127 – Imperial Palace (7)
The size of the imperial castle was huge. This has already been mentioned several times, but it was truly vast and vast.
Wouldn’t it be better to say that it is not just a castle, but a palace located within the castle?
For example, a rose garden blooming deep inside the castle. Although it is called a ‘garden’, when considering the area, it is more like a maze.
Should I say that it feels like a miniature cornfield, so to speak, where you might get lost the moment you enter?
In any case, you won’t be in danger by getting lost in a world with mana.
Besides, this is inside the imperial castle.
“…… But anyway, isn’t this too wide? “I can’t find anything.”
Anyway, so why am I leisurely stopping by the rose garden and looking at the flowers? In order to explain that part, it was necessary to first talk about the quest window that came up the day before.
Yes, this is the quest window.
It was correct to refer to the quest window that made me guess the origin and origin of this body.
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Look for traces inside the castle that are related to Dante.
Clue 1. The rose garden on the outskirts.
Clue 2. Closed stone pagoda in the eastern area.
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‘Even now that I think about it, it’s a situation I couldn’t even imagine.’
How surprised were you when you first saw it? Even if he didn’t say it directly, it was as if he had let me know that Dante was actually of imperial blood.
I was fiddling with my bangs that were covering my eyes.
So, now that I know the truth, that silver hair feels somehow meaningful.
It turned out that this definitely resembled Eve’s.
“On the contrary, I think it’s amazing that I didn’t notice until now… ….”
I suddenly muttered that, but after a moment of thought, I shook my head. Actually, if you think about it that way, wouldn’t the same be true for Eve, who didn’t realize that she and I were related by blood?
“Hmm.”
I don’t know if it’s important, but the inevitable reaction was to feel a bit lost. Could it be that I am a brother to Eve or Lucius?
“Umm… ….”
Of course, let me be clear at this point: I was not Dante.
Although there is no doubt that he is using Dante’s body, it is true that it is wrong in many ways to say that he is 100% the person himself.
So, there was no reason for me to worry about my relationship with Eve and Lucius.
You can just say ‘there are all kinds of amazing things’ and move on.
“…… Well, just because I think that way, I can’t guarantee that they will think that way too.”
However, what you need to think about at the same time is that people other than you won’t just think it’s a big deal and ignore it like you do.
Isn’t that right?
When Eve saw me for the first time, she couldn’t even think of a blood relationship with her.
In other words, there is a high probability that there was originally no character named ‘Dante’ in the imperial family’s genealogy.
But the truth is that Dante was also from the imperial family, and the current emperor seemed not to know that.
I don’t know, but it’s probably not an extremely complicated family situation.
‘Right now, there is a lot of commotion because of what happened at the banquet yesterday, and people who are quick to notice would have noticed something to some extent.’
Then, when I thought about it carefully, I wonder if Eve really didn’t notice my father’s strange attitude. Or Lucius?
Probably not.
We are two siblings who are naturally smart, so there was no way they couldn’t infer the secret(?) Of my birth even with such obvious circumstances.
“…… I don’t want to be needlessly awkward, but whatever. “I can’t help it.”
As I muttered that, I suddenly reached out my hand toward the sparkling ‘something’ caught at the edge of my vision.
Light red climbing roses can be seen wherever you look in this rose garden.
The ‘something’ I discovered was stuck deep in the tangled thorns.
“Bitter, stinging.”
No matter what, you can’t put your hand in a thorn vine and get away with it, so the back of your hand was scratched badly, but you grabbed the object anyway.
And take it out carefully.
“This…” ….”
The item obtained by sacrificing the back of one’s hand was a pile of faded keys that looked as if they had been neglected for quite some time.
Three keys loosely packed and tied with thin chains.
I didn’t know what they were all for, but I knew that this key would be the clue to the rose garden that the quest window told me to find.
Of course, it’s just a intuition.
Tiring!
But this time, it looks like that intuition was exactly right.
At that moment, the sound of a machine echoed and tickled my ears.
────────────────
Look for traces inside the castle that are related to Dante.
Clue 1. Outskirts Rose Garden (complete).
Clue 2. Closed stone pagoda in the eastern area.
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“I found one… ….”
Then is the stone pagoda next?
“…… But, where is the eastern section?”
It took me two hours to find the pile of keys, but at this point, wouldn’t it be a task to get through this maze called the Rose Garden?
I was silent for a moment as the green and red flower gardens filled the surroundings.
“Whoa.”
But what can we do? I have to do it because I have to do it.
Anyway, Dante’s secret was worth checking out at least once.
It’s not just curiosity or interest as a player, it’s also essential for me living here now.
It’s just a guess at this point.
‘First of all, the reason Jibril made such a fuss against me in the first place must have had something to do with it… ….’
-I thought he might be alive.
-Then, of course, you must have come to kill me.
Above all, it is a ‘past’ so important that the emperor of the empire himself said such words in a place with many listening ears.
If there is a possibility that another problem may arise in the future because of such an old incident, I cannot help but feel uneasy.
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In that case, it would be better for me to check all the hidden events of the past and then clearly recognize them.
Thinking like that, I started walking again.
Following the instructions in the quest window, I set out to find a closed stone tower in the eastern area.
*****
The eastern section of the imperial castle meant exactly what it said.
Actually, it would be natural.
So, finding the stone pagoda itself was not that difficult.
Is the problem that I was able to arrive only after traveling to the east, almost to the very end, based on the huge castle that can be seen outside the island?
The exploration of the rose garden must have started early in the morning, but the sun was slowly setting by the time we arrived at the stone pagoda.
I raised my head with the thought that it was an extremely large imperial castle.
A stone pagoda so tall that you can only look at the top if you raise your head like that. Actually, it was just that compared to the imperial castle, but that’s because the castle behind it was too big.
If you think about it, this stone pagoda alone was amazing.
I don’t know for sure since I can’t compare directly, but perhaps it can be compared to some extent with the three major magic towers that occupy one of the four areas of the island?
It was worn down to the point where it seemed really shabby compared to its size.
“First of all, it seems like it’s here… ….”
I muttered something in an uncomfortable voice and then looked around the stone pagoda for a moment.
And reluctantly lets out a sigh.
“…… “It really looks like you don’t want to go in, really.”
This wasn’t really just something to say. If it hadn’t been related to Dante’s past, I would have turned away without hesitation.
The atmosphere and shape are so eerie.
Isn’t this what the witch’s tower in the fairy tale, who eats people, felt exactly like?
Witches in this world don’t really eat people.
“Ha.”
Anyway, what’s the point in worrying about it? I knew I had to go in anyway, so I decided to just close my eyes and go in.
I stood at the entrance of the tower like that.
A wooden gate that looks like dust and powder will fall out if you touch it.
However, despite its fragile appearance, the reason it appears strangely sturdy may be because there is some magic attached to the stone pagoda itself.
It feels like if I touch something thoughtlessly, something bad will happen.
“…… “Is there really something there?”
At that point, I also had no choice but to seriously correct my posture.
Anyway, I wouldn’t have felt this way if the tower had been neglected because it really didn’t have much to offer.
Looking back, it is strange that a stone pagoda like this is located so neatly inside the imperial castle. Even though it is located on the outskirts of Amman, it is still a castle where the emperor resides.
Why not demolish it?
“… ….”
After a moment of heavy silence, I took out the key I had kept in my pocket.
It’s the pile of keys I found in the rose garden.
I had a feeling, but it seemed like these three keys were all items that had to be used on the stone pagoda in front of me.
After a moment of deliberation, I first grabbed a key that seemed to roughly meet the specifications.
And then carefully, very carefully, place it on the main gate of the stone pagoda.
Slap!
“…… Oh.”
Surprisingly, the first key is very accurate and clean.
I then turned the key without hesitation.
Squeak-
Even though it looks like it has been neglected for decades, it runs very smoothly. The lock opened, and the gate opened without a single creaking sound.
What is revealed beyond the gate is a narrow space and a spiral staircase in the center.
Perhaps it can be said to be an unusual form and structure. However, sometimes there is a strange atmosphere that can be felt more intuitively.
This stone pagoda was like that.
‘…… ‘Wow, it’s really spooky.’
I swallowed dryly without realizing it, suppressed my nervousness, and entered the stone pagoda.
It feels like a haunted house.
“Should I walk up to the top?”
I slowly raised my head and looked upward, but as with any spiral staircase, it was not easy to look at the very end.
After narrowing my eyes for a moment, I decided to steadily climb the stairs.
One step. Another step. When I climbed the stairs and looked around, I was impressed by the outside scenery that was sometimes reflected through the gaps in the stone wall.
Looking at the Imperial Castle from a little higher, I wonder if it feels different again.
‘I haven’t been able to eat even one meal since morning. ‘What is this doing?’
Actually, it was mostly because I didn’t think that exploring the rose garden and stone pagoda in the morning would take this long.
Even if I couldn’t do it, I figured I would be able to go back before the sun sets.
With the thought that somehow today was going to be a day spent playing clue games, I slowly stopped walking.
Nothing else, it has arrived.
At the end of the stairs. The top of the stone pagoda.
There was another door there.
“Security is no joke.”
This time, it was made of iron, not wood. If you think that just changing the material a little won’t bring about a dramatic change, you’re mistaken.
Actually, the material and such are not important.
If I can feel the mana flowing without activating Thunderbolt, then I guess I’m done.
I really thought that if I touched this without a key, I would be in big trouble.
“I’m glad I found the garden first.”
Of course, this does not apply to me now that I have the key.
I smiled and took the second key in my hand.
And bring it back again. Through the door, through the keyhole next to the doorknob.
Crash.
“… ….”
The iron door was opened.
*****
The sky is slowly becoming dark.
The setting sun and slightly cool air.
“… ….”
Eve left the castle at such a late hour and headed somewhere. The autumn wind was quite cold, but I didn’t care and wore thin clothes.
However, it wasn’t for the simple reason that she didn’t feel the cold well.
-It seems like you have developed a friendship with Dante. As a senior/junior relationship at the Academy.
It was just that there was no proper situation for her as she was now.
Because she was told it had to be that way.
-I have never said anything more about your friendship until now, Eve. It’s different this time. Be careful.
Eve recalled her father’s words.
She recalled his story.
Although the boy had a bit of a mischievous side, I thought he was a cute junior.
Although we didn’t date for a long time, I thought it was a good relationship.
-If that’s what Dante wants, I’m willing to plead guilty to that child with my life. We cannot allow the blade of revenge to reach you. I can’t do that…….
The presence of such a boy made his father so distracted.
In Eve’s memories, he did not show even a single sign of weakness, and with a dark complexion due to drunkenness, he just let out a sad voice.
-Don’t approach that child. Soon, I will personally take responsibility for what happened in the past in front of that child…….
Eve ended up closing her eyes tightly, remembering her father’s helpless words.
She bit her lip weakly, and her expression was not calm, to say the least.
‘Junior.’
In my mind, I think of Dante. She calls the boy. Anything is fine, I want to hear the answer, but I just call the boy as usual.
Soon, Eve stopped listlessly under the dark night sky.
Raise her head.
What comes into view is a tall stone pagoda. It was a dilapidated stone pagoda.
“… ….”
The tower was the former residence of the person who became Eve’s uncle.
Howard’s Magic Tower.
The gate of the tower, which I had heard would never be opened without the permission of the wizard who owned it, was the gate of the tower that had been left abandoned for a long time after Howard’s disappearance.
At this moment, it was so refreshingly open that it felt empty.
By that time, Eve’s expression had collapsed into a more complicated expression.
What kind of feeling was that?
In fact, Eve herself did not really know what she was feeling at this time. She didn’t figure it out yet.
She was sure that those were her feelings for Dante, but-.
Is this a feeling of betrayal or sadness?
Or is it even more sad?
Eve thought. She tells Dante that she does not know that she is the princess of the empire and that she must have been acquainted with him.
It goes without saying, but there was no one at the Academy who did not know her identity.
Then what is it? Dante, what was that junior thinking that made her smile so brightly at him?
As her father said, did she really form a relationship to seek revenge on the imperial family? … ?
Jureuk.
“Ah.”
That was about it.
Eve suddenly felt her vision becoming slightly blurred and thin tears streaming down her cheeks.
“…… Hot. No, really, why are you like this all of a sudden?”
Eve burst into laughter.
She started crying all of a sudden, it wasn’t even funny. It was such a boring reaction.
If Dante saw her, she would definitely be startled and she would panic. She would then try to wipe away tears, or she would say one or two of her playful remarks once she had calmed down a bit.
Obviously─.
“… ….”
Eve’s dull thoughts could not continue any further. Suddenly, a doubt rose in her.
Is that really true?
Dante junior, is he really going to show that kind of reaction to himself again?
…… They say they are tired of the trivial senior-junior play and make cold faces. Wouldn’t that be true?
Thinking of the thought that the answer was no longer possible for now, Eve weakly rubbed the corners of her eyes.
‘…… ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
And I think. I internally scold, rebuke, and scold again.
‘It’s okay if you just said it. If you hated me because I was the princess, if you hated me for growing up nicely while your junior was going through something terrible, you could have just said it.’
That is better. That was better. It is much better than hiding your true feelings like this and not revealing your true feelings in the end.
If you knew this would happen, wouldn’t you feel better about being resented by your husband?
Rather than a junior becoming a foolish senior who cannot recognize the complex feelings that her younger sibling is hiding. Really.
“…… “Stupid junior.”
After speaking briefly, Eve thoroughly wiped away the traces of her tears.
Because I didn’t necessarily want to show it like this.
Her father told her not to meet Dante, and she knew it was a reasonable and safe choice.
Without hesitation, she chose the ‘possibly dangerous option.’
I will not let her junior suffer alone.
Even if, as a result, she may become the target of his revenge.
Because she never forgot the smile Dante showed her until now. Because she remembered everything clearly.
‘So, as an older sister, I will scold you.’
Trying to swallow back the tears that threatened to fall again, Eve passed the entrance to the stone tower.
She had no worries or concerns about that movement.
It is an effort to somehow maintain the appearance of a confident and unwavering senior.
Eve stepped on her steps. She began to climb quickly.
…… I feel a presence.
Her eyes had already caught the traces of blood left behind on the other side of the stairs.
Although she has been drunk for nearly half a year, she has not forgotten that special blood.
Anyway, she couldn’t easily forget her sweet scent.
‘Bleeding profusely. Where did she get hurt again?’
Eve climbed the tower. To meet her junior.
To meet and have a proper conversation.
She tried to hide it as much as possible, but was unable to completely hide her tearful face.