Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Pesky Princess Eremia
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"Has that bastard entered the inner palace?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. Contrary to expectations, he landed in the imperial family's private hangar. He's currently staying at the Isabel Palace, receiving a warm welcome from Princess Aegis."
"Kukuku... So the punk knows how to use his head."
Duke Omer, busy with preparations as the Emperor's birthday approached.
In the current Bazran Empire, Duke Omer wielded invisible power second only to the Emperor.
As the leader of the noble faction, he had much to prepare.
The only days nobles from across the vast imperial territories gathered in the capital were the Emperor's birthday and the Empire's Founding Day, making them politically crucial times.
Even amid all that, Duke Omer was intensely focused on Kaiser, the temporary lord of Neruman.
A wary expression surfaced on his gaunt face.
'He keeps getting on my nerves. He's dangerous.'
Being born into a ducal house of the empire didn't guarantee success or power.
Like Duke Garviti, one could be buried in a rural territory, fighting monsters head-on every day just to survive.
Failing to win the Emperor's favor and facing constant checks from other nobles naturally led to elimination in the political arena.
Duke Omer stood at the pinnacle among such nobles.
He heeded the ominous warning rising in his heart.
'He must die. Cut him down before he can grow further.'
The fearless young upstart who had boldly landed his wyvern in the imperial hangar instead of the Kirfone Aerial Knights' facility.
"This has gotten a bit annoying."
"He's a sharp one. We planned to take him out before he reached the Aerial Knights once he left the palace, but..."
Viscount Farkes, the crafty schemer, wore a troubled expression.
"It's fine. There's no fun in catching a fish in the first net you cast. He's a rat in a trap anyway. We can always make a way..."
The wicked eyes of Omer, who had secretly led dozens of noble houses to ruin over his lifetime, gleamed with light.
"By the way, I hear the Raviter Empire is in an uproar right now?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. According to the latest report, Second Prince Alskane of the Raviter Empire has gone missing. He left word that he was heading out with the imperial guard Sky Knights and his maternal grandfather's Yanobis ducal Sky Knights to hunt a black mage, then vanished. As a result, the Kobiran Mountains area is in a near-war state."
"Oh? Alskane—that's the second prince who has Hardveria's favor, isn't it?"
"Yes. He has quite a following among the nobles."
"Hunting black mages, eh? Puhahaha. At that age, it's fine."
Whenever major events occurred on the continent, information flowed in immediately.
Managing an empire required handling intelligence as a basic duty.
"I'll look into it further and report back."
Duke Omer's face brightened more as the Emperor's illness deepened.
'Soon... the empire will be in my hands! Soon!'
Even if ill, the Emperor was the Emperor.
The current Emperor Habitron was a remarkably astute ruler who demanded attention.
If such an Emperor died, the next would be Poltviran.
His temperament was violent and rough, but he unconditionally obeyed his mother Ermiang and Omer.
And then the empire would fully fall into Duke Omer's hands.
One that no one could dare touch...
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Halt!"
Hiiing!
On a highway about a day from Denfos, the central city of Neruman.
Over a hundred mounted soldiers blocked a merchant caravan with about twenty wagons loaded with goods.
"What's the matter, milord?"
The leading merchant clasped his hands and bowed deeply before the knight.
"An important figure in Neruman has been kidnapped. We ask for your cooperation in the search."
The knight and soldiers wore faces hardened by fatigue.
"Of course. How can we help?"
"What's in the wagons?"
"Orc hides from the recent monster hunt. They've been pre-processed and are headed to the Haviss Kingdom to be made into leather armor."
A typical merchant group entering and exiting Neruman: around twenty mercenaries of third-rate skill at best, plus wagon drivers.
"Uncover the loads. We need to check everything."
"Understood."
The merchant bowed deeply at the knight's curt expression and obeyed.
"Everyone, uncover the loads."
Chajajajak.
Sensing the ominous mood from the knight and soldiers' stiff faces, the drivers and mercenaries quickly removed the coverings from the wagons.
"Ugh..."
"Keuk..."
The knights and soldiers grimaced severely at the revealed sight.
Even pre-processed, the hides riddled with holes and the bluish corpses induced nausea.
The monster hunt had yielded over a hundred thousand orcs, overwhelming Neruman's processing capacity.
Merchants were thus frantically transporting the hides out.
Orc hides worth less than one gold in Neruman could become leather armor and goods fetching several gold after proper tanning.
"Search thoroughly!"
But duty demanded they carry out the orders.
At the lead knight's command, the soldiers approached the wagons, faces twisted.
Rustle rustle.
The soldiers rummaged through the spear-folded orc hides.
Drip drip.
"..."
Not fully dried hides meant the congealed rotten blood pooled between them flowed out onto the ground.
The soldiers' faces paled in an instant.
Blood clots stuck to spear tips, orc corpses with hollowed eyes and nostrils exuding eerie vibes—nightmarish even in dreams.
"N-Nothing here!"
"All clear!"
Soon after, the soldiers, pretending to search forcibly, chorused that all was fine.
In the sweltering heat, enduring the stench of rotting orc corpses was pure torment.
"If you spot any suspicious people on the road, report it immediately."
"Understood."
The knight, eager to leave as much as the soldiers, left curtly and turned his horse.
Their search area today spanned a half-day's hard ride on horseback.
"Move out!"
Hiiiing!
Dududududu.
The Neruman cavalry vanished into the distance as swiftly as they'd appeared on the wind.
"Heh..."
Once they were gone, the compliant merchant's demeanor vanished, replaced by a quiet, cold sneer.
"What are you lot doing? Hurry up and move!"
The merchant bellowed at the dumbfounded, idiotic mercenaries.
They didn't know.
What lay hidden beneath the orc hides in the special crates on the wagons.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"At attention!"
'Kuku. Getting the full treatment today.'
They say even the dog at the prime minister's house is minister-level.
Out for a stroll in the imperial palace with Aegis and Razsion.
The guarding knights and soldiers saluted sharply.
And I, among them, received salutes from the haughty guards.
"This is the Turamoria Imperial Garden."
The imperial garden, a ten-minute walk from Isabel Palace.
'Whoa!'
An exclamation escaped inwardly.
Not uttered vulgarly, but more beautiful than any European royal garden—the Bazran imperial garden.
From the entrance, an arched marble gate adorned with bizarre rocks stylishly.
Shaaaaaaa.
Cool fountain sprays refreshing the midsummer heat.
A dozens-of-meters fountain sculpted with angels, flowers, wild animals, elves, and other races.
'I need to install one twice as grand in my castle.'
Essential reference for the paradise I'd build later.
I scanned and memorized them all.
"Tch, Kaiser bro—no, sir—I wanted to spar. A walk? Lame..."
Razsion, who'd asked me for a duel, pouted, displeased at following Aegis's lead on the palace tour.
"Your Highness, we have plenty of time. I'll spar with you after dinner."
"Really?"
'Kid, time for more education today.'
Razsion interrupting my sweet stroll with the Bazran Empire's symbolic beauty, Princess Aegis.
He needed mental re-education disguised as a duel.
"Prepare tea over there."
"Yes, Princess."
The dozen or so maids trailing behind.
At the princess's gentle command, they bowed and set out tea on the bench and table under a large tree.
'Royals should live like this.'
The luxurious life of royalty itself.
Enviable.
And I dreamed.
That someday, I'd have days like this too.
"Please, sit."
The maids laid silk-white cloths over stone chairs, and on the white stone table, hot tea and cookies appeared.
"Thank you."
Despite the heat, the shade by the cool fountain was refreshingly chill.
"Tell me about Neruman. Are there really that many monsters? Is it true the Raviter and Temir bastards, plus pirates, make life hell?"
Once seated, the kid's eyes sparkled, begging for Neruman tales.
"Not just hell—they fight bloody battles daily. In the recent monster subjugation, Neruman soldiers slew over hundreds of thousands."
"Wow! H-Hundreds of thousands? Were there ogres or trolls too?"
"Not only that—they caught dozens daily. Even some magic beasts."
"Eaaaaah! I wanna go! Ride a wyvern and hunt monsters!"
Razsion's spirited cheer.
It reminded me of war games with neighborhood kids at that age.
Until Kyung-mok next door bashed my head with a wooden sword.
'Quite the thorny situation.'
All around was quiet.
But presences everywhere: the kid's and Aegis's guard knights.
And several sharp intents aimed specifically at me.
I keenly felt I'd entered the heart of the Bazran Empire.
Rustle rustle swish.
A cool breeze soothing the heat blew gently.
Aegis's long golden hair fluttered delicately.
Her unique scent pierced the soul.
'Nice...'
Surveillance eyes everywhere, but this relaxed moment.
A proper rest after so long.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"It's traces of magic!"
"An earth wall created by an earth spirit!"
The Raviter Empire in chaos over the missing second prince.
The palace, all nobles in the empire, and even Gauss Magic Tower in uproar.
Amid it, the discovered black mage location.
The prince and missing Dorvitt court mage, plus the imperial messenger bird Ruikar's arrival coincided nearly.
And Gauss Tower Lord Orbayton, who rarely stirred, broke seclusion to fly in on a wyvern to the Kobiran Mountains.
The precise map couldn't be described verbally, so he came personally despite urgency.
Caution extra, lest the messenger bird vanish en route.
"This is definitely it."
"You're absolutely sure?"
7th Circle mage and tower lord Orbayton confirmed the location with Duke Yanobis, using honorifics.
"I'll check personally."
No telling how deep the cave, sealed firmly by earth spirit hands.
Before it stood 7th Circle mage Orbayton, mithril mana staff in hand.
'What bastard did this!'
Irritated inwardly before the duke, Tower Lord Orbayton fumed.
Without the prince, no way he'd deploy personally.
"Don't slack on vigilance!"
Wyverns mobilized for the prince: around 300.
They dominated the skies now, controlling the area perfectly.
Plus over ten mages dispatched from Gauss Tower.
Core Gauss mages rode Sky Knights here.
"Dig!"
Dig, a 2nd Circle basic spell.
Tower Lord Orbayton cast cautiously.
Fasssssh.
Golden mana from the staff lightly parted the blocking earth.
'Damn, not here?'
Ten meters in, no reaction.
Tuk.
Staff stopped as the earthen wall fully breached.
He turned to Duke Yanobis, watching breathlessly.
"D-Dug through?"
"The blocking wall is fully cleared. But..."
The tower lord trailed off.
"..."
If anyone alive inside, there'd be reaction—but silence.
All watching faces darkened somberly.
"P-Ple...ase... sa...ve..."
".....!!"
Then, a faint voice from somewhere.
"Sa...ve... me..."
"What are you doing! Check inside the cave NOW!!!!!!!"
Duke Yanobis shouted, charging toward the cave.
'Gods!'
He invoked a god long unfound.
The empire's influence hinged on Second Prince Alskane surviving.
"Th-The prince lives!"
The lead guard knight's mighty cry from inside.
"Waaaaaaah!"
Pent-up breaths erupted in cheers echoing everywhere.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Hohoho. Aegis, it's been ages."
"S-Sis..."
"Hmph!"
"Razsion, still haven't fixed that rude habit? 'Hmph' to your big sis. Tsk tsk."
'What?'
Midway through tea, happily recounting Neruman tales, a woman burst in laughing.
'Wait, sis? First Princess Eremia?'
First Princess Eremia, in my scant Bazran knowledge.
Born to Crown Prince Poltviran and Empress Ermiang.
Red aura stronger than gold in her crimson-gold dress trailing, upturned eyes, thin red lips with enigmatic smile.
'Oh yeah!'
Beautiful.
If Aegis pure and modest beauty, this woman oozed haughty brat vibes.
The obnoxious arrogance only rich kids exude.
'Like a thorny rose.'
Eremia in cool blue dress suiting red-gold hair, adorned with jeweled accessories.
Zing.
Her eyes turned to me.
"Kaiser de Neruman, baron, greets Princess Eremia."
Eyes weren't just hers.
Two guard knights close, escorting her.
"Kaiser de Neruman, baron? ...Ah!"
Eremia mulled my name, then exclaimed.
"Hoho, you're that fearless trainee knight who pissed off big bro?"
'Huh, she knows me.'
Aegis and Razsion aside, even Princess Eremia knowing me was unexpected.
"Not sure about trainee knight, but yes, I gifted His Highness the Crown Prince an unpleasant memory."
"..."
Eremia cut her laugh at my retort, staring with her large monolidded eyes.
"Hoo... Bold enough before big bro."
First princess pierced me with curious eyes.
Smirk.
I shot a defiant smile back, unyielding.
"Up close, handsome. Rare black hair, lion-like eyes... A fine gaze nobles lack nowadays. If not so arrogant..."
Pababat.
At "arrogant," she bit her lip with seductive smile.
Her lithe, well-developed body sensed under dress folds.
"I'll take it as praise."
"Of course praise... if you're still breathing."
"Sis!"
Aegis paled at Eremia's barbed words, calling out loudly.
"Hohoho. Aegis, do you like Sir Kaiser here or something?"
"..."
Aegis blushed wordlessly at Eremia's directness.
"Big sis is a demon!"
Razsion yelled at Eremia, hurling his harshest insult.
"Hoho. Thanks. Comparing this sis to such noble demons."
Eremia showed no anger or displeasure.
'Fox spirit.'
A nine-tailed fox rival appeared.
Tougher opponent than ill-tempered Poltviran.
"Razsion! Mind your tongue with Princess Eremia! Can't talk like that!"
'They really don't get along.'
I'd heard.
Children of Empress Nermiss—Aegis and Razsion—lacked support.
Their maternal grandfather a mere rural count.
Vs. Crown Prince and Eremia with Uncle Duke Omer gripping central power—mere droplets.
Same imperial seed, different fields, different treatment.
'True to the venomous empress's spawn.'
Empress Nermiss, childless early, lost to Empress Ermiang's tyranny.
Bazran knew well.
"..."
Razsion bowed at Aegis's scolding.
Clenched fists hinted at pains endured from Eremia.
"It's fine. No need to show it so. I know you siblings don't like me. I hate you two anyway. Very much. Hohohohoho."
'Is she nuts?'
Looks fine, but spouts drunken nonsense like a brat.
"Kaiser, was it."
The fox cooed my name fondly.
No reply; I stared into her brown eyes.
"Hope we meet again. With those arrogant eyes staring straight like today."
The fox tossed words hinting my future.
"Haha. Thanks for the concern. In gratitude, one piece of advice."
"Ad-advice?"
Eremia, likely never advised before, faltered slightly.
"Among flowers, one type hides filthy bugs in petals, yet outer petals allure with scent and looks. Pretending superior with sharp thorns and haughty threats... Fools call it cool and beautiful, but wise folk know: utterly obnoxious, clueless brat."
Burr.
Eremia trembled, watching me mock straight-on.
Smart enough to know it described her.
"And I turn such useless weeds like this."
Ziiiiiik.
I slowly crushed a fallen leaf on the ground, applying force.
Green sap bled like blood.
"Th-This bastard!!!!!!"
First Princess Eremia flushed crimson, seeing me trample the rose analogy.
Chajak.
Distant guards drew swords, charging at her dire expression.
"Then, until next time..."
I bowed elegantly in farewell.
"Hmph!"
Eremia huffed at my courtesy.
Pararak.
She whirled, dress flaring roughly.
"Bad punk... I'll kill you..."
Her quiet mutter drifted.
'Kill? Me? Puhahaha!'
I'd not be born male if dying to such a wench.
'Bet she doesn't know. Bad guys... are hot.'
How same blood, such different tempers.
Pure Aegis and Razsion watched venomous Eremia depart.
Uncomparable.
"Hahahahaha... Ow, my sides."
"Razsion, behave."
Eremia gone afar, Razsion clutched belly laughing gleefully.
Aegis smiled despite chiding.
A tangy afternoon in the imperial garden.
'But can I just go off like that?'
Worry crept.
Guards distant from royal talk—lucky. Else, they'd duel me over words.
If Eremia yelled, imperial insult death.
'Touchy Emina-like. Heh.'
En route, Eremia pondered best kill method.
An enemy added to my life.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Haa... Bliss..."
The famed imperial banquet.
Noble feasts from Earl Ayrin to capital? Child's play.
Over three hours of courses.
Monkey-brain level? No, but first-time myriad dishes.
At least fifty.
Tribute or bought: continental ingredients.
Neruman's top veal steak? Absent.
Top chefs surpassing luxury hotels.
Stuffed full, yet mouth watered at thoughts.
'Warm back, full belly—this paradise?'
Arm-pillow on soft bed.
'All doing well?'
Neruman, pushed from mind en route.
Derbal would handle; faith in him.
He'd never erred in my watch.
'Armis well too...'
Pure priestess Armis, angelic compassion for humans.
Without her, Neruman unstable short-term.
Wandering folk need faithful god's servant pillar.
Plus unmatched holy water output.
Prayer turns all high-grade; speechless.
'Must return soon.'
Armis thought spurred impatience.
Post-emperor's birthday ball tomorrow, bolt.
'Hope it ends quietly.'
Landed palace heedless, but now Aegis's guest proper.
Trouble via me harms her too.
'They've got me surrounded tight.'
Not lying dumb.
Mana presences all around.
Isabel Palace guards' auras.
Even sans me, expected.
Bazran Emperor's residence lax? Absurd.
'Night watch, guards.'
Trusted the guarding them, closed eyes.
Pleasantly envisioning empire's beauties at tomorrow's ball.
As I drifted off.