Chapter 162
An invitation from the Emperor.
Declining would be easy, but if I refused on account of this incident, it would only deepen the rift.
For the sake of the Emperor's pride, he likely wouldn't rely on an adventurer who had once refused his summons. If that happened, the possibility of Silver becoming involved in this matter would be cut off.
For that reason, I decided to accept Father's invitation as Silver.
I teleported to the open plaza jutting out from Imperial Sword Castle.
A table and chairs had been prepared there, and Father was already seated.
"I'm glad you came, Silver."
"I came because Your Majesty invited me personally. Whether I stay until the end depends on what you have to say."
"Hah. That sounds like you."
As he spoke, Father gestured toward the chair opposite him.
Apparently, he intended to sit and talk with me. Even though I was an SS-rank adventurer, that was an extraordinary arrangement.
Moreover...
"You don't seem to have many guards."
"I kept them to a minimum. If you were planning to do something, guards wouldn't be able to stop you anyway."
"I see. I'll take that as a sign of trust."
A few imperial knights stood around the plaza.
Those were the nearest guards. There was no one at Father's side but me. This was another extraordinary measure.
"That's right. I trust you—the record of how you've protected the Empire until now."
"I'm afraid I have no memory of protecting the Empire. I've always protected its people."
"In the end, it's the same thing. Protecting the people leads to protecting the country. Since you appeared, the people have rarely voiced their anxiety. The presence of an SS-rank adventurer in an Empire where powerful monsters seldom appear is a source of reassurance for its citizens."
"I'm in the Empire because I don't have to clash with other adventurers here. In places where high-rank monsters appear, adventurers compete for quests. It's practically a territorial dispute. I want to avoid that, which is why I stay in the Empire."
With that, I stared intently at Father's face.
Even through my mask, Father understood what my gaze meant and gave a wry smile.
"So, from your perspective, you can't exactly welcome what the Empire has done this time?"
"Recruiting adventurers is only natural for a country. I have no intention of denying that. But if living in the Empire becomes uncomfortable, I'll leave. That's all."
"That would put the Empire in a difficult position. No matter how many S-rank adventurers we invite, they can't replace an SS-rank adventurer—not in ability, and certainly not in fame. The people would surely grow anxious as well."
"I don't care about the Empire's circumstances. If someone else comes to the Empire, I'll move elsewhere and maintain the balance of the continent. There are plenty of places that need high-rank adventurers. Normally, that would be the Guild Headquarters' job, but... Expecting anything from the current Guild Headquarters would be pointless."
The Adventurer Guild's upper ranks had recently come to be dominated by people who knew nothing about the front lines.
There had once been many former adventurers among them, but when it came to factional struggles, the guild employees proved stronger than the former adventurers.
Now that staff from the main office had risen into the upper ranks, the Guild Headquarters had become troublesome.
They were trying both to avoid provoking the five SS-rank adventurers on the continent and to bring them under their control.
Of course, those adventurers weren't the sort who could be controlled. Perhaps the Guild had finally realized that, which was why it was seeking new SS-rank adventurers.
It was pointless. If they could be found just by searching, it wouldn't be difficult.
"The people come first, no matter what?"
"That's what an adventurer is. We protect the people as free agents. Regardless of rank or status, that's the only rule we have."
"Simple. I don't dislike it."
With that, Father slowly sipped the tea on the table.
Judging by the aroma, it had a little alcohol in it. It was one of Father's favorite drinks.
"Your Majesty, you aren't exactly idle either, are you? Why not get to the point?"
"Now, wait. I rarely get a chance to be somewhere without people around me like this. Surely I won't be punished for enjoying it a little longer?"
"You're wasting my time."
"Impatient men aren't well liked, you know?"
"Should I leave, then?"
When I said that, Father shrugged and gave me a nonchalant, wry smile.
Seeing Father without his title as Emperor was rare. This was probably closer to his true self.
"Now, wait. This is where we get to the important matter."
"Then get on with it."
"Then I'll ask you directly: Is there someone you have feelings for?"
"...What exactly are you talking about?"
"Well, if you don't have someone in mind, I thought I might give you one of my daughters."
"...Do you realize what you're saying?"
"Of course. Marrying one of my daughters to you, a wielder of ancient magic, would provoke opposition. The combination of the imperial family and ancient magic is synonymous with terror to those living in the Imperial Capital. Long ago, my grandfather went mad after pursuing research into ancient magic and plunged the Imperial Capital into terror. There are still people who remember those days, and the story has been passed down."
"If one of the princesses and I were to marry and have a child, it could result in another ancient magic user bearing imperial blood. I doubt anyone wants that future."
Of course, I had no intention of accepting such a marriage proposal as Silver.
Still, that was a bold thing for him to bring up.
This must have been the hand Father least wanted to play.
It must mean he wants to keep Silver in the Empire that badly.
"Fear alone won't move us forward. This continent was once struck by the Demon King's calamity. The Hero defeated the Demon King, but what makes you think an enemy like that will never appear again? That is why the Emperor of five hundred years ago granted the Hero a noble title and chose to protect his bloodline. It was to protect the Empire, and by extension, the continent. At the same time, the Imperial House did not neglect to strengthen its own bloodline. By incorporating superior bloodlines, House Adler grew stronger. That will not change in the future. I will grant you the title of duke and marry a princess to you. Then we will bring your descendants into the Imperial House. This is for the sake of the Empire, and for the sake of all the people living on the continent."
"It's a noble idea, but I have neither reason nor obligation to go along with it. People living in later eras can deal with the matters of their own time. Ancient magic in particular depends on aptitude. Even if you deliberately preserve a bloodline, there is no guarantee that aptitude will be inherited. You would only leave an unnecessary burden on the new lives born in the future."
"Hmm. I suppose it was worth a try."
He must have figured there was nothing to lose by trying.
Father sighed softly and drank his tea again.
"If possible, I would have liked to see my daughters married... Oh, right. If that's what you want, Fiene or Elna would be acceptable too, you know?"
"Enough. I want them even less than I want the princesses. Making the Empire's most beautiful woman my wife would create enemies I don't need, while marrying the Hero would destroy my life. Please stop trying to foist them on me."
"Hahaha! You may be the only man who would turn down the chance to marry Fiene or Elna. If you can't see the value in women, so be it. Let us move on to practical matters."
"At last... I'd appreciate it if you kept the jokes to a minimum from here on."
"I wasn't joking. You are a hero. If I could grant you a title and make you one of the family, it would have been an ideal arrangement. Well, I suppose things don't always go so smoothly. Now, under what conditions would you remain in the Empire? Would the support of the deputy guildmaster you're close to satisfy you?"
At Father's proposal, I swallowed the words I was about to say.
I had been about to make that very proposal.
The Guild is neutral. However, it cannot entirely keep every nation's influence out.
That influence becomes important when deciding who will lead the Guild.
Currently, Clyde is the only member of the Guild's upper management who knows the front lines. If Clyde rose to the top, the Guild Headquarters would surely change.
That would be desirable for me as well. I had intended to use this incident to ask Father to support Clyde, but...
He had beaten me to it.
"What is it? Would that not satisfy you?"
"What do you intend to do if I tell you that isn't enough?"
"I'll simply look for a compromise."
"Would that compromise include matters concerning the struggle for the imperial throne?"
"It would not. No matter what you ask of me... I have no intention of favoring any candidate. You will have to claim the position of Crown Prince for yourself."
"I see. Then Your Majesty's proposal is acceptable. Please support Clyde."
With that, I stood up.
There was no point in staying any longer.
But Father called out to me, stopping me.
"Silver."
"Is there something else?"
"This is a personal question. You needn't answer if you don't wish to. Who taught you ancient magic?"
"—I have no obligation to answer that."
"I see... Ancient magic depends on aptitude, and one must study rare texts. It's not something a commoner born in a village can learn easily. Ancient magic is difficult even to study without suitable status. I take you for someone of noble birth. Am I wrong?"
"I'll leave that to your imagination."
"I see. Then I'll imagine as I please. Perhaps my grandfather found some way to prolong his life, or perhaps he took on a disciple. Could either one be your teacher?"
"That's not a bad theory for a story. Perhaps you should write a book after you retire."
"Hmm. I think I'm getting rather close, though."
With a wry smile at Father's words, I teleported away from the plaza.
If I stayed in Father's presence any longer, he might uncover the truth.