Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: 17 Threshold Breakthrough
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“Ahem. In the name of the Emperor, I hereby proclaim that from this moment forward, the Empire’s fifth prince, Claude, need not kneel in advance at the Emperor’s summons.”
It was an extraordinary privilege granted only to the Crown Prince among all the imperial family.
Of course, from my perspective, I’d experienced it multiple times in previous regressions, so it wasn’t anything new. The ministers behind me, however, couldn’t help but murmur in surprise.
“Ooh…! What immense honor….”
“Your Majesty, surely that doesn’t mean…?”
“The Crown Prince position…?”
“That doesn’t mean I’m making Claude the Crown Prince. I’m merely granting him the treatment he deserves for his contributions to the Empire. Don’t you all agree?”
“Indeed. Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Let it be as Your Majesty wills.”
They were surprised, but not a single minister opposed it. The Emperor still seemed physically frail, nodding slowly with labored movements.
“Quite right. Claude, come closer.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I knelt once more right before the Emperor. He reached out and lightly patted my shoulder.
“Didn’t I say no kneeling? Come on, stand up, Claude.”
“How could I stand while Your Majesty sits upon the throne…?”
“Hey now, will you not heed my words?”
“Understood.”
I cautiously rose. Of course, even standing, there wasn’t much height difference with the Emperor seated on the throne.
“I’d love to stand and greet you properly, but my legs aren’t cooperating yet, so bear with me.”
“I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty.”
“You’ve truly grown so eloquent. In just a few years, that tiny, bloody lump of a child…”
The Emperor reached out and stroked my face.
He had always adored me—or rather, the Claude before I became him.
How much more affectionate and proud must he feel now that I’d saved him from the brink of death in a coma?
“I heard the details from the Minister of Internal Affairs before you entered the palace. About your exploits in the meantime.”
“Your Majesty, I merely…”
“You wandered wildly at first, acting like a wastrel, they say? Heh heh. I understand. With your father suddenly gone, it must have been hard to bear the void.”
No, that’s not it.
Claude had fallen apart because of the otherworldly poison Jess fed him.
But the Emperor interpreting it this way was actually better for me. It made him see me as a devoted son who cherished him deeply.
“Yet you pulled yourself together afterward. Truly admirable. Especially holding off the Death Corps alone at Elstone Count—unbelievable. You’re no priest, yet you wield holy magic? If it’s alright, could you show me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I placed my hand on the back of his and gently cast holy magic.
“Ooh…”
“That was the holy magic Bless. It temporarily restores stamina.”
“I see. I know it well. I really feel the energy surging… Oh…”
The Emperor suddenly grabbed my hand with both of his, tears streaming down his face.
“At first, I couldn’t believe it. But it seems the five gods have truly blessed you for the sake of this empire.”
“This is all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”
“What grace have I given? Good heavens. And then you even dealt with the sea serpents of Yoton Bay? That was a problem even I couldn’t solve before collapsing.”
“It wasn’t just me, Your Majesty. I barely managed it with the temple’s help.”
“So humble. Wasn’t it you who handled most of the sea serpents? The Minister of Internal Affairs wouldn’t falsify reports, would he?”
“That’s… not the case, Your Majesty.”
Valveni must have lavishly praised me in his report. When I saved the Emperor before, the reaction hadn’t been this strong.
“Heh heh. And you even extracted a loyalty oath from the ogre in the Jairut Mountains. While I was down, it seems you resolved every worry plaguing the Empire.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Truly splendid, Claude. As for the Berit issue… That was largely my fault.”
The Emperor let out a small sigh and shook his head.
“I knew it was wrong but lacked the courage to change the longstanding traditions.”
“…”
“I heard how it happened. Refugees fleeing Berit’s famine sought refuge at your estate?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“So you rushed to the lord, Talisman Count… I put you through a lot. From now on, I’ll abolish all discriminatory policies against Berit one by one.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Hey, didn’t I say no kneeling before me?”
The Emperor extended his arm and lifted my body as I started to kneel.
This guy, just waking up after years, has more strength than expected? Maybe because I detoxified him at the fastest timing across all regressions?
“I’ll revoke the position I granted Talisman. He’ll have complaints, but I’ll summon him separately and reprimand him properly, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“And considering your achievements thus far, I grant you lordship over Berit.”
Hm?
Granting me Berit’s territory right now? That never happened before.
“To rebuild the ruined territory, I’ll immediately provide 20,000 gold coins in reconstruction funds, and exempt you from taxes for the next ten years.”
“Your benevolence… Your boundless benevolence overwhelms me, Your Majesty.”
“Of course, you can’t do it alone. I’ll dispatch additional administrators in sufficient numbers. Skilled ones, so it won’t burden you.”
In the end, it means leave the work to the administrators, sit back as lord, and enjoy the honey. But I have no intention of neglecting the territory I’ve received.
I bowed deeply, responding to the Emperor’s generosity.
“I shall devote myself fully to revitalizing the territory.”
“No need to overdo it. Heh heh, such a reliable sight… How proud Leylin would have been to see you like this.”
The Emperor wiped his tears and nodded. Come to think of it, his love for the late Empress was legendary.
“Anyway, don’t let the territory weigh on you. Don’t you have other duties besides?”
“What other duties do you mean, Your Majesty?”
“I appoint you as Inspector. You’ll have authority to roam the Empire freely and deal with problems on the spot.”
This was expected. Every time I saved the Emperor, I received the same reward.
And right about now, one minister would step forward in protest.
“Your Majesty, isn’t that too excessive?”
As predicted, Military Minister Hops stepped forward, kneeling and pleading.
“‘On the spot’ means authority over executions. I boldly submit that if, heaven forbid, Prince Claude harbors other intentions, it could pose a grave threat to the Empire.”
The statement was intensely worded, implying I might commit treason.
But this was a prearranged, formal objection with the Emperor.
“Unnecessary worry. If Claude had other intentions, would he have gone through such ordeals to revive me? He even entered Emperor Road’s sewers himself, suffering for days to save me?”
The Emperor dismissed it with a wave, as if it were absurd. Hops immediately bowed his head, withdrawing his opposition.
“My thinking was shortsighted, Your Majesty. Let it be as Your Majesty wills.”
With the Military Minister striking first, the atmosphere made it hard for other ministers to voice dissent belatedly. The Emperor was cunning in this regard.
Satisfied, the Emperor turned to me and nodded.
“I trust you, Claude. You’ll do what’s necessary for the Empire’s safety.”
“I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty’s trust.”
“Oh, and you formed a knight order? I’ll send someone separately for support, so wait a bit.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Come visit White Dragon Palace later, my son. I want to talk quietly without the ministers.”
The last part was a whisper for my ears only. I nodded back with the most innocent smile I could muster.
One matter resolved smoothly, time to handle the other.
* * *
Silverwood Palace.
One of the nine detached palaces scattered around the imperial palace, residence of the Crown Prince, heir to the throne.
But the moment I entered the garden leading to Silverwood Palace—
“Claude!”
A tall man charged like lightning and hoisted me up. Wait, what’s this—some vervet monkey lifting its baby lion?
“Crown Prince, please put me down.”
“Crown Prince my foot! Don’t be so formal between us! Just call me brother! Man, you’re still so tiny after all this time! Should’ve eaten better!”
Crown Prince Adrix crushed me in a hug, rubbing his face against mine wildly. Ack, isn’t this affection a bit too aggressive?
“Thanks to you, I escaped that horrific pain! Unbelievable! That filthy scourge is completely gone!”
“I’m glad you’ve recovered safely, brother.”
“Glad? You bet! Waaaaah!”
Adrix sobbed torrents of tears, squeezing harder with his arms. Gah, am I going to die?
“Brother, my ribs feel like they’ll snap. Please let go.”
“Ughh… Huh? Oh, sorry, Claude.”
Adrix quickly released me and wiped his tears.
“I got too excited… Anyway, good to see you. Look at this! My flesh was rotting down to the bone, but this morning, it’s perfectly back to normal!”
Adrix thrust out his finger, fresh skin grown over. Compared to four days ago when his whole body was decaying, this was a total rebirth.
“Glad it seems fully healed. Congratulations, brother.”
“Thanks, little bro! It’s all thanks to that core elixir you brought!”
“The core isn’t an elixir; it’s formed inside an Ancient Wolf’s body…”
“Who cares. Anyway, truly grateful. So thankful! You’re my lifesaver—no, savior of my very life and future! Come on! Let’s head to the garden!”
Adrix clapped my back with his huge palm.
“Prepared a feast in the garden. The detached palace still reeks; can’t go in. You smelled it last time, right? Sorry I snapped at you then. I was in such agony, didn’t want anyone to see.”
I recalled three days ago, forcing entry into Silverwood Palace and him spewing curses in a frenzy. Yeah, that rotting stench would take time to fade.
“It’s fine. I was the one who barged in rudely out of urgency.”
“Nonsense. If it was that serious, you should’ve knocked me out and subdued me. Haven’t had lunch yet, right?”
“Yes, brother. I just left the imperial palace.”
“Perfect. Let’s eat and catch up. How’d my little bro turn out so amazing? Huh? I was a mess, no time for anything else. Heard bits about you, but couldn’t make sense of it. Were you always a magic prodigy?”
Adrix’s informal demeanor was genuine instinct.
Thanks to that, among my half-brothers, only Adrix had truly treated and cherished Claude sincerely.
“Anyway, with that awful disease gone, I feel alive! Ah, sunlight’s great. Thought I’d never see the outside world again… All thanks to you. Hey, want anything? Whatever I can give, it’s yours!”
“Money… No, actually, there’s one gift I’d like.”
Phew, almost blurted ‘give me money!’
Thinking ahead to honey purchase and transport costs for the Dark Mountains already gives me a headache. But now’s not the time.
“A gift?”
Adrix crouched to meet my eye level.
“What is it? Spill! Even if I sell my soul, I’ll get it! Want a top-class carriage? Or a new mansion? Got a few nice ones in Emperor Road’s central district…”
“What I want is a Knight Master.”
“Huh?”
Adrix’s eyes widened. I recalled the Crown Prince I remembered from the past—and who would be in the future—leading the charge against invading otherworldly armies.
“You’re the coolest knight I remember, brother. Everyone was convinced you’d become a Knight Master someday.”
“Why bring that up suddenly… Well, I was on that path once.”
Adrix sobered, extending his right arm.
“But you know. These past years, just holding my seat. Fighting like before with these thinned arms is tough.”
Thinned arms, he says. Still three times thicker than my biceps.
True, compared to pre-poisoning, he’d lost flesh and muscle. Just in case, I used Appraisal Eye on Adrix.
Race: Human
Current Strength: D+
Potential Strength: A+
As expected.
Current strength is down, but potential is insanely high. A+ surpasses even current Knight Master Davy.
Even at twenty-seven this year, after years wasted.
His innate genius, once called a prodigy in every aspect, hadn’t vanished.
“The Knight Master is a symbol of the Empire’s power. Yet one of those symbols recently committed treason.”
“Phiren, right? I heard.”
“Only you can restore that fallen honor, brother. I believe you’ll become a Knight Master someday, the Empire’s strongest knight. That’s why I dove into Emperor Road’s sewers for the Ancient Wolf core.”
“Claude…”
Adrix bowed his head solemnly.
But the serious expression didn’t last.
“…You adorable thing!”
Unable to hold back, he hugged me again, shouting.
“How do you say it so cutely? Got it! Starting today, training—no, special training! If my lifesaving brother wants me to be a Knight Master, I’ll become one! You bet I will!”