Chapter 44

“Are you aware of what you’ve just done?”

“I’m fully aware. You swung a sword at me, and I subdued you. Now, life or death is in my hands.”

“It won’t matter if you kill me. You won’t get away unscathed.”

Lara’s firm words made me curl the edges of my lips upward.

Every troop stationed in the fief will rise up in indignation at her death. An endless chase will occur until I return to the Imperial Palace.

Still, what can I do about it? I don’t intend to kill her.

“Hmm. After cutting off your head and wiping out your knight corps, how long do you think it would take me to escape from the territory?”

Her crimson pupils flickered slightly.

She had witnessed the three fallen knights when she first arrived at the Foggy Plains.

The bodies of mana awoken users split in two—she knows my level of strength well.

“Even if I die trying to escape, all it would do is further trouble you and the South.”

I have already officially headed towards the Ferantel territory.

Once news or my disappearance spreads, the central government will surely get involved.

Upon understanding the situation, Lara decided against speaking further.

She abandoned even the slightest resistance, gradually losing her strength as she closed her eyes.

It seemed like she had given up, but the subtle sign I saw from her before she closed her eyes indicated otherwise.

The silence was her preparation for her final struggle. I realized that if I didn’t speak quickly, this situation might escalate.

“I see you’re serious, so let’s have a productive conversation, shall we?”

“…?”

A trace of confusion colored her gaze as she opened her eyes.

I tucked a strand of her sweat-drenched hair away from her cheek and sheathed my sword.

“If I truly intended to kill you, your head would have been gone the moment I cut your sword.”

Though the threat was gone, I maintained her subdued position in case she tried anything.

I leaned back after pushing my sword to a distance while continuing to pin her body to limit her movement.

“Stop interfering with me.”

“…What kind of interference?”

“Are you unaware that you’re causing chaos within the empire by using the conflict between the Eastern and Western factions?”

Her silence met my gaze.

“I imagine the situation where the East and West factions undermine each other suits you. That’s why you pretend to be the powerless third party, secretly sowing discord, and linger in the Imperial Palace.”

“Your assumptions are far-fetched. Are you interested in literature?”

“They’re simply pretending to be fools while using your southern faction.”

“…”

Though her gesture invited me to continue, I spoke quietly.

“You have the intention to gain independence from Altain and merge with the Human-Beast Union, don’t you?”

“…”

Though she managed to keep her composure, a slight tremor in her eyes betrayed her.

Her pupils contracted slightly. The even breathing that had continued until then flickered for a moment.

Lara didn’t reply at all.

“Silence is a good tactic, but not now.”

If she truly didn’t know anything about the matter, a reflexive reaction of disbelief should have surfaced instantly.

“To the progeny of the Human-Beast race, Laura Ferantel. Don’t underestimate the empire’s information network. I’m fully aware.”

For 300 years, the history of relationships was severed, and the newly established Ferantel took the position of frontier lord.

The southern frontier lord was once a militarily powerful region due to frequent foreign invasions.

It was even possible for the south to handle the supply of resources to arm its troops.

At that time, the frontier lord had great authority and maintained strong ties with surrounding fiefs.

Still, Ferantel naturally ascended to the position of frontier lord without any hindrance.

How was that possible?

The method was simple: receiving external support.

Here, the external force was the Human-Beast Union, which helped Ferantel seize their current position.

So why would the Human-Beast Union bother aiding a foreign noble?

The reason was simpler than I thought.

The direct lineage of the Ferantel family is of Human-Beast mixed blood.

“Though the distinction is too subtle to be easily noticed, they are visible to me.”

I gently stroked the startled corners of her eyes.

At a glance, one might consider her beautiful crimson eyes ordinary. However, the alien feeling in her pupils, deep and eerie, resembles that of a wild beast.

“What… are you talking about?”

“My records concerning your family are quite detailed.”

With the support of the Human-Beast Union, Ferantel claimed the southern border. It was like a sudden changeover of the landlord. The imperial court carefully monitored the situation and summoned them to the capital.

The official reason was to grant an official title and discuss various military and administrative rights regarding border management.

Though nicely packaged, it was essentially for an inquiry.

The original head of the Ferantel family willingly attended the inquiry in the capital.

Amid ridicule and derision, he declared during the inquiry,

“I am of Human-Beast mixed blood.”

“I have no intention of being an enemy of the empire. Use me to suppress the Human-Beast Union. They will support me, their kin, and cease resisting the empire.”

“Adopt them as subjects of the empire, and please end further oppression.”

“In that case, I will control the Human-Beast race in the south and swear eternal allegiance to the empire.”

“We shall submit to the great empire and emperor, becoming vigilant guards of the south.”

Given the nature of information concerning the Human-Beast race, it was not to be publicly shared outside of the emperor and high-ranking officials. The records were thoroughly sealed so that no one else could access them.

‘The emperor and the high-ranking officials at the time accepted this proposal, judging that the gains outweighed the losses.’

Following that, the Human-Beast Union pledged allegiance to the empire as feudal lords.

Though petty complaints and noises occasionally arose, by the time my Swordmaster master appeared, such minor unrest had quieted.

‘But the situation changed.’

I had shaken Laura considerably.

Now, it was time for serious discussion.

Continuing while she lay sprawled would look odd, so I stood up.

As she stared vacantly at the ceiling, I moved to tidy up the disheveled audience chamber.

I pushed the broken table into a corner, and righted the toppled sofa, settling it gently.

Cleared the scattered fragments somewhat from the floor, and just as I was about to sit back on the sofa, she spoke.

“What… will you do with me… with us?”

A glance turned my gaze to her crimson eyes—she had the air of a dispirited tiger.

Before answering her question, I first helped her get up and sit on the sofa.

Laura didn’t offer much resistance and readily complied, letting me settle her.

After brushing the dust and debris off her clothes, I took a seat on the opposite sofa and asked her:

“Why do you want independence?”

“…”

This isn’t about going our separate ways.

This behavior isn’t much different from rebellion, and if the south declares independence, the empire will pour all its resources into crushing them and related personnel.

For the sake of setting an example, it would be thorough—the land would be left without the greenest blade of grass or the slightest drop of blood.

According to the original novel, amidst the chaos caused by the conflicts between the east and west, the south could achieve independence with minimal bloodshed.

But not anymore.

I’ve become the national teacher of Altain, and the two factions have retracted their forces.

This means that in a situation where the empire’s territorial interests aren’t mutually exclusive and a clear enemy like the southern rebellion emerges, they can actively unite their strength.

“You know how perilous it is. The chance of success is slim, yet you persist.”

Laura lowered her gaze and remained silent.

After fidgeting her fingers for a long time, she spoke with a calm demeanor.

“Does Your Majesty know where my father is?”

Her father, the former Count Ferantel, was rumored to have suddenly handed over his position to his daughter and vanished from the fief.

It seems she wasn’t expecting an answer because she quickly continued.

“My father is beyond the Grand Forest, with the Human-Beast Union. He can no longer stay in the empire.”

“Why?”

“He became a Human-Beast.”

She sighed as she explained:

“The Ferantel family is of Human-Beast mixed blood. We are one of the few, rare cases among the hybrids where the Human-Beast bloodline is quite faint.”

“Our outward appearance is indistinguishable from ordinary humans which has allowed us to live relatively trouble-free in Altain.”

“The issue arises when some hybrids bear traits closer to the Human-Beast race.”

“I’m sure you know how Human-Beasts are treated in this country.”

“It’s not pleasant.”

“Yes. Even after so much time has passed, little has changed.”

This is a world where discrimination based on minor differences is regarded as normal. Talking beasts, indeed.

One of the first things the Altain dynasty did when it stabilized was to suppress the southern Human-Beasts.

With superior physical abilities and senses and intelligence akin to humans, from the empire’s perspective, the roaming Human-Beasts in adjacent areas were simply dangerous beasts that needed control.

Through overwhelming national power and the strength of mana users, the Human-Beasts were defeated individually. It wasn’t until it was too late that the scattered Human-Beasts united to fight back against the empire, but by then, the situation was already hopeless.

“People who turned into Human-Beasts quietly left for the Grand Forest. They couldn’t survive here. Not just the Ferantel family, but some others as well.”

“Is it wise to reveal such secrets so candidly?”

“Perhaps it’s better this way…”

She wrapped her arms around herself, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.

“The Human-Beast Union still harbors immense resentment towards the empire. Though under the political control of powerful clans, it can only be kept in check temporarily. There will be an eruption sooner or later. And there are already signs of mana awoken beings, previously unknown among the Human-Beasts.”

“Human-Beasts that the race calls Great Warriors—those capable of awakening to mana like humans, eventually transcending their kind into beasts.”

“The empire is not as strong as it used to be. The bloodline of Faleneberg is all but extinguished. The northern region is immobilized, and the nation is declining day by day. The gaze of the central nobility towards the south is becoming dangerous.”

Given this reality, how can one expect anyone to simply sit still and accept it?

With a bit more effort, a world where they don’t have to live in hiding is within reach.

But now, it’s futile.

She muttered these words as she slowly raised her arms.

“Perhaps it’s for the best.”

Laura Ferantel, the southern frontier lord, smiled faintly. She exuded an oddly complex atmosphere—both resigned and liberated, as she continued.

“I will leave instructions for my subordinates to support Your Majesty. Please kill me. And kindly forgive the others.”

Her crimson eyes showed weariness.

She was 27 years old, having taken the position of frontier lord three years ago.

Though not too young an age, it was early for such a heavy responsibility.

However, pushed by reality, Laura inherited the role and successfully mediated between the south and the Human-Beast Union. But in the midst of planning something monumental, an all-knowing grand duke has arrived.

“Go ahead and do as you wish.”

“Do as I wish?”

Her gesture towards my sword made me burst out laughing.