Chapter 180

Chapter 180

“Wait. You there, show me your face.”

A young-looking man among the guards extended his spear-wielding hand and blocked the path. Among the group, only one person was wearing a robe. It was Lilith.

Lilith’s appearance hid all physical characteristics that could identify her as a demon, making her no different from a human. Nevertheless, the reason she wore a robe was due to her succubus nature. Although her disguise seemed to prevent her from charming people, as a succubus by birth, she couldn’t avoid drawing attention. Therefore, when she had to go to places with too many people, she used the robe to hide her figure and the hood to conceal her appearance.

To be honest, as a man, it’s an unavoidable instinct for my head to turn when a woman with Lilith’s figure walks by. I, who was once a man, can guarantee this. If anyone says they don’t turn their head, they must be impotent.

However, despite the guard’s command, Lilith didn’t immediately take off her hood. Instead, she turned to me and tilted her head, as if asking.

Lilith, who asks me or Presia about everything that happens, acts this way. It’s good that there haven’t been any major incidents because of it, but sometimes it’s even a little bothersome that she seeks permission for even trivial things.

When I nodded, Lilith smiled brightly and tossed her hood back. Her pink hair fluttered and streamed along with the hood.

“Hmm… You’re not a wanted criminal, at least.”

In fact, she was one of the Four Heavenly Kings, a demon far worse than a wanted criminal, but the guard didn’t recognize her at all.

As for the other Four Heavenly Kings, they often rampaged on the battlefield, so their identities were well-known on the continent. However, due to Lilith’s personality, she hid in her lair, even leaving her followers behind, so few people on the human side knew her. It was natural for them not to recognize her like this.

Thwack!

“You idiot! Do you know who this is to be questioning her?”

Normally, gatekeepers work in pairs. However, a guard who was briefly attending to other business nearby loudly smacked the back of the guard’s head who had removed Lilith’s hood. Judging by his age, he seemed to be the senior.

“Oh dear! I am so sorry, Hero. This rookie hasn’t been here long and didn’t recognize you, so he made a mistake. I apologize to your companion as well for the sudden request.”

“S-sorry!”

Only then did the guard realize who he had stopped, and he apologized with a pale face.

“No, no. It was your duty, of course. Please don’t worry too much about it.”

Considering they were guards protecting the Imperial Palace, it was normal for them to be thorough with security like a rookie soldier.

Of course, I can’t say that, as I often visited the Imperial Palace for the Emperor’s summons or direct reports, which allowed me to pass without much inspection.

After passing the guards and entering, we were guided to a room, as if they had been waiting in advance. Now that I have the official status of Hero, I don’t have to wait as long as I did when I was an academy student, but it’s the Emperor’s consideration to let me stay as long as I need.

“Wow, wow…”

Presia, who was already familiar with the Imperial Palace, and Luna, who had accompanied me a few times, quietly followed the guide without much interest. However, Lilith, who was visiting the castle for the first time, was amazed by its splendor and was busy looking around. Even though she was a Heavenly King who could build a magnificent castle herself if she wanted to.

By the way, Lindy was so busy that she had returned to her original post. However, perhaps she had made up her mind after our last confession, she said she would join after establishing an unshakeable system.

“Then please wait in the room for a moment. Her Majesty will likely summon the Hero soon.”

“Um, Master! Can I go out to look around?”

As soon as we entered the room and the door closed, Lilith immediately looked at me and asked. Lilith’s sparkling eyes were full of curiosity about the splendor of the Imperial Palace, which she was experiencing for the first time, but unfortunately, I couldn’t grant her request.

“Just wait patiently. We won’t have to wait long anyway.”

Putting aside the worry that she might cause an accident if she wandered around the castle on her own, it would be fortunate if she didn’t get lost. This wasn’t just a guess, but a reasonable judgment based on my past experiences.

“Hiiing…”

Lilith pouted and looked at her great master, Presia, but Presia also quietly unpacked her luggage without granting permission.

However, Lilith’s dejection didn’t last long. Since the room itself was so large that it transcended the concept of a room, she started looking around excitedly.

Luna playing with the bear and the bunny, Lilith excitedly exploring the room on her own, and Presia, who had transformed into a cat again after a long time and curled up on my lap.

About an hour passed in peaceful time. With a knock, an elderly butler entered and informed us that an audience with the Emperor had been granted.

It seemed unreasonable to make a guest wait for an hour after summoning them, but considering the Emperor’s position, an hour was a very short time.

“Boss. Please wake up now.”

I gently stroked the head of Presia, who had fallen asleep, and woke her up. A black cat, ears perked, stretched and then returned to her original form with a pop.

“Come on, come on. Luna and Lilith, stop playing and come here.”

Regardless, I was the center of the current party, so I led the group towards the audience chamber. As we entered, I saw the Emperor, who was busy signing documents even though she had summoned us.

“Ah, you’re here. Sit here.”

In the past, just facing her would have made me nervous and hesitant, but now that I was somewhat accustomed to it, I sat down following the Emperor’s gesture without much tension.

“Hoho, you have one more companion?”

“Your Majesty. She is a demon…”

The Emperor, who had lifted her gaze from the documents, noticed Lilith. At the Emperor’s words, Isis, the mage standing behind her, noticed Lilith’s identity and was about to say something, but the Emperor raised her hand to stop her.

“Yes. I was curious since I heard you defeated one of the Four Heavenly Kings, so that’s what happened. As expected, you don’t disappoint my expectations.”

Normally, I only report, and I don’t visit the Imperial Palace often. Even if it were a high-ranking demon, coming to see the Emperor every time a demon was defeated would be a complete waste of time.

However, this report was special. Although I didn’t kill a Heavenly King, it was true that one Heavenly King had been eliminated. That’s why I decided to visit the Emperor for a direct report, and the Emperor, being who she is, summoned me out of curiosity.

However, for some reason, without any detailed explanation, the Emperor nodded as if she understood everything and smiled broadly.

“Your Majesty, actually, I wanted to speak to you about that.”

“I think I know without needing an explanation, but it wouldn’t be bad to hear it directly from you. Speak.”

Even if an explanation seemed unnecessary, the judgment is not mine to make. Therefore, with the Emperor’s permission, I briefly explained what had happened. The fact that Lilith was a Heavenly King, that although she was a Heavenly King, she hadn’t actually harmed humans, and my guarantee that she wouldn’t betray us.

The Emperor listened to my story until the end, reacting with light responses like “Hoho” and “Hmm,” and even bursts of laughter like “Puhaha.” Instead, Isis, standing behind me, looked surprised at the fact that Lilith’s identity was a Heavenly King. She might have known she was a demon, but she couldn’t have known she was a Heavenly King.

“Yes. If you’re going to travel together, there will be many inconveniences, just like what happened at the entrance.”

It seems the brief commotion at the entrance also reached the Emperor’s ears. I don’t know if every minor incident in the Imperial Palace reaches the Emperor, or if the Emperor took an interest because it concerned me, the Hero.

“Guards!”

With the Emperor’s call, which was not loud but clear, a minister entered the audience chamber and approached the Emperor, bowing his head.

“Issue an identification pass guaranteeing her status from the Imperial Palace and deliver it to the Hero’s party.”

“Your Majesty!”

Isis, who was more surprised than I, who was receiving help, shouted at the Emperor to stop her. However, the Emperor lightly waved her hand, sent the minister who had entered back out, and said to Isis.

“Isis, do you believe that demon will betray the Hero? You’ve been watching the Hero’s actions alongside me for quite some time, haven’t you?”

“That… is not so.”

“Yes. I understand your concern, but it’s unnecessary worry. In any case, you worry too much.”

One way or another, it means she trusts me, the Hero, that much. In any case, thanks to the Emperor’s consideration, I’ve been relieved of one worry. After all, an Imperial pass would be of great help in cases like being inspected at the Imperial Palace entrance, or when someone like Isis notices Lilith’s identity.

“That’s right! I have absolutely no intention of betraying my Master!”

“Be quiet, you fool!”

However, amidst the conversation between the Emperor and Isis, Lilith raised her hand and interjected. At Lilith’s careless remark, Luna, sitting next to me, quietly warned her, but the water had already spilled.

“Puhaha! Master… this is unexpected. Anyway, Hero, the Imperial Palace will perfectly guarantee her status, so don’t worry. As expected, you always live up to my expectations, which I like.”

Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t take issue with Lilith’s attitude. Instead, she laughed loudly, enough to fill the room. Well, it’s hard not to laugh when a demon who was a Heavenly King is calling the Hero “Master.”

“Then, it seems we’re done here. Presia, are you doing well these days? Your expression has definitely improved compared to before.”

“Yes.”

If we’re talking about arrogance, Presia is even more so than Lilith. However, Presia and the Emperor were already well acquainted.

“Then that’s fortunate. Isis, as a senior mage, do you have any advice for Presia, whom you haven’t seen in a long time?”

“Advice for someone who is already forging their own path? Rather, as a senior in life, I would like to say a word.”

Isis, who had maintained a serious expression until now, looked intently at Presia, then relaxed her expression and smiled benevolently.

“Miss Presia. Magic is not really a big deal. Rather, your life is no different from magic. I’m glad you look happy, you who were wandering. I hope to see that look continue forever.”

Her warm smile and voice, as if a mother looking at her daughter, were incredibly warm. While I indirectly knew Presia’s past through her telling me, Isis had witnessed it firsthand. Since Presia hadn’t spent a short time in the castle, it was understandable for Isis to show such affection.

“Ah, speaking of which, how is Isis’s daughter doing?”

Seeing Isis’s expression, as if looking at her own daughter, I was reminded of Isis’s unruly daughter whom I met in the past. On the day I went to see a play with Celian, I missed the play because of Isis’s daughter, who had gotten lost. Her daughter’s name was Cindy, wasn’t it?

“H-ha-ha. She’s doing so well, it’s a problem.”

Isis, showing clenched teeth and a stiff smile as if I had made some mistake. It seems her unruly daughter’s personality hasn’t changed, and she’s still bothering Isis.

“Kekeke… If I hold onto this any longer, I might get scolded. Hero, then go and rest. It seems like something interesting will happen soon, so I’ll be counting on you then.”

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Something interesting. Considering the Emperor’s personality, I can’t help but feel uneasy. But since I can’t ask what it is, I rose from my seat after performing the appropriate etiquette.

Leaving the audience chamber, with the Emperor’s gesture, which always served as a response, behind me.