Chapter 5: The Empire
1
A hazy consciousness. Vision slightly blurred. As if being rocked by waves.
Slowly looking around, it was a world shrouded in darkness as far as the eye could see.
“If it were a rough stone, I could understand the idea of polishing it.”
“Huh…?”
There was a voice. So I turned in the direction it came from, but… no one was there.
“However, what if it’s already a one-of-a-kind jewel radiating unparalleled brilliance?”
“…No, what are you talking about? And who really—”
And then, he was there, nonchalantly.
Sitting on a unique pure white throne that contrasted well with the crimson carpet was— [Luke Wizaria Gilbert].
“…What?”
He looked at me with a bored expression, resting his chin on his hand. Naturally, I couldn’t understand anything about this situation. Several question marks bubbled up in my mind. But he continued talking as if none of that mattered.
“There was even a possibility of being feared as a [monster]. That’s what it means for [me] to make an effort. The weak try to reject what’s beyond their understanding. —And this world is run by the hands of the weak. Simply because they have the numbers.”
“………..”
My heart was still in great turmoil. Various emotions mingled. Yet strangely, I found myself listening.
I naturally lent an ear.
“Heh… But something interesting happened here. Your [imperfection] became a kind of charm, beginning to have a great influence on those around you.”
I rubbed my eyes, chewing over the facts before me countless times. No matter how much I tried to confirm it, the conclusion remained the same. This was truly the real [Luke]. I couldn’t express it well, but I was certain.
And yet… what was this strange sense of incongruity…?
“To become a truly perfect being, even a thread of imperfection was necessary. It’s quite contradictory, but… this world is well-designed, isn’t it?”
“………..”
I couldn’t interject.
There was such an inexplicable, overwhelming presence and aura that left no room for argument.
“Well, what needs to be done remains unchanged. I just need to make it known that I should stand at the top. —No, Or is it [we]?”
§
“………..”
Opening my eyes revealed a familiar ceiling. A sensation of my consciousness and body not quite connecting properly.
However, I vividly remembered [Luke]’s appearance in the dream. And for some reason, I suddenly understood the source of the incongruity I felt in the dream. It was those eyes. For an unknown reason, it was as if I wasn’t being looked down upon. That deviated from my usual image of him.
Was it because I was his counterpart…? No, it’s pointless to think about it.
“…It was just a dream after all.”
“Oh my, what kind of dream did you have?”
Half of my head was still far from awake, but I slowly sat up. I had to, because there was a reason sitting nonchalantly.
“Alice…”
I no longer felt anger at her entering my room uninvited. All that remained was a sigh escaping along with the thought of [not again]. I tried to chase Alice out so I could get dressed, but then I remembered something.
“You, that day if I had been late, you were going to use poison magic, weren’t you?”
This girl had made the blunder of attempting to use magic at a party attended by many influential nobles.
“Yes. That woman deserved to die for what she did. With poison, I could have killed her even if you were there, right?”
“………..”
However, the Alice before my eyes showed no sign of remorse. In reality, thanks to Yorand, Father, and the Lonsdale family name, the incident itself was absurdly dealt with. But the problem was that she had tried to use poison magic.
“You still can’t control poison magic properly, can you? There’s a possibility that many could have died.”
That’s right, Alice couldn’t handle poison magic as well as ice magic. More precisely, she couldn’t adjust its power. What’s worse, Alice herself couldn’t neutralize the poison.
“Mia was there, so that wouldn’t have happened.”
“Can she neutralize even the poisons you create?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Hey.”
I didn’t pursue Alice’s hesitation any further. In the end, she had lost her cool. More importantly… why was that woman, the main culprit, targeting my life…?
“…Hah.”
Troublesome matters never end. There are endless if you look for them. —But, truthfully, I’m in a very good mood right now. I got up from the bed.
“Well, whatever. I’m going to get dressed, get out.”
“I don’t want to. I want to watch.”
Because today is the day we head to the Empire—.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
§
A few days ago. In Luke’s father Claude’s study.
“I beg of you, Master! Please allow me to accompany Luke-sama to the Empire! Please! Oh, please!”
“…V-Very well.”
“Oh, how… I am deeply grateful…”
“………..”
Looking at the tearful Alfred, Claude thinks to himself.
(You… were you always like this…?)
He’s been acting strange since the ice dragon incident. Or perhaps Alfred had always been emotionally unstable, and Claude just hadn’t noticed.
Claude’s questions are endless. However—
“I’m counting on you to look after Luke.”
“Even at the cost of my life.”
Some things remain unchanged. Alfred’s eyes were the same as they had been in those days when he was feared as a demon on the battlefield.
§
—Myura Holy Nation, Meidrad Castle.
The meeting was likely still continuing in the throne room, centered around the Holy King. Its contents can be easily imagined. It was probably about the magic superpower that had become an obstacle to their beloved country—the Kingdom of Mirestia.
Magic tools and other magical technologies, warrior training, outdated discrimination against demi-humans. Though inferior in all aspects, neighboring countries were forced to flatter them solely due to the threat of overwhelming magical power. Even the Empire, while claiming to be a friendly nation, was essentially a vassal state if one were to speak frankly. Mirestia’s relationship with other countries was far from good either. He thought that a world where such a country prospered should not exist. However, it was not his role to think about such matters. That’s why he had left the throne room.
“…Nicole.”
Regular communication with her, who had gone to Mirestia, had been cut off. That was what had been reported in the previous meeting. Normally, he would want to go check on her safety immediately. But that was not allowed.
As an extremely rare oni-human hybrid, he had no blood ties with her, a human. Still, she was his [sister]. When he stopped to try and alleviate the heavy, dark feeling in the pit of his stomach, like a black lump—he heard the sound of the thick door opening behind him.
“Ah, Fortis! It’s showtime!”
An excited voice rang out. Standing there was a small boy not even half his height. But he knew that appearances meant nothing. Because this being that looked like a boy was an elf, and in terms of age alone, he was older than himself.
“What is?”
“More importantly, your horns! Let me touch them!”
“Sure.”
He, Fortis, crouched down without showing any displeasure.
“Wow! They’re really cool!”
“………..”
“Give me a piggyback ride!”
“Alright.”
Although Fortis was slightly embarrassed at having his horns called cool, he didn’t show it on his face due to his male pride. Apart from the two horns growing from his forehead and his nearly three-meter tall stature, there was no visible difference from humans, but even so, he would likely be denied entry to some countries. For example, in countries where discriminatory sentiments were rampant, like the Kingdom of Mirestia.
“So, Kiril. What’s going on?”
Fortis began walking slowly while giving the piggyback ride, taking utmost care not to drop him by any chance.
“Actually, we’re going to attack [Gilbadia] with the help of my friend~”
“What!? No way!”
Fortis’s angry shout echoed.
“You, your magic…”
“It’s okay. That’s why I said it’s my friend’s showtime.”
“……………But the information is too scarce. There’s also Nicole’s situation. Besides, why you……”
“It’s to save Nicole.”
“…………!”
Information obtained through Nicole’s regular communications. [The Darkness] was going to the Empire to watch the Sword Saint Festival. Rationally, he understood that if they were to rescue Nicole, there would be no better opportunity than this. But understanding was all it was. It was by no means something he could approve of.
“This is also to gather the information we lack. Or rather, this might be the real purpose. Are there any threats or technologies other than [The Darkness]? We underestimated them. We need to know first.”
“Then I should go.”
“No, that won’t work. Your power is individual. It’s not suited for this kind of thing.”
“But—”
“Besides, Fortis, you’re planning to go to the Empire, aren’t you?”
“How did you know that…?”
“I can tell.”
“………..”
From his voice, it was clear. Any further questioning would be mocking the boy Kiril’s resolve.
Therefore, Fortis said just one thing—
“Make sure you come back.”
“Yeah. Don’t worry, I’m strong.”
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