1016. Yes, it’s me.
“How dare you!”
Inside the banquet hall after Krang left, several nobles flew into a rage. Yet, at the same time, they all glanced nervously at the Emperor.
Why is he smiling like that? What is the Emperor thinking?
“He’s right. Or isn’t he?”
Silence fell over the banquet hall at the abrupt remark.
“Everyone, pay attention. We are still at war. There is not a single one of you who does not know my wish.”
“Yes, my Mother, the Emperor.”
Trimache, who had jumped down from the railing on the second floor of the banquet hall—I don’t know when he entered—knelt on one knee and spoke.
The way he landed so gently looked like a leaf coming down on the wind.
The nobleman who had needlessly picked a fight with Krang also bowed his head in the same posture.
“I have not forgotten. O Lord of the Empire.”
Another young fairy says.
For the will of my god, my master.
To some, he is an emperor; to others, a master; and to still others, a parent and a god.
The emperor rose from his seat. Before she knew it, her eyes were stained with a golden radiance.
“Find a way to coexist. Prove to the king from beyond the mountain range that the system I established, the rule of law I created, and the people I chose are not merely those who eat, defecate, and sleep.”
It was an imperial decree. Everyone in the banquet hall knelt on one knee. The orchestra also stopped playing, and the sound faded away. Amidst the silence, the mouth of the Emperor—the center of the crowd, whom everyone looked up to—opened.
“Play a joyful tune, for tonight is truly a fun night.”
The Queen was genuinely delighted.
The King from the kingdom beyond the mountain range had deduced what she wanted. That is why he got so angry.
It hasn’t been that long since we met, and you’re already looking out for my feelings.
Is he thoughtful, or a politician exploiting even this?
Is it talent as a ruler, or simply a man of upright heart?
The Emperor has truly met, nurtured, cast out, killed, and saved countless people.
Such individuals are truly rare. In particular, King Krang and Knight Enkrid were far from ordinary.
That is why I feel hopeful. Today’s Emperor looked like a sixteen-year-old fairy. My heart raced easily, and I became easily excited.
All of this was thanks to the King and Knight who had come from the continent.
And as I did so, I also witnessed an amusing sight.
You’re taking alcohol with you in the middle of all this?
He also witnessed the actions of his friend, a member of the Knights.
Taking the opportunity, the Emperor summoned a servant and ordered him to prepare a few bottles of precious wine.
Once again, the banquet hall, filled with music, was thrown into commotion. The only difference from before was that a heated debate was taking place, centered around a few nobles known as Lords.
This happened just as Krang had parted ways with Encred and was asking the head of the Royal Guard if things had gone a bit too far today.
In response to Krang’s question, the head of the Royal Guard met his King’s gaze. Worst? Of course they were.
It is truly difficult to understand what on earth is going on inside this King’s head. That is the answer he gave.
“What is there to worry about for someone who naturally follows their heart?”
He reminded Krang of his usual behavior with cold words.
That’s true.
It is a sea that even Krang acknowledged.
* * *
Encreed opened his eyes the moment he thought he had fallen asleep and caught a glimpse of the boatman’s face. He was wearing a robe pulled down low so that even his gray skin was hidden.
Floating in the darkness, he looked like a ghost today. Well, if you really think about it, the boatman isn’t a living person, so “ghost” would be a more accurate description.
“indeed.”
That was the end of it. There was no black river, no ferry, and no purple lamp. Even though he realized he had opened his eyes, it was still pitch black.
It was a place where not a single ray of light existed. Perhaps it was because he had gazed at it as if admiring the wide-open sky adorned with the moon and stars before falling asleep.
Encreed felt a sense of suffocation and claustrophobia more than ever before.
“You will wander through pitch-black darkness. You will lose your way, encounter countless enemies, be imprisoned, and die. And yet, you intend to walk that path?”
I heard the boatman’s voice, but I couldn’t gauge the direction. I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. I couldn’t
see or hear anything. And here, I couldn’t hear my own voice either.
Then what’s left?
Thump.
His heart still beats. It is something every living person feels. Only the pounding of his heart and the sounds of his internal organs remained.
There was nothing else. Encred gauged the time solely by the sound of his heart and his pulse.
It was a nightmare. He could not walk because there was no path, and he could do nothing because there was nothing. He was trapped in a prison made of pitch-black darkness.
So, should he stop? Encred took a step forward.
That’s not it.
The boatman said, “Isn’t it? Then the other side?”
It’s not that either.
No matter where he tried to take a step, everyone told him no. Then, should he stop?
Encreed knew that there was no perfect answer in life, in existence, or on the path one walks. He boldly chose the wrong answer. He took a step and walked. He floated through the darkness. He thrust himself toward a place without answers, a place filled with unpleasantness and suffering.
“I told you, it’s not that way. If you go there, you’ll be locked up forever. You’re such a clueless fool.”
He ignored the boatman’s words. As he walked and walked, he woke from his dream.
Encreed realized how precious the light seeping into his eyes was. Yes, he admitted it.
It was the worst nightmare he had ever had. He had seen nothing but pitch-black darkness, and judging by his pulse rate, he hadn’t even been trapped for half a day, but it felt like he had been trapped for about ten days.
‘pain.’
But when has life ever been nothing but fun and enjoyable?
Life is about overcoming suffering and moving beyond sorrow.
That is correct, Brother.
Audin’s voice was heard. It is because it is a remark that he, who preached theology, would have truly marveled at if he had heard it.
What would Kreis say?
“Do you really have to suffer? Can’t you just live without creating situations that cause that?”
Yeah, you’ll be fine.
Wangnuni is a guy with that much talent and skill.
Suffering? Just cut it off.
I wonder if I can even have a conversation with Ragnar.
Saxony seems like he’ll just ignore me.
Did you have a nightmare?
If it were Rem, she would say, “Yeah, that’s what she would say.” It goes without saying, but Rem was not an illusion.
“uh.”
I wonder why this guy opens other people’s doors and walks in so casually.
“At least you didn’t pee your pants.”
“That’s a completely unexpected remark, you crazy barbarian.”
“Hey, don’t call others crazy so carelessly. It’s embarrassing if someone hears you. The continent’s biggest lunatic shouldn’t treat others like that.”
What on earth is this bastard thinking this morning? Now
that I look at him properly, I know. He’s excited. As I observed him to see why he was excited, a heavy, sweet, and pungent scent wafted from him. It was the kind of fragrance one would expect from very expensive and precious liquor.
It’s not wine, so is it some kind of distilled spirit?
Encred asked the excited little Rem.
Who gave it to you?
Rem was no exception when it came to being perceptive.
“You have uncanny insight. The Emperor gave it to me. He said it was a gift.”
“You just accept that? What if it’s a bribe?”
“I have no choice. With this much liquor, I’d have to replace the King. Will you stop me? Fine. Given the time we’ve known each other, I’ll give you time to escape. Now, count to ten.”
“Nope, I’m not running away.”
It was a silly joke.
“Is that something to say about the king of a nation?”
I did it especially because Krang was listening.
Outside the room, Krang sternly scolded the two of them. The head of the Royal Guard kept his mouth shut.
It was too risqué for a joke, and it was not his place to get involved. He knew exactly when to join in and when to stay out.
“Did you sleep well? Wow, I was terrified last night that an assassin might show up. Saying a word to the Emperor was a bit too much, wasn’t it?”
“If anyone had come, they would have known.”
That is what Saxony says from behind. Enkrid stood up from his seat.
“Morning training?”
Krang asked. This was the Empire, and yesterday, during the banquet, he threw a glass on the floor and broke it, got angry, and the boatman tormented him with nightmares, but that was not a reason to stop what he was originally doing.
That’s right, that’s my fiancé.
Sinar spoke from the hallway, bathed in the early morning sunlight, asking when she had arrived. The breeze blowing from the open outside carried the vitality and the scent of the forest. Her luminous blonde hair swayed gently in the wind.
“Where is Esther?”
“She hasn’t arrived yet. She said she has a lot of business.”
This is Temares’s answer. Speaking beside Sinar, the two looked just like a beautiful brother and sister brought forth by the goddess’s deliberate will. That dragon has changed quite a lot, too. Seeing as he relays Esther’s whereabouts, it is clear.
“Are you awake? The Council has invited Your Majesty for lunch.”
Just before the party set off, a young fairy attendant approached and spoke.
It is a city where the Emperor is a child of trees and flowers, a fairy. Perhaps that is why there were quite a few fairies within the royal palace. In particular, young fairies made up the majority of the attendants and maids.
“I will.”
Krang looked into the servant’s eyes and nodded. He did not ask why he was summoned or what the Council was. That appeared to be the demeanor of a dignified king.
Even though the servant spoke nonsense to him, he did not forget his position or his duty.
I guess I’ll just look around and then leave.
As the attendant walked away, Krang muttered. It meant he would leave after watching the training. Encreed stepped outside. Even
though it was inside the royal palace, giants tended the gardens in addition to the elves, and several armed beastmen strolled through the grounds.
In a way, this might be the future of Naurilia. After all, it was a city where giants, frocks, elves, dwarves, beastmen, and humans all lived together in harmony.
Upon arriving at the Emperor’s training grounds, a dwarf leaned on one leg, tilted his head to the side, looked at Encreed, and asked.
“Is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
Encreed answered without taking a breath. Reacting immediately to any situation applies not only to swordsmanship but also to daily life.
That is the way to constantly hone one’s swordsmanship in everyday life. Encreed did it again today.
“You suddenly asked if it was you, so what do you know to say it’s me?”
Dwarves are a race whose age is difficult to guess from their appearance. It was still the case today.
“Then who are you to suddenly ask if it’s you?”
“See, you’re not backing down? How old are you?”
“I’ve lived long enough.”
She had no beard, and judging by the development of certain parts of her body, she was a female dwarf.
“That young fellow has such bad manners, huh? Back in my day.”
“Sinar, it is time to step up.”
Enkrid interrupted the dwarf. Sinar expressed his emotion by widening his eyes, a rare occurrence.
“Me? Here? Why?”
She conveyed her feelings in three words. That feeling was similar to resentment.
There is a fairy here who has lived several times longer than you.
As Enkrid spoke ignoring him, Sinar muttered from behind, “Ah, you fiancé bastard.”
Is being old something to be proud of?
A somewhat narrow-minded and self-centered person, yet strangely not uncomfortable—that was Enkrid’s first impression of the dwarf.
“I’ll leave a bruise on your smooth face.”
With those words, the dwarf lady pulled back the axe-spear she had strapped to her back and gripped it. No, it didn’t stop there. As she gripped it, she leaped forward with terrifying speed.
It was a speed that would put an ordinary knight to shame. Fortunately, Encred was no ordinary knight. Moreover, he had recently realized something new.
How is a change in purity achieved?
He had roughly found the answer while spending time with Kahal.
How, you ask? In fact, he had roughly found the answer even before meeting Kahal.
Repeating what I do every day.
As days of repetition accumulate to become the beginning of change.
The only difference is that it is not training done unknowingly, but training with knowledge.
The dwarf grasped the back of the axe-spear with his left hand and the front with his right, thrusting briefly as if using it as a short spear. The head of the axe-spear had a sharp blade attached to it, separate from the main blade, intended for thrusting
. It moved faster than an arrow and appeared as a mere dot. We enter a world where thoughts accelerate and everything slows down.
Encred also unleashed the Will within him. He gathered, condensed, and burst. Indules, the Will, transformed ceaselessly in real-time, presenting an explosive power greater than usual. It took root in his muscles, driving his body’s reaction.
Thus, Encred dodged the thrusting blade to the side, aimed for the opponent’s ankle, and kicked.
Normally, given the dwarf’s relative size, he wouldn’t even attempt such a low attack, but Encred did. It was an attack imbued with unexpectedness.
Seeing Encred’s kick, the dwarf leaped into the air and swung his spear.
The shaft bent and swung horizontally across Encred’s flank. He blocked it by drawing his sword halfway and kicked the dwarf’s thigh with the sole of his foot.
His reaction was faster than the impact could reach him. As a result, a humming vibration resonated through his entire body, followed by the shattering of the silence. Along with it, a human and a dwarf were flung backward.
Having been thrown backward, Encred finished pulling out his spear and plunged it into the ground.
Crunch crunch!
The mark left by the blade sweeping across the ground where he had passed was vivid.
The dwarf stopped in a similar motion. She planted her feet in the ground and braced herself with all her might.
Ddd
She was far less pushed back than Encred.
“you.”
The dwarf opened his mouth, his eyes wide. Anyone could see he was surprised. Then, he spoke as if shouting.
“He’s not just handsome!”
What emotion could be felt from that tone? Deep emotion? Admiration? At the very least, the hostility displayed just moments ago had vanished completely.
It made one wonder what was going on. Even as he thought this, Encred lowered his arms to his waist, held his sword at an angle, and shielded his path. It was a stance he had refined through countless battles.
He had even named it the “Ember Extinguishing” stance, intending to attempt to extinguish the embers at all costs.
Being faithful to his duty regardless of the opponent’s reaction—that was the true nature of Encred.
It was an attitude that remained unchanged even when he couldn’t sleep due to nightmares, when that bastard Rem reeked of alcohol in the morning, or when a dwarf suddenly attacked him.
