Chapter 45
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 45. 20th Floor (2)
Both the sky and the ground were completely red.
As if announcing that this place was inside the Red Rift, it looked as if all the blood in the world had been poured out.
On a high cliff overlooking that red earth at a glance, a man was precariously sitting on the edge of a rock.
Beside him, a sword that had lost its original color, soaked in blood with its edge completely chipped, was deeply embedded.
The Emperor of the Empire was motionless like a statue.
Rough skin and disheveled hair showing there had been a rough battle.
Above all, no emotion remained on his face.
The dry expression feeling neither joy, sorrow, nor anger looked like only a shell remained after the soul had departed.
But his eyes alone were heterogeneous.
The noble golden color said to be the symbol of the Imperial Family was nowhere to be found, and replacing that spot was an eerie red light in his eyes.
Above the crown of his head, something flickered faintly.
To call it a system window, it was blinking precariously as if broken somewhere.
Below the status window floating unnaturally with broken letters, the Emperor's two red eyes were persistently staring at only one place.
The place he stared at was the entrance of the rift at the far end.
The place he had risked his life to protect, and now the place he was trying to go out of.
—Ding!
"Kill the Emperor?!!"
A scream popped out of my mouth without me realizing.
Instantly my spine went cold.
Where is this place.
Isn't it the Imperial Palace.
I hurriedly covered my mouth with both hands and looked around.
Fortunately, no presence was felt outside the door.
I couldn't tell if the soundproofing was good or if Cassia had dismissed the people, but it was extremely fortunate.
I calmed my pounding heart and glared at the system window again.
"What is it after the Tower's...? It's staticky so I can't see it...."
The most important word was covered by boxes and looked blurry like fog.
I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but the letters showed no sign of becoming clear.
But the rest of the content was too clear.
From what I experienced climbing the Tower so far, the system might be unkind, but it never lied.
Then it means the fact that the Emperor is encroached and that I must kill him to end this situation is an established fact.
"Ha...."
My head started to throb.
I thought while tearing my hair out.
Do I have to tell Cassia this cruel truth?
To a daughter struggling like that to save her father, say your father became a monster so he must be killed?
...I couldn't say it.
I couldn't possibly do it with my own mouth.
I washed my face dryly and exhaled a deep sigh.
"Phew...."
Since the situation has become like this, I couldn't just keep agonizing over it.
I don't know when the last will the Emperor is holding onto will break.
It was obvious that the moment he comes out of the rift, everything he had protected would turn into bubbles.
Thoughts bit their own tails.
The opponent is the Emperor called the strongest swordsman of the Empire.
On top of that, not knowing if he might have become stronger being encroached by something.
I had to prepare thoroughly.
"Should I make my equipment with Orichalcum?"
In the inventory, the Orichalcum ores I mined on the 18th Floor remained amply.
I also have the [Orichalcum Blacksmith's Hammer], so I could probably make equipment far superior to Mithril armor.
But I shook my head.
"No. There is no time."
Although time flows differently inside the [Primeval Workshop].
But it's not stopped.
I didn't know how many days it would take to smelt Orichalcum and make armor.
No matter how cheating the time multiplier is, time outside definitely flows.
What if the Emperor comes out of the rift while I am hammering in the workshop?
What if the Imperial Princess is already dead and the Empire is burning when I come out having made new equipment?
What use is equipment then.
"I have to bet on it with what I have now."
I thought of my equipment and the weapon I made for Cassia this time.
With this much, it's worth trying enough.
No, I must do it.
I clenched my fists tightly.
There was no time to delay.
Heading to the rift right now was the best.
I moved heavy steps, opened the room door, and went out.
At the end of the hallway, Cassia was already waiting.
She felt the presence, turned her head, then was startled seeing my face and approached.
"Si-woo... Why is your complexion like that? Are you sick anywhere?"
Her eyes were filled with worry.
I forced the corners of my mouth up and smiled.
My mouth was bitter.
The Imperial Princess before my eyes now came all this way with the single thought of saving her father.
How could I say to her, 'Your father is already finished and he must be killed'.
I swallowed down the truth that rose to my throat.
"No. It's just... probably because I tossed and turned in my sleep. I'm fine."
"Tossed and turned... As expected, you overdid it. I will call a physician so rest a bit more."
"No."
I firmly shook my head.
"I must go now."
"...Now you mean? You just woke up, shouldn't you rest a little more?"
"There is no time. I have to go right now."
Cassia looked quietly into my eyes.
Did she read the anxiety and fretfulness contained in my eyes.
She didn't ask anymore and quietly nodded.
"......Understood. If you say so, there must be a reason. I will prepare for departure immediately."
The road heading to the rift was heavy.
Only the sound of horse hooves broke the silence.
I put strength in the hand holding the reins and kept my mouth tightly shut.
In my head, worst-case scenarios continued endlessly.
What will Cassia's reaction be when we face the Emperor.
Will she resent me when I cut the Emperor down.
All sorts of distracting thoughts tormented me.
As my complexion became increasingly paler, Cassia kept glancing at me.
She seemed to think I was tense because of the fear of the unknown space called the Red Rift.
Cassia cleared her throat, cleared her voice, and opened her mouth with a deliberately solemn voice.
"In the past, my mother said these words to me."
She looked at me while riding side by side.
"It's not that a strong person steps forward, but the person who steps forward is strong."
Her gaze pulled my shaking pupils.
She caressed the [Rapier] strapped to her waist and continued her words.
"Because of that, she said the bloodline of the Imperial Family must stand in front of anyone else. Although my martial power might be weaker than yours... this time I will stand in front of you."
Her eyes were serious.
Thinking the person who protected her was trembling in fear, this time she was worrying that she would protect me.
I blankly stared at her, then burst into a chuckle.
"Really...."
Who is worrying about whom.
But her misunderstanding rather warmed my heart.
How long has it been since I received such worry and comfort from someone.
I always had to agonize alone, decide alone, and bear it alone.
But right now, next to me was a person willing to step forward for me.
It wasn't a bad feeling.
Thanks to that, the distracting thoughts filling my head scattered a bit.
I loosened my stiffened expression and asked lightly.
"Aren't you scared, Princess?"
"Why wouldn't I be. But having you by my side makes me feel reassured."
She smiled bravely.
We rode side by side and talked about this and that.
Rather than heavy silence, light chatter seemed to help relieve the tension.
"Where I lived, there is a lump of scrap metal that runs with the power of 300 horses."
"3... 300 horses? Does that make sense? Are you saying they tie 300 horses to one carriage?"
"No. The carriage itself moves on its own."
"Huh... Oh my. Is that possible without magic?"
She sparkled her eyes like a child hearing a fascinating story.
While at it, I brought up the story of airplanes too.
"There's also a giant lump of scrap metal flying in the sky. That one carries hundreds of people and flies above the clouds."
"It's not a dragon and a piece of iron flies in the sky... The world you live in is truly bizarre."
She shook her head as if she couldn't imagine it.
Then she asked as if she suddenly thought of something.
"Is there anything more delicious than the soup you made there too?"
"Soup? Hey, that doesn't even compare. There's a food called 'Chicken'..."
"Chi... ken? What kind of dish is that?"
"You fry chicken in oil so it's crispy and the inner flesh is moist, and if you apply sweet and spicy sauce there... Ugh... My mouth is watering just imagining it."
As I smacked my lips, Cassia burned with a strange competitive spirit and asked.
"Are you saying that is really more delicious than the Imperial dishes I've eaten?"
"I guarantee, if the Princess tries one bite too, you'll forget about face and eat picking it up with your hands, you know?"
"Hmph! What severe exaggeration. But... if there is a chance someday, I would definitely like to try eating it once."
"If there is a chance, I'd like to treat you."
Sharing small talk, before I knew it, the heavy atmosphere became much lighter.
Seeing her smiling face, my mind felt a bit at ease.
Right, whatever the result may be, let's focus on this moment right now.
Because we had already swept away the monsters blocking the path while coming up to the 19th Floor, the road to the rift was unimpeded.
Not long after, a giant red pillar began to be seen beyond the horizon.
The closer we got, the more my breath choked.
We finally arrived.
Facing it in reality, the overwhelming feeling was no joke.
The size was like a giant building.
No, it was so giant the height couldn't be estimated.
The empty space was cracked open as if a giant glass called space was struck down with a hammer.
The crevices of the broken space were pitch-black darkness, and from those edges, an ominous red energy was flowing out stickily.
Even the surrounding atmosphere was dyed red, and every time I breathed, the fishy smell of blood entered my lungs.
"This is... the Red Rift...."
Cassia couldn't continue her words and covered her mouth.
Her body was trembling minutely.
Her bravery from earlier was nowhere to be found, and an instinctive fear seemed to press down on her.
I swallowed my dry saliva too.
The Emperor is inside this.
And the cruel fate of having to kill him awaits.
I looked at Cassia.
She too faced me with trembling eyes.
We stared into each other's eyes without a word.
I nodded.
She too bit her lip tightly and nodded resolutely.
"Let's go."
She took the lead.
Just like her mother's words, it was the back figure of a strong person holding fear and stepping forward.
Following behind her, I stepped into the gap of the broken space, the red abyss.