Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Hero Drops the Sun - 3
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Emperor Haiphon van Handman.
Among all the emperors of the empire's history, he was one of the top five hailed as a sage ruler.
The fact that he was still in the prime of his life and already earned such praise meant his achievements were held in the highest regard.
Excluding me and Kaild, he was probably the most renowned figure on the continent right now.
Rather than looking down arrogantly from the throne, he received us in an utterly ordinary reception room.
The emperor, handing us tea with a casual air, opened his mouth with a gentle smile.
“This time, it’s not a private audience, is it?”
“Pardon?”
“No matter.”
He waved it off, but I understood exactly what he meant.
‘Ophense did say that. Kaild had met the emperor before.’
[Yeah. Looks like he requested a private meeting back then. Left the other party members outside.]
‘Yeah, that sounds like him.’
The emperor spoke.
“Before we get to other matters, there’s something we need to address first.”
“Please speak.”
“I’m sorry for dumping the empire’s dirty laundry on you until now. Neril Slaine.”
It was so unexpected that we were all left dumbfounded.
Neril tilted her head.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Huh?”
“Ho ho. No need to strain yourself speaking formally to me.”
“No. But you’re the empire’s master, after all. Huh.”
“Heroes and their companions are more noble than anything else. Even more than the empire’s master.”
He continued calmly.
“All descendants of the imperial family are drilled with this from childhood.”
“......”
“That a demon king might descend in their generation. That they might encounter a hero in their generation.”
“Ah.”
“The basic attitude an emperor should take toward a hero and their party is included in the education. In the past, no foolish emperor ever forced etiquette or formal speech on hero parties. Do as you’re comfortable with.”
The emperor smiled plainly and took a sip of his tea.
“Anyway, I’m not sure if it’s much of an excuse, but I hadn’t received any report from Dame about the slander against you. Even so, as the empire’s master, I can’t just let it slide, so I apologize.”
“Ah, um. It’s fine. I’m not the type to cling to my name anyway.”
“I said you can speak casually.”
“But I feel like I qualify for the formal treatment.”
The emperor smiled faintly.
Adwin nodded vigorously and chimed in.
“Mother put the right person on the throne.”
“And you are?”
“Ah. My mother’s name is Mariana Ain.”
“Oh!”
The emperor impulsively grabbed Adwin’s hand.
“To meet like this—I’m truly delighted. How is Mariana doing?”
“Yes. Well......”
For a while, Adwin chattered on about this and that.
I listened closely to their conversation while subtly lifting my gaze upward.
I had already seen the emperor’s Blood Letters at the inauguration ceremony last time.
I hadn’t paid much attention then because I was focused on Patrick’s secret, but this one was noteworthy too.
-Betrayed Betra van Handman and 580 others.
I covered my mouth with my hand.
Otherwise, my twisted smile might show.
[Why so cynical? He seems like a kindhearted neighbor uncle.]
‘The emperor betrayed Betra van Handman.’
[Who’s that?]
‘The previous emperor.’
Trail fell silent, probably piecing it together.
‘I told you the previous emperor died suddenly, right?’
[Yeah. The necromancer you invited to figure out if it was poison or illness was Adwin’s mom. And Mariana summoned the previous emperor’s soul and sorted it out.]
‘Right. The previous emperor’s soul testified that it wasn’t murder by poison—his health had just deteriorated, and he’d hidden it. So this kindhearted uncle smoothly ascended the throne.’
But my Blood Letters said the emperor betrayed the previous emperor.
In other words, even the victim himself—the previous emperor—had been magnificently fooled.
The victim defending the perpetrator.
A chill ran down my spine for the first time in a while.
Trail felt it too, his voice trembling as he spoke.
[Use the Eye of Omniscience?]
‘Yeah. Let’s take a look.’
[Used the Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 3. Can view secrets up to B-rank.]
[Selection condition: ‘Secret between Haiphon van Handman and Betra van Handman.’]
[This secret is C-rank. View it?]
I closely examined the emperor’s secret.
It was exactly as I’d expected—nothing special.
The emperor had poisoned the previous emperor, but the poison was extraordinarily crafted.
So much so that even the victim himself never suspected it.
Even excellent priests or doctors wouldn’t realize it was poison.
The emperor administered it in tiny doses, making it look like death from illness.
‘He even killed off all the subordinates who carried out the orders. Looks like no one knows about this now.’
[Man. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.]
I agreed and decided to check other secrets while I was at it.
Having some dirt on the empire’s master might come in handy later.
‘Let’s see.’
Focusing on the emperor’s Blood Letters, the window soon expanded massively.
The victims’ names were listed out one by one.
The fifth name from the top.
I couldn’t help but be shocked by it.
There it was:
-Serein Magnus.
‘Serein?’
[What? The priestess from Kaild’s party? Why’s her name popping up?]
‘The emperor betrayed Serein somehow.’
[What?]
‘It’s something big enough to make poisoning the previous emperor look minor. Let’s check their secret.’
[Y-Yeah.]
[Used the Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 3. Can view secrets up to B-rank.]
[Selection condition: ‘Secret between Haiphon van Handman and Serein Magnus.’]
[This secret is C-rank. View it?]
The window appeared again.
In the darkness, the emperor sat facing someone.
A lantern illuminated the emperor’s side, while the other remained shrouded in shadow.
I checked the timestamp in the upper right first.
‘That timeframe......’
I mentally calculated, bending my fingers.
It lined up with when Kaild was staying in the capital.
The exact time he’d claimed to have audience with the emperor after getting the fake hero’s sword from Padania’s tomb.
The emperor said,
“There’s been too little progress.”
“No. Do you think this is easy? Our party has a legendary assassin.”
“Bright Death?”
“You have no idea how hawk-like that old man’s eyes are. How’s a blooming flower of a girl like me supposed to slip past Ophense and kill Kaild?”
The hairs on my body stood on end.
That voice was unmistakably Serein’s.
What had Serein just said?
‘Kill Kaild?’
[What’s going on? Looks like the emperor commissioned Serein for an assassination?]
‘Let’s watch a bit more first.’
The emperor nodded and spoke.
“Still, hurry it up. Kaild already has the hero’s sword in hand. And he even figured out it’s fake.”
“So? Heroes are supposed to be like that.”
“No. I don’t believe a demon king will descend. That’s why I don’t consider Kaild a hero either.”
Serein—and I watching the screen—were both stunned.
Serein asked,
“What? Why?”
“No oracle has come down.”
The emperor continued leisurely.
“Imperial family members all receive education on heroes and demon kings. The greatest lesson among them is this: ‘Before the oracle,’ anyone claiming to be a hero must be dealt with for the empire’s peace.”
“......”
“How many frauds throughout history claimed to be heroes on their own? Every one of them stirred people up and plotted rebellions—troublemakers all.”
Serein crossed her arms, pondering deeply before speaking.
“But Kaild has achieved real feats.”
“I’m saying he’s not a hero, not that he lacks ability. That’s what makes him more dangerous. A capable man pulling a scam.”
“......”
“If a demon king truly descends, the oracle will appoint the hero itself. Anyone trying something before the oracle is a fraud.”
“Hmm...... If you’re that certain, why commission me for an assassination instead of just arresting Kaild by imperial decree?”
The emperor answered as if it were obvious.
“Heroes obsess over fame, but I don’t want to sully my name either. Kaild has clouds of followers—can’t just swing the sword recklessly.”
“......”
“This needs to be handled more ‘elegantly.’”
“Having a party member kill their own leader is elegant? Fresh thinking.”
“You owe me a debt.”
Serein burst into laughter then.
But she quickly dropped the smile and spoke lowly.
“I appreciate that. But don’t misunderstand.”
“......”
“I didn’t take your commission because of that debt. What I want from Your Majesty is something else.”
“That matter, right? Don’t worry. Kill Kaild, and I’ll grant your request on my name.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. What assassination skills does a priestess even have?”
“You’re too anomalous to call a priestess. I trust that clever head of yours will come up with something good.”
“Hmph.”
She stood from her seat.
But before leaving, she casually asked as if it just occurred to her.
“My parents—are they well?”
“They’re alive.”
“That’s enough.”
“Want them dead?”
“No!”
Serein shouted her reply.
Then, spotting the emperor’s sly smile, she clicked her tongue.
Regretting she’d shown her weakness.
The emperor said,
“You’re a strange one. I crushed your house completely and stripped your father’s title, and you welcomed it.”
“......”
“Yet you panic at the thought of killing your parents. I don’t know which tune to play.”
“Don’t rile me up. And...... take good care of those two.”
She added sharply,
“Just let them live out their lives like that. My parents.”
The screen cut off there.
Clearing the Eye of Omniscience, I saw Adwin still happily chatting with the emperor.
I sank into thought.
‘Even before my regression, Serein never really liked Kaild.’
But to think she’d taken a secret assassination commission from the emperor.
[She didn’t actually kill Kaild, though?]
‘She couldn’t. No matter how much they call Serein “God’s Monster,” how could she take out Kaild alone?’
[God’s Monster?]
‘Her epithet. Stark contrast to Jenia’s “Proxy of God.”’
[Her divine power was monstrous, sure.]
‘It’s not from that.’
I stopped there, not explaining further.
That wasn’t the point now.
‘Serein wants something from the emperor in return. What could it be?’
[Just ask. Same as always.]
‘Yeah, Eye of Omniscience will tell. But first, hold on.’
Let’s wrap this meeting up.
Facing this black-hearted emperor any longer didn’t feel wise.
Tap tap.
As I drummed my fingers on the chair armrest a few times, Adwin’s conversation ended.
The emperor laughed cheerfully.
“Haha. Good to hear some pleasant news after so long. Mariana’s healthy—nothing could be better. If you get the chance, pass on my regards.”
“I will.”
“Well then. Where were we?”
I shook my head and cut in.
“I think we’ve covered everything, Your Majesty.”
“Hm?”
“We should be on our way now.”
Discomfort flickered across the emperor’s face.
Even hailed as a hero, he probably never expected someone to say they were leaving first in his presence.
Jenia spoke up in confusion.
“Maide. We’ve only talked small talk so far.”
“We’re busy.”
“You haven’t said what with.”
“Anyway.”
I turned to the emperor.
“Your Majesty. I wish you eternal health. And......”
Smiling, I added,
“I hope Your Majesty wishes me the same.”