205th Chapter
“This is… quite a dilemma.”
Prince Poibos frowned.
“I’m not trying to belittle the Duke’s devotion, merit, or influence… but when we look at accomplishments alone, I doubt there has been anyone in the Empire recently who has achieved as much.”
“Even if you search through hundreds of years of records, there wouldn’t be many who match him.”
In a chaotic era, it would be difficult for someone to achieve accomplishments comparable to Ray’s, even after a lifetime of effort.
However, Ray was only nineteen years old.
Not even fairy tales exaggerated a protagonist’s achievements this much.
“…”
Poibos pondered.
Most of Ray’s accomplishments were not made under normal command structures.
Therefore, they could easily be downplayed if necessary.
Moreover, the assassination of the Crown Prince could be seen as a grave offense depending on how one looked at it—not just any grave offense, but one that could lead to the annihilation of an entire family.
This was precisely why seasoned power players staked their lives on procedure and justification. Without proper process, even great achievements could result in execution with mere wordplay.
However, even if Poibos wanted to dismiss Ray, Ernst wouldn’t cooperate.
It would be extremely risky to alienate the Empire’s Swordmaster immediately upon ascending the throne.
Besides, boiling your hunting dog wasn’t something that appealed to Poibos either.
Nevertheless, fully acknowledging and rewarding Ray’s accomplishments posed its own set of problems.
“…It’s not easy.”
First, it was crucial to distance Ernst and Ray from each other.
If the two maintained a close relationship and formed a single powerful faction, their combined strength would become too overwhelming.
Ernst would likely understand Poibos’ concerns on this matter.
But even if Ray were sent to the remotest corner of the Empire, he would naturally amass significant influence over time.
‘Ten years from now, he’ll be celebrated as the youngest-ever Swordmaster in Imperial history and a hero who saved the nation…’
From the royal perspective, this was immensely burdensome.
It wasn’t that Poibos had a narrow mind; it was a practical concern.
Even if Ray showed genuine loyalty and obedience to the royal family, trust couldn’t be absolute.
Swordmasters lived nearly 150 years in good health.
Someone like Ray, who reached such heights at a young age, might live even longer.
Who could predict what changes in mindset might occur over more than a century?
After some deliberation, Poibos asked again:
“…That boy inherited the Spatial Blade, correct?”
“Yes.”
The Spatial Blade symbolizes the legacy of heroes.
While it doesn’t represent the legitimacy of the royal family, its influence is undoubtedly immense.
‘Maybe… he should be brought into the royal family.’
If he were engaged to the soon-to-be princess or a less legitimate royal child, it might simplify immediate situations.
Still, lifespan remained an issue.
Royals typically lived no more than sixty years, while Swordmasters lived twice that long and sometimes even longer.
There was a risk that within a hundred years, the royal family might fall under Ray’s influence.
This was why the royal family avoided bringing Lord-level warriors into their ranks whenever possible.
“Hmm…”
It was a headache-inducing situation.
Lord-level warriors always gave rulers headaches, and sitting there brooding wouldn’t produce an immediate solution.
As Poibos considered meeting with Ray, Ernst spoke up:
“Your Majesty may be troubled about something… but that boy neither craves his title, honor, nor wealth.”
“…An unusually naive story for a duke. Even a rural commoner, once tasting power and wealth, would find it hard to let go of greed—wouldn’t they?”
“Your Majesty knows how many sacrifices were required in past attempts to inherit the Spatial Blade.”
“Of course, I do.”
“That boy did not overcome the side effects of the Spatial Blade. His body continues to deteriorate due to the strain it imposes.”
“What do you mean…”
“He will have a short life. After overexerting himself in Alimo… his remaining lifespan is probably less than ten years. He knows his days are numbered.”
Caught off guard by this unexpected revelation, Poibos appeared flustered.
“Less than ten years?”
“Yes. When he returns, it would be wise to have the healers and clerics from the Imperial Palace confirm this for Your Majesty.”
“Is there no way to extend his lifespan?”
Ernst paused briefly before answering:
“There is one method that could extend his life somewhat… so I’ve heard.”
*
Ray arrived safely with his companions near Pruwa.
With the kingdom’s leadership gone and the Empire’s army dispatched, the atmosphere was quite chaotic.
It seemed that some time would be needed to restore order and calm.
Meanwhile, Bang and Jetteu, who had accompanied Ray to Alimo, were given a new mission to patrol near the gate established by the Empire when they encountered Ray’s group.
Bang and Jetteu approached Ray after recognizing him.
“It’s fortunate to see you safe.”
They said this while kneeling on one knee before Ray.
Embarrassed, Ray helped them up, apologizing for not being able to stay by his side until the end.
“Don’t make such a scene… there are plenty of eyes watching.”
“Understood. We’ll guide you to the gate.”
Ray nodded.
He wanted to return to the Empire as quickly as possible.
Staying in the kingdom longer would only involve him in the chaos and murky air.
His energy was depleted, and he truly needed rest.
After going through a few simple procedures with Luna and Ulte, Ray received permission to pass through the gate.
Before crossing, Ray greeted Knight Captain Gilland one last time.
“You’ve worked hard, Captain. The atmosphere here is pretty chaotic, so take care of yourself.”
“We owe you a great debt. It won’t be forgotten.”
“Listen to your commander. In times like these, avoid getting caught in blind violence. If you feel restless, don’t meddle unnecessarily—just focus on guarding the palace. If everyone runs away, there must still be someone left to protect it.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Well… Anyway, I hope we can meet again with smiles on our faces.”
After exchanging light greetings with a few others, Ray crossed the gate with Luna and Ulte.
Zzzt!
The change in the air felt refreshing, and the different sunlight greeted Ray warmly as he stepped through.
Ray took a deep breath.
“Phew…”
Though everything wasn’t over yet, returning to the Empire brought a sense of relief.
While Ray relaxed, slowly combing his hair to ease the tension, Ernst approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You’ve done well.”
“Thank you, Duke. Truly… thank you. But, uh…”
Ray awkwardly held up a completely ruined artefact.
“The weapons you lent me are mostly in this state. I don’t know how to properly apologize for it.”
Ernst smiled kindly at Ray’s humility.
“Given your contributions, I won’t reprimand you.”
“I appreciate your generosity.”
“Follow me.”
As Ernst walked ahead, he spoke to Ray.
“Have you heard the news of the late Emperor’s passing?”
“Yes, from Bang.”
“I’ve reported your accomplishments thus far to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Ah…”
Even though Ray had expected it, he still shuddered slightly.
Unconsciously rubbing the back of his neck, Ray cautiously asked:
“Did His Majesty… express anger?”
“No need to worry. If your accomplishments are recognized, is there anything you’d like to request from the Emperor?”
“Uh… Well, first, I’d like to visit my hometown. It’s been too long since I’ve seen the people I miss.”
Ernst looked at Ray quietly before asking,
“Is that all?”
“I need to think more about the rest. It wouldn’t be good to ask for too much and offend His Majesty, right?”
At this half-joking remark, Ernst nodded with a complicated expression.
“Take ample rest for now.”
*
After receiving treatment for his wounds and resting, Ray’s group provided testimony to the investigators dispatched by the royal family regarding the events in Alimo.
The investigator carefully maintained decorum to avoid creating an interrogative atmosphere, treating Ray’s group respectfully.
Although the investigator’s demeanor was polite, his sharp gaze sought the truth.
Despite the experienced investigator’s efforts, neither Luna nor Ray exhibited any signs of falsehood.
Ulte did not disclose information about Genesis and Titi to the investigator.
Since the situation had escalated significantly, hiding the truth entirely was no longer feasible, so everything was reported to the Emperor through Ernst.
Separate from the issues concerning Genesis and Titi, Ulte had violated several imperial laws, so he was formally placed under custody.
However, given his significant contributions, Ernst assured Ulte that he would be released under the Emperor’s protection once the current situation settled.
For now, the Empire was busy with military operations in Alimo.
Issues of justice and rewards would be discussed after the current situation concluded.
Thus, for the next couple of months, Ray and Luna decided to return to the Prislan Clan Fortress.
As Ray rode in the carriage heading toward the fortress, he thought fondly of familiar faces and smiled.
At that moment, Aptel appeared in mid-air.
[The mages of the Royal Magic Tower have enhanced the overall security of the Obelisk system.]
Ray straightened up, startled.
“Does that mean they noticed Luna using that system?”
[No, that isn’t the case. The primary reason for the security enhancement is increased vigilance due to the recent meteor incident. However, a small number of individuals may harbor low-level suspicions.]
“Will Luna be unable to use that system from now on?”
[Luna can still use it. Her access rights cannot be interfered with by anyone.]
“In that case, I guess we don’t need to worry.”
As Ray confidently stated this, Aptel shook his head.
[With the enhanced security… the next time Luna accesses the Obelisk system, there’s a high probability she will be detected by those related to the Royal Magic Tower. Once exposed, reverse tracing cannot be prevented.]
In other words, launching a secret meteor attack without the Empire’s knowledge would only be possible one more time.
Ray nodded and passed the bracelet to Luna, allowing her to also receive the information.
Meanwhile, the carriage drew closer to the Prislan Clan Fortress.
Ray cleared his throat repeatedly, suppressing the urge to smile foolishly.
He didn’t want to show his overly cheerful face to the children.
Destruction (5)
