The False Emperor
Eckhart, having received his promise, gave Raven the address of his lodging before quietly taking his leave.
When Raven tried to bring Didi inside after retrieving him from the gatekeeper, the child clung to him with an anxious expression, but since Raven had already been exposed to the public eye, he simply told them to leave it be, saying he would take the boy in himself.
“Then I shall see you later, Captain!”
Raven watched Eckhart’s retreating figure for a moment as the man presented his identification and entered the building, then turned his head. It was time to wrap things up.
Unable to cough up blood openly in such a crowded place, Raven kept the Guardian Spirit materialized and fixed his gaze on the soldiers who had gathered earlier and were now waiting quietly. They flinched briefly under his green gaze before slowly approaching.
“Have you finished your business?”
“I have.”
“We offer our deepest gratitude for closing the Gate and protecting the people. If I may ask, what is your name?”
“……Just call me Raven.”
“Raven, is it. As expected, a name I’ve never heard before. What is your nationality?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Ah, so that’s why……”
The soldier, who seemed to have pieced together a reason for the unknown name, bowed deeply with a look of understanding. A mix of expected and unexpected words followed.
“With your status, the Empire can easily provide you with an identity. However, before that, His Majesty, who has heard the news, wishes to invite the hero who protected the imperial citizens to the Imperial Palace. Would it be acceptable to escort you there?”
……He had known they were palace soldiers, but to think they had been sent directly by the Emperor.
Of course, it wasn’t incomprehensible that an unknown talent of exceptional skill had appeared, but…… the timing was far too coincidental, leaving an unpleasant feeling.
‘They arrived right after I came out of the Gate.’
Even though the distance from the Imperial Palace to this location was considerable, they had arrived almost simultaneously with the Gate response team. Moving at a pace similar to those who were always on standby made it seem as though they had departed with prior knowledge.
Moreover, as if they already knew something, they hadn’t even asked about the Guardian Spirit standing openly beside him. The Guardian Spirit who had slaughtered monsters outside the Gate would surely be a coveted talent as well.
Instead, they treated him as if he were nonexistent, or merely an accessory.
‘As expected, something’s suspicious.’
The blatant nature of it only made it more suspicious.
Under normal circumstances, curiosity might have driven him to go, but this time, his instincts felt strangely off.
Raven, who had been feigning thought while suppressing his reluctant expression, gestured with his chin toward Didi in his arms.
“It’s an honor, but I have things to do. I made a promise to this kid.”
“Ah, I’m fine!”
“……”
“I wouldn’t want to be an obstacle to you, Raven!”
He had been so perceptive when being troublesome, so why was he acting like this now?
Meanwhile, the palace soldier, who had been observing the situation, quickly interjected.
“If you have a companion, they may come along as well.”
“……Are you sure?”
Something still felt off. He really didn’t want to go.
Hoping this time they would refuse, Raven asked Didi once more.
“Yes, it’s fine. Visiting the Imperial Palace would be an honor for me as well.”
“……Wasn’t it urgent?”
“How could one refuse the honor of receiving His Majesty’s invitation?”
“……”
Thanks to Didi, whose sense of timing had suddenly abandoned him, Raven had no choice but to accept the invitation.
∗ ∗ ∗
“From here, I shall guide you.”
As if confirming that the Emperor had indeed issued the order, a chamberlain was waiting at the palace entrance to greet them.
Whoever it was, they had planned this thoroughly. With an indifferent expression, Raven followed the chamberlain across the palace corridors, Didi perched on one arm.
“What is a crow doing in this sacred Imperial Palace!”
“Caw!”
“Hey, shoo already!”
“Caw! Caw!!”
Flap!
……It sounded like a gardener outside was wrestling with a crow, but it probably had nothing to do with him. He would ignore it. He thought he caught a glimpse of black feathers fluttering outside the window, but it was likely just his imagination.
After briefly forcing himself not to look out the window, Raven let out a deep sigh.
……Nothing to do with him, his ass.
‘If he was going to do this, he should’ve just said he was part of the group……’
He didn’t know what to make of Dan’s stubborn persistence. There had been a chance to accompany him, after all.
“Might that person staring intently over there also be part of your group……”
At that question, Raven shook his head vigorously with a displeased expression and sent the Sculpted Soul away. He had chosen the troublesome path over the easy one.
‘Well… no matter how stubborn he is, he’s the only one who’ll suffer for it.’
Since it wasn’t his loss, it was fine.
Stopping his thoughts, Raven lifted his head at the chamberlain’s voice announcing their arrival and took in the massive, ornate doors. The chamberlain continued with instructions on the etiquette required when meeting the Emperor, but Raven let it go in one ear and out the other.
“Please straighten your attire before entering. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“……Ah, do you have a handkerchief?”
Unable to find a suitable moment, he had brought the Guardian Spirit all the way here.
This wasn’t as crowded as before, so it should be fine. Setting Didi down, Raven extended his hand toward the chamberlain.
However, the one who placed a handkerchief on his palm was not an adult, but a small hand with delicate, fern-like fingers.
“……”
Raven glanced briefly at Didi, who had offered his own handkerchief, then raised his hand and pressed the cloth to his mouth.
Nodding toward the Guardian Spirit in that state, the signaled figure immediately departed. Without time to worry about the palace staff who were startled by the sudden disappearance, blood surged up.
‘……There’s a lot.’
He had kept the summoning active for a long time. If he had delayed even a little longer, an emergency settlement would have begun.
As if exceeding the handkerchief’s absorption limit, red liquid spilled over. Feeling the sticky sensation soaking his sleeve, Raven furrowed his brows slightly.
He should have rolled up his sleeves if he had known it would come to this.
“……That’s enough.”
Since his clothes were black, it probably wouldn’t show much. At least there was that.
After wiping his mouth and wet hands, he tucked the handkerchief away and nodded. The chamberlain, who had been watching him with a serious expression, cautiously spoke.
“Do you perhaps have some chronic illness……”
“It’s not contagious, so there’s no need to worry.”
“……It would be best to see a physician after the audience. I shall make preparations in advance.”
“If that puts you at ease.”
Shrugging his shoulders roughly, Raven gave a look as if asking why they weren’t announcing him yet. Only then did the news of the guest’s visit reach the Emperor beyond the thick doors.
Permission was granted, and the doors opened.
‘……He’s young.’
Raven carefully observed the young Emperor seated on the throne.
Bright, intelligent eyes, yet a demeanor that seemed intimidated, and baby fat that hadn’t yet faded.
‘Even generously, he can’t be over twenty.’
Becoming Emperor at that age meant there had been some issue with the previous Emperor. In that case, he would be busy enough just stabilizing the inner court. It made sense that the slave traders had targeted imperial citizens.
Just as Raven was about to give a perfunctory bow—
Step.
Suddenly, Didi, who had been standing beside him, began walking forward.
“……!”
The green eyes that followed the steady steps sank heavily, as if grasping the situation.
In this bizarre scene where no one intervened despite the unexpected turn, he couldn’t help but realize.
‘I came all this way clinging to that 1% chance it wasn’t true, but as expected.’
The 99% suspicion had hit the mark.
Step. Step.
With each step, ‘Didi’s’ height increased. The bones that seemed easily breakable thickened, shoulders broadened, and hair gradually lost its color, turning white. The appearance of a young girl transformed into that of a mature, sturdy man.
Ha, Raven let out a sigh that could have been either a laugh or an exhale as he watched the Emperor rise from the throne and step aside.
‘……Now I understand why the Emperor seemed intimidated.’
Of course he would be, with that guy around.
What human could possibly stand against a Half-God?
He also clearly understood why the slave traders had reached out to imperial citizens. With the Emperor intimidated and that guy having no intention of looking after the Empire, it was only natural.
‘The Gate opening at just the right time in front of the city gates, and the palace sending someone so soon after I emerged—it was all that guy’s doing.’
He had the ability for it.
‘The fact that none of the palace staff asked about the Guardian Spirit is also because that guy warned them in advance.’
Since he knew the relationship between Raven and his Guardian Spirit.
Didi… no, Deciever, once Raven’s precious youngest disciple, sat upon the throne. Crossing his legs and resting an elbow on the armrest, he smoothly raised the corner of his mouth in a smile and greeted him as usual.
“Now I can properly greet you.”
Raven took a step toward him.
“It’s been a long time, Father.”
……Now he understood the identity of the kidnappers who had been dead at the time. They must have been high-quality personnel extracted from nearby noble houses by abusing the ‘Emperor’s authority’ stolen from the Emperor.
Killing them by copying his technique was purely to send a message. His cherished disciple had found him. It was a message sent with playful intent, whether he recognized it or not, knowing he would eventually understand.
The fact that so many wanted posters could be gathered without his knowledge also made sense if the other party was assumed to be Deciever. Whether using the stolen personnel or moving directly, that guy could have done it easily.
The deliberate, nonsensical behavior full of dissonance was to give a hint that he was Deciever. Given his twisted personality, that was only natural.
“……I see.”
A sneer lingered in the space he passed through. The soldiers tried to block him, but when Deciever raised his hand, they immediately retreated.
Thanks to that, Raven ascended the steps without interference and stood before Deciever, looking down at the one who was no longer a disciple or anything else, and spat out his words.
“In ten years, it seems you’ve even replaced your own bloodline.”
[Guardian Spirit ??? quietly sighs.]
In the past, fearing being forgotten and betrayed, he had begun picking up children to raise himself. Though under the pretext of ‘disciples,’ it was ultimately self-consolation born from profound loneliness.
Yet he had still been betrayed.
“You want to extend your lifespan ‘until revenge is complete’? What exactly is the standard for completing revenge?”
“Killing the Half-God behind the Association that caused the Gate incident.”
A mere human could never create a portal connecting the Abyss and the Surface. There had to be the intervention of a half-god.
The Half-God who was the cause and origin of the Gates.
……And yet.
“Me.”
Sending him into a deadly situation. Taking his eyes from him. Devouring part of his soul.
How should he deal with this brat who had shamelessly wormed his way in as a disciple and tried to shatter even his mind?
Raven bared his teeth savagely and spoke.
“Don’t call me Father.”
Who’s your father?
His voice, filled with seething hatred as if he would drag the other to the ends of hell, echoed chillingly.
Those watching the situation flinched at the vivid emotion that words could not fully express, but Deciever, the person in question, calmly reached out toward him with a composed face.
“It hurts my feelings when you say that.”
As if savoring the face he hadn’t seen in a long time, he seemed to caress Raven’s cheek right in front of him, then grabbed his neck and slammed him onto the throne. Thud! In an instant, their positions were reversed.
Madness gleamed in the eyes looking down at Raven.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
As expected of someone who wasn’t anyone’s father, the throne suited him well.
Suddenly seated on the throne with his neck pressed between the backrest and a brutal grip, Raven silently glared at his opponent before raising his foot.
Thud!
With a powerful kick to the abdomen, Deciever was sent flying.
Without even time to catch his breath, Raven immediately charged forward, grabbed that shameless face, and slammed it into the floor. He didn’t care about the many eyes watching or the dignity of Deciever, whose face was crushed as he slid down the few steps.
Leaving the soldiers hesitating whether to rush in or not, a mocking voice filled the audience chamber.
“If your real father heard that, he’d be hurt.”
“……”
“Calling someone who isn’t even related ‘Father.’ You’ve become quite the unfilial son while I wasn’t looking.”
Damn it. His hands were trembling.
The one he was directly touching wouldn’t miss that.
As expected, sensing the tremor in the hand pressing down on his face, Deciever grinned.
“No, Father. I’m calling you correctly.”
“……I’ve never gone all the way in any relationship with another person to begin with.”
The sight of him grinding his teeth to hide his agitation every time he was called Father was clear. The hand on his face also gained strength, but Deciever merely smiled as if unaffected.
“Well, if you insist on denying it…… Then, Master.”
A hand that had crept up grabbed Raven’s wrist.
The mouth that had been about to say not to call him Master either, that he was no longer his disciple, reflexively closed. Raven could see the sharp, glowing eyes looking at him through the gaps between his fingers.
“Why did you do it?”