Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Sun Water (Complete)
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A woman resembling a wolf from the snowfields.
Her height alone, enough to look down on most grown men, spoke volumes of her indomitable spirit. Her eyes, like pools of molten pure gold, gleamed with a fierce golden light.
The Empire's 1st Princess, Ether.
Ether stared silently at the jade throne above.
Not even in the audience chamber, where anyone would tremble before the Emperor that all feared, did she show the slightest hint of intimidation. Instead, her face bore the expression of someone brimming with words to say.
"1st Princess, I didn't fail to teach you manners."
The reply came immediately.
"Manners. Of course, I was taught those as well."
The 1st Princess lifted her chin slightly.
"And that's precisely why I know who manners are for. There's no need to show courtesy to a fraud."
The Holy Grail floating in the air rippled quietly.
Who would dare address the Emperor like this?
"Hmph."
Yet the Emperor let out a chuckle, as if delighted. As if he enjoyed this side of the 1st Princess.
"So, what brings you here? Come to show some long-overdue filial piety? That wouldn't displease me."
"I wonder what would count as filial piety. Ending your tedious life... Would that do it?"
Ether smiled as she gazed at the jade throne.
The Emperor seemed to smile back at her.
"Still as unyielding as ever. Now, get to the point."
"Emperor, I have a warning for you."
"A warning?"
The angle of the rippling Holy Grail in the air tilted even further. The Emperor seemed intrigued.
"I've never received a warning before."
"What a coincidence. I've never yet seen anyone ignore my warnings."
The Emperor chuckled lowly.
"1st Princess, you've grown a lot since we last met. Spit out whatever's on your mind. I'll hear it."
Ether spoke with utmost confidence.
"Emperor, do not touch my teacher."
"…."
The rippling Holy Grail paused for a moment.
A brief silence fell. It was unprecedented for the 1st Princess to speak of anyone else.
"…Zekiel?"
"Yes, my teacher."
The liquid in the Holy Grail flowed back into the air.
"So, the 1st Princess is…."
The Emperor continued very slowly.
"…barging into the Emperor's audience chamber unannounced just to warn me not to touch her teacher?"
"You understand perfectly. Now, make sure you heed it."
"1st Princess, those childish days are long over. You're not here to jest with me now…."
At the same time, an indescribable power began emanating from atop the Emperor's jade throne. The entire audience chamber warped, as if heat haze was rising throughout the space.
But Ether unleashed her own aura without backing down.
Kugugugugugugugu—
Soon, the entire space began to shake.
—What’s going on!
—The ground is shaking everywhere!
It wasn't just inside the audience chamber—panicked voices surged in from outside.
—Everything! Everything’s collapsing!
—Aaaah!
Just as those outside seemed on the verge of serious injury.
"…."
Unexpectedly, the Emperor withdrew his power first.
"Why would the 1st Princess issue such a warning? Let's hear it."
Ether scoffed.
"This isn't the 1st Princess speaking—it's Ether. Harm my teacher again, and you'll face me, stripped of all titles."
"1st Princess, are you confident you'll win?"
"I'm no coward who only picks fights she can win. I've simply won every battle I've fought. But I never approach with the mindset of defeat. That's who I am."
"Hmph…."
The Emperor chuckled lowly again.
"For a mere man, the 1st Princess—called the War God, the Invincible General—is ready to face death? Are you mad, or have I been too lenient?"
"Neither."
"Then?"
"You lied to me. You said you'd found a worthy rival for bets, better than my teacher."
Ether grasped a ray of light and aimed it at the throne.
"Your lie—that's why I've come today."
"Impossible. I never lie."
An apple tossed into the air crunched and vanished.
"I took a wastrel idling in the countryside and made him a proper Inspector. The current teacher is a far better rival than the one back then. Isn't he?"
"So the Emperor of this empire is just a fool who delights in such wordplay. How lamentable."
Ether conjured a bow and nocked the light arrow onto the string.
"Emperor, hand over the Sun Water."
"Ah."
The Emperor regarded Ether with an odd expression.
Though he had no face, it somehow felt that way.
"Since I've essentially deceived the 1st Princess, I should give you the Sun Water as compensation? Is that it?"
"Your comprehension is swift as always. Then, if you understand yet refuse to act, is it stubbornness?"
"Amusing. Truly amusing. To demand the Empire's most precious Sun Water from no less than me—the 1st Princess has finally lost all fear."
With those words, silence fell once more.
Ether quietly drew back the bowstring taut.
How much time passed after that?
The moment her fingers began to release the string.
"I will grant the Sun Water to Zekiel."
Surprise spread across Ether's face.
Unlike in the past, she now knew full well how precious the Sun Water was. And as far as she knew, the Emperor was not one to give it away lightly.
She hadn't expected him to yield so easily.
The 1st Princess looked at the Emperor with puzzlement, but he merely rippled the Holy Grail leisurely.
"1st Princess, don't misunderstand. The Sun Water isn't being given at your demand."
"What do you mean? Explain."
"I've already made a deal with Zekiel. To buy his portrait with the Sun Water. In other words…."
The Emperor's teeth appeared in the air.
A white grin, stretched wide.
"I'm not heeding your warning not to touch Zekiel—so I'll keep touching him endlessly. Don't ever delude yourself otherwise."
"You've finally lost your mind."
The next instant.
Kwaaaaaang—!
Ether's spear of light exploded from the throne.
No—space warped the moment it tried to explode.
Shuwaaaaaak—!
The vortex of distorted space swallowed the spear.
The Emperor chuckled lowly as he descended the steps connected to the jade throne. The robe adorned with countless ornaments dragged across the floor.
"1st Princess, what comes next is extremely important. Shall we discuss it over some fruit?"
"I commanded you not to touch Zekiel, Emperor."
"Hmph… Hear me out first."
An apple tossed into the air crunched away into nothingness.
"You, leading the charge against the beasts, must already know. The Demon Realm's movements are far from normal. Soon, a massive calamity will engulf the entire continent."
"And?"
"Do you know this flower, 1st Princess?"
The Emperor abruptly held out a single flower.
It looked withered, yet it held more mana than any other flower—a peculiarity Ether knew all too well.
"…Zekielra?"
"Yes. Long ago, in the Penitence Palace, there was a boy who survived to the end. We named this flower after that tiny human weapon. It resembles him."
The Zekielra was placed into the Holy Grail in the air.
Pasus—!
It instantly crumbled to dust.
"It's rare, and devilishly hard to cultivate. You must give it exactly one drop of water right before it dies. Any more, and it withers."
"…."
"But tend it right, and the results are staggering. A single bloom holds as much mana as an entire mountain."
"So?"
"It's not 'so.'"
The robe swirled around and turned back. It slowly ascended the steps to the throne once more.
"With the Demon Realm stirring ominously, the continent needs weapons. Zekiel is a human who must be cultivated through such excruciating pain. His usage is predetermined."
"Emperor, you bastard…."
"Emperor—well said. Why am I Emperor?"
Soon, the robe settled back atop the jade throne.
"Because I'm the strongest? No."
"Then?"
"Because I care for the continent most. With the Demon Realm amiss, Zekiel is the continent's hope. I have no choice but to raise him properly."
"…."
Ether fell silent for a moment.
She seemed at a loss for words.
This was supposedly for Zekiel's own good—tormenting him, tormenting him, tormenting him again.
Driving him to the brink of death, making him endure agony, torturing him with hope, forcing him to taste despair.
"Ha…."
Ether soon let out a scoff.
"Hahaha! Hahahaha!"
And the scoff turned to mad laughter.
Ether beamed at the throne.
"Emperor, I finally understand your intent."
"Yes. You've finally grasped my profound purpose."
Another Holy Grail was flung toward Ether.
Full of apple wine.
"Today, to celebrate the 1st Princess's enlightenment, let's share a drink. No more childish tantrums from now on."
Ether nodded readily.
"Indeed. I've gained enlightenment today."
But the next moment.
The two Holy Grails crossed paths.
The Emperor's merely tilted, while Ether's was hurled to the floor with full force.
Crash—!
"…."
The Emperor seemed to gaze at the spilled apple wine on the ground.
"1st Princess, what do you think you're doing?"
"Handle continental peace yourself. Peace, justice… Do you think that's why I've grown strong all this time?"
"Then?"
"Emperor, I think it's time I got married."
Ether snorted loudly.
"The one you cherished most will marry the man you raised most harshly. Is there any karma more fitting in this world?"
"…You, what are you—"
"Shut up. If you want to stop me, kill me now."
Ether turned away without hesitation.
Her foot stepped beyond the audience chamber, the massive doors began closing silently, and the 1st Princess paused once.
"Ah, one last gift."
"…."
With her back turned, Ether slowly raised one hand.
And slowly.
Very slowly.
"…."
She folded four fingers, leaving only the middle one extended.
Until the doors closed completely.