My Wife the Empress is Becoming Frightening

33. BET OF A LIFETIME

Episode 33

It was the result of Abrarum boss Theo Clemenza’s bet of a lifetime.

He had no choice but to give in when he faced the black knights in person, but after they left, he couldn’t help but think of his back.

Theo Clemenza had never met Isaac directly. Even if he had faced him, it would have been impossible to compare his strength with the black knight with his own skills.

It was meaningless to think about which one would benefit from winning. Since the outcome is unpredictable and there is not even the least basis for speculation, thinking about it is nothing but delusion.

So he decided to do what his heart told him to do.

It was decided to choose the one who was most afraid of the rear guard.

“Please, please win… !”

Theo Clemenza put her hands together and prayed with the most earnest heart of her life, with the full but still undiminished glass in front of her.

—

Angelica Pax did not know that Theo Clemenza was praying earnestly, but she knew that he had broken his promise and betrayed them.

“Hey, I’m asking. Want to hear from an expert? Were you okay with our acting?”

No one was able to answer Isaac’s questions in a joking tone. All of them, including Angelica, were weighed down by his aura.

This aura is probably meant to suppress rash actions. However, even if this situation itself was not expected, the minimum level of insurance was prepared.

When Isaac’s aura loosened just a little bit as he stepped back for the imperial knights who had come to redeem them, Angelica threw down a small bead she had hidden in her waist with all her might.

“now!”

The members of the troupe, who had been chained to her signal, began to resist. Even resistance is nothing more than pushing and running away.

The marble that fell down is an object that works with the special paint that was previously applied on the theater floor.

The marbles that reacted to the paint instantly turned into smoke and spread throughout the theater. The smoke itself dissipated quickly, but it didn’t matter.

It was not intended to obscure the view. It was to spread the minute paralysis particles at once.

However, since I used something that was the size I could carry on my body, the effect itself was neither large nor long. By the standards of an Imperial Knight, it would be only to the extent that his movements became a bit dull.

Still, that was enough. Their goal is to get out of here safely. There was no need to fight, just focus on running away.

“hurry… !”

Angelica, who was not paralyzed because she drank the antidote in advance, and the troupe members pushed the Imperial Knights away and tried to escape.

I judged that if I could go out on the escape route I had set up, I would be able to get away with it.

“There is a curfew from here.”

Their hopes were shattered and vanished the moment those wearing hound masks stood in their way.

“Nonsense… … “How?”

Abrarum probably didn’t know about the numbing beads either. It was not even informed in the first place, and as evidence, the combatants of Abrarum were also paralyzed and unable to move.

But why were they able to respond immediately as if they had read their actions?

“Stop giving up. I won’t treat you badly if you follow me gently.”

Angelica turned her head at the sound of Isaac’s voice coming from behind, and the moment they met his eyes, she realized that they were nothing more than clowns dancing on the monster’s palm.

‘This far, is it… .’

The sword fell from the hands of Angelica and the troupe members who had lost their will to resist.

—

The other spectators were being treated by the sorcerers of the Sorcery Society who had been waiting separately. From what I’ve tasted, it’s not to the point of needing treatment, but it won’t hurt to be careful just in case.

By the way, is the one reinforced by Selemin more useful than I thought?

Looking at the members of the Moonlight Troupe being arrested by the Hounds, I thought about my sister-in-law, whom I hadn’t seen for a while.

Although Selemin had been shutting herself away in the Magic Society after moving her headquarters to the imperial palace, she herself seemed to know that she couldn’t stay there for no particular reason.

For this reason, Selemin had to come up with a reason to stay in the Magic Society, and one of the results was the new masks of the Hounds.

The guards and knights who use the aura will be able to move right away after a while… … Is it roughly organized?

“I am Isaac.”

“huh? Oh, is it Miles? How is it that you are paralyzed?”

Imperial knight Miles, who walked unnaturally with a body that was slower than usual, answered with a frown.

“It’s not too bad, but it’s still a bit uncomfortable. But why are the hounds all fine?”

Although it was a mild paralysis, it was enough for them to suffer, so why did the Hound not care?

“Why why? It’s because of that mask.”

“Did that have an anti-gas function?”

“Isn’t it just anti-gas? Even if you wear it for a long time, you can maintain comfort, so it is good-bye to skin troubles.”

Comfort was a major issue for the hounds, who had to wear masks most of the day. Well, Gina is the only one who cares about skin problems, though.

“hmm.”

Come to think of it, I think Haryana Selemin would care too much. After hearing my explanation, Miles looked at the hounds for a moment with envy, then asked again.

“… … Can’t our knights write that too?”

“Even if it’s not the case, I heard that Guard Harris requested the Society of Magic to make a helmet with the same function.”

Even though most magic tools are basically made with enchantment, it would be difficult to mass-produce them because there were many things needed for the process.

Still, if it’s only at the level of supplying it to imperial knights, it’s probably possible.

Hearing that guard Harris was working on their behalf, Miles seemed to feel a little better, but his dissatisfaction didn’t seem to go away at all.

“I honestly envy being able to use it first whenever new equipment comes out.”

“Would you like to come too?”

“Is that so?”

“I’m kidding.”

Even if it’s not the case, it’s Guard Harris, who is suffering stomach pain from undeniable rumors that the military, which has maintained an unchanging attitude until now, has leaned toward Marianne.

If one of the most powerful Imperial Knights says he wants to go to the Hound, the veteran with deep affection as much as he is naive might really cry.

So don’t worry seriously. It’s a joke.

“Captain. Redemption is over.”

“Oh, good job.”

At Derrigan’s words, I looked down at the members of the Moonlight Troupe.

Even if it wasn’t for Theo Clemenza, who secretly came to me and confided in me, it would have been easy to notice thanks to the hostility that was filling the theater, but it would have been a bit difficult to subdue without any damage like now.

I think it’s okay to give credit to even the damned ones who eat a little of the empire.

I’ll think about that part later.

“Why can’t I see the guy I was looking forward to? Where is the black knight? I heard you went to Abrarum together?”

“… … … .”

Can’t you answer me plainly? Too bad. I wanted to ask about the discomfort I felt when I met you before.

Seeing Angelica Pax and the troupe members with their mouths firmly closed, I raised my head and gave instructions.

“The others go back to the escort, and Hound 7 takes the captured ones to the institutional prison with the Imperial Knights. After taking Marianne to the imperial palace, I will personally go and interrogate her.”

I will also remember to get an autograph from Angelica Pax before the interrogation. I wonder if I can hide the autograph I received in the old headquarters’ captain’s office.

With that thought in mind, I went back to Marianne for now.

—

While the captives were being transported in a convoy as ordered by Isaac, Garel, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, was followed by Imperial Knight Colton, who was riding a horse next to the carriage, approaching and talking to him.

“Can’t you take off that mask?”

“why? “Is it ugly?”

It is a hunting dog mask that is like their symbol. It didn’t cover the face to do dirty work like in the past, and above all, it was improved considerably and became quite comfortable.

Now that they have become the direct escort of the empress, the word hound is no longer an acronym. I don’t know if it’s pride.

Colton shook his head and continued talking to Garrel, who frowned and replied curtly behind the mask.

“No, it’s not like that, we mix swords and train together, but it’s frustrating not knowing your face yet. You say your voice has been altered with magic?”

It was only then that Garrel realized that Colton had spoken as a favor, but couldn’t help but nod.

“I’m sorry, but not without the captain’s permission.”

“Ugh. Is that really the case?”

Colton had ears to hear, so he knew a little about the Hound. After Isaac became the captain and was reorganized as a direct escort, he often worked in cooperation with the Imperial Intelligence Agency.

Even Colton, who had been a knight all his life, knew that their work was confidential. Even if it’s unfortunate, you can’t make it difficult by being stubborn for nothing.

“Well, not just Guard Harris, but if the entire military completely stands on Your Majesty’s side, maybe… … ”

Garel, who had spoken out of a bit of apologetic feeling one day, was jumping off the coachman’s seat the next moment.

“what!?”

It seemed like something was flying from the sky, and with a roar, the convoy was half destroyed and a dust storm arose.

Garel pulled out his sword in a cold sweat, thinking that if he was even a little late, he would have been crushed to death like the horses in the wagon.

Garrel wasn’t the only one who reacted immediately. As soon as I felt the huge aura, the imperial knights who had fallen from the convoy all got off their horses and drew their swords in the same way.

Dust was blown away by the wind, and what came into view was a knight in black armor. An overwhelming presence seemed to replace the introduction.

“You are the one Isaac said… ?”

Instead of replying, the black knight pulled out those who were imprisoned in the half-destroyed convoy.

[Are you okay?]

“you!”

Thanks to the exquisite destruction, no one in the wagon was injured. However, Angelica looked at the black knight with worried eyes without a hint of joy.

There was no way that Parabellum had sent the unstable Dark Knight just to save themselves.

In other words, this means that the black knight’s arbitrary actions.

“why… !”

[Stay back for a moment. I’ll finish it soon.]

The black knight, who cut off Angelica’s restraints before the others, turned his body and shifted his gaze to those who were aiming their swords at him.

Despite being surrounded by a single Hound and numerous Imperial Knights and facing multiple auras of ferocious murder, the Black Knight did not show any signs of tension.

Rather, it was Garel and the Imperial Knights who were nervous.

“damn! I could have gone a little further!”

“No, it was fortunate that I was attacked here. If the institutional prison had been broken, the imprisoned criminals would have rampaged and caused more damage.”

In the worst case, criminals who managed to break out could have fled to the islands or other Imperial territories. In that case, countless people of the empire would have been sacrificed.

As one of the Imperial Knights said, it was fortunate that we were attacked here.

Since this is the way to the institutional prison located on the outskirts of the island, it is unlicensed and unpopular, so even if a battle breaks out, it will not harm the general public.

Even if they all die.

[come.]

With those words, the power of the black knight burst out like an explosion. An aura far greater than all their auras put together.

“… let’s go!”

Without any hesitation, Garel and the knights kicked the ground.

—

“I worked today too. You worked hard~. It was a worthwhile job~! … what?”

Samuel, the third prince of the Kingdom of Meyer and expected to be a promising prospect in the institutional prison where he got a job as a temporary contract cleaner, sensed something different from usual while singing as usual.

“What is it, a battle?”

A lot of big auras and even bigger auras were fighting. For a moment, Samuel thought of his older brother, but soon realized it was someone else.

“Well, there is no other pure human being like our big brother.”

He refused to get involved, and Samuel, who wanted to quickly go back and see Dorothy, tried to go back a little, even if it was annoying.

“huh? Is that mask… ?”

The first thing he saw with his good eyesight was a hunting dog mask.

Seeing that, Samuel remembered what he had heard about the new direct escort of Empress Blata.

Then Samuel remembered the fact that the escort under his direct command was his eldest brother’s men and started running.

towards the direction where the battle is taking place.