Episode 602
Episode 602
"What's so fascinating that you keep looking around like that?"
The Skeleton Principal, who was walking ahead, turned to look at Lee Han and asked.
Of course, the capital was the most beautiful and splendid place in the Empire, and the Emperor's palace, located at its heart, was the very essence of majesty.
For an ordinary citizen of the Empire, merely entering the capital and catching a distant glimpse of the Emperor's palace would be enough to become a lifelong story to tell.
However, the boy from the Wardanaz family wasn't the type to be overly impressed by such extravagance.
If anything, he was more likely to ask, 'If we melted down those decorations, how many gold coins would we get?'...
"Ah. It's just that, since this is His Majesty the Emperor's palace, it seems like the imperial bureaucrats are using it more than anyone else."
The two had already passed through the capital's gates and arrived at the central imperial palace via the shortest route using flight magic.
Alsicle, who had entered through the main gate with them, had already headed off toward the government offices where the Empire's financial officials resided—which were also located within the palace grounds.
At first, Lee Han had assumed the bureaucrats were using annexes within the palace, but that wasn't the case either.
As he followed the Skeleton Principal through the palace corridors, every room they passed was filled with imperial bureaucrats buried in paperwork, their faces looking like the most exhausted and weary people in the world.
Wasn't a palace normally where the imperial family lived?
"So that's what you found strange. Well, it makes sense."
The Skeleton Principal understood Lee Han's curiosity.
Given how sharp the boy was, it was only natural he'd pick up on the oddity faster than most.
Why were there no imperial family members in this palace the size of a small city, only bureaucrats bustling about?
In the era of the Three Kingdoms, the palace would have been a space reserved solely for the imperial family.
Outside, the Imperial Knights would have stood guard like an iron wall, while inside, only the Emperor's relatives and the eunuchs who served them would have resided.
And even if it had been the era of the Seven Kingdoms, bureaucrats wouldn't have been able to scatter piles of documents all over the floor like this.
Back then, the palace would have been more like a grand salon, where nobles from across the kingdom visited to seek an audience with the king, and balls and banquets were held day after day.
But the current imperial palace was, in the Skeleton Principal's long experience, the most peculiar form it had ever taken.
Only a very small portion was used by the Emperor himself—the rest had been entirely repurposed into government offices for the Empire's bureaucrats.
Though the capital's residents had grown accustomed to this and thought nothing of it, someone like Wardanaz—who could probably score full marks on an imperial history exam right now—would naturally find it strange.
"Did the family head ever tell you about His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Uh... no, he didn't."
Lee Han searched his memory before answering.
Truthfully, the family head—that is, Lee Han's father—despite being a high-ranking noble himself, never spoke about imperial politics or current affairs.
He usually talked about magic, or magic, or... magic.
Or cursed at divine magic...
"I thought as much. That despicable man. Leaving all the troublesome work to me while he selfishly focuses solely on magic."
"......"
"My apologies. I sincerely apologize."
The Skeleton Principal, as a dignified noble of the Empire, offered his apology.
No matter how much resentment he usually harbored, those weren't words he should have spoken to the son of that family.
Though every time he had to single-handedly manage the Empire's magical defenses, he did feel an overwhelming urge to storm into the Wardanaz household...
"I didn't hear anything. More importantly, why did you ask me about His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Because I thought you'd be surprised when you meet him."
Surprisingly, the Skeleton Principal seemed slightly hesitant.
It was as if he was debating how much to say before the meeting.
Lee Han didn't understand.
"Wait, I spent a year at Einrogard—how could just meeting someone surprise me?"
"...I already apologized. Must you be so sarcastic to feel satisfied?"
"I wasn't being sarcastic..."
Realizing that Lee Han genuinely meant it, the Skeleton Principal found it even more irritating.
"Even among the bureaucrats, only a handful have ever met His Majesty in person."
"Am I really worthy of monopolizing such an honorable position?"
Rather than feeling joy, Lee Han was worried.
What if the senior officials—lofty as the heavens themselves—thought of him as some ill-mannered junior?
"It's not an honorable position. His Majesty is just lazy, that's all."
"...?"
"Anyway, very few among the officials know much about His Majesty. What do you know about him?"
"Only that he has reigned for a very long time."
The current Emperor had truly lived an exceptionally long life.
So long that no one knew exactly when he had ascended the throne.
Imperial newspapers and various books dared not casually mention the Emperor.
Unlike other historical records, outsiders not of the imperial family couldn't systematically calculate or estimate his reign.
Yet even accounting for that, it was reasonable to guess the Emperor had ruled from the throne for at least a hundred or two hundred years. If the Emperor had changed during that time, no matter how well hidden, there would have been indirect mentions.
"And... I suppose he must be an exceptional mage?"
"Why do you think that?"
"Because he's lived so long?"
While ordinary people could extend their lifespans with various potions and artifacts, there were limits, and the extensions grew increasingly unstable.
Sometimes, lifespan alone could hint at someone's power.
Moreover, seeing how the Skeleton Principal grumbled yet still obeyed the Emperor's words, it was clear the Emperor must be an extraordinary mage.
"That's amusing. You're right on both counts. I didn't expect you to deduce it this way."
'Just what kind of person is he? Is he on the level of a Demon Archduke?'
But if he were a Demon Archduke, Lee Han didn't think he'd be surprised.
He was growing increasingly curious about the Emperor's true identity, given how the Skeleton Principal was acting.
"By any chance... is he some kind of chimera you created, Headmaster?"
"...You're even crazier than the Wardanaz family head...!"
Though no one was listening, the Skeleton Principal was aghast at Lee Han's audacity to propose the "Emperor Chimera Theory" in the palace corridors.
Lee Han sulked.
"You said I'd be surprised, so I was just guessing."
"W-well, yes. It is surprising. I'm surprised, but..."
As they conversed, Lee Han suddenly realized their surroundings had grown eerily quiet.
Though he sensed no presence at all, the palace's scenery remained unchanged.
Countless masterpieces and sculptures. Ceilings and walls adorned with gold and silver.
Stained glass made of amethyst, malachite, and lapis lazuli in place of windows.
Normally, one might assume they had simply ventured deep inside where human presence was scarce, but Lee Han's sharp instincts picked up on another possibility.
"Could this place... be hidden by magic?"
"!"
The Skeleton Principal, who had been chattering away, was startled.
He hadn't expected this brat to notice.
"Correct. Impressive!"
"Haha. I've wandered around Einrogard's Punishment Room enough to know."
"...That's not even comparable. Don't spout nonsense."
This palace within a palace—the Emperor's Deep Palace—was protected by an outer labyrinth, a masterpiece crafted by the Empire's most brilliant mages.
The Emperor, unwilling to waste the lavish palace, had officials work here while ensuring they would lose their way and never reach his residence.
Using brute force would have been far simpler, but the Emperor disliked harming people that way...
So the mages had to pour even more effort into it.
Thanks to that, this outer labyrinth was a breathtaking masterpiece of magic, one that would leave even archmages of the past in awe.
It reacted as if space itself were alive, allowing only those the Emperor wished to meet to pass through.
The transition was seamless, without any sense of dissonance or confusion. Even if two people walked the same corridor, one might suddenly find themselves in the Deep Palace while the other remained wandering the palace halls.
"I had a feeling there was some kind of magic at work."
"You brat..."
The Skeleton Principal looked uncharacteristically pleased.
The greatest repayment a disciple could offer their master was to exceed their master's expectations.
While something like all first-years getting outdoor privileges did surpass expectations, that didn't count...
What truly pleased the Skeleton Principal was precisely the kind of display the Wardanaz boy had just shown.
The kind of thing that made running this godforsaken Einrogard just a tiny bit worthwhile!
"They've all arrived. It would be best for you to meet His Imperial Majesty in person and judge for yourself. But before we enter, let me give you a few warnings. Normally, those granted an audience with His Majesty are placed under a geas—to prevent them from speaking of him outside."
"Like in Einrogard?"
The Skeleton Principal smacked Lee Han's head with his staff.
"Yes. Satisfied?"
"...Yes."
"However, no geas will be placed on you. Just as in Einrogard, the Empire can't afford to spend half a year's budget just to slap a single restriction on you."
"That's an exaggeration."
"It's not."
"......"
"Anyway, the point is—watch your mouth. If you speak of His Majesty outside..."
"What happens?"
Lee Han tensed slightly.
Would he be punished under imperial law for something like lèse-majesté?
"His Majesty would be displeased."
"...Are you joking?"
"I'm not. And remember—if His Majesty is displeased, it'll be far more troublesome than you imagine. Well? Are you ready?"
"...Yes!"
Lee Han took a deep breath and nodded.
Even if the figure before him turned out to be a chimera created by the Skeleton Principal, he was prepared not to flinch—ready to press his lips to its foot and declare, "Your Majesty! Your humble servant has arrived!"
"Good. Let's go in."
The Skeleton Principal opened the door.
The Emperor's quarters were truly bare.
No paintings, no sculptures, no ornaments, no jewels.
The interior resembled a vast cavern more than a palace. If someone had asked Lee Han to spot the difference between this place and Einrogard's Giant's Cavern on the spot, he would have struggled.
Yet Lee Han paid no attention to the stark emptiness of the chamber.
His focus was entirely consumed by the awe-inspiring majesty of the Emperor seated at its center.
An immense form that seemed to fill the entire space.
Wings so majestic one could dare call them more beautiful than any gold.
And eyes—wise and benevolent—slowly blinking as they regarded Lee Han and the Skeleton Principal.
The Emperor was a Gold Dragon.
"......"
Lee Han was too stunned to speak.
The Skeleton Principal, as if understanding, gave his shoulder a light pat and spoke in his stead.
"Your Majesty. By your command, I have brought Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
Osu...
The Emperor's gaze shifted to the Skeleton Principal as he spoke.
It seems the conversations we had half a year ago held little importance to you...
For the first time, Lee Han saw the Skeleton Principal tense.
"A misunderstanding, Your Majesty."
Is your name Osu or Misunderstanding?
"Haha! Your Majesty's sense of humor could make even an ancient mage like myself laugh."
"......"
Lee Han was speechless.
Ancient mage? You're still young. Fresh-faced young. Now look at the dragon. Lived longer than mountains and rivers. Still stuck here when all the other dragons have ascended. All because of a wretched oath.
"You're doing it again, Your Majesty. It was an oath you swore of your own will."
The dragon swore in good faith. Trusted humans... Yet humans deceived and exploited him. Such vile creatures—never seen since the birth of mountains and rivers.
The Skeleton Principal's expression twisted.
Lee Han recognized the emotion in that face.
It was eerily similar to the expression students wore when a professor, drunk, began lamenting his miserable life.
Crudely put—it was the face of "Here we go again..."
"Your Majesty. There's a very young mage listening right now."
Ah... Right. My apologies. Must mind my words before such a fledgling mage. Are you enjoying your time in Einrogard?
"Yes."
Don't lie.
"......"
"......"