Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: On the Way to the Imperial Palace (1)
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I used to love the butterfly effect so much when I was a kid.
The idea that a tiny initial condition could produce massive results—how could any mage not be captivated by that? How beautiful would it be if something world-shaking bloomed right from my fingertips?
Yeah, that's what I used to think.
Right here and now.
Staring at this massive typhoon barreling down on me, the thought came naturally.
What happens to a butterfly caught in a typhoon? Does it just get battered around until its wings and antennae are torn off?
No, wait.
...Maybe I should ride the air currents? Enjoy that massive flow in its entirety.
Not like a butterfly, but like myself.
The general store had fallen into a silence so profound it felt like the very concept of sound had been eradicated.
"...".
Feeling chills creep up my back, I thought to myself.
It's been a long time. When was the last time I got goosebumps?
'Who accepted my marriage proposal? I really have no idea.'
The name—the most crucial detail—was missing from the letter.
A fervent ally turns into the most terrifying enemy the moment they turn their back. Not knowing who it is brings its own kind of horror.
Apple, who'd been watching my reaction, nodded as if she'd figured it out.
"...We're screwed. Looks like we're vanishing without a trace, huh?"
"Probably."
Not knowing who wrote the letter was a problem, and the current emperor's dignity was another. Apple had a point.
Formless Emperor Verd.
The man hailed as possessing the greatest martial prowess in imperial history. A battle maniac who took being called a tyrant as a compliment...
And I'd messed with his daughters. Through a marriage proposal, no less.
...Not just one, but all five of them.
I quietly pulled a single flower petal with its stem from my pocket.
The perfect size to pop into my mouth. It's a herb commonly known as Sunweed. Its effect? Something like a tobacco that burns as hot as the sun.
Sizzle—!
No need to light it. It ignites on its own when you chew.
The bone-chilling cold that had wrapped around my body began to recede bit by bit. Heat surged through me, and my vision softened. Ah, now the world looks like it should.
'Spilled water. Can't avoid it, so might as well turn it into an opportunity.'
Find the princess who accepted my proposal and marry her.
That was the only path forward in this situation.
"Want one, Apple?"
"No thanks. You have no choice because of that weird constitution where your mana keeps freezing inside you, but Sunweed is straight-up a narcotic."
"I'd have done Sunweed even if I were a regular person. Earlier, and more of it."
"...You know that sounds exactly like a drug addict right now, yeah?"
Smoke began to rise inside the general store.
Yeah, the root of all this mess was this damn constitution of mine.
'I've got barely two years left to live.'
I'd attained enlightenment at the pinnacle of freezing arts and reached a new realm, but I didn't know how to overcome that power with a mere human body.
The result? My body and mana kept freezing over.
My gaze had unconsciously shifted to her, masked as always.
"Apple, ever heard anything about the holy relics?"
"You mean all those relics packed in the imperial reports?"
"Yeah."
"Of course. They say there's a ton of them. Even one that grants His Imperial Majesty immortality... Huh?"
Apple, mid-sentence, looked at me with sudden realization.
"No way. That's what you wrote? Asking for a relic?"
"Didn't say it outright. Beat around the bush a bit."
Marry a princess, become part of the imperial family, and maybe they'll share a relic or two. That simple.
"Argh...! So what exactly did you say? You've been killing me with suspense!"
Hoo—.
I just exhaled a long plume of Sunweed smoke.
"Apple."
"I proposed to all five princesses. Every single one."
"Pardon?"
"And one of them accepted. But I don't know who."
"Ah... Wait, what?"
Apple stared at me, her face scrunched up.
"...".
She pondered with a grave expression for a long while, then marched over and snatched the Sunweed from my mouth.
"...This guy's lost it. See? This is what Sunweed does."
"I agree. I'm not right in the head."
Always had been. Already was. Right now, too.
On the way back home, a crowd had already gathered at the entrance.
"Zekiel!"
"It's Zekiel! The guy's here!"
People who'd recognized me widened their eyes. One of them rushed up to me urgently—the same guy who'd asked before if I'd sent up a signal flare.
"H-Hey, Zekiel!"
"I'm listening."
"Didn't you say you definitely hadn't sent up a flare? People from the palace came. They're here to take you!"
"Blame the booze. You should lay off it too."
"What does that...?"
At the entrance stood a massive carriage, guarded by two soldiers.
Its size screamed for attention, its exterior exuded undeniable elegance. And it bore the solar emblem exclusive to the imperial family.
The carriage door opened, and a woman with short black hair stepped out.
Expressionless. She had the air of someone devoid of emotion.
Click, clack.
She deftly spun a six-sided cube with just her fingers. Her movements were so fluid and precise they seemed elegant.
Her uniform-like suit was pitch black, with a solar pin on her chest. Definitely from the palace.
"The palace never has any normal people, past or present."
"...".
She glanced at me, then turned her head away sharply without uttering a word. Instead, she addressed the soldier.
"Identity confirmed?"
"Not yet."
"Unroll it."
"Yes, Lady Anes."
The scroll in the soldier's hand unfurled vertically. I couldn't help narrowing my eyes at the sight.
'Doesn't look anything like me.'
Aside from long white hair and the standard number of eyes, nose, and mouth, there was zero resemblance, but the woman called Anes nodded confidently.
"No mistake. Transporting him to the palace."
"Yes!"
Her gaze finally settled on me.
"Get in."
Click. Anes pointed at the carriage entrance with her chin while still solving the cube. The jumbled colors on its surface had aligned perfectly.
'Definitely not the attitude for escorting a guest.'
More like hauling a criminal.
I chewed my Sunweed and boarded. The moment I closed the door, the carriage lurched into motion.
"Still as hasty as ever. So very imperial."
At that moment, the partition curtain swished aside, revealing Anes's face. Her expressionless lips parted.
"This is an imperial carriage interior. No smoking."
"Can't do that."
"You can. Especially if it's classified narcotic Sunweed."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if dealing with something trivial.
"No interest in staring down a druggie. Spit it out."
At the same time, she thrust out her palm as if telling me to spit it here. Hygiene be damned? Her head really seemed filled with nothing but work.
"Oh? Problem is, I'm an officially sanctioned druggie by the palace."
"Never heard of it."
"Then you botched the handover. Fall asleep on the job?"
"...".
Anes's eyes narrowed further.
She pulled a thick notebook from her pocket and rapidly flipped through the pages, not forgetting to threaten me along the way.
"Lies carry heavier penalties. Be prepared."
But the pages stopped at one near the back. Her golden eyes flickered slightly.
"...".
Anes silently tucked the notebook back into her suit pocket.
I tilted my head slightly and asked.
"So, am I in for extra punishment?"
"...".
Click—click—
Anes said nothing, just kept solving the cube. She seemed irked. It was a while before she spoke.
"...My oversight. Take this."
"What's this?"
"A letter from His Imperial Majesty."
She handed over a scroll, then snapped the partition shut with a thud. She'd been caught off-guard by the unknown detail, it seemed.
In truth, she wasn't lacking by any means. It was just that my ties to the palace were too convoluted and too obscure.
Anyway, I unrolled the emperor's letter.
"Didn't know the guy could even write letters."
Don't call His Imperial Majesty 'that guy.' Anes's voice came from beyond the partition, but I ignored it and read on.
Come to the Imperial Palace.
Let's talk.
Arrive alive.
Short, but no less intense for it.
Arrive alive.
In other words, plenty of chances to die en route.
"Guess the trip won't be smooth."
I muttered as I closed my eyes.
Intending to catch a bit of sleep while the road allowed.
...Or so I thought.
Click—
Clack! Clack!
Click—
"...So noisy."
I couldn't take it and snapped my fingers.
The racket outside cut off instantly.
Thud. The front partition slid open again.
"Hey."
Anes glared at me, expressionless. In her grip was the cube, frozen solid.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Let's go quietly. Quietly."
"Thaw it out. Are you insane?"
"I've never been sane."
With that curt reply, I used telekinesis to snap the partition shut.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
She tried opening it, but no use. I'd frozen the seams.
I closed my eyes again and thought.
Now, I wonder how much the Imperial Palace has changed?