The Villain Carries the Holy Sword – Chapter 74.2

Chapter 74.2: Spring Day in My Life (3)

Those who signed the oath were bound to keep it. And if they broke it, they would lose what they had offered in return.

Count Digrid pointed at himself and then at Garick.

“Along with our lives, I wagered my mana, and this friend, his honor.”

“Essentially, you both wagered everything you have.”

“Indeed.”

“So, the only one who knows what happened then and can speak of it is King Hybolt?”

Rumble—!

Another flash of lightning.

Count Garick shook his head.

“To be precise, there are two. Hybolt and Edmund.”

“Why was Count Edmund excluded?”

“Hybolt said that Edmund wouldn’t open his mouth even without an oath……”

The corner of Cain’s lips curled up.

‘That can’t be true.’

He didn’t know much about King Hybolt, but there had to be a clear reason why he demanded an oath from two he considered friends but not from Edmund.

Cain clenched and unclenched his fist.

Frustrated by the situation, he turned his head towards the window.

The night was drenched in heavy rain.

He looked out at Lindbloom, the capital city that lay before reaching the northern forest.

And at the end of Cain’s gaze, within the nest of the impregnable royal palace, resided the silent king.

‘Nothing like this happened in the previous timeline.’

Cain recalled his memories.

He didn’t know much about Airian because he had been expelled from Ethelred, which had fallen to Marquis Ross, and had drifted to the continent.

Even so, it was not impossible to get information on the continent, where newspapers and telegraphs were developed. He couldn’t help but see the big news, even if he didn’t want to.

‘The king dies of natural causes. The First Princess is branded a witch and dies. And the Second Princess becomes the new ruler.’

Stories about the throne were big news.

Cain knew of the future where Oleciren would die and Olivia would become king. But that was all.

He didn’t know what happened to Airian afterward.

He heard rumors that it was swayed by the influence of nobles.

That the new king was promiscuous.

That the elves from the north had invaded.

Among the many rumors, one thing was clear: the current, steadfast Airian would vanish, becoming a weak nation, its name its only legacy.

“The commander-in-chief was taken by the second princess, and Ethelred’s troops were blocked. But if you or the Lamaring troops move separately, it is treason.”

The three nodded.

“Actually, I considered escalating the civil war and outright rebellion, but……”

“I’m against that. I’d rather be burned at the stake in the public square.”

Oleciren was resolute.

She would rather die than see Airian consumed by the flames of a full-fledged civil war.

She had told Cain this many times, and he respected her noble opinion.

“We will follow your will.”

“Me too.”

Counts Garick and Digrid spoke to Cain.

Under their gazes, Cain leaned his hands on the windowsill and looked at his own reflection in the glass.

Behind him, the figures of the three were faintly visible, and in front, countless raindrops fell on the flower meadows.

Below that.

As befitting the developed city of Ironheart, magic streetlights were lit, and people could be seen walking with umbrellas or raincoats.

Cain stared at the scene for a long time before raising his head. A face with black hair and violet eyes stared back at him.

━Give up. Just think about Abel. Wasn’t your goal to prevent Abel from becoming a hero and let him live a good life?

Cain smiled bitterly at the thought that echoed in his heart, a reminder of his initial goal.

Even now, that goal hadn’t changed.

━It’s over if she’s a witch. Do you think you can hide it even if you try?

Cain knew all too well how relentless the Holy See was. They wouldn’t hesitate to chase heretics to the Great Wall to root them out.

━Who cares what happens to this island nation? Just abandon it since things have gotten complicated. Find the Commons who killed Abel and kill them.

Thump.

Cain turned and leaned against the window frame. He gave a light smile to the three looking at him.

━Just think about yourself, only yourself.

Finally, Cain spoke.

“I have a way.”

“Oh?”

Count Digrid was surprised that Cain had come up with a solution in this stalemate.

“You have a way?”

Oleciren asked back, her eyes trembling. Her reaction was natural, knowing the path Cain was most likely to choose.

“What is it?”

Count Garick’s question followed.

━Think only of yourself, only you.

“The reason this situation has become so complicated is because of King Hybolt’s ambiguous attitude. He gives the right of succession to Oleciren but then grants the Second Princess the position of commander-in-chief because of the marquises’ demands?”

“That’s… true…?”

Oleciren’s voice trembled at the end.

She had no idea what Cain was about to say.

“Marquis McLoud would naturally side with the Second Princess, his granddaughter. But why Ross? Considering blood ties, he should be supporting his niece, Oleciren.”

“…….”

The hidden secret within Airian’s power structure.

“Everwyn Ross.”

Rumble—!

With his back to another flash of lightning, Cain raised a finger. He pointed to the north-facing window.

“He may be acting indifferent, but the important thing is that King Hybolt holds all the cards. So what good will it do for us to worry about it among ourselves?”

For a moment, Digrid and Garick’s mouths fell open, and Oleciren’s eyes widened.

“D, Don’t tell me you’re thinking of assassinating my father?”

“Cain, you may be strong, but that’s━”

Cain let out a hollow laugh.

“What kind of person do you think I am to jump to such conclusions?”

“Think about what you’ve done so far.”

“…….”

Even for Cain, her words momentarily left him speechless. It was true that he had acted in a way that would lead them to think that.

“I will do it if necessary.”

“See!”

It wasn’t like he hadn’t considered it.

“What I’m trying to say is, to break this situation, we need to meet the king, by whatever means necessary.”

“Hybolt hasn’t shown his face outside of regular meetings.”

Cain pointed at Oleciren.

“But I doubt he would refuse to see his own daughter.”

“Cain.”

Rumble—!

Another clap of thunder.

And in the pouring white light, Oleciren’s gray eyes shimmered.

“Why?”

The question was loaded with meaning.

“For me to live.”

“Then it’s better to go to Olivia’s side, not this thorny path.”

“I’m not alone.”

“……?”

“Everyone here, Abel, Arna, Vanderbilt, Ethelred territory, Lamaring━”

To himself in his heart.

To himself living in reality.

To himself who crossed timelines.

“I have a lot more now than I used to.”

It wasn’t the answer of the lonely and brilliant Masked Snowfield King Lord East Cain, but of the warm and shining Cain Ethelred.

“Why aren’t we talking about Isoel?”

Count Digrid’s small question followed, but the other three pretended not to hear.

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