The aftermath of dealing with the monsters was handed over to the royal family, and the carriage headed back to the palace.
As Selena had never witnessed the power of runes before, even after arriving at the palace, she continued to sneak glances at me.
Since I had no intention of hiding the power I possessed, I initiated the conversation. However, her gaze seemed to be demanding, “Explain what just happened immediately!”
I considered ignoring her, but due to our connection through the academy, I decided to open the dialogue.
“Is there anything you’re curious about?”
At my question, she was startled.
Surprisingly, her eyes blinked as if uncertain, and then she asked.
“…Was what you just used a verbal command?”
I paused to think.
The power of runes isn’t something one can understand simply by explanation.
Though I needed to make a reasonable excuse, Selena wasn’t the type to fall for a clumsy lie.
Attempting to dismiss the conversation, Selena beat me to it.
“Initially, I thought you were human. But now I see.”
“…? What are you talking about?”
“You’re not human, are you?”
“What?”
“Of course I’m human.”
“Human? Have you ever seen a human use verbal commands like that?”
“It’s not completely unheard of.”
“No, no! Maybe they can create sparks or something, but no one can kill monsters with just words like you did!”
Technically, the power of runes does classify as a verbal command.
Once you reach the ultimate level of runes, the ‘Unity’ state, you can manifest this power through will alone – a state that transcends humanity to become semi-divine.
The power of runes manipulates causality, and without the medium of language it becomes impossible to implement. Therefore, incantations are necessary, and from that point it can be categorized as verbal commands.
However…
‘How should I explain this?’
There was no easy way to explain.
Moreover, it was tedious to go into each detail.
But if I didn’t, it seemed her misunderstandings wouldn’t dissipate.
“…You’re not human.”
Even Rudine, who was seated beside her, seemed shaken by Selena’s remarks.
She even started muttering some strange things.
“So that ‘Master of Magic’ title from before meant this.”
“What? Master of Magic? What did you say?”
“The last time, at the ruined shrine, a decaying tree called Luke ‘Master of Magic’…”
“Master of Magic…”
Selena stroked her chin as she muttered.
“Ah, ahaha… Now it makes sense. You’re a drake, aren’t you?”
“Drake?”
“Yes! A dragon! That was dragon speech earlier, right? It makes sense now. You always seemed suspicious in the academy. For five years, you acted strangely, and I thought you were crazy, but now it’s clear. You’re not human at all. But weren’t dragons supposed to be extinct?”
“Extinct, they are.”
“Then how?”
She looked at me, clearly confused.
I chuckled humorlessly and replied.
“I am human, though.”
“Aha, so it’s a secret.”
…It’s like we’re not even having the same conversation.
‘Dragons, seriously.’
Dragons were wiped out alongside the elves ages ago by the Outer Gods.
They’re one of the forgotten races that only appear in ancient texts.
Even if traces of dragons remain across the continent, they have no connection to me.
Just then, knights in armor approached in an orderly fashion.
“Are you Luke Richter?”
“Yes.”
The leader quickly checked and then nodded before turning back.
“I’ll guide you.”
We followed him into the palace.
Selena kept muttering nonsensical things like “Of course. He can’t be human” behind me, but I chose to ignore it.
She seemed a bit off her rocker, and ignoring a madwoman is always the best policy.
The knights naturally led us to the palace entrance.
As we ascended the steps, a valet rushed forward to confirm our identities.
“Young Lord Luke Richter of the Richter Dukedom!”
Creak—
The grand palace doors opened with a loud noise.
All eyes inside turned toward us, and murmurs rippled through the crowd as they looked at me. I simply ignored them.
Then, I recognized the face of a man I’d met before—the Prime Minister who had first sent me to Blackmore.
“Luke Richter, have you arrived?”
“For the sun of the Empire.”
“The greetings are enough. Follow this way. The Emperor is awaiting you.”
I followed the Prime Minister through the corridor leading inside the palace.
After navigating several turns and passing the main hall, we reached the reception room.
“His Majesty, Lord Luke Richter requests an audience.”
“Let him enter.”
Creak—
The Prime Minister stepped inside with measured grace through the opened door, every inch the personification of aristocracy.
“Luke Richter and those accompanying him will remain here to wait. That includes you, Selena.”
“Rudine, wait here for a moment.”
“…Okay.”
“I shall await here, Sixth Lord.”
At the title ‘Sixth Lord’ of Balkhan, the Prime Minister’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he leaned in to ask quietly, audible only to me.
“Have you already been promised a Lordship?”
“It’s just them making assumptions. You need not concern yourself.”
I followed the Prime Minister with an innocuous smile.
After walking for some time, I locked eyes with the Emperor seated at the end of the reception table.
The distinctive red hair and golden eyes of the royal family.
A robust frame, an oppressive gaze, and an ominous presence.
The sole sun of the Empire, the Emperor.
Thermiir Eckhart.
My direct superior, you could say.
I immediately bowed in accordance with royal protocol, placing one arm over my chest and bending one knee forward.
“I greet the sun of the Empire.”
“The formalities are enough. I apologize for summoning you despite your heavy workload. Please, take a seat.”
The Emperor smiled generously and offered me a cup of tea.
I sat down and sipped the tea while observing the Emperor.
Even without magic, I was sweating cold beads, his aura was that formidable.
It wasn’t magic—it was the Emperor’s natural charisma as a royal.
“What do you think this is about?”
Actually, I wasn’t curious at all.
I already knew the matter at hand.
But I couldn’t just come out and say it, so I pretended to be ignorant.
“Yes, I’m curious.”
The Emperor chuckled lightly and continued in a deep voice.
“A woman visited the palace a few days ago.”
“…”
“Arkan. One of the Continent’s Six Thousand and the highest-ranking presence in the Lord’s Council.”
“I see.”
The Emperor tapped the table twice with his fingertips.
“She and I go back a ways. Not to the point of being close friends, but as comrades who walked the same path, we had a relationship of mutual respect for each other’s domains.”
“…”
“But after decades, she appeared before me with this demand: she coveted a certain talent and insisted that I transfer them to the Lord’s Council.”
I wanted to bang my forehead against the table.
So she actually visited the Emperor.
More accurately, she had planned to visit.
But I didn’t expect her to push so recklessly.
“Then I questioned her.”
The Emperor continued smoothly.
“Your name came up.”
“Is that so.”
“Arkan insisted that you be appointed as the Sixth Lord, making unreasonable demands in front of me.”
“…”
“Understandably, as retainers are fundamentally under the jurisdiction of the royal family, I’m sure you understand that her demand crossed the line.”
“Of course.”
“The principle dictates a flat-out refusal.”
The Emperor calmly sipped his tea.
Yet, his grin remained as he went on.
“However, she set a condition which intrigues me. Would you care to hear it?”
“…I will listen attentively.”
“She declared that she would break her neutrality. For centuries, the Lord’s Council had maintained its stance, but she proposed an alliance—prioritizing a friendly relationship with the royal family.”
“…”
“And additionally, she offered the Grand Lord’s favor. She swore that this one time, the Lord’s Council would fully support the royal family.”
“…”
“The weight of a Grand Lord’s promise is anything but light.”
A flash of electric tension crackled in the exchanged glance.
The Emperor chuckled and straightened up.
“When I first appointed you as the overseer of the Magic Realm, what were you thinking?”
“…I admit I was curious.”
“Why?”
“Because Blackmore isn’t a place suitable for a single overseer.”
“That’s correct. It’s not a place a typical overseer could manage alone.”
The Emperor casually glanced at me.
“But, you are no ordinary overseer, are you?”
“Eh?”
“Since your academy days, your name has been ringing in my ears continuously. There was no way I couldn’t know it. Every time there was a break, I heard about the large number of appeals involving you—all to the advantage of the royal family, naturally. Thanks to you, we’ve caught over a hundred spies, and the illicit funds recovered exceed ten million gold coins. And isn’t the scholar who shook the academic world, Labshil, your pseudonym? From what the Chancellor says, your papers have accelerated development by at least several hundred years.”
“…”
…All true.
Of course a nameless illegitimate child graduated top of his academy class and went on the fast track to become an overseer.
True, my path was noisy, but honestly, I didn’t care.
Yet, all my endeavors have now come back to me as a boomerang.
“After a long deliberation, you were ultimately chosen as the overseer.”
“…”
“Even then, I had my doubts. But as soon as you entered Blackmore, you eliminated the Shadow Union, purged the Empire’s dark spots, and hunted down a total of three thousand five hundred and sixty demons.”
Was it really that grand?
Hearing it like this makes it sound incredible.
“Luke Richter.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What do you think about the Sixth Lord position?”
“…”
I lost my words.
But the Emperor’s gaze was already filled with an indiscernible expectation.
“Your Majesty, I…”
“Even if it’s against the principle that overseers cannot double as lords, what does it matter? The emperor of the Empire, I, finds it acceptable.”
“…No, it’s just that I don’t particularly desire the Lord position…”
“Ho ho, there’s no one with the talent like you. I have immense expectations for you. Typically, special inspectors receive new missions every five years, but I’m considering making you an exception. Besides, Blackmore is already a territory under the royal family, isn’t it?”
“Eh? No, I am content with my current position…”
“I’ll push forward to make you the master of that place. Incidentally, Arkan suggested this too. Lords govern their own territories; how does it sound to make Blackmore the domain of the Sixth Lord?”
“…Your Majesty, I am entirely satisfied with my current position. I truly have no intention of becoming the Sixth Lord. And eventually, I plan to retire peacefully and live a normal life…”
At that moment, the Emperor slammed his teacup onto the table.
“Retirement?”
“…Yes?”
“Sorry, but there’s no retirement for a lord.”
Shit. What was that?
“Please count on me in the future, Sixth Lord.”
