“…Huh.”
Even at Jake’s explanation, the Emperor couldn’t immediately react.
Words similar to his own thoughts that ‘House West is trying to swallow the Imperial Palace’ did come out, but Jake before his eyes had an attitude as if he himself hadn’t participated in that matter.
The blade pointed at Jake lowered by about two spans. It was proof that the Emperor’s guard had loosened.
“What do you desire, Hero Jake West?”
Seuruk, the Emperor sheathed the sword he was holding.
Watching that, Jake thought that if he had acted like that, he would have heard Klad’s nagging saying ‘don’t believe the enemy’s words as they are and let your guard down.’
“If it’s not you who’s plotting treason, then what do you desire that you attack the Imperial Palace and throw the Empire into chaos!”
The Emperor didn’t even give Jake time to answer before shouting that he wasn’t answering. Whether he was trying to seize the initiative knowing the other party had no intention to attack, he also put on an extremely dignified expression.
“My father, Duke West…”
Jake, who was about to say that he was researching methods to turn humans into demons and through that was throwing the world into chaos, paused for a moment. The reason for coming here was to inform the Emperor of the seriousness of the current situation, but he couldn’t reveal everything as it was. Even if he claimed the Duke was turning people into demons and trying to overturn the world, how could such absurd words be easily believed?
The Emperor must know that the relationship between the Duke and Jake had broken down, and that they were trying to shift blame onto each other. If the Emperor thought Jake was being unreasonable to make him take his side, he might not believe this fact.
‘It’ll be serious if he says he’ll verify the facts and make a decision.’
If the Emperor left this space and employed people to dig into the truth, that activity would reach the Duke’s ears as well. If that happened, there was no way the Duke would let events flow as Jake wished.
Time was not on Jake’s side. He had to persuade the Emperor right here, right now. Rather than nonsense about people becoming demons, he should first say something a bit more trustworthy.
Whether unfortunate or fortunate, the Duke’s crimes weren’t just this one.
“House West has been deceiving the Empire and hiding the truth since long ago.”
“What do you…”
Jake explained everything he knew to the Emperor. The fact that the Dukes of the West family throughout history, including the current Duke West, had manipulated records without the Emperor knowing for the sake of power.
Considering information as power and hiding that information even from the Imperial Family—this meant seeking to obtain greater power than the Emperor. Nobles should pledge loyalty to the Imperial Family and whatever they do should be for the Empire’s peace and development, but the Duke had no such intention.
This could lead to treason, and even if it didn’t, how could an Empire where the Duke’s authority was higher than the Emperor’s function properly?
“I came in such a hurry that I couldn’t prepare evidence, but I can prove this. That there isn’t a speck of falsehood in my words, I will definitely show Your Majesty…”
“There’s no need for that.”
The Emperor, who had kept his mouth firmly shut in silence the whole time, spoke decisively.
You believe me even without bringing evidence. His Majesty must also be aware of the terrible things happening in the ducal house.
Jake thought so and smiled brightly.
“There’s something even more serious. Duke West is now…”
“No need to tell me.”
“…Ah, do you already know?”
The Emperor’s voice was strangely cold. Perhaps because of that, Jake’s voice, which had been confident, deflated somewhat.
Toward such a Jake, the Emperor added one more word.
As if handing down a death sentence.
“I don’t want to know.”
Ah. I see.
His brain rang as if he’d been struck hard.
Why hadn’t he noticed?
The Emperor must have already known. Even if not to the extent of knowing the Duke was manipulating records and researching turning people into demons, he must have at least known the Duke was forming some kind of cooperative relationship with the temple and scheming.
Of course, because he stood in a position overlooking everyone from the highest place in the Empire.
And yet the Emperor chose. Instead of punishing the ducal house that dared throw the Empire into chaos, he chose to condone all of this.
‘……’
His head, which would normally be complicated, turned white.
Not a single thought entered.
Only after standing in a daze for several seconds could Jake barely think again.
‘How…?’
How could he do that? None other than the Empire’s Emperor. Why on earth would he let go of the people’s hands and take the hand of one who throws the world into chaos?
He couldn’t understand it.
Why would the one who should prioritize the Empire above all else…
“Invading the Imperial Palace and threatening the Empire’s safety is a crime that should be dealt with by death, but since I well understand your heart that worries for the Empire, I will understand and let it pass. However, only this once. If something like this happens again, no matter how much of a hero you are, I will hold you responsible.”
Attacking the Imperial Palace, invading the secret space, and threatening the Emperor—these acts constituted treason even if he hadn’t coveted the Empire. The Emperor could have charged Jake and his entire house with this crime for plotting treason.
However, even in this situation, the Emperor declared he would hold only ‘Hero’ Jake West himself responsible, not House West.
Because from the moment Jake was appointed as a hero, he was a hero before being part of the ducal house? No. He was just saying in a roundabout way that he wouldn’t hold House West responsible for anything at all.
The Imperial Family didn’t want to turn House West into an enemy.
Then the Emperor couldn’t be on Jake’s side.
“Watch out!”
Kwaaaaang—!
Jake, who was just standing there in a daze unable to organize his thoughts, felt the world flip at the same time something blunt struck his body.
No, it wasn’t the world flipping but Jake himself.
“Huk!”
Jake, who came to his senses, quickly grasped the situation.
Something had exploded, and Klad had snatched him up. And though he didn’t know what he did, the next moment the two were rolling somewhere in a forest.
“Wh-what happened, Klad? What on earth…”
“That bastard Emperor triggered a trap.”
“Is His Majesty the Emperor safe!”
“Is now the time to worry about the guy who tried to kill you?”
Klad let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded. He wanted to add that if he had that time, he should worry about me instead, but he kept his mouth shut in case it looked like he was hurt at not being worried about.
“If His Majesty is injured, the Empire will fall into chaos. Separate from taking Father’s side or triggering a trap to try to kill me, the Empire’s pillar must remain firm. Just because I’ll oppose His Majesty doesn’t mean I can crush all the Empire’s citizens beneath him.”
Jake’s expression as he said that didn’t look very good either.
Jake brushed himself off and stood up. Perhaps from the shock of rolling on the ground, his back and buttocks tingled as if they’d been struck.
‘This is… the forest next to the capital?’
“Explain to me what happened, Klad.”
“The Emperor activated a trap while pretending to talk.”
If it had been an ordinary trap, Klad would have noticed immediately. The reason he didn’t even know such a trap existed until it exploded was because he couldn’t sense even a trace of mana from it.
It was a simple explosive made without using mana in a small spherical form and hung like an ornament on clothing, and the Emperor’s body was surrounded by protection magic to avoid getting caught in the explosion. It wasn’t strange for the Emperor to have protection magic on, so he hadn’t questioned it.
‘I should have observed the situation more carefully. To make such a mistake.’
Klad clicked his tongue shortly, blaming himself. If his reaction had been even slightly slower, Jake would have been caught in the explosion.
Klad, who belatedly detected a suspicious energy from the accessory on the Emperor’s clothing, embraced Jake and used teleport magic the instant it glowed. The explosion was so powerful that the mana nearly scattered and the magic almost failed. If he’d made a mistake, parts of Jake’s body could have disintegrated during the transfer.
Thinking Jake might get hurt, he’d overreacted a bit.
Klad seriously scanned whether Jake’s limbs were intact. Though they’d rolled on the ground a bit, he was fine.
“I escaped right away so I don’t know if the Emperor is okay. But an ordinary explosive wouldn’t have broken through a protection artifact, so he’s probably fine. You worry about yourself.”
Klad brushed off the dirt on Jake’s white clothes. Then he suddenly realized.
Jake had protection magic on him.
‘…I put protection on him before entering the Imperial Palace.’
He’d forgotten. More precisely, from the moment the explosion occurred, he’d forgotten that Jake was safe.
“……Haah.”
“What’s wrong, Klad?”
“It’s nothing.”
How stupid. From start to finish, a complete mess without one thing done properly.
To be this scared because he didn’t want to repeat losing someone before his eyes. It was utterly pathetic.
“The Emperor is on the Duke’s side.”
Klad summarized today’s events in a single sentence. At those words, Jake nodded with a short sigh.
Turning his head toward the capital, he could faintly see the top of the Imperial Palace in the distance. Jake watched that place endlessly without saying anything, then spoke in a calmly subdued voice.
“Now I only have you, Klad.”
