Hero’s Downfall Report

90 – Side Story – Aftermath

A morning not much different from usual. Anna started preparing for class as soon as she got to work.

I looked back at what I taught yesterday, what students often asked, and carefully read out loud what I had to teach today.

I was so focused that I didn’t hear the knock. A little louder banging at the door! Only after hearing the sound did Anna open the door in surprise. Immediately, my discomfort soared.

‘I can’t believe I’ve been such a rude guest this morning.’ When I opened the door and pulled it open, there stood the guard captain, sweating profusely.

“Captain of the Guard? What happened?”

She arrived in such a hurry that her clothes were disheveled and she had not even trimmed her mustache, which she usually sported so much. The captain first handed out the mail package.

“I’m sorry. Since this was an urgent letter, I had to be rude. “I will await your orders at the main gate.”

Despite being warned so many times, the captain of the guard did not bother to salute and walked away. Even though I told him not to do it on campus because it could create a sense of discomfort, it seemed like he couldn’t change his habit.

Anna looked at the envelope of her letter in bewilderment. She had nothing written down. She means the letter of the Guard Bureau. She put a sign on the door that said she was ‘in meeting’ and then with a bang she slammed it shut and bolted it.

Back at her desk, Anna carefully tore open the envelope of her letter with her trembling hands. It was a coded report from Cain.

Anna quickly deciphered Cain’s report. As always, her keyword was ‘sun’. Befitting her reputation as a genius, Anna knew how to do these repetitive tasks faster than anyone else.

It was a fairly thick and long report, but Anna finished decoding it in less than an hour. She would have done it much sooner if she hadn’t taken a second look to see if she really did it right.

“… “How can this happen?”

Anna came to her senses at the sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway and the loud laughter of students walking to school.

First, I took out a new envelope. She placed Cain’s original report and her own interpretation, sealed it with her wax, and stamped it with her seal. After a month, she ran to the main gate and handed the message to the head of the guard.

“Please tell Nikki quickly.”

* * * * *

Nikki Brienne blinked. “Ah. Ah.” She made a sound, and she slapped herself in the face. The sound was clear, her cheek was sore, and the report before her eyes did not disappear.

So this was a clear reality.

When a report was posted that the Knight of Purity had such a dirty secret. Nicky was shocked, but got his mind together pretty quickly.

It was a fact known to all high-ranking people in the empire that the seven heroes, contrary to their public image, were not very respectable people.

Nikki responded calmly than expected. First, guards were dispatched to the northeast wasteland where the monsters were said to have flown. It was to observe the Demon King’s movements.

Soon, the monitors posted an unbelievable report.

Sailboats covered with skin flying in the sky, monsters with human heads attached to them flying across the wasteland, and creeping shadows gathered in the shape of mountains.

However, it was an unknown story that disappeared when the morning sunlight shines, but gathers again at night to become a writhing darkness.

After that report, the watchers were replaced. After seeing such a terrible thing, they were unable to maintain their sanity.

Nikki gritted her teeth and held on. He is the prime minister of the empire. Because he is in a position where he has to see things no matter how much he doesn’t want to see them, and he has to do things even if he doesn’t want to do them.

However, Cain’s report was enough to shake even Nikki Brien.

What on earth have these so-called heroes done? Why has the devil come back now, 10 years later? What on earth is the relationship between the Knight of the Sword and the Demon King?

It was confusing, but like a realist, Nikki Brien did not get hung up on problems that had no answer. He carefully reviewed Cain’s report two or three times, and found out what he needed to do.

He was the first to send a letter to the White Blood Division. Ten years ago, when he was recruiting boy and girl crusaders, he asked to know if there were any trainee knights who had left their posts.

However, as I wrote the letter, I had doubts about whether this closed group would respond.

The White Blood Knights are a group without logic. Without the protection of the Empire, they are a group of superstitious and fanatical warriors who have nothing to say even if the Pope labels them as heretics.

‘I’m sure it’s a request from the Prime Minister of the Empire, so I won’t not respond.’

Nikki decided to try her best to think positively. While there was an uneasy feeling of rebellion among the nobles, there was no intention of turning even the white blood, who could be said to be on the emperor’s side, into enemies.

Next, the code officer of the Guard Bureau was called. He doubled the number of code-breaking personnel and ordered deciphering the ‘filthy diary’ as a top priority.

“Not just decode, but also investigate whether there is any system between keywords. William must have had his own system.”

“I will follow your orders.”

Nikki’s policy is the same whether he was the commander-in-chief of the empire or when he became prime minister. Commands should be short, simple, and clear. Otherwise, orders should not be given.

So Nikki could not give any other commands. Because he didn’t know how or what to get off.

* * * * *

Night comes to the imperial palace.

It is the time when the excitement of the day cools down and all things begin to rest, but children with good energy still run around and play as if it were broad daylight.

The same goes for the children of the imperial family. A brother and sister who are healthy like their father, smart like their mother, and sleepless at night like both of them.

After much coaxing and consolation, Anna was able to put her siblings to sleep.

When I carefully closed the door and turned his shoulder, I heard a clicking sound. Of course, her maids didn’t even smile, but Anna was quite embarrassed.

“Can you bring me a bottle of wine and a quick bite to eat by the fountain?”

The thoughtful maids responded by bowing their heads deeply. I didn’t want the kids to wake up if I answered ‘yes’ all at once.

Anna walked into the garden deep inside the inner palace.

She told everyone that it would be better to leave the hard work, like putting the kids to bed, to her nanny, but Anna insisted.

The reason was that I couldn’t see my kids’ faces all day long, but I wanted to see them as much as I could while they were sleeping.

Her children are Anna’s joy and reason for living. Even though it was a day when she had a lot to worry about, think about, and care about, she was comforted by seeing her children sleeping peacefully.

But tonight I wanted to have one more drink there.

Anna took a sip of her wine. She rolled it around in her mouth and enjoyed the scent. The fountain in the inner palace is cool, and the performance of grass bugs is relaxing.

Nikki Brienne, Grand Vizier of the Empire and Anna’s husband, leaned against her pillar and looked at her wife’s profile. He waited until Anna had finished half her bottle of liquor and with her slightly sunken eyes she looked back at him.

“How long are you going to stand there?”

“I was going to stay until you called me.”

“What were you going to do if I don’t call you forever?”

“I tried to shake cheese or sugar cookies in her hand. “Is it okay if I have one more drink?”

The servant brought a simple pitcher, a new bottle of wine, and a glass cooled in running water. The professor, who wanted to become the grand chancellor and emperor of the empire, drank his drink in silence.

Nikki looked up at the dark night sky.

It’s the end of the year. Neither the moon nor the stars are visible. It is a night where only the imperial lanterns and candles drive away the darkness. Even the grass bugs seemed to have fallen asleep and did not sing anymore.

“… “I guess I’m old too.”

Anna monologued. Nikki looked at her Anna. There were no signs of aging anywhere on the wrinkle-free face.

“Not at all. “It’s the same as when I was 20 years old.”

“Grand Chancellor of the Empire. There is no need to use political tactics even at home. “Isn’t it enough for the imperial palace to make a public speech to make the listener feel good?”

“Then let’s say it’s an occupational disease, professor.” The imperial chancellor leaned back in his chair.

“What is it? “Why do you think you’re suddenly older?”

In response to Nikki’s question, Anna fiddled with her glass for a moment.

“The world is scary.”

Nikki emptied her glass. Anna poured her another drink. Nicky hesitated for a moment and only poured half a glass, but when he saw his wife’s wide eyes, he finished the glass.

Cheers. Savor. Silence. No matter how long he waits, it looks like Grassbug has no intention of playing again. ‘A true artist who won’t be swayed by money or fame.’ Nicky smiled and shook his head.

“… Okay. “It was a report with worthy content.”

Jikki shook his head.

“If the person who sent the report wasn’t the manager, I would have thought it was crazy. Those two dirty diaries from last time, and numerous interim reports… That alone made his head dizzy. This one. “It’s even dizzying.”

Anna couldn’t raise her head. She just looked down at her floor and she muttered.

“There is something more terrible.”

“What is it?”

“We have lived for over 10 years without knowing anything.”

Anna’s eyes turned red.

“Nikki. Something needs to be done. It can’t be like this. However… I have no idea what to do. I can’t think of anything. I even thought about capturing all the remaining heroes. “But that’s impossible.”

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“It’s impossible. Leonardo of ‘Charity’ is in the Eastern Allies. Moreover, the whole world knows that the Pope is trying to canonize the remaining heroes as saints, but the Empire is arresting them… “

“You want to go against the Pope outright.”

Anna put down her glass roughly, looking displeased. She wanted to bring down that evil snake a hundred times, a thousand times.

However, the situation in the empire is already difficult, and it does not have the strength to even stand up to the Pope. Nikki cupped the back of her hand.

“Let’s think about it. There must be something we can do. Why and how the Demon King was created… “

“Nikki. That has already been answered. It was ‘I don’t know.’ No one knows why. How did it come about? Where did it appear? I don’t even know who he is. Instead of getting closer, everyone went crazy.”

“But there must be a reason why it appeared now, 10 years later.”

“I guess so. But you can’t tell from where we stand. That… “

Anna scanned the dark sky. Under the same sky, she wanted to see Cain somewhere.

“You can’t see under the sea from the lighthouse. The only thing a lighthouse can see is the horizon. “We don’t even know where the level is right now.”

“What are the data on the Boys and Girls Crusade?”

“We don’t have it. However, there may be data at the Inquisitor’s headquarters in Magdeburg. “At least one interrogation is certain.”

It made sense. But something bothered Anna. There’s something you can do. It was a whisper that there might be something that only she could do.

“Wasteland.”

Anna muttered. Nicky looked at his wife’s face.

“Wasteland? “You mean the northeastern wasteland?”

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Anna patted her chest weakly.

“The Demon King arose in the northeast wasteland. But if the Demon King’s goal was really to throw the world into chaos and fear, wouldn’t it be more plausible for him to appear in the capital rather than the wasteland? Otherwise, it wouldn’t have mattered if it was in a big city with lots of people. “It is not a wasteland where not even people or grass grows.”

“Well… I think it might be giving it too much meaning. But.” Half worried. I’m half concerned. And now is the time to catch even the slightest clue. Nikki made a decision.

“But I have to search for everything first. Northeast wasteland… But who would know anything about that land? It’s not an imperial territory. “I think everyone who would know is dead.”

Anna responded quietly to Nikki’s words.

“Then, I will look for the records left by the dead person. Imperial Archives… “You might be able to salvage something there.”

Anna stood up as if she was going to go there right now. Nikki caught her naughty wife. It wasn’t because she was trying to stop her, but because Anna was swayed by her drunkenness.

Anna whined like her little child, and Nikki soothed her in her bed for a while. But Nikki couldn’t sleep deeply.

After some time. A reply came from the White Blood Knights.

* * * * *

“… I can’t answer. “What does this mean?”

Small conference room.

Nikki Brienne glared at the messenger of the White Blood Knights. He is a middle-aged man with a large scar on his cheek, wrinkles around his eyes, and a messy beard. The Templar, who identified himself as genealogist Hoover, bowed his head politely and answered.

“Exactly, it doesn’t mean I won’t do it, it just means I can’t. Only the Knight Commander has the authority to review and respond to records. However.”

“But?”

Hoover lifted her head.

“The knight commander suddenly collapsed two nights ago. He is still not regaining consciousness. “The eldest son, who was designated as the only successor, is in a coma and is not in a position to make decisions.”

“Could you tell me in an easy-to-understand way?”

“So. Currently, the White Blood Knights are in a position where their leader is vacant. And in accordance with the promise made with the Empire a long time ago, all Templar members must quickly return to the Knights Templar.”

Nikki also knew about the promise made a long time ago. In order to prevent the berserkers of the White Blood Knights from fighting here and there like mercenaries, the emperor and the knights made a promise a long time ago.

All knights follow the orders of the knight commander. In the event of a command vacuum, including the Knight Commander, all Knights Templar must return to the Knights’ Bureau as soon as possible.

“Why now!”

Nikki Brien couldn’t hold back her anger. Now that the combat power of the Holy Grail Knights and the Mercy Knights was poor, the White Blood Knights’ secret escort was the only option they could rely on.

But now, because of the promise between the Empire and the Knights, even those secret guards must return.

“… It looks like a tournament will be held soon. Please wait until then. This is something we can’t do anything about. “Didn’t you make a pact?”

“Please, can’t you postpone it?”

“Only the emperor and the knight commander can change the treaty. This may be presumptuous, but even if His Majesty the Emperor were willing to do so, we cannot answer because there is no knight commander worthy of the Emperor’s favor. But.”

“Just?”

“Rather than worrying about the Prime Minister, there is a way to calm this chaos faster. But we need help to do that too.”

Nikki Brienne groaned. He also felt that if he could finish anything faster with a little help, it was the right thing to do.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Please step aside for a moment.”

Nikki couldn’t even get angry at the answer that was so shameless. It was so absurd that I just laughed.

“The rudeness is endless!”

The surrounding secretaries and administrators were indignant, but the Grand Vizier calmed the commotion with a single clap of his hands. Eventually, they rushed out of the conference room, glaring at the man who looked like a mountain thief.

Her man waited patiently for her, then she bowed deeply and bowed.

“Thank you for accepting my difficult request. However, because of the content, I could only say this.

I’ll tell you this calmly. We have already determined that the Knight Commander will not be able to wake up. The same goes for his eldest son, whom he designated as his successor. Even if he is fine, his body is too weak to command.

If there is no successor, the White Blood Knights elect a new leader through a tournament. “As the entire position of the White Blood Knights is decided through a tournament, this will be a huge festival and a place of confusion.”

“… “Are you saying other positions besides the Knight Commander, such as personnel management, military affairs, and administration, are also decided through tournaments?”

“Yes. That is why the Knights Templar members are rushing back to the Knights Templar Bureau in a situation where there is a leadership vacuum. As I said before, this is a contract that the emperor and our progenitor made a long time ago, so we must follow it.”

Nikki Brienne sighed deeply.

“I know what you mean. But I don’t know how I can help. “Are you saying I have to do something more than endure the inconvenience and anxiety caused by your departure?”

“Ha. “All of the Pope’s knights are nothing but trash.” The genealogist remembered their disgrace at Emmaus.

“Let me tell you one thing: I was in Emmaus. “I saw everything that happened there.”

“Is it true?” Nicky leaned forward in surprise.

“Why would you tell a lie here? We also know at least a little bit about what’s happening. According to the original custom, the tournament would not have been held until the knight commander passed away. We are also in a hurry because we are in a hurry. “The devil is not easy.”

“But what’s the problem?”

“It was said that all new positions will be decided through a tournament, but that does not mean that you can become a dog or ox knight commander. Only the 12 most skilled players can participate in the tournament to become a knight commander. Only those who have been given the glorious titles of Berserkir and Valkyria.

But now, that one Valkyria refuses to return and is floating around the empire. In a tournament where all 12 players must participate, she is not the story without her.”

“Who the hell is she?”

Genealogist Hoover looked at the chancellor of the empire.

“Valkyria Liliana Brünnhilde. She is now part of the Imperial Security Service. She goes with her man named Cain and an inquisitor named Maria. “I hope you find that woman quickly and bring her back.”