Ch.49Role, and Promise

“One hundred out of one hundred times, when asked about Carnar Kingdom’s landmark, people would first point to the Main Hall where national events are held.

Located at the highest level of the royal palace, the Main Hall is tall and wide enough to overlook the capital’s scenery at a glance. In that hall, Rastali was trembling with a satisfaction unlike any other in the world.

“Ugh… ha…”

She had recently completed her adaptation to the contaminant implanted in her shadow. Black magic equivalent to decades’ worth was howling within her shadow, and the excess magic leaked out as if ready to cover the entire world.

And that wasn’t all.

The guard who had fallen to provocation and rescued the princess was being consumed by the contaminant.

“That was close…”

At first, she thought she was going mad from the churning in her stomach. How on earth had such a human being come into existence? Just containing the contaminant gave her the sensation of her limbs being crushed.

But she endured in the end.

A portion of that overflowing power circulated and circulated until it became her own. With that alone, she was confident she could dominate and stand unrivaled in the world.

If this continued, overthrowing the kingdom would be the least of her concerns. Ruling the world would no longer be just a dream.

“Kuh, haha. Even time is on my side. How reassuring.”

If that insufferable Rupenter princess and her companions escaped from the mental world… it would be long past the appropriate timing.

A day?

No, even a day was too long.

After just half a day… she would be able to place even the empire’s emperor beneath her feet.

Rastali trembled with pleasure that overflowed just from imagining it.

“Thank you for voluntarily becoming my nourishment, Mr. Guard.”

She lovingly stroked her shadow.

She would have liked to kiss it, but kissing the floor would be filthy.

“Ahaha…”

She laughed pleasantly.

She sat on the throne in the Main Hall, crossing her legs.

Then, taking in the view of the kingdom beneath her feet, she nodded with satisfaction.

◇

“Haa… haa…”

I desperately tried to steady my ragged breathing.

I remained vigilant, watching the dark figure collapsed before me, wary that it might rise again. Fortunately, that thing that had imitated me soon dissipated like fine sand dust.

“I’m having all sorts of experiences…”

I never expected to experience fighting myself. To be precise, I should say I fought Princess Seriniel, not myself…

“To think I’d have a mirror match in reality.”

The difference would be the player, I suppose.

The form of Seriniel that attacked me was literally the Seriniel from the original work. It’s like spitting in my own face to say this, but… honestly, her primitive characteristics were prominent.

She probably never had proper training since her innate physical abilities were so exceptional.

In contrast, I was a taekwondo athlete, and after reincarnation, I’ve occasionally sparred with my father. The difference in accumulated experience and technique is considerable.

Even so, it’s true that it was difficult because her base was Seriniel. I’ve consumed far more stamina than when I fought Ruslet in his youth.

“Hoooooo…”

In this world of thick fog, I took a deep breath. Then, with veins bulging in my neck, I shouted loudly.

“MOTHER-IN-LAAAAAAAAW!!!”

[… You have quite the voice, child.]

“I have to be loud enough to make up for Rian’s smallness.”

[Hmph.]

My mother-in-law appeared suddenly with an exasperated exhale.

No matter how many times I saw her, I couldn’t get used to her appearance, and I inhaled sharply.

‘How can a person look like that? Rian’s mother was breathtakingly beautiful, but compared to this person… wow.’

Is this why Rahilt doesn’t pounce on me?

Having grown up seeing his mother from birth, with a mother-in-law like this inside?

I’ve been giving pretty obvious signals, but the male protagonist shows no signs of falling.

‘How blessed must the first emperor have been to have such a beauty as his wife?’

[Blessed? What an inappropriate expression.]

“… Did I just say that out loud?”

This is a big problem. I often make this mistake in front of Rahilt and have been trying to correct it.

But my mother-in-law’s lips indicated denial.

[I’ve simply developed insight after living for countless years.]

“That’s a bit scary…”

[What’s scary is how you consistently refer to me as ‘mother-in-law’ even in your thoughts…]

“…”

I hurriedly tried to change the subject by throwing out a suitable topic.

“Anyway, what about the first emperor? He was completely blessed, wasn’t he?”

[… Not a blessing, but a curse. At least that’s what I think.]

After this puzzling statement, my mother-in-law added:

[And above all… I couldn’t help but love him.]

“Why?”

[He was so brilliant. Yes, incredibly so.]

“…”

[The world he showed me, the facets of life, the depravity and nobility of people. Everything.]

I couldn’t help but be impressed for a moment.

For the first time, I discovered a human aspect in my mother-in-law, who had always seemed so transcendent.

Her cheeks flushed like a girl in love, covered with shyness.

I stared at her blankly.

[So, I came to love this harmonious world… that he loved.]

I have no idea what kind of life my mother-in-law led with the first emperor. Yet the dragon who had descended to earth and fallen to human form wore an incredibly happy expression.

I was drawn to her pervasive happiness like a moth to flame. Enough to approach one step at a time toward the woman.

At that moment, my mother-in-law stepped back and said to me:

[Though completely different in gender, appearance, and personality… you resemble him somehow.]

“Me?”

She nodded at my question.

“Really?”

[Yes…]

So did the first emperor also think about pouncing on my mother-in-law day and night?

Like pushing forward and making various indecent requests.

Patting her head all over.

Looking at mother-in-law’s chest when angry to cool down.

Sitting on her lap and pinching her flushed body while teasing her.

Spending all day fantasizing about placing lingering kisses on mother-in-law’s limbs.

Was he a man with such a perfectly normal mindset like me?

[… Actually, no. My eyes must be getting dim with age.]

“That’s strange, why do I feel bad?”

[Hmm.]

My mother-in-law smoothly ignored my question and continued:

[Anyway, I want you to show the child many things. So that he can love this world as I do…]

“You want me to replicate the first emperor’s role?”

[Yes.]

“No way.”

I directly opposed my mother-in-law’s wish.

“That’s not right.”

[What?]

Her bewilderment was palpable.

I didn’t want to cause mother-in-law conflict at this point, but regrettably, I couldn’t fulfill her wish.

It’s a natural thought. Just as my mother-in-law and Rahilt are different, the first emperor and I are different as well.

I crossed my arms confidently and expressed my thoughts.

“Mother-in-law is mother-in-law, and Rian is Rian. I don’t know how the first emperor wooed you, but Rian and I will create our own story together.”

If someone had to imitate someone else to save Rahilt, that protagonist didn’t necessarily have to be me.

Pushed to the extreme, Rashera could perform an appropriate role instead.

… I don’t like that.

I want my own special qualities to be imprinted on the Rahilt I change. If he comes to love the harmony of the world, I hope he loves a world where I fit in harmoniously.

However, such a wish is too embarrassing to declare while baring my heart.

“I know you’re anxious. Of course you would be. It’s all my fault that Rian has ended up like this. I’m painfully aware that I have no right to object right now.”

But because I’m aware, I won’t repeat the same mistake.

I’ve long since resolved to pull him, who has strayed one step from the harmonious world, into my world.

“Nevertheless, I’ll beg for your trust just this once. Please believe that I will save Rian no matter what happens.”

I still don’t know the truth.

Why a foolishly kind and innocent man would destroy the world.

How much despair crushed him as a result.

I knew absolutely nothing.

Therefore, I declare to the black dragon who has foreseen his future:

“I refuse your suggestion to replicate the first emperor’s role. But I am the one who will brighten Rian’s world. This is a promise I stake my life on.”

[More sincere than most proposals.]

“Well, this is my last meeting with the in-laws.”

[… How dramatic.]

My mother-in-law seemed to have lost her composure, but she didn’t appear displeased. If I wasn’t mistaken, she actually seemed pleased.

Riding the momentum, I added a request:

“Mother-in-law. Meeting you like this has confirmed something—you can manipulate this mental world at will, right?”

[At least for now.]

“I thought so.”

The autonomy my mother-in-law displayed was too high for this to be a world controlled by Rastali.

I judged that while Rastali’s misdeeds triggered the mental world, my mother-in-law held the initiative in the mental world that unfolded afterward.

My mother-in-law confirmed this judgment.

“I think it’s an opportunity to glimpse the life Rian experienced… but I’m fine now.”

[Are you sincere?]

“It’s not because I’m troubled by seeing that bi—lovely Rashera. Really, absolutely not…”

[Hmm…]

“Maybe just a tiny bit.”

I ended up confessing under my mother-in-law’s heavy gaze. But since it was somewhat sincere, I spoke with my chest out:

“… We don’t have enough time.”

He’s strange today.

He complained of poor condition due to unknown symptoms. Moreover, he fell into crisis several times even during simple combat. It was my mistake for not noticing the discrepancy earlier.

The weakened Rahilt must be suffering from the contaminant even now.

“The present that I experience every moment is more important to me than a past that never happened. The real Rian waiting for help outside is far more important than the phantom Rian.”

There’s no need to explore every little detail of the past.

It’s enough to identify just one major factor.

“So show me now. The story of how Rian came to hate the world enough to destroy it…”

The woman was silent for a long time.

I was anxious about the passing time. Whether she knew my feelings or not, she just floated around wrapped in fog.

Her permission came very slowly.

[That would be… acceptable.]

“Thank you!”

[Yes…]

Her form began to blur.

My vision turned white, and I lost my sense of direction.

Then, in a world full of chaos, a clear voice resonated:

[May I ask just one last thing?]

“Of course.”

Immediately after.

The content of her question was so trivial for a final question that I couldn’t help but smile slightly.

[Is there a reason you call the child ‘Rian’? It’s completely different from both his real name and his alias.]

“Ah, that’s what you’re asking.”

He has two names.

One is Rahilt, child of the deposed emperor, and the other is Rihart of the Pinwheel Knights.

It’s natural for my mother-in-law to be curious. Perhaps others have been secretly wondering as well.

The reason is actually quite simple.

Others might find it trivial enough to be disappointing.

Nevertheless, it was the most important reason to me. So it should be fine to tell my mother-in-law, if no one else.

Therefore.

I honestly revealed the precious secret I had kept all along.

“To borrow your expression… it’s a name he specially thought of just for me.”

The reaction was dramatic.

[Kuk, ha…]

The woman’s reddened lips were moistened with a faint breath.

[I see.]

She smiled.

Like a gentle breeze blowing refreshingly after rain.

Eventually, the fog cleared along with that gentle breeze.

Illuminating the final scene.