# Chapter 73
As soon as Owen learned about Levi’s whereabouts, he followed Ion’s orders without saying much, having anticipated this reaction.
Baron Husdinen and his forces were to remain in Antarbo. Since the imperial court had sent troops and administrative personnel to organize the chaotic situation in Antarbo, Husdinen’s army would be able to rest and regroup before following after them.
The commercial city of Perid, where Levi was reportedly staying, wasn’t particularly well-fortified, but it was surrounded by territories with considerable military strength. He’d probably chosen to retreat there specifically because these other territories would serve as shields. Perhaps he was even waiting for them to be attacked first so he could launch a surprise assault.
‘I hope he’ll just let himself be captured easily.’
Owen wished Levi would be captured without resistance, though he knew very well that wouldn’t happen.
❖ ❖ ❖
After receiving Chepel’s report, Emperor Raziel boarded the ordinary carriage he had arrived in, as if his business was now concluded.
“He’ll wake up in an hour or two. When he does, tell him I’ve gone back first.”
Understanding who the emperor was referring to, Chepel cautiously asked from outside the carriage window:
“Would it be problematic if he meets Grand Duke Ion Verdit?”
“The memories that have just returned to him are merely from the distant past.”
Raziel slightly lowered his eyes, as if reminiscing about a time so ancient it was difficult to measure. Then he touched the area near his clavicle where his core was located. That spot was pulsing faintly, almost like a heartbeat.
“When he has no memories of the Grand Duke…”
As Raziel raised his eyes, an icy coldness flowed through his gaze.
“It would be best to have him take care of him with those hands early on.”
Withdrawing his cold gaze, Raziel turned his attention to Chepel, who was looking at him with unwavering loyalty.
“Grand Duke Verdit’s army will be here soon.”
When Raziel had come to find Levi, he had deliberately brought along several servants of slave origin from the imperial palace. After having trusted servants monitor them, he confirmed that, as expected, these former slaves were secretly leaking information somewhere.
‘Just as he said.’
His collaborator hiding in the Delos Empire was certainly proving useful. Hopefully, he would continue to be so.
“Those people can’t touch Levi because of the Grand Duke’s orders anyway. If we put Levi at the front, we can easily reduce their forces.”
Though the Immortal Army was troublesome, they were helpless before Levi. Not only would their immortality be nullified, but their lord cherished Levi so much that Raziel believed they wouldn’t dare try any harsh methods against him.
‘Even while knowing that it will strangle his own neck…’
The image of Ion reaching out his hand toward Levi, calling his name even while covered in blood after being attacked by him in the Black Forest, remained deeply etched in Raziel’s mind.
Intertwined with that memory was Levi’s voice:
“Don’t make me kill you.”
Raziel mulled over the voice that sounded more like he was speaking rather than listening.
“I like Ion.”
Raziel’s hands, resting on his knees, twitched slightly.
“So I don’t want you to cry because of me.”
Though Raziel hadn’t been present, he clearly remembered that day from fifteen years ago—as if remembering it in place of Levi, who had forgotten it.
‘I’m sorry, but…’
Raziel deliberately maintained an indifferent expression.
‘You must kill Ion Verdit with your own hands.’
According to reports, Levi’s emotions had already definitively turned away from Ion Verdit. Just as Raziel desired, Levi was trying to kill Ion Verdit by any means necessary, even when faced with an Ion Verdit who wouldn’t draw his sword against him.
‘That’s enough.’
Killing Ion Verdit was something Levi had to do himself. Only then would it have meaning.
‘If he had just killed Claudia when he met her, it would have ended easily…’
Raziel blamed the Levi of the past who, despite knowing that he should kill former Empress Claudia, Ion Verdit’s mother, had failed to do so. Not only had he spared her life, but he had also allowed her power to be passed on to her unborn child, even at the cost of his own life.
The same pattern had continued with Claudia’s son.
‘He is poison to you.’
This time, Raziel hoped that Levi would truly “live” by killing Ion with his own hands.
❖ ❖ ❖
Levi, who had lost consciousness, opened his eyes after about two hours, just as Raziel had predicted.
“Are you coming to your senses?”
Chepel, who had been watching over the bed, asked as he helped Levi sit up. Looking somewhat dazed, Levi blinked slowly before looking down at his right hand.
The palm that had been mutilated with little sign of healing was now completely healed. Though somewhat dim, the red markings were clearly visible, and the white ring that Raziel had replaced on his wrist while he was unconscious was also in place. The ring itself was quite different from before—the dense characters that had covered its surface seemed to have significantly decreased.
Getting out of bed, Levi felt his body had become lighter. Even after eating yang food, it hadn’t felt like this—it was as if his strength had somehow “returned.”
‘My strength has returned…?’
The thought left him puzzled.
He had no memory from the moment Raziel had removed the ring from his wrist. During his unconsciousness, memories from his past had settled into place row by row, and now he clearly recognized the desolate and lonely time when he had been nothing but a mere bead.
But he had no memory of the moment after he, as a bead, had been swallowed by the human who now bore his appearance.
He hadn’t often thought about recovering his forgotten memories. Though it was frustrating when something vaguely tried to surface, he hadn’t considered it a major problem.
But now that memories he had vaguely known were forgotten had filled his mind and disappeared again, he felt anxious. Once he had started recovering his memories, they kept urging him to recall what happened next.
“Where is Raziel?”
Levi was certain that Raziel was the one who had restored his memories. He had released the ring and somehow provided yang food, but there must have been something in it that had restored his memories.
“He returned to the imperial palace. He couldn’t stay here indefinitely.”
At Chepel’s answer, Levi hurriedly looked out the window. Even if Raziel’s carriage had remained, it wouldn’t have been visible from there, but Levi kept looking around at the distant scenery outside.
“I want to meet Raziel. I have questions.”
“You’ll meet him again soon enough. Next time, bring him Grand Duke Verdit’s head and go for an audience yourself.”
At the mention of Grand Duke Verdit, Levi’s mood darkened considerably.
“His Majesty said he awaits your return with Grand Duke Verdit’s head.”
“…Me?”
“He’s such a busy man that without that level of achievement, it would be difficult to get an audience for some time.”
Only then did Levi turn his gaze from the window to look at Chepel. The resolute and solemn gaze stared at Levi persistently, as if trying to brainwash him.
“As you know, Grand Duke Ion Verdit is the greatest threat to His Majesty. If you ‘personally’ bring his head, His Majesty will be genuinely pleased and grant you an audience.”
It seemed as though he was saying that Ion Verdit’s head was necessary to meet Raziel.
When Levi thought of Ion, he felt a tingling sensation somewhere in his chest, but he deliberately ignored it.
‘I must meet Raziel. I must…’
There seemed to be too many important things in his forgotten memories to possibly ignore.
“I’ll do it.”
The answer came without much thought.
Ion Verdit was the greatest threat to Raziel’s life. Not only did Levi not want his “younger brother” Raziel to die, but he desperately needed Raziel to restore more of his forgotten memories, as he had done this time.
Pleased with Levi’s answer, the corners of Chepel’s eyes curved gently.
Just then—
BANG BANG BANG—!
There was a loud knocking, as if someone was pounding on the door with their fists. As soon as the door opened, the young baron who owned this mansion rushed in. He was deathly pale, his lips trembling.
“T-terrible news!”
The young baron spoke while catching his breath urgently.
“There are intruders in the territory! They’re rushing straight here—you must e-escape quickly…!”
“Have you identified the enemy precisely?”
At Chepel’s question, the young baron, who had been tearing at his hair and stamping his feet anxiously, responded nervously.
“I-I’m not entirely sure. They appear to be Delos forces—silver armor with red tassel decorations, and… there are dozens of them, nearly a hundred.”
“Silver armor with red tassel decorations…”
Chepel’s brow furrowed.
Among the Delos forces, only the Immortal Army led by Ion Verdit wore such armor.
