The Return of the Limited-Time Sword Master

Chapter 121: Founding Festival (6)

“I never wrote a will, even at the hardest times of my life.”

Now, writing a will at a time when life was going so well felt strangely ironic.

Not that he felt any particular anxiety or worry.

After all, he was relying on his experience in Free City Akela, where he had removed the magic circles of the High Elf Solenne and the Dwarf Andrea.

While Martin wrote his will at leisure, Richard brought people to the emperor’s secluded palace.

They were the heads and heirs of the three noble families and core members of the three factions, all looking at Martin with expressions of disbelief.

“As soon as I take my eyes off him, he causes trouble.”

“I feel like I might actually die from heart failure at this rate.”

Meanwhile, Claudia and Vincent openly sighed.

They wondered if they were even in their right minds after hearing such a shocking statement.

While they shook their heads in disbelief, Werner von Klaus spoke up.

“…You claimed you’d inevitably grow to be our equal. But that was a matter for the future. It would be a mistake to assume you’re on par with us now, Deputy Head.”

“I’ve never thought so, Duke Klaus.”

“Even in this situation, you lie? Didn’t you say you could see things that Karl and I couldn’t? I was utterly dumbfounded when I heard that.”

“This time, I must agree with him. I’d like a thorough explanation, Deputy Head.”

Following Werner, Karl von Ferdinand turned his gaze to Martin.

In consideration of the emperor’s declining health, he held back as much power as possible.

Yet even so, the sheer intensity of their gazes was enough to shake Martin’s resolve.

Martin only felt a brief tension, not shock.

Having been with them since the tournament, he had grown accustomed to their formidable presence.

And even aside from that, his mental fortitude was unshakable.

“Compared to real death, this is nothing.”

Those who didn’t know Martin’s circumstances were taken aback by his composure, clicking their tongues in disbelief.

Even if they weren’t using power, to endure the stares of 10-circle supremes like it was nothing?

What kind of mental resilience did he possess?

Ignoring the reactions of the people around him, Martin responded calmly.

“Reaching the 10th circle means one is attuned to the world’s principles. Although I cannot fully grasp its implications due to my limitations, I do see things others cannot. But that applies to me as well, for unlike you all, I suffer from the Dragon’s Curse.”

“We know that those cursed by the Dragon are sensitive to mana flows.”

“It’s more than that, Duke Ferdinand. The Dragon’s Curse is practically mana taking human form. Mana continuously amplifies, suppressing bodily functions and taking over. As a result, those with the Dragon’s Curse see not only the flow but everything related to mana.”

“Is that why you could see it? The magic circle within His Majesty’s body?”

“Yes. For those who still doubt, I’m willing to show this curse as proof. To prove the truth, I’ve staked my life, and here is the will I’ve prepared.”

Martin raised his will, alternating his gaze between Karl and Werner.

Claudia and Vincent flinched, while Werner only sneered.

“You’re more ridiculous by the moment, Deputy Head. If you make a mistake, His Majesty might suffer. No matter if you stake your life, you’d still lose it. What could possibly be the point of your words? Or do you mistakenly believe that your life and His Majesty’s are equivalent?”

“I don’t think they’re equivalent, but I don’t believe they differ greatly either. When I die, the direct lineage of the Adalbert family will be fully extinguished. The first time in the history of the Empire that the direct line of one of the three noble houses was broken; isn’t that significant enough?”

Martin answered with a smile.

Seeing no fault in his words, Werner fell silent.

Then Karl spoke up.

“He has a point.”

“…What?”

“Despite the finest healers attending him, His Majesty’s condition has shown no improvement. In fact, he has only weakened. In this context, if the Adalbert Deputy Head claims he’s found a different problem, wouldn’t it be worth believing, even if just once?”

“…Are you serious?”

“The young Deputy Head has risked his life in this situation. I don’t think he’d make such claims lightly.”

Karl responded calmly, looking around at the faction leaders, including his grandson.

“I support the Adalbert Deputy Head’s opinion. What do the rest of you think?”

“Phew. The fact that His Majesty hasn’t shown any signs of recovery is true. Although it’s rational to reject it, a part of me wants to believe.”

“I feel the same. Besides, the Adalbert Deputy Head has performed miracles before. I’d like to believe in that possibility.”

Richard and Claudia replied with serious expressions.

“What do you think, Second Prince?”

“I…”

Theodore hesitated to answer.

What if Martin really could awaken the emperor?

Martin, the Deputy Head of one of the three great families, is still young and hesitates to take on the official title, but if he resolved this, Marquis Royce wouldn’t be able to restrain him.

This would massively elevate Claudia’s standing, as they were allied.

But he couldn’t reject it lightly either.

“If I oppose him and he succeeds, I’ll be remembered as the worst son in Imperial history.”

Common sense dictated that failure was more likely.

The issue was that Martin had repeatedly defied common sense.

Multiple times.

Moreover, his eyes brimmed with conviction.

It made Theodore uneasy.

Slowly, he glanced at Nicholas, hoping for guidance.

Yet, his grandfather merely observed with a stern face, offering no hint.

But Theodore understood his intentions and, after a struggle, finally spoke.

“…I agree as well.”

“Still going to oppose, Werner?”

“Do as you please. But remember this—I opposed it. Whatever happens next, you’ll bear responsibility, Karl.”

“Of course.”

At Karl’s calm response, Werner turned away, clearly displeased.

Ignoring this, Karl looked at Martin.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you, Deputy Head.”

“I will make it happen.”

Martin steeled himself.

* * *

The emperor was practically a corpse.

One could barely tell he was alive from his faint breathing, but he could close his eyes for the last time at any moment.

“Phew.”

Inwardly steadying his breath, Martin carefully placed his hands near the emperor’s abdomen.

Everyone watched him silently.

Whooooosh!

Finally, Martin drew up his mana and channeled it into the emperor’s body.

Then, it happened.

Boom!

A dark current, visible only to Martin, blocked the mana’s entry as if lying in wait, causing the emperor’s body to convulse from the backlash.

“Your Majesty! Martin Adalbert, how dare you…!”

“Restrain yourself, Second Prince!”

At Karl’s shout, Theodore was forced to pause.

“No one is to interfere with Deputy Head Adalbert until results are in. I say this under my name.”

Karl warned once again.

Werner let out a slight scoff, but he was the only one who could afford to do so.

The others held their tongues and steadied themselves, refraining from any rash actions.

All eyes returned to Martin.

But he couldn’t feel them.

He was focused entirely on the emperor’s body.

“Showing me the true extent of malevolence, huh.”

The magic circle not only transformed the emperor’s mana into a dark curse but used it to resist Martin’s power.

At the same time, it attempted to invade his own body.

“If I let that in, I’ll end up just like His Majesty.”

It was absurd, yet he wasn’t alarmed.

He knew this would be challenging from the start.

Martin fully mobilized his mana to fend off the black curse, then began to use his mastery of universal distortion.

Flash!

The mana flowing into the emperor’s body emitted a brilliant golden light.

The black curse resisted with all its might, and a dark aura began to rise from the emperor’s body.

“That’s not His Majesty’s aura!”

“Is it true then, that His Majesty is under a curse?”

Seeing the black aura, everyone gasped in shock.

Martin’s words had proven true.

“Having proven the curse, I’ll now begin the removal process!”

With that declaration, Martin drew upon even more mana.

The dark curse struggled against the golden mana, but Martin would not relent.

Squeeze.

The moment his will sharpened, the golden mana clamped down on the dark curse.

And began to constrict it fiercely.

The curse, unable to withstand the pressure, shrank continuously.

Unless the owner of the magic intervened to strengthen it, the dark curse was now on the brink of obliteration.

“Why aren’t they stepping in?”

He had expected interference, but there was no sign of it.

As much as he wanted to look up to check, he couldn’t.

Even a momentary lapse could ruin everything.

Setting aside his curiosity, Martin concentrated all his mana on the center of the magic circle.

Applying the insights he’d gained from Adalbert swordsmanship.

All to shatter the core of the magic circle.

Boom!

Another explosive sound rang from within the emperor’s body, and unable to withstand the shock, he coughed up blood.

Everyone watching flinched, but Karl’s warning kept them silent.

“This is it.”

Following Martin’s will, the golden mana struck the dark curse.

Crash!

Finally, the core was shattered, and a dark aura billowed from the emperor’s body.

“Has the curse been removed?!”

“If he really eliminates it, this is a monumental achievement.”

A murmur of excitement spread, but it was quickly silenced.

“Mm.”

The emperor groaned.

For the first time since he had collapsed, and instinctively, everyone turned their heads.

Tremble.

The emperor’s eyelids quivered as if lifting a heavy weight.

But it didn’t last long.

After several minutes of effort, he managed to open his eyes.

“Ugh.”

Thus, the emperor of the Altarian Empire, Ervin von Altaria, regained consciousness.

Though he immediately squinted against the long-unseen light.

The three royal members rushed to him urgently.

“It’s Richard, Your Majesty! Do you see me?!”

“I’m Claudia, Your Majesty!”

“Your second son, Theodore, is also here!”

“…I see all of you clearly, so keep it down. My head feels like it’s going to split.”

Despite having been unconscious for years, the emperor’s voice was calm.

Unexpectedly, the three siblings closed their mouths.

Whirrr.

A thick green aura emanated from the emperor’s body and floated in the air.

“There is much I wish to discuss with you. But for now, we’ll postpone it, Martin Adalbert.”

Martin tried to respond, but before he could, the emperor turned.

He fixed his gaze squarely on Werner von Klaus.

“I’ve enjoyed a long, restful break, thanks to you, Duke Klaus. I’ve never taken such a peaceful rest in my life. Should I thank you for that?”

The emperor was smiling as he spoke.

In contrast, Martin’s expression darkened.

“Just as I thought…”

His suspicions were confirmed.

However, he was not the only one to catch the emperor’s implication.

Everyone else looked at Werner in shock.

“…Is His Majesty’s statement true, Werner?”

“Well now, things are taking an interesting turn.”

Werner replied with a smile to Karl’s question.

It was as good as a confession, and astonishment and disbelief filled the secluded palace.