The Emperor Who Was Chapter 43 : Chapter 43

Chapter . 43

"...So you had to witness your Mother's final monts... I am sorry......."

To him, what aning would it have even if Father truly cherished Ilaves?

"...You think I only saw the end, right? Since I didn't see the entire event, you think it still doesn't serve as evidence?"

Michelon looked at

with suspicion.

"...Is it true that you only saw your Mother dying? Did you perhaps hear what command Father gave?"

"......."

I pointed to the shattered characters where my na had stopped, unable to proceed further.

"Was this command... Biological Transformation Magic?"

"I saw the result of that magic with my own eyes."

"Then you should do it even less—"

"You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

Redness spread through Michelon's golden eyes.

"But if things stay like this, I have to live in hiding without moving an inch until I grow up."

That was true. But he couldn't stay in the egg either. He had already been trapped in the barrier for a long ti without his mother dragon's protection. It was better than being trapped longer like before the regression and then forcibly growing rapidly as soon as he ca out, but living in hiding with

while waiting for adulthood was also difficult.

"Besides, unlike other tis, not only the heirs to the throne but the Emperor himself is targeting . But I will absolutely never contract with the one who caused my Mother's death."

"......."

"If I can transform into a human in the anti, I could kill the Emperor with my own hands. Like all other assassins."

It wasn't the ti to point out to him, who vowed to avenge his Mother, that he could die for the exact sa reason as his Mother before he even tried. He chose this even after seeing the terrifying result of that magic. At least for now, I had to listen to his feelings first.

"There's no need to wait until the dragon's growth is complete. Instead of being chased by the one I will kill, I will be able to chase him. He won't even dream that I have transford into a human."

Michelon's eyes burned.

"Don't you want to see what face he makes the mont he realizes that you and I succeeded in what he failed at, even at the cost of losing a Guardian Dragon? Not only is it darkest under the candlestick, but he will have fallen into his own trap!"

"......."

"It's not bad for you either, Leontes. Your father, having lost a dragon, is targeting the dragon that should be yours. Soday you have to confront him."

Then he added.

"You said you would beco the Emperor. Then accept your unavoidable destiny."

When I closed my eyes again, Michelon's gaze felt sharp enough to pierce even my lowered eyelids.

"Michelon."

Calling his na with my eyes closed, that brilliant dragon who had fulfilled my life's command in exchange for his barely gained freedom appeared vividly before my eyes.

"Leontes."

At that call, I opened my eyes again.

"We will consider Biological Transformation Magic, as you wish."

"Yes, Leontes!"

Michelon shouted passionately.

"But it is not for your revenge."

"What are you doing? If you intend to tell

not to kill your father instead of casting that magic on , forget it!"

The furious Michelon spat out his words.

"I also agree with your accusation that my father is responsible for your Mother's death. Revealing the truth of your Mother's death is not just your task, but my task as the one who will succeed Father as Emperor. For that task, it is certainly advantageous for you to transform into a human. As you said, instead of living in hiding, you will beco freer."

I hoped Michelon would enjoy even a little bit of freedom by becoming human.

However, Michelon turned away even though he understood my words.

"...If we reveal the truth like that, and it turns out your father did kill my Mother?"

"Then he dies. However, if he is responsible but not to the extent of death, he will receive the next level of punishnt. Following the laws of Armatia, the Emperor's status will not be considered."

"My Mother couldn't refuse his command, so what more truth is needed!"

"If he intended to kill your Mother deliberately, he will also be deliberately killed. But if not, he will not be deliberately killed either."

"Even if it wasn't deliberate, do you think he didn't know how dangerous that command was? Yet it is clear he forced Mother to satisfy his greed! How can you talk about passing judgnt when you don't even know what it ans to obey a command while your brand is being stabbed with a sword!"

Faced with Michelon's anger, I recalled my own long-standing question.

What Michelon must have thought of , commanding him while stabbing his brand with a sword.

I had desperately wanted to know since that ti, which now feels like a distant past.

However, the answer was actually too obvious.

In the end, I claid to want to know, but I closed my eyes to the truth.

I answered.

"If it was a command, it was deliberate."

Michelon inhaled sharply for a mont, then asked again with sharp eyes.

"...Then... if... it wasn't deliberate, what is the next punishnt?"

"As the Emperor of Armatia, the sin of causing the death of Armatia's Guardian Dragon for matters unrelated to the protection of Armatia is heavy. He will be confined for life until he dies, and his existence will beco a secret, just like the death of the Guardian Dragon he hid."

"...Then he will be erased from all records? Whether it was a command he gave himself, or a command the Late Emperor gave him, or any other book that ntions him, he will disappear forever from all records, so that no one speaks of him again, and furthermore, the fact that he existed will be forgotten forever!"

In front of Michelon's burning eyes, I slowly nodded.

"Not bad but... why make such a promise at the risk of danger? Even without such a promise, I would contract with you as long as you use that magic. Honestly, aren't you resentful? That you suffer losses because of your father's sin?"

His golden eyes examined

thoroughly.

"Father's sin was committed within Armatia, using the laws of Armatia. If I inherit the country and laws as Father's successor, it is naturally my responsibility."

"Are you serious? You can just use that magic and leave

alone, not caring whether I kill the Emperor by myself or not. That would be better for a soft guy like you, wouldn't it?"

Michelon endlessly doubted .

"You might die."

"So? I'm prepared for that."

"If you are prepared for death, I hope you die trying to realize justice, not because you failed in revenge. I will beco the Monarch of Armatia, and you will beco the Dragon of Armatia. Therefore, you will enact justice, not revenge."

Silence flowed. When my heart was beating endlessly, Michelon wailed.

"...Where is justice in this rotten country!"

"If there isn't any, we start it."

That was all I could say to him.

Michelon looked at , then collapsed on the spot and cried. Dragon tears dripped onto the Throne Magic Circle where we stood, spreading like waves of gold.

I couldn't move an inch. I had long been sweating cold sweat like rain. My upper clothes were soaked, and chills ran up my spine.

I revealed my intention to beco a monarch, and with that mindset, I delivered my first judgnt. Unlike the judgnts of the scarecrow tyrant who created all sorts of wrongful victims before the regression, the first true judgnt.

Was I right?

...A foolish thought. Although not a monarch, could I have done well with my first judgnt made with a monarch's responsibility? Even doing it a hundred tis wouldn't be enough.

However, in front of the tears shed by the first person to appeal their grievance to , this wasn't the ti to collapse while sweating cold sweat.

My vision was dizzy, but I bit my lip and slowly knelt. Steadying my trembling body, I carefully reached out to the sobbing dragon. Only when I was sure he felt my presence but didn't avoid it did I finally embrace him.

Michelon cried in my arms for a long ti. I listened silently to the sound of his weeping.

I hope a day cos when we can cry together soday...

***

After soothing Michelon's pain, it was my turn to ensure he wouldn't suffer greater pain.

"How heartbroken would your Mother be if you died from the sa cause as her?"

"Mother is dead. If she had wished for how I should live, she shouldn't have died."

...It wasn't easy...

"You, surely you don't want to die like your Mother, do you?"

"Don't talk crazy. Do you think I'm that weak?"

Michelon got angry abruptly.

"I did, you know."

"......."

"When Mother died, I often thought I wanted to die with her. It was the sa when my nanny died. I understand if you felt that way too."

"...If you thought that way, why did you live?"

"My nanny said so. That if you live, good days will co. If you et bad people, you will also et good people."

"You believed that?"

"You don't know unless you live. If you die, you won't know at all."

"So, did good days co after living?"

"Yeah."

The days I fought together with my dragon.

The day I killed the tyrant.

"...Just because it was true for you doesn't guarantee it will be for . And there's no reason my Mother would think the sa as your nanny."

"Right, that's why you have to live your own life. I can't live it for you."

Michelon glared for a while before abruptly saying.

"I have no intention of dying. I also know how dangerous that thod is."

"Then why do you insist on that thod?"

"Why don't you try guessing?"

A challenging gaze. But before I could try to guess, he shot back quickly.

"If I beco human with that, I don't need to rely on you. If I stay hidden with your help like this, I'll end up contracting with you even if I hate it, but if I beco human, I can run away."

"You wish to be equal to . I wish for that too."

And I have no confidence in raising you either.

"......."

Michelon had a dubious face but didn't refute.

"But the risk is great."

Michelon breathed fire with his eyes.

"You would find it wasteful to lose a dragon you finally obtained. But I'd rather die than risk contracting with my Mother's enemy."

This ant, in the end, Michelon doubted . Even if he didn't deny my sincerity towards him, whether I could safely protect him from my brothers, and of course the Emperor, until he grew up was another matter.

'Honestly, I'm not confident either.'

In that respect, this desperate strategy was certainly a breakthrough. Even Father wouldn't think Ilaves's son hid himself in the way Ilaves died. Beyond being prepared for death, it was a path to catch the enemy off guard.

When my answer was delayed for a mont due to thinking, Michelon spoke hurriedly.

"Of course I will contract with you. I won't run away either. As long as you don't break your promise."

"My condition is not the contract."

"Then what is it?"

His eyes widened in panic, which was cute. I wish his actions were cute too.

"I will lead this magic thoroughly. You must follow my words unconditionally. If I say we stop, we end it imdiately. No objections."

"...You, surely you aren't planning to just pretend to do the magic and cut it off midway?"

"If I judge it to be dangerous, I stop imdiately."

"How do I know if you'll just pretend and quit before even trying properly!"

"If you cannot trust , I shouldn't perform any magic on you."

Michelon glared. I stared back. This wasn't the ti to soothe and coddle him.

"...Fine. But you better not deceive ."

"You shouldn't lie to a child."

"I'm not a child! What are you, an adult?"

"My soul is sufficiently mature."

"Just a precocious brat!"

Just because we decided didn't an we could perform such magic right away.

First, we returned, and I locked myself in the bedroom, scraping together all my knowledge for research. I set up various hypotheses and conducted small experints, but discarded them all, leaving only one.

"What is it?"

Michelon asked.

"Actually, it's an application of what I originally intended to do."