Tmkoc Sex Stories Chapter 142 : Winds of Upheaval (2)
Chapter 142 : Winds of Upheaval (2)
Chapter 142: Winds of Upheaval (2)
At 4 PM, Karbenna and the Special Task Force personnel also began preparing to return.
I repeatedly insisted there was no need to see us off, but the people of the Magic Tower had no intention of listening.
In the end, surrounded by a crowd of well over a hundred people, we ended up spending quite a long time exchanging farewells.
“I’m telling you, go start the repairs already… seriously, nobody ever listens.”
“Eh, it’s not like the place is going to collapse immediately if we don’t!”
This war had not begun because of ideology or profit, but from murderous intent toward humanity itself. Those who survived while fighting against it could not help but become tightly bound together.
Though the time had been short, the battles had been fierce enough that everyone seemed reluctant to part ways.
Only after more than ten minutes of exchanging farewells were we finally able to depart from Mallet.
Standing among the carriage convoy heading for the Special Task Force rather than the one bound for Karbenna, I muttered quietly.
“Now then… shall we start shaking up the board for real?”
A four-person carriage.
Colonel Belfor and Colonel Anthony sat in front, while Frederick Lake sat beside me.
“I don’t think the Director needed to come along personally.”
“Well, I have my own thoughts on the matter too, which is why I’m participating. Don’t worry about it too much.”
“…….”
When I continued looking at him suspiciously, Frederick waved his hand dismissively.
“What’s with that expression? We fought together just fine earlier.”
“…No. I was simply surprised that you seemed willing to side with me.”
“I never said I was siding with you yet.”
Avoiding my gaze slightly, he turned toward the window.
“I’ve lived my entire life believing that preserving rules and systems was the highest virtue.”
But tell me, Carter.
“If preserving outdated rules and systems means failing to save lives that could’ve been saved, isn’t that the true case of putting the cart before the horse?”
“Well… that’s true.”
Hearing words like that from Frederick of all people was honestly terrifying.
Though it also showed just how impactful this war had been.
Suddenly glancing toward me, Frederick asked:
“Putting that aside… isn’t this summons a bit too sudden?”
“…There must be a reason for it.”
Closing my eyes briefly, I recalled what had happened an hour earlier.
After saying farewell to Master Aleph.
While I was preparing to return to Karbenna, Stefan Taurus came to see me separately.
“The Special Task Force Commander is looking for you.”
“The Commander? Me?”
“Yes.”
“…But how exactly did you contact him? It doesn’t seem like you received the message through the Special Task Force.”
“Ah, actually….”
He first revealed that he had come here disguised as a Special Task Force member with the Commander’s permission.
“I reported to him because we had made a promise beforehand, and he asked me to bring you to the Special Task Force no matter what.”
“He didn’t mention why?”
“No….”
“…Understood for now. I’ll explain things properly, so Reporter, you should return through Karbenna. It’ll save more time that way.”
Originally, I had intended to observe the situation a bit longer before making a move.
I planned to establish my stance after seeing how the Orthodox Church and Dellowell reacted.
‘Edel must be pretty desperate.’
Even if she lacked a direct means of contacting me, trying to make contact this quickly—
‘There’s a chance the movements within the Imperial Family have intensified meanwhile.’
And the reason she deliberately involved the Special Task Force Commander was likely because his role was extremely important as well.
Edel Ribenia’s greatest goal was peace within the Empire. Among the current Imperial bloodline, there was no one more capable than her, meaning she would ultimately have no choice but to inherit the throne herself.
Of course, neither the Second Prince, the Crown Prince, nor the Second Princess after him would ever allow that… meaning division was inevitable.
Whether through internal conflict, purges, or a coup d’état, some degree of sacrifice was unavoidable if one wished to win.
If Abel Ribenia had the Orthodox Church and the Bernhardt Family, and Rachel Ribenia had the Noble Alliance, then Edel Ribenia had the Special Task Force.
An elite organization considered among the Empire’s strongest alongside Dellowell, specialists in Beast extermination.
However, as I had felt during this war too, the Special Task Force members fundamentally only cared about fighting Beasts.
Even if necessary, they likely had little interest in devoting themselves to battles between humans.
That was why merely gaining their support wasn’t enough—I needed to secure them completely.
If I neglected them now and later had them grab me by the ankle, it would become irreversible.
It was close to 11 PM by the time we finally arrived at Special Task Force Headquarters.
“See you later then, Belfor.”
“Yeah yeah, just finish your business and get back already, bastard.”
After exchanging brief jokes with Belfor, Frederick and I headed straight for the Commander’s office.
Knock knock—
“Commander, Carter reporting.”
An indistinct sound came from inside.
We exchanged glances for a moment before simultaneously pushing the door open.
The Special Task Force Commander was sitting on the sofa reviewing documents.
When we both saluted him at the same time, he pointed at Frederick and asked:
“…I don’t recall summoning you as well, Frederick. What brings you here?”
“There’s something I personally wished to tell you. And it’s been a while since I last saw your face.”
“…….”
“Would it have been better if I came later?”
“…Hm, no. This matter wasn’t scheduled until tomorrow anyway.”
Lieutenant General Alvin then sent me away instead of Frederick.
“It’s too late tonight, so let’s meet again tomorrow at 7 AM. Get some rest, Colonel Carter.”
That last line was just a bonus.
---
At around 7 PM, immediately after returning to Dellowell, the two Executors dismissed the believers and ordered them to rest.
After instructing the guards not to leave any reports, the two of them headed inward alone.
Step, step.
Entering deeper within Velut Fortress together, the two silently looked back.
Though none of them could actually be seen, the figures of those people completely filled their vision.
They were the dead who had lost their lives in this war.
“…….”
It’s not too late yet. If you want to turn back, this is your last chance.
…But you won’t turn back, will you?
They had already made their choice.
And to the upper ranks of the Orthodox Church, that choice was practically a reverse scale.
The water had already been spilled. No matter what they did, they could never gather it back up again.
They could no longer pretend not to see what had been lost in the process.
By the time they reached the entrance of Flavia Cathedral, Betty quietly spoke to Karen.
“No matter what choice you make, I alone will respect you.”
“…Betty.”
“So go and do what you must, Sister Karen.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips along with eyes filled with determination.
At the same time.
Waiting for a report inside the cathedral, Heinrich repeatedly slammed the podium in agitation, fully exposing his anxiety.
Fuck, fuck.
What the hell are those damned bitches doing for an entire day?!
Are they seriously struggling that badly just to bring down one measly Magic Tower?
His rage kept boiling over, and Heinrich continuously struck the floor.
His gaze was fixed on the Orb sitting atop a table in the corner.
It had already been over twelve hours since the previous evening’s report, and he still hadn’t been able to report to the Archbishop even once.
The mere fact that the war had dragged on this long would make it impossible to avoid criticism, regardless of the result.
‘If we lost on top of that….’
I don’t even want to imagine it.
As such thoughts swirled in his mind while he paced around the podium, a familiar woman entered his view.
Executor of Blood, Karen Rosefield.
“So where exactly did you throw away the reporting protocol and come here all alone, hm?”
Thinking about making her pay for causing him such anxiety all this time, a grin naturally spread across his face.
Descending from the podium, Heinrich abruptly tried to slap her across the cheek—
But suddenly froze.
“…….”
He was the one who had trained her for many long years.
Her gaze, expression, actions, speech, even the rage and killing intent in her mana.
There was nothing about this woman he didn’t know.
And yet, what was this incomprehensible expression?
Anger? Doubt? Reflection? Regret?
No. None of them.
If he had to infer it…
Resolution.
A resolution to kill.
…Whom?
“…….”
An overwhelming sense of crisis suddenly swept across his entire body, causing Heinrich to take several steps backward.
At this moment, he had no choice but to realize.
Karen Rosefield had completely regained her memories.
…Gulp.
‘F-first, I need to somehow get out of this situation.’
The one who decided everything back then was the Archbishop, not me.
I was merely the practical executor carrying out orders because I had no choice.
If you want revenge, you should take it out on the real culprit, not an innocent bystander…!
Thus, Heinrich desperately pretended to remain calm while slowly backing away.
“…If you’ve returned, you should’ve started with a report, Executor. I was worried.”
He could vividly feel cold sweat running down his back.
“Well, seeing you return like this means victory is practically certain… so go back and rest for now. I’ll summon you once discussions are finished.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“H-hm? Is there something you wish to say?”
As the Director continued dodging the subject, Karen instantly swung her halberd.
Craaaack!
The podium beside him split cleanly in half, causing Heinrich to collapse backward in terror.
“Kugh?!”
“Why did you do it?”
“W-what are you talking about?!”
“Why did you leave me alive?”
“W-what are you suddenly saying? Are you upset because news of victory came later than expected? If that’s the case, don’t worry too much. I’ll speak to the Archbishop properly for you….”
Slash!
“GAAAAAAAH!”
Without another word, Karen severed Heinrich’s left hand before raising her halberd once more.
“If you evade the question one more time, next time I’ll take your head.”
“Guards! Is nobody there?! The Executor has rebelled! The Executor…!”
Crunch!
When she crushed his right foot next, Heinrich couldn’t even scream properly and merely writhed in agony.
“You still think this is some kind of joke?”
“G-ghhhk…!”
“If you want to die, then do as you please. I won’t feel anything at all.”
As Karen aimed the halberd at his neck, Heinrich hurriedly stumbled backward while shouting desperately.
“Then what do you expect me to do?! The Archbishop ordered us to keep you alive, so we did! He said your talent was too valuable to simply let die, that we should use you even if only as a tool!”
“So you left me alive and killed everyone else? All those countless lives?”
“The Ribenian Orthodox Church is the pillar of the Empire! What do you think would happen if people learned that such a church made the wrong choice? Trust would disappear, and chaos would only intensify!”
“…….”
“You think we enjoyed doing that?! Everything was for the peace and safety of the Empire’s twenty million citizens! You of all people know that better than anyone else! Sacrifice is inevitable in achieving peace!”
Though Heinrich desperately continued his justification with bulging veins, her resolve only grew firmer.
“Lives aren’t something to be calculated like that.”
“W-wait! At least hear my proposal first! At this rate neither you nor I will survive…!”
Ignoring his attempts to stop her, she emotionlessly brought down the halberd in her hand.
The sound of crushing bones and wet flesh splattering echoed simultaneously.
The man’s stiffened body gradually went limp.
Watching the blood drip steadily beneath the podium, Karen collapsed onto the spot.
“So this… is the weight of responsibility that bastard spoke of.”
It was heavy… and painful.
Far too painful.
She sat there blankly staring into empty space.
Countless scenes flashed through her mind.
Forcefully suppressing the emotions threatening to overflow, Karen slowly rose to her feet.
That was when—
“I came just in case, and as expected.”
At the familiar voice from behind, she turned her head to see Betty Scarletwood standing there.
As if she had predicted this would happen, Betty calmly locked the cathedral doors.
Then she walked toward the center and pointed at Heinrich Peregrine’s corpse.
“You do… have a plan, right?”
Instead of answering, Karen pulled a small Orb from her robes.
When she infused a trace amount of mana into it, part of the previous conversation between the two began playing aloud.
“…A Phono Orb.”
“It won’t be a decisive move, but it’ll be a useful way to make the situation bigger.”
The fact that calamity was approaching right before their eyes would soon begin shaking the Empire from within.
The current Empire lacked the power to overcome the calamity. If it failed to change, it would perish.
And because of that very situation, this public exposure carried tremendous meaning.
The revelation that they had once coveted the power of Beasts and massacred an entire village would threaten even the continued existence of the Orthodox Church itself.
And that would trigger the birth of a new system.
‘Now then, Eugene Carter. I’ll set the stage for you.’
So show me what you can do.
I’ll watch and see what kind of world you intend to create.