Chapter 331
The audience procedure was not that complicated.
The ministers applauded us as a sign of welcome, and we knelt down in front of the emperor and listened to his speech.
I don’t know if he was ready or if he said it on the spot, but in the end it was all a show.
Looking at the excellent talents nurtured by the temple, an institution preparing for the future of the empire, I feel really good and hope that they will continue to lead the empire with diligence.
It’s similar to what the principal said.
The emperor stood us up and shook our hands once to signify that we should continue to do our best.
-To be diligent.
-Keuk, kuhup! This is the honor of a lifetime, His Majesty the Emperor!
– Well, well.
There were guys who cried.
No, most of the reactions were like that and it was natural.
-To be diligent.
– This glory and honor! Engraved in my soul, I will serve the Empire for the rest of my life!
-Good.
Even the guy who seems to be speaking prepared words.
Anyway, everyone was struggling with the glory. Rather, it is an ordinary reaction.
“To be diligent.”
“yes.”
While shaking hands with the emperor, Ellen nodded once as if answering the teacher.
“To be diligent.”
“thank you.”
I was going to try to appeal as glorious as possible, but I didn’t think it was an honor anyway, so I answered simply.
The reaction between me and Ellen was the strangest axis.
Perhaps the emperor had been informed that Radia Schmidt was not present, so he did not point out the problem.
After that, a luncheon with the emperor was scheduled.
Moving to the luncheon area, the Temple students and the Emperor ate together at a long table.
Just like the meal we ate at the Palace of Spring last year, the course started with an appetizer, and the food began to come out one plate at a time.
-Omnyol
“?”
It’s all about appetizers. Ellen popped it into her mouthful and mumbled, staring at her plate.
what.
why is there only this
It feels like this.
For Ellen, who gets impatient in front of food, a course meal means waiting for something to be eaten for too long. He likes ordering everything and ordering it again after he finishes eating.
When a plate comes out, he eats it up and sits there, and when a plate comes out, he eats it up and just stares at the plate.
Come to think of it, did you mutter that you were hungry earlier?
Naturally, the emperor was eating while watching the faces of the students.
The emperor whispered a few words to the lady-in-waiting who served the meal.
… … After that, Ellen’s share was given to 3 servings each.
It seems that he ordered it secretly after seeing that eating habit. I might be ashamed to say it out loud.
-omnyomnyom
It was hearty enough to look at, so Ellen was able to eat in moderation with others.
Of course, Ellen had no questions about the sudden increase in volume.
just eat it
“why?”
As I stared at her, Ellen tilted her head.
“I, sometimes… … . you kinda… … . okay.”
“what?”
“it’s okay.”
No matter where I put it, I’m not ashamed of it.
His gluttony was so strong that he received consideration from the emperor.
I know it’s nothing to be ashamed of, but I’m ashamed!
Everyone was nervous because they were in front of the Emperor, and they looked at Ellen, who was eating and drinking, and me, who openly criticized me, as if they were curious.
No, am I the weirder?
* * *
After the luncheon, we took a brief look at the Central Palace Tetra.
It didn’t go all the way to the emperor’s bedroom, but it went round and round, including the gymnasium, the waiting room for the guards, and the gallery. He thought it would end with an audience and a luncheon, but the emperor seemed to have spent quite a bit of time on it, perhaps because it was an official schedule.
Everyone was stiff and nervous, busy stuttering when the Emperor spoke to them, but the Emperor did not speak to Ellen or me.
The reason soon became clear.
After all the schedules are over, the moment when the students including us are about to go out under the guidance of the guards.
“You guys come over here.”
Saviolin Tana, wearing Chanapell’s uniform, came out and called Ellen.
“Do you remember me?”
“Yes, Captain Chanapell.”
Even though she had never seen her face, Ellen remembered Saviolin Tana’s face since she had seen her face when she was appointed as the first-year dormitory superintendent.
“Okay, you two have been summoned separately by His Majesty the Emperor. Please follow me.”
The other students left, and Ellen and I headed somewhere, led by Saviolin Tana.
-smart
“Your Majesty, I brought them both.”
– Come in.
“yes.”
Saviolin Tana sees me and Ellen.
“I believe you will do well on your own.”
“yes.”
-nod
Knowing my upside down side, Saviolin Tana seemed worried about me, even if she didn’t know about Ellen.
No matter what, I’m going to go out in front of the emperor just because I’m crazy.
When Saviolin Tanna opened the door, she noticed the high ceiling and the walls full of books.
And in front of a wooden table set by the window, the emperor was sitting on a chair with backlight.
The emperor’s office, or study.
It seemed to be such a place.
On the armchair next to him lay the cloak, scepter, and crown he had been wearing. It’ll be cumbersome, so I won’t wear it when it’s not an official schedule.
High-end, but not flashy casual wear.
Neliod de Gradias gave off the impression of a scholar when he laid down his cloak, scepter, and crown.
– Click
“Come closer. You don’t even have to kneel.”
Following that instruction, Ellen and I took a few steps closer to the Emperor.
The emperor looks at me and Ellen.
“How much do you two know about each other?”
Random question, but I know what it means.
Ellen hides that she is Artorius’ sister.
I, too, am hiding the fact that I am the owner of Tiamata.
They ask each other if they know that. If not, it must be to protect our secret.
“There are many things we don’t know, but we know enough to know each other.”
Ellen spoke first before I could say anything.
There are many things I don’t know, but I know enough to know.
Those words seemed to pierce my heart.
“Then it will make things easier. good night.”
The emperor looked at us quietly.
“As Emperor of the Empire, it is an honor to meet the Champion of Tuan and the Disciple of Mensis.”
When the emperor came out like that first, we couldn’t help but be embarrassed. The emperor gets up from his seat and quietly looks out of his window.
“The gods do not choose champions pointlessly.”
It is unknown whether he is a member of the Five Great Priests’ Church or not.
However, since the existence of God cannot be denied, he must be talking about God’s providence itself.
“Champions have always had a role, and the relic and its champions exist because there are things in the world that they need.”
“… … .”
“… … .”
“Ellen Artorius.”
“yes.”
“Alsbringer is owned by the Empire.”
Alsbringer, the sword of Ars, the god of war, is a keepsake of her brother to Ellen.
“I thought so.”
As if it wasn’t surprising, Ellen just nodded.
“If Alsbringer chooses a champion, it will be a situation where the owner of three of the five sacred relics has appeared in the world.”
Three holy relics appeared in the world. Two of them have already chosen their champions, and Alsbringer is a clear target.
“Even during the Pandemonium War, there were only two holy relics in the world, Alsbringer and Lament, which Lagan Artorius possessed. Besides, the only thing actually used was Alsbringer.”
The Emperor just stares out the window.
“But now that the Pandemonium War is over, what do you think this phenomenon of more holy relics means?”
“You mean more dangerous things are about to happen?”
“… … maybe.”
Ellen responded to the emperor’s words.
The gods do not allow relics to roam the world haphazardly.
Even in the Pandemonium War, the greatest crisis of mankind, only two relics appeared, but now one more has increased.
The emperor seemed to interpret it as a red flag for the fate of mankind.
But that is a misunderstanding after all.
The Five Great Gods are not gods only for humans. It seemed clear that even the emperor could not escape such prejudices.
The emperor turns to look at me and Ellen.
“You must know about the rumors that are making noise in the imperial capital these days.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“yes.”
“About 20 elite paladins, including the former commander of the Templar Knights, Leverrier Ranche, were killed by a group of unknown demons. All of them were war heroes who played an active role in the Great War.”
Although it has already been announced, it was a refreshing feeling to hear the story from the mouth of the emperor.
from the point of view of the main culprit.
“It can be regarded as the simple act of the remnants of the demon tribe, but the imperial family has the worst situation in mind.”
“… … .”
“The demon king is not dead, or the successor to the demon king might exist.”
Ellen swallowed nervously at those words.
Devil.
For Ellen, that name is an inseparable name.
Ellen, the younger sister of the hero and gifted with more talent than Lagan Artorius, must have always thought of herself being forced to become a hero.
“You are very valuable talents who possess holy relics. But you are still too young.”
They have the qualities to become warriors, but they are just sprouts that cannot become warriors yet.
“But even later, are you guys ready to fight against the demon lord?”
At the emperor’s question, Ellen and I were silent.
You cannot answer no.
But Ellen said that if she could save the world with her own life, she wouldn’t want to live that life.
I was determined not to make the same choice as my brother.
But at the same time, he risked his life to prevent innocent people from dying in the Dark Land.
Ellen at the beginning of the semester and Ellen now are different.
“If what the demon king wants is the destruction of mankind, if his goal is to destroy everything I love… … .”
Ellen speaks calmly.
“yes. I will fight the demon king.”
Unlike the original, Ellen made a lot of precious things.
Even in the absence of such a situation, Ellen eventually risked her life for the world, but now the meaning was very different.
If the purpose of the demon king is to destroy all of humanity, then I will kill the demon king.
Ellen says so.
The Emperor sees me this time.
“Neither do I.”
It’s not about killing the demon king.
I am ready to fight for it, and I am still fighting. In the end, the emperor nodded his head with a firm expression, looking alternately at Ellen and I, who had given the same answer, although the meaning was different.
“thanks.”
The words of gratitude that came out of the emperor’s mouth couldn’t help but embarrass me to some extent.
“From now on, the Empire promises you maximum protection and cooperation.”
To the emperor, we are a weapon to defeat the demon king. That’s why we promise unlimited cooperation at the Imperial level, as well as protection as Templar students, for as long as we need to grow stronger.
Without knowing that the target of that cooperation is the demon king he so longed to find.
“And Reinhardt.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The emperor’s eyes showed a slightly different emotion than before.
If you’ve discussed the future of the empire and humanity so far, your eyes are a bit more emotional.
“Thank you for saving my daughter.”
What to call fatherhood.
“… … ?”
Naturally, Ellen tilted her head, not knowing what this meant.
* * *
After exchanging such stories with the emperor, Ellen and I were escorted out of the imperial palace by the guards.
The emperor said after sending Ellen out first.
‘Soon there may be something I need to do for Charlotte.’
‘… … Is that so.’
‘I’m still not sure what that is, but can you help me?’
The answer was fixed.
‘yes.’
‘… … thanks. Reinhardt.’
The Emperor’s pure gratitude had a certain deep resonance that I hadn’t expected.
Something to do for Charlotte.
I don’t know what it is.
But if it’s for Charlotte, I’ll have to do it.
Of course, that was just an added story, the emperor’s real business was something else.
Since they are the ones who have the holy relics, in this situation where the demon king may have returned, the emperor decided that the safety of me and Ellen Artorius should be treated as the most important thing in the empire.
In return for promising to risk his life in the fight against the demon king later, he decided to receive almost unlimited support from the empire.
Ellen and I each put the items we had received into our arms.
It was the same imperial crest she had briefly received from Charlotte.
With this, the Emperor himself explained, we were no longer simply students of the Temple Royal class, but were given enormous powers that surpassed even the most aristocratic.
He said that he would be treated like royalty anywhere, and that if the situation was serious, he could even recruit troops.
To put it simply.
Now, the fact that the fee for using the warp gate is free is, of course, a free pass.
Of course, neither I nor Ellen felt it right away.
“Tell me what happened.”
Ellen, a man of only two, asked straight-forward.
I had no choice but to explain the details to Ellen.
What happened at the Spring Palace, Charlotte’s rampage, and the fight to the death with Saviolin Tana in the Spring Palace.
When Ellen heard the date, she remembered the days I hadn’t returned to Temple, and seemed to know when it was.
“He said he had never been to the imperial palace.”
“… … sorry.”
“You lied again.”
On the subject of saying that she had never been to the imperial palace today, while talking with the emperor, it was revealed that she had been to the imperial palace before and had even saved Charlotte.
“That’s the case… … . It’s something no one should hear… … .”
“… … .”
“It’s not that you shouldn’t listen… … . Well, there were other people.”
Ellen shook her head.
“Yeah, it’s not your problem, it’s Charlotte’s problem. The way you say it to me… … . Because you’re talking about the imperial family’s secret. It must have been difficult to say.”
Ellen raised her head in agreement. It was a matter that I couldn’t decide whether to tell anyone or not. She said Ellen and she seemed troubled by something.
Thinking about whether or not to say something, he raises his head.
“Can I be sad?”
“… … uh?”
“It seems like something I shouldn’t be sad about. I’m sorry.”
“That, that’s it… … . it’s your heart… … .”
I want to be allowed to be sad and want to be sad.
“Then, I’m sorry.”
As Ellen said that, her mouth began to come out.
“thing… … . sorry… … .”
“You always just say you’re sorry.”
Ellen grumbles and kicks a rolling stone for no reason.
“I want to hear something else.”
Ellen didn’t say what the other word was. She looks like she’s talking about something else, but Ellen turns her head away.
I gazed at the front gate of Emperatos, the imperial palace in the back. Then, I quietly take out the imperial crest that I received from the emperor.
“Didn’t you say that we are treated similarly to the royal family now?”
“It’s not the real royal family, but what… … . Did you say that?”
“Then, can we just go in there?”
Ellen tilts her head.
“well… … ? Wouldn’t there be nothing that wouldn’t work?”
Treatment equal to that of the imperial family is not something the emperor would say carelessly.
The Emperor thinks of us as weapons to fight the demon king in the future. Since they are champions who have decided to give their lives in the fight against the demon lord, we have decided to protect and treat them as much as possible until we become stronger.
Ellen stared blankly at the entrance to the imperial palace.
I don’t know why you’d be curious about that.
“Let’s go back.”
Ellen strides.
Not on the Temple side.
“You want to use a gate?”
“Yeah, you can use it.”
Ellen was heading towards the warp gate.
I wasn’t the only one who thought of this as a warp gate high pass ticket.
If you think about it, it’s treated like royalty, but in the end, the thing you’ll use most often is the right to use the warp gate.
It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but I think it felt like a huge right.
no.
Even Charlotte, the real member of the royal family, rides a magic train in the imperial capital.
It’s kind of like how we use warp gates like this.
Isn’t it a waste?
Of course, even so, I strode along behind Ellen to the warp gate.
It’s a hassle, it’s nabal, and if you can use it, you use it.
It was a reliable back that gave off such an attitude.
