Chapter 211

“Perhaps the very foundation of the title ‘Grand Emperor’ originated from there. Achieving a series of accomplishments that everyone praises… It’s not just something to marvel at as merely remarkable, right?”

“Usually, it’s one of two reactions: admiration or envy. But this is a new perspective. Ultimately, it was with the power of a demon that such great deeds were possible.”

“Doesn’t that pique your curiosity?”

“I’m listening because I’m curious. Though, I can’t shake off the feeling that you’ve already drawn your own conclusions…” Raul shrugged. “But who cares? You must have your reasons. Something that everyone can empathize with.”

“Yes.”

“So, the conclusion is this. The emperor, whom we thought was remarkable, is really an apostle of the evil god Gramaticus.”

“…That’s right.”

“Then he would want to hide that fact.”

“That’s why he sent those things. It probably hasn’t been disclosed outside. Everyone in the Brave Lions Guild seems oblivious.”

“It’s something even those below him wouldn’t want to be made public. Should I take this as good news?”

“Of course. That’s exactly why I’ve gone to such lengths to convince you, Raul.”

“Me? Why?”

“Although not yet, if I’m correct, we’ll soon have something that can be considered evidence. Then what should we do?”

“Spread the word.”

“And stir things up a bit. With just a bit of seasoning on already sensational raw materials.”

“You want me to do that?”

“People perform best when they’re motivated by personal conviction.”

“What about those things, then?” Raul pointed behind him with his thumb. “Can’t we just capture them now?”

The Army of the Dead.

According to Seojin, it was the emperor’s Achilles’ heel and could provide a solid justification for this situation.

“Not now.” Seojin shook his head.

It would be good if he could get them, as long as the emperor didn’t find out.

“The emperor hasn’t acted because he still has something to protect.”

“If it falls into our hands, it will spread immediately. You’re right.”

“The situation will escalate. Naturally, there will be significant casualties.”

“Are you saying we can fend off an attack aimed at us?”

“In two days, certainly. We only need to defend until then. After that, it’s time to switch from defense to offense.”

Seojin’s confidence astonished Raul.

But Seojin wasn’t bluffing.

-The fleet is full! We’re at the point of handing out reserve tickets. Not to individuals, but parties!

BunnyRabbit said.

An incredible number of Valaran players wanted to join Seojin aboard the ship. So much so that Heinrich Valaran himself led the construction of new ships, fearing they couldn’t handle the numbers.

‘Magic is really useful at times like this.’

Normally, shipbuilding would take a considerable amount of time. But thanks to a legion of court mages pouring mana into the project without stint, work progressed quite swiftly.

“So, the bottom line is this. Keeping those things captive until two days from now is the best course of action.”

“Keep the matter about Gramaticus to yourself, Raul, until the situation blows up.”

“And what would that situation be?”

“Either those things return, or our people arrive first. Isn’t that obvious?”

Whether it was defense or offense, the real action started then.

Seojin sent Raul back.

Soon, a message arrived from the potential biggest victim of this affair.

-Hey, how long do I have to stay like this?

It was the one from Great Red who had volunteered to step out, saying he didn’t mind dying in this place.

To maintain this standoff, he had to hold his position, and it had been almost an hour.

-Is it tough?

-Not too bad yet, I was just curious.

-You’ll probably need to maintain your position for another two days.

-I haven’t even had breakfast today…

-Not just you. We’ll rotate you out.

Even Seojin wouldn’t make someone stand in one place for two days straight, unless he was doing it himself.

-Are you sure it’s okay? Wouldn’t they just give up and go back if one more person shows up?

-We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen, but if it does, there’s nothing we can do. You can’t hold the place alone. Anyway, wait. I’ll send someone soon.

-Aye.

The guild member’s concern was perfectly rational. Seojin had also thought about this, and so, he had come up with a contingency plan.

“…You want me to wear this and go?”

“Only until you get there. Take it off as soon as you switch.”

“Is this okay really?”

“It might not be. If they attack, you’ll die. I can’t guarantee anything.”

He was facing another guild member – a woman who had followed Seojin since the Asgard days.

“I don’t mind dying. But won’t this break the formation?”

Being such a person, she also had insight into the situation. Faced with the same concern, Seojin gave the same response.

“If that happens, we have no choice but to fight. Or just send them back.”

“…Well, everyone’s stamina isn’t what it used to be.”

Five years ago, staying up for two nights would have been nothing. But time had passed, and now they couldn’t resort to such brute force methods.

But fortunately,

-I’ve switched. No problems.

The method they thought of worked. Now, there was only one thing left.

“Wait. Until everyone arrives.”

That was hoping for the best, while preparing for the worst was all they could do.

* * *

The Camilton Empire.

The minister of defenses, Fyod, sat with his chin propped on his hand, tapping his fingers on the desk.

‘Why hasn’t there been any contact yet?’

There should have been a report of their return by now. Never before had it taken so long for the emperor’s personal guards to carry out a task.

‘Could it have been not just an unfounded rumor?’

Fyod twirled his mustache gently. The world may mock his mustache as that of a weasel, but he took pride in it. And Fyod twirling his mustache meant he was in a state of great psychological unrest.

The start of this situation was rather small.

“There’s a strange rumor going around among the adventurers,” reported one of the adventurers under Fyod’s command.

A bold adventurer was bragging about attacking the Empire. When Fyod first heard the news, he couldn’t help but scoff.

‘An adventurer declaring war on the Empire? Ha, it would be more believable if they said the sky was falling.’

That was Fyod’s initial thought. But the strange rumors didn’t end there. Evidence began to emerge, evidence seemingly trivial when isolated, but altogether too strange when happening simultaneously.

Saint Aikora began external activities. Gathering the archbishops of each temple, he started preaching something before settling down in the Temple of Luna to start some futile endeavor. The Rat Muedron began visiting the Cursed Land far too often. Golden King Alio spent a massive amount of gold improving and securing his private villa.

And then there was Grand Admiral Martini. The reliable man who oversaw the Empire’s seas, suddenly started a project to build additional ships.

‘Something is wrong. Something is off.’

It could be an overreaction. It could be nothing more but an odd series of coincidences . It was hard to doubt them, given their firm loyalty to the Empire.

And even as the minister of defense, Fyod’s status didn’t allow him to suspect and probe into their affairs lightly, given their high standing.

However, just a moment ago, Fyod finally became convinced that he needed to act.

“An adventurer visited the Pantheon? And yet no one in the guild was informed?”

Someone unknown to even the Brave Lions guild had visited the Pantheon.

Though the only evidence was the testimony of a low-ranking priest, the timing was peculiar.

Fyod drew his sword.

“Summon the emperor’s personal guard. There’s an urgent need for them.”

If the situation was indeed true, mere pressure wouldn’t suffice. Moreover, gathering evidence against formidable opponents was not easy. Nor could he strike blindly without evidence.

Thus, Fyod chose the emperor’s personal guard as his move.

‘If it’s by the emperor’s will, no one can object to it.’

What if there was something there? An overwhelming force would settle it. If it was a coincidence and those present were innocent? It was regrettable, but there would be unavoidable casualties.

It would still be a sacrifice for the Empire. And in that case, it could serve as an appropriate warning.

To remind everyone that no one is immune to the emperor’s sword.

That’s what he had thought, anyway.

‘What exactly is there…?’

It had been hours already. The personal guards hadn’t returned, nor had any other news come through.

Sending someone to check wasn’t easy. It was a matter that absolutely could not be exposed.

After much deliberation, Fyod made a decision.

“Everyone leave. I have a place to visit.”

His confidante made the arrangements to ensure no one knew Fyod had left the palace.

In the palace, Fyod was the minister of defense, but in the past, on the battlefield, he was a warrior not inferior to the Sword of the Empire.

‘Sending someone unreliable could complicate the situation further.’

Fyod understood the importance of force.

In solving problems, direct force was often the best approach.

“As for the entourage…”

“Leave everyone behind. Report only to His Majesty. If I do not return by tomorrow, proceed as deemed appropriate.”

The appropriate procedure meant deploying the Empire’s central army. If the opponent could overpower even Fyod himself, then quietly resolving the situation would be impossible.

Fyod stepped through the warp gate.

Though it didn’t directly connect to the Golden King’s territory, it was close enough. Renting a horse from a nearby station, Fyod rode at a gallop, sword in hand.

After a while.

“…Hmm.”

He finally encountered the bizarre situation, whether to consider this fortunate or unfortunate.

“It seems it wasn’t a wasted trip.”

He assessed the situation first.

The Emperor’s personal guards, whom he had sent, stood stiffly in an awkward atmosphere, all made so by a single woman.

‘An adventurer.’

A member of the Brave Lions guild, no less.

Only then did Fyod truly understand the situation.

‘So this is why couldn’t carry out their orders.’

The Emperor’s personal guards were ordered not to attack the guild’s adventurers. Both commands were from Fyod, and thus the personal guard couldn’t prioritize their actions. It would be foolish to expose oneself to further scrutiny in such a situation.

Quietly, concealing his presence, Fyod snuck closer to the personal guard – close enough for his voice to carry. Then, revealing his presence, Fyod rapidly closed the distance, and the adventurer’s eyes widened as she began to shout something.

But already.

“Kill everyone here except Fyod, the minster of defenses. That is the top priority command.”

The emperor’s personal guards no longer was held back by their conflicting orders.