Chapter Index





    Ch.122122. Imperial Palace

    The Kallistur imperial family, which currently leads the empire, and the first emperor Kaiserion are of separate bloodlines. Nevertheless, the empire not only reveres Kaiserion as its founder but also holds annual tribute ceremonies for him.

    “Most of the history regarding the Great War has been forgotten. From hundreds of years ago. Which kingdoms opposed each other, why the war broke out—all remain mysteries… But at least some records of the first Emperor Kaiserion’s deeds remain.”

    Tiara walked down the corridor with light steps. Portraits of past emperors hung on the walls of the long hallway. After passing by the paintings, Tiara stopped in front of a room.

    “This is where the records of the first emperor remain.”

    Kaiserion is treated with particular reverence among the emperors who have existed over the past several centuries.

    The first emperor. The figure who enabled the current Kallistur bloodline to reign as the imperial family. That alone would be reason enough to preserve records, but that wasn’t all.

    Kaiserion was the first emperor and simultaneously the first personified deity who transcended human flesh and ascended to godhood. There is no one in the empire who doesn’t know the tales of Kaiserion. The Order of the Sword, which inherited Kaiserion’s spirit, has become a pillar supporting the empire and still wields influence to this day.

    “The Order of the Sword also has a portrait of Kaiserion. But it can’t compare to what the imperial palace owns.”

    “Why is that?”

    “The painting the Order possesses is a restoration painting. You know what that is, right?”

    It’s not a portrait painted from direct observation, but a newly created image based on fiction. No matter how much literature and records are referenced, it’s ultimately based on imagination. Regardless of the painter’s skill, it inevitably differs from reality.

    “But! Don’t be surprised, the imperial palace’s portrait is real—painted when Emperor Kaiserion was still alive… that is, before he ascended to godhood.”

    Tiara entered the room with a triumphant expression. While past emperors merely had portraits hanging in the corridor, the imperial palace had dedicated an entire spacious room to commemorate Kaiserion.

    “Wow…”

    Chloe unconsciously let out an exclamation, her mouth agape.

    “What do you think? Impressive, isn’t it?”

    “Is that Kaiserion?”

    “Yes! The man depicted in that vast portrait is none other than Kaiserion, the founder of the empire.”

    Tiara nodded proudly at Elin’s question. Elin silently gazed at the painting. Though she didn’t show an exceptional reaction like Chloe, it was clear she was focusing on the portrait. This gave Tiara satisfaction, as she took considerable pride in Kaiserion’s portrait.

    Tiara shifted her gaze to Rex, secretly hoping for his admiration as well, but tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

    “Is there a problem?”

    “…The painting is so magnificent. I momentarily forgot what to say.”

    “Ah. I thought you might have an upset stomach since you looked so pale. Oh right, I heard that Sacred Wielders rarely catch common illnesses like colds or stomach aches.”

    “I apologize, but may I look at the portrait a bit longer? Would that be alright?”

    “Of course. We still have plenty of time, so look as much as you want!”

    Rex turned his head to gaze at the portrait again.

    A painting executed in a vibrant style, as if it might come alive at any moment. A man sits within it. Ash-gray hair and dull reddish eyes. It was exactly as he had seen in his vision.

    The difference was that he wore no expression. In his eyes, looking down from the high throne, no emotion was revealed. These were not the eyes of a warrior who had ruthlessly swept through war. Despite unifying the continent and achieving the immortal feat of becoming the first emperor, not even a trace of joy appeared on his face. It might be conjecture, but rather than joy, there seemed to be boredom—a weariness that regarded everything in this world as tedious.

    The mark pulsates.

    Rex placed his hand on his heart. When he first arrived in Elysium, he experienced a vision upon seeing the statue in the square. Since then, he had seen other statues while walking the streets several times, but the vision never returned.

    Even now, the vision did not appear.

    But the mark was vibrating.

    “This room doesn’t just contain the first Emperor Kaiserion’s portrait. The original place for the portrait was empty, and instead, another painting hung beside it. In other words, the first emperor’s portrait was added later, and this room was originally prepared for a different painting.”

    Tiara’s words awakened his scattered mind. Rex turned his head to look at the painting Tiara was pointing to. Tiara, who had been telling Chloe and Elin about Kaiserion’s tales, shrugged her shoulders.

    “Before Emperor Kaiserion ascended as the Sword Deity, they say he viewed that painting three times a day, every day.”

    On the wall where Kaiserion’s portrait hung, beside it was a much smaller painting. A crude painting that paled in comparison to the other in both style and detail—so rough that one might not even recognize it as a portrait without looking closely.

    What could be discerned was that the subject was female, with silver hair and green eyes. That was the extent of the distinguishable features.

    “It’s a portrait drawn by Emperor Kaiserion himself.”

    “…By the emperor?”

    “Yes. I don’t know the exact circumstances, but he always gazed at that painting for a long time. Perhaps he longed for the woman in the painting? Nothing is known about her identity. Judging by her appearance, it’s speculated she was an elf.”

    Longing.

    Rex mulled over that word. Kaiserion, why did he look at the woman’s portrait every day? His reign was short. Just a few years. But if he looked at the same painting at the same time every day for several years, it surely wasn’t a casual relationship.

    The image of Kaiserion from the vision and portrait floated in his mind, followed by the imagination of him standing here, staring at the portrait. Longing, indeed. Did he truly long for that woman, as Tiara suggested? If so, why? What was the relationship between him and that woman?

    There was no way to know.

    “Elin. Do you recognize that woman?”

    “No. I don’t know either. First time seeing her.”

    Elin shook her head with an expressionless face. Tiara blinked, resting her finger on her chin.

    “It’s clear the subject of the portrait is an elf, but no one knows her identity. The empire has maintained exchanges with the Albheim Great Forest, and delegations come and go every year. But even the elves couldn’t recognize the portrait.”

    Kaiserion has many secrets.

    In the current era, he is worshipped beyond a hero as a deity, but ironically, little is known about his deeds. Even the imperial palace and the Order of the Sword, which regard him as their founder, don’t know everything about Kaiserion.

    That he was the key figure who led the Great War to victory, and that he was a superhuman who never experienced a single defeat—apart from these two well-known facts, the rest has been buried and lost over the long years.

    Unless one was a long-lived elf, especially one who had lived for hundreds of years. But even they died in countless numbers during the Great War, so few remain now, and the surviving handful of elves do not leave the Great Forest.

    ‘It’s not information I absolutely need to know.’

    He wants to know why Kaiserion implanted the remnant in him. Why him specifically—if he can’t discover that purpose, he won’t find peace even if he wants to. But as for the woman in the portrait, her identity is merely irrelevant information.

    Rex turned his back, shaking off his lingering thoughts.

    In the end, he gained nothing significant. The pulsation of the mark had already ceased. Kaiserion’s portrait was depicted more realistically than the statue, and he had guessed it might be connected to him—but it seems that was a misconception.

    As he was about to suggest leaving since they couldn’t stay here forever—

    […Elicis.]

    A voice.

    Rex’s body stiffened. Just now, didn’t a voice come from somewhere? No. It wasn’t a voice. Like telepathy, it was being transmitted directly into his mind.

    [Elicis.]

    Rex glared into the empty space, his eyes wide.

    ‘Who are you?’

    [Elicis. I am. Failure.]

    ‘I said, who are you?’

    [Sorry. Five hundred years. Reunion.]

    The stuttering words became mixed with noise. It was impossible to understand what was being said.

    ‘Could it be.’

    Despite the sudden anomaly, Rex somehow felt he could guess the identity of the speaker. The pulsating mark. The statue and other symbols representing Kaiserion. Like scattered pieces being assembled, an instinctive realization dawned on him.

    ‘Are you… Kaiserion?’

    [Time is, running out.]

    ‘Please, speak so I can understand…! Who are you? Are you Kaiserion? Why did you implant the remnant in me?’

    […To the Great Forest.]

    ‘Speak… properly!’

    [Must go…]

    The fading voice disappeared completely. No more words came. Rex gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He felt like unleashing a torrent of curses right then and there.

    ‘What’s with saying only what you want to say and then disappearing!’

    Elicis? Who is that? What does it mean that time is running out? Why go to the Great Forest? Above all, what’s truly important is whether it was really Kaiserion.

    A whirlwind of questions surged. But the one who could provide answers had already left, leaving only an unresolvable frustration. Rex bit his lip hard.

    [What troubles you, my vassal?]

    ‘Did you not hear?’

    […Hear what?]

    ‘The voice just now. Great Forest, Elicis. It was rambling on its own.’

    […I have been watching over you all along, but I heard nothing.]

    Kaordix is always directly connected to Rex’s soul. He shares what Rex sees, hears, and even his five senses. If even he couldn’t hear the voice, it truly must be an unusual occurrence. Rex composed his contorted expression and muttered.

    ‘I’m not certain, but I just heard Kaiserion’s voice.’

    [That’s impossible. He is already dead. Unless he were a deity, he couldn’t speak to you. Even deities have long secluded themselves and withdrawn from worldly affairs. The remnant left in you is just that—a remnant, a mere shell. Perhaps you confused it with someone else’s telepathy?]

    ‘I may not be sure it was Kaiserion, but I’m certain it wasn’t telepathy. It was similar to communicating with you, Kaordix. It recited the name Elicis, and at the end, it said I must go to the Great Forest.’

    […That’s impossible. Wait, the Great Forest?]

    ‘Yes.’

    Kaordix’s words halted. After a long silence, he sighed and bluntly said.

    [Forget it.]

    ‘What do you—’

    [You must forget. Not for my sake. For yours. Forget everything you heard today.]

    Kaordix’s tone was too serious to argue with. Rex muttered with a disgruntled face.

    ‘I can’t just completely ignore it, can I?’

    […It’s best not to get entangled with the Great Forest. Especially for you, my vassal.]

    “Rex?”

    Tiara opened her palm and waved it in front of his face. Rex raised his head with a startled expression. The conversation had gone on longer than expected. By now, not only Tiara but also Chloe and Elin were staring at him.

    “It’s almost time for the coming-of-age ceremony to begin, so we should head back now.”

    “…Understood.”

    Rex nodded with an embarrassed face, clearing his throat. Kaordix didn’t speak to him again either.

    ‘Forget, he says.’

    If it were that easy, he wouldn’t have been concerned about Kaiserion in the first place. He wanted to solve the mystery, but instead, the questions only multiplied. The one thing he could determine was:

    The Great Forest.

    Clearly, something is there.


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