Episode 16. Emperor’s Tour (3)
The situation ended relatively early.
The demon beast that appeared was ‘Big Snail’.
It was a giant snail-shaped mid-level demon beast that lived in the western desolate forest area.
They secrete a highly concentrated acidic liquid that can melt and contaminate the skin just by touching it. If left unattended, there is a risk of spreading a strong odor to the surrounding area, so early suppression is very important.
Accordingly, a purification operation was carried out under the command of Duke Berthe, and as a result, the Big Snail was successfully eradicated and the spread of contamination was also prevented.
Thanks to the addition of the Imperial Army as support troops, it was able to be completed more easily.
“My body isn’t what it used to be either.”
Emperor Dione smiled lightly and sheathed his sword.
“The demon beasts have been subdued, so now go to the rear. your majesty.”
“I know without being prompted. “Now that I think about it, did the princess evacuate well?”
My daughter’s safety came to mind, even if it was too late.
Still, the drivers informed us that we were evacuated to the rear without any problems.
“Thank goodness. “Let’s go right away.”
While the fire magicians were disposing of the body, the emperor headed to the rear where the princess was waiting.
“Thank you for your hard work, Abama.”
Princess Arin, who was waiting at the rear camp, was the first to run to greet him.
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
Fortunately, it seems they waited quietly without any problems.
“… … !”
The princess’s eyes met mine as she quietly raised her head.
The look of contempt became more intense than before.
Instead of creating friendships, this only created animosity.
It went against my father’s wishes, but it was better this way than holding on to the rotten rope.
As the commotion ended, the sun on the front line was already setting towards the western estuary.
“Why don’t you just go back to Beliath? “I have already sent a message to the managers in the territory so that you can rest in peace.”
My father wanted to lead Emperor Iman to a safe place, but coincidentally, the person concerned did not seem to want to do so.
“Hmm, is there really a need for that? Since I’m leaving, I’m going to spend the day here at the rear camp.”
“Ha, your Majesty. Even though… … .”
“I don’t really want to be treated extravagantly here. Shouldn’t I also fight as a knight in an emergency situation? After all, I have a story to share with you.”
Even though it was a rear camp near the border gate, this was also clearly a front line.
For an emperor to spend a night at the front was unprecedented, not to mention dangerous.
However, as he knew that the emperor had another purpose, his father immediately gave instructions to prepare a residence for the imperial family.
Princess Arin watches from a distance as her residence is being built.
Aside from the emperor, does that mean the princess sleeps here too?
Well, it’s not my part-time job.
There will be no need to be here any longer when the Emperor’s tour ends.
It would be better to end the meeting with the princess at this point.
I naturally returned with the drivers heading to the camp without any further reports.
* * *
“It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a drink with you, Willius.”
Drinking alcohol on the front lines is expressly prohibited.
Violation of this is subject to strict military law, but if there is a being who transcends the law, the story is different.
Although there was alcohol in the glass, the duke had not emptied a single glass yet.
“Did you say Xian? Your son… … “Even though he’s still young, he’s really handsome.”
Despite the emperor’s sincere praise, the duke did not show it.
“He still has a lot to learn. “I’m just grateful that you think so favorably.”
“There’s a lot to learn… … ”
The emperor emptied his drink generously and then asked with a meaningful smile.
“That child also said he would carry on the family’s will…? … ?”
The duke did not answer right away.
“We just have to wait and see. “It’s not something that can happen just because you want it.”
The emperor smiled easily and filled his glass.
“Yes, aren’t you also someone’s father before you are the guardian of the continent? As a parent, it would be strange if he didn’t worry about his children. Same goes for me… … .”
There was silence for a moment.
The Emperor’s expression, which seemed to be in a fit of despair, soon turned serious, and the atmosphere naturally darkened.
Eventually, the emperor emptied his glass once more and began to talk in earnest.
“Recently, assassinations have been occurring against several nobles throughout the empire. Indiscriminately, regardless of specific forces… … .”
“Do we have anything in common?”
“What do we have in common? Yes. All of the nobles who were murdered were corrupt officials who committed crimes. Moreover, the bodies found were all horribly dismembered… … .”
“… … !”
The duke’s eyes were shaking severely.
Just from the two facts mentioned above, I could immediately guess what kind of guys were doing it.
“Could it be that the followers of the Black Mist… … .”
“It’s still just a heartache. However, within the imperial castle, they are already almost certain that it was their work. Who else would do such a thing besides them in the first place?”
The so-called noble hunting.
There was only one group in the world that would carry out such a crazy act.
“If that’s the case, hurry up and organize an investigation team. Shouldn’t we start tracking them down?”
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“Tracking? Well, that should be it. Anyway, they are the ones causing chaos in the country, so of course they should… … .”
However, the emperor’s interest seemed to lie elsewhere.
I could get a glimpse of his complicated state of mind from the way he rolled his glass.
“From your perspective, what do you think the 5th princess’s position is?”
It was a somewhat unexpected comment.
“Sir, isn’t he actually someone who has absolutely nothing to do with the emperor? I understand that there is no support force… … .”
“The fact that there is no force to support it means that it is not strange no matter how it is used.”
“… … !”
The duke understood the emperor’s words at once.
“Are you saying there is a movement to link Princess Arin with those guys?”
The emperor nodded silently.
A location very far from the imperial throne.
However, it is an excellent excuse to use politically.
It may be hard to believe that the emperor’s eyes are now open, but the fact that such a movement is in itself shows how complicated the current situation in the empire is.
If there really was such a movement, there was a high probability that it was the Marquis ‘Nephelis’, a faction of the current empress’s side.
“What crime can that young thing have? Still, as long as I hold on, there won’t be any major problems.”
The emperor drank again.
However, the duke did not know how much anxiety the emperor must have had about this.
“I would like to ask you a favor, not as an emperor but as a close friend.”
“Please speak.”
“What if, really, if a situation arises where I die before you… … Please quietly remove that child. “I just want you to live a normal life as an ordinary person, with absolutely nothing to do with the imperial family.”
A violent wind of blood predicted after the death of the current emperor.
The emperor thought that the young princess would never be able to survive in such a bloody storm.
As a father before he was an emperor, he just wanted his daughter to live in peace.
“I will obey His Majesty the Emperor’s orders.”
The duke accepted his request without a second of hesitation.
“I can’t even act like an emperor. “I just wish those black bastards would kill all the idiots in the castle.”
The emperor seemed to be a little drunk and revealed his true feelings excessively.
The duke also couldn’t help but think about many things.
Why did they appear at this time?
A person who has not been appointed as a god even among gods.
Aer, the god of black fog.
And the continent’s best spraying group, Mist, follows him.
There must be a reason why they reappeared after disappearing for a while.
Whatever the reason, it will bring about a great change in the situation on the continent, which was like walking a tightrope.
Although it will never turn out well… … .
“mist… … .”
The duke stared at the alcohol in his glass.
The unidentified figure I had encountered in the valley the night before was clearly glimmering.
* * *
Just as the sun was setting, dark clouds gathered from somewhere.
-Patter-patter
Soon, heavy rain began to fall from the black sky.
-Rumble!
A tremendous sound of thunder is heard one after another.
Other people would be reluctant to even get out from under the blanket, but my body was itching right now.
“So? “Is that all?”
Emily, who heard the story, asked back as if she felt pathetic.
“What more do you need?”
“no! It’s not just anyone else, it’s the princess! “Is that how you ended up escorting the princess, whom you were only going to meet once in your life?”
If anyone heard it, they would think we had a date or something.
What kind of relationship is it that I just went on a tour and was an escort?
“I knew you were really indifferent, Master, but you can’t be like that! “The princess is also a woman, so I should have comforted her carefully!”
You like being meticulous.
This isn’t some kind of playground, so if you want something like that, dress up nicely and go to the flower garden.
“I know that even though women look strong on the outside, they are very soft on the inside, so if you don’t treat them gently, they will get hurt! “Young master, if you keep treating her so bluntly, she won’t be able to get married in the future, right?”
She even gave me marriage counseling and was a very loyal maid.
This is very meaningful advice that reminds me of the perverted demon sword that lives somewhere.
If I listen any more, my ears will bleed.
While I was already contemplating whether to go out or not, our dear maid made a decision.
I got off the bed and changed my clothes right away.
“Are you really going to go exercise today? “Is it raining like this?”
Although only one day had passed since the uproar, I still couldn’t miss a day like today.
Just as there are creatures that appear on the ground when it rains, there are also demonic beasts here that only appear on rainy days.
As the rain-soaked ground becomes a wetland, soggy monsters full of moisture appear, and you can’t help but taste their blood.
The appearance may be a little more unpleasant than other magical beasts, but they are all good for the body, so it should not be overlooked.
“If you don’t exercise even for a day, your flow will be interrupted. “It won’t take long.”
After changing clothes, I wrapped myself in a black raincoat hanging on a pole.
The moment when he was about to leave the barracks door, with Keiram in his arms.
-jump-jump-jump-jump-jump-jump-jump-jump-jump-bump
Suddenly, unfamiliar footsteps are heard.
Looking at the direction and the sound, it was clearly steps coming towards the main barracks.
what? There’s no way the knights would be patrolling at this time?
As I sharpened my hearing and focused more on the sound, I realized that there were many footsteps, not just one person.
Among them, I paid closer attention to the steps coming first.
It’s a familiar feeling, even if it’s not familiar.
A discreet yet confident feeling.
A nobleman rather than a knight.
A child, not an adult.
A woman, not a man.
It’s definitely a step I’ve encountered in the not-too-distant past.
“… … !”
Only after those unidentified steps reached the front of the barracks was I able to understand their authenticity.
And the tent opens immediately.
The first thing that caught my eye was the red brooch that proved I was a member of the royal family.
Eventually, I slowly raised my head and came face to face with the unexpected night guest.
As she looked at my outfit, she tilted her head.
“Where are you going… … ?”
It was clearly Princess Arin who should have been in the rear camp.
“Someone came… … ?”
Emily also stuck her head out when a stranger visited.
She had no way of knowing the princess’s face, but the moment she checked the badge on the princess’s chest, her face changed into astonishment.
“Woah, princess!?”
A loud noise that you can’t tell if it’s a scream or a shout.
To make matters worse, a black fog rose within my arms.
[Good morning, master~]
It sounds like morning.
[hmm? Why did my master become so stiff?]
Stretching here and there, she poked my still, silent body.
Then, the moment he suddenly spotted the princess sitting in front of the door, he covered his mouth as if he was very surprised.
[Owner, is this what you like?]
The answer is to ignore sounds that are not worth listening to.
“I’m sorry for coming here suddenly. They said I could meet you if I came here… … .”
“Are you looking for me?”
“huh. “If you’re not busy, can we talk?”
I was a little taken aback by the sudden request for conversation.
When I looked outside, I saw that many guardian knights had accompanied me.
It seems like a lot of people are looking at this all of a sudden… …
If you leave to exercise in this situation, you will only be suspected.
I think I need to delay my night exercise a little today.
“Please come in, princess.”
I greeted her with a slightly embarrassed face.
(Continued in the next part)
