Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 244

244. Return (4)

-I’m bored. come over. It would be better if you bring the Lilium Detachment.

From the time he first sent that prank-like message to the imperial palace, Seongjin had always kept this situation in mind.

This is because I wanted to tell Logan as soon as I met him.

It’s still too early to be sure, but it may be that the Mores that Logan is desperately looking for is him, which means he won’t have to worry any more about the soul of the missing Mores.

“Okay. What are you talking about?”

But when Logan sat down and took a listening position, his hair suddenly turned white.

‘Wait, how should I explain this?’

Let’s think about it carefully.

-You know, Logan. Actually, not long ago, I ate something wrong and lost my soul. So I went to a new dimension created by my father. They say our father is the king of another dimension. Isn’t it amazing? And what I heard from my father there was that I might actually be Mores himself. huh? Oh, you couldn’t give me a completely clear answer. That’s a deal that can’t be said lightly. what? evidence? So, there isn’t really any evidence… … .

No, not this one.

No matter how much of a bully Logan is, isn’t it too much to ask you to believe such crazy nonsense?

“What’s wrong? Lee Seong-jin. Are you still uncomfortable somewhere?”

As I groan and touch my forehead, Logan asks in a worried voice.

“…No, it’s nothing. Anyway, I’m sorry. I think I lost the magic stone you gave me.”

After struggling with internal conflict, he suddenly came to his senses and found that he was saying completely wrong things to Logan.

“It worked well as a flashbang, but the situation was so urgent that I didn’t think about recovering it.”

“…….”

“I gave it to you as a gift, but I’m sorry I couldn’t protect it properly.”

Then there was a moment of silence, and then a low laugh was heard.

“Haha, what do you mean? I didn’t give it to you to keep, I gave it to you to use well. It’s really fortunate that it helped you even in that way. Thanks to that light, I was able to find you in time, right?”

“uh…….”

“So don’t worry about that anymore and focus on your recovery, Seongjin Lee.”

Oh, as expected, Logan was a good guy.

Except sometimes he wants to be treated like an older brother.

So I wanted to tell you more.

“…Okay.”

Logan looked at Seongjin, who suddenly seemed lethargic, as if he were curious, and said.

“I think it would be best to rest a little more. I’ll ask your maid to bring you something to eat, so lie down.”

Clap, clap, clap.

As Logan got up from his seat and started walking, an unfamiliar friction sound of metal clashing against each other was heard.

‘I haven’t even taken off my armament yet.’

The same goes for Lord Masain, who is curled up next to him sleeping. I did something stupid for no reason and everyone was wondering why I was going through so much trouble.

I suddenly became solemn and began to reflect.

However, just before leaving the door, Logan stopped for a moment and hesitantly asked.

“By the way, Seongjin Lee.”

“huh?”

“Do you remember? When you woke up briefly at dawn, you called Brother Masaine.”

“Lord Martha?”

“……,”

Seongjin tilted his head.

Did you do that? Now that I think about it, I think I saw two people in my sleep. I’m not sure?

What did I say then?

“…Well, if you don’t remember, that’s fine. Just rest.”

Logan left the room.

Percussion.

Even after the door closed, Seongjin sat blankly for a moment, turning his head in the direction he had disappeared into.

what? Something leaves me with a very uncomfortable feeling.

‘Hey, devil. Do you know what he’s saying? Did I do something wrong to Lord Masaine in my sleep?’

Then the Demon King, who had been silent for a moment, answered awkwardly.

[It was something I always talked about in my sleep. Well, you always talk a lot in your sleep.]

… okay? is it?

* * *

When Edith brought the meal, Logan woke Sir Martha and dragged her out of the room. While gently coaxing the stubborn man that he would stick with me even if he died soon.

“If you stand next to me like this, the patient won’t be able to rest even if he wants to, brother.”

Seongjin added that he was bothered by the sound of clanking armor, and only then did he reluctantly get up from his seat with a dejected look on his face.

“Okay, go ahead and close your eyes properly.”

“I’ll be back soon, sir.”

“No, Sir Martha. That doesn’t matter.”

Seongjin, who was barely left alone, ate with Edith’s help. This time, Orden and Herman came to see Seongjin together.

“Are you coughing? How are you feeling, my lord?”

“As you can see. It’s completely fine.”

Seongjin took a bite from Edith, who was feeding him stew next to him.

Maybe it’s because my insides have been completely torn up by the aura, but I can’t digest anything and have no appetite.

“I’m sure you’re curious about the results of the last battle, so I’ve come to give you a brief report, sir.”

Judging by the brightness of Herman’s voice, I felt like I knew the result even without hearing it.

As expected, the damage from Sigismund was less than expected.

Even after Seongjin completely lost his mind while moving the shaved ice, Logan and others seemed to be leading the situation well.

Meanwhile, Seongjin heard an unexpected apology from Orden.

“…So, it seems that the achievements of you and Prince Logan have been greatly reduced and made known to the public. They are truly dishonorable.”

“uh…….”

Seongjin blinked his eyes under the bandage.

What is it, Margrave Hendrick?

It’s pretty good, right? I really understand what I want. I know you want profit more than fame.

‘No matter how much I rode with Inquisitor Valery, it wouldn’t be good for it to be widely known that I controlled the Glacher Troll, known as a demonic beast.’

Considering these and other circumstances, he thought that Seongjin would be willing to sit at his negotiating table.

Even if Seongjin had to pay a little too much in return, he must have decided that it would be beneficial in the long run to somehow protect Yeongji’s pride.

So-called giving flesh and taking bones.

‘The only thing that can console Sigismund for his current wounds is pride at best. Moreover, let’s say that the safety of the territory cannot be guaranteed without great external help. ‘How anxious must the people of the territory be?’

If you think about it, it was a territory that could never be said to be in a good location.

A harshly cold land with no notable specialties. A land that is invaded by demonic beasts whenever the opportunity arises, and where one must constantly be on guard against demonic forces by building deformed ice walls.

This level of development is being achieved because old Vincent’s contribution to the empire was greatly increased in the past, and the margrave who succeeded him was very resourceful.

‘If you want to run a business in a land like that by constantly comforting and following up the residents, you might risk your life for something like your own pride or cause.’

Well, it wasn’t such a bad story for Seongjin. In any case, the Margrave doesn’t intend to just talk things over.

Moreover, if it is possible to reduce the damage that would have occurred without Seongjin’s assistance, it means that it is also possible to increase it to an unreasonable degree at Seongjin’s discretion.

‘I may not show it on the outside, but I’m sure you’re burning up inside right now, right?’

A person as high as the Margrave would never know that. Perhaps they are prepared to have their subsidies drastically reduced or suffer other disadvantages.

Seongjin thought he was somewhat satisfied.

There is a saying that you can pay off a thousand debts just by speaking well, right? But what could be better than giving money without saying anything?

“I’m truly sorry, sir.”

But Orden is feeling too guilty. Seongjin clicked her tongue slightly.

You simple ignorant bastard. So, how are you going to inherit and run the territory later?

If I leave it alone, I feel like I’ll be losing money endlessly, so it makes me secretly worry about the topic of Orden.

“It’s okay, Grand Duke. It’s not like I don’t understand the Margrave’s position.”

Mumbling.

Seongjin nodded while chewing something that came into his mouth.

“Thank you for your words, sir….”

“It’s okay. You are the heir of this place. Then, you should put aside the small things and think about Young Ji-min’s position first.”

“Young Ji-min’s….”

“okay.”

gulp.

Seongjin swallowed his food and nodded.

“You must be careful with your every word and action. You must look at the possibility of each word affecting the territory from various angles, and always make a cool-headed judgment.”

“that…….”

Orden is startled and slurs his words.

Of course, it was because he had heard advice in a similar vein from the Margrave earlier, but there was no way Seongjin knew about it.

Seongjin, who was tilting his head at his strange reaction, took the stew into his mouth again and ate it.

Yum Yum.

But then Orden suddenly asked a question. It was an unusually angry voice.

“Do you think so too, Your Highness? That you should always look objectively and make a cool-headed decision considering your profits and losses? To achieve this, even if Young Ji-min or his family suffers some damage, you should deal with it calmly?”

“hmm?”

Seongjin was a little embarrassed, but quickly swallowed his food and answered.

“Well, it’s not wrong to say that you have to look at it objectively, right? It’s also true that there are times when you have to take some damage. If you think about the profits and losses of Young Ji-min and your family as much as possible, aren’t there times when you inevitably have to make a cool-headed decision?”

Orden asked back in a dumbfounded voice.

“What about Young Ji-min and his family’s profits and losses?”

“Yes, the profits and losses of Young Ji-min and his family. You want to achieve the best results at every moment, but that doesn’t mean everyone can see the best interests, right? That’s the way things are in the world. In that case, you must calmly evaluate the profits and losses. “Isn’t it the job of you and the Margrave to make the most appropriate decisions?”

“…….”

Then Orden, who had remained silent for a moment, answered with a slightly trembling voice for some reason.

“…Yes. Is that so? How can perspectives and goals be so different? Even though the advice is similar, your words have the power to touch your heart.”

… ok? okay?

Well, I don’t know, but I’m saying you were quite moved by that, right?

After all, there is a reason why everyone in the imperial palace asks me for advice. It’s because I have an unconcealable energy of contemplation that comes from my years of experience.

While I was thinking that proudly, the demon lord sighed until the flame crystal disappeared.

[They say illusions are free, but ugh… … .]

Why is this guy suddenly having a fight?

Seongjin stuck out his mouth, took another stew that came close, and asked.

“Well, the Margrave has expressed his intention to make appropriate compensation, so don’t apologize to me anymore. Instead, think about the benefits you will gain from it.”

How about taking this opportunity to show off Sigismund’s power to the entire continent?

“How good is it? We defeated the great army of demonic beasts with our own strength! The pride of the people in the territory must have boiled over?”

Then Orden answered in a stern tone.

“Thank you. But Sigismund’s pride is not so light that it can be swayed by such bravado, sir.”

“hmm…….”

Well, okay. One spirit is good.

Even though it’s stupid, it seems like I’ll do well somehow.

Mumbling.

Then Seongjin suddenly realized that something was strange.

… huh?

“What are you doing now, Hermann?”

“Oh, did you get caught? This doesn’t work well the second time. But you’ve already emptied half the bowl.”

Hermann laughed out loud and rattled his spoon.

“You need to eat better when you’re sick, sir.”

Oh my gosh, this can’t be possible! I can’t believe I was fooled by this guy again!

While Seongjin was making a sullen face in anger, Orden quietly added a word from next to him.

“How about just one more spoonful?”

… Why is this guy like this?

Now, please take one more bite, sir.

Oh, clean it up!

It was a time when the two people were arguing fiercely.

“hmm?”

Orden, who felt the sudden popularity, raised his head in surprise.

“Why? Who is it?”

Even with Seongjin’s dulled senses, he sensed something familiar. Someone silently approached the open door.

“Lord Sharon? What’s going on? Why didn’t you say anything…?”

Only then did Seongjin realize who the other person was after hearing Herman’s words.

It’s definitely familiar, but it’s also completely different from her usual appearance. Seongjin said, unable to hide his joy.

“Lord Sharon, I have something important to discuss with you. Can everyone please leave for a moment?”

With that, Hermann and Orden, carrying bowls of stew, left the room.

Then, as if she had been waiting, Sir Sharon, or rather, Seonghwang, who possessed her body, approached with unstoppable steps.

Since the rush seemed unusual, Seongjin quietly made up his mind. First of all, I was expecting that I would get hit hard.

‘This time something big is coming!’

Seongjin narrowed his eyes, expecting a big shock.

however.

‘… uh?’

Wow!

Before I knew it, Seongjin was in the arms of Sir Sharon.

“……!”

His arms were shaking quite a bit, clearly showing how shaken he was.

[Again twice.]

And it was a voice of resignation that Seongjin had become a little accustomed to, as if it was ringing directly in his head.

[Now don’t do such a dangerous thing again. Do you understand?]

“…….”

Seongjin didn’t know what to do and just kept his mouth shut.

Me, father. I rescued Sigismund. If we hadn’t moved first, the damage would have grown out of control.

I definitely had a lot to say, but I couldn’t get my mouth to speak easily.

However, Seonghwang, who knew how he knew what was going through Seongjin’s mind, soon added a frightening warning.

[Remember, Mores. Even if you go out of your way to save this world, the moment something happens to you, this world is as if it no longer exists.]

For a moment, a chill ran down my spine.

A declaration made by the oracle of this era. Indeed, the weight is bound to be different.

But wait a minute. The story this man is talking about now… … .

[Do you understand? If you truly want to protect this Delcross, you must keep in mind, and keep in mind, that you must protect yourself first.]

“…sorry.”

Seongjin, who was afraid of being punished, finally apologized.

Because I understand, father.

Please stop saying such scary things and calm down.

fantasy,