Chapter 43: The Second Wyvern Arrives
A messenger, the latest of many, charged into the throne room and took a knee. “Vosk’s forces are retreating to the south!”
Cheers erupted around the room, except for the corner with the sleeping wyvern. Several people gestured wildly for those assembled to keep their voices down.
“Further, scouts report that Lord Vosk fell in battle! We anticipate that Lord Burger has assumed command and ordered the retreat!”
“Wait.” Emperor Noah tilted his head. “Fell in battle? How would Vosk have fallen in battle? I didn’t think the hostilities even began yet.”
“Well…” The messenger’s voice trailed off.
“Soldier, speak clearly now,” the captain of the imperial guard instructed firmly.
“The scouts report that… Lord Vosk was crushed by a monster.”
“Is that all they said?” asked Noah. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost control of monsters, but did the scouts identify anything more specific?”
“A large monster… flew up into the sky and landed on him?” The messenger was trying his best to stick to facts, but he hadn’t witnessed the event himself.
“…He and Chuck Burger had a falling out.”
All eyes turned to the morphling, who had been quiet until now and practically forgotten despite it sitting atop a slumbering wyvern.
“They did? So Burger used his monsters to eliminate Vosk?”
“…Something like that. Chuck Burger is coming here. …You can get the story directly from him if you like.”
“He’s… turning himself in?”
“…Something like that.”
“I wonder what could have happened—what!” In the Emperor’s peripheral vision, he caught one of the imperial guard running towards him, drawing their sword.
“For Lord Vosk!” The attacker lunged at Noah before anyone could interfere and thrusted his sword with deadly intent.
“Noah!” Luna screamed, but she was too far away to help.
Surprisingly, Noah was the first to act. He hopped up until his feet were on the armrests of his throne. Launching upward from a squat, he back-flipped over the rear of the throne and landed behind it with only a slight stumbled as he regained his balance.
The attacker hesitated momentarily at the spectacle before attempting to go around the throne on the right side.
Noah responded by circling around to the left side of the throne, keeping it between him and his enemy.
Meanwhile, the captain and other imperial guard were closing in on the aggressor. Before they could intercept, two tentacles spawned from the throne room floor, smacking the offending guardsman and stunning him. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Noah’s defenders plunged their swords into the man from several directions.
“…Won’t you at least read him his rights first? Yeesh.”
Noah jogged away from the violence and stopped next to Luna, catching his breath.
“Noah, are you all right!?”
“Yeah. I told you that move would come in handy!”
“Well…”
Noah smirked. “Luna, is this the part where I just tell you ‘I told you so’ or should I write it down formally as an imperial decree instead? I’m considering a ‘Noah was right’ annual holiday, too.”
“Oh COME ON! You just got lucky that your ridiculous backflip came in handy! It was still pathetic practicing it like 10,000 times when nobody was looking! No normal emperor would do something like that!”
“You sound like you wanted me to get stabbed by that traitor.”
“I’m leaning that way.”
“Ahem, Sire.” The captain got everyone’s attention. “It would appear that Vosk’s betrayal made it all the way into your imperial guard. Once things settle down and your safety is assured, I will take responsibility for this blunder.”
“Eh, I’ll overlook it so long as you agree to be more careful in the future and also tell Luna here that I was—“
“Dammit Noah, stop abusing your authority to win an argument!”
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Chuck Burger, who had finished making arrangements for his army’s retreat, rushed over to DM’s location upon noticing his daughter was gazing at clouds with her eyes closed.
“Karen! Monster, what have you done!?” He crouched down to check on his daughter while directing a sidelong glance at the morphling in Karen’s form.
“…She’s fine. Just a short break, it seems.”
“Yes, she’s breathing normally… What happened?”
“…I offered her a free colonoscopy, no medical insurance required. She must have been overjoyed to the point of fainting.”
“You offered her a what?”
“…A colonoscopy. It’s an entirely legitimate medical procedure used to screen for various health problems. …Where I’m from, offering it for free without health coverage is quite the bargain.”
“She’ll pass! Whatever that is, not now!”
“…Fair enough. I’m not even licensed, anyway.”
“Are you even still under her control? With all that’s happened…”
“…Control?”
“Hm? I see the collar is still in place, but maybe Karen messed up somehow?”
“…What, this?” DM’s collar instantly changed form into a mimic’s original body. It then morphed into Karen’s form, creating a third Karen in the vicinity.
Chuck jumped back, startled. “Just what—“
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“Jonathan already negotiated on your behalf. I won’t injure or kill her.”
“But if you’re free, then what about the rest of us?”
“That depends on you, Lord Burger. What do you intend to do next?”
“Meet with the Emperor, of course. Jonathan!”
Jonathan came jogging over. “Father? Just what has—“
“Not now, Karen’s fine. Listen, I need you to lead everyone south back to our territory. Bring your sister.”
“I can but… what about you?”
“I’m going straight to the palace. We’ll resolve the matter of succession peaceably after which I’ll turn myself in for Noah’s judgment. You will need to lead in my place. Work with the neighboring lords to ensure Andrei’s domain is taken care of for now.”
“What about Leo’s second son?”
At Jonathan’s question, Chuck turned to DM for clarification.
“…I’ll bring the wyvern directly to the throne room. I have practice, after all.”
“Very well. Jonathan, get going.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Lord Burger.” Ardreth approached. “May the rest of my party join you to the palace?”
“Of course.”
While most people migrated south, Chuck led a small contingent north toward the capital. They came to a stop outside the gate which remained closed.
“…State your business!” a guard shouted down from atop the wall.
“I’m here to discuss the terms of my surrender with Emperor Noah and plan for the Empire’s future.”
“…Do you have an appointment?”
“An… appointment?”
Instead of replying, the guard morphed into a chickbear and sat down on its haunches.
“What!?”
The gate started opening.
“…Just a little fun,” DM explained.
Chuck’s group proceeded into the city where they were greeted with a surreal sight. Many of the monsters that had entered the city at the beginning of the conflict were forming a human pyramid, or perhaps a monster pyramid? He glanced at the morphling again, one eyebrow raised.
“…An excess of fun.”
Chuck’s procession was led to the palace without incident. Due to the sheer multitude of soldiers in the capital, the entire path was lined with the city’s defenders who all watched curiously as one of the leaders of the opposing force passed by. Still, most of the attention was actually on DM due to him being a four meter tall monster.
Only Chuck, Sasha’s party, DM, and his morphling were escorted into the throne room. Everyone except for Ardreth turned over their weapons. The spear was turned over reluctantly.
“Announcing Lord Charles Burger!”
Chuck turned his head to stare at the wyvern napping in the rear corner of the throne room, grimaced in realization, and took a knee before Emperor Noah.
Luna gestured to Sasha and Ardreth, beckoning them to join her on the side.
Vosk’s nephews shrugged and took a knee further back behind Chuck. Neither appeared particularly broken up about having lost their uncle.
“Emperor Noah, I am glad to see you’re in good health.”
“Lord Burger, I believe you have a lot of explaining to do.”
“That is why I am here, Sire. I’ve come to learn that Lord Andrei Vosk fomented rebellion for self-serving purposes and without just cause. I am here to accept responsibility in his stead as he is no longer with us.”
“…I sat on him and he died.”
“Y–Yes, it is thanks to my monster colleague that more blood was not shed today. Speaking of which, when will the wyvern with Leo’s son arrive?” Chuck asked DM.
“…Right now. You all might want to move.”
Luna was the first to understand DM’s warning and quickly ushered everyone away from the gaping hole in the wall where the first wyvern had entered. Sure enough, a second wyvern landed with a thud and wormed its way into the throne room. It marched over to the other wyvern and nuzzled up against it before dozing off.
It took a moment for everyone to regain their breath after the spectacle. Chuck was the first to speak.
“Emperor Noah, we learned that Leo had a second son who was in hiding within the Theocracy. Only when Vosk declared that he would not allow Leo’s second son to rule the Empire did I truly understand that his claims against your own legitimacy were fabricated to begin with.”
“A second son?” Noah repeated back.
“Yes. Though a bastard he may be, so long as he is allowed to rule, there’s no need for any rebellion.”
“You mean, I don’t have to be the Emperor anymore!?” Noah jumped up from his throne and stared at the wyverns. “Where is he?”
“Oh, he—“ Chuck turned to look over his shoulder at the wyvern, although there was nobody riding it. He turned to DM.
“Where is Leo’s son?”
DM didn’t immediately respond.
“I too want to know!” Noah shouted.
“…He must have fallen off somewhere.”
“What!?” both Chuck and Noah shouted in unison.
“…You two are really on the same wavelength.”
“Gentlemen,” Ardreth cut in. “I lack Sir DM’s sense of humor so perhaps I should explain?”
“If you do ever get a sense of humor I’m not sure I want it to be like that,” Sasha grumbled under her breath.
“Honorable elf, please proceed,” Noah allowed.
“The report of Leo having a second son was entirely fabricated. The intent was to test Lord Andrei Vosk to see if he would fall in line behind a legitimate heir to the throne. If not, then it would prove that his cause was unjust.”
“What!?” Once again, Chuck and Noah spoke in unison. However, each followed up with a distinct realization.
“To think you pulled the wool over both Andrei’s and my eyes…”
“I guess I need to keep practicing those backflips…”
“No you don’t!” Luna objected.
“Um, Ardreth,” Chuck began, “was the ruse your idea?”
“Certainly not. Although we all had our part to play, it seems each of was moving according to the will of the true mastermind. I only came to understand what was truly afoot in the final chapters.”
“…You’re making me blush, which is quite an accomplishment since I’m already bright red. Also, you’re selling your contribution short, Ardreth. …Your quick thinking came in handy many times.”
“I am honored, DM.”
“I was there the whole time and I still don’t understand what the heck’s going on,” said Sasha.
Noah cleared his throat. “So I understand that you have thrown yourself at my mercy. Is that correct, Lord Burger?”
“Yes it is, Sire.” Chuck lowered his head further.
“Is that why you two are here?” Noah pointed at Vosk’s nephews.
Ardreth attempted to answer on their behalf. “They originally were sent to scout on Andrei Vosk’s orders, but when they learned that their uncle’s cause lacked legitimacy, they sided with us to avoid the conflict. I recommend a full pardon for both of them—“
“Emperor Noah, I challenge you to a duel!” the older brother shouted, pointing with his arm only because his spear had been confiscated at the door.
“A–A duel!? Why?” Noah struggled to maintain his composure. “For what purpose?”
“For the right to marry Luna Kraus!”
Gasps erupted from three corners of the room. The wyverns in the fourth corner didn’t care.
“Luna?” Noah turned to look at Luna, who shrugged back at him in response. He sat down and addressed his challenger.
“No need. You can have her.”
“What? Noah!” Luna turned red in a combination of embarrassment and fury.
“…How did your last duel go?” asked DM.
This time, it was the challenger who turned bright red.
“…Emperor Noah, as Emperor do you have the privilege of assigning a stand-in to fight duels on your behalf?”
“Hm? I’m not aware of such a custom, but if you want to marry Luna I’m willing to make it one.”
Luna finally ran out of patience and charged at the throne. Since she was unarmed and clearly had a personal history with Noah, the imperial guard weren’t sure whether or not to let her through. Before they could decide, she reached Noah and plucked him from the throne, wrestling him to the ground. She grabbed his collar and shook back and forth a bit, lecturing him about proper decorum for an Emperor.
“…Luna would make an energetic wife, clearly, but I fear the age difference is too big. I’m less than a year old.” DM slithered to the center of the room. “…Still, I’ll fight the duel on your behalf. If he wins, he gets first rights to propose or whatever.”
“M–My spear! Bring my spear!”
A guard reluctantly jogged out of the room to collect the spear.
“…Your brother uses a bird to fight, so it wouldn’t be inappropriate for me to use the same, right?”
“You will… create another copy of my brother’s falcon?” he guessed.
“…Good try, but no.”
One of the wyverns raised its head and then scurried over to DM, positioning itself to DM’s left.
“…I think it would be rude for me to use two wyverns since your brother only uses one falcon.”
“It’s rude to use even one wyvern!” Sasha shouted from the side, before Ardreth grabbed her shoulders and calmed her down.
By now, the imperial guard had peeled Luna off of Noah, so he stumbled to his throne and sat back down, breathing heavily. “Fine, whatever, good luck to both of you.”
“I… I may not win, but I will give it my all! Eat this!” He lunged forward, spear in hand, plowing it into DM’s body.
DM made no attempt to evade or block the attack.
>31 damage.
The wyvern watched but didn’t do anything else.
DM slowly wrapped an appendage around the spear, preventing it from getting pulled back out. “…If you insist.” The spear began sizzling, soon ceasing to exist.
DM’s opponent stumbled backward. “M—My spear!”
“…My turn.”
“He—He can no longer fight!” Luna shouted.
Ignoring Luna, DM commanded the wyvern to attack. It bounded forward, landing right next to the unarmed challenger, causing him to fall down. Before he could get back up, the wyvern lowered its head and opened its terrifying mouth. A long tongue emerged and dragged along the guy’s face, drenching it in wyvern-spit.
“…Where I’m from, if your entire face gets covered in monster saliva, you lose the duel.”