Work to Do

‘I wondered why they were doing something like this…’

You mean I have no intention of becoming theirs?

Still, for Kaikilia, this was quite a mild way of speaking. The mere fact that it was closer to a proposal than a threat or command was something to be grateful for.

In the past, I would have accepted it, thinking it wasn’t a bad offer. Back then, I never imagined the story would twist this much.

The Holy Nation had a bad image in the game until I met the Pope, due to its uniquely stifling atmosphere and those damn delivery quests that were semi-mandatory for quest progression.

Now, it just feels like a normal religious nation that worships the sun and moon. I wondered if this was also an effect of the character’s gender and appearance changing, along with their personality.

‘I do need to think about what happens after clearing the main story.’

The main story of B-Dark 4 ends with defeating the final boss of each route, but the ending credits don’t roll immediately after that. The true ending came after seeing the protagonist’s actions that followed.

On a small scale, it was possible to live a pastoral life, laying down all burdens, or on a large scale, to ascend to the position of Emperor of the Empire. Alternatively, one could receive a suitable noble title or even move to the Holy Nation.

Beyond that, countless endings existed depending on how many quests and events were progressed.

Since I’m a body possessed here, I thought that if I saw the ending, I might be able to return to my original world, just like in many possession stories… but there’s no harm in preparing for the case where I can’t return, is there?

Actually, the residence itself wasn’t much of an issue. I had already received an offer from the Holy Nation to live with the Popes, and there was also the option of maintaining my knightly position in Aurora’s territory for the rest of my life.

Whichever I chose, it meant there was no need to worry about how I should live in this world after defeating the World Eater.

Rather, the bigger problem was what would happen to this place if I returned to my original world. My conscience would sting quite a bit if I abandoned Rije or the Popes and left.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

“…I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

Before I knew it, Kaikilia’s face was right in front of mine. The breath flowing from between her cherry-red lips touched my own before breaking and scattering, and the scent of her skin wafted sharply into my nostrils.

I quietly offered an apology. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t even bow my head because Kaikilia was firmly holding my chin.

“Just now, I bestowed upon you a mercy that other riff-raff wouldn’t even dare to imagine. That means I think highly of you. It seems I’ve given you enough time to think, so now I must hear your answer. What are your thoughts? Will you become mine?”

It was to the point where her voice felt slightly excited, uncharacteristic of Kaikilia, but my answer was already decided.

I took a deep breath for a moment to calm my mind, then met her golden eyes and opened my mouth.

“I am sorry, Your Majesty. It seems I cannot do that.”

“…”

The corners of Kaikilia’s eyes, which had curved into an arc, returned to normal. The slight upward curve of her lips did the same. Kaikilia, who had instantly regained her stoic expression, stared at me silently.

It was unclear whether she hadn’t expected me to refuse, or if she had anticipated it all along and was merely putting on that expression to test me.

Kaikilia, who had been looking at me with a face like a statue, murmured in a chilling voice.

“Did you say you cannot do that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I do not possess much patience. Therefore, you must properly explain why you refused my proposal. Is the rank insufficient? Is what you received not enough? Do you wish to have not only the Golden Twilight Knights but also the Silver Dawn Knights under your command?”

“It is certainly not because what I possess is insufficient, Your Majesty.”

“Then speak. For what reason did you refuse my proposal?”

My chin was released. Kaikilia straightened her back and leaned against the throne again. Her right elbow was placed vertically on the armrest, and her fisted hand propped up her right cheek. Her golden pupils turned towards me.

Perhaps due to the posture, I recalled what had happened during the last audience. I subtly glanced at Kaikilia, but fortunately, it seemed she had no intention of shoving my head between her legs this time.

If she had, then this time, the many people behind us would have clearly seen me with my head shoved into the Emperor’s crotch.

“What Your Majesty has said she would give is by no means insufficient. Rather, it is far too much for me.”

This wasn’t just a formal expression, like a common flowery phrase; I was speaking from the heart.

I was the kind of person who had almost completely neglected human relationships and only ever delved into B-Dark 4. How could someone like that properly lead if they were suddenly made a Knight Commander?

Being in a position to receive orders is one thing, but giving orders doesn’t suit me. If I absolutely had to accept a position, something like a Vice Knight Commander would probably be appropriate.

“Then why did you refuse?”

“There is still work I must do.”

I answered honestly.

“…What?”

“I said I cannot accept Your Majesty’s proposal because there is still work I must do.”

As if trying to discern the truth of my words, Kaikilia’s eyes stared intently into mine. I stood calmly. Because it was undeniably true that there was still work I had to do.

Even if I gave up on proceeding with the main story as it was, as there was no solution now, I absolutely had to catch the World Eater. I couldn’t leave that guy alone; it made me too uneasy.

In the game, no matter how long you neglected the main story, that guy would never destroy the world, but here, he might actually pull off such a stunt.

Moreover, if he came to me once, why wouldn’t he come a second time? At the very least, I needed to eliminate the invincible essentials beforehand.

And personally, there was quite a lot I had to do.

I also needed to obtain a rune that allowed me to ignore the combat fatigue debuff, and I had to level up more to catch the World Eater a bit more easily, but I hadn’t even finished the final build for my melee character yet.

Wingless Nightmare. A specific rune. Dark magic for enchanting. And another rune to properly utilize that dark magic. These four were the core of the Dark-Light Mode melee build.

Until I collected all four of them, I had to diligently travel within the Empire, and to do that, it was best to continue staying in Aurora’s territory.

“What work are you speaking of?”

Since it was a question I had already anticipated, I opened my mouth without a moment’s hesitation.

“It is to fulfill Your Majesty’s wish.”

“…”

On Kaikilia’s expressionless, statue-like face, a crack appeared.

Originally, I had no intention of beating up demons, but considering that Kaikilia had attacked me before, I figured I might as well catch them to gain some experience.

With the Wingless Nightmare, and even the Solar and Lunar Eclipses, demon-type bosses aren’t even a problem. Even if they’re strengthened by Dark-Light Mode, their fundamental elemental compatibility hasn’t disappeared.

I’ll just go find them and beat them up when I have a suitable opportunity, then come back. Just taking down the ones in the Empire and the Holy Nation should be enough to fulfill Kaikilia’s wish.

Anyway, the demons inside Hell won’t come out even if left alone.

Kaikilia, who had been looking down at me from her throne for a long time, suddenly mumbled something. It was too quiet to hear, but judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem to be anything bad.

“If that is your intention, then I will not force it either.”

As I inwardly sighed in relief upon hearing those words, another remark was added.

“It is done, so choose.”

“Pardon?”

“I told you to choose the personnel who will be subordinate to your knight order. Did I not say I would give you half of the Golden Twilight Knights?”

“…”

I looked at the Golden Twilight Knights with a troubled expression. So Kaikilia wasn’t going to choose for me; I had to choose them myself.

What should I do?

Now, the central hall, where half of the Golden Twilight Knights who had been subjugated under Delta, the Silver Dawn Knights, Aurora, and the remaining half of the Golden Twilight Knights had all disappeared, was utterly silent.

Kaikilia, left alone, leaned back against the throne, tilted her head slightly upwards, and stared blankly at the chandelier on the ceiling. Since earlier, the words she had spoken in the past kept coming to her mind.

“If he is a man who can surpass even this Kaikilia Libanus, then he is a man who lacks nothing as a lifelong partner, was it…?”

At the time, they were words spoken out of a competitive spirit, but now it was different. They were gradually becoming true.

“Surely you, too, must have received help from that man, Minerva-nim.”

Minerva-nim had been holed up in the magic tower since yesterday, showing no signs of coming out at all. The mages under her command were the same.

At least for more than a month, she would remain secluded in that state.

The magic tower was built right next to the imperial palace. Therefore, the magic tower’s garden also meant the imperial palace’s garden. There was no way Kaikilia wouldn’t have noticed what had happened in such a place.

She had known for a long time that Minerva-nim had brought the crystal scroll. And also that Minerva-nim was the ostensible discoverer of the scroll.

However, Kaikilia had realized long ago that it was an absurd lie.

If that bitch had truly known the location of the crystal scroll, she would have struggled to get her hands on it somehow, even if it meant literally grinding up mages.

Of course, Minerva-nim didn’t do that, and there was only one possibility: that Delta was the true discoverer of the scroll, but for some reason, the two of them conspired to give false testimony.

Her curiosity about that man’s true identity was growing. To think he even knew the location of ancient scrolls now?

“It is regrettable that I cannot keep him by my side immediately…”

If he speaks like that, it would be proper to wait for him.

For Kaikilia’s flame would not be extinguished first.