Chapter 149
“Uurghhh…”
“Aaghhh…”
Bzzzzzzzzt.
Red vapor the color of blood and the agonized screams of humans were pervading the inside of an underground building.
Whirr, whirr.
In the middle of the exquisitely and sturdily constructed underground building was a large magic array exuding a great deal of yin-attribute mana.
“S-Save ! I beg you, save ee!!!!”
In the center of the magic array laid a single stone bed dyed by the blood of countless victims. Atop that bed a man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties was struggling desperately, mana bracelets on his wrists.
The sound of footsteps could be heard approaching the magic array, which was giving off a gloomy light in the unlit room. The struggling man frantically raised his head and looked at the person approaching.
“Save ! I am the chief knight of the Empire’s northern 5th Army, Karmanx! Please let gooo!!!”
For so unknown reason, Karmanx had been sleeping in his bedroom when he was dragged here. He was a successful knight with a fairly promising future in the Laviter Empire, but right now, he was frozen in fear. Karmanx strained his neck to look up, but the man’s face was obscured by a black robe.
“Huhuhu…”
The robed man silenced Karmanx’ shout with a cold laugh.
“W-Who is it! Who do you think you are, to persecute a knight of the empire in such a manner?! If the empire finds out about this, you and your family will all be ripped to pieces!”
Having realized from the robed man’s dark laugh that he wasn’t here to rescue him, the knight Karmanx threatened the man with the empire’s na.
“You’re a noisy one.”
The robed man’s voice was quiet and lacked emotion.
“Why… why are you holding captive?! Do you have a grudge against or sothing?!”
Feeling the man’s invisible bloodthirst, Karmanx resolved himself for death and asked why he was there. Even if he died, he wanted to know why, why soone had kidnapped and wanted to kill a knight of the empire.
“I need your mana.”
“What?!” scread Karmanx, shocked.
“I need your hot mana… My loyal knight.”
“W-What nonsense are you spouting?! Why would I be your knight!”
Karmanx desperately scanned his opponent.
As he did so, the man slowly lowered the hood concealing his face.
“!!!”
Upon seeing the exposed face, Karmanx’s eyes widened the furthest they’d ever been in his life.
“You will be reborn. Your mana will receive love in my heart for all of eternity, and your flesh will be reborn anew as a knight of death that does not die. Karveshavedian… lohindaimahu…”
“W-Why are you… why… gugh!”
Unable to swear at the person who was about to kill him, the knight Karmanx was polite to the very end, his eyes filled with despair. The magic array activated with the man’s mysterious chant, causing an enormous amount of pressure to assault Karmanx’s body.
Clank, clank. Bam bam bam.
Hundreds of stakes suddenly protruded from the stone bed, plunging themselves rcilessly into Karmanx’s prone body.
Driiip, driiiiiip.
As the body, which had been flattened by pressure, was pierced by stakes, blood quickly flowed down the stakes onto the magic array.
Siiiizzzzzlllllee.
As Karmanx’ blood touched the magic array, it transford into red fog.
“Huhuhu. Co. Hurry and co to .”
The man stared at the fog made of blood with a look of rapture. Shockingly, the fog of blood hanging over the magic array was sucked into the man’s nose.
“Kukukuku…”
As the man laughed in delight while inhaling the fog, his eyes slowly began to turn red.
* * *
‘So this is Haildrian!’
When I thought of Haildrian, I thought of a remote backcountry. Unlike my ho continent, Kallian, this remote empire located in the northern continent was in the grips of winter for half the year, so expecting sothing on the level of Alaska or Norway was only natural for my common sense.
However, it was different from what I had imagined.
‘It’s incomparable to Nerman.’
After flying like the knight had instructed, a castle appeared. Though old, it was a neatly-maintained, enormous castle. When Bebeto and I drew near, around ten white wyverns appeared. After surrounding , I ended up eting the castle’s owner, who was surprised when I told him I had co on the summons of the Tsarina. He sent on my way with wyverns to keep guard. Of course, I was sure he had used a magic communication line to confirm my identity beforehand.
‘Looks like they’re going to give a proper welco.’
We hadn’t yet reached the Imperial Palace, but when we reached the vicinity of the capital, around 20 wyverns appeared in the sky, bearing Imperial Skyknights wearing fluttering white cloaks that most likely symbolized the Haildrian Imperial Palace. They fell into position around and Bebeto, forming a defensive formation. I couldn’t tell whether they were here to welco or to keep an eye on , but in any case, it wasn’t unpleasant. I didn’t expect to be escorted in such grandeur in Haildrian.
‘The buildings don’t look much different.’
Because this was a cold region, the bricks were thick and the houses were low, but otherwise, the architectural designs weren’t much different from Kallian.
‘That must be the Imperial Palace.’
After flying wordlessly for a while under the escort of the Haildrian Imperial Skyknights, a massive walled city standing out clearly in the plains appeared.
‘Wow!’
As we ca closer, I couldn’t help but exclaim. The scale of the castle was no inferior to that of the Bajran Imperial Palace. Thousands of buildings lay within the protection of the endless castle walls. In the middle of the high and low buildings, there appeared what seed to be the inner castle, possessing walls easily 10 ters higher than the outer walls.
That was the residence of the Tsarina of Haildrian. The Skyknights guiding the way from the side directed to the direction of the inner castle.
‘There are people, horses, and buildings too. Yep, this is a place habited by humans as well.’
It was separated from our continent, so Haildrian ca to be treated like a myth. Yet upon seeing it with my own eyes, I realized it wasn’t much different from Nerman. Even though Haildrian had apparently lacked proper contact with Kallian for hundreds of years, the civilization was similar. They might not have officially opened their doors to outsiders, but it was clear that culture from the Kallian Continent was influencing them.
‘Hm?’
Maybe because I had received the invitation of the Tsarina ruling Haildrian, but I was given a free pass right into the inner castle. As we flew, a certain scene entered my eyes.
‘W-Whoaah! What’s that?!’
It was definitely still a cold ti of the year, sowhere between winter and spring. But not here. The inner castle occupied an enormous stretch of land, and on it, flowers were blooming, fruits hung on the trees, and everyone coming and going was dressed lightly.
‘Magic!’
It was magic. When I looked closer, I could see a faint mana barrier, like the one that I felt whenever I went to the Elven Village. It seed they were controlling the weather with temperature control magic.
‘They’ve got magic crystals rotting away, I see.’
I was speechless. This show of utter wealth had , soone who crawled all this way out of desperate need to beg for magic crystals, completely browbeaten. Casting temperature control magic over the entirety of such a huge space went past magical ability—it ant that an enormous quantity of magic crystals was being consud. The Bajran Empire had a flower garden year-round as well, but this was on a completely different level, like the difference between a neighborhood kiosk and a gamall. I stared at the Haildrian inner castle with envy as we moved to a place that looked like the Imperial Covert.
‘Even if they gave only half of what it takes to power this place, Nerman wouldn’t have to fret about magic crystals for my entire life.’
The price for ddling with nature with human strength was the consumption of a tric ton of magic crystals, and that was all money.
Flap flap, flap flap flap flap.
The Imperial Skyknights in the front landed first, and Bebeto landed behind them.
‘So this is the covert for the exclusive use of imperial royalty.’
I was dumbfounded. Bajran’s Imperial Covert was also made out of marble-like stones that cost a fortune, but this took it to another level. Every door of the wyvern hangars was gilded in gold, and I could feel mana from the inside of the hangars. It was obvious that they had used magic crystals and magic to create an optimal environnt that even a noble would be hard-pressed to find a complaint.
‘Aw fuck, this guy’s gonna get spoiled.’
If the smart Bebeto took a shine to this kingly treatnt, it would be a pain in the ass.
Clank clank clank clank.
Once Bebeto landed, a regint of a hundred knights suddenly appeared, wearing the white cloaks of the Haildrian imperial family. They had been lined up in rows of ten, waiting for .
‘Is this a welcoming ceremony, or an arrest?’
The faces of the Imperial Knights betrayed no emotion. Around ten wyverns continued to circle around my head as if unable to trust , and I felt the sharp mana of alert knights all over the covert. It felt like a small-ti school bully visiting the headquarters of a real gangster. On the outside, I was emanating an aura of composure, but on the inside, I couldn’t help but be tense. I still didn’t know the exact reason why the Tsarina had summoned .
“Welco, Count Kyre.”
When I jumped off Bebeto’s back, an Imperial Knight who looked to be in his early 30s greeted , precisely calling out my na.
“The Imperial Palace is a delight for the eyes,” I said, unable to think of anything else to say.
“Please follow us,” said the Imperial Knight stiffly.
“Let’s do that then.”
I replied to him confidently, taking my helt off and hanging it on Bebeto.
Zing.
In that instant, I felt gazes with mixed emotions from all around .
‘Sothing’s going on.’
That sothing had to do with my appearance, not . I could sense that the Imperial Knights who had surely received a proper education were filled with fear or apprehension as they looked at .
‘There are mages here too.’
Thanks to my two-tone swirl mana, my sensitivity to mana had increased. From the mana I was picking up around , I could also sense the presence of mages.
‘Isn’t this overdoing it a bit?’
This level of attention wasn’t cordial, but all too generous. I’d made my na in Nerman, but I’d never spread my notoriety in Haildrian. Moreover, I ca here because the Tsarina wanted to see , not because I wanted to start sothing here. However, the energy I could feel in the air was clearly telling that I was being treated as a very dangerous person.
‘Eh, whatever. Whether you wanna boil or steam , have it your way.’
I was no All Might or anything; I had no confidence that I could win without Bebeto in a fight against the Haildrian Imperial Family. I simply relaxed and leisurely followed the knights.
‘Huhuhu.’
As soon as we went from the covert into the inner castle proper, my eyes were graced with the sight of beautiful palace maids.
That was the best kind of flower garden one could have.
* * *
* * *
“Many thanks for coming to Our birthday celebration.”
The Grand Ballroom of the Bajran Imperial Palace.
Here, the magnificent birthday party of the newly crowned Emperor Poltviran was taking place. Most of the gifts piled up high around Poltviran’s vicinity were rare, valuable treasures, ranging from an item engraved with high level magic, a sword encrusted with a gem the size of a duck egg, precious demon beast hides, and various jewels and ornants. Knowing the Emperor’s temperantal and petty nature, each kingdom had paid particular attention to the selection of the gifts, which had grown even greater in scale with the bribes of the nobles.
After concluding the celebration ceremony, Poltviran stood from his seat on the stage with an arrogant smile. Normally, on such an occasion, even an emperor would not be excessively pretentious in their speech, in consideration for the face of ambassadors and royalty from various countries who had co for their birthday. Every emperor in all of history had spoken with a certain level of respect, but Poltviran was different. He spoke with an air of utter superiority, as if everyone before him were slaves or commoners.
“On such a happy occasion like today, We shall grace you with one command,” started Poltviran without preamble.
Rustling filled the hall as all of the ambassadors and nobles lowered their heads.
“I am sure you have already heard, but the Lord of Nerman, Kyre, has raised the flag of treason against us and the Empire. Not only did he dare to wheedle Our younger siblings, the Prince and Princess, into inciting disorder, but he also defied imperial mandates multiple tis. Even with our rciful heart, his misdeeds have gone past the limits of tolerance, so we were forced to make a decision.”
The Emperor’s words didn’t suit a birthday party in the least—he was bringing up Nerman in a place of celebratory and enjoyable food and drink. All those gathered in the hall were able to confirm once again that Emperor Poltviran did not live by a standard common sense.
“Ambassadors of the Kuvilan, Kerpe, and Andain Kingdoms, as well as the Gaetz Principality, receive Our command.”
The ambassadors of the nad kingdoms stiffened. Unlike the Gaetz Principality, which was subordinate to Bajran, the kingdoms were allies with the empire. However, the Emperor was currently telling them to receive a command, as if they were imperial nobles. The ambassadors hesitated for a mont.
“I humbly await thy imperial mandate.”
“I await thy command.”
They unanimously lowered their heads in acquiescence. They did so because it was possible their kingdoms could collapse the next day if they pointlessly offended that vicious emperor.
“For the last several decades, your kingdoms have lived safely with your royal authority intact through the kindness of Our Empire. The ti to repay that kindness has co. Not by offering shoddy items like this, but by becoming the Empire’s soldiers as Bajran’s advance force! That is what We want from your kingdoms. We want you to stand at the vanguard in the Nerman subjugation war.”
Thuuud.
In the quiet ballroom, you could almost hear the sound of the ambassadors’ hearts dropping. What the Emperor had just said ant that the independent military rights of the kingdoms were to be forfeited to the empire. If they refused him, it would be equivalent to defying the order of the Emperor of Bajran.
The faces of the ambassadors paled. One wrong word, and their countries would beco enemies with the empire and have to war with them, but if they acquiesced, then they would beco no different from a principality subordinate to the empire.
“One fortnight from now. I hope you will give us a definite answer by then. We’re sure you are all well aware that we are not very rciful. Kukuku.”
Poltviran exuded an aura of arrogance that “violent” could not begin to describe. The ballroom instantly descended into chilly silence. After the end of their territorial wars, the kingdoms and Bajran had been peaceful for hundreds of years, but a few words from this crazy emperor pushed them onto thin ice. No matter how cutthroat the world might be, this was still absurd.
The Emperor of Bajran had given a command without good justification. Now, only the decision of the kingdoms was left.
Whether they submitted or struggled, it would be a bitter decision for survival.
* * *
Crunch munch.
‘Ohh! Tastes frickin’ amazing.’
After arriving in the inner castle with the knights, I was led into so building while under the piercing gazes of the maids. It was a nice-looking stone palace with three stories, clearly a building used to house guests. I was allotted a room around three tis the size of my office back at ho, and was served a feast on a table that could seat 10 in the adjoining room.
‘It’s not even beef, so how can it be this tender?’
The thick steak on the big mithril plate in front of wasn’t beef, but had a tender mouthfeel and a delicious sauce with a honey fragrance that invited to eagerly dig in.
Gulp, gulp.
“Kyaa!”
I interspersed bites of the at with a glass of fragrant wine. It wasn’t a dry red, but like a sweet seasonal ice wine. The refreshing flavor washed out the oiliness in my mouth and stimulated my appetite anew.
‘That’s right, since I ca all this way, you’ve got to do at least this much.’
I hadn’t been able to et the Tsarina yet, but I was satisfied with their treatnt. The bed next door was big enough to fit five n, and its soft, white sheets were tempting to co sleep on it right away. The high-class landscape paintings hanging in the bedroom and dining room gave off a luxurious atmosphere, giving a sense of ntal satisfaction.
‘It’s even better than the Bajran Imperial Palace.’
I had the chance to use the facilities of Bajran’s Imperial Palace as well, thanks to the forr Princess of Bajran, Igis. If Bajran’s Imperial Palace was a five-star hotel, this place was a hotel among hotels that could easily be given seven stars.
‘What happened to Chrisia? She didn’t arrive yet?’
While eating, I worried about Chrisia’s wellbeing. If she had arrived at the Imperial Palace earlier than I did, she would have definitely co looking for . However, the sun was going down and there was still no news, and I couldn’t go out freely because of the Imperial Knights I could feel standing watch outside my door.
‘There’s no way she died, right?’
We were, in a way, friends, so I was pretty worried about her.
Knock knock.
“Who is it?”
After serving the al, the maids had disappeared out the side door of the dining room. I heard knocks coming from outside, but seeing as no one ca in, it didn’t seem like the knocker was from the adjoining kitchen.
‘Who is it?’
It wasn’t my house, but this was a space I was occupying. I wiped my mouth with the white fabric napkin and moved to the bedroom to et whoever was visiting .
“May I ask who you are?” I asked once more.
‘What’s going on this ti?’ I thought as no reply ca to my second query.
Clunk.
Irritated, I roughly grasped the handle and swung open the door. “You should say who—ah!”
I was about to file a complaint, but then I suddenly saw who it was.
‘T-Tiavel!’
The beautiful woman with snow-white hair and slightly slanted eyes standing right in front of my room after knocking was Tiavel. The next tsarina who would lead the Haildrian Empire was wearing a lavish red dress that contrasted starkly with her white hair.
“Impudence! Show the Princess your due respect!”
Despite the fact that I was a noble and had received an invitation to co here, the Imperial Knights went red with anger as they reprimanded , apparently dissatisfied by the way I was spacing out in front of the princess who was next in line for the throne.
“Haha. We et again.”
“Gasp!”
“Y-Youuu!!”
I wasn’t one to bow and scrape. Tiavel hadn’t formally revealed her na and position to . There was no need for to scramble to bow and wag my tail like Fido. However, that made the knights as red-hot as lava, so furious they might request a duel at any mont.
“It has… been a while.”
‘Hm? What happened to you, Lil’ Miss Haughty?’
In Nerman, Tiavel had exuded an unapproachable haughtiness. She had seed like a woman made entirely of ice, one who wouldn’t bleed a single drop if pierced with a needle, but here, in the Haildrian Empire, she was blushing at my greeting.
‘Uuu…’
She was pretty damn cute. Her white hair, white lashes, and cold blue eyes the color of an icy lake was a feast for the eyes.
“…..”
The expressions of the knights changed as well. The knights stared at Tiavel and in utter shock, as if they’d never heard such words from Tiavel before.
‘You poor sods, it’s impossible for you guys even if you were to live two lives.’
To be honest, when I first t Tiavel, she looked so emotionless that I even wondered whether she had ever smiled in her life. Haughtiness and dignity was wrapped tightly around her like an impenetrable aura. If not for my stupid joke about the hunter, Tiavel’s laugh back then and her appearance now wouldn’t have been possible. And judging from the knights’ reactions, I could tell that Tiavel had never shown such shyness with anyone other than before.
Sohow, a feeling of pride ca nudging into my heart. It was a kind of happiness only a man would understand.
“Please co inside.”
“Yes…”
At my invitation, Tiavel entered the room with a nod. Behind her, nearly Master-level Imperial Knights moved to follow her inside.
“Sir knights, please wait outside,” I said. I wasn’t one to usher them in.
“What?!”
Their expressions beca stricken with bewildernt. I, a re guest, was blocking them without knowing my place. I could only guess how dumbfounded they must feel.
“Wait outside.”
“As you command!”
Tiavel uttered a quiet sentence, and the knights lowered their heads as they backed out.
‘Their loyalty is no joke.’
I could draw a clear conclusion from observing them. Simply from the way they acted towards Tiavel, I could feel their sincerity towards Tiavel and the imperial family.
Creak, thud.
The door closed.
The mont the door closed, Tiavel flinched almost imperceptibly. I could guess it was her first ti being in a closed room with an adult man like this.
‘Well then, miss. Let’s talk a little, shall we?’
As I looked at Tiavel’s slender figure standing in front of , my mind turned quickly. Magic crystals were absolutely necessary for Nerman’s developnt. In order to acquire them, I had to steal the heart of the woman in front of , the next tsarina of Haildrian.
I’d already been labeled by everyone as a scoundrel anyway, so I just wanted to have my cake and eat it too. Even if that fellow called a ‘conscience’ complained, it couldn’t be helped anymore.
I, Kang Hyuk, am a playboy.
I liked myself just the way I was.
* * *
“I wanted to see you.”
“G-Geh!”
I had already known she was a woman with a unique personality, but I hadn’t known that such passion had been hiding behind that haughty exterior.
Tea that was giving off a sweet fragrance had been set up for us within the room. When the Princess appeared, the maids ca in without a sound and laid out the tea. And then, the silent girl in front of who had been fidgeting with the teacup with her slender hand suddenly said she had wanted to see .
‘Aghh, this is really driving nuts.’
I needed to curry Tiavel’s favor, but I hadn’t expected this to happen. Including today, she had seen exactly twice. I didn’t want to misinterpret her words, but how could I possibly misread the way she blushed as her eyes sparkled?
However, I couldn’t feel at ease. What she said was a corny phrase that might appear in a third-rate romantic cody. It was said that first impressions were important, but hearing her made think that Tiavel and I weren’t well-acquainted to be speaking like that to each other.
‘This kind of feeling must be a first for her.’
On the other hand, I could understand her. From the looks of it, no one in Haildrian could dare to look at her straight, and the majesty and authority of royalty was ingrained in her every cell. So it was no surprise that when her mind was slightly off-kilter from a change in her surroundings when she visited Nerman, the way I had light-heartedly exchanged jokes with her had left a deep impression on her. That’s how I had been when I saw Yerin at school, too.
“It is an honor.”
Of course, I didn’t dislike it. Even I could no longer deal with my complicated fate with won. I ended up having a ‘let’s see how this goes’ sort of mindset.
“I apologize. You must be busy, but I have made you co so far.”
Naturally, it wasn’t as if her personality, developed over many years, would just fly away. It seed as though she was trying to speak as smoothly as she could manage, but her words were still sowhat rigid.
But that just made her cuter. Tiavel was trying her best to match . That intent of hers was more than enough reward for this trip.
“Haha. It’s nothing. I wanted to et Her Majesty the Tsarina who is aiding Nerman in any case. And my wish to see Tiavel-nim again is also being granted, is it not?”
When had she ever heard such words spoken to her before? Tiavel seed to lt at my slightly honeyed words, delighted without knowing she was caught in a web.
‘Won’t I really get hit by a bolt from the heavens at this rate?’
I was hard at work corrupting pure souls out here, but it wasn’t as if I had no fear of the gods.
“Did Imperial Mother perhaps say sothing weird—”
“Your Highness, Her Majesty has ordered that you enter the palace with Count Kyre.”
Tiavel’s words were cut off by the noisy shout of the knight outside. This tsarina, she really didn’t know how to read the mood.
‘Is it ti to et the real tiger?’
The Tsarina had summoned here using Tiavel as an excuse, but I had the faint feeling that Tiavel wasn’t the only reason. There was no way the tsarina of a nation would have called here just because her daughter wanted to see .
‘I guess we’ll find out.’
Even as I smiled at Tiavel, my mind settled down with crystal-clear composure.
I had accepted the Tsarina’s request and ca all this way for my goal, a goal that I had to achieve no matter what for Nerman’s sake and my own.
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