I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 77: And After the Setting Sun

The Orthodox Empire, formally called [The Orthodox Empire of Zain-Warden Chosen by God, Which is Simultaneously Warden-Zain].

The anti-heretic alliance formed between the rival Zain and Warden royal houses was this empire’s origin.

Currently, the Warden line descended from the Warden royal house had completely driven out the Zain line. Using every means from monasticism to assassination, they’d eliminated the Zain royal house’s male line over more than a century.

All these facts had been deleted from every history book.

The current Emperor was Denar III.

The eldest son of the previous Emperor Fold II, who had brought various problems to the Imperial Household as a womanizer.

Never appearing in public, he was called the “transparent monarch” and “bookworm emperor” by the lords, but malicious tongues whispered things like “bundle of edicts” and “coward emperor.”

This contrasted with his father Fold II, who had been called the “touring emperor.”

Though in Fold II’s case, his regional visits had doubled as beauty-gathering expeditions.

After his father’s death, Denar III became a mass of suspicion. Because he suspected his father’s death was assassination.

The imperial physicians’ autopsy results unanimously concluded: “Excessive medication had become routine, and the aged imperial body couldn’t endure the excessive burden on the heart from intercourse while bathing.”

However, only Denar III continued suspecting assassination.

“His Majesty is absent again from the previous Emperor’s memorial service?”

“Lamentable. Unthinkable for the Orthodox Empire’s pinnacle, the king of kings.”

“All because he continues suspecting the previous Emperor’s death was assassination, they say.”

“Cowardice at that level is almost admirable.”

Still, Denar III continued his duties without appearing at official occasions.

He favored Fold II’s former retainers: powerful lords starting with Lord Grien, and Major Gehenbach, who had been Fold II’s mistress.

Those who had been favored by the father gained no benefit from his death. Meaning they weren’t assassination masterminds.

He’d judged it so.

“He understands nothing…”

“If things operated on such simple profit and loss, no one would struggle.”

“Lord Grien in particular is quite suspicious. He was originally His Majesty’s favorite.”

“Indeed, he granted him ‘immortal honor’ immediately after accession. The privilege of never being executed.”

Though Denar III’s reputation was terrible, he was no fool. He was also a learned man who’d earned theology, history, and law degrees from Imperial University.

Though Fold II apparently didn’t value this much—it’s recorded that he sighed: “What court scholars do isn’t for emperors to do. They can’t match it anyway.”

And now, at the empire’s survival crisis, the learned emperor was holed up in a study in the palace’s innermost part. A venerable study used by successive emperors.

Someone knocked on that study.

“I am Captain Minaka Yugi, Imperial Ceremonial Battalion adjutant. I was ordered to report directly to His Majesty, so I request permission for an audience.”

While announcing this in military uniform, Captain Yugi quietly grasped the knife concealed in her sleeve.

After waiting a while, there was no reply.

“Due to the urgent situation, please forgive my rudeness.”

The door’s internal lock was sliding type, unlockable from outside.

Captain Yugi pressed her back against the door, braced her feet, and quietly pushed inward.

“Huff… mm…”

With creaking and groaning sounds of wood breaking, the internal lock’s fittings came loose from the wall. Even if the slide lock’s iron bar didn’t break, it was possible to destroy it by putting load on other parts.

“So excuse me then… hm?”

Captain Yugi, entering the study with knife hidden, looked taken aback.

The Emperor wasn’t in the compact study.

Captain Yugi quickly surveyed the study’s bookshelves and touched one volume. However, instead of taking it out, she pushed it deeper. She similarly pushed another book. Seven volumes total.

Finally sliding that bookshelf sideways, it moved silently.

Beyond it were pitch-black descending stairs leading somewhere.

“My my.”

Captain Yugi listened carefully, but only heard the faint sound of wind blowing through.

The capital’s underground had sewers and construction passages from the founding era running in all directions—he’d apparently escaped using those.

While spinning the knife on her fingertip, Captain Yugi sighed boredly:

“It saved effort and was easy, but somehow unsatisfying. Still…”

Captain Yugi muttered while gazing at the study:

“Was there really an ‘Emperor’ here at all?”

No one answered that question.

Eventually, as evening darkness flowed into the study, Captain Yugi quietly disappeared as if absorbed by that darkness.

This day, the empire perished.

Emperor Denar III was confirmed to have fled the capital with his wife and children, seeking asylum in the Duchy of Kerehren, his empress’s family home.

This occurred several days after the greatest confusion in imperial history, “The Night of Nightingales.”

And that night was about to arrive.