Chapter 364
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 364
Chapter Title: The Empire and the Emperor's Preparations
"Prepare! Get ready!"
"Align those angles! Scrub until the friction coefficient on the floor tiles hits zero!"
The day began with the frantic shouts of the scream-specialist knight. The Capital Knights' Headquarters was bustling more than usual today. Because today was a very important day.
Today was the day Crown Prince Irid would visit the headquarters for an inspection.
They had to showcase the results of their hard work, fueled by the direct funding from the imperial family. Improved power armors, various facilities, and... above all, the giant robot.
Capital Knights' 3rd Squad Leader Ronald stroked his mustache as he asked Dr. Gordius.
"Is the presentation ready?!"
"Of course. Perfectly so. We just need to roll out this impeccably aristocratic red carpet for His Highness on his way in—"
"Gaaahhh!"
The scream-specialist knight shrieked at the sight of the carpet Gordius pulled out. Ronald calmly restored order.
"Hm. If you lay out that tacky carpet, I'll rip it to shreds by the yard, so rest easy, men!"
"...Is my taste really that bad?"
The Capital Knights nodded in unison. Gordius was a capable researcher with a romantic flair, and they'd benefited greatly from him.
But accepting his catastrophic sense of aesthetics was another matter entirely. He kept dragging out trends from thirty years ago, and he'd even tried to attach antennae to the power armors once.
Ronald blocked Gordius's headquarters-decorating attempts and asked about something else instead.
"Dr. Gordius. The 'Overclock Unit' seems ready for demo too, but... isn't that dangerous?!"
"We've boosted stability to 30%, so we'll only demo if the pilot's condition is good. If side effects show, we won't reveal it at all."
"Hm. Introducing something unproven feels like fraud... but no, that unit's performance is outstanding! Still, we must be cautious—"
"Oh, he's here! Crown Prince has arrived!"
He's here!
"Statue formation!"
The Capital Knights who weren't test pilots donned their shiny power armors at Ronald's command and lined up in knightly poses.
Soon, a man with radiant golden hair stepped down from a modest carriage parked in front of the headquarters.
That man was none other than Irid Crown, the future sun of the empire. His deep blue eyes were steeped in melancholy, as if worrying over the empire's future, with faint dark circles adding a touch of sharpness.
Gordius, standing before Irid, flashed a businesslike smile and recited the lines he'd rehearsed all last night.
"An honor to have you visit, Your Majesty. I am Gordius, mage of the Golden Magic Tower, collaborating with the Capital Knights on research. I swear, by the end of this, Your Majesty will feel your investment was most satisfactorily spent."
"One correction. I'm not Emperor yet."
"My apologies, Your Majesty. Your innate nobility caught me off guard—I thought you'd already ascended the throne. Ha ha. First, I'll explain how the existing power armors operated by the Capital Knights have evolved, and compare to their history to show how swiftly and astonishingly we've progressed—"
Irid cut off Gordius's awkward flattery.
"I already know. Even that you diverted public funds for iron into private use. I have enough knowledge to understand, so straight to the point."
"......"
Gordius froze at Irid's casual mention of embezzlement. His pupils trembled like there was an earthquake.
The mini-robot he'd made as a confession gift for Woo Chae-rin was supposed to be his secret. The materials used were negligible. How did he know? A spy inside?
As rumored, he'd fully seized the Imperial Defense Bureau before his ascension was even certain. The man before him commanded an unfathomable web of intelligence...
"I know it's no major flaw. And that you covered it with personal funds later. Moving on."
"...This way."
Feeling overwhelmed, Gordius led the way down the corridor to an elevator descending into the headquarters basement.
"This is?"
"A mechanical elevator for vertical movement within the building. The labs are deep underground..."
Shrrk.
The automatic doors opened, and the two men boarded. With a hum, they descended far below.
Irid watched the plunging floor numbers.
"You made it well, I'm sure, but just to be thorough: no subsidence worries? If the capital's ground collapses, fines won't cover it. At minimum, it's imperial negligence."
"No worries, Your Majesty. I asked my master... that is, the Golden Magic Tower Master, to reinforce it solidly."
It was a massive research wing to store and build giant robots. Gordius had begged his master for help right after securing imperial research funds. It could withstand a millennium, even major earthquakes.
Ding!
Vrrr.
The deep地下 elevator doors opened. Gordius strode down the straight corridor, beginning the real tour.
"Now, behold our research成果."
First, Room A-1, the nearest.
Gordius swiped his card key on the steel door. Inside, two knights stood side by side: one in an old-model power armor, the other in the new.
"Left is the old model, right is the new with the 'Stellaria Engine.' Output up 50%, uses both mana and electricity, so resistant to the old weakness: 'Mana Blockade.'"
"The new one's bulkier. Not sluggish?"
"No. Even basic form is much faster than old, and it has pursuit mode for capturing magical girls. Purge."
-Purge!
Whoosh—! Clang, boom!
The new power armor's outer plating shed, revealing a sleeker form. It incorporated know-how from long chases with the "Blue Rose"—a tag-game mode.
"Soles have boosters for short aerial flight."
"Hm. Hope it's not wasteful. What about harpoon guns instead of boosters?"
"Bad idea. Ropes to hold the armor's weight are tricky, and no structures could bear the load—spires would shatter. Besides, harpoon guns are relics of the old era's losers."
Better trusty, cool boosters than primitive gadgets.
"...Yeah, just spitballing."
Irid calmed his twinge of sentiment. Nostalgia shouldn't sway judgment irrationally.
Next, A-2.
"This'll surprise you. Inside is—"
The "Overclock Unit." No noise from within, vitals normal—demo should be fine.
Beep. Vrrr.
The steel doors parted, revealing a jet-black power armor. Finer details than standard, engine roar thunderously superior.
The pilot inside reached out for the performance demo. Then, pop-up windows flooded his view. Ding. Ding. Ding.
What is the purpose of extending your hand? If grabbing enemy's collar, press this popup. For guarding ranged projectiles, adjusting internal spring tension may be effective—
Overwhelmed by info, the pilot lost control. The "Overclock Unit" crawled on all fours.
"Grahhh—! Body's moving on its oooown—!!"
"...Wrong door. On to the next."
"......"
Vrrr—thud.
"Open it again."
"Yes."
At Irid's stern word, the doors slid open. The knight tap-dancing forcibly was exposed again.
Ridiculous, but insanely fast. Such dance from heavy armor spoke volumes. Though probably not for balls.
"What is this?"
"...The 'Overclock Unit.' Power armor planned as flagship, maxed hardware/software. Minor flaw."
Transplanting combat assist from the mad mage backfired—aid too intense for humans.
Like endless backseat driving stealing control. Or buying unwanted junk from a chatty clerk. That vibe.
"Needs major combat assist tweaks for real deployment. Or a pilot who can handle the info flood."
"Understood. Quite intriguing. Close it now."
"G-Gordius! Emergency unit shutdown! The tap-dancing won't stooop—!!"
"Next. Now for the star: the giant robot."
Vrrr. Clank.
The scientist and crown prince moved to the next level.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Clank, thud.
A vast space, towering vertically and horizontally, echoed with metal cutting, clashing, welding. There, a 50-meter giant robot was under construction.
Irid stroked his chin at its majesty. Visually reassuring. This iron giant might even fistfight a dragon.
Clang! Clang!
A knight spotted Gordius and Irid, rushing to report to the working Capital Knights' Captain.
"Captain, guests!"
"...Big guy? Or Fluffy?"
"Not hubby, wifey, or hubby. Not daughter either."
Lulu Kim, wielding a hammer twice her size as a human-press, removed her safety goggles and turned. She wore grimy work clothes.
The pint-sized captain wiped her nose and approached.
"Yup. Gordius? And that's... Crown Prince!"
"Use titles..."
"Friends don't honorific!"
Irid raised an eyebrow slightly. Not displeased. The old him might've minded rank strictly, but now? Especially privately.
Just curious. He had no ties to Lulu Kim.
"...Capital Knights' Captain. Aside from chance public glimpses, no connection. Why call me friend?"
"Friend of a friend is friend, right? I'm friends with Big Guy. Big Guy's friends with Mad Mage, and Mad Mage says he's friends with Irid!"
"That walking disaster calls me friend?"
"Seemed super close. Maybe?"
Wide-eyed stare.
Irid pondered. No anger or awkwardness. Rather, not bad. Affection had grown, despite everything.
Friend.
"...Right. You're correct."
"Knew it. Hang on, wash hands and introduce. Wanna pilot the giant golem? Super fun?"
"If possible. Lead on, Capital Knights' Captain."
"Lulu's fine!"
Gordius sighed inwardly with relief watching their chat. He'd worried about scolding for impropriety, even considered offering a cherished incense burner (ugly design).
Rumors true: Crown Prince Irid Crown was kind. The young mage-scientist sensed this golden youth would be a sage king.
After the evil dragon threat, the empire would thrive.
Finishing the inspection, Irid promised ongoing support to the Capital Knights before heading to the palace by carriage.
He visited sporadically now, for handover.
The emperor's residence had changed much. No icy silence, no sunken-eyed anxiety and pain. Instead... many potted plants. Hard to tell audience chamber from greenhouse.
Trickle, trickle.
A small pink watering can sprinkled.
The old man watering pots smiled, set down his straw hat, stretched, and spoke kindly to Irid.
"Here?"
"Yes, Father."
"Goddess blesses—cherry tomatoes thriving. Asking the Alchemist Guildmaster for fertilizer paid off... Try one if you like. Very sweet."
"...Harvest more come season. Sister and brothers will want tastes."
Regaining peace, the emperor became neighborly grandpa. Few years left, but they'd be eternally serene.
The emperor shared cherry tomatoes with Irid, slowly handing over knowledge: shadow forces, fund flows, past secrets a successor needs.
Then suddenly.
As if it just occurred, the emperor reminisced.
"Know the Black Dragon Emperor?"
"Of course. Empire's founder."
"Yes, histories say he contracted a dragon to build the primordial empire. Likely... the hibernating god. He gained an ageless body from the dragon's blessing."
"...But met death. Black Dragon Emperor's tomb in imperial mausoleum."
Yes. Odd, though. The emperor continued.
"My predecessor... my father secretly dug it up. Maybe seeking escape from god. But nothing remained in the tomb."
"Nothing?"
"Yes. Bones and flesh decay, but dragon scales on his skin shouldn't vanish. Nothing there."
Right.
The corpse had vanished clean.
As if not dead, but alive.