The Emperor Who Was Chapter 9 : Chapter 9

Chapter . 9

‘Beautiful…….’

It looked like the interior of a giant clock with countless cogwheels interlocking and turning, or a huge carpet embroidered with countless flower-like patterns in gold thread, or a water surface so clear it contained the entire Milky Way…….

Overwheld by the sight, I felt dizzy. To the point where my vision spun when I let out a short laugh.

But my vision really went black… because I forgot about the blood loss.

After healing the wound, I examined the magic circle. If this magic circle was hiding the dragon egg, it was natural that they failed even after forming an alliance between enemies and mobilizing countless wizards before regressing.

In my opinion, this magic circle couldn't be operated by wizards alone without the Emperor. The sa applied to the Emperor alone without magic.

‘But what if it’s , the only royal wizard?’

Just the thought of handling this massive magic circle excited .

Composing myself, I examined the magic circle. It seed rare for it to have operated properly over the long years. Unless it was an unprecedented situation where the dragon died and its egg had to be hidden.

Co to think of it, not long after Michelon’s mother Ilaves died, wizards died one after another.

-They say they died from guilt for failing to prevent Ilaves’ death, but they might have died after being mobilized to kill the dragon.

-They probably died together at that ti, and it was just announced belatedly.

Such rumors circulated.

Those words might be correct, but wouldn't they also have been mobilized to hide the dragon egg? And then killed to silence them.

A gigantic magic circle extending from the throne. The throne, the pinnacle of the contract with the dragon.

‘The optimal trap to confine a dragon egg.’

Instead of pushing with force like before, I approached cautiously. Concentrating on the entire massive magic circle made sweat beads form on my forehead.

Thus, all I found out was that this magic circle was remote.

Admiration ca out naturally, but ultimately, it ant that even if I broke this magic circle, the floor beneath the throne wouldn't split open and Michelon wouldn't rush out majestically. He is still an egg, anyway.

There is a second magic circle directly confining Michelon, and this magic circle was a kind of steering wheel controlling that magic circle.

‘It could be called a control panel.’

Then even if I went there and broke that magic circle, this magic circle could send Michelon to yet another magic circle. I need to investigate more, but theoretically, it was possible.

This magic circle might even be able to restore the second magic circle.

Anyway, the Emperor is the owner of the magic circle, using it even by mobilizing wizards.

‘What on earth is that thod?’

Surely there must be a secret passed down only to the Emperor. However, Rhiannon thoroughly blocked

from knowing such a secret even while making

shed blood.

‘If I stay still in front of this amazing magic miracle saying I don't know the thod, I am not a wizard.’

I decided to try giving a command as a test. Since I had to use magic secretly, I didn't use spells or a staff. Since my magic power was so strong and I used the Circle Magic I revived myself, it wasn't difficult.

But a spell is a declaration and command that magic changes existing laws. It is better to do it.

“Obey my command.”

No change.

“Accept

as the new commander.”

The magic circle didn't budge, like a traitor. It was annoying, but that made the magic circle look even more beautiful.

-If a magic circle looks beautiful instead of the opposite sex, consider your love life over.

Master’s words, which I didn't understand well then or now, ca to mind for a mont, but I soon erased distracting thoughts and concentrated.

Commanding again, I placed my hand on the center of the magic circle. Prepared to get hurt like before.

It didn't attack like the first ti. But it didn't accept either. My hand floated above the magic circle as if floating on air.

Beneath my palm, a feeling like surface tension on water was vividly transmitted. Preventing my hand from touching directly.

‘It accepted my blood, but rejects my command?’

Because I am not the Emperor.

The magic circle does not serve two Emperors, and thus prevents my command from penetrating the previous Emperor’s command and reaching the magic circle.

‘More loyal than the Emperor’s sons.’

I coveted it. In fact, if not for the ignorant act of using the pain from my experience before regression as a guide, I wouldn't have been able to co this far.

And Michelon is trapped in a seal beyond imagination, a double magic circle and remote control. A headache-inducing situation.

No, my head really hurt. As I infused magic power to figure out this magic circle, my magic power was being sucked in.

‘It flows and gets blocked, but flows if it goes around. Thinking a little more would do, if one keeps infusing magic power like that, the caster’s magic power will be sucked dry before they know it.’

Like that, the magic circle strengthens itself while repelling the one trying to break it.

It was an art of magic achieving the unity of defense and offense.

If only it wasn't confining my dragon, I would have jumped up and clapped… I felt sorry for Michelon.

‘But it is true that it is the essence of magic humanity has achieved so far.’

Since it is the best magic circle, it could confine a dragon.

It couldn't be helped. I had no choice but to implent the magic circle hypothesis I researched before regressing.

It had provoked Master’s anger back then too.

-What crazy talk is this again? Why is everything you think of so terrifying when you look the kindest under the sky?

‘Well, because the situation is terrifying, Master. To get my hands on this magic circle… no, to save Michelon, no, to do both, I have to take risks. It’s worth trying if it’s sothing that puts only

in danger and not others. Since others put

in danger even if I stay still anyway, I should strike first.’

…Talking to oneself was a characteristic of wizards too imrsed in research. I should be careful.

Taking a deep breath, I released magic power. Utilizing the magic circle’s terrifying strength of sucking magic power. If I give magic power willingly, it will think it caught the invading enemy.

‘It would have been faster if I had Lasilex. I could have fed this beautiful magic circle more blood too.’

It was regrettable, but after much effort, I was able to insert my magic power as a new stream into the flow of the magic circle.

Sothing I wouldn't have succeeded in if I hadn't poured blood based on mories before regression.

I commanded again.

“As a son emulating the Emperor, I emulate the magic circle.”

It was a command but actually a notification. aning instead of making the magic circle do it, I will do it.

Also, children are born and grow emulating their parents. Sotis to the extent of hearing they are like a miniature of their parents.

Then, there is no reason why I cannot make a model emulating the magic circle, sothing like a baby magic circle of the giant magic circle.

‘Since it doesn't go against the imperial order, and if it’s a magic circle passed down to successive Emperors, it understands the concept of descendants.’

Even if I command, the magic circle was neither an elent nor a person. It might reject because it understands what I an, or the sa even if it doesn't. Also, while adopting the form of command inherent in the magic circle, since I wasn't the actual command holder, I had to execute it myself.

In summary, utilizing my bloodline and experience before regression, without violating the imperial order, I had to execute sothing that was a command yet not a command. It was a situation where I had to walk a tightrope, lift one foot, and spin plates on both hands.

‘To have to do all that at once… is this the fun of living?’

My heart raced. A feeling I didn't know before regressing.

Sharpening my fingertips like a blade again, I cut my palm. Like that, after writing my na in blood, I maintained the form of that blood na and let it flow into the magic circle. Into the sea of cogwheels, into the splendidly patterned carpet, onto the water full of starlight.

As soon as I did, the na almost disintegrated. Being ground by cogwheels, buried in patterns, falling under the water.

It wasn't just a single layer of spell like ordinary magic circles. Countless spells were piled up in layers, but its three-dinsionality was hidden from the outside because it was so intricate.

However, when trying to penetrate from the outside, cogwheels turned beneath cogwheels, patterns were revealed beneath patterns, and water rose to the ankles.

Spells that might be who knows how old were buried layer by layer, but it was a grave of living fossils that would bury intruders like themselves at any ti.

‘So beautiful yet so dangerous…….’

A trap exquisite enough to srize, standing in the middle of it made my heart race.

I am not one to chase danger, but no strong man could withstand this allure.

Watching as if possessed, my na was like a drop of blood fallen into seawater.

It wouldn't be strange if it got buried anyti.

Fortunately, the stream of my magic power I flowed in first reacted. As magic power quickly gathered to support my na, the na barely maintaining its form floated along the magic circle.

But supporting the blood na and going forward, even a single stream of magic power almost disintegrated. Connecting when I thought it broke, flickering again when I thought it connected…….

‘It’s not like I fell into a stormy sea and am swimming to the shore alone.’

I felt suffocated. I wanted to infuse more magic power right away, but I was afraid that if external interference was severe, I wouldn't be able to emulate the circuit and schematic of this incredibly delicate magic circle as the original.

‘I must not miss even one, don’t leave anything out.’

Following the na with tenacity, the interior of the magic circle gradually beca visible. It looked like an amphitheater inside an amphitheater inside an amphitheater, or a tower built up layer by layer with spells. Lights were brilliant on every floor, and my na floating inside flickered like a firefly.

On the surface, it looked like complex patterns painted by a thousand crazy painters with fine brushes for a hundred years, but peeling off layer by layer revealed nas and spells. After going around a spell like "Valentinus, the 7th Emperor, commands," etc., a similar spell of the 3rd Emperor was visible below it.

‘Then… this doesn't end with just one round?’

The magic circle was not only vast but also complex, so just going around once couldn't grasp all the layered structures. Going around the upper floor, then the lower floor…….

‘I regressed to a boy after much trouble, but I might die of old age here.’

Still, it was a magnificent view. Ecstatically beautiful, unable to take my eyes off.

But admiring the scenery and losing one's mind leads to falling from a cliff into the sea. This ti, my na slipped in helplessly.

Buried letter by letter, sinking down to the last letter…….

I felt like I was drowning. Just the thought of attempting this again from the beginning made

want to vomit.

‘Who said the magic circle is beautiful? Only the outside is beautiful, the inside is a living hell! Why is this so difficult!’

This ti, I wanted to bang my head on the marble floor myself.

It was then. The last letter of the na was salvaged. The next letter followed.

Looking closely, the sa na nearby was reacting with a strong light. It was drawn like a magnet to that na.

‘Distant ancestor, His Majesty Leontes I, thank you.’

But since I was the second, it was a luck that wouldn't happen again. Maximilian would be the 12th if he ascended, and Desmond would be the 9th. Father.

Composing myself, using the na that had completed a round as an indicator, I slowly manifested the Circle.

If I used it directly from the start, it would have been recognized as an intruder by the magic circle, but now my na had perated enough.

The good thing about the Circle was the fact that circulation is the fundantal form of the world.

‘I can weave in almost anything.’

Magic circle and Circle, good because form and movent are the sa; fire and wind, good as symbols of that circulation.

I invoked fire magic and wind magic simultaneously. Even in rare cases using both magics, they manifested separately, but using the Circle, not only did they manifest together, they could be combined.

Thus, a whirlwind of flas appeared at my fingertips.

At a glance, it shines brightly like a fla and burns red, but inside, a whirlwind is raging fiercely.

So expanding the fla greatly, in an instant, a whirlwind of fire in all directions…….

‘Reduce! Reduce!’

I almost burned down the audience chamber. The space with the precious and beautiful magic circle that will be mine soday! If I have to burn sothing, burn the enemies!

Although the magic circle wouldn't disappear just because the audience chamber burned, I was horrified and reduced it with all my might. A nosebleed ca out and dripped onto the magic circle. It was sucked in without a trace.

‘Fusion control is much harder than simultaneous manifestation.’

Barely reducing it, the fusion of wind and fire beca a shape like a red clock pendulum with a sharp tip.

But it was a clock pendulum making a sound like a hornet's nest. If control loosened even a little, the wind trapped inside would be released and grow large again.

I connected that clock pendulum and my na floating in the magic circle with the Circle. It was easier than I thought. Far from the existence of the magic circle interfering, it felt like it made the process smoother.

‘After holding hands and going around once, you ca to like

too, right?’

Gaining confidence, I started the magic circle circulation again.

The result was amazing.

My na raced through the magic circle like a sailing ship with full sails in a fair wind. Without needing to go around the tower-like magic circle layer by layer, projecting directly below at every floor reached. My stuffy feeling cleared up completely.

And I engraved the result projected by the clock pendulum into my hand like a stylus.

“Aaaah!”