54 – Almost threatened by the Emperor.
“First of all, there is something I would like to suggest to you.”
“Let’s listen.”
The emperor put on a very confident expression and began to invite me.
“There is only one thing Jim wants from you. It is what becomes the strength of our empire.”
“In one word, you are asking me to become a daughter of the empire, right?”
“Ugh, the tone is not good. I’m not talking about a vertical relationship. What Jim is talking about is a very horizontal relationship.”
I had no intention of standing on the Empire’s side anyway, but for now, I decided to listen to the Emperor’s proposal in silence.
“If you accept Jim’s proposal, I will give you a total of three rewards.”
“Three?”
Is it my misunderstanding that the repertoire seems to be flowing like it was in Suinguk?
“First, I will basically give you all the support the Empire can provide. Gold coins, combat support, even women if you like.”
“Umm…”
To my surprise, the emperor’s first proposal didn’t interest me at all.
First of all, I didn’t need much in the case of gold coins, and Veronica, who was stronger than the emperor in battle support (of course, is simply my expectation), was by my side, and in the case of women…
-You don’t mean to show such ugliness in front of me, do you?
My Queen Veronica was watching me 24 hours a day, so even if I wanted to hug a woman, I couldn’t.
But it’s not indecent, it’s a very sacred thing for breeding…
– Sacred?
‘I’ll just shut up.’
-That’s a good choice.
I didn’t want to get hit again for no reason, so I’ll omit any further discussion.
“Second, I will provide you with one of the 12 treasures of the Empire.”
“..12 Treasure?”
I couldn’t understand the emperor’s second suggestion.
The 12 treasures of the empire?
It sounds like something good, but I couldn’t figure out what it actually was.
However, Veronica explained to me in a rather surprised tone that she knew about the 12 treasures of the Empire.
-The 12 strongest Noble Phantasms that come down to the empire are often referred to as the 12 treasures of the empire.
‘Are you saying that the strongest Noble Phantasm… Is really good?’
-It’s at a ‘pretty’ good level. If you divide the item grade from 1st to 9th grade, it is about 3rd grade.
Isn’t level 3 a very ambiguous level? It’s a grade that can’t even be in Seoul if you hit it with the scholastic ability.
For reference, I had an average grade of 2 during the college entrance exam.
-I don’t know if you think it’s not that big of a grade from the king’s feeling, but the 1st and 2nd grade items aren’t things that humans can handle. In other words, by human standards, 3rd-class items are the most outstanding items.
‘What is that? What kind of items are the 1st and 2nd rank items…’
-For example… A demonic sword that instantly kills an opponent just by touching it is about 2nd grade…?
Crazy.
-Besides, since most of the 1st and 2nd grade items are ego items that have egos, they do not belong to one country. Most of the countries that tried to belong to it had a bad ending.
‘Then the 3rd grade item is the best in general terms?’
-Well, you can see that. For reference, the magic sword used by Rex, the commander of the Corps of Despair, is barely enough to do a 3rd-class pull-up.
If it were the demonic sword of Rex, the commander of the Legion of Despair, it would surely be the black sword that exuded a very ominous energy.
Every time I swing it, the sword energy goes out. Was it the effect of the demonic sword?
“And thirdly, I will appoint you as Viscount, one of the noble titles of the Empire.”
“.. Huh?”
When I heard the emperor’s final condition, I couldn’t help but groan a little.
That’s because I never expected that the emperor would even give me a title.
“Is it okay to give it away like that?”
“There will be strong opposition, but it is possible if you try your best.”
Even though I knew that the nobles would oppose me, it seemed that the emperor was more important to me than I thought.
But why?
Hubert and the Emperor exist, but what’s the use of me being weaker than them?
Hmm… I have no idea. Or are you just collecting earthlings as if you were collecting a collection?
“And I will compensate Hubert for the rudeness he treated you separately. This is compensation regardless of whether or not he accepted the proposal, so please accept it without hesitation.”
“Oh, really?”
Honestly, I was beaten like dust by Hubert because of the emperor’s order, but I would have been a little sad if he hadn’t paid me.
“This is a reward given to Grace as an individual before being the emperor, so I’ll get off right here. When you leave the Imperial Castle and go to the Street of the Sun, there is a large shop called Alberto Blacksmith’s. Alberto’s Blacksmith’s is the most famous blacksmith brand shop on the continent. If you want, I’ll help you get an item from the forge.”
“In short, a one-time free pass…Is it similar?”
“That’s correct.”
‘By the way, what kind of place is Alberto Forge? In Korea, is it a brand similar to old x or Louis V x?’
As I was curious about Alberto’s forge, Veronica started explaining about Alberto’s forge at good timing.
-This brand was founded a long time ago by a genius blacksmith named Alberto. Currently, there are not as many excellent items as there were in Alberto’s time, but it is a place where most of the skilled blacksmiths gather, so you can get moderately useful items.
‘Ooh… Is it okay?’
In short, it is a luxury brand store in another world, isn’t it?
Personally, when I was in Korea, I didn’t prefer luxury items because they were too expensive.
In fact, no matter how much you hate luxury goods, if you were asked to choose between a 6,000 won T-shirt and a 500,000 won old T-shirt, 100 out of 100 would definitely choose the 500,000 won old T-shirt.
“So…How do you like the offer?”
The emperor waited for my answer with his signature confident expression on his face.
It was as if he was sure that I would never refuse his offer.
But…
“I like your offer.”
“hahahaha, of course. It’s a bit of a load, so I suggested it.”
“Yes, that’s right…But…”
I’m sorry, but I don’t really like the Empire itself.
Before that, I hated the other world itself.
Thinking about it, I was forcibly brought here after living well in Korea, so who would have good feelings for me?
Of course, I really liked the country itself, but it was only because the Leonhardt royal family was very human.
So, of course, the emperor’s proposal was ‘rejected’
From noble mtl dot com
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of belonging to the Empire.”
“hahahaha!
When I declined the offer, the Emperor opened his eyes wide and looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.
Anyway, in the emperor’s head, the option of my refusal didn’t seem to exist at all.
“What is that…What part of Jim’s proposal did you not like?”
“I really liked the offer itself. But I still don’t want to belong anywhere.”
So don’t be rude, emperor.
“hehehe…This is a totally unexpected development.”
The emperor frowned and rested his chin on the handle of his throne, letting out a sigh.
“Is that really your decision?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you regret it?”
“…Yes?”
No f*ck, why is the atmosphere so damn loud all of a sudden?
“You certainly saved our empire, so I’ll make sure to pay you back. But…”
“..But?”
“It is true that you trespassed into the maze of the sun. For reference, if you trespass into the maze of the sun at will, you will be sentenced to 10 years in prison under the law of the empire.”
I haven’t stolen anything in 10 years?
Of course I’m going to steal it, but it’s not yet.
Has this old man gone senile? You helped me and put a knife in my back?
“Don’t make that face. Will I really do that?”
“…Then why did you say that?”
“I just wanted to ask you what it would be like to live in the Empire for just one year on the condition that you acquiesce to it.”
The emperor’s ulterior motive was simple.
I rejected your offer, but I want to use you as your limb.
So, catch the pod as much as possible and keep me, even for a year.
And it was clear that it was intended to show the good(?) Aspects of Empire for a year and to do marketing in the form of ‘Isn’t this enough?’
But I had no intention of staying in the Empire for a year.
The reason why I came to the empire was that the place marked on the map given to me by Lee Seo-joon, Lee Seo-yoon, and Veronica was in the empire.
I had already solved one of the two, so there was no reason for me to stay in this empire once the last one was solved.
So…What should I do with this?
“If you refuse… Well, you’ll have no choice but to spend 10 years in prison.”
“……”
“So you decide, uh…”
At that time, suddenly, a black mist containing tremendous magical energy began to flow out from behind me.
Of course it wasn’t what I did, it was probably what Veronica did.
“That…That’s…!”
However, the reaction of the emperor upon seeing the black fog was strange.
At first, I thought he was just startled by the thick mana of the black mist, but upon closer inspection, the emperor’s eyebrows were quivering as if he was frightened.
“…I see…You have his protection…”
“…Yes?”
“No. It seems I’ve excused myself for a moment. Forget all about what Jim just said. Whatever you choose, I will respect it.”
After that, the emperor began to forcibly open the door to the throne room using his magical power.
It was as if he wanted to get out of this situation quickly.
“Then let’s go. Come on.”
“No but why…”
“I won’t take any more questions.”
In the end, I was semi-forcibly kicked out of the audience room by the emperor’s decree.
‘f*ck, what is it?’
What were the strange behaviors the emperor showed as soon as he saw Veronica’s black mist?
First of all, the emperor and Veronica seem to have a relationship, so the quickest way is to ask Veronica directly…
‘…Veronica?’
…But where did you go kid?
***
“It’s been a while. Grace.”
“…..Why are you here?”
After the Gaon disappeared, in the throne room of the Emperor, Veronica, who exuded an ominous aura and crossed her arms in displeasure, glared at Grace.
“How dare you do this? I originally tried not to get involved in the world, but looking at your attitude, that feeling has disappeared.”
“…..If I had known in advance that you were interested in him, I never would have.”
“It’s just an excuse.”
Veronica transformed the inside of her throne room, which was filled with Grace’s compressed mana, into her own ominous energy, and began to put tremendous pressure on him.
“If you hadn’t been for chaos and hostility, you would have cut my own throat.”
“..Is that man that important? As long as you protect him yourself.”
“…Important…Very.”
Veronica stretched out her hand toward Grace with a blank look on her face.
Then her black mist began to spurt out of her hands and form a woman.
She is a peerless beauty with beautiful long blonde hair and shining brown eyes.
“…Why do you do that?”
“Warning. Very simple.”
Veronica looked at her Grace with cold eyes, crushing the blonde woman created by her black mist in an instant.
“If you don’t want to lose something in an ‘accident’ like the Empress, it’s better to make as few enemies as possible.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
After saying that, Veronica quietly turned into her black mist and disappeared somewhere.
When Grace confirmed that the ominous mana that filled her throne room was returning to her own mana, she let out a sigh and thought about her.
‘……What kind of a man is he…’
Veronica Bloodia.
Not many people know about her now, but her other nickname is ‘Nyx’.
The goddess of night worshiped and worshiped by the demon kingdom.
That was her true identity.
God the empire really has made itself look like complete trash. They enslaved earthlings, sent the known psychopath to get mc while being aware he would attack him, then blackmailed mc to work for them while they owed him a massive debt. I guess they have some duty to save the world or something, but there really isn’t much they could have done to make a worse first impression.
So her being lvl 94 is a lie eh?