Ch.175About the First Horn (3)

Najin talked with Gerd for a while. They shared information about the Empress of Bliss and discussed their future course of action. Several requests were exchanged during the process.

“I’ll look into that part.”

“Yes, I’ll be counting on you.”

“Your theory that there have been multiple subjugation attempts against the Empress of Bliss, but the records were erased, seems credible. The incident you mentioned earlier also has some suspicious aspects.”

Gerd stroked his beard.

“There’s a certain gap in the Empire’s history starting from the Dawn War. The historians claim that related records were lost in a fire set by rebels, but now even that is questionable. Was it truly lost? Or was it an intentionally created gap?”

He turned his gaze with a thoughtful “hmm.”

From the top of the tower, he looked down at the entire Empire.

“We need to verify everything from the beginning. Not just the Dawn War. All unnaturally concluded incidents should be properly reinvestigated. We don’t know where the embers might be hidden.”

With the entire Empire in his view, he said:

“And all of this process must be transparent, accurate, and swift. The longer it takes, the greater the risk of distortion.”

This wasn’t just empty talk. If Gerd wished for it, it could truly happen.

Gerd wasn’t just exceptional in combat. It wasn’t for nothing that Sword Master Charon referred to Gerd as “superior to me in every aspect except swordsmanship.” Gerd was not only the Empire’s Sword Master but also the First Pillar supporting the Empire, the Empire’s Best Swordsman.

The First Pillar of the Empire. The one who established the current Emperor. The being who saved the Empire from traitors multiple times. The master who trained the knights of the Imperial family and could move them with a single gesture as their military lord.

While Emperor Eldwin Pendragon was the sovereign of the Empire,

Gerd was the military lord who commanded the soldiers.

Though he never did so, Gerd was someone who could single-handedly overturn the Empire if he wished. His nearly 200 years of devotion to the Empire had granted him absolute power.

‘The First Pillar of the Empire means the Empire’s most powerful figure.’

And now this powerful figure was taking action.

A man who had served the Empire loyally for over 200 years without ever abusing his power was now deliberately wielding it. Moreover, Gerd even had justification.

The Empress of Bliss was distorting the Empire’s history.

A mere demon was trying to shake the Empire’s thousand-year legacy.

Wasn’t this a situation where the Pillar needed to step in?

The all-powerful figure now had justification to wield his power. Najin could hardly imagine what would unfold from here. He could only guess that the Empire’s officials would be screaming in terror.

“Get up. I’ll see you out.”

Gerd rose from his seat.

Najin blinked. What was this about seeing him out? Gerd explained as if it were perfectly natural.

“I told you. I owe you a great debt, and I don’t take this favor lightly. From today, you’re under the Empire’s protection and have me as your backing.”

“Yes, but…”

“And this has more value when done publicly. Naturally, I have no intention of hiding it. The benefits of revealing it outweigh those of concealing it.”

In short, he meant “I’ll make it clear that I’m your backing.” Najin slowly nodded. Gerd truly escorted him all the way to the outside of the tower.

And this scene was witnessed by the crowd gathered near Gerd’s tower, the One Horned Tower.

They had gathered because of the sudden appearance of a new star above the One Horned Tower. The crowd, murmuring while gazing at the 8th star shining above the tower, blinked when they saw Najin and Gerd walking out.

At the entrance of the tower, Gerd and Najin exchanged brief greetings. In front of everyone, Gerd told Najin, “Remember that the doors of the One Horned Tower are always open to you,” before returning to the tower.

No fool would misunderstand the meaning of such an explicit statement. The gathered crowd stared at Najin with wide eyes.

“……”

Najin simply continued walking, ignoring their gazes. The crowd made way for him, not daring to approach or question him.

The Morning Star had visited the First Pillar’s tower.

And the First Pillar had obtained the 8th star.

It didn’t take long for this news to spread throughout the Empire. And naturally, when the Grey Tower and the Empire’s historians received this news…

“Oh, good heavens.”

They facepalmed. Thanks to their foreheads getting broader in recent months, the slapping sound echoed loudly and crisply.

2.

“The First Pillar obtained the 8th star? Isn’t Lord Gerd still on the continent? So suddenly?”

Durec, an imperial historian, blinked.

He groaned while pressing his brow.

“It’s a joyous occasion. Joyous indeed. But…”

I won’t be going home again today.

Durec quietly shed tears. With incidents happening so frequently lately, he could barely remember when he last entered his mansion.

“Tell me what happened.”

He was told that detailed information was being confirmed in coordination with the Grey Tower, but when he heard “that bastard’s” name, Durec couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

“Najin?”

“Yes, there are eyewitness accounts of that young man visiting the One Horned Tower, and the timing of his visit exactly coincides with when Lord Gerd obtained the new star.”

That bastard again?

Durec screamed with a curse.

“I muttered about him dueling Sword Masters, and now he’s giving stars to a Sword Master? What an unheard-of case…”

The exact same scream was heard from the Grey Tower, but since the Grey Tower’s master greatly favored Najin, they couldn’t openly curse him.

“Well, at least this time it’s about obtaining a new star, so the Grey Tower folks will have more trouble than us. We don’t have much to do. That’s a relief…”

“Um, Sir Durec?”

“No, don’t say it. I’m suddenly feeling anxious. My hands tremble every time you call my name now. I’ll develop a tremor at this rate. Should I use this as an excuse to retire? I’ve done enough…”

“The First Pillar, Lord Gerd, has sent a handwritten letter. You need to check it immediately…”

He checked it.

After reading the letter, Durec smiled.

“Hear this, historians of the Empire. All information related to records lost during the Dawn War, including everything about the former First Pillar and the Empress of Bliss, as well as all cases that were unnaturally concluded among incidents that occurred over nearly 300 years since the Rondinell incident…”

With a thud, he dropped the letter.

“Conduct a complete reinvestigation. Quickly. And swiftly.”

Muttering as if he’d lost his mind, Durec fainted while standing. Of course, the actual investigation would be done by other departments, but ultimately, it was the historians’ job to coordinate with them, review the materials, and organize them.

So, dig through 300 years’ worth of documents?

If anyone else had issued such an order, Durec would have raised his middle finger and said, “Ha! Is that even possible? Don’t be ridiculous.” But when that someone is the First Pillar, things change.

What are the Pillars of the Empire? If they point at a mountain and say, “That mountain looks odd, shall we reshape it?” hundreds of knights would be mobilized to willingly reshape the mountain. And if after that they say, “No, let’s move it entirely,” hundreds more knights would be mobilized to move the mountain.

Such power belongs to the Pillars of the Empire, and among them, the highest Pillar, the First Pillar, had commanded:

Find the documents and bring them before me.

There was no right to refuse. Moreover, this was a direct order from “that” Lord Gerd, who in his younger days had enjoyed pulling out historians’ tongues and executing them. If one valued their tongue, wrists, and head, they had to move quickly.

Durec shed tears.

“Holy shit…”

The word “shit” alone was insufficient to describe the current situation. Adding “holy” to make “holy shit” was somewhat more appropriate.

“Holy shit, really.”

It was vulgar language unbecoming of an imperial historian, but no one reprimanded Durec. The situation warranted it.

3.

Life in the Empire’s capital, Camelot, was more comfortable and pleasant than Najin had imagined.

From rumors in Cambria, the City of Opportunity, Camelot was described as a place of heavenly beings where even distinguished nobles were reduced to commoners, teeming with powerful figures and prestigious families… but Najin found it hard to relate to those rumors.

A splendid lodging. If he needed anything, he just had to go downstairs and tell a staff member, and it would appear before him in minutes. Meals came on time, and whenever he returned from a brief outing, his room was cleaned like new.

‘This is comfortable…’

Najin was amazed that all these services were provided without him spending a single coin. Was Camelot perhaps heaven?

Of course not.

Najin was a VIP among VIPs hosted by the Dieta Company, and the executives had repeatedly emphasized that there should be no shortcomings in serving this VIP, so the company staff treated Najin like a lord.

In fact, he was a lord.

Najin had deep professional and personal relationships with the guild master who paid their salaries, and he was the primary contributor to the company’s stock price soaring, which also increased their wages.

-You know.

Merlin glanced at Najin with a sigh.

-You haven’t forgotten that you’re part of that “heavenly realm” you mentioned, right?

‘What?’

-You said Camelot is a place teeming with powerful figures and prestigious families. You’re part of that realm too.

Najin blinked.

Was that so? Come to think of it, it wasn’t wrong. Setting aside his own achievements, he had connections with figures that even most nobles couldn’t imagine.

The guild master of a major trading company, plus the Empire’s three Sword Masters.

Recently, he even received the protection of the First Pillar, so Najin’s social standing was substantial enough to be called a powerful figure based on his connections alone.

“It feels strange all of a sudden.”

Just two years since leaving the underground city.

Najin was newly amazed at his position, which he couldn’t have imagined two years ago. At the same time, he felt bitterness.

Life on the continent was comfortable. Pleasant. Enjoyable.

But what Najin wanted wasn’t here. What he desired could only be obtained by turning his back on comfort and leaping into the flames.

This was merely a brief rest.

There was still much to do. Affairs in the Outer Continent, and many unfinished matters within the continent. Things that could only be achieved by becoming stronger. While pondering these and organizing his future path…

Jingle.

Breakfast and a newspaper arrived with the sound of a bell. Najin spread out the newspaper to check. Lately, there had been a lot of noise about him, so he wondered if today would be the same…

“Huh?”

His eyes widened.

The moment he saw the large headline on the front page, he couldn’t help but open his eyes wide. The front page wasn’t about Najin.

“Excalibur Sighted in the Outer Continent.”

“Excalibur Sighting Reported from ‘The Eternal City’ in the Depths of the Outer Continent.”

“The Sacred Host of the Order claims to have seen ‘a platinum-haired woman wielding Excalibur.’ The identity of this individual remains unknown, but she is believed to be active near the Eternal City…”

Najin turned his head sideways.

There was Merlin, staring at the newspaper with even wider eyes than Najin.