Volume 7 Epilogue

EPILOGUE

The news of Milza’s death were sent around all of Atuk through liaisons, and to Aubest Meletes through Terius Willain’s magic wand. With that, all of the major players in the Great War now knew that the Viceroy of Dartania died at Theo’s hand.

There was no need for Terius to end his own life when the battle was over, since he was not Milza’s contracted Mage, but he probably chose to follow him in death because that was what his pride as a human being told him to do.

「…Lord Milza charged into the Artuk Treaty’s forces surrounding Castle Unicorn and met a terrible end in a duel against Theo Cornero, the Earl of Sistina. 」

Aubest summarized the information he heard from the magic wand and relayed it to Marlne,

「…Why? 」

After receiving the shocking news of Milza’s death, Marine hanged her head low and asked that single question.

「Lord Milza, why didn’t you wait for the reinforcements to arrive? 」

Marine was leading the Heavy Knights of Waldrind to Artuk specifically to rescue Milza. They should have arrived at Castle Unicorn tomorrow. If they had joined together and fought, they might have had a chance of winning against the Artuk Treaty.

「It’s just a guess, but… 」

After Aubest prefaces this, he answered her.

「This is probably because he determined that reinforcements from Dartania and Stark would not come to his aid. 」

In Stark, there was a mass uprising among the residents who had been enslaved by the Nord settlers, and the Nord people apparently decided to abandon the colony. In Dartania, forces hostile to Milza have gathered together, and it appears that there was a civil war.

「With our army alone, it would be difficult to win even if we could join forces. And that would put you in danger, Lady Marine. 」

Aubest continued calmly.

「So I was looked down upon. 」

Mariene gripped her horse’s reins tightly. However, the army she led was certainly not that large. On the other hand, the forces of the Artuk Treaty that surrounded Castle Unicorn were massive.

If Aubest was asked if they could win, he’d have to answer that he doesn’t know. However, Mariene was still determined to go to Milza’s rescue regardless. Milza was a trusted ally and an indispensable presence for Marine, who wanted to become Emperor no matter what.

Milza’s death was a huge loss for Marlene.

(But I cannot stop here.)

That’s what Marine told herself. And she was sure that this is what Milza would’ve wanted as well.

「Anyway, when did the Artuk Treaty gained so much power? 」

Marine asked Aubest.

「It seems that it rapidly gained strength while our eyes were focused on the north of the continent. 」

「So it’s all because of Theo Cornero? 」

「Most likely. 」

Aubest nodded.

「I can only think that the situation has completely changed now that this young man has returned to the continent. 」

「I didn’t mean to underestimate him, but… 」

However, even Marine had not expected the situation to reach this point.

She fought Theo twice and met him once when he invaded Veltava. He was an honest young man whom she liked but didn’t really feel threatened by. This young man traveled alone to his hometown of Sistina, defeated the Rossini family that has ruled there for generations, quelled the Chaos Vortex, the continent’s greatest Chaos Disaster, and defeated the Black Witch, the perpetrator of 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」, and captured her.

It was a feat that made her wonder if he was the same young man she met back then.

Most likely, Theo will become the leader of the Artuk Treaty, replacing Lassic David, and he will definitely be a tougher opponent than Alexis Ducet, Marquis of Halusia, the leader of the Fantasia Union.

「What do you think the Treaty and Theo Cornero are going to do from now on? 」

「They’ll try to invade Waldrind, your home country. 」

After repeating that it was just a guess, Aubest answered. Marine’s thoughts were exactly the same.

「I’m confident that I won’t lose even if they invade us. However, I’m afraid we won’t be able to move our army anymore. Things will go back to the time when Lord Vilar was still a thorn in my side… 」

While Vilar, the Earl of Artuk, was present, Waldrind was in a state where it was as if it had a sword constantly held at its throat. And now, even after bringing Milza to the Factory Alliance, asking for reinforcements from the Nords, and finally defeating Vilar, a new person has appeared who points the exact same sword at them again.

「What are you going to do now? 」

「Now that Lord Milza has passed away, there is no point in marching on towards Artuk. 」

Marine calmly made her decision. It would be completely unreasonable to go to war just for the sake of mourning.

「We will immediately return to the north. We will settle the fight with the Earl of Leclerc before the Artuk Treaty puts pressure on us. 」

Marine looked to the sky and prayed for Milza’s soul.

And then she left Artuk and pressed on towards the north.