Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 361



Only Noblemtl

361. Enlistment (4)

Seongjin was standing on a picturesque field.

Cotton candy-like clouds float across the clear blue sky. Colorful flowers sway in the wind on the evenly spread green carpet.

This childishly gorgeous feast of natural colors.

‘…Come together, friends?’

Naturally, I couldn’t help but think of the evil toddler skin from Pangea Chronicles.

‘Is this the ‘good’ dream, Father?’

This place seemed to be a temporary salt flat created by the Holy Emperor. Although he didn’t hear any specific explanation, Sungjin could somehow intuitively feel this fact.

‘Sending your soul to another dimension to tell it to get some rest? Should I call this fatherly? … . ‘

Well, anything that gives you a soul or a temporary resting place is fine.

however…….

‘How on earth did you determine the target age?’

Seongjin couldn’t help but be shocked.

No, Father. How long will I be a child to you? Yes?

[Ugh! I really can’t eat this!]

At that moment, a familiar lament was heard from somewhere in front of him. When he turned his head, he saw the blond knight that Seongjin saw every day with a sad expression on his face.

[It always ends up like this. Isn’t Your Majesty, Mores, really going too far?]

‘… Sir Marsain?’

Judging from the neat uniform of the Royal Guard, it is definitely Sir Marsain.

However, the reason Sungjin couldn’t immediately confirm his identity was because Masain Kyung looked much younger than usual.

Instead of his face, which had been growing more and more wrinkled day by day due to Sungjin’s troubles, Sir Marsain looked like a young and cheerful teenager. Now, he was pouring out his pent-up anger on Logan.

[I understand everything, Brother Marsain. You did your best.]

And the sight of Logan patting him on the back was even more impressive.

Although he was dressed in his usual neat Knights’ uniform, he looked like a small child who might be just fine going to kindergarten.

If it weren’t for his distinctive aura and his droopy blue eyes, Sungjin probably would never have recognized Logan.

‘…What is this?’

Seongjin was embarrassed.

It definitely feels like they’re Marsain and Logan. But why do they look like that?

[Isn’t it because that’s the image I remember most familiarly from them when they’re together?]

[The bion that is closest to the body sometimes changes according to memory and unconsciousness.]

The answer came from an unexpected place.

When he looked up, he saw two small, bead-like things circling around Seongjin’s head at different speeds.

[Oh, don’t you know? Bion is one of the three elements that make up the soul.]

[The theory of the three elements of the soul is only Granius’s claim.]

The theory of three elements of the soul?

While he was wondering about the sudden sound, two beads came closer to Seongjin and conveyed their thoughts once again.

[In our view, it is more appropriate to define the soul as two elements: Aeon and Bion.]

The blue beads moved as if they were jumping up and down, circling around Sungjin’s face.

[The reason Dachion was included there was purely due to Granius’ political circumstances.]

On the other hand, the pink bead falls at a leisurely pace and settles quietly on Seongjin’s shoulder.

And the two marbles burst into laughter at the same time.

[This is a temporary salt barrier made by the Holy Emperor’s father!]

[A small play area where you’ll forget everything once you wake up.]

[Surprised, Mores?]

[Are you surprised, Mores?]

The feeling coming from their voices was definitely that they were two people he knew.

Seongjin said the names that came to his mind in a dubious voice.

[… Herna? Gades?]

[… … !?]

However, the two beads’ reaction to Sungjin’s call was extremely passionate. At first, they were both startled and trembled, but then they suddenly started to pour out their chaotic thoughts one after another.

[Wow! You finally recognize us?]

[You know? We’ve been by your side the whole time.]

[We were a little worried about you too.]

[Of course, I wasn’t that worried.]

That unique way of speaking, no matter how I looked at it, it was clear that they were twins.

[But why did this change happen today?]

[I guess it’s because His Majesty sent me while I was still awake.]

[So now, if we go out to play at night, will Mores be able to recognize us?]

[You said the name, right? I guess enough cause and effect was created to make you remember it.]

Seongjin asked, roughly brushing aside the wild thoughts.

[Bion… even so. Why aren’t those two even in human form?]

Then, as if they had been waiting, cheerful replies came back.

[That’s because we came here using properly separated soul terminals, not via Bion.]

[Thanks to this, while other people just think it’s a dream and forget about it, we can remain conscious.]

[Even if you’re not Seonghwang’s father, we can come here anytime.]

[Of course, since it is a place created by His Majesty, permission is definitely needed.]

Through the thoughts of the twins’ soul terminals, Sungjin learned that Masain and Logan were also blown here by the hands of the Holy Emperor.

[Masain Orabeoni was in a critical condition due to severe erosion.]

[But he stubbornly refused to take a break until the very end.]

In the end, it is said that the unbearable Seonghwang had no choice but to put Masain Kyung to sleep. He created a dream dimension and forcibly took away his soul.

[And that’s not all? Amelia did the same thing.]

[It was the same for Brother Logan and Sisley.]

Seongjin was convinced.

Ah, somehow. Even though I was talking to the Seonghwang for quite some time, the two people with good spirits didn’t wake up at all.

[In the past, Seonghwang’s father had created this kind of dimension several times.]

[It was mostly like that when Brother Owen was around. He used to have terrible nightmares.]

Of course, if the act of forcibly separating the soul is repeated, it will inevitably put a great strain on the body and mind. That is why it is said that it is not a method that is used often.

[But the playground looks quite different now than before?]

[It seems that something has changed in the image of His Majesty in my imagination.]

[It’s so colorful that something feels strange.]

[Have you read any new fairy tales?]

… Well, somehow I think I know what my father was referring to.

Anyway, Sungjin, who had adapted to a certain extent, was able to leisurely look around while wearing the twin’s soul terminal.

As the name playground suggests, this place had everything prepared for children.

On one side, a fairly lavish table of refreshments is set up, and in the shallow pond, small boats large enough for children to go boating on their own are floating.

There was also a large tent filled with cute toys like wooden horses and dolls.

Then, Sungjin discovered a strange sight. On one side of the field, large mushrooms were gathered together and were all spewing strong winds into the air.

‘… What is that?’

Mushroom towers as large as a human torso were writhing and pumping air upwards as if they were pumping it out of the ground.

Wheezing- Whoosh-

Small white spores were scattered in the strong wind.

[It’s a boom.]

[Yeah. It’s a boom.]

…Wow? What is that?

But soon after, Sungjin found out what those mushrooms were. Logan, who had been placating Sir Masain for a while, led him straight there.

[How determined I have been up until now to never again hand Misra over to the small hands of the Lesser Mores… …!]

[Brother Marsain. Calm down.]

[But damn. I feel like I’m dying and coming back to life several times a day these days! Whether I’m an Aura user or not, if I keep doing this, I really feel like I’m going to die without being expelled!]

[I know how you feel, brother. Come here. You’ll feel much better if we do the pooping together.]

The two of them climbed up onto the mushroom, and soon they began to soar into the sky on the wind. They went up and down alternately several times!

‘… … .’

Seongjin looked at them with a dumbfounded expression.

No, Logan aside. Sir Marsain, what is that guy doing here, not even worth his age?

[Hmm. This is just a dream.]

[Because it’s just what the soul unconsciously wants.]

[If you look at the cause, it’s because of Mores.]

[Yeah. If you think about it, it’s all Mores’ fault.]

[Watch out, Mores!]

[Calm down, Mores!]

The excuses for the two people somehow ended up as criticism directed at Sungjin.

[Oh, okay, okay, I understand. I’m reflecting on it.]

Seongjin roughly pushed away the twins who were rushing towards him and turned his gaze to another part of the playground.

‘Anyway, does that mean that my sister and Sisley are here too?’

Seongjin took a leisurely walk through the sun-drenched fields, intending to find them too.

A dreamlike, unrealistic landscape.

Is it because of my mood? As I do this, I feel like the sense of loss from losing Aura is somewhat alleviated… … .

Then, Seongjin encountered an unexpected person he had never expected.

[Hahahahaha!]

‘…Owen?’

Yeah, that’s definitely Owen.

He looked much younger than when we met in the Pangea Chronicles, but his long, copper-colored hair still flowed unkempt.

He was running around the field with such energy, where did he get it? He even had Sisley, who was even smaller, on his shoulder!

[Hahahaha! I really missed you, Sisley! My baby, my youngest!]

[Brother, I’m not a baby anymore!]

[Hahaha! What are you talking about? It’s still this small?]

[That’s just my brother’s big one… Ah! There’s a cute rabbit over there!]

[Really? Should we chase after them?]

Doo doo doo doo doo!

Seongjin, who was watching the two people running away at a rapid pace, slowly touched his forehead.

‘Oh, I’m confused. This really is just a dream.’

It was just then.

[Why are you so listless, Mores?]

A clear voice that rings out like a song.

I looked back with a strange sense of foreboding, and there stood a cute girl wearing a flowing one-piece dress.

Rich, rosy hair that sways in the wind.

[Sister… … ?]

She looked like a small girl, perhaps ten years old, but her fresh and gorgeous aura made it impossible for her to be anyone else.

Seongjin let out a hollow laugh.

[…I never thought I would see an older sister who looked younger than me.]

Then little Amelia tilted her head.

[What do you mean, Mores? Younger than you?]

[yes?]

[I’m the older sister. So it’s natural that I’m older than you, right?]

[… … ?]

Seongjin blinked.

Huh? Come to think of it, since when did my standards become so low?

When he looked at his body in confusion, he really did have the body of a small child.

Small sleeves with fancy buttons, and tiny hands poking out from underneath.

[… … ?!]

What is this?

As Seongjin was feeling embarrassed and groping around, the twins next to him took the opportunity to chatter.

[This is the appropriate age for the unconscious mind to perceive.]

[That is, your true mental age.]

[Everyone knows, so there’s no need to be embarrassed, Mores.]

[Because it is a truth that is plainly visible and undeniable, Mores.]

Shut up, you demons!

If you think about it, this is my father’s imaginary world. So this can’t really be my mental age!

This is entirely my father’s perception, in other words, it’s my father’s fault!

Seongjin, who was very drunk, waved his hands wildly to catch the annoying terminals.

[Come here, you guys! Why don’t you come here quickly?]

Why are you guys so rude to me in the first place? Oh, this is perfect! Today, this big brother will fix all your bad habits in one go!

Then the twins started to fly around, avoiding him, as if they were playing hide-and-seek, and simultaneously burst into laughter.

[Hahahaha! Mores is an idiot!]

These reckless brats just look like they’re having so much fun.

You guys! Do you think I’m playing with you right now? Huh?

[Haha, what are you doing now, Mores?]

Amelia, who had been looking at him with wide eyes, eventually came over with a bashful laugh.

[Sister… … .]

[Don’t waste your energy, come here, Mores.]

A small, delicate hand that holds an absurdly difficult hand.

What was conveyed there was a warm feeling that little by little filled the heart that had become empty due to a sense of loss.

[There’s a pond over there that looks fun. Would you like to go boating with me?]

* * *

“your majesty…….”

Katrina, who entered the office to report the aftermath, stopped in her tracks at the sight of the unfamiliar Seonghwang.

Eyes with a strange silvery glow.

On a face that at first glance appears expressionless, there is something that can clearly be called a smile, even if it is faint.

Katrina realized intuitively.

‘You are looking at your children now.’

The loyal knight commander felt his heart ache.

‘Your Majesty’s peace lies with your children, but now you can’t even look after them as you wish!’

Although he was now a father of many children, Seonghwang was still a young prince in Katrina’s eyes.

The boy she treasures most in the world, the one she has cared for since childhood.

“Thank you for your hard work, Katrina. Report.”

That was why he hesitated for a moment even after the emperor’s urging words fell.

“your majesty.”

Katrina soon pulled herself together and instead of reporting, she turned to him with a determined face.

“I will do my utmost to confiscate the remaining homunculus right now. I don’t know where Justin hid it, but it certainly can’t have gone far from the outskirts of the capital.”

“…Katrina.”

“So please, keep Homunculus by Your Majesty’s side so that You can forget your worries. If that doesn’t work, then for now, let’s bring in Lord Sharon as your resident knight… … .”

“That can’t be, Katrina.”

Katrina looked up at the calm voice that cut her off. Then she felt a sudden shock that made her heart sink.

The saint was smiling at Katrina.

He made the same expression he always did when he left Empress Bethsheba’s room.

“You shouldn’t watch Mores like that.”

“… … .”

“I know the consequences, but I still can’t do it.”

It was the face of someone who had long ago realized that he had to give up things, and who had calmly accepted it.