Ch.54Paerus Veil (1)

“Whoa!”

I couldn’t hide my surprise as I entered the central branch.

Instead of the wood and stone structures I’d seen until now, there were sturdy walls and ceilings made of steel and concrete. And hanging above, an enormous chandelier…

It was as if every architectural element was speaking to me, saying, “This is what grandeur and magnificence truly mean.”

I looked around while approaching the reception desk and handed over my request form with the completion signature to the receptionist.

“Yes. I’ve confirmed the completion of your request. I’ll issue your payment. Twenty silver coins.”

“Ah… um…”

“Yes?”

“I heard there’s an imperial charter here. Where can I see it?”

“Oh. You can see it if you go through this way and to the back.”

“…Thanks.”

After collecting my twenty silver coins, I headed to the back of the reception area, and only then could I behold the Emperor’s handwriting inscribed on an enormous parchment.

What surprised me even more was that everyone in this guild treated this imperial charter as if it were nothing special.

Like a pillar that had always been there.

They’d feel something missing if it weren’t there, and they’d probably send people to search for it, but that was all.

If the people of Parcival saw this, they might foam at the mouth seeing how casually these people treated such a relic.

Thump… thump…

I stepped back dozens of paces to view the imperial charter at once, and began reading the ancient imperial language written from the top down.

“…”

[They shall be the cutting edge of humanity.]

The cutting edge.

The Emperor of the Ancient Empire bestowed upon us adventurers a sharpness like the edge of a blade.

[Born in villages, they shall head to cities; born in cities, they shall head to villages. Crossing mountains, fording streams and rivers, traversing seas and continents, they shall be apostles carrying the wishes of the people.]

I was born in a city and have passed through countless villages.

And now I have reached the heart of this Faerune continent, so I am surely qualified to be an apostle of the Emperor as a member of the adventurers.

[Armed with countless blades, protected by numerous chains and plates, they shall embark on adventures for immeasurable desires and longings.]

Immeasurable desires and longings…

The emotions I harbored for adventure were just like that.

I began my long journey for desire and longing, and every word written on this enormous parchment seemed to represent my feelings.

[Those who pioneer the unknown to burn away mysteries, clear the fog to light the beacon, and forge routes and paths to become guides shall be called adventurers and receive the envy of people and the favor of gods, and countless individuals will dedicate their lives to the path of martyrdom and sacrifice.]

Martyrdom and sacrifice…

I’m not sure about that, but at least the phrase about dedicating one’s life caught my eye.

Will my end be martyrdom? Or sacrifice?

[They shall slaughter for the Blood God, love for the Love Goddess, explore for the Wisdom God, and accumulate achievements for the Prosperity Goddess, and no secular power shall stop them, no worldly authority shall bind them.]

Slaughter, love, exploration, achievement.

We adventurers, favored by Karil, Medina, Logos, and Moneta, could not escape the shadow of the four great gods, whether we liked it or not.

And that meant we could escape the oppression of the nobles who lived under those gods.

[Their right to arm themselves and their right to disobey shall not be infringed under any circumstances, and this shall continue eternally under the protection of myself and the gods, let it be known.]

Rights and oaths that continue eternally.

Being only sixteen years old, I couldn’t properly feel the weight those words carried.

But even I could sense that the word “eternal” was by no means light.

[The descendant of the sun and moon, head of the Nariakiran Imperial Family, ruler of thirteen continents, master of countless living beings, Nariakira Kenta. And the Blood God Karil, Love Goddess Medina, Wisdom God Logos, and Prosperity Goddess Moneta have sworn to make this unchangeable treaty and covenant, which I hereby proclaim to the whole world, and from this hour declare that the body and soul of adventurers shall receive the favor of the sun and moon, and of blood, love, words, and grains.]

Body and soul.

We receive the blessing of the sun and moon that make this world turn because we have received imperial permission from the imperial family who are their descendants.

We receive the favor of blood, symbolizing struggle, because the blood we shed through countless battles and sacrifices becomes the waterfall of Valhalla.

We receive the favor of love, symbolizing affection, because our adventures bringing us closer to what we love becomes the wind of Ataraxia.

We receive the favor of words, symbolizing wisdom, because the numerous texts left behind as we handle requests are recorded as volumes in the Great Library.

We receive the favor of grains, symbolizing prosperity, because the sweat we shed in our efforts to enjoy more things becomes the foundation of Utopia.

[Under the names of the Emperor and the gods, the mission of those seekers called adventurers has been engraved in this world, so go forth and exercise your will.]

“Exercise your will…”

I liked that phrase the most.

In this world, perhaps adventurers are the only profession that can truly live freely in a meaningful sense.

The only beings guaranteed the right to speak informally before nobles and to wear armor and weapons before kings.

That’s exactly what we adventurers were.

Never had I been so proud of learning the ancient imperial language.

If I didn’t have the wisdom to read those words, I would have had to pathetically ask passersby for interpretations or scrounge around for translated versions sold on the streets.

After reading all the contents of the imperial charter written on the enormous parchment, I leaned against a pillar, closed my eyes, and immersed myself in the afterglow.

The last emperor of the crumbling empire. Nariakira Kenta.

How did the emperor feel watching the empire that had lasted for 300,000 years collapse during his reign?

Under the sun and moon, once thought to be the only gods, mortals began ascending to godhood one after another, and the empire, built up over 300,000 years, began to crumble from its foundation stones due to accumulated karma.

After 50,000 years of fierce and tragic fratricidal conflict, the empire finally reached the end of its life, and now those who gained power from its fragments were dividing and ruling the world.

Solar Year 351,200.

In other words, Mortal Year 1200.

Except for the hearts of each continent like this Faerus Vale, true to the name “Mortal Era,” barely any traces remained of the once-flourishing empire.

During the 50,000-year Age of Eclipse, countless technologies and experiences were lost, and now most were forgotten, or could be made, maintained, and repaired, but no one knew “why exactly they worked.”

But that was enough.

Many don’t know how people move, but that doesn’t mean they can’t move their own bodies.

Not thinking doesn’t mean dying, and not advancing doesn’t mean retreating.

That’s how the world and society turn, adequately, sometimes so carelessly it makes you wonder if it’s okay.

And what cannot be handled with such “adequacy” and “carelessness” is probably what we call “innovation” or “revolution.”

I engraved the signature of the last emperor of the collapsed empire in my eyes before leaving the Adventurers’ Guild.

First, I needed to find an inn, and then look for work.

This city was vast, and I could easily get lost if I wasn’t careful.

So I left the Adventurers’ Guild and began wandering the streets, soon finding a suitable inn.

It was bustling with people due to its proximity to the guild, but fortunately, rooms were still available.

“One week’s lodging.”

“Meals included?”

“No.”

“Two silver coins.”

“Here.”

“Room 503.”

After this concise conversation, I took the key to room 503 and entered.

What I liked most was the shower facility, something you’d only see in high-end inns in Parcival.

“Haa… reminds me of my plumber days.”

Thinking about it made my blood boil.

Why the hell would anyone put bricks and stones in drainage pipes?

If I catch them later, I’ll cut off their wrists first.

Shhhhhh…

“Heuhhh…”

But plumber days were plumber days, and now I was in a position to enjoy pleasure without responsibility.

After showering, I brushed my teeth and shaved, then dried myself and began tending to my armor and weapons that had been covered in dust and dirt.

I carefully applied weapon maintenance oil to my armor and weapons, and they soon began to shine.

When I looked outside, it had already grown dark, and I went to sleep skipping dinner.

From tomorrow, I will explore this city more.