Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: The Empress's Summons
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A few days ago, Tia—who had thrown a wild celebration party with me and caused a bit of trouble—returned to the dwarf city.
She said it was to conduct research for mass production.
Meiko tilted her head, puzzled by Tia's beet-red face, but it seemed she had no idea that Tia and I had gotten intimate while drunk.
Of course not.
Meiko still thought of Tia as a young boy dwarf.
The day after Tia left.
"...Disciple, who are all these people?"
"...Beats me. I have no clue."
Meiko and I stared at the group that had shown up at our shop.
They wore golden armor, gripping shields emblazoned with the imperial crest, hands resting on the swords at their waists.
Anyone could tell they served the imperial family.
Unlike the Empire's 1st Knight Order, which could intervene in any incident across the empire, these were the Imperial Guard—dedicated solely to protecting the Imperial Palace and the imperial family.
They fell just short of the Empire's 1st Knight Order, the pinnacle of military might, but they were still among the top three elite forces in the empire.
The appearance of the Imperial Guard meant one thing: involvement with the Emperor. They moved only at her command.
Meiko and I gawked blankly at the sudden visitors.
"Are you Sir Max, the illusion mage?"
The knight in the most ornate armor at the front addressed me.
"Yes. What brings you here?"
"Her Majesty the Empress summons you."
"......"
"......"
Stunned by the unbelievable words, I glanced at Meiko.
"Master, what did this gentleman just say? I must have misheard."
"I was thinking the same. Maybe I've been too buried in research and started hearing things."
The guard captain spoke again as we exchanged looks.
"Her Majesty the Empress seeks the illusion mage Max. Bring one of the mana batteries you presented at the conference and come to the palace. This is no joke—prepare to enter the palace at once."
It was real.
I'd thought it was some April Fool's prank.
Why would the Empress suddenly summon me out of the blue? But as soon as I heard about the mana battery, I recalled its potential future value.
*It's not something they'd just let slide.*
Even if mass production was impossible, it was an item capable of sparking a mana energy revolution. No wonder it had reached the Empress's ears.
Meiko's eyebrows furrowed slightly at the news, her eyes growing misty.
"Our Max has finally made it big. Summoned by Her Majesty..."
She sniffled, patting my back.
"I'm so proud. I knew you could do it. That thing you presented at the conference was incredible."
With a face on the verge of tears, she gushed about how deeply touched she felt. I leaned in and whispered to her.
"You never know. She might suddenly decide to punish the illusion mage for mocking the empire."
"Th-that can't happen!"
Meiko's rising sobs vanished instantly.
"Then hold that emotional outburst until after Her Majesty gives the reward."
"Was I getting ahead of myself?"
"A little."
Meiko gave an awkward smile.
"Ahem. Attend to the imperial command and prepare to enter the palace to answer Her Majesty's summons."
The guard captain spoke impassively, watching our little skit.
*He's even more stoic than I expected.*
"Understood."
"We'll escort you to the palace."
Being escorted to the Imperial Palace by the Imperial Guard.
It was treatment I never could have imagined when I first became an illusion mage.
"Sniff! This is the pinnacle for an illusion mage."
Meiko seemed overwhelmed just by the fact of the imperial invitation, tearing up again.
"Then I'll be off."
"Right. I should prepare a celebration party."
"We just had one. Too many will spoil you."
"Who, you?"
"You, Master."
"This brat holds nothing back from his master!"
Laughing at Meiko's playful bouncing, I headed to the palace.
The grand throne room.
The empire's wealthiest space, where the one possessing absolute riches and power resided and conducted affairs.
I gazed up at the twelve towering steps in the vast hall.
The white marble emitted a faint mana glow simply by existing, proving it was no ordinary material.
*I can feel mana of different auras from each step.*
As if spells were layered on every level.
My eyes rose to the throne standing alone at the top.
On the ornate golden throne sat the Empress, with her red hair and golden eyes.
I recalled what the butler and guard captain had told me before entering.
-Kneel and greet her, then do not rise until Her Majesty permits it. Ascending the steps is forbidden.
I dropped to one knee before the Empress.
"I behold the Sun of the Empire."
"Are you Max?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You're more ordinary-looking than I expected."
"Pardon?"
"Those who create great inventions are usually eccentric or strikingly unique in appearance. But you..."
She appraised me like an object.
"You're more ordinary than I thought."
Ordinary.
It had been a while since I'd heard that.
"Perhaps I set my expectations too high. I thought you'd have something special."
As I faltered at the sudden critique of my looks, the Empress continued.
"Enough of that. What does appearance matter? For a mage, it's skill that counts."
"Indeed."
"Can I see that mana battery? I'm intrigued by this mana energy revolution you mentioned."
"Here it is."
As I presented the battery, a spark of interest lit her eyes.
"Oh? It truly prevents mana leakage for near-permanent energy preservation. You've brought it all this way, yet I sense no mana presence."
Her eyes gleamed with admiration.
"May I try it?"
"Of course."
At my response, the Empress rose from the throne.
She descended slowly with elegant poise, her heels clicking.
The closer she came, the more her innate grace and nobility radiated.
Click, click. Reaching the base of the steps, she placed her hand on the mana battery I held.
And in that moment—
Whoosh!
Golden light erupted from her body, resonating with the mana battery.
It felt as if the mana inside the battery was being absorbed into her.
"Oh?"
The Empress's face lit up as she touched the battery.
She drew out the stored mana for a long while, not releasing her hand until it was fully depleted.
"It truly has several times the efficiency. The capacity is immense too. Now I see why the conference was in such an uproar."
Her lips curved upward after verification.
Seeing the faint golden glow emanating from the Empress, I asked.
"Is that Your Majesty's magic?"
"Something like it. To explain, it's a power handed down through the imperial family."
It was an extraordinary force.
It felt absolute, beyond ordinary magic.
Neutralizing that power seemed utterly impossible.
Of course, it wasn't overwhelmingly strong.
But it could dominate anyone in her immediate presence.
"You possess a rare talent. Combining objects of opposing natures with overwhelming mana volume—a structure no other mage could imitate."
"You saw through it?"
"Of course. What do you take me for? I can discern any structure just by sensing its power."
*Amazing.*
*Is this the Empress's omniscience?*
I gazed at her in admiration as she saw through the battery's design at a glance.
The Empress eyed the battery with keen interest.
"If only this could be mass-produced, our empire could usher in a new era of innovation."
"It's no easy task."
"Naturally. It wouldn't be."
After contemplating the battery for a moment, she said.
"I must allocate additional funding to the Illusion School. This is too valuable to pass up."
She turned to me after speaking.
"Do you plan to offer this to the Emperor? I'll pay a fitting price."
It was an offer impossible to refuse.
What would happen if I did?
Absolutely not.
I nodded.
"Of course. That's why I brought it."
"Heh, thank you. I'll ensure the reward is substantial."
A brief silence.
I waited for her dismissal, assuming it was time to leave.
However.
"Truth be told, I didn't summon you solely for this battery."
I looked up involuntarily at the Empress's words.
*No way.*
"I've heard rumors. That the hero and 1st Knight Order Captain Yuris are regulars at your shop."
"......"
Here it comes.
Of course.
How could she not know?
She's the Empress of the Empire, after all.
"Th-that's..."
How should I explain it?
Running a shop shunned by the church and something nobles would never admit visiting publicly.
Showing hyper-realistic adult videos through illusions.
How to justify that to the Empress?
As I racked my brain—
"I've heard you're an excellent counselor. That you resolved their troubles most refreshingly?"
I met the Empress's gaze.
She smiled at me.
Does she not know the shop's true nature?
Impossible.
That smile carried no lighthearted meaning—I could feel it.
What should I say?