Imperial VI-3

The Empress appears momentarily flustered from being suddenly shouted at.

Still, how on earth am I going to get out of this situation?

I shouted directly at the Empress, and there's no escaping execution now.

Then I have no choice but to flee. I immediately begin gathering magical energy throughout my body.

"Oh, this is—!"

Glancing sideways at the source of the voice, I see Ivan.

Ivan is glaring at me over the shoulder of a guard. A large, middle-aged guard is holding Ivan back with all his strength. What the hell is he doing? That person is...

Responding to Alek’s question, a broad-shouldered middle-aged guard steps forward.

"Young man, Alek. You can't live by justice alone. What exactly are you trying to protect?"

"The weak. If I uphold justice, I can help those without strength. That’s why I’m here."

"Why would a mere adventurer work for the powerless? That sounds just like a noble."

Alek's face twisted further—more like someone chewing on a bitter pill.

That's right, this guy...

"Regardless, you're still young. You can't fulfill your duties like this. While you're just biting down on the injustice before you, you won't be able to protect anything."

"And what exactly are you protecting, then?"

"Hey, Alek, stop. You're only making things worse for yourself."

"Ah, it seems the unremarkable young man over there has a clearer view of the situation."

I get it. This is provocation.

I know it's a provocation, yet I can't stop feeling irritated. Anger keeps rising, building up more and more.

Anger is such a tricky thing.

"That's enough."

It's not a loud voice, but it's impossible to ignore—it echoes through the room.

Alex, I apologize for dragging you along like this. But the Empire is doing its best—it simply doesn't have personnel available for investigation anymore. We have no choice but to rely on skilled adventurers like Taro.

The empress, who moments ago had been so regal, now seemed utterly changed—like a precious ornament had slipped from her grasp. She radiated the gentle, innocent aura of a girl her age, pleading earnestly.

That... that was somehow eerie.

Yet on the surface, it was a straightforward request. Alex couldn't strongly object.

Bowing slightly, he replied quietly.

"I apologize for my past misconduct. I will accept any punishment you deem fit. But only I am to blame. Please, I beg you—let the punishment fall on me alone."

"That's acceptable. But yes, Alex. Please accompany Taro. Taro may take anyone he wishes. Would you kindly agree to go with him?"

Ponders for a moment. The atmosphere has truly changed since just now—something feels off...

"I gladly accept this request. I will surely return with the information."

The Empress smiles, a captivating expression that instantly delights her.

Without further delay, we prepare to leave the room.

The nobles and the imperial guards stationed near the Empress do not follow after us. It seems there are no issues.

Yet things never go quite as smoothly as planned.

A young knight suddenly steps forward in front of us.

"Such insolence cannot be left unchecked. It concerns the dignity of the Empire. We should demonstrate our strength here and now."

He stands with the air of a pampered nobleman.

He clearly wants to take control of the situation.

Just when things seemed to be going smoothly, my suppressed anger flares up again at his selfish actions.

The young soldier pointed his sword, glittering with dazzling gems, toward us. His gaze then shifted to Lilka. At that instant, I had already activated my magic.

Just a simple wind spell.

Yet a gale so powerful it stole the breath from our lungs spread throughout the room. The shock shattered every windowpane, and the young soldier standing before us was slammed into the wall.

The wind died down, and the soldier pressed against the wall collapsed onto the floor. Upon closer inspection, the lightning had shielded the soldier's body.

The other soldiers heightened their alertness, staring at me.

Yet, they did nothing in particular. Nothing happened at that moment, and we left the fortress.

Time had traveled considerably back, as Taro's group was about to enter Alasoot. In a certain chamber of the kingdom, multiple voices could be heard engaged in conversation. All were individuals who would decide the nation's fate—high-ranking bureaucrats and nobles with deep roots in the kingdom.

"Indeed, the situation has reached a state of extreme confusion."

"There has been a mysterious increase in monsters along the Japanese border. A significant number have already moved into Japan, but a considerable amount have also flowed into our territory. We're doing our utmost just to eliminate them."

Another noble begins speaking.

"There is a powerful mining site along the border with the Empire. There are no strong monsters here. However, the issue lies in the fact that this is the border with the Empire."

Many people look down at the current words. It's truly troublesome, this relationship with the Empire...

It seems the Empress was planning to come inspect the area in person. Likely instigated by conservative nobles, this move can only be described as a foolish decision. Naturally, it deeply offends the sentiments of the kingdom loyalists and soldiers currently fighting there.

The soldier spoke with clenched fists, pouring his strength into his words.

"Fortunately, the noble known for his conservative views was the one who arrived at the minefield first. Though, one might say it was nothing short of misfortune for him. He was suddenly stabbed by a young boy. Though he received treatment, it seems it came too late."

The nobles looked at the speaker as if this were common knowledge.

"The Empire has demanded explanations and lodged formal protests. Now, we, the Kingdom, must decide how to respond."

He exhales through his nose as if his duty has been fulfilled.

Today's agenda was a meeting to decide how the Kingdom should respond to the Empire.

The meeting went on, but nothing was decided—only time passed.

No one could speak up about what action should be taken now...

"Given how many high-ranking officials have gathered, what are we supposed to decide? There are no choices left."

There stood a young, brilliant strategist, boldly declaring his stance. His name was James Bonaparte.

"We can't stop now. Ordinary, peaceful citizens are already grabbing knives and attacking people. We can no longer hold back the people. If we retreat here, we'll lose the people's trust."

Though these were extreme words, others began to agree.

They had already been pushed to the brink.

"Indeed... the kingdom is already at its limit. Unprecedented crop failures in recent years, a rising number of monsters, and the ever-increasing costs to deal with them—there's no end to it."

James spoke again, pressing his point.

"War is something no one desires. But does that mean we just sit back and die? Do we not struggle at all? There's no other choice, is there?"

"But, my general. Charging into battle blindly would only lead to a pointless death. Do we even have a chance?"

"It will be a difficult struggle, but a path exists. First, we ignore the Japanese side. Fortunately, the monsters seem to favor the Japanese side. Instead of aiming for victory over the Empire, we shift our goal to seizing mining rights. The Empire's military advantage has grown significantly in recent years. Fighting them head-on won't lead to victory."

"The Empire isn't stupid. They'll figure it out soon enough."

"They'll likely say not to fight head-on. Instead, use decoys—making it seem as though we're attacking directly. Fortunately, we also have new weapons. In a short, localized battle, that technological gap can be more than made up for."

The general's face was severely twisted.