Episode 196: A huge castle wall that rises incredibly high, easily over 30 meters high.
The seven distinctly colored energies flowing on the surface of the castle wall only seemed beautiful to those who did not know its danger.
“and…!”
So much so that this exclamation came from the mouth of someone in the group who was watching it from afar.
However, unlike the group who couldn’t help but admire, Logan’s complexion was as hard as stone.
‘Aserian…’
The heart of the enemies that he hated infinitely.
A fortress with iron walls that has never collapsed since it was built 300 years ago.
Aserian, the largest city on the continent.
Just the crowds of people coming in and out through the gates to the east, west, south, and north gave a sense of its overwhelming power over Grand, the largest city in the eastern part of the continent.
Blake, who had no idea about Logan’s complicated review, smiled and spoke from the side.
“It would be difficult for you to admire it like that here, Lord Logan. There is much more to see inside Aserian.”
“I know…”
“Yes?”
“Ah… Haha. I’ve heard a lot about it, but it’s definitely different from seeing it in person.”
Logan smiled awkwardly and changed his words.
After we became closer during our long journey together, Blake often spoke to me like this instead of asking for a sparring match.
In the name of explaining the culture and civilization of the Empire to Logan, who was new to the Empire.
But if it’s a problem.
“Of course. As you can see, Aserian is truly a different world. Of course, this is all thanks to the blessings of His Majesty, the glorious Emperor.”
Almost every conversation ended with praise for the emperor.
‘Does the emperor have the means to brainwash superhumans?’
It’s such an absurd thought.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“I will see you until the end. Then shall we move?”
“You really want to escort me to the imperial capital.”
“I also have some people to greet while I’m here. Haha.”
“Then I will gratefully accept your favor.”
“It was nothing.”
How should I define this relationship that arose during a journey that lasted over a month?
Or, more precisely, how should one accept the commander of an imperial corps who treats one with extreme respect simply because he is the emperor’s guest?
It’s still too early to tell, but at least so far he’s been very helpful.
Except that Luther Kyle in the back is very uncomfortable.
“But you still don’t know why His Majesty called you?”
And it’s also quite persistent.
“Yes. As I have already told you many times, I just worked hard to overcome the kingdom’s crisis. Don’t you think the results are admirable?”
Questions that have been repeated countless times and answers that are the same again and again.
However, Blake’s words this time were a little different from before.
“…Well, no matter how much I think about it, you’re not that type of person. Hmm… Is there anything else you can think of?”
“You’re not that kind of person, are you?”
“Your Majesty is not very interested in the situation of small countries… It was not my intention to disparage Grandia. It’s just…”
Logan’s lips twitched at the remark that clearly revealed Blake’s underlying imperial supremacy once again. A bitter smile appeared.
“Ah haha. It’s okay. Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Empire, can think like that.”
“Thank you for understanding. Anyway, the only people he cares about are superhumans, so I’m a little surprised.”
“Superhumans?”
“Ah, you will know when you see him in person. It’s not something I can tell you easily…”
Logan rolled his head inwardly as he looked at Blake who trailed off.
Isn’t it because of his performance in the civil war that the emperor called him?
Only interested in superhumans?
‘hmm. Could it be because of the weapon?’
I couldn’t even find a trace of a repeating crossbow in the 3rd Legion, and it occurred to me that if the Imperial War really broke out in 5 years, crossbows would have been developed further in the future than at this point in my past life.
‘no. I can’t be sure. It would be an exaggeration to say that I am not interested in the situation in the kingdom. If you’re not really interested, then you’re saying you called me because you’re really interested in just one person… That’s even weirder.’
My mind is getting complicated.
Blake changed the topic with an apologetic expression.
“Do you know what the seven colors on the wall over there mean?”
“I think I’ve heard it before, but I don’t really remember.”
“I’m glad I can explain it to you. Those seven-colored energies are traces of the seven great magics that protect Aserian. They are the magic symbolized by the seven magic towers in Aserian… .”
It is fundamental that the walls are strengthened and repaired automatically.
From the anti-magic shield that appears in times of crisis to the life magic that revitalizes the people in the castle.
“There are only four effects known to the outside world. The remaining three magics are completely secret, so even I cannot know about them. Among them, only the great Emperor knows about one.”
Blake proudly told a story that Logan was familiar with and that all interested literate people knew.
As I walked along and agreed to the voice, I eventually arrived at the east gate.
“What is that giant?”
“Is it a monster?”
“They look like knights?”
It feels familiar now.
Luther Kyle drew all the attention in the vicinity as the soldiers manning the long line approached the group.
Blake took out a golden card from his arms.
“This is Blake Evendore, commander of the Western 3rd Corps. We have brought a guest of His Majesty the Emperor, so open the way!”
Blake proudly shouts to the soldiers who are disgusted while looking at the golden plaque.
Some time after that.
Logan and his group were able to enter Aserian, crossing the middle of a crowd of tens of thousands of people in broad daylight.
“If you wait a moment, someone from the imperial palace will come. Please wait just a moment.”
A castle gate where a person who appears to be a high-ranking knight is merely serving as the gatekeeper.
The sight of the knight repeatedly lowering his head seemed pitiful, but the attention of the group, except for Logan, was directed not to the knight but to the street visible inside the castle gate.
“Wow…”
Even though the others were not surprised, even Viktor’s voice, which rarely surprised him, pierced his ears softly, and Logan also sighed and looked back at the ‘unsightly’ colorful street.
It is not a standardized building like Ruspelheim, but a variety of buildings. High buildings that seem to be at least five stories high, each in different colors and shapes, decorate the left and right sides of the main street.
In the middle of the main street, which seemed to be over 50 meters wide, there were well-maintained flower beds and a fountain to please the eyes.
And the people passing between them were doing their own business, dressed in so many different outfits that no two people could be seen wearing the same clothes.
In Grandia, people wearing silk clothes that at least nobles or small to medium-sized merchants would wear were buying fresh fish in a large city in the middle of the inland.
That one scene alone seemed to clearly reveal the status of the empire and the wealth of Aserians.
However, unlike the group, Logan’s eyebrows naturally furrowed when he saw that scene.
‘After living well like this, he eventually started a war of conquest for greater greed.’
And it was the empire that exploited the finances and resources of countries around the world, including Grandia, and concentrated them in the center of its own country.
My face gradually hardens as I remember my past life.
“Is something bothering you, Lord Logan?”
“Oh no. I saw a lot of things that I had no idea about based on my limited insight, so I was thinking about doing something about it.”
“What you’re looking at is a fountain. It’s a street decoration using water supply facilities. It’s drinkable water.”
“Ah! I see. It’s an empire after all.”
“It was also created under the instructions of His Majesty the Emperor.”
When Logan pretended to be surprised and raised his thumb, Blake responded with that familiar smile again.
“I don’t know how long you will stay in the imperial capital, but if you get the chance, try visiting the Aserian Central Market. It is said that there is nothing in the world that is not there. You will be quite satisfied.”
“I heard it through rumors, but thank you for letting me know.”
“Well, you will be even more surprised when you enter the imperial palace soon. You will have to brace yourself.”
A group of people were busy looking around, clearly looking like countrymen, and people were passing through the castle gates, looking at the huge, inhuman Luther every once in a while and laughing without being noticed.
As I was chatting with Blake while hiding my complex thoughts, it wasn’t long before I saw a gorgeous carriage and a group of knights approaching from the other side of the street.
“Oh, there you are.”
“I’d like to meet Commander William Blake, commander of the 5th division of the Imperial Guard.”
Silver armor with a gorgeous golden dragon engraved on it.
The knight who greeted Blake was of the highest class.
Moreover, the 30 or so knights that followed him were at least intermediate or upper level strongmen.
‘Imperial Guard. It’s still the same.’
The imperial family’s strongest force known to the outside world, consisting of only middle-level knights and above.
What is different from the Kingdom’s Knights of Esperanza is that, despite its qualitative level, it is a group of over a thousand members.
It was the strongest knightly order in the true sense, as if it were a combination of the strengths of the Knights of Esperanza and the Knights of Walter Maim.
And their leader in the future…
‘Oh, I guess it’s Jerome now. ‘Who was the leader at this time?’
The moment when Logan reexamines his common sense.
Blake came forward and greeted me.
“William, it’s been a while. But this is where we must bow first today. You are His Majesty’s guest whom I have been accompanying.”
“Yes, I know. Are you Lord Logan McLane and his party? Please get in the carriage. We will take you to the imperial palace.”
The knight named William took a step back and lowered his head.
Logan, who had been lost in thought until then, felt a slight sense of strangeness.
“That’s big.”
The size of the carriage, which was not noticeable due to its gorgeous exterior, was quite outside the normal standards.
Now I can understand that there are only eight horses being pulled in front of me.
“I heard that Luther Kyle, an Auror user from Grandia, is among the group. We have prepared a carriage accordingly.”
“Hoo?”
“It is an artifact carriage engraved with magic that enhances its strength. The horses drawn are only course horses, so it will be sufficient for Luther to ride.”
“That’s great.”
The poor superhuman, who had been running on his own two feet without saying a word throughout the journey to the empire, let out an exclamation.
Then, my eyes widened as I suddenly thought about something.
“So this means that this fancy carriage was recently built… Are you just going to give it a ride for me?”
“Your Majesty is paying great attention not only to Lord Logan but also to your companions. We will make you feel as comfortable as possible during your stay.”
The sight of a top-class knight bowing his head flexibly, like a merchant serving a customer.
Perhaps because he was completely unfamiliar with the sight, or because he was overwhelmed by the streets and carriages, even Luther was unable to speak for a moment with his mouth open.
Logan, who saw this, tapped Luthor’s arm and stepped forward.
“Aren’t you going, Lord Luther?”
“Ah ah. I have to go.”
Only then did the giant, who had probably never ridden a proper carriage in his life, move his body.
“Thank you for your hard work, Lord Blake. I will not forget this favor.”
“Nothing much to say. I just fulfilled my duty as a loyal subject of His Majesty. I hope to see you again on a good note.”
“Of course.”
The month-long relationship seemed to end so lightly.
Long after the huge carriage carrying the group rattled by.
‘The emperor…’
Logan While I was thinking about the rumors about this emperor in his past life, the rumors in his current life, and Blake’s reaction, and I was drawing about the main enemy that I had only imagined in my head, Luther Kyle suddenly spoke up.
“Aren’t you nervous?”
“Yes?”
“The most powerful nation on the continent. This is the way to meet the monarch of. It’s normal to be nervous, but he looked like he was going to sleep with his eyes closed,
so I asked.” I was thinking while being very nervous,
but I
was speechless due to an absurd misunderstanding. Luther, who had drooled on his dry lips, continued with a serious face.
“Guts are also good. It’s not bad, but be a little nervous. The current Emperor of the Empire is rumored to be a ruler who has built up a power so strong that it ranks among the best in the history of the Empire.” “I
think you can tell that just by looking at Blake’s attitude.”
Although it was a bit excessive.
“It’s not just that. . He is a monarch who is credited with culturally and economically revitalizing a country with the strongest military power. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to have any desire to conquer.” The
corners of his eyes twitched at that huge misunderstanding, but there was no need to correct that fact right now.
“However, it seems that he won’t tolerate anything that bothers him even the slightest, as he has such great power. There are rumors that a prominent family in the empire was exterminated simply because their advice on policy offended them.”
I laughed at the absurd rumor.
“Isn’t Emperor Ai a fool to do something like that?”
The bigger the country, the more talented people it should be. How to do it.
If a prestigious family had been exterminated just because its policy advice was a bit intrusive, the empire would not have grown so much later.
“I don’t completely believe the rumors either. However, if such rumors spread, it can be seen as a ruler who severely punishes challenges to his authority. What I’m saying is to be polite and be careful not to offend others.”
Luther Kyle’s face was full of worry as he said those words.
“Haha. Are you worried about me now? Me, who is practically an enemy? “Lord Luther of the world?”
“You are already a pillar of the kingdom. So you shouldn’t have any problems. I say this out of old age.”
A sincere concern from a superhuman who was once an enemy. It
lightened my heart, which had been getting frustrated when I thought about the emperor, a little.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Lord Luther. Don’t worry too much. It’s an event the emperor has personally invited, so nothing major will happen for the sake of his authority.” ”
…I hope so.”
Despite Logan’s words, the worry on Luther’s face did not disappear.
The conversation continued like that. At the end,
the carriage finally arrived at the imperial palace,
the home of the emperor, the main enemy who led the war of conquest.
