Chapter 31: To the Empire

A cozy breeze caressed his cheek. The flowers lining the roadside swayed their petals as if welcoming the gentle wind, and the sunlight poured down in warm rays, like a blessing.

Yes, it was spring.

Late spring, bordering on summer at that.

A gatekeeper guarding the entrance to a massive estate stifled a yawn, his eyelids heavy with drowsiness, before his brow twitched as something caught his eye.

In the distance, someone cloaked in traveler’s robes was walking straight towards them.

“Hey.”

“Huh?”

“Doesn’t that guy look suspicious?”

“What’s suspic— Oh, you’re right.”

Despite appearances, this was a job they took pride in. The colleague beside him, his expression hardening instantly, adjusted his spear.

The first gatekeeper also tightened his grip on his weapon, his wariness plain as day as the stranger approached.

And the moment the figure was right in front of them, he thrust his spear forward, signaling him to halt.

“This is the Hart Count Estate. The Count is currently away, and outsiders are not permitted to enter without authorization. If you have important business, please leave a message.”

Words he’d repeated countless times to visitors.

Usually, there was no benefit to making an enemy of the Hart Count, so most people simply turned back, but this guest seemed different.

He stood there as if he hadn’t heard a word, not budging an inch.

No, he went even further.

“Open the gate.”

“…Huh?”

Open the gate? How could he be so brazen?

Just as he was about to retort, the man pulled back the hood of his robe.

The gatekeeper froze at the sight of the white hair that was revealed, and then he recoiled in horror at the crimson eyes that met his.

“It’s absurd to say I can’t enter my own estate, isn’t it?”

“Y-Your Lordship!”

Deon Hart, Honorary Count.

He had left his estate six months prior to hunt monsters, and now he had returned.

***

“Deon Hart has returned?”

The man, who had been leaning back in his chair, straightened up. Amusement flickered in his violet eyes.

Violet eyes and violet hair. Just as gold symbolized the Imperial family, violet was the emblem of one particular lineage in the Empire.

The Illuster Dukedom.

Starbe Illuster, the Empire’s sole Duke and head of the noble faction, the polar opposite to the Emperor, smirked at the fresh news.

Who was Deon Hart? Clearly the Emperor’s lapdog. From the perspective of the noble faction’s leader, he was the very ‘hero’ who needed to be eliminated.

His sudden disappearance and equally sudden return weren’t particularly surprising. If he thought about it, it was about time he came back.

“Now then.”

He turned his gaze to the person who had been standing beside him all along.

Emerald eyes that betrayed no emotion and an impassive face that revealed nothing.

As Starbe looked at Cruel Hart, who styled himself as his subordinate, a peculiar glint seemed to flash in his eyes, but he quickly masked it.

His voice, sickeningly sweet, flowed out.

“What shall we do?”

Your brother has returned, you see.

This news likely hadn’t spread far yet. The Dukedom’s intelligence network was simply exceptionally thorough.

Besides himself, the only other person who might know was the Emperor.

In this situation, there was only one thing Cruel, a subordinate of the noble faction’s leader, would say.

“I will put out a hit.”

“Wrong. There are more cost-effective cards to play.”

The Duke wagged his finger as if teaching a child, his gaze shifting.

As if responding to his cue, a woman who had been discreetly waiting in the corner with documents in hand, looked up and met his gaze.

“Sareen, you tell me. What should we do?”

“…Perhaps you are referring to the Revolutionary Army.”

“Precisely.”

Those who were desperate to remove the Emperor would hardly refuse a request to kill the Emperor’s dog.

They would participate in this with more fervor than those who killed for money.

Therefore, the Duke grinned and ordered Cruel.

“Contact the Revolutionary Army.”

***

Hustle, bustle.

They seem awfully busy, whatever it is.

Feels like I’ve become a huge bother. Guess I was away for too long.

But it couldn’t be helped because of the Demon King.

Feeling self-conscious, I scratched my head, and then an elderly man with greying hair emerged from the bustling servants, walking at a steady pace.

“You have returned, Count.”

“Ah, yes. It’s been a while, Rememver.”

Rememver, the butler who had been with me since I inherited this estate, greeted me with a benevolent smile.

Seeing his unchanging composure, it truly hit me that I was back, and I was about to take another step forward when the greeting, which I thought was over, continued.

“Did your monster subjugation go smoothly?”

“…Pardon?”

Monster subjugation?

…Right, officially, I was away on the Emperor’s orders to subjugate monsters.

“Ah, yes, it did.”

I nodded vaguely, and Rememver’s face broadened with a dignified smile as he took a step to the side.

As if saying, ‘Please, come in,’ I naturally stepped inside and said to him as he followed.

“I’ll be going to see His Majesty. Please prepare accordingly.”

“You must be tired from your long journey, perhaps you should rest first…”

“No, I’ll shower, change, and go immediately.”

It’s not like I don’t want to rest. It’s just that being on the Emperor’s bad side is a bigger problem, so it can’t be helped.

The current Emperor, Eudoardo Deserte, is a blood-soaked Emperor who ascended to the throne by the sword.

The sight of the ninth prince dragging his sword across the palace, having murdered all his older siblings, and then picking up the crown with his bloodied hands and placing it on his own head, was a terrifying scene that still lingered in the memories of his subjects even after ten years.

What would happen if I fell out of his favor?

Of course, he’s not such a tyrant that he’d kill someone just for not reporting immediately, but it’s safest to avoid doing anything that might displease him…

‘…But why is the atmosphere like this?’

The servants, who would have moved instantly before, weren’t moving at all.

As I stared at the fidgeting servants with a bewildered expression, Rememver naturally stepped forward and said.

“We will prepare immediately.”

And what followed was as swift and efficient as Ed used to be.

Some of the servants prepared bathwater, while others stood by with towels.

And after being dragged around by yet another group of servants, I snapped back to reality to find myself soaking in a warm bath.

It’s chaotic because it’s been a while, but it’s not the first time, so I’m not that flustered.

I quickly relaxed my weary body, and then the door opened, and maids came in to scrub me clean, dress me in a gown, and lead me somewhere.

‘W-wait a minute… just a minute.’

It’s gotten really chaotic now, hasn’t it? Not just because it’s been a while, but it’s genuinely chaotic.

You guys weren’t this over the top before. What on earth happened while I was gone?

Oblivious to my expression, the maids sat me on a sofa, pulled out various uniforms, and began chattering amongst themselves.

“If you’re going to the Imperial Palace, wouldn’t this uniform be nice? It has some tasteful decorations that would accentuate the Count’s beauty.”

“No, the trend is asceticism! In that sense, this uniform with minimal embellishments would be perfect, don’t you think?”

“Considering the Count’s public image, wouldn’t this one be better? It has a more elegant feel. With this, the Count’s image might soften a bit… How about going for a sickly, refined young nobleman concept this time?”

I don’t understand why they’re agonizing over white uniforms and white uniforms and white uniforms.

They’re all uniforms, and they’re all white. Even the uniforms hanging on the other racks are all white.

What are they even trying to do?

“What do you think, Count?”

“….”

They all look the same to me.

Damn it, how did my symbol end up being white uniforms?

I sighed and sank into the sofa. I half-closed my eyes and pointed at something randomly, and heard two clicks of the tongue and a small shriek of joy.

‘I can hear those tongue clicks, guys…’

I was so dumbfounded that my eyes snapped open, and I glanced up to see the maid who had suggested the ‘sickly, refined young nobleman’ look standing in front of me with a uniform.

‘Oh… sickly?’

I think I chose the wrong one.

No, the intention of making my image softer seems okay, but seeing that maid snorting with excitement makes me uneasy.

Should I back out now?

While I was contemplating this, the maid handed the uniform to a waiting servant and quickly retreated.

‘No, wait…!’

I was just going to pick something else…

Thud. The door closed.

“…”

“…”

“…Um… Count… your gown…”

“Ah.”

There’s one thing I learned while living in the Demon King’s castle. Something very useful for times like this.

Resignation.

Yeah, it’s not like I’ll die from wearing it. The uniform doesn’t look that bad, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

Though that maid’s gaze is a bit unsettling…

‘Ignore it.’

I obediently took off my gown and handed it to the servant.

Bandages were wrapped around my wrists and fingers, and white gloves were put on. Once the uniform was on, the rest was quick.

The maids who had left swarmed back in, adjusting my already perfect attire, and combing my messy hair back.

‘It’ll just get messy again later anyway.’

I didn’t voice that thought.

They were focusing so intently, their eyes practically bloodshot, that I didn’t want to say anything that might provoke their wrath.

When I put on the white cloak I had been specially issued during the war and finally the white mask to block the sunlight, the maids let out sighs of admiration while exchanging high-fives.

What’s with that behavior? Ah, and there’s one covering her mouth as she looks at me, so it probably doesn’t mean anything good.

Covering your mouth usually means you’re nauseous, right!

Does my appearance look that bad? To the point of being nauseating?

“Maybe I should change……”

“No way!”

“Absolutely not!”

“How could you say such a thing!”

Geez! I was just thinking out loud, why are they so sensitive…

…Could it be, are they plotting to mess with me?

As I eyed the huffing maids suspiciously, a knock sounded, and Rememver’s voice came from the other side of the door.

“The carriage is ready. We can depart immediately when you are.”

It seemed like there was nothing left to prepare, so I grabbed a concealed dagger and opened the door.

Rememver, dressed in a neat tailcoat, was standing right in front of the door, and our eyes met.

Even though the door had suddenly opened, Rememver showed no sign of surprise, simply stepping aside and bowing his head.

He must have seen my attire, and since he didn’t say anything, it seems there’s nothing particularly wrong with it…

“Ah, before we leave, just a moment…”

I turned away from the path leading to the first floor and headed to my room.

I left Rememver to wait outside and looked around the room. On the desk were the belongings I had brought with me.

“Thankfully, they’re still here.”

When I was being dragged off to shower… no, before entering, I barely managed to tell them not to touch my things, saying I would organize them myself. It seems they listened somehow.

Among the items that were untouched, exactly as I had left them, I picked up the food pouch.

‘Magic is the sole domain of the demon race.’

I can’t just leave this lying around.

While those deeply knowledgeable in magic are rare, the moment anyone opens it, even a fool would immediately realize it’s a magically enchanted pouch.

So, I need to burn it.

Since it’s late spring, the fireplace was off, so I lit a candle and burned the pouch.

The food inside will burn too, but I don’t care. I can eat delicious food freely now.

I waved my hand to scatter the ashes flying in the air and picked up another pouch.

‘Burning this one would be a disaster.’

A pouch full of gold coins.

I rummaged through the room, pulled out several plain leather pouches, and transferred the contents before finally being able to burn the original pouch without regret.

I neatly organized the gold coin pouches, then picked up two of them and opened the door.

“This is the money I earned on my trip. Please add it to the estate’s finances.”

Though the Count’s estate already has more than enough money, so there’s no real need to add to it.

Rememver, who had accepted the pouch, checked the contents and then looked up.

His unique silver-blue eyes, which were rarely seen showing any strong emotion, held an inscrutable glint as they looked at me.

“Looks like monsters these days drop gold coins when you defeat them.”

……Ah.

That’s right, I was here to hunt monsters.

I was so out of it, I almost forgot.