He pulled out the sword that was leaning against the throne.
He threw the sword sheath in his hand on the floor and strode down the stairs while holding the sword. As he went down one step at a time, the water level lowered to the level of his ankles.
At some point, the type of hallucination changed. The ghost that was tormenting him to death disappeared without a trace, and what he saw instead was blood welling up from under his feet. The feeling of sloshing and the smell of blood were vivid. The blood that had been pooling under his feet had already reached his ankles, and the water level continued to rise, so he will most likely end up drowning in it and dying.
He had no intention of losing to ugly hallucinations or anything like that.
As he always did, walking straight and unwavering, he took off the cloak he always wore on his back.
Flutter–
A red cloak embroidered with golden thread soared into the sky.
***
The day the First Prince went to die, he asked Eduardo for Elpidius and Aletea. He felt ominous, but he couldn't stop it. It was such a huge feeling of guilt that it was lodged in a corner of his heart.
He thought, that's how my terrible life began.
Starting from a simple sense of responsibility and revenge, the man who sat on the throne of the monarch soon had to bear another burden of guilt due to the truth and took the path of war to relieve it. And in the end, he achieved the title of Emperor without being able to die.
There were too many responsibilities to be responsible for to die.
Even though Eduardo felt as if he would be crushed to death at any moment, he could not show it. Because it was the result of his own choice.
'I started having hallucinations and thought I would get caught at some point.'
Still, he was glad that he wasn't caught by as many people as he thought in the worst case scenario.
Eduardo was lost in thought as he walked down the hallway, which seemed to be filled with blood and even looked gloomy due to the lack of people.
... Ironically, the moment in his life from birth until now when he felt strongly that he was alive was during the Eight Year War.
A war waged to destroy oneself and relieve guilt under the pretext of responsibility.
In the very war where he had to shoulder so many responsibilities that he couldn't even die, Eduardo felt, paradoxically, that he was still breathing.
So, strangely enough, he was happy about this situation.
"It's been a while."
A languid greeting was given. Deon faced him and narrowed his eyes.
Where did he throw away the cloak he always wore? The Emperor, who had taken off all formal clothes, not to mention the cloak, and was wearing only a simple white shirt, was standing in front of him, holding a sword.
He looked at his rolled up sleeves and belatedly gave an answer.
"Long time no see. Your Majesty."
"The bird I haven't seen has changed."
"Because a lot happened."
"It seems like he has become a hero."
"..."
How can he not notice that the level of appearance has changed? Eduardo slowly raised the corners of his mouth.
For generations, the beauty of all warriors was famous for exceeding human standards. What's more, wasn't there a story that one of the heroes of the past used his beauty to lure demons and infiltrate the Demon King's castle?
Of course, this was just word of mouth and nothing was certain. Deon Hardt, who had been silent for a moment with his eyes downcast, looked up. Red eyes and gold eyes met in the air, and a calm voice followed.
"Why did you do that?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Why did you give me that answer when I realized the truth and went to see Your Majesty in a state of loss of reason?"
This was a question he had since he regained his senses.
The Emperor would have noticed that he had lost his temper at the time. Not only that, but he also knew that this conversation was an important turning point.
Deon Hardt's actions depended on his every word. Since there was a high probability that Deon Hardt would completely turn to the demon realm, the Emperor could have boldly broken his spirit. Was the Emperor just an ordinary human being? He thought he could have easily brought down at least one person with a weak mind with just a few words.
Nevertheless, the Emperor focused Deon Hardt's hatred on himself. He became a goal that could never be defeated, and even went as far as to obediently let him go despite his blatant hostility. As time passed, Deon came to his senses and regained his senses, and belatedly realized that fact.
So he asked.
"I don't think that would matter in the current situation."
"... That's true."
He would remain a person who could not be understood until the end. Deon frowned.
Eduardo, who was staring at him, suddenly asked a question.
"Did you dress like that on purpose?"
"Ah."
The hand went up reflexively. Deon answered softly while fiddling with the red uniform similar to the clothes given by the Emperor that he wore during the hunting competition.
"... Some of them."
"Is it? It suits you well. Even if blood splatters, it won't look dirty."
"..."
The atmosphere changed, as if the small talk ended here.
Eduardo adjusted his sword and held it.
"I was expecting it, but this is what happens in the end."
"... Do you not regret it?"
"It's something I chose, so why?"
The tension that seemed to be suffocating subsided.
However, Eduardo had a faint smile on his face, as if he really liked it.
"No matter how much of a hero you are, you have only recently awakened as a hero, so you will not be able to fully control that power yet. Your sword handling skills would not have improved much either."
"..."
"What will you do if your physical abilities improve? You can't back it up with your skills."
There was a difference between having talent and having talent bloom. Therefore.
A man known to be the best at using a sword among all known 'heroes' and perhaps even the best at using a sword in all of humanity said this.
"Come. I will teach you the sword myself."
"...!"
Kwaang! An eerie and heavy noise rang out.
Deon Hardt rushed in. Eduardo's sword, which was swung against him, was pushed back as if by a strong force. He paused at the force that was stronger than expected and glanced down at the hand holding the sword.
His numb hand was shaking so much that he was glad he didn't let go of the sword.
'... I guess I should let go rather than fight back.'
It was pouring out. Although he knew it in his head and had practiced it a few times, it was still a bit of an unfamiliar concept. Before, if he was overwhelmed, he would be overwhelmed because there was no one who was strong enough to make him let go.
Was it just strength? He managed to block it with just the right timing, but the speed was no joke.
'It looks like becoming a hero is right.'
Suddenly, Lien Reiner, who had stopped him at the front door, came to mind.
Even though he was a 'hero', there was such a noticeable difference. What did Lien Reiner, who was not even a 'hero', think when dealing with him?
Eduardo's concentration increased for a moment as he remembered a question that would never be answered. He took a step forward, pushing away the blood that was dripping down his ankle. The sword was swung with strong will.
...
It was a fight he was no match for in the first place.
A warrior is a bundle of talent that surpasses all human standards. A hero is a being with slightly more talent than an ordinary person who barely possesses some of its fragments. Strength, speed, stamina, even lifespan and appearance. The warrior could not even be compared to the dregs of the hero.
Moreover, Eduardo's physical condition was at its worst.
The hallucinations not only eroded his mind, but also affected his strong body due to the effects of the fragments, and he eventually developed a high fever due to stress.
Yes, a high fever.
Who would dare touch the Emperor's body? Thanks to this, Eduardo was able to hide the fact that he was suffering from a high fever, even though his hallucinations were eventually discovered. Although his vision may have been blurred due to the heat, it was surprising that he not only dealt with Deon Hardt, who had become a warrior, but even taught him.
"There is too much force in each movement. It looks like you haven't been able to give up your old habits."
"You are a warrior. There is no need to exert force to move the body like before when the body was weak. You need to be aware of the power you have."
"Relax a little more than this and allow your joints to move smoothly in detail. It may seem unbelievable, but your current strength is enough to cut off the opponent's head."
"It's good to be irregular, but if it interferes with the movements you need to make later, it means it's an incorrect attack. Try to find different attack methods and stances."
It was such a pure teaching that it was hard to believe that it was a battle of life and death.
As a talented person, Deon Hardt quickly absorbed the teachings and immediately put them into practice, allowing his talent to blossom.
Eduardo, who had suddenly lost stamina and was breathing heavily, frowned as if something was bothering him, and then let out a small exclamation.
"I was wondering something because it was still inefficient, but..."
"...."
"I was missing the most basic thing. When swinging a sword, you must use your legs and waist, not just your arm strength."
At first glance, it seemed like he was using it sparingly, so he just skipped it. Currently, Deon Hardt was not able to utilize his legs and waist 100%.
"It would be better to use recoil a little more than now."
"..."
The correction was made immediately.
Deon looked at himself, demonstrating his strength more flexibly and precisely than before, and then looked at Eduardo. The red eyes were distorted with incomprehensible emotions.
"Why are you teaching me this?"
"Well... let's just say it was a whim before I died."
"... In Your Majesty's eyes, my skills must seem woefully immature. In return for your teachings, I would like to show you one of the most useful of my poor skills."
Eduardo raised an eyebrow.
There was no need to refuse something if it was shown to you.
Instead of answering, he took a step forward, held his balance firmly, and raised his sword straight up. Deon grinned at his perfect prepared posture.
The dagger in his hand spun and his thumb opened and closed to use the handle. His posture seemed to lower, and for an instant, Deon Hardt disappeared from sight.
Chaeeng–!!
"...!"
The lost sword flew backwards and fell somewhere.
Eduardo glanced at the dagger pointed at his throat and then looked at its owner.
"... That's amazing."
It looks like his palm was torn. He clenched and unclenched his fists, recalling what happened a moment ago.
It was only a moment, but he clearly exceeded the speed that the eye could perceive. This was not possible simply because he was a 'warrior'. He definitely said, 'It's the most useful of the poor skills I have.' This means that he had been using it before he became a warrior, so his mind, which was thinking of various assumptions, quickly came up with an answer.
... He wondered how he could kill a strong opponent with his ridiculously weak body.
"Did you forcibly derive a power that surpassed the limits of your body? It's great because it's something that not everyone can do, but once you use it, your body will be damaged and you won't be able to do anything in the future. If you use it here, where there is no one to take care of you..."
"..."
"Oh, that's right. You have become a warrior now."
He smiled softly after checking that Deon was already fully recovered and standing fine.
"I lost."
It was a complete defeat. A light, relieved smile appeared on his face.
Deon, who was quietly looking at him, tilted his head to one side.
"Let me ask you again."
"...?"
"Do you not regret it?"
He wondered what he was going to ask.
"... That."
A smile spread across his lips.
"Do you think I'll regret it?"
"... Well."
It was an arrogant and noble answer befitting an emperor to the end, but the sense of discomfort he felt from the first time they met still remained. Deon, unable to obtain any information from his steady golden eyes, spoke softly after a short silence.
"I wonder if you didn't realize that life is full of regrets."