Ch.385Next on the Agenda

“Is this the purification device? It’s smaller than I expected.”

I had expected something like an air purifier the size of a bag, but this was essentially a dust mask made of metal.

Metallic material with a sophisticated design. Even with cylinders attached below the ears.

It had a feeling like it wouldn’t look out of place in a cyberpunk genre if LED lights were added.

“Since it’s portable, a cumbersome size would be inconvenient. Miniaturizing the purification device was quite challenging, but I managed to complete it somehow.”

With Asha’s help, I tried on the purification device.

When I connected the lock at the back of my head, there was a clicking sound, and the purification device was firmly fixed to the lower part of my face.

Being metal, it was a bit heavy, but not to the point of being bothersome.

My breathing echoed a bit, but it didn’t significantly hinder respiration.

“Is this working right now?”

My voice had a strange resonance mixed in, making it sound alien like a mechanical voice through a speaker.

It also somewhat resembled the growl of a beast.

If I had worn this back when I was treated as a monster because of my karma, I would have looked exactly like a monster dreaming of human extinction.

[A fine piece of equipment. Threatening appearance with an eerie voice. Perfect for intimidating others.]

Hersella seemed to quite like the purification device.

Yes. I knew you would like it, woman.

“I didn’t make any specific switch for it. It works as soon as you put it on. To take it off, press here and pull. When not in use, you can attach it to your belt like this.”

Asha reached behind my neck and removed the purification device for me.

“The internal filter is consumable, so come back for a replacement when you feel the performance has decreased. Oh, and while it’s made of chrome alloy steel so it can be used as facial armor, be careful not to subject it to too much impact as it could damage the internal components.”

“Thanks. I’ll use it well.”

After receiving the purification device from her, I changed into my new armor.

Winter armor, was it? As expected, a warm sensation enveloped my skin. Like embracing a lover under a blanket.

This might be a bit hot in summer.

“What will you do with your original armor? Will you keep it as a spare, or sell it? We’d have to remove the scales, but still, since it’s armor that Haschal wore, it could easily fetch a thousand gold.”

“I’m not selling it.”

“That’s a shame.”

Asha let out a slight sigh, as if she was genuinely disappointed.

What a creepy thing to say. Why would I sell that?

Who knows what someone would do with my clothes after paying a thousand gold for them.

Just imagining it makes my chest tighten with disgust.

—-

After ordering additional armor for Jahan and Ophelia from Asha and paying a deposit, I left her workshop.

My destination was the Imperial Palace.

Now that I had taken care of all my personal business, it was time to address official matters.

Despite my sudden visit without even scheduling an audience, I was able to meet Leopold immediately.

As if he already knew about my return to the empire, Leopold was waiting for me in his office.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty. Have you been well?”

“Well… do I look well to you?”

Leopold asked with a slight smile.

His eyes shifted slightly upward, as if longing for his bangs that he could no longer see.

How pitiful…

“…It seems you’ve had quite a lot on your mind lately.”

“Always… Anyway, welcome back to the empire.”

No words of comfort seemed capable of reaching Leopold, who was sighing deeply.

Even as he sighed, golden strands were fluttering about.

In the original work, he might have lost his life but never his hair roots. How did he end up like this?

“By the way, you’re a bit later than I expected. I thought you would come straight to the palace.”

“It couldn’t be helped. If the commotion at the city gate had spread to the palace, it would have been troublesome in many ways.”

After all, Jahan’s asylum hadn’t been officially announced yet.

The guards at the palace gate would have caused quite a disturbance.

Well, I also took care of some personal matters along the way.

I had no idea Leopold had been waiting for me since then.

“Right. We need to talk about that issue as well. What were you thinking, bringing a Ka’har warrior to the empire without even sending me a message?”

“What? Didn’t Lord Ludwig send word?”

I thought the Emperor would have been informed about Jahan’s asylum.

“I regret to inform you that we received no message from Landenburg. I only learned about this Ka’har an hour ago.”

Leopold shook his head slightly.

Ludwig, that man, I can’t believe he didn’t report it. He’s left all the explaining to me.

Trying hard to ignore the golden hair strands floating in the air, I explained about Jahan.

I emphasized that he was a loyal servant who had been with me for nearly ten years, and that he had betrayed the Aishan to follow me here.

“…So he won’t cause any problems. If any incidents occur, I’ll take full responsibility.”

“I’m not worried about incidents happening. The issue is the controversy that will arise from your recruitment of a Ka’har. You know very well how Ka’har are treated in the empire. You got away with it because you’re of mixed blood and have achieved great merits… but he’s different.”

What can I do?

I’m not unaware that imperial citizens are wary of Ka’har, but I couldn’t just turn him away either.

“Do you understand? Right now, you’ve essentially brought a werebeast champion into the empire solely because he’s your kin. All sorts of speculations about your intentions are bound to circulate. It’s a sensitive issue.”

“Speculations?”

“That you’re calling in your subordinates from the east to establish Ka’har influence within the empire, or that you’re using them to infiltrate the empire from within. Such things. In extreme cases, some might worry that you’re trying to incite a rebellion like Militchya.”

Is that how it works?

It certainly seemed plausible, from the perspective of those who don’t know the truth.

“It doesn’t seem like any more warriors besides Jahan will be coming. My entire guard turned their backs on me.”

Seeing how even Mersin, who was supposed to be one of my closest confidants, betrayed me, any Ka’har who might come to the empire in the future would only be those desperate to cut my throat.

So Leopold’s speculations were nothing but empty talk that would never come to fruition.

[Wasn’t it you who turned your back on them?]

‘Either way, backs were turned, weren’t they? Does the order of events really matter?’

[How shameless.]

Hersella grumbled as usual, but since it was already a settled matter, she didn’t complain further.

“That remains to be seen. And even if that’s true, it doesn’t matter to those who wish to slander you… Well, fine. Just this once, I’ll explain things to them appropriately, but please be more careful in the future.”

“I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”

And so, the issue of Jahan’s asylum was concluded with Leopold agreeing to smooth things over.

—-

“By the way, the inspection at the city gate was unusually strict today. Did something happen while I was away?”

In the past, they would have let me through just by seeing my face, but this time they insisted on checking everyone in the carriage.

Unless there had been some incident, there was no reason for the inspection method to change so suddenly.

“Haven’t you heard yet? While you were away, three nobles of the empire lost their lives. One count and two viscounts. All three were nobles of Lord Wien’s faction. The strengthened inspections are because of that.”

“Three imperial nobles…? How in the world…”

While viscounts might be one thing, the death of a count-level noble was quite a major incident.

Counts were considered among the more powerful nobles.

“Assassination. And by a magic-using assassin at that. According to witnesses, it was a large man wielding a lightning-wrapped sword. The knightly order managed to track him down, but he self-destructed the moment they tried to capture him, so his identity remained unknown until the end. The explosion was so powerful that not even a corpse remained. Who sent him, what his purpose was, whether he was even human—none of these questions could be answered.”

An assassin? So that happened.

I couldn’t guess who might have done this.

Among the enemies I knew, there was no assassin who wielded a lightning sword.

“Still, it’s fortunate that he couldn’t defeat the knights and died. It seems he wasn’t some superhuman powerhouse.”

If he had been such a powerhouse, he would have slaughtered the knights surrounding him and disappeared quietly, rather than self-destructing.

The very fact that he self-destructed proved that he was below master level.

“You’re right. If the assassin had been as powerful as you, there wouldn’t be any nobles left in the empire.”

Leopold nodded, slightly adjusted his posture, and moistened his throat with tea.

I also picked up the teacup on the table and brought it to my lips.

“Speaking of assassinations, is your previous proposal still valid?”

“By previous proposal, you mean…?”

Leopold put down his teacup and slightly lowered his head, looking straight at me.

As if to say this was an important conversation that required my full attention.

“That… the proposal to assassinate the King of Panam. If you’re still willing, I’m thinking of implementing it soon.”

I took a slight breath and put down the tea I was drinking.

Indeed, it was a very important matter.