Chapter 155: Gift (1)
Chapter 155: Gift (1)
A secret room within the Imperial Palace.
"...An irresponsible servant let go of the leash, and now the dogs are running wild. That is what he said."
Kents Bertem relayed Reutern’s words, his grip tightening until the glass in his hand shattered.
"That damn perm-head... that broccoli-looking bastard."
Chief of Staff Grossman curled the corners of his mouth into a relaxed, mocking smile.
"Dogs and a servant... He’s finally found his tongue, hasn't he?"
He slowly swirled his dark red wine, raising an eyebrow in amusement.
"But come to think of it, there’s no better analogy. We are all servants anyway. In this Empire, only one person stands above us, while the rest of the world lies beneath our feet."
"...I know. But I can't stand to watch his ridiculous behavior. And the fact that he's been deceiving me all this time..."
"Were you the only one deceived? I was fooled as well. The entire Imperial Palace was."
Reutern II had become a power unto himself. Numerous royals had rallied around him as their focal point. With Julius, the leader of the opposing faction, ousted, there was no longer a proper way to keep him in check.
Grossman added quietly, his voice dropping an octave.
"But royals are merely royals. To achieve our grand ambitions, one must know how to endure. Didn't you come to me because there is something you want as well?"
They couldn't afford to make a rash move yet. It was still unknown exactly what feelings Reutern harbored toward the Imperial Guard, or what calculations he was making.
But one thing was certain—the fool didn't know their true intentions. He was completely oblivious to the great cause the Imperial Guard was meticulously building: that 'bloody night' meant to sever the necks of the Imperial Palace's royals.
"...Yes. Understood."
Kents gritted his teeth so hard it sounded as if they might break.
*
The Empire's affluent district, Sonette Law Office.
Lawyer, clerk, mage, scholar, doctor, corporate CEO, and recently, the holder of the title of professor—Sonette Kandel took a sip of green tea and asked, "How was the visit?"
Oswin, sitting across from her, furrowed his brow. His face was still flushed with lingering anger.
"Those Imperial Guard bastards are running amok. Oliver is practically broken. There wasn't a single part of his body left unscathed."
Oswin swept a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
"Still, thanks to you, I confirmed Oliver is there. He’s alive, even if he’s been subjected to unspeakable torture."
"That is a significant amount of information."
"And Oliver is an Aran. That is also a fact."
Oliver had been arrested while teaching magic to poor commoners. Those commoners were also Aran. His 'talent donation' for the future of the Empire was the very thing that had dragged him down.
"You know Oliver too, don't you?"
"Yes. I know him."
The reason Sonette had asked Maximilian for the visitation was, in truth, out of pure goodwill. It wasn't some deep calculation, hidden motive, or scheme. It was a rare personal feeling for her. Oliver was one of Sonette's few friends.
"So, will you begin the trial?"
"I've filed the petition. His family tree is flawless, so we will definitely win."
"Yes. I'll be rooting for you."
Sonette would watch the trial process from afar. Her emotional involvement ended exactly there. She would never step forward herself.
Because only then could she achieve what she truly wanted.
*
These days, the entire Empire was in chaos due to the Imperial Citizenship Act.
I took a step back for a moment and recalled a specific memory from before my regression. A memory of a person and an event.
[Imperial Ginseng Gatherer 'Kazen' Discovers Arcane Passage!]
It was an article about the discovery of a passage where ancient artifacts were buried. Back then, I had just gone, "Wow— Whoa—" wondering what items would be excavated, if I could win a bid to put them to good use, and how much money I had in my account.
I’d had the greed to compensate for my shortcomings with high-end equipment.
Regardless, I tracked down that ginseng gatherer, Kazen.
"...Ah, yes, yes. I've been climbing mountains my whole life, sir. A few days ago, while taking shelter from the wind and rain, I discovered this... this bizarre passage."
The ginseng gatherer guided me, his hands trembling.
"Hmm. This is it."
It looked like a simple part of the rock wall, but a faint trace of mana was leaking through the cracks.
An ancient magic passage.
"Yes, yes. But no matter how much I push or knock, it doesn't react at all, sir."
I swept my hand over the rough stone surface and spoke quietly.
"That would be because you cannot wield mana."
Ancient artifacts. Also known as Arcane. In the past, wars were waged over these, but nowadays, with the advancement of Mana Stone technology, their value has been diluted quite a bit.
"It's a passage connected by multiple entrances."
In other words, the entrances are scattered across the continent, but the space inside is one. That's why it's a magic passage—connected by magic.
"Do you see this? This crest."
Three out of the four circles were lit up in blue.
"It means three of the four entrances have already been discovered."
Mana had already been injected from the other three entrances. Before my regression, while the Empire was busy having armchair debates about who would enter and how, 'Gentra' snatched this ruin away.
I couldn't let that happen in this life.
Even if I couldn't have it, it absolutely shouldn't fall into the hands of those anarchistic, anti-imperialist armed groups who only cared about destruction.
"Yes, yes. As expected of a Knight, there's nothing you don't know, sir. Thank you. Then, this humble servant will take his leave..."
Shuffle, shuffle.
The ginseng gatherer backed away with a terrified expression.
"Where are you going?" I called out.
"Pardon? Ah, well, that is..."
I closely examined his suddenly pale face. From his skin tone to the bone structure of his features, he was not a pure-blooded Aran.
"I-I'm sorry! Please spare my life!"
The ginseng gatherer immediately prostrated himself, slamming his head against the ground. I was slightly taken aback.
"...For what?"
"M-My grandfather is of the Kensi Tribe... We've lived climbing these mountains for generations, but... I never meant to deceive anyone about my bloodline, sir!"
I let out a hollow laugh. It seemed the Imperial Citizenship Act was already claiming victims through fear.
"It doesn't matter."
"...Pardon?" The ginseng gatherer quietly raised his head.
"Are you currently in public office? Is being a ginseng gatherer a public office?"
"A-Ah, no. It's not, sir."
"Exactly."
I pulled out a checkbook from my inner pocket.
"Rather, since you reported the location of such a valuable ruin to an Imperial Knight, you deserve a reward, not punishment."
I tore off a check and handed it to him.
"......"
The ginseng gatherer's face went blank. He blinked repeatedly, looking as if he couldn't tell whether this was a dream or reality.
"Also, if you happen to find a very high-quality and potent wild ginseng while climbing the mountains, make sure to bring it to me."
Wild ginseng has a very different nature from elixirs. If an elixir is water that gradually accumulates in the body, wild ginseng is fire that tempers by burning mana.
It would be quite helpful not only for the Virus inside me, but for my own cultivation as well.
"Understood?"
"Yes, yes! I'll keep that in mind!"
He was a man who had discovered an ancient ruin while roaming the rugged mountains of the Empire. It wouldn't hurt to keep him as an asset.
"You may go."
"Th-Thank you! Thank you so much, Sir Knight!"
The ginseng gatherer left with a bright face, joy evident in his retreating figure as he trekked up the mountain path.
"......"
I stared at the tightly shut stone door of the ruin before placing my hand on it.
At that moment—
Thump—!
Suddenly, the Virus squirmed. Then, clunk.
Rumble—
The crack in the rock wall split open, and the stone door gaped wide.
"...No way."
It was an unexpected move from the Virus. I glared at the area near my collarbone. I hadn't planned on entering right away, but this door was now open to everyone.
This meant the Gentra bastards could enter from the other entrances. If I was late, it would be stolen.
"Huu..."
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.
Step.
The moment I took a single step, the interior expanded vastly.
This itself was magic. Connecting different parts of the continent into a single space—in other words, I was walking through a magical construct. However...
It was dark. Deep and damp.
Monsters weren't the issue; a ghostly aura raised goosebumps on my skin like a sudden chill.
I'm absolutely not scared.
"...The wind blows. Through my sorrowful heart."
I found myself singing a somber tune without realizing it.
Get a grip, Maximilian.
I should have brought Leo along—no, I wasn't alone in the first place.
"Hey. This is your fault."
Thump—
The Virus replied. I let out a small chuckle. Lately, we've been communicating quite well. The Virus sees what I see, understands my words, and even reacts.
"Don't do anything unexpected from now on. Keep this in mind: if I die, you die too."
Thump!
It felt as if it were somehow feeling wronged.
Anyway.
I radiated my mana outward, expanding my senses to secure my territory.
Swoosh.
As my senses stretched out, I condensed my mana inward. I erased my presence, cooling my body temperature and silencing my footsteps and breathing.
My mana turns me into moonlight. A force of nature that can neither be caught nor felt.
How long did I walk like that?
Hsssss—
I could feel faint presences in the distance. Ethereal mana beasts—the ones actually called ghosts. Their forms were translucent, and because they knew how to wield mana to inflict 'curses,' they were quite annoying to deal with.
Wooooo— Wooooo—
A wave of mana resembling a wail echoed through the hall. I snorted.
Ebenholtz is a noble. A true noble wins without fighting.
Without provoking the group, I smoothly slipped past them like a shadow.
Stage 1 clear.
Vwoom— Vwoom— Vwoom—
As I went deeper, a circular passage blocked my way. A thick steel pillar rose in the center, and around its axis, Mana Stone blades rotated, shredding everything in their path.
Vwoom— Vwoom— Vwoom—
I glared at it, calculating the trajectory and timing of the spinning blades.
The moment a gap opened, I drew the longsword from my back and jammed it into the space between the pillar and the floor.
Screeech— Clank!
The longsword jammed the gears. The machine ground to a halt, and I walked through before reaching my hand out into the air.
Whisk.
The moment the longsword returned to my grasp, the blades began to spin again with a deafening roar.
"...Huu."
I moved forward. Nothing much to it.
Feeling relieved, I reached the heart of the ruin. It was a vast cavern. On the surface, there was nothing, but the area was easily the size of several parade grounds combined.
—What the. There's nothing here.
Far away, a voice was caught by my senses. I hid behind a wall.
—Hmm~ I thought something good would pop out!
Tracing the presence, I realized there was only one opponent. I guessed it was Gentra's vanguard. If it was one-on-one, it was winnable. I had the 'Super Stimpak,' after all.
Swoosh.
Just as I was about to take a step forward—
Step.
Another footstep echoed.
—Ah, you're here? Look at this. There's nothing, right?
Swoosh.
I hid myself again. Another person appeared in my line of sight.
Step.
He was making footsteps, but my senses couldn't detect any wave of mana, nor even the warmth of life. He was a man as dark as pitch-black. It wasn't Izenheim, but it was my first time seeing a figure so close to nothingness.
—What do you think?
—......
The man silently stared somewhere. Not at me. Rather, at the opposite side.
—Hm? Who are those guys?
Voices surged from the other end.
To reiterate, there are a total of four entrances here. Therefore, four different factions could enter this ruin.
—Who are you! Reveal your identities!
This time, it was a group of about ten people. I examined their attire. Dark red uniforms and chests full of medals.
The Iron Men nurtured by the Eastern Union to counter Knights—the 'Adversaries.'
Exactly twelve of them.
If they engaged in battle, I could take advantage of the chaos to snatch the artifact. I had the Stimpak and the Aura Sphere. I could gauge the situation and then jump in—
At that moment.
The mysterious man reached out his hand toward the Adversaries.
——!
There was no incantation, no preheating of mana. With just a single gesture, space itself distorted, and an invisible pressure exploded.
"Kuaaaagh!"
"——!"
"Keugh!"
A sudden raging wave of mana. A crazed turbulence. Swept up in an instant, the Adversaries' bodies were torn apart like sheets of paper.
Squelch. Splat. Craaack!
Blood splattered against the ceiling, and dismembered chunks of meat rained down. Twelve men—an entire elite unit—had been reduced to bloody pulp.
The time it took for this massacre was a mere few dozen seconds.
—Ooh. As expected of the Major.
The title of Major.
Belatedly, the leader of Gentra from my memories came to mind. An irregular evaluated to be on par with Zebestian of the Center and Jackal of the North.
—I'll do the investigating for now. What are you going to do, Major?
—I will wait.
Swoosh.
I hid myself once more. I became a piece of shadow. I sank beneath the ground.
The world is wide, and there are many strong people. However, it wasn't as if there was absolutely no way. Because while there are many strong people, there is only one at the apex.
Rather than handing this ancient artifact over to Gentra, I would rather...
*
The Emperor of the Empire loves ancient artifacts. This is because he considers himself chosen by the gods and is convinced that he is the greatest figure on the continent. Therefore, the Emperor's hands must hold items befitting an Emperor—and those are precisely ancient artifacts.
Zebestian, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military, knows the Emperor's mind very well. As an old friend and his most loyal subject.
"Commander."
One day, an adjutant visited the Supreme Commander's official residence.
"Maximilian has prepared a gift, sir."
Zebestian furrowed his brow. "A gift?"
"Yes."
"Take it away."
Zebestian could have everything, but he wanted nothing. Such greed and materialism were of no help to a subject of his standing.
"But it is not an object."
Not an object.
Zebestian silently looked at the adjutant. It was an incredibly heavy gaze, but the adjutant calmly continued.
"He says he has discovered an Arcane—a passage to ancient artifacts."
With that, he handed over a map.
"An Arcane?"
An Arcane... Indeed, this time it was something worthy of being presented to His Majesty.
"Yes. He also added that he has left the passage open, so he strongly advises you to go in person and claim it as soon as possible..."
As soon as possible. Claim in person. Strongly advises.
Zebestian found the phrasing absurd, but if it truly was an ancient artifact, it was more than worth the effort.