Chapter 264: What if you were the emperor? (4)

“We’ll see each other in a week.”

Wisha said firmly as she bid farewell to Cale.

Cale had shared all the information he had obtained on the Third basement floor with the group without reservation.

“Please prepare yourselves.”

Cale ordered.

They responded in unison.

“Yes.”

The leaders, including Wisha and the Elf Guardian, were filled with determination. Cale looked around and made eye contact with Lock, who was standing at the end of the group. Next to Lock were the Wolf Tribe Chief and Hunter Koukan.

The words of his companions on the First and Second basement floors echoed in Cale’s mind.

“They conducted inhumane experiments on the Beast People.”

“Not only on the Beast People, but also on humans!”

“There was a prayer place where they worshiped a Dragon as a god.”

“On the Second basement floor, there was a prison. We found Beast People still alive, but their condition was grave.”

"They were divided by age and gender: children, young people, adults, and elders."

Cale remembered Lock's shaky voice as he told what he had seen. After sharing the story of the Dragon Letao, Cale asked him.

“Do you want to go to the capital?”

Lock shook his head and replied.

“I want to stay here.”

And he added.

“I also want to participate in the final execution in a week.”

There was no reason for Cale to reject his wish. On this trip to the capital, only Cale and the average Ten-year-old children would accompany him. Looking at Choi Han, Cale said.

“I’ve contacted Sheritt-nim, so everyone will gather here in a week.”

“Yes.”

Choi Han replied.

The plan was to gather all the Beast People members on Cale’s side, including Witira and Archie, who were not present.

It was better for Cale’s Beast People members, who understood their own people better and could enter Berserk State, to take charge of rescuing the captive Beast People.

“Furthermore, the Beast People can fight outside the range of my Dominating Aura.”

In Aipotu, free beings who were not affected by the oppressive situation of the world. There was no one more suitable than them to subvert Ryan’s Castle, which seemed like a huge village.

“I’ll be waiting for them.”

After the brief exchange, Cale gestured to Raon.

“Understood, human!”

A slight buzz resonated, and the teleportation circle glowed with a dark tone.

Paf!

With a flash of light, Cale and the children disappeared.

“We’ll see each other at the meeting, shortly.”

Choi Han said before leaving with Lock and the rest of the group.

Wisha and the other leaders remained in their positions, their expressions growing more serious over time.

The Elf Guardian spoke.

“Wisha, It’s time to awaken those who sleep.”

‘Those who sleep.’

They referred to the Beast People who had not yet been hunted by the Church and who had existed since before the Catastrophe Era. Although they were not as strong as the White Snake, they were all powerful warriors capable of entering Berserk State. Although their number was small, each one was able to survive even against the Dragon Half-Blood Knights.

Aipotu. In this world, only those who survived could be considered strong.

Wisha nodded silently, her eyes focused on the cave ceiling. Compared to the ancient temple laboratory she had seen deep within Ryan Castle, this lair was definitely miserable, dirty, and falling apart.

“Sigh...”

A sigh escaped her lips.

Despite her weakened state from the loss of vitality in trying to contact the Source of the World, her eyes shone brighter than ever.

“Yes,” she said firmly.

“In these difficult times, we must awaken those who still sleep.”

She turned to the Elf Guardian.

“Do we have messengers available?”

Upon the elf’s affirmative response, the White Snake dictated the content of the message that would be transmitted throughout the territory.

“Everyone, gather before me.”

And she added.

“If anyone refuses, I will kill them.”

The elf, intimidated by the White Snake’s fierce attitude, nodded without objection.

Meanwhile, Lock, who had been following Choi Han, lifted his head. Behind Choi Han stood Chief Nia and Hunter Koukan, with their shoulders stiff and hunched.

Gashan and Tasha were exploring the forest with the base agents, preparing for what would come in a week, even postponing their farewell to Cale.

“Haha, haha.”

Gashan, the Shaman of the Tiger Tribe, laughed joyfully. Lock clearly recalled the anger in his eyes.

He also remembered the words of the others.

"...How is this possible?"

“Even if they don’t consider the Beast People as people, to do such a thing...!”

Chief Nia and Koukan looked dejected.

After they regained their composure, they spoke with another concern.

“They say the Divine Artifact is contaminated. It was the only Divine Artifact left by Blue Wolf-nim. We must abandon hope of entering Berserk State.”

“...More than the Divine Artifact, what’s important is saving as many as we can.”

“You’re right, chief.”

Upon hearing the news of the Divine Artifact, those who had harbored hope of entering Berserk State lost it. Anger and despair enveloped them, along with the desire to save their comrades.

Lock looked at them, feeling downcast, and thought, 'Isn't there another way?'

Cale and the others, noticing the concern of the Beast People, said they would seek a way to purify the Divine Artifact.

However, Lock had the feeling that it was not the only path.

“I too...”

I too entered Berserk State.

There was a time when he was so overcome by fear that he couldn't enter Berserk State properly.

The Gorge of Death.

There, Lock temporarily couldn’t enter Berserk State.

However, in the end, he succeeded.

In a more powerful form.

‘Even I, being so cowardly and timid, could enter Berserk State. Then, they should be able to do it too.’

Lock remembered the moment he could enter Berserk State again.

It wasn’t a moment when he pleaded to a god or someone.

It was a moment when all he wanted was to protect Cale and Raon.

Of course, the situation of the Beast People here was different from his, and the world, the way of life, everything was different.

‘But surely there’s a way.’

The idea that only through a god could a true Berserk State be achieved...

‘That god... isn’t it an evil god?’

It might be irreverent thinking, but if he truly cared about the Beast People, it shouldn’t be limited to that one method.

‘It seems Blue Wolf isn’t an evil god.’

Lock had heard some stories about the Blue Wolf God.

While Cale and his group were busy, Lock had conversed a lot with the Wolf Tribe and naturally ended up being the one who knew the most about the Blue Wolf among Cale’s group.

“Blue Wolf-nim regretted that the Beast People suffered pain and lost reason during Berserk State.”

“They say he was originally the first Wolf King of this land.”

“They say there was a time when the Beast People were rejected by both humans and animals. At that time, it is said that the Blue Wolf stood up to protect them.”

“The Blue Wolf made it possible for even non-believers to handle Berserk State well.”

Lock took a moment to gather his thoughts.

“Let's just focus on the next week for now.”

Ryan Castle.

The last execution that would take place there. He had decided to focus on stopping that event.

Lock’s steps became heavier from behind.

But his shoulders and body didn't shrink. Instead, those of the Wolf Tribe, which had once shrunk, had now grown large enough to hide Choi Han.

***

The Emperor of the Holy Empire, Alt, approached the meeting place and opened his mouth.

“What do you think the intentions of the King of Har are?”

The servant who was beside him like a shadow spoke.

“I’m not sure of his exact intention, but it seems he has come with quite unfavorable intentions.”

“Heh, I suppose so.”

Alt let out a laugh. But the emotions contained in it were not good.

“He suddenly comes directly to the capital?”

Har Kingdom.

Alt had called it a fallen country and had not hesitated to belittle it. But in reality, he didn’t see Har Kingdom as something easy.

‘If it really were a fallen country, we wouldn’t have worried about it.’

Har Kingdom could collapse at any moment, but it could also rise at any moment.

Originally, it was an Empire, and despite the pressure from the Dragons and the church, they had survived.

‘They didn’t even try to bring the White Snake.’

Har Kingdom still retained a lot of hidden power.

“Even visible power like the Grand Duchy Snow no longer exists; we shouldn’t underestimate it.”

Alt stopped.

“... Your Majesty?”

Without looking at the confused servant, he looked straight ahead.

“You said there was no contact between the King and the Church after entering the capital, correct?”

“Yes. There was none at all.”

The visit of the King of Har to the Empire was carried out in great secrecy.

It was at Har’s desire.

‘Of course, it was.’

Despite everything, he was a king of a country. If it were known that such a king had been summoned by the emperor and had come directly to the imperial capital, the dignity of the Har Kingdom would be considerably affected.

That’s why they wanted it to be a secret, and the empire had accepted it, but...

‘It’s not a total secret.’

Eventually, it would be known.

Since the Empire was the center of this continent and the core of the Church, and because all eyes were on it, the Empire had subtly hinted at the visit of the King of Har and his advisors.

As a result, after this meeting ends, regardless of the outcome, the dignity of the Har Kingdom will fall even further.

Alt expected this, but...

‘There was no contact with the Church.’

Intentionally, they weakened the defenses of the envoys from the Har Kingdom.

‘I really thought the Church was behind the Har Kingdom's recent actions.’

To be precise, not the church, but the Pope and the Bishops.

He thought there would be Dragon Half-Bloods.

‘But there was no contact.’

Was she considering the situation of the Empire?

‘No. The Pope is not someone who considers me.’

Rather, she should ignore me, who is not a Dragon Half-Blood.

Damn those who carry the blood of the Dragon.

“Are they waiting?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In the conference room, King Dennis of the Har Kingdom and his advisors were already waiting for the Emperor.

This was because Alt had deliberately delayed his arrival to pressure them.

“Have they received the information that was sent to them?”

“Yes.”

They had verified the identity of everyone entering the imperial palace.

In particular, only the King, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bailey, and two advisors were in the conference room at the end of the hallway.

The guards protecting the King were waiting in the hallway connected to another door of the conference room, not in this hallway.

“Hmm.”

Alt was heading to the conference room accompanied only by one of his confidants.

Not bringing the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the Prime Minister with him was also an act of disdain towards the Har Kingdom, but it was natural for him not to have even a single knight.

Emperor Alt.

He himself was a great Sword Master.

And he was considered the best swordsman among the humans of the continent.

“Open the door.”

Alt, who resumed his march, reached the door. At his command, his confidant slowly opened the door.

Creeaak-

The interior scenery of the room became visible.

A conference room not so luxurious as to meet the king of a country.

However, the man sitting at the central table in a place where formality was observed stood up from his seat.

King Dennis.

The young king had grown quite a bit.

It was the first time he had seen him in a long time.

Upon entering, Alt did not pay attention to those greeting behind King Dennis.

‘What is he thinking?’

Emperor Alt, who pushed aside the faction of the Pope and then gradually expanded his power to even push the Dragons.

Emperor Alt, who wanted to be at the top of the continent’s center.

This time, he used the Har Kingdom, where two Eradication Teams had disappeared, as a target to pressure the Pope.

Creeak-kkung.

The door closed.

“I present myself before Your Imperial Majesty.”

“It has been a long time.”

King Dennis and Emperor Alt.

The two exchanged a brief greeting without even sitting down.

They didn’t bother to show great courtesy.

After all, when Dennis first ascended the throne, the Emperor told him to abandon such formalities.

Alt hated complicated things so much.

“So-”

That’s why he now also acted according to his character.

“What happened to the Eradication Teams?”

He got straight to the point without even sitting down. Sword Master Alt wore a sword at his waist.

Dennis calmly opened his mouth.

“We also do not know the whereabouts of the Eradication Teams.”

“Don’t tell me that.”

Alt shook his head.

“Let’s not complicate things.”

He stared at Dennis.

The Emperor, who specialized in strength rather than diplomacy. His size was large enough to overshadow Dennis, and his face, reflecting his character, was intimidating even when still.

“What happened to the Eradication Teams?”

He repeated the same question once again.

And he added.

“I don’t ask questions three times.”

A brief silence fell over the room.

‘Hmm?’

And Alt’s eyebrows arched slightly.

Dennis was still calm.

“We also do not know the whereabouts of the Eradication Teams.”

“Heh.”

Alt let out a brief laugh.

‘He’s not easy.’

Indeed, Dennis, who had grown up retaining the gaze he had as a child, was firm of character.

‘I thought maybe he had changed a bit by coming directly to the capital, but...’

‘He’s still the same.’

That being said, there’s no way he’ll back down.

Alt was the one who took control of the Imperial Family, a puppet of the Church that had grown into an Empire during the Catastrophe Era.

“I clearly said I don’t ask the same question three times.”

His voice was also calm. However, the atmosphere grew increasingly grim. He had no reason to make this place pleasant.

‘There’s no tiger that lets go of a weak deer that has entered its cave.’

Alt flashed a threatening smile.

‘Hmm?’

However, Dennis remained unfazed.

“I also don’t want to give the same answer three times.”

At the moment Dennis’s words made Alt’s eyes twitch...

“I already clearly told you we don’t know either.”

...What?

Alt felt a strange sense of incongruity in those words.

At that moment, King Dennis spoke calmly.

“That’s why I’ve brought someone who does know.”

What?

Alt’s gaze shifted. Dennis pointed to someone behind him.

A handsome man with brown hair stood there.

- Human, I will release the magic!

And Alt’s eyes widened.

‘Mana!’

Suddenly, mana stirred in the space. As soon as he realized it, Alt’s pupils shook at the sight before him.

“!”

The brown hair turned red.

Red hair.

A dark red, reminiscent more of wine or blood than of gloss.

He had seen that color before.

Har Kingdom’s Sword.

“...Snow-”

The moment he realized it, Alt drew his sword immediately.

The presence of mana, the red hair.

There was no reason for him not to draw his sword.

Clang!

At that moment, the man with red hair, Cale, opened his mouth.

“Well. Isn’t it a bit rude to draw a sword as a greeting?”

Uuuu!

The air vibrated.

The aura emanating from that man filling the conference room. The moment Alt felt that chilling aura, though not strong or subtle...

Clang!

Someone else drew their sword.

Only then could Emperor Alt see another person.

A man with white hair. He pointed his sword at him with a gentle and noble smile.

‘Ah.’

He realized it the moment he saw the faintly emanating white Aura.

Although the Aura had not yet adhered to the sword.

‘That guy is also a Sword Master.’

A Sword Master like me.

As Alt’s expression hardened, the man with white hair, Clopeh Sekka, opened his mouth.

“Put away your sword.”

Put away the sword pointing at Cale.

Clopeh Sekka spoke the words that obviously needed to be said, intensifying his beautiful smile.

- Human, Clopeh Sekka really smiles in a strange way.

I know...

Cale, who truly pitied him, struggled not to look at Clopeh Sekka.

Because he felt strangely uncomfortable when their eyes met.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Rai_Mayank]