Reincarnated as a Genius Mage-Chapter 38: The Warmonger

=======

War..

What is war?

The absence of peace?

The presence of strife, and anarchy?

These are the common definitions, and notions of war.

But there was one man who thought differently. People called him the warmonger.

Emperor Delarus Matir Kafer.

He disappeared over twenty-three years ago— on a voyage to the unknown Eastern continent.

Everyone thought him dead. And only a few of his trusted nobles knew the truth of his departure.

But a few years ago, he returned anew. Not as a changed man or a better human, but as... a monster. He was changed, reborn, and more refined in strength.

His first act after his return was to request a duel with the Golden Swordsman Kairo— the strongest of the Ten Great Lances. And he won the duel; shattering the legacy of the Golden Swordsman.

And so— Delarus claimed the title of the First Lance.

To the people of Kafer— his return was a nightmare reborn. He was a tyrant who loved war, and used war to settle every minor dispute.

The citizens of Kafer enjoyed peace in those 20 years of their Emperor’s absence.

But when he came back? He brought war with him. And now, the Kafer Empire of the Northern Continent— Nuncapor, has been at war with the Japur Empire for over two years.

At this moment— as the rays of sunlight shower down on the blood-soaked Earth...

"FOR THE KAFER EMPIRE!!!!" A man clad in full steel armor raised his sword to the sky, the steel reflecting the sunlight as he roared.

"FOR THE KAFER EMPIRE!!"

And thousands of voices followed— surging like a tidal wave.

Sparks flew, and steel met steel as screams tore through the air like paper.

And the battlefield trembled under their feet as the Kaferian forces clashed with the Japur Empire’s forces. Swords clanging, blood spraying, and heads rolling.

This isn’t it! We can’t keep fighting like this!

The commander of the Kafer army, Lexario Diarmani gritted his teeth as he watched his men fall one by one.

"Rosario!" He called out with a hoarse voice.

And a lean, blonde knight-level soldier turned his neck from the enemies he had just beheaded.

His armor streaked with blood, and his green eyes glimmered with a loyal spark. "Yes, Commander!" He answered Lexario as he wiped off the splattered blood on his face— running toward him with a quickened pace.

At that moment, a Japurian blade clanged off Rosario’s shoulder plate. And he turned— beheaded the man, and turned to face Lexario again.

His breathing was slightly uneven as he stood next to his commander— waiting for his command.

"Rosario, my apprentice. I trust you. And I know of your capabilities as I have trained you myself. Hold this line in my stead. I am going to have a talk with our Emperor to request for the presence of Healers." Lexario spoke hurriedly, his tone was calm, yes. But his voice was loud as he tried to speak at a frequency with which Rosario would hear him without being drowned out by the noise on the battlefield.

And as he spoke— he swung his sword, and he swiftly cut the arm of a Japurian soldier rushing toward him, beheaded the next, and he turned back to behead the one whose arm he had cut off— finishing the job. And his armor was soaked with warm blood.

Rosario nodded, his grip on his sword hilt tightening as he asked with a slightly loud voice, "would you be gone for long?"

Lexario let out a deep chuckle, and he replied, "I can’t leave my men to die on the battlefield, Rosario. I will be back."

Is this finally my time to shine? Rosario thought to himself.

And Rosario nodded gently and spoke with a firm voice, "then go. I will handle it."

"And remember.. switch to the formation we discussed as soon as their numbers drop." Lexario yelled as the clangs of swords clashing grew louder in front of them.

A warm grin tugged at Rosario’s lips as he replied, "go, commander. I got it, we won’t die today."

Lexario nodded, and turned. He crouched low— gathering pure mana through his mana pathway— guiding it toward his feet, and he slammed it on the ground.

Bam!Crack..

With a thunderous burst— he leaped high into the air— propelled by the mana he burst. And his gaze narrowed— flickering toward his mount at the rear of the field.

Rosario exhaled through his nose, a knowing smirk stretching on his lips as he watched the figure of his commander leaping on the air.

That’s why he’s a swordmaster. He thought to himself.

_____________________

In a tent, not too far from the battlefield. A dignified figure sat on top a golden throne.

His back sank into the throne, elbows resting lazily on the armrest of the throne, and his chin sat on top his folded fist. A bored expression plastered on his face.

He was clad in golden armor. And the crest on the chest of his armor had an eteched number ’1’ written on it— solidifying his identity as the First Lance.

His golden eyes scanned the room lazily

His spirit was restless, and his body itching for battle as he could hear the screams, and the clangs of the swords clashing from the distant battlefield.

But he had to wait. It was not his time to fight. Not yet.

Tat! Tat! Tat! Tat!

The sound of a horse approaching his tent with desperate speed flooded his ear, and he closed his eyes. Mixing his heightened sixth sense with mana— and he perceived the figure approaching him.

He wanted to know if he should prepare to cut down an enemy, or if he should prepare his ears to listen to the ramblings of one of his men.

Ah, Lexario. He thought to himself, a frown wrinkling his forehead.

"How disappointing. I thought I’d have a little fun." He murmured to himself as he scratched his eyes.

Lexario stepped inside the tent.

The room inside the tent was dark, and the only source of light was a dimly lit candle at the end of the room.

His gaze quickly scanned the small wooden table few inches from the golden throne. He could barely see the papers where battle tactics had been drawn.

Lexario shook his head subtly— walking toward the Emperor who sat high on his throne— staring down at Lexario with a dominative, and predatory golden gaze.

Lexario bowed. His head low, and one knee down sat down on the ground as the other knee was up.

"I have come to make a request My Lord." He spoke in a calm and cautious tone.

Delarus slowly tilted his head— squinting his eyes as he looked closer at Lexario, and he shook his head.

He could feel his soul.

"If it’s about the Healers... The pope of Hubolt, he still disagrees to release them. So, Commander Lexario, you’ll have to make do with your men." Delarus declared. His voice was devoid of hostility, and instead it was calm.

But there was something about his calm voice that seemed to press down on Lexario’s chest. And he felt the temperature of his body rise.

Every Empire that had citizens who awakened Holy power sent them to Hubolt. Except you, my Lord.

You claim that the Pope of Hubolt is an evil man, and he’d mess with the souls of your people. But now we need healers and we don’t have any healer in Hubolt under the banner of our Empire so now we have to beg the pope! You stubborn Emperor! Why?! Our men are dying out there!

The pope is evil? No, you are! Why are we even fighting this war in the first place?!

But of course Lexario couldn’t all say this out loud. All he could do was to gnash his teeth, and obey the words of his Lord and Emperor.

"Ah~" Delarus exclaimed softly. "An envoy of the Western continent, Hubolt is here. You can go back now, Lexario. Rest assured that you’ll have those healers." He declared coldly to Lexario as a wicked grin stretched on his face.

Lexario shuddered slightly as his heartbeat went off rhythm— and he raised his head; turning to leave. "May your grace live long."

As Lexario made his way toward his horse, he saw a pure white carriage being drawn by white steeds— coming from the direction of the Kafer Empire, and heading towards Delarus’s tent.

They must be the envoy he talked about. He thought as he shook his head.

His lips parted— he was about to speak, but he didn’t. And he climbed on his horse and rode off.

As soon as the Envoys entered Delarus’s tent, Delarus wasted no time, and went straight to the point.

"Tell your pope that I have a trade to offer for the healers."

The three men who were dressed in white robes— the envoys of the Holy Continent, were shocked at his sudden proposal.

"And what do you have to offer for the Healers?" One of them asked.

Delarus chuckled. His chuckle dwindling slowly, before rising again into maniacally loud laugh, and his golden gaze narrowed at them. "Tell him that I bring information from the Eastern continent about the being that he has been trying so hard to find."

The foreheads of the three men filled with beads of sweat as they exchanged nervous glances in confusion. And then they nodded to each other, and turned to ask him in unison. "What being?"

Delarus paused.

His wicked grin widening— growing more wicked.

"Lucifer."

=======

This content is taken from free web nov𝒆l.com