"Are you all right, my liege?" Max asked .
"Do I look alright to you?" I asked with an irritated but swollen expression because my face was swollen from Laura's punch. She really didn't hold back and even used the power of darkness which I clearly told her not to because we were in the middle of the imperial palace with a sensitive divine-ranked old man sitting on the throne.
"What's the church's status?" I asked.
"They have so far not shown any response. Monasteries all across the empire and even neighboring kingdoms have been abandoned. Other than that, they have shown no particular response and the barrier is still holding strong." Max reported.
Well, that didn't make any sense, now did it? There was no longer a divine ranked being at the barrier so why hadn't the church co out yet?
Bayren was the one in charge of that strike but that had to be abandoned because of the 'Dungeon of Diamonds' and now the one guarding there was Lucius, the second prince.
It didn't make any sense why the church was still hiding when this was the best chance to co out.
"What about the expedition?" I asked.
"The mbers of the expedition are scheduled to return this afternoon," Max replied.
"I see," I replied. I had a pending and awkward conversation with Sirius now that I have destroyed or cleared four of his artifacts.
The damage alone was more than the imperial family could bear so it was obvious I would have to offer sothing in return.
But before that…
"Fall out of the competition for the weapon you signed up for." I told Max and added, "Tell the girls to do the sa as well."
"Would our chances not be better if most of the participants were us?" Max asked.
"It wouldn't help if you all made a mistake and ended up losing your minds. Mind is sothing I cannot heal most of the ti." I countered with the problem and Max nodded.
He didn't argue anymore and replied, "I will do so imdiately and let the mistresses know as well."
Is it the way he said that irked or was it because it was the truth?
[Both]
[You womanizer]
I ignored that remark and made my way to the imperial court. Beside the imperial court was the office of His Majesty, the emperor and I had a eting set with him.
I wanted the divine-ranked weapon to be mine but I didn't want to invoke suspicions in these cunning old n so I went with the normal way of signing up for it in the upcoming competition.
"You may enter," The silver knight outside the door allowed entry. I entered the room to find Orion busy with so papers but he wasn't alone. His younger brother, Zarden was also with him, sitting in his magical wheelchair as always, busy with so sort of papers.
"Take a seat," Orion said and I took a seat next to Zarden who was looking at with an expression of curiosity.
"So," Orion began before he put the docunts on the table away and asked, "What do I owe this visit to?"
"I want a eting with the guardian," I simply said.
The guardian of the Cortum Empire. Just like the guardian of the demon race, the vampire race, the elves, and the guardian of the church, there was also a guardian of this empire.
A being rivaling Alderman himself. I was actually quite lucky that the vampire guardian didn't co out when the werewolves attacked them but I was 90% sure he wouldn't because he would be too busy dealing with the blood crisis of the vampires.
But, a guardian was no joke, even for .
I needed at least above 1500 stat points to enter the guardian realm and not to ntion, the limit of the guardians went all the way up to 3000 stats points. I had an average of 1000 stat points. Defeating a guardian currently or even in the future was almost impossible.
At least not before the SS rank dungeons beco a norm and I can utilize so for myself.
Orion remained silent for a while as he exchanged glances with Zarden before he replied, "It is not a wise decision."
He didn't ask why I wanted to et the guardian but instead warned of the consequences. Well, of course, the guardian of the Cortum empire was an illusion.
How would that be?
Because that was a guardian who wouldn't move even if the empire was destroyed. Because it wasn't a guardian. The imperial family had just shown it to be like that to keep several threats in check.
But they weren't aware of the real nature of the guardian.
If they were, these old n would be jumping with joy and singing songs every day.
After all, the guardian wasn't just a guardian. It was a being who had made a pact.
And who did it make a pact with?
Well, I wouldn't ntion that now because that would only make Orion mad.
"I just need to et him." I gave a simple answer. I knew how useless it was to et the guardian at the mont but I needed to et it anyway.
The heart was going to waste after all.
If I can't use it on myself, might as well give it so strong ally.
Orion and Zarden once again exchanged a lot of glances before he nodded and said, "After the competition, you can et him. The academy will not be operating for the ti being so we can conduct the competition smoothly since almost everyone is here."
Well, they weren't going to let do it so easily anyway. They need to control as well. Especially now that they knew I have a 'contract' with an angel.
"Understood," I said and stood up. After a brief bow, I left. They would have their own conversations about after I was gone but I couldn't care less. Everything was going how I wanted even with my sh*t luck.
I was still perfect enough to get 100% on everything I ever did.
[Obnoxious much?]
'Confident much.'
So, for the ti being, I was free until the competition began. Should I train the girls a little? Rose seed especially down these past few days.
~~
"Welco! People of the Cortum empire!"
"Today, due to the grace of his majesty the Emperor, we have a special competition! A competition that is full of rewards! Your treasure-filled dreams are about to co true! "
While I do understand and appreciate a good sales pitch, I do find it funny hearing the words of this guy though.
The grace of his Majesty?
He just wants to find puppets he can control.
Treasure-filled dreams?
Well, treasures that corrupt your mind can still be called treasures, right?
[Right]
This wasn't a grace. This was a ploy. To find puppets he can control while destroying many at the sa ti.
After all, no one will be able to bear the pain of having their minds destroyed by the sword. The lucky ones will get away with minor damage or their minds will be completely gone. The unlucky ones would be those who will manage to maintain their sanity but also lose it at the sa ti.
[Weren't you the one who suggested this competition?]
'So you're saying it's all my fault?'
[Yes, it is]
'Yes, it is.'
So what? I was only trying to get rid of so competition while also gaining what I wanted. The emperor thought he could control right?
Let's see what happens to him when half of the empire's future would end up losing their minds.
[You really are a crazy bastard]
'I bla my father for that.'
Who told him to try and control ?
I scratch and I bite.
[You're quite petty]
Nations and religions have collapsed, and dinsions and thousands of worlds of Supres have toppled over this pettiness of mine.
What can this small empire do?
They should be happy I was only going to do this much.
[Aren't you a saint]
I turned my attention to the objective I had for this event, ignoring Allison's remark, and turned to look at my competitors for the sword. Well, I would be the one winning it but it didn't hurt to make sure who they were.
[Now that's a surprise]
'Indeed it is,' I looked at the girl who was among the participants. Never thought I would see her here and never thought she would be foolish enough to co out.
[She must be sure of herself since she's in disguise]
Well, that wasn't going to do much for her. She may be able to hide her hair and eyes behind so disguise and contain her mana using so sort of artifact.
But how the hell was she going to hide those plump fleshy pillows?
That would give her away anywhere.
[You're a pervert]
'And I am proud of that.'
That was correct. In the lineup, a little away from , was none other than the platinum haired and eyed girl whose heart I so desperately wished for.
So much so that I was willing to cut it out and keep it in a box with for the rest of my life.
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