Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 437



Only Noblemtl

437. The Immortal Secretary (10)

The road back from Furiano to Regina was long and tedious.

Rattle rattle.

Seongjin, who had been swaying to the irregular vibration of the cart, raised his head for a moment and looked up at the wide night sky.

The stars were twinkling unusually heavily today, as if they would fall from the sky like tears at any moment.

“New… Mores. Aren’t you hungry? Try some of this.”

Owen handed me a small piece of fish cake. It seemed he had taken a moment to log into the Pangea Chronicles.

“Hey, Inma, stop calling people by their weird names. You might as well just call me Newbie instead.”

“Huh? Really?”

A color came over Owen’s face.

“But is that okay? I’m more comfortable with that, but I think other people might find it strange if they heard it.”

“So what? It sounds a lot weirder when you stop talking every time you call me.”

“Is that so?”

Owen nodded as if he understood, then looked around and asked worriedly.

“But you’re a newbie.”

“huh?”

“Is Brother Marsain okay?”

“… … .”

Seongjin briefly glanced at Masain, who was leaning against the corner of the carriage.

He got into the carriage with a blank expression on his face and hasn’t woken up for hours. It would be absolutely impossible for Masain to fall asleep alone, leaving the prince, who was his escort, behind, considering his usual personality.

“It was a bit strange earlier. Maybe the author who escaped from the sewers played some kind of trick on you. I think it would be best to call the healing priests as soon as we get back to Regina.”

“hmm.”

“Look at it now. It seems like you’re having a nightmare. What should I do? Should I put this limited edition blindfold on you too?”

As Owen said, Martha’s face was distorted as if she was struggling with something even in her sleep.

But Seongjin hesitated for a moment and then shook his head.

“No. Just leave the blindfold on.”

Somehow I feel like this isn’t just a simple nightmare. And I have a feeling that it might be better not to defend against external mental interference right now.

“Well, don’t worry. Sir Marsain will wake up after a short nap and be fine.”

“I wonder?”

“huh.”

Seongjin nodded calmly, but his slightly nervous hands were unconsciously fiddling with the Demon King’s lamp.

Why not? According to the Demon King, it seems that it was actually Seongjin himself who put Masain into a deep sleep.

-Forget everything and go to sleep now, Sir Marsain. When you open your eyes later, you will forget all the bad things that have been bothering you.

After getting on the carriage, Sungjin repeatedly emphasized this and tried to comfort Masain. Then, lo and behold, he really closed his eyes and fell asleep.

No, is it really true that it was simply appeasement?

Seongjin still couldn’t be sure. Somehow, the more he said something to him, the more he felt uneasy, as if he was directly cursing the person.

And after a while, Sungjin was able to hear the answer from a third party.

[Wow, Lee Sung-jin. This ignorant guy. He beat the soul itself with a curse and made it groggy. Thanks to that, the soul’s disintegration seems to have stopped.]

According to the Demon King’s explanation, for some reason, the soul of the Martial King suddenly showed signs of rapid decay.

And that period clearly coincides with when Sungjin suddenly began exhibiting symptoms similar to sleepwalking.

[Maybe that guy’s soul wasn’t that strong to begin with. That’s why it breaks so easily even from a small impact. Even now, the soul’s appearance is quite blurry, so it’ll probably take a long time to recover?]

Seongjin thought as he hugged the lamp.

Well, could it be called a small shock? And why does it seem that it was not only Sir Marsain’s soul that was affected?

[What’s wrong, Lee Seong-jin?]

That would be the case, because the Demon King’s lamp’s light was also dimmer than before.

If the flames of that guy are the embodiment of a soul through the rules of the world of rules, then that means that his soul has also taken a considerable hit. I’m also a little concerned that he’s been sobbing for an unusually long time.

[Why? Why do you have that face?]

“It’s nothing. Do you want some fish cake too?”

[Fish cake? That delicious thing from before? Yeah! Give it to me!]

Hurrruk!

A piece of fish cake thrown into the lamp is engulfed in red flames and disappears in an instant.

“Kukukuk… … .”

At that moment, an unpleasant laugh was heard from in front of the cart. It was Giacomo Milo lying there, his whole body tied up.

“Kekekeke. I have seen it. I have reached it. The world will finally receive its true savior and be engulfed in the flames of divine purification. Hehehe.”

“… … .”

“Keukekeke, kooluk!”

He is glaring at the floor of the carriage with his strangely shining eyes and is giggling. It seems like the other side is getting stranger and stranger than when we first met.

‘But it’s really strange. Everyone got hit a little bit in that sewer-‘

Seongjin looked back with a question. No matter how much he looked at the chicken feather rascal, he looked incredibly peaceful.

‘Why is that Owen guy so fine?’

Then, Owen swallows a mouthful of fish cake, then feels Seongjin’s gaze and turns around blankly.

“Huh? Why?”

Along with him, a small pendant dangled from the guy’s neck, emitting a bright crimson glow.

Twinkle!

“… No, nothing.”

“It’s nothing! What is it? Huh? I’m curious!”

“… … .”

“Why? Newbie. Tell me! Huh? Huh?”

“… Shut up, you idiot.”

Seongjin snapped and buried his face in the lamp with a depressed look.

I feel a sense of helplessness like never before. Everything feels wrong. Everything is a mess, and it feels like it’s all my fault.

Clearly, I am aware that I have had some kind of harmful influence on the Demon King and the Marshal. However, no matter how much I think about it, I cannot remember what it was, and I cannot even guess how to resolve this situation.

‘What the heck… … .’

What on earth did ‘I’ believe in that brought things to this point?

Swish-!

It was at that very moment that something like a soft breeze lightly brushed my hair.

“… … !”

Seongjin was overcome with a strong sense of foreboding and quickly raised his head. Then, he looked with incredulous eyes at the sight of the wrinkles of agony disappearing from Sir Masain’s face in an instant, replaced by a comfortable smile.

“uh…….”

It wasn’t just Marsain who changed.

The small scratches the group had from rolling around in the sewers had disappeared, and even Giacomo Milo, who was eroding, looked much more relaxed.

In that moment, a sense of relief welled up within me.

Oh, that’s right! I knew this guy would be here soon!

After that magical time, Marsain opened his eyes as if it were a lie.

“…lowering?”

“Sir Marsain!”

“older brother!”

Masain blinked a couple of times, then turned his shoulders as if he was uncomfortable with his posture and got up. Then he looked around with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Oh no. I forgot to be your escort and was sleeping alone? How did this happen?”

“… … .”

Seongjin asked with a slightly anxious face.

“Sir Marsain. Do you remember anything that happened earlier?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Owen also chimed in, seeming puzzled.

“Besides, Brother. It seems like you’ve been having nightmares for a while now. Is that okay?”

“nightmare…….”

Then, Marsain looked at the two people alternately with eyes filled with pure question. His eyes were clear and free of even the slightest lie.

“Well? Come to think of it, I think I had a bit of a strange dream, Your Majesty.”

It was a dream where I was wandering alone in a sunny field of grass… Masain added, furrowing his brow.

“I don’t remember it well, but I think I saw a strange mushroom colony blowing air into the air. It was a truly strange dream.”

* * *

Number 21, who was sleeping in his hiding place, woke up from his light sleep when he felt a faint presence. It was a presence that felt very familiar to him now.

As I opened the door and went in, I saw a homunculus sitting in a dark room, staring out the window.

“…your majesty.”

The saint slowly turned his head.

Now that the cumbersome hood covering its head has been removed, the face of the homunculus, which has become completely integrated with its main body, is clearly revealed. This is proof that the Holy Emperor has been in the body of this doll for quite some time.

“It is the middle of the night. How come you are here at Homunculus at this hour?”

But what came back to No. 21 was not an answer, but an absurd rebuke.

“…Why are you here? I told Breman not to send you here if possible.”

“… … !”

Number 21, without realizing it, started to cry and started to argue.

“Yes, I heard those instructions too.”

“underneath…….”

“But Your Majesty’s informant is me! No matter how much Your Majesty treats me like a brat, I am also a proper informant of the Monkey Watchtower with a number! And you didn’t even let me go to Asain, and now you intend to shun me even in the North?”

“I didn’t shun you, Enrique.”

“It’s number 21! And Your Majesty has clearly dismissed me from my mission!”

“… … .”

Seonghwang stared blankly at No. 21, who was grumbling for a moment. Then, when he began to calm down a little, he opened his mouth in a low voice.

“Enrique. Tomorrow at noon, we will change course and visit one of the strongholds of the Freedom Underpass.”

“… … !”

Freedom Underpass. When No. 21 heard those words, his face hardened with fear.

The king, who witnessed the dramatic change, let out a small sigh.

“Look at him. You’re not ready to meet him yet.”

“I am…….”

Number 21 had a hard time answering.

In the underpass of freedom, in the stronghold of the Blue Republican Revolutionary Front, there still remained a tenacious connection from his childhood that No. 21 did not want to face.

“If you show your face there, he will surely recognize you.”

“… … .”

“What can we do? Should we return to the imperial capital even now?”

“yes?”

“It’s enough to have helped me organize this group. From now on, I think I can command them on my own.”

Number 21 felt the anger that had barely subsided welling up again.

He also knew that Seonghwang was considering him. He knew that, but he couldn’t help but feel a little angry at the inappropriate suggestion.

“That is none of your concern, Your Majesty. It is my decision to decide how far I can go without meeting that author.”

“Enrique.”

“It’s number 21! And you, if you step foot in there, try to figure out how to get out safely! The Freedom Underpass will be full of people who want to grind you up!”

“… … .”

“Except for being tied to Asain, isn’t that the last homunculus? If you lose that precious doll, what are you going to do to meddle here and there in the future?”

Number 21 acted in a disrespectful manner that he would not normally dare to attempt.

“So, tomorrow, you’d better stop meddling and just quietly accept my escort!”

bang!

As No. 21 nervously closed the door and left, Seonghwang thought with a troubled expression.

… It’s really not easy to deal with children in the midst of their rebellion.

* * *

[… disappeared?]

[It disappeared.]

[I see.]

At Martha’s affirmation, Belinda, who had been hiding behind the old tombstone, carefully raised her spirit.

Even after the bright light that had briefly enveloped the realm of rest had disappeared, they were unable to raise their spirits for a while.

A light filled with pure healing and divinity. It could only be a great threat to dark(?) souls like themselves.

[But there is no need to fear that light so much, for my soul has been saved by Him.]

Martha’s soul hesitated as she continued.

[On the day I died, it was he who personally took my soul and led it here.]

Belinda also nodded.

[Well, it didn’t seem like he was trying to harm the owner that much-]

But their conversation did not continue any longer, for a moment a desperate wail enveloped the realm of rest.

Kieeeeeeeek!

The priest in black robes, Haze, cries out with black tears of blood.

I thought he was a pretty polite soul, but the more I got to know him, the more dramatic the change he showed beyond my imagination.

[What kind of nonsense are you all talking about! That man is the spirit of the Holy Emperor, the guardian of Delcross, our hated enemy! Our kind-hearted master is being completely deceived by that man!]

Then this time Belinda got upset.

[What blasphemous words! The great master of souls will never fall for anyone’s tricks!]

Then Haze glared at Belinda with blazing eyes.

[Since when have you been pretending to serve your master! The master’s first servant is, after all, me, Haze!]

Kwaaaaang!

Two souls of great power clash fiercely.

The realm of rest that had been immersed in silence was suddenly engulfed in a violent vibration. Fragile corpses flew here and there, and broken tombstones scattered in all directions.

[Ah, those two, here we go again… … .]

Martha hid behind a large tombstone and sighed as the ground gave way.