Kill the Emperor

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 109 : Good Sherazade

‘It is cold.’

What I, Hein Reichart, felt as I grasped the sword placed on the altar was a chill.

And it was a dizzying sensation as if my Aura was being sucked whole into the sword.

The famous sword, which had been asleep for a long time, stretched out violently as soon as it met someone to hold it, announcing that it was alive.

Clang-

Various Runes engraved on the blade also began to emit light.

‘It is burdensome for me to use right now, but the Former Family Head should be able to use it without difficulty.’

After carefully packing away the Knight Order Commander’s sword, I scanned the manual containing the Secret Art swordsmanship of the Falber Knight Order.

‘As expected. It is definitely different from the ones in the Reichart Secret Art Repository. As a swordsmanship manual for a Knight Order to learn as a group rather than individuals, this is incomparably superior.’

Both the sword and the Secret Art manual were satisfactory beyond measure.

Although the process was not smooth, having achieved results beyond expectations now, my mood could only be satisfied.

I spoke in a cheerful voice.

“Let us go back.”

***

Placing meat with a slightly seared surface on a plate, garnishing it with blanched eggplant next to it, and adding flavor with cherry sauce completed the dinner main dish, venison steak.

Grilled freshwater fish topped with spinach puree and potatoes that were boiled once, fried again, and sprinkled with cheese powder.

On top of that, even chilled fruit salad.

“Where did you learn all this, Master?”

Sherazade asked while munching on the fried potatoes generously piled on her plate.

“Just, here and there.”

“Hmm, judging only by your appearance, Master, you look like you would say ‘Meals are a luxury when outside. We must save time,’ but you are surprisingly good at things like this.”

“Since you suffered today. I should do at least this much for you.”

“Really?”

“No. It is a lie.”

“What is that!”

Sherazade, who burst into laughter once, smacked her lips and scooted closer to the steak holding a fork and knife.

‘It is a relief that she seems to have recovered from the shock.’

Watching that appearance, I let out a sigh of relief.

It was the original Sherazade.

Flare.

The forest night is long.

After eating dinner and cleaning up, dark darkness had settled tightly over the bonfire before I knew it.

Plop!

“By any chance, is there anything you want from me?”

Tilting the whiskey glass containing ice, I asked Sherazade.

“That, are you saying that to me right now?”

“Then who else is here besides you?”

“No. It is not that. Master, did you perhaps eat something you shouldn’t have at dinner earlier?”

“……I ate the same thing as you.”

“Then why so suddenly?”

I poured a little more whiskey into the glass and spoke.

“Because you suffered. Except for asking to release the Geas, I will consider it as positively as possible, so tell me if there is anything you have in mind.”

“Geas? No, no. I don’t need that. Anyway, even if the Master did that for me, I would dislike it.”

After shaking her head once, Sherazade fell into thought for a moment.

“Master, what are you going to do after drinking all that?”

“I should sleep. Since we have to hit the road early tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah. Then understood for now.”

Wondering what she was thinking, Sherazade rested her chin on her hand while grinning and intently watched my drinking time.

And as soon as she confirmed the glass was empty.

“Ah, time to sleep!”

After stretching once, she wiggled into the blanket.

And lifting the blanket, she patted the spot next to her and spoke.

“Here, Master. Come here quickly.”

***

A clear scent that seemed sweet yet refreshing seeped out from Sherazade’s hair that touched near my nose.

“Hmm, I think doing it like this would be more comfortable than this…….”

And Sherazade’s small head, which had occupied my upper right arm, busily shifted positions and found the optimal spot.

“Ah, this much is just right!”

When she, having finally succeeded in finding the optimal position, leaned her body toward me, her blue hair rippled and a much thicker scent covered my whole body.

“You can’t pull your arm out or anything just because I fell asleep.”

“……Understood.”

Facing Sherazade’s rabbit-like eyes, I nodded with a reluctant expression.

The answer Sherazade gave after deep consideration to my question of whether she wanted anything was ‘an arm pillow’.

Since I promised, I had no choice but to stick to this posture helplessly tonight.

“Ah, this is good!”

Perhaps the current arrangement was extremely satisfactory, Sherazade closed her eyes with a happy expression.

Looking down at her, I decided to ask something I had been curious about for a while.

“Why are you not wary of me?”

“Huh?”

“What is the reason you trust me to this extent? Even though I woke you up, I made you do various things that you weren’t exactly keen on. But why do you not hate me?”

Although Sherazade had never killed anyone directly, the things she had done for me so far must have been very unwilling tasks.

However, despite that, she seemed to trust me completely.

I was always curious about the reason.

“You ask why I trust the Master? Because your soul smells exactly like Dad.”

To my question, Sherazade answered with an expression asking why on earth I was asking something so obvious.

“You know. I really liked it when Dad hugged me.”

Sherazade closed her eyes and recalled her dad’s two arms that used to warmly embrace her.

A long time had passed, but she still remembered clearly even now.

“But your soul smells exactly like Dad, Master. Since I am connected to you by Geas, I can know very well.”

Yes, Master’s soul resembled Dad.

A blue and yet blue scent, resembling the wind, resembling the waves.

Swallowing the longing that suddenly rose up to her chin, Sherazade spoke.

“A person who smells exactly like Dad cannot be a bad person. So I trust the Master.”

At Sherazade’s unexpected answer, I could not say anything.

“Master, stroke my head.”

Sherazade lifted my left hand and brought it to her smooth forehead.

“And tell me ‘Good Sherazade, sleep well’ until I fall asleep.”

Although I didn’t hear an explanation, I could know.

That the actions she was demanding now were things her parents did for her in the past.

Rustle rustle.

My hand began to stroke down Sherazade’s blue hair.

How much time passed like that?

“Master, I saw Mom…… and Dad…… there earlier.”

She uttered a voice filled with trembling and buried her face in my forearm.

“……But Dad and Mom…… there…….”

Considering the intention with which the ‘Space of Trial’ was created, it was not difficult to guess in what form Sherazade’s parents appeared.

“Master…… I won’t be able to see…… Mom and…… Dad…… ever again, right?”

“…….”

“I know. I know but…… I-I know everything but…….”

Sherazade’s trembling became increasingly severe.

And at that moment when her trembling reached its peak.

“Good Sherazade. Sleep well.”

My hand movements stroking her head became a little more delicate.

“Ugh. Sob…… Sob…….”

“Good Sherazade…….”

“Sob.”

“Good Sherazade…….”

Zzz zzz.

Before I knew it, Sherazade’s breathing regained its peace.

Although tear stains had dried on her face, she had the most peaceful expression since she woke up from her long sleep.

Rustle rustle.

Even after that, the sound of stroking her head and the low voice continued for a long time.

***

The first thing I did after returning to the Royal Palace after finishing a week-long vacation was to summon Ismael, who had been guarding the Knight Order Headquarters during my absence.

“Did you rest well, Your Excellency!”

“Thanks to you. Are there any issues with the members?”

“All members of the Haken Knight Order have no issues whatsoever.”

Nodding once, I took out a longsword that exuded an ancient atmosphere and spoke.

“What happened to the matters I instructed before my vacation?”

“We have completed the tasks Your Excellency ordered.”

Before leaving for vacation, I had ordered Ismael to divide the Haken Knight Order into 3 squads and organize the formation.

“Who are the Squad Leaders for each squad?”

“Sir Pierce is in charge of Squad 1, Sir Hendrik is in charge of Squad 2, and Sir Peyton is in charge of Squad 3.”

“Good. Deliver this sword to Pierce. And Squad 1, including Pierce, is to depart for the Reichart territory immediately tomorrow morning.”

“……Do you mean the territory? Your Excellency.”

“Yes. The territory. Since I have passed the word to Sir Bolpar, he will provide guidance from that side. And when they go to the territory…….”

I drew the sword from the scabbard, checked its condition once more, and nodded.

Yes, no matter how many times I looked at it, it was an item not shameful to be held in the hand of the ‘Famous Sword of Zodiac’.

“Father will personally instruct the Squad 1 members. Including the new swordsmanship.”

“……!”

“The manual you guys will use is here. If you deliver it to Father along with the sword, Father will take care of the rest.”

“D-Do you mean the Former Family Head will personally instruct the members?”

Hearing my words, Ismael could only be startled.

Although all real power of the family had passed to me, Redin was still an existence akin to an idol to the martial artists of Reichart.

But to think Redin would personally instruct the members.

And even ‘new swordsmanship’ at that!

If this news is conveyed to the members, the impatient friends might shout cheers and start sprinting to the territory immediately.

And the members belonging to Squad 2 and 3 would clamor asking why they are not in Squad 1.

“It would be better for you to stay here and do personal training with me, but for the members, receiving instruction from Father will be more helpful. Since the competence of Father and I regarding swordsmanship is at a level that cannot be compared. The time the members will stay in the territory is two months.”

I pointed at the member deployment chart Ismael submitted and continued speaking.

“With a cycle of six months, the members of each squad will repeat these three tasks: Capital defense, Father’s teaching, and autonomous training. If the members of Squad 2 and 3 feel sad, explain it like this.”

“Haha…… Honestly speaking, even if I say that, I don’t think the members won’t feel sad…….”

“What can be done? Those friends have work to do here too.”

By shrugging my shoulders once, I passed the members who would vomit out resentment onto Ismael.

Knock knock knock.

Then.

“Your Excellency! The item Your Excellency ordered from the Magic Tower has arrived.”

“Bring it in.”

The door opened and a Mage appeared.

A box with a long shape was held in the Mage’s hand.

‘A Sealing Tool?’

And Ismael, who confirmed the gems and patterns suppressing Aura embedded in the Sealing Tool, shook his head.

“Make sure to tell Pierce to pay attention when transporting this sword. Be careful because if the sword slips out of the Sealing Tool by mistake, quite a troublesome thing will occur.”

“Understood. Your Excellency!”

Although he nodded, in fact, Ismael’s question was not yet resolved.

Just what kind of item is that sword that one has to pay separate attention even after preparing a Sealing Tool?

Smirk.

Reading his thoughts from Ismael’s expression, I smiled slightly.

And pointing at the ‘Falber Knight Order Commander’s Sword’ I brought from the labyrinth, I spoke.

“Ismael, would you like to try grabbing the hilt of this sword?”