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Chapter 233: The Spider and the Empress (10)
Morning broke over the imperial palace.
I stretched while lying on an enormous bed, big enough for five or six people to roll around in and still have space left.
“Ughhh.”
Maybe it was because the sleeping arrangents were too luxurious all at once.
Even though I felt like I had gotten enough sleep, I sohow felt even more exhausted.
‘I knew it—I’m really not used to this kind of luxury.’
Perhaps it was because I had spent most of my thousands of years, including my past life, sleeping on dirt floors or cheap beds.
The sheets, soft as if I were lying on a cloud, actually felt uncomfortable.
“Now, let’s see….”
The first thing I did upon waking was ditate.
I closed my eyes, slowly drew up my mana, and observed my inner world.
‘The amount of Primordial Fla I can control has increased significantly.’
Just like when I had absorbed the ember before, the amount of Primordial Fla I could wield at will had increased so dramatically that the difference was undeniable.
It felt like I had ignited a hardened lump of oil that had been stuck in place.
The massive amount of mana flowing through my body made it hard to believe that, in my past life, I had such a pitiful amount that people mocked with the nickna “Rabbit Han.”
“With this much mana….”
Even ‘Infernal Blaze,’ which was infamous for its extre mana consumption, could now be used in real combat.
‘I actually used it this ti, too.’
For all its absurd mana consumption, Infernal Blaze’s power was on an entirely different level from any other technique I had mastered.
‘For a mont… I felt like a god within that domain.’
It was still a technique I couldn’t fully control—a technique I could only use when the Primordial Fla went berserk—akin to the ‘Incarnation of Fire’ state.
Of course, if I had to compare the two in terms of sheer power, I would choose the Incarnation of Fire without hesitation.
‘But that’s not a technique I can use at will.’
The fact that I could now use Infernal Blaze, which had previously been too costly in terms of mana consumption, was already a trendous achievent.
‘Even though this wasn’t the original reason I ca here.’
My real goal—tracking down the remnants of the Order of Eternity—had beco unclear again after phisto and the Order of Eternity disappeared from sight.
‘The Archbishop of Destruction and the Order of Eternity….’
I still needed more information on those two.
Knock, knock.
“Hm?”
As I was lost in thought, a knock ca at the door.
When I opened it, I found Professor Elisha standing there.
“Did you sleep well, Candidate Dale?”
“Yes. What about you, Professor?”
“Hmm… The bed was actually too comfortable, to the point of being unsettling.”
“Haha. I felt the sa way, actually.”
“More importantly, are you feeling alright? You absorbed that massive fla entirely….”
Professor Elisha looked at with a worried expression.
“I’m fine.”
If anything, I felt almost too good.
“That’s a relief.”
Professor Elisha gave a slight smile and nodded.
“Then let’s head to the reception room together.”
“The reception room?”
“ Empress Callia has summoned you.”
“Ah, I see. Understood.”
I nodded and followed Professor Elisha to the reception room.
When we entered, Empress Callia was lounging casually on her long throne, just as she had been the first ti I saw her.
“You’re here.”
Gone was the teary-eyed woman from yesterday—now, she was back to her usual composed deanor.
“I must express my gratitude once again for what happened yesterday. Thanks to you, we were able to root out the Apostle of Destruction who had infiltrated the palace.”
She straightened from her lounging position and bowed her head respectfully.
“…Huh.”
“…….”
Empress Callia, bowing her head to soone else?
Even seeing it with my own eyes, it was hard to believe.
‘I expected the future to change after my regression….’
But I never thought I’d live to see the Empress bowing her head.
“Hmm. By the way….”
Just monts ago, she had been displaying formal gratitude.
Now, as if that had never happened, she resud her usual air of arrogance, lazily crossing her legs.
“What exactly is the relationship between you two?”
“…Excuse ?”
What kind of question was that all of a sudden?
“It’s hard to believe you’re just teacher and student. You seem far too close for that.”
“…….”
So she noticed.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
Caught off guard, Professor Elisha quickly shook her head.
“Cadet Dale and I are not—”
“We’re lovers.”
“D-Dale!”
“There’s no reason to hide it, is there? It’s not against school regulations or anything.”
“Ugh… That’s true, but….”
Professor Elisha trailed off, looking uncomfortable at the idea of openly admitting, in front of the Empress no less, that she had gotten involved with her own student.
“Oh? Lovers, huh….”
Empress Callia narrowed her eyes as if she didn’t quite like the idea.
“How long have you been together?”
“It hasn’t been very long in terms of ti, but….”
“Hmm. I see.”
Callia glanced down at Professor Elisha from her throne before curling her lips into a satisfied smile and nodding.
“Do you rember the proposal I made before?”
“…Are you referring to your suggestion that I join the palace after graduation?”
“Forget that proposal.”
Callia leisurely reached out and pointed at .
“Beco mine. I will place the world in your hands.”
“…What?”
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What the hell is she talking about?
“Hm. Do you not understand my words?”
Empress Callia furrowed her brows as if frustrated.
“I am telling you to end your relationship and beco my consort.”
“…What?”
Wait.
What kind of crazy developnt is this?
‘She wants to beco the Empress’s consort?’
So basically, she’s asking to marry her.
“…Hold on a mont.”
As I struggled to grasp the unexpected turn of events, Professor Elisha stepped forward.
“What do you an by ‘end your relationship’?”
“Take it literally. The man who will be my consort cannot have another woman.”
“…Ha.”
Professor Elisha let out a hollow laugh, her eyes sharpening.
“I didn’t know Her Majesty was so inconsiderate.”
“Inconsiderate…? That is a word more fitting for you.”
“…What do you an?”
“Let’s compare.”
Crossing her arms leisurely, Empress Callia continued.
“I have tens of millions of imperial subjects, vast lands, imasurable wealth, and supre power above all. Not to ntion the strength of the Seven Gods.”
What do you have?
“……”
Professor Elisha bit her lip hard.
She had no wealth, no military might, no power.
Comparing herself to Callia was laughable—she fell short in every way.
“R-relationships between people aren’t determined by ability….”
“Oh? Do you truly believe that?”
Heh.
Callia let out a quiet chuckle.
“Co to think of it, you barely participated in the battle this ti, didn’t you? No… rather than ‘barely,’ should I say you ‘couldn’t’?”
“……”
Elisha’s shoulders flinched at Callia’s words.
It was true that she had recently shown remarkable growth, but she couldn’t intervene in the battle between lina and Dale.
The difference in their levels was simply too vast for her to step in.
“Actually, I’m curious about sothing.”
Callia smirked.
“Do you really think you are a match for Dale?”
“That’s…”
Elisha faltered, unable to respond.
As Callia pointed out, Dale had long since risen beyond her reach.
“……”
‘I’m not a match for him.’
The words lodged in her heart like a thorn.
For a mont, the faces of Iris, Yurina, and Lanez flashed through her mind, but among them, none seed more ‘ill-suited’ for Dale than herself.
Iris was a saint blessed by the gods.
Yurina had unmatched natural talent.
Lanez had the power to freeze half the continent.
And compared to them, she was….
“Well, I believe I’ve said enough for you to understand.”
Callia shrugged and turned her gaze to Dale.
A triumphant smile graced her lips, as if the outco had already been decided.
“So, which will you choose?”
The Spider and the Empress.
Both won’s gazes locked onto .
“…Ha.”
I let out a short sigh and took a step toward Callia.
If I had to choose between the two…
There was no need to hesitate.
“I choose…”
I spoke my answer.
And in that mont, the fates of the Spider and the Empress diverged.
* * *
An empty audience chamber.
Dazzling lights illuminated priceless works of art, their worth imasurable.
“…Ha.”
Callia let out a quiet laugh—not in her usual half-reclined posture, but sitting up straight on her throne.
Snap.
With a light flick of her fingers, a bottle of liquor floated from a corner of the chamber and flew toward her.
It was the sa kind Dale had brought yesterday.
She had tried it once before but found it too bitter to ever seek out again.
Pour.
Amber liquid filled the crystal glass.
“…Was such a firm rejection really necessary?”
Muttering to herself, Callia unconsciously pouted her lips.
Yes, she admitted she had treated Elisha harshly.
But could she have done otherwise?
“This was… my first ti.”
The Empress.
The continent’s number-one-ranked hero.
The vessel of the Seven Gods.
Among the many titles she bore, there was one she never liked.
The Iron Woman.
It was a nickna given to her because she had kept all n at a distance for so long.
“…Ha.”
A deep sigh escaped Callia’s lips.
‘I thought no man on this continent would refuse the position of my consort.’
Even if he had a lover, if their relationship wasn’t long-established, she expected him to sever ties and co to her.
After all, every man she had t before would have abandoned not just their lover but even their wife for a chance to stand by her side.
That was why she had deliberately belittled his lover, emphasizing their differences.
“…So this is heartbreak.”
Callia sighed again and took a sip of the liquor.
“…Bitter.”
[PR/N: Author needs to stop forcing this. Dale needs to be single again.]
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