155 – Mist-2

Even if the emperor’s authority was shaken, the imperial palace, the center of that authority, remained firm.

Because the safety of the emperor and the protection of the imperial family were important to the aristocracy as well as the imperial faction.

“Were you waiting?”

“This much is bearable. The one who suddenly came in was mine.”

So, it was extremely rare to be able to enter a place like this without an appointment.

However, rather than criticize the intruder, the emperor had no choice but to sit in silence with a sad face.

Because the opponent was a great wizard that even he could not ignore, a living legend of the magic world and the owner of the Mage Tower.

“Do you have anything more to do? Are you digging?”

“Your job is done, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

The little wizard had a subtle expression mixed with worry and anticipation.

“That’s how it should be. In order to procure the magic you asked for, the imperial finances are shaking.”

If the empire was in good shape, it wasn’t something they couldn’t procure, but the empire was shaking right now.

It was at the level of somehow sealing the wounds suffered in the war with the Demon King’s army, but more investment and support were needed to grow the empire again.

The power of the aristocrats was growing stronger, and more and more people were joining them. Unless given a chance to turn things around, within twenty years the Empire will be greatly shaken.

In such a situation, pouring in financial resources to support Farsi was not a decision that even the emperor could make easily.

“I’m always grateful. If it wasn’t for you, it would have been much later.”

The emperor’s expression darkened. It was Farsi who called him, but it was the emperor who had much to say.

“It’s not that my heart that believes in you has disappeared.”

When the current emperor was crown prince, the help he received from Farseer was not small.

“What happened on the journey of the warrior’s party was incredibly disappointing, but it wasn’t a day or two since I saw you.”

Farseer swallowed a bitter laugh.

“But, at least you should know the reason. What are you going to use the magic materials I’ve gathered for you? I hear they’re collecting corpses as well.”

No matter how secretly they moved, it was impossible not to let the emperor know what was happening in the capital. Farseer was a little disappointed, but he had already gathered everything he needed to collect.

“Was my support not enough?”

“It’s not like that. That’s enough. But, it’s not just magic power, it’s the need to collect corpses.”

“…keep talking.”

The Farseer was wise, but she was also a wizard after all. He couldn’t escape from the chronic problem of those who learned magic, ‘like to talk’.

“The corpse is not a source of magical power. Rather, it is a means to produce fragrance… More precisely, it is the supply and demand of the enemy.”

“Who the hell is this supply and demand for?”

The emperor shouted loudly, belatedly recalling that his body could not withstand such intense exercise.

“Anyway, the corpses you collect are the lives of the people of the Empire. Unless you consider the Empire your enemy…”

The emperor’s expression darkened. Apart from trusting Farseer, her plans could not be foreseen.

“It’s not that difficult. Let’s say I… No, some spirit or divine beast went crazy and killed a lot of people. What would happen?”

After pausing and imagining the scene, the emperor was able to draw a conclusion.

“Probably wet with Magi. But, what does that have to do with this?”

“Magic is fundamentally deceitful. If a mage like me does a trick, I can make the blood and death like ‘I’ did it.”

“But, the benefits of going that far… Ah.”

The emperor’s words were cut off. I was slowly realizing what she needed to do this.

“I have enough power. If I just convert the magic materials you’ve gathered into magic, I can do anything. However, I need those materials to give them direction… and personality.”

Farseer smiled lightly. She thought it would take more time and effort to make the emperor understand, but the emperor’s understanding was unexpectedly good.

“Nonsense, parsier. You can’t control it.”

The emperor’s hand trembled with fear.

It was the emperor who thought he could take any damage for him, but this was different in the size of the matter.

“I don’t know that. I’m not a street dog, and I don’t have delusions that I can tame such a monster.”

Hearing those words, the Emperor’s hand, which had been shaking with fear and anger, calmed down a little.

“If I were going to take that sacrifice for granted in the first place, I wouldn’t have bothered to buy and collect corpses.”

The Farseer revealed to the Emperor a secret she had only known to the closest of her aides.

/////

“Embroidery… are you going to do it?”

I couldn’t understand.

By any chance, what would happen if his actions weren’t really such a big crime? Does everything I’ve done become meaningless?

“But how do I believe that?”

It might have been a ploy to trick me into buying time. Still, attacking him after he put down his staff left a bitter aftertaste.

“I see, there was such a blind spot. Among mages, there are oaths that can force a promise, but usually… those who don’t know magic don’t believe it.”

“It must be so.”

Anyone who knows magic knows what a magical oath is, how to break it, and what sanctions are strengthened when broken.

However, because of my lack of knowledge about magic, I couldn’t respond like that. I could have noticed the flow of magic power, but I didn’t have the ability to know what kind of influence the magic exerted.

“So… I can’t help it. Would you like to come with me to the guards? It’s a pity that this is the only thing I can stake, but I think I can put my life on the line at least.”

Magic takes time. If I hadn’t prepared a level of preparedness that really exceeded my common sense, I could knock him out with a swing of my sword as soon as he used his hand.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding right now, but I believe you will understand us in the end.”

He seemed a little taken aback, but his face looked surprisingly proud.

“…let’s go right away.”

I was tired, but I couldn’t stop walking now. I glared at him, waiting for him to move.

“Don’t you need something to tie your hands to?”

“I don’t think it makes much sense.”

So obediently, he stood in front of me and walked slowly.

“I know where the guard headquarters is. Follow me.”

I followed him with my mouth shut. Leaving behind the unpleasant feeling that I was not in control of the situation.

/////

“…”

I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been chasing the body-carriers all night.

However, it was not a body that would weaken from not sleeping for just a few days. It was strange.

“You can go inside. His Majesty the Emperor will surely be pleased.”

However, I couldn’t just say that my plan failed.

Although he was nervous until the end, the wizard obediently confessed his sins in front of the guards. It would take some time for a formal trial to take place, but the guards had already detained him in prison.

The guards will crash tonight or tomorrow morning and start a search. You can’t hide such countless corpses overnight, and since he, who appears to be a high-ranking wizard, confessed without hesitation, the investigation won’t be twisted.

“Thanks for your efforts.”

“It was an honor to see the warrior in person!”

This man, who appeared to be an officer of the guard, was eager to investigate the case. Had it not been for something special, he would have sat me down until the evening and continued the investigation.

The reason I couldn’t do that was because someone I didn’t really want to see called me.

“under…”

Within hours of reporting to the guards, the Emperor wrote a small letter and called me.

I congratulate you for finding the heinous crime, and I will invite you to the imperial palace for a celebration, so please come visit me.

I didn’t think he was sincere. In the first place, it was nonsense to figure out the whole story of the incident and praise me in those few hours.

It was clear that all other trivial remarks were just embellishments for writing an ‘official’ letter, and the main point was that he wanted to meet me.

“Not bad, but…”

It was still necessary to meet the emperor once. Even if it was still a long way to go to save the demon dragon’s heart, I needed to confirm once again whether he was willing to continue to cooperate with me.

However, I didn’t feel good intentions that he saw me first, not me.

“Eh, Baron Enerel?”

It was a face he couldn’t remember, but it was probably a person he had come across while visiting the imperial palace for a short time. I greeted him with a shy face.

The place where I once kicked off with my feet, I came back again. Also, for such a lukewarm reason.

“How did this happen…”

I just tried to calmly seek clues by helping Laurel with her work, but things got bigger and swollen to the point where I couldn’t keep up.

After taking a deep breath, I opened the door to the audience room where the emperor was. When the attendant opened the door, an old man with a familiar face was waiting for me with heavy breathing.

“Welcome.”

The emperor looked at me with eyes that were much fainter than before.