The pace is too fast
The pace is too fast
"Marriage between an aunt and a nephew.... Is that even possible?"
I feigned ignorance for now.
It's a modern society, but it's a world with an Empire. It's not that I was caught not being blood-related, but maybe the social perception is different?
"Just 500 years ago, marriage between blood-related nobles wasn't considered strange."
Just 500 years...? I was momentarily stunned by the combination of words that felt so distant, then I tried substituting 20-year-old me into 2000-year-old Kalina's perspective.
Ah, I see! For me, that would feel like just 5 years ago!
"However, with today's moral standards, it could become a subject of gossip. That's why I'm pushing for marriages with several people at once, to blur and dilute the public's negative perception of consanguineous marriage."
It seems there's a negative perception of consanguineous marriage here too.
But polygamy?
...Me?
"There is no being in the world with eternal life. Except for High Elves. As a Transcendent, you will be the same."
Kalina lifted her teacup, took a sip, and continued.
"A powerhouse who barely needs to eat, never changes, and keeps getting stronger—it's something to be feared."
Kalina set down her teacup and fell into thought for a moment.
"Saklasi, I want you to be a buffer that breaks down that wall of fear. It's good to see you eating well, too. Like that, I want you, at least, to show the world a human side that reveals a man's desires without holding back. I'm sorry for relying on you so much."
I roughly understood what she meant. Amidst an Emperor and Princesses who don't marry, I would be the one marrying women left and right, revealing my desires.
"So.... uh.... You mean a Casanova image would be familiar to the public? Like, 'Even a Grand Duke and a Transcendent is just a man like us.' But is that really okay? I'm afraid I'll just look like a selfish person."
At my worried question, Kalina smiled for a moment, then soon revealed her honest inner thoughts.
"I'll tell you the truth. Everything before this was just an excuse to create a justification. What I truly want is you, Saklasi."
Huh?
My mind went blank at Kalina's sudden words.
"Uh... so, you mean I should marry... Your Majesty?"
Kalina blinked at my words.
"Hmm? Ahahahaha! Saklasi, you really are.... Just like when I asked if you wanted to become Emperor, you always make me laugh in unexpected ways."
The relaxed atmosphere lasted only a moment before the fifteenth princess, Veronica, who was sitting at the end, interrupted, her face flushed and looking excited.
"Mother! If we get married, Saklasi will definitely not, not leave me alone! If that happens, I, that! The, the secret! thing between a man and a woman! You know, the! The thing about making a baby!"
Kalina tilted her head at Veronica's sudden outburst.
"Does Saklasi like you? Did something happen between you two?"
"He showed me his naked body!"
"What?!"
The first princess, Gelya, slammed the table and stood up.
No, that's not what it was! Princess Veronica~!!
I was flustered and only opening and closing my mouth, when I felt a warm, soft touch on the back of my hand.
It was the hand of Katerina, who was sitting next to me.
"I want to see it too, Saklasi."
"What? Why are you like this too, Katerina! It's a misunderstanding!"
While I was desperately trying to explain to Katerina, Sonya, who had been almost silent and cold in the North, interrupted with her eyes flashing.
"I'm curious if he showed it to Veronica eonni too."
"We aren't even married, and you're telling me to show my body first! How could you do such a shameless thing!!"
Even with Veronica jumping up, Sonya didn't blink an eye and stared straight at me as she spoke.
"It's unfair that only Veronica eonni saw it. I'm curious what Saklasi thinks about fairness. I want to check each other's naked bodies with Saklasi right now."
Aaaah~! Princess Sonya's gaze is scary!
Tap, tap, tap.
Just then, Kalina lightly tapped the table with her index finger and gave a mysterious smile.
"When was that? When he showed you his body? Was it a situation where a child could be conceived?"
"No! It's absolutely not what you're thinking! As you already know, it's because I became naked during the long-distance 'Mist Transformation' travel! And that was just a slight exposure of my upper body, not completely naked!"
At my desperate excuse, Milena, who had been leaning toward me with her hands clasped under her chin, returned to her stiff, soldier-like posture.
Why is everyone so interested in my body? I also, well, Princesses.... No, that's not it.
"I've just turned twenty, so I think marriage talk is too early. Honestly, just this situation alone is very embarrassing."
"Aha! That's right. Yes, I understand. It must be bewildering to have Princesses with such a large age gap suddenly flocking to you. I thought it would be fine since there's no difference in appearance...."
"Yes! I didn't think there was a large age gap at all!"
"You haven't seen my youngest daughter, Clara, yet, have you? She's 23, so the age gap isn't much, and you'll find her much easier to deal with. Her actual personality is cute, too. I asked you to let me know which girl you wanted, Saklasi, but actually, I had already picked Clara as your match. She really wants to see you too, so I was wondering what you think."
Just then, the first princess, Gelya, solemnly raised her hand.
"Mother! May I, Gelya, say a word!"
"Hmm? Yes, go ahead."
"Since Saklasi is still twenty, I believe this is something that should be done slowly over time! So, how about we each spend time with him, and then let him choose for himself?"
"Does that 'we' include me?"
"M, Mother?!"
"I'm joking. Although, if Saklasi wants it.... I might agree?"
"""Mother?"""
As Kalina smiled with her eyes and said something that could be a joke or serious, cries of "Mother?" mixed with surprise erupted from here and there at the table.
However, she continued speaking leisurely, as if she didn't care about the Princesses' reactions.
"There's nothing to worry about regarding having children. Saklasi makes 1 million liters of Elixir at once, so what could be the problem?"
"It's truly an astonishing figure, no matter how many times I hear it."
"100 milliliters of Elixir can make eternal life possible. Saklasi, how much can you make daily?"
"I don't think there's a limit. Your Majesty."
"""!!!!!!"""
At my statement, even the Emperor looked surprised this time.
"Even 1 million liters every day?"
"I.. suppose so?"
"I am a Transcendent too, but a Transcendent really is a being that defies standards. One can achieve eternal life by drinking just 100 milliliters a day. It's also an astronomical sum of money. Anyway, it's yours, so you can do as you please."
"Then! If Saklasi has no limits, every night...!!!"
Please save me, Princesses. I've never even held a woman's hand... Ah, the hand Katerina held just now is the first time in my life.
Anyway, what I mean is, the pace is still too, too fast!
Around the time Saklasi was taking a peaceful rest in the Imperial Palace after finishing the stormy banquet,
"Demon, that guy has gone to the Imperial Palace. Now is our chance!"
Winter nights arrive particularly quickly. The plan of the fanatics and Pitfiend was executed at their hideout in [Busanosk].
Pitfiend, taking advantage of the thick darkness, repeatedly used Shadow Movement to secretly infiltrate the Koopong logistics camp in [Busanosk].
Since Shadow Movement was only possible if space equal to Pitfiend's body size was secured,
the tightly closed [Dormitory] door of the Soi tribe was a major obstacle. He couldn't enter through the gaps in the door.
Pitfiend endlessly watched for an opportunity near the [Dormitory] using Shadow Hiding.
Finally, the moment one Soi tribe member came out and the door opened, Pitfiend slid into the [Dormitory] in an instant.
The Soi tribe member leaving the [Dormitory] looked around as if feeling something strange, but it would have been difficult to notice with the physical abilities of an original non-ability user. However,
'Why is that Soi tribe member carrying a sword?'
Serin, a mid-rank ability user, was different. The physical gap between a non-ability user and a mid-rank ability user means their senses are completely different, too.
"Shadow Movement? A mid-level demon?"
Serin immediately drew her sword and took a defensive posture. For her, a mid-rank ability user, a mid-level demon capable of Shadow Movement—a Devil-class—was a formidable opponent.
Still, if she focused, she wouldn't easily fall to the surprise attack of the demon currently hiding with Shadow Hiding, and she would be able to hold out for a while.
She thought that if Shed or Ariun heard the commotion and joined in, they would resolve the situation.
On the other hand, Pitfiend was going crazy.
'These useless fanatics! Can't they even gather proper information? Wasn't there no information about an ability-user Soi tribe member!'
A non-ability user wouldn't have noticed, but with an ability user, it was a different story. If he tried Shadow Movement again, his current hiding spot would definitely be discovered.
Electricity crackled and sparked over Serin's sword. He couldn't know the exact rank, but judging by this Soi tribe member's appearance, she must be just a beginner-level ability user.
He could continue Shadow Hiding here, but Pitfiend judged it better to finish off this electric-ability-user Soi tribe member in one go.
If a commotion started already, it would be difficult to spread the Azure Slug he had prepared, but it would be a better choice than news reaching the Transcendent.
Seeing two horns suddenly rise from the shadows, Serin was shocked and swung her sword, which was charged with electricity.
However, Pitfiend easily grabbed the blade with his hand and stopped it. When the blade, caught with only a small scratch left on his palm, didn't budge, Serin quickly abandoned her sword and retreated.
Serin was a mid-rank electric ability user, but it was insufficient. Pitfiend's body chased Serin like an arrow.
The moment his sharply honed claws were about to pierce Serin's heart—
"Serin-gong!!!"
Shed, who appeared late, threw his body.
As a dog-beastkin, his physical abilities might be better, but the best he, a fellow mid-rank ability user, could do was barely push Serin aside.
Pu-hwak—!!
With a tearing sound as blood splattered and his body was pierced, Shed's chest was impaled by Pitfiend's hand-blade.