The emperor, Deus, looked at Reinhardt with complicated eyes.
“A guy like a thunderclap…. I trusted you, so where the hell did you go?”
It has been almost 40 days since he abandoned his duties as the head of the investigation team and disappeared.
I couldn’t help but ask where I was and what I was doing during that time.
This is because the empire was in a state of super-emergency.
Neither Croft nor the butler, Germin, know Reinhardt’s whereabouts.
There was no way to know if he had been kidnapped or not, or what he was doing in a remote area.
Despite having mobilized all the information networks of the empire.
As if it had evaporated.
“I had something urgent to see.”
“Do you know how much of the royal family’s financial resources were used to find you?”
“Did you find me?”
I looked at Deus with a look of surprise.
It was because he did not expect that following Launel, even the emperor would search for him so anxiously.
It would have been better if I had been angry and played the sutra.
However, in the emperor’s eyes, there was a hidden worry that he knew but did not know.
It’s the first time the emperor looks at me like that… At least not in my memory.
“Then the crown prince of the empire has disappeared and you are not looking for it?”
“I thought you wouldn’t find it.”
I know the evaluation of me has changed.
I had to prove myself several times, so I couldn’t help but change.
However, it is not easy to change even the perception that the evaluation has changed.
So honestly, I thought I wouldn’t find it.
Anyway, from Deus’ point of view, I’ll be a trouble maker.
“… All events of the crown prince must be clear and obvious. Let’s hear what that urgent matter was. ”
However, it is different.
Today’s Deus had a clear difference from the one I remembered.
In the past, I wouldn’t have paid any attention, let alone looked for it. Even if he paid attention, it would have been to punish him for causing the accident.
Listen. my words I will ‘listen’ and decide what I’ve done…
It was the first time in my previous life and this life.
Because he was a being who only judged and punished on his own.
‘What should I do?’
difficult. It was difficult.
If you’d rather be angry like fire, you’ll just end up being punished.
It was clearly a mistake to go outside while ignoring the duties of the investigation leader for a long time. It was also a proof that his eyes were turned to ‘extortion of achievements’.
Thanks to that, he robbed achievements, killed Malfiel, and even harbored original sin.
However, I can’t say those facts straight away, can’t I?
You can’t say that you went to Rigel Kingdom while hiding your identity…
“Did you hear the news from Rigel Kingdom, Your Majesty?”
“You mean the mortal sins have appeared? Even so, the Holy Church decided to send someone. Or, did it have anything to do with it?”
Deus’ expression changed.
It is pure anger and contempt.
I did ask once though.
“What are you planning to do?”
“Are you trying to change your mind? ······ Of course, I will actively participate. Rooting out the devil’s cult would be beneficial to everyone.”
Everything related to the Demon Church must be annihilated.
Not to mention the seven deadly sins.
It seemed that such an emperor’s will could not be reversed.
‘If I told the truth, I’d be dethroned.’
I am the mortal sin of the Demon Church. The moment you say that, you can see what the future will be like.
There was no future to kill, to dethrone, or to emerge with good results anyway.
But the only thing that caught her was Saint Jasmine.
Flick has calmed down and brainwashed me with dragon words, so there is nothing to worry about, but Saint Jasmine clearly saw my face.
“Who did Shinsungyo decide to send? Are you Saint Jasmine?”
“Yes. Saint Jasmine and Cardinal Amar. ”
Expectations were right.
After all, it must have been Saint Jasmine who first spoke to the church, so it was a set procedure.
Did you think he would have killed you even if he was forced to do so?
no. I shook my head inwardly.
Otherwise, Arel would have died. It was because he had to be near Arell until Zero Two woke up.
The problem is that if Saint Jasmine sees me, she will definitely recognize me.
“So, are you saying that this problem has something to do with your running away?”
Deus urged.
Reluctantly, I opened my mouth.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Hmm······.”
Deus salivated and rubbed his chin.
If it has anything to do with the appearance of the mortal sins, it is by no means small.
I lightly bowed my head.
“your majesty. I noticed in advance that the Demon Church was on the move.”
“how?”
“Because I was attacked.”
“…”
The emperor’s forehead wrinkled.
He was well aware of the fact that there was an assassin who attacked the prince’s palace.
Before that, the palace of the 4th emperor was attacked by a monster.
The impossible happened one after another.
The emperor’s eyes darkened.
Then, did Reinhardt leave because he thought the palace was unsafe?
“Ballog.”
As soon as the name of the Balrog was called, the door opened and the Balrog appeared with a man in his hand.
A limp man. I said, looking at him who was covered in blood all over.
“He is an assassin sent from the Dark Church. It is said to be one of the five swords of the Dark Church.”
“Huh… is that guy?”
An assassin sent by the Dark Church.
But what was even more surprising was the balrog.
Even Deus felt an unusual aura.
As an emperor, Deus has seen many strong people.
Not only the empire, but also the strong people of other countries were well acquainted with it.
However, the knight wearing the black armor, helmet, and cape had a stronger presence than any other strong men I had ever seen.
It gives me goosebumps just by looking at it.
If the emperor himself, who was not an ordinary person, felt that way, he would surely be a great knight.
Where the hell did Reinhardt get such an article from?
“This is a direct link between the Demon Church and Archduke Carlos.”
“… Did Archduke Carlos join hands with the Devil Church to kill you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Deus’ entire body began to tremble subtly.
There was a suspicion that Archduke Carlos was in contact with the Devil Church.
However, there was no clear evidence and no witnesses, so there was no way to do anything.
However, sending an assassin from the Demon Church clearly crossed the line.
Even the crown prince of the empire. Trying to kill the man who would later become a pillar of the Empire?
‘dare······!’
Whoops!
The throne collapses.
Uncontrollable anger was drawn on his face.
Although Deus was the emperor, he did not dare to confront Archduke Carlos.
It was because he did not think that the empire would remain intact if he waged a civil war with him, who overthrew countless nobles and powerful knights.
To be honest, I was afraid too.
Because Archduke Carlos’ charisma was in contrast to his own.
but······.
Since collaborating with the Demon Church was an unforgivable felony, he even aimed for Reinhardt’s life together with them.
That too, by bringing an assassin into the palace.
In this place where you are!
How many times have you neglected yourself to do something like this?
No matter how much he bowed down and entered, he was still the owner of the empire.
Even more so, the fact that Reinhardt was ambushed meant that the contact point between Archduke Carlos and Reinhardt had completely disappeared.
The reason Reinhardt was installed as the crown prince was for Archduke Carlos to use Reinhardt as a puppet emperor.
You probably want to remove it when it becomes unusable.
“I can’t believe in the Holy Church. Be careful, as Archduke Carlos’s knapsacks also reach the Holy Church.”
“…are you talking about Saint Jasmine and Cardinal Amir?”
Nod.
names mentioned earlier.
poured oil on the fire
It is enough to sow suspicion.
Also, since it was true that Archduke Carlos’ nephew was in the Holy Church, strictly speaking, it wasn’t a lie.
The emperor was furious with fire.
“I will never .
Not towards me, but towards Archduke Carlos.
For the first time, the angle of confrontation with Archduke Carlos was sharpened.
It was a first for me too.
Even in the past, Deus was afraid of the Archduke. As long as he did not directly touch the imperial family, he yielded and surrendered everything.
But not anymore.
It was unexpected.
the emperor has changed
I didn’t expect him to express his anger with such full force.
‘Is it because of my authority?’
Of course, no powers were manifested. However, it may have been that the authority secretly leaked out and influenced the emperor.
‘It’s not because of authority…’
However, there was no way I would not notice the change caused by the authority.
That is pure anger.
However, I didn’t know where he was getting so angry.
Because of the collusion between Archduke Carlos and the Devil Church?
Or because of an assassin who broke into the palace?
Since he cherished this place where he was like a sanctuary, it was only natural for him to be concerned about the two consecutive surprise attacks.
Then, Deus looked at me and said.
“Good work. Stay in the palace with your soldiers. Jim will take care of the rest himself.”
Will you solve it yourself?
It was also unusual for Deus to directly tackle such a problem.
Besides, there was a lot of meaning in that word that you worked hard.
those eyes.
Those were the eyes of the struggle that had been going through all this time.
Do you really think I’ve been hiding from the devil’s cult for about 40 days?
“Not Archduke Carlos, the Devil Church, or the secretaries of the Holy Church, no one will be able to touch you now. Reinhardt. You can rest easy now.”
······ It seems like that.
*
Left alone, Deus sighed.
‘Even under attack, he did not speak… on the contrary, he hid himself. It’s that I didn’t trust Jim.’
How scared would you have been to hide without telling anyone?
At first he was angry, but now he felt sorry for Reinhardt.
Archduke Carlos, the Devil Church, and even the Holy Church. He must have had no choice but to hide under the pressure of those enormous forces.
It is also proof that no one believes it.
Even the emperor himself did not have such faith.
It is natural. There was no way he could have faith by looking at his actions.
‘No matter how much he changes and pretends to be strong, he still has little experience.’
Reinhardt has changed.
got stronger
but still young I haven’t had much experience. Because you prevented yourself from doing it.
At least he got a position as the head of the investigation, but I can’t even imagine how much he must have tightened his heart against the threat of assassination.
It should be pampered, not scolded. must be protected
It seems that Reinhardt’s dazzling transformation temporarily blinded him.
The fundamental problem hasn’t changed.
It is a father’s natural duty to protect his children. No matter how painful his fingers were, Reinhardt was his own child.
And······.
‘Arduke Carlos.’
Deus’ eyes were savage.
He, who has a high reputation as a sage king, has never shown any hostility.
‘You touched something that shouldn’t be touched.’
Crossed the line.
so.
“I will not tolerate it any longer.”
Deus roared.
＜ The Emperor’s Roar ＞ End