Chapter 4: The Strongest Yin-Yang Sorcerer Gets an Audience with the Emperor

During the audience, the room was far more luxurious than the corridors.

A vast room with a high ceiling. A vibrant red carpet covered the floor, and sunlight streamed in through large windows adorned with glossy fabrics.

The interior decoration was exquisite, and especially the throne where the ruler of this castle sat was embellished with gold, indicating considerable extravagance.

However, the crucial figure—the Emperor—was a rather unremarkable man.

I couldn’t help but furrow my brows and mutter under my breath.

“This man…?”

Gilzerius Urd Ehrgreif, Emperor of the Urdwight Empire.

The atmosphere surrounding the man was quite different from what one might imagine.

He seemed utterly ordinary. Chestnut-colored hair, a middle-of-the-road build. His facial features were neither ugly nor exceptionally handsome. There was nothing memorable about his appearance.

Certainly, being an emperor, his hair and mustache were neatly groomed. However, it didn’t exude dignity or refinement. If you passed him in a crowd, he seemed like a forgettable, average man.

There was no aura or presence typical of exceptional leaders or statesmen. He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man.

I, who had been on guard, felt a bit taken aback.

“Um!”

Amu, standing in front of the Emperor, took a step forward and spoke.

“I’m Amu. I’ve come with my companions.”

I glanced at her profile. 

Perhaps due to nerves, her expression was tense, but her grass-green eyes were firmly fixed on the Emperor. She seemed okay.

I tentatively checked the other two.

Mabel seemed, at first glance, as usual. However, since she was not one to show much on her face, it was hard to tell. Iifa… didn’t seem okay. Judging by her demeanor, she might not be able to answer properly even if asked something.

Well, anyway, the main character in this situation is definitely Amu.

It shouldn’t be a problem since she won’t likely get into any trouble.

The reason why we, including Amu, are standing here in the first place is because the invitation was extended to the “hero party.”

The intention behind this is unclear. Apart from the hero herself, her companions are almost like outsiders. It doesn’t seem to make sense for the Emperor to meet them.

However, even though the intention is unclear… I was relieved. 

If anything happened here, I could intervene immediately.

“Hmm.”

At that moment, the Emperor let out an acknowledging sound. 

After that, he smiled faintly and spoke in a calm voice.

“No need to be so formal. The Emperor is different from nobility, you know.”

Speaking as if addressing a friend’s child, the Emperor continued.

“It’s a common misunderstanding, but the Emperor is not a ruler like the nobles. I’m just a citizen like you all, albeit one who stands at the forefront.”

“Like us…?”

“Do you know the founding legend of the Empire?”

Amu timidly nodded in response to the Emperor’s question.

“That’s right. A hero who rose from the people created this country…”

“Exactly. A hero and their companions who stood against the threat of the demon race not only gained independence from the rulers of that time but also established their own country. That’s the Urdwight Empire. Of course, initially, it wasn’t an empire but a kingdom.”

The Emperor continued to explain, as if imparting knowledge.

“Many of the nobles who now govern various regions are descendants of the rulers of the territories that the Empire annexed in the past. Kings, tribal leaders, or even heads of bandit groups. Some of their arrogance is undoubtedly rooted in their lineage.”

“Oh, I see… I didn’t know that.”

“However, the Emperor and his family are different. We originated from common citizens. While there is a history of overthrowing the ancestors of these nobles, there isn’t a background of ruling even the common people. We simply emerged from among them and became the leaders.”

The emperor suddenly smiled and said, 

“In the era when my predecessor ruled, such awareness still lingered strongly among the citizens. Various people used to visit the imperial palace to petition. Some even shouted loudly in anger. Can you imagine scolding the emperor? Although I was still young at that time, I vividly remember the insults echoing outside the audience chamber and the tired expression on my grandfather’s face. I thought about how challenging the role of an emperor could be.”

Before you know it.

The tension that had been lingering between us had completely disappeared.

Amu, of course, and even the tightly wound Iifa, were now listening to the emperor’s story with natural expressions.

“So, there’s no need to be so awestruck. If anything, I might be the one feeling nervous. After all… um, I’m face to face with the legendary hero as they’re spoken of in tales.”

As the emperor said this with a smile, Amu responded with a somewhat nonchalant look, giving a sigh and a deflated reply.

“Swords and magic, you must be skilled in both, right?”

“Well… not really. There are many people stronger than me.”

“Hmm, I can’t imagine the world of the strong. They say royalty and nobility are blessed with magical abilities, but in reality, few can handle it well. I myself would probably be helpless against even the weakest monsters.”

The emperor, still wearing a gentle smile, continued.

“It’s good to live in a peaceful era without the threat of the demon race. However… as a hero, you might find yourself a bit overwhelmed, don’t you think?”

“Your Majesty.”

I couldn’t help but interject.

This feels like an unfavorable turn of events.

“With all due respect—may I ask about Amu’s, and subsequently our, situation first?”

Iifa and Mabel looked at me in surprise.

Perhaps they hadn’t expected us to bring up the topic ourselves.

Amu had escaped from a corner of the imperial palace about a year and a half ago. Even though she had been falsely accused of killing an envoy from the demon realm, it was still an escape from the imperial dungeon. As an empire, they couldn’t simply let the matter go unresolved.

However, I refrained from bringing up any topics on my own. If they were willing to overlook the matter, it was convenient for us, so I decided to stay silent until something was mentioned.

Still, I had an uneasy feeling, and that’s why I initiated this conversation.

The emperor, however, had not touched upon the crucial topic I had anticipated from the beginning. 

Based on my past experiences, when rulers avoided such discussions, it usually led to unfavorable outcomes.

“Situation?”

The emperor tilted his head slightly, echoing my words.

“Oh, that matter. Truly, you’ve had a stroke of misfortune.”

As if recalling it just now, the emperor spoke.

“It’s alright. I, along with others, understand that the notion of a ‘messenger from the demon realm’ is absurd. Amu’s alleged crime was just a pretext for restraining the hero. It seems Hans… Marquis Greville, out of concern for the country, acted hastily, perceiving the hero’s power as a threat. I truly apologize.”

“…”

“Thanks to all this, I’ve caused unnecessary troubles for you. Living away from the academy must have been tough. The three of you were originally Amu’s classmates. On behalf of the empire, I’m grateful for supporting the hero of humankind.”

“…”

“To be honest, I had intended to release Amu the next day after the parliamentary session. Although I could have done it at my discretion that very day, it was already late, and I wanted Hans to take responsibility in the parliament. That’s why I asked you to endure for one night… I never imagined it would turn out like this.”

The emperor let out a small sigh and directed a concerned look at Amu.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yes.”

Amu nodded firmly in response.

“As everything shook around, the iron bars distorted, so I managed to get out. There were many people collapsed outside, and the city gate was gone. It seemed like a serious situation, so I fled.”

Amu and I had coordinated in advance on how to respond to the events during her escape.

There was no way this topic wouldn’t come up. We made sure the narrative aligned with Fiona’s cover-up efforts, ensuring there were no contradictions.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

The emperor smiled.

The circumstances of Amu’s escape should be crucial information that only she knows. However, the emperor seemed somewhat indifferent.

“I wanted to ask, did you happen to see the culprit?”

“No…”

“I see. The attack on the imperial palace is said to have been caused by a powerful demon, but we have no idea about its true identity. None of the soldiers who fought back died, yet they all lost their memories of that time. The only description we have is from someone who saw it from a distance, mentioning a petite figure. Other than that, everything is unclear. I thought you might have seen something, but it’s a shame.”

Despite his words, there was no hint of disappointment in the emperor’s voice. 

It was genuinely relieving that my true identity seemed to remain concealed. However, despite that, my uneasy feeling continued to grow.

The emperor, with a small sigh, continued.

“Even in an era of peaceful times without war, threats are ever-present in the world. As evident from the fact that the empire still maintains hundreds of thousands of soldiers, violence is indispensable for a nation. Violence to preserve peace.”

The emperor continued as if it were casual conversation.

“So, Amu. As someone who stands at the forefront of the citizens, I’d like to seek your assistance as the hero.”

“Huh… Me?”

Ami blinked in confusion.

I understood. This was the real purpose of the audience, and calling Amu was for this specific matter.

“I want you to quell the rebellion happening in the west.”

The emperor’s tone resembled asking someone to run an errand nearby. 

But upon hearing it, I couldn’t help but grit my teeth.

“With the power of the hero.”

It seemed like we were about to be involved in a more troublesome situation than I had imagined.

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