◈ Episode 292 Emperor of the Empire (2)
“Meet Your Majesty.”
Rudger showed proper manners toward the emperor.
Erendir was horrified that Rudgar acted so earnestly.
At least, the Ludgar Celish she knew was a man who would not bow his head even if a god descended beyond the emperor.
On the contrary, Eileen stared disapprovingly at Rudger with a slightly displeased look.
It felt quite bad that this man would kneel to someone other than himself.
Even if that opponent is his own father.
One is shocked, the other is annoyed.
Whether the two daughters do or not, the emperor said in a soft voice.
“This is not the imperial family. So, such excessive etiquette rather puts me in trouble.”
“All right.”
Rudger immediately rose from his seat.
Far from being angry at the expressionless face directed at him, the emperor was rather interested.
His actions were extreme, but his eyes showed no will to obey.
‘He is indeed a strong man. Besides, I’m curious about the conflicting reactions of the two daughters toward Ludger.’
“this. I’ve held the hero for too long. You must have suffered a lot, but shouldn’t you take a break?”
“Thank you for your consideration, but given the circumstances, it seems difficult.”
The Chimeras have withdrawn, but the terrorism in the capital is not over yet.
It was also what everyone in the room was feeling.
The people returned to the command barracks again.
This time, Rudger was also with him.
Rudger looked around the barracks.
Veronica recognized him and greeted him, and Terrina, who was standing next to him, stared at Ludger questioningly.
Elsewhere, a few mentors and wizards were gathered.
They seemed quite surprised that Ludgar had rescued countless citizens because he had not returned alive and well.
Among those who were surprised, there were some leading teachers who should be in the imperial family.
The 1st grade teachers were still in the imperial family, so the 2nd grade teachers are here.
Surprisingly, there was Chris Benimore, a familiar face to Rudger.
‘There are a lot of people.’
All of them were gathered only by prominent people.
In particular, what caught my attention the most was a tall man standing by the emperor’s side as if to guard him.
‘Prayer looks like a beast, but the first impression is that it’s literally a sword.’
It’s the first time I’ve seen a face, but if you’re a person with that level of distinctiveness, there’s only one person that comes to mind.
This is Lutus Wardott, the head of the Royal Guard.
He didn’t show his energy openly like other strong players.
On the contrary, he captured his momentum surprisingly neatly, so that if a stranger saw it, he would mistakenly think that he was just a big man with a stern look.
But from the point of view of people who knew it, it was amazing.
None of those gathered here have any flaws in their skills.
At least the best power that can be gathered right now has arrived.
The fact that no momentum was revealed on the spot meant that his skills were so great that he was perfectly capturing his energy.
‘It’s a bit smaller than the Pantos, but it’s rather more compressed, so it’s hard to distinguish between superiors and inferiors.’
Ludger compared it to Lutus, recalling the Pantos remaining in Ledervelk.
Compared to the current empire’s strongest sword, the Pantos still lacked a lot.
However, Pantos is a being worthy of being called the great hero of the beast tribe, starting with the seeds that steadily become stronger through actual battles.
‘It’s impossible right now, but maybe with more experience… …this.’
Rudger, who had thought that far, naturally looked away after realizing Lutus was looking at him.
It seemed like I was looking at it too hard because I was thinking deeply.
Or maybe he felt something in this blatant gaze.
In this case, it was best to shamelessly snatch them away, so Ludger ignored Lutus’ gaze as much as possible.
The leaders gathered in the barracks discussed what to do next.
“First of all, we have to build a defense line like this to prevent the spread of damage.”
“Then it’s too late. You don’t know what they’re up to in the basement right now.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“This one has to go in first. That’s counterattack. We’re going to wipe out all the guys in the basement.”
“You don’t know what the hell they’ve done in the basement, so you’re going blindly? What if it’s a trap?”
“Those who have gathered here are talented people who are unmatched anywhere in the Empire. Do you think you will fall into a trap dug by the Liberation Army?”
The ones who wanted to be careful were the wizards, while the ones who wanted to push aggressively were the knights.
Of course, Veronica and Terrina, who could be called the heads of the knights, didn’t say much.
Even among wizards and knights, opinions were divided.
“Can I say a word about that?”
The one who opened her mouth at that time was Princess Eileen, who had been quiet until now.
When Aileen, who thought she would only watch, opened her mouth, people seemed quite taken aback.
Conversely, Terrina, who knew about Eileen’s personality, quietly closed her eyes and made an expression saying, “It’s starting soon.”
“What is the name of you who just said you were just a member of the Liberation Army?”
“…My name is Eric of the Nightcrawler Knights.”
“Yes Eric. I fully agree with your opinion. But it is still not enough.”
When the rumored first princess stepped forward, Eric kept his mouth shut.
Eileen naturally took the right to speak and swung it.
“As everyone knows, the Liberation Army guys prepared their own weapons differently than before. The most representative example is gunpowder, which is not affected by magic.”
Seen’s mentors’ expressions hardened at those words.
Because they were the first to collide with the Liberation Army, they knew the effects of gunpowder better than anyone else.
“You could say it doesn’t matter since you know how to deal with it, but in other words, you don’t know how many other means they prepared other than that. Even if it’s just a chimera right now. We were breeding that many Chimeras underground in the capital.”
“But didn’t you block it?”
The one who answered that was the captain of the guards responsible for the defense of the capital.
“Of course. The guards did their part, and the Templars and wizards here fought to the best of their abilities. Given the scale of what happened, the damage is miraculously small. It should be written down.”
The moment when everyone was a little excited about those words.
Eileen poured cold water on her.
“But how can I be sure that the enemy’s means end here?”
“that….”
“Even the unusual gunpowder they used was something nobody in this room expected.”
It seems like they are talking about this result in a good way, but they change the mood at an important moment.
Eileen’s words were mysterious.
Considering the opposition of the other party, he did not bend his opinion while respecting their role and position.
At the same time, he did not simply press down with authority, but his words even contained his own rationality.
“You guys should think about it too. If you were the Liberation Army or black magicians who allied with them, would you say that everything was done just by using the Chimera?”
No one gave a straight answer to that.
It is not about kneeling before authority.
They too had similar thoughts.
However, the level of the enemy could not threaten them, so they just turned away.
Aileen shattered that illusion from the front.
“The enemies who think that the capital is endangered with only Chimera troops must be idiots who don’t even need to deal with each other. But to me, they don’t look like idiots.”
It’s not like pouring chimeras blindly, but just looking at them retreating to the underground again.
They have a plan.
And it was clear that he had another means to strike at the Empire.
“Just in time, there are the best forces of the Empire that can be used right away. From the guards in the capital to the 3rd generation knights of the police, high-ranking wizards, and even the Royal Guard.”
Then he glanced at Rudger and said.
“And the teachers of Seorn.”
Usually, on a list of this size, Seorn’s teachers, no matter how famous, are nothing compared to them.
However, Eileen acknowledged Ludger and Ludger also deserved to be treated well in that he came to save the lives of a large number of survivors.
Thanks to this, the 2nd grade teachers of Seorn, who had been occupying seats with slightly uneasy expressions, let out a sigh of relief.
“Is there anything the princess is thinking?”
At that time, Terrina, who had been listening quietly, asked a question.
“Chief Terrina Ryanhowl. What does that mean?”
“It is literally. Apparently, the princess seems to think that the enemy’s offensive is not over yet.”
Terrina’s sudden response to the princess’s words seemed disrespectful at first glance.
In fact, other people stared between the two with anxious eyes, but Ludger saw it differently.
‘It’s a great support while pretending not to be.’
Terrina had deliberately stepped forward and asked a negative question instead of Eileen in order to reinforce Eileen’s opinion.
It wasn’t an action agreed upon in advance, but it was clear that they had been conversing in this way often before, seeing as the agreement went well.
As Ludger guessed, Eileen opened her mouth with her eyes shining in satisfaction.
“That’s a good question. What do you think the gyeongs can do to those who are in this position to the extent of chimera? Do you think you, who can be called the pride of the empire, will fall to the chimera?”
At that, everyone shook their heads.
The Chimera were clearly intimidating and outnumbered, but they were not even close to their strength in this position.
“Nevertheless, they sacrificed their power and even deployed Chimera. What do you think its intention was?”
“There is a means to wipe out this place in one fell swoop.”
At those words, the answer came from the place where the mentors gathered.
People’s eyes naturally turned to one place.
Casey Selmore came forward, her hair like the blue waves of the ocean.
Eileen’s eyes were filled with interest.
“You are Casey Selmore. Did you say she was the second daughter of the Selmore family?”
“And a great detective.”
A smile formed on Eileen’s lips as if she was having fun at that challenging tone.
It was because it was rare to see someone so confident in front of him.
Casey also stared at Eileen with an unwavering gaze.
For a moment, those eyes passed Ludger as if they were passing by, but it was so fleeting that no one recognized him.
“Yes, Detective Casey Selmore. Do you have anything in mind? Or I guessed.”
“The Chimera is all a gimmick. The raid using the remnants of the Liberation Army. Unless they are idiots, there’s no way they don’t know the power gathered here. You can’t even scratch it with a chimera.”
“then?”
“There is something more. A way to think that even against people like this, you can win enough. It’s not just speculation, it’s close to certainty.”
“Then they know we’re going to get together like this.”
“I rather wished for it. And they must be plotting something underground for that purpose.”
Casey’s words were without evidence and were severe, but in terms of heart, they were plausible.
Rudgar also sympathized with her words.
‘It’s as you say. The Liberation Army is plotting something underground. The special gunpowder and chimera are nothing more than a gimmick and a waste of time.’
I just need to know what exactly it is.
Even Rudger didn’t know the details yet.
Hans and Bellaluna, who were sent underground, must bring information to move forward.
‘Considering the skills of those two, the time has come soon.’
It was when Rudger was counting the time.
The door to the barracks opened and a blond-haired young man entered.
It was Pasius.
‘You’re here.’
Rudger had an intuition that what he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
All eyes turned to Pasius.
Some did not recognize him, but many more recognized Pasius.
After all, he was also a proud member of the Royal Guard and a master-level knight.
Casey, on the other hand, recognized him in a different way.
“Am I a little late?”
Fasius smiled like a fool while facing the countless stares flying at him.
He finally looked at the emperor and lightly bowed his head.
Anyone else would have to kneel, but the royal guard was allowed to express courtesy to the emperor in an informal way.
Eventually, Pasius handed Eileen the piece of paper he had brought.
“Princess.”
“Good work.”
Eileen read the paper Pasius handed over and immediately put it on the table in the middle of the barracks.
All eyes gathered on the table.
Naturally, the current situation was led by Princess Eileen.
Auvistas, the emperor, just watched the scene.
From there, the leaders could see that the emperor was supporting the first princess.
“They say they built a huge facility underground.”
“You mean the facility?”
Vice-captain Veronica asked.
“okay. To create such a chimera, a huge culture facility would be needed. There is nothing strange about making it.”
“But there is enough space in the basement….”
“there is. The empire has a long history. There are areas that have been abandoned underground for a long time by repairing and expanding waterways.”
1st Princess Eileen did not reveal detailed information about the space under the underground water canal.
There was no need to say anything until then.
“Maybe they built a facility there and have been preparing for a long time.”
“However, cultivating such a chimera requires not only facilities, but also an enormous amount of materials. The fact that such ingredients have been airlifted from the capital for a long time… ….”
When the guard captain tried to speak, Eileen held out her hand to block the words.
“I understand. Because the capital’s guards and police might look like they haven’t done anything. But, I assure you, you have not failed in your duty.”
“yes?”
“In the first place, they didn’t airlift the materials for cultivating the chimera from outside. No, you didn’t have to.”
“then….”
“They say there are materials in the underground facility that will be left over even after they use them.”
“What is that?”
Everyone listened to Eileen’s next answer.
Eileen told them the shocking truth she had discovered.
“It is the world tree.”
“You mean the world tree?”
“Yes. A dead world tree unknown to the world, buried deep underground.”
