Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Clang—!
Releasing killing intent in front of the Emperor was something that could get one charged with treason.
The Royal Knights standing guard drew their swords, but the Emperor lightly waved his hand to stop them.
“…….”
That felt like a sufficient show of force, so I gathered my aura back inside.
When I straightened my disheveled clothes, I could feel different gazes pouring onto me, brushing over my skin.
Even I couldn’t help but tense up at that.
They were the Empire’s real powers, each holding the highest authority in their own fields.
Enemies I would have to fight in the future.
“The future of the Empire looks bright. I, Gayaon, sincerely admire you.”
So the Chancellor’s name was Gayaon.
He apologized for his earlier rudeness and bowed politely.
“…….”
All the nobles wore similar expressions.
How could they use me to move things in a way that benefited themselves?
In contrast, my two older brothers couldn’t take any stance at all.
Carius looked genuinely flustered.
He must never have imagined, even in his dreams, that I—whom he had scorned and ignored—had been hiding my strength.
As long as the Crown Prince had not yet been chosen, the variable known as me would be a major obstacle to him.
Of course, I had no intention of becoming Emperor.
It would be difficult anyway, and sitting in a position like that would probably only earn me a stomach ulcer.
“That will be all. Withdraw. I will convey my decisions regarding what follows at a later time.”
The Emperor dismissed us.
He was drawing a sharp line, intending to discuss what came after—aside from informing us about August—only with his trusted confidants.
I had no complaints.
Allying with the demon race was something the Holy Kingdom could seize upon.
If word leaked, it was obvious chaos would ensue.
But Carius seemed to take it differently.
He had always attended the meetings where the Empire’s major and minor affairs were decided at the Emperor’s side.
Being excluded now was practically the same as being cast out, and the look on his face as he left the audience chamber was quite something.
“…I never thought you’d been hiding your strength.”
There was no trace of superiority left on Carius’s face as he spoke to me.
With no hint of composure, he looked at me like an enemy, and I even felt a sense of satisfaction.
“To survive in a harsh world, shouldn’t one hide a fang or two?”
I, too, discarded the polite demeanor I’d shown until now.
When I shrugged lightly and replied, his eyes narrowed.
He let out a small, hollow laugh, then turned away without the slightest hesitation.
Darius followed after him, his face pale.
Part of me wanted to smack them on the back of the head and give them a good scolding, but there was no longer any need to pay them attention.
The sudden event—an audience with the Emperor—ended successfully.
I had no more business here and wanted to head straight for Britain, but I postponed my schedule by a day due to a newly arisen event.
“Phew.”
When I returned to my room and sprawled on the sofa, Parsi brought in some refreshments.
As we passed the time chatting about all that had piled up between us, someone knocked on the door.
“Open it.”
When Parsi opened the door, an old man with a familiar face appeared.
I spoke to him with a bitter smile born of sheer disbelief.
“Well, well. And who might you be, Master?”
“Heh heh, even empty words make me feel good.”
They really were empty words, but Yohanel looked pleased.
I let out a short sigh and shook my head.
“Didn’t all my plans to reveal myself after reaching Sword Master just get completely ruined?”
“I was annoyed that those bastards were ignoring you. Tsk, tsk—ignorant fools. To think they couldn’t tell that a tiger pretending to be a rabbit was baring its fangs right in front of them.”
Clicking his tongue, Yohanel lamented the dark fate of the Empire.
“So, what’s this about a successor? I’m pretty sure I clearly refused that before.”
“It’s just a formality. Nothing you need to worry about.”
He said it casually, but it didn’t seem like that was all.
After all, the meaning a Sword Saint carried within the Empire implied more than even the Emperor.
‘Well, either way, it’s nothing that’ll harm me.’
Honestly, I didn’t know why the Sword Saint was showing me this much favor.
No matter how much I complained, he accepted it all with an understanding expression.
“So, it’s break now, right? What are you planning to do? If you want, you could come to my territory—”
“I’m going to Britain.”
Yohanel’s eyes lit up as he started to speak.
Before he could finish, I quickly cut in and told him my plans.
“While attending the Academy, I became close with a young lady from the Britain Ducal House. I was invited along with a few friends. I was delayed a bit due to the Imperial Palace schedule, but it ended earlier than expected, so I shouldn’t fall too far behind.”
“…That’s rather surprising.”
“……?”
I didn’t know what was so surprising.
Yohanel stroked his beard and said,
“I never thought you’d form normal friendships. Acquaintances, maybe, but friends? If the knights of my territory heard that, they’d burst out laughing.”
“Well, that’s—”
I was about to say, Who do you take me for? but since I really was something of a rascal, I closed my mouth with an awkward expression.
“That aside, Britain, huh. What an incredible coincidence. In three days, the Duke of Britain is coming to visit my territory.”
“King Arthur, you mean?”
It was the first I’d ever heard that King Arthur and Yohanel were close enough to visit each other’s territories.
When I showed my surprise, Yohanel thumped his chest as if nothing were odd.
“I’m the Sword Saint, the Sword Saint. There isn’t a single guy on this continent known for wielding a blade who hasn’t passed through me.”
“Ah, yes.”
Well, there really was no one who could rival him with a sword.
As if he was done with everything he wanted to say, Yohanel stood up.
“Then I’ll see you later, my disciple.”
“…That disciple thing again.”
Still, it didn’t feel all that bad.
The next day, I packed my belongings to head for the Britain Ducal House.
Since I didn’t know when I’d return to the Imperial Palace, I swept up all valuables—jewels included—and stuffed them into my subspace bag.
Parsi showed a hint of regret at the news that I was leaving again.
But soon she brightened and said she would wait for me no matter how long it took, to the point it felt almost touching.
“Parsi.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…What would you do if I said I was leaving the Imperial Palace?”
Quick-witted as she was, she realized I wasn’t talking about a simple outing.
She seemed to ponder for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth.
“If my family’s safety is guaranteed, I want to follow you, Your Highness.”
“I see.”
It was an answer that lifted my spirits.
I had more than enough leeway to look after Parsi’s family.
I told her that I might be leaving the Imperial Palace soon.
There was no concrete plan yet, but it was practically a foregone conclusion.
Money was rotting in excess anyway.
I could hire people and run a merchant caravan, or if not that, go down to one of the southern regions and settle in a territory I owned.
“I’ll wait until you call for me, Your Highness.”
“Alright. I’ll contact you soon. Make sure you pack your things properly.”
I’d thought the Imperial Palace schedule would take at least a week, but it ended in less than half that time.
If things went well, I might even reach Britain before them.
In that case, finding a decent spot and doing some sightseeing first didn’t sound bad.
After resolving Parsi’s matter as well, I headed toward the magic tower with a light heart.
Court mages soon guided me inside, and I used a teleportation spell bound for Britain.
With the familiar sensation of floating, my body lifted.
When I slowly opened my eyes to the dazzling rays of light, something felt off.
“……?”
The floating sensation didn’t fade.
It was as if I were drifting in zero gravity.
“…What the hell?”
Once my eyes adjusted to the light, a curse slipped from my mouth on its own.
An endless expanse of layered mountain ranges filled my view.
I was hovering in midair above them.
“…….”
No words came out in my panic.
But reality was merciless.
The floating sensation that had seemed eternal came to an end, and my body became bound by gravity.
“Fuuuuuuuck—!”
My head went blank at the dizzying height.
Sword Expert or whatever, if I fell from here, I’d be smashed to a pulp.
I’d once done a descent drill from an eleven-meter mock tower with just a rope during special training, but this was too much.
“Uaaaaargh—!”
I desperately flailed my limbs, even drawing up mana, but there was nothing to grab onto in the empty air.
Just before kissing the ground, I barely came to my senses and shouted with everything I had.
“No one—! Can harm me—!”
Bzzzz—
Brilliant light flared, and blue armor covered my entire body.
The moment the ground rushed right up to my face, I squeezed my eyes shut, and a heavy impact slammed into me, forcing the air from my lungs.
Kwaaaaaang—!
A deafening explosion rang in my ears.
At the same time, a system message appeared before my eyes.
[SYSTEM: Due to receiving impact beyond a certain threshold, the Armor of Achilles has been deactivated.]
It seemed the armor protecting my body couldn’t withstand the shock and was released.
I was bounced off the ground by the aftermath, rolling an uncountable number of times before I finally managed to stop.
“Cough—ahh, fuck this life…….”
I lay sprawled on the ground, staring up at the sky.
Why did the scenery have to be this beautiful? There wasn’t a single place on my body that didn’t hurt.
When I barely lifted my head, I saw that halfway up the mountain—along the path I’d rolled down—there was a massive crater, as if a meteor had struck.
So I’d rolled all the way down from there.
“Hah.”
It was a miracle I’d survived.
I really thought I was going to die.
I mean, I hadn’t even been fighting a Demon King—almost dying from falling out of the sky was just ridiculous.
“Those bastard sons of bitches.”
Suddenly, a surge of rage flared up.
Someone had definitely pulled some strings.
I swore that when I got back, I’d start by tearing out the mages’ throats.
Of course, the mages had probably only taken orders.
So who was behind it? Most likely either Carius or Darius.
I hadn’t touched them because they had roles to play later, and now they seemed to be taking me lightly.
I’d send both of them to lie beside August’s hospital bed.
“Hoo…….”
Grinding my teeth, I barely got to my feet.
I even doubted whether this place was Britain at all.
From what I’d seen while falling, it was deep in the mountains.
If the fall had failed, had they tried to kill me by sending me to some remote wilderness?
First, I opened my subspace bag to change clothes.
My current outfit was for the Imperial Palace—impractical.
I changed into simple clothes befitting a traveler, and I also used an artifact to change my hair color back to Ostia’s.
My armament was a single sword.
Anything more would be excessive.
I also had plenty of emergency rations.
I could last at least a week.
The problem was how to get out of here.
Grrr.
“……?”
Suddenly, murderous intent stabbed at my vitals.
Not just one or two.
When I lifted my head and looked around, I could see countless monstrous beasts revealing themselves from all sides.
“Fuck…….”
It seemed my hardships were only just beginning.