Ch.13Protagonist (2)

Our Time Engraved on the Flesh. My Hatred Rooted in the Depths of the Soul. And the Presence of an Uninvited Guest Invading Nepy’s Body.

All these thoughts were both mine and not mine. I fell into confusion as I gazed at Emperor Astelnerca and the five heroes on the platform.

As if someone was interfering with my thoughts, my ideas became distorted and unfamiliar memories washed over me. I felt strange symptoms again as I looked up at them.

In the scenery that seemed frozen in time, only one man moved with vitality.

His ruby-like eyes turned clearly toward me. He looked exactly like me, but was a slightly more innocent and youthful version of Nepy.

Nepy spoke.

[You’re lucky, puppet child.]

I trusted what I instinctively felt.

“You… are you really Nepy?”

To my question, he declared with an arrogant voice.

[Of course. I am the Founding Noble and a prominent figure who ascended to the heavens of the Eld Empire.]

The contrast between his youthful appearance and elderly manner of speaking created a sense of dissonance. He was truly an arrogant human specimen, but that actually gave me confidence.

‘This guy is the real deal.’

[You’re the only fake here.]

“Can you read my mind too? That’s an even nastier ability than the Emperor’s.”

[What can’t I do in my own mental world? If there’s anything, it would be that I can’t devour you right now.]

“…What do you mean?”

Nepy snorted as he spoke. His behavior seemed self-deprecating, or perhaps amused.

[That woman played an interesting trick on my body. To compress my Malice to the extreme. Even the saint who lived during the Great Chaos era couldn’t do that.]

It was an episode from the day I first encountered Irefi. When I couldn’t contain the Malice, she used her protective ability, “Holy Memory,” to suppress it for me.

“Well, Irefi is a monster. Fossil nobles should stay locked in their rooms if they don’t want to die. Even if you push me out, you won’t stand a chance against her.”

[Insolent child, aren’t you afraid of me?]

Ha, manners. Manners!

I inwardly screamed in frustration.

Even though I possessed this villain’s body through possession and suffered greatly, I had no desire to show respect. Besides, Nepy had a history that made him unworthy of respect. I couldn’t fathom with what nerve he demanded courtesy.

I maintained my defiant attitude and retorted.

“I’ve figured out the situation. In short, thanks to Irefi, I have control over this body, right? Save your manners for the dogs when facing a survival competitor.”

[Heh heh…]

Nepy seemed dumbfounded by my uninhibited speech. He had spent his life as a ruler and object of fear. Therefore, this situation must be an extremely novel experience for him.

I wasn’t afraid of him. No matter how powerful he might be, he was nothing but a flimsy pancake before the vengeful version of Irefi. To me, who had to watch my step around her every day, his talk of manners and fear was laughable.

“If you lost to the new generation, just stay buried. Your era ended long ago.”

[Judging by how you speak, you seem to have no curiosity. For instance, about why you possessed my body.]

“Yeah. Not interested.”

[Oh?]

Nepy stared at me with eyes tinged with red. By this point, he should have been irritated like a typical old-fashioned person, but he seemed intrigued instead.

“From your mention of puppets and such talk, it’s obvious. I don’t know the details, but I was probably summoned for your convenience. But I’ll keep this body as mine forever, even if just to spite you.”

[You’ve been acting so dull that I underestimated your intelligence, child. I’ll revise my assessment.]

He sat there elegantly calling me stupid. Perhaps nobles will be nobles after all.

“Shut up. Are we going to have a staring contest here for a thousand years? Just let me out quickly.”

[Since there’s no benefit in keeping you here, I’ll do as you ask, child. However…]

Nepy trailed off and then uttered with a malicious voice.

[Now that I look at you, I find myself taking a liking to you.]

“Huh? You’re crazy.”

I asked with a grimace. Then he walked step by step through the air toward me from the platform. Soon, Nepy’s form came close enough to touch me.

“W-what?”

I already knew that it was impossible for Nepy to push me out. But I was a bit surprised by his unexpected behavior.

[My essence is immortality. Even without the power of Malice, I have the qualification of a conqueror who rules the world.]

“I know that painfully well. Have you also experienced having your upper and lower body beautifully separated?”

[Unfortunately, that’s not to my taste. Since it’s not pleasant to see, I’ll teach you a little about how to use the body.]

“…What are you plotting?”

[Sadly, we are bound by fate. If I am sealed again due to your weakness, we will both be thrown into eternal hell. So…]

Nepy’s hand gradually approached my head. Even though I wanted to avoid it, my body automatically stiffened as I stared into his ruby-like eyes.

[Try to live well. I’m used to waiting. How long can a human live? A hundred years at most? When the white woman dies, I’ll devour you without mercy.]

“Ha, do you think I’ll believe that? Judging by your nature, it wouldn’t be strange if you seized any opportunity… AAAAARGH!”

Before I could finish speaking, black lightning shot from Nepy’s hand.

I lost my senses and became a screaming puppet, overwhelmed by sudden, unfathomable pain. It felt like thousands of needles were growing under my skin, and at the same time, I thought my body would burst as if crushed by an elephant.

My consciousness sank below the surface, unable to endure the pain. That was actually better in this situation. Nepy merely watched me convulsing with indifference.

[How disappointing that you couldn’t trust me until the end… tsk tsk.]

Nepy clicked his tongue, then suddenly curled his lips into a sinister smile.

[What a wise child!]

◇

When I woke up from Nepy’s mental world, I was sprawled on the banquet hall floor.

Several people with worried faces helped me up and supported me. As soon as I regained consciousness, I looked toward where the Emperor was.

I saw an elegant railing decorated with obsidian. It wasn’t the gold chains and red decorations. Judging by the globe in the Emperor’s hand, not much time had passed.

I asked the person supporting me.

“I’m sorry, but how long was I collapsed?”

“It was just for a moment. Are you feeling unwell?”

“Haha, I think I’ve damaged my health by reading medical books late into the night lately.”

“My goodness! To go that far for Marquess Justitia’s health. The feelings between you two seem truly beautiful.”

Those words jolted my faint consciousness awake as if cold water had been poured on me.

“That’s not it!”

“Why be embarrassed? My wife will have something to talk about now. Actually, my better half is a fan of Marquess Justitia… haha.”

The man, confirming that I had fully regained consciousness, released his support. Then he bowed and hurriedly left. It was obvious to anyone that he was heading toward his wife.

I felt drained, unable to even get a chance to correct him. It was around then that Irefi came running.

“Nepy!”

“Irefi, I’m fine.”

“What? That’s not important right now.”

Ah, so me collapsing isn’t important. Well, I’m immortal, so it’s impossible for me to be sick. Irefi knows that too, so that must be why, right?

…I really hope that’s the case.

“There isn’t a single person guarding His Majesty.”

“Ah, right. You were briefly outside.”

I had forgotten everything because of the sense of time and pain in the mental world. Irefi ignored my words and continued urgently.

“Not only are there no Nelfrugia Knights, but even the coachman who drove the carriage is missing. This is clearly an abnormal situation.”

“It’s definitely suspicious. Shouldn’t we go over there right now?”

I gestured with my eyes toward where the Emperor was. Irefi nodded quickly in agreement.

“We should. You come too, Nepy.”

“Me too?”

“Yes. And I’m asking just in case.”

“What is it?”

Irefi asked me with a stern expression.

“Did you use your power by any chance?”

I immediately denied it.

“Not at all. I actually fainted for a moment. You can ask people about it.”

“Nepy fainted? I have many questions, but first, let’s go to His Majesty…”

That’s when it happened.

Rumble…

The entire banquet hall began to shake violently. The ground trembled as if a massive castle was collapsing. The magnitude of the vibration was so great that people lost their balance and fell over.

Crash!

It was the sound of dishes and bowls falling to the floor. The chandeliers swaying precariously made people tremble with fear.

“Hey, it’s dangerous!”

“Evacuate quickly!”

Someone’s shout became the signal. The crowd instantly panicked and rushed toward the entrance. When I looked to the side, Irefi was already by the Emperor and Empress.

I was about to head toward the Emperor when the bewildered cries of people who had gone outside stopped me.

‘Huh! What’s this?’

Led by the sound, I went outside and witnessed an unbelievable sight. A dome-shaped red barrier was spreading widely, centered on the banquet hall. It appeared somewhat transparent but had a texture like capillaries intricately entangled within tiles.

Several strong men tried striking it with weapons, but all attempts were in vain. Rather, the weapons bounced back with strong elasticity, becoming a threat to others.

“Nepy! I told you to follow… wait, what is this?”

“What on earth is happening!”

Irefi was belatedly coming out with the Emperor and Empress under her protection. Duke Feita, appearing in his later years, was an extra.

‘Why is this here…?’

I was perplexed by the identity of the red dome.

If I wasn’t mistaken, the red dome was the “Spirit’s Blood.” It wasn’t referring to actual blood, but rather the spirit’s energy emitted externally that took on a red color, hence called Spirit’s Blood.

Objects imbued with Spirit’s Blood possess strong elasticity against impacts and diamond-like hardness. Obtaining such a large amount of Spirit’s Blood is currently impossible. That was the reason for my bewilderment.

‘In this world setting, spirits are supposed to be extinct. Except for that…’

I turned my head, wondering if Irefi might know something. But she was no different. Naturally, she couldn’t even guess the identity of the red dome.

“It seems we’ve all been trapped by some method.”

Irefi stared intently at the red dome. She seemed to be organizing her thoughts about this sudden unknown phenomenon.

After a brief analysis of the situation, Irefi questioned the Emperor.

“Your Majesty. I need to ask you a crucial question to understand the situation.”

“What is it, Marquess Justitia?”

“Why are you here, Your Majesty? And who urged you to visit?”

The Emperor answered lightly, as if there was nothing to think about.

“What do you mean? I came because I was told you had arranged the route.”

Only after finishing his words did the Emperor seem to realize something was off. Irefi pressed the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, forgive my boldness, but I have no memory of such a thing. Please tell me who made such an outrageous claim.”

“Vice-Captain Etio Rescal.”

“Did you say… Etio?”

Nelfrugia Knights Vice-Captain Etio Rescal. He was of common birth who had devoted himself to the knights for a long time and served the imperial family, eventually receiving a title.

Anyone would be inclined to believe the words of someone as high-ranking as the vice-captain of the imperial guard. Moreover, since the Emperor could see emotions and good and evil, he would trust those he believed in implicitly.

It was something that should have caused great shock, but Irefi remained calm.

“Your Majesty, it seems there’s a traitor within. I don’t know what this barrier means, but it must be related to bringing you here.”

“But Marquess Justitia is right here by my side. If the intention was to harm me, it’s clearly a failure, isn’t it?”

“That’s certainly true, but…”

“Is it really?”

I expressed doubt toward Irefi, who was agreeing.

“Nepy? Did something occur to you?”

“Wait… something keeps bothering me.”

I’m missing something, and missing it badly. Why trap the Emperor in a place where the knight captain is present? Even if they didn’t know about Irefi’s abilities, it’s too loose. Of course, that’s assuming the target is the Emperor.

If there were collaborators in the Nelfrugia Knights, it would have been cleaner to tear the Emperor and Empress apart in the carriage. There’s no reason to attempt the Emperor’s assassination in a place where Irefi is present.

“The Emperor is irrelevant… rather, the Emperor is playing the role of bait.”

“Who could they possibly be targeting that would require using the Empire’s sovereign as bait? That’s absurd.”

“The Emperor is undoubtedly of the highest status. But think about it. Who benefits if His Majesty passes away?”

Irefi couldn’t readily answer my question.

“The Empire is peaceful, and there are no opposing factions. If there were any, it would be the Duke Feita’s family, but even they wouldn’t harm His Majesty in their own home.”

“That’s true…”

Assassinating the Emperor who rules the great empire. If it were the act of another country, it would rightfully trigger a massacre disguised as war. If it were a faction, they would face extermination, and if an individual, they would suffer endlessly without death.

It’s an ultra-low return, ultra-high risk endeavor. That’s why I thought the Emperor wasn’t the target.

‘Plans are typically crafted to yield high rewards with minimal risk.’

The target of a grand scheme that has manipulated even the Emperor and his guard knights. Who could produce results worth bearing the risk of entanglement with the imperial family?

While Irefi and I were racking our brains, the Emperor was reassuring the Empress. He was mainly emphasizing Irefi’s abilities to comfort her.

That’s when I suddenly realized. The absence of a certain individual who had a distinct presence.

“Hey, Irefi. What if it’s not the Emperor… but the Empress?”

“The Empress is right here.”

“Yes, she’s certainly safe.”

The Empress was here. However, there was one person at the banquet who had the closest connection to the Empress.

I anxiously called out that person’s name.

“But Charle Millote… where is she now?”