I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 222

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#222

Rahalbah was ultimately conquered in just one day. Since they had opened the gates without even attempting a proper siege defense, everyone had expected this result and wasn’t particularly surprised.

If the Imperial army responded properly, recapturing Rahalbah would be easier than drinking cold soup.

So while Kalian and everyone else were busily moving with focus on recapturing Rahalbah, tragic news arrived.

“Leilah has gone missing?”

When Kalian asked back in shock, the administrator nodded.

“Not only Count Aster, but Duke Williot and Count Hiltain are also missing.”

“Ha.”

Kalian let out an empty sigh and covered his face with one hand.

He didn’t care whether Fillen went missing or not, but the problem was Leilah and Hiltain.

For both of them to go missing at the same time. Something must have happened.

‘At least, Leilah is safe.’

Because the magic bracelet hadn’t activated.

She’s also wearing the magic necklace.

…No, could he really trust those things?

The magic bracelet and necklace weren’t invincible. If she removed them from her body, they couldn’t fulfill their role.

If that was the case.

If something had happened to her because of that.

In an instant, everything went pitch black before his eyes and his legs gave out.

Leilah, Leilah, Leilah.

My love.

“I really, really love you, Your Majesty.”

Stagger-

“Your Majesty!”

When Kalian’s body swayed, the administrator panicked and tried to support him.

“Huh?”

No, he tried to support him, but Kalian slipped through his grasp.

Instead, the hand he had extended to catch him became soaking wet as if dipped in water.

“What is this… Ah, ah!?”

The administrator, bewildered by the inexplicable event, forgot his dignity and screamed when Kalian suddenly turned to water and disappeared into thin air.

“His, His Majesty the Emperor has disappeared!”

* * *

“So you don’t need to worry.”

You told me not to worry.

“I’ll quickly resolve Casiwood’s problem and return.”

You said you’d quickly solve the problem and return to my side, Leilah.

But what is this?

Why did problems arise?

Where did you disappear to?

All sorts of dark emotions including resentment and worry about Leilah swirled around.

I need to find her quickly.

I need to find Leilah.

I had to see with my own two eyes that she was safe.

Kalian’s teleportation magic required him to have visited that place at least once before. And he had passed by Rahalbah when he departed for the campaign.

Thanks to that, setting coordinates near Rahalbah wasn’t difficult, but the problem was his magical power.

Though closer than Casiwood, Rahalbah was still about a month’s journey on horseback from the capital.

Traveling such a long distance relying solely on magic wasn’t easy. He hadn’t even covered a third of the distance before his magical power hit rock bottom.

To recharge his magical power, he needed to rest for at least a week. If unlucky, it could take even longer.

‘I can’t wait.’

How could he wait when who knows what might happen to Leilah in the meantime? He had to go immediately.

Kalian gritted his teeth and cast magic.

With his magical power depleted, the magic shouldn’t have been cast normally, but somehow it worked.

Kalian realized the reason when about a third of the distance to his destination remained.

“Cough.”

With each dry cough, dark red clots of blood poured out. He had suffered internal injuries from overusing magic.

Right now, Kalian was using magic by burning his life force instead of magical power.

Even knowing that burning life force was an extremely dangerous act, Kalian couldn’t stop.

He had to go rescue Leilah, so how could he stop?

Kalian pressed forward, vomiting fist-sized dark red blood clots each time he cast magic.

“Your, Your Majesty?”

When he arrived at the allied camp stationed near Rahalbah, Kalian was in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed immediately.

Though his face was paler than white paper, everyone who faced Kalian, who was emanating an aura more murderous than a wild beast, trembled without exception.

“Your, Your Majesty?”

Among the bewildered people, Viscount Casiwood, who came to his senses first, called out to Kalian.

Using that as a signal, people awakened one by one and flocked toward Kalian like clouds.

“How did Your Majesty come to be here…”

“I, I heard four days ago that you were at the Imperial Palace…”

Has it been four days since I left the Imperial Palace?

Having traveled without time to check, he only realized it now.

Covering a distance that would normally take a full month in just four days was quite remarkable, but Kalian wasn’t satisfied.

He should have come faster.

Blaming himself for not being able to do so, Kalian asked the nearest administrator.

“Have you found Leilah, Count Aster?”

“Pardon? Ah, well…”

The man who received the question looked troubled and glanced at another man beside him. That man also looked at someone else, and everyone just exchanged glances without speaking.

Getting an ominous feeling from their behavior, Kalian grabbed the shoulder of the person closest to him.

“Tell me right now. What happened to Leilah? Haven’t you found her yet?”

“N-no. We did find her, but another problem arose.”

“What problem arose? Don’t tell me she’s seriously injured? Or…”

Unable to ask if Leilah had died, Kalian bit his tongue.

As if understanding what Kalian was thinking, the man stammered his answer.

“She’s not injured or deceased, but she’s being held hostage.”

“…What?”

What kind of nonsense is this? Leilah is being held hostage?

“Is that true?”

The hand gripping the man’s shoulder tightened with force. The man groaned from the tremendous strength, but Kalian didn’t care and asked.

“Is Leilah really being held hostage by the Stella Kingdom army?”

The man groaned and nodded vigorously.

“What’s the proof?”

“A, a necklace came.”

“A necklace?”

“Yes, yes. A necklace with a large blue gemstone embedded in it.”

At those words, Kalian recalled the magic necklace he had given to Leilah.

“Where is that necklace? Bring it here immediately.”

At Kalian’s command, another man quickly brought the necklace.

“This is it.”

He had hoped it wouldn’t be, but it was indeed the magic necklace he had given to Leilah.

Kalian picked up the necklace with trembling hands. The magic power contained within the jewel was intact.

At this fact, Kalian’s pupils dilated to their limit before narrowing again.

“Ha.”

Kalian swallowed a groan and gripped the necklace tightly.

“When did this necklace arrive?”

“Yesterday.”

“Did anything else come besides the necklace?”

A bracelet, for example.

The man shook his head, perhaps misunderstanding Kalian’s words.

“There was no mention of Duke Williot.”

Come to think of it, Fillen was also missing.

Since he hadn’t given it even a moment’s thought, Kalian suddenly realized this fact.

At the same time, realizing something else, Kalian asked the man.

“Have you found Hiltain?”

“The commander is currently severely injured and staying at the camp.”

The answer came from behind Kalian. When he turned around, he saw a familiar face.

“Art Felixs greets His Majesty the Emperor.”

Led by Art, the other Crowd Knights placed their hands on their chests, knelt on one knee, and bowed respectfully.

Right, besides Hiltain, I had assigned them to Leilah as well.

And yet Leilah was captured as a hostage by the Stella Kingdom Army?

Clang—!

“…!”

It was truly an instant when Kalian drew the sword from a nearby soldier’s waist and pointed it at Art’s neck.

Everyone gasped and stared at them, but Art and the other Crowd Knights remained calm.

“Do you have something to say?”

“…I apologize.”

Art made a stern expression and bowed his head.

“Even with ten mouths, I have nothing to say.”

“You’re doing well for someone who claims to have nothing to say.”

“….”

Art pressed his lips tightly together and closed his eyes. The other Crowd Knights did the same.

They all acknowledged their guilt and showed their willingness to humbly accept whatever decision Kalian made.

Kalian frowned and stared at the knights for a moment, then looked down at the necklace in his hand.

The Crowd Knights had failed to protect Leilah, but he too had failed to protect her.

But who could he blame? If he was going to blame anyone, he should blame himself for sending her to Casiwood.

Kalian let out a bitter laugh and dropped the sword he had been pointing at Art’s neck as if throwing it away.

The news that Leilah had been captured as a hostage by the Stella Kingdom Army was shocking, but at least it was better than her being missing.

At least he could know whether she was alive or dead.

And if they had captured Leilah as a hostage, it meant they had something to demand from him, so they wouldn’t do anything strange like torture her.

So Leilah is safe.

While Kalian felt relieved by this fact, he clenched his fist tight, feeling miserable about having to find relief in such circumstances.

“Gather the commanders of each unit.”

Leilah, wait just a little longer. I’ll come to rescue you soon.

“How is Hiltain’s condition? Is his condition very bad?”

“Your Majesty.”

While the unit commanders were gathering, he was about to check on Hiltain’s condition when Art quietly called to him.

It meant he had something secret to discuss. Kalian entered a nearby camp with Art.

“What is it?”

“After the commander was rescued by the Empire’s soldiers, he woke up once and said something strange.”

“Something strange?”

“Yes. He said that Fillen Williot betrayed the Empire and sided with the Stella Kingdom.”

What kind of nonsense is this now?

At the absurd statement, Kalian frowned and looked at Art.

“Is that true?”

“The commander definitely said that. I was also bewildered and wanted to ask for more details, but he lost consciousness again and hasn’t woken up since, so I couldn’t.”

There’s no smoke without fire—Hiltain wouldn’t have said such a thing out of nowhere.

There’s something there. Having made that judgment, Kalian gave Art an order with a serious face.

“Investigate Fillen Williot and his surroundings immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Surely not.

Even if Fillen harbored resentment toward him over Leilah’s matter, he was the Empire’s duke and supreme commander.

So if he was in his right mind, he wouldn’t have done something like betraying the Empire and siding with the Stella Kingdom, but perhaps it was all a misconception.

Perhaps Fillen was a crazier bastard than Kalian had thought.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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