Published at 2nd of December 2024 11:51 am

Chapter 602

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

"What's so amazing that you're looking around like that?"

The skull principal, who was walking ahead, asked Yi-Han.

Of course, the capital was the most beautiful and splendid place in the empire, and the emperor's palace located at its heart was the essence of majesty.

An ordinary imperial person would consider it a lifelong story just to enter the capital and see the emperor's palace from afar.

However, this boy from the Wardanaz family was not the type to pay much attention to such splendor.

Rather, he might ask, 'How many gold coins would come out if you melted that decoration?'...

"Ah. I'm saying that even though it's His Majesty the Emperor's palace, it seems like the imperial bureaucrats use it more."

The two had now passed through the capital's gate and arrived at the central imperial palace using the shortest route, the imperial road.

Alcicle, who had passed through the main gate together, had already gone ahead towards the government office where the imperial treasurers stayed, which was also located inside the palace.

At first, Yi-Han thought the bureaucrats were using an annex inside the palace, but that wasn't the case either.

As he followed the skull principal and walked through the palace corridors, in every room that came out, imperial bureaucrats were immersed in their work with the most tired and exhausted faces in the world.

Weren't palaces usually where the imperial family stayed?

"So that's what you were amazed by. Indeed, it's understandable."

The skull principal understood Yi-Han's curiosity.

Being smart, he couldn't help but catch the sense of incongruity faster.

Why were there only bureaucrats and no imperial family members roaming around in this palace, which was as wide as a small city?

If it were the era of the Three Kingdoms, the palace would have been a space solely for the imperial family.

The royal knights would have guarded the outside of the palace like an iron wall, and only the emperor's relatives and the eunuchs serving them would have lived inside. �

And even if it were the era of the Seven Kingdoms, the bureaucrats wouldn't have been able to spread piles of documents on the floor.

At that time, the palace would have probably become a salon-like place where nobles from all over the kingdom who wanted to have an audience with the king visited, and balls or banquets were held every day.

However, the current imperial palace was the most unique form the skull principal had seen in his history.

The areas used by the emperor were extremely few, and the rest were all used as government offices by the imperial bureaucrats.

People in the capital who were used to it might think it was natural, but someone like Wardanaz, who was knowledgeable enough to get a perfect score on an imperial history exam right now, couldn't help but find it strange.

"Did the head of your family ever tell you about His Majesty the Emperor?"

"Uh... No, he didn't."

Yi-Han racked his memory and answered.

In fact, the head of the family, that is, Yi-Han's father, never talked about the empire's politics or current affairs, even though he himself was a great noble.

Usually, he talked about magic or magic or magic.

Or he cursed holy magic…

"I thought so. That despicable bastard. The young bastard devotes himself to magic alone and leaves the bothersome tasks to me."

"..."

"I'm sorry. I sincerely apologize."

The skull principal apologized as a dignified imperial noble.

No matter how much anger had accumulated, it wasn't something to say to the son of that family.

Of course, every time he had to manage the empire's magic barrier alone, he had the urge to visit the Wardanaz family, but still…

"I didn't hear anything. More importantly, why did you ask about His Majesty the Emperor?"

"I thought you would be surprised if you just met His Majesty."

Surprisingly, the skull principal seemed to hesitate slightly.

It seemed like he was contemplating how much to tell before meeting.

Yi-Han couldn't understand.

"No, I've spent a year at Einroguard, so how can I be surprised just by meeting him?"

"...Didn't I apologize? Do you have to be so sarcastic to be happy?"

"I wasn't being sarcastic..."

The skull principal, who realized that Yi-Han was sincere, found it even more annoying.

"Even among the bureaucrats, only a very few have met His Majesty in person."

"Is it okay for me to monopolize such an honorable position?"

Yi-Han was more worried than happy.

What if the senior bureaucrats, who were like the sky to him, thought of Yi-Han as a rude junior?

"It's not an honorable position, it's just that His Majesty is lazy."

"...?"

"Anyway, that's why even among the bureaucrats, there aren't many who know about His Majesty. What do you know about His Majesty?"

"I only know that he has reigned for a long time."

The current emperor had truly lived a long life.

To the point where it was unknown exactly when he ascended to the throne.

The empire's newspapers and various books couldn't dare to mention the emperor carelessly.

Unlike other histories, it was impossible for outsiders who were not part of the imperial family to make systematic calculations or counts.

However, even considering that, it was possible to infer that the emperor had reigned on the throne for at least a hundred and twenty years. If the emperor had changed in the middle, there would have been indirect mentions no matter how much they tried to hide it.

"And I think he must be an outstanding mage?"

"Why is that?"

"Because he has lived for a long time?"

Ordinary people could also extend their lifespan with various potions and artifacts, but there was ultimately a limit, and the more they extended it, the more unstable it became.

Sometimes, one could guess the other person's skill just by their lifespan.

Moreover, seeing the skull principal complain but still follow the emperor's words, wouldn't that mean he was an outstanding mage?

"Interesting. Both are correct. I didn't expect you to infer in this way."

'What kind of person is he?'

Is he like a demon archduke?

But if he were a demon archduke, it didn't seem like Yi-Han would be surprised.

Yi-Han was curious enough to wonder what the emperor's identity was that made the skull principal act like that.

"Could it be... something like a chimera created by the principal?"

"...You're even crazier than the head of the Wardanaz family...!"

The skull principal was shocked by the audacity of proposing the 'Emperor Chimera Theory' in the imperial palace corridor, even though no one was listening.

Yi-Han became gloomy.

"I inferred because you said I would be surprised."

"Y-yeah. It is surprising indeed. I'm surprised, but..."

While talking, Yi-Han realized that the surroundings had become very quiet at some point.

He couldn't feel any presence of people at all, but the palace scenery remained the same.

Numerous famous paintings and statues. Ceilings and walls decorated with gold and silver.

Stained glass made of amethyst, peacock stone, and malachite instead of windows.

If you thought normally, you could just think that the presence of people disappeared because you went deep inside, but Yi-Han's sensitive instincts made him realize another possibility.

"Could this place be hidden by magic?"

"!"

The skull principal, who was chatting, was startled.

He hadn't expected this youngster to notice.

"That's right. Impressive!"

"Haha. I've wandered so much in Einroguard's punishment room."

"...It's not on the level to compare with that. Don't say such nonsense."

This palace within the palace, the outer maze protecting the emperor's inner palace, was a masterpiece created by the empire's most outstanding mages working together.

The emperor, who didn't want to waste the expensive palace, made the bureaucrats work here, but at the same time, he wanted to make sure they wouldn't get lost and enter his residence.

It would have been much easier to use violent and coercive means, but the emperor didn't want to hurt people that way…

The mages had to put in more effort.

Still, thanks to that, this outer maze was completed as a beautiful masterpiece of magic that would make the grand mages of the past feel ecstatic.

It reacted as if the space itself was alive, only allowing in those the emperor was willing to meet.

There was no sense of incongruity or bewilderment in the process. Even if two people walked the corridor together, when they came to their senses, one person would have arrived at the inner palace while the other would still be wandering the palace corridors.

"It felt like there was some kind of magic."

"You..."

The skull principal looked unusually pleased.

Originally, the greatest reward a disciple could give to a teacher was to surpass the teacher's expectations.

Things like the 1st-year field trip also exceeded expectations, but they didn't count…

The appearance shown by the boy from the Wardanaz family right now was exactly what made the skull principal happy.

The thing that made running this dog-like Einroguard a little bit worthwhile!

"We've arrived. It would be best for you to meet His Majesty the Emperor in person and judge for yourself. But before you go in, I have a few things to tell you. Usually, those who have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor are placed under a ban. So that they can't talk about His Majesty outside."

"Like in Einroguard?"

The skull principal hit Yi-Han's head once with the staff he was holding.

"Yeah. Is that enough?"

"Yes..."

"But I won't be able to place a ban on you. Even in Einroguard, I can't spend half a year's budget of the empire just to place a single ban on you."

"You're exaggerating too much."

"Am I exaggerating?"

"..."

"Anyway, I'm telling you to watch your words. If you talk about His Majesty outside..."

"What will happen?"

Yi-Han tensed up slightly.

Will he be punished according to imperial law for something like lèse-majesté?

"His Majesty will be upset."

"Uh, are you joking?"

"I'm not joking. And keep in mind that if His Majesty gets upset, it will be much more troublesome than you think. Now. Are you ready?"

"...Yes!"

Yi-Han took a deep breath and nodded.

Even if the person in front of him was a chimera created by the skull principal, he was ready to not be surprised and kiss his feet, saying, 'Your Majesty! Your lowly servant has arrived here!'

"Okay. Let's go in."

The skull principal opened the door.

***

The emperor's residence was really empty.

No paintings, no sculptures, no decorations, no jewels.

The inside looked more like a huge cave than a palace. If Yi-Han were thrown here and in Einroguard's giant cave and asked to find the difference, he probably wouldn't be able to find it right away.

However, Yi-Han couldn't pay any attention to the barren appearance of this residence.

It was because of the emperor's astonishing majesty occupying the center of the residence.

The huge body that seemed to fill the vast residence.

The majestic wings that could be called beautiful more than any gold.

The wise and benevolent gaze slowly blinking and looking at Yi-Han and the skull principal.

The emperor was a gold dragon.

"..."

Yi-Han was too surprised to even speak.

The skull principal tapped Yi-Han's shoulder lightly as if he understood and greeted on his behalf.

"Your Majesty. I have brought Yi-Han from the Wardanaz family here as ordered."

-Os...-

The emperor spoke, looking at the skull principal.

-The conversations you had with the dragon half a year ago didn't seem very important to you...-

It was the first time Yi-Han saw the skull principal looking tense.

"There's a misunderstanding. Your Majesty."

-Is your name Os or Ohae (misunderstanding)?-

"Haha! Your Majesty's sense of humor makes even an old mage like me laugh."

"..."

Yi-Han was dumbfounded.

-What old mage... You're still young. Freshly young. Look at the dragon in comparison. It has lived longer than the mountains and rivers. Even when other dragons ascended, it couldn't leave. Because of a despicable oath.-

"You're saying that again. Your Majesty. It was an oath you made yourself."

-The dragon made the oath with good intentions. Trusting people... But people are deceiving and exploiting the dragon. Such despicable people must be the first since the mountains and rivers were born.-

The skull principal's expression frowned.

Yi-Han felt a familiar emotion in that expression.

It was close to the expression disciples made when a professor got drunk and talked about their difficult life.

To put it crudely, it was an expression of 'Here we go again.'

"Your Majesty. A really young mage is listening."

-Ah... Right. I should be careful with my words in front of a really young mage. Are you enjoying your life at Einroguard?-

"Yes."

-Don't lie.-

"..."

"..."

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