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While Joshua was ascending the Tower of Trials, Avalon’s Emperor sat atop his lofty throne in the Great Hall as he looked down at his subjects.
“Aden,” he said in a bland tone of voice.
The man in front of him had been standing with his head bowed, but at that, he straightened.
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“I have something urgent I need you to do for me.”
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
“I suspect that you’re already aware of what I want you to do.” Emperor Marcus watched Aden hesitate and leaned forward slightly. “I assume you received it as well?”
“What is it that you are referring to?”
Emperor Marcus glanced at Duke Tremblin, who was standing nearby with a smile on his face.
“I’m talking about the invitation to Reinhardt.”
“....” After a slight pause, Duke Agnus nodded. “If you’re talking about the meeting of Stars, then yes, I did receive an invitation.”
“Yes, so about that.”
“...?”
“I have already notified them that you will be representing Avalon.”
Duke Agnus’s expression darkened at those words.
“As you know, that isn’t just a simple gathering of friends. We can’t not go. We need to show that we are a powerful empire and that we will remain a powerful empire, especially in times like now.”
“....”
“And we can’t send Duke Tremblin in a chaotic situation like this… You are the epitome of the empire.”
Emperor Marcus looked Duke Agnus in the eye. By bringing in Duke Tremblin, Marcus was asking, ‘What will you, the father and son pair, do once Duke Tremblin leaves his post?’ He was silently talking about Joshua.
“So, Aden, what do you think?”
“...I think it is a reasonable decision, Your Majesty.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
Emperor Marcus gave a satisfied smile in response to Duke Agnus’s unexpectedly submissive reply.
“But.”
“But?” Emperor Marcus scowled.
Duke Agnus’s expression lightened. It was his turn to retaliate.
“I believe that the primary agenda for gathering the Stars this time is to welcome the new Star. That is also why we are holding the gathering years earlier than the usual date.”
Duke Agnus didn't try to avoid the Emperor's eyes as he continued, making sure to enunciate every single word.
“Evergrant con Aswald is also the organizer of this gathering. Will we just ignore the traitor who betrayed the Empire for the Magic Tower, Your Majesty?”
“....”
The Great Hall fell into suffocating silence.
The three Superhumans didn’t say anything else, but they were busy prodding each other for any visible weakness. It wouldn’t be strange if a fight broke out at any moment. However…
“That is indeed right.”
“...!” Duke Agnus's eyes widened.
To everyone's surprise, it was the Mad Emperor Marcus himself who gave in first.
“Aden, what you said is certainly right. Traitors must be punished. If we say that we’re attending the gathering in Reinhardt for the Empire’s prestige, but leave the traitor who betrayed his own master alone, then we would certainly be ridiculed.”
“Then…”
A broad grin spread across the Emperor's face. “Isn’t that why I said I had something urgent I needed you to do for me?”
“You mean…” Duke Agnus donned a pained expression for a moment. It seemed like he realized he had been defeated.
“Behead the traitor Evergrant con Aswald at Reinhardt. Even if he’s a so-called Class 8, he’s just a mage… I’m pretty sure that you’re skilled enough to get it done, right, Aden?” The Emperor sank back comfortably into his chair and looked at the still-silent Duke Agnus. “I’m sure he picked Reinhardt as the gathering place to avoid this.”
“....”
“After all, fighting is absolutely forbidden in Reinhardt.”
Reinhardt wasn’t called the Neutral City for nothing. A conflict there could be interpreted as expansionism—especially if it involved a Star. Although it was a different story if a fight happened outside the city borders, fighting was strictly forbidden within the boundaries of Reinhardt.
“Then, shall we wrap things up?”
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Duke Agnus's black eyebrows twitched noticeably.
“Right now, Reinhardt’s lord is a fugitive; wouldn’t you say that it’s a good opening for war?”
“You mean—”
“Take Reinhardt after you send Evergrant’s head flying. Meanwhile, Duke Tremblin, will remain behind and lead an army in an assault on Terra.”
Out of all the countries, they were attacking Terra for a simple reason—Avalon wouldn’t be caught off guard and attacked from behind in the middle of a war. However, Terra was perfectly located to be stabbed in the back by Avalon.
“HAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Emperor Marcus’s laughter continued for quite a while.
“Avalon’s Continental War will finally begin,” he grimly finished. “And if all goes according to plan with Terra and Reinhardt's part…”
A look of lunacy crept onto the Emperor's face.
“Gather all of the Empire’s troops in one strategic stronghold.”
“Your Majesty, where is that…?”
An even wider grin spread across the Emperor's face.
“The Kraden Plains.”
“The Kraden… Plains!”
Duke Agnus let out a pained groan. Those two words allowed him to understand the Emperor's thoughts completely.
The Kraden Plains—it was the only spot on the continent where the three great empires converged.
***
Twenty minutes had gone since the figure that looked like Joshua disappeared into the thick fog.
“What’s taking so long?” Iceline mumbled nervously. “Do you think something happened?”
Theta couldn't contain his laughter. “You think the infamous doppelganger would be in trouble?”
“I mean…”
“Your worries are unnecessary.”
“Is it truly a doppelganger?”
Theta gave Iceline a little shrug in response. “Then, how else would you explain that?”
“But still, it’s strange! Not only is the fact that a doppelganger exists odd, but it’s surrendered to him—”
Theta jumped into the middle of Iceline’s sentence.
“That's a great endorsement of your husband, I'm sure,” he slyly whispered.
“H- husband?!” Iceline’s normally pale cheeks instantly flushed scarlet.
“Wow, way to make it obvious you like that.”
“NO!”
“Hmm… seems like you’re protesting a bit too much?”
“IT’S A MISUNDERSTANDING!”
“Mhm, I’m sure it is.”
“I’m going to hit you!”
“You? Hit me?” Theta pulled a comical face when he saw Iceline raise her tiny hand. “Can you hit me?”
“Argh!”
“You’re just a Class 6.”
Theta grinned smugly as he saw Iceline tremble in anger. Then, he stopped teasing her and began acting normal again.
“By the way, Avalon really messed up there. Actually, maybe this should be considered a catastrophe rather than a mess?”
“What are you talking about now?” Iceline glared at him.
He looked at her and then glanced at Joshua, who had his back turned to them.
“His own power alone can reach the level of Superhumans, but he also has the demonic power to resurrect the undead. If that's not catastrophic, then what is?”
“Are you being sarcastic?” Iceline's eyes narrowed.
“You two can return,” Joshua suddenly said.
“...!” Iceline's head jerked around at his deep voice.
“This is all your fault!” Iceline shouted at Theta.
“Hmm… who knew you’d be this narrow-minded,” Theta said to Joshua.
“Anyone would be offended, too?” Iceline shouted.
“Are you on his side now?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
Joshua slowly turned as Iceline continued to rage.
“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that…” Theta tried to explain himself to Joshua.
“I mean, there's probably no point in going up the Tower now, right?” Joshua said.
“Huh?”
“The only reason you came up here in the first place is because the Magic Tower was pursuing you, and you had no choice but to hide here.”
“Ah…” Theta realized what Joshua was saying. “But it’d be a pity if I just went down like this.”
“What?”
“You know, as the Tower’s caretaker, I want to see what’s at the top of the Tower before I die.” Theta gave Joshua an odd look. “If it’s you, Joshua Sanders, then it might come true.”
“You’re shameless.”
The reply came from someone who was not Joshua.
“...Huh?” Theta turned to Iceline.
“You just want to get carried, don’t you.”
“What do you mean?” Theta furrowed his brow.
“It’s a common expression among young mages these days. You’re riding the coattails of someone powerful enough to do the job. While others travel for miles and miles on, your kind rests comfortably and only does the bare minimum.”
“Huh.” Theta scoffed in disbelief before Iceline had even finished speaking. “Then what about you?”
“What about me?”
“I’m asking why you’re climbing the Tower.”
“Well, that’s because…” Iceline went silent for a moment, and then she blushed. “I want to be with….”
“What? What did you say?” Theta leaned in. “How about you answer me a bit louder? I can't hear what you're saying.”
“It’s none of your business!”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s not my business. I’m a curious person and can’t stand not knowing.”
“You have a nasty personality.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Joshua's voice interrupted their verbal sparring. “It’s taking too long.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll go in,” Joshua said.
“What?”
“Huh?”
Both of them turned their heads at his words.
“Why?” Theta asked. “You already know, don’t you? This cannot be solved by force alone.”
Joshua shook his head. “And that is exactly why.”
“What do you mean…”
“When you look at it, previous traumas, weaknesses, and foes from long ago will show themselves in the fog,” Joshua carefully explained, an odd light shining in his eyes. “The only way you can go further is to confront your limitations.”
Joshua grinned brightly.
“It’s a free chance to learn your weaknesses, right?”
“You’re really crazy,” Theta spat. “You’re probably the first person to say that in the history of mankind.”
Iceline remembered what she had seen before, and she paled once again.
And then there was silence.
Even though he didn't know Joshua for very long, Theta had a feeling that Joshua was more stubborn than a mule. All Theta could do was shake his head resignedly.
Joshua stepped into the fog, allowing it to swallow him. Soon, he heard footsteps, but they were not his own. Joshua hadn’t moved a muscle since entering the fog.
Step, step, step.
Joshua stared in the direction he was hearing the footsteps from. His eyes widened when he realized who it was.
It was a familiar-looking man in his prime.
“...This is completely unexpected.”
Shing.
The man raised his weapon in response. It was a greatsword so dark that it seemed impervious to any light.