1001. It starts with Rem
The Emperor is like a young attendant? I had no intention of discussing that mystery. No matter what I did, it was beyond my understanding.
Esther simply looked around again after gazing at the young fairy with her deep blue eyes.
“Well, it’s just the start. You aren’t planning on losing, are you?”
The young attendant, who was also the Emperor, provoked in a cheeky tone. He said this while sweeping his hair back with one hand.
That’s obvious.
Enkrid answered and shook the sweat from his hair. Drops of sweat fell onto the floor.
Let’s go before the sweat cools.
Saying that, he took a step. Rearban stood up with his exhausted body and spoke as he watched Encred turn around.
Come back victorious.
To Learvan, Encred was a shining hero, a savior, and an object of awe. In Learvan’s world, Encred never lost. It was a belief bordering on blind faith.
Although it might have been burdensome, Encred nodded nonchalantly.
What would change if he failed or lost? Nothing. If he lost, he would just struggle in that spot and move forward again.
That was the kind of person Encred was, and it was no surprise that Learvan knew it. He knew the past of the hero standing before him.
The fairy and emperor stared intently at Learvan. It seemed like a truly amusing relationship.
That’s fun.
The fairy muttered.
I feel the same way.
Sinar chimed in from the side, but it was a mystery what on earth was so funny about this side.
* * *
Encred took Rem, Sinar, Esther, and Temares with him. He left Saxen by Krang’s side and came out with only the five of them.
“If you go out through the city’s west gate, Triache will guide you. She has received an imperial decree.”
The attendant chattered on day after day right up until they parted. What was peculiar was that, despite the Emperor’s changed appearance, he continued to refer to him separately.
Furthermore, no one noticed the attendant and spoke to him or acknowledged him.
The soldiers seen occasionally were the same, as were the other ladies-in-waiting and attendants. The two knights who had been by Lord Donapa’s side when he first arrived were nowhere to be seen.
Encred did not go out of his way to look for them. Well, they must be busy.
“Then I’ll be rooting for you to win the bet.”
“Why is the one starting the bet rooting for me?”
Even if he stepped forward as an attendant rather than the Emperor, the Emperor is the Emperor. The essence does not change.
“There needs to be at least one person rooting for us. Everyone knows that if the Barley Harvester steps forward, he can easily take down that bandit fairy, so it looks like we are at a disadvantage.”
That must certainly be the case. I faced him briefly, but he was a formidable opponent. His name stuck in my mind. Bram Ritzer—even his nickname was “The Barley Harvester.”
Despite possessing such great skill, he even gave himself a ridiculous nickname just to gain a slight advantage.
And was that all there was to it? It was purely a hunch, but it seemed he hadn’t revealed his full potential.
There is much to learn.
Encred took a step, lost in thought. He replayed the scene of fighting him in his mind several times.
It felt similar to when he first encountered the Mercenary King Anu. He was an opponent with no bottom to be seen, so to speak.
Since it was a fight fought with swords anyway, the living would surely win.
One thing was certain: he was a monster against whom no one of the Mad Knights could easily guarantee victory.
I am also a monster for associating with and fighting against that monster.
Before I knew it, I had become a knight, and before I knew it, I had reached the Empire.
I recalled my childhood days humming the song of the former knight, as well as the times I had struggled through. It was only after enduring all that that I had finally reached this point. I had no intention of getting sentimental, but parts of my past life simply flashed through my mind on their own.
The western gate was white, and its golden rim stood out. The familiar fairy was waiting in front of the gate. She wore
light brown armor and carried a short sword, with a bow strap—resembling a long, gently curved stick—slung diagonally across her back. Her
armament was quite different from Sinar’s in many ways, yet this fairy was also a skilled fighter.
No one would fail to recognize that. There were more than five soldiers standing guard beside her, and only one of them was watching the party from right beside her.
He was the gatekeeper in charge of the western gate today. He bowed to the fairy and took a step back. It meant that
since the matter was settled, there was nothing more for him to intervene in.
I’m Triace.
The fairy spoke first. This fairy was not much different from the fairies living in Kirhais. The fairy named Triache spoke while restraining her emotions.
Do you need an introduction?
Encred asked. The fairy’s answer came back.
“no.”
After a brief conversation with Encred, the fairy Triache headed out of the castle gate. The party exited one after another through a small side door. Soldiers watched them from behind. There was no particular emotion or intensity. They were just watching because they were leaving.
At this rate, aren’t we really going to go back without even seeing the city?
Rem spat out some nonsense.
You can take a look after this is finished.
The fairy ahead answered. An answer comes back even though I didn’t exactly ask? For a fairy to display such an attitude was a symbol of kindness.
She even showed interest in it first.
So you are a fairy from the continent.
A fairy named Triache spoke to Sinar.
“Right. Which clan are you from?”
“You were born and raised in the Empire, so you probably wouldn’t know.”
The Pen-Hanil Mountains are a place that has not allowed the footsteps of ordinary explorers. It
was only because the Zaun family stepped forward along the way, accompanied by knights, that they were able to cross them easily. Had Krang brought only the Royal Guards, he would have faced many hardships. In fact, if it had been just them, it is not even guaranteed that they would have escaped alive.
Thanks to the mountain range that spans the two continents, they do not know each other at all, despite being of the same elf clan.
Still, if they trace their bloodlines upward, wouldn’t they meet somewhere?
Triache’s eyes were deep green. It was a color that evoked a deep forest rather than green grass.
“The Emperor was a fairy, wasn’t he?”
Sinar asked nonchalantly. No matter how little interest one has in one’s surroundings, it is surprising that the Emperor of the Empire is a fairy. Besides that, they had seen many other fascinating scenes.
There was a mountain of things they wanted to ask, but the funny thing was that none of the group would easily speak up about such matters, yet Sinar was the one who asked out of the blue.
“That’s right.”
“How long have you lived?”
Moreover, he even posed a question that cut to the very core.
Triache did not go out of his way to discuss falsehoods. There was no need to. They were neither demons nor their henchmen.
Of course, Lord Donapa was concerned because they might have thoroughly concealed their true intentions, but in Triache’s own eyes, that was not the case.
It is the same age as the empire.
So, when she answered readily,
Rem tilted his head first, and Esther lifted hers. Before anyone realized it, she had transformed back from a leopard into a human. For some
reason, she was uncomfortable; she neither spoke easily nor ate properly.
Moreover, she barely slept. Just as no one sleeps soundly with a knife at their throat, the Emperor’s inner chamber was that uncomfortable for Esther. Esther nodded to herself. She seemed to have realized something.
“You say it’s like an empire?”
“Yes, the current mother, the Emperor, was the first Emperor and is still the Emperor today.”
It was a surprising story, but it sounded somewhat obvious.
You’re not showing a single surprised expression.
Encred replied to the words of the fairy Triache.
I am sufficiently surprised.
Having gone through all sorts of things to reach where I am today, I am simply not startled by such stories.
While we chatted briefly, the entire party moved a safe distance from the castle. When I turned around, I saw a long line of carriages standing by, unlike when we had arrived.
“This is the western trade route. That is why the bandits are such a headache.”
“Does the Empire have many problems like this?”
“Yes, there are occasional ones.”
“Is the Knights’ force unable to handle even a single bandit group?”
This was what Rem asked. It sounded provocative, but it was the truth.
Rem sometimes used her appearance and rough exterior to probe the other person’s true feelings with questions like this. It was that tactic again this time.
“The Knights are busy.”
“I met several on the way here.”
“They are not idle either. And the Commander must always be by His Majesty’s side.”
No one answered that remark. However, one question did cross one’s mind:
Then wouldn’t the bet be invalid?
You don’t think we’re just a mere bandit gang, do you? If that were the case, we would have ridden horses.
Since the opponent could not be caught on horseback, I traveled on foot. To be precise, I planned to move in a small group to predict the path the opponent would take and set up an ambush.
Here it is.
It was after crossing a small hill at a slightly faster pace. We had veered off to the side of the Imperial Road, and even giving it the benefit of the doubt, the terrain was too rugged for carriages or horses to travel on.
There were many cracks and gouges here and there, and boulders lay scattered around. Although patches of bushes were visible here and there, it was basically a sloping, rocky terrain.
That is why it was also good ground for an ambush.
You’re coming here?
Because Rem had a strong sense of self as a hunter, he knew very well that this land was a place where bandits would have difficulty running rampant. It might have been different if it were the vast plains he had seen on the way here.
“Yes, they will come. They must have heard that precious jewels are being loaded onto the carriage today.”
It meant that information had been leaked and used to their advantage.
There was no way they would have gone to such trouble on purpose just to make Encred lose the bet. They could have simply left him alone. Therefore, this was not some kind of trick.
Besides, if they were going to use a trick, why would they use a fairy?
They are by nature the ones who speak the truth and feel a strong aversion to lying.
It’s not much different just because they are fairies of the Empire.
Sometimes the expressions unique to them sounded awkward, and while cultural differences existed, there was no significant resistance because the currency and language were unified. In other words, life in an empire was similar to life in a kingdom.
While I was speaking, the sound of horses’ hooves could be heard from afar.
It’s really coming.
Rem muttered as he knelt on the hill and peered forward. Below the sloping mountain path, he could see a group crossing the hill. There weren’t many of them. Perhaps twenty at most.
The singularity wasn’t the number, but the horses they were riding.
“Hell’s Warhorse?”
Esther muttered. Since they were a bandit group, naturally they rode horses, but what they were riding was a summoned creature brought forth by a spell.
It was a galloping horse with blue flames attached to its mane and legs.
“Yes, the Fallen Fairy leading them is skilled in swordsmanship and spells. They are difficult to catch. They used to flee at the mere sight of the Knights’ traces, but since they are seeing you for the first time today, they will be suspicious but won’t run away immediately.”
In many ways, is this a good opportunity to capture the bandit fairy?
Judging by Trimache’s words, that is how it sounded. Is this just playing along with the Emperor’s tune, exactly as he wishes?
Regardless, since Krang decided to do it, Encred would do it. Encred cast aside any worries.
“yet.”
Enkrid spoke. Temares and Sinar did not even look ahead. They fight when the time comes to fight. Filled with faith, they showed no signs of weakness. Enkrid takes charge of the initiation.
To Trimache, they were fascinating people. Everyone followed one person and trusted his judgment. Not a trace of doubt was visible. A man named Rem took a sling from his bosom, loaded a bullet into a leather pouch, and let it hang.
I’m the one who started it.
Trimache also pulled the bowstring and tied it. The bow bent under tension. If he missed it this time, it would be even more difficult to catch the Fallen Fairy.
It is a matter ordered by the Emperor.
Encreed stared at the hill for a moment, then let out a short groan and stood up.
What are you doing?
Rem asked.
I noticed.
A long trail of flames followed behind the horse, which was galloping as if half-flying through the air. It was the trace left by them.
There were eighteen in total, and five of them stepped forward and changed formation. Encreed’s tactical instinct told him that those five were a scouting party.
Then they must have figured it out.
“They wouldn’t be the type to go around checking every single hill.”
Enkrid spoke as he slid down the sloping rocky terrain with a rattling sound.
A cloud of dust rose where he had descended. As he moved forward, the five people approaching stopped.
Purr.
Flames rose and vanished from the spitting mouth of the warhorse.
Would Axe-Eye like it if he saw this? Or would he just kick it away?
“Who are you?”
The man standing in the center of the five asked, “He’s not a fairy.
He was wearing a skullcap, but his head was a bit big.
“Big-headed friend, is the boss a fairy?”
Encred asked. Naturally, it wasn’t a very pleasant title.
“Are you crazy? You’re not even an Imperial Knight, so where did you come from?”
The fellow rattled off words while scanning Encred’s entire body with his eyes.
Meanwhile, the thirteen warhorses of hell that had been standing behind him also approached. The elf seated in the center appeared to be the captain.
Her long hair was tied back, and the tips of her pointed ears were black. Since only the tips were black, it looked as if a flag had been painted. The elf gazed at Encred silently for a moment before speaking.
Kill him.
“Look at this, he’s not saying a word.”
Just as that thought crossed my mind, a bullet came flying from a barbarian who wouldn’t rest until he started everything himself.
The line, faster than sound, blew straight into the big-headed man’s head.
Bang-
With the sound of the bullet bursting through the air, Encred also kicked off the ground. At the same time, pitch-black soot rose and blocked Encred on all sides.
The Crown of Silence.
Seeing that, Esther muttered. It was one of the maxim spells. It was a spell prepared. Still, she wasn’t worried.
Would someone who had faced even the Master of Astrail really be defeated by something like that?
