Chapter 38
Chapter 38: Selection (2)
'Even though she had every right to be disappointed...'
Was family family for no reason? Even when there was cause for disappointment, because they understood and showed consideration, they were called family.
Erik was deeply grateful for Ruelle's compassion in his heart. The first prayer at the newly built Church had been missed because of him. Yet she had still accommodated his convenience.
"Erik, perhaps you're thinking of going to both places."
Ruelle, who had been sulking and pouting, grasped Erik's hand.
And then.
"Wherever you go, control your temper! Especially since the Pope tends to hold grudges a bit, so be careful!"
She gave Erik advice. As someone who knew his nature well, Ruelle seemed deeply worried.
"—And refrain from saying things like Tithe or whatever to His Majesty the Emperor!"
Nagging continued for quite a while. Erik listened in silence.
"And that ring, I haven't mentioned it because it's obvious it'll concern you given your personality... don't frown when people happen to look at it!"
Ruelle poured out her nagging while rising up on her tiptoes. When Erik lowly bent his body, she placed her hand over the ring on his head.
'The power to erase one's presence...'
A warm power flowed through Ruelle's touch. The presence of the ring above his head became faint.
"Hmm... this is my first time doing it for someone else, and it's a bit difficult."
"Thank you."
Erik bowed his head deeply, feeling the now-faint ring. It was finally time to head to the Imperial Palace.
The First District of the capital where the Miracle of Teleportation could not be used.
Behind him, Ruelle waved her hand and shouted.
"Imperial Palace date! Don't break your promise!"
Though Ruelle had shown consideration, of course it wasn't free. She had set an Imperial Palace date as the price.
'I'll have to make a good deal with the Emperor.'
Erik bowed slightly to Ruelle, who was waving from afar. Then he looked at Jang Du-sik and Janson, who were standing in front of the church's main gate.
Jang Du-sik quickly attached himself to Erik's right side.
A step late, limping slightly, Janson stood on Erik's left.
"Hey, lackey, your place is on the left."
Jang Du-sik grinned, and Janson contorted his scar.
Erik shook his head as he looked at Janson.
"Janson, manage the guests more thoroughly."
Ensuring everything was perfect for the worship service that would take place without him. He pulled out a complete Black Mage's Heart from his Inventory.
"This is a four-line heart. Use it to revive the old man quickly."
"Yes, Boss."
"And be extra careful that the orphanage children don't have contact with guests carelessly."
"Yes, Boss."
"I'm planning to cast a Holy Barrier over the entire church, so tell the twins not to wander around recklessly."
"Yes, Boss."
After some time had passed in conversation.
"Janson, I trust the church to you."
"Yes, Boss."
Straightforward Janson stood at the front gate, limping slightly. His hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, emanating a sharp air of prayer.
'Is it because a Black Mage appeared?'
By Erik's observation, Janson's momentum was not ordinarily sharp. His appearance was as grave as the first battlefield where they had met.
In response, Erik also steeled his resolve.
"—Barrier."
From Erik's fingertips, the Holy Barrier activated.
Bang!
A heavy Divine Power enveloped Ruelle's church. By the clear golden light, whether it was a Possessor or a Black Mage, even brushing against it would cause them to vanish.
"Well, that's disappointing. What am I supposed to do? Should I just lay a magic circle on the ground?"
Jang Du-sik pulled out a club from his Subspace Pouch and burned with enthusiasm.
"Du-sik, you have to follow me."
"Aren't we going to the Imperial Palace?"
As Erik walked briskly, Jang Du-sik hurriedly followed.
"Older brother, really? I'm going to see His Majesty the Emperor too?"
Though Erik had been invited to the Emperor's banquet, he was told he could bring along one attendant.
"That's right, Du-sik. Your role is to be my attendant."
"What kind of work do I do?"
"You just need to follow along well."
"I heard that a noble's attendant is a cushy job, and it really does seem that way."
Jang Du-sik was filled with excitement. Turning his head to look at the church's main gate, Janson turned his gaze away and looked elsewhere.
'That lackey Shek.'
Jang Du-sik shrugged proudly.
Ruelle's church grew more and more distant, and soon the District 2 checkpoint connecting to that area appeared. Erik suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Hmm, Du-sik. It looks like someone came to meet us."
The Imperial Capital Arman, capital of the Empire. A place as large as an average small kingdom.
Hiiiii!
The Imperial Guard was waiting for Erik along with a four-horse carriage.
Four massive snow-white horses, and behind them was a carriage made of solid true silver.
The carriage had stars embroidered on it, signifying an Imperial guest.
It was enough to naturally inspire admiration.
"Ooh, older brother. Is that the horse I've only heard about? The one that's slow but bred only for ceremonial purposes...?"
Jang Du-sik, filled with excitement, caught sight of Erik's expression and hurriedly cut himself short.
'A carriage sent only to those who have accomplished great deeds...'
Erik felt uneasy.
It seemed the Emperor was quite smitten with him.
***
"Your Majesty, the banquet preparations have been completed."
The Imperial Palace's chief attendant bowed his head.
The Emperor, for the first time in quite a while, rose from the Throne.
Thud!
The joints of his bones creaked loudly and the great hall trembled.
"Secretary Park, how have the formalities been handled?"
"I have prepared the utmost courtesy. To announce the sincerity of the Imperial Household, I sent a four-horse carriage, and the Imperial Guard is in charge of protecting Director Erik."
Secretary Park, stroking his long white beard, continued his report.
"The entire populace of the capital will welcome him on his journey to the Imperial Palace."
"Good. What of the banquet's spectators?"
"We have certainly invited all nobles of the rank of Baron and above in the Empire, as well as foreign dignitaries staying in the capital."
"Perfect."
Satisfied with Secretary Park's handling of matters, the Emperor headed toward the banquet hall. The First District of the capital consisted of seven palaces. The palace in the very center, where the Emperor resided, was called the Continental Palace, named for the Empire's long-cherished desire for continental unification.
"The supreme ruler of the Empire, father of all people. Descendant of the great silver moon. The great leader who shall unite the continent, His Majesty Emperor Esperoja Rofen Arman enters!"
In the banquet hall prepared on the first floor of the Continental Palace, the voice announcing the Emperor's entrance rang out loud and clear.
Applause and cheers erupted from all around, and through them came the Emperor's weighty footsteps.
Thud! Thud!
The Emperor leisurely swept his gaze across those gathered as he walked onto the dais. Seated at a level half a floor below were the Empire's officials and foreign dignitaries, who gazed upon the Emperor's majesty.
Squeak!
As Secretary Park respectfully pulled out his chair, the Emperor naturally sat down. From pulling out the chair to sitting down, it all appeared as a single motion.
The Emperor gazed at the carefully selected dishes placed on the dining table and, seemingly satisfied, praised Secretary Park.
At this sight, those gathered were overwhelmed.
'Dragon tail stew, no less.'
On the elevated dais sat a long dining table, upon which lay an array of delicacies from land and sea. This was a Dragon—a creature that required multiple Knight Orders and Magical Battalions just to hunt.
Skin and hide, teeth, bones, blood and flesh. Dragons were creatures where nothing was wasted.
'They eat that?'
At the Emperor's banquet, it was merely an ingredient.
'That, that is...'
The rare, precious Fairy's Elixir, which appeared only as a special reward from the Labyrinth, was held in a large water pitcher.
At the banquet, water was Fairy's Elixir.
'An item that heals 100% as long as the brain remains intact, and they drink it like water?'
There had never been such extravagant spending.
All present—whether Empire nobles or foreign dignitaries, gasped in astonishment.
The reason was that the banquet dishes extended in a line all the way to the seat where Erik would sit, directly across from the Emperor.
'Is this a pre-arranged banquet?'
Originally, the spectacle of a banquet hall was the Guillotine. The banquet was an event where those who failed to meet the Emperor's expectations had their heads cut off at the guillotine, and the Emperor dined with this as an appetizer.
'By historical standards, this is a rare occasion.'
The nobles assessed Erik's value in their minds. How many had received such promised glory at a banquet?
'Pilgrim Riferoze.'
The most recent banquet had been twenty years ago.
'Coincidentally, he is her disciple.'
Like teacher, like student, then?
Just as before, the Guillotine placed beside the banquet hall sat empty.
'A guillotine with its blade removed.'
The meaning was clear. A promised honor to be bestowed.
Such was the Emperor's intention.
***
"Du-sik, will the Emperor let me go?"
Erik asked from within the carriage, which clattered and rattled.
"What's that supposed to mean? You're speaking so carelessly in the carriage the Emperor sent?"
"Because the Emperor sent it, it's fine."
This carriage represented the sincerity of the Imperial Household. Not only eavesdropping, but even carrying weapons inside was not a problem for those who rode in it.
Such was the trust of the Imperial Household.
"So what do you think?"
Having finished his explanation, Erik returned to the main topic. Erik had planned to leave after meeting the Emperor and finishing the meal, but...
Judging by the four-horse carriage, wouldn't he likely have to attend the events following the banquet?
That was the feeling he had.
"I can't tell from just the carriage. Well, wouldn't you be able to tell from what the Imperial attendant shouts when you enter the Imperial Palace?"
Hmm. It was a sufficiently convincing argument.
In short, as long as the title announced wasn't more than two honorifics—whether it was 'Pilgrim Erik' or 'Director of the Possessor Management Bureau Erik'—he wouldn't need to worry too much.
'As long as there aren't more than two honorifics.'
As Erik fell into thought.
Hiiiii! Snort.
The carriage stopped simultaneously with the horse's neigh.
This meant they had arrived at the Continental Palace, the very center of the First District of the capital.
Knock! Knock!
At the polite knock, Erik opened the door.
Click!
Beyond the opened door, the Imperial Guard came into view. They lined up on both sides, drew their swords, and crossed them in an X pattern.
This was the highest-level courtesy displayed by the Imperial Guard.
"Du-sik, refrain from opening your mouth if at all possible."
Erik descended from the carriage and walked beneath the crossed swords. Jang Du-sik looked around nervously and followed Erik. A club hung from his fingertips, yet Jang Du-sik was so entranced by the magnificent sight of the Imperial Palace that he didn't even think to put it away.
Erik felt the same way.
'Just how much wealth does the Empire have?'
Though he had come to the First District several times on business as Director of the Possessor Management Bureau...
This was his first time seeing the Continental Palace up close.
'That's all true silver.'
That they had built the entire structure from solid true silver... Even seeing it, it was difficult to believe.
True silver was the material that best received Aura, and it was a mineral of higher rank than Mithril.
Drrrr!
The vast gates of the glittering Imperial Palace, which held the light of the moon, opened wide. And through the long corridor, the servants of the Imperial Palace lowered their heads and welcomed Erik.
Their manner was as reverent as if they were receiving a member of the royal family.
'This won't be easy.'
Erik walked steadily through the servants. At the end of that passage, the Emperor's banquet hall appeared.
A massive gate, elaborate with jewels and carvings of the Empire's myths.
Before the gates of the banquet hall, an Imperial servant opened them wide.
And spoke:
"He who vanquished the Black Mage of the Labyrinth, the savior; he who oversees the Empire's Possessors as Directorof the Possessor Management Bureau; and he who holds the position of Pilgrim of the Astia Religious Order—Lord Erik enters!"
Good grief.
Erik pressed his temples tightly.
'One fewer honorific than the Emperor.'
The number of honorifics was exceptional. This meant just how much the Emperor had anticipated this moment.
"Your Majesty, I am honored to meet you. Glory to the Empire!"
"Be seated."
At opposite ends of the long dining table. Erik stood before his chair, facing the Emperor directly.
Normally, it was standard courtesy for an attendant to pull out the chair, but.
'As if this one would know such things.'
Drrrr!
Erik pulled out his own chair and sat down. Jang Du-sik stood vacantly with his head lowered, positioned to Erik's right.
At this, the Emperor laughed heartily and said.
"Like teacher, like student, indeed."
Erik knew that Riferoze had also dined with the Emperor.
However.
'Did my teacher bring an attendant?'
It was something he had never heard of.
Thus, he asked.
"Your Majesty, what attendant did my teacher bring?"
"A Possessor. At that time, the precise terminology didn't exist, so she called him a foreign body of the world."
A Possessor who had appeared twenty years ago.
A being senior to Erik.
'An elf, then.'
Erik recalled several beings who had possessed before him. They all shared the commonality of being born as young children, just like Erik.
'They could be reincarnators.'
What did the terminology matter?
"So then, is the lump next to you also a Possessor?"
What was immediately important was the confirmation of Jang Du-sik's existence.
Erik intended to elevate Jang Du-sik's standing. That way, his own freedom of action would be greater.
Thus he asked.
"Your Majesty, may I briefly use Divine Power?"
The Emperor gestured with his hand, his eyes full of curiosity.
Riferoze had presented at the banquet a Possessor who burned with Divine Power.
'I'm curious.'
A being that burned with Divinity without being a Black Mage—that was truly a groundbreaking discovery.
So what would happen this time?
The Emperor's crimson eyes became clearer.
"—Consecration."
As Erik received that gaze, he performed Consecration on Jang Du-sik.
Diiing!
Sparkling light blossomed above Jang Du-sik.
Consecration, the act of filling the human body with Divine Power to its limit. The nobles and dignitaries who had been summoned to the banquet gasped in shock.
'He'll burst to death.'
In the chaos caused by the Black Mage, there had been significant development in the applications of Divine Power.
However, experiments often yielded negative results as well.
Among them, performing Consecration on a human was considered a kind of taboo. Excessive Divinity is poison.
Surely that was the case...
"Does it... work?"
The sparkling mass tilted its head while scattering the light.
And.
"Huh. Where the teacher presented a Possessor for the first time, the disciple presents successful Consecration on a human for the first time."
The Emperor's eyes gleamed. Like a Gold Dragon upon discovering treasure.
At this, Erik smiled widely.
"Jang Du-sik can still receive Consecration."
"Jang Du-sik, I see. Despite appearances, he was a mage. That crude club must be his staff!"
The Emperor struck the table and marveled.
Was this not a truly novel discovery?
A weak mage had received Consecration and survived. What if this were applied to a Knight?
The Emperor, who stood on the eve of a conquest war, was thoroughly intrigued.
'Knights wielding swords infused with Aura and Divinity.'
He had even settled on the name in his mind.
"The Empire's Holy Divine Knight Order."
Erik merely bowed his head.
Beneath the bowed head, a wry smile had formed.