The Evil Noble Desires A Beautiful Demise - Could It Be That You're Stuck In A Loop? - Episode 24

Endens was born as the second prince of the Olbraim Empire.

From a young age, he displayed talent in various fields, and his prowess in combat was rumored to be a once-in-a-century genius. Despite receiving numerous accolades, Endens never became arrogant. Although he had a tendency to look down on others, he never neglected to hone his skills, always holding high ideals and continuously training. A person with overflowing talent who worked harder than anyone else. Naturally, there was no one his age who could stand beside him.

Endens continued to grow and achieved remarkable success on the battlefield at a young age. He earned the deep trust of the soldiers and the unending admiration of the people he saved. However, there was someone who felt a sense of crisis about this. Endens’s brother, the crown prince of the Olbraim Empire. He was not a fool, but he could not compare to Endens’s brilliant talent and lacked the capacity to accept it.

Fearing for his own position, the Crown Prince decided to enroll Endens in the academy. Officially, it was under the pretext of further developing Endens’ talents, but it was clear to everyone that the real reason was to distance him from the empire.

Endens accepts entering the academy. Although he had never neglected honing his skills, he questioned whether he could grow any further in his current environment. Therefore, enrolling in the academy was a golden opportunity for Endens. It is said that the academy gathers talents from all over the continent. There might even be someone who could satisfy him.

And then, I ended up meeting them right after starting school.

To an overwhelming existence that far surpasses oneself.

At first, I couldn’t understand. It even took time to accept the fact that I had lost. I realized that I was facing someone of the same age who was superior to me for the first time. I had thought there was no one like that. I had a sense of pride in not being arrogant or complacent and having worked hard. However, this was nothing but arrogance.

From then on, I increased my training time more than ever and dedicated myself to absorbing knowledge. The academy, a place where I could focus on my training without being swayed by bothersome political affairs, was the perfect environment for reflecting on myself.

About a year has passed, and I realize it again. Isn’t this not so different from before? Occasionally, I see that man who defeated me, training and discussing with other scholarship students. Striving and growing together—that was the true purpose of the academy, wasn’t it? Did I not even see that?

Participating in the drills that I thought were just a hassle turned that thought into certainty. Kirisia’s skills had improved significantly compared to before. It’s not hard to imagine that he had made remarkable progress through daily training with that man, Salifa.

Why didn’t I make that choice? When I think about it, I realize my own shallowness and am appalled. For the past year, I had been avoiding contact with the special scholarship students. Was it simply because I was afraid of getting hurt myself?

Endens was ashamed of himself.

Such pointless pride was hindering my growth. Only by reaching that point did I truly understand that I am not special.

At the next training opportunity, let’s apologize for our past attitude. And let’s ask that man Salifa for guidance.

Just after making that decision, an urgent report from the Empire arrives.

To deal with the rampaging magical beasts, return to the Empire immediately.

The quality of the soldiers is low.

Endens, who was assigned to handle the situation in the southern part of the empire, faced a difficult situation right after taking office.

The man who was placed as the temporary commander was incompetent, poorly handling the sporadic monster attacks, and the soldiers were exhausted. Moreover, the troops stationed were mostly new recruits. Given the empire’s crisis of monster outbreaks occurring in various regions, the army had been dispersed, but even considering that, it was unacceptable.

I sense malice from the Crown Prince.

Even though it’s a national crisis, I am furious about what they are thinking. It is the bare minimum duty of the royal family to take the best actions for the people.

However, we can’t just sit idly by. Fortunately, the beast invasion here hasn’t fully escalated yet, but eventually, the number of beasts will increase. If that happens, it will be questionable whether we can withstand with our current forces. The best course of action in this situation is…

“March into the forest and defeat the source of the evil beast.”

Concentrate the forces at one point and end the beast rampage early. Leave the overflowing beasts to the soldiers and hunt down the root cause myself. That seemed the most efficient.

“Wh-what… are we going into the forest alone?”

Although he is older than me, the young soldier Kale still says such things. He probably has little experience on the battlefield.

“That’s right. I thought that was the best option.”

“However, with us… um, wouldn’t it be better to wait for reinforcements?”

They must know that this unit’s training level is low. I can sense the anxiety.

“Where is the guarantee that reinforcements will come?”

An abnormal situation where magical beasts are overflowing in various parts of the empire. There is no surplus force available, and even if there are places where the overflow has been suppressed, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will come to our aid.

“That is…”

“If we continue like this, we will gradually be worn down and eventually be defeated. Therefore, we have no choice but to attack now.”

I explained it to the other soldiers as well, but this is a final decision.

“As soon as the preparations are complete, we will depart.”

Stepping into the forest, I head towards the powerful presence. Along the way, I encountered magical beasts, but I handled them all myself. The soldiers are unsettled, but they are soldiers of our mighty empire, even if they are new recruits. Once the battle begins, they will perform adequately.

After walking for a while and entering the depths of the forest, the beast was there. It was a creature called an ogre, with a massive body. It was a bipedal beast, with extremely hard skin and strength far surpassing that of a human.

It was immediately clear that the ogre sitting in the center was the cause of the beast rampage. I had hunted regular ogres before, but I had never seen one that large. Its body color, which is usually a greenish hue, was pitch black.

Around the black ogre, there are several other ogres. They haven’t noticed yet.

“Your Highness, wh-what shall we do?”

The aide-de-camp assigned to me asked for instructions in a low voice. His voice was trembling.

“As planned, I’ll leave the surrounding ogres to you. In the meantime, I’ll take down that black ogre.”

The soldiers are spread out in groups of three, waiting for the signal to charge. The command of the soldiers dealing with the regular ogres is entrusted to the lieutenant. The signal is also given by the lieutenant.

The soldiers quietly disperse.

During that time, I stared intently at the black ogre. That massive body is formidable, but the ogre’s intelligence is low. It is possible to defeat it alone.

It should be about time the dispersal is complete.

Focus and be ready to spring into action at any moment.

At that moment, I felt like the black ogre looked at me and laughed.

A bad feeling crosses my mind.

Oh no…! Could it be…!?

“Charge!!!!!!!!”

Before they could stop him, the lieutenant issued the order to charge.

With a fierce battle cry, the soldiers charged towards the ogre.

As if anticipating it, the black ogre instantly stood up and swung the massive club in his hand.

With that one strike, the soldiers were half-destroyed.

“Damn it…!!”

Betrayed!

Was that a trap to lure us in…?! It’s my mistake for thinking that an ogre could have such intelligence. I need to regroup quickly…

“GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!”

Just as he was about to raise his voice, the black ogre let out a roar. The air trembled, and the overwhelming pressure made their skin crawl. If he himself was already under considerable mental strain, the rookie soldiers would be no match for it…

As expected, the surviving soldiers were half-mad. The chain of command was no longer functioning.

“Whoa!!!”

At this point, all I can do is swiftly defeat the Black Ogres. The Ogres have formed a formation to protect the Black Ogres, but I have no choice but to go…!!

Charging alone into the horde of ogres.

I’m already at the point of no return. However, if I don’t take down the Black Ogre here, even at the cost of my own life, the southern part of the empire will be on the brink of destruction.

Cutting, burning, and pushing forward.

However, outnumbered and outmatched. Gradually, their momentum weakens, and the wounds inflicted by the ogres increase. Without paying any mind to such things, they move forward.

Just a little more…

Just after thinking that, the black ogre looked at me and laughed. Then, I was blown away by the club swung by his powerful arm.

“Ugh, gah…!!!”

Barely, I used my sword as a shield.

However, the sword was broken, and the bones in his arm were shattered. A sharp pain coursed through his body as it was slammed against the large tree, making it impossible to even stand up. His blurred vision caught sight of the ogre slowly approaching.

Is it ending here?

Am I really going to die in a place like this?

I thought I had lived without regrets. However, as the time approaches, numerous regrets cross my mind.

If only I had done it that way back then…

If I had known it would be like this, I would have…

Many of the things I recall happened in the past year.

Why have I been all alone this whole time…?

The ogre is right in front of us.

The club to end this life was raised.

Ah, if, if there is a next life, then I…

With a dull pain, consciousness faded.

“Charge!!!!!!!!”

When I realized it, it was a battlefield.

“……What?”

While I was dazed, a single blow from the giant ogre half-destroyed the soldiers.

“W-What is this…?”

For Endens, hell has begun.