Chapter 37: Truly, truly… I had thought it was all so joyful.

The Deken Empire was the “hegemonic nation” of this continent.

Its population, its technology, its military might—every aspect of its national strength was the highest in the world.

Compared to that, neither Saripa nor even Yaiban could come close.

“Let the world witness the authority of the Deken Emperor.”

The long-cherished wish of the Deken Empire was the unification of the continent.

They wanted the entire land to bow before Deken’s authority and become its territory.

To that end, the Emperor of Deken demanded that surrounding nations become its vassal states.

Yaiban, refusing Deken’s high-handed demands, entered into a state of war.

“We of Saripa submit to Deken’s rule.”

“Very well. As a reward, we shall allow Saripa limited self-governance.”

“We are most grateful.”

Meanwhile, Father, the King, made the decision to yield to Deken.

With Saripa’s limited power, it could not stand against Deken, nor against Yaiban.

In that case, it was only natural to wag our tail at the stronger of the two—Deken.

But how humiliating must that have been for Father?

Deken was the country that had kidnapped the First Princess, Princess Rishalia, purely “out of curiosity.”

Their nobles acted arrogantly, mocking Father, who had come to surrender, as a “cowardly king of a petty country.”

It would have been no surprise if, deep down, he hated them—if he bore them a grudge.

And yet Father swallowed his emotions and humbled himself before the Deken Empire.

To protect the peace and safety of his people, he bowed his head and cast aside his pride.

Thanks to Father swallowing such bitterness, Saripa prospered greatly.

With the transfer of technology from Deken, the standard of living among the people rose.

Production capacity improved, and the people no longer starved.

And we gained a sense of security, knowing that if the worst came to pass, Deken’s reinforcements would come.

Saripa was sandwiched between Deken and Yaiban—its destruction could have come at any time.

Yet Father, in a single generation, rebuilt Saripa into a “small but stable nation.”

He didn’t neglect preparing the next generation, either.

He educated the First Prince, Sario, and instilled in him the qualities of a king.

He appointed the Second Prince, Jikei, to key positions and created a structure to support Sario.

...There were some small flaws, but it’s fair to say that Father was a wise and noble ruler.

He wasn’t especially outstanding in any one area.

In combat, he was likely inferior to Sario; in research, to Lululu; in politics, to Jikei.

And yet, Father possessed all the qualities a king required, in just the right balance.

Not a specialist, but a well-rounded sovereign.

We, his four children, truly respected him.

And with such a wise king ruling over it, the future of Saripa should have been a bright one.

---

It took about a month for the King of Saripa to depart and arrive in the Deken capital.

Then, another month passed from the moment Saripa’s king requested an audience with the Emperor to when the meeting was finally granted.

At last, the King and Prince Jalpha were being led into the Deken imperial palace.

“So, the time has come to destroy Yaiban?”

“Yes, Father.”

In truth, the realization of this summit had been unusually swift.

Ordinarily, securing an audience with the Emperor of Deken would take years.

That he agreed to meet just one month after the request was made was extraordinary.

It showed just how interested the Emperor was in Yaiban.

“King of Saripa, what information do you have on Yaiban?”

“I have it prepared. The documents are here.”

“Let me read them.”

The King, together with Prince Jalpha, bowed respectfully as they gave their detailed report.

The Deken Emperor nodded slowly and listened in silence.

“Hmm. Indeed… this is an opportunity.”

“Exactly, Father. Now is the time to march.”

…And just what kind of man was this Emperor of Deken?

“Indeed.”

He was a giant, nearly two meters tall, with a greatsword at his waist and a massive spear strapped to his back as he sat.

Yet his hair and brows were snow-white, his eye sockets lined with deep wrinkles—he was an elderly man over seventy.

“What of the other fronts besides Yaiban? Do we have the room to move our troops?”

“Yes. All seems calm elsewhere for the time being.”

“I see.”

Once, the Emperor of Deken had been known as the “Spear-Cleaving King”—a hero of the battlefield.

With the giant spear on his back, he had raced across the field in every direction, securing victory after victory.

That fierce spirit of his had not faded with age; his hawk-like glare remained just as sharp.

“This is a winnable war. A war we can win.”

“Oh, I’m glad you see it, Father.”

“Then Jalpha, I appoint you as supreme commander. Go and conquer Yaiban.”

The Spear-Cleaving King had never known defeat in battle.

Not once in his life had the Emperor fought a losing war.

He had a sharp instinct for knowing which battles could be won and which to avoid.

That clear-cut judgment is what allowed Deken to become a great power.

“You’ve come a long way, King of Saripa. I appreciate it. The Deken army will bring this to a swift conclusion.”

“Haha, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor of Deken also had a certain philosophy.

Simply winning wasn’t efficient.

Only with overwhelming force and a crushing disparity in power could one minimize losses and achieve true efficiency.

“Since I have given the order to march, no outcome but victory will be tolerated. You understand this, Jalpha?”

“Of course, Father.”

The Spear-Cleaving King had a nose for victory and would only engage in wars he knew he could win.

When he gave permission to march, it was as good as declaring victory.

“By the way, King of Saripa—on another note, I’ve heard your daughters are quite beautiful.”

“Yes. My two daughters are my pride and joy.”

With a pleased expression, the Deken Emperor shifted the topic.

Talk of princesses—clearly, this was a discussion of marriage alliances.

“Jalpha, you’ve met them in person. What did you think?”

“Yes. The elder, Lululu, is intelligent. The younger, Rishali, is charming. Both are as beautiful as the rumors say.”

“And? What are your thoughts on them?”

“…I am fond of them. I especially found myself connecting well with the younger, Princess Rishali.”

The King of Saripa, hearing the direction of the conversation, felt joy welling up in his chest.

His youngest daughter, the ever-charming Rishali, was a genius when it came to getting into people’s hearts.

So then… was this where the conversation was headed?

“Oh? Oh-ho. So, Jalpha, you fancy Princess Rishali, do you?”

“Embarrassing as it is to admit… I've never found a woman more enjoyable to talk to.”

“Excellent. Truly excellent.”

There could be no better match for Rishali’s future husband than Prince Jalpha.

If this were to become a formal engagement...

“King of Saripa, does Princess Rishali already have a fiancé?”

“N-no. At present, we’re still searching for one.”

“I see. An unmarried princess, then. All the better.”

There was no way they could let this chance slip by.

For the sake of Saripa—and for Rishali—this was the best possible marriage alliance.

“Jalpha, I can tell just by looking at you. You’ve taken quite the liking to Princess Rishali, haven’t you?”

“…You always see right through me, Father. You’re absolutely right.”

“Very well. Then one more order for you, Jalpha.”

The King of Saripa, trying to maintain a composed expression, could barely contain the excitement rising in his chest.

He said nothing, careful not to interrupt, and simply watched the conversation unfold.

“Conquer Saripa as well.”

“────Wh…at?”

In the very next moment.

The King’s eyes widened in disbelief at the command issued by the Emperor of Deken.

“Wait—what? I’m sorry, what was that, Father?”

“Did you not hear me, Jalpha?”

Prince Jalpha, too, was clearly shocked by the words.

Even he, usually stoic and composed, showed rare signs of distress on his face.

“Destroy Saripa, and capture Rishali. That will be your trial to become Emperor.”

“Uh, I—”

“Jalpha. A king may take a liking to someone, but he must never fall in love.”

The King of Saripa and Prince Jalpha alike stood frozen, mouths slightly agape.

They were dumbfounded by the Deken Emperor’s incomprehensible order.

“If you annihilate Saripa and slaughter her entire family, she’ll no doubt come to hate you deeply.”

“W-well… yes, of course.”

“In that state, seduce her and force her into submission as though she were a slave. If you are to succeed me as Emperor, you must command that level of gravitas.”

There was no hint of jest in his voice or demeanor.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, the Emperor of Deken ordered the destruction of Saripa.

He didn’t spare a single glance toward the King of Saripa, whose eyes were wide and lips trembling.

“…Pardon the question, Father. But what would be the purpose of such a war?”

“The culling of the weak.”

The Emperor replied without hesitation, casting a scornful gaze toward the King of Saripa.

“Jalpha. Never trust a man whose only talent is flattery. He will one day rot the nation from within.”

“W-we… w-we of Saripa have no intentions of betraying the Deken Empire—!”

“Those who bow to the strong will bow to others when threatened by even stronger forces. …Saripa cannot be trusted.”

Yes—right from the start, the Emperor of Deken had never trusted the King of Saripa.

He hadn’t destroyed them yet only because the time wasn’t right. For now, they were just temporary ‘allies’—kept alive to be used.

“P-please, enough with the jokes. I, the King of Saripa, am but a coward—see how I tremble.”

“Does this sound like a joke to you, feeble King of Saripa?”

“Please, I beg you to reconsider. Saripa is a fine land. If spared, we will surely be of use to Deken.”

The King of Saripa could tell, from the tone of the Deken Emperor’s voice, that he was deadly serious.

And yet, he forced a smile and continued groveling as best he could.

“If it’s truly such a fine land, then defend it yourself. Repel my Deken army if you can.”

“That’s… the difference in power between our nations is simply too great.”

“Then the fault lies with your own weakness and negligence.”

…Watching the King of Saripa behave like this—

The Deken Emperor’s expression twisted further, as if in growing disappointment.

“If you’ve complaints, resist. And if you cannot resist, then die. What would you say if a wild rabbit whimpered before a tiger, ‘You’re too strong—please don’t eat me’?”

“But we have pledged our loyalty to the Deken Empire…”

“I have no need for weaklings who do nothing but grovel.”

At that instant, countless Deken knights raised their blades toward the King of Saripa’s throat.

His face turned pale, his shoulders trembled, and he fell to his knees.

“Sniveling, fawning, spineless weakling. I’ve always hated you.”

“T-that’s… far too cruel, Emperor of Deken!”

In truth, it was likely just the Emperor’s personal distaste.

A warrior through and through, the Deken Emperor saw nothing but cowardice in the King of Saripa’s behavior.

He was convinced that, when the time came, the man would betray him.

“Pathetic. You won’t even make a stand?”

“I… I have no intention of fighting Deken…”

“Deken demands strength. I will not let some spineless worm march under my banner.”

Staring down at the trembling king, the Deken Emperor let out a scornful laugh—

Then, as though something suddenly came to mind, he said:

“Still… I thank you for serving as nourishment for my son’s growth. That Princess Rishali of yours—I’ll make full use of her.”

“You…! You bastard!!”

The Emperor muttered the words with a vacant expression, utterly devoid of emotion.

“Well then, the discussion is over. Jalpha, do it.”

“…Yes, Father!”

At that command, Prince Jalpha snapped to attention.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, and the light in his eyes disappeared.

“…Understood, Father.”

“Jalpha—my prince!”

As he drew his sword, Prince Jalpha also put his usual mask back on.

To execute the same king he had just been casually conversing with—on a single command.

This was Deken’s education. This was Deken’s imperial doctrine.

An emperor must be alone. And an emperor must be strong.

“King of Saripa. I bear you no ill will, but… for the sake of Deken, I must ask you to die.”

“You filthy traitorsssss!!”

Expressionless, Jalpha raised his sword and pointed it at the King of Saripa’s neck.

There was no hesitation left in his face—no confusion, no remorse.

“Very good. That’s the face I like, Jalpha. You truly may be fit to inherit my throne.”

“Thank you, Father.”

And then, without the slightest pause—

Prince Jalpha’s golden hair swayed as he swung his blade down toward the King of Saripa.

“────Hmph. So the negotiations have failed.”

In the very next moment, a sharp metallic clang echoed through the throne room.

Prince Jalpha’s sword shattered and clattered to the floor.

“Are you unharmed, my liege?”

“────Wha!?”

As Jalpha’s eyes widened, a gust of wind tore through the audience chamber.

At the same time, thud after thud, the guards began collapsing, spurting blood—each fall accompanied by the grim clatter of armor.

“I apologize for acting without awaiting orders.”

“……Paulik!!”

Before anyone realized it, a knight clad in steel armor was cradling the King of Saripa in his arms.

His noble mustache bristled with rage, his expression furious, and his drawn sword radiated a murderous aura.

────He was none other than Paulik, the greatest knight of Saripa—and, indeed, the most powerful in the world.

“You fools! How did Paulik get inside!?”

“E-Emperor! The soldiers stationed at the chamber’s entrance… they’ve all been slaughtered!”

“Impossible!”

Paulik, captain of Saripa’s strongest knights, possessed acute hearing.

From outside the room, he had already grasped everything that was happening inside.

And though he had patiently observed the King’s negotiations to the last moment, he made the decision to storm in the instant Prince Jalpha drew his blade.

“…We’re retreating. Is that acceptable, Your Majesty?”

“I owe you, Paulik. You saved my life.”

Had he gone on a rampage, he might even have reached the Deken Emperor himself.

But Paulik prioritized the King’s safety—and chose to withdraw instead.

“After them! Don’t let them escape! Show me, elite warriors of Deken—slay them here and now!”

“Understood!”

The moment Paulik made any motion to flee, the Deken Emperor barked the order to pursue.

…But perhaps he had underestimated Paulik’s strength.

“Gyaaaaah!”

“His sword’s moving too fast—I can’t even see it!”

The spears and blades of the Deken soldiers were snapped like straw beneath Paulik’s masterful strikes.

His blade was peerless. Not a single warrior among the guards could hope to match him.

“Damn youuuuu!!”

The Deken soldiers roared in defiance and launched desperate strikes at Paulik.

But none could even land a scratch—each fell in turn, their heads severed in an instant.

“Mmm… Impressive. So he’s the one they call Paulik, the famed strongest knight of Saripa.”

The steel-clad knight, carrying the King in his arms, left the palace soaked in blood as he made his escape.

And rather than rage at this, the Deken Emperor’s eyes sparkled with something else—excitement.

“What shall we do, Father?”

“Seal the border checkpoints. Do not let those two escape the country.”

The rumors were true—who would’ve thought that such a remarkable warrior existed in a minor kingdom like Saripa?

The Guardian of Saripa. The Strongest Man in the World. The embodiment of battle itself, transcending human limits.

Paulik’s strength was indeed legendary—on a level of its own.

“A crane in a swamp—that phrase must have been coined for men like him. If only he had been born in Deken… what a waste.”

“As expected of the great hero of Saripa. I couldn’t even see the path of his blade.”

“Yes… truly. What a shame. If only there were a way to bring him under our banner.”

The Emperor of Deken had always had an eye for talent.

And now, before the radiant brilliance of the hero Paulik—he could feel his desire to possess such a man beginning to stir.

“Destroy Saripa before Paulik returns. If there’s no country left for him to go back to, we’ll have all the leverage we need to convince him.”

“Understood.”

“Ahh, I underestimated him! Paulik’s strength—truly breathtaking!”

Despite having lost many of his guards, the Deken Emperor laughed heartily, clearly in high spirits.

He despised sycophants, but greatly favored those with courage.

Loyal, composed, and supremely capable—Paulik was exactly the kind of man the Deken Emperor adored.

“Do not let Paulik escape. As long as he’s protecting that weakling king, he won’t risk a reckless breach through our checkpoints.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then let’s capture that Rishali girl and use her as a hostage to force their surrender.”

It was the Deken Emperor’s notorious vice—his refusal to be denied anything he desired.

And with a single command from his lips, the invasion of Saripa was finalized on the spot.

“Are there any individuals besides Princess Rishali whom we should keep alive?”

“None. Aside from Paulik, Saripa has no personnel of value.”

In the Deken Empire, the Emperor’s word was absolute.

And so, Prince Jalpha dutifully began preparing for the invasion of Saripa, just as ordered.

“Leave it to me. I’ll have Saripa conquered within half a day.”

“Good.”

This was the invasion of a helpless kingdom by a monstrously powerful empire.

While Saripa was already caught between two great powers, it now faced an ambush from Deken, attacking from the rear while they were still at war with the major nation of Yaiban.

…There was no path forward that did not end in destruction.

Such was the reality of being a small nation.

This Deken-led invasion was nearly whimsical in nature.

Had the meeting occurred on a day when the Emperor was in a worse mood, the outcome might have been vastly different.

“…Forgive me, Princess Rishali.”

An entire country snuffed out—because the Emperor of Deken felt like it.

No matter how unjust or tyrannical it seemed, if one lacked the military might to challenge it, any protest would simply be dismissed as the whimpering of the defeated.

And caught at the very center of this cruel and tragic spiral of fate────

“I truly, truly enjoyed talking with you.”

—was none other than Rishali, the second princess of Saripa, known for her endearing charm.