Chapter 19: Countering Poison with Poison (2)

Everything depends on one's state of mind.

Even wearing silk robes and tasting sweet fruits, if my heart is not at peace, my whole body will ache and suffer.

A plush bed and dozens of servants.

Crunching on a sweet apple carved into a rabbit shape by a maid, I found myself lost in thought for the first time in a while.

'My body is certainly comfortable, but my mind isn't at peace.'

Everyone had witnessed me dealing with the worst villain - a demon who had toyed with the Imperial family, made the Emperor terminally ill, and caused the Empress to forget even her own child.

After showing myself killing the demon while declaring lines like "The Empire will not fall to the likes of you!"

Excuses like "I actually didn't do anything" or "I just added a small spoon to the meal that the 5th Princess prepared" didn't work at all.

If anything, awakening her added to my achievements, to the point where I was even suspected of being a divine messenger.

I was thoroughly trapped here receiving VIP treatment.

They bathe me without me having to lift a finger, cook and feed me without me having to move, and bring me whatever I want without me having to ask - I feel like I might regress to infancy at this rate.

'I mean, I'm human too, so it's not like I hate this treatment.'

The problem is that it comes with a price.

The Empire was destined to fall someday, after all.

Since it was written in the crystal ball, that fact was indisputable. Of course, I could optimistically think that by killing that demon I had helped avoid the fate of destruction, but...

Based on the demon's final words, it seems their goal was to destroy the Empire.

Such beings wouldn't leave the Imperial family alone, so they'll surely keep coming to threaten my life. No different from the Academy.

No, this situation might actually be worse.

At least there, we have the protagonist and Primordial Dragon. If enemies attack, those two will handle things as long as I can hold out.

This place is an even more terrifying realm than the Academy. It's not somewhere a half-wit whose cards are mostly sealed unless facing mages should be.

"Just wait a little longer. I shall swiftly arrange a position and place befitting your achievements."

And these were the Emperor's words to me.

"I'm still lacking, you see. I tried to protect you but ended up only receiving help instead. If you're disappointed in someone like me, I can't blame you...

But still! Someday! Definitely! I'll become a splendid warrior worthy of you. When that time comes, could you perhaps become my knight again?"

And these were the words the 5th Princess came to tell me.

Though she bit her tongue mid-sentence and ran away in embarrassment. Still, she occasionally visited to ask for various advice.

Of course, I've never learned swordsmanship or anything like that.

I just spout nonsense like "If your heart doesn't waver, your sword won't waver either" and send her away, but the girl seemed plenty satisfied with just that.

Her bright smiling face is so adorable that at this rate I might end up becoming the Empire's Court Mage and the 5th Princess's Swordsmanship Instructor.

'...That's exactly the kind of ending I need to avoid.'

After some contemplation, I made my decision.

Since there's no way the Emperor would just let go of someone who saved his life twice. In this situation, what was needed was the most extraordinary of extraordinary measures.

To break the will of someone of the Emperor's caliber would naturally require the power of an even greater being.

Therefore, the strategy to choose was using poison to counter poison.

Crushing the Emperor's will with the authority of the great Primordial Dragon.

A gamble that literally uses poison to control poison.

Though the risk is high, without throwing such a gamble, getting out of here would be impossible.

Having made that judgment, I didn't hesitate to contact the Academy and ask Zion for help, and...

...The situation got worse rather than better.

"Are you truly testing my patience?"

The girl's voice made the earth tremble.

Though she shows an arrogant attitude before the Emperor, head of state, not a single person present dared criticize her demeanor.

For she is the Empire's Primordial Dragon.

The being who has protected this nation since its founding.

"Do not take my goodwill for granted. Even if you are the descendant of a friend, that does not give you the right to interfere with my actions as you please."

In terms of technology, the Republic is superior.

In terms of buried resources, they cannot match the Kingdom.

Yet the Empire could grasp hegemony solely because that dragon stood on their side.

A warning from a being who could destroy the Empire single-handedly if she wished. Even the Emperor of the Empire would have no choice but to back down here, and yet...

The situation kept getting stranger.

Despite the Primordial Dragon's warning not to cross the line, the Emperor stood firmly before her and spoke.

"I apologize, but I cannot back down on this matter."

No matter how many thousands of years the Primordial Dragon had kept her oath, nothing in this world was truly unchanging.

If the angered Primordial Dragon were to abandon the Empire, it would surely become an irreversible problem, yet the Emperor showed no signs of backing down.

An act threatening national security.

The reason the Emperor was taking such a risk was,

"Because I have a debt to repay to that young man."

It's me. That senile old man chose to fight with the Primordial Dragon just to keep someone like me here.

"I humbly request that you allow this young man to stay in the Imperial Palace for the time being."

I cannot comprehend his actions at all.

If he wants to repay his debt to me, there are many ways besides keeping me here and treating me like this. There's also the possibility he sees me as an indispensable talent that must not be let go, but...

Even for outstanding talent, if obtaining it means going against the Primordial Dragon's will, the cost-benefit analysis doesn't add up.

What could that old man be thinking? I pondered while observing his behavior for a moment... then I noticed.

How his gaze kept flickering toward the 5th Princess.

'So even the Emperor of the Empire is human after all.'

It seems the demon manipulated the minds of those around the warrior candidate to thoroughly break her spirit.

The scars that remained all over the girl's body.

The demon probably controlled her father to do inhumane things to his daughter. Of course, that was the fault of the one who brainwashed the Emperor, not the Emperor himself.

Human emotions aren't so simple.

Even if it wasn't intentional, how many fathers could maintain their sanity after realizing they had hurt their beloved daughter with their own hands?

'In that situation, if his daughter says she doesn't want to be separated from me, of course he wouldn't be able to refuse.'

Having roughly grasped the situation, I immediately moved.

Before the small source of this great incident.

I put on my most gentle smile.

"Your Highness's care for me is too much. I am overwhelmed by this undeserved grace."

Lucy beamed at my words.

Seeing that smile made me feel a bit guilty, but unfortunately, I couldn't remain in a place like this.

"However, Your Highness, sometimes you must let go of what you cherish. After all, birds are born to fly freely, not to be caged."

I spoke as indirectly as possible to avoid hurting her.

Even if the metaphor was a bit clumsy, it was better than being direct.

"I have students I must teach. Just as you once were, there are children who are lost and wandering alone, whom I must guide."

Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes.

I firmly grasped the girl's hands and asked.

"So please, could you let me go?"

Her sniffling intensified. Lucy gripped my hands even tighter, as if not wanting to let me go.

But she was more mature than I expected. Though she could barely see through her tears, the girl who knew what the right choice was finally nodded her small head.

Seeing this, the Emperor of the Empire finally relaxed.

It seems that even as Emperor, he had feared going against the great Primordial Dragon's mood after all.

"I seem to keep ending up in your debt."

The Emperor declared that she should take this young man away as she wished while apologizing to Zion for his rudeness, and spoke those words to me.

Normally in this situation, one should humbly decline saying it's too much praise, but this time was slightly different, so I carefully addressed him.

"If Your Majesty would permit, may I make one final request?"

Fortunately, the Emperor nods.

In this situation, there was only one thing I could say.

"I would like the memories of this incident thoroughly erased from the minds of all involved."

"We're already working on that. I don't even want to imagine what chaos would ensue if word spread that a member of the Imperial family was controlled by a demon."

"What I mean is that I truly want this erased from 'all' involved parties' memories."

The Emperor was taken aback by my statement.

I didn't miss that opening and continued speaking.

I have always admired Your Majesty's fairness and justice.

But if Your Majesty makes personal judgments feeling indebted to me, that would mean destroying my idol with my own hands.

So I would like the identity of who dealt with the demon erased from everyone's minds.

An excuse made up to sever ties with the Imperial family.

Though it might lack persuasiveness, I had the Primordial Dragon as my cheat key. With a slight nod to her to borrow her authority, getting approval was as easy as eating cold porridge.

"If our business is concluded, let us return together. You've accomplished another great deed - would you like to ride on my back as a reward?"

The Primordial Dragon asked playfully with twinkling eyes.

Though my head already ached thinking about how to lower the evaluation that rose from this incident...

Well, this much risk I can handle.

Thanks to this, I had a clean break with Lucy, and could cut ties with the Imperial family. Deciding to be satisfied with this result, I boarded the carriage with the Primordial Dragon.

It was time to return to daily life once again.

*****

The carriage carrying the honored guest departed.

However, watching the man riding in it, the Emperor did not forget who that person was and became confused.

How could one forget such a man?

That would be impossible.

'He worried that feeling indebted would make me swayed by personal feelings. That young man certainly said that, but.'

For his sake, I would gladly throw away even fairness and justice.

My life was saved multiple times.

I was freed from a fate of being controlled for life.

And above all, he returned my beloved family to me.

To repay such a benefactor, I could break the values I've held my whole life at any time.

My daughter who begged to enter the Academy next year even if it meant breaking age regulations. The Emperor held her hand tightly as he saw off the departing carriage until the very end.

...The Empire will never forget this debt.