How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game

The gate of the imperial palace had an iron framework on a base of antique wood. It was slightly different from the gate they had already breached.

That gate had thick iron plates inside the wood.

Though relatively less hard, it was also a sign of confidence. That even if enemies could reach the capital, they couldn’t enter the imperial palace.

Anyway, the inner gate opens and closes through pulleys connected to counterweights. It’s structured so that when the counterweight connected to the chain goes down, the gate goes up, and when the counterweight goes up, the gate comes down.

What Carlyn had asked Denif to do was to forcibly lower that counterweight.

As the princess arrived at the front of the imperial palace, a commotion spread across the top of the wall. The soldiers’ reactions were varied.

Some were tense, some filled with inexplicable expectations, some just watching those around them, and some looked displeased. The last were usually the existing imperial army.

“Your Highness, I understand the message has already been conveyed, but to come to the imperial palace leading soldiers…”

The one on top of the gate was Duke Tenvohen. He was from a powerful family among the nobles supporting the first prince, and in the past, his influence within the imperial palace was incomparably greater than the princess’s.

Of course, now with Carlyn’s help, the duke was no match for the princess, but the duke showed no signs of being intimidated even in front of the princess.

“It’s martial law declared by my brother. Why should I listen when it’s not even the words of my father who has passed away?”

“Haha. Now that His Majesty has passed away, isn’t it right for the Crown Prince, the eldest legitimate son, to take over command?”

“Well. The empire I know doesn’t pass on the throne simply because one was born first.”

The duke tried not to show it, but his eyebrows furrowed slightly. It was an uncomfortable truth.

The imperial soldiers on the wall looked at the duke.

Having already heard about the betrayal of the imperial army, the duke worried about the soldiers beside him breaking out of control.

“That’s why the Crown Prince said he wanted to talk. Because we need to find a compromise, whether it’s through a fair battle later or some other way.”

Erendil let out a snicker.

“I, too, said the same, to have a conversation in the same situation. But didn’t my brother refuse?”

“When did that happen? I didn’t know.”

The duke calmly received her words.

“It was so from the city gate. He refused. As if he had no intention of listening.”

“Now that His Majesty has passed away, we can’t empty the imperial palace when there are threats from enemies.”

They both knew that the current conversation was meaningless. However, they were speaking for the sake of others watching.

The duke to establish the prince’s legitimacy, the princess to create allies internally.

“Well. Is that really why? I don’t think someone of the duke’s caliber would be so obtuse as to not understand that intention. Was I mistaken?”

The duke’s face suddenly crumpled. In fact, the current conversation was not to his liking.

Just a few years ago, the princess couldn’t even raise her voice in front of him. Even now, to the duke, it looked like a child pretending to be an adult.

At that time, Carlyn was focusing on the sound of sand rustling right above the gate, in the part surrounded by the wall.

It was a very faint noise. It was the sound of Denif’s sand cutting the chain of the pulley that the soldiers turn by hand.

Of course, even for a mystic, it was difficult for sand to cut iron. A sword made of sand could cut people but not iron.

However, the special property of the sand played a role. As Carlyn advised, Denif had dipped the sand in Sanviden’s furnace.

Sanviden’s furnace isn’t really a furnace. It was a magical liquid used to melt metals.

It was mainly used by craftsmen and occasionally by thieves breaking into safes.

Since sand can absorb moisture, sand soaked in Sanviden’s furnace had entered the area right above the gate, hidden by the wall.

Carlyn felt the chain being pulled taut amidst the rustling noise. It wasn’t far off. Carlyn signaled the princess.

“There have been two bomb explosions in the capital. With such villains around, we can’t empty the imperial palace, can we? Please dismiss your soldiers and come in.”

“If we both want to talk, would you tell my brother to come out beyond the gate?”

“Haha. That seems a bit difficult. He’s busy with the northern war issue right now.”

“Then I’ll have no choice but to go find my brother myself.”

That’s when it happened. Ting! Along with the noise, the sound of chains turning was heard. This was a noise that even those on top of the wall could perceive.

And thump-! As the counterweight fell, the gate rose. It happened suddenly without any warning.

“W-what is this! Who did this!”

The duke hurriedly turned his gaze. He had placed trustworthy knights there, so he couldn’t understand how it suddenly opened.

“I-it opened by itself!”

“Quickly, lower it!”

“It’s spinning freely! The chain seems to be broken!”

“This is madness!”

The gate was wide open. Thinking that Schurtafen had done it, the princess nodded slightly and pulled on the reins.

“Let’s go.”

As the princess advanced, the duke, though flustered, gave orders.

“Arrows! Shoot arrows! Pour oil!”

Amid the confusion on top of the wall, the soldiers were in disarray. It was an unexpected situation.

Even if traitors had opened the outer gate, they didn’t expect the inner gate to open like this.

“Shoot! I said shoot!”

Some held bows but couldn’t bring themselves to release the string, while others exchanged glances, watching those around them.

At the duke’s urging, the first arrow was shot. From that point, arrows started flying.

Carlyn adjusted his winds. However, he couldn’t block them noticeably. He could only slightly slow their speed.

The mages the duchess had brought exerted their abilities. Several layers of barriers appeared in front of the princess.

Thud thud thud – The arrows that hit the barriers made heavy noises as they fell to the ground.

That’s when the change began.

When the prince’s forces entered the inner gate, there was the precedent of Pasciang breaking through and escaping. Moreover, he was now beside the princess.

Those who had the will but lacked the courage to act began to move. The first step is always important.

On top of the wall, a knight stabbed the prince’s knight who was fervently giving orders. It happened in an instant.

“My lord!”

The soldiers following him rushed to protect the knight’s side. Similar incidents occurred elsewhere. Chaos spread in an instant.

Arrows were still flying, but their number was decreasing in real-time.

The princess advanced towards the gate, undeterred by such threats. Then she straightened her back and raised her hand.

Teme’s Spear was radiating its light vividly even at midday.

“I, Erendil Kisturath, have come! Behold! The will of the founding emperor is with me! Who does the empire’s sword point to now? Those loyal to the empire, stand behind me!”

That was the catalyst. While there were rumors, most were seeing Teme’s Spear for the first time.

The will of the founding emperor, worshipped as a god in the empire. Moreover, the spear that had pierced the Great Devil was here. The confusion on top of the wall began to intensify.

***

Duke Tenvohen died on top of the wall. Sensing danger, he tried to flee but couldn’t even take ten steps.

However, not everyone turned to Erendil’s side. Even with magic, it was still the medieval era.

There were not a few who held negative views about a female emperor and supported the eldest son. And those with misguided wills.

The imperial palace, once quiet and solemn, became a battlefield. It was difficult to distinguish friend from foe as they wore the same clothes.

The princess just advanced, killing those who approached and helping those who blocked with their backs turned.

Carlyn’s nerves were sharper than ever.

As it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe, devil worshippers disguised as allies could enter threatening distances.

“Erendil!”

That’s when the second prince appeared. He came running from the imperial palace, leading no more than five knights.

The second prince, running with disheveled hair, looked like someone who had gone through something and was distracted.

The princess looked at him with cold eyes. Emmet blocked the prince’s path.

“I didn’t come to harm you! I came to help! I’ll help you become emperor!”

From the moment he was caught by the first prince, the second prince knew his days were numbered.

That’s why he took a risk and escaped in this chaos.

“You’re going to help me?”

Despite the clear condescension, the second prince nodded urgently. Nevertheless, the princess’s eyes remained cold.

“The situation is funny. I think it’s the first time I’ve heard you speak to me so kindly.”

“I-I was wrong. I was thinking very wrongly. I only brought a few knights, but I can be of help! I know my brother’s secret!”

“At this moment?”

Secrets or whatever were meaningless anyway. Moreover, the princess who had conversed with Carlyn could guess what it was.

“Second brother, foolish second brother. Do you remember Reizel?”

“Re-Reizel?”

“It was six years ago. You took Reizel away.”

At the princess’s sudden words, the second prince tilted his head. The princess’s eyes turned fierce.

“She was my maid and friend. She was a young child. She was 13. She followed you and came back crying at dawn. Her face was soulless. Three days later, she hanged herself. I saw Reizel’s corpse with my own two eyes.”

“…”

Was there such a thing? The second prince couldn’t remember. Because such incidents were commonplace. Suddenly, he seemed to remember.

He had been severely scolded for messing with a count’s daughter. Only then did the princess’s gaze register with him.

“It was years of resentment when I could do nothing.”

“E-Erendil…”

The second prince realized his fate. He began to step back.

“Emmet.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

In a situation where the outcome was decided, the second prince’s guard knights exchanged glances and started running at full speed without looking back.

Unlike the second prince, they had a chance to survive using this chaotic situation.

The second prince, now without guards, looked at the approaching Emmet with a dazed face.

“Don’t let him go easily. Make him die writhing in pain for a long, long time.”

“Yes.”

The princess spoke through gritted teeth, and Emmet stabbed concisely. The second prince lost strength and collapsed. His eyes, turned towards the sky, didn’t lose their vitality but had no focus.

Erendil glanced at that sight and then moved on. Emmet advised.

“Your Highness, from now on, it would be better to dismount.”

“I will do so.”

It was appropriate advice given the chaotic surroundings. Now that they had entered the imperial palace, there was no need to focus on presentation.

Erendil, having dismounted, felt an unfamiliar sensation. It felt like she was dreaming.

When she was on horseback, she didn’t feel this part as she was acting strong as Carlyn had advised.

The imperial palace.

That white space where she was born and had lived until now was full of red blood and people shedding that blood. And she was advancing to claim the throne.

“Your Highness.”

At Emmet’s words, the princess came to her senses. After taking a short deep breath, she consciously nodded.

She reassured herself that it would be okay, even though the scenery was unfamiliar.

It’s okay. Schurtafen is here, and Duchess Lyurik and Emmet are here. I must become strong. Let’s move forward.

It was time to become emperor. For the empire and to achieve what she wanted.

“Let’s go.”

The princess walks towards the imperial palace. As battles were taking place all around, there weren’t many people around the princess.

Even though there were many defectors, the initial difference in forces was too great.

In front of the entrance to the imperial palace, she climbs the white stairs. Knights in plate armor and soldiers approach silently with their swords lowered diagonally.

Emmet guarded the princess’s side, and other knights advanced. Carlyn was mixed among them.

Since entering the imperial palace, he had changed into the armor of a dead knight and was pretending to be a knight.

Even with his winds, it couldn’t be better than guarding nearby.

Of course, he didn’t stand out too much. That’s when it happened. Two people were caught by his winds’ senses.

They were jumping from the second-floor window of the imperial palace and approaching in a roundabout way. While attacking the prince’s soldiers.

‘It’s those guys.’

Carlyn could instinctively tell, and that guess was correct. The devil worshippers were moving, ignoring the prince’s order to protect himself.

This situation was the worst for them too. After all, their goal was to prevent the princess from becoming emperor.

“Your Highness! We’ll help too!”

The devil worshippers disguised as knights approached little by little while facing away and dealing with enemies.

At first, an appropriate distance was maintained.

However, little by little, they began to step back one step at a time, pretending to be overwhelmed or pushed back.

‘It’s tricky to attack first.’

This was Carlyn’s dilemma. If he attacked first unnecessarily, he might be treated as a traitor.

A moment’s misunderstanding could lead to a disaster. However, the waiting time wasn’t long.

With the distance shortened, the two briefly made eye contact and then simultaneously turned their bodies and rushed towards the princess.

A startled Emmet quickly came out with his sword raised, but the distance was too close. One of them brushes past.

“Y-Your Highness!”

But what Emmet was worried about didn’t happen. Because at the moment they turned their bodies, Carlyn, who had approached at high speed, blocked the other one.

Clang! A sharp metallic sound. The two swords vibrated while clashing.

It was 3 meters in front of the princess. Even though he wasn’t holding Moonlight and was wearing a helmet, the princess and Emmet knew it was Schurtafen.