Chapter 1465

While investigating the dungeon was important, the most crucial task for the rescue team was the safe return of those who’d attended the banquet. While they might not hold much influence individually, together they carried enough to shake the entire continent.

As Perserque held up Transcendence's Demise and chanted as though she were singing, a gigantic purple warp magic circle began to form.

Davey always used warp magic as if it were a piece of cake, but, logically speaking, it was impossible for a high-level magic of the 8th Circle and above to be so easy.

“The Pallan Imperial Family must be in pretty hot water right now...”

Even before they’d received Evangeline's signal and rushed to her aid, the imperial knights had been moving throughout the palace eliminating terrorists.

Illyna alone had subdued more than a dozen of them. It was obvious the incident wasn’t a mere scuffle that could be swept under the rug.

“Just where did so many people like this come from?”

“Everyone must return quickly. The banquet’s over.”

Once Perserque completed the warp magic circle and gave the signal, Evangeline approached the huddled people. “Let's go back. We’re going to use transportation magic to get back to the Imperial Palace.”

“T-transportation magic?! For this large of a group?!” Crama shouted with an astonished face.

“Hey, hey, I’m not deaf. Could you not yell? My head's already throbbing because of that drain attack from earlier...”

“H-how could anyone not be excited by that?! A massive teleportation magic circle! Spatial teleportation is already high-level magic, but for a single person to transport this many people all at once is truly transcendent magic!”

Watching Crama, who looked thoroughly excited despite his usual cold expression, Ratius grumbled, “He's at it again.”

Khrones felt similarly. “Haah.”

“It's shocking enough that a single person can cast large-scale teleportation magic, something impossible even with a mana gate. But if I'm right, this is a warp spell, the pinnacle of spatial magic that exists only in legends.” He stared with wide, intense eyes and shouted, “Isn't that right?!”

Evangeline wasn’t sure how to respond. “Well... you aren’t completely wrong, but...”

Everything but the fact that it was the pinnacle of spatial magic was true.

“Amazing! The Grand Duchess of Heins is a grand sorceress who surpasses even a Great Sage...”

Rumors about Perserque hadn’t spread as widely as one might expect. The rumor that she was a demon had circulated once due to Abel, yet it hadn’t made far when it did. Only a few knew what kind of being she was, even more so the extent of her power.

To the people of the world, Grand Duchess Perserque was like an inexplicable being who simply came out of nowhere.

Evangeline, unable to bear it any longer, annoyedly pushed Crama and the others who had been hesitating to step on the magic circle. “We don’t have any time to waste. Let’s go.”

“But... is this safe?”

“What’d you say?”

He hesitated before finally saying, “Well... it sounds like high-level magic, and if it fails and we get hurt... the responsibility...”

At his words, Illyna sighed, and Evangeline, with a furious expression, strode over and grabbed him by the collar. “So, you want to settle the question of responsibility before you go?”

“T-that...”

“Then we're good,” she said with apparent relief. She stared at him and commanded, “Get out. I have no intention of saving someone like you who's looking for excuses.”

“Uh... UGHHH?!”

Evangeline came to throw him away. “You can get lost! I don’t want to save a jerk like you anyway! Who do you think you are, disrespecting my mom?!”

Someone openly insulting her family was something she couldn't tolerate. The fact that she'd protected someone like him only made her feel even worse.

As she flared in anger, Eosha quickly grabbed her to hold her back, pleading, “P-please calm down, Princess!”

“I can't! No, I won't!” Evangeline continued fuming for quite a while and didn't really calm down until the noble, drenched in cold sweat, finally apologized. No, even after his apology, it took her a long time to compose herself.

Ratius shook his head as he watched her fume. “She looked like such an elegant and refined princess on the outside. But she sure has quite the temper...”

Meanwhile.

Crama called out, “Khrones? What's wrong?”

Khrones, who had been blankly staring at Evangeline, flinched in surprise and replied, “It's nothing.”

“It definitely is something. You haven't been able to take your eyes off the princess since forever ago.”

“Y-you’re mistaken,” Khrones insisted.

Crama and Ratius stared at him as though he'd completely lost his mind.

Whummm. Poof!!

Soon, following a flash of light, everyone was transferred across space. They had instantly returned to the Pallan Imperial Palace.

Normally, teleportation magic targeting the interior of the Imperial Palace would be blocked. It would normally hold against any attempts, as there were virtually no sorcerers capable of casting magic at the level of Davey.

Of course, Gargantia had managed to pull it off. Even with help from an insider, it was still something that was pretty much impossible for anyone else.

The Imperial Castle was in chaos. Knights were moving frantically, and the wounded were everywhere.

“Move the wounded!!”

“Put restraints on all the surviving terrorists!!”

A considerable number of people in black clothes were seen, yet, surprisingly, some of those arrested also appeared to be imperial attendants or nobles.

One of the knights, the Knight Commander of the Whitebird, rushed toward Illyna with a look of surprise. “Your Highness!”

She turned to him, face solemn. “Commander, what happened?”

“The barrier suddenly shattered, and they all started surrendering. But... by the time we arrived, the people who attended the banquet were gone. After the barrier disappeared, we searched everywhere but still couldn't find them, and everyone was just confused about what had happened.”

“Don't worry. I saved everyone. And I also took care of the one who seemed to be the leader.”

“The leader... The enemy ringleader, Your Highness?”

“Eva fired a flare from the place where she'd been taken, which let us pinpoint her location. If we'd gotten it wrong, it could've led to a catastrophe and the collapse of the Continental Alliance.”

If all of the young nobles in attendance had died, the chaos across the continent would've been impossible to contain.

“Then, the casualties...” the man asked, dreading the answer.

“There are only minor injuries,” she assured him. “Some of them have wounds, but no one’s in any real danger. I apologize, Commander, but could you have the medical team examine them?”

“Of course.”

“And...” she hesitantly began before finally asking, “Nothing major happened after we left, right?”

“Actually...” The Knight Commander glanced around. “I'm only telling you because it's you, Your Highness. It’s originally classified, but you’ve been a huge help to us.”

She leaned in closer. “What is it?”

“A large number of traitors have surfaced from within the palace. Individuals who sought to overthrow the Imperial Palace during the chaos.”

She could hardly believe it. “What? Are they crazy?”

“Haaah. We're still investigating, but I have to admit, their motives are rather questionable. Right now, His Majesty is leading the operation to capture those involved in the attempted coup. And...” He paused for a second before continuing, “Duke Bertas, the Imperial Mage Commander, has also been arrested.”

Evangeline, who had been listening carefully, looked at Rune Bertas, who was trying not to lose her composure despite having a tired face.

Sure, they weren't on good terms, but she still felt pity for her. After all, she seemed completely unaware of the situation. She wouldn't have thought her own father would attempt to overthrow the entire empire.

One way or another, the incident had grown so massive that it seemed inevitable their family would be left in shambles. They'd never regain their former prestige, and there was a chance their title would be stripped away. Worst case, their entire family would be wiped out. In fact, the chances for that to happen were rather high.

The commander continued, “Fortunately, we managed to avoid the worst. But there are still a few troubling matters we’ll need to take care of.”

“Got it. You've done well, Commander,” Illyna thanked. “I take it we won't be able to leave the Imperial Palace for the time being?”

“That's correct. The entire palace is under lockdown, but I'll have you escorted to a place where you can rest.” He turned to point at a passing knight, shouting, “You there! Escort Her Highness, the Grand Duchess, and the Princess to their quarters.”

“Yes!”

“Ah, and Your Highness... You’ll need to go meet with His Majesty.”

“...I expected that.” Illyna sighed. Meeting her older brother wasn’t something she looked forward to, since they didn't get along well.

Thus, Perserque and Evangeline followed the knight further into the Imperial Palace while Illyna went where Sullivan was directing operations.

“Your Majesty, Grand Duchess Illyna de Rowane has arrived.”

A weary voice from inside rang out, “Let her in.”

Once the door to the royal chamber opened, Illyna saw Sullivan standing before a large map. Two knights who served as his closest aides stood beside him.

He lifted his head and greeted, “Illyna.”

“Glory to the Sun of the Empire.”

“Enough with the formalities. Come in,” he said calmly.

Illyna frowned momentarily before speaking. “Your Majesty, I was once a princess of this empire, but now I am the Grand Duchess of Heins.”

“Yeah, I know,” he responded.

“Then how about showing me at least the bare minimum of courtesy? I believe Rowane and Pallan are close allies.”

“Hah! Looks like now that you've become a Grand Duchess, you're getting quite uppity. You foolish little sister.”

“If you keep doing that, I have my own methods, too, Your Majesty,” she lightheartedly threatened.

“What are you going to do?”

“What am I going to do? Well, for starters, I could tell my husband everything.”

No response.

“It seems you don't know how scary pillow talk can be...”

“M-my apologies.”

Illyna, who approached with a snort, held out a recording crystal.

Curious, he asked, “What's that?”

“It's a recording of the enemy leader, the one behind this terrorist attack. I captured it while cutting him down.”

His eyes widened at the news, and he quickly activated the crystal. His expression grew grim as he watched the recording play out.

It showed the dragon, Gargantia, fighting Evangeline, followed by Illyna completely cutting him down.

Sullivan asked with a hardened expression, “And all of this is genuine?”

“If I intended to deceive you and interfere, I wouldn't have gone to save them in the first place.”

“Right,” he said, waving it off. “If you say so.”

She was surprised by how casual it was. “You don't suspect me?”

“It's more important to resolve the situation than to suspect you. Are you hurt?”

“Excuse me?”

“I asked if you're hurt. If you're injured, it will affect our relationship with Heins.”

To be honest, regardless of everything else, he wasn't happy that Illyna had fought someone so dangerous, but he did his best not to show it. He repeated, “I asked if you're hurt.”

“I'm not. I would’ve died a long time ago if I were that weak.”

“You foolish girl. You're a princess and the Grand Duchess of Heins. Failing to take care of your own body is a disgrace to my empire.”

“You certainly have a way with words, damn it.”

Sullivan turned away and sighed in relief. However, Illyna didn’t see or hear him do so. In the clear, he questioned, “His corpse?”

“I reduced him to dust. But, things still aren’t over.”

“Not over? Haven't all the main forces been subdued?”

“The Grand Duchess of Heins... no, it sounds a little funny to say it like this. Rather, Sister Perserque knows him.”

He hadn’t expected that. “She knows him?”

“Yes. She said he's a special existence that can't be killed by normal means. He has probably already resurrected somewhere, or he's about to and waiting for another opportunity.”

“It's one problem after another...” he mumbled.

“I heard Duke Bertas was arrested.”

“That's none of your concern.”

“...Should I tell Davey you’re holding back on me?”

“My apologies. He plotted a state overthrow.” Sullivan broke out in a cold sweat. He still vividly remembered how Davey had laughed after summoning meteors over the Imperial Palace in protest. He continued, “Even so, I owe you my thanks. Thanks to your swift cooperation, along with that of Grand Duchess Perserque and Princess Evangeline, a major disaster has been prevented. It could've easily become the catalyst for the collapse of the Continental Alliance.”

“I already warned you a long time ago that there’d be dangerous movements.”

“And here I thought you were just making it all up because you didn't want to attend the banquet.”

“Should I tell Davey?” she repeated.

“I’ll continue! Anyway, the situation’s mostly resolved. But if what you're saying is true, the enemy leader is still alive, and they’re even a dragon... and one with the level of power shown in that recording crystal...”

“To be frank, if that guy shows up at the Imperial Palace and starts causing havoc, the damage would be catastrophic. I'm not even sure we could stop him.”

“He didn't look that strong in the recording,” Sullivan argued.

“Normal attacks won’t affect him. And I'm not just saying that.”

Hearing the seriousness in Illyna’s voice, Sullivan’s eyes closed. “...I understand. Now go back. I've heard the details, so don't worry about it anymore. Just return to Heins as soon as the control is lifted.”

“Did you not just hear me? If he moves again, the Pallan Imperial Palace won't be able to handle it!”

He declared, “That's none of your concern.”

“I'm a former princess of this empire! This is my home!”

He abruptly shouted, “You are just an outsider who has married out!”

Illyna gritted her teeth.

Sullivan wanted to keep her out of the dangerous matter no matter what, yet as long as he withheld the truth, conflict between them was inevitable.

“That's enough. This is something Pallan must handle on its own. Go back. If we need help, I'll request it.”

However, the days when he was superior in pretty much everything were long over. Sullivan couldn't shake the strange mix of relief and disappointment he felt.

Illyna wasn't particularly happy with his decision either, but she accepted it for the time being. She said, “Don't forget. No matter how much you disapprove of me, big brother, Pallan is my hometown.”

“You must live for Heins, Illyna, not Pallan. That is the life you chose, and your destiny.”

“Who cares.”

“You immature...” After Illyna left, Sullivan sighed and sat down on his chair.

“Your Majesty...”

“It’s done,” he declared. “This is enough.”

“But...”

“Time flies fast, doesn't it, Sir Valt?”

“Pardon?”

“That foolish sibling of mine who was reckless and did whatever she wanted has become so strong that I don't need to worry about her anymore. It’s only been just one or two years...”

Those familiar with him knew how much Sullivan cared for Illyna.

Unlike the deceased crown prince, they often clashed, but his policy toward her had never changed from the start.

“Your Majesty, it would have been better if you had just been honest with her.”

“Yes. Heins is more powerful than my empire now. Even though I know I'm no longer in a position to worry about her safety, letting Pallan's internal affairs stand in her way would mean breaking the promise I made to my older brother.” He sighed, then asked, “How about the duke?”

“He remains silent. But, as Your Majesty said, there must be a reason for his actions.”

“Furthermore, Illyna told us that the enemy leader is a dragon...”

“I never thought I'd have a dragon act like this...”

Most of the terrorists had been captured, but no one let their guard down. No one knew what would happen next, or where the remaining enemies might be hiding.

That was when it happened.

“Y-Your Majesty!! We have a huge problem!!!”

As if on cue, a tremendous explosion shook the palace, and one of the Imperial Castle's buildings visible through the window was instantly engulfed in flames.

“Could that possibly be?!”

“It's the place where the young ladies and gentlemen from foreign countries were staying!”

Immediately after hearing the report, Sullivan rushed out in a panic.

“Your Majesty!!!”

The knights tried to stop him, but he didn’t stop.

It was the same building where Illyna had just headed.

If a major disaster were to break out there, it could escalate into something far worse than a simple kidnapping or murder.

“Damn it!” he cursed.

“Your Majesty!”

“What were the security guards doing?!”

“According to the report, there were no intruders!”

“What?! Are you saying that there was a terrorist among the young ladies and gentlemen from the—” Sullivan's expression hardened as he said that. “Wait... Don’t tell me...”

If the enemy terrorist had been hiding among the young lords and ladies from the very beginning... If they had watched how the events unfolded before launching another attack, then things were looking dismal.

To outsiders, it’d look as though Pallan and their lax security had gotten everyone killed.

Yet, the urgent matter was that traitors had also appeared within Pallan.

The situation began to turn terribly grim. But what made him run like a madman, more than all that, was...

“Illyna!!! Illyna!!! No no no!!!” Forgetting the dignity of an emperor, he threw off his cloak and tried to enter the burning building.

“Your Majesty! Hold steady!!! Explosions are still happening inside!”

“Let go of me! You just said Illyna was inside!!! Illyna!!” Forgetting his usual composure, he struggled frantically to get inside. But the knights held him firmly, making sure he couldn’t go in.

He kept shouting in desperation until he ended up wailing in anger. “Illyna!!”

He knew that even a Master-class expert would struggle to survive an explosion of such magnitude.

His younger sister, who looked so delicate to him, had been caught in the blast. He absolutely could not let it go.

Just as he was about to shake off all the knights and enter—

“Sullivan?”

Hearing the unexpected voice, Emperor Sullivan froze instantly. “What in the...”

Illyna stood looking at him blankly, and seemed perfectly fine.

He looked at the building and her with a stiff face.

Then, his eyes darted quickly, and he said, “Hmph... HMPH!! What a relief. Things would’ve become messy with Heins if you had been needlessly hurt.”

Illyna wore an angry face and let out a low growl as she realized he was saying something he didn't truly mean. “Do you believe you are making any sense right now?”