#105. You Won
The moment Khalid witnessed the mountain collapsing above with a tremendous roar, he activated the magic in his bracelet.
That he thought of triggering the bracelet’s power at that exact moment could only be called sheer luck.
He had heard it would be quite useful to Belia, but the shield that actually formed exceeded all imagination. Everyone stood in awe, staring at the vast barrier. It was strong and immense—enough to enclose the entire knight order.
“Your Highness!”
“Everyone, fall back!”
While Khalid held the shield in place, the knights retreated along the path they had come, and in the end, all of them survived.
However, channeling the magic stone’s power required the user’s strength, and Khalid suffered a significant backlash. The moment the shield dissipated after everyone had evacuated, he collapsed on the spot and remained unconscious for a long time.
When he finally opened his eyes, they were inside a temple of the divine kingdom.
Even if the landslide had been accidental, there were indeed people acting on Raul’s orders who had intended to put them in danger. In such a situation, Marquess Caprie judged that heading to the Tessa Duchy would be too risky and redirected them to the divine kingdom.
“Are you awake?”
Asid approached, startled, as Khalid squinted.
“…Where is this?”
“This is a temple. The minister has taken great care of you.”
“I see… ugh.”
A sharp pain stabbed his head.
“You need to rest a bit longer. The magic that had been in your body drained all at once, leaving you exhausted. But fortunately, there’s no major harm.”
Asid’s bright voice seemed to ease the tension.
“And the knights have regained their composure and are intensifying their training. Marquess Caprie was also quite angry.”
“What about the spy?”
“All of them have been dealt with.”
At those words, Khalid closed his eyes again. His body felt as if it were being crushed by boulders, and his head throbbed as if it would split.
As he endured the pain…
“Ugh!”
“Your Highness!”
Incredible memories began flooding back.
“That means… could it be that you also…?”
“How should I explain this?”
Khalid chose his words carefully, observing Belia’s shocked expression. Then, what he said was something beyond anything she could have imagined.
“This is a story that takes place after you die.”
Blood dripped along the blade in long streams.
Those crimson stains signified both the countless lives he had taken and the despair and frustration he had endured.
“How dare you!”
“…I spared your life.”
“Khalid!!”
Despite the enraged cries, Khalid’s expression remained calm. Without a hint of joy or elation at his victory, he looked at the man collapsed miserably before him.
All that life had been lived for someone so insignificant.
Beyond the faint memories, a certain smiling face rose, tinged with sorrow.
“I will punish you for the crimes of tyranny that have thrown this nation into chaos.”
“And you think you can claim the emperor’s throne after this?!”
Raul, dressed in lavish clothing, screamed helplessly, alone, without anyone to protect him.
“You destroyed Ronica, the allied kingdom of the empire. Because of that, the empire became a merciless place without honor or divine favor. The divine kingdom lodged formal complaints, but you ignored every single one. As a result, the Ingot Empire became the enemy of the entire continent and can no longer be called a glorious empire. Battles rage constantly at the borders, and countless citizens are being sacrificed even now.”
As he listed his misdeeds, Emperor Raul ground his teeth in fury.
“Don’t pretend to be righteous, Khalid! You only desired the emperor’s throne for yourself, didn’t you!”
Khalid pressed the blade to Raul’s throat, continuing without expression.
“…You imprisoned an innocent empress and poisoned her, and your new empress, whom you appointed for selfish reasons, indulged in luxury and drained the treasury. You held lavish parties daily and ignored the suffering of the empire’s people.”
Raul finally erupted in manic laughter. Memories were returning to him.
“Hahaha! And you, too, merely rebelled because you were enamored with the former empress. Yes, you were quite taken with Belia. Pathetic, really.”
“Remember that the blood and tears of countless citizens are returning to you, Emperor.”
“You, who acted only for your own satisfaction while wearing the mask of a spokesperson for the people, are a hypocrite!”
Khalid thrust the blade into his shoulder.
“Ugh!!”
“Anything else to say?”
“Gah… I… all for you… if I hadn’t killed Belia… you… agh!!”
Before Raul could finish, Khalid withdrew the blade from his shoulder and drove it into his thigh.
“Anything else to say?”
“Ugh… hahaha… all for a woman…?”
Again, he pulled the blade and stabbed his abdomen.
“Anything else to say?”
“…Guh!”
“Anything else to say?!”
Even as Khalid shouted, Raul writhed in pain, unable to answer.
Indeed, his words were not wrong. Though he claimed to rebel for the people, his mind had been consumed entirely by Belia. Had that single, chance encounter never happened, would everything have been different?
“Looks like you’re dead.”
Someone approached, looking at the limp Raul with disdain.
“…Duke Ellington.”
Though he should be the same age as the deceased emperor and Khalid’s father, he still maintained a youthful appearance that felt strangely out of place.
“Compared to the emperor’s crimes, his death is far too simple. All the anger of the people is directed at him. The empire has suffered under a dark ruler.”
“If we now stop the war and correct all wrongs, many lives can regain peace, and those sacrificed can rest.”
Ellington spoke cautiously.
“Do you truly have no regrets?”
“None at all.”
Khalid answered without hesitation, then swirled the blade, still dripping with blood, to flick off the residue.
“Take good care of the empire. Even if you cannot rule with affection, at least ensure its people no longer suffer. They have lived in hell until now.”
Ellington nodded.
One was the emperor’s uncle, the other his sibling. It had taken longer than expected for them to unite and overthrow the emperor. Most citizens supported their cause. The emperor’s knights defected nightly to join the duke. Yet the great nobles, accustomed to luxury, labeled their actions rebellion and formed punitive squads.
By then, all the noblemen who had been just and righteous were dead.
After years of civil war, the emperor was finally killed. The indulgent nobles also fell to Khalid’s blade, and those hiding in mansions would be dragged out by the knights.
“Duke Ellington… no, uncle.”
Khalid cast a heavy gaze at him, which the duke met silently.
“…Please become a good emperor.”
Khalid bowed his head.
“Do not worry. Though this began as a personal venture, I know exactly what must be done.”
“…I will.”
Ellington smiled and planted his staff into the ground. Though it seemed light, the wooden staff easily pierced the stone floor.
“All conditions are met.”
A mage’s madness radiated from him. His face shone with euphoria.
Khalid sat resolutely beside the corpse of Raul, then held the blade to his own neck.
“I never imagined I’d be able to cast this spell.”
“As befits a genius mage, I hope it succeeds.”
“Of course. The theory is perfect; no worries.”
Ellington poured his magic into the staff.
“As I said before, if you return to the past, you must come find me and relay the results of the spell. Then I will assist you in the time you return to.”
Khalid agreed, and Ellington unleashed all his power to complete the magical formula. Seeing the spell fully ready, Khalid plunged the blade into his neck without hesitation.
His consciousness faded entirely.
Belia covered her mouth, her expression filled with shock. Tears welled and ran down her reddened face.
“It was a gamble, but as you can see… it succeeded spectacularly.”
Khalid chuckled softly, teasing.
“Of course, due to some mishap, it was you, not I, who retained the memories and returned.”
“I….”
Belia could not speak.
“I had intended to bear all the memories and meet you first… but failed spectacularly. Yet you found me first.”
Khalid reached for her, pulling her into his arms.
“If the first emotion you felt upon regaining your memories was joy, could you believe that?”
Belia wanted to say something, but fearing she might burst into tears like a child, she simply hugged him tightly, conveying her feelings.
It had been an unfair, miserable life and death.
Had she closed her eyes then, she would have, like she said to Raul, lingered after death, forever cursing him.
But thanks to him, she had been granted another chance.
It was a chance for revenge against Raul, and also a chance to give new life to those who had been sacrificed.
She could not know how comforting that truth was to him.
“…There’s something I wanted to say the moment you returned.”
Belia lifted her face from his chest and met his eyes seriously.
“What is it?”
“Khalid. The bet… you won.”
Belia closed her eyes and smiled, letting tears fall.
Khalid looked puzzled as the tears streamed down her cheeks, but she spoke without hesitation.
It was time to say what had been left unspoken for so long.
“I love you.”
She pressed her lips lightly to his, then pulled away.
“I admit it. I’ve lost.”
Yes. This was her complete defeat.
Yet strangely, she felt utterly refreshed.
“Congratulations. Everything has gone as you wished.”
Body and heart entirely his.
Belia, full of joy, held his cheeks and kissed him deeply once more.
