episode_0192

Cryer Sylv, Emperor of Gaia. He was also the man to watch out for the most in the Gaia Empire. When I arrived at the place where I was to have an audience with the emperor, a very large and bright space appeared before my eyes. When the door opens, the attention of the people waiting for me is focused. Probably all the nobles would have gathered. Ariana and Rise’s father also came into view.

I move my feet one by one on the white marble floor.

It was my first time ever to visit this place.

And I came here as the main character. I glanced ahead. The emperor is sitting higher than me. And next to the emperor were several members of the royal family. Among them were Asabel and Lucia.

In a slightly tense moment, Ray grabbed my collar. The look in his eyes was mixed with the message that he should just do what he always did. Due to the lack of time spent together, Ray is still not as good as Lucia, but Ray knows me very well now.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the place where I had to stop. What did you say I should do here? Grace had told him what manners to use when meeting the Emperor.

“Count Dran, meet your Majesty the Emperor of the Gaia Empire.”

“This is Saint Ray.”

Bend one knee and place the other knee on the floor. And lower your upper body. Ray bowed lightly. Ray is already a proven saint. In some ways, it was enough for him to be in a position comparable to that of the emperor. But I am different. Although he was said to be a warrior, he was not recognized. Since I came here to receive that recognition, I needed to bow my head to my best from the beginning.

“Raise your head.”

I just raised my head. One knee was still touching the floor. I think this will have to stay like this forever.

“Count Dran. I missed you so much.”

A middle-aged man with beautiful platinum-blond hair like the two princesses solemnly opened his mouth.

“I am very sorry.”

“No. I’ve heard many stories about the Count. As the emperor of an empire, I can’t help but be curious about you, right?”

“If it’s about me… … .”

“He was originally an ordinary soldier belonging to our empire, right?”

“… … Yes.”

Naturally, they would have completed a thorough preliminary investigation on me. At least you shouldn’t lie. Just do it like you proved it in front of the dragon.

“He solved the unfair death of his superior, grew up quickly, and made a great contribution in the operation to suppress the demonic beast. You even saved my daughter Asabel.”

“Yes.”

“In addition, a treaty was recently received from the Principality of Lancelot. Haha, that Kasid… … I will roast and boil the Grand Duke Nova.”

Even if he was the emperor, he could not control the Duke of Nova, the ruler of the principality, as he pleased.

“And it was Count Janede who was actively trying to let us know that the Demon King’s army would attack us. I also heard that they are working hard to prepare for that.”

Demon King.

The nobles were not greatly confused by this sound. This was something that was already known except to a few nobles who were not familiar with the situation. It cannot be unknown. Testimonies about what happened in the principality and from demons who were captured keep coming. So this means that all the nobles who knew it were aware of it.

“I was curious about the boy Asabel raised recently, and considering the achievements you made, I understand.”

“That’s too much praise.”

I said it out of courtesy.

“Excessive praise? no. Didn’t they even show it properly this time? While fighting a dragon that suddenly appeared in the empire.”

The emperor’s eyes were focused squarely on me. It was an insight that sought to find out about me while praising me.

“Hero… … He said. A hero with a different energy from the one that already existed… … .”

It was the appearance of a superhuman who was on the side of justice and different from the warrior Charlotte who existed to protect the world. It was not pushed back by the dragon at all, and its momentum was no different from that of the original hero. However, the difference is that the source of power is different.

Unlike life with positive energy, death is extremely ominous. Even if I tried to hide it, I couldn’t hide everything.

“It is the power of ‘Ceres’, the goddess of death.”

“Death… … Goddess?”

According to Stella, the dragon, no trace of the Goddess of Death has disappeared from human history. There is no big reason. It was said that Ceres had lost most of its power by Gaia, and was naturally forgotten due to the nature of a creature that wanted to reject death itself. In particular, it is said that people who wanted to completely erase Ceres also destroyed the records. Therefore, the name of Ceres was bound to be unfamiliar in modern times.

From the beginning, I believed that there was only one goddess. Therefore, they were not divided into the goddess of life and the goddess of death. To us, there was only one goddess: Gaia. So, even though I was a little reluctant to hear that she was the goddess of death, I couldn’t deny it. Because it is “God.”

“He is a god who has been forgotten from the past and only maintains his existence in the present.”

“Hmm. But how did Count Dran become a hero? Are you even a devout believer?”

“No. Rather, I am a believer in the goddess Gaia.”

“But why did you receive the hero’s protection?”

“… … I don’t know the details either. But I can assure you of this one thing.”

In fact, I didn’t know, and even so, the risk was too great to tell everything about what I had experienced. There is no reason to tell anyone about what I experienced during my regression except to people I really trust.

“More than ever before, the Demon King will lead the largest and most powerful army and begin his invasion in earnest. Since the current heroes may not have enough strength, I am guessing that the intention is to create one more hero to save the world.”

“Is that what the goddess means?”

“I’ve never seen it in person, but that’s what I’m saying.”

I opened my eyes straight and looked directly into the Emperor’s eyes.

“I will make sure that the Demon King can never ravage this world.”

This was not an affectation. It was my belief and the ultimate goal I returned to and set. For a moment, I am enveloped in silence. The nobles had many things they wanted to say to each other, but as the emperor had a worried look on his face, they all kept their mouths shut.

“What do you think? I’ve reached a conclusion to some extent, but let’s hear it just in case.”

The emperor asked the nobles for their opinions. Only then did the nobles begin to say what they wanted to say.

“Looking at what he has done so far, Count Dran has actually made a great contribution to the empire.”

“1 The princess also expressed the opinion that she trusts Count Dran.”

“Now that the invasion of the Demon King’s army is approaching reality, it will be a very powerful force.”

There were many nobles who defended me like this. However, there were also many people who expressed negative opinions.

“If you have power, I wonder why you kept it hidden until now.”

“He went from an ordinary soldier to a count, or rather a warrior, in just a few months. It’s so suspicious.”

“I am very concerned that he may have been deliberately trying to gain ground by approaching the princess.”

“I heard that you are planning to marry a noblewoman! What will they do to the empire? … .”

“Uh huh. This is the man my daughter approves of! And, having watched him for a long time, he said that both the Count’s personality and skills were excellent.”

And there was also a defense statement from my father-in-law. Since Arianna was already pregnant with my child, Count Catherine had no choice but to be with me unconditionally. This was the same for Baron Salt.

“I also agree with Count Catherine. If it hadn’t been for Count Dran in the first place, the empire and principality would have suffered great damage. You probably didn’t even know that the Demon King was preparing for war.”

In particular, Rise’s father blushed and defended me really hard. Although it became impossible, the baron tried to marry his son with Arianna, the daughter of Count Catherine, in order to revive the family. However, his daughter Rise Salt happened to be asking for an even greater treasure.

“Uh-huh! Can you evaluate Count Dran rationally? Aren’t you siding with us just because Count Dran becomes your son-in-law?”

“I can confidently say that I am more rational than anyone else!”

When the emperor gave them a chance to discuss, their voices grew louder.

“May I speak?”

At that time, the nobles become quiet along with a soft voice. The owner of the voice was none other than Ray. She is a saint who is also the representative of the goddess Gaia. Her evaluation of me is probably the most powerful.

“Honestly, I can’t say that the Daron I’ve seen is a good person.”

ray… … ?

“But he is a man who worked harder than anyone else to protect the world from the devil.”

Ray reinforced the beliefs I just mentioned.

“He is not as good as a saint, but he is good… … I know how to protect it… … . Well, anyway”

My voice was shaking when I just said that I know how to stay in line. Of course, I don’t go around picking on women in moderation, so it’s only natural.

“I can say on behalf of Goddess Gaia that it is not evil. A man who will use the power of a warrior for peace.”

Even a saint came forward and defended me. One by one, the nobles who opposed me began to silence themselves. Soon everyone’s eyes turned to the emperor.

The emperor soon makes a decision.

“I hope that you will continue to work hard for our empire, no, for this continent.”

The emperor’s words are the position of the entire empire. The Gaia Empire recognized me, Daron Dran.