The Imperial Call (2)

We flew through the sky on a sled pulled by a giant eagle. Flying through the blue sky just beneath the clouds felt like... I was going to die of sheer terror.

Below us, the Russell Territory gradually receded into the distance. Dizzy from the height, I quickly looked away from the ground.

"It's enchanted, so the wind resistance won't be too bad. Rest assured," Grace said.

Despite Grace's reassurance, Isaac and I tightly gripped each other's collars.

"I'm fine. A little height is nothing..."

"R-Right, Young Master? The wind is quite refreshing, haha."

Isaac and I sat in the back row of the sled, while Grace and the other two knights took the front. The two of us probably weighed more than the three of them combined.

Looking at Isaac beside me, a sudden wave of anxiety hit me—what if this sled fell? I was sure this old man was thinking the exact same thing.

The eagle pulling us was called a gryphon. It had a massive brown body with a snow-white head and wings. What surprised me was that the status window worked on monsters too.

Unlike humans, the monster's status window only showed a level rather than detailed stats. The problem was that I still ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't have a clear grasp of what these level numbers actually meant.

'Mercury, I have a question about monsters.'

- Ask away.

'With my current strength, what level monster can I fight?'

- Hmm, probably around Level 8.

'Then what level is a goblin?'

Goblins had apparently invaded the Russell Territory while I was in a coma. I wondered how well I would fare against them now.

- Level 6. It depends on the situation, but with your current abilities, you could probably handle three at most.

'I see. Thank you.'

By now, I had gotten quite used to talking to Mercury. After asking her various things, I had figured out how to utilize her guidance. First of all, there were a few limitations to the knowledge she could provide.

First, it was impossible to check the past.

Second, it was impossible to read another person's intentions.

In short, she could only provide general knowledge about the planet Lercelon or information on current events. Honestly, she felt less like a goddess and more like an AI.

But what could I do? It was my own fault for choosing the talent of knowledge.

"...Yeong-sik? Are you listening?"

"Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment."

Grace's voice from the front row snapped me back to reality.

"We will arrive at the capital, Riobalta, in about three hours. From there, we will take a carriage to the imperial palace."

"Understood."

"If it's too difficult, we can stop and rest along the way."

"Ah, no, I'm fine. Right, Master?"

"Huh? O-Of course, I'm perfectly fine."

She must ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have asked because Isaac and I looked pale. At our responses, Grace nodded understandingly and turned back to face the front.

'Hmm... she seems nice enough so far.'

Chloe's note was still fresh in my mind. I didn't know if she was referring to a specific person in the Imperial Knights or all of them, but I had no intention of letting my guard down.

A short while later.

We landed near the entrance to the capital, Riobalta. As soon as we touched down, Isaac excused himself to the forest, claiming he had to relieve himself. He was definitely throwing up.

"From here on, Yeong-sik and Isaac will accompany me," Grace said.

At her words, the other two knights departed with the gryphon and the sled. Following her in silence for a few minutes, the capital's main gate came into view.

"Whoa..."

Perhaps to ward off monster invasions, the capital was enclosed by towering stone walls. Four guards stood watch at the main gate, which loomed several times taller than a grown man.

Grace marched forward and pulled out a clover-patterned necklace from around her neck.

"L-Lady Grace!"

"We've been expecting you. The carriage is ready!"

"I see. Is it over there?"

"Yes. In fact, the other invitee has just arrived as well. They are waiting inside the carriage."

"Understood."

The other invitee? Who could that be? Grace opened the door of the carriage waiting by the entrance.

"Greetings. I am Grace of the Imperial Knights. We will be sharing the carriage to the palace."

"Please, go ahead."

A middle-aged man among the two occupants inside replied. The other person's face was completely hidden beneath a large wizard hat. What caught my eye was the brown staff in their hand.

'Huh? Where have I seen that staff before...?'

As I climbed in second, the carriage tilted slightly under my weight.

At that moment, a voice spoke up.

"What the... What the hell?"

It was a sharp, yet familiar voice.

An English pronunciation I hadn't heard in ages.

My eyes met those of a girl with a small, round face.

The moment she saw me, her mouth fell open in shock. For a brief second, we were both speechless. My brow furrowed automatically. The person standing before me was none other than...

"You're Scar—"

"Lady Ok-ja, do you know him?"

...What? Who did he just say?

"Nope. No way. I don't know a pig... I mean, a person like that."

"Is that so? My apologies, I must have been mistaken."

Seeing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my flustered state, the middle-aged man introduced himself.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jeffrey, butler of the House of Blackwood. I have come to assist Lady Ok-ja here."

"Greetings. I am Isaac, former knight commander of the House of Russell. I am here to escort Young Master Yeong-sik."

Isaac, who had followed me inside, exchanged greetings. Wait, hold on a second. My brain was struggling to process this.

So Scarlet's real name was...

"Ok-ja?"

Hearing that, Scarlet—no, Ok-ja's face contorted in fury.

"Y-Young Master. How rude of you to call a noble lady of a count's family by her name so casually."

"...Pfft. Ah, my apologies. I mistook you for someone I knew. Lady... Ok-ja. Pfft."

"You pig... I mean, how insolent of you when we've only just met."

"Lady Ok-ja! Please, watch your language! My apologies, I, Jeffrey, apologize on her behalf."

Isaac and the butler, Jeffrey, were both shifting anxiously. Watching this play out, Grace spoke up first.

"Now that introductions are out of the way, let us depart. The other two hero candidates have already arrived."

Once all five of us were seated, the carriage began to move. I had a hard time keeping my lips from twitching as I looked at Ok-ja sitting across from me.

"So Lady Ok-ja also woke up from a coma a month ago? What a coincidence! Our Young Master Yeong-sik did as well."

"Is that so? When Lady Ok-ja woke up, a magic staff appeared out of nowhere beside her. So when the letter from the imperial palace arrived, everyone knew it had to be about her."

"Ah, I see. Our Young Master didn't have any weapon like that... so no one expected it to be about him."

Damn it, this old man was hitting me right where it hurt.

Inside the carriage, the bulky Isaac and I sat side by side, while Ok-ja, Jeffrey, and Grace sat opposite us.

Ok-ja had been glaring at me as if she wanted to murder me at every opportunity. She seemed thoroughly ticked off by how I kept smirking while calling her name.

Getting pissed off over just this? My revenge still had a long way to go. I didn't back down and glared right back at her.

She was the only short member of Rosemary. Contrary to her cute appearance with chubby cheeks, she had a solid fanbase that was obsessed with her sharp, abrasive attitude.

'Turns out she wasn't just sharp; she was just a total bitch.'

One annoying thing was that Ok-ja, being from a count's family, held a higher social status than me. Furthermore, judging by the staff she held, she had likely reincarnated as a mage.

Since she was right in front of me, I pulled up her status window.

Wait... Mana 50?

First Lee Cheri, and now her too?

I was getting more and more pissed off.

No matter how much I thought about it, I was an idiot for choosing the talent of knowledge.

"My lady always had a talent for magic, but after waking from her coma, her abilities truly blossomed. She mastered mana control in just a month and has already learned a few skills."

"Ah, is that so! Our Young Master had absolutely no talent before, but now his swordsmanship training and growth rate are terrifying. And as for skills... well, he did manage to learn one, yes..."

Ugh. This old man kept spouting unnecessary details. But wait, what? That bitch Ok-ja already learned skills?

'Mercury!'

- What is it?

'Didn't you say the Learning Talent was only given to me?'

- That is correct.

'Then how did Scarlet... I mean, Ok-ja, already learn skills?'

- She has a vast amount of mana. Magic skills can be easily acquired if one has the necessary mana foundation.

'...Ha. Have the others learned skills too?'

- Yes. The other two have learned them as well.

What?

Curses welled up in my throat.

I thought I had narrowed the gap by learning a skill, but I was sorely mistaken. Besides, my only skill was literally just striking an off-guard enemy. Anxiety began to creep in again.

- Do not worry too much. With the Learning Talent, your growth rate cannot be compared to others.

'Sure, easy for you to say.'

Damn it. I could trust her on this, right?

While I was bickering with Mercury in my head, Ok-ja openly showed her discomfort.

"What are you looking at, you pi— I mean, is there a problem?"

"Nothing at all, Lady Ok-ja. Why don't you mind your own business?"

"Holy sh— Ahem."

Ok-ja, who was about to swear, caught herself and stopped. Then, covering her mouth with her hand so only I could see, she silently mouthed:

'You. Die.'

Look at this bitch's temper. Not backing down, I mouthed back at her:

'Shut. Up.'

Understanding my words, Ok-ja scowled deeply. She was the one who started it.

And so, the uncomfortable journey continued with just the two of us glaring at each other.

A moment later.

"We have arrived," the coachman called out.

At his shout, we began to disembark from the carriage one by one.

Standing up first, Ok-ja flipped me the middle finger. I wasn't about to just let that slide. As I stood up, I slammed my shoulder into hers with all my might.

*Thud.*

"Kyaah!"

Ok-ja, who was in the middle of stepping down, fell flat on her face onto the ground.

"L-Lady Ok-ja! Are you alright?"

"...That, that son of a bitch! This fat pig is dead!!" Ok-ja shrieked, her voice trembling with rage.

"Ah, my apologies, Lady Ok-ja. I got up in a hurry and..."

"What did you say? You...!"

Seething with rage, Ok-ja scrambled up from the ground and pointed her staff at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me.

"Motherfucker!! I'm going to kill you! *Whew...* O almighty Goddess Mercury, I pledge my loyalty to you here, so grant me your power..."

She rapidly chanted a prayer-like incantation. As I watched in confusion, a blue aura began to rise around her.

'What is that...?'

It looked like flickering flames, or perhaps softly flowing silk. The blue light swirled around Ok-ja's body like a vortex, gradually gathering at the tip of her staff. Instinct screamed that this was dangerous.

Once the light condensed at the tip of the staff, Ok-ja aimed it directly at me. She whispered:

"Die."