Yohan frowned deeply as he held the letter in his hand, delivered by an imperial messenger.
His gaze moved slowly along the paper, his dark blue eyes showing mixed emotions.
<Count Rahardt is hereby appointed executioner, to work with the Inspectorate to execute the traitor to the Empire-Fedelian Rogino.>
The Emperor couldn’t possibly be unaware of the bad blood between him and Fedelian, and yet he’s entrusted him with the task of eliminating him once and for all.
“…I see no reason to refuse.
There was no need for Yohan to intervene here, but he might as well do it himself. After all, we’ve had a lot of bad blood with him.
And if you get the job done, you’ll be rewarded accordingly. I don’t know what else you can get here.
Ding. Yohan snapped the letter closed between them. His dark blue eyes flickered with frost.
Meanwhile, Francia, who had finished her meal, returned to the room.
“So, what did they tell you?”
“I’ve been given the task of execution.”
“Execute…?”
Francia’s face hardened.
“An imperial decree has come down to me to execute Fedelian Rogino.”
“Why does that mean that Yohan…”
She pursed her lips for a moment, then shook her head.
“…Are you sure you want to take it?”
“I can’t refuse, anyway, can I?”
Actually, given his position, he could refuse, but he saw no reason to do so. This was his chance to deal with the bastard himself, wasn’t it?
Also, Yohan hadn’t forgotten, not for a moment, how many innocent lives had been lost because of him.
“Now that it’s come to this, I’m going to kill him with my own hands.”
“You…!”
Francia’s eyes trembled at the sound of Yohan’s determined voice. She bit her lip tightly and looked at Yohan.
If he gets involved in this, things will go wrong. We won’t be able to drop the bomb on the gathering of the Imperial Chantal Army.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.
“It’s too dangerous! It’s not that I don’t trust Yohan, but we can’t ignore the power of Tenerife and the man’s skills!”
Francia’s voice rose somewhat.
Fedelian alone possessed the skills of a first-class knight. He’s definitely a sword master.
Even Cassis Lenokhonen, who escaped from prison this time, is rumored to have joined him.
But she knew best that it wasn’t just a rumor. They worked together in the pre-Regression world, and even Yohan would have a hard time against them.
“I understand your concern. I would have stopped you, too.”
Yohan shook his head slowly.
Who could accept their lover taking on such a dangerous job? Trust aside, he wouldn’t want to be in that situation.
“But for now, I want you to trust me, and I can assure you that I can get the job done without any risk.”
Naturally, Yohan wasn’t blinded by reward and revenge, and he didn’t blindly accept the mandate. He had his reasons.
“I am on the verge of transcendence. No matter what happens, I will not lose.”
Yohan had been growing stronger with every passing moment since he had formally learned magic.
His magical circuits and amounts of power, not to mention their purity, had grown to ridiculous proportions.
Soon, he had reached the level of a transcendent mage.
“I still see the faces of those who died because of him,” Yohan said, his voice steady and resolute. “For their sake, I must deal with him personally.”
From the moment he first arrived at the Public Office, Yohan had been welcomed by Deputy Commander Tersis. He remembered the knights and mages he befriended while crossing borders to escort Rudella. Their deaths weighed on Yohan’s steps, lingering like shadows in his memory.
“….”
Francia gazed at Yohan, clenching her fists tightly.
Why was this man so unwilling to back down, even in the face of clear danger?
Of course, it was this very resolve that had helped her so much in the previous timeline and had drawn her to him in the first place, but…
“Haah…”
Francia lowered her head, a deep sigh escaping her slightly parted red lips.
“…Fine. But promise me one thing. If it feels even a little dangerous, you’ll retreat immediately.”
“I will.”
“And you must always put your life first, keeping me in mind.”
“Yes.”
Yohan nodded with a faint smile, his expression calm. Francia sighed once more, looking at him intently.
“…I’ll trust you and wait.”
“Thank you. For trusting me.”
Francia closed her eyes, recalling an artifact she had taken from the Celestial Mage’s library.
Though she said she’d trust and wait, she had no intention of staying idle. She would act first, using Gladius Luminis.
It was the only way to ensure Yohan stayed out of harm’s way.
* * *
A few days later.
Yohan, officially appointed as an executioner by imperial decree, made the Inspectorate his first destination.
“Welcome, Special Mage Rahardt.”
The woman standing at the front entrance greeted him in a low voice. Her pale platinum-blonde hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, and her gray eyes held a sharp and calculated focus.
‘Her name was…’
Eris Highlander.
A Special Inspector. Yohan recalled their previous encounter when she came to apprehend the Crown Prince.
“Good to see you, Special Inspector Highlander. I felt this before, but seeing you in the light, you are even more stunning.”
“Excuse me…? Stunning…?”
Eris stared at Yohan, her expression blank and slightly dazed. Her gray eyes seemed unfocused, as if her mind was elsewhere.
“…Special Inspector Highlander?”
“Yes, yes?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh… no, nothing. Ahem.”
She awkwardly cleared her throat, adjusting her posture unnecessarily, and quickly turned her gaze away. Her pale skin made the blush on her ears all the more noticeable.
“Will you begin the mission immediately…?”
“Yes, let’s proceed.”
“I’ll guide you…”
Eris took the lead. Her steps were steady yet somehow creaky, as though something was amiss. Yohan wondered briefly if she had injured herself during training.
Walking down the corridor of the Inspectorate, she finally stopped in front of a room. A plaque on the door read [Grand Inspector’s Office].
“All the special inspectors assigned to this operation are gathered here… They are highly capable and experienced individuals, so they will be a great help.”
Eris stuttered as she spoke, her gaze subtly drifting to the side.
“…I see. Let’s head in immediately.”
Yohan pretended not to notice and simply moved on.
Click.
When the door opened, they were greeted by a large, austere room. The only items present were a grand round table and stacks of documents. There were no other decorations.
“Welcome.”
“Good day.”
The elite inspectors inside rose from their seats and greeted them.
“I’m Rahardt, an elite mage.”
“It’s an honor…!”
“Haha, nice to meet you…!”
“Oh…”
The male inspectors nodded in admiration, while the female inspectors stared at Yohan’s face, mesmerized, as if admiring a work of art.
It was a reaction he was quite accustomed to.
“Ahem, shall we begin the briefing?”
The voice breaking the spell came from a woman seated at the head of the table. She carried an air somewhat similar to Eris, smiling awkwardly as she introduced herself.
“I’m Jevella Highlander, an elite inspector and deputy commissioner of the Inspectorate.”
Though Jevella couldn’t help but marvel and be taken aback by Yohan—whom she had only heard about from her close friend Rariana—she maintained her composure, aware of her professional duties as deputy commissioner.
“…Highlander?”
At the mention of her name, Yohan glanced at Eris, who flinched at his gaze. She quietly averted her eyes and nodded.
“Yes, your guess is correct…”
“I see.”
Yohan’s eyebrows arched.
‘No wonder they look so similar they’re sisters.’
He couldn’t tell who was older or younger, but it wasn’t important information for now. That could wait until later.
“My apologies. Please proceed with the briefing.”
Yohan took a seat at the round table. Jevella distributed documents before speaking.
“Fedelian Rogino, who went missing from the empire, is currently hiding in the strategic military territory of Lazerian, part of the Tenerope region. He is collaborating with the royal family to seize the throne.”
This information had been uncovered by inspectors dispatched to verify the authenticity of a letter sent by an unknown informant.
“Tenerope’s forces are not numerous, but the Golden Knights, led by Duke Aegis of the kingdom, pose a significant problem.”
The Golden Knights, undefeated throughout Tenerope’s long history, were the kingdom’s greatest military asset. They consisted solely of top-tier knights, led by Duke Aegis, a Grand Swordmaster.
Yohan’s eyes narrowed.
Their strength exceeded expectations.
If it were only Duke Aegis, he might find a way to deal with him, but with an entire battalion of first-class knights in the mix…
‘This is going to be a real mess.’
It would not be easy, even for the imperial inspectors.
“The chances of a betrayal by the royal family of Tenerife do not seem great, for they, too, depend on the success of Fedelian Rogino’s usurpation of the throne to avoid destruction.”
Even that hopeful possibility was cut off.
“Our plan is to sneak in to Fedelian Rogino’s location, assassinate him, and get out…”
Zevela pursed her lips in a straight line. It was a plan that she thought was far-fetched. But in her opinion, it was for the best.
The imperial court had entrusted the Inspectorate with the task, and had chosen Count Rahardt as the executioner, to avoid all-out war in the first place.
That doesn’t mean they can’t attempt a magical bombardment of the chokepoints. Killing the Fedelians would turn what should have been a simple matter into a war.
Of course, the Empire could try to cajole them into a pact, but that wasn’t a very good option.
It would be a loss of face.
Other nations would likely rise up.
“Hmm…”
“Maybe we should avoid their eyes.”
“…That won’t be easy.”
The inspectors murmured. The assassination of Fedelian Rogino was arguably the most difficult task they had ever been assigned.
“There aren’t many Knights of the Diamond, at least of the first rank, but we’ll have to deal with them if we’re going to hit Fedelian Rogino where he is.
against them.”
The Fedelian Rogino will not come out of their strongholds where soldiers and knights are gathered, just in case.
“Then time will drag on, and the Duke of Aegis, who must be most vigilant, will come, and the plan will fail.”
Before the Duke of Aegis could enter the fray, they would have to slip past the soldiers and knights at the stronghold and assassinate Fedelian. It was a race against time.
Yohan stroked his chin, then raised his hand.
“ Please speak.”
“The Duke of Aegis will be my opponent.”
“….The Duke of Aegis?”
“Yes.”
Yohan’s voice was firm, his eyes unwavering. But Zevela’s gray eyes were filled with distrust.
Of course, she knew his skills were considerable. But a Grand Sword Master? Impossible.
Yohan, who could read Zevela’s thoughts by his demeanor, his eyes, and his expression, spoke quickly.
“I haven’t announced it, but I’m on the verge of transcendence. I might be able to stall time.”
Zevela narrowed her eyes.
‘Surely…’
If she had entered the Realm of Transcendence, she might be able to deal with Duke Aegis.
Of course, the difference in power between Transcendentals is vast. But to be a mage and still be able to capture a special beast with a short body?
‘I can believe it.
After finishing her calculations, Zevela nodded and made a decision.
“Then, after a simple test to determine his power, we’ll organize a new operation centered around the Rahardt Express Mage.”
Her gray eyes flashed.
“An operation to assassinate the treasonous Fedelian Rogino.”