My Magical System

Instead of leading Eman to the Imperial Throne Room, the Imperial Knight Captain escorted him to one of the palace's quiet balconies overlooking the magnificent royal gardens.

The morning breeze carried the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, while rows of carefully trimmed hedges stretched across the vast courtyard below. Marble fountains sparkled beneath the afternoon sunlight, and colorful birds occasionally landed among the flowering trees before taking flight once again.

Standing near the balcony's stone railing was the Emperor himself.

His back was turned as he silently admired the peaceful scenery beyond the palace walls.

The Imperial Knight Captain stopped several steps away before respectfully bowing.

"Your Majesty, he has arrived."

The Emperor slowly turned around.

The moment his eyes landed on the young man standing behind the Knight Captain, a faint but genuine smile appeared on his face.

"Eman."

Eman bowed respectfully.

"It's good to see you again, Your Majesty."

However, as soon as he looked more closely at the Emperor, he noticed something different.

The Emperor appeared noticeably more exhausted than the last time they had met.

Although his posture remained dignified, there was an unmistakable weariness hidden behind his calm smile. The wrinkles beneath his eyes had deepened, and his complexion looked slightly paler.

For someone as observant as Eman, those small details were impossible to miss.

The Emperor chuckled softly.

"Come."

He gestured toward the empty chair beside him.

"Keep me company, Honorable Knight Eman."

Eman smiled shyly at the title before his name. He couldn't get used to it.

Without hesitation, he walked over.

Seeing that his duty had been completed, the Imperial Knight Captain bowed one final time before quietly leaving the balcony, allowing the two of them to speak in private.

The Emperor personally poured tea into two porcelain cups before sitting down.

Eman naturally took the seat across from him.

To an outsider, the sight would have seemed almost unbelievable. One was the supreme ruler of the Empire. The other was merely a young academy student.

Yet they conversed as though they were longtime acquaintances rather than emperor and subject.

That was precisely how the Emperor wanted.

Whenever they met in private, he insisted that Eman treat him as a friend instead of addressing him with excessive formality.

According to the Emperor, honest conversations were impossible if everyone around him feared his title.

A young maid soon arrived carrying a silver tray filled with freshly baked pastries.

After carefully placing everything on the table, she bowed gracefully before quietly leaving the balcony.

The moment the doors closed behind her, the Emperor finally spoke.

"So…"

He picked up his teacup.

"How has life been at the academy?"

Eman smiled faintly.

His studies had never truly been his priority.

The only reason he continued attending the academy was because of the previous host.

"There has been quite a bit of unrest recently, Your Majesty."

He took a sip of tea before continuing.

"The academy is far from peaceful these days."

The Emperor nodded.

"I've heard some reports."

Eman placed the cup back onto its saucer.

"Still…"

He looked directly at the Emperor.

"I'm fairly certain this meeting isn't really about the academy. Am I right, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor stared at him for a brief moment before bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

His laughter echoed across the quiet balcony.

"I see."

He shook his head with amusement.

"You truly haven't changed. Always direct."

A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Very well. I'll stop beating around the bush."

Eman nodded.

"I'm listening."

The Emperor's expression gradually became serious.

"In truth…"

"What I wish to discuss with you isn't entirely unrelated to the academy."

Eman's eyebrows rose slightly.

"Not unrelated?"

The Emperor slowly placed his teacup down.

"Something is about to happen. And the academy will be the start of it."

His words immediately captured Eman's full attention.

Silence settled between them as the gentle wind swept across the royal garden below.

Neither of them noticed that, at that very moment, another conversation was unfolding elsewhere inside the palace.

Meanwhile…

As the Imperial Knight Captain walked through one of the palace's grand hallways after leaving the Emperor, he unexpectedly encountered the five summoned Heroes.

The spacious corridor was decorated with crimson carpets and enormous portraits of past Emperors.

The Heroes stood together in the middle of the hallway, chatting loudly without much concern for palace etiquette.

The moment they noticed the Knight Captain, one of the young men casually waved.

"Yo, Mr. Imperial Knight Captain!"

The Knight Captain stopped walking.

Although these young people had been summoned to save the world, he could never bring himself to genuinely like most of them.

He had no idea what kind of world they originally came from, but many of them lacked even the most basic respect expected within the Imperial Palace.

Their casual speech, carefree attitude, and habit of ignoring noble etiquette constantly irritated him.

Especially during the first few days after their arrival.

Even now, he still remembers the incident as though it had happened yesterday.

One of the Heroes had openly flirted with one of the Emperor's personal maidservants before making several vulgar jokes at her expense.

The poor girl had nearly burst into tears.

Had the Emperor not personally ordered everyone to exercise patience with the summoned Heroes, the Knight Captain would have thrown that young man into the palace prison himself.

Recalling that memory caused his eyebrows to twitch ever so slightly.

He forced himself to remain calm.

"What brings the Heroes here?"

One of the young men grinned.

"We're looking for the Emperor, bro."

The Knight Captain resisted the urge to sigh.

"I'm afraid His Majesty is currently occupied with an important private meeting."

"Oh?"

Another Hero crossed his arms.

"He's meeting someone?"

"Who's important enough to keep the Emperor busy?"

The Knight Captain answered calmly.

"A very important guest."

Three of the male Heroes frowned.

"More important than meeting us?" Asked the bespectacled Hero.

The Knight Captain fell silent. He chose his next words carefully. He had no desire to offend them. Not because he respected them personally. Rather, because any conflict involving the Heroes could ultimately damage the Emperor's reputation.

Furthermore, the Church stood firmly behind them.

Despite their immaturity, their status as Heroes granted them considerable political influence.

Each of them possessed a Divine Blessing specifically meant to combat demons.

Veteran Imperial soldiers often struggled against demonic enemies. The Heroes, however, possessed powers that naturally suppressed demonic energy.

That alone made them invaluable to the Empire.

"It isn't a matter of importance," the Knight Captain finally replied. The discussion is simply confidential."

One of the female Heroes folded her arms.

"Confidential?" She sounded dissatisfied. "Don't forget that we're the Heroes of this world. We're the ones who'll protect all of you when the Demon Army invades. Isn't it a little rude to exclude us from important matters?"

"She's right!"

"Yeah, Ame's right."

"Yeah."

The three male Heroes nodded in agreement.

Only one person remained silent.

A timid-looking young woman named Eline quietly observed the Knight Captain. Unlike the others, confusion rather than annoyance filled her expression.

The Knight Captain rubbed his forehead.

"No one is excluding you. The guest is… special. And His Majesty personally instructed that they not be disturbed."

"Heh." One of the young men smirked. "Now you've made me even more curious."

Another laughed.

"Wait… Is the Emperor meeting a woman?"

"Even at his age, the old man still has some spirit left!"

"Hahaha!"

The others laughed alongside him.

The Knight Captain's fists tightened.

For a split second, he genuinely considered teaching the disrespectful Hero a lesson.

Fortunately, someone else spoke first.

"Enough."

It was Eline.

Her normally gentle voice carried unexpected firmness.

"You should show His Majesty some respect."

She shot the laughing Heroes with an icy glare.

The corridor immediately became quieter.

Ame shrugged.

"Relax, Eline. It was just a joke."

Eline frowned.

"Not every joke is appropriate."

The atmosphere became slightly awkward.

Fortunately, Eline quickly changed the subject.

"Sir Knight Captain…"

"I heard from Princess Liya that two guests from the academy were expected today," she spoke politely.

"Could they be the Emperor's visitors?"

Among the summoned Heroes, only a handful possessed enough maturity to earn Princess Liya's trust.

Eline happened to be one of them.

The Knight Captain gave a slight nod.

"Yes."

"They arrived earlier."

Before he could say anything else, one of the male Heroes suddenly shouted.

"What?!"

"The Emperor's important guest is just some academy student?"

His voice echoed loudly through the palace hallway.

The surrounding knights instinctively turned their heads toward the commotion.

Even several passing servants paused in surprise.

The Knight Captain's expression darkened.

"They are not 'just' academy students." His tone became noticeably colder. "They are guests personally invited by His Majesty. And that alone is enough reason for every one of us to show them the respect they deserve."

His sharp gaze swept across the group.

For the first time, the heroes were slightly stunned.

None of them had expected the normally composed Knight Captain to speak with such unmistakable authority.

Only Eline lowered her head slightly, silently wondering what kind of academy student could possibly earn the Emperor's personal audience while even the summoned Heroes were asked to wait.