97 – 24. Now I know (4)
Around the time when Princess Ekaterina was concentrating on the story of Xien.
Another story was going on in the most important and secret place inside the imperial palace.
“I heard the news. You said you were out in Fiore.”
“It happened.”
“This now exposes you to everyone else. It’s very embarrassing when it comes to this.”
The emperor clutched his forehead as if he was in pain.
Adele didn’t seem to have changed much.
However, it seems that it is not the only thing when you see that you are fiddling with your hands.
‘guy. You’re still nervous.’
The Emperor smiled inwardly as he thought about it.
This is Adele, who has been under him for over 10 years.
He is an extremely quiet young man, but he is aware of some changes.
One of them is fiddling with your hands like that when you’re nervous about something.
“… There was no other way.”
“know. I never thought Fiore would be pushed so helplessly. It is different from the reports we received before.”
Nobles don’t know, but the imperial intelligence department ‘White Owl’ updates their investigation every month.
There are various investigation parts, but the most important thing right now is their fighting ability.
How many demons of what grade are created and how long they can last.
It was not just about enduring, but about closely figuring out if you could get closer to victory.
You need to know those parts so you can adjust the troops that can be mobilized in case of emergency.
Even if you don’t know the situation, just conscripting is like throwing food to the beasts.
Because of this, the snowy owl always thoroughly researched and presented it to the imperial family.
“What was it?”
“I said that in the case of Fiore, even if you take damage, you will be able to block it when a second-class demonic spectacle occurs. I thought so too. Fiore is also a very sharp sword.”
“It was sharp. I acknowledge that part.”
“It sounds as if the sharpness has done some harm.”
At the Emperor’s words, Adele nodded slowly.
“If it were the existing magic beasts, we would have been able to push with that momentum. However, as a result of my fighting, the monsters have changed little by little, but differently from before.”
“Otherwise, I just received a report from the eagle. I was very surprised when you gave it to me saying it was a demon you captured alive.”
“Why are you surprised?”
“When was the last time you, Wolfheddin, brought back a Witchbeast alive? I killed them all.”
The eagle side is where the research is conducted by examining the monsters one by one.
In the past, it was the Imperial Knights, but now each territory captures and sends monsters by type.
The eagle then receives them, examines them, dissects them, and identifies the beast.
Of course, higher-grade monsters are more valuable than lower-grade monsters.
Also, a living demon is much more useful than a dead demon.
Looking at it that way, from the eagle’s point of view, it’s good to give Wolfheddin a high demon corpse.
He was a bad opponent because he had never given him a breathless magic beast.
But this time, news spread that Adele had captured the Witchbeast alive.
Thanks to this, the eagle side said, ‘What is this?’ What I was doing was the current situation.
“Anyway, according to the eagle’s investigation, it is said that the size has increased slightly compared to the existing object. Because you cut off your limbs, the details are a bit lacking, but you said that with that level of change, even the soldiers who had endured well so far could collapse due to a sudden difference.”
“Is that so?”
“Did you say that the Witchbeast you brought was waiting in the back and joined the group that was counterattacking?”
“yes. That’s right.”
“If it’s false, it means it’s not a mutation, but a hidden power intentionally. hahahaha. I didn’t know that witches would even think about this much. This is very embarrassing.”
During the Great War, the monsters were just more ferocious and difficult to counter.
He has only minimal intelligence, and even in the midst of battle, he puts more effort into hunting.
Thanks to this, the empire, which suffered severe damage in the beginning, was able to turn the tide from the middle.
However, reports of various ominous contents that have been handed down for a while.
In addition, if you think about the subjugation of the 2nd grade Demon Lord that was transmitted in Fiore this time.
It could be seen that the present situation was different from that of the Great War.
“The eagle’s conclusion is this. Something has changed with the witches. Whether it be a physical change or a mental change, in a way that never benefits the Empire.”
“… .”
This is absolutely not good, unpleasant news.
It’s just the yard that’s about to go back to the original empire.
If the beasts show a change and another war with a different aspect breaks out.
How long this empire will be able to hold out, I can’t be sure.
“And the snowy owl said that there were signs of abnormalities beyond the Devil’s View.”
“It is the first time I have heard such a story.”
“This is a new discovery. It’s long, but I think there’s a possibility.”
The conclusions drawn by the snowy owl and the eagle agree.
It’s no coincidence. And it’s not even a mistake. This is an unavoidable reality.
“… your majesty.”
Adele, who was silent for a while, parted her lips slowly.
“Should I go back to my seat?”
That word that Adele spits out means only one thing.
A pack of wolves that have no reason to exist anymore.
Whether to go back there was the first wolf’s question.
If ordered to return to his seat, he will.
Right now, he is by Shien’s side, but the emperor is above him.
If he commands you to return, you will have no choice but to obey.
That was the grace of the one who took him in, and the reason for the original light.
“You’re making strange noises again.”
The emperor shook his head as if he hadn’t even thought about it.
“I have already made it clear. I will never call you.”
“but… .”
“Isn’t that the path you chose? How can I turn it around?”
“Are you saying I can come back if I want to?”
“Arthur. Didn’t someone tell you that it wouldn’t happen?”
I don’t know if the empire faces a crisis like it did during the Great War.
Even so, the emperor thought that there would be no need to call Adele.
Isn’t it only the magic beasts that have grown over time?
The Empire and everyone in this country are also different from before.
Radish, which was considered important only to knights, has now become common to all.
Even those who seem to be old and weak now are veterans who fought against demons in the past.
The women also made an effort to at least protect themselves and their families.
There is no such thing as relying on someone to beg for your life like before.
All will fight, all will bleed, all will win or lose.
Only then can this empire move more firmly into the future.
“You stay with her.”
“yes?”
“The family head of Liechtenau. I mean, stay with her.”
“that is… .”
Just as Adele was about to part her lips, the emperor stood up.
Then he gestured towards Adele as if to follow him.
The place the two arrived at was a balcony overlooking the inside of the imperial palace.
Adele followed the emperor and soon saw two women sitting in front of her.
It seems that Princess Ekaterina and Shien are talking.
Whenever Shien said something, the princess smiled and asked if it was true.
The emperor, who had been staring at that figure, looked back at Adele and said.
“It suits you well.”
“your majesty?”
“I was wondering who would take a desolate guy like you, but fortunately I think I met him well.”
“What are you talking about? I never… .”
“It’s already too late the moment you say that. Because men are inevitable.”
Adele knows the basic concept of love.
However, it was because there was no object to harbor that love, and no reason or room to embrace it.
Because he had only been interested in wielding a sword and slaughtering demon beasts.
Of course, there was absolutely no chance of that happening.
“Tell me honestly. Is the light you speak of really the only reason?”
“That’s right.”
“I will ask again. Adele. Is that really all?”
Adele tried to answer the emperor’s words with a reflexive response.
But soon something inexplicable took possession of him.
“… .”
After a moment of hesitation, Adele turned her head and looked at Shien, who was sitting in front of her.
What are you talking about, a smile forms on your lips.
And Ekaterina, who hears that, laughs and giggles.
What the hell are you talking about?
Are you sure you’re not talking about yourself? If so, what is it about?
“Tsk tsk.”
Looking at Adele, the emperor clicked his tongue slightly.
I wouldn’t say no, but I’d think I wouldn’t.
The emotions expressed on the face, the mind set on the expression cannot be hidden.
‘I never thought I’d see him make a face like that in my whole life.’
Perhaps Adele herself will never know.
When you see a woman sitting over there, what kind of expression do you make?
It wasn’t a man full of vengeance and hatred, nor was it a wolf tearing and swallowing demons.
At that moment, Adele was just an extremely ordinary person.