Chapter 14: The Emperor 7
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 14: The Emperor 7
"So, this was in Baron Ashro’s possession."
The Emperor spoke as he stared at the vial of blue powder I had handed him. His expression was one of utter revulsion, as if he were looking at raw sewage.
"Do you know what this is?"
"Yes, I do."
It was a drug.
It was far more addictive and dangerous than any narcotic found in the real world. Naturally, the Empire had banned even the mere possession of it. Since the current Emperor had ascended the throne, not a single trace of it had surfaced within the Empire—until now.
This was exactly why Baron Ashro had claimed that the Phantom Thief Cardinal hadn't stolen anything. To report the theft, he would have had to disclose exactly what was taken. How could he possibly admit to harboring a stash of illegal drugs?
"Was this single bottle all the Baron had?"
"No. There is more."
I pulled about thirty more bottles out of my inventory. The Emperor’s golden eyes flashed with a chilling light. Anyone could tell he was absolutely livid.
"Tsk. Did you take everything that was in the Baron’s estate?"
"Yes. I swept the place clean, leaving nothing behind."
I had broken into the Baron’s manor and picked it bone-dry. It was only after I had secured every last drop of the drugs that I revealed my identity as the Phantom Thief Cardinal.
"That is a relief, truly. In your estimation, did Baron Ashro appear to be an addict?"
"No. Far from being addicted, it seemed the Baron had never used the substance himself."
"Even more of a piece of trash, then."
The Emperor was right; the man was pure scum. The reason the Baron kept drugs in his house despite not using them was simple: he intended to use them on others.
"It appeared he intended to turn others into addicts to extort them."
Once someone is hooked, they’ll do anything for their next fix.
"Did you see anyone who was already addicted?"
"I checked every servant in the Baron’s household, and none appeared to be under the influence. I intended to check the people of the territory as well, but I ran out of time."
When I infiltrated the estate, I checked all the servants. None of them seemed to be users yet. However, I didn't have enough time to investigate the commoners in the surrounding villages.
"You have done more than enough. Leave the rest to me."
The Emperor tapped the arm of his throne, and several figures materialized out of thin air. They were shrouded in black robes, their forms so obscured it was impossible to tell if they were men or women.
"Find out where Baron Ashro obtained these drugs and confirm whether the people of his territory have been infected."
"""Glory to the Empire."""
With those words, they vanished.
Now that the Emperor himself had stepped in, Baron Ashro’s downfall was a foregone conclusion. Suddenly, a quest description from Croaka flashed through my mind.
[The villagers have all become addicted to drugs because of Baron Ashro. It is too late to save them.]
[To fund their addiction, they deceived and murdered adventurers traveling through the village for their coin.]
[Not stopping there, they killed their own lovers, children, parents, and friends to steal what little money and drugs remained. The small, harmonious village once filled with laughter is no more.]
[Baron Ashro, the root of all this evil, lives in luxury, indifferent to the suffering of the addicted villagers.]
[Loki, please bring peace to this village.]
A quest that wretched would never trigger now. I wouldn't have to kill innocent villagers just to progress the story anymore.
"I am contemplating what sort of reward I should bestow upon you."
I snapped out of my thoughts at the Emperor’s voice. There was a hint of pride in the way he looked at me. It was understandable; if it hadn't been for me, it would have taken a long time for this poison to be discovered.
Originally, I was going to ask for an elixir, but I changed my mind. With my current strength, it would be difficult to perfectly resolve the events on the horizon.
"Your Majesty, please teach me the Shadow Step."
The Emperor looked at me with surprised eyes, clearly not expecting that request. Then again, who in their right mind would ask the Emperor to personally teach them how to fight?
"Ho-oh~."
The surprise in the Emperor’s eyes vanished, replaced by genuine amusement.
"I may be sitting here talking to you, but I am a man busier than anyone else in this realm."
Was he refusing? Honestly, even as I said it, I knew it was an impudent request.
"However... if I work the Prime Minister a bit harder, I suppose I can spare a little time."
Wait, does that mean...?
"From this moment on, I shall teach you how to use the Shadow Step."
The Emperor spoke as he watched my stunned face. As he stood up from his throne and walked toward me, he actually looked like he was having fun.
"Last time, you asked me how you could become stronger. Do you remember my answer?"
How could I forget? It was a surprisingly romantic sentiment coming from an Emperor.
'If you have a lover to protect, you can become stronger than anyone.'
* * *
"I remember. But Your Majesty, I do not have a lover yet."
"Actually, there is one more way to become strong besides that."
I was about to ask what it was, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Gah...!"
The Emperor’s fist had already slammed into my solar plexus. What the hell?!
"From now on, you will die hundreds of times. If you can make what you learn through those countless deaths your own, you will become stronger."
I collapsed, clutching my gut. The Emperor pointed his sword at me as I huddled on the floor.
"You just died once."
I had a gut feeling that my training sessions with the Emperor would be anything but ordinary.
"One hour a day. I will not allocate a single second more than that to you."
And so, on that day, I died 64 times at the hands of the Emperor in a single hour.
.
.
.
Whoosh. Swish.
"The core of the Shadow Step is freedom."
Thwack!
"Urgh!"
The Emperor spoke as he effortlessly dodged my cane. His knee drove into my chest.
Whoosh. Swish.
The most frustrating part was that the Emperor was intentionally moving at the exact same speed as me. Even so, my attacks never landed, while his always hit their mark.
"I think I'm moving quite freely in my own way!"
Whoosh. Swish.
"No, you haven't understood a single thing yet."
I died 42 times that day.
.
.
.
"I originally wanted to teach Lucas how to fight, but unfortunately, I'm not very confident with a spear."
Whoosh. Swish.
"There's still the Princess—ack!"
"Still inexperienced, I see. Yerika is being taught by the Empress."
"Forgive me, but Your Majesty doesn't seem to have much talent for teaching."
Swish.
"You certainly have a lot to say for someone getting beaten. Still, haven't you grown stronger thanks to me?"
Tsk. Unfortunately, I couldn't deny it. I tried to dodge the Emperor’s sword aimed at my throat, but I failed.
I died 37 times that day.
.
.
.
The days of dying at the hands of the Emperor continued. I wanted to doubt whether such a barbaric method could actually make me stronger, but it was even more annoying because I could feel myself growing day by day.
.
.
.
"Today is the last day."
Just as the Emperor said, since I was entering the Academy tomorrow, today was the final lesson. I lunged at the Emperor, swinging my cane. My movements were incredibly fast and flashy compared to that first day.
"Yes, do you finally understand what it means to move freely?"
"Yes! I think I've got it! So please, just let me land one hit!"
Compared to the very first time I swung at him, the Emperor’s movements to dodge were noticeably larger.
"If I were to be hit even once by you, I wouldn't be able to face the Prime Minister, who is working so hard in my stead."
The Emperor’s sword touched my neck. Tsk, I held out quite a while this time.
"Was that the ninth time?"
I died only 9 times today. Of course, if the Emperor hadn't matched my speed, I would have died instantly.
"You've worked hard. Do not neglect your efforts at the Academy."
"Next time, please let me hit you at least once!"
The Emperor laughed. It was proof of how much time we had spent together.
"I'll think about it."
.
.
Just as I was about to leave the Imperial Palace, I ran into Yerika.
"Mr. Clown, did Father beat you up again today?"
"Haha, it was a close call today, though!"
Since I came to the palace every day to learn from the Emperor, I had become close with Yerika. To be precise, we became close because she was the one who had to heal my battered body.
"My body, bruised from the Emperor's strikes, was being mended by her touch."
Yerika burst into laughter at my narration-like tone.
"Pfft! What's with that? Why are you talking like you're explaining a scene? By the way, that mask really never comes off. Do you have no intention of showing me your real face?"
I raised my index finger to my lips.
"It's a secret."
The Princess didn't press further, as if she had expected that answer.
"And you, Princess? Are you ever going to tell me why you're trying to catch the Phantom Thief Cardinal?"
Yerika winked and, mimicking my gesture, put her index finger to her lips.
"It's a secret."
We both burst into laughter.
.
.
.
After finishing my conversation with Yerika, I arrived at the inn and threw myself onto the bed. It was a bit early to sleep, but since tomorrow was the first day of the Academy, I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be late.
Gotta sleep early to wake up early.
And the next morning, I overslept.
Tehe!