Chapter 177 : Chapter 177

Chapter 177 : The Emperor of the Empire (1)

“Halt! Halt for a moment!”

The Imperial Capital Garrison and the Rosamund Knights were on high alert.

It was because the King of the Inoe, Polarin, and his legions were advancing toward the Imperial Capital.

The Imperial Capital was the heart of the Empire.

Since the founding of the Empire, never had such powerful forces advanced fully armed right up to the nose of the Imperial Capital.

“N, no matter if it is the army of the King of the Inoe, you must not proceed any further!”

The Garrison Captain stuttered, overwhelmed by the might.

It was understandable, as the forces of the King of the Inoe that had advanced to the front of the Imperial Capital were too fierce and numerous.

Tiger tribe, Bear tribe, and Lizardfolk beastkin who were nearly twice the size of ordinary humans, Elves riding wolves the size of horses, Fairies flying in the sky holding weapons, and Barbarians laughing loudly at something funny did not hide their momentum.

‘Why is the army of the King of the Seas mixed in there? Weren’t they on the Empire’s side?’

And Gallajio and his troops were also taking up a spot with a crooked attitude.

Not only the army of the King of the Seas, but also a significant number of humans from the Adjak family, such as the White Dragon Knights and the Black Veil, were mixed in.

Because individuals with distinct personalities were gathered together, on the surface, they looked like a disorderly rabble with no discipline, but the momentum of each individual made the Garrison Captain shrink back without realizing it.

‘No, it’s not that there is no discipline. As soon as the King of the Inoe stopped his steps, everyone stopped following him.’

While the Garrison Captain hesitated, the Commander of the Rosamund Knights, Kadon, stepped forward.

“King of the Inoe, welcome to the Imperial Capital. You have grown quite magnificent wings.”

The King of the Inoe, Polarin Adjak, had two pairs of wings that were not seen before.

The pair of wings on the upper side was made of light and emitted Divine Power.

It seemed as if to prove that Polarin was the King of the Inoe and simultaneously an Apostle of the Holy Order.

The pair of white wings located below that was so mysterious that it was difficult to even explain why.

They looked like bird wings made of abundant feathers, but Kadon had never seen such a bird anywhere.

“I will gratefully accept the compliment. I came to meet His Majesty the Emperor.”

“You cannot enter the Imperial Capital leading such a large force. How on earth did you come this far? On the way... I did not receive any report that a battle took place.”

“Kadon is right. We came this far without harming anyone and without plundering anything.”

Kadon’s head throbbed.

The King of the Inoe, Polarin, is the Apostle of the Holy Order, which has the largest influence across the continent.

Kadon also knew the fact that those who believe in the Holy Order have no choice but to look up to him.

That does not mean all citizens of the Empire are believers of the Holy Order.

At least those loyal to the Empire should have blocked them from advancing to the Imperial Capital.

‘Or else... has the Empire lost that much prestige?’

Kadon felt bitter as the fall of the Empire, to which he had devoted his entire life, felt real.

However, what he had to do was clear.

“A report has gone up to His Majesty the Emperor. If you wait here for just a moment, I will help you have an audience with His Majesty. So, please, please wait just a little.”

Kadon had met Polarin, who came with Pasion, during the Knight Competition.

Even then, Polarin was already a renowned knight, but he was not like this.

Polarin, reflected in Kadon’s eyes right now, looked like someone who could destroy the Empire anytime he wanted.

‘Did I treat him kindly? I would have treated him well out of respect for Pasion, but...’

However, making Kadon’s worry pointless, Polarin obediently followed his words.

“Yes, let’s do that. By the way, have you been well, Kadon? You also visited my Coronation Ceremony, right? I couldn’t greet you properly back then.”

“I... have been well. Until today, that is.”

“Haha, I have troubled you, Kadon. I apologize.”

Even though it was a conversation shared with laughter, Kadon was confused.

A person who could likely bring down the Empire in a single breath was still using honorifics towards him.

At the moment when he was waiting only for the Emperor’s command, not knowing how to react at all.

As if there was no law that he must die, the 1st Prince finally appeared.

“King of the Inoe, we meet again... sir.”

The 1st Prince also seemed confused about whether to use honorifics or not.

However, for Kadon, he was jumping for joy at his appearance.

No matter if he was the Commander of the Rosamund Knights, his rank was lower than a Prince of the Empire.

Furthermore, isn’t the 1st Prince someone with relatively high prestige within the Empire?

Not only the 1st Prince, but the Emperor’s children, including the 2nd Prince, 5th Princess, and 6th Prince, came out one after another to greet the army of the King of the Inoe.

“Yes, we will meet again soon. But I do not see the 3rd Prince?”

“He... committed a wrong against the King of the Inoe in the past, so I told him not to come out. If... you wish to see him, I will call him.”

“No. As you said, it wasn’t a good relationship anyway.”

There was a thorn in Polarin’s words.

Kadon waited for the 1st Prince’s answer while struggling to hide his perplexity.

“His Majesty the Emperor is waiting. However... according to the laws of the Empire, armed forces cannot enter the Imperial Capital.”

“Ah, is that so? Since it’s not the Knight Competition period right now. Then can we enter if we disarm?”

The soldiers under Polarin opened their eyes wide.

However, perhaps reading the room, no one voiced any complaints.

“That is also a bit... Instead, since it would be burdensome for you to enter alone, I ask you to bring only three or four people with you.”

“That is enough.”

Polarin looked back and made eye contact with Keldric, Bea, and Everchen.

Polarin and his companions nodded and stepped forward.

Bea got down from the wolf she was riding, Nihel.

“By any chance, could you also unequip your weapons?”

“That won’t do, you know?”

At Polarin’s firm refusal, the 1st Prince could not add any more words.

“...Understood.”

Polarin nodded and spoke to his forces remaining behind.

“You don’t need to be setting up camp here. Those who are hungry, go eat, and those going to Myeolji, go. Make yourselves comfortable, comfortable.”

“Yes! Understood!”

An answer that seemed to shake heaven and earth returned to Polarin’s light remark.

All the Imperial Capital Garrison and Rosamund Knights flinched, and even the Emperor’s children could not hide their surprise.

However, Polarin and his companions walked forward as if it were nothing.

“Please lead the way.”

“Understood...”

Kadon thought while looking at the other Princes and Princesses following the 1st Prince who took the lead, and the King of the Inoe and his companions.

‘1st Prince, you are going through a lot of trouble.’

How did the Empire...

But Kadon shook his head to stop thinking further.

He turned his gaze toward Polarin’s army.

Those who were watching them while maintaining a sharp momentum despite the King’s command to be comfortable.

Kadon somehow felt intimidated and avoided their eyes.

***

Everchen, Bea, Keldric, and I walked through the Imperial Capital following the 1st Prince Dinaus.

Even though I arrived in front of the Imperial Capital leading an army, the citizens of the Imperial Capital welcomed me instead of trembling in anxiety.

“It’s the Apostle of the Holy Order!”

“They say he became the King of the Inoe!”

The hospitality of the citizens of the Imperial Capital continued, and I also waved my hand in response to their greetings.

The support of the imperial citizens toward me was even greater than the applause pouring toward Dinaus, the 1st Prince of the Empire.

“Sigh...”

It seemed Dinaus was also perplexed by this situation.

I couldn’t see his face as he was leading the way, but seeing him sigh often, his mind seemed complicated.

When we entered the palace, the Imperial Capital Garrison and the Rosamund Knights were waiting for us fully armed.

But I didn’t worry much.

The 1st Prince was close to us, and an army capable of marching into the Imperial Capital was gathered right in front of it.

The commanders of the Imperial Capital Garrison and the Rosamund Knights would not be unaware of that fact either.

Rather, the 1st Prince was busy gesturing to dismiss the soldiers.

Like that, we freely roamed the wide-open palace and entered the Imperial Council.

Creaaak──.

As the door opened, the magnificent interior of the Imperial Council came into view.

The place where countless decisions that would decide the fate of the Empire would have been made.

“1st Prince, you have arrived. The people behind you... must be the King of the Inoe and his companions.”

Inside the Council, a single person was sitting lonely.

He was a figure whose identity I knew through the data I received from Tello.

The Chancellor of the Empire. Fesler.

He is also a person who worked hard so that the Emperor’s absence would not be felt while he was away.

He was also called by the alias Iron Chancellor, and his complexion was so dark that I wondered if the alias meant his face was black.

The face of a person who has suffered from heavy overwork for a long time. Fesler looked tired as if he would die soon.

“Chancellor, I believe I asked you to vacate the Council...”

“I know. However, I also wanted to see Polarin just once.”

“...Now that you have seen him, will you please leave? I apologize. It is His Majesty’s command.”

“His Majesty, who does not even show his face to me, wishes to see the King of the Inoe.”

The Chancellor spoke in a sad voice as if he had lost the whole world, but his expression was too stiff.

Rather than a simple expressionless face... it was the look of someone who had made a decision on something.

“I apologize, Prince. Please forgive my disloyalty.”

Fesler bowed to the Prince out of nowhere.

Then he suddenly pushed the Prince away and opened the coat he was holding closed.

A small portal was open on the Chancellor’s chest.

Soon, a tremendous amount of magic projectiles shot out through the portal.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-ga-ga-ga-ga──!

I blocked the projectiles with [Intangible Armor] and also drew Maron to strike them away.

My companions also drew their weapons.

But they couldn’t help me.

Because numerous assassins intruded into the Council and rushed at them.

It was true that I was perplexed because I didn’t know the Chancellor would attack suddenly. But his preparation was clumsy.

No, even if he had made thorough preparations, this level could not threaten me and my companions.

Numerous magic projectiles were still pouring out through the portal on the Grand Duke’s chest, but those magics could not even approach me anymore.

They failed to penetrate the domain of [Termination] and began to dissipate as they were.

The Chancellor drew a sword with clumsy skill and rushed at me.

Chaeng!

I simply struck away the Chancellor’s sword.

The Chancellor, who was knocked away by that single blow, tried to rush again but...

The person who appeared as the door opened once again stopped him.

“Stop it, Fesler.”

“Your Majesty...”

“It seems you wanted to see me even like this. But since you are a smart person, you must know well that this is not the method I want.”

The Emperor took the Chancellor’s sword.

Then without hesitation, he stabbed the Chancellor’s chest with the sword immediately.

“You worked hard all this time.”

The Chancellor knelt without resisting even once.

He even showed a faint smile to the Emperor until the moment he collapsed.

However, the Emperor felt even more bizarre than such a Chancellor.

“Are you the King of the Inoe, Polarin Adjak?”

I pointed Maron at the Emperor and said.

“Correct. And you... are you really the Emperor of the Empire?”

The Emperor grinned.