Chapter 163
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Dreaming of the Emperor
"If Mom goes to the island shade chasing oysters~? The elementary kid stays home alone and plays games~♪."
A mom perfectly captured the daily life of an elementary schooler living on a 21st-century island, humming the new island version of the song.
Reaching the 7th Circle made the world look different.
Unlike the 6th Circle, there was no turbulence—everything felt like it belonged to me.
'They say from the 7th Circle onward, you earn the title of Archmage, so now I'm one too. The Archmage of the 21st Century, no less. Heh heh heh.'
The garden path of the mansion trickled along.
Thanks to the perpetually refreshing temperature, nameless birds flew in, adding to the charm.
"Kaiyer..."
A cautious woman's voice calling my name.
"Haha, Lucelle, no training today?"
When news of the Bazran invasion reached the kingdoms, Idis and the empire's guests had been training daily.
Under Countess Irene's command, they drilled in formation flight and group combat techniques, making it hard to catch sight of them.
But here was Lucelle after a long while.
Though she had to live as a man for revenge, she usually exuded masculine charm, but in front of me, she was just a shy woman blushing.
"Yeah, it's a rest day today."
Lucelle, with her short hair and captivating transparent silver eyes.
She beamed brightly, staring straight at me.
'Aww, so cute.'
This was the spice of life.
I'd long since loaded my mismatched conscience about upholding monogamy onto a spaceship and shot it out of the solar system.
"So, wanna have lunch together?"
"Sure!"
Her eyes sparkled as if she'd been waiting for my suggestion.
'No matter what anyone says, you're my first girl.'
How tormented I'd been by the strange feelings I'd harbored for Lucelle before realizing she was a woman.
And then that thrilling kiss after learning the truth.
Once the seal was stamped, there was no going off to marry elsewhere.
A predator never lets go of prey it'd marked.
"When do you think you can summon a greater spirit?"
"W-Well... It's not easy. Even though you taught me, I guess I'm just not good enough."
Lucelle's face fell at the mention of greater spirits.
I'd snagged a top-grade spirit right from my first contract, but that wasn't easy for everyone.
"Keep at it. I'll like you more if you do."
"Hee hee, thanks."
She checked that no one was around and let out a feminine laugh.
She was a woman who retained her bright beauty.
Living a man's life for revenge hadn't stolen that.
"Hey, Lord Count Kaiyer."
Just as I was enjoying some intimate time strolling the garden with Lucelle, an unwelcome man's voice rang out.
'Whoa...'
A group emerged from the central garden with its fountain.
'They're all gathered.'
The perennial guests from Bazran.
Princess Idis, Countess Irene, little Prince Razsion, and Sir Rosero were there.
'What a shame.'
If things went well today, I might've shared a thrilling kiss with Lucelle, but these guys were stealing my dream.
Too bad—it just wasn't my day.
"Lucelle, next time together, okay?"
"Yeah... sure."
Lucelle nodded, knowing we wouldn't get that lunch together today.
Step by step.
I approached the group by the fountain.
'They've gotten bolder from all that hard work.'
We lived in the same building but were both so busy we barely exchanged proper greetings daily.
They'd been busy too, but to celebrate reaching the 7th Circle, I had to unpack all the magic knowledge stored in my head.
Unlike lower circles, knowing the formula didn't mean you could cast it right away.
The mana arrays and equations were complex, so I had no choice but to practice until they became second nature.
And for unexpected dangers, I always had to memorize a few handy spells.
Even the smartest mage would forget memorized spells the moment they fell asleep.
If even one or two links in the formula broke under the blade of forgetfulness and you tried casting the next day, that could be your last.
"Looks like you've gotten even busier lately, great lord of Neruman."
Sir Rosero teased with a grin.
"Haha, haven't you all been the busy ones?"
"Bro, spar with me when you have time. Lately, my skills have shot up— I can swing a thousand times without my arms hurting."
What a relentless kid.
I'd learned swordsmanship at his age, but not with that intensity.
"Of course. Since you brought it up, how about after lunch today?"
"Really?"
"You bet— of course."
"Thanks, bro! You're my real hero."
"Thank you, Sir Kaiyer."
"No need to thank me."
Idis watched her delighted little brother with eyes brimming with affection, expressing her gratitude.
'What gratitude? It's all thanks to this kid that we connected in the library.'
Thanks to Razsion, I'd bonded with Idis.
I responded to her beautiful smile with a pleased gaze.
"How about it? If you're free today, we'd be honored if you invited us to dine."
Rosero asked for a meal.
"Of course. Let's have a samgyeopsal party— it's been ages."
"Yay! Samgyeopsal with kimchi today!"
'Aw, kid's turned full Korean already.'
Samgyeopsal and kimchi, favorites of most Koreans.
The kimchi from last winter had ripened just right, blessing our meals with happiness every day.
Thanks to Lucia's mom, who worked tirelessly and now nearly matched my cooking, we never ran out.
'Alright, call Derbal and Armis too.'
What more could paradise offer?
If I could live these happy days every day, what else could heaven be?
And I wasn't that greedy.
A simple(?) lord of Neruman, with just a garden and fountain like everyone else.
Who could begrudge me that?
I'd done my work, earned it fairly with my time and effort.
Sure, guys like Poltbiran might grumble sometimes.
To them, I'd say one thing.
'Shut your trap quietly before I bury you.'
"The spring wheat we sowed last fall has yielded impressively. The soil was nutrient-rich from years of no farming, so we can double-crop for a few years without issue."
'That settles our food worries.'
We'd secured enough grain to feed Neruman's over 500,000 people for ten years.
The top-quality soil, plus holy water seed treatment, ensured a bountiful harvest.
"Has the Dark Merchant Guild paid in full?"
"As you commanded, Lord, all in imperial gold coins."
'Impressive bunch.'
The ruthless Dark Merchant Guild, who'd sell their own wives for gold.
They'd pulled off a massive trade run right under the empires' noses.
"Anything else we're short on?"
"No, Lord. Thanks to the dwarves and elves, the key buildings are mostly done. We've even managed the monsters enough to keep the wyverns' food stores stocked."
Monsters had gone from headaches to assets.
With nearly 400 wyverns, we couldn't feed them daily without those stores.
I wasn't handing over my samgyeopsal, after all.
The wyverns filled their bellies by patrolling to designated food warehouse spots.
"But, Lord... I have something to report."
Derbal cautiously broached the subject mid-report.
"Speak."
Derbal, always open and honest.
Knight and lord, but brothers in all but blood.
"It's time you prepared."
'What the heck?'
Out of nowhere, talk of preparation from Derbal.
"What do you mean?"
"Lord, you can't stay like this forever. It's time to cast off the Neruman lordship and count title bestowed by Bazran. You've more than repaid their grace just by using it this long."
Derbal spoke with fervor.
'The time has finally come.'
I knew my current title didn't suit me anymore.
As Derbal said, I'd repaid Bazran's former emperor fully.
The countship he'd given no longer fit me.
But I couldn't do it alone.
I needed a moment everyone—people and knights—could accept.
"The empire's done nothing for Neruman anyway. And you owe no debts or favors to other kingdoms. You are the pride and hero of all us knights and Neruman's people."
Derbal's heartfelt advice, always music to my ears.
"So you mean..."
"Lord, you must ascend the throne! You've raised Neruman on solid ground amid the continent's chaos and proven your valor against all foes. You are fully qualified to be king!"
'Oh yeah!!!'
My heart's mouth tore open infinitely at Derbal declaring me qualified for kingship.
Had any Kang family ancestor ever worn a crown?
Now our house would join the royal ranks.
"I appreciate your loyalty, but it's not time yet."
"Lord! Not time? The continent's in turmoil— you've proven yourself a sage ruler. No one can touch Neruman now. Proclaim the kingdom and lead us lacking ones. This is the desperate wish of all knights and people!"
Derbal cried out with tearful passion.
How could I not understand?
But it truly wasn't time yet.
'I can't take the throne until I crush those Raviter bastards.'
The Raviter emperor, a thorn in my mouth.
Only when he screamed surrender would I ascend— on my own feet, stylishly.
"Derbal."
"Yes, Lord."
"I know you and the knights' hearts well. But truly, now's not the time. If I claim the throne amid continental chaos like I'm seizing the moment, the whole continent will mock me. 'Won a few battles on a tiny scrap of land and calls himself king.'"
Of course, I didn't care about such talk.
But no need to reveal that raw truth to Derbal.
I wanted to remain his cool lord forever.
"Just wait a bit. The day I crush all foes around me and bring continental peace— that's when I'll proudly become your king."
"L-Lord..."
Derbal, the innocent knight, flushed with emotion, eyes welling up.
"Let's work for it. Make Neruman the best kingdom to live in on this continent."
"I vow my life to serve you, Lord. To me, you are greater than any god!"
Derbal now treated me as divine or beyond.
'Kingdom, huh... kingdom... Heh heh heh.'
Just thinking of the word "kingdom" felt good.
Nothing could stop me.
Did royals have some special seed?
'While I'm at it, why not snag an emperor title?'
I dreamed another modest(?) dream.
Dreams cost nothing anyway.
As long as I was happy, that was enough.
"F-Father... this place is..."
A basement space thick with red mist, the stench of blood, and gloomy mana.
A man in ornate palace robes called to his father, cautiously scanning around.
No matter how he thought, he'd never heard rumors of such a place in the palace.
Having lived decades, he knew every statue in every corner.
Yet this underground space was brand new.
And his father, the emperor, had led him here.
"Don't you think it's time you grew stronger?"
The emperor, ever wrapped in untouchable dignity.
His son, the crown prince, shuddered at the thick, cold voice.
The Raviter Empire's crown prince preferred books to swords, poetry and painting to politics.
Thus, first in line for the throne, yet scorned by his brother.
No, he knew many nobles opposed his ascension too.
"F-Father... I..."
He spoke in a mouse-like voice to his father's back.
He was terrified.
Just seeing his father made his legs weak, his mouth seal shut.
As a child, he'd wondered countless times if his real dad was elsewhere.
"Perpias, your blood is weak. This father will now claim it all."
Emperor Hardbeya spoke to his son not as a parent, but like sentencing a convict— ice-cold.
"W-What do you..."
The emperor rarely showed interest in him, so he'd rushed at the summons.
But this ominous talk of claiming his blood.
Crown Prince Perpias trembled, seeking the truth.
"Tsk tsk, pathetic fool."
The emperor called him a fool.
Boom!
"F-Father, I ask nothing. Give the crown to my brother— I have no complaints. Just let me stay by your side forever!"
Perpias interpreted it as yielding the crown in death.
He collapsed, forehead to the floor.
Swish.
Then the emperor turned.
Cold mana crept in, encircling the space.
Perpias flinched mid-bow, startled.
He cautiously lifted his head.
"Gasp!"
In that instant, Crown Prince Perpias screamed.
"Y-You..."
It wore the emperor's form, but wasn't him— staring down with red eyes.
A cold sneer carved on its lips.
"Heh heh heh."
And it approached.
Toward the terror-stricken crown prince, pissing himself on the floor....