Two Years Later (4)
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Your Majesty."
"Have you been well? Duke Kelian."
The Emperor and Kelian shook hands.
Despite the definite difference in status, neither showed the slightest tremor; they exchanged a handshake as if it were completely natural.
Of course, Kelian was the one treating the situation with proper etiquette, but that was more for formality's sake than anything else.
That meant that they had built a relationship that went beyond mere social status.
"Judging by the timing, it seems I've arrived just on schedule."
"Yes. Right now, all the nobles of the empire must be waiting for Your Majesty's announcement."
The reason for the nobles' gathering in this village was simple.
There was an important announcement from the Emperor expected here.
So Kelian had sent out invitations, summoning all manner of nobles to appear.
"By the way, the village has developed quite a bit in just these few years."
"It's all thanks to Your Majesty. After all, you're the one who allowed me to sit in this position."
"Hahahaha! Is that really so?"
The Emperor glanced over at something.
There, Louis was talking with someone through a spirit perched on his shoulder.
"To be precise, it's really all thanks to that friend. Isn't that right?"
"Yes... it's all thanks to that guy."
The Emperor had only reinstated Kelian as a noble.
He hadn't forcibly seated him in the lord's position.
At the root of every incident, Louis was always present.
It was thanks to him that they'd left the 7th Legion, that the special task force enjoyed more freedom than before, and that they all held such high rank.
All of it was due to Louis's meritorious efforts.
"He leaves everything up to me, while strutting around like that. Getting my former rank back is nice, but it still feels a bit lacking."
"Even so, you were the only suitable person for this seat. If that friend had taken this position instead, do you think the domain would have revived as it has now?"
Hearing the Emperor's words, Louis glanced over this way.
Though it was a comment that seemed to downplay himself, the Emperor met it with a look in his eyes saying, 'Did I say anything wrong?'
Seeing this, Louis clicked his tongue—tsk—and returned to his spirit-aided communication.
"But there's one thing I regret... Just regaining your status alone isn't enough, I think. And why is that? Because all of you are heroes who saved this empire."
He slowly recalled the exploits of the special task force.
First, they defeated Great Devil Palmon and foiled the wicked plans of Crown Prince Orbel.
On top of that, they defeated the demonkin who had infiltrated the Imperial Court and even rescued Princess Estelle.
However, these two feats had occurred before the special task force was formally established.
Still, even these alone were accomplishments worthy of being called the heroes of the empire.
The problem was the Chaos Dragon, the Demon King, and some members possessing such evil powers that they couldn't be publicly disclosed.
All of this was due to scrutiny by the Holy Nation directed at the empire.
The special task force, directly controlled by the Imperial Court, was created to evade their watchful eyes.
But look at what's become of that once-formidable Holy Nation now.
They, too, have been brought to their knees before the empire by the special task force.
"You've heard, haven't you? Each of those feats alone would be considered among the top deeds in the empire. In the empire's history, many heroes have left behind achievements before their deaths, but each of those is on par with what you all have accomplished."
Even just one of those feats would be hard for the greatest figures in imperial history to achieve.
But the special task force accomplished not just once, but several times—within less than ten years, no less.
"Of course, there's a secret to it. The great men and heroes were all human, but that boy surpassed what humans can do."
Louis's power, as the Emperor said, was unexplainable by the standards of this era.
Louis thought it was like discovering superconductors or some kind of over-technology during the Joseon Dynasty.
"To be honest, even this position of Emperor is hardly enough to give to you all."
"But..."
"Yes, I know. I know you avoid troublesome responsibilities like that. But as Emperor, it still weighs on my mind—whether just this much is truly enough to repay you."
He wanted to do anything for them with all his heart.
But as Emperor, he had already done everything he could.
Now he had to rack his brains to figure out what he hadn't already done.
"So, if I'm reborn in the next life, I'd like to help you all then."
"Thank you for your consideration, but there's no need to go so far."
"I am certainly grateful to you. But that doesn't mean there haven't been any side effects."
"Side effects?"
Kelian looked puzzled at this, and the Emperor sighed as he continued.
"Estelle. My daughter is the problem."
"You mean Her Highness the Princess?"
"Who do you think is the Princess's only family these days?"
Was that really a necessary question?
"Of course, it's Your Majesty."
It was so obvious that explaining felt redundant.
But the Emperor just sighed again at that answer.
"Of course, biologically, she's my blood. There's no one left of my bloodline but me. But biologically is all it is—Estelle doesn't see it that way."
"What do you mean?"
"Her name was Rio, wasn't it? That girl who was your squad member."
At the mention of Rio, Kelian exclaimed in realization.
He immediately understood what the Emperor meant.
"My wife no longer exists, and that guy Orbel is only related by blood—he isn't what I'd call family."
"Then, Your Majesty..."
"I do what I can as a father. But we seldom meet, because of my busy schedule. I can count on one hand the times we've had a real conversation."
No matter how high his rank, what did it matter if he couldn't fulfill the role of a father?
That's why the Emperor often envied commoners' households.
At least even with busy days, they could still see their family.
"So perhaps that's why Estelle has been searching for a substitute idol to fill her heart. Of course, she didn't need to search far, though."
It went without saying who the object of that search was—Rio.
The special task force already knew full well just how dearly Estelle cherished Rio.
"When we were on the carriage coming here, I asked Estelle this."
Does she prefer her father, or that girl?
"And without even a second of hesitation, she answered."
Precisely 0.1 seconds later, she replied.
She loved her father, but if Miss Rio were to die, she would die as well.
... That's what she said.
"Of course, I understand. After all, it was Rio who saved Estelle from the demonkin."
For Estelle, who had been living in misery, Rio must have been the first light she experienced.
It was only natural to treasure someone that much, as much as family.
"But that's become something of a problem lately. It's become routine for her to complain about wanting to see Miss Rio whenever there's an opportunity, and during important meetings she'll mutter that name and let her mind wander. And that's not even the only problem."
According to the courtiers and knights, strange sounds occasionally came from Estelle's room when she locked herself in.
And when the courtiers entered, there were always signs that some record-keeping magitech device had been playing, and tissues scattered about on the ground.
"T-Tissues... Your Majesty?"
"When I first heard that, I was quite shocked. Estelle really worries me—the way she's changing as time goes by is concerning."
Hearing that, even Louis was alarmed.
It was eerily similar to the shut-ins from the world he used to live in.
Was it really appropriate for the Princess of the empire to behave so?
"Even when we arrived here, it was chaos. She flared up in anger, saying Miss Rio wasn't there. At this point, I have no idea what she'll do next. That's why I have a request."
The Emperor, who'd been looking at Kelian, now turned his gaze to Louis and asked,
"Where is Miss Rio, exactly? Is it possible to call her here right now?"
"In fact, I was just contacting her."
"Oh! Where is she now?"
"She just departed from the demon realm."
"The demon realm?"
That was far too distant.
If traveling by carriage, she couldn't possibly make it today.
"Why in the world did she go there?"
It had been two years since the special task force was freed from the demon realm.
What business could she possibly have there?
"She said there was something urgent she had to find. I've already informed her that His Majesty is here, so she'll return soon."
"How long will it take?"
Princess Estelle had to have that girl Rio by her side.
If not, there was no telling how Estelle might explode.
"She said she'd arrive within today."
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
At the very moment she was told Estelle had arrived, Rio's voice changed in the spirit-based communication.
She had said: make sure not to let Estelle do anything until she returned.
****
"Is this Miss Rio's room?"
Pram led Estelle to Rio's room.
The moment she stood before the beloved girl's door, Estelle's heart pounded madly.
"This is that guy's room, but she doesn't come in and out often. She's out a lot, so this is practically like an inn for her. Still, she manages this place thoroughly. Do you know why?"
Pram said, wearing a lecherous expression.
"Because she keeps her secret things here. Hehehe...!"
"Miss Rio's secret things?"
At that moment, Estelle's mind spun wild with imagination.
First, she pictured Rio's appearance.
With that innocent, naïve expression and down-to-the-waist black hair—beautiful no matter when she saw it.
When they first met, she had been quite petite, but now her figure had developed explosively in all the right places.
At this point, it would be strange if men with predatory eyes weren't tempted by Rio.
Of course, Estelle herself was tempted, 24 hours a day, without end.
So, secret things belonging to someone like Rio...
"Fufufufu. Just imagining it sends a jolt through my whole body."
"Well, shall we open it right now~?"
Giggling, the two reached for Rio's door.
But the moment their hands touched the door, they were suddenly bounced away.
"Kya!"
"Ah!"
At the same time, a magic array symbolizing a barrier lit up on the door handle.
"This is...."
"Rio's gotten pretty thorough, ever since what happened last time."
"What do you mean?"
"That rascal Rio made a huge fuss recently about a thief breaking into her room. She didn't want to get robbed again, so she hired mages from all over."
What those mages made was this barrier.
If it didn't recognize Rio's fingerprint, entry was impossible.
"So what should we do? We've come all this way."
Estelle pouted in disappointment, but Pram smiled confidently.
"Your Highness the Princess, have you forgotten who I am?"
"Huh?"
Pram touched the barrier again.
This time, her hand wasn't repelled but made cracks slowly appear in the barrier.
"I'm a mage chosen by the World Tree. I could get even the first magitech device I ever touched to operate perfectly—so how long do you think it'll take me to break this kind of barrier?"
A minute after she put her hand on it, the barrier broke completely.
The moment Rio's door opened, Estelle freaked out.
Then she wore an expression of sheer bliss, like a child in a dream.
"Is this... heaven?"
It was a room that its owner rarely used, so there was some dust, but it was still clearly a room.
There were wardrobes to store various clothes and racks for storing armor.
"How is it? This is that guy's room."
"But... what's that?"
Right beside the entrance stood a piece of furniture, on which some writing was scrawled.
[Get out immediately. Unless you don't value your life.]
With its unsettling, creepy handwriting, it was obviously written by Rio.
"What's this! Does she think writing something childish like this will make us leave? Your Highness! Don't pay it any mind!"
"R-right? As long as we don't get caught, it's fine, right? Hahaha!"
Estelle laughed while focusing her gaze on a wardrobe.
Opening it, she found an array of undergarments.
****
"...!!"
Meanwhile, as she rode in a carriage, a black-haired girl sensed a bad omen and her eyes flashed open.
Her crimson gaze widened, and beside her, Victor asked,
"Rio. What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"I have a bad feeling."
Then, without warning, Rio jumped out of the carriage.
"What are you doing?"
"I think I'll need to run from here."
"What?"
Simon and Rozen, sharing the carriage, were dumbfounded by Rio's sudden decision.
"Are you going to run with all that heavy stuff?"
Simon looked at the five long boxes being transported in the carriage.
Their elongated shapes resembled coffins used to store corpses.
"I won't have to run for long. Soon we'll reach an area where I can use a warp magitech device."
With ease that belied her appearance, Rio lifted all five coffin-like boxes with one hand.
Displaying supernatural strength, she spoke with urgency.
"I have to go right now."
Trusting her ominous premonition, she immediately started running.