Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 99: Sepia Rivayden 9

The Emperor’s office.

As the repository for the Empire’s most sensitive documents, it was a sanctuary that even members of the Imperial Family could not enter without the Emperor’s express permission.

Currently, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the office was occupied by the Emperor himself, Duke Adelian, and Duke Freya.

Had any ordinary knight or mage been present, they would have been trembling in their boots or desperately seeking a way to curry favor. Duke Freya was renowned as the Empire’s Greatest Swordsman, and while Duke Adelian’s magical methods were unconventional, he commanded the absolute respect of every mage in the land.

And yet, these two men, whom the world held in such high esteem, were currently...

"I saw the footage of the midterms. Clara has grown quite strong—even if she only managed 'second place.'"

"What did you just say?"

"For the record, our Johanna has never once missed first place in a practical exam."

"Ha! It would’ve been a different story if Clara were a sophomore or Johanna were a freshman!"

"No, the result would be the same. Our Johanna is always number one."

They were in the Emperor’s office, shamelessly bragging about their children.

The Emperor, who had been reviewing documents, tapped his desk and finally spoke up.

"Sigh... I don’t care if you two fight. But must you make such a racket in my office?"

The Emperor spoke with a deep furrow in his brow, but the expressions of Duke Adelian and Duke Freya didn't budge an inch.

"I just came because I was bored."

"I’m only here because this guy called me."

Their tone was so casual it was hard to believe they were addressing the Emperor.

The Emperor merely let out a heavy sigh. He didn't take offense at their lack of formality. The three of them had fought side-by-side, risking their lives together since their Academy days; they spoke freely like this whenever they were alone.

Of course, the moment a single outsider was nearby, they reverted to strict protocol.

"Sure, Clara took second place by a very narrow margin! But the one who took first is my disciple," Adelian barked.

"He is my disciple as well," the Emperor added immediately.

"Why the hell is he your disciple in the first place?!"

"The boy was the one who asked for my tutelage first. If you have a complaint, take it up with him, not me."

"Ugh! Right! And I heard you even invited him to your estate without my permission!" Unable to refute the Emperor, Duke Adelian shifted his target back to Duke Freya.

"I don't see why I would need your permission to invite him."

"Aha! Come to think of it, Loki—that kid—he beat Askal in a sparring match, didn't he? As expected of my disciple! Haha!"

"He is my disciple as well," the Emperor repeated.

The Emperor began to wonder how he could dump all these documents on the Prime Minister so he could go spend time with the Empress.

"Askal lost?! What nonsense is that! Our Askal obviously went easy on him!"

"Knowing how to go easy on someone is a skill in itself. I believe someone at the Academy says ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that quite often?"

These two haven't changed a bit.

The Emperor decided he should probably send the Prime Minister some restorative tonic as he sorted through the documents he intended to hand over.

"In the first place, I’m the one who taught that boy how to fight when he was nothing but pure killing intent," Adelian muttered.

"…?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Duke Freya and the Emperor felt the exact same thing upon hearing Duke Adelian’s words: Doubt.

Killing intent? Loki? That kid?

The Emperor and Duke Freya thought of Loki. They acknowledged he was strong and clever, but they had never once sensed killing intent from him.

"Hmm. Now that I think about it, when you first described Loki, you called him a beast-like child."

"Ha! Don't even get me started. I’ve never seen anyone like him in my life. A brat who handles killing intent as easily as breathing."

Pressuring others with killing intent is different from pressuring them with mana. One can learn to exert pressure using mana, but killing intent is different. There are no manuals on how to utilize it, and it cannot be taught.

"Well, he doesn't go around leaking it everywhere like he used to. But if that kid had become an assassin or something, even we would have found him quite troublesome."

* * *

I looked around at the fog-shrouded surroundings.

This should be enough.

The fog was already thick and wide enough that no one would be able to see anything from the outside.

Darun, seemingly paralyzed by what he had just heard, tried to flee, but his arms and legs were already bound by my threads. He crawled pathetically like a maggot to escape, but his progress was just as slow.

"Eek! Please, spare me!"

Darun, realizing he couldn't escape in this state, began to beg.

"I'll do anything! Please, just not that!"

The greasy smirk he wore while harassing Sepia was nowhere to be found. Instead, he wailed, tears and snot streaming down his face as he slammed his head against the ground in supplication.

I know.

I knew that what I was about to do was completely irrational and emotional.

I know very well.

I knew that what I was about to do would tear down the plan I had built up until now in a single stroke. Right now, the cameras outside the fog had captured everything—Darun’s subordinates using artifacts to attack me. Even if I didn't beat Darun here, I could use that footage to drive him to the edge of a cliff.

Logically, I knew that if I just endured the insults he hurled at Sepia, I could deal with him much more easily. In fact, I could have used those very insults to push him over the edge. No matter how I looked at it, beating Darun inside this fog offered no tactical advantage.

But so what?

Everyone has lines that should never be crossed, and Darun had crossed mine.

Would it have been different if I had my Poker Face active?

No, not a chance.

I asked myself and answered myself. If I could have remained rational after hearing what Darun said to Sepia, I would have killed myself out of self-loathing.

I know it's better to think logically than emotionally. But sometimes, a human must act on emotion rather than reason. That is a human privilege, and I have no desire to live if it means throwing that privilege away.

To stay rational when someone close to me is being harassed like that? Just the thought of it made me feel so nauseous I couldn't stand it.

'Reason over emotion. There is no act more foolish than destroying everything you've built with a single mistake.'

One of the few serious things Duke Adelian said to me while teaching me how to fight came to mind. If Duke Adelian saw me now, throwing away a perfectly good plan just because of a few words, what would he say?

I couldn't even begin to imagine. However, I could easily imagine what he would have said if I had just stood there and taken it.

'You pathetic piece of shit.'

I knew from the game that Darun used the tragedy of Sepia's village to say things to her that should never be said. Yes, I already knew. I knew, and yet...

Hearing it in person felt infinitely more disgusting.

Sepia, who had endured such pain, should never have to hear such things from a bastard like this. Sepia, who had worked tirelessly for her revenge, should never be subjected to such harassment by a piece of trash like him.

"Please, spa—"

I wanted to kill Darun right this second as he begged with his head in the dirt. If this weren't the Academy, I might have already done it. I wanted to kill him, but death was too much of a luxury for a guy like this.

And more than anything, Darun still had a lot left to lose. Power, money, reputation. I intended to take it all—much more cruelly and quickly than originally planned.

But still, I should at least tell Sepia first. Because what I was about to do was revenge.

"Sepia."

Informal speech slipped out naturally, but I didn't care. That wasn't what was important right now.

It seemed it was important to Sepia, though.

"…Y-Yes!"

Sepia flinched as if startled and answered. Her voice even cracked a little from the shock. Her dazed expression was cute, but I didn't like the tears welling in her eyes.

I began to walk toward her. Sepia took a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠step back for a moment, then stopped as if she had made up her mind. Before I knew it, the distance between us was so close that we would bump into each other if either of us moved an inch.

When I reached for her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face, Sepia closed her eyes and trembled slightly. I reached out and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with my thumb.

Sepia, who had flinched when my hand touched her skin, opened her eyes and stared at me blankly after I pulled away. As if asking, Is that it?

The way she stared at me with wide, round eyes reminded me of a rabbit. What on earth was she expecting?

A small chuckle escaped my lips. Hearing that small sound, Sepia bit her lip and glared at me with a flushed face. Seeing that, I felt another smile threatening to break through, but I managed to suppress it by placing my hand on her head.

Sepia continued to glare at me while biting her lip, but she didn't brush my hand away.

"I told you yesterday. I have no intention of taking your revenge for you. And I'm sure you wouldn't want that either."

I don't know the name of the village where Sepia lived. I don't know the people, and I don't know the scenery. I don't know what Sepia talked about with the villagers, what she ate there, or how she played. I know nothing.

Perhaps that's why I shouldn't be the one to take her revenge. Revenge only has meaning when carried out by the one who remembers.

"................"

Sepia didn't say anything, but I knew she was listening, so I continued.

"But right now, it wasn't a stranger who got hurt—it was you."

This was different from the time with Betzdo. I remember Sepia. I think of her. Wouldn't that give me the right to take revenge on Darun on her behalf?

Just as Sepia wouldn't leave her revenge to someone else, I have no intention of handing mine over to anyone else.

"So, you won't have any complaints if I take this revenge, right?"

Sepia stared at me with her mouth slightly agape. Her eyes blinked repeatedly. Watching her, my heart softened, but paradoxically, my murderous intent toward Darun only deepened.

Without a word, Sepia nodded.

"Good. Wait here. Be a good girl."

I gave Sepia’s head a rough pat and began walking toward Darun.