episode_0067

“Huh… .”

Emperor Julian, sitting in his office, let out a painful breath and touched his forehead.

My head hurt so much that I was sick of it.

It was because of some documents lying around on his desk.

[List, charges, and evidence of the remnants of the Anti-Imperial Coalition. Instead of joining forces among themselves, they decided to join forces with other forces. The following are those who have united with the ‘Divine Unification Nation’ forces to which a part of the Seonghwa Church belongs… .]

The sender was Ian.

Thanks to his advice as a prophet in the distant past, the leader and key officials of the Anti-Imperial Coalition were all executed.

So, the people on this list are probably henchmen gathered together from the remaining family members and relatives.

That wasn’t the problem.

‘Holy Unification Nation… .’

It was the first time the emperor had heard of it.

Doesn’t that mean that Seonghwagyo was dreaming of overthrowing the empire?

At the bottom of the letter, there was detailed information about what the ‘Holy Unification National Plan’ was and when it had been in existence.

‘Ian probably knew about it a long time ago but didn’t say it on purpose.’

As a prophet, it could be said that he did not know because it was a future that was not shown, but the emperor thought that it was probably not the case.

The feeling of betrayal passed by briefly.

I felt like I knew how Ian felt.

If he had known this in advance, the emperor would have oppressed Seonghwaism, even at the risk of starting a civil war.

‘Killing the Demon King is an urgent priority, so they probably didn’t want problems to arise internally.’

If this fact had been known, especially at a time when the empire was not as stable as it is now, the entire continent would have been in chaos.

Fortunately, the power of this second Holy Unified State was not very large.

The proof was the letter from Seonghwang that arrived at the same time as Ian’s letter.

[I bow my head deeply in apology for this incident… .]

It was written in such a hurry that it was sent, and although the content was formal, the handwriting was very rough.

In summary, Seonghwang had nothing to do with the forces of this Holy Unified State.

‘It’s not this time, it was different before…’ .’

It was a simple guess.

Anyway, I had no intention of ruining the success by now.

‘But it’s not a problem that can be easily overcome.’

After drying his face, the emperor called his subjects waiting outside.

“Go and call the Emperor.”

Soon, Julianus’ eldest son, first in line to the throne.

Edipus Julianus Humil.

The First Prince entered the office.

“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

The blond young man bowed with every courtesy.

“… Okay, sit down.”

The prince sat across from the emperor.

With great reluctance, the emperor handed over a bundle of letters.

The Emperor read the letter carefully.

While he was reading the letter, the emperor was preoccupied with other concerns.

This time, it wasn’t publicly proven like a document, but it was just as serious.

‘The first warrior party… .’

Bad rumors began to circulate around them.

He stabbed people to extort money, or made money by promoting bad beer… .

Not only are there a large number of victims caused by the beer, but some people are even saying they will file a lawsuit against the first party.

‘This is going to be crazy.’

It is the first party and no one else.

Even if it wasn’t because of Ian’s notoriety, their dazzling status made it impossible for anyone to criticize them.

However, a very quiet but certain evil rumor was slowly spreading across the continent.

‘What is this guy named Penny…? . It would have been fine to just maintain the existing situation, but now there are people who can’t even do that… .’

After Ian left, the Emperor attached several spies to the first party.

Even in the reports they regularly sent, there were always bad stories written in them.

However, I had no idea that my reputation would be tarnished this much.

“Ha… .”

Suddenly, an old thought occurred to me.

Occasionally, whenever Ian visited the imperial family, he would visit the head butler or chamberlain to ask about education methods and guidelines.

At first I didn’t know what the purpose was, but I found out later.

He did it to somehow lead the first hero party normally and comfort them.

‘No matter what, it’s not that bad… . You stabbed someone… . When Ian was in charge, it was sometimes dangerous, but there were no accidents at all.’

It was also reported as fact by the informant attached.

The emperor had to imagine the worst-case scenario, which he had tried to ignore.

‘If we have to fight them, who on earth can stand against them… .’

To kill the devil.

Other monsters that Ian selected and raised to kill monsters that threaten humanity.

If they decide to do so, it might be possible for just the four of them to lay waste to this empire. Who are they? .

The worries didn’t last long.

‘It will be possible for those newly selected by the prophet.’

These are the people chosen by Ian, who knows the power of the first party better than anyone else.

We may not know it now, but it was easy to predict that they would later grow stronger than the first party.

The emperor was thinking until after the war was over.

‘Antagonism with the prophet is inevitable. But if you have to deal with the first party… .’

Julianus glanced at his eldest son, Edipus, who was sitting in front of him.

A promising young man who is currently ranked first in line to the throne and is most likely to become the next emperor.

‘If hostility between the two forces cannot be avoided, I have no choice but to embrace the losing side. What’s more, the two even split up… .’

Edipus made eye contact with the emperor as if he had read and understood everything.

Eventually, the order the emperor gave was simple.

“Visit the County of Fiorene in person.”

The prince was a little puzzled.

Although the situation was serious, it was unclear whether it was necessary to expose oneself.

Nevertheless, the emperor decided that the emperor should appear.

This is none other than accumulating achievements.

It was because he hoped that when he had to succeed to the throne someday, the prince would have already achieved many political achievements.

Emperor Ediphus, who easily read the intention, nodded with a stern expression.

“Okay.”

“I hear Ian is there because of the duel competition being held this time. He said he would cooperate as much as possible without interfering with him, so please contact him.”

“Yes.”

“The companion was Military Police Commander Wolfgang. and… .”

Since the Emperor himself is going there, it is necessary to make an impact.

“It would be a good idea for Aigis to come along as well.”

If the military police were an organization in charge of security for the entire empire.

‘Aegis’ is a royal guard unit that exists solely for the safety of the imperial family.

They, the shield protecting the imperial family, easily made the outrageous decision to visit Fiorene with the military police and the emperor.

“Okay.”

“Finally… Prepare a gift for the prophet. I have something in mind in advance, so you can just take it.”

The prince immediately gathered his personnel and began preparing to leave.

And, there was one person who overheard the conversation in the office.

‘Philip… ?’

The emperor’s youngest daughter.

The princess, who had seen with her own eyes how Ian risked injury and stopped the assassin to protect himself.

Grace heard that name.

‘You’re going to the County of Fiorene, right?’

*

A cave in an E-class dungeon stopped by on the way to Fiorene County.

Ian absentmindedly admired the scenery unfolding before his eyes.

“… … .”

The aftermath of Vivian’s magic left dents everywhere in the cavity.

The medium-sized moss troll that was the boss monster here disappeared without shape.

The rest of the party was also mesmerized, ruminating on what Vivian had just done.

That moment still remains like an afterimage on my retina.

At this place where the boss monster is, three parties, including Ian’s party, arrived at the same time.

And immediately after arriving.

Vivian’s continuous flame strikes destroyed the entire area.

The small moss trolls that were next to the medium-sized troll were all reduced to ashes and scattered.

A magic circle created sequentially on the floor.

A fireball explodes all at once with a narrow gap.

There was no time for Helena, let alone the other parties, to do anything.

Those who have seen Vivian’s potential are whispering.

“I think he’s an official hero, but why did he come here…? ?”

“My words. They wanted to starve the temporary warriors to death, but… .”

“Ah, that person is that wizard. Why is it called Vivian… .”

“Oh really? That king slime? Then the manager next to him… .”

Vivian scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

“Vivian! You are amazing! Is this also the aftermath of an artifact?”

“Hehe… . It’s not like that… .”

Ian could guess why.

Iris.

She went on to lay Vivian’s theoretical foundation.

It may have only lasted a moment, but Vivian’s magic became much more sophisticated and delicate.

‘It’s a waste to say this is genius… .’

Vivian and Helena came down proudly holding the magic stone.

The other parties also seemed to readily acknowledge it.

As Ian grinned in satisfaction, the two people who came down also smiled brightly.

*

“Wow… . There are a lot of people and it’s very lively.”

“I definitely understand why Ian said it was a festival!”

Events large and small were held throughout the city of Fiorene to welcome the guests flocking to the duel competition.

There are stalls selling food specially prepared for this festival, as well as a traveling troupe performing a makeshift circus and a bar selling alcohol at half price.

The bar seats outside were filled with customers, and people with smiles on their faces gathered in groups of twos and threes to walk down the street.

Ian looked around the scenery and then looked at Fiorene Castle, where the duel competition would be held.

“First, let’s find out where to stay.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Ian and his party arrived in Fiorene City.

*

“Kylie. Arrived.”

In the eastern zone, Kylie arrived at the makeshift camp set up by the advance team.

’13 days remaining.’

Check progress after 13 days of individual activities.

If there was no development at that time, whoever stopped it would kill Penny.

“Yes. Move right away.”

Coincidentally, it was within the County of Fiorene and close to the city of Fiorene, but Kylie didn’t care.

I wouldn’t go there unless there was a very special reason.

Kylie wasted no time gathering her weapons, checking the campsite, and then set off again for the nearby Class A dungeon.