Chapter 505: Jealousy is My Power (5)
Chapter 505: Jealousy is My Power (5)
That 'Senior Elsie' was a disciple of the Great Witch. She had been killed in a vampire raid, and I had encountered traces of vampires before.
The Northern Elves.
The ones who had sought them out were said to be of the vampire bloodline.
Even Seria’s mother was involved.
There was something here. Beyond the 'barrier,' there was a secret method that allowed vampires to infiltrate the Academy.
And who would know the most about it?
Someone who had repaired the barrier by the Great Witch’s side and had even witnessed the vampire attack firsthand.
There was only one person.
"Now then, today I’ll pick an especially expensive bottle of—"
"…Wait!"
Thud. My hand gripped the girl’s slender shoulder.
Senior Elsie’s sunken gaze turned toward me. Her eyes were filled with blatant suspicion.
In the end, I could only stammer as I retracted my previous statement.
"Let’s… let’s talk for a moment. I think there’s something I need your help with."
Senior Elsie didn’t answer for a while.
"Hmm," she hummed strangely, narrowing her eyes for a long moment.
Finally, the answer that escaped her lips was, fortunately, exactly what I had hoped for.
"…Fine."
Of course, things weren't going to go that smoothly.
"In exchange, grant me one condition."
Afterward, another separate unit was formed.
Senior Elsie said she would act alone for a while to investigate. She told me to go around and try to resolve the incident in my own way until enough information was gathered.
However, her condition was troubling.
"You, you know that 'junior' I know, right?"
"I’m not sure who you’re talking ab—yes, I know him."
I tried to play dumb, but as soon as Senior Elsie turned her back to leave, I had no choice but to correct myself.
Only then did Senior Elsie state her demand.
"…Can I meet him?"
It was a rare, cautious tone.
The way she toyed with her pointed hat and flickered her gaze away was unfamiliar. It was a stark contrast to the strong, confident impression she had shown until now.
That was why I hesitated even more.
Anxiety, longing, and desperation.
Several emotions pierced through my retinas and stabbed into my heart like an awl. It was a dream I wanted to make come true somehow.
But.
Just as I was about to speak, I locked eyes with 'Senior Elsie.'
Her eyes were even slightly misty.
In the end, I had no choice but to reveal the truth.
"…Yes."
At that, ripples of various emotions washed over the girl’s face.
Joy, happiness, tension, and finally, resolve.
"Then let me meet him."
"Right now is a bit…"
"Whenever is fine."
With a firm voice that I wouldn't dare try to break, Senior Elsie pleaded.
"I just want to see him one last time… That’s all I need."
That was the end of it.
Senior Elsie didn't even give me a chance to respond before she scurried off somewhere. As I stood there blankly watching her retreating back, a sense of dismay clouded my face.
It wasn't that I didn't want to let the man and Senior Elsie meet.
But for that to happen, several conditions had to be met.
The part that weighed most on my mind was, after all…
It was a matter that couldn't be overturned now. I decided to stop agonizing over a problem that had no immediate answer.
Ultimately, it was a problem that could only be solved by meeting the man.
I wanted to get dead drunk and pass out tonight, but I decided to postpone my meeting with the man by one day.
I had no choice.
Tomorrow was the day the Emperor was scheduled to arrive.
And it was also the day I would meet the Supreme of the Continent.
The next day, the person who came to guide me was quite familiar.
"Long time no see, Percus kid."
The smirking, middle-aged face was truly obnoxious. This martial artist, whose robust body and snow-white hair seemed at odds—the 'Sword Duke,' known as the strongest swordsman on the continent—was the messenger who would lead me to the Emperor.
It was an incredibly lavish selection of personnel.
To meet the Emperor, whom only a handful of people on the continent could see in private, I was being guided by one of only three Masters.
Despite enjoying such luxury, my face was only filled with discontent.
"Don't tell me this is what you were talking about?"
"What do you mean?"
It felt like more and more people were playing dumb in front of me lately.
Unable to hold back my frustration, words of resentment naturally poured out.
"You said the Academy would be in an uproar soon! With His Majesty the Emperor, and the Great Witch of the Southern Kingdoms… If it was something this important, you should have told me in advance. No wonder the Alphenhauser twins were making such a fuss!"
However, my scolding only seemed to please the Sword Duke.
He seemed to quite enjoy the fact that he had teased me. Otherwise, there was no reason for him to stroke his chin and burst into a satisfied laugh.
"Heh heh, were you surprised? That’s why you should have shown more loyalty toward the Empire."
"I feel like that iron-clad loyalty is about to shake right now."
"Don't be like that. His Majesty’s movements are top secret… Even for an insider, I can't just hand over that information recklessly."
Despite my grumbling, the Sword Duke’s voice remained perfectly composed.
He sounded as if he already knew my words were nothing more than minor complaints. I wondered why he acted like he knew me so well when we had only met a few times.
It was just frustrating that I couldn't deny the Sword Duke’s assumption.
Regardless, the Sword Duke began to list precautions in a quiet tone.
"First of all, there’s no need to be too formal. It’s a private meeting, not an official one, so His Majesty won't care much. Also, in a sense, this is a great opportunity."
"…An opportunity?"
"To become a true confidant."
It was a word that felt particularly heavy.
The moment that short phrase was uttered, the Sword Duke’s eyes sank coldly. Meeting that gaze, my breath hitched for an instant.
It’s a blade.
It wasn't a metaphor or an exaggeration. The man walking in front of me was no different from a well-honed blade itself.
Every gesture, every hand movement, every glance held a sharpness capable of inflicting a fatal wound.
I’m going to be shredded.
A shock that made my hair stand on end, a sensation so sharp it pierced my spine precisely because I had been off-guard.
I’m dead.
If that inhuman monster had the mind to, I would have died several times over already.
This was the Empire’s Master, the Sword Duke.
Then, the Sword Duke burst into a boisterous laugh.
"Hahaha! As expected of a High Expert… You can feel this much now?"
"Wh-what… what was that…?"
"’Sword Soul.’"
To me, who was stammering and couldn't even speak properly, the Sword Duke responded with a fierce smile.
"Perhaps you might be able to learn it too… So do your best, for that sake as well."
It was around then that the Sword Duke stopped walking.
While I was still struggling to emerge from the confusion, the Sword Duke knocked on the ornate door at the end of the hallway without a moment's hesitation. Soon, with a creak, the door began to open on its own.
The Sword Duke’s thick hand guided me into the room as if pushing me.
Then, the thud of the door closing.
Dazed, I took in the scene inside the room.
Among the antique furniture, an old man was visible.
I couldn't sense the typical aura of a powerful person. At first glance, he seemed like nothing more than an elderly man, but he was a figure who exuded an indefinable presence.
Slowly, the old man’s gaze shifted.
The moment I met those blue flames shortly after, I realized instinctively.
It’s a dragon.
And there was only one person in the Empire who could be called a dragon.
It was only natural that my knees buckled.
"……Your Majesty."
"Ian Percus."
Even though it was just a low call of my name, my entire body froze instantly.
Facing the Supreme of the Empire, whom I had only heard of, my heart pounded wildly. Respect and fear toward the Imperial Household were emotions shared by all subjects.
All my life, I had been taught to revere and fear the Imperial Family.
I couldn't overcome those teachings in such a short time.
The Emperor didn't make any unreasonable demands of me either.
"Since it was such a sudden meeting, you must not have had time to compose yourself. As a knight of the Empire, I have heard much of your exploits from afar… Not just the Empire, but the entire continent owes you a great debt."
"You… you flatter me……."
Gulping down dry saliva, I barely managed to avoid being rude.
When the Emperor was praising my merits, I couldn't even answer properly.
I was a failure as a noble.
Furthermore, the Emperor’s attitude toward me was surprisingly gentle. He didn't try to force formality or majesty, and his warm tone even felt considerate.
Right, I need to calm down.
It was just as I finally managed to soothe my heart.
"You truly are like a 'Rusty Sword.'"
"……Pardon?"
It was a term I had never heard in my life.
But the Emperor, as if stating something incredibly obvious, stroked his beard and silently fixed his gaze on me.
"Did you not say it yourself? 'A dragon hidden in a cradle, a rusty sword that cuts better than a masterwork blade'……."
His eyes were deeply submerged.
So much so that I wouldn't dare guess his inner thoughts.
So, I couldn't bring myself to open my mouth.
"……How did you know?"
A voice that was faint yet heavy.
At the question that pressed down on my lungs, I felt cold sweat running down my spine.
"About the long-cherished wish of the Imperial Household."
While internally hurling curses at a certain man.
What the fuck is that even supposed to be…