RGS Vol 7 Part 13

“Ugh, is this your last desperate act? Hah, once the ministers are out, it’ll be even clearer. They will all know you’ve completely lost it and are killing people.”

Even in the midst of pain, Truyde’s eyes held a glint of victory as he looked up at Karas. However, when their eyes met, that gleam of light faltered. In front of Karas’ indifferent gaze, there was the same mocking look as Truyde’s own.

“Do you know why I spent six years wandering the battlefield and left the country?”

The sudden question that came out of nowhere left Truyde dumbfounded. Everyone knew that Karas had fled to the battlefield to escape the King’s Heart. Truyde, sweating coldly from his wounded shoulder, tried to sneer as best as he could.

“To show everyone that you’re a coward?”

“No. To show everyone that you’re an idiot.”

“Now you’re trying to make excuses…”

“Your stupidity is truly unmatched. Explaining it to you is becoming infuriating since you haven’t figured anything out.”

Anything?

What exactly haven’t I figured out?

Truyde tried to dismiss whatever nonsense Karas was spewing as an attempt to save his pride. Now that he had power, he was trying to cover up his disgraceful past of running away. However, that nonsense continued to flow from Karas’ mouth in an annoyingly bored tone.

“Even if I was just a king in name, I thought your King’s Heart would become more uncontrollable if I wasn’t there. Over the six years, you exceeded my expectations by exploiting the people. It’s no wonder farmers, bankrupted by the King’s Heart, volunteered to join the army to earn money.”

“Hmph, so you hoped we would torment the people more for six years? Did you think they would rise up and attack us?”

This excuse was pathetic.

Truyde snorted at Karas’ words, thinking it was as expected. But Karas simply nodded.

“That’s right. While I could eliminate everyone just as you said, that would be too easy, wouldn’t it? If those at their lowest reject and attack you, it would at least be entertaining to watch.”

“No one can attack the King’s Heart.”

Truyde immediately refuted Karas’ words. This was a belief that had been passed down for too long.

“No matter how much we exploit them, the King’s Heart is like a god to them. Do you think any human would dare raise a sword against a god?”

“No, they wouldn’t.”

Karas, who easily agreed, slowly added.

“Humans in their right mind, that is. So, I created those who aren’t.”

Those who aren’t?

AT that moment, reports he had been hearing frequently lately flashed through Truyde’s mind.

‘The madmen are running wild. All of them were receiving treatment at the temple, and because of that, some temples in the capital have even been attacked…’

It was information he had heard repeatedly and always dismissed. There were plenty of others to manage the temples even if he didn’t. His immediate concern was using the black potion to win his bet against Karas and eliminate him. The defiant spirit rising within him insisted that this was not important. However, the unease that was rising along with it was unavoidable.

Hadn’t he been caught off guard once before?

Ignoring the servant’s report about his wife had led to a disastrous conclusion. Fearing another unexpected conclusion from Karas, Truyde couldn’t bring himself to speak. His expression hardened, but Karas, as if finding explanations tiresome, casually stated.

“Salt. The King’s Heart temples sell salt as a holy relic for a high price, don’t they?”

Without further explanation, the single word ‘salt’ brought other thoughts to mind. He had already heard about Karas’ acts such as poisoning the key figures in the King’s Heart and ruining Truyde’s own family by mixing poison with salt.

So, did he use salt in the temples as well?

Of course, he did. After the war profiteer joined the King’s Heart, and he took over supplying the salt. No temple would refuse the bribe offered almost free of charge by a nouveau riche with vast salt mines.

“Surely not all the salt?”

“Not all. Just enough to cause withdrawal symptoms that would drive them mad. Anywhere there’s a temple, there’ll be enough madmen that will come out.”

“……”

“Once they realize they can only get the salt they need only by going to the temple, those madmen will gladly raise their swords against you.”

“That’s just a few number of people. We’ve already subdued them in the capital and thrown them in prison. The rest can easily be…”

“But no one will buy salt from your temples anymore.”

“What’s so important about that salt?!”

“Would you say the same if you were the source of that salt?”

The mockery completely vanished from Truyde’s eyes.

What is he talking about?

“Why am I the source?”

“You’re a real idiot. The war profiteer handed you the salt mines. Ah, you must have thought of it as just a tribute from him. Just like how your wife unknowingly consumed the poisoned salt.”

“……”

“Now, it’s you who’s driven the people mad.”

Truyde realized that the trap beneath his feet was much deeper than he thought.

I’ve become the culprit?

But wasn’t the Emperor the one who drove his people mad with salt?

Truyde’s face twisted grotesquely. Karas, unconcerned, looked towards the open door as he continued his explanation.

“But as you said, even then, people won’t easily attack the temples. They needed a stronger motive. And you provided that help yourself.”

Help?

“You know, spreading the rumor that I’ve gone mad. The ministers who left the palace will now try to gather salt that causes symptoms similar to the black potion. They’ll babble about needing to satisfy the mad emperor. There’s no better motivation than an insane emperor running amok.”

A faint smirk appeared on one side of Karas’ mouth.

“Shall we bet? Within a week, all your temples will be attacked. Because of the atrocities committed by the King’s Heart that even poisoned the emperor? No. It’ll be because of the madmen desperate to steal the salt from the mad emperor. This is just the beginning.”

Karas wiped away his faint smile and dryly concluded.

“I learned from the war. Human cruelty is contagious. Once a temple is looted, even sane people will gain the courage. Ah, it’s okay to rob that place. There is much more to take from the temple than just salt.”

Truyde’s jaw began to tremble. The tremor spread from his shoulders down to his knees on the floor. His body seemed about to collapse at any moment.

No, it can’t happen that way.

It won’t be as easy as Karas says.

“Coincidentally, with the emperor who’s gone mad, he won’t be able to properly punish those who attack the temples.”

“……”

“If the King’s Heart was like a god, now it’s just a pigsty overflowing with meat.”

“Did you plan all of this from the beginning?”

“I was bored waiting.”

“W-Waiting for what?”

Karas lowered his eyes in response to the question that came out like a heave of breath. He looked down at his clenched fist as if recalling the past.

“For my power to fully complete. Before, I could only use my power freely whenever I was angry.”

Waiting for the Dragon’s Day, for him to come of age?

“So, you’re saying it’s fully complete now?”

Nod.

The sight of Karas nodding, as if it were a bother, made Truyde’s heart sink. He should have eliminated him when he was a child. He should have slit his throat when he was weaker. But now, what can he possibly do to stop him? All of his attacks had become futile. The black potion, and even the taunts meant to wound his pride and bring about defeat, none of it worked. There was only one option that remained.

“No matter how powerful you are, even you can’t deal with the Dragon’s Forest. The forest is expanding its territory, turning into a land of death. Do you think you can stop it?”

“No.”

It was the answer Truyde wanted, yet he felt no satisfaction. Karas’ eyes who answered no, were filled with amusement.

“I have no intention of stopping it.”

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The Dragon Forest is devouring people?

The soldiers who had fled in a panic couldn’t properly explain it to the curious onlookers. They were just screaming like madmen, trying to get away from the palace as quickly as possible.

“W-We have to run! Otherwise, we’ll be eaten!”

Kin grabbed one of the soldiers to question him, but he couldn’t get a proper answer.

“T-The ground will swallow us. Don’t go near it. The Dragon’s Forest is truly cursed.”

Leaving the soldier who kept repeating the same words, Kin went inside. He felt he had to see it with his own eyes to confirm the soldier’s words. Those who had followed Kin were visibly tense, clearly frightened by the soldier’s warning, but thankfully, one of them was not as scared.

“There’s really no one here. Where did they all go?”:

Clara asked in a calm and low voice. Kin, who was ahead of them and cautiously surveying the surroundings, raised a finger to signal for silence. Clara turned his head with a huff of dissatisfaction, wanting to raise his fist first, but he held back and moved forward.

Since all the soldiers who had fled were saying the same thing, the possibility of it being a lie was slim. There was something inside that was killing people. As a result, even though they had been inside for a while, they hadn’t gone far. When Clara, unable to wait any longer, tried to move forward, they finally encountered someone alive inside the palace.

Like the soldiers, the person was running in a panic, but when Kin and his group saw him, they hesitated and frowned at the sight. His clothes, hair, and even skin were all burnt and charred as if he had been burned in a fire. As he limps away in his gruesome state, he urgently commanded upon seeing Kin’s group.

“Hey, y-you, get me out of here! Hah, hah, the blackened ground is expanding around the palace. We don’t know when the entire place will be consumed! Hurry up and carry me out now!”

Hearing his commanding voice, Kin realized he was one of the ministers who had been following Truyde. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and grabbed him.

“Ah! Why are you drawing a sword on me…?”

“The blackened ground is expanding? What does that mean?”

The minister trembled as the sword was held under his chin and pointed behind him with his hand.

“The blackened ground is turning everything to ash. It’s expanding its territory.”

“Blackened ground?”

“Y-Yes. The cursed Dragon Forest. The forest is clearly angry.”

The forest is angry?

Then what about His Majesty?

“Has something happened to His Majesty?”

No, no.

 The minister shook his head and spoke again. Kin saw the fear filling the man’s eyes as he mentioned the emperor.

“His Majesty has tremendous power. Even Truyde couldn’t stop him.”

Truyde couldn’t stop him?

Kin, stunned, stared ahead blankly. Seizing the opportunity, the minister shoved Kin aside and ran away. Although there was no intention to chase after him, everyone was too stunned by his astonishing words to move. Clara was the first one to speak.

“Then His Majesty has won.”

His voice was bewildered, but there was no joy in it. The ominous atmosphere enveloping everyone around was too overwhelming to call it a victory. The cursed Dragon Forest was another matter.

Crackle.

Kin took a step forward and quietly ordered the soldiers.

“As soon as we confirm the blackened ground, we will return.”

“Sir Kin! But what about His Majesty and Lord Abel…?”

“Evacuating the people outside must come first.”

With darkened eyes, Kin quickly scanned the surroundings again and hurried his pace. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the emperor’s victory signaled the destruction of everything.

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It felt like crossing a narrow bridge suspended between cliffs. Treading the long, narrow strip of safe ground amidst the blackened land that burned everything was more terrifying than the cliffs. However, Ashler, who had chased Abel, walked along the narrow path as if it were just a simple walk.

When the path was blocked, he would effortlessly leap onto the safe ground without hesitation, even while still weak and staggering. He was actually moving faster than Abel. Though Abel could step on the blackened ground without harm, he was breathless with worry for him.

“Sir Ashler, are you alright?”

“Yes.”

He gave a short reply, glanced at the sky that was about to darken, and quickened his pace again. It was only then that Abel realized Ashler wouldn’t be able to distinguish the ground once it got dark.

“Ah, if it gets dark, I’ll carry you.”

Hearing Abel’s nonsense for the first time in a while, Ashler paused momentarily to catch his breath. However, he soon quickened his pace and shook his head.

“It’s not because I’m worried about it getting dark. I’m just concerned we might be late.”

After a brief pause, Ashler asked Abel.

“Lord Abel, you mentioned it might not be a curse, right?”

When Abel, who was following behind, stopped walking, Ashler, who was ahead, also stopped and turned around to look back. They were now close enough to see the palace, their destination, with the naked eye, but Ashler remained still, waiting for his response.

“May I ask what you mean by that?”

“Well, I’m not certain.”

“If it concerns His Majesty, any thoughts you have are important, Lord Abel.”

Abel hesitated for a moment, then looked at the palace where Karas would be and, as if he had made up his mind, began to speak. Perhaps, they might find out once they got there anyway.

“I believe the Dragon Forest is a place meant to protect the prince. It helps and protects those with the power of the dragon.”

“Yes, that’s why I don’t understand. If nothing has happened to His Majesty, why does the forest look like this… Ah, no, if Truyde hadn’t committed sacrilegious acts against the forest in the first place, none of this would have happened.”

As if recalling the events from twelve years ago, Ashler bit his lower lip. The tragic night when Abel died, the prince was left alone, and the forest was destroyed. However, the words that came out of Abel’s mouth were strange.

“No, because of its current state, I’m even more certain. The forest is helping His Majesty.”