"Heh…!"
A chuckle mixed with interest burst out.
"It seems like…"
Before he knew it, the Emperor's tone had become quite serious.
"It seems I have only just realized your change. I must have completely
misunderstood you."
"What have you thought of me until now?"
"Well."
The Emperor quietly scrutinized Jaekiel.
A guy who used to perform his duties without any emotion or words.
Wasn't that exactly how Jaekiel used to be?
He had no choice but to be like that. It was the Emperor himself who made
him that way. From the moment he was brought out of the Penitence Palace,
wasn't that the intention?
He spent all his time on training and tasks, losing those around him one by
one, his emotions wearing away… In the end, he turned into a sophisticated
puppet.
So, it was only natural that Jaekiel lived like a loafer after retirement.
How to enjoy happiness, how to enjoy leisure, and how to find peace. No
one had ever taught him these things.
Such a man suddenly proposed to the princesses.
It seemed like a reckless action, but Jaekiel had already changed
significantly in many ways.
'Just from encountering a potion, he has changed this much… '
Is this what it feels like when a puppet, just starting to have emotions,
begins to crave life? The Emperor revised his assessment of Jaekiel and
naturally became interested.
'Then, what if he comes into contact with Sun Water?'
What kind of change would occur then?
Even the Emperor could not easily guess the possibilities.
Meanwhile, Jaekiel did not urge the Emperor for an answer.
He just waited quietly.
"Three drops of Sun Water and putting the 1st Princess to sleep. Is that all
you want? I will accept it."
To deceive someone who had already realized some truths would only
destroy an interesting negotiation.
Rather, it was a hundred times better to quickly acknowledge what needed
to be acknowledged and promptly address what each party wanted.
"However, Jaekiel, never forget. You will only receive the reward if you
succeed."
The shoulders of the Emperor's robe in front of Jaekiel shrugged.
It seemed that the Emperor shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course, in the case of the reward of putting the 1st Princess to sleep, I
am paying in advance… But do not be relieved. If you fail the task, I will
return it double."
"What do you mean by returning it?"
"Well, shall I lock you up in a room with the 1st Princess alone?"
Jaekiel suddenly recalled what the 1st Princess had said.
─When I catch you, I'll wring everything out of you.
"…"
Indeed, failure was not an option.
This task had to succeed. Absolutely.
"This mission will be extremely difficult."
The Emperor carved the power map into the slate again. The Imperial
Tower appeared to be three times the size of the other magic towers.
"In the past, even during the heyday of the Imperial Tower, there were
several attempts to uncover the secret techniques of the other magic towers,
yet they all failed. Why is that?"
"Because they also risked their lives."
"Yes, they would rather choose to self-destruct with their tower than leak
their secret techniques. The magic they hid would have developed even
further today."
Crunch.
The Emperor bit into an apple.
"Comparing now, the Imperial Tower has weakened, and the other towers
have strengthened. It's a mission you essentially have to do alone. Are you
still confident of success?"
"The difficulty of the mission does not matter."
Jaekiel replied calmly.
"Success and failure. I only care about these two."
Unlike before, Jaekiel harbored a desire for survival.
A life that desperately craved survival had no reason to hesitate.
The Emperor nodded quietly.
"Very well. I will hear the result of your mission later."
"But, Your Majesty."
Surprisingly, Jaekiel called out to the Emperor again.
And spoke in a quite serious tone.
"This time, it seems somewhat misleading to call it a mission. Let's be
clear. Isn't it closer to a transaction for mutual benefit?"
"…"
A moment of silence.
The Emperor was still close to Jaekiel.
One second.
One minute.
Five minutes.
How much time had passed?
"Hoo."
That was the Emperor's brief response.
"Transaction."
The Emperor quietly repeated that word.
"Transaction, transaction…"
An apple that appeared out of nowhere was tossed into the air.
"Remarkable. Are you trying to become my equal?"
"Only for this transaction."
He acknowledged that it was an unbelievably arrogant remark, but he had
no intention of rebellion. The Emperor's robe sleeve moved.
It seemed he was rubbing his chin in thought.
The more he thought about it, the bolder it seemed.
Turning a mission into a transaction meant he would have the right to
reprimand the Emperor if he did not give the reward, even if the mission
was successful, and he was also preventing that in advance.
After a long while, the Emperor spoke.
"…This is a first."
Crunch!
The apple in the air disappeared.
"Very well. For this transaction, I will treat you as an equal."
"Thank you."
He realized once again how much Jaekiel had changed.
The biggest change was that a certain spark had started to ignite inside
Jaekiel. The name of that spark, as the Emperor perceived it, was probably
passion.
The Emperor slowly ascended the throne again.
"Jaekiel, let's end the talk about the transaction here. From now on, I will
ask a few things as the father of the princesses."
He had just created an equal transaction, but now it shifted immediately to a
hierarchical relationship. As expected, the Emperor was also a seasoned
individual who could not be taken lightly.
"…"
Jaekiel swallowed dryly once.
The reason why the Emperor had regularly asked to see him once was to
check the progress of the five conditions.
"How is it? Has there been any progress on the five conditions?"
"First, let me tell you about some progress."
"Only a few?"
The holy grail the Emperor was holding and swirling around paused for a
moment.
Jaekiel replied calmly.
"Yes. Because I have not yet reunited with the other two princesses."
"…Well, let's hear it and then judge."
Jaekiel began to recall the conditions one by one.
─First, become stronger than the 1st Princess, Ether.
"First of all, I am diligently training my strength."
The Emperor then made a sound, "Hmm."
"You know as well, don't you? Ordinary strength training is not enough.
Ether's strength itself is enormous, but her speed of achievement surpasses
that."
"My strength training is not everything."
Jaekiel remained calm.
"While training strength, I am also integrating."
"Integrating? What?"
Jaekiel quietly took a document out of his bosom.
The Emperor drew it to the throne.
Swish!
It wasn't telekinesis. It was just a moment when space folded.
"Jaekiel, this looks like a list."
"Yes. The names of those who visited me while I was ill."
"Quite a lot."
The list included not only the names of the princesses who visited in person
but also those who sent gifts to Jaekiel.
"Yes. They are all people who will become my strength."
"So, integrating strength meant that."
The Emperor's interest lingered on the list for a moment.
"But, Jaekiel…"
The Emperor soon flipped the list back.
"Except for the princesses, they are all insignificant."
"The important thing is that the number of names in the guestbook will
increase. For now, I will have many travels around the world; this is just the
beginning."
"If you think you will only gain favor, you are mistaken. There will also be
those who resent you."
"I don't care. I can handle it."
"Hmm, yes. Your words make sense."
The Emperor made another apple disappear with a crunch.
"I acknowledge. There is progress in this part."
"Thank you."
"Now, let's hear about the next progress."
"Currently, the Second Princess is becoming increasingly precious."
─Second, become more precious than the 2nd Princess.
"I have heard the news. But it is hard to consider it your progress. The more
precious the 2nd Princess becomes, the harder it will be to meet the
condition, won't it?"
"No. It is not for the second condition."
Jaekiel shook his head.
"This is to achieve the fourth condition."
"Hmm?"
─Fourth, acquire more wealth than the 4th Princess.
"If the 2nd Princess becomes the pillar of the Celestial Realm, won't there
be opportunities to encounter various treasures of the Celestial Realm?"
"Hmm."
"I don't intend to be confined to the continent. If necessary, I will gather
wealth from other realms as well."
It was an undeniable fact that the 4th Princess possessed enormous wealth.
However, that was only based on the standards of the continent.
Jaekiel intended to look more broadly.
"Jaekiel, you are taking a very risky gamble."
And that was the Emperor's response.
"You could compete with the 4th Princess using only the wealth within the
continent. The more precious the 2nd Princess becomes, the harder it will
be to achieve the final condition. You know this well."
"It is for fair competition."
"…Fair competition?"
"Yes."
Jaekiel nodded.
Sending sudden proposal letters to five people was obviously a mistake, but
the heart contained in the paper envelope was not malicious. Rather, it was
closer to goodwill.
They were once his students—the princesses. He had already caused
confusion with just the letters, and he had no intention of causing any harm.
Therefore, Jaekiel had only one conclusion.
Even if it was very difficult, it didn't matter. He intended to fulfill the
conditions while achieving the princesses' success.
"Jaekiel, you are being complacent."
The Emperor said rather coolly.
"This condition can be seen as a competition. And fair competition does not
exist. It is a fierce battle where only one side survives by pulling the other
down."
Crunch!
Another apple disappeared.
"…And the surviving side only becomes stronger."
"I believe that fair competition also exists."
However, Jaekiel did not back down either.
The Emperor pursued a way of competition that drove each other to the
extreme cliff, but Jaekiel never thought that way.
"It has always been that way since ancient times, as an educational policy."
"It will never be easy."
"Didn't I tell you?"
Jaekiel chuckled.
"I don't care about the difficulty."
Only then did the Emperor nod.
"Alright, I understand for now. I am curious about the outcome you have in
mind. Do you intend to make all five princesses the pinnacle and then
marry them simultaneously?"
Then, a brief silence.
"…"
"…"
The Emperor asked again.
"…Did you really think of that?"
"I will tell you the results later."
It was half right and half wrong prediction.
The intention to make the five princesses shine even more was correct, but
the silence arose because he had never thought about simultaneous
marriage. Could such a thing even be possible?
…He couldn't even imagine it. Those five?
While Jaekiel was deep in thought…
"Anyway, I understand. I will also acknowledge this as progress."
"Thank you."
Jaekiel showed his courtesy.
"I have now told you all the progress, and from now on, I have a plea. May
I present just one?"
"Hmm."
The holy grail in the air spun around.
"This part is disappointing, Jaekiel."
The Emperor's tone became quite chilly.
"To make a plea after stating the progress of two conditions, isn't the
intention too obvious? Even wanting Sun Water has its limits. This is quite
unpleasant."
"This plea is not about Sun Water."
"Then what…?"
At the moment the Emperor had a question about the unexpected
response…
"I would like you to cherish the princesses."
Jaekiel spoke words that the Emperor never expected.
Then the movement of biting the apple stopped abruptly.
"What do you mean by that? Of course, I cherish them."
"Not as assets of the continent, but as your bloodline."
The atmosphere grew colder due to the Emperor's mood.
However, Jaekiel continued to speak regardless.
"Not asking how well the princesses contribute to the continent, but just as
precious bloodline."
In fact, this was an extremely abstract statement.
It was hard to promise easily, and even if promised, it couldn't be
guaranteed to be kept well. Jaekiel must know this too.
Yes, he knew it well.
But it was something he had to say.
"You are saying things I cannot understand."
The Emperor murmured quietly.
"Are you pointing out that I have neglected the princesses? Or are you
daring to teach me how to treat my daughters? The meaning is unclear."
"Neither of the two."
"Then why did you say such a meaningless thing?"
"Just, it is enough if Your Majesty remembers that I made such a statement
one day."
Jaekiel's intention was rather deep.
'It will be troublesome if the Emperor obstructs the princesses.'
There were many things that the princesses and Jaekiel had to overcome,
but if the obstacle was the Emperor, it would be like hitting an
insurmountable wall.
Therefore.
Jaekiel tried to prevent such a day in advance. It was a small attempt to turn
an obstacle into an ally.
You never know.
A letter, no more than a butterfly's wing flap, brought a storm.
Therefore, this wing flap could also definitely become a storm.
"Of course, I will remember. Whether you said something good or
something arrogant, I will remember this statement to judge later."
There was a sound of tapping the throne with fingernails.
"And you need to know one more thing."
"What is it?"
"This is the first time I have heard such words, and I have never thought
about it. I do not know how to think of the princesses only as pure
bloodlines or the necessity of it."
Then Jaekiel rummaged through his bosom instead of answering.
He placed three things neatly on the floor.
A bouquet, candy, and a handkerchief.
"Jaekiel, what are all these?"
"Please give one to each of the three princesses in order of age. This is my
answer to your words just now."
"I asked you what these things are."
"They are items that each princess likes."
Jaekiel bowed politely.
"Then, I will take my leave."
The Emperor did not stop Jaekiel from leaving.
He just quietly looked at the items on the floor.
"Not as assets, but as pure bloodline…"
The 1st Princess, the bouquet.
The 2nd Princess, the candy.
The 3rd Princess, the handkerchief.
The Emperor didn't know they liked such things.
Suddenly.
Anew.
The situation when Jaekiel and Ether had a duel in the gorge came to mind.
The princesses who never came near him but only hovered around Jaekiel.
"Hmmm."
The Emperor of the empire, Verd.
He felt somehow strange.
Meanwhile, on the way to the carriage.
"…I barely caught my breath."
Jaekiel muttered while putting Sun Grass in his mouth.
He successfully evaded the 1st Princess and passed the Emperor's interim
check. He solved two almost impossible challenges at once. Could it get
any better than this?
Yes! It could get better than this!
He was even promised Sun Water!
He had secured a deal with the Emperor, so the difficulty of the next
mission didn't matter. While Jaekiel was thinking and steeling his resolve…
"…?"
He immediately faced a scene that was hard to understand.
"What, Anes?"
Anes. Jaekiel's personal secretary.
It was definitely her. Anes, who should have almost reached the Black
Tower by now, was conspicuously in the carriage.
"…Why is she still here?"
But the really strange thing happened next.
"Oh, Au-Auditor…!"
The one who was always expressionless was actually welcoming Jaekiel?
What, why?
Jaekiel approached the carriage with questions in his mind.