Chapter 11
✦ Chapter 11 – The Emperor (4) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
Carsten Leonhart.
Born an illegitimate child, he killed the incompetent emperor and ascended to the throne himself. He had the capability to restore the ruined empire remarkably quickly, and he also possessed the strength, having killed both the former Emperor and the Crown Prince.
“Aren’t you going to answer? I asked where you learned the Shadow Step.”
Every single word from the emperor felt like it drilled directly into my brain
[Dominance]
Lucas had the same trait.
But it was on a different level than Lucas’s. At this moment, even breathing seemed like an action I needed the emperor’s permission for.
When I remained silent, the Emperor spoke again.
This time, I subtle shift in his demeanor as the Emperor ceased his [Dominance].
Perfect control over his traits — that was the gap between him and me.
“At first, I tried to remove the mask. But it wouldn’t come off.”
Well, of course. This mask wouldn’t come off unless I willed it.
A thin smile stretched across his lips.
“I considered imbuing my sword with Aura and slicing it off, but I decided against it. Wouldn’t want my son’s friend to get hurt, now, would we?”
Mirroring his smile, I said, “You would have scarred this handsome face of mine.”
“Just as Lucas described.”
“He called me handsome? How embarrassing,” I retorted playfully.
Despite my lighthearted tone, my mind raced.
‘He definitely called it Shadow Step.’
The only person I knew who used Shadow Step was Phantom Cardinal, who had vanished without a trace.
It was a known fact from playing Croaka that the Emperor recovered a national treasure stolen by the Phantom Cardinal.
Assuming the Emperor clashed with Cardinal and saw the Shadow Step in action during that process, it made sense for him to assume my movements were similar to Cardinal’s after watching my test video.
However, this would not lead to the question, ‘Where did you learn the Shadow Step?’
Unless Cardinal explicitly stated that his technique was called Shadow Step, it made no sense for the emperor to know its exact name.
‘What am I missing?’
“Have you thought it through enough? You better have a good answer for me this time. Where did you learn the Shadow Step?”
The Emperor already knew I was thinking while speaking.
Knowing that, I could be a bit more brazen, couldn’t I?
“I apologize, Your Majesty. Would you mind if I pondered a little longer?”
“The audacity… Very well. Think to your heart’s content,” the Emperor scoffed.
The Shadow Step skill book in Croaka contained this line —
[A technique never mastered by anyone except Phantom Cardinal].
If this statement is true, did the Phantom Cardinal personally explain Shadow Step to the emperor?
‘Why on earth?’
What the Phantom Cardinal stole were the officials’ money and national treasures. The Emperor reclaimed the national treasures himself. So where did the officials’ money go?
The Emperor, upon killing the previous Emperor, soothed a distraught empire by distributing a massive amount of food from his own personal funds. But where did that money come from?
While Croaka didn’t delve deeply into the Emperor’s past, it was no secret that he came from humble beginnings.
Could it be?
“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” I began.
“Have you thought it through? Let’s hear your answer then.”
“Could it be that Your Majesty is the Phantom Cardinal?”
The emperor, still reclining comfortably in his chair with his arm resting casually, seemed unperturbed, as if being discovered was of no consequence.
“Hmm, why do you think that?”
At first, I thought perhaps the Phantom Cardinal and the Emperor were in a collaborative relationship. But in that scenario, the Phantom Cardinal stood to gain nothing, as the Emperor took everything he stole.
Next, I considered the possibility that the Phantom Cardinal was a loyal subordinate who pledged allegiance to the Emperor. This would explain why he handed everything over to the emperor.
But there was a flaw in that theory too.
Later in Croaka, the Emperor dies. If the Phantom Cardinal had been loyal, he would have appeared then.
Thus, the only remaining possibility was that the emperor himself was the Phantom Cardinal.
The thought was ludicrous, yet it was the only explanation that made sense.
“Perhaps it’s just the intuition of a handsome man,” I said with a shrug.
I couldn’t explain it all, so I just said that. Besides, I had no intention of letting the emperor die.
“I didn’t deny it, did I? Do you know why?”
“Because even if I knew, nothing would change.”
I could run through the empire shouting “The Emperor is Phantom Cardinal!”, and no one would believe me.
“And what if I killed you to silence you?”
“Oh, come on. Didn’t you say it yourself earlier, that I’m your son’s friend?
‘I considered imbuing my sword with Aura and slicing it off, but I decided against it. Wouldn’t want my son’s friend to get hurt, now, would we?’
“And that’s the only thing stopping me?”
“There’s another reason.”
“And what might that be?”
“Because I am, without a doubt, a valuable asset to the Empire!”
“What? Hahaha!”
The emperor laughed heartily for a long while before stopping and looking at me. His eyes now held the gleam of someone who had found a treasure they liked.
“You are truly fascinating and to my liking. If you had been around during my academy days, I would have definitely recruited you right after those two.”
This was the highest compliment the Emperor could give.
During his academy days, the Emperor had carefully and secretly gathered allies to his side. The “those two” he referred to were now the Dukes of Adellian and Freya.
It might be an overstatement, but this meant the emperor valued me highly enough to place me just after those formidable figures.
“Haha, thank you for the compliment. Receiving praise from Your Majesty is something I’d like to pass down through generations. May I take my leave now?”
“Stop.”
His demeanor made it hard to believe he was the same man who was just laughing. His voice was ice-cold, his expression serious.
“You haven’t answered my question. Where did you learn the Shadow Step?”
Tsk, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Just as I was about to reveal the truth—
“As a reward for entertaining me, let’s make a wager. If you can land even a single strike on me, I won’t ask about Shadow Step.”
What? Attack the emperor? There’s no way I’d commit such a reckless act. I might as well just tell the truth.
“A wager should have a reward, don’t you think? Land an attack, and I’ll give you a rare elixir.”
I unsheathed my staff and charged, swinging at the Emperor. Rare elixirs? Irresistible!
The Emperor, still seated, merely tilted his head, effortlessly evading my attack; this time, I aimed a downward strike from above to eliminate his dodging angle.
*Clang!*
My staff hit nothing but the empty chair.
The Emperor was behind me. He’d moved so fast…
Employing Shadow Step, I lunged, but he casually sidestepped as if it were nothing. Other people were caught off guard by the unusual movement of the technique. Apparently not the Emperor.
There was nothing flashy about the Emperor’s movements; just a simple step in one direction or another. And yet, that was all he needed to keep my staff from connecting.
“I had a feeling from the footage the Headmaster sent, but seeing it in person, your swordsmanship resembles Duke Adellian’s quite a bit.”
*Swish*
The Emperor commented leisurely, dodging another swing with ease.
“Speaking of the Duke, I heard from him recently that the Duchess has been fully cured,” the Emperor remarked conversationally.
*Swish*
I continued my assault.
“The Duchess’ recovery is wonderful news for the Empire, as well as for myself. The Duchess was close to the Empress, you see. So, I sent a gift.”
*Swish. Swoosh*
“I hear the individual who cured her—someone no one else could—is quite young. The Duke promised them anything they desired as a reward.”
*Whoosh. Swish. Whoosh. Swoosh.*
My movements became a blur as I attacked relentlessly.
“He also said that he’s been teaching the healer how to fight. Though he doesn’t wield a sword himself, it’s no issue for him. He’s peerless in matters of fighting.”
*Swoosh. Whoosh. Swish.*
“He told me much about the child he’s been teaching. He described the child as a wild beast and said he even wanted to take the child in as his adopted son.”
*Swoosh*
He effortlessly parried every attack I threw at him, his expression as casual as if he were discussing the weather while out for a morning stroll. Not a single strike grazed him.
“Seeing you now, I don’t quite see a beast.”
“Haha. A beast, you say? That was just a tale from my reckless youth.”
Looking back, the thought of my past immature behavior made me cringe. Hearing that the Duke wanted to adopt me was surprising; I’d have to tease him about it someday.
“Stopping your attacks already? Are you giving up?”
“Giving up? I still have plenty of tricks up my sleeve.”
As I had against the golem, I conjured nine illusions of myself. Ten figures, my real form hidden among them, dashed towards the Emperor, all utilizing Shadow Step.
“Just like before, your unique magic is quite fascinating. But it’s still lacking.”
The Emperor, who had been on the defensive until now, took a single step forward.
Despite the small movement, the impact was significant.
Before I knew it, all my illusions had vanished.
And in my stunned silence, the Emperor’s sword was at my throat. When had he even drawn it?
Most people wouldn’t be able to grasp the situation, but I could understand what had happened.
The Emperor had used Shadow Step – my Shadow Step – against me.
However, his mastery was on a different plane.
While Johanna strained to differentiate between illusions, the Emperor had effortlessly cut through my illusions as if they were mere wisps of smoke and stopped his blade before my neck.
“I concede.”
In the quiet space, my declaration of defeat softly echoed.
— End of Chapter —
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