The Overlord of Blood and Iron

That idiot…!

On the way to the VVIP sickbay,

Didn't I tell him to never use his prophetic ability!?

Kang Chul-In felt uneasy. He certainly knew that Kwak Jung used his ability to fill in for his vacancy. That was why he was very apologetic. Kang Chul-In suffered from the guilt of overworking his favorite subordinate to such an extent.

Also,

He should have just waited!

Even if Kwak Jung didn't use his ability, Kang Chul-In would have returned after eliminating Saturnus and Cereb. He valued Kwak Jung's loyalty and sacrificial spirit highly, but they weren't absolutely necessary.

"Urgh… urghhhh..."

Kang Chul-In arrived at the VVIP sickbay to see Kwak Jung in his worst state.

"This bastard..."

He couldn't look at Kwak Jung properly. His eyes had turned white, he was foaming at the mouth, and his entire body was trembling. Kwak Jung was definitely not normal. He didn't even seem sane.

"..." Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted and bit his lower lip hard.

"Your imperial Majesty..." Alfred looked at Kang Chul-In with empathetic eyes. Having stood by Kang Chul-In's side for the longest time, Alfred was able to deduce his master's feelings better than anyone else could. He knew that Kang Chul-In valued his subordinates, especially Kwak Jung. He knew that Kang Chul-in would definitely be crestfallen to see his precious subordinate moan in agony.

"Is it possible to treat him?" Kang Chul-In asked.

"Forgive me, your imperial Majesty..." Alfred bowed apologetically.

"That serious?"

"Yes, your imperial Majesty..."

"Call Desdemona over."

Kang Chul-In decided to request for the ancient black dragon's help.

However,

"Err… this one, even I..."

Even Desdemona didn't have a solution.

"Hmm… to cure this dude… it's difficult as of now, to be honest."

"Is it impossible? Even for you, an ancient black dragon?"

"Not really." Desdemona shook her head.

"So can you fix it or not?" Kang Chul-In frowned.

"I told you I can fix it. What I'm saying is that it's difficult 'as of now.'"

"Explain clearer."

"I'm tired."

"What…?"

"Ahh, getting a little dizzy here." Desdemona sneakily placed her head on Kang Chul-In's chest. "I'm tired… heeng..."

"Get away." Kang Chul-In was cold, despite Desdemona's massive amount of charm.

"Eeeng~!" However, Desdemona seemed oblivious of Kang Chul-In's mood. "Aaah! I'm tired!"

"..."

"A bit dizzy… ouch!"

Kang Chul-In gave her a clout with his knuckles.

"Hey!" Desdemona shouted. "Did you just hit me? Huh?"

"Who told you to act so stupidly?"

"You abusive husband!"

"What?" Veins popped up on Kang Chul-In's forehead. "Abusive… husband?"

"That's right, meanie!"

"When did I ever hit one of my wives? Do you have any evidence?"

"I do! I saw!"

"...?"

"You just hit me!"

Kang Chul-In freaked out at Desdemona's nonsense.

This girl, she really...

Now was hardly the time to spout such nonsense.

"Enough." Kang Chul-In said sternly. "Now's not the time to joke around, is it?"

"Hmph!"

"Put your nonsense aside, and just get straight to the point. What do you mean by you 'cannot fix it as of now'?"

"Well, that..." Desdemona replied. "Didn't I tell you that I'm tired?"

"...?"

"It wasn't easy unlocking Erinyes. I have my physical limits, too."

"Ah…!" Kang Chul-In could finally understand what Desdemona meant. "So that was what you meant?"

"Yes, you meanie!" Desdemona glared. "I can't fix him now even if I wanted to. As I said, it's not easy for even an ancient dragon to restructure a human's brain. Moreover, we are still left with the battle against Rindermergel. If I expend all my powers to fix this dude here, the battle's gonna be tough."

"I see… so there's no way? At this rate..."

"Just leave him alone."

"Leave him alone?"

"If you maintain him at status quo, then I can cure him when I regain my stamina. One or two months later, perhaps? I think that should be enough."

"In other words, we just have to pull through that duration?"

"Yup." Desdemona nodded. "It's not too difficult with this kid around, right?"

She then pointed at Alfred and called him 'kid'.

"Hmm..."

"Just make sure he keeps breathing. I will settle the rest."

"Is that all?"

"Yup." Desdemona pounded her chest. "You don't trust me? I'm an ancient dragon, remember?"

"..."

"What's with that expression?"

"N-Nothing."

"You are skeptical, aren't you?"

"I'm not." Kang Chul-In shook his head anxiously.

It's true, she's not that trustworthy.

Desdemona's ability as an ancient dragon had already been recognized, but she was a bit of an idiot.

"Hey!" Desdemona screamed. "You… you are looking down on me, aren't you?"

"Nope."

"Bullshit!"

"..."

"Huh? You are looking down on me, too? Huh?"

"I told you, I'm not."

"Whatever! I'm pissed!"

"..."

"I won't cure him anymore."

Desdemona began to throw a tantrum.

"Your imperial Majesty!" At that moment, Alfred intervened. "Actually."

"Hmm?" Kang Chul-In quickly paid attention to Alfred. "What is it?"

"Tactician Kwak wished to tell you something."

"Tell me?"

"I couldn't really decipher what he was saying, but he seemed to want to warn your imperial Majesty about an impending threat. He was so desperate that he even asked me to turn him into a vampire..."

"What? A vampire?"

"Yes, your imperial Majesty." Alfred told Kang Chul-In what had happened. "As you are aware, humans are the only ones who can have prophetic abilities."

"Right."

"Tactician Kwak wanted to become a vampire to get rid of his ability and overcome the aftermath."

"In other words..."

"Yes, your imperial Majesty. It seems like he really wished to tell you something. Think about it, your imperial Majesty. For tactician Kwak to sacrifice himself to that extent..."

"A great danger must be approaching. For example… an apocalypse."

"That's right, your imperial Majesty!"

"What, it's nothing." Suddenly, Desdemona intervened.

"Nothing?" Kang Chul-In asked. "Yup. It's nothing, isn't it?"

"Why do you think so?"

"It's obvious!"

"...?"

"This boy saw the revival of Rindermergel!"

"...!"

"Don't you think so?"

She was right. For Kwak Jung to go to such extent, his premonition could only be about Rindermergel and his army's resurrection.

"Is it…?"

"Have you ever told this guy about the past?"

"No."

There wasn't any chance to tell him. Ever since they conquered Esmeralda, Kang Chul-In was too busy with external affairs to share a proper conversation with Kwak Jung. At the same time, he could focus on external affairs because Kwak Jung was around.

"That's why."

"Huh?"

"Let's think from his perspective." Desdemona explained logically. "This boy probably thinks that you don't know anything."

"Right."

"What would he do in that case? He would want to inform you no matter what. Right?"

"Well, I would have done the same." Kang Chul-In nodded.

"That's why he even risked relinquishing his human identity to warn you. Not bad, huh?"

"True..."

"Anyway, there's no need to pay too much attention to what he was trying to say. Just make sure his condition doesn't deteriorate. Then I will cure him. Ok?" Desdemona's statement was clear and straightforward.

However...

What is it?

Kang Chul-In felt somewhat uneasy.

Was Kwak Jung really trying to warn me about Rindermergel and his army's revival?

He had a weird feeling. Based on the given information, Desdemona's argument definitely had a point and Kang Chul-In's opinion didn't differ much from hers. No, they thought the same. Everyone would.

Tell me, Kwak Jung. What were you trying to warn me against?

Unfortunately, the unconscious Kwak Jung could not reply to Kang Chul-In. In the first place, Kang Chul-In didn't voice out the question.

"What are you pondering about? Are you telling me that my deduction is wrong?"

"That's not it."

"Then what's with that expression?"

"Intuition?"

"Intuitionnnnn?"

"Your theory may be flawless, but it bothers me to not hear directly from the dude himself before stepping into the battlefield."

"Hmm..."

"I'm a little edgy because of the big matters that will happen soon. It's not like me."

He was right. Kang Chul-In was about to advance to Nosferatu with his entire army. In such a circumstance, of course he would feel worried about not knowing what Kwak Jung was about to tell him.

"Hmm… I understand… it would've been good to confirm that he was trying to warn us about the resurrection of Rindermergel."

"That's exactly my point." Kang Chul-In nodded.

"But what can we do? Turn him into a vampire just to hear that warning? Now?"

"..."

"Just think simply. Hmm? You are the Emperor. Don't tell me you are losing your composure because of this?"

"Of course not."

"Prophecies change anyway. Do you think there are only one or two prophets out there? To be honest, there were better prophets than this lad. Look at Agrippa!"

"Ah!"

Thanks to Desdemona, Kang Chul-In could recall Agrippa the Arch Witch, who told the Emperor of Blood and Iron about the future.

"Scan through the Emperor of Blood and Iron's memories. Was Agrippa 100% accurate?"

"Nope."

"You see. Even the experienced prophets are not always accurate. I would say about 70% accurate? Quite high in terms of statistics, but… you can't completely rely on this number."

She was right. Kang Chul-In might've been deluded by a superstition like 'prophecy'.In fact, Kang Chul-In trusted his own abilities more than such uncertainties.

Destiny? Bullshit! Kang Chul-In was a man who 'paved his own future' using his own strength.

"Well, you have a point." Kang Chul-In tossed his worry aside. "I should prepare for the battle instead of wondering pointlessly."

"Yup."

They reached a consensus.

"Alfred." Kang Chul-In turned around to face Alfred.

"Yes, your imperial Majesty."

"Take care of Kwak Jung. Keep him alive no matter what. As Desdemona said, just make sure he keeps breathing. He must live."

Alfred could sense how immensely Kang Chul-In values Kwak Jung.

"Certainly, your imperial Majesty. Your humble servant will keep tactician Kwak alive! Therefore, fret not and achieve greatness!"

"Alright, I leave it to you."

Kang Chul-In gave Alfred a look of trust. It indicated the level of trust he had in Alfred.

"Urghh..." Suddenly. "Urgh… urgh… argh! Urgh! Huk, huk..."

Kwak Jung regained consciousness and waved at Kang Chul-In.

"Y-Your Ma… urgh… huk… majes… urgh..."

"Kwak Jung." Kang Chul-In tightly held Kwak Jung's hand. "Don't worry."

"Urgh… urgh..."

"I know what you are trying to warn me against."

"Urgh..."

"So don't worry and rest well. I will destroy Rindermergel and the Agnaga army. And then..." Kang Chul-In added. "I will cure you. Just hold on there for a while. I promise you the luxury life that you've always wanted."

He swore to protect Kwak Jung no matter what.

"Urgh..." Kwak Jung struggled as he held onto Kang Chul-In's hand. "Urghhhhh…!"

"Yes, Kwak Jung."

"A-Arghhhh!"

"Just hold on there… a little longer… the end is near." Kang Chul-In promised Kwak Jung.

Brrrr…! Kwak Jung's body trembled relentlessly as he stared at Kang Chul-In.

Kwak Jung was thinking...

D-Damn it! T-That's not it! Kwak Jung screamed inwardly. Your Majesty! You bastard! Oi, Kang Chul-In!

He even showed disrespect to his superior, but,

"Urgh…!" All he could produce was abnormal and unrecognizable babble. Kwak Jung was about to go insane from frustration.

I have something to tell you, damn it! That's not it! Please hear me out, please?

However,

"Let's go."

Kang Chul-In couldn't understand Kwak Jung and turned around to leave the sickbay. He went to prepare for the final battle.

Eeeeekkk! Kwak Jung struggled. Please… argh… pleasseeeee! Hear me out, please! Stop, stop! That's not it!

Kwak Jung shouted with all his might, but...

"Urgh, argh! Urgh… argh!"

Unfortunately, all Kang Chul-In could hear was a mentally unsound patient's ramble.

***

The next day...

"Your imperial Majesty, all preparations are complete."

Kang Chul-In received a report that the installation of the 'gigantic Warp Gate' was successful. He had invested all of the Hearth Stone in the empire to construct this gigantic warp gate. It could instantly warp a million soldiers to Nosferatu.

It was his last resort. It would take some time for the army to march to Nosferatu, which was located in the northernmost corner of Pangaea. That was why Kang Chul-In thought of building a huge Warp Gate despite its cost.

It was definitely not easy. In fact, it was almost impossible to make one that could accommodate so many people. Kang Chul-In, however, managed to do it.

Dwarves, Ants, Nilus the Arch Mage, his junior magicians, and Desdemona the Ancient Black Dragon; these top talents were deployed for three days and three nights to construct the 'Great Warp Gate'.

"Your imperial Majesty, the Empire's army is ready for expedition. We are awaiting your call." Lucia reported.

"I see..." Kang Chul-In nodded. "Ok. Let's go."

Kang Chul-In stepped forward to face the final battle.