Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: 45. The Emperor's Medal (2)
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All the people who were supposed to attend the banquet had arrived.
The horns no longer sounded.
The entrance doors closed.
Yuri now guessed that the emperor was about to appear.
"I wonder what he looks like."
Jared took a sip of the fruit wine on the table and said.
"To think I'd live to see the emperor..."
"It's all thanks to me."
"Is it...?"
"What do you mean 'is it'?"
Jared was a commoner who had risen this far, which made him quite the self-made man.
Yuri patted his back and chuckled.
"You know something?"
"Pardon?"
"This is my first time seeing the emperor too."
The orchestra's music changed.
It shifted from the lively tunes that had been playing to something more grand and solemn.
At the same time, the red curtain covering one side of the banquet hall began to part slowly.
Yuri couldn't tear his eyes away, staring beyond it.
The empire's nobles had already placed hands over their hearts, ready to pay their respects.
Soon, beyond the folds of red fabric, a massive steel eagle came into view.
Its wings were spread wide, larger than most men, and red jewels gleamed in its eye sockets. Beneath the eagle's sharply hooked beak, the emperor lounged reclined.
He surveyed the entire banquet hall with bored eyes.
Because of the red cushions padded on the jade throne, the emperor looked as if he were sitting atop a pool of blood spilled by the eagle.
His presence was so overwhelming that the imperial family members seated beside him went unnoticed.
Everyone in the banquet hall dropped to one knee in unison.
Even the orchestra halted their performance to pay homage.
Silence reigned for a time.
His voice echoed through the hall.
"Rise."
Then, everyone slowly lifted their heads.
The emperor now appeared to be in his forties or fifties. Thanks to meticulous care, his skin was clear, and his eyes brimmed with vitality.
He flicked his hand, and the orchestra resumed playing. It was light and cheerful music.
"Our proud warriors who felled the monsters of the plains—I have prepared this seat to commend your achievements, so enjoy yourselves."
The emperor raised his hand, and a nearby attendant handed him a goblet.
"Drink."
Everyone raised their glasses in unison. Those without glasses hurried to grab one, causing a brief commotion.
Seeing this, the emperor burst into laughter.
"Take it slow, take it slow. Who's chasing you?"
Finally, all glasses were raised.
"To celebrate the Allied Forces' victory."
The emperor downed his drink.
He gulped it all down without pause, so none of the banquet guests dared to lower their glasses.
"Hoo..."
The emperor wiped his mouth with his sleeve and set down his empty goblet.
Everyone else hurriedly emptied theirs to match him, throats working furiously.
Those weak to alcohol ended up coughing, unable to drink more.
"What? Pace yourselves—why copy me and drain it all? Planning to go around saying you got drunk because of me later?"
The emperor said this with a hearty laugh.
Yuri watched him and set down his own emptied glass. He seemed more playful than expected.
Jared whispered.
"He seems nice."
Yuri sighed.
If this emperor were truly as he appeared, why would people fear him, and why would Ragnar despise him?
"Lucky bastard... met a good boss."
"Pardon?"
"You've had it easy thanks to me."
"What...?"
"Be grateful for your luck."
"What are you talking about?"
With that, the banquet truly began.
Some nobles lined up to pay respects to the emperor, but he sent them all away, saying he would summon whom he wished personally.
Thus, the attendees mingled freely without minding the emperor.
Yuri, too, reconnected with his Allied Forces comrades.
"Hey, damn Gain."
"It's Sven Gain."
"Have you been training hard? Haven't seen you slacking lately?"
"When did I ever...?"
He teased Sven before greeting Wolf.
"Sir Wolf. Doing well?"
"Yes. You're as spirited as ever, Your Highness."
He looked Yuri up and down and smiled as if impressed.
"You look splendid. How long have you been in the empire, and you're already more refined than the nobles here."
"Just lucky with my tailor."
As Yuri chatted amiably with Wolf, others took notice.
Even empire nobles approached to speak.
"Brioll and Liberda's two heroes standing together—quite the sight."
"Thank you."
"How do you find the empire?"
"Imperial capital is the best, food is the best. Ekaterina is beautiful. I respect the emperor. Black Knight is cool."
"As expected..."
Giving the answers an imperial wanted, the man beamed and drank more.
Gradually, people gathered.
Ragnar was the Allied Forces' de facto commander, but he sat beside the emperor.
Naturally, the Allied Forces veterans gravitated toward Yuri.
"Sir Jonathan, doing well? You've bulked up."
"Of course. Breathing Bursen's sea air has made me stronger."
"Not just fat?"
"Hahaha, it's from all the sashimi..."
"Sashimi, huh? Never tried it, but they say it's delicious."
"Can't have that, Your Highness. Come to Bursen next time. I'll treat you to a full course."
Gonte of Joachim still remembered his promise to Yuri.
"Your Highness. I hope you've been well."
"Oh, Sir Gonte."
"We've rigorously selected trainees in Joachim. We'll meet there soon."
"Oh, even selection? Looking forward to it. Let's collaborate to build a strong nation."
Yuri had already prepared a training course for Joachim's knights.
Not just swordplay, but guerrilla warfare in mountains: various martial techniques, survival skills, camouflage, and more.
He had recruited famous hunters from everywhere for this.
Joachim would become a dagger at the empire's nape.
"It's been a while."
Then Wayne, the empire's 3rd Knight Order Captain, approached Yuri. His expression was as stoic as during the Allied Forces.
"You'll join the tournament, right?"
"We'll see."
"Many are waiting for you, Your Highness."
"Me? Who?"
"You'll know when you meet them."
"If I don't meet them, I won't."
"His Majesty has put great prizes on this tournament."
Wayne gave Yuri a faint smile.
"I'd like to see you in the tournament, Your Highness."
"Thanks for the anticipation."
Yuri had no intention of joining the tournament. But everyone seemed to assume he would.
He brushed it off vaguely.
With too many people, Yuri stepped back for a sip of wine, trying to ignore the gaze prickling his nape.
"Hernando."
"Yes."
"He's staring at me right now, isn't he?"
"He is."
"What's his expression like?"
"Well..."
Hernando, sipping wine beside Yuri, casually glanced around before turning back.
"Like he's looking fondly at his future son-in-law."
"What nonsense."
The emperor sat on his jade throne, quietly overlooking the banquet hall.
From on high, more could be seen than from below.
The hall's energy was converging on Brioll's third prince.
"He has the power to lead people."
Ivar stroked his chin.
He already knew much about Yuri Brioll.
Ivar asked his second son, who had tangled with the prince before.
"Georg."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"How does he compare to back then?"
"Well..."
Georg chuckled lowly.
"He's grown exactly as I thought. Maybe even better than expected."
"Is that so?"
"I'd like to bring him over."
"Really?"
Ivar chuckled lowly. His second prince was greedy for talent, but rarely so blatant.
Now, he asked the crown prince, Yugen.
"Yugen."
"Yes."
"Seems more popular than you."
"It's a banquet for the Allied Forces. Only natural."
"Should I adopt him outright?"
"Anything but that—only I can handle Your Majesty's temperament."
"True, that's true. Hahaha..."
Ivar burst into laughter. Then he glanced at his quietly seated daughter, Ekaterina.
She had been watching Yuri Brioll and took a sip of wine.
It coincided exactly with Yuri downing his wine.
Did she have feelings for the boy?
But his daughter wasn't that simple.
"Ahem..."
Ivar smirked, struck by a fun idea.
"Summon the Allied Forces representatives."
"Yes, understood."
His attendant conveyed the emperor's call to the banquet hall.
Most Allied Forces commanders were near Brioll's prince, so they gathered quickly.
"Ragnar."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Come here. You're the true hero of the Allied Forces."
"Understood."
Suddenly summoned by the emperor, Yuri moved with the others.
The emperor had descended from his throne and stood there personally.
Not particularly tall, but his eyes burned fiercely.
"You've all come well."
He placed a hand on Ragnar's shoulder as they stood in a line. Ragnar looked far from relaxed compared to the leisurely emperor.
"I am Emperor Ivar."
As he introduced himself, everyone reflexively bowed again.
"Rise. No need for excessive formality."
"We are honored."
"But who are you?"
"Pardon. I am..."
"Didn't you skip the Allied Forces?"
The one receiving Ivar's question was Larsson, the Holy Kingdom's successor.
They had summoned representatives from each nation that joined the Allied Forces, but he had stubbornly insisted on coming instead of Sibylla.
Ivar seemed to have witnessed it.
"I thought your sister was coming."
"S-still, I represent the Holy Kingdom. As the highest in rank, it's only proper..."
"Proper my foot."
Ivar shook his head.
"Your actions lack propriety. Formality elevates the other party, not yourself. You came to show off— what propriety do you speak of?"
"N-no, yes. You're right."
"Go bring your sister. You don't need to come."
"Y-yes..."
Larsson bowed hastily and slunk away dejectedly. Watching his back, Ivar chuckled lowly.
"How about that? I speak well, don't I?"
He tapped his fingers to his lips and snapped his thumb against them.
"I plucked Ibagoo well to become Ivar. Hahaha..."
Everyone was stunned.
Unsure how to react, a brief silence fell.
But Yuri, having dealt with vile superiors as a mercenary in his past life, instinctively knew what to do.
"Hahahahahaha!"
He clapped and burst into laughter.
As Yuri roared, the others caught on and laughed desperately.
Laughter suddenly bloomed in the banquet hall.
Ivar stroked his chin contentedly.
"All good lads who get along. No wonder you communicated well and beat the orcs. Right, Ragnar?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty."
"Just wanted to chat, hmm. What to say..."
Ivar stroked his chin and said.
"Ah, got one. Will all you here join the tournament?"
They glanced at each other.
"This tournament will have an age limit. Don't be too upset if you can't join."
Tournaments aimed to find rising stars, so not all applicants were accepted.
Those already famous or too strong, or too old, were excluded.
But limiting by age from the start was new.
"Hm. Over forty no, up to thirty maybe. That age gap should be fine..."
Ivar pondered deeply.
He soon grinned at them all.
"Alright, thirty and under. Anyway, don't you want the medal the winner gets? You'll have to try hard this time. Because..."
Ivar turned back.
Ekaterina sat where his gaze landed.
Sighs escaped the crowd.
Ekaterina, adorned for the banquet, was so beautiful that even from afar, people lost their wits. Even Yuri couldn't look away for a moment.
Ivar spoke in an amused tone.
"The one who offers the medal to my daughter... I'll give her to him."