TYBMB 06

Chapter 6. The First Rebellion
2024.01.06

There was a trace of irritation in Ernant’s voice as it came through the crystal orb.

He seemed annoyed that the call hadn’t connected immediately.

I was just as irritated, but I carefully concealed my emotions and replied calmly.

“Apologies. I was sleeping for a moment.”

— Fine. Whatever. More importantly, how’s Martin?

“…There’s nothing to report. Everything’s the same as usual.”

Every time Ernant contacted me, he always asked about the commander.

He wanted to be informed of any suspicious behavior from the commander—particularly, any signs that he might be aiming for the throne.

In truth, the commander had no interest in the throne, being too focused on subjugating monsters.

But Ernant, ever suspicious and with a vivid imagination, constantly feared that his more capable younger brother was plotting to take his place.

When I used to be fond of Ernant, I reported the commander’s every move for his sake. But not anymore.

Now, I loathed Ernant.

I hated the man who had poisoned me.

I had no intention of wasting my precious life on revenge, but I was absolutely done acting in his interests.

So when I gave a brief report, Ernant questioned me.

— The same as usual? That’s really all you have to report?

“…”

— Give me a proper report, Yulia. Before I send someone down there.

His voice held a hint of anger.

My half-hearted report seemed to have gotten on his nerves again.

I hated working for him, but if he actually sent someone to monitor both me and the commander, it would only be trouble on our end.

After some hesitation, I offered up one more piece of information.

“We’ve decided to enter the rift. Just me and Commander Martin, the two of us.”

— What? Hold on, you’re entering the rift with just the two of you?

Ernant sounded unusually surprised.

It was unexpected.

I didn’t think he’d care whether we entered as a pair or a trio.

Surprisingly, Ernant seemed worried about me entering the rift alone with the commander.

— Isn’t it dangerous for just the two of you to go in?

“…Are you worried about me?”

I barely managed to conceal my surprise as I asked.

Wouldn’t anyone be surprised? The man who would try to kill me in five years was worried about my life?

But absurdly, Ernant wasn’t concerned about me being hurt or killed by monsters.

— Of course I’m worried. Who knows what that lecher Martin might try with you.

“…”

— If he tries to overpower you inside the rift, you wouldn’t be able to resist, right?

It was so pathetic I nearly sighed aloud.

His knight might get killed or injured by monsters, and he didn’t care about that?

Was he more worried about another man touching the woman he considered his possession?

I hadn’t known how vile possessiveness could be until now…

Suppressing the frustration and disgust swirling inside me, I snapped back.

“He’s not the kind of person who would do that.”

— Huh? Are you defending Martin right now?

“I’m not defending him. I’m simply stating the truth. He’s not the type to do something like that.”

— …

There was silence from the other side of the crystal orb for a while.

Just as I was about to say I’d end the call if he had nothing more to say, Ernant finally asked,

— Yulia, you seem… different somehow. What kind of tricks has Martin pulled on you?

“He hasn’t done anything of the sort.”

— What kind of sweet talk did that sly bastard use to reel you in…

“…”

He wasn’t even pretending to listen to me.

As usual, Ernant’s imagination ran wild, and he had already decided that the commander had seduced me to bring me to his side.

The man who laughed while poisoning me was now spouting nonsense about the man who mourned me at my death.

I had tried hard to endure Ernant’s rudeness at first, but by then, I was having a hard time holding my emotions back.

Then, right on cue, Ernant said something that finally broke my patience.

— In any case, you are absolutely not to enter the dungeon alone with him. That’s an order.

“I’m sorry, but under the Special Act on Rift Management, I must follow the orders of my direct superior, Commander Martin, over His Majesty’s commands. In matters related to the rift, my superior’s orders take precedence.”

— You dare…!

“I’ll end the call now.”

Before Ernant could explode in rage, I quickly tapped the crystal orb twice to cut off the communication.

Ernant tried to contact me again, clearly still having things to say, but I didn’t answer this time.

The crystal orb buzzed for a while, but finally went quiet after about five minutes.

“Ha…”

Even though I had impulsively cut the call in anger, I couldn’t help feeling a little worried now.

Maybe I went too far…?

But I shook that thought away.

I couldn’t just send the commander into the rift alone just to appease Ernant.

Even if I was a bit emotional, I had ultimately made the right decision.

Besides, when it came to matters involving the rift, Commander Martin’s orders did take precedence over Ernant’s.

Rift management was a matter that could decide the empire’s fate.

In other words, even if I had acted a little arrogantly, Ernant couldn’t easily punish me for disobeying the emperor’s orders.

Let him send people, let him suspect me all he wants. I hadn’t committed any crimes.

With that, I calmed myself.

After all, I was one of only three top-tier Awakeners in the empire, a crucial asset to the nation.

Even as emperor, Ernant couldn’t touch me freely.

Maybe once all the rifts were closed and I was no longer useful, he’d try to deal with me for being insolent… but then again, he tried to kill me even when I wasn’t insolent.

“Click.”

I clicked my tongue and closed my eyes.

Lying still with my eyes closed, drowsiness gradually washed away my tangled thoughts.

Smash—!

The crystal orb Ernant had thrown hit the floor and shattered noisily.

Hearing the crash, the royal attendants and guards rushed in, only for Ernant to roar at them in fury.

“Don’t stick your noses in! Everyone out!”

He was usually composed even in front of subordinates, but not this time.

The attendants and guards quickly retreated, and once the office was empty, Ernant sat there seething.

One thought consumed his mind:

Are even my knights looking down on me now, just because I’m not Awakened…?

Awakeners, who were born with special powers, were chosen regardless of social status.

Though Ernant was undoubtedly of imperial blood, he had not been born with such powers. He was a non-Awakener.

Because of this misfortune, he constantly wondered:

If only I had even a little of that power… Then Martin, Yulia, no one would dare look down on me.

With the empire in chaos from monster attacks, the emperor’s influence was limited—particularly in matters concerning the rifts.

Ernant knew this all too well, and that knowledge only deepened his frustration.

Gnawing at his fingernails, he muttered in a quiet voice:

“…This can’t go on.”

He couldn’t let Yulia continue to ignore him.

He fell deep into thought, more desperate than ever.

And soon, he remembered something.

A way to make Yulia bow to him again.

“Franz!!”

Ernant pulled the bell cord to summon his aide, Franz.

The flustered aide rushed in, sweating nervously as he bowed.

“Y-You summoned me, Your Majesty.”

“Prepare the carriage.”

“A-Are you going out, Your Majesty? I’ll have everything ready right away—”

“I’m not going for a short outing.”

Ernant added an explanation to the puzzled aide.

“I want to visit Rift No. 4 in the Countdom of Harknestein. It will be a long journey, so prepare thoroughly.”

Yulia may have been a powerful Awakener, beyond even Ernant’s control, but he still had one weapon he could use to manipulate her.

A weapon called “unrequited love.”

Ernant knew Yulia had feelings for him.

And that emotion was the sharpest blade a non-Awakener like him could wield against an Awakener like her.

So, he planned to go to her directly.

To wield that blade of longing, a simple call from afar wouldn’t be enough.

He had to face her in person, share warmth, and slowly, without her even realizing…

Make her emotionally bound to him once again.