999. I hope you are happy to see me too.
The Emperor was seated in a position where he had to tilt his head upward to be seen. The moment Krang faced her, Seriana naturally knelt down.
“Mother Emperor.”
That title didn’t feel strange. Since it was said naturally, it sounded natural.
I’m back.
Balmung spoke with a light touch of friendliness and knelt down. Was it shocking just to see? Did such a person exist? Yes, they did.
Esther was the first to react. The moment she saw the stairs and the person standing upon them, she realized she had entered a world dominated by the spells of others.
To those who wielded spells, it was like speaking with a knife at their throats.
To put it simply, it was akin to fighting a fully armed army while bound limb by limb.
Why?
An unknown she had never experienced before threatened her. As Esther’s black hair mingled with the fur wrapped around her body, her appearance transformed into that of a leopard.
Esther was flustered but immediately found a solution. It was a swift response; an ordinary spellcaster would typically be stunned in such a situation.
Nephir Tesser watched from behind.
He isn’t kneeling right away.
Instead of submitting, she resisted. Even after transforming into a leopard, she constantly manipulated her magical power to fight back.
It was something visible only to the wizard’s eyes.
Even in the top lane, no one lasted except for the Master.
Nephir knelt down, deep in thought.
Rem looked at the woman sitting on the stairs. Outwardly, she appeared to be barely chest-high with slender limbs, looking as if she would be crushed if touched lightly.
Did it harbor a kidney? No, is it the kidney itself?
Even though his appearance was clearly visible, he didn’t feel fragile in the slightest. A figure of stature one would expect to see in the Wild West stood there, taking on that form. That was all it felt like. I harbored no ill will, but was it really okay to just leave him alone? That thought crossed my mind, too.
Yet, I didn’t just think about it. I would respond to whatever happened. Rem fixed his thoughts and tightened his muscles. He blew away all traces of peace and tranquility. A warrior of the West is always ready to fight. Rem did just that.
Sinar identified the servant of the man called the Emperor, who sat on a chair made of woven branches.
“fairy?”
It was closer to talking to myself than asking a question, but an answer came back.
“Once upon a time.”
It was the Emperor’s answer. Even though he was speaking from up there, it felt as if he were whispering right beside me.
It won’t read.
In the midst of this, Temares spoke. He stared intently at the Emperor, his gaze filled with a certain intensity.
Dragons possess a natural insight to read the thoughts of others, but the Emperor was not capable of that.
It was as if he were enveloped in a pitch-black fog, making it impossible to see anything inside. This was surprising, and it sparked curiosity. Reflexively focusing to look deeper, he realized it wasn’t some fog blocking the view.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t be read; rather, he was being read so much that it was impossible to pinpoint a single thing within.
How could dozens, even hundreds, of minds be intertwined within him? Didn’t he seem like a person with hundreds of personalities coexisting?
Temares simply stared blankly, finding even this fascinating.
Krang gazed intently upward. It wasn’t that no one had noticed it, but a detail that no one had specifically mentioned caught his eye.
Your face is something.
His eyes were like round moons, and his hair was like threads spun from pure silver. His eye color was golden, and along with a nose that gave it a three-dimensional quality, he was perfectly symmetrical.
He resembled the head of the Rengadis Merchant Guild whom he had met outside, and in some ways, he also resembled Sinar.
But would I be captivated by his face? That would not happen. Krang spoke calmly.
Did you call me?
He did not kneel. He was composed and dignified. To reveal his true feelings, one could say he was not particularly uncomfortable. For he felt neither pressure nor any sense of pressure.
While he was asking these questions, the Emperor crossed his legs and flicked his finger. With that single flick, the Sun Water residing within Krang fell asleep. Krang felt it without anyone telling him.
Just as Saxon’s body was about to blend with his surroundings at that gesture, someone approached him and spoke.
“My daughter kept talking about the face, so is it Saxon Bensino?”
Since only a few people know of the Assassin Guild known as Georg’s Dagger, even fewer know who its master is. Yet, who is this person who so abruptly speaks my name?
“Circus owner?”
Saxony asked back. The other person knows him, but he does not know the other person. The words that just came out of his mouth were inferred from what the other person had said a moment ago and figured out through things like the ability to conceal his presence and approach within close range.
“You’re quick-witted. Hmm, your skills must be formidable, right? No, don’t move. This isn’t a good place for you to run wild.”
It was a tone of voice tinged with a strange habit. Saxon turned only his eyes to check who the other person was. He stood at the far left end of the party, and the circus troupe leader stood beside him, cast by the shadows of the stairs. “
The stairs are so high that they cast shadows. Then what about the light?” A soft light streamed in from above, though not blinding.
My stomach opened.
To be precise, the structure was designed to allow sunlight to filter in from the ceiling. How on earth was this castle built?
It is difficult to guess the construction technology involved. Was every technology in the Empire mobilized?
The important thing is that the terrain is unique. Fighting in an unknown space is disadvantageous. This applies not only to the battlefield but also to the combat of assassins.
Nevertheless, Saxony paid no heed and took everything into account. He spread out his will to define the territory. He sliced through space within his subconscious and gauged where to move.
You don’t know how to give up.
The opponent spoke. Saxen did not answer. If they were to pose a threat, he was the only one who could stop this old man.
As soon as Saxen was immobilized, Encrid and Rem also moved. Encrid stood beside Krang, who was a step ahead, while Rem held the group together from behind.
They assigned their roles without even speaking a word. From now on, if a charge was needed, Encrid would lead, and Rem would take on the role of holding the center in check.
“It has been a long time since I have seen people this free in the royal court.”
It was the appearance of yet another voice.
Something keeps popping up from everywhere.
Encred thought this as he placed his hand on the grip of his sword. At the top of the long staircase, next to the dark brown branch chair where the Emperor was seated, a man with a plain face stepped down the stairs with a thud.
“You must be Enkrid of the Order of the Mad Knights, right? Nice to meet you.”
He appeared to be slightly older than himself. His gait was ordinary, and his manner of speech was unremarkable. His demeanor
was so modest that, if it weren’t for the large scythe known as a “scythe” hanging diagonally on his back, it would have been difficult to recognize him as a knight.
Of course, if one looked closely, the traces of his well-trained body were undeniable and impossible to hide, but from a distance, one could easily believe he was a farmer who had just come from working in the fields. After all,
the scythe in his hand would be perfectly suitable for harvesting wheat.
He didn’t carry just a single large scythe; he also wore two short swords side by side, one above the other, at his left hip.
“Do you know the name of the man who went from a farmer to the Commander of the Imperial Knights?”
He asked. Encred answered honestly.
“I don’t know.”
“Right, I am a little less well-known than you. I am Bram of the Ridger family, the barley harvesters.”
It was a somewhat funny name for a Knight Commander’s nickname. What is a Barley Harvester?
“I really did choose the wrong nickname for myself. Eva.”
The man who described himself spoke without looking back.
“I didn’t come up with that nickname; you asked me to. After all, deception is something you do before you even start.”
“If I told you that, wouldn’t
they have figured it out?” “Even if they didn’t know, they wouldn’t be fooled.” “Well,
isn’t that something you only know by trying?”
“That’s true, but I am the Emperor. I’m going to do as I please, so what is there to do?”
“If you say that, I have nothing to say.”
It was excessively unpretentious for a story between an Empress and a Knight Commander. The Emperor didn’t care whether anyone was listening or not. He simply said what he needed to say after finishing that banter that was akin to a comedy act.
“Do you stand tall, trusting in the power of the Divine Beast? If so, things have become difficult. You, King of the Continent. I have just temporarily withdrawn the power of the Divine Beast.”
This was certainly a threat. Encred drew his sword.
“Rem.”
They spoke at the same time, as if murmuring.
Understood.
The moment the answer was heard, the barley harvester, who had been descending the irregularly sized stairs with a pattering sound, had suddenly come right up to him.
It was natural for him to cast a fairy tale blending energy with his surroundings through Will, and despite using the technique of carrying Will on his legs, there was no commotion.
It meant his skill in controlling his power had reached the realm of art. At this level, it was a talent worthy of receiving gold coins just for displaying it.
Of course, since only those with discerning eyes could recognize it, he was out of the question of making a living as an acrobat earning Crona.
Encred shook off all the pressure and strange sensations he had been feeling for some time. If it was time to fight, he would simply fight.
He thrust his sword vertically down.
Balmung.
Bram Riddle, the Commander of the Imperial Knights, the Barley Harvester, spoke and drew a short sword to meet Encred’s sword.
Thump! Clang!
A thunderous roar erupted in the Emperor’s throne room. Encred swung his sword with force, and the Imperial Knight Commander deflected the impact by deflecting his power.
Encred concentrated for a moment. The two stood still for a brief instant. Having gauged each other’s abilities with a single strike, they were trying to find an opening.
To be precise, Encred blocked Krang’s path, while the Commander demonstrated his determination to break through.
The Emperor simply watched. With his legs crossed, now resting his chin on his left hand and tapping the armrest of his chair with his right.
In a way, he was the one who orchestrated all of this, yet Rem felt no malice in him as she watched.
“Hey, let’s just stay quiet if possible.”
Balmung blocked Rem’s path. Rem had intended to do so anyway. If asked why.
Even the leader isn’t going to attack with full determination.
He also determined that it was neither a favorable situation nor an opponent to fight, and finally, he decided that if things were to really go wrong, it would be better to conserve his strength.
“Ugh.”
Meanwhile, the head of the Royal Guard, who had barely managed to follow, groaned and, despite his bloodshot eyes, approached his king and eventually blocked his path.
“If you intend to harm the King, cross over me.”
He looked grim. He seemed somewhat uncomfortable.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his limbs trembled. But for an ordinary person, this would have been natural. Since this place is steeped in the Emperor’s will and life, it is remarkable that he can move around normally without even a period of adjustment.
There are seven of them here alone. Even if we exclude the Dragons and Fairies, that leaves five.
Should I step forward?
Temares asked. It was a question directed at Enkrid, and a declaration of his willingness to use his own strength if necessary. For his duty was not to watch over, but to stand by him.
Protecting the king is the priority.
Sinar answered on her behalf. She knows what Encred’s will is. Esther stood beside her. It is a leopard as big as a man. It possesses monstrous strength capable of breaking a neck with a single kick, even without using a spell.
“Well, this is something.”
In the meantime, Encred’s friend and the King spoke. Strangely, at that single remark, a part of everyone’s consciousness turned toward him.
Krang looked up at the Emperor in his usual posture and asked.
“Did you think I would be terrified and trembling without the protection of the Sun Water?”
“Or not?”
“May I go up?”
“If you can.”
It was a tone as if something had been hidden on every step leading to the Emperor, but Krang moved his feet as if nothing had happened.
This is my stage.
Krang patted Encred’s shoulder with a smile and stepped up the stairs. Meanwhile, Encred was busy fending off the Knight Commander’s intimidation.
It felt as though something was about to happen at any moment, but nothing actually occurred until Krang had climbed all the stairs and was just five steps away from the Emperor.
Did you come?
The Emperor asked.
Yes, I am here.
Although he did not know what meaning those two words held, the Emperor finally rose from his seat.
Right, thanks for coming.
The Emperor spoke and gestured. At that gesture, the commander who was dealing with Encred withdrew, and the commander who was engaged in a war of nerves with Saxony also stepped back.
“Greetings, King of the Continent.”
“Should I say greetings as well? Master of the Empire.”
“It would be nice if you were glad to see me, too.”
How peculiar.
Encred, who had been watching, saw the Emperor’s temperament changing in real time. The Emperor, who had clearly been filled with a sense of emptiness just moments ago, smiled.
I’m really glad to see you.
His tone of voice changed drastically as well. Now, he was full of vitality and seemed like a child who had received a long-awaited gift.
