< 150. Audience (2) >
#150
“I’m surprised there were any survivors. But why did it look like that?”
“···I do not know either.”
Ronan shook his head in response to Nabirose’s question. Five men from the Imperial Army were each holding the major’s head and limbs and carrying them. It was very sad to see him being carried unconscious in the escort carriage.
“What a pity. “He is an upright soldier.”
“Did you know someone?”
“Yes, I saw her a few times when she was in the Imperial Knights. “What on earth did you see?”
Nabi Rose trailed off. Come to think of it, Nemea was originally an elite member of the Imperial Knights.
The major never came to his senses. She was running wild in panic, and it was only after being administered five rounds of sedatives that her seizures finally stopped. Butterfly, who had taken Ronan’s cigarette again and was smoking it, called the lieutenant colonel from before her and stopped her.
“There, Colonel.”
“Yes, yes! “Navirose!”
“How long do you think it will take for Major Nemea to come to his senses?”
“Well, I don’t know the details either. However, considering the condition at the time of discovery, it is expected that it will take quite some time. Even if you are a wear lion, you usually fall asleep with two feet up…”
The lieutenant colonel lowered his head as if he had no confidence. Suddenly, what Nemea did passed through Ronan’s mind. She was clearly afraid to make eye contact with him.
This was a pretty big clue. There were only three people, including myself, who had scarlet eyes and cut like that.
‘Is this what that kid did? That said, the sword marks are crude.’
The more I thought about it, the more doubts I had. There was no suitable suspect. The skill of a robber was insufficient, and it felt completely different from that of a savior.
‘···First of all, where did I get it?’
The details would be revealed when the Major came to his senses. Surprisingly, there were no injuries, so once he regained stability, he would be able to testify. He gently stroked Sita’s head.
“great job. Sita.”
“Pyeol~”
For now, Ronan decided to be satisfied with the fact that at least one person was saved. Butterfly as I confirmed that the situation was over, I opened his mouth.
“Let’s go back first. “You had a lot of trouble.”
“Instructor too.”
“Today’s incident will change many things…”
Nabirose muttered softly. Ronan also agreed with that opinion. It was by no means a problem that could be easily overcome that a newly established unit by order of the emperor suffered mass deaths so close to the system. Especially if the Sword Saint, who is said to be the strongest of all time, is involved.
The sky had already completely cleared. Regardless of the tragic incident, bright sunlight was pouring down on the heads of the two people.
They got on their horses and rode along the way they came. It was around the time we arrived at Phileon. I noticed a magnificent carriage parked in front of the main gate.
“What is that again?”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. It was so gorgeous that students crowded around to look at the carriage. An old man dressed in silk clothes stood erect in front of the carriage. She looked as if she was waiting for someone.
Anyway, I can’t go through there. Ronan was about to turn his head. The old man suddenly turned his head and Ronan’s eyes met. He said, raising his hands.
“Ah, there. Please wait a moment.”
“ok?”
The old man approached slowly. He was an old man with an impressive goat-like beard. He opened his mouth as he studied Ronan’s face.
“Ronan. “Is that correct?”
“Uh…that’s right.”
“okay. “I need you to come with me right away.”
The old man spoke in a stern tone. Ronan tilted his head. Unless he was suffering from dementia, he had no recollection of making arrangements with such an old man.
“Right now?”
“That’s right.”
“As you can see, I’m not in the best shape right now.”
“You still have to go. “I will give you a change of clothes.”
Ronan laughed. It was so absurd that I wasn’t even angry. Just by looking at your clothes covered in blood and mud, you can tell that you are in no condition to be invited by anyone. Ronan, unable to bear it any longer, rolled his eyes and said.
“What is inspiration, telling others to come and go? “Did the emperor even summon me?”
“That’s right.”
“···ok?”
For a moment, Ronan’s brain froze. What is this kid saying now? The emperor? The old man bowed his waist more deeply and continued.
“I’m sorry if my attitude seemed rude. But please come with me. “Your Majesty the Emperor has urgently invited you.”
He then added that he would lend him clothes to change into. Ronan looked back at Nabirose. She just shrugged her shoulders as if wondering how I knew.
“I guess I won’t be able to spar today.”
“···Iknow, right.”
“Wait. Have a nice trip.”
Ronan got off the horse and transferred to the carriage. Instead, Nabirose took the reins and entered the inner part of the campus. The students watched the carriage carrying Ronan until it turned the corner and disappeared.
****
Ronan suddenly got into the carriage and headed towards the imperial palace. Fortunately, seeing as the guards didn’t do anything to stop them, it didn’t seem like they were a group of murderers abusing the emperor’s call.
It was my first time in the imperial palace. Even in her previous life, she had only stood and watched from a distance, but had never entered. She never imagined that she would be able to step into this life too.
The heart of the thousand-year empire, considered the largest and most beautiful building in the islands. Ronan also wanted to see that magnificent and noble figure, but he couldn’t. It was because I wasted all my time and energy changing into clothes that looked like idiots.
“Damn, is this right? “I can’t breathe.”
“sorry. “You have a better physique than I thought…”
“And what’s so flashy? “It’s not even a wild parrot.”
“It’s a formal dress that was made a little while ago… I would appreciate your understanding.”
Ronan frowned and adjusted his collar. The clothes the old man handed me to change into were by far the most terrible clothes I had ever worn.
As if it wasn’t enough to be tight like a python, it was covered with colorful decorations that could be recognized from a hundred meters away. If there had been just one more decoration, Ronan would have plucked off the old man’s beard and stuck it on his forehead.
I once tried wearing a potato bag with just holes drilled in it, and it seemed like it was better in terms of convenience. said the old man.
“Oh, you can leave the knife to me.”
“Nimi, can’t you even take a knife?”
“That’s because it’s about meeting His Majesty the Emperor. “I will keep it carefully.”
In order to have an audience with the emperor, one had to deposit an object that could be used as a weapon. If you think about it, it was a natural thing, so it was difficult to explain. It was the moment when Ronan reluctantly returned her sword. Sigh. The carriage stopped.
“You have arrived.”
The coachman opened the door. Outside, instead of a magnificent castle or a beautiful garden, there was a tunnel-like space where carriages could be parked. In the end, Ronan, who couldn’t even see the imperial palace, let out a curse.
“f*ck.”
“This way.”
Goatbeard shamelessly guided Ronan. The place we entered after being guided by her was a large space that appeared to be a reception room.
In the gorgeous room, furniture and props for relaxation were placed in the right places. There was another grand gate on the opposite wall, and it seemed to be the door leading to the throne room. said the old man.
“Please rest comfortably. “If you wait a little longer, the Emperor will call you.”
“It just disappears.”
The old man retreated like the wind. Ronan brushed his bangs and took a deep breath. It was a really hectic day. In fact, she was in a deep sleep, to the point where she suspected that this was all a dream.
He wasn’t the only one in the drawing room. Three people came first. Unlike Ronan, they were each taking a break, each dressed in stylish clothes. Ronan’s eyes fell on one of them and he froze in place.
“···uh?”
A werelion dressed in a suit was sitting on the sofa and reading a book. He must have known, if his eyes were not mistaken. Ronan, barely able to calm his mind, approached him. And then I tapped him on the shoulder.
“Baren.”
“hmm?”
The lion turned his head. When he met Ronan, his pupils grew so big that they seemed to pop out. Varen closed the book and slowly stood up.
“···Ronan? “Is that really you?”
“long time no see.”
“Oh, how long has it been since then?”
It was a reunion after two years. Varen opened his arms and hugged him. It didn’t smell like the strong body odor of an animal, but rather the sharp scent of a gentleman’s perfume. He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief and opened his mouth.
“You’ve really grown a lot. “How have you been?”
“Well, in its own way. “Where was the professor?”
“Ah, it was in Patar in the south. “I just got back from cleaning up yesterday.”
“Southern? organize?”
Ronan tilted his head. This was the first time he saw Varen after completing the holiday. I heard that he left Phileon for some reason, but he suddenly went to the South? Varen continued.
“Because winter came to the islands, we couldn’t grow medicinal herbs. “You are a true hero to me too.”
Varen, holding Ronan’s hands, repeatedly lowered his head. He said that the winter brought by the witch almost killed all the herbs.
Ronan finally nodded as if he understood. Well, I have a business to run, but I guess I couldn’t kill all that precious grass. he asked.
“So what’s going on here?”
“I have come at the request of His Majesty the Emperor. There were a few more people besides us. In my case, I was recognized for my contribution to distributing free potions to people shivering in the cold.”
The people gathered in the drawing room were all people who had contributed during the winter that hit the islands. It is said that a middle-aged nobleman with a beard allowed his forest to be cut down to secure firewood, and an elegantly dressed noblewoman sold her jewelry to distribute food and clothing to the citizens.
In short, they were all called to give awards. The only thing I was curious about was why they called me so suddenly after telling me to come when it was convenient.
Of course, other than this stupid outfit, I had no complaints whatsoever. Because it was enough to just pass the time by talking about things that were overdue. The joy of being reunited with Varen was neutralizing the anger that had been building up since the morning.
“Well, let’s sit down first. So, in the south, I met a lioness that killed me…”
It was the car where Ronan was trying to continue his conversation. Quang! The door to the waiting room opened roughly. Everyone in the living room turned their heads.
A huge, black shadow was coming in stride. Every time I took a step forward, water mixed with blood was dripping. The old man who guided Ronan hurriedly followed him and shouted.
“Oh, Sword Saint! It’s not possible! Please wear proper clothing!”
“Shut up.”
The shadow growled lowly. The old man took a deep breath and froze in place. The people in the drawing room were also frozen. Ronan’s mouth slowly opened.
“Zaifa.”
“···you?”
Jaifa turned his head. He stopped when he encountered Ronan. It was hard to say that Jaifa looked good after seeing him for the first time in a long time.
First of all, the fur all over my body was wet. The pants were so soaked in blood that it seemed as if they were originally red.
I heard in the morning that they had gone to catch the criminal who killed the unit members, but it didn’t seem like they had achieved much success. I could feel how angry he was just by looking at him. bang! Zaifa, who had been looking at Ronan for a long time, hit the floor with his tail.
“Ronan.”
Suddenly, he started walking towards Ronan. Overwhelmed by the force, the people retreated. High above, red eyes were shining brightly.
It was too life-threatening to simply have a conversation. Ronan, who didn’t know anything in particular, stared at him with his hands in his pockets.
Why all of a sudden? Suddenly, the words that Jaifa had left in Ronan’s past flashed through her mind.
‘no way.’
He said that he catches Nebula Clazier by intuition. Although she couldn’t see the sparkling mana, she could feel it. And now, inside Ronan’s chest, a heart made of sparkling mana was pulsing.
‘Is this shit?’
Suddenly, goosebumps ran up my spine. It was just a shame that I didn’t have a knife. Jaifa’s index finger was almost as thick as his wrist. It was a moment when the gap between the two was almost narrowed.
“Hehe, Sword Saint. “Do you have any business for my student?”
Suddenly, Varen blocked Jaifa’s path. He said with a sad smile. Jaifa frowned at him.
“Get out of the way. compatriots.”
“That can’t be possible.”
“Why are you interrupting? We are spherical. “I just want to talk.”
“You should first stop living. “I’m feeling sick.”
Varen looked with a straight face. Jaifa growled softly, but he did not back down. Varen’s dark brown mane stood on end.
Although Jaifar was larger in overall size, Varen was never pushed back. The pressure emanating from the two beasts filled the space. Blood veins rose on Zaifa’s black forearm.
“You guy…”
He was about to say something. Squeak… Suddenly, the gate on the other side opened, and a woman in fancy clothes came in trotting.
For a moment, silence fell. Everyone stopped what she was doing and looked at her. Her lady opened her mouth.
“Everyone, please enter. “Your Majesty the Emperor is ready.”
