Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Lunchbox (5)
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“I never imagined there’d be a place like this beneath the imperial palace….”
I entered the underground of the Heavenly Palace via the secret route the imperial prime minister had told me about.
There, a secret passage known only to the imperial family, shrouded in legend, stretched out before me.
In the event of the empire’s fall or a natural disaster, the imperial family could evacuate through this passage.
To think that I, a commoner orphan, was stepping into such a place.
It felt strangely like I’d become royalty myself.
“Is this the end of the passage?”
At the far end, upward stairs came into view.
Climbing those stairs would lead to the emperor’s bedchamber.
I swallowed hard.
Then, slowly, I looked up at the dark passage overhead.
Ever since entering the underground, I’d felt an enormous mana presence.
What on earth could be up there to emanate something so intense?
‘Did I enter beneath the grand wizards’ conference hall…?’
I set aside the speculation and reached the stairs.
There, a soft lantern light greeted me.
“It’s been a while, Mikhail.”
The imperial prime minister, Mosian, holding the lantern.
He smiled warmly upon seeing me.
“It’s an honor to see you, Lord Mosian.”
I gave a light bow.
And as I straightened up, I asked,
“But why summon me here, revealing such a precious passage…?”
At my question, the prime minister’s lips curved up.
“Why, good news, of course. You might even gain a tremendous patron today.”
A tremendous patron.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the words.
“Are you going to let me meet His Imperial Majesty the Emperor?”
It was clearly meant as a light joke.
But the prime minister didn’t respond to my jest at all.
He simply withdrew his smile and adopted a serious expression.
“Go up and see for yourself.”
The old man ascended to the top of the stairs.
And the moment he placed his palm against the wall—
A massive iron door began to writhe.
Rumble-rumble-rumble—!!
Dazzling sunlight poured into the pitch-black stairwell.
Drawn by that light, I slowly climbed upward.
Unlike the stuffy underground air, a cool breeze enveloped me as I emerged on the surface.
Once I’d climbed all the stairs, the underground door sealed itself shut behind me.
And just like that—
I found myself standing in the center of someone’s vast bedchamber.
It was so enormous it rivaled the size of a knight order’s training grounds.
Yet unlike a mere training ground, the atmosphere was profoundly solemn.
The floor was made of mana-detection artifacts worth thousands of gold each.
The walls were entirely of platinum, perfectly soundproofed.
As if completely severed from the outside world.
But what truly captured my gaze above all else—
Was the massive golden spear displayed on the wall.
I instinctively knew its owner.
No.
How could I not know?
Every citizen of the empire learned about it endlessly in school.
That massive spear and the man who conquered the continent single-handedly.
‘The Conqueror King’s beloved spear, Eclair…!’
“You there.”
A metallic voice came from behind me.
Though it was a rasp, it carried the overwhelming pressure of a lion’s roar.
I slowly turned my head toward the sound.
And—
I came face-to-face with the emperor of the empire, sitting on his bed.
Bodewin IV, Leonhart Andalusia.
“I greet Your Imperial Majesty.”
Composed despite my surprise, I knelt calmly.
And as I lowered my head, I took in his visage.
“…!”
In that instant, I realized.
The mana equivalent to dozens of grand wizards I’d sensed from the ground earlier—
It was all emanating from this one old man before me.
His first words to me were—
“You’re the man who received lunchboxes from my daughters.”
Oddly enough, about lunchboxes.
“Yes…? That’s true, Your Majesty….”
As I answered, the emperor posed an even ‘stranger’ question.
“And? Were they tasty?”
Tasty…?
I’d run through hundreds of scenarios while climbing the passage, but this hadn’t crossed my mind once.
“Yes, they were delicious.”
With no choice, I answered honestly.
The emperor continued, his expression solemn as a temple statue.
“My daughters have never so much as glanced at any man before.”
The emperor gazed at the wall in the center of the bedchamber.
Portraits of his children hung there side by side.
“For those girls to make lunchboxes with their own hands…. That must mean you’re quite the exceptional fellow, no?”
“No, that’s not it at all. I’m just a lowly defense knight….”
I opened my mouth to protest.
At that, the emperor raised a massive hand.
‘Silence.’
Obeying the gesture, I clamped my mouth shut.
“…”
His overwhelming presence and the Conqueror King’s piercing gaze impaled me.
After scrutinizing me thoroughly, he spoke.
“Since I took the throne, the empire has entered an era of peace. As a result, the world has grown complacent….”
The emperor pointed to his own eyes.
Deep shadows flickered within, revealing cold, ferocious blue irises.
Though they gleamed brightly, they evoked chill intellect over warmth.
“The men have lost their killer instinct. Dulled by peace, one might say.”
With a flick of his finger, the curtain behind me fluttered toward him as if pulled.
I, too, approached the Conqueror King like a leaf in that wind.
“But you seem a bit different.”
Leonhart leaned in close.
He peered into my black eyes with interest.
“Those eyes are accustomed to killing. Just like mine when I was mad with war.”
In the old days, it might have sounded like the ravings of a frail emperor.
But now, after my regression, it was different.
On the day of the purge in my previous life—
I’d slain my fellow knights like a madman, just as he said.
“I smell blood around you. And at your age, no less.”
‘Did he somehow glimpse my past?’
No, probably not.
Anyone would guess the same if they knew I was a frontline veteran.
“I spent a long time on the northern front, so that must be it.”
“Indeed, far better than these flashy, superficial imperial knights.”
“Thank you.”
Somehow, I’d navigated that smoothly.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“But you’re still unproven.”
The emperor reached out from his bed.
Then, the massive spear on the outer wall began to writhe.
“My daughters are still young; their judgment of character isn’t perfect.”
Intense white mana bloomed from his palm.
A Grand Master’s aura.
“So I’ll test you myself.”
The extended white mana drew the spear toward him.
The hefty artifact flew through the air and—
“Whether you’re a mad dog crazed for slaughter.”
—settled into the emperor’s hand.
“Or talent worthy of becoming the empire’s hero.”
Leonhart rose from his bed, his massive frame unfolding.
A white robe slipped from his body in the process.
‘Insane… Is that really the body of a dying old man?!’
The emperor wore a toga.
Beneath it, a hulking, muscular build gleamed.
And filling his entire form, vast white mana.
He looked like a god-king from myth.
“Dodge. If you want to live.”
“Your Majesty…?”
Steam billowed from his sharp nose.
Then, the emperor hurled the massive golden spear at me.
——!!
The blade hurtled toward my face at overwhelming speed.
The air screamed as it tore apart.
‘I can’t block this even if I hide my power…!’
I unleashed my golden aura instantly.
Twisting my body desperately, I somehow evaded the emperor’s spear.
Boom!!
I glanced back at the spear I’d barely dodged.
Eclair’s majesty had lightly shattered even the artifact floor of the bedchamber.
A direct hit would’ve reduced me to dust.
“Your footwork is decent.”
Leonhart reached out again.
The flung spear returned to his hand like a boomerang.
“But luck won’t hold twice.”
His forearm, several times thicker than mine, flexed.
Gripping the spear with it, the emperor charged, swinging wildly.
‘This is madness!’
The blows that toppled nations came flying at me.
——!!
Eyes cloaked in aura, I dodged them all somehow.
But Leonhart switched patterns instantly, pressing the assault.
In the end, I raised my sheathed sword in defense.
Clang—!!
Overwhelming force crushed down on me.
My body felt like it would crumple under a mountain.
“Such dense golden aura at your young age! You’ve trained well!”
The emperor showed rare interest for the first time.
But it was mere curiosity.
His eyes still burned with intent to kill.
‘Why the hell is he doing this to me!’
The emperor raised his spear high again.
Then, he began wrapping it in white mana.
Beneath the clear sky, a flashing white gleam.
His spear radiated lightning-like brilliance.
In that moment, I knew.
If I didn’t draw my sword, I’d die.
“Try blocking this!!”
A blinding flash strong enough to singe my hairtips struck down.
In response, I drew my sword.
And swung with all my might.
Like on the day of the purge.
Back when I’d fought knight captains to the brink of death.
I unleashed my hidden power boldly before the emperor.
A massive golden sword beam in the shape of a crescent moon erupted.
It clashed violently with the lightning.
—————!!
The soundproof platinum walls vibrated.
The artifact floor trembled, and ornate curtains shredded from the shockwave alone.
—.
Our strikes tangled furiously before mutually annihilating.
“Haa….”
But I felt it.
If the emperor had been in top form, I would’ve been pushed back.
‘Still, this should be enough.’
Skill rivaling an imperial knight order captain.
That should earn his recognition.
With that thought, I looked up at the emperor.
But his expression was far from what I’d expected.
Still brimming with killing intent.
“You’re… truly abnormal.”
Was it because he’d just awakened from a coma?
He breathed heavily.
“Strong in a way that defies this world’s truths… unnaturally so.”
He gathered white mana on his spear again.
With enough power to demolish this palace.
“W-Why are you doing this to me?!”
I didn’t want to risk my life parrying another attack.
So I cried out in full grievance!
“You dared eat my daughters’ cooking before I did!! I can’t forgive that no matter how I think about it!!”
‘Ah.’
I realized.
This old man had never cared about evaluating me from the start.
“I’ll kill you!!”
He was simply jealous as a father.
Blinding light assailed my eyes like it would blind me.
This was harder to block than the last.
No, I could block it, but both of us would suffer grievous wounds.
Especially for the ailing emperor, it’d be fatal.
To survive unscathed, I needed a counter at the same ‘level.’
‘Damn it….’
No choice—I placed my hand over my left chest.
And the moment he was about to strike with his lightning—
I unleashed mana of the same color.
The Grand Master aura I’d sealed away, fearing my body couldn’t handle it.
“…!!”
Three seconds after release, my eyes twitched uncontrollably.
My body began twisting, slipping from my control.
But no helping it.
To fight the continent’s strongest with this young body, some sacrifice was inevitable.
I raised my sword.
As I concentrated my aura—
My sword, puny compared to his spear, swelled to match its size.
A colossal mana greatsword was born.
I swung it upward at Leonhart’s lightning with full force.
Just as they were about to clash—
“This…!”
The emperor flinched at the sight of me wielding mana of his color.
“How do you have that power…!”
With superhuman reflexes, he withdrew his descending strike.
Our weapons halted, inches from resonance.
—.
The thunder-raging Heavenly Palace fell silent.
Thanks to that, I barely managed to halt my white mana.
“Whew….”
The emperor stared at me blankly.
Then, he coughed and furrowed his brow.
“How did you obtain that power?”
“…”
When I didn’t answer, Leonhart bellowed.
“That power requires slaying and absorbing the continent’s strongest! How did a young pup like you acquire it?!”
Cracks spiderwebbed across the walls from his aura.
But I paid it no mind.
“I can’t answer yet.”
“You dare defy my question?!”
“It’s not defiance. It means I need time before I can tell you.”
I sheathed my sword.
Enduring the pain, I continued.
“Doesn’t everything take time to come to pass?”
Even amid his thunderous roar, I remained calm.
Silently observing me, the emperor asked,
“Hah, scheming to weasel out somehow. So when is that time?”
“After I eliminate the wicked cabal targeting Your Majesty. When complete peace returns to the empire.”
The Conqueror King fell silent at my words.
Then, with a scoff, he spoke again.
“That’s amusing. It reminds me of what I told my daughters when I was young.”
The emperor crossed his arms alone.
He looked down at me with wonder.
“When they asked when the war would end, I always said, ‘When complete peace comes to the empire.’”
Having vented his anger once, his heavy shadows seemed a bit lighter.
“In that sense, you’re certainly extraordinary.”
“Thank you….”
Was that praise?
I couldn’t tell anymore.
“But I can’t forgive you for eating my daughters’ cooking first!”
As expected, the old man flipped to hysterics right after acknowledging me.
I was starting to get used to it.
“I’m sorry….”
“Fine, since you admit it, I’ll punish you with just one blow.”
He geared up to attack again.
Determined to retire me somehow so his daughters would never see me.
“P-Please wait a moment, Your Majesty!”
I thrust out both hands and shouted.
At this rate, I’d skip old age and head straight to my next life!
“Does Your Majesty wish to reconcile with your daughters now?”
He paused at the pointed question.
“Yes. Lying bedridden so long filled me with guilt toward those children.”
Weakened, he confessed his true feelings.
I decided to exploit that.
“I’ll help you!”
“What…?”
His thick brows furrowed.
His eyes sparked with interest at mention of his long-unseen princesses.
I clasped my hands together.
And grinned like a sycophantic courtier.
“Do exactly as I say, and I’ll ensure you receive your daughters’ ‘piping hot lunchboxes’!”
The emperor eyed me suspiciously.
I was clearly just a green youth.
Yet I gave off the sleazy vibe of a corrupt middle-aged noble.
“Not only family reconciliation, but I have a way to help eliminate the wicked cabal too!”
“…”
But for him, asleep so long, there were no other options.
He had no choice but to trust the one who’d won his cold daughters’ attention.
“Very well, speak. But if it’s nonsense, you die by my hand at once.”
“Of course— I’d take my own life before trying such a thing!”
Narrowing my eyes, I grinned.
And began my crash course for the inept father.