Chapter 207 – A Lucky Day (3)

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

The Empire could collapse at any moment.

The Emperor had decided this during a momentary peace.

Even Antonium, the imperial capital, was like that.

With the majority of the Empire’s territory destroyed, there was no additional food procurement. Even if they somehow survived on the food stored in the Empire’s warehouses for the time being, what comes after that…?

“I see. If you say so, it must be true.”

Therefore, even after receiving the news from Chainwalker, the leader of the dwarves.

The Emperor didn’t waver.

It must have been because he had always been bracing himself.

“Hear me, ministers.”

The Emperor proclaimed before his vassals.

“The glorious Empire you knew has long crumbled. Through the war against the demons, and through a shameful civil war. Our Empire has been cornered to the brink of collapse.”

“…!”

To think the Emperor would say such things himself.

They had no face as his vassals.

To those bowing their heads, the Emperor continued.

“Even so, what is the reason the Empire hasn’t fallen until today? Whose virtue is it that the people of Antonium can enjoy a fleeting peace?”

If there had been a treacherous subject who loved flattery.

They probably would have shouted the Emperor’s name around this time.

But it was an Empire on the verge of collapsing.

There were no treacherous subjects left to flatter.

Someone replied.

“It is thanks to a ray of light in the endlessly deep darkness.”

At that answer, the Emperor nodded.

“Indeed. It is thanks to the adventurer, Sir Lee Hoyeol.”

He was the one who had forced the rebel coalition including the Sword Saint, Shegwin, to retreat from Antonium in the world of adventurers.

The Emperor’s voice grew even more resolute.

“He didn’t save the Emperor, to be exact, me, or the Empire’s capital, Antonium, because he viewed us as special. Shamefully, he also saved the outskirts territory, Dredsen, whose very name I didn’t even know. That’s right. The adventurer accomplished what even I, the Emperor, could not.”

Hoyeol’s heroic tale spread via the survivors of Dredsen village.

The Emperor had realized from that series of experiences.

“He didn’t back down from any ordeal. He didn’t yield. He didn’t rationalize. He didn’t compromise. He stuck to his pride until the very end.”

I am the Emperor.

Because I am the center of the Empire, I must never falter.

Unlike himself, who had been avoiding things using his position as Emperor as an excuse.

But now that he had realized it.

The Emperor no longer planned on backing away.

Clop, clop

The Emperor stood before his cavalry wearing his armor and even his helmet.

The assembled troops numbered roughly five thousand (5,000).

They were selected mostly from amongst the bravest soldiers of Antonium.

The Emperor spoke without any filter.

“Today, we will charge towards a deathbed.”

Right, literally a land of death.

The elves who unhesitatingly reveal their killing intent to anyone who stands in their way.

Urus of the Iron Arm, a fanatic who once brought terror to the Arcana continent in the past.

And have they begun their activities again?

A demon emitting a demonic aura that was above that of a Demon King.

Barely 5,000 Imperial soldiers in such a battlefield?

To borrow the dwarves’ words…

They really might get wiped out by a single arrow from the elves.

Despite this, the Emperor couldn’t retreat.

“Because my people are there.”

Because he had pledged.

That he wouldn’t ignore it anymore.

Their destination was a small city near the Zero Mountain Range, Polestar.

The number of currently surviving citizens was roughly a little over three thousand.

Three thousand, it was definitely not a small number.

Even so, someone might say it.

That sometimes the minority has to be sacrificed for the sake of the majority.

That there’s no need for the Emperor to trouble himself over just one small city.

He would not curse those people.

Because there were times when even he used to think that way.

But that was the realm of calculation.

“In my dictionary, weighing things against each other doesn’t exist.”

That meant it wasn’t pride.

“Are you afraid?”

Asked the Emperor.

“No, Your Majesty!”

A morale-filled answer followed.

The ones who had survived as soldiers in Antonium would have definitely leaped across countless life-and-death crises.

Furthermore, with the Emperor personally leading at the frontlines. The momentum of the soldiers marching toward the jaws of death seemed rather capable of piercing the sky.

Clop, clop

March forward.

The Emperor leaving Antonium.

The Empire’s highest-ranking mage, Nash William, hardened his resolve.

“Your Majesty, I too will join the expedition.”

Unlike his elder brother, he himself was someone who couldn’t even enter the Mage Tower.

Even if he joined them, it probably wouldn’t be of very big help.

Even so, he wanted to be of help.

To such a Nash, the Emperor replied.

“I forbid it.”

“…Pardon?”

“Nash, you are the shield that protects Antonium.”

“…!”

“I have no intention of using a shield like you simply to protect myself.”

It was a touching statement, but Nash was Nash.

Brother, do I really possess the trust of His Majesty?

Could it be that my abilities are lacking so he isn’t making use of me?

In the end, while remaining half-in-doubt, he answered.

“…Nash William shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

*

The view reflected in the telescope.

It was exactly as the news The End delivered.

Really, the Imperial Army directly led by the Emperor was heading toward the mess.

So take responsibility for this, Grandfell.

It was all because they were tainted by you!

‘It’s not like an infectious disease, seriously, what is this.’

That’s right.

Once again, pride was the problem.

To be frank, it indeed was a course of action overflowing with pride.

Worrying that his citizens might be in danger.

An Emperor leading his troops personally.

It was a bit touching.

“Have you finally realized it as well.”

…No matter what.

Don’t speak down to the Emperor of the Empire as if he were your subordinate, Grandfell.

Moreover, this isn’t something to just be pleased about!

Why? As I said before, right?

An absolute disadvantage.

Including the Mage Tower, called the strongest armed group on the Arcana continent.

Even the allied forces on our side composed of all sorts of strongmen were at a disadvantage.

Would the Empire be any different.

Even the Lion Heart Knights, practically the Emperor’s sword.

We were in a state where we’ve fallen into this reality.

‘I hate to say this, but.’

The Empire was basically a tiger missing its fangs.

If, by chance, they offend anyone’s feelings over there, including the Emperor.

It wouldn’t be strange for everyone to be annihilated.

In this despairing situation, you sure flapped your mouth well, Grandfell.

‘There’s nothing to worry about since I’m here!’

First, I contemplated my best move.

As I mentioned before, I had no way to enter the Arcana continent. If only I had saved the effect of the [Map that Communicates with All Things]. I had lost its effect a long time ago.

‘With my current enchanting level, recovering it is also impossible.’

If so.

Unlike me, The End who could freely travel between reality and the Arcana continent.

And through Hiel were the only two methods, but.

‘That too has its limits.’

The {Unique Spirit}, Hiel.

The Spirit of Darkness, The End.

Even if they were on the stronger side among spirits.

I didn’t expect them to play an active role within that mess.

Of course, Hiel and The End.

In many ways.

Have showed appearances beyond my imagination, so.

‘Let’s say they’ve succeeded up to protecting the Imperial Army.’

However.

The Emperor and the Imperial army.

And saving the citizens of Polestar, this huge incident doesn’t end just by doing so, right? What I wanted was, before that mess came over to reality through a rift.

To finish things up no matter how it took.

“The End. I shall follow my Lord’s command.”

For now, making The End join the Imperial army was a choice that wouldn’t change.

So what’s left is the Great Evil, the elves, and the transcendent…

The one fortunate thing is I found out the transcendent’s identity, I guess.

“So you were the rumored Urus.”

『Urus of the Iron Arm』.

A figure from a book who was known to have consumed dozens of elixirs just from what was documented.

To think that man with bushy hair was Urus.

He became a transcendent thanks to his innate constitution allowing him to consume elixirs without significant side effects, and truly became existence transcending humanity, living through the long passing of time.

‘Such a reaction makes sense too.’

Having lived a long time, he must have seen everything there was to see, both good and bad.

Whether I made my presence known at the social gathering, caused a fuss, or whatever.

He just wasn’t very interested.

‘That Urus moved…’

I don’t know the reason, but I just hope they don’t get into an argument with each other.

Anyways, they lack awareness.

I’m telling you, every single one of you guys are big shots! If even a small brawl breaks out, it’s instantly a major incident. A [Battlefield] rift could open up, and an emergency update could be announced.

However, contrary to my desperate inner thoughts.

Completely different words popped out of my mouth.

“That might rather be better.”

…Hey, Mr. Grandfell.

You’re just spewing nonsense since there’s no one to hear you?

But would an exalted pride care about what I think?

“No, that would be right. It must be the correct course of events that they, not me, seek me out.”

…He’s really lost his mind!

Anyway, our great family successor’s nose was so high.

Whether it was the Great Evil, elves, or Urus, he never felt intimidated.

Truly an attitude of constancy.

But.

“…!”

Thanks to it?

His cool-headed mind which stayed the same as always even in urgent situations.

Thanks to that, I could remember it.

Yes, the natural enemy relationship between demons and me.

‘Another natural enemy relationship’ that surpassed that…!

[Hierarchy of Blessings].

Two completely different worlds.

I was bound to reality, not the Arcana continent.

Similarly, I could bring up the [Hierarchy of Blessings] to Elsidor in reality. But I couldn’t expect the effect of the hierarchy to work on the elves in the Arcana continent.

However, you see.

[The Blessing of the First World Tree].

I wasn’t the only one who received it.

That’s right.

Because there was an entity whose ‘status’ even elevated by receiving the World Tree’s blessing.

I did not delay.

Immediately, I called out his name.

“Hiel.”

*

The Primordial Mountain Range.

To think even the Zero Mountain Range would disappear from the Arcana continent.

Asgentress ground her lips and bit them.

“I didn’t want to see such a sight.”

Asgentress looked back at her kin.

The unfortunate ones who lost their Mother’s blessing.

They were no longer simply living day by day.

Everyone was nearing their death day by day.

An elf came up and talked to Asgentress.

“I am sorry, Lord. We lost it.”

The malicious gaze she felt from the sky

That pathetic chunk of scrap metal must have belonged to the dwarven bastards.

She had ordered to pierce that stumpy little body with arrows, but.

To think they would miss with the arrows at such a distance.

‘It’s something that wouldn’t have been possible without divine luck.’

However, Asgentress said.

“It is not your fault.”

Yes, the responsibility for everything was Mother’s.

Oh foolish World Tree who stripped the blessing from us.

It must be upon you.

Step

“Well, how goes your contemplation?”

Asgentress looked at the entity approaching her.

It’s outward appearance was unquestionably human.

However, the reason she referred to it as an ‘entity’ was simple.

A terrible stench flowing out whenever it breathed out.

Since that wasn’t of a human’s.

“Why are you glaring at me so fiercely? What you guys want is simple! Eternal life! I neatly laid the dining table out over there. All you need to do is be honest to your surging ‘gluttony’.”

From Sisley to stepping on the Arcana continent, Asgentress and her elves had run into countless demons.

But the demon right in front of their eyes was somewhat different from them.

Neither human nor demon.

A third party.

Looking at it from the perspective of an elf.

‘It’s different.’

Asgentress reminisced the demons she brutally murdered on the continent.

Demons were foolish and vulgar without exception.

Beings that were more unlearned than humans were precisely demons.

Why so?

─”P-Please spare my life…!!”

Humans would beg them for their lives, but.

─”Elves? Quite passable bodies you have.”

The demons would eagerly charge at them instead without knowing their place.

In that regard, the demon in front of her was different.

First and foremost, it knew how to use its brain.

─”I’m telling you, not all demons are the same. I’m telling you I’m a demon of a slightly different grain, no? I understand your feelings better than anyone else.”

─”?”

─”Because I’ve lived through eternity as well. I’m a somewhat complex being.”

The Seven Deadly Sins.

The demon introduced itself as such.

Then it bantered smoothly.

─”Which of the Seven Musketeers I am, well, you wouldn’t care anyway. Let’s skip the introductions. I only have one proposal. I only wish to present you a single option.”

And then it was right now.

“It’s simple, isn’t it? If you fall into corruption, you can regain eternal life.”

Asgentress couldn’t ignore that story.

She herself, as an elf, was a being of eternity.

Because of this, she could feel that her opponent was truly a being that lived through eternity as well.

Rumble!

Asgentress looked up at the sky where a thunderstorm was raging.

As if you’re reproaching me, oh, foolish Mother.

She muttered softly.

“But the wrong choice…”

Asgentress’s eyes flashed.

“Weren’t you the one to make it first?”

She looked down at her body, slowly losing its vitality.

Ever since she heard the offer from the Seven Deadly Sins.

The decision she made had never wavered for even a single moment.

To eat.

“Good. I hope the meal I’ve prepared is to everyone’s liking.”

Saying so, the Seven Deadly Sins pointed somewhere.

“The name on the menu is ‘Polestar’. Please enjoy.”

Step, step

Asgentress and the elves didn’t rush.

It was just a trivial human town.

Even if they noticed something odd and attempted to escape now, it would only be a futile effort.

The Seven Deadly Sins continued.

“By the way, it seems an unexpected appetizer has arrived as well… It should be fine, right? Well, for our guests, something of that level would barely be enough for a single bite anyway.”

Clop, clop

The sound of horse hooves.

Asgentress opened her mouth.

“Gluttony is a sin. Throw away what is overflowing.”

Corruption?

Do not be mistaken.

We are merely using the power of a demon.

At those words, the face of the Seven Deadly Sins distorted, but it was only for a moment.

“I will make up for my previous mistake.”

Screech!

An elf drawing its bowstring right away.

Indeed, there was a reason they referred to thousands of soldiers as a single bite.

What wavered from the arrowhead was uncontrollable magic power.

However.

“…?”

The drawn bowstring was never released.

Between the elves and the Imperial army of Polestar.

Something very small that revealed its appearance.

It was exceptionally elegant.

‘A Spirit King… No, even beyond that.’

To the extent that even Asgentress mistakenly thought so.

A spirit boasting a graceful appearance.

That spirit soon opened its mouth.

“I, Hiel, command in accordance with my Lord’s order.”

With a voice as cold as ‘someone’.

“In accordance with the Hierarchy of Blessings.”

“…?”

“Halt.”

“…!!!”

Then, Asgentress and the hundred (100) elves stopped.