The Emperor Who Was Chapter 10 : Chapter 10

Chapter . 10

A scream erupted.

It felt like a burning dagger piercing through live flesh, spinning like a whirlwind.

It was fortunate that I had cast soundproofing magic in advance; it hurt so much that I bit my lip and tongue, bleeding profusely. If the magic circle hadn't sucked it all up, I would have had to clean it up with magic amidst all this.

‘Carving these layered things all at once hurts even more!’

But carving layer by layer would hurt for a longer ti. Even if it hurts, ending it quickly is better, but if it hurts too much… carving layer by layer… but rather than hurting for a long ti, carving at once… but it hurts too much!

If the previous pain felt like dying, this was a torturous pain that didn't kill.

My mind was going back and forth, but I held on by focusing on one thought.

‘It hurts because it’s pretty.’

To get close to sothing that pretty, one must endure. My illegitimate brother said even a beauty is worth obtaining even if one has to risk the pain of a duel. Of course, I don't believe his words, but still, he is a master of court romance chosen by noblewon, and this magic circle is truly beautiful.

When the emulation finally barely finished, I recalled the blood na.

The blood na was sucked straight into my palm, and my palm blazed dazzlingly with the sa golden light as the magic circle.

‘…How could it hurt even more from here!’

When the fla barely subsided, I was lying in the exact center of the magic circle. I poured out blood and tears this ti too, but still, it was better than when I collapsed at the coronation. Becoming stronger made

endure pain better too.

Raising my trembling hand to open it, I saw a small magic circle carved in blood on my palm. A model accurately emulating the Throne Magic Circle.

I barely used magic because I had no energy. The magic circle on my palm disappeared as if sucked into the skin.

But soon, a golden magic circle floated in the air above my hand. Small like my hand, but a magic circle so exquisite it looked like a tower, beautiful beyond asure.

A lamp in my hand to light the path to pick up Michelon.

As if responding to that bright hope, the second Circle awakened within .

***

“Your Highness, Prince, are you alright?”

Goldmund woke

up. My eyes barely opened. I had washed and fallen asleep as soon as I returned last night.

“…I am fine. Did you bring Lasilex?”

“Yes, I also brought magic potions. Please drink the potion first.”

I had been refraining from drinking Lasilex every day as it put a heavy burden on the body, but I had told him in advance thinking it would be necessary today.

“I diligently persuaded them that Your Highness’s condition was bad and received so really good dicine.”

Saying that, Goldmund poured a glass full of red magic potion and offered it.

It was a decent potion, but not top-grade. Goldmund, not being a wizard, couldn't discern it.

As I took the glass to drink, sohow my palm felt ticklish.

Did the magic circle react to the magic potion? I tried activating the magic circle. With .

A magic circle originally possesses only one function, be it transportation or barrier. But the Great Magic Circle had multiple functions, and all sorts of spells were put into it for that purpose. Enhancent spells too, of course.

Although I said sothing else outwardly.

“Oh God, I pray that drinking this dicine will restore my health.”

Then golden light frosted on my hand holding the magic potion and wrapped around the potion. Outwardly, it looked as if a transparent fla was frost-bound. But unlike when the magic circle was first carved yesterday, it wasn't hot.

“Ohhh!”

Amidst Goldmund’s shouting, a transparent golden fla wrapped around the red potion and burned. Eventually, it surged over the surface of the potion and disappeared.

“What is all this, Your Highness?”

“Wouldn't it be the protection of God?”

I didn't say which God.

“As expected! Truly amazing. Indeed, you are the Prince to whom I pledge my loyalty!”

As soon as I drank the potion, my depleted stamina recovered imdiately, and this feeling of strength surging……. It was top-grade, which I had barely tasted even when I collapsed at the coronation as Emperor.

After Goldmund left, I studied the magic circle all day. Examining other functions too.

Just as I intended, this magic circle functioned as an auxiliary magic circle to the Great Magic Circle.

So right now I cannot issue a command to release Michelon to the second magic circle confining him, but I could know if any command was issued. If the Throne Magic Circle is activated, this magic circle also responds.

Even now, I could trace back and analyze what commands had been issued previously. Since that magic circle recorded past commands and beca stronger.

As a result of tracking, it was correct that my father hid the dragon egg.

It wasn't surprising that my guess was right, but the command before that was unexpected.

A command to manifest a barrier.

Barriers are commonly known for protection, but they are also used for confinent. Like the magic circle where the dragon egg is placed now.

‘But considering the size of this barrier… it wasn't a small magic circle confining Michelon, but a barrier utilizing the entire massive Throne Magic Circle… who on earth were they trying to protect, or confine…….’

If it’s an existence of that magnitude, I could only think of a dragon.

‘…Let’s think about that gradually.’

First, I had to focus on rescuing Michelon. Even so, there is a point that cannot be overlooked.

My father rarely used this Great Magic Circle except for that ti. When attacking enemies, one can just use the dragon, but not using such a magic circle when it exists?

‘If I were the Emperor, I would eat and sleep on top of it.’

…Although I couldn't use it when I was Emperor because I didn't know.

As rumored, my father might have killed wizards to silence them.

But as successive Emperors beca increasingly distant from magic, it was highly likely that activating the Throne Magic Circle consud too much power. Wizards might have died from exhaustion.

‘Unless it’s a royal wizard like , it would be too difficult to handle a magic circle custom-made for the imperial bloodline that attacks other wizards.’

The situation was similar during my grandfather or great-grandfather’s ti. There were often failed commands. Because of this, they might have gradually stopped using it unless it was for a contract with a dragon or a coronation.

On the other hand, the further back in ti one goes, the more frequently the magic circle was used, and the higher the success rate. It was before the Lasilex test disappeared.

After investigating while thinking this and that, I discovered a magic circle where Michelon might be.

‘A magic circle that continuously uses magic power alone.’

The Great Magic Circle didn't use magic power until I went there yesterday either. Except for transmitting magic power to this magic circle.

Perhaps crazy things like emulation were possible because the giant beast, hibernating without food, was urgently inhaling the magic power I supplied.

I only thought it was beautiful, but thinking like that, it was cute.

‘I should feed it often and ta it.’

When night ca, I went to where Michelon’s magic circle was located.

It was the most remote place in the Imperial Palace, a secluded garden. Even gardeners didn't seem to visit often. Probably subtly deterred.

I worried it might be outside the capital, let alone the Imperial Palace, but my father seed to have wanted to keep the dragon egg close.

Surrounded by dense bushes, a hunting lodge barely visible. It looked long abandoned.

The magic circle was located under a large rock next to that lodge, not the lodge itself. Even if people thought it was the lodge and dug up the floor, they would only be disappointed. I wouldn't have known the exact location either if not for the Great Magic Circle.

I was about to approach as soon as I discovered it but stopped.

‘There is no way Father left no devices.’

There was no one around. Except for a naked bronze statue covered in bird droppings, left neglected.

I went back, hid behind a tree, picked up a large stone, and threw it at the statue.

Red light flashed in the statue’s lifeless eyes, and a muscular bronze arm, as if carved with a chisel, no, actually carved, swung up. When that arm struck the stone, it turned to dust. My vision went dark. Stone dust must have gotten into my eyes.

‘Artifact.’

But artifacts are usually small and must be used directly by the user. An artifact that big and moving on its own… is it also controlled remotely by the Throne Magic Circle?

‘Aweso.’

Even now, the bronze statue with red eyes flashing to find

and turn my head to dust, its head turning creakily in the opposite direction.

For overcoming fear, a command issued as a future Emperor is effective imdiately. To fulfill the imperial order issued in advance, I must ascend to the throne.

‘Your na is Maxim.’

I gave that na because its violent tendency was similar to my brother.

And it looked persistent like my brother. Even if I fly up to avoid it, the mont I position myself between Michelon’s magic circle and Maxim, it will detect

imdiately.

‘But smashing it would be like notifying that I found the location of Michelon’s magic circle.’

There is no guarantee I can break Michelon’s magic circle before my father reacts. Before that, the Throne Magic Circle would quickly move Michelon to another magic circle.

‘Above all, smashing sothing cool like that goes against a wizard’s pride and face.’

‘Auxiliary magic circle of the Great Magic Circle, therefore assists the Great Magic Circle.’

I engraved this concept as a basic spell into the schematic of my magic circle, added related spells, and sent it through the stream of my magic power floating in the Throne Magic Circle. Tess is Tess, but the feeling of my magic connecting with the Throne Magic Circle is ecstatic.

Since it is ,

on its behalf if the dragon egg confined by the Great Magic Circle is well confined.

Then, blue light circulated in the magic circle besides the golden light, and the tower of spells rose another floor. It was pretty and cute.

After issuing the command through the auxiliary magic circle connected to the Throne Magic Circle, I also

Maxim.

Maxim’s movent of turning his head creakily left and right stopped. The bronze arm swinging like a flail returned to its initial position, and the unpleasant gaze like the First Prince extinguished.

‘Staying still like a good boy, he is more handso than Maximilian. And stronger.’

If Maxim was controlled by my father’s wizards instead of the magic circle, I would have been discovered. But wizards couldn't handle the magic circle without my father, and vice versa.

Projecting Maxim onto the magic circle revealed the spells cast on him. , , and .

Maxim blocked those approaching Michelon without my father’s permission and protected Michelon. Unknowing people coming here for goosebump friction would be beaten to death.

‘Father wouldn't bat an eyelash though.’

Then even if I stop Maxim’s function with the magic circle, it was dangerous for

to go directly to where Michelon is. My father’s permission is sothing even the magic circle cannot do anything about, and going without it would trigger that imperial order as a major premise, only waking up the barely silenced Maxim.

While still hiding, I

Michelon’s barrier with the auxiliary magic circle.

After much effort, contact was finally made. Since Michelon is before hatching, it stopped at contacting the barrier.

‘When I hugged his egg and cried, Michelon heard my words and answered.’

Then it was worth trying.

Above all, I wanted to let the confined Michelon know he wasn't alone.

Loudspeaker magic, magic that makes the Emperor’s speech audible even to those far away.

‘My voice must be audible even to Michelon confined in the magic circle under the rock.’

Loudspeaker magic itself is easy, but now I had to cut off all other volus outside the magic circle. It’s magic based on the principle of echo, but I had to cut the echo too.

‘Besides, Michelon’s words might not be heard at this distance, unlike when I was hugging the egg.’

I had to make his words audible only to my ears using sound-absorbing magic. Having achieved the hardest fusion of elental magic attributes, fusion between non-elental magics was easier. When a wizard’s attribute becos too distinct, attribute magic becos stronger while other magics tend to weaken, but that didn't apply to .

Still, the calculation is difficult, but fortunately, my magic circle did the complex calculation for . I just had to infuse magic power.

‘My little tower of magic, I na you Tess after my na.’

Giving nas to two things today, it felt like I made friends.

With Tess’s help, I called out with strength.

“Michelon, are you there?”

How long has it been since we parted like that. Calling the na I had always kept in my heart and never forgotten for a mont since then, my voice trembled.

“Michelon… I will definitely save you. You are not alone. You have . I will surely get you out of there, so trust only .”

Tears were about to fall.

There was no response for a while, but eventually, a voice was heard.

“Who is Michelon?”

The tears went right back in.