Episode 29. Building the Real Emperor (Complete)
“Your Majesty…… How come you don’t say anything?”
Lupen ignored Loggia’s question.
Seeing that, Loggia and Conver looked at him in dismay. Conver, not knowing what to do, hurriedly opened his mouth.
“Zu, do you have any evidence?”
“Evidence?”
“Proof that His Majesty the former Emperor Chris has ties to the demons!”
“I knew that Chris signed a contract with the demons and I have been recording with surveillance magic.”
I took out a magic tool in the form of a cube containing the surveillance magic I had observed Chris for two months.
If you want to keep a record of surveillance magic, since Maria’s mana will continue to be lost, it has been moved to a magic tool.
I put the cube on the table and played the video. Then, he immediately designated the video location of the core.
It was a scene where Chris showed the back of his hand to Lufen. A tree shows the back of Chris’s hand with a burning pattern on it.
“This is…… Isn’t that a sign of a spirit contract?”
“Yes. As you said, the pattern on the back of your hand only appears when you make a contract with the spirit. But you can see that the patterns are different. Seeing this, I asked the four spirit kings who the spirit contracted with Chris was.”
Actually, I called the spirit kings and asked them before looking at the pattern, but the order was not important. It was a story as long as it was certain that it was true.
In addition, since the position of the King of Spirits was far beyond human beings, the existence alone could prove its credibility.
Of course, it’s great that people arbitrarily believe that the Spirit King doesn’t lie.
“And I heard from the spirit kings that I did not make a contract with any spirit.”
“Then what is this pattern?”
This part was a shame that the spirit kings wanted to hide, but I had no intention of hiding their circumstances.
No matter what, the priority was to prove that what I had done was right. I was thinking of using everything that was available.
“A few hundred years ago, there was a spirit that escaped from the spirit realm. That spirit was a strong man who betrayed the World Tree and attached himself to the demon king, rising to the position of vice-captain.”
Speak as concisely as possible, but do not leave out the core.
“The name of that being is Lagor, and it was a fallen spirit that I killed in the Forest of Beasts.”
“Corrupted Spirit… ….”
They babble.
“So you mean you signed a contract with that corrupt spirit?”
“Yes. The pattern on the back of the hand is a phenomenon that only appears when a spirit contract is made. However, the spirit kings said that they did not sign a contract with any of the spirits under their command. Eventually, elimination revealed that he had signed a contract with Lagor.”
“The method of elimination! Isn’t that just speculation? There is no evidence that he made a contract with the fallen spirit…… !”
“Then give reasons for thinking so. I have already given a logical basis. Or will you believe me if I bring the spirit kings to this place?”
“That, that… ….”
“But that’s not a good choice. Ragor’s existence is considered shameful by the Spirit Kings. Trying to dig it up is the same as trying to incur the wrath of the spirit kings.”
Can’t say anything.
In the end, Conber also listened to my story one-sidedly with his mouth shut. Even though I asked myself a question, I couldn’t deny it, so I must have understood it. I still can’t believe it though.
“Logia, I began to doubt when I saw Chris’s mana increased dramatically. Did the so-called Archmage really feel nothing?”
“… ….”
He was completely mute.
There must have been something unpleasant about Loggia. However, since he was the emperor, he was the prince who had been watching since he was a child, so he would not have thought of questioning unless something was certain.
Because that would be an act of betraying those you trust and follow.
“That…… This… When asked if you had met demons before, didn’t you answer that you hadn’t met the former Emperor Chris?”
“Of course they would say they didn’t meet. If it were you, would you meet with the demons and tell them that you made a contract?”
“It’s great…… !”
I am the only one who knows that the mantra skill is forcibly drawing out the other person’s sincerity. This can be glossed over.
“Seo, even as you said, even if you made a contract with the demons, it is not right to kill a member of the imperial family alone! Even if that alone is severely punished—”
“Hey. Stop it? Isn’t the proof of why I killed Chris now over? Are you saying something like severe punishment after admitting it?”
As I spoke while glaring at her, Loggia jumped up from her seat. He couldn’t handle living and was trying to cast magic.
“Still, it is clear that the method was not right! On the subject of being a commoner…… ! You bastard had no right to kill the former Emperor Chris!”
Are you emphasizing your status here? What a troublesome boy.
“If you are going to argue about the method, ask Lufen. I did my part and justified it logically so that there is no misunderstanding now. If you are still dissatisfied, it means that you are viewing this situation emotionally, not rationally. Just because i’m not Isn’t it?”
“Hey, hey, hey…… !”
I glanced at the tax collector. She made no expression. She just stood there quietly.
“Lupen Taesangje, please tell me something! Are you going to leave him alone?”
“…… Prause said he did what he had to do.”
He reluctantly opened his mouth.
“I resent you madly for killing Chris, but you blame me for that. I, who raised a child who was taken over by the words of the demons…….”
He glared at me and burst into exasperation, but resigned himself to it.
For me, that appearance was very unexpected. Because I thought he would be angry at me for killing Chris until the end.
“Hmm.”
Even in a situation like this, did you really weigh the pros and cons and decide which one was the real one?
Otherwise, I couldn’t come up with an answer like that.
Should I call it nature? Should I say it’s the price of living a life that has lived a terrible life?
In a sense, Lu Pen could be said to have the qualities to become a true emperor.
But he could not be called a good emperor.
In the end, everything started with Lufen’s massacre.
If it hadn’t been for the massacre, he would have remained a good emperor in my memory.
It was very disappointing.
“…… Then I guess my innocence has been proven. Are you still going to ask for guilt?”
Lufen shook his head from side to side.
“Let’s close this case here and hold Chris’s funeral.”
“Your Majesty…… Are you okay?”
“…… Okay. Wouldn’t it be impossible?”
Everyone shuddered at Lufen’s decision.
In the end, I decided to cover up the case of my killing Chris. The knights who witnessed the situation were also ordered to mute.
The situation ended safely with the threat that if rumors spread, they would be held accountable.
* * *
“Are you dying?”
Seri, who had walked side by side to the stairs leading down to the entrance, cautiously asked.
“That’s right.”
I glanced at the knights following him and said. Now it was her knights to escort her, not her knights to watch over her. I’m really relieved.
“I don’t have any memories that are good enough to make me want to stay here for a long time.”
I shrugged.
Conflicts always arise when I come here, so it was difficult. How many times have you almost turned your back on the empire you were supposed to be close to?
It really took my breath away.
But now it’s all over.
Seri is a person you can trust and entrust. It’s like that in the game, and it’s like that in real life. I’ve been watching for years, so now I can put my mind at ease about the Empire.
If it wasn’t for the time that Seri’s life was in danger, I probably wouldn’t have a job at the imperial palace.
“Then I go.”
“Wait a minute.”
“…… Huh?”
“I’m going to talk to Prause for a while. To wait here.”
Looking at Se-Ri talking to the knights, she smiled.
They say it’s been a few days and your tone has become so solemn? Did you know how to raise your voice?
“Ha, but Your Majesty… Prause is dangerous…….”
“The real danger is for Prause to turn his back on the Empire. Don’t judge by appearance only. This person is a ‘hero’ who has already saved our empire from the demon crisis many times.”
Are you a warrior…….
“…… All right. I will follow Your Majesty’s orders.”
The knights did not let go of their guard even while answering that. The eyes that looked at me stood sharp. But I lightly ignored it and went down the stairs.
The tax collector follows me too. The knights stood with their feet firmly planted.
“I am not a hero.”
I said as I went down the stairs.
“Prause is a hero to me.”
“Why?”
“Because you saved me to live in this world.”
“…… Heh, I see.”
It’s really funny, but can a country like this be a hero to someone?
“By the way, with this, there will be no problem in achieving harmony with other races as Prauss planned. Brother Chris’s death will be a blessing to the Beasts.”
“But there is a lot of work to be done. From now on, it will be up to you. Cheer up.”
“Can I ask for help anytime?”
“…… Just don’t call too often.”
Since I forced her to become her emperor, she was willing to take the least responsibility.
“Well then, the request to become an escort knight that I mentioned before… ….”
“No.”
“I guess so!”
Seri licked her lips as if regretting it.
“This is all. You must be busy, so go in.”
As she neared the entrance to the imperial palace, she stopped her steps and spoke to her.
“Come again. Cheer up.”
I waved my hand moderately and turned around to head towards the entrance where the knights were standing.
It was then.
“Prause.”
Sherry grabbed my wrist.
I looked back puzzled. Seri was looking at me with her serious face.
“What is it?”
“…… Prause. I have something to formally tell you.”
I tilted my head at the formal tone.
Seri took a deep breath and exhaled, then hardened her face as if prepared for something.
“There is a wish I really wanted to achieve when I became emperor.”
“Wish…… ?”
She muttered reflexively, only to belatedly realize what she was about to say. Oh, please…….
“Prause, will you ‘engage’ me?”
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“…… What?”
“I don’t mean to do it right away. I want you to officially marry me after the demons are destroyed in this world.”
“No, I…… !”
“You plan to find a partner after everything is over, right? Right?”
Se-Ri pulls my wrist and secretly presses it. I could feel her people around her staring back and forth between me and her. The sound of ‘Kyaa~’ was a bonus.
“Emperor of Taxi… Once it falls—”
“So, are you thinking about getting married?”
He talks wildly. Come to your senses. What kind of imperial scandal are you planning to film?!
“I will take it as an affirmation that I am not denying it.”
Since I was riding, the tax collector came to his own conclusion.
“I’m not forcing you right away, so please think about it slowly. By then I…… Because I feel like I can take responsibility for Prause.”
I’m not responsible, it’s scary…….
“I will wait for a positive reply. I am the only person who needs to be by your side.”
She emphasized the word “Only me” And let go of her wrist. Then she turns around and goes back the way she came.
“Wait a minute…… !”
She belatedly reached out her hand, but she pretended not to hear and quickly ran up the stairs. I sighed as I watched the tax collector getting further and further away.
Oh, please… I’m not a fan of yandere heroines.
“Teacher?”
Whoa! I was surprised!
If it wasn’t for the facial expression management skill, all the ridiculous expressions would have been revealed.
I thought the warriors would come, but I didn’t expect them to suddenly appear.
“What did you talk about with Emperor Se-ri a while ago?”
“Ah… hmm… …. See you later.”
“For that matter, it seemed quite affectionate, Master?”
Involuntarily, I flinched at Maria’s keen power of observation following Tina’s questioning.
“Master is ours… …. I am sure you know.”
No. I didn’t know that fact until now.
Iris wiggled her tail from side to side and grabbed me by the sleeve. Even when you get older, you still have a lot of childishness, you guys.
“…… Let’s go back home It all ended well.”
“Anyway, I believed that Master would do well on his own, so I don’t have to tell you all about it. More than that, what did you talk about with the Emperor Seri? Was it an engagement story after all?!”
…… How do you know that
To call it speculation, his voice was full of confidence. Didn’t this guy have a wiretapping device attached to me?
“Engagement?!”
“Master will marry me! Don’t give it to anyone!”
As Tina’s cry echoed through the imperial hallway, the people around her began whispering even louder. I urgently pushed the backs of the warriors.
“Come on, let’s go. Hurry.”
“Then you’ll give me a clear answer when I get home?!”
Ah, why are you doing this, I’m tired.
After barely passing through the crisis, another crisis of a different meaning was about to arise.
When I pushed through the warriors and left the palace, the clear sky greeted me.
For some reason, I felt relieved because I was looking at the sky from a distance.
It felt like the lump in my heart had been completely released, so I smiled involuntarily.
Still, the story isn’t over yet.
Because demons still exist in this world.
Until we exterminate them all, I will, no… We could never stop.
“Master?”
“As expected, I smile while imagining the engagement…… !”
“No.”
I took a step while betting on the warriors.