Chapter 235: Strategist’s Outlook


    We were walking toward the throne room at the top floor of the castle.


    We have started traveling from the middle floors of the castle but we havent encountered any enemies so far.


    The enemy is probably busying themselves trying to take control of the lower and middle floors right now. It is not like all soldiers will fall in line and there are Imperial Knights in the castle as well. Their number will be inferior to the enemys but each of them is an elite.


    Considering that they are fighting in the castle, it would not be strange if the enemy soldiers are being pushed back by the Imperial Knights right now.


    That being said, the situation has turned for the worse since there may be a traitor among the Imperial Knights. Some of them might betray us. If that is the case we will have a situation where the Imperial Knights start to fight against each other.


    They are elites but the traitors will have the element of surprise. That should provide a huge difference.


    It might be good to hurry.


    Alois who cautiously peeked over the corner muttered so.


    Behind him, Rupert raised a question.


    Even though we managed to get here without any difficulty? We never encountered any enemy soldiers along the way you know?


    We havent encountered any friendlies either, Your Highness. There should be a lot of butlers and maids in this castle. This huge castle can not maintain itself after all. Even so, we didnt see anyone on our way here. No matter how high up we go, it is too strange that we havent seen anyone so far.


    It is good that we didnt encounter any enemy.


    It just means that they are struggling on the lower floors.


    However, it is off that we havent found even a single ally on our way here. Just where did they disappear to?


    M, Maybe everyone has already evacuated


    Where to?


    That is.


    They have two choices. To go up or down. They surely know that the enemy is on the lower floor. If their ears still work, they should be able to hear the sound of swords shing and angry shouting below. If that is the case, they will choose to move upstairs. Even so, despite our fast pace, it is strange that we havent seen anyone at all.


    Evacuation is difficult.


    After all, they dont know where they would be safe.


    In a group of ten, there will definitely be two or three people who raise such a question. Even so, it is strange that there is no one left here.


    Then why is there no one here?


    The answer is simple.


    If I am on the enemys side, I will send an elite unit to the throne room first. Quietly that is. If we can not find anyone then we can expect that the enemy has arrived at the upper floors before us.


    Th, then the throne room is not safe!?


    Normally that would be the case but right now the Knight Commander is personally guarding the throne room. In a ce where no magic can be used, a swordmaster like her would not be easily defeated. You can think of the throne room as a safe ce for now.


    Then why do we need to hurry?


    If the enemy was informed that their elite unit can not take over the throne room, they will dispatch reinforcements. If we remain where we are, we will be caught in between them.


    Exactly.


    I affirmed Aloiss excellent answer.


    No matter what, we still have to get to the throne room. After all, it is the current safest ce in the castle.


    However, the enemy will also try to break through that ce.


    The more time we waste, the more our movement will be restricted. Even Alida wouldnt be able to help us then.


    It seems that there are no enemies here. Lets go, Your Highness.


    In response to Alois who checked the corridor for us, we started walking again.


    Then when another corner came into our sight.


    Soldiers wearing the Imperial Army uniforms appeared around the corner.


    They seemed surprised at our appearance for a moment but they immediately responded with a smile.


    I see that you are still safe my lords. We are on your side. Please calm down.


    A Soldier came out to speak with us when he saw that the knights hands reached for their swords.


    Seeing their smile, Rupert breathed out.


    However, I immediately grabbed Ruperts hand and pulled him toward me.


    After all, these soldiers have a terribly bad smell.


    That would be impossible.


    While saying so, I put my hand behind myself and use a hand sign to tell Alois to step back.


    Alois, who understood the hand sign, pretended to instruct the knights to calm down and slowly began to step away.


    It is a one-way passage. The number of opponents is five. We have six people on our side but Rupert can not fight and I dont count myself as abatant either. That would leave us with a numerical disadvantage.


    Alois seems to have trained his sword skill at the castle but it would be better to not expect much from him.


    We need to use a n here.


    It cant be helped that you are suspicious of us, my lord. We are also confused after all.


    Then tell me who you are working for.


    We are currently acting under themand of the Knight Commander Alida. We were tasked to bring the nonbatants in the upper floors to the throne room.


    The Knight Commander ismanding the soldiers?


    We separated ourselves from the other soldiers since we did not participate in the rebellion, my lord.


    Your story makes sense and doesnt make sense at the same time. We only have your words to go by. Do you have any evidence to support your im?


    My deepest apology. We can do nothing but ask you to trust us.


    While saying so, the soldiers slowly approached us.


    They even tried to circle around our backs.


    While I was buying time, I instructed Alois with another hand sign to enter a nearby room.


    If you want us to believe you then how about you stopping your advance first?


    We are in a hurry, my lord. The enemy is approaching us after all.


    Then give us proof that you are on our side.


    We have no such proof.


    Then answer my question. Why is there a bloodstain on your clothes?


    It wasnt their attitude alone that was suspicious.


    Their clothes are stained with blood.


    The blood sshed on us when we cut down the rebels.


    I see. Thats funny.


    While saying so, I bend my knees and prepare to run.


    These guys are definitely enemies.


    What is funny, my lord?


    You got bloodstain on the front of your clothes when you cut down the rebel? Above all, it is impossible for the Knight Commander to trust someone like you so readily that she would order you to protect the nonbatants. Her priority should be the protection of the throne room and the Imperial Family. If she is going to give you such an order, it would be to protect the young princes and princesses first.


    They did not react to Alois nor Rupert.


    If it is Alida, she will definitely include that in her order.


    When he heard my words, the smile disappeared from the soldiers face.


    At that moment, I embraced Rupert and started running.


    Alois and the others were already in front of the room I signaled them to enter and opened the door for us.


    Once we entered the room, the knights immediately closed the door.


    From the other side, we could hear the sound of the soldiers tackling against the door.


    How did you know that they are enemies?


    Even if what they said were true, their attitude waspletely wrong. We checked the corner every time we had to make a turn because we were being cautious of running into an enemy. But when they walked around the corner they were casually walking and identally ran into us. That gave away their position. They were not being hunted, they were the hunter.


    To be able to see through them in only a momentas expected of Grau.


    They were just being careless. They must be from a different unit that tried to take over the throne room. Their true mission is probably to capture anyone who tries to get there.


    Since they cant capture the throne room, their main unit can not focus on the throne room if someonees in from behind them.


    After all, depending on our movement, their main unit might be caught in a pincer attack from behind.


    I understand butwe do not have anywhere left to run either you know?


    Rest assured. Prince Rupert, its your time to shine. Try opening the drawer over there.


    As he was told, Rupert opens the drawer.


    At first nce, it was a normal drawer but this drawer has double panels.


    Try removing the panel on the bottom.


    At the bottom? Like this?


    When Rupert removes the panel, he can see a key underneath.


    Picking it up, this time I have Rupert reach his hand into the drawer.


    There should be a keyhole in there. Can you find it?


    Unn, Uhh.I found it!


    Rupert immediately inserts the key inside and turns it.


    Doing so, the wall slightly moved open and a hidden door appeared.


    This is.?


    Apparently this castle is full of hidden rooms and secret passages. Prince Arnold told me about them. That prince really seems to be familiar with this castle.


    I didnt know about it at allbut now we are safe!


    Saying so, Rupert tries to enter the hidden passage.


    However, I stopped him and put a finger on my mouth. Its a gesture for him to be quiet.


    I then tell the knights and Alois to hide in the room.


    A room inside the castle is full of stuff.


    There are many ces that even an adult can hide behind.


    I took Rupert and hid behind the curtain.


    As we finished hiding, the door burst open.


    Where did they go!?


    They are not here!?


    No! Take a look! Theres a hidden door! They must have gone through it!


    So they panicked and forgot to close the entrance huh! Follow them!!


    The soldiers confidently open the hidden door and enter inside.


    Seeing that they all went in, I came out of the curtain and closed the hidden door behind them.


    Use the key to lock it, Prince Rupert.


    Amazing! Now they are trapped! How did you know that they would go inside?


    People believe what they see. If they thought that we ran or hid in there, they would follow us in. Moreover, I didnt just lock them in there. I dropped them straight to hell.


    Eh?


    Seeing Rupert cocking his head, I put my hand on his head.


    Most of the secret passages and hidden rooms in the castle were made by the emperors of previous generations. Naturally, they have installed plenty of traps to keep away intruders. Only the Imperial Family alone is an exception. Thats why just in case, I had you open and close it yourself.


    Th, then, what about the soldiers that went in there earlier?


    Who knows. I dont know what kind of trap is in there but they shouldnt be able to get out of there any time soon. Since they can not expect any rescue either, they will probably die instantly or suffer there until they die. Either way, theres no doubt that they just stepped into hell.


    Hearing my words, Ruperts shoulders started to shake.


    He probably feels the weight of their death huh.


    I will not say that it is okay. But as long as someone tries to take your life, you have the right to fight back. You and I just exercised that right. So remember this well. When you try to kill someone, your life can also be taken away like this. The enemy also has the same right as you after all.


    Hearing that, Rupert quietly nodded.


    That is probably too early for a 10 years old child.


    However, this situation doesnt allow Alois or Rupert to be treated as children.


    Lets go. Just a little more and we will reach the throne room.


    The enemy hase to attack us as expected but that is no longer the case.


    From now on, its time to start the counterattack.