Ch.23The Two Overgrown Children (3)

“Hah… Kuhahahahaha!”

Troph Feita’s maniacal laughter dominated the space. He destroyed his own accumulated dignity, clutching his stomach like a child watching an amusing play.

By the time even the moisture wetting his throat had disappeared, his eyes gleamed fiercely.

“The Duke Feita’s house will fall? The legacy of none other than Lorian Feita? Impossible! Even if the Eld Empire were to perish, the Feita line would continue!”

His neurotic manner, speaking like someone who had lost his mind, seemed close to religious devotion. He appeared to take the threat of Duke Feita’s house falling as something akin to religious heresy.

While I was taken aback, Troph Feita regained his composure, crossed his legs, and said:

“Lorian Feita’s darkness runs deep… Our long-cherished wish is only for ‘Him’ who will return at the end of days.”

“Return? Are you saying the first head of the family, Lorian Feita, will dust himself off and rise from his grave?”

The Emperor’s gaze toward Troph Feita was no different from looking at a lunatic. I could only vaguely guess that the Emperor, who could read emotions, would see all his words as truth.

“Kuhehe, who knows? We are merely making arrangements to serve Him… The entertainment ends here. If you wish for further conversation, feel free to gouge out my eyes or castrate me as you please. You’ll hear nothing but screams.”

Even without the Emperor’s ability, I could tell. His words must be true. Indeed, the Emperor was just glaring, unable to find a suitable conclusion.

I judged it best to withdraw at this point.

“Your Majesty, even Lorian Feita in his coffin wouldn’t waste time talking with someone worthy of his curses. Let’s end it here for today.”

Now he no longer reacted easily even to insulting remarks about Lorian Feita. Seeing this, the Emperor understood and lifted his heavy bottom from the seat.

The imperial investigators would remain in the room to interrogate him endlessly, but they would gain nothing.

“He still gives us no justification.”

The Emperor muttered to himself as he walked down the corridor.

“If the Duke’s house were truly plotting treason, their troop movements would surely be detected by Your Majesty’s intelligence network. Perhaps you’re overthinking this.”

The reason we bothered to meet Troph Feita when rescuing Charle was urgent was because we hoped for justification.

If the Duke’s house truly harbored malicious intentions, we needed justification to consolidate imperial power around the palace in preparation.

In other words, we needed a pretext to bring other nobles completely to the Emperor’s side.

The Emperor had intended to provoke Troph Feita into making a slip of the tongue, but it ended up being a wasted effort.

The only gain was the Duke’s enigmatic words.

‘Lorian Feita’s darkness runs deep…’

It was a statement that lingered. It was chilling to think that the echoes of a human from five hundred years ago might still be rooted in the world.

Moreover, the Duke’s statement seemed to imply that ‘Him’ and Lorian Feita were different entities.

Of course, it would make sense if ‘Him’ was simply a pronoun referring to Lorian Feita, but there was an undeniable sense of dissonance.

While I was considering various possibilities, the Emperor irritably voiced his doubts.

“The Marquess of Alteon was right. Not only the system but other territories are too peaceful. That’s why I don’t understand. Charle, what benefit is there in kidnapping that child?”

“…”

I vaguely suspect their ultimate target might be Irefi’s loyalty. However, this is merely a weakly-founded speculation I can make because I know the future; I had no certainty.

‘Simply holding Charle hostage seems too one-dimensional. Even if they did something to Miren, Irefi’s anger would be directed more at them than at the Empire.’

Above all, if Irefi is their ultimate goal, there are two things they absolutely need to know:

First, Irefi’s world-class military power.

Second, her future as the Destroyer who will bring down the Empire.

Irefi’s power has been concealed since the Chainlich Phenomenon, and there’s no way they could know about her future as the Destroyer.

‘Zikharun’s presence, which shouldn’t exist at this time… Duke Feita’s long-cherished wish… Lorian Feita and ‘Him’… What am I missing?’

Am I being misled by blindly following the original storyline?

“Phew!”

I shook my head vigorously as I exhaled forcefully. If I couldn’t figure it out no matter how much I thought about it, it was better to clear my mind and think simply.

‘The Empress’s illegitimate child has been kidnapped. Therefore, we must rescue her. Let’s just focus on that!’

If variables arise, I can deal with them as they come. I’ve also made preparations for any ‘what-if’ scenarios.

“Your Majesty. Brooding won’t change anything. We’ve spent considerable time, so I should head out to find Charle.”

“If you need anything, just say the word.”

“My body alone is enough.”

I answered with somewhat excessive confidence, pounding my chest. The Emperor seemed a bit more relaxed, a faint smile spreading across his lips.

Even so, as the Emperor, he would surely see through my deliberate show of bravado. The Emperor’s ability is truly troublesome.

“How do you know Charle’s location, and who will accompany you in tracking her down?” Irefi asked in an awkward tone.

“I’m going alone. If I run at full speed, no human can keep up anyway.”

Except for Irefi, of course.

An immortal body fundamentally doesn’t tire. As long as my will permits, I can run indefinitely; sleep and food are merely preferences.

Moreover, my physical abilities exceed those of the current Zikharun, reaching inhuman realms. There’s nowhere I couldn’t reach after three days and nights of running.

“That’s reckless.”

“What is?”

“I hate to say this, but…”

“You’re wondering if I can defeat Zikharun after being so thoroughly beaten before, right?”

“Ugh.”

Irefi let out a groan as I completely predicted what she was going to say. Along with her reaction, the Emperor’s expression darkened again.

Her concern is valid. Anyone would think the same. Before I could speak, Irefi preempted me.

“I’ll go.”

“Do you know where she is?”

“Nepy can tell me.”

“Do you know what might happen to Miren sleeping in the palace during these turbulent times?”

“…”

Irefi was at a loss for words at my pointed question.

Although no large-scale unrest has been observed, Irefi is the most reliable person in case of emergency.

Above all, I couldn’t simply tell her Charle’s location. What I could track was a sense of direction, not a specific place.

In other words, the most I could advise would be to head straight east.

“I understand that both Irefi and Your Majesty find me unreliable. But this time will be different. I intend to use any means necessary.”

Yes. I will choose what I consider the best and ‘worst’ method.

“He’s just a mediocre youngster. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

The Emperor perfectly understood what I meant and his face brightened again.

“Indeed. I will trust the Marquess of Alteon.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“Your Majesty! Isn’t this decision too hasty?”

“I understand Marquess Justitia’s concerns. However, it’s also a solemn fact that we have no better alternative!”

The Emperor’s mind had been firmly made up for a long time. As if to prove this, the Emperor declared with dignity:

“This is an imperial order. Marquess Justitia, from this moment, remain in the palace and protect the system.”

“…”

Irefi bit her lip in anguish. After a period of silence, she was finally forced to make a choice.

“…I will obey the imperial order.”

‘Miren Justitia is indeed Irefi’s counterweight.’

What does it feel like to care so much for one’s own flesh and blood? As an only child in my previous life, it’s an emotion I’ll never know.

“Now that our course is decided, there’s no reason to delay further.”

As we walked down the corridor, we had already reached the main entrance of the palace. I broke away from the group and approached the entrance door.

Just as I was about to open the red door decorated with golden chains:

From the edge of the luxuriously plush carpet, Irefi called out.

“Wait a moment, Nepy!”

“Irefi?”

I looked at her quizzically. Leaving the Emperor behind and approaching alone, her demeanor was quite different. Her usual confident attitude had disappeared, replaced by something rather precarious.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden? You’re not still going to insist on going instead, are you?”

“…No.”

“Are you going to lecture me?”

“Is that how you see me normally?”

Irefi asked with a surge of indignation, which was a bit frightening.

How do I see her… Well, what’s there to say? I only have the impression of an embodiment of unreasonableness wrapped in a beautiful jade-like shell.

As I hesitated to answer, she glared at me and cleared her throat loudly.

“Ahem, I… just have something I want to say.”

“Is it that… ack.”

“Be quiet. I’m trying to have a serious conversation.”

I barely restrained myself from jumping around after being kicked in the shin, conscious of watching eyes.

More frightening was how skilled Irefi’s joint attack was. I dreaded to imagine how often she had used it in the knights’ order.

Irefi took a deep breath and slowly began:

“I wasn’t being sincere.”

“What wasn’t… oh.”

I easily guessed what Irefi was trying to say. It must be about getting angry in response to my attitude.

“I was just going to tease you a bit because your attitude was annoying, but somehow my emotions got intense.”

“…”

“It hasn’t even been a day since I said I’d trust you. So I feel even more guilty. Somehow I developed a pride I didn’t have before, and made a mistake due to an inexplicable surge of resentment. So…”

Irefi’s right hand moved toward her chest.

“I’m sorry.”

“Irefi…”

I thought it would be fine to just let it slide. I already knew her true feelings well enough from eavesdropping.

Even if that weren’t the case, my subtle relationship with Irefi wasn’t the kind to crack over one or two arguments.

We weren’t as close as friends, but we had the strange bond where we could greet each other normally the next day after a minor dispute.

Irefi knew this. Yet she deliberately corrected herself. She was simply doing what was right—if there was a mistake, it should be rectified.

‘I’m a pathetic, stupid idiot.’

Irefi was blaming herself for everything. But strictly speaking, I was the source of the problem.

If I had been honest in my behavior from the start, if I hadn’t been so arrogant, she would have had no reason to be conflicted.

If anyone should apologize, it should be me first, and if anyone should be asked to reflect, I should comply.

‘Since I already knew Irefi’s feelings, since the conflict was already resolved… I was trying to avoid it with this kind of thinking… but only I had moved on.’

It was the kind of self-justification a young child might make. I couldn’t deny being a failure as a man.

Though it was already too late.

Though Irefi’s courage had already outshone me.

I spoke with as much sincerity as I could muster:

“I’m sorry.”

“Nepy?”

Irefi’s crescent-moon-like eyes trembled. Caught off guard, clear lakes rippled in her blue eyes.

“I can’t even begin to imagine how arrogant I’ve been. Honestly, Irefi, if you hadn’t brought it up, I would have kept quiet too. Then the next time we met, I would have greeted you as if nothing had happened.”

“It’s largely my responsibility.”

“No, I took a bad attitude and then shamelessly expected something from you. I thought, ‘It’s Irefi, so this much is fine.’ I shouldn’t have treated anyone that way, but I ended up treating you carelessly.”

“…”

“I should have apologized first… I’m sorry for that too, Irefi.”

I bowed my head before Irefi. Though I spoke words of apology as if in confession, my heart felt even heavier.

Irefi would surely forgive me. An apology made knowing the outcome was merely hypocrisy to lighten my internal burden.

She stared at me silently like a wooden statue, but since I had my head bowed, I could only see the lower part of her face.

Then suddenly, Irefi’s lips curved into a smile.

“I have my faults too, and since you recognize yours, I might forgive you out of appreciation for your understanding.”

“Huh?”

An ambiguous response that was neither here nor there.

I raised my head to look at Irefi.

“I think I might be able to forgive you if there’s one more thing.”

“…What is it?”

I felt a bit of anxiety as my prediction went awry.

Irefi stepped closer and smiled playfully.

“If you bring Charle back with you when you return, I might consider it.”

“That’s an expensive gift you’re asking for.”

“So, do you dislike it?”

“No, it’s modest for the Lady of the Moon La—ack!”

Perhaps because we were inside the palace, instead of resorting to violence with her ceremonial sword, Irefi delivered a joint attack.

“I should beat up everyone who comes up with these unfunny nicknames.”

“That’s treason…”

One of Irefi’s funny nicknames, “White Sword Beauty,” was a masterpiece spread by the Emperor himself. She glared at the Emperor with trembling hands.

The Emperor was busy pretending not to know, though.

“Haa, fine. Then let’s establish a signal as a final measure.”

“A signal?”

“Yes. If by any chance you feel you can’t punish Zikharun, break this.”

Irefi grabbed my left hand and drew a circle around my ring finger. At the same time, a cool sensation seemed to swirl, and a small, translucent blue ring wrapped around my ring finger like a band.

“I didn’t know Holy Memory could be used like this.”

“Yes, that’s right… Wait, how do you know the name Holy Memory?”

“Oops.”

I hastily made up an excuse.

“When you first used it on me in the Great Cavern, I heard you whisper the technique’s name.”

“Ah, that did happen, didn’t it.”

It was already quite a long time ago. I’m freshly aware of how much time has passed.

“Anyway… what happens if I break this?”

“If you’re sure the system is safe, I’ll rush to you. That thing can be tracked, you know.”

“That’s scary!”

“It’s not scary at all.”

The solution Netionpiece suggested was somewhat similar to Irefi’s Holy Memory ring.

The location tracking feature itself is scary, but what’s truly horrifying is that a mere human so casually possesses characteristics of Netionpiece.

‘Perhaps Irefi really is like a bug in the world’s system.’

I nodded to myself.

“Well, I probably won’t need to break it, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Take care… though I suppose an immortal doesn’t need such advice. Just come back quickly.”

“…Yeah.”

It was remarkably like us to exchange such mundane farewells, like writing “please deliver quickly” on a package memo.

“I’ll be back then.”

As I approached, the golden chain model on the main entrance of the palace opened by itself.

The scene that unfolded before the door was the beautiful view of the palace that I’d seen so many times it was almost tiresome.

Looking at the sky, the sun, though not yet sunset-colored but slightly yellowed, indicated the time.

As the entrance closed itself again, hiding more than half of Irefi’s figure, I took my first step in pursuit.

◇

After Nepy had completely departed, the Emperor was handling affairs in his office with Irefi.

He received regular reports on the movements of Feita’s faction to alleviate his anxiety. But no matter how many reports confirmed there was no activity, his unease continued to well up.

As reports from investigators and ministers dwindled, they naturally took a break.

With a little time on his hands, the Emperor suddenly raised a question to Irefi.

“Marquess Justitia. It seemed like you put a ring on the Marquess of Alteon’s finger before sending him off…”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. To be precise, it’s an item I created by applying my protective abilities.”

Irefi answered calmly. The Emperor narrowed his eyes at her.

“Do you happen to remember which hand you put it on?”

“I’m certain it was the left hand… no, the right hand? Um, I apologize, Your Majesty. I was so flustered at the time that I can’t remember.”

“Naturally, you wouldn’t remember which finger either?”

“Yes, that’s right. If it’s an important matter, I’ll try my best to recall.”

“No, no. It’s not important to me…”

‘Marquess Justitia, but isn’t it important to you?’

The Emperor deliberately held back the words that had risen to his throat. It was simply an act of curiosity and a bit of mischief.

‘She must have seen the ring-giving scene quite a few times.’

There were several investigators and servants near the palace entrance at that time. Though they couldn’t hear the conversation, they were close enough to see the action.

By now, rumors might be spreading that Marquess Irefi Justitia had taken in a son-in-law.

The Emperor could only vaguely guess.

‘The social gossip was already intensifying, so good luck when you return, Marquess Alteon.’

The Emperor could barely hide his spreading smile behind his teacup as he looked at Irefi.