The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 200

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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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Part 2, Chapter 47

A 10-star general of Kazen whom Jason had tried to win over, a warrior whose skills were among the finest in the Kazen Empire.

However, all of that had now become a thing of the past. 

Ever since his miserable defeat to the mercenary Akaress, who had participated in the swordsmanship duel in place of Medeia.

More precisely, ever since his ring finger was severed by that man’s sword.

“General, how have you come to be in such a state in this place?”

“Are you mocking me when you already know everything? Did you come here to laugh at my pathetic condition?”

His protruding, bloodshot eyes glared at Raju.

“If not, then what did you come looking for me for?”

The sinister voice was not the Jared of before.

What the mercenary had severed was the ring finger of his right hand that gripped the sword. Already inconvenient from the aftereffects of previous injuries, losing an entire finger was fatal.

Therefore, after that, he had never once been able to display his former skills. 

Jared was a cruel lecher who committed evil deeds wherever he went. 

When news spread that he could no longer wield a sword, those who had been waiting for his downfall could no longer hold back.

Even the First Prince, who was supposed to have received his death sentence, revived and cut off Jared’s last lifeline.

Eventually, he was demoted from his position as a 10-star general, and ultimately fell to these shabby slum outskirts, fleeing the constant stream of assassination threats.

“I am currently on my way from the Elamouz Strait. I attended Valdina’s imperial proclamation ceremony.”

“….”

“I’m sure you must have heard as well, General. Isn’t it truly ironic?”

Raju continued speaking, pretending not to notice Jared’s stiffened presence. 

“If not for that wager on that day, that small nation could never have grown to this extent. In exchange for the General’s plummeting fall from those lofty heights to this place, they gained far too much.” 

“….” 

Jared’s hand twitched beneath the sleeve of his dirty robe. 

His already missing ring finger seemed to scream as if recalling the nightmare of that day.

‘Yes, I’ve never forgotten it for even a moment.’

That day’s duel had taken everything from him.

If he hadn’t been captivated by the Princess’s beauty, and thus hadn’t accepted the 4th Princess’s wager.

No, if he had at least not drawn his sword against the mercenary of Facade—

“Don’t you want revenge?”

“What?”

Just then, Raju’s voice suddenly intruded into Jared’s reminiscence.

“The Continental Conference ended recently. Princess Medeia will escort the distinguished guests to the border port. In other words, it’s the first and last opportunity to scheme something away from the Emperor and the Agema’s eyes.”

“….” 

“The Princess will soon return to Valdina proper. Then, the path to avenging the General’s grudge will become distant as well. Still, weren’t you once a 10-star general? You’re not planning to just disappear into the back alleys of history like this, are you?”

“Hah, like Jason’s dog, your tongue has grown long and slippery.”

Jared sneered while pulling back his robe and scratching his nape.

Raju smiled knowingly.

‘He’s wavering, hehe. My words are getting through to him.’

“General, Medeia is no longer the half-wit princess of before. She’s the only sister of the new empire’s emperor and direct lineage of the previous king. That means if something were to happen to the current emperor….”

He paused for emphasis.

“It means the Princess’s husband would gain succession rights to Valdina.”

In reality, even if Peleus died, succession rights wouldn’t pass to Jared, a foreigner, rather than Medeia.

‘But what’s important is that this dim-witted fool believes it ‘could’ happen.’ 

“Setting aside the fact that she’s the culprit who made the General’s hand that way, it’s a move that can achieve both revenge and profit.”

Paradoxically, neither Jared nor Raju spoke of the true culprit—the mercenary of Facade, Akaress. 

Too great a fear robs one of even the courage to face it. Instinctively, they already knew there was no chance of victory.

While shamefully bowing their heads like this, seeing the tempting fruit called Medeia, wouldn’t it be human instinct to want to pluck it and hold it in their hands?

‘But what can I do with these hands that can’t even grip a sword?’ 

Jared, who had been wearing a greedy expression, soon looked down at his sleeve with hatred. 

“The General need not worry about his hands either.”

Raju spoke as if he had been waiting for this.

“You’ll be able to display your former martial prowess.”

“What? What do you mean by that! Speak quickly! How?! Is there a method?”

Jared’s eyes blazed as he desperately grabbed Raju’s hand. 

“I can’t bring back your finger, but there is a way to replace it. However, since it’s something of darkness… the General might refuse it as dishonorable.”

“It doesn’t matter. When have I ever cared about such things? If I can just grip a sword again….”

When the desired answer came out, Raju clapped his hands together in satisfaction.

“Then I’ll begin preparations. Soon, they will come looking for the General, so please recover from your injuries and then come to the strait.”

Jared nodded. Even his last remaining hesitation had vanished without a trace.

On the way out of the tavern, his subordinate asked.

“Master, is it alright not to tell him that the First Prince is currently at the strait?”

After being driven to the brink of death by the First Prince, Jared had been avoiding places where he was present with his tail between his legs.

“If I had told him the truth, he wouldn’t have accepted. Besides, even now, not many Kazen nobles know that the First Prince is in Valdina, so how would Jared, stuck in this corner, know that?”

“But… what if he finds out later?”

“Once he sets foot in the strait anyway, he won’t be able to retreat anymore. And after his hand is treated, he won’t fear even the First Prince anymore.”

Because he would experience the bizarre and overwhelming power of black magic firsthand. 

“What I’ve prepared isn’t just his new finger.”

Raju looked down at his own hand. His palm was burned black.

He had summoned the black mages himself through the pendant he stole from Jason.

“How dare a mere dog of the Duke deceive us,”

As soon as the words fell, black smoke shot out like an arrow and touched Raju’s palm. 

Like touching flames, his flesh turned red and peeled, then blackened.

“Ugh—!”

While enduring the pain, Raju gritted his teeth and answered.

“Great… judges of darkness, before this foolish servant confesses his sins, there is something you must know.”

And he revealed his plan.

The black mages were displeased that a mere subordinate of Jason had sought them out without permission, but upon learning that he too was targeting Valdina’s princess, they agreed to provide assistance. 

Their ultimate goal was to overthrow the continent and revive the primordial darkness. 

The first step was the Kazen Empire. If the superpower Kazen fell, the aftershocks would affect the entire continent.

The black mages had tried to eliminate First Prince Chezare, who was the greatest obstacle to that goal.

But incredibly, the First Prince had ultimately survived the primordial curse. Their ambitious grand plan had also ended in failure.

Eventually, having failed to seize Kazen, the black mages turned their target to the new empire of Valdina.

But Valdina’s princess was thwarting their schemes one after another.

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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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