episode_0022

The meal was coming to an end when I received the letter from the emperor.

I borrowed Vivian from the kids for a while.

I told my business in the presence of Mercy and Kati.

“I have some places to visit for a while.”

“Where are you going?”

Vivian asked.

Can I tell you this… .

Even though I was the former manager of the first party, I think it would be a bit strange to say that I was summoned by the Emperor himself.

It doesn’t matter if she knows it’s Philip.

The problem is that I don’t care, but I’m a little worried that it might be a burden to Vivian.

It would be better not to say anything for now.

“Because there are a lot of people looking for me. You have to go to many places.”

Vivian nodded as if she was reasonably convinced.

Mercy seemed to have realized what the situation was.

“I think it will take a day or two, but please stay with the kids. The backyard here is large, so you can train there. I will come back here after work.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Yes, yes.”

The business has been announced, and the main point is as follows.

I took out a ring from my subspace pocket.

This is a unique ring with two black snakes entwined while biting each other’s tails.

“Kathi, Son.”

Kati calmly held out her left hand and placed a ring on her index finger.

“… … .”

To be exact, I tried to fit it in.

Kati moved her hand and gently placed the ring on her ring finger.

If you try to put it on your index finger again, avoid it and repeat the process on your ring finger.

“… Do you want to get scolded?”

Kati shook her head and calmly took the ring on her index finger.

“Oh, my, what am I… .”

Vivian blushed and muttered to herself.

“I know what you’re imagining, but that’s not it.”

I took out another ring from my pocket.

It looks exactly like the one Katy wore, but it’s a white snake.

I will wear this ring.

“If something happens while I’m away or you have something to say to me, you can tell Kati.”

Vivian, not understanding, tilted her head.

“People wearing this ring can communicate with each other no matter how far away they are.”

It is an artifact imbued with telepathic magic, called the ‘Ring of Subordination’.

As the name suggests, the two rings recognize the first wearer as master and servant, respectively, and are bound to them.

You are free to take it off and on, but if you try to put it on someone else, it will have no effect.

It only works if the first master and servant wear it correctly.

While wearing the ring, you can send telepathy to each other without restrictions.

There is one other function, but it is better not to have a situation where it is useful.

“Is that possible?”

“It’s such an artifact.”

“Oh, an artifact?!”

Vivian was astonished.

Objects with unknown powers hidden throughout the world.

They are collectively called ‘Hidden Pieces’, and those with special magical functions are called ‘Artifacts’.

The first party members each have a few, but of course artifacts are not common items.

“As expected, the first party manager is different… . I, I feel like I’m with someone who is so amazing… .”

hmm.

I’m curious to see how he will react if I give him an artifact.

It’s not time to give yet.

If you give it now, you will become too dependent on the equipment, so it is better to give it after your skills have improved.

“Anyway, if you have anything to say, you can do so through Kati.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Don’t worry and go back.”

“Ah, Mercy. There is some jelly left in the kitchen. When it cools down, cut it up, cover it with sugar, and then share it with others. I’ll leave the sugar behind.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

Mercy briefly explained jelly to Vivian, who was puzzled.

Finally, Kati greeted me.

“… Please come back.”

***

After Ian left, Vivian worked out on her own and then stayed with the children.

In the meantime, Mercy brought a small cube of green jelly from the kitchen and we all ate it together.

It was a chewy and sweet dessert that I had never tried before.

That was also something Ian had prepared, so Vivian felt an incomparable gratitude.

Vivian and the children munched on jelly and talked non-stop.

The main thing we talked about was the children.

The children who met for the first time in about a month chattered non-stop, wondering why they had so much to say.

Vivian didn’t listen at all.

It was also because of the regret that I would not be able to see him for a long time if I left far away someday.

I was happy to see the children looking so excited and healthy.

“So, you know, the other day, the nun… .”

The people at the monastery also seemed to treat children well.

The nuns’ gentle personalities were clearly revealed in their gentle smiles and relaxed gestures.

The warmth became stronger when I saw the children.

It was a nice place with nice people taking care of the kids.

It is said that they also provide simple education to children.

Among them were religious classes, but I didn’t mind.

Although not a religious person, Vivian also believed in the God of Seonghwaism.

Ian, who disbelieves in God, is a rather rare case in this world.

Anyway, they say that class is not compulsory.

Just being able to live in such a safe place, with good people, and not starve was satisfying enough.

“Sister. Tell me how it was when you took the test.”

Emma, sitting on her lap, asked.

From some point on, Emma stopped pestering Vivian or whining like a child.

It was from the point when he entered adolescence and was abused by the village chief in the name of training.

That fact was unfortunate, but it was a problem that the helpless Vivian could not solve.

But something happened today when he suddenly shyly approached me and asked me to sit on his lap.

The new cuteness was so cute that Vivian immediately hugged Emma.

“Hmm, now that I think about it, you didn’t talk about it during the test?”

The children’s eyes were focused on Vivian.

Occasionally, she would tell the children stories or stories.

The thing that was told the most was, of course, ‘The story of the beggar girls Sylvia and Philip.’

As usual, Vivian changed her voice as if she was telling an exciting story.

*

When the story finally ended, the children were moved and delighted.

Vivian was embarrassed that her story was told as if it were a heroic story, but she endured it when she saw the children’s laughter.

“It was cooler than talking about Sylvia!”

Other children also agreed with those words.

“That’s right, that’s right!”

Only then did Vivian compare her story with Sylvia’s.

After a hard fight, the two faced a huge slime.

Sylvia also caught Big Slime with a single Ice Spear.

Vivian exploded a slime so large that even Vivian was unfamiliar with it with a huge ice sphere.

As I compared the two cases, an arrogant thought briefly crossed my mind that I might be better than Sylvia.

My face heated up as I remembered the moment when I called Sylvia a bastard.

‘Oh, no…’ ! Well, not to that extent… . That was a punishment… .’

I was surprised, but I didn’t feel disgusted.

It was really strange.

At Felix’s words, Vivian acknowledged that she was not Sylvia and decided that she was not qualified to even become a warrior.

But now that I met Ian.

For a moment, Vivian even thought of the presumptuous deception that she might be better than Sylvia.

‘… that’s interesting.’

It’s just that one person has changed.

Is it okay for everything to change like this?

I couldn’t believe that something like that existed in the world and that I was given that good fortune.

“Vivian is cool!”

“As expected, you’re my sister!”

Vivian suppressed her welling up emotions and smiled.

“Thank you.”

Her gaze returned to Mercy, who was listening to the conversation among the children.

An elf who plays pranks, comforts you, and cheers you on when you may feel awkward in an unfamiliar environment.

And in the distance, there is Katy, looking blankly at the ring.

Although we have never had a conversation, I feel that Katy supports and accepts me.

Although it may be a little.

Merci, Kati, and Ignes Monastery.

Ian is at the center of it all.

‘There are so many good people around Ian.’

And, of course, Ian at the center of it all must be a good person.

No matter how long you live, it’s true that people don’t know anything, but wouldn’t it be okay to believe this at this level?

That conclusion led to the following question:

‘Why were you kicked out of the first party?’

It’s difficult to understand.

How can a person this good be kicked out?

Ian clearly expressed that he did not come out, but was ‘kicked out.’

‘… ‘I’m not sure.’

He, who was kicked out, will not feel at ease either.

So, you have to work harder and follow along faithfully.

If that’s what Ian wants, he’ll do it.

‘No matter what happens, I won’t kick Ian out or anything.’

It was also a slightly funny promise.

He has already received so much from Ian that he cannot repay him.

If Ian expels himself later, he will be expelled. It makes no sense for Vivian to expel him.

‘Still, it is necessary to remind ourselves not to forget gratitude. ‘I don’t know what will happen to the human heart.’

So Vivian thought of Ian even in his absence and engraved all the gifts he gave her deeply in her heart.

Money spent on eating, sleeping, and clothing.

Time and knowledge required to train.

He passed the temporary hero promotion test.

Even an environment where children can live safely.

I will never forget it.

‘Maybe, really maybe…’ .’

The luck I have this time may lead to happiness.

That hope also sprouted.

*

Emperor of the Pride Empire.

Julianus Ăpóstăta Humil.

The man called ‘Emperor Julian’ sat on his throne and stared at the man kneeling below.

“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

It was a dignified and polite greeting, but I didn’t feel any respect.

He was always like that.

They know how to be polite and respect others, but they do not respect them.

The first meeting was very unpleasant.

Although at that time his power had weakened to the point that his name as emperor was meaningless.

Still, the fact that he was a person who led an empire still remained.

But that man didn’t show any honor or respect even then.

However, that does not mean that the man is ignoring or looking down on anyone.

Even now that the empire’s prestige has increased, that man is still the same.

He is just a human being as indifferent as his facial expression.

It is also about treating all humans equally.

At first, I tried to kill him because he approached me under the pretense of knowing the secrets of the royal family.

However, all of the imperial assassins were killed by him, and only one returned to deliver the message.

‘As for the treatment of my life, it is not too late to listen to what I say.’

All the imperial secrets he knew were too true to ignore.

He introduced himself to the emperor as a prophet and said:

“The person who is planning to marry the Crown Prince is a key figure in the anti-imperial forces. Infiltrate the imperial family and lay the foundation for rebellion… .”

As a result of confirmation, it was true.

“The princess’s fiancé is an assassin from the anti-empire force that was recently overthrown.”

The second warning was also true.

In order to support the empire that was in jeopardy due to demons and dungeons, she tried to marry other prestigious and powerful royal families, but it was all a defeat for the empire.

If there had been no warning, I don’t know what would have happened to the current empire.

For your information, the fact that the princess fell in love with that man after her engagement to Patou is a new headache for the emperor and him.

anyway.

Having made the two prophecies come true, he achieved his goal with the trust of the emperor on his back.

From then on, he often told the emperor about the future, and each time the empire was able to avoid disaster.

He deserved to be granted a royal decree to be treated as a member of the royal family.

Later, in agreement with the Holy Emperor, a magically engraved seal was created so that the representatives of the two groups could proclaim their qualifications and authority.

The person who created the current ‘Hero’ system and the ‘First Hero Party’.

The man whom the members of the imperial family called a ‘prophet’ because of his ability to advise the future was now in front of the emperor.

The hope of modern humanity, and the name that was kicked out of the first party, the vanguard of the empire.

The real name of a man named Philip that is floating around among the public.

The emperor called solemnly, hiding his mixed feelings.

“Ian.”

“… Yes.”

Ian slowly raised his head and made eye contact with the emperor.