I Plotted The World Destruction With The Male Lead - Chapter 47

Most of the noble families gathered here were trying to place Carlyle, not Van, on the throne. But they did not consider this an act of treason.
They believed they were simply enforcing their will—whether to bring a new wind into the Empire or for some other armed cause.

“Silence! How dare you speak of treason! We are merely making a choice for the future of the Empire!”

“What nonsense. What is treason if not this? When you raise weapons against His Majesty’s will, that is treason.”

Raphel grinned and drew his sword. Since they had already surrounded the 14th Knight Division’s barracks with weapons drawn, he had little choice. Claude and the four other division commanders felt uneasy at Raphel’s casual demeanor—especially since Duke Granmire, who should have revealed himself by now, remained absent.

“You think so too, don’t you? You loyal mutts of His Majesty.”

At Raphel’s words, the knights inside the 14th Division’s barracks emerged all at once and pointed their swords at the rebels. They were just as fully armed as the opposing side. Claude and the other division commanders had thought they had lured them into a trap—but they had already been seen through.

‘Not that it matters! They’re just one division. But we…’

Whiiiirrr!

A cold wind swept away grass and leaves in a violent swirl. The knights turned their heads in all directions, suspecting this was Duke Granmire’s supernatural ability.

“Uh…”

Someone nearly dropped their sword. Others were left gaping. Some of them may have experienced a typhoon before—
But none had seen a whirlwind from so close.

Eight terrifying whirlwinds surged from the ground to the sky behind them like pillars, twisting and writhing.
Around them, multiple streaks of pure white light struck down.

Boom! KRA-KOOM!

‘What in the world is happening?!’

The belated thunder made several knights flinch in fright. Lightning was a fearsome enemy to those wielding metal weapons and clad in metal Armoire.

‘Shit, this is a full-blown natural disaster.’

Though Raphel stood a few steps farther from the chaos, even he was breaking into a cold sweat—he’d never seen lightning strike so close.
He had heard the Duke possessed powers of wind and healing, but it seemed his true specialty was controlling the weather.

“The division commanders and their families will be held accountable. However, the merciful Duke has no intent to punish all the knights under their command.”

Raphel grinned and turned his gaze to the knights standing behind Claude and the other four division commanders.

“Will you become traitors against your will and cause your families to die as well? Or will you side with the Duke, His Majesty’s nephew and loyal follower, and remain honorable knights?”

“Shut up!!”

One of the division commanders, Nayar, shouted sharply, but some of the knights were already looking around uneasily. Nayar raised his voice like thunder.

“The Duke may have supernatural powers, but they have limits! None of them will leave here alive anyway! Whoever takes the Duke’s head will be granted a title!”

Being a royal knight was already a great honor, but not all came from noble families. In fact, many were from humble origins or were second sons without titles, since the position was earned by merit, not lineage.

“Even if you turn your backs and flee now, neither I nor the Duke will pursue you! The choice is yours!”

As Raphel finished speaking, a bolt of pure white light struck down upon Nayar.
Somewhere, Van had used his ability to summon lightning onto them.

“AAAAH!”

“Help! Somebody help!”

Nayar didn’t even have time to scream before passing out, while the actual screams erupted elsewhere. Nayar fell burned and unconscious from the lightning, and other knights fled after being hit by shards of light.

Claude screamed and ordered an attack. Chaos erupted. Some knights charged the 14th Division, while others scattered in panic, screaming as they tried to dodge the whirlwinds and lightning raining down from above.

In truth, even Raphel’s knights were scared—but they maintained formation and swung their swords, trusting Van to guard their backs.

It was a night that made flesh tremble.

*

Eleanor and Van were hiding in a tent very close to the barracks they were originally supposed to use. Van didn’t need to see with his eyes; he could distinguish between friend and foe just by the feel of the wind, making it easy to use his abilities on a night like this.

Van only realized he was capable of this after receiving complete guiding.

It was only after completely washing away the filth in the Imperial Palace that he could fully see his true abilities.

His basic ability was wind, but the power to move the atmosphere was similar to moving the climate. He couldn’t control lightning like one of the Imperial family who wielded fire, but he could drop lightning where he wanted.

Creating a whirlwind was something he could do before.

Unlike when he rushed to the capital under the Imperial command, he was now fully guided, but Van wanted to be guided by Eleanor.

Using his abilities while being guided made them easier to control.

So Eleanor was now in Van’s arms, kissing him. To broaden the guiding area, she even put her hand inside his shirt and touched his chest.

Eleanor was grateful that she couldn’t see anything inside the barracks.

She wasn’t like Van, who could distinguish objects even in the dark. She was just doing her best to guide Van.

The approaching screams, shouts, and sounds of weapons were unsettling, but she trusted the owner of the strong arms that held her tightly.

‘Nothing will happen.’

She also believed that the knights of the 14th Order would all be safe. She selfishly wished that even though their blood could be spilled, no one on her side would shed a single drop.

The screams faded away, and the buzzing wind and the thunder that seemed to tear the atmosphere subsided. Van, who had been focused on using his abilities with his eyes closed the whole time, was now engrossed in kissing Eleanor.

As his lips relentlessly explored Eleanor’s soft lips, Eleanor subtly tried to pull her hand out from under his shirt.

It was Van who stopped her, pressing her hand against the shirt. He whispered with his lips still touching hers, as if he didn’t want to let go.

“…You know I need more guiding, don’t you?”

But outside the tent was a battlefield, and no matter how hungry Van was for Eleanor’s body, he wasn’t so senseless as to undress her here.

In the meantime, someone approached the tent where Eleanor and Van were hiding.

“Duke. It’s Raphel. It’s almost finished, so you can come out now.”

Of course, the finishing wasn’t for Van’s sake. It was just that the bodies around the tent had been cleared away so that Eleanor, who was close to a civilian, wouldn’t see anything gruesome.

At those words, Van reluctantly let go of the hand under his shirt, and Eleanor quickly pulled her hand out. Seeing Van’s sullen expression, she grabbed his chin and gave him a light kiss, then he grabbed her waist.

“Ah…”

Eleanor swallowed the groan that escaped her lips, lest Raphel outside the tent should hear. Van bent down to Eleanor, pulling her waist closer to him.

He was dissatisfied that he couldn’t fully explore Eleanor’s lips while kissing her, as he was focused on using his abilities. He wanted her hand under his shirt to not just rest on his chest, but to touch him as much as he desired.

But this was a battlefield, and there were knights fighting beyond the thick tent. Eleanor would never indulge in such play with their danger behind her.

Van found that both lovely and regrettable.

Only after sucking and tasting for a long time did he lift his head, and Eleanor glared at Van. Even that look was breathtakingly alluring, so Van had to press his cheek to hide the laughter that escaped him.

Eleanor, freed from Van’s arms, straightened her clothes and approached the entrance of the tent. Van stood by her side with an attitude that he wouldn’t let her go.

As soon as the tent was opened, the unmistakable smell of the battlefield wafted in. Before the smell of blood, flesh, and fear could envelop Eleanor, Van wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms.

Eleanor’s eyes widened at the strong smell of blood. Seeing her paling face, Van said in a gentle voice.

“It would be better for you to stay inside until it’s completely cleared.”

“But…”

“I’ll have knights stay by your side.”

There were already female knights and several knights who had been by Eleanor’s side the whole time. They would understand Eleanor’s situation of not being able to leave the tent.

Raphel, who was standing guard at the entrance of the tent, nodded without a hint of sarcasm. He had ordered the knights and soldiers to clean up, but there might still be a severed finger or piece of flesh lying around somewhere.

It would be a problem if their precious Guide were to go into shock or even faint after seeing that.

Van didn’t believe Eleanor would faint. She was strong—strong enough to offer herself as a sacrifice to break the god’s seal. But he didn’t want her to be hurt by the sight of the battlefield.

Few ever stood on a battlefield by choice, but he was a knight, and Eleanor was a Guide. She had already fulfilled her part. What remained was his responsibility.