episode_0031

The boat we were on on the river anchored somewhere at dawn.

When the sailors knocked on the deck without saying a word to wake us up and announce their arrival, we also woke up from our sleep and came up to the deck without saying a word.

Looking around the anchored area, we saw that other than the boat we were on, several other boats were busily unloading their cargo from the river.

And when we raised our heads and looked beyond, we finally saw the island, our destination, in the dim light.

After confirming that we had arrived properly, we nodded to the captain one last time and said hello, and then got off the ship.

They, who had already received payment from Lesala, also silently went about their work without saying anything more to us.

As we walked towards the islands, as time passed, the sun above shone brighter, and more and more people began to appear on the boulevard before us.

Numerous types of carriages carrying numerous goods were busily passing around us, and we were gradually becoming part of the huge flow.

The place where the crowds finally reach is the heart of this empire, Jido.

In a place filled with marble buildings, there were people busily coming and going and staying in the buildings.

Their countless hands held spears and shields, silver and gold coins, books and cloth, all of which traveled through the heart of the empire for their own reasons.

As the bloodstream that drives the beating heart that sustains the empire itself.

Of course, unfortunately, in today’s cruel slave empire, not all the blood flowing through its heart was so clean.

Someone walking in the heart of the city was holding ropes and chains in their hands, and they were slowly dragging those bound by them.

And no matter what the circumstances were, I was upset every time I thought about the fact that I was dragging Luvia and Emma along, even if only on the outside.

The fact that it would look similar to other slave traders waiting under the Arc de Triomphe entering the capital.

However, in order to one day erase that image from the entire empire, even those moments had to be endured.

“Okay. You may pass by. Next!”

In general, the legionnaires who guard the imperial capital are much more picky than the guards of a typical imperial city.

Usually, the casual methods of using gold or silver coins to save time or hide something do not work for them at all.

In any case, if something went wrong due to their mistake, the nobles and emperors who would immediately order their execution lived much closer.

” Prove your identity and state the purpose of your visit-”

However, although they did not receive gold coins, they opened the way by simply showing gold, which had a different meaning.

With that alone, I was able to answer all of their questions.

When we finally entered the island, we soon joined one fairly thick stream among the numerous streams of people that diverged.

Their faces were heating up with a mix of excitement and anticipation for the sight they were about to see.

And with them we got to see our destination after a long journey.

A testament to the empire’s power, exploits, and cruelty. The Colosseum.

The fact that such a huge structure can be built, and the fact that that huge structure can be filled with people brought in from other places, proves this.

At least, that must have been the thinking of the person who first erected a monument with such an inscription in front of the Colosseum.

I heard that the huge monument and circular arena existed long before the previous emperor came to the throne.

Even he, who was extremely negative about slavery before falling into the world of beauty and becoming corrupted, could not carelessly touch the Colosseum.

Because so many people of the empire were already fascinated by the blood color and scent of that place, if they touched it wrongly, a riot would immediately break out.

In ‘Slave Maker’, one of the ways to maintain public opinion favorable to slavery was to use the events taking place at the Colosseum.

And they were captivating the people rushing into the stadium even at this moment.

No one paid any attention to the three of us wandering off to the side. They probably saw Emma and thought that a centaur might be playing in today’s game.

‘…First of all, I came to the Colosseum, but where in this large stadium can I meet our client…’

“I’ll be fine. Could you please give me something to drink before the game starts?”

As we were wandering around the aisles inside the stadium, worried, away from the crowd, a girl saw me, Rubia, and Emma, and immediately ran towards us and held out one of the glasses she was holding.

“Oh, it’s okay-”

I was trying to politely decline as usual, but soon I noticed something and changed my words.

“Okay, I would appreciate it if you gave me a drink.”

“Owner? I’m going to meet His Majesty soon, so wouldn’t it be a bit dangerous to drink alcohol?”

“…I don’t know. Isn’t it strange that there’s a child who goes out of his way to hand out drinks in such a quiet passage where not many spectators come to begin with?”

“…Ah!”

While Emma exclaimed in realization, I turned the glass around and examined it carefully.

On the cup, the symbol of the Colosseum, where we were located, was drawn in brown paint along the round surface of the cup.

Although only one part, the western section, had a slightly different color.

“…Let’s go here.”

While heading to the other side of the stadium, I could gradually see and hear the scenery of the stadium that was always the same.

A growing number of spectators, wild beasts of all kinds roaring underground, and even gladiators clashing weapons in the practice room.

Perhaps I cannot say that I am completely unrelated to this landscape.

As a gold-level adventurer and certified as a Venatores and Hunter of the Empire, hunting or capturing dangerous beasts was also a request frequently given to me.

At least on the surface, that was the content of the requests I accepted.

‘Well, wild animals that simply harm people have actually been caught that way.’

When I reached the part of the glass with an amphitheater drawn in a different color, I knew I had come to the right place.

There was no way the four Praetoriani, the royal guards who guarded the Emperor the most, would be hanging around here for no reason.

Those wearing purple cloth with gold threads fluttering over their armor immediately raised their hands over their sword scabbards and took a guard stance as I approached with my two slaves holding a spear.

In silence, they were demanding that I reveal my identity through action.

“I am Liber Catenis, a gold-level adventurer of the Empire.

I have now returned to carry out the request entrusted to me by the Great Sun of the Empire and to report on the progress in person.”

At the request of the guards, I stopped first, took out the medal hanging around my neck, revealed my identity, and handed the spear in my hand to Rubia to disarm her.

Then, only one of them left his position and disappeared behind him, while the other three were still looking at us without taking their hands off the hilt of their swords.

There were a few recognizable faces as they had met several times while carrying out the emperor’s requests, but despite this, the guards always remained tense whenever they met and never lowered their hands from the hilt of their swords until the emperor directly ordered them to do so. .

As there are some people who act friendly in private, most of them were simply faithful to their duties, but some, especially those who relatively recently became members of the Royal Guard, became even more sensitive after hearing my last name and family name when I revealed my identity. I also reacted.

This is because the Katenis family was clearly in competition with the empress they served in terms of power structure.

Although I carried out many requests under her orders, trust was proven through actions rather than words, so those who had only heard about me had no choice but to remain distrustful.

“Everyone, please take your hands off your weapons.”

However, it was not the trust they had in me that caused them to take their hands off the sword in the first place, but the trust the Empress had in me.

The moment she gave the command, all members of the Royal Guard immediately took their hands off the handles of their swords and stood by in an immobile posture.

About a dozen guards, including those who had left earlier, were walking with their purple cloaks flapping.

In the middle was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair.

The beautiful voice that came out of her mouth was incredibly soft, considering how much power it contained.

Well, in the first place, she was smart enough to hide her power and cultivate it and take advantage of the opportunity.

So, it may have been due to a lot of good luck, but even though he ascended the throne at a young age due to the retirement of his predecessor and began his reign as a puppet emperor, he was eventually able to regain power equal to that of the powerful people.

“Greetings to the sun of the empire.”

I got down on one knee in front of her and bowed my head.

Luvia and Emma also followed me and lowered their heads.

“Wake up. Proud hunter of the empire. I hope this hunt goes well.”

Empress Solaria smiled brightly and welcomed us.