Chapter 743: Chaos (4)
"Oh my god... dear heavens..."
Philip, Terrence, Edith, Jane, and Albert.
One of the five, speaking in a half-dazed tone, cried out to the heavens.
They were all stricken by the sight before them. In truth, who had spoken hardly mattered—no one could be blamed for calling on a higher power. The scene unfolding before them was simply overwhelming.
How could one even describe this?
Yes, it was firewood.
The capital of the United Kingdom was burning, like a pile of kindling recently set aflame.
It seemed trivial, but it wasn’t.
The city everyone first thought of when they heard "United Kingdom" was Randara, yet unbeknownst to many, the capital of the United Kingdom was also a globally renowned metropolis. And now, this grand city was burning like firewood.
An event fit to fill a page in the annals of history.
But the reason for calling on a higher power wasn’t simply the fire.
It was the mad spectacle borne from that fire that drove them to do so.
"There’s a beggar child! He was just about to set something on fire!"
"Catch him!"
"Waahhh...!!"
When a man holding a torch shouted at the poorly dressed child lurking in the alley, others soon flocked like sheep, surrounding the child. Their eyes sparkled with rage, madness, and twisted delight, with objects in their hands that could easily serve as weapons.
The child, terrified by their grim expressions, collapsed in place.
But the crowd allowed no reprieve for the orphan.
"Get him up, now! We need to find out who told him to set the fire! Could it really be the prince? Did he ignite the city as part of some ritual?"
Following the commands, a couple of sturdy men stepped forward and lifted the child’s arms, hoisting him up like a piece of wood. The child whimpered and protested.
"N-No... I didn’t set any fires..."
"Liar! Look at that extinguished torch! It’s still warm. That’s proof you just put it out!"
"No... please believe me... I only used it because it was so dark..."
"Then why did you put it out? You snuffed it out to hide, didn’t you? If you were innocent, there’d be no need to hide! Everyone, he’s practically admitted his guilt!"
"That’s right! Yes!"
Riled up by what they saw as undeniable logic, the crowd shouted in agreement, and the men who’d lifted the child began hauling him away. They were likely headed toward the courthouse.
To where orphans suspected of arson, along with prostitutes, were being executed.
Prince Albert and his party had seen the courthouse and what was happening there as they’d made their way here.
"Ugh..."
The sight must have returned to Prince Albert’s mind, as he began to retch. The child being dragged away also struggled, desperate to escape.
"Please, please—no!"
But his efforts didn’t yield good results.
Thwack!
As the child convulsed in panic, someone struck his temple with practiced ease, knocking him unconscious.
The child’s neck twisted sharply, his body going limp. Witnessing this, Prince Albert finally threw up.
“Urrk!”
This forced the party to pause, for they couldn’t continue with someone retching beside them.
As they halted, a few citizens took notice and began to look their way, some focusing intently on Albert as if assessing whether he might be an orphan.
"There’s another orphan! Catch him!"
Just then, someone cried out, claiming to have spotted another orphan, and the people staring at Albert redirected their attention toward the shout, rushing off in that direction.
"Changing clothes was a good call."
Philip let out a sigh of relief.
The reason the mob had glanced their way and then moved on was thanks to their plain, unremarkable clothing. If they’d been dressed too poorly, like an orphan, or too extravagantly, they might have drawn suspicion and become targets.
Of course, as long as Philip and Terrence were around, even dozens of frenzied people wouldn’t pose much of a threat, but considering that their goal was escape, it was best to avoid conflict.
"Did you plan for this?" Philip asked Edith, who replied as if it were obvious.
"Preparation is the heart of any investment. But truly... this is chaos... no, it’s hell itself."
Taking advantage of the brief stop, Edith surveyed the city streets, offering his judgment.
Philip and Terrence nodded. As horrible as it was, they couldn’t deny it, even if this city was their home.
What was happening in the capital was beyond horrific.
Even to Philip and Terrence, who’d endured the horrors of war.
The fire that had broken out in the city was consuming more and more of it, and the people, intoxicated by the flames, seemed more intent on hunting orphans than putting out the blaze.
Among them, some were rallying people to attack the palace, and screams and gunshots echoed from beyond the buildings, indicating real clashes were occurring.
A scene of chaotic slaughter—perhaps even more hellish than a battlefield where combatants simply killed one another.
"C-Can’t we help somehow?"
Prince Albert, ashen-faced, muttered weakly, having vomited not only his food but also stomach acid.
Though he left his question unfinished, it wasn’t hard to guess his intent. Almost certainly, he was asking if they could save the child who had just been taken away.
Prince Albert had seen what happened to a child at the courthouse moments before.
Naturally, Edith and the others had also witnessed the events there and remembered how the prince had reacted.
He had been shaken. Though he had prided himself on understanding the world, the unfiltered reality he saw had shocked him profoundly.
However, Philip firmly rejected the prince’s request.
"I’m sorry, Your Highness. Right now, getting you out of here is our top priority."
It was a cold, but inevitable choice.
As Philip had stated, their first objective was to evacuate Prince Albert, and for that, escape took precedence over rescue.
Attempting a rescue operation not part of the plan would almost certainly derail their primary goal.
"Moreover, even if we tried to help, the number of people we could save would be limited. It would be more effective for Your Highness to escape, thus increasing the likelihood of thwarting the ritual, which could ultimately save more lives."
With no grounds to argue against Philip’s logic, Prince Albert nodded his pale face in agreement.
It was only a rash suggestion brought on by the ghastly sight before him; Albert also knew well that saving the child was impossible.
Perhaps asking if they could help had merely been a way to ease his conscience, a feeble attempt to escape the guilt of fleeing while his people suffered. As prince, it was shameful and agonizing to simply run away...
"Everyone! Listen to this! A new announcement!"
Just as Albert had managed to stop retching and prepare to move again, a man shouted out with the blazing inferno behind him.
The massive flames cast his body into shadow, momentarily giving him an aura of authority. Holding a radio aloft above his head, the man looked like a prophet bearing a sacred stone tablet.
"Listen, everyone, hear this news!"
Citizens holding weapons paused, directing their attention to the voice from the radio. Albert and his party, who were also within earshot, listened.
It was not pleasant news.
"Citizens, we have new information. Prince Albert, younger brother to Edward X, has escaped from the palace. Find him! To prevent the filthy schemes of the royal family, we need him. We can’t confront the kingdom’s army defending the palace head-on. Therefore, finding Prince Albert is crucial! Only by capturing him can we thwart the evil plans of the royal family!"
Broadcast from the radio responsible for turning the city into a living hell, the message not only revealed Prince Albert’s escape but also declared why capturing him was essential.
The streets, filled with countless citizens, fell momentarily silent. For a split second, Albert felt as though everyone was staring directly at him, as if all eyes were fixed on the runaway prince.
...
Fortunately, it was merely a feeling.
The sense that everyone had turned to look at him the moment the broadcast ended was simply an illusion.
That made sense, of course.
Under the pitch-black sky, the only sources of light were the fires raging throughout the city. Recognizing Prince Albert among the chaotic crowd and shadows was next to impossible. He’d just startled himself into a momentary paranoia.
"The problem is that we were anxious enough to feel that way."
Edith, who had led them into a secluded alley, started speaking.
"When we start imagining everyone’s watching us, it forces us to be extra vigilant of our surroundings. And that vigilance is going to get us noticed."
Edith’s words came not from science, but from personal experience. It was a theory born of his own understanding—if something gnaws at you, sooner or later it’ll show.
It might sound like nonsense, but Philip and Terrence didn’t dismiss it. They agreed, having seen such "superstitions" prove true more than once.
It was a kind of curse, much like the inevitable traffic jam before a major event or the certainty that crucial information will somehow always leak.
And that wasn’t the only problem.
"Now the mobs will search every child in sight."
Jane brought up another concern.
So far, they’d been safe because Albert didn’t look like an orphan.
The crowd, whipped into a frenzy, was targeting orphans exclusively.
But now, with the broadcast revealing Albert’s escape, it meant plain clothing alone wouldn’t guarantee their safety anymore.
As Jane pointed out, they would be checking every boy in the city who appeared to be around the prince’s age.
While there was no absolute certainty, the likelihood of his identity being discovered had suddenly spiked.
"Could this have been planned from the beginning?"
Terrence muttered.
He speculated that after losing track of Prince Albert, the powers that be had decided to turn the city into a living hell. But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the idea.
It would be like burning down your house to catch a flea—a solution worse than the problem itself.
Even if capturing the fleeing prince was crucial, deliberately exposing their own dirty secrets to the entire city seemed unlikely. Unless, of course, they had some ulterior motive...
Pushing aside any lingering doubts, Terrence and the rest focused on the immediate task at hand—finding a safer way to escape the city.
"Well, if you have any ideas, speak up quickly. Staying here much longer isn’t wise."
Seeing that no one had come up with anything, Edith urged them.
Remaining in a deserted alley during a riot was far from ideal.
Even if this area had been cleared of mobs hunting for orphans, there was no telling when another horde, driven by madness, might come sweeping through. They needed to decide quickly.
"Taking the car is... not an option."
Philip considered and then dismissed the idea.
The roads of the capital were clogged with debris from burning buildings and a mass of people, making vehicle travel nearly impossible.
Even a vehicle as fortified as Philip’s would be ineffective here. On top of that, driving such a distinctive car would only draw attention and increase suspicion.
"No matter how I look at it, we won’t make it out of the capital with just our group. We’ll need reinforcements—a force that can protect the prince."
After careful thought, Terrence voiced his opinion.
The idea was sound, but the real question was how they’d summon that help.
Philip, as if remembering something, spoke up.
"The Holy Knights, you mean?"
"Yes."
Terrence nodded.
Whether by chance or providence, the United Kingdom’s Holy Knight Branch was located nearby.
As expected of the capital, this branch was one of the larger ones.
Though their numbers fluctuated yearly, they usually had around 300 knights, and if they gathered up all their supporting staff, it would amount to a force on par with a regiment.
"A force of that size would allow us to both conceal the prince’s identity and, if necessary, force our way out."
"But would they help us?" Edith interjected skeptically.
It was a reasonable doubt, not just idle sarcasm.
While the Holy Knights had once wielded near-limitless authority under the favor of the gods, in recent days, they had fallen to a point some might call disgraceful.
The church had lost its most powerful weapon—holy magic—and the knights, along with Pater Church, who once helped uphold order for humanity, now faced threats to their very existence.
"Even so, their forces are still intact," Terrence responded.
"Having an army doesn’t matter if they’ve lost the will to fight. They’re practically hollow shells without holy magic. Do you really think they’ll help Prince Albert? I don’t think so," Edith retorted, unimpressed.
"They’ll help," Prince Albert suddenly spoke up, breaking his silence for the first time.
Seeing the prince’s conviction, Edith refrained from sneering and instead asked him why.
Prince Albert’s response was unexpected.
"...She might be there. The Daughter of the Angel."
"Joanna the Holy Knight?"
Philip mentioned her name aloud. He, too, had met Joanna briefly on the New Continent.
"I can’t be certain, but she might be at the branch now. If she’s there, she’ll help us."
Albert recalled his conversations with Joanna.
She had explained to him the suspicious behavior of Crown Prince Edward, even risking her own safety to warn Albert about possible dangers.
If she was at the United Kingdom’s Holy Knight Branch, they had a good chance of receiving her help.
"Oh, well, that changes things. If the Daughter of the Angel is willing to help, the Holy Knights are likely to support us too. If they refuse, they’d essentially be admitting they’re hollow shells."
Edith, who’d been skeptical before, was now the first to agree.
"So, the remaining issue is how to safely transport the prince there."
"The branch is close by; we could simply walk there, couldn’t we?"
"If we have no other options, then yes, but we should proceed cautiously if possible."
"It might be a bit unorthodox, but how about this?"
Jane brought over a half-burned tarp lying in the alley and offered an idea.
Philip immediately caught on.
"Wrap the prince in that and carry him like cargo?"
"Yes. It would mean that either you, Major Philip, or Sir Terrence would have to carry him, but I think this is the best option."
No one argued against Jane’s suggestion.
Though they’d be sacrificing one of their primary defenders to carry the prince, this method would offer far more safety than moving with the prince exposed.
There was, however, one issue—
"I’ll be fine, Sir Philip."
Albert preemptively answered, sensing the question.
"Are you certain, Your Highness?"
"Yes. If anything, I’m more sorry to burden you all. But I’ll be fine."
With Albert’s permission, Philip offered his apologies before wrapping the prince in the scorched tarp, disguising him as a parcel, and hoisting him into his arms.
Luckily, the prince, being in his early teens, was light enough to be little burden for the towering, muscular Philip.
With everything set, the group began moving once more.
"Terrence, you take the lead. Miss Jane, stay close to me. Edith, guard the rear."
"Hmm... Understood."
"Is something wrong?"
"There’s something bothering me, but now’s not the time to discuss it."
Philip raised an eyebrow at Edith’s vague comment but ignored it for now, focusing instead on their main objective—evacuating the prince.
Keeping their goal clear, the group advanced through the darkness and the crowds, guided by the inferno’s light, as they made their way toward the Holy Knight Branch.
"We’re almost there."
Terrence, who was leading, murmured softly.
As he said, once they passed through the alley ahead, they’d arrive at the branch. They were nearly there.
"Huh...?"
But as they emerged from the alley, the words that escaped Terrence’s lips weren’t of relief, but of dazed confusion.
It was understandable.
When they exited the alley, instead of the shadowed outline of the Holy Knight Branch, they found themselves in an entirely unfamiliar street.
"What... what’s going on?"
"Where... where are we?"
"Something feels... off? What’s happening?"
Beyond the sounds of flames consuming buildings, faint voices could be heard here and there.
Oddly, the voices seemed to echo the very questions Philip and the others were asking themselves.
Where...?
Where are we?
What’s going on?
Tightening his hold on the prince, Philip voiced his own doubts.
"Did we take a wrong turn?"
"No... we’re definitely in the right place..."
Terrence responded with absolute certainty despite emerging in an entirely foreign area.
It was true; even Edith, known for his foul temper, hadn’t barked out accusations of incompetence—a sure sign they were, indeed, in the correct location.
But despite their accurate navigation, the Holy Knight Branch was nowhere to be seen. Instead, they were in an unfamiliar street.
The only possible explanation for this improbable outcome was a single, unsettling thought.
"Philip, do you remember me mentioning that something felt off?"
"Yes... I remember."
"Do you know what time it is?"
"3 p.m.," Philip replied, checking his watch.
Edith, hearing the answer, chuckled strangely as he looked up at the sky.
A sky that was not just dim but pitch-black.
"But we can’t see any sunlight. It looks like night."
"Your point?"
"It seems the ritual has already begun, causing distortions in space. It sounds ridiculous, but nothing else explains this hellish situation."
Edith’s grim prediction confirmed what they’d all feared.
Just as Philip was about to respond, he spotted something—a burning building nearby.
Terrence, apparently noticing it too, quickly raised a mana barrier around himself, just in time.
Moments later, a massive explosion erupted from beyond the building wall.
Boom!
The explosion’s sound swallowed up the air, its fury consuming everything in its path.
This was no ordinary explosion.
If it were, Terrence’s mana barrier wouldn’t have cracked, nor would they have been thrown back.
The explosion was the result of human malice, deliberately disguised as a fire—a blast meant solely to kill.
"Pinkman..."
Philip, recognizing the perpetrator behind the explosion, pulled out a compacted sword from his belt. Across the way, someone spotted him and shouted.
Dressed like the rioters, the figure was clearly a skilled magic user, and he pointed directly at Philip as he cried out.
"There! There’s the prince! Prince Albert!! That’s the prince who would sacrifice us all as offerings!!!"