Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Encounter
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The point in time when Carlyle had gone through the most cycles was already after the empire's collapse.
That meant he had never once closely examined the 'process' of the empire's collapse.
‘I have some guesses, though.’
[…Probably just as you guessed.]
Nine out of ten parts were due to the 1st Prince and 2nd Princess. The remaining one part was thanks to the vultures clinging to them to fill their own bellies.
If it were just simple idiots blinded by selfish desires rotting from the inside, it would be easy to weed them out.
But there's hardly anything as lethal as a traitor who's resolved to wipe out their allies from the roots—and happens to be competent.
To the empire, they were tumors comparable to cancer. That damned man and woman.
Just think about the last words the emperor left upon his deathbed.
[The lion has been tainted by evil. Citizens of the empire, resist.]
The man who had upheld his reign for a lifetime left behind his own declaration that the nation's leadership had completely rotted.
‘That’s why I was curious.’
[Curious? About that trash?]
‘What they were like before being influenced by the demons. Something like that.’
The 1st Prince and 2nd Princess he met after the empire's collapse were already corrupted by demonic energy, to the point where proper conversation was impossible.
In some cycles, he had even made eliminating them his top priority, only to discover that the moment the empire's fall was confirmed, they immediately turned into that state.
What should he call it?
It was too consistent in timing to be simply humanity betraying itself and choosing that path.
It was far more convincing to say the demons had arranged it in advance.
⋯⋯Discard the dog after the hunt.
They had made the greatest contributions to toppling the empire, so once their usefulness was spent, the demons devoured their hunting dogs.
Thus, Carlyle was quite interested in what they looked like before their 'fall.'
Not out of any humanistic curiosity, but because knowing that might give him a hint to nip things in the bud before they caused more trouble.
Well, considering the things they did even before falling, he didn't think they'd be all that different.
In that sense.
[Uh, hello? You're Carlyle, right?]
Their first meeting was undoubtedly unfolding in a way completely different from what he had imagined.
“⋯⋯.”
As Carlyle stood there dumbfounded, the hologram of the 2nd Princess perched in the center of the table spoke in a cheerful voice.
[Sorry, sorry! I wanted to come in person, but I just couldn't get away from the imperial palace.]
Carlyle blankly stared at the pink-haired woman smiling warmly with her hands clasped in apology.
The friendly smile on her face and the dark circles sunken under her eyes didn't look like the visage of the empire-destroying villainess no matter how you sliced it.
⋯⋯She looked more like an overworked office worker drowning in exhaustion.
[Someone of the empire's hero caliber deserved a personal welcome from me, so I'll make up for this discourtesy later!]
“⋯⋯Hero?”
[Yeah. That's what people around are saying? That a catastrophe-level magical beast was about to cause massive damage, and you stopped it!]
“⋯⋯.”
There were a dozen points to nitpick in that one sentence alone.
The incident had happened just a few hours ago. It was strange for the news to spread this fast.
And why was she the one apologizing?
From her perspective, he had swooped in and snatched the credit for subduing the catastrophe-level beast that she intended to claim as her own achievement.
[I, uh, really want to talk at length, but things are just so busy, so, so sorry, but can I contact you later?]
“⋯⋯.”
[I know it's rude to reach out first and then bail! So next time, I'll treat you to something huge to make up for it! I swear on the name of the 2nd Princess!]
⋯⋯And.
The way she was pleading with a quivering voice to please spare her right now was utterly unlike any version of the 2nd Princess Carlyle had imagined.
No, she really did seem busy.
Even as she spoke to him now, her hands never stopped for a second. She was constantly processing the flood of documents pouring in.
[I'll contact you again. Sorry!]
“⋯⋯.”
With those words, the connection cut off abruptly, leaving Carlyle with a blank expression once more.
Wait.
Then why bother contacting him at all?
The conversation itself was⋯⋯ downright bizarre.
To sum it up.
‘The empire's newly risen hero deserves my personal hospitality, but I'm too swamped, so rain check. Sorry.’
⋯⋯That was genuinely it.
From Carlyle's perspective, who had been bracing for some sticky, underhanded scheming, this was baffling.
She had simply.
Extended goodwill. To him.
“⋯⋯.”
Just in case, he glanced back, and Siona and Felix, who were seated nearby as precautions, wore equally stunned faces.
It was the reaction of people who never could have imagined the 2nd Princess acting this way.
“⋯⋯Is she always like this?”
“No.”
“Absolutely not.”
The way they cut him off immediately said it all.
Carlyle had just received special treatment.
And the subsequent meeting with the 1st Prince went even further.
Just like with the 2nd Princess, the hologram of the blue-haired young man opened his mouth solemnly before Carlyle.
[Pleased to meet you. You, the hero of this incident—]
Before the 1st Prince could finish, he erupted into violent coughs.
His disheveled hair and hollow eyes intuitively revealed his current state.
“⋯⋯Your Highness. Forgive my impertinence, but shouldn't you rest first?”
The 2nd Princess had looked overworked earlier, but this was—exaggerating a bit—like a walking corpse.
It was unimaginable what level of grueling duties could reduce a person to this.
[…Military inspections have been relentlessly busy. My apologies. But for a new supernova like you, it's worth making time.]
“Supernova⋯⋯?”
[Of course. In our vast empire, talent at your level deserves praise no matter how busy I am.]
“⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯Something.
The flow of conversation was identical to the 2nd Princess's.
[I'd love to host a banquet and talk in person, but given my current condition—]
As the 1st Prince coughed up what looked like blood again, the attendants nearby gazed at him with worried eyes.
⋯⋯That, too, was bewildering.
No, that was the most bewildering part.
The concern in those eyes was undoubtedly sincere.
No true empire-toppling villain could ever elicit that reaction from those around them.
[I'll treat you properly sometime. Come to the imperial palace whenever you're free.]
“⋯⋯To the imperial palace, Your Highness?”
[Yes. Just say the word. I'll have you admitted anytime. I'll be waiting.]
With those words, the connection cut off again.
“⋯⋯.”
What was this?
It didn't match any scenario he had envisioned.
He had wondered what they were up to, coming to him right after he subdued the beast.
‘⋯⋯Why do these guys like me?’
What he had just received was shallow and fleeting like a gust of wind over frozen eyes.
But it was genuine, simple goodwill.
“⋯⋯.”
His meetings with the villains set to crumble the entire empire.
Had begun more softly than he could have imagined.
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“⋯⋯What was that all about.”
Lying blankly in his lodging, Carlyle muttered those words.
The empire's worst villains, whom he had long been curious about, didn't match his image of them no matter how he looked at it.
No ambition, no twisted mind, not even anything grotesque or eerie.
⋯⋯They were just crushed under mountains of work.
[Even so, it doesn't change that those bastards will shatter the empire to pieces.]
“⋯⋯That’s why it’s even stranger.”
It didn't add up.
Especially baffling was how they seemed to command considerable loyalty from those around them.
That kind of heartfelt trust isn't easily bought. Especially not by someone fundamentally plotting to destroy the nation.
“Why are those bastards so damn normal?”
[Isn't the highest probability that they're scheming something?]
“They don't seem like it.”
If they were just wearing masks and acting friendly on the surface, he'd sense it.
Having survived countless cycles, he prided himself on being adept at spotting dirty fights.
But he felt nothing of the sort.
And if that were the case, Felix—who had dealt with imperial royals her whole life—wouldn't react like this.
“⋯⋯I need to dig deeper. Both of them are off.”
[You're going to dig, fine. But have you prepared?]
“For what?”
[…Did you forget what appointment you have tonight?]
“⋯⋯.”
Oh, right.
Shit.
A chill ran down his spine.
Without a doubt.
-System Log
▶ 'Secret Meeting with the Hero' event has been added.
▶ A relationship with the 'Holy Sword' and 'Hero' may be created!
The events from earlier today hadn't concluded yet, for sure.
“⋯⋯Lady, she won't kill me, right?”
[…Didn't I say we wouldn't do anything rough?]
Probably.
⋯⋯Probably.
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