Kays Translations

Chapter 21: The Emperor and demi-god 1

　The imperial sanctuary, the throne room. Waiting for them there was a distinguished group of people.

　The men were dressed in elegant, but not flamboyant, clothing. They range from those who are still young men to those who are mature or old men. Despite the differences in age, however, they all share the same demeanor that is befitting of those of higher rank, and it is clear that they are the heads of high-ranking families in the empire or officials holding important positions such as ministers.

　Among these dignitaries who support the empire, two caught Lute's attention.

　One is a man like a rock sitting on a throne. He is the only one qualified to sit on the throne here. He is so famous that even Lute, who is not familiar with the people of the empire, can recite his many aliases. He is a great emperor whose name is guaranteed to be etched in the history of the empire and, indeed, in the history of mankind. Friedrich the Dragon Emperor.

　The other is the girl who stands nearest to the throne. She is a beautiful maiden with inhuman hair and eyes and, above all, exudes an air of supremacy. Her anecdotes are almost legendary throughout the continent, and everyone knows her because of her fame. She is the goddess of fire that burns nations to the ground. Axia, the god of fire.

　The apex of the empire. The god of the empire. The two of them, who hold prominent positions and power even among the dignitaries who run the continent's foremost superpower, were staring at Ruto with fearless smiles on their faces.

“──So you're the new demi-god.”

　Heavy words are released from the throne.

　Lute was taken aback by the abruptness of the voice. In the original procedure of an audience, the person seeking an audience must arrive at the designated position and kneel. However, Lute had not yet arrived at the previously announced position, let alone kneeled down.

　Lute wondered what to do, but it was only for a moment. The answer came from Friedrich himself, who kicked off the formality.

"I'm sorry. I called out a little earlier to let them know there was no need to kneel. The position is as I have already informed you. You can stand there if you want.”

"... Ha"

　Even though many words welled up in the words that were told, Lute swallowed everything for the time being and walked to the place he had been informed of in advance. Kneeling down is something that ...... he pondered slightly, but in the end he did not do. It's a world where if you were rude without questioning, you would lose your head, but considering Lute's position and power, it's almost impossible. Rather, due to Friedrich's personality, he judged that it would be troublesome to kneel against his words.

　In fact, Friedrich nodded with a satisfied look on his face as Lute stood proudly without shriveling up.

"Hmm. It's great that you're honest and understand your own position. With this, can we have a constructive discussion?"

　Seeing Friedrich with a grin and an evil bratty smile, Lute understood the atmosphere of this audience. Even at this stage, the flow was insane, but he knew that it would continue consistently. It would be an audience that ignored formality and formalities, and that would make any serious person lose his or her head.

　In the first place, considering Friedrich's character as reported, his unprecedented words and actions are not out of place. Although a bad side-step only makes oneself look cheap, it is even appropriate in light of Friedrich's character and, above all, Lute's abnormality. After all, this is an unprecedented event, a vassalage of a "wizard with the status of a demi-god”.

"Well then. First of all, let me introduce myself. I am Friedrich, the emperor of the Froysel Empire. Hmmm. I never thought I would be able to exchange words with a new demi-god like this. Life is indeed interesting, isn't it?"

“…It is the same for me. I never expected to have an audience with the great Emperor in this way."

　On the other hand, Friedrich laughs at the appearance of a new demi-god in this world. On the other hand, Lute sighed at the fact that he, an illegitimate son of a small royal family, had an audience with the top of one of the largest countries on the continent. Both of them laughed at the fate that ultimately led them to this conclusion. ……Lute’s was dry though.

"No, really, it's really strange. I thought that meeting with the royalty of Land would be a postwar process at best, but it turns out that it is not, but how about opening the lid and seeing it in this way? Who could have imagined that it would ever come to fruition in this way?”

"...... not at all."

　It is too heavy a subject to be called "small talk''. A discussion about the trend of a nation, a "what if" that had a high probability of being realized, could have been treated as the main topic of the audience meeting if one were to think about it in a common sense.

　The terrifying thing is that this throne room is just such a place. The Trends of a small country are treated as trivial matters. The imperial sanctuary deals with more serious matters, matters that could affect the future of multiple nations. It is one of the key points in history where the history of mankind is spun.

“Looking back, this whole affair has been full of unexpected events. The war started because of the foolishness of a fool. Then, when we started the war with our full strength, a new demi-god, you, appeared. The war was turned upside down, and you went down as a prisoner of war. The unexpected happens once,......, but there's a limit to how much one can take.”

"...I know I shouldn't be the one to say this, but I'm sorry for your loss."

"I don't need such empty sympathy, but...well, that's good. The first point is that you have everything to do with it. The way you've swept our country to this point, even with the power of your demi-god status behind it, is magnificent.”

　That is why Lute himself was praised by Friedrich on this occasion.

"I already know this through reports. But I ask you again. Therefore, you too must speak truthfully."

　In this spinning field of human history, the treatment of the subject, Lute.

"Oh, Lute, the demi-god of freezing. What is it that you want?"

　It is nothing short of a turning point in history that will shake the future of numerous countries.

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