with many skyscrapers and other buildings inside.
It is a place where a large city seems to exist.
In the halls of such a palace, Kukri's men were lying on the floor.
Spitting up blood, one of Kukri's men looked up to see Cleo.
"You betrayed Lord Liam!"
He has short red hair, unbalanced with only the right side of his bangs long.
He has a neutral beauty that makes him look like a woman to some people, even though he is dressed as a man.
Cleo looks down coldly on Kukri's men who have protected him up to now.
"I'm grateful to the Count. Banfield is without a doubt the reason I have survived to this day. But I have no use for him anymore."
"Even if it's just you!"
When Kukri's men try to use the bombs they have planted on themselves, dozens of blades fly in and pierce them.
The bomb did not detonate, it stopped, and Kukri's men died.
This is Calvin's palace.
Hundreds of dark men under Calvin surrounded Kukris men.
Calvin was coming down the grand staircase in the hall, surrounded by knights.
Stopping halfway down the stairs, Calvin cast a suspicious glance at Cleo.
"I didn't think you'd go this far. Such treachery, the Count of Banfield will not keep quiet."
Liam sent them some of his valuable subordinates.
They are excellent, but there are not many of them, and it is not expected that there will be more for some time to come.
It was in good faith for Calvin that he offered three such guards.
"I'm prepared for that. I'm not compatible with him.
(Yes, that's right. There is no turning back now. Liam--I guess I wasn't big enough to take you in.)
Cleo, with his dark eyes that have lost their light, is becoming disturbed by Liam, who has more power than he does.
Although Cleo feels safe with Liam's backing, he is losing patience with the idea of being a subservient.
He is no longer able to trust Calvin.
"Do you intend to throw away your position of strength just because of that? What do you want? In your position, you would have the position of crown prince without having to do anything. You can take the imperial throne as it is. Ousting the Count of Banfield is also usually done after you become Emperor."
If he wants to cut off his loyal subjects who have supported him and plan to dictate his rule, he should do so after he obtains the imperial throne.
Calvin did not seem to understand Cleo's actions.
He himself is aware of it.
"I just can't stand being treated well under him rather than becoming Emperor."
I can no longer stand Liam's treatment of me as a subservient.
"If you are a man, you want to stand as a living testimony in this world. I just thought it was better to get rid of that Banfield than to accept the fact that I was someone's accessory."
Calvin turned to Cleo and narrowed his eyes.
He seemed to suspect Cleo of betrayal.
"There was once a man in the empire who proved his treachery by killing an ally. But sometimes everything, including killing allies, was a plan to deceive the enemy. I won't judge that you're serious about siding with me just because I offered you an escort."
To Calvin, who was wary to no end, Cleo shrugged.
"It seems my brother has a very small heart."
At his words, the dark men and knights around him raised their weapons, but Calvin raised his hand to restrain them.
"Stop! --Cleo, you do understand, don't you? Betrayal is a heavier act than you think. And moreover, you're dealing with someone you're betraying."
Are you seriously going to betray that Count Banfield - Liam? In response to Calvin's question, Cleo smiled thinly.
"You take the empire, brother, and I'll stand aside to support you. Rather than relying on Banfield, the empire will be rock solid."
Rather than take the imperial throne himself, Cleo wanted to win over Liam.
Calvin's expression became bitter.
Cleo whispers.
"Brother--there is no end in sight, is there?"
That's because, from the beginning, Calvin had no choice but to take Cleo's hand.
There was no way left for Calvin, who kept losing to Liam.
"--All right."
As Calvin makes his decision, Cleo falls to his knees.
"From this point on, I will act as one of my brother's pawns."
Humans are wonderful, after all.
The guide, who was watching them from behind a pillar, was even impressed.
I've dealt with a lot of weirdos who force their gratitude on me, but by nature, humans are not rational creatures.
They frustrate and drag each other down even in situations where everything would be fine if they just stayed quiet.
To the guide, Cleo was dazzled by the negative emotions.
"There was still potential in humans. The enemy of man is still man."
The guide nodded deeply many times to Cleo's distorted emotions and made a gesture of wiping away tears.
"Cleo - and Calvin. If you two join forces, Liam will surely be in danger. Liam is still barely human, even if he is strong. He cannot live alone."
Calvin, an enemy within the empire, and Cleo, a supposed ally, have joined forces.
The reason is to defeat Liam.
With no help from the guide, he was happy to see that the situation was so far against Liam.
"It seems I underestimated the power of humans. Let me help you both as much as I can."
As the guide watches them smilingly, Calvin immediately tested Cleo.
"Win against Count Banfield, who is also the empire's greatest swordsman. Easy for you to say, Cleo--do you have any ideas?"
Even Calvin and his team keep failing.
He only asks Cleo if he has any ideas, but this was a test.
Are you seriously taking Calvin's side? Also, will Cleo be useful?
Cleo stands up and says to Calvin.
"You just have to hit the strongest swordsman with the strongest swordsman."
"Yes, but three of the four Imperial Sword Saints have already been killed by One-Flash. The remaining one cannot be moved from the border. Who do you think would bump off in this situation?"
Anyone could come up with that level of detail, but when told that the chances of success were slim, Cleo put his fist to his mouth and giggled.
He talks about the plan with an eerie air.
"Let's mass produce the strongest mobile knight Avid that Banfield has."
"That's a lump of rare metal. If we're not careful, we could have a whole fleet of them."
"They are worth it."
"Even if we could, we wouldn't have a pilot."
"We can get a pilot for that, too."
As Calvin nods his head, Cleo, who has been thinking about the plan for some time, projects an image into the air.
"We will install an artificial intelligence that analyzes Liam's piloting data, and for the pilot, we will have a clone of Liam."
"What the hell? Are you insane? Both of these technologies are forbidden!"
Artificial intelligence once nearly destroyed mankind.
And the forbidden technology of human cloning.
Calvin was disgusted by the use of these two technologies, even if it was only for Avid.
To this Calvin, Cleo speaks to him in a deceptive manner.
"If you don't win, it's meaningless. Banfield is such a strong opponent."
Calvin, troubled, asks Cleo about the current rate of achievement.
"How far along is the plan?"
"We have begun to educate people about artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, we do not have Banfield's genes in hand. Worst case scenario, we will take genes from Liam's parents and prepare a being that surpasses Liam. What I want from you, my brother, is to prepare an aircraft that will surpass - no, surpass - Avid."
Calvin is worried, but he does not know what kind of future he will have if he continues to lose to Liam.
It would still be better if he could die easily.
He is afraid of his future and promises to prepare an aircraft that exceeds Avid's if he does not have to violate the taboo.
"Fine, I'll do it. I'll get you the aircraft. But will Count Banfield come to the battlefield?"
"If they don't come out, we can use the aircraft we have prepared to overrun the Banfield family's army. If it is a forbidden aircraft, beyond human limits, it will surely destroy the Banfield's."
Calvin was in a cold sweat when Cleo, who was laughing in a crooked manner, said, "I've never seen anything like that before.
The guide was impressed by Cleo's ability to use any forbidden technique.
At the same time, he also realizes the danger.
"Wait a minute? The key is that they haven't gotten Liam's genes yet? To begin with, Liam's aircraft is now loaded with machine hearts."
The guide is troubled.
As it is, Cleo and Calvin will lose.
Liam's genes will be essential to increase the winning percentage as much as possible.
"Well, if this happens, I'll have no choice but to help them."
As the guide contemplates helping them, Cleo orders Calvin's men.
"You there, shoot me."
"What? What?"
Although his subordinate was puzzled by Cleo's order, Calvin, realizing Cleo's intentions, reluctantly agreed to let him shoot him.
He even wounded himself in order to deceive them.
When asked by Calvin, Cleo smiled.
"I wish I could praise your determination to go this far. Besides, they'll be suspicious if I'm unharmed. No, they'll be suspicious if you're injured. It would be profitable if they felt a little indebted."
He also injures himself to deceive Liam.
If he was not careful, he could really be killed right here, but Cleo was not afraid of that.
Calvin responds to Cleo's resolve with disgust.
"A resolve befitting a prince of a bloody empire."
"I am honored by your compliments."
Calvin's men raised their pistols and pulled the trigger on Cleo.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om