CH 309

After walking a few meters, the Mad Emperor spoke again.

[While we’re at it, I have one more thing I’d like to discuss with you. There has been a proposal to make you my subordinate.]

[Me?]

[The idea was———- to give you an official peerage and so that we can be assured that we’re fighting together with a fellow countryman. It is a fact that your background is unknown, so it’s better to do so to gain the trust of those on our Mira’s side……]

They know I used to be part of the Ashinto.

However, they don’t know where I’m born.

I won’t reveal my face.

I’ve also changed my voice.

It’s not surprising that there would be people who don’t trust me.

[However———— I rejected the idea of making you my subordinate.]

The Mad Emperor kept his gaze forward.

[Our Mira and the Fly King Squadron’s relationship with each other is more of an alliance. We will spare no expense in providing the Fly King Squadron, and we will provide you our facilities. However, the Fly King Squadron is still a separate entity from us…… Yes, we will treat you more like a free-ranging guerilla unit. This will make it easier for you to move. But just to be sure…… I thought I’d ask you about your intentions.]

[I’m grateful for your Majesty’s consideration…… It is indeed easier for us to move in this way, and I was also thinking that our relationship with his Majesty should be that way.]

The more bonds you have, the more trouble you’ll get into.

Keeping it this way is something I would gratefully keep.

[I too———]

As if he’s looking into the distance, the Mad Emperor’s eyes squinted.

[——–don’t really feel comfortable…… making you my official subordinate.]

[What do you mean?]

[An Emperor and a King…… We talk with each other on an equal footing. It is hard to find someone like that here.]

[———I suppose it must be lonely being an Emperor.]

[Having the caliber of a ruler isn’t necessarily a blessing for the person themself. You, who have the vessel of a king, would understand, wouldn’t you?]

[No. I don’t think of myself as having a vessel of a king.]

I’m only an avenger.

The Mad Emperor clears his throat.

[……Let’s return back to the earlier topic. So, in regards to what we had discussed before…… Tomorrow, we will be holding the Signing Ceremony for our alliance with the Faraway Country. As the state of affairs is shifting very quickly, we want to do this as soon as possible…… To clearly show the people of Mira that “the Faraway Country is on our side”. The number of attendees will be very limited due to the current situation though.]

The Signing Ceremony is one of the reasons we came to Mira.

[And the matter I’d like to discuss with you, is that I would like to ask you and Seras Ashrain…… as well as Munin, the representative of their country, to participate in the ceremony.]

If he went out of his way to ask this to us, there must have been something else other than just that.

[What does your Majesty have in mind when you asked this?]

[After the ceremony, we will hold a small evening party. There, we’ll meet the three Elected Imperial Households.]

[The three Elected Imperial Households that have supported Mira since time immemorial huh.]

[The Heads of those three households…… Diaz, Ord, and Seat, will attend the ceremony.]

[And you want me to gain their trust?]

[I want to impress upon them that “we are in a good relationship” by showing them you and I conversing. That also includes the other nobles. Besides, just having a chance to talk to you directly should give them a different impression.]

“Rumors have it that he’s a repulsive person, but he’s actually nice when I actually met him.”

I hear such stories happening quite a bit.

[Also…… I am thinking of explaining to those around me that “I know the Fly King’s background and his true intentions”. Some people will be reassured by that. I would like you to go along with me in that direction.]

[Understood.]

[Well…… It seems that the three Elected Imperial Households don’t really have any ill feelings towards your group. If anything, they seem to want to get to know you better in person.]

So he wants to alleviate the slightest concern they have huh.

[And that’s why…… you’ll be at the ceremony, right?]

[Yes, I understand your intentions. I will attend for your Majesty’s sake.]

[———–Not like I really care about your background.]

As the Mad Emperor curled his finger around the tuft of hair on his right……

[In the current situation, all I need to be certain of is that you are a comrade with whom I share a common goal. I measure whether a person is worthy of trust by their intentions, actions and words. What matters is whether or not the objective is achieved…… Your background is a trivial matter. From your intentions, actions and words, I have judged you to be trustworthy. That is enough.]

[I’m glad it’s your Majesty.]

[ ? ]

[I’m glad that the one who rebelled against the Goddess was you, your Majesty——— That’s what I truly think.]

[That doesn’t sound flattering though?]

[Of course.]

[……Alright.]

After that, the two of us went around the shelves as we talked.

There were a few items in their collection.

The dried-out carcasses of strange creatures, plants, and many more.

Back at the Witch’s home……

“Ahh, my inventory in that area…… My stock is running out. I’ve been holed up here, so this problem would definitely happen…… I wish I could go around freely so I could replenish it…… Ah, geez, if only that ill-nature Goddess weren’t there…… Ugh.”

Erika grumbled.

I had made a note of that “inventory shortage”.

If I had the chance to hand those things over to her before the battle, it would be a good souvenir for Erika.

Now then……

[Well then, I’ll take this dried insect carcass and this jewel.]

The Purple Beetle and Teleportation Stone.

[Is the carcass of what seemed to be a carapaced creature valuable?]

[Yes, this carcass is from the Purple Beetle. It’s an ingredient for a rare concoction.]

[Fumu. I had the Imperial family’s personal doctor and scholars examine and preserve as many precious creatures and plants as possible but…… it seems that doing that was correct. Poisons made from materials that can’t be extracted today…… If such were to be used by Vysis, an antidote would be needed to counteract it. However, the materials could be lost in the passing of time. Thus, I had them save the seemingly rare ones…… but our knowledge about this matter is quite limited. Many of them we did not know what they were used for.]

I guess Erika having knowledge about that matter is something amazing.

[Thank you for your patience.]

Seras and the others returned and met up with us.

The only thing of interest that matters was that they held materials for compounding.

They seemed to be materials for medicines for fatigue and injuries.

[Well then, last but not the least.]

Looking at them for a moment, the Mad Emperor took us to a table near the doorway.

There were several work tables along the wall near the door.

Embedded on that table was a black box.

It was quite large.

Looking at it up close———– It looked quite high class.

It was decorated with delicate silverwork.

There were even jewels embedded in it.

Just the box itself is likely to be worth quite a lot of money.

The Mad Emperor took out a key from his pocket and unlocked the box.

Next, he gently puts his hands on both sides of the box and carefully opens it.

[This has been in the Imperial family for generations. I thought I would give it to you if there’s anything you would like from inside it. You can think of it as a reward to the Fly King for earlier.]

The guards, who were watching from afar, reacted with surprise.

In other words, he was about to hand over something that could be regarded as a national treasure.

I guess them reacting like that is natural huh.

I looked inside the box.

Most of them look like jewelry.

There’s also a jeweled dagger that looks like a ceremonial dagger.

However, there didn’t seem to be anything of particular interest about them.

Of course, they would be worth a lot of money if sold.

Even then, if I were to sell it off to get money———–

I would probably lose all credibility in Mira.

Just in case, I would ask Seras and Munin their thoughts.

[What do you think?]

[Uh…… I think they’re very beautiful, but I’m not sure they’ll be essential in our future battles…… As one would expect from a national treasure, they won’t be something to be coveted casually……]

Munin put her hand on her cheek and wryly smiled.

Well, she’s right.

……Hmm?

Seras?

[What’s the matter?]

Speaking of which, her gaze had been fixed on a single point since a while ago.

As if she was looking at something……

[Did you see something that caught your attention?]

[———–Eh? Ah, yes…… I’m not sure if it’s real or not——— no, but to find it here……? Could it be……]

The last part almost felt like a soliloquy.

Seras pressed the back of her hand to her lips, a mysterious expression on her lips.

I followed her gaze.

The thing she’s looking at———– looks like an ordinary jewel but……

I guess it feels like a diamond?

Numerous lines of prismatic light run through the transparent crystal.

Thereupon, I heard Seras gulp.

[What’s the matter with that item?]

The fact that Seras’ attention is caught up about it……

I suppose it’s not that she’s just fascinated by the beautiful jewel.

There’s something more to it.

[That may be…… the “Tear of Origin”.]

[Tear of Origin?]

[It’s frighteningly rare. Far from that, I was still questioning if that exists…… Well, assuming that’s real.]

[What kind of item is it?]

[It’s the crystallization of the tears shed by the Origin Spirit…… which is regarded as the origin of all spirits…… It was said that there have been several of them in this world. No, but this is…… For us, it’s something brought up in a fairy tale…… and they described it as something lost in the world……]

[The way you say it…… It sounds like “something that existed a long time ago but no longer exists” rather than something whose existence is uncertain.]

[Yes. It’s said that even though they were rare, they had already been used up.]

She meant “you use this” for something?

With a tense expression on her face, Seras asked the Mad Emperor.

[Your Majesty…… Would it be alright if I touch it?]

[Yeah, it’s alright.]

Thanking him, Seras timidly brought her fingertip to the jewel.

As if in response, the jewel then began to glow with a faint light.

Seras touched the jewel with her fingertip.

Thereupon, the surface of the jewel caved in.

When Seras moved her finger away, the light disappeared.

[It’s likely———–]

Catching her breath for a moment, Seras spoke.

[——–that it’s real.]

[Apparently received from the First Emperor, I have heard it was a treasure passed down through generations…… but for it to have a deep connection with your people, the Elves. It was given to my family by a noble as a token of his gratitude.]

Thereupon, the Mad Emperor smiled.

[An item of Elven origin, received from the First Emperor and passed down through generations, and now, an Elven Knight fortuitously encountered it…… What a strange coincidence.]

[U- Ummm……]

Seras, slouching with her gaze still peeking towards the jewel, broke into a cold sweat, but still decided to speak her mind.

[If we’re seeking for something useful for the decisive battle against the Goddess, I would like to receive it…… or so I’d like to ask.]

Curious, the Mad Emperor asked.

[Useful?]

[It is said that the Tear of Origin has the power to bring Spirits closer to their “origin”.]

At those words, I decided to ask.

[That is to say?]

[If the legend is true…… A Spirit I’m under a contract with will grow and become more powerful. And when that happens————]

(T/N: Not sure if Seras using it would allow all her Spirits to grow, or she would give it to a Spirit for them to use.)

Pausing for a moment, Seras declared.

[My Regalia of the Spirits would likely be brought closer to “perfection”.]

▽

After that, we left the Great Underground Treasury and returned to our mansion.

We parted ways with the Mad Emperor inside the castle.

As for the Tear of Origin, it was handed over to us.

“If we lose this battle, we would have to give up these national treasures as well. If they are useful in the battle, you need not be reserved and take it.”

However, he also reminded the guards not to tell anyone about it yet.

There would probably be some of them who might make a complaint to the three Elected Imperial Households and their retainers.

……Well, as it’s a national treasure, I suppose it’s understandable.

As soon as we returned to the mansion, I set about “educing” the Purple Beetle.

Making me feel like I’m making a broth out of the beetle, I had it dipped in boiling water……

This process would take a few days.

Seras’ Tear of Origin too isn’t something that immediately strengthens her.

It takes a certain amount of time for the effect to appear.

Pigimaru’s final Enhancer.

Strengthening from the Tear of Origin.

The point is both will be waiting for a while.

The Sealed Room would also be after Wright Mira came back.

Seras is at Slei’s place right now.

I went to check on her a while ago too.

Incidentally, Pigimaru was with Slei while we were at the Great Underground Treasury.

Pigimaru is still with her at the moment.

It seems that Slei also feels calmer when Pigimaru is with her.

However, as was the case in the past, Slei restoration———- recovery was quick.

The more magic power was poured into the crystal on the back of her neck, the faster she recovers.

I don’t know the theory on how it works, but nevertheless, doing that speeds up her recovery.

For the time being, I poured a good amount of MP into Slei.

Erika’s familiar is now in a bird cage.

The Mad Emperor had also arranged for food and other necessities for it.

When I came back from the Great Underground Treasury, I found them in front of the entrance as if they had been left there for us.

As of the moment, Erika seems to have pulled her consciousness out of the familiar.

Operating a familiar seems to take a lot of burden on its user after all.

Erika must be resting now.

Looking outside the window, I noticed it was already dusk.

In this mansion, the neighborhood is quiet, as if the recent assault on the imperial capital was a lie.

The rest of the day is spent resting and preparing for tomorrow’s Signing Ceremony.

Munin seems to be a little nervous…… but well, she should be fine.

She handled the previous negotiations with Mira very well.

She’s a good “Chief” at the time it matters.

▽

The next day.

Ibarra, our liaison, arrived just after noon.

He came exactly right on time.

Already finished with our preparations, we left the mansion to go to the Signing Ceremony.

<Afterword>

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