Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Wanna Marry Me After I Rip Your Limbs Off? (12)
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Imperial Palace interior, the Emperor's audience chamber.
"Hmph...!"
A laugh laced with intrigue burst out.
"It seems..."
Before long, the Emperor's tone had grown utterly serious.
"I've only now noticed your changes. It looks like I completely misjudged you."
"What did you think of me all this time?"
"Who knows."
The Emperor quietly scanned Zekiel.
Emotionless, silent, nothing but a tool for missions.
That had been Zekiel in the past, hadn't it?
He'd had no choice but to be that way. After all, no one but the Emperor himself had molded him into it. From the moment he was unearthed from the Penitence Palace, it had all been for that purpose.
Pouring every moment into training and missions, losing those around him one by one, his emotions wearing away... until he became like a finely crafted doll.
So, naturally, Zekiel living like a layabout after retirement had been the expected outcome.
No one had ever taught him how to embrace happiness, enjoy leisure, or find peace.
And then, out of nowhere, that very man had proposed to the princesses.
It had seemed like a reckless move at first, but Zekiel had already undergone massive changes in multiple ways.
'To change this much just from encountering spirit medicine...'
Like a doll just starting to feel emotions, suddenly craving life itself. The Emperor revised his assessment of Zekiel and naturally grew intrigued.
'What if he encounters Sun Water, then?'
What kind of transformation would occur?
Even the Emperor couldn't easily predict it.
Meanwhile, Zekiel didn't press for an answer.
He simply waited in silence.
"Three drops of Sun Water, and I'll put the 1st Princess to sleep for you. Is that all you want? Very well."
Beating around the bush with someone who had already grasped several truths would only ruin an intriguing negotiation.
Better to acknowledge what needed acknowledging swiftly and zero in on mutual desires.
"But Zekiel, never forget this. Rewards come only after you succeed."
The shoulder of the robe before Zekiel shrugged.
The Emperor had likely shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course, putting the 1st Princess to sleep is a prepayment on my end... but don't get comfortable. Fail the mission, and I'll make you pay double."
"Pay double how?"
"Hmm, shall I lock you in a sealed room alone with the 1st Princess?"
Zekiel suddenly recalled the 1st Princess's words.
—If I catch you, I'll squeeze every last drop out of you.
"..."
Failure was absolutely not an option.
This mission had to succeed. No question.
"This mission will be incredibly difficult."
The Emperor carved the power structure onto the stone tablet again. The Imperial Magic Tower appeared three times larger than the others.
"In the past, even during the Imperial Magic Tower's heyday, there were several attempts to uncover the other towers' secret techniques. All failed. Why do you think that is?"
"They staked their lives on it too."
"Exactly. They'd sooner self-destruct with their towers than leak their secrets. And those magics they've hidden have only advanced further since."
Crunch.
The Emperor bit into an apple.
"Comparing now, the Imperial Magic Tower has weakened, while the others have grown stronger. You'll essentially be doing it alone. Still confident of success?"
"The mission's difficulty doesn't matter."
Zekiel answered steadily.
"Only success or failure matters."
Unlike before, Zekiel now harbored a burning desire to survive.
In a life where his very existence felt precious, there was no room for hesitation.
The Emperor nodded quietly.
"Good. I'll hear the results of your mission later."
"However, Your Imperial Majesty."
Surprisingly, Zekiel called out to the Emperor again.
And spoke in a gravely serious tone.
"Calling this a 'mission' feels a bit off. Let's clarify. Isn't this more like a transaction where both sides stand to gain?"
"..."
A brief silence fell.
The Emperor remained right before Zekiel.
One second.
One minute.
Five minutes.
How much time passed?
"Ho."
That was the Emperor's response, remarkably brief.
"Transaction."
The Emperor quietly repeated the two words.
"Transaction, transaction..."
An apple appeared from nowhere and was tossed into the air.
"Remarkable. Are you aiming to stand as my equal?"
"Only for this transaction."
He acknowledged it was an outrageously arrogant statement, but one without any intent of treason. The robe's sleeve at the Emperor's arm shifted.
Likely stroking his chin in thought.
The more he thought about it, the bolder it seemed.
Turning a mission into a transaction meant gaining the right to call out the Emperor for withholding rewards even after success—and preempting it.
A long while later, the Emperor spoke.
"...This is a first."
Crunch!
The apple in the air vanished.
"Very well. For this transaction only, I'll treat you as an equal."
"Thank you."
Zekiel sensed anew how much he had changed.
The biggest change was that a spark had ignited within him. To the Emperor, that spark was likely passion.
The Emperor slowly ascended the jade throne once more.
"Zekiel, let's end the transaction talk here. Now, as the father of the princesses, I have a few questions."
After securing an equal deal, it immediately shifted back to a hierarchical dynamic. As expected, the Emperor was no one to underestimate.
"..."
Zekiel swallowed dryly.
The reason the Emperor periodically summoned him: time for the midterm check on the five conditions.
"How's the progress on the five conditions?"
"I'll report on a few that have advanced first."
"Just a few?"
The chalice the Emperor had been swirling paused briefly.
But Zekiel replied calmly.
"Yes. I haven't reunited with two of the princesses yet."
"...Well, I'll listen and judge."
Zekiel began recalling the conditions one by one.
—First, become stronger than the 1st Princess Ether.
"First, I'm diligently building my strength."
The Emperor let out a hum.
"You know as well as I do. Ordinary strength-building won't cut it. Ether's power is immense, but her growth rate is even more extraordinary."
"Building strength isn't all I'm doing."
Zekiel remained composed.
"I'm combining it at the same time."
"Combining? What?"
Zekiel quietly pulled a single sheet of paper from his bosom.
The Emperor drew it to the throne.
Whoosh—!
Not telekinesis. The space had simply folded in an instant.
"Zekiel, this looks like a list of names."
"Yes. Names of those who visited me while I was ill."
"Quite a few."
The list included not only the princesses who visited in person but also everyone who sent gifts, all meticulously recorded.
"Yes. They'll all become my strength."
"So that's what you meant by combining forces."
The Emperor's attention lingered on the list for a moment.
"Zekiel, however."
The Emperor flicked it back.
"Excluding the princesses, they're all nobodies."
"The key is that the names in my visitor log will keep growing. I'll be wandering the world a lot for a while, so this is just the beginning."
"Don't fool yourself into thinking you'll only gain goodwill. Resentment toward you will grow too."
"I won't worry about it. I can handle it."
"Hmm, fair enough. You have a point."
Crunch. The Emperor polished off another apple.
"I acknowledge it. Progress on this front."
"Thank you."
"Now, the next one."
"The 2nd Princess is continuously becoming more precious."
—Second, become more precious than the 2nd Princess.
"I've heard. But that's a stretch to call your progress. The more precious she becomes, the harder it is to fulfill the condition, no?"
"No. This isn't for the second condition."
Zekiel shook his head firmly.
"It's for the fourth."
"Hm?"
—Fourth, acquire more wealth than the 4th Princess.
"If the 2nd Princess becomes the pillar of the Celestial Realm, won't that open doors to its treasures?"
"Hm."
"I have no intention of limiting myself to this continent. If needed, I'll gather riches from other realms too."
No one could deny the 4th Princess's immense wealth.
But that was only by continental standards.
Zekiel aimed to think bigger.
"Zekiel, that's a dangerously bold gamble."
That was the Emperor's response.
"You could compete with the 4th Princess using just continental wealth. The more precious the 2nd Princess becomes, the harder the final condition. You know that."
"It's for the sake of friendly competition."
"...Friendly?"
"Yes."
Zekiel nodded.
Sending proposal letters out of the blue to five princesses had obviously been a mistake, but the feelings in those paper envelopes held no malice. If anything, they were goodwill.
They had once been his disciples. He'd already sown chaos with mere letters; harming them was the last thing he wanted. So Zekiel's conclusion was singular.
Fine if it was harder. He'd elevate the princesses while fulfilling the conditions.
"Zekiel, you're being complacent."
The Emperor's voice chilled noticeably.
"This condition is competition, plain and simple. There's no such thing as friendly rivalry. It's dragging each other to the brink until only one survives."
Crunch!
Another apple vanished.
"...And the survivor only grows stronger."
"I believe friendly competition exists."
But Zekiel didn't yield.
The Emperor favored rivalries that pushed each other to the edge, as always. Zekiel, however, saw things differently.
"Our educational policy has always been that way since ancient times."
"It won't be easy."
"Didn't I tell you?"
Zekiel let out a small chuckle.
"Difficulty doesn't matter to me."
Only then did the Emperor nod.
"Alright, I get it for now. I'm curious about the outcome you're envisioning. Elevate all five princesses to their peaks and marry them all at once?"
A moment of silence.
"..."
"..."
The Emperor asked again.
"...You don't actually plan to do that, do you?"
"I'll let my results speak later."
Half right, half wrong.
He did intend to make the five princesses shine brighter, but simultaneous marriage? He'd never even considered it. Hence the silence. Was such a thing even possible?
...He couldn't even imagine it. Those five?
As Zekiel pondered this,
"Anyway, understood. I'll count this as progress too."
"Thank you."
Zekiel offered proper respects.
"I've reported all the progress. Now, a single request. May I?"
"Hmm."
The chalice in the air spun lazily.
"Disappointing, Zekiel."
The Emperor's tone grew quite icy.
"Reporting just two progresses then making a request? Your intent is too obvious. There's a line even for wanting Sun Water. This is quite presumptuous."
"It's not about Sun Water."
"...What? Then?"
As the Emperor reacted with unexpected surprise,
"Please cherish the princesses."
Zekiel uttered words the Emperor had never anticipated.
The chewing motion stopped abruptly.
"What do you mean? Of course I cherish them."
"Not as continental powerhouses, but as blood."
The atmosphere chilled further with the Emperor's mood.
But Zekiel pressed on undeterred.
"Not asking how much they contribute to the continent, but simply as precious blood kin."
In truth, it was an utterly abstract statement.
Hard to promise lightly, and even if promised, no guarantee it'd be kept. Zekiel knew that well.
Yes, he knew.
But it had to be said anyway.
"You're saying things I can't comprehend."
The Emperor murmured quietly.
"Are you pointing out I've neglected the princesses? Or daring to teach me how to treat my daughters? Your intent is unclear."
"Neither."
"Then? Why spout meaningless words?"
"Just remembering that I said this one day is enough, Your Imperial Majesty."
Zekiel's inner thoughts ran deep.
'If the Emperor blocks the princesses, it'll be trouble.'
There would be plenty of obstacles for Zekiel and the princesses to overcome, but if the Emperor became one, it'd be an insurmountable wall.
Thus,
Zekiel sought to prevent that day preemptively. A small attempt to turn an obstacle into an ally.
Who knew?
A butterfly's wingbeat had summoned a typhoon in the form of a letter.
So this wingbeat too could surely become a storm.
"I'll remember, of course. To judge later whether it was kind words or insolence."
Tap, tap. Fingernails drummed the jade throne.
"And you should know one more thing."
"What is it?"
"This is the first time I've heard such words, and I've never even considered it. I don't know how—or if I even need to—view the princesses purely as blood kin."
In response, Zekiel rummaged in his bosom instead of answering.
He placed three items neatly on the floor.
A bouquet, candy, a handkerchief.
"Zekiel, what are these?"
"Please give one to each of the three princesses, in order of age. My response to what you just said."
"I asked what they are."
"Each is something the princesses like."
Zekiel bowed politely.
"Then, I'll take my leave."
The Emperor didn't stop Zekiel as he departed.
He merely gazed quietly at the items on the floor.
"Purely as blood kin, without regard for utility..."
1st Princess: bouquet.
2nd Princess: candy.
3rd Princess: handkerchief.
The Emperor hadn't known they liked such things.
Suddenly.
Anew.
He recalled the time of Zekiel and Ether's contest, when they left for the canyon. The princesses who never approached him, clinging only to Zekiel.
"Hmmm."
Verd, Emperor of the Empire.
His heart felt strangely unsettled.
** ** **
On the way to the carriage.
"...Finally, a breather."
Zekiel muttered around a Sunweed stem in his mouth.
He'd successfully shaken off the 1st Princess and passed the Emperor's midterm review. Solving two near-impossible problems at once—could it get any better?
Yes! It could!
He'd even secured Sun Water!
The deal with the Emperor was sealed. Mission difficulty? Irrelevant... As Zekiel steeled his resolve,
"...?"
He encountered a baffling sight.
"What's this, Anes?"
Anes. Zekiel's exclusive secretary.
It was unmistakably her. She should have nearly reached the Black Tower by now, yet here she was, blatantly waiting by the carriage.
"...Why's she still here?"
But the truly odd thing happened next.
"Ah, In-Inspector...!"
The usually expressionless girl welcomed Zekiel?
What the hell?
Questioning it, Zekiel approached the carriage.