Only You Can Do It
The next day.
"Store manager, please board."
The man sent by Crown Prince Astur had arrived. A coachman riding a splendid carriage stamped with the imperial seal, eight knights clad in golden armor, a hundred soldiers trailing behind them, and even an imperial clerk. It was the full imperial package.
What the hell was this job that only I could do, to send such a flashy entourage?
Doesn't look like an easy one.
I couldn't even guess how much of a hassle the task they planned to dump on me would be. Deployments on this scale were almost unheard of. This was at least duke-level treatment.
"Crown Prince Astur awaits you."
The clerk bowed his head to me and urged me on.
"I'll head out right away."
No need to drag my feet. I handed the store over to Elena and Sylvia.
It wouldn't take long.
"Be back soon."
"Take care!"
"We'll watch the store properly!"
I climbed into the imperial carriage. As I settled in, the clerk sat on the seat across from me.
"Let's go."
Clop-clop, clop-clop.
"Any hint on why Crown Prince Astur summoned me?"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't informed."
"I see."
Clop-clop, clop-clop.
And not another word until we reached the Imperial Palace.
Tch. Been a while.
I'd thought I wouldn't set foot inside the palace again. I'd figured the Imperial Palace had nothing to do with someone like me anymore. Especially not for a guy hated by the emperor himself—how could I just waltz in? If I slipped up, I'd get a joint lock slammed on me hard.
So the tension ratcheted up. The fact that Astur, who knew the whole backstory, had called me here specifically to the palace meant he'd prepared some countermeasures, at least.
Well, since they're still doing business with our convenience store, they probably won't chop my head off on sight.
But just because the wasp won't sting doesn't mean you shove your hand into the hive. And right now, that's exactly what this felt like.
Still, the reason I was heading to the palace:
—I've talked to His Majesty about it.
It was because of what Crown Prince Astur had said, his face swollen on one side, the bruise vivid even through the crystal orb.
—He said he's put it all behind him now. The fact that he's still trading with your store is proof. And Father doesn't discard talent, either.
I chose to believe those words as the carriage passed the palace gates. Past the guards, through the grand, ornate front entrance.
"Never fails to impress."
A massive garden sprawled alongside countless buildings. Staff dorms for imperial workers, offices, conference rooms, barracks, training grounds, and more. The sheer size of the structures screamed the empire's might. Even the dorms were ten stories tall. In this world caught between medieval and modern, the empire alone could build structures over ten floors. Especially the imperial household.
The layout made you question if this really was a medieval era. It felt more like modern European cities. The training fields dotted around were bigger than ten soccer fields combined from my old world.
Buildings are symbols of power, after all. And the imperial household sat at the heart of the continent's strongest empire. Of course it was massive.
"Whoa."
It never failed to draw awe, no matter how many times I visited. Even after a full year away, the palace gleamed as grand as ever.
And at the palace's core stood the largest, most ornate building: the Central Office, where all empire affairs were decided. Only the emperor, imperial family, and a select few central nobles could enter the empire's true palace. We arrived there.
"You can disembark here."
"Hm."
They'd called me all the way here? Had Astur really convinced the emperor?
I followed the clerk out of the carriage, then under knight escort, approached the building.
"Oh, you've arrived."
Crown Prince Astur greeted me with a smile. Behind him clustered a throng of retainers. Many faces I recognized. There was Duke Voltegg, Astur's son-in-law and the most powerful central noble at present.
No Magic Tower Lord...
Mostly pro-Astur nobles. A few comrades I'd fought alongside on the battlefield, too.
But calling everyone here with such fanfare? What for? Wasn't this supposed to be a secret mission?
This welcome was way too grandiose for that.
"Greetings, Crown Prince Astur."
"Haha, it's been a while. A whole year already?"
Astur played it cool, loudly announcing it had been a year since we'd met—as if to emphasize we hadn't been in contact otherwise. Pure political theater.
Guess I'd play along for a bit.
"I hope you've been well."
"Thanks to you, store manager, I've been thriving. Heard your business is booming. Haha. Especially that Buldak Jajang—it's even selling in the markets. Incredible stuff."
"Come by the store sometime, and I'll treat you myself."
"Haha, I look forward to it."
We bantered like strangers. The nobles behind us probably knew better. That Astur and I had been in regular contact. It'd be weirder if they didn't. They were just pretending otherwise. Political necessity. We'd met on the sly, but officially, I wasn't his man.
To a guy like me who didn't get politics, it just seemed like a hassle.
"Let's head inside first. Plenty to discuss with you."
He laughed heartily and led the way in. I followed, expecting the nobles to scatter to their duties—but they trailed after us.
"What's going on here?"
"Heh, you'll see when we get there."
What the hell was this guy up to? No clue. Might as well go with the flow. He clearly had something planned.
We passed the entrance lobby into a vast audience chamber.
"Crown Prince Astur enters!"
The guards' booming call drew every eye in the packed room to him.
What? This many people?
And at the far end, atop the throne, sat the emperor wearing his crown. His brow twitched as our eyes met.
Astur, you bastard?
"Why is His Imperial Majesty here?"
"It's my gift to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Just follow along quietly. It's a job only you can do."
Son of a bitch. He wasn't seriously planning to send me straight to the emperor to change his mind or some crap like that, was he? If so, I'd bolt from the palace back to the store right now. Sieging against the empire would take some serious prep.
As those pointless thoughts swirled, I noticed the crowd in the chamber parting before me.
"Kim Do-jin, manager of DG Convenience Store, approach."
The emperor's deep, resonant voice boomed out. Who'd guess that powerful timbre belonged to a man over seventy? The warrior's glare he fixed on me sent chills down my spine. Even in the twilight of life, his voice brimmed with vigor, his eyes sharp as honed blades.
Those who attained the extremity of the sword were called Sword Masters across the continent. One could turn the tide of battle. They rivaled 7th-rank mages, but in one-on-one fights, they held the edge. The empire boasted four such masters: the commander of the Imperial Guard, Marquis Samuel (currently Eastern Commander), and the emperor himself before me.
Why Astur hadn't crowned himself after the Princes' Rebellion? Simple certainty he couldn't beat a Sword Master emperor. Age hadn't dulled his spirit.
"Go on."
At Astur's nudge, I slowly advanced along the carpet. He took position right beside the throne; I knelt on one knee before the emperor.
"I see the sun of the empire."
"It's been a while, Do-jin."
"You look as hale as ever."
"You sound like you wish I'd drop dead."
"Not at all, Your Majesty. How could I? Seeing you so robust fills me with joy for the empire's bright future."
"Still got that silver tongue. Then why didn't you use it properly back then?"
The emperor's brow furrowed. I had no comeback. I'd royally screwed up in front of him before.
"Seems my son owes you quite a debt."
Post-rebellion, the emperor had two living sons: second prince Astur, the crown prince, and fourth prince Pires, now a pilgrim with the church. No chance of meeting the latter, so "son" meant Astur.
"Merely repaying the grace shown to this humble one."
"Repaying the price of my other sons' deaths?"
"......"
Yeah, bad blood with the emperor ran deep. First, third, and fifth princes—opponents Astur Ovrion Leo Rasing Valere Imperion (the crown prince) had faced in the rebellion. I'd killed two of the three with my own hands, on his orders or not. Fact was fact.
No words for a father grieving lost sons.
"Part of me wants to kill you right here..."
Grind. He clenched his jaw, eyes shut.
"But I won't drag personal grudges into state affairs. You're a valuable asset to the empire now, regardless."
Shing.
The emperor drew his sword—not his battlefield greatsword Valber, but the empire's ancestral blade, Apion.
I glanced at Astur. Because Apion was...
"Do-jin, I appoint you as count."
...the ceremonial sword used only for noble oaths and contracts.
Astur, what the hell is this? Suddenly granting me a noble title?
"Do-jin, will you become the sword of the imperial house, loyal and serving through all trials?"
His eyes brooked no refusal, glaring like he'd run me through if I balked.
"Yes. Should any threat arise to the imperial house, I shall become its sword and fight."
"Do-jin, will you uphold the noble spirit of protecting the empire and its people?"
"Yes. I shall be the shield safeguarding the imperial citizens."
"Do-jin, do you swear those words are true?"
"Yes. I swear it."
I'd seen it dozens, hundreds of times—oaths when granting titles or promotions. Never dreamed I'd be the one swearing, but the words were etched in my mind. I recited verbatim, and the emperor smiled in satisfaction.
"Do-jin, I appoint you a noble of the imperial house. No fief yet, but I'll prepare one swiftly as reward for your service to the empire."
The entire chamber erupted in applause. Only then did it hit me.
This was the "official mission only I could do."
Officially elevating me to nobility. Effectively declaring me his man.
Why now, after hiding it all this time?
"Your house name shall be Kim. Serve the empire with greater vigor henceforth."
The emperor sheathed Apion and met my gaze. Mana laced his voice in a telepathic whisper directly to my ear.
Don't think this means forgiveness. I separate public from private, that's all. Avoid coming here so ostentatiously in the future.
His fist clenched white. He wasn't killing me for various reasons, but the emperor's buried rage ran bottomless.
There won't be a next time.
Having conveyed his intent, the emperor rose without lingering. The ennoblement ceremony concluded. The nobles dispersed to their duties.
"Follow me. You've got questions."
Leaving the murmuring group behind, I headed to Astur's office with him.
Once inside, I glared at him.
"Have you lost your mind?"
You've gotta be nuts. You know damn well how the emperor sees me.
"I haven't. But hearing my most trusted knight get dissed by some weirdos pissed me off."
No way.
"This because of Evergarden?"
"Obviously. Though it's also payment for you acting on my behalf."
"You took the emperor's hatred just to give me a noble title for that?"
"'Just'?"
"You didn't need to go this far. It's all water under the bridge."
"Nothing says you won't get ignored again for not being a noble. This warns those who know I'm backing you: don't mess with him."
Anger flared in Astur's eyes. Rare sight—him genuinely pissed.
"You might not admit it, but since the Princes' Rebellion, you're my sword. Everyone sees it that way. With Father aging, don't I need a reliable blade?"
"You've got the Imperial Guard commander."
"He's Father's man, not mine yet."
Astur gave a wry smile.
"So I'll borrow your strength."
Sigh.
"Father beat the crap outta me. Doesn't show much, but..."
If he was saying that, bruises must cover his body under those clothes.
"If you're gonna pull stunts like this, at least give me a heads-up. Let me prepare."
"Haha, got it. But now that you're here, you planning to leave without seeing her?"
I knew that was coming. His sister—Chloe.