#189
Imperial Palace (3)
After the warrior party and Hesperon brought Princess Riley to the palace.
Although cumbersome procedures were omitted at Heinrich’s request, that did not mean that the Empire was lacking in courtesy.
Regardless of the fact that the party leader was a saint, treating the benefactors who saved the imperial family was a matter directly related to the imperial prestige.
What more could it be said that the princess was the strongest candidate for the throne and had the tacit support of the current emperor?
Naturally, the treatment given to them had to become more luxurious.
The huge guest house was filled with expensive items that, if sold just one, would cover the annual living expenses of the common people.
The restaurant kitchen had royal chefs on standby 24 hours a day, ready to prepare any dish you requested at any time.
In addition, veteran maids were stationed everywhere, meticulously checking all directions as if they could not tolerate any inconvenience.
And with a ghostly gait that seemed to be there but not there, reducing the sound of footsteps and movement to the limit.
‘Wow. Do the royal maids also learn stealth skills? They seem to be quite skilled. They could be used as bodyguards in times of emergency.’
But unfortunately, they were not able to stay long and rest in this luxurious accommodation.
Of course, the warrior party didn’t have the luxury of spending time leisurely like that.
“Hahahaha! As expected from an empire, they’re really big on it!”
“Oh—the gold coins are sparkling.”
Of course, the imperial family did not simply intend to give them a favorable treatment.
A more direct and material price was also offered.
We provided top-of-the-line luxury equipment that was custom-made and gifted to all personnel, and provided a huge amount of funding under the name of activity expenses.
They never lacked money as they received support from the Lord’s Church, but isn’t it true that the more wealth you have, the better?
“I like this one quite a bit too. What do you think, Heron?”
“Wow~ You look even more majestic, brother! It’s really creepy how you feel like you’re going to bite me at any moment!”
In addition, he made Harley his trademark ‘Demon Head Helmet Mantle’ by processing the leather of the top-grade demon ‘Sabel Lion’, which was not a common piece of equipment but something that would normally be hung on the wall for decoration…
Indeed, it was not an ordinary piece of equipment, as it had been touched by the hands of a craftsman belonging to the royal family.
‘I never thought I’d be able to make this into a magic tool and give it to you as a gift in such a short time.’
A magical tool that is not simply a sturdy object, but contains special abilities.
It was an excellent piece of equipment that not only strengthened physical and magical defense, but also had the effect of ‘pressuring’ surrounding enemies.
‘It looks like this is an item made through collaboration between a top-class leather craftsman and an enchantment wizard.’
Harley took a quick breath, looked inside the helmet, and stuck out her tongue.
I could feel the magic stones and intricately constructed magic circuits packed tightly inside the leather-finished interior.
‘Even if we had started production from the moment the news of Riley’s rescue was delivered from the Duchy of Rohan, there would have only been three or four days of spare time. Maybe even less. ···Is this the strength of the Imperial Family?’
It was definitely made in a hurry, and the circuit itself was simple, so it seemed like it couldn’t have any complicated functions, but for Harley’s fighting style, it was much more suitable now, prioritizing stability over complex and delicate functions, even if it was simple.
No matter how I looked at it, it was an item I liked in many ways.
‘···Hmm, as expected.’
Harley’s gaze, which had been momentarily distracted by the helmet, turned to Hesperon, who was standing blankly in front of him with a fierce expression.
‘Okay, let’s go parallel to this road as well.’
It was the moment when Hesperon’s path, which started from a summoning wizard, expanded to become a traditional wizard, a battle wizard, and then an enchantment wizard.
Even Howard, who is currently learning the secret arts of the dwarves by burning branches of the World Tree, will be able to create items with supernatural powers, but if he adds enchantment to that, wouldn’t the effect be even greater?
‘That’s something even Hans can’t do.’
Of course, Hans could also make the magic tool itself.
The problem was that it wasn’t a commonly used item, but a dark and evil cursed item powered by black magic.
‘···That can’t be helped, it’s just the way it is.’
However, there was no need for one person to try to do everything well.
Originally, each person had different talents.
This world is a world where we live together, so it’s a matter of each person focusing on what they can do well and cooperating with each other!
‘Howard creates an item using the branch of the World Tree that Harris brought, and Hesperon engraves the enchantment with Hans’ advice.’
In addition, Hubert can supply other supplies, and Harley can get the monster byproducts.
‘If we add Heinrich’s sacred flame throughout the production process, wouldn’t we be able to create a pseudo-holy sword? On the other hand, if we use Hans’ abyss, we might be able to create the worst demonic sword.’
Also, if you marinate it in the blood of Heinz II, you can create weapons that utilize blood magic.
If many people join forces, endless possibilities unfold!
‘Life together, cooperation is beautiful.’
Just before the warrior party left the palace.
At the same time, Harley curled the corners of her mouth up in a sinister smirk.
A wry smile appeared on Hesperon’s face, and a soft smile appeared on Heinrich’s lips.
And at that moment, coincidentally···.
A similar smile lingered on the lips of several people far away.
***
Although the organization known as the Oath of Reverse Heaven was created by a revolutionary who was an apostle of the ‘God of Man’, that did not mean that all of its members had the same goal.
Although he secretly brought in the leaders through some means and stimulated the desires of others to gather power in the shadows, in the end, it was closer to a coalition formed according to each person’s own interests.
Thanks to this, not only was security maintained as a disciplinary organization, but each person had autonomy in their own area and could work more efficiently, but…
Of course, there weren’t only advantages there.
Hwaruk—
A purple flame burning in a dark space.
And at the same time···.
[Get out now! You revolutionary! You rip-and-tear bastard!]
A shout of anger erupted, as if resonating in all directions.
[It’s noisy···.]
[Kihihi! That’s right~ You’re calling me so desperately, did you get ripped off for money? Kikki!]
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[Tsk, … Now that I think about it, I don’t see him. I guessed that Lilith had been attacked by the Immortal King.]
The black figures that had just appeared in the commotion began to complain, one by one.
But the large shadow, not caring what others said, just kept looking around in anger.
Even so, all that could be seen were shadows swaying back and forth in the purple flames flickering in the brazier.
And that big guy… Baltheon, the leader of the southern part of the Ion Continent and the great warrior of the Kalkos Tribal Alliance, finally gave in to his anger and turned his gaze to the others.
[Ugh— You guys over there, if you know anything about that kid, tell me right now! How dare you hit me in the back of the head and run away, I will tear that bastard to pieces!]
At those words, the other three shadows glanced at each other.
Looking at the circumstances, it seemed that the revolutionary had done something to that stupid barbarian and then disappeared.
Of course, they also didn’t know anything else, but unlike the two who were quietly watching the situation, the other one burst into a frivolous laugh as if he had been waiting for it.
[Phew! That tough guy did that? This, this, I wanted to tease you first, but I lost the lead!]
[What?!]
[Clap clap— Look at this, how can you hold back when you have such a good reaction? Huh? Are you mad?]
[···First, I’ll pull out your tongue!]
[Hehe, if you can come all the way to the Enamel Continent, why don’t you try that? I don’t know if that’s possible given your current circumstances!]
The conference room began to become noisy again as two people began arguing.
However, perhaps because the person who had been mediating friction and leading the mood was gone, the commotion did not die down easily and gradually intensified.
When it showed no sign of stopping, one of the shadows that had been watching him reluctantly stepped forward to reassure them in a calm voice.
[Hoo— Don’t you know that it’s no use talking like this among ourselves? Let’s just each state our business and end this quickly. Is this all we have left? I thought it was dwindling one by one, but it’s come to this in the end.]
The person who finished speaking clicked his tongue slightly and shook his head.
One is an emotional and rough-spoken savage, another is a crazy clown who can’t stand to offend others, and the last is a wooden stone who doesn’t say a word after the first word, “Be quiet.”
It was a lineup that made it clear that he was the only normal person left.
‘The oath of rebellion is now over. It’s too bad. Wait, is that why the revolutionary went into hiding?’
However, when we were very active here, we helped each other and made some nice profits.
It was a regrettable situation in many ways.
After some time passed like that.
[So the back of the head, what exactly happened?]
After hearing the full story from the real Baltheon, they were able to understand why he acted that way.
A revolutionary visiting the South approached him to help him with his work, but while he was off guard, he stole his cherished ‘seed of madness’ and disappeared.
Of course, it couldn’t be said that it was entirely Baltheon’s fault, as organizational support was crucial in pulling it out of the abyss.
However, the completion and success of the plan was strictly under his supervision, and therefore it was agreed that the immediate priority was also his.
[But the plan was ruined because he ignored it and went mad! If it were normal, everything would have been finished before the Second Continental Congress!]
Now, the situation has become such that it is impossible to meet the deadline.
[Hmm— So you did something while ignoring the already agreed upon plan. That means···.]
[Puhhihi, I guess you’ve decided that such things are meaningless now! Well, there have been a few operations that went wrong recently, right?]
[···Has he already noticed something and turned to his own path···.]
The air between them became subtly tense.
Since there were already defectors, everyone intuitively felt that this gathering was coming to an end.
What more is there to say, since that being was the one who created the organization and was its actual leader?
But, even if that were the case···.
[Kick, so? You’re not planning on just throwing away all your preparations and hiding again, are you~?]
[Nonsense! We’ve already started, we can’t back out now!]
[There have been several failures, but it is undeniable that the current situation, when the entire continent is in chaos, is the best opportunity.]
Objectively, the fact remains that this is the best time to get things done.
[Then there’s no choice. Now there’s only one thing ‘we’ can do. We have to do it like this.]
Lower level organizations and even executives have disappeared one by one, and now the power has been reduced to less than half.
And looking at the way things are going, if we just sit still like this, it’s impossible to tell when the rest will collapse as well.
[Kikkikkik~ Alright, alright! Just in time, there’s a vacuum in Enamel’s power due to the Continental Alliance and such, so let’s use this opportunity to bring those guys to their senses!]
[There’s no need to mention the South! There were some hiccups, but information control is perfect, so it’s a problem that can be solved with time.]
[The East… there are some parts that are a bit tricky, but it won’t be a big problem… since we’ve been preparing for it…]
Actually, there wasn’t really any plan.
Unlike before, when we planned thoroughly and meticulously to pursue maximum efficiency and even calculated the synergy effects.
Because they were just releasing all the things they had been steadily preparing for at once.
‘The problem is that the operations that were implemented after anticipating the variables were all utterly destroyed. Didn’t we just waste our time trying to minimize our losses by being efficient and end up ruining the whole game? We should have done this a long time ago.’
After the three people above had answered, a polite voice followed suit.
[Central Region… If the Empire only deals with the return of the Fifth Princess, it will lose its center of gravity and fall into chaos on its own. However, the problem is that this side has not been arranged in advance…]
In the first place, it was truly an unimaginable development that the crown prince and princess were kidnapped by the Immortal King, and then the princess escaped and successfully returned on her own.
Of course, there was no way there would be any means prepared separately.
[Still, let’s try to hurry up and aim for right after the end of the 2nd Continental Summit. ···What a pity, it would have been easier if there was still some time left.]
The Immortal King, who boasts an overwhelming presence, took most of the blame for it, so the Oath of Reverse Heaven is not well known compared to the incidents and accidents it has caused.
Their final struggle has entered the countdown.
