Episode 235. The Heart of Graham
Before the ‘Geochon Situation Board’ came to mind, a name naturally came to Rulfo’s mind.
The blood donor whose name left the clearest mark on the history of the continent, Graham.
200 years ago. If he, the only blood donor capable of mind control of Grandbird, had not sided with Lilic, would the empire have been completed?
And if he had not passed control of his powers to Lillic so that she could maintain them even after his death, would the empire have survived?
Such a question is natural, because the influence he had on the empire was so significant. Granbird’s existence symbolized the empire, and everyone in the empire had to hide in Granbird’s shadow.
‘How did the Empire maintain control of Granbird even after Grahame’s death?’
This was a question that was asked not only by countless blood donors and magicians, but also by those who held important positions in the palace. Not even the head of the Grand General’s Office or the head of the Ministry of Magic knew.
Some have claimed that the descendants of Graeheim, who inherited that ability, reside within the palace and control all the Grandbirds, but this is far from the truth.
His descendant, Nerheim, did not have the ability to do so. No matter how great her ability was, it was not enough to rule Grandbird.
Besides, as far as Rulfo knows, Nerheim is currently the lord of the castle in the grassland border region and is in charge of supplying the Empire with the Toothless Horse.
“… … .”
Rulfo took a deep breath for a moment. It was partly because he was in front of the Emperor, but it had also been quite some time since he had seen the ‘Gaejo Situation Board’.
“Chief of the Imperial Department, please relax.”
Among the Caranca, Caran turned his head towards Rulpo and spoke coldly.
“What about tension.”
At that moment, a new phenomenon occurred with a squeaking sound. In the middle of the road, lined with bamboo trees on both sides, a transparent sphere suddenly appeared right in front of Karanka.
It looked like a large glass ball, but that wasn’t the point. It was a strange object floating in the center of the transparent sphere. That was the point.
Thump! Thump thump thump!
For a moment, Rulfo thought his heartbeat had changed. It happened all the time. It was the same thing he did every time he looked at the ‘Geochon Situation Board’. The sound of his heartbeat grew louder.
Thump thump thump!
Before Rulfo’s eyes was a throbbing heart. The heart floating inside a transparent sphere was enlarged from its original size.
As far as Rulfo knows, when it was first extracted, it was enlarged through magic and drugs.
‘A descendant of Graham? The imagination of ordinary people… is always moderate.’
Rulfo laughed.
The secret to why the Empire could still rule Granbird even after the death of Graheim was in this removed heart.
Graeheim, who willingly devoted himself to Lily, did not know his future. He did not know that the word dedication would include the removal of his heart.
Thump thump thump.
“Oh, Graham. It’s been a while. Every time I see you, I feel so at ease.”
Telmach’s soft words resonate. In response to those words, Graham’s heart seems to beat more dynamically.
A giant situation board. It was the very heart of Graham, removed while still alive.
It was natural that Rulfo had never even seen the face of Greheim, who had died long ago. However, for some reason, whenever he came here, he felt as if he could hear him crying out in pain.
“His Majesty the First Emperor, who opened the shining path of Lily, made a truly noble decision.”
The giant controller, Karang, spoke and Lanka also giggled, but Telmah showed no particular reaction.
“Please tell me the status of the Grandbirds currently spread across the continent.”
As the Emperor spoke, Karanka thrust both his hands into the sphere. The surface of the transparent sphere seemed to slosh for a moment, then accepted Karanka’s arm.
Karanka moved both arms wildly without touching his heart. There was seriousness in all four of his eyes.
Fooddddd.
Graeheim’s heart soon began to change. With a strange sound, blood vessels began to sprout from his heart. Dozens of blood vessels stretched out and headed toward the surface of the transparent sphere.
Each of these blood vessels represented the location of each Grandbird.
‘I guess that’s Philiark.’
A place where more than ten blood vessels gather. I thought that must be the island of Filiararch. Since 30% of all Grandbirds were gathered there.
In addition, there was one on each of the eight spires symbolizing the eight royal palaces that the empire had subdued, and one each at the four defensive military camps in the east, west, south, and north and at each strategic point.
Excluding the system, the Grandbirds were evenly scattered throughout the continent.
Phew. Phew.
Some of the blood vessels were moving slowly and making noises on the transparent sphere surface, indicating that the Grandbird was currently moving.
“The General is riding on this Grandbird, which left the system a few hours ago and is heading towards the grassland border area.”
Karan’s explanation continued.
“Including the Grandbird carrying the General, there are currently three Grandbirds on standby in the Northern 2nd Corps alone. I think there will be no problem carrying out the operation.”
The Emperor nodded. If there were three of them, even if an unexpected incident occurred in the Northern Plains, they would be able to control it stably.
But at that time.
“… … ?”
The actions of the Giant Controller, Karanka, caught Rulfo’s attention. Karanka’s two hands were resting on the left side of Greheim’s heart, moving as if sewing in the air.
Looking at it that way, there was a blood vessel that had not been able to extend all the way to the outer surface of the sphere, swaying. Perhaps because of Caranca’s hand movements, the end of the blood vessel that had been cut off in the middle seemed to be bubbling.
Rulfo asked.
“What are you doing, Caranca?”
“It’s about giving birth to a new Grandbird.”
“Wasn’t the number of Grandbirds supposed to be unchangeable?”
The total number of Granbirds that Grahame could control before he died was 40. And with the heart removed, the number of Granbirds that the Empire could maintain was the same.
“Yes. Didn’t one of them die a while ago? Oh, I can’t say it was a while ago. It was about two years ago.”
Was there something that happened two years ago when Grandbird died? Rulfo thought about it carefully. Karanka continued speaking.
“Didn’t you kill the head of that assassination family himself? In the process of assassinating the Minister of Justice, Amret?”
It occurred to me after hearing that. I was talking about the ‘Bleaching Morning’ incident that happened in Philimond.
Above the White Tower of Philimond, Grandbird was waiting, supposedly to protect Amret, but in reality, to watch over him.
However, in the process of Siren killing Amret, she killed the Grandbird and caused it to fall. This was an incident that left many rumors all over the continent due to the Grandbird falling under the White Tower.
“It only takes a moment to kill one, but it takes more than two years to give birth to a single Grandbird. This is how much effort I have to put in.”
Rulfo ignored Karan’s words. It was unlucky and presumptuous of him to say such things in front of His Majesty.
But there is nothing Rulphor can do. He can only hope that the one who survives with the ability to control the tide will fall out of favor with the Emperor.
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Still, Rulfo thought that since Lanka had an honest side, if they were to cut off a neck, it would be better to only cut off Karang’s neck.
“Your Majesty, will the General be personally involved in this operation?”
Rulfo carefully changed the subject. He felt that since he had revealed information about the pioneering operation, he was also given the right to ask questions.
In fact, being a general did not always mean that you were given a means of transportation called the Grand Bird.
But the fact that he has set out on a mission on the Grandbird just now means that there is something the general must do, either directly or indirectly, in this pioneering operation.
Various scenarios came to Rulfo’s mind, such as delivering important items to the commander or conveying the emperor’s orders.
“The General will inspect this operation together with the Commander of the 2nd Northern Corps. If any problems arise, he will personally take control of the situation.”
In case a problem occurs.
Since we had been preparing for this for a long time, we could not tolerate any problems. The operation was already a failure as soon as the situation came under the control of the General.
At that point, Rulfo could guess why the Emperor had revealed information about the Pioneer operation to him. It was simple and easy.
‘If something like that happens, it probably means the Imperial Department will have to step in.’
* * *
At that time, the Empire’s great general was heading to Hiklion.
On one side of the wide grassland, a small bonfire was burning. A shadow stretched across the grassland. If someone passing by had seen it, they would have mistaken it for a traveler, but the face, lit by the bonfire and dyed crimson, was not human.
“… … .”
The leopard-like creature stared thoughtfully at the campfire. Occasionally, it would poke at the firewood with its claws, sending sparks flying into the air.
The red leopard. He was the Kundalit who had separated from Rubin and entered the meadow alone a few days ago.
‘I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve done a personification.’
Suddenly, this thought crossed his mind. It was a memory so old that it was hard to fathom.
The water creature transformation was a taboo that the Tuhun tribe adopted in order to survive in the empire. So, they only became water creatures once during the ceremony at the age of fourteen, and after that, most of them avoided that form for the rest of their lives.
It was no different from Kundalit.
‘It feels like it’s been over 30 years.’
It was natural to feel awkward. I never dreamed that I would be running around the grassland in this human form.
‘The taboo has been broken, Kundalit. To protect the plains, all of the Thuhun must now become stronger.’
I remembered what Luhan Melas had said. It was the dozenth time today.
‘Shit.’
He had moved all the way to the border area with the black-haired inspector who had saved him from the imperial army.
In the process, Luhan tells them of the Empire’s plan to clear the grasslands clean through the use of orc legions and polar monsters.
Also, the Chieftain broke the ‘Vow of Silence’ and issued the ‘Vow of Roar’.
The inspector, who had helped Kundalit safely infiltrate the plains, remained in the border area to do what only he could: obtain the immune nullifying drug.
Who the hell is he?
A person who holds the spirit of Felkyon’s grandfather within his body. He is an Imperial Inspector, but aims his sword at the Empire.
‘I have no part in your fate. Quite the contrary.’
When I asked him why he risked his life for the fate of the fighting spirit, the answer I got back was truly puzzling.
It’s not just that he’s risking his life for Tohun, but Tohun is also fighting for him.
‘The struggle will ultimately thwart the Empire’s plans. Only by blowing the horn of resistance against this continent will those who have cowered in the world awaken one by one. That will be the first movement to restore the lost balance.’
The black eyes I saw then were overflowing with an inexplicable sadness, and at the same time, they were burning with anger. Just like those of someone who had lost everything to the empire.
At that moment, those eyes seemed to belong to a Tuhun person, not an imperial person.
Ps …
Kundalit sprinkled water and put out the bonfire. When his hind feet trampled the embers that had not yet been extinguished, even the rising smoke completely died down.
“Anyway, the day has come when all of the Tohun tribe will become human beings.”
He muttered and looked up at the pitch-black night sky. Was it because their homeland might disappear? The ‘tattoo of the sky’ looked even more beautiful today.
Suddenly, the image of the dead Nublar came to mind. Layubia’s mother and my younger sister who loved the imperial people.
He, Nublar, and Imakarum were all one year apart in age, and were known as the Three Musketeers within the Collarbone Tribe. Of the three, Nublar was always the most manly and strong.
On the day when the youngest, Nublar, celebrated her fourteenth birthday, she tried hand painting for the first and last time and said this.
‘If the day comes when all the Tohun tribe can freely transform into water creatures… it will probably be one of two things. Either the future of the Tohun tribe will be over, or a new world will unfold.’
As always, she was right.
Kundalit stood up from his seat. The long and short rest was over, and he had to start again. He walked towards the clavicle area that was waiting for him, and prayed silently.
‘I hope a new world unfolds.’
