Lugunica finally had its queen. The people gathered in the street before the royal palace to hear the inaugural speech of the newly crowned ruler.
I stood behind her, looking at her back with a proud smile. It had been a long and thorn-filled road, but we had finally reached where we wanted to be.
The name Crusch Karsten was now the greatest in the entire kingdom. Although the path to the top had been neither simple nor peaceful, we managed to gain the people's acceptance.
"People of Lugunica! I am deeply grateful for your support!" Crusch spread her arms and began her speech. "If you had not believed in me, none of this would have been possible!"
Shouts and applause filled the area. The people were euphoric. Crusch looked at them with a faint smile while waiting for them to calm down before resuming her speech.
"This kingdom has been a victim of corruption! For many years, the Royal Guard and the Council of Wise Men deceived us all in order to preserve their privileges! However, that will never happen again! Justice has been served! Lugunica has been freed from those frauds!"
Crusch had an incredible talent for stirring the masses. Throughout her entire campaign, she made use of that ability to gain followers and expand her influence.
It was a slow and complex process. A long war. There was a great deal of bloodshed along the way, many lives were lost: allies who died in battle, traitors who received what they deserved, and of course, the enemies.
I had to kill many people.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Even now, remembering it, I could not help but smile with nostalgia. Peace always comes with boredom.
"I suppose I have to accept it and move on with my life. What do you think?" I asked Reinhard.
He did not answer me. He could not.
Suddenly, Crusch looked at me and nodded. That was the signal.
I walked forward slowly, stopping beside her. The moment the people saw me, they became even louder.
Of course. I was the knight of the new queen. I was the military heart of the revolution.
And besides...
Well, Crusch said it all when she grabbed my hand and intertwined her fingers with mine before the entire crowd.
"Nothing can defeat the spirit of a free people! Even the mightiest forces in the world will bow before us! This is the greatest proof of that!"
At that very moment, I raised my other hand, showing the people of Lugunica a battle trophy that drove the public fervor to its peak.
The head of Reinhard Van Astrea.
The audience's uproar became a savage roar that mixed resentment with cruel satisfaction. Upon seeing the symbol of the old order, the people spat out their hatred while once again rejoicing in their victory over that order.
"Here stands the so-called strongest man in the world! All that remains of the old tyrannical government is the head of its puppet! What should we do with him?!"
"Destroy him!"
"Crush him!"
"Leave nothing behind!"
Crusch smiled in delight at the people's reaction. Her eyes gleamed intensely.
"Would you like to do the honors?" she whispered, pressing her lips close to my ear.
"Of course."
I looked at Reinhard, or what was left of him. It was time to say goodbye.
"Farewell, dear friend," I murmured, tossing his head into the air while channeling mana into my sword.
I never wanted to kill him. From the very beginning, I tried to convince him to join us, but he stood firm until the very end.
He earned my respect for that. Every villain needs a hero, and vice versa. Naturally, that rivalry does not last forever: in the end, there must be a winner and a loser.
Unfortunately for him, I was incapable of losing, but I was also incapable of winning. If I did, everything would come to an end. I could not allow that to happen.
I sighed, and for a brief second, my calm expression of joy faded away, revealing the infinite emptiness and madness lying beneath it.
Then I swung my blade.