Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Fate (5)
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Father decided to stay behind and guard the territory, while my brother and sister headed to the capital with me for the banquet.
It would be a good opportunity for my brother to build connections for the future.
That day, as the three of us lay around chatting idly, I deliberately didn't ask any more about my sister's fiancé.
I had already made up my mind to look into it myself.
But perhaps because my brother brought it up first, my sister seemed unnecessarily troubled.
Suddenly, in the carriage, she brought it up to me.
"You... you're not getting any weird ideas, are you?"
"Like what?"
"You have such a bright path ahead of you. You don't need to get dragged down by something this petty. You know there's no need to stir up trouble... right?"
"I'm not."
...If he's a decent guy.
Then there's no reason for me to get involved.
But if she's saying this, it's probably because even she isn't sure.
Uncertain what might happen on the long carriage ride, we took our time heading to the capital.
By the time we arrived, the banquet was still two days away.
They had prepared a separate annex for us, so arriving early posed no issues.
We met Raistel there, who had arrived ahead of time.
Parovian's aide.
He was originally someone I meant to introduce to my sister.
She already knew him, though.
The first time he came to see me, we had brushed past each other briefly.
We exchanged simple greetings with Raistel as well, then entered the annex prepared by the imperial household.
The next day, a herald arrived to inform me that the Emperor had summoned me.
...Hadn't something like this happened before?
Back then, before praising my merits in pursuing Vinsen, he wanted to meet me in person.
Of course, the situation now was entirely different. To be precise, my position had changed.
Put simply, whereas before it had been a summons I had no choice but to obey, this time they asked if my schedule allowed first.
You could sense the care in even a single word or relayed message.
The Emperor had probably intended for me to feel that way.
Before entering the throne room.
The guard at the front only checked me for dangerous items during the search and let me pass.
In the past, I had to surrender everything on me.
Such subtle differences.
As soon as I stepped through the massive doors, I knelt and bowed my head in perfect etiquette, just as before.
"I see Your Majesty."
"Raise your head."
As expected, his attitude and tone toward me had changed. Though not in more formal settings.
When I lifted my head, he regarded me silently. Beside him stood the Prime Minister, just as before. Unlike that time when he had deliberately pressured me, he said nothing now.
Back then, I had merely been a promising mage.
Things shifted after I declared I'd confront Joart directly, but even that had felt tentative.
"...Did you meet Lord Joart back then?"
"I did."
"I see."
The Emperor fell silent for a long while once more, then spoke softly.
"At the time, I wondered if you were truly reckless... or if you spoke with real conviction."
"..."
"It turned out to be the latter. ...Did the emergency artifact prove helpful?"
It had helped immensely. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it led me to discover primal mana.
When I confirmed it had, a faint smile touched the Emperor's face.
"I believe... you might truly become a Transcendent."
The Emperor paused, as if choosing his words carefully, then continued gently.
"Let me be frank. I want to build a good relationship with you. Our first encounter... wasn't so bad."
Yes, it hadn't been bad.
But from the start, I had no intention of manipulating the Emperor from the shadows using my status as a Transcendent.
I was too busy with my own tasks.
I had neither the time nor the reason.
And... not sure how to put it exactly, but the Emperor already seemed claimed by Joart's side.
He appeared deeply tied to Joart already.
Joart wouldn't let him go easily either.
Come to think of it, Joart's family name was 'Zan'...
I had once puzzled over the unfamiliar surname.
This seemed like a perfect chance, so I asked.
"Do you know of the Zan family?"
"You're asking about Lord Joart."
He knew Joart's surname was Zan as well.
"From long ago, I know them as a fallen house. They once enjoyed great glory... but were exiled due to some misunderstanding."
A trace of regret colored his voice.
"After their fall, the name was nearly erased from imperial history. Yet a descendant became a Transcendent... Fate is truly unknowable. That's all I can say."
Hm... It made sense why he pressured the Emperor so boldly.
Not that it justified it, but the background clicked.
'A real fallen noble showed up.'
It was a backstory similar to Cedric's concept.
Of course, there might be far deeper circumstances, but the Emperor showed no inclination to elaborate.
He shifted to another topic.
"My offer to build a good relationship is no mere formality. If there's anything you need to become a Transcendent, the Empire will provide it without hesitation. Even now is fine. Speak if you need something."
Having already ascended to the Transcendent realm, imperial aid was essentially meaningless.
Moreover, even among true Transcendents, I was something of an outlier. I couldn't easily seek their help either.
"Even now is fine. Speak freely."
Still, his intentions were clear. This moment, before I fully became a Transcendent, was the last chance to solidify ties.
Once I did, I'd be beyond his reach.
But until then, he could offer substantial support.
Not just to me—he must have done this with others always.
Oz and Roselin were no exceptions.
"I'm good for now. I'll let you know if something comes to mind."
The Emperor's expression was complicated—a flicker of relief, regret, and more, all mingled.
No need to make an enemy of him, so I gave him a light smile.
On the way back to the annex from the throne room.
I had briefly considered asking about the Bretton family.
My sister's fiancé's house.
But I quickly dismissed it.
I had ample means to investigate on my own, and I hadn't decided how to handle it yet.
If it were truly dire...
'No need to ask and leave a trail.'
With that in mind, as I walked the corridor, I spotted a familiar face.
It was Roselin.
She paced awkwardly around the annex area.
Cautiously peering at the walls or tilting her head at doorways.
...She wasn't lost, was she?
Roselin noticed me too. She glanced over, froze in surprise, and kept staring—right up until I drew quite close.
So I spoke first.
"We've met before, haven't we?"
We had crossed paths briefly at the Academy over that shadow ghost incident.
"Ah. Y-Yes... Thank you for that time."
She was visibly flustered.
Wasn't she staring right through me back then?
That was the only time she'd seen Ivan's face, yet now she looked like it had just clicked.
'She must've been lost in thought.'
Probably something about mana patterns.
After getting her hands on the manaphone, she'd clearly been mulling over me.
"...Think nothing of it."
I replied evenly and gave a short nod.
Our acquaintance wasn't deep, so I planned to just greet and move on.
As I headed toward the rooms along the corridor, Roselin's voice called out belatedly.
"Um... wait a second."
"Yes?"
"I want to repay your kindness. Could we meet up separately later, just briefly?"
So this was her approach.
Pretending ignorance, I tilted my head.
"Repay me? There's no need for that..."
"No, really. I... I just can't stand owing anyone."
"..."
Sensing her excuse rang hollow, she fumbled onward.
"If you hadn't spotted that shadow ghost, I never would've graduated from the Academy safely. Um... yeah. You're my lifesaver."
......She was terrible at lying.
Wonder if this was how Oz felt reading my expressions.
"All right... well. After the banquet, if I have time, we can meet then."
"...!"
Her eyes lit up as she nodded vigorously.
"Perfect. Let's do that."
I nodded slightly in return, gave a parting greeting, and walked on.
The gaze boring into my back lingered for a good while.
'Never have her lie or handle anything tracking-related, no matter what.'