Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 82

082. Responsibility (3)

Calmen’s nightmares always began with the same scene.

One day, when he had been kicked out of his house after being thoroughly beaten, a handsome knight named Sari approached him and asked him a question.

-Why are you standing there barefoot on this cold day, kid?

It turned out that Nari, a knight who lived not far away, provided Calmen with a hearty dinner and a warm bed by the fire that day.

And from then on, Calmen would often run away from her stepfather and sneak into the knight’s house.

Knight Nari was always a busy man, but he was still a good neighbor who never turned a blind eye to the little boy who ran away from him every time. Even on days when he wasn’t home, there was always simple food on the table for the hungry little guests.

The knight Nari, whom I became close to, later found out that he was a much more amazing person than I thought.

He is the commander of the knights of the imperial palace and the swordsmanship teacher of the princes.

He was such a strong and high-ranking person that you wondered why he was taking a neighborhood kid like Calmen seriously.

-and! What does it feel like to become that strong? How can I become like you, leader?

-Why do you want to learn swordsmanship, kid? Good idea. His Majesty’s grace is like that of the underworld, and he opens up opportunities for success to commoners like us as long as we have the skills.

-I don’t know much about career advancement and I have no interest in it. I just wish I could kick that unlucky stepfather’s ass.

-Then, would you just close your eyes and practice for one year? At that level, I think you can sneakily kick him when he’s off guard and still get away safely.

In this way, Kalmen began to learn swordsmanship from him. When he heard praise that he was quite talented, he shrugged his shoulders.

Then, before I knew it, I came to my senses and found that Calmen had become something like a disciple or squire of the knight Nari and was following him to and from the imperial palace.

Memories of perhaps the happiest day of his short life.

Nevertheless, the reason it is a nightmare is because we know very well how that happiness will ultimately end.

-this guy! What do you believe in and wander around the palace carelessly?

A group of people suddenly appeared in front of him.

Those devil-like people surround the immature commoner boy and pour out sharp malice.

-You’re so lucky that you can even imitate an ordinary squire. He’s the perfect guy to live off a simple meal and then live as a guest anywhere.

The chubby little boy twisted his mouth and sarcastically.

-It seems that lowly things usually gather together and exchange comfort. Just leave it at that, Mores. In the first place, I didn’t intend to take a knight from a lowly background as my teacher.

A woman with a gorgeous appearance and sharp eyes sneers in an arrogant manner.

Giggling. Cluck cluck.

The maids’ taunts and insults were thrown at him at random, as he froze and didn’t know what to do.

It was so blatantly malicious that even a young commoner boy who had no idea about the world could tell that those dagger-like words were actually aimed at Director Bruno.

How long has it been like that? When she came to her senses, she saw Calmen unconsciously grabbing the chubby kid by the collar.

After struggling like that for a while, I immediately felt a sharp pain as something cut my forehead. My vision turns red.

The scenes that follow are memories that are intermittently interrupted.

-Hwangbimama. He’s just a poor kid who doesn’t know anything. Please, please stop giving me the command to cut down that little thing!

Beyond the blood-blurred vision, I see the leader kneeling.

Kalmen gritted his teeth.

I didn’t do anything wrong! That damn kid first cursed at me and insulted the leader!

But why does the leader, who did nothing wrong, have to atone for a sin I didn’t commit?

It was always the same dream, but Calmen struggled with all his might every time.

Everyone stop! Someone please stop me!

Captain! Captain, please stop! Don’t do that!

However, despite his desperate struggle, the dream leader Bruno eventually falls to the floor, vomiting blood, as he always did.

And there was a little boy who raised his lips and smiled evilly as he watched the leader’s miserable state.

In the chubby face that is hard to see due to the backlight, only his fiercely raised eyes flash a strange silver-grey color.

Prince Mores.

-I wondered when he would die. But if this happens, wouldn’t he be the same as dead? That’s great!

Prince Mores.

-Why are you looking at me with your eyes open like that? You idiot! I just happened to give you the sheath at the perfect place, so you should be grateful for the rest of your life. under. under. under!

Damn Prince Mores!

While he struggles and screams incoherently, his nightmare gradually comes to an end. As soon as he realizes that he is dreaming, he gradually wakes up.

And at the border between dreams and reality, a jumble of unknown scenes quickly sweeps over Calmen with intense emotions and then flows away like an ebb.

In one scene, for some reason, Calmen looked quite old.

He was getting drunk for the first time in a while after squandering the wages he earned through mercenary work, when a bandit-like man suddenly stood in his way.

-Is it you? The guy who spent last night with our Olivier.

-huh? Olivier? Who is that?

-She is my wife. I’m not saying I don’t know.

-What kind of bullshit is that? If you can’t be my wife’s jailer, why are you acting like a villain in such a strict place? Why do you feel so uneasy at night?

-what? Holy bastard!

Before the man could even visually check the ax he had taken out.

Plop! I feel the vivid sensation of my skull being split starting from my forehead, and goosebumps appear all over my body.

Kalmen screamed.

How could I die in such a ridiculous way?

“… “Aaaah!”

“This guy takes a noisy nap.”

“Shall we wake you up, sir?”

“Really? “I thought I was having a good dream because you were smiling just now.”

I could hear some familiar voices talking in my ears.

I listen in a half-asleep state, trying to understand the meaning, but the voice fades away again and my body sinks.

Meanwhile, the dream scene changed again, this time it was a battlefield raining down arrows.

Kalmen, who had become a handsome knight wearing armor, was anxiously swinging his sword and staring ahead. I don’t know the situation, but he was very worried about someone’s safety.

And the ominous sky stained red like blood.

Below, someone Calmen knew well was fearlessly throwing himself under a rain of arrows!

Kalmen was scared and ran towards him.

hey! You crazy bastard!

Do you always jump out at random?

Didn’t I always tell you to take care of yourself? uh?

“… huh? Prince, we’ll see when you get out of here!”

As I gritted my teeth and shouted, a sighing sound came from my ears.

“This bastard is truly a bastard, Sir Martha.”

“This is absurd. “This newbie has been doing this and now he is committing lese majeste by creating a crown prince who does not even exist in his dreams.”

“Shall I just give you another hit, Lord Masaine? “Please rest quietly.”

“… And then that guy, Calmen, could be put to rest forever, my dear.”

“No, Sir Kurt? “What on earth are you looking at me for?”

Kalmen, who had completely come to his senses, suddenly opened his eyes at the sound of an unusually clear voice.

“Oh, I woke up.”

“… … .”

what? It seems like you were feeling very desperate just now?

Kalmen blinked.

The afterimage of the dream disappeared from his mind as quickly as always, and now he couldn’t remember why he felt that way.

“Okay… … .”

But what caught the eye of Calmen, who was slowly rubbing his heavy eyelids, was a strange sight that he had not expected at all.

Prince Mores… No, a group of people surrounding the prince filled the small treatment room and were all watching Kalmen.

‘What are you all doing here? But why are you looking at me with such strange expressions?’

His eyes quickly scanned people’s faces.

Councilor Ninias, Prince Mores, and the prince’s nanny, Sir Massaine. A number of resident knights, including Sir Kurt… … .

“… … ?”

At that moment, Calmen’s eyes widened and he jumped up from his seat.

Because among those people, there was the image of someone I thought I would never see again.

“… “Captain?”

It was like that.

As if it was a lie, Manager Bruno was there.

Although his shabby beard and shabby appearance still remained, he was no longer the dying patient he had been before. His hunched spine became straighter, and his wrinkled face became taut, making him feel younger than his age.

Although his appearance is not as good as before, his sturdy-looking body is still overflowing with vivid vitality.

Director Bruno answered Calmen with a smile as cool as in a dream.

“Okay, boy. “Are you conscious now?”

What on earth is going on? Am I still dreaming?

“… All right, Captain? really?”

Then, Director Bruno’s brow furrowed.

“Are you still half asleep? Anyway, what the hell is that? “I don’t think I taught you that sloppily, but I wonder how distracted you usually are, tsk tsk.”

When Director Bruno clicked his tongue, Sir Kurt stood next to him and carefully defended Calmen.

“I… Captain? Lord Calmen is fighting against the capital guards to save you… … .”

“huh? Did something like that happen? I don’t remember? So, how many people did you hang out with?”

Then Prince Mores tilted his head and answered.

“There must have been seven of them, including the famously armed knight? “There was nothing I could do.”

These were not persuasive since they were coming from the person who knocked down those seven people.

However, after hearing the answer, a look of regret passed across Director Bruno’s face.

“You mean I only got hit by seven people? Not even seventeen? Huh, indeed! “It’s embarrassing, so don’t go anywhere and say you’re my disciple.”

“… … .”

Calmen’s eyes became moist without realizing it.

Ah, I see myself living in my own good taste. It was definitely the Bruno leader I remembered!

“… Captain, aren’t those words too cold-hearted? “That guy is crying.”

“okay. The decoration was a bit harsh this time. “Lord Calmen also tried his best, but is it worth it to make you cry like that?”

“Ugh. It must be sad to be sick, so why make fun of the patient like that? “I wonder if a grown man would cry so carelessly like that.”

I didn’t cry! Hey Mr.

Kalmen sniffled.

“… What happened, Captain? “What about the Gray Plague?”

“uh? okay. Come to think of it, I said I had that kind of disease, right? “I don’t really remember.”

Director Bruno turned his shoulders and smiled.

“I don’t know what the disease is, but as you can see, he’s fine. “This is all thanks to His Majesty the Great Emperor, just like the river and sea.”

“Hmm! “We must not forget the grace of His Majesty Mores, Commander Bruno.”

“Oh, that’s right! Sir Masaine is right. “If it weren’t for you, how would Bruno have had the honor of seeing your Majesty again?”

ha ha ha. LOL.

It was an atmosphere I really couldn’t get used to.

Obviously, Director Bruno was dishonorably kicked out because of that Prince Mores. He had his achievements as a knight and a warrior taken away in an instant, and for a long time he lived without being able to die.

But now, with the prince who is the culprit of it all, he is chatting as if nothing has happened!

Kalmen muttered as he felt himself becoming dizzy.

“This is a dream. Unless it was a dream, how could the leader and Prince Mores… … .”

In an instant, the air around me became cold.

Kalmen said this without thinking, but omitting an honorific title in front of a member of the imperial family is downright disrespectful.

“This guy said let’s see… … .”

Sir Martha, whose face suddenly changed into a sinister look, was about to rush in, but Prince Mores quickly grabbed his arm.

Meanwhile, Director Bruno bowed his head politely towards the prince instead of the embarrassed Calmen.

“I apologize, sir. “Because of my poor student, I am dishonoring you in many ways.”

“uh? no. “I’m still not fully awake, so I feel like I’m going back and forth.”

The appearance was reminiscent of the leader kneeling before the empress on behalf of Calmen in the past. Calmen cried out in a suppressed voice, feeling her heart sink.

“Why again… Why are you apologizing again? “There’s nothing wrong with you, leader!”

However, Director Bruno’s attitude towards him was extremely firm.

“Don’t be pushy, Kalmen. “Of course it’s my responsibility.”

“but… … .”

“I couldn’t bear to say this because I felt like you were blaming yourself so much. But now that I am back in the imperial palace, please tell me clearly.”

And the leader looked directly at Calmen and spoke clearly.

“Kalmen. What happened that day was ultimately your fault for not being able to overcome your temper and committing lese majeste first. And it’s Bruno’s fault for not teaching him proper manners because he’s still young.”

“… … .”

“Even if it’s difficult, you have to face what you have to accept. “Aren’t you a proper knight of the Royal Guard now?”

Kalmen was speechless.

The desire to deny it was like a chimney, but deep down he didn’t know it. He realized that his situation had grown out of control because of his inability to endure even a fleeting moment.

The fact that I didn’t know much about the world couldn’t be an excuse. As Prince Mores said, just because you were young didn’t mean you lost responsibility.

The only reason he had been bitter towards Prince Mores until now was because he could not fully bear the fact that he had caused the downfall of the person he respected the most with his own hands.

Kalmen staggered out of bed and knelt down in front of the prince.

The deep feelings in my heart toward Prince Mores had not yet disappeared. But unlike then, at least now he knew exactly what he had to do.

“Until now, I have been so restless that I have committed several acts of lese majeste. “I dare to ask for your generous forgiveness.”

Then Prince Mores scratched his cheek and answered.

“Well, that’s okay. don’t mind. “It’s not like I don’t know your temperament.”

“and… … .”

“huh?”

“… thank you.”

Kalmen bowed his head deeply and said.

“I will never forget the grace that saved the leader. Thank you again, sir.”

Because that was Calmen’s sincerity, he was able to show sincere courtesy towards Prince Mores for the first time.

fantasy,