As Frondier expected, the Empire was already abuzz with talk about him.
The Zodiacs announced Frondier as a devil and said he would soon receive lawful punishment.
The only difference from Frondier's expectations was that it happened much faster.
- Devil Frondier, Arrested in the Imperial Palace.
- The Hero of the Empire, the Reality Hidden Behind the Mask.
Wizard view and newspapers were all filled with articles about Frondier, and most of them had the same content.
Frondier is a devil, and he participated in the war to take the Empire for himself. His astonishing strength is presumed to be due to him being a devil.
He planned to devour the Empire, and leading the operations in the war was just a part of that plan.
Many Imperial citizens were shocked and spent the whole day trying to discern the truth, but in the end, the fact that the Zodiacs themselves announced it tilted the opinion in one direction.
Frondier was indeed arrested.
He was found in the Imperial Palace, where the Emperor, Empress, and Princess were together, and Lily, known as Frondier's accomplice, was also in the same place.
Frondier fled after being overwhelmed by the Zodiacs' combined attack and went to the Imperial Palace to surrender himself.
“If you have any requests, speak them.”
Frondier, with restraints on both hands, is locked in a prison cell.
And across from the cell, there was Zodiac Ludovic.
Since it's true that Frondier defeated Belphegor, a Zodiac was needed to keep an eye on him. No matter how restrained he was, there's no telling what a devil might do. That was the reason.
The Zodiacs decided to take turns watching Frondier, and it was Ludovic's turn now.
“I'd like to say goodbye.”
Frondier's dry words. Ludovic silently looked at him.
It was a natural request for a criminal facing exile.
Ludovic gritted his teeth. It wasn't that he wanted to refuse Frondier's request.
It was just that he couldn't bear to see Frondier looking at him with such a resigned face.
“...Frondier, tell me one thing.”
“Did I make a mistake?”
At that, Frondier's eyes widened slightly and blinked. Then, they filled with a smile.
“You did the right thing, more than anyone else.”
Ludovic couldn't look directly at that face.
Instead, he opened the prison cell door, walked towards Frondier, and released the restraints.
“It's unsightly to say goodbye with restraints on.”
Of course, it was absolutely unacceptable to remove the restraints just because of appearances.
But Ludovic already knew.
Frondier had no intention of escaping or resisting. No, rather, Frondier himself had created this situation.
Even if Ludovic sided with Frondier, the remaining Zodiacs would never accept it. So many Zodiacs had seen Frondier and Lily's forms.
“Go, Frondier. This is all I can do. But come back within 24 hours. This is all I can do.”
Frondier opened a portal. Ludovic saw that sight and thought once more.
As expected, Frondier could have escaped at any time. There must have been hundreds of opportunities before the restraints were put on.
“I wasn't being sarcastic or mocking you.”
Before stepping through the portal, Frondier left those words for Ludovic.
“Truly, you did the right thing.”
Just like that, Frondier disappeared without waiting for a response.
The portal vanished, leaving only the dark prison cell. Ludovic stood alone in the empty cell, pacing silently.
“...Zodiac. Zodiac, huh.”
Haha. Ludovic laughed. He laughed in disbelief.
Trust and loyalty towards the Empire. He had always lived for that alone.
He would cut down anyone who became an enemy of the Empire. That was his role, and he had fulfilled it perfectly.
One of the twelve, the ultimate weapon of the Terst Empire.
“You, a Zodiac? Ludovic.”
His voice, trembling with resentment, briefly stirred the dust in the prison cell.
As soon as Frondier passed through the portal, he flew straight away.
There were many places to say goodbye, but there was one place more urgent than any other.
He flew at full speed from the cabin and reached his beloved home, the Roach mansion.
Landing in front of the mansion gate, he held out both hands towards the people in front of him.
Before him stood two men, their killing intent making the air crackle.
It was Enfer and Azier.
Their appearance was so fierce and ominous that the mansion servants, both young and old, who were familiar with them, were trembling.
Still, unable to simply leave them be, they had come out to the mansion gate to try and dissuade them.
“How did you get out?”
Enfer and Azier asked first, seeing Frondier's appearance.
“...Zodiac Ludovic gave me a chance to say goodbye.”
Frondier considered how to choose his words, but realized it was no longer possible.
Probably no matter what he said, they would...
“How dare a mere Zodiac give you something like that as a chance?”
Enfer's killing intent burst forth as aura, chillingly sweeping across the ground. The dry earth made a sound, and the trees fearfully stretched their branches sideways.
Normally, Malia, Enfer's wife, would restrain his rage, but even after looking around, Frondier couldn't see her.
Frondier desperately scanned the area with his eyes and found the butler, Vikar, asking with his gaze.
Reading his gaze, Vikar silently mouthed the words.
- She said to tear down that damn Imperial Palace.
In other words, the only one who could stop these two was Frondier.
“Please calm down first. It's not the Zodiac's fault.”
“Right. We won't blame the Zodiac.”
“We just need to overturn the Imperial Palace.”
They weren't listening.
Azier and Enfer were completely united in their purpose and were about to move. Who on earth could stop them?
Frondier, sweating cold sweat behind his back, somehow conveyed the words he needed to say.
“I will leave the Empire.”
Their expressions hardened. Frondier saw their faces stained with anger, bewilderment, and regret, his eyes stinging.
He had used all his strength to speak, but his voice didn't come out properly.
“However, I am Frondier de Roach.”
“No matter where I am, I will be the son of Roach.”
The killing intent, resembling a subsiding storm, gradually calmed.
In the silence that enveloped everyone, Frondier spoke.
“It's just a short vacation.”