Emperor (2): My Place Has Always Been the Battlefield
Dealing with the rats inside was undoubtedly necessary, but my place had always been the battlefield. I was just desperately shuttling back and forth across war zones, fighting tooth and nail to end this war for a peaceful life—not to hunt down internal vermin.
The Emperor showed no particular reaction to my answer. She simply acknowledged it, and I returned to the front lines. Time flowed on once more.
Day by day, the tide of the war was steadily turning in the Empire's favor. We'd held a slight edge from the start, but now, with one of the enemy kingdoms' key assets—an archmage—dead, and a new one appearing on our side, the momentum had fully shifted.
An archmage was the pinnacle of mages. That gap wasn't something you could fill easily. These were overwhelming powerhouses who could sweep away hundreds—no, thousands—of soldiers in a single strike. The mere fact that such a force existed on our side doomed the kingdoms' war effort.
In the midst of all that, one slightly bewildering development stood out.
"Greetings."
The Emperor had suddenly come to visit me. I was stunned when she—looking far more relaxed than at our first meeting—leaned right into my face while I lay there. She'd completely suppressed her presence; I hadn't even noticed her approach.
"What in the world are you doing here?"
"As the ruler of this Empire, I can't just sit idle forever. Naturally, I must lend my aid in person."
"You know if something happens to you, it'll be a disaster, right?"
"Worry not. I am not so frail."
Fair enough. Even if I'd let my guard down, this was a battlefield. I kept my senses sharp by default. The fact that she'd slipped past them made my concern seem ridiculous.
"But can you really afford to be away?"
"Normally, no. But I trust the Prime Minister can hold things together. He is the most loyal retainer I have."
"Lucky you. Having someone you can entrust the Empire's fate to like that."
"Indeed."
"So, why'd you come find me?"
The Emperor was at least sword master-level herself. Wouldn't it make more sense to deploy her where we were losing ground? She answered my unspoken question.
"To see your face."
"Sorry, but I'm already taken. I don't plan on becoming trash, so I can't accept those feelings."
"Insolent fool. What makes you think I have feelings for you?"
"Well, in a situation like this, coming to see my face? What else could it be but interest?"
At my point, she let out an exasperated chuckle.
"Your ego pierces the heavens."
"Probably because my lover's like that. They say you start to resemble the one you love, right?"
"Is that a saying?"
"I just made it up."
"Unbelievable."
She shook her head.
"Rest assured, I have no intention of falling for you—no matter how much I stake. Even if I've had little contact with men, I'm not so reckless as to touch a taken one. Besides, you're not my type."
"Good to know. Iris would lose it if she found out."
"Hah... I can never figure out what that girl sees in a guy like you."
I brushed past her sigh and asked, "So, what's the real reason you came? Like I said before, I'm not hunting internal rats."
"Not for that. The rats are mostly dealt with already."
"Oh? Already?"
It had been half a year since I'd become an archmage. Five months if you counted from my first visit to the Imperial Palace. And they'd already purged nearly all the traitors? That was impressive.
The biggest enemy is always from within, after all.
"Fortune favored us. That's why I could come to the front myself. The time to end this war is near."
"Does war really end that easily? It still looks far off to me."
The momentum was swinging our way, sure. But that didn't mean we could wrap it up tomorrow. The Empire was mighty, but we'd been shaken internally, and the enemy was a full alliance of kingdoms. Slaying one archmage wouldn't decide the whole war.
Yet the Emperor declared it firmly.
"The war started because the other kingdoms underestimated us. Show them the opposite—that we're overwhelmingly strong—and isn't it obvious?"
"Sure, but they're not gonna back down that easily."
"Exactly why we must demonstrate it decisively. With overwhelming power."
"And that connects to coming to see me how?"
"Oh, it connects."
She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"I'll borrow you for a bit."
"Pardon?"
The Emperor spouted something utterly baffling and told me to follow her. I had no clue what was going on, but she was the Emperor of the Empire. When she says jump, you jump.
I fell in step behind her.
"So, where the hell are we going?"
"Where else? The enemy camp."
"Pardon?"
"I just said it. We need to show decisive power."
"I get that, but... those two things don't connect, do they? Even if they do, isn't this way too extreme?"
Demonstrating overwhelming power? Fine. But heading straight into the enemy camp? That seemed overboard.
The Emperor replied as if it were the most natural thing.
"Yes, extreme. But will they back off without it? I prefer to do things thoroughly. Half-measures are worse than none."
"This'll draw every sword master and archmage they have. Their leadership's blatantly crossing the border into enemy territory."
"Afraid?"
"Not a chance."
I rolled in the mud to survive, but I didn't fear death. I'd shed those feelings long ago.
"I hold you in very high regard. Quite highly, in fact."
"And yet you drew a sword on me the first time we met?"
"Still hung up on that? So petty."
"Looks can be deceiving—I'm the petty type. So yeah, I'll collect full payment once the war's over."
"Now I see it—you're just like Iris. A match made in heaven. Same speech, same personality."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
As we bickered, we'd reached the front lines. The Empire's battlefields were many, but the front was one: the border with Hersia Kingdom, the alliance's spearhead and the war's instigator.
The Emperor was saying we'd cross it now.
I glanced at her. "You're really doing this?"
"Would I say it if I wasn't?"
Her brazen response drew a hollow laugh from me.
"...My comrade called you a wise and brilliant sovereign. Maybe not brilliant, but definitely not wise."
"That comrade from our first meeting. He has good taste. I should thank him later."
"Survive first, then worry about it."
We crossed the border. In that instant, a fierce presence blanketed the area.
The Empire had five sword masters. Six archmages, including me.
Hersia had three of each.
But they were part of the Allied Kingdoms, so combined: five sword masters, four archmages.
Now, the question: where were they?
Most were roaming battlefields, locked in stalemates. But according to the Emperor, the border was guarded by two archmages and one sword master—an insane overinvestment.
I couldn't fathom why they'd cluster that much power just to defend, but regardless, her plan was simple: take them all down.
A plan that wasn't much of a plan.
"Prepare yourself. They're coming this way."
I let out a deep sigh at her words.
"Hoo... I'm definitely collecting on this later."
"I'll pay up properly, so go wild. I will too."
A smile played on her lips. No idea what was so funny, but one thing was clear: the Emperor wasn't right in the head.
And here I was, joining her madness. Ridiculous, but if we're doing this, might as well go all in.
"Let's begin."
I immediately drew up my mana, readying myself for whoever was approaching.