Oren von Kraxis Ragna.
The unyielding shield that protected the empire, and a direct advisor who could even speak bluntly to the emperor himself.
Judging by his experience commanding armies and his schemes alone, he was said to surpass even the princess.

At the same time, he was also one of the characters that could be conquered in Hundred Battles, Never Defeated.
I had forgotten because I kept dying, but Hundred Battles, Never Defeated was, strictly speaking, a strategy simulation game based on an original romance fantasy novel.
Naturally, romance was included as well.
It just happened to have a lot more wars.

Of course, I have no interest in same-sex romance.
The only thing I was wary of right now was one thing.
The existence of a Master, the absolute guardian of the imperial family.
I immediately put all my nerves on edge.
However, no matter how high the walls were, there was a clear limit to observing every movement.

“A-an imperial royal?
What business could an imperial royal possibly have in the count’s territory…?”
“Baron, no matter how we look at it, this can only be a trap.
You must never go out.”
“…No.
I’ll go alone.”
“Baron!!”

Despite my subordinates’ attempts to dissuade me, I firmly maintained the stance I had decided on without the slightest wavering.
First of all, I had defeat regression, and to begin with, the other side had no reason to set a trap.
A Master.
The absolute guardian of the imperial family.
There was no need to lure me with tricks to infiltrate.
They could simply enter through the front gate openly and be done with it.

‘Even if this is a trap, so what.
It’s not like I could stop a Master anyway….’

If that was the case, then at the very least, I had to trust defeat regression and squeeze out even a little information.
Judging that to be the best move, I immediately mounted my horse and rode out beyond the gate.
I didn’t know what kind of confidence he had, but the Second Prince was waiting on horseback before the gate without even bringing an escort.

Once we were close enough to speak face to face, I immediately pulled on the reins.
From atop our horses, our gazes collided head-on.
I even felt a chilling sensation, as if staring at a snake.
Still, public and private matters had to be kept separate.
Regaining my composure, I spoke first.

“My name is Kain Blackguard.
It is unfortunate to meet you like this, Your Highness.”
“I am Oren von Kraxis Ragna.
News of victory born from your valor is already widespread throughout the empire.”
“Let us get straight to the point.
For what reason did you come all the way here?”

His words flowed smoothly without the slightest blockage, like clear water over rocks.
And that was precisely why he was dangerous.
I had no confidence not only in strategy or tactics, but even in verbal sparring, what people call a war of words.
So it was better to get straight to the point before he could beguile me with words.

“My only sibling has been taken prisoner.
How could I, as her elder brother, sit idly by and merely watch?”
“It seems your feelings for your blood relative are excessive.
For negotiations, you should go to the royal capital where His Majesty resides.”
“How could such a major matter be resolved so easily.
Even if the rivers flowing from the mountains reach the sea, and the sun, moon, and stars in the sky change their places countless times, it would remain the same.”

F*cking bastard.

For a moment, the sheer absurdity of his answer nearly made me curse out loud.
So, translating that, negotiations would take too long, so he came personally.

“I understand.
However, precisely because this is a major matter, it should be carried out while adhering to law and convention, so that no lingering talk remains.”
“What does it matter whether this or that.
Must a great cause necessarily be a path of thorns.
Must loyalty always demand the sacrifice of something precious?”
“….”
“In the end, if we who met by the guidance of the stars are happy, would that not be good for everyone.
That itself could become a great cause, and a new form of loyalty.”

The prince’s gentle, pleasant voice was like silk soaked in deadly poison.
If one was captivated by the silk-like beauty, the poison seeping within would slowly destroy the heart.
Because I had repeated death endlessly, I couldn’t help but find it tempting.
Even if I upheld loyalty, what good would that actually do for me.

‘If I think about it again, from the very beginning, my own safety was my top priority.
Of course, that’s changed a bit recently…
Still, I don’t want to keep repeating death.’

Running from pain is close to an instinct shared by all living beings.
And with my current strength, could I really defeat the empire and protect the people around me.
Who knows.
A heart already conquered by poison began to follow instinct.
And to follow it more comfortably, it even began to rationalize itself.

“I…”

I opened my mouth.
As if waiting for that answer, the Second Prince smiled brightly and extended his hand.
I reached out.
I wanted to grasp it.
But my hand only sliced uselessly through empty air.
Only then did I realize that I had returned to the top of the wall.
Damn it, defeat regression had activated again.

“A-an imperial royal?
What business could an imperial royal possibly have in the count’s territory…?”
“Baron, no matter how we look at it, this can only be a trap.
You must never go out.”
“Haa….”

I admit it.
Without realizing it, I prioritized my own safety and ended up being swayed.
I didn’t even know whether the Second Prince’s words were true or not.
Bluntly speaking, after surrendering, he could just as easily lead an army and kill us directly.
Hardening my resolve, I mounted my horse.
And once again, I faced the snake-like Second Prince.

“In the end, if we who met by the guidance of the stars are happy, would that not be good for everyone.
That itself could become a great cause, and a new form of loyalty.”

Even though I had prepared myself in advance, the Second Prince’s words still sounded like a sweet proposal.
But putting defeat regression aside, could I truly judge those words to be the truth.
After securing the princess, he could break the promise and kill us all.
That was why I had to doubt, and doubt again, endlessly.

“This body may die and die again, even die a hundred times.
Even if my white bones turn to earth and dust, whether my soul remains or not.”

Weight settled into my words.
Naturally so.
I was the one who had truly died that many times.
A voice carrying the weight of death was enough to crack the Second Prince’s smile.
Falsehood and truth differ first in their weight.
Thanks to that, I was barely able to twist my lips into a smile.

“Where could unwavering loyalty to one’s lord possibly go.”

The Second Prince, Oren von Kraxis Ragna, did not have an especially strong greed for talent.
More precisely, it wasn’t that he had none at all, but even now, he had more than enough.
The empire was vast, and people were plentiful.
With talent overflowing within it, was there any need to turn one’s gaze to foreign lands.

That was what he had thought until just two months ago.
Until he met that man.
As the emperor’s advisor and the head of the intelligence bureau, he had spent years thoroughly gathering information on the kingdom and the Alliance.
Kain Blackguard.
The first impression he received was that of an unremarkable rural lord.

‘A rural lord in the eastern lands.
He inherited his territory and title, but…
Even so, whether in troops or strategic value, he’s meaningless.’

At the time, the empire had no intention of waging war, but this information had been gathered just in case.
And he believed that when the kingdom inevitably betrayed the empire, that information would shine.
But what was this.
The Kain Blackguard he hadn’t paid much attention to began announcing consecutive victories, and even went so far as to capture the princess.

‘That can’t be.
There’s no way the information gathered by the intelligence bureau I personally led could be so catastrophically wrong!’

The reason he personally visited the count’s territory this time was half for the sake of a scheme,
and the other half because he wanted to see and judge Kain Blackguard for himself.
And after finally meeting him face to face, Oren was forced to admit his mistake.

“This body may die and die again, even die a hundred times.
Even if my white bones turn to earth and dust, whether my soul remains or not.”
“Where could unwavering loyalty to one’s lord possibly go.”
‘There was no wavering in his words.
The fortitude to accept even death with calmness…
And above all, loyalty that did not shake at all….’

Two full months had already passed, yet the shock he felt back then was still vivid.
If that loyalty were directed toward him,
if that power could be used for the empire…

He could shoulder the great task of unifying the continent.
At least, that was how Oren judged it.
For the first time, a burning desire to possess talent from another nation surged up within him.

“Your Highness, a mounted envoy is urgently approaching from the direction of the royal capital.”
“Let him through.
It seems the king moved faster than expected.”
“Understood.”

After receiving the report from the scout, Oren let out a deep sigh.
Things were proceeding according to his scheme, yet his sense of regret only grew stronger.

‘How truly unfortunate, Sir Blackguard.
Compared to your loyalty and ability…
it seems the vessel of your lord is not quite large enough.’

If only he were a ruler who inspired loyalty in his vassals,
and nurtured such vassals with unwavering trust.
If only he possessed, at the very least, the resolve to trust his own subordinate…
Then he would not have been blinded by foolish greed from the start,
and would never have awakened a sleeping lion.

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