My Strange Savior - Chapter 104

Chapter 104

“Perhaps the awe-inspiring actions were for the empire, but are you aware that it could be greatly misunderstood by other nobles?”

“Yes. I am aware.”

“And that there should be consequences for it?”

“Yes.”

Kalion’s voice, without a hint of hesitation, was firm.

“Do you know what decision to make and what to say?”

Even in response to the emperor’s words, Kalion had no different answer. As if calmly accepting everything, his resolute gaze was the only thing that shone.

Within that gaze was a warning not to interfere with anyone else besides him. In the face of Kalion’s firm attitude, the emperor stroked his beard.

“What punishment should I give to someone who violated orders and acted arbitrarily? It’s not that I don’t know the sincerity of acting for the empire, but… I can’t just let it go either. Haha. My position has become difficult.”

At the emperor’s bone-chilling words, Oscar’s eyes quickly rolled.

“Tell me, Count Shannon, what punishment should I mete out to Lord Bowers for riding up to the Hagria Mountains to capture a rogue from another world.”

What kind of scheme is this? To fathom the emperor’s mind, more difficult than navigating a maze, Oscar’s thoughts deepened.

“Your Majesty, Lord Bowers’ actions, moving the knights without Your Majesty’s permission, I also think it was an improper action. However, it was to protect the empire ruled by Your Majesty… I believe Your Majesty knows his sincerity and loyalty to the empire better than anyone else.”

“Well… your words also make sense.”

The emperor lightly nodded, acknowledging. Whether that would bring good results to the group was uncertain, but Oscar closely observed the emperor’s reaction.

“Then we’ll do it this way: we’ll give the knight commander, Lord Bowers, two months’ probation, with the discipline of relieving him of his duties as a commander, for the time being, of course. What do you say?”

The emperor, who had already made a decision, casually sought opinions. Oscar encouraged the emperor, noting that the punishment was lighter than expected and a reasonable choice.

“Your Majesty, it is a wise judgment.”

“I am not unaware of his merits, but for the sake of my dignity, let’s conclude Lord Bowers’ punishment at this point.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Oscar and Kalion bowed their heads. The emperor’s decision was swift, knowing that a harsher punishment could lead to a severe backlash against Kalion, who was cheered by the people.

“Now, only Count Shannon’s decision remains. No, I should say it’s about your grandson, Gregory.”

“Your Majesty, I will accept any punishment. The crime of violating orders and hiding my grandson, an alchemist. I am well aware that it is a serious offense with no room for excuses.”

As Oscar bowed first, the emperor narrowed his eyes. He already knew well who had spread numerous rumors on the way here. It was a matter with an obvious answer about what decision to make to receive praise for his reputation and wisdom.

Moreover, it was a moment when the emperor needed the dragon’s heart and Gregory’s abilities. The emperor’s eyes, calculating profit, moved busily.

“It’s said that Morrison must be captured using the dragon’s corpse?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“There is one thing that needs to be spat out.”

As the emperor, who had already made up his mind, looked around, the two people in front of him silently lowered their heads.

“I can’t order you to practice alchemy in front of me when it’s forbidden.”

The emperor’s cold gaze imitating a stern ruler was fixed on the foreheads of the two people.

Tap, tap. 

The emperor, who had been tapping the armrest of the sofa, broke the long silence and spoke up.

“I am not a person who is easily stifled by burdens. What does the emperor’s dignity matter so much when it comes to protecting the empire from malicious individuals? Don’t you think so?”

“Your words are justified, Your Majesty.”

“If it is said that you did not trust me, it’s quite… It hurts, doesn’t it?”

“It’s not like that…”

Oscar worried about what punishment might befall his grandson, enough to make him sweat profusely on his back. Suppressing his anxious feelings, he discreetly wiped away the sweat flowing down his chin.

“Hmm… I’ll temporarily allow alchemy for Shannon, the sorcery we called magic. Until we catch that person.”

“A reasonable decision, Your Majesty.”

“After creating weapons from the dragon’s corpse, pledge to no longer practice alchemy.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After receiving what he wanted in his hands, Oscar added words that did not guarantee that the emperor would not change his mind. The emperor, needing the dragon’s heart and alchemy immediately, was ready to promise anything.

What happened afterward was unrelated to him. There were tens of thousands of ways to kill the useless Gregory.

Raising his hand to the two people who were bowing with a grateful expression, the emperor spoke.

“The method may have been wrong, but both of you did it for the empire. You must have suffered.”

“You give us too much credit.”

“A punishment is a punishment. The reward must also be given without fail.”

“This is more than enough, Your Majesty.”

“Will this turn Shannon into a less pitiful person?”

In response to the emperor’s stern tone, Oscar bowed even deeper.

“After the hunting, I was thinking of holding a banquet for the two of you.”

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

“As you command.”

The air in the room, with each observing the other, was cold and tense.

“Don’t be too disappointed about the decision I had to make as an emperor. Do you think I enjoy doing this just because I like it?”

Without missing a beat, Oscar responded to the audacious emperor.

“Not at all. On the contrary, I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s generosity and grace, much like the benevolence of the sea.”

“Alchemy will take place within the imperial palace. It’s better to make it clear that the authority over the dragon’s corpse is also under the imperial jurisdiction.”

“Yes.”

Perhaps pleased with Oscar’s polite attitude, the emperor shifted his gaze to the more rigid Kalion.

“Oh, by the way.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“There was a discussion about a foreigner in one of the letters.”

The talk about the foreigner was not only in the letter Oscar sent to the emperor. Rumors had spread rapidly to the point where there was hardly an imperial subject unaware of Gia. 

Oscar had already spread the news that Gia, who had come with someone named Morrison, was helping the empire.

“Is she really on our side?”

“Yes.”

“How can you be sure? I might need to meet her personally and have a conversation. Count Shannon may not be the type to write nonsense in a letter, but I have to protect this empire.”

“You are justified.”

It was already part of Oscar’s scenario that Gia would meet the emperor. Nothing was surprising about it. However, Kalion was worried that Gia might provoke the emperor’s anger by touching his feelings.

“After such a long journey, why don’t you step back for now?”

Oscar and Kalion respectfully greeted the emperor, who pointed his hand.

“We can only express our gratitude for the emperor’s lenient decision. We are humbled.”

“We are humbled.”

Even with Oscar’s praise, the emperor’s expression remained doll-like. The two who had finished the meeting with the emperor, who showed no gaps, left the audience chamber.

Alone, the emperor tapped the armrest with his fingers. The fingers that had been tapping steadily came to a halt.

“I don’t like it.”

There weren’t many choices available. Ideally, he wanted to lock up the two strangers who seemed clueless about the situation in the underground prison immediately. The fact that they came knowing he couldn’t do anything about it already infuriated the emperor even more.

However, due to the attention of everyone, he had no choice but to make such a judgment.

Moreover, he needed to find out how far they were exploiting his weaknesses. It wasn’t him holding the cards; it was the other side.

“Hmm.”

A faint sigh escaped from him. The emperor, who had been tapping the armrest again, suddenly stood up from his seat.

“I need a change of mood.”

As the bell rang, the chief attendant waiting outside entered.

“You called, Your Majesty.”

“Yes. I’m not in a good mood. I need to go and see Aira.”

“I will inform the guards.”

The experienced chief attendant, understanding the emperor’s intention, silently left the audience chamber.

In the silence, the emperor’s fierce eyes shone brightly. If he endured the dirty feeling at this moment, the eternal life he desired would eventually be within his grasp.

The emperor’s lips curled up with a sinister smile.

* * *

Inside the carriage that passed through the main gate of Bowers, Gia sat with a face full of tension. 

Gia, who had never experienced tension except when killing people or going to eliminate zombies, felt queasy. The thought of facing Kalion’s family made her fingertips go numb, and she felt a dryness in her mouth.

The desire to make a good impression on Kalion’s family made Gia uncomfortable. As someone who had never made a special effort to impress anyone since the zombie incident, Gia was struggling with this unfamiliar sensation.

‘What could Kalion’s family be like…’

Although she had never specifically asked, Gia was confident that Kalion’s family would be as good people as Kalion. The uncertainty of whether such people would like her or not caused Gia’s face, already lacking self-confidence, to become even more awkward.

The image of a typical mother-in-law who frequently appeared in morning dramas came to mind. A sophisticated and refined lady extending a money envelope with an expression that showed she didn’t like it was vividly painted in Gia’s mind.

‘I want you to stay away from my son.’

An elegant and noble lady offers an envelope.

“No! I can’t part with him.”

When Gia, like the female lead in a morning drama, expressed her refusal, the face of the woman sitting across from her turned red.

‘How dare this lowly woman!’

Splash.

As always, the outcome was being splashed with tea. However, Gia was different from the innocent and helpless protagonists in those dramas.

‘Has this lady gone mad?’

Being an adult or whatever, Gia had learned that the best defense is a good offense. An offense taken early. While imagining grabbing the lady by the hair and rolling together, Gia quickly lowered her head.

‘What am I thinking right now?’

Before meeting Kalion’s parents, Gia found herself in such a situation, and a self-deprecating laugh mixed with self-pity escaped her.