Ch.26487. Something That Should Never Exist (2)

“So, Loroana. Do you really intend to hand this over to that child?”

When the Nine Heroes were just over a dozen in number.

Their leader was the current Hero Emperor.

Though Lueld obtained the divine sword and achieved explosive growth in the face of all manner of adversity and trials,

Even then, it was the Emperor who led the heroes.

That ranking, that position changed

When even the Emperor faltered and despaired, only Lueld remained unbroken, supporting everyone, and the Emperor and other comrades had no choice but to acknowledge it.

That you are the greatest, and the best.

And it was only after defeating the Demon King by barely using the sacrifices and devotion of numerous comrades and acquaintances as stepping stones that Lueld relinquished his position.

He wanted to remain simply as a knight, a servant of the gods, and an ordinary member protecting justice.

Moreover.

This current matter is too weighty a subject for Lueld to lead the conversation with strong tones or intentions.

That’s why the Emperor voluntarily broached the subject.

His blue eyes had to meet the lizardman woman’s—more precisely, she wasn’t a pure lizardman or stone person.

But regardless of that, the Emperor had to face her bright yellow eyes.

“Because I promised.”

“Have you considered the problems that might arise when this falls into that child’s hands?”

“That’s not for me to calculate.”

Loroana uttered words that might seem irresponsible or rash at first glance.

“What if this takes away even the last chance to bring that child back?”

“Bring back what?”

Loroana asked with genuine curiosity.

“Isn’t the current state of Kariel, all alone like that, the result of your negligence and irresponsibility?”

“……”

Though he wanted to say she should refrain from words that could cause misunderstanding,

Since it was clearly true, the Emperor neither refuted nor reproached her.

“……”

Silk-like black hair.

Eyes even darker and deeper than that.

But her snow-white skin has become even paler in this situation.

Thus, Ermina’s complexion, sitting to one side, had grown increasingly pallid.

And it wasn’t just the Emperor or her partner Lueld who noticed this.

“……”

The Empress also kept her lips tightly closed, suppressing her breath slightly.

At this moment, Nedes cleared the air by slamming his booted foot onto the table with a thud.

“Hey, since we’re on the topic, let’s talk straight. How did things get to this point? And sure, the kid might be able to become stronger than me someday, but to already surpass me at such a young age? We should be proud, so what’s the problem here?”

“Tsk, tsk!”

Rashid clicked his tongue habitually again.

“Don’t be too hard on them.”

At this point, perhaps only Bariel, who understood the situation in detail, could mediate between them.

“They simply lacked skill and talent. I’m not defending them… but we can’t just give up and abandon the situation either.”

“Why are you talking like this isn’t your problem too? You were just busy playing around below the waist.”

However, that might have been Bariel’s misunderstanding.

Nedes clearly directed a reproachful gaze at him, making no exceptions in his criticism.

“You’re all great figures with impeccable public achievements and contributions. So what went wrong?”

“……”

Neither Lueld nor Ermina

Could even attempt to refute this.

“Lueld, you used to worship that kid so much you’d charge into elven territory alone. Why? Once the kid returned to the family, did you think you had them in the palm of your hand and didn’t need to care anymore…?”

“It’s my fault.”

However.

Ermina couldn’t silently watch as her husband, who might in some ways be the greatest victim, was being criticized.

In truth, it wasn’t like that.

“I placed too many expectations on that child. I was too demanding, too harsh in my criticism… my requirements were excessive…”

“You stay out of this. I never expected much from a crazy woman like you anyway.”

“Nedes!”

“What? Did I say something wrong? What is she besides someone dependent on the gods? Her healing abilities? Sure, I received a lot of help. But so what? We were all just fulfilling our roles. Her role. My role. They were just different. With different abilities and talents, that’s only natural, isn’t it?”

The purpose of a sword and the purpose of a bow and arrow can never be equal.

Just as medicine and poison cannot serve the same purpose.

Just as water and fire can never be identical or equal.

“Who gathered you all here to fight?! You ill-mannered fools!”

Finally, after holding back for so long, Rashid bellowed, causing everyone to quiet down again.

If the people of the world could see them like this, the dignity and fantasy of the great Nine Heroes and the great warriors might have already crumbled.

“Let me summarize. The initial problem isn’t that the child ran away alone. It’s that Meli had a prophetic dream that the child would become the Demon King.”

And this news had even spread to some foreign countries.

Everyone’s silence… was probably because they thought bringing it up wouldn’t be useful right now.

That’s also why they once tried to secure Kariel’s whereabouts and custody.

The Empire thwarted all of that through diplomacy and, in some cases, through covert shows of force.

Naturally, most people in the world wouldn’t know about this.

However, if there was one problem, it was that the actions Kariel took when he reappeared after a long period of disappearance definitely became an issue.

He restored a village cursed with a frozen curse that no archmage from the Order could break.

He exterminated the notorious bandit group that had been ravaging the Eastern Continent.

He not only thwarted but completely ruined the ambitions of several minor lords.

But the biggest incident was the great chaos in Paceran.

And since signs of demon and greater demon summoning were detected there, the Irenis Order actively intervened in the land of foreigners and heretics in that context.

All of this was based on clear circumstances rather than mere suspicion, so Paceran had no choice but to repent rather than become the enemy of the continent.

And the method of repentance demanded by the Order from Paceran was ultimately to spread the teachings of Irenis to all people in that land.

This is essentially the background for the establishment of the Irenis faith as the state religion.

Although the official proclamation hasn’t been made yet due to procedural issues.

And the Order placed more significance on this than simply declaring it the state religion.

When numerous minor nations and lords from the Eastern Continent set their sights on Paceran as prey and attempted to invade,

When they tried to invade the lambs of Irenis,

A true justification would be established to slaughter and convert the heretics.

That’s also why the Order is assisting Paceran while turning a blind eye to their corruption and injustice.

A sinful world can never be cleansed by simply dusting it off.

Cleaning is not enough.

So to wash it away, one must cause a great flood, as in the old myths.

By humans writing a new myth comparable to the great flood with human power,

The East would be purified.

It would be washed clean.

…And thus, new sprouts would grow on that land, rainbows would bloom, and true peace would arrive.

But.

Only the Emperor knows about such circumstances.

And even that pretext was largely initiated because of Kariel.

More precisely, it was Elhermina who instantly achieved such justification and design, officially sanctioning the Order’s intervention.

In this way, she overlaid another meaning onto Kariel’s spreading infamy and suspicions.

The Empire intervened in Paceran not as an invader but as a rescuer and collaborator.

The Order legally and justly drove a new wedge into Paceran, the strategic point of the East, planting crosses and flags.

When the benefits to be gained are not just sufficient but excessive, the rest doesn’t matter to anyone.

And Kariel, rather than actually causing chaos, was a hero who eliminated and suppressed it.

In the process of understanding the situation and organizing and inferring it, the suspicions about Kariel within Paceran were quickly sorted out and resolved by Elhermina’s hand.

The fact that Kariel’s whereabouts couldn’t be immediately determined was also why Elhermina temporarily stayed in Paceran.

And the Emperor shared information that he believed would be helpful with Lueld and Ermina.

More precisely, it was because Lueld had permitted it that he called them both to share this information.

It wasn’t calculated or intentional.

Even so, it was clear that El had firmly established her position as Kariel’s partner and companion.

In fact, this union could have been accomplished long ago if only Kariel had permitted it.

…At what point did things become twisted and distorted?

The Hero Emperor, half-listening to his comrades taking turns speaking, pondered and agonized internally.

Then he firmly cut off the flow that was leading to an unnecessary emotional confrontation.

“Rumors are circulating.”

When the Hero Emperor spoke, everyone focused their attention on him.

The gentle sunlight falls on the Emperor’s uncovered red hair.

The position of the sun, the direction of the light, has already tilted.

“Rumors of a knight in black armor and his warhorse leading snow-white warriors.”

At the Emperor’s words, Loroana immediately recalled something.

The ghost warriors who had fought alongside them against the Demon King and his army when they invaded Ardisus.

“You seem to have something in mind.”

As if perceiving the fleeting change in her expression, the Emperor’s blue eyes gaze into Loroana’s bright yellow ones.

“They must be the ghost warriors who fought alongside us against the Demon King.”

Loroana had been able to learn about their identity from Alesia.

“I later heard that it was the result of Kariel using his power as the owner of the broken sword of Saint Kariel, which had become a holy relic.”

“……”

This was something both the Emperor and Lueld had an inkling about.

However, they had been informed that the holy relic had been returned to the Order by the 4th Saint, the Saint of Protection, so how did it end up back in Kariel’s hands?

“The problem is that these sightings are occurring simultaneously throughout the Empire.”

“……”

Both Loroana

And Nedes.

Suddenly recalled what Kariel had said to them.

“Wild Hunt.”

So it wasn’t just idle talk.

Loroana hadn’t yet shared the details about Ardisus.

She thought it would be sufficient to discuss it after Gazef joined them.

But Kariel’s declaration of war,

That content, serious as it was, had already been shared.

That’s why Lueld and Ermina were sitting there without saying anything.

“Yes. That point proves that the child wasn’t speaking idly.”

That’s why the Emperor brought up this issue.

So, would they really hand over that unidentified, mysterious relic to a child who has become capable of such supernatural feats?

“……”

This isn’t a matter of right or wrong.

Is there a reason to risk such danger?

Truly, if Kariel genuinely harbors malice and resentment and tries to harm the Empire,

The Emperor himself would never be able to defend Kariel then.

And that would be… a very shameful thing for Lueld and Ermina too.

To prevent such a worst-case scenario, the Emperor didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.

It would be better if the relationship didn’t deteriorate further.

If they couldn’t do anything themselves… they would have to entrust this responsibility to El when she awakens in the future.

…What unreliable parents.

The Emperor knew.

That sometimes, as a parent, as an adult, one can never convince or make a child understand.

Because the Emperor himself had been like that, he had fully believed the malicious rumors surrounding the previous Emperor, calling him the Foolish Emperor, the Emperor of Excessive Ambition, and the Emperor of Ignorance.

In reality, he had been like an enemy to the Emperor of that time.

But that he had cherished him, that he had designated him as the true successor…

…The man who became the hero and Emperor of the time only learned this after the Foolish Emperor died amidst all sorts of insults and was laid in his grave.

The foundation upon which he so smoothly, so easily, without any significant resistance or opposition, came to reign as Emperor was the achievement of the previous Emperor.

Outwardly pretending to be stupid, a greedy fool, he had deceived the world.

But behind the scenes, even as the continent was collapsing and falling due to the Demon King’s army, he alone had designed the future in solitude.

…There was no happiness for the Emperor himself in it.

Not even a shred of satisfaction was included.

All that remained for him was probably just the current Emperor, the one called the Hero Emperor and praised.

…And it was only after barely defeating the Demon King, using the sacrifices and devotion of numerous comrades and acquaintances as stepping stones, that Lueld relinquished his position.

Because he wanted to remain simply as a knight, a servant of the gods, and an ordinary member protecting justice.

Moreover.

For the Emperor, even guiding the conversation with strong tones or intentions on this weighty matter was difficult.

That’s why he had voluntarily broached the subject.

His blue eyes had to meet the lizardman woman’s—more precisely, she wasn’t a pure lizardman or stone person.

But regardless of that, the Emperor had to face her bright yellow eyes.

“Because I promised.”

“Have you considered the problems that might arise when this falls into that child’s hands?”

“That’s not for me to calculate.”

Loroana uttered words that might seem irresponsible or rash at first glance.

“What if this takes away even the last chance to bring that child back?”

“Bring back what?”

Loroana asked with genuine curiosity.

“Isn’t the current state of Kariel, all alone like that, the result of your negligence and irresponsibility?”

“……”

Though he wanted to say she should refrain from words that could cause misunderstanding,

Since it was clearly true, the Emperor neither refuted nor reproached her.

“……”

Silk-like black hair.

Eyes even darker and deeper than that.

But her snow-white skin has become even paler in this situation.

Thus, Ermina’s complexion, sitting to one side, had grown increasingly pallid.

And it wasn’t just the Emperor or her partner Lueld who noticed this.

“……”

The Empress also kept her lips tightly closed, suppressing her breath slightly.

At this moment, Nedes cleared the air by slamming his booted foot onto the table with a thud.

“Hey, since we’re on the topic, let’s talk straight. How did things get to this point? And sure, the kid might be able to become stronger than me someday, but to already surpass me at such a young age? We should be proud, so what’s the problem here?”

“Tsk, tsk!”

Rashid clicked his tongue habitually again.

“Don’t be too hard on them.”

At this point, perhaps only Bariel, who understood the situation in detail, could mediate between them.

“They simply lacked skill and talent. I’m not defending them… but we can’t just give up and abandon the situation either.”

“Why are you talking like this isn’t your problem too? You were just busy playing around below the waist.”

However, that might have been Bariel’s misunderstanding.

Nedes clearly directed a reproachful gaze at him, making no exceptions in his criticism.

“You’re all great figures with impeccable public achievements and contributions. So what went wrong?”

“……”

Neither Lueld nor Ermina

Could even attempt to refute this.

“Lueld, you used to worship that kid so much you’d charge into elven territory alone. Why? Once the kid returned to the family, did you think you had them in the palm of your hand and didn’t need to care anymore…?”

“It’s my fault.”

However.

Ermina couldn’t silently watch as her husband, who might in some ways be the greatest victim, was being criticized.

In truth, it wasn’t like that.

“I placed too many expectations on that child. I was too demanding, too harsh in my criticism… my requirements were excessive…”

“You stay out of this. I never expected much from a crazy woman like you anyway.”

“Nedes!”

“What? Did I say something wrong? What is she besides someone dependent on the gods? Her healing abilities? Sure, I received a lot of help. But so what? We were all just fulfilling our roles. Her role. My role. They were just different. With different abilities and talents, that’s only natural, isn’t it?”

The purpose of a sword and the purpose of a bow and arrow can never be equal.

Just as medicine and poison cannot serve the same purpose.

Just as water and fire can never be identical or equal.

“Who gathered you all here to fight?! You ill-mannered fools!”

Finally, after holding back for so long, Rashid bellowed, causing everyone to quiet down again.

If the people of the world could see them like this, the dignity and fantasy of the great Nine Heroes and the great warriors might have already crumbled.

“Let me summarize. The initial problem isn’t that the child ran away alone. It’s that Meli had a prophetic dream that the child would become the Demon King.”

And this news had even spread to some foreign countries.

Everyone’s silence… was probably because they thought bringing it up wouldn’t be useful right now.

That’s also why they once tried to secure Kariel’s whereabouts and custody.

The Empire thwarted all of that through diplomacy and, in some cases, through covert shows of force.

Naturally, most people in the world wouldn’t know about this.

However, if there was one problem, it was that the actions Kariel took when he reappeared after a long period of disappearance definitely became an issue.

He restored a village cursed with a frozen curse that no archmage from the Order could break.

He exterminated the notorious bandit group that had been ravaging the Eastern Continent.

He not only thwarted but completely ruined the ambitions of several minor lords.

But the biggest incident was the great chaos in Paceran.

And since signs of demon and greater demon summoning were detected there, the Irenis Order actively intervened in the land of foreigners and heretics in that context.

All of this was based on clear circumstances rather than mere suspicion, so Paceran had no choice but to repent rather than become the enemy of the continent.

And the method of repentance demanded by the Order from Paceran was ultimately to spread the teachings of Irenis to all people in that land.

This is essentially the background for the establishment of the Irenis faith as the state religion.

Although the official proclamation hasn’t been made yet due to procedural issues.

And the Order placed more significance on this than simply declaring it the state religion.

When numerous minor nations and lords from the Eastern Continent set their sights on Paceran as prey and attempted to invade,

When they tried to invade the lambs of Irenis,

A true justification would be established to slaughter and convert the heretics.

That’s also why the Order is assisting Paceran while turning a blind eye to their corruption and injustice.

A sinful world can never be cleansed by simply dusting it off.

Cleaning is not enough.

So to wash it away, one must cause a great flood, as in the old myths.

By humans writing a new myth comparable to the great flood with human power,

The East would be purified.

It would be washed clean.

…And thus, new sprouts would grow on that land, rainbows would bloom, and true peace would arrive.

But.

Only the Emperor knows about such circumstances.

And even that pretext was largely initiated because of Kariel.

More precisely, it was Elhermina who instantly achieved such justification and design, officially sanctioning the Order’s intervention.

In this way, she overlaid another meaning onto Kariel’s spreading infamy and suspicions.

The Empire intervened in Paceran not as an invader but as a rescuer and collaborator.

The Order legally and justly drove a new wedge into Paceran, the strategic point of the East, planting crosses and flags.

When the benefits to be gained are not just sufficient but excessive, the rest doesn’t matter to anyone.

And Kariel, rather than actually causing chaos, was a hero who eliminated and suppressed it.

In the process of understanding the situation and organizing and inferring it, the suspicions about Kariel within Paceran were quickly sorted out and resolved by Elhermina’s hand.

The fact that Kariel’s whereabouts couldn’t be immediately determined was also why Elhermina temporarily stayed in Paceran.

And the Emperor shared information that he believed would be helpful with Lueld and Ermina.

More precisely, it was because Lueld had permitted it that he called them both to share this information.

It wasn’t calculated or intentional.

Even so, it was clear that El had firmly established her position as Kariel’s partner and companion.

In fact, this union could have been accomplished long ago if only Kariel had permitted it.

…At what point did things become twisted and distorted?

The Hero Emperor, half-listening to his comrades taking turns speaking, pondered and agonized internally.

Then he firmly cut off the flow that was leading to an unnecessary emotional confrontation.

“Rumors are circulating.”

When the Hero Emperor spoke, everyone focused their attention on him.

The gentle sunlight falls on the Emperor’s uncovered red hair.

The position of the sun, the direction of the light, has already tilted.

“Rumors of a knight in black armor and his warhorse leading snow-white warriors.”

At the Emperor’s words, Loroana immediately recalled something.

The ghost warriors who had fought alongside them against the Demon King and his army when they invaded Ardisus.

“You seem to have something in mind.”

As if perceiving the fleeting change in her expression, the Emperor’s blue eyes gaze into Loroana’s bright yellow ones.

“They must be the ghost warriors who fought alongside us against the Demon King.”

Loroana had been able to learn about their identity from Alesia.

“I later heard that it was the result of Kariel using his power as the owner of the broken sword of Saint Kariel, which had become a holy relic.”

“……”

This was something both the Emperor and Lueld had an inkling about.

However, they had been informed that the holy relic had been returned to the Order by the 4th Saint, the Saint of Protection, so how did it end up back in Kariel’s hands?

“The problem is that these sightings are occurring simultaneously throughout the Empire.”

“……”

Both Loroana

And Nedes.

Suddenly recalled what Kariel had said to them.

“Wild Hunt.”

So it wasn’t just idle talk.

Loroana hadn’t yet shared the details about Ardisus.

She thought it would be sufficient to discuss it after Gazef joined them.

But Kariel’s declaration of war,

That content, serious as it was, had already been shared.

That’s why Lueld and Ermina were sitting there without saying anything.

“Yes. That point proves that the child wasn’t speaking idly.”

That’s why the Emperor brought up this issue.

So, would they really hand over that unidentified, mysterious relic to a child who has become capable of such supernatural feats?

“……”

This isn’t a matter of right or wrong.

Is there a reason to risk such danger?

Truly, if Kariel genuinely harbors malice and resentment and tries to harm the Empire,

The Emperor himself would never be able to defend Kariel then.

And that would be… a very shameful thing for Lueld and Ermina too.

To prevent such a worst-case scenario, the Emperor didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.

It would be better if the relationship didn’t deteriorate further.

If they couldn’t do anything themselves… they would have to entrust this responsibility to El when she awakens in the future.

…What unreliable parents.

The Emperor knew.

That sometimes, as a parent, as an adult, one can never convince or make a child understand.

Because the Emperor himself had been like that, he had fully believed the malicious rumors surrounding the previous Emperor, calling him the Foolish Emperor, the Emperor of Excessive Ambition, and the Emperor of Ignorance.

In reality, he had been like an enemy to the Emperor of that time.

But that he had cherished him, that he had designated him as the true successor…

…The man who became the hero and Emperor of the time only learned this after the Foolish Emperor died amidst all sorts of insults and was laid in his grave.

The foundation upon which he so smoothly, so easily, without any significant resistance or opposition, came to reign as Emperor was the achievement of the previous Emperor.

Outwardly pretending to be stupid, a greedy fool, he had deceived the world.

But behind the scenes, even as the continent was collapsing and falling due to the Demon King’s army, he alone had designed the future in solitude.

…There was no happiness for the Emperor himself in it.

Not even a shred of satisfaction was included.

All that remained for him was probably just the current Emperor, the one called the Hero Emperor and praised.

…And in the end, it was only after using the sacrifices and devotion of numerous comrades and acquaintances as stepping stones to barely defeat the Demon King that Lueld stepped down from his position.

For he wanted to remain simply as a knight, a servant of the gods, and an ordinary member protecting justice.

“Michel.”

“……”

Loroana.

She pinpointed the Hero Emperor’s name, seemingly forgotten yet unforgettable.

“Kariel said this.”

They have never trusted me.

“Do you still not feel any sign or premonition from these words?”

“…I understand what you’re trying to say. However, I cannot recklessly take on such a massive risk.”

If as a result, Kariel were to bear an unforgivable sin,

Then truly… it would be irreversible.

“Even if a child asks to be trusted, if that means throwing oneself off a cliff, we shouldn’t stand by and watch.”

“…Then you should have paid better attention before it got to this point.”

Nedes, finding the Emperor’s seemingly profound words irritating, retorted.

“Forget about you. Lueld, why don’t you properly explain why the kid wants to duel with you? Do you still not understand? Or do you know but don’t want to say it?”

“……”

Lueld sighed quietly.

“The Sage Demon King.”

In the end, it comes back to this.

“One of my guesses is that it might be related to her grudge.”

“Don’t just tell us one, tell us all of them.”

“……”

Lueld had sought advice from many people, trying to understand the hearts of fathers.

And what he got were things that seemed inadequate and unreliable, but

What was certain was that while all children resemble their parents and want to resemble them, the opposite is also true.

While some desperately resist and rebel,

…There are also those who absolutely obey and can only obey, who consider it natural and accept it.

And there are parents who consider this natural.

…Disliking that, Ermina and he thought they had treated their child more amicably.

Perhaps wondering if this had influenced the child to wander foreign lands instead of staying with Elhermina, he had looked into various aspects, but

He didn’t know.

For Lueld, his parents were objects of longing, not resentment or hatred.

After all, they ultimately died to save him.

Though he became an orphan early, they had whispered to him until the end that they loved him, that his existence was their happiness and salvation.

He almost resented them briefly, but…

That would be wrong, wouldn’t it?

It’s the world that’s harsh to me, not my parents who were wrong.

“……”

In the end, that’s it.

The only option is to ask directly, face to face.

No matter how much one recalls, thinks, and guesses,

If things are even slightly misaligned, misunderstandings arise and relationships become distorted, as Lueld has seen on occasion.

Child of Revelation.

Beyond expecting much from that child, beyond hoping for much,

We wanted to give much.

“I think further talk is meaningless.”

“…What nonsense is that now?”

“In the end, I’ll have to face that child directly and settle this.”

“No! I should be the one to do that!”

Ermina exclaimed forcefully.

“In the end, it’s because I went wrong… because I did wrong that things… turned out this way. You and the others did nothing wrong. It’s just that I, I was inadequate…”

“……”

And.

As expected, it turned out like this again.

He had withheld his words because he didn’t want it to turn out this way.

“Hmph.”

Even Rashid, who had been clicking his tongue all along, finally couldn’t hold back and sighed.

“I won’t intervene. Whether you deliver that thing, stop it, or break it and make it as if it never existed… that’s for you to decide. Ah!”

Rashid leaped from his chair.

Then, as he was heading towards the door, he sensed something and quickly stepped back.

Some had already sensed the signs.

Despite trying to suppress his presence.

BANG!

“Hahaha! The great me has arrived… What? Was I the last one?”

Gazef.

The final member among their surviving comrades had just joined.

Nedes stuck out his tongue, and Bariel, who had found this uncomfortable gathering not very reassuring, finally snorted softly.

“It’ll be a headache if we have to repeat everything we’ve discussed.”

To Nedes’s grumbling, Loroana added without affirming:

“No. There’s another story we can tell now that he’s here.”

“What’s that? Then we should quickly… Ah, I see. I understand.”

In the end, even Rashid, who had been about to leave, returned to his seat.

And Gazef, looking around blankly.

He asked.

“But… there’s no seat for me?”

“…There is right here.”

Nedes thumped the table where he had his feet propped up with his boot.

“With that size, you want to sit in the same chair as us? Or just sit on that sofa over there.”

“Should I?”

Gazef casually settled on the sofa far from the table and seats.

Given his build, a sofa meant for three people instantly became a single-seater.

“So what serious discussions were you all having? Now that I’m here, speak freely.”

“…Before that, Gazef. I want to talk about what we experienced in Ardisus.”

Loroana began.

“You didn’t tell them?”

“It’s better to discuss such things when everyone is present to avoid misunderstandings.”

Loroana tapped near her head with the back of her hand.

“Information expressed through the mouth can always be distorted depending on the witness or experiencer.”

True to her professional consciousness, she indirectly mentioned the importance of cross-verification of information, but.

“You’re not senile, so why would your memory get distorted or whatever? Are you Rashid or something?”

“What’s that, you brat?! Are you mocking me for securing the youngest elder position?!”

“Still boasting about yourself when faced with opposition, I see.”

Gazef laughed heartily.

“……”

Come to think of it, among the nine, only Lueld and Gazef could laugh like that.

Those who laughed, sang, and made noise had all died or disappeared.

…Those who remained were all those who stayed silent, read the atmosphere, or focused on their tasks.

And now, perhaps Lueld too has been swept up in that atmosphere.

Though reunions were always accompanied by smiles and a subtle yet comfortable atmosphere,

This time, the Emperor lamented internally, it didn’t seem like they would be able to raise their glasses.

“……”

By now, the Empress had invisibly extended her hand from the side.

She was concernedly touching the Emperor’s slender knee.