They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 80

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Don’t resent me too much, Kailyb.”
Raern, who had been watching the magical barrier dissipate in the distant sky, spoke lightly with a slight upturn of his lips.
“Stepping into the domain of a Grand Mage who has cultivated for 300 years was already an adventure for me.”
Raern tucked his staff away beneath his cloak and turned to the side.
“Commander, the task is complete as ordered.”
Standing on empty air as if it were solid ground, spear in hand, was none other than Iserna.
He had been covering Raern in preparation for Kailyb’s counterattack, but in the end, no variables had emerged.
“Any casualties?”
“Whose orders are these? Of course not. You know my precision.”
Raern added further.
“I only targeted the walls and mechanisms. I didn’t touch a single living thing, so don’t worry.”
Iserna nodded and slowly surveyed the Imperial Palace.
With all the marked life-force supply devices and magical formations destroyed simultaneously, Kailyb would be no different from an ordinary person for some time.
It would take considerable time for him to recover.
“Destroy the Separate Palace too. Let’s leave immediately.”
“This soon?”
“We’ve finished our business here anyway. We need to leave while the chaos is still unfolding to avoid suspicion.”
I had scattered contracts containing evidence that the Crown Prince was not the Emperor’s blood relative throughout the Central Palace.
In all this turmoil, the Crown Princess had been accused of attempting to assassinate the Emperor, so Cradian’s political circles would become a battleground for some time.
They would be too overwhelmed just managing this chaos to resume the conquest war.
“There’s much work to be done in Bardia.”
For some time, we would need to remain hidden and prepare to overturn the board.
News that the hostage prince confined in the Separate Palace had died would soon reach Bardia, allowing us to maintain perfect cover.
“Right, whatever.”
Raern drew out his staff again and pointed it at the Separate Palace, which he had marked separately from the magical formations.
“Are you really sure I can destroy it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, aren’t you going to regret it?”
At Raern’s meaningful words, Iserna’s brow furrowed.
“Kei must have said something unnecessary again. It’s all nonsense, so ignore it.”
Raern let out a snort of laughter.
“Really? I thought it was quite plausible.”
Iserna said nothing more.
Soon after.
Boom!
With an ear-splitting explosion, the Separate Palace crumbled in an instant.
Light, dust, and the remnants of mana clouded the night sky.
Within it lay time and traces, and…
Someone’s memories as well.
Iserna watched the scene unfold in silence.
A cold wind swept across my cheek, carrying the chill of the night air.
“It’s unfortunate we let Kailyb slip away. We should have dealt with him while we had the chance.”
At Raern’s words, Iserna shrugged.
“We anticipated he’d have a hideout.”
“Still, I thought he might charge at us without retreating, at least once.”
“Kailyb? At you?”
Raern laughed at the look of disbelief in Iserna’s gaze.
“Why? Am I really that formidable? So overwhelming you wouldn’t dare face me?”
Iserna clicked her tongue without answering.
Her gaze turned toward the main gate of the Imperial Palace.
Three carriages bearing the Church’s emblem were lined up and departing.
“Let’s go.”
It was a brief command.
Raern nodded.
“Finally, I’ll get to see the Crown Prince’s face.”
“Just a warning—don’t be disrespectful.”
“Already taking your husband’s side? Your older brother is hurt.”
….
As their voices faded faintly, both figures vanished simultaneously.
Above the Cradian Palace, caught in unexpected chaos, only the empty night sky remained.
***
I descended lightly onto the moving carriage, opened the door, and ushered Raern inside first.
Following after him, I threw myself inside and closed the door, cutting off the noise from the chaotic streets outside.
“Ser!”
I smiled at Elhart as he struggled to sit up.
“Everything went smoothly.”
I sat him back down before his head could break through the carriage ceiling.
Then I settled beside him.
“Are you alright? It looks like you scraped yourself here.”
He examined my shoulder carefully.
“I got this scratch when we escaped from the Imperial Palace earlier.”
“I… I see.”
I chuckled softly as I watched him gauge my reaction.
“It’s fine. It’s nothing serious.”
Heh.
Raern, sitting across from us with Kei and watching over us, let out a hollow laugh.
I shot Raern a look asking what he was staring at.
“Still, since we’ll be traveling together for a while, wouldn’t it be good to exchange greetings?”
At Kei’s words, Raern extended his hand first.
“Pleased to meet you, Crown Prince. I am Raern Brin, the highest-ranking Mage of the Expedition Team.”
“His nickname is the Destroyer King.”
As I interjected smoothly, Raern lifted his chin slightly.
…I hadn’t realized it, but it seemed Raern took pride in the nickname of Destroyer King.
I’d only meant it as a jest.
“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Elhart.”
When Elhart clasped his hand, Raern smiled broadly and shook it once.
‘Huh? What’s this?’
I felt mana ripple slightly.
It was subtle, but mana was definitely being amplified from Raern’s side.
‘Surely not…?’
I looked back and forth between the two men, whose hands still hadn’t separated.
While Elhart showed no particular change from his usual demeanor, Raern’s eyes were wide open.
‘This bastard!’
I hastily stepped in and pulled their hands apart.
Raern, feigning indifference as he withdrew his hand, slowly turned his body and smashed his head against the carriage wall.
“Ow, ow, ow….”
“This is why I told you not to pull such pointless pranks!”
I grabbed his shoulder and struck his back several times as he groaned in pain.
After all, one pain is best cured by another.
“…?”
Elhart still wore an expression of complete bewilderment.
“To amplify strength-enhancement magic several times over and still suffer such a pathetic defeat—the dignity of an Archmage is truly in shambles,” Kei explained with cutting precision.
“I see.”
Elhart simply nodded in understanding without saying much else.
Meanwhile, the three Church carriages had already left Jedo behind.
The explosion that erupted from the Imperial Palace had thrown the entire city into chaos, leaving the soldiers guarding the walls unable to perform their duties properly.
Thanks to this, we passed through safely with nothing more than the Church’s emblem displayed on our carriage.
In a single night, Cradian had been completely overturned.
What kind of upheaval would result from this was obvious without even thinking about it.
The succession to the throne.
The disposition of the Crown Princess.
An investigation into the truth of the Emperor’s assassination.
The reality of the contract between the Emperor and Crown Prince.
Not a single one of these would be resolved easily.
‘For a while, they’ll be tearing into each other and fighting amongst themselves.’
That was the outcome we’d aimed for.
To leave them no time to spare for resuming their conquest wars.
“For some time now, they won’t have the leisure to concern themselves with Bardia,” Kei murmured, gazing out the window.
“For a while, I won’t have time to worry about Bardia.”
Kay murmured while gazing out the window.
His gaze was fixed upon the procession of carriages stretching endlessly before us.
Those we had rescued were riding within them.
Once noble as royalty, they had been reduced to slaves and subjected to unspeakable abuse by the Emperor and the Crown Princess—their bodies and spirits shattered beyond recognition.
“It was the right thing to do, wasn’t it?”
“You mean killing the Emperor?”
As I nodded, Elhart spoke from beside me.
“If I hadn’t planned to use him as bait, I would have eliminated him with my own hands.”
He had attempted to poison me, after all—such a price was only fitting.
‘I cannot allow the chaos to spread too far.’
Infighting among the nobility was one thing, but a full-scale civil war was not what I desired.
The innocent would bear the burden of such devastation.
“I only regret we ended it so mercifully.”
A cold smile played at Kei’s lips.
“Thinking of all those he destroyed, I would have minced him with a kitchen knife, sliced him to ribbons, and….”
“…!”
As Kei’s horrifying words poured forth, I hastily covered Elhart’s ears.

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