SWNOVELXO Chapter 14 - The Emperor (7)
✦ Chapter 14 – The Emperor (7) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
“This was found at Baron Ashworth’s residence,” the Emperor said as he examined the blue powder in the vial I handed over. His expression conveyed utter disdain, as though he were looking at filth.
“Do you know what this is?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
It was drugs.
Drugs far more addictive and potent than anything in reality.
The Empire had outlawed its mere possession, and since the current Emperor ascended to the throne, drugs had never surfaced within the Empire.
This was precisely why Baron Ashworth had claimed nothing was stolen by the Phantom Cardinal. Admitting that something was stolen would mean confessing that drugs had been taken, and how could he admit to that?
“Is this vial all that Baron Ashworth possessed?”
“No. There was more.”
I retrieved another thirty or so vials from my inventory, placing them on the table.
The Emperor’s golden eyes glittered ominously, his anger palpable to anyone in the room.
“Tsk. Did you confiscate everything from Baron Ashworth’s estate?”
“Yes. I took everything from his home without leaving a single vial behind.”
I had infiltrated the Baron’s home and swept it clean before revealing my identity as the Phantom Cardinal.
“That is a relief. Did Baron Ashworth appear to be addicted himself?”
“No. He didn’t seem addicted at all. It looked like he had never used the drug.”
“Even worse,” the Emperor remarked.
The Baron’s wickedness was evident. Despite not using the drugs himself, he kept them in his house to use others. His aim was simple—profit by turning others into addicts.
“It appears he planned on using the drugs to create addicts and profit from them.”
Once someone fell into the clutches of addiction, they’d do anything for their next fix.
“Did you notice anyone who seemed to be already addicted?”
“I checked all the servants in his household but none appeared to be addicted. I wanted to check the people in his territory, but I ran out of time.”
I’d thoroughly inspected the servants during my infiltration, and thankfully, there were no telltale signs of addiction. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to search beyond the manor itself.
“You’ve done well regardless. Leave the rest to me.”
The Emperor tapped the armrest of his throne twice. In a blink, several figures materialized from thin air, their bodies shrouded in dark cloaks that concealed their features and made it impossible to discern their identities.
“Find out where Ashworth acquired these drugs. And ensure that none within his domain has been…addicted.”
“““““For the glory of the Empire.”””””
With those words, the cloaked figures vanished as swiftly as they’d appeared.
With the Emperor personally investigating, it was certain that Baron Ashworth’s downfall was imminent. The thought of a Croaka quest suddenly came to mind:
[The villagers are all addicted to drugs thanks to Baron Ashworth. It’s too late for them.]
[Desperate for their next fix, they lure unsuspecting adventurers to their deaths, robbing them to fund their addiction.]
[They have resorted to even more unspeakable acts—killing their own loved ones, their friends, their families, all for a few more vials of the drug.]
[What was once a peaceful and prosperous village now lies in ruins. Its laughter and joy, extinguished.]
[Baron Ashworth, the source of this misery, remains untouched, living a life of luxury built on the suffering of others.]
[Loki, you must bring peace to this village.]
A shiver ran down my spine. ‘That gruesome questline will never see the light of day now.’ No more sacrificing NPCs for the sake of the plot. I’d changed things for the better.
“What reward should I grant you?” the Emperor’s voice brought me back to reality. He looked at me with a hint of pride in his eyes.
It made sense; if not for my actions, it would have taken much longer to uncover the drug problem.
I’d initially planned to ask for another elixir, but I now had a different objective in mind. Even with the elixirs, I wasn’t equipped to handle what lay ahead.
“Your Majesty, please teach me the Shadow Step.”
The words left my mouth before I could overthink them. The Emperor stared at me, eyes wide with surprise. Understandable. Who in their right mind would ask the Emperor for combat lessons?
“Ho~.”
The surprise in his eyes faded, replaced with amusement.
“Even though I am here talking to you, I am still the busiest person in the Empire,” he started, and I assumed he was about to refuse.
“Yet, if I delegate some tasks to my chancellor, I might find some spare time.”
His words held a promise.
“From now on, I will teach you how to use the Shadow Step.”
The Emperor looked at my bewildered expression with amusement. Rising from his seat, he walked towards me, a hint of enjoyment in his step.
“Last time, you asked me how to become stronger. Do you remember my answer?”
How could I forget his unusually romantic yet profound advice?
‘If you have someone you love, you can become stronger than anyone else.’
“I remember,” I replied. “But, Your Majesty… there isn’t anyone I love…yet.”
“There is actually one more way to become stronger,” the Emperor said.
I opened my mouth to ask what he meant, but before I could utter a single word—
“Ugh!”
His fist had suddenly driven into my solar plexus. What had just…?
“From this moment on, you will die. A hundred times.” The Emperor’s voice was devoid of humor. “In those countless deaths, if you can make what you learn your own, you will become stronger.”
I collapsed to the floor, clutching my stomach.
The Emperor now stood over me, his sword now pointed directly at my throat.
“Consider this death number one.”
An unsettling premonition settled in my gut. My training with the Emperor… it would be anything but normal.
“One hour a day. I will not give you more time than that.”
That day, in one hour, I ‘died’ 64 times at the hands of the Emperor.
.
.
.
*Swish. Whoosh.*
“The essence of Shadow Walk lies in freedom,” the Emperor said, effortlessly evading a strike from my staff.
*Thud!*
“Ugh!”
His knee connected with my chest, stealing my breath.
*Swish. Whoosh.*
The most infuriating part? He was purposely matching my speed.
Even so, I couldn’t land a hit, while his attacks always found their mark.
“I think my movements are plenty free!” I gasped, scrambling back to my feet to try again.
*Swish. Whoosh.*
“No, you still do not understand anything.”
That day, I ‘died’ 42 times at the hands of the Emperor.
.
.
.
“I would have taught these techniques to Lucas myself, but alas, I’m afraid spear combat is not my forte.”
*Whoosh. Clang!*
“Surely the Princess would be a capable–oof!”
I grunted, the Emperor’s elbow finding its mark.
“Still so predictable. The Empress is training Yerika.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, it seems you have no talent for teaching,” I wheezed, struggling to catch my breath.
*Clang!*
I parried a blow.
“You certainly have a lot to say while on the receiving end of a beating. Tell me, have you gotten any stronger under my tutelage?”
I couldn’t deny the Emperor’s words, despite my frustration.
I tried to dodge his approaching blade but failed.
That day, I ‘died’ 37 times at the hands of the Emperor.
.
.
.
The days that followed blurred into a relentless cycle of training and “death” at the Emperor’s hands.
Part of me wanted to believe that his brutal approach was pointless, but I couldn’t deny the results. I was improving, day by day, death by death.
And that was almost more frustrating.
.
.
.
“Today is the last session,” the Emperor declared.
As he mentioned, I would be returning to the academy tomorrow, making this our final training session.
I lunged at him, my staff a blur of motion. Compared to my clumsy movements on our first day, I was now a whirlwind of speed and precision.
“So, you now understand what it means to move freely?” he asked.
“Yes! I understand a bit now! So at least take one hit from me!”
Comparing this to when I first swung my staff at the Emperor, it was evident that his movements to avoid my attacks had to become larger.
“If I let you hit me even once, I’d lose face in front of the chancellor who has to endure my complaints,” the Emperor said, and his sword touched my neck.
Darn, I had lasted a bit longer this time.
“This makes it nine times.”
Today, I ‘died’ nine times at the hands of the Emperor.
Of course, if he hadn’t matched his speed to mine, I would have been ‘dead’ immediately.
“You’ve worked hard. Don’t slack off in your efforts at the academy,” he advised.
“Next time, please let me land at least one hit!” I pleaded.
The Emperor laughed at my words, a sign of the time we had spent together.
“I’ll think about it,” he responded with a smile.
.
.
.
As I was leaving the Imperial Palace, I ran into Yerika.
“Did Father give you another beating today, Mr. Clown?”
“Haha, today I was close!”
Coming to the palace to learn from the Emperor, I had grown closer to Yerika. To be precise, we became friends while she healed my battered body.
“My bruised body, beaten by the Emperor, was being healed.”
She burst into laughter at my narrative-like comment.
“Hehe! What’s with that descriptive sentence? But seriously, that mask of yours never comes off. Don’t you ever intend to show your real face?”
I brought a finger to my lips conspiratorially.
“It’s a secret.”
She didn’t press further, seemingly used to my cryptic responses by now.
“So, Your Highness, aren’t you going to tell me why you’re so keen on catching the Phantom Cardinal?”
She mirrored my gesture, placing a finger to her lips, a sly smile spreading across those delicate features. “That,” she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “is a secret.”
We both burst into laughter.
.
.
.
After finishing my conversation with Yerika, I arrived at the inn and threw myself onto the bed.
Though it was a bit early to sleep, I wanted to avoid being late for my first day back at the academy, so I decided to sleep early.
‘Early to bed, early to rise, as they say.’
Naturally, the next morning, I overslept.
*Arrgh!*
— End of Chapter —
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