Chapter 12: The Emperor 5
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 12: The Emperor 5
"Now then, shall we hear where you learned that technique?"
As I admitted defeat, the Emperor turned his back to me and walked toward his chair. Seeing him walk away so nonchalantly, a tempting voice whispered in my head.
‘If I launch a surprise attack now, could I actually pull it off?’
What if I lunged at him and shouted, "It ain't over 'til it's over!"?
‘...Forget it.’
In the end, I gave up. It would be one thing if I actually stood a chance, but even with his back turned, the Emperor didn't show a single opening.
The Emperor sat down and looked at me. Even as I struggled to catch my breath, he didn't look the least bit tired.
"Have you given up on the surprise attack?"
He even noticed that. I knew it already, but at my current level, I could never hope to reach him.
"Ayy~ How could I ever swing a weapon at the Great Emperor?"
"You say that, yet you were swinging at Us quite relentlessly just a moment ago."
"Ahaha. Well, more importantly, the reason I was able to learn Shadow Step is because of this."
I pulled the Shadow Step skill book out of my Pocket Dimension. No matter how many times I looked at it, the book was far too thick to contain only a single sentence.
"A spatial artifact? You possess many curious abilities."
I had intentionally shown the Emperor my Pocket Dimension. The higher he evaluated me, the better it would be for me later.
"Would you like to take a look?"
"We shall."
I approached the Emperor and handed him the book. He sat in his chair, resting his chin on one hand as he examined the manual I had given him.
It was a posture that clearly left him unable to respond to an attack. And yet, strangely, I didn't feel like any strike would succeed.
"Your Majesty, it's true I learned from that book, but there is only one sentence written inside."
The Emperor looked at the book again after hearing my words. Why was he reacting like that?
"Ho? Only one sentence? That is not what We see."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
It wasn't just one sentence? That couldn't be right. I had flipped through every single page of that thick book. Every word written there was the exact same sentence.
"Is it not the same sentence repeated throughout?"
"It seems that to you, it all appears as one sentence. To Us, however, every sentence is different."
If that was the difference between the Emperor and me... could it be? Does what you see change based on the user's proficiency?
"We shall return this to you."
The Emperor, seemingly having lost interest in the book, handed it back. I hadn't expected to get it back so easily, so I asked him, "Are you not tempted by this book?"
"We already know everything contained within, so the book holds little interest for Us. If anything, We are more tempted by that spatial artifact of yours."
The Emperor likely knew I wouldn't just hand over my Pocket Dimension.
"Unfortunately, that is something I cannot simply give away."
"Naturally. You have gone through much trouble after being summoned so suddenly. We have prepared a carriage, so take it on your way out."
When I was first kidnapped to the Imperial Palace, I couldn't wait to leave. But leaving like this felt like a waste when I was so close to that Elixir.
"Um, Your Majesty, do you perhaps have any... concerns?"
Even as I said it, I felt like an idiot. Even if the Emperor had worries, there was no way I could solve them. The Emperor laughed loudly at my transparent attempt. Honestly, if I were the Emperor, I would have laughed too.
"Hahahaha! Do you desire the Elixir that much?"
Yes! I want it so bad!
But I knew he wouldn't just give it to me for free.
"It's not so much that I want the Elixir, but rather that as a citizen of the Empire, I wanted to see if there was any way I could repay Your Majesty for always working so hard for the sake of the realm."
"As it happens, We do have one concern."
Wait, that actually worked? But what kind of worry could an Emperor have?
"Recently, someone has been investigating the Phantom Thief Cardinal. If you can ensure that the truth of the Phantom Thief Cardinal’s identity is never discovered, We shall grant you the Elixir."
It was true that things could get complicated if it were revealed that the Emperor was the Phantom Thief Cardinal. But was that really a 'worry'?
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but even without my intervention, could you not simply order the investigation to stop?"
I didn't know who was doing the investigating, but if the Emperor told them to stop looking into the Phantom Thief Cardinal, anyone would have to obey.
‘And yet he’s entrusting this to me?’
One might think he was just looking for an excuse to give me the Elixir, but the Emperor was never one to take a loss. If he really just wanted to give me the Elixir, he would have told me to go hunt some magic beasts instead. That would have been far more beneficial to the Empire.
"The person in question is not someone who would stop just because We ordered it."
Does such a person even exist? Someone who would investigate the Phantom Thief Cardinal even while defying the Emperor's orders... I couldn't think of anyone.
"Can you resolve Our concern?"
"Of course, Your Majesty. Everything for the sake of the Empire."
Everything for the sake of the Elixir.
"I happen to have a great idea."
With this method, no one would ever be able to find out that the Emperor was the Phantom Thief Cardinal.
"We shall look forward to it. You may leave now."
"Then I shall take my leave."
I was about to walk out when a question occurred to me. I turned back toward the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, may I ask one question?"
"Ask whatever you wish."
"How can I become as strong as you?"
Perhaps my question was unexpected, as the Emperor fell into thought for a moment. After a short while, he answered with a smile. It was the warmest smile I had seen from him so far.
"If you have a lover to cherish, you can become stronger than anyone."
That answer was so unexpected that it took me a moment to find my voice. A lover to cherish...
"That's a very romantic answer."
"Have you ever loved anyone?"
"Unfortunately, not yet."
Before coming into the game, Croaka was my entire life. And after entering the game, my days had been far too busy.
"The day will come when you, too, find a lover to cherish. When that time comes, you will understand the meaning of Our words."
"I hope that day comes as soon as possible."
* * *
After finishing my private audience with the Emperor, I was walking through the palace under the guidance of a maid. Suddenly, the maid leading the way stopped and bowed her head.
"I greet Her Imperial Highness, the Princess."
Standing where she bowed was a beautiful young girl. She had been mentioned a few times in Croaka, but she had rarely made a direct appearance.
Blonde hair and golden eyes, just like Lucas and the Emperor. A being hailed as the greatest beauty in the Empire.
The Princess of the Empire, Yerika Leonhart.
Yerika accepted the maid's greeting, glanced at me once, and then asked the maid, "Who is this gentleman?"
Yerika had asked the maid, but I was the one who answered. I bowed my head, bringing my right hand to my left side. It was my signature pose.
"My name is Loki. I am just an ordinary clown."
Upon hearing my name, Yerika seemed to remember something and smiled brightly.
"Ah! You're the one my brother mentioned!"
It seemed she had heard about me from Lucas.
"Your Highness, one moment..."
The maid who had been behind Yerika from the start whispered something to her. Once the whispering finished, Yerika bowed her head slightly in greeting.
"My apologies for the late introduction. I am Yerika Leonhart, Princess of the Empire."
Even though I knew nothing of etiquette, I could tell her manners were perfect.
"What brings you to the Imperial Palace?"
It must have been curious to see someone who was merely an Academy freshman inside the palace. To satisfy her curiosity, I told her the truth.
"I was kidnapped and dragged here."
"Hoho, you are just as entertaining as I heard."
I had told her the truth, but Yerika seemed to think I was joking. The servants behind her seemed to feel the same, as some of them were looking at me with disapproval.
"Your Highness is also just as beautiful as the rumors say."
"Thank you for the compliment. I am currently on my way to see my father. Well then, Mr. Ordinary Clown, I shall see you next time."
"It is an honor to think I might meet someone as beautiful as you again, Lady Yerika."
I said that, but honestly, I didn't think I'd have any reason to meet her again. Contrary to my thoughts, however, my reunion with Yerika would come much sooner than expected.
* * *
After Loki left, the Emperor sat thinking about him.
He was an interesting child. To actually swing a cane at him in earnest just for an Elixir... His mind was sharp, too. Even though the Emperor had provided only a hint, Loki had reached the truth of his identity as the Phantom Thief Cardinal much faster than expected.
He had martial prowess as well. Though he couldn't reach the Emperor, he possessed an Innate Magic and his movements were decent. It was understandable why Duke Adelian had wanted to adopt him.
Part of him wanted to tell Lucas to get close to Loki, but...
"That is for Lucas to decide on his own."
Even if Lucas didn't become friends with him, the fact remained that it was better to have Loki on the Empire's side. That was why he had made such an offer.
On the other hand, he was curious. How exactly did that boy plan to ensure the secret of the Phantom Thief Cardinal remained hidden?
‘I happen to have a great idea.’
He wondered what that "great idea" could be. Since ascending the throne, there had been few times he had been this entertained.
That night, a rumor swept through the entire Empire.
The Phantom Thief Cardinal had appeared once again.
The Emperor massaged his temples and spoke to the empty air.
"Sigh... Bring that brat Loki back here immediately."