Emperor Slayer (5)
It wasn't because the emperor had too much free time that he ended up inspecting the orphanage in person. In the midst of his incredibly busy schedule, he had used an ultra-high-level spell called long-distance spatial leap, supported by the Magic Tower, to visit Blanc Orphanage.
His intent was clear: to check if she was here, just in case.
"I'm a pilgrim. Could I stay here for the night?"
"Of course. Welcome to Blanc Orphanage."
Since the orphanage operated under the name of the Elbita Church, they couldn't refuse a pilgrim. They had to follow the scripture's teaching to warmly welcome neighbors without turning away visitors.
The emperor wasn't a mage, but he used an artifact to disguise his appearance as ordinary. Without it, his unrealistically handsome looks would have made the staff suspicious. Thanks to the artifact, he successfully disguised himself as a young pretty boy turned average middle-aged pilgrim and was granted permission to stay the night.
He spent about three hours acting like a normal pilgrim, casually inspecting the orphanage without raising suspicion. But he couldn't find any sign of her silver-haired figure anywhere.
Time to change tactics. He approached the children with colorful candies.
"I heard there's a very pretty teacher here whose hair shines like moonlight. She's not around today?"
"Teacher Garden went on a trip!"
"She's gone to take care of a sick relative!"
The kids spilled everything for just one candy. It wasn't exactly a secret, though.
Long-term absence? Did she catch wind that I was coming? Impossible.
The emperor's realm was just shy of Swordmaster. That's why he could forgo escorts—this was a secret inspection known only to the absolute core insiders. No way information had leaked.
Probably just coincidence.
So, a sick relative? The report mentioned she was a exiled noble lady, but omitted which family or who exactly. That was Mayor Lilian's blunder, alright—leaving out the most crucial detail. But Erika had orchestrated it. The absurd act of posing as a sex crime victim was to establish the excuse that she was hiding her family name to protect her honor.
I'm a noble lady~ but won't say which house. A ridiculous claim, granted plausibility by that magic spell.
The emperor figured today's inspection—pouring so much time into it despite his packed schedule—had ended up pointless. But then his eyes caught the strange book in the children's hands.
It wasn't printed. It was a handwritten manuscript, traces of someone personally scribing it evident.
"What's that book? Mind if I take a look?"
The book's title was Textbook.
No matter how genius Erika was, she couldn't improvise lessons on the spot every class. So she'd prepared textbooks in advance, using them to organize her thoughts before teaching.
The emperor's eyes went wide as he scanned the textbook's contents.
Considering the kids' ages, this is even higher level than the Imperial Academy's curriculum.
Of course, back when Leonhardt was crown prince, he'd received separate elite education. The Imperial Academy was mostly for children of nobles working in the palace. Commoners who got in based on talent—earmarked as future civil servants—were a tiny minority.
Yet these orphanage kids were getting an even more advanced education? And there was a teacher here skilled enough to teach it?
That's not the issue. Some of this knowledge doesn't exist anywhere in the empire.
Did the Allied Kingdoms have it? No, impossible. It didn't feel like anything from this era at all. Concepts no human mind could conceive. As if gods had whispered wisdom into her ear.
For example, the groundbreaking idea of microorganisms. Concrete reasons why you must use soap when washing, boil drinking water, avoid touching filth. Tales of tiny things smaller than invisible bugs swarming everywhere—far more mystical than fairy legends.
But string it all together, and it made perfect sense. Accepting microorganisms solved countless mysteries at once. And that was just one terrifying concept—there were many more.
Was it okay for knowledge like this to circulate freely in an orphanage?
Just who the hell are you?
Noble house names flashed through Leonhardt's mind and vanished.
No major scandals tarnishing a great noble lady's honor in at least the last decade.
Leonhardt pored over documents on the lives of the empire's 100 million citizens. As crown prince, he'd mastered imperial studies, undergone terrifying elite training, gained superhuman thought speed and stamina from near-Swordmaster realm, and honed speed-reading from devouring books.
Physically and mentally beyond normal limits, he'd absorbed vast imperial intel that way. No way he'd miss a huge scandal.
What the hell is your true identity?
This inspection was meant to confirm she wasn't her. But suspicion deepened. Garden the teacher. What was her real deal? Was she truly the one who assassinated the emperor in the palace?
"We legit almost died on this adventure!"
"I thought you were a goner for sure! Your life's one tough string, huh!"
Garden—er, call her Gil-dong Hong since she'd changed names again—was at the Winterfall adventurer guild. Reuniting with guildmates after ages, she was knocking back drinks and soaking in the vibe.
"Quit the dangerous adventures already! I'll earn the cash—you pop out kids and handle the house!"
"Piss off. Come at me when you're tougher than me."
She physically booted away a guildmate's habitual flirting and raised her glass again.
She'd come north for the Rogue Master's next legacy item. Her ring—one of the Rogue Master's legacies—had pointed her here.
She'd always thought playing lone wolf, keeping people at arm's length, was cool and badass. But old friends after so long? Yeah, a little glad to see 'em.
"You look way too fine for someone who rolled through hell."
"You think I'd show up in tatters? Hit the shops and inn first, duh."
Some guildmates had legit cried tears of joy at Gil-dong's return—they'd thought her dead. Flush with cash now, she treated the whole crew big-time. Even these pig-eaters, five gold covered a guild feast at a northern tavern. Hell, they ran out of booze and grub, had to borrow from next door.
"Life's about the big score, man. If you're broke, raid some ruins!"
"Ain't you a girl?"
"Broke ain't about rods or holes—it's how hot your heart burns!"
"Mind if I feel yours? Gotta check the heat."
Two more casualties, minor fractures.
"I like adventures way more than raising brats, okay? Not my thing anyway."
"What? You raise kids?"
With booze flowing, stuff she meant to keep zipped slipped out. But nothing too critical—like stealing the empire's sun, or moonlighting as a teacher at Blanc Orphanage.
The northern boozehounds all passed out, moonlight caressing the cold city. Gil-dong purged the alcohol with mana, slipped out, and hunkered on the snowy peaks with a telescope.
Northern Grand Duke, Swordmaster Kalcion Northwind. Right now, with Leonhardt not quite at that realm, he was basically the world's strongest. His castle held the Rogue Master's next legacy—not in ruins beyond the Great Wall, but right inside.
Not even a rogue, and you're hoarding someone else's class gear? You cocky prick.
Unfair as hell. Who even knew where another Rogue Master was? Why gift legendaries to thieves anyway?
Luckily, the duke commuted daily. Hit the castle when empty, easy. That's why Gil-dong was staking out from dawn.
"Waiting for the Swordmaster to leave his castle?"
"Yeah."
A chill ran down her spine at Kalcion's question. The north was cold anyway. Even this modest peak had eternal snow at the top. The northern plains stayed frozen year-round.
But this chill was different.
"Why're you here?"
"Adventurer Gil-dong Hong. Nice to meet you. Northern Grand Duke Kalcion."
Kalcion had already narrowed his net. He'd finished investigating the girl who'd tucked under her arm and swiped the slave market ledger. The tale of an adventurer suddenly turning drop-dead gorgeous? Too famous to be hard.
Gil-dong's miscalculation was there. The duke was busy, always short-staffed. No way he'd chase her, right?
Hell, he'd straight-up said he already knew about Blackfall's shadows. Like he wouldn't bother hunting a petty thief.
Never dreamed he'd keep tracking her for other reasons.
"Adelaide. Know the name?"
"Who's that?"
"House Termine?"
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