Chapter 102
Honestly, I was certain that the high-ranking bastards in the Empire would be looking at me with disdain.
First, being a Manifestor was already a problem. Even if I had let all the Knights live, the Empire's honor would undoubtedly have been greatly tarnished.
The Knight Order had been defeated by a single individual, and the Emperor had become someone who spoke out of both sides of his mouth, losing dignity. Moreover, I had even resorted to threats to persuade him, so there was no way he would view me favorably.
Honestly, I had expected the identification tag. Even in my wildest fantasies, I thought they might reluctantly grant that.
But to be invited to the Imperial Palace was truly beyond imagination.
Because of this, I couldn't help but feel suspicious.
“Surely, they aren”t planning to call me here just to gang up and finish me off, are they?'
Unlike this Forest where I could move freely, the Imperial Palace was their home ground. There would be hundreds of Knights, and several Commander-level individuals.
If they all launched a Combined Attack, even I would be helpless. I doubted an Emperor would resort to such a petty trick... but I couldn't rule out the possibility entirely.
As if sensing my thoughts, the Herald in front of me spoke again.
“If you suspect this is a trap, do not worry. The Emperor genuinely wishes to meet you.”
It seemed they had already anticipated my wariness. But it would be strange to drop my guard based on just one sentence. I made a troubled expression.
But I can't refuse either...
Though the Extermination Order had been a bit annoying, a king of an entire country was extending a hand first. I couldn't easily ignore it. A wrong move could lead to severe repercussions.
'Ah.'
As I pondered for a while, a good idea suddenly came to mind. I asked the Herald.
“Can I bring one other Person with me?”
“Whom... are you thinking of bringing an Otherworlder?”
I nodded. It was a kind of safety measure. If they tried to stab me in the back, I would bring an Otherworlder who could witness it directly and spread it across the internet. If I did that, they wouldn't be able to move easily, even for the sake of their reputation.
“Hmm...”
At my words, the Herald showed signs of contemplation. He didn't seem particularly displeased. It was an unexpected question, but he seemed to fully understand such wariness.
After contemplating for a while, the Herald finally spoke.
“As long as there's no broadcasting within the Imperial Palace... I suppose it would be possible.”
“Of course.”
At his words, I smiled broadly and nodded. There would be no such thing, as long as they didn't try anything foolish.
*
A week passed like that. I was on my way to the Imperial Palace as per the Herald's request. Fortunately, the distance between the Forest where I was and the Capital where the Imperial Palace was located wasn't too far, so I could depart without much preparation. Besides, they had even prepared a carriage for me.
“You can get in here.”
As I stepped out of the Forest, I saw a Coachman and a Knight waiting in the Plains. It wasn't as grand or elaborately decorated as one might expect from the Empire. Well, I wasn't a Noble, so expecting such a carriage would be unreasonable.
But as if to compensate, the carriage was very clean and sturdy. It seemed more focused on quality than appearance.
After getting into the carriage, I let out a small sigh. I felt like I was becoming an important person, or perhaps a criminal being escorted.
“Whew... I'm a bit nervous. By the way, have you ever been inside the palace?”
“No. I only know a few Knights. I've hardly ever been inside the Capital myself.”
The companion I brought this time was Shin Hanbyeol. I felt a little sorry for Chaerin and Haneul, but when it came to matters related to Knights, there was no one more suitable than her.
She, who knew several Knights, was quite knowledgeable about Knight-related information. If I was going into a dangerous situation anyway, I thought it was right to choose her, who had at least some connections with them.
As I headed towards the Imperial Palace, I asked her many things: who the People were to watch out for in the Imperial Palace, what kind of personalities and abilities those individuals possessed, what the recent trends of the Knight Order were, and so on.
“Geez, why are you so curious about everything? ...Wait, I'm still processing.”
Even as she grumbled, she answered my questions calmly and thoroughly. After a long conversation, I eventually arrived in front of the palace.
Thump. As I opened the carriage door and stepped out, the Knights exchanged glances for a moment, then silently opened the way forward. It seemed arrangements had been made beforehand.
As we entered the palace, a majestic Interior greeted us. Endless long Corridors, spotlessly Cleaned walls and floors, and decorative objects placed at intervals. Indeed, befitting a Space where all the Empire's high-ranking officials resided, it was incredibly vast and luxurious. Hanbyeol, beside me, involuntarily let out an exclamation of awe.
“Wow...”
However, I couldn't relax and enjoy the sight. This Space could easily become a death trap for me.
The gazes I felt from everywhere were incredibly burdensome. Every time a Mage or Butler from the Imperial Palace, or other personnel, passed by, they shot glances.
“Isn't that fellow... the one?”
“Tsk, to come to such a noble place dressed in such shabby clothes. Truly an uncultured fellow.”
“Ahem, ahem, still, his appearance isn't bad, is it?”
“...What?”
“Ah, nothing.”
Of course, there were no favorable glances. I nodded inwardly.
“Just as I thought.”
For one, the common Nobles didn't seem to view me kindly. After all, they must have heard the news, so there was no way they would look kindly upon the one who defeated the Knight Order. This was a completely expected reaction. What I was curious about now wasn't their reaction, but the Emperor's.
After walking for a long time, I eventually arrived in front of the Audience Chamber.
Thump-As the massive doors opened, I saw numerous Ministers lined up around the room and a woman seated on a central chair. Many gazes converged on me, but my eyes were fixed solely on the middle-aged woman in the center.
With golden hair, she had a face lined with wrinkles, yet she exuded considerable dignity. She was the Emperor, Eldora von Elizabeth. Unfortunately, she wasn't a young, beautiful girl.
Indeed, she didn't possess any particular martial prowess, and a king of a country being a young, beautiful girl would somewhat diminish her dignity.
First, I knelt and offered a brief bow. Shin Hanbyeol, beside me, did the same.
“...Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
I, personally, was originally a ruffian who would speak informally to anyone I met. However, I couldn't do that to the highest authority of a nation. If I did, I might be exterminated again just for being rude. The polite speech that came out felt quite awkward.
“Oh! You've arrived! Finally!”
As I offered a light bow, the Emperor began to stride towards me with a somewhat undignified expression. This seemed to be an unexpected action even for the Ministers, as they began to try urgently to stop the Emperor.
“Ah, no, Your Majesty! If you carelessly approach the Seed of Evil...!”
“Something terrible could happen! Please be careful!”
Regardless, she approached me, with only a single Knight accompanying her from behind. Then she immediately helped me up and offered a handshake.
“Pleased to meet you. I don't need to introduce myself, do I? My, but you're even more striking than I imagined, I'd heard!”
It was a more cordial welcome than I expected. Or perhaps, she was just pretending to be friendly. I hadn't studied politics, but I could tell instinctively.
Every single one of her gestures was a political move. She deliberately approached me, defying the objections of her Ministers. And though it was just a handshake, she made physical contact.
Frankly... she was so defenseless that I could have killed her if I truly wanted to. And the Emperor probably knew that very well.
“You evoke many thoughts in me. Should I be angry at the tarnished honor from the Knight Order's defeat, annoyed by the widespread opposition, or simply relieved that you spared all the Knights?”
She continued.
“Ah, of course, I am very grateful that you sent the Knights back safely. Thanks to that, I was immediately spared hundreds of documents. That was a big reason why I gave you the identification tag. Of course, there was a huge backlash from those around me because of it! Haha!”
“...”
“But when I see you like this, you certainly don't look evil. You're quite docile. It was a good decision not to stubbornly maintain the Extermination Order just for pride.”
“I'm glad you see it that way...”
Thump. Then she immediately grabbed one of my shoulders, as if to say, 'Let's get along well in the future.' It lacked the dignity expected of an Emperor of the Empire, yet it was also a bold move befitting an Emperor. Then she shouted to her Ministers.
“See here! Didn't I say nothing would happen? Yet you all had so much to say... I almost thought there'd be a rebellion from within.”
“Your, Your Majesty...!”
“Your words are too much!”
At the Emperor's remarks, the faces of the Ministers who had been looking at me with disdain suddenly stiffened. Regardless, the Emperor merely chuckled heartily. After a moment, she spoke with a chilling gaze.
“It was a joke... just a joke.”
Watching that, I thought: Indeed, being the ruler of a nation isn't for just anyone. And perhaps, I could worry a little less about being betrayed.