Chapter 32: To the Empire

“How am I going to explain this away?”

Saying I received this as a token of gratitude from a city near the area I was sent to subjugate… but I was carrying out the Emperor’s orders, so it was just part of my duty.

A fairytale about stumbling upon a cave and finding this during the subjugation? Even I wouldn’t believe that, damn it.

If I had to pick a plausible excuse for Rememver, ‘token of gratitude’ would be it, but if this reaches the Emperor’s ears, I’m in big trouble.

He’d definitely say, ‘You dared to pocket money while carrying out my orders? It seems your greed knows no bounds. Perhaps I should personally help you curb it?’ and draw his sword.

How can I be so sure? Because there’s precedent!

And the person in that precedent? They ended up as a bloodied, cold corpse, dragged out of the Imperial Palace. Their family had to take care of the body dumped on the roadside like baggage.

“Should I just come clean and say I won it gambling?”

Leave out the Demon Realm part and just say I did some gambling… yeah, my reputation would plummet.

Still, that’s the most reasonable explanation. Oh, it’s not an explanation, it’s the truth.

Anyway, gambling isn’t exactly illegal, and the Empire’s nobles secretly indulge in it from time to time. My reputation might take a hit, but there shouldn’t be any other issues.

I was wrapping up my thoughts and about to speak when Rememver, who had been quietly observing me, offered a faint smile.

“Just a joke, sir.”

“……”

“We’ll put this money to good use in the estate’s finances. Please forgive my poor attempt at humor if it offended you. It gladdens this old man’s heart to see you considering the estate’s finances.”

“Ah, haha… Don’t mention it. Haha…”

So, he’s not going to ask about the source, thankfully.

Just as I was internally sighing in relief, Rememver suddenly changed the subject, as if reading my mind.

He began putting away the money with a serious expression.

“I won’t inquire about the money’s origin.”

“……”

“Given your esteemed position, Count, there must be many who seek to curry favor.”

“Excuse me?”

Wait a minute, I think he’s seriously misunderstanding something?

“Someone of your standing could accept the money and say nothing, and no one would dare question it. Given your character, I doubt you would solicit bribes, so there shouldn’t be a major problem…”

“W-What are you talking about?! Bribes?!”

There’s no way I’d take a bribe! And I’m not in a position to receive one!

“Who would bribe a mere honorary count! This is absurd!”

And even if someone were to try and bribe me, I would probably refuse outright.

Imagine the Emperor hearing about it. My stomach would be the first thing to be sliced open.

I need to clear up this misunderstanding quickly.

‘It’s not a bribe!’

“There’s no chance of my stomach being cut open!”

“…Pardon?”

“Huh?”

“…Were you perhaps speaking your thoughts instead of your words just now?”

“Ah.”

That’s not right.

I hurriedly corrected myself, but Rememver watched my flustered state with a gentle smile.

It was a similar smile to before, making me pause, and he spoke with a benevolent look.

“Just a joke, sir.”

“……”

I want to punch him.

“Surely you wouldn’t strike an old man?”

“You’re quick on the uptake.”

“Isn’t it a butler’s duty to be so?”

“…Rememver, you shouldn’t joke around. It’s hard to tell when you’re serious.”

“Oh dear, are you trying to take away this old man’s only source of amusement? How cruel. Seeing your bewildered expression is this old man’s joy.”

“Was that on purpose?!”

“The carriage is prepared. Didn’t you say you wanted to leave immediately? Shall we head down?”

Rememver bowed obsequiously.

Unable to argue with an old man, I reluctantly started walking, grumbling inwardly.

Since it wasn’t a formal occasion, and news of my return hadn’t spread yet, the escort wasn’t large.

Moreover, I dislike being cooped up in a carriage for too long, so this choice was also for better mobility.

Inside the swaying carriage, I lowered my stifling mask and leaned back against the wall.

Perhaps it’s the quiet, but stray thoughts keep surfacing. Especially thoughts about the Emperor, given that I’m on my way to meet him.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

It’s probably better to refresh my memory of him to avoid making any mistakes during our first meeting in a while.

So, what comes to mind when I think of the Emperor?

‘The Emperor is… a complex individual.’

Who isn’t complex in this world? But with my limited vocabulary, this is the best way to describe him.

Arrogant, but with the ability to back it up. A man with not only power but also intellect. Furthermore, he’s ambitious, constantly seeking self-improvement and generously supporting the recruitment of talented individuals. And…

‘A tyrant.’

He ascended the throne through a coup.

Do you know what the ‘King,’ formerly the ninth prince, said at his coronation, which began with the blood of his siblings instead of a carpet?

[I have ascended to this position through blood. In that case, it would be absurd to continue using the kingdom’s name. Therefore, I hereby declare a change in the kingdom’s name.]

A declaration that was anything but light, replacing a tedious speech.

He discarded the kingdom’s name that had been used until then and established a new one.

Something like the ‘Edward Kingdom’ named after himself would have been fine.

But the name the new king gave his kingdom was—

[Empire]

[Forget the kingdom’s name from the past. The name of this nation is ‘Empire’.]

Utterly audacious.

‘Empire’ itself as the name.

Unsurprisingly, the other kingdoms wouldn’t stand idly by.

Numerous objections arose.

All the kingdoms on the continent stepped forward to condemn him, but the ‘King’ of the ‘Empire’ completely ignored their fierce reactions. No, he provoked them further.

And so, the war began.

The long ‘Eight Years’ War’ that changed my life completely.

‘Damn it, that was like hell.’

It was so horrific that half of my memories from that time are gone.

I don’t particularly want to recover those memories; my mind is probably refusing to recall them.

When the Eight Years’ War ended, the ‘Empire,’ which was merely a name before, had become a true ‘Empire’ that no one could argue with.

A true empire that had swallowed one-third of the continent, ruled by an ‘Emperor’ not a ‘King’.

‘And I.’

Was recognized for my contributions in the war and became an honorary count.

Before I could even enjoy that status, I was disgustingly scouted as a companion for the Hero and immediately set off on a journey.

Leading to my current predicament, stuck in the Demon King’s castle—my thoughts continued until the carriage lurched to a halt.

“What…”

—Waaaaaah!

“…A war cry?”

I quickly put on my mask and slightly opened a window. The escorts were facing off against unfamiliar individuals.

They were dressed in all blue, with a white bird emblazoned on their clothing.

…The Revolutionary Army.

A group that emerged due to the actions of the Emperor who conquered various kingdoms during the Eight Years’ War.

‘Damn the Emperor. While leaving no loose ends is good, he should have at least taken some hostages.’

He thoroughly searched for and killed influential people, those with significant popular support, and even distant relatives of the royal families. What else could those who lost everything do?

They lost their countries and the people who should have been their rallying points. They were practically driven mad.

Having reached this point, they started rampaging, declaring their intention to eliminate the Emperor and all the upper echelons to create a world where everyone is equal.

‘I don’t really care about their ideology… but I’m not keen on becoming one of their victims.’

And their numbers are quite significant.

It’s only natural since the people of each kingdom (their rallying points) who should have risen up independently have united under the banner of the Revolutionary Army.

Sensing that I had opened the window, the coachman brandished his dagger and shouted.

“An attack! Close the window!”

Shouldn’t it be ‘Help us!’? I’m not some noble lady. Even though I look like this, I fought on the battlefield…

Of course, I had no desire to join the fray, so I obediently closed the window and sat back down. A thudding sound, like an arrow hitting something, echoed.

‘This feels dangerous. Shouldn’t I be fighting too?’

Feeling uneasy, I seriously considered grabbing the dagger I kept for emergencies and going outside, but then I heard a familiar ‘cough’ from the driver’s seat. It was a sound I knew all too well.

‘He’s dead.’

A cold sensation ran down my spine. At the same time, a grinding sound started coming from the carriage door.

Like something was being broken…

Crash!

“Crap, it’s actually broken.”

Not just broken. The carriage door was completely torn off its hinges.

Beyond where the door used to be, I could see the escorts fighting desperately. Just how many enemies were there? All of them were wielding their swords frantically, their faces strained.

‘Okay, that’s all well and good… but I’m about to die here, you bastards…’

A massive figure blocked my only escape route.

The scars on his face alone made him look menacing, as if he intended to intimidate his opponents. He held a massive axe in one hand.

Just looking at him sent shivers down my spine.

The creature, whether monster or human, was clearly looking at me, his eyes gleaming.

“So, you’re the one. The Emperor’s dog.”

“Ah, that’s not me.”

“……”

“……”

Silence fell.

“…May I ask your name?”

“Deon Hart.”

“That’s right, the Emperor’s dog!”

“Not really…”

It seems I’m the one they’re after, but I’m really not the Emperor’s dog.

Before I could even open my mouth, he saw my white hair and red eyes, nodded to himself, and muttered.

“Definitely him. Looks frail.”

“Frail…”

Frail? Isn’t your size unnecessarily large?

Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud.

Not that I had the courage, and besides, he had already reached out his large hand and grabbed my neck.

“Guh… Keuh…”

“I was expecting a hero, but you’re just a pathetic coward. Disappointing.”

“Y-You… crazy… bastard…”

“So you do have a mouth on you. Cursing in this situation is commendable, though.”

What did I even do?

“How did someone like you become a hero? The Emperor isn’t one to waste his resources on someone insignificant.”

I’m running out of breath. To make matters worse, my damned body was increasing its heart rate, desperately needing oxygen.

In desperation, I tried to stab his arm with the dagger in my hand, but swinging it clumsily in my breathless state, it was too slow.

Instead, it collided with the axe he casually swung and was knocked out of my grip. Damn it!

‘If only I were outside the carriage…’

With more space to move, I wouldn’t have been caught like this.

I pushed that thought to the back of my mind.

The useless hypothetical ‘what ifs’ can wait. Right now, I need to focus on escaping.

‘Damn it, I can’t breathe…’

Those damn escorts were too busy fighting off the relentless enemies.

‘I have to do something…’

My mind was telling me to stay calm, but my body was rebelling, thrashing about on its own.

As if wanting to live, my trembling hands gripped the thick arm around my neck, trying to claw at it.

In the process, the gloves on my hands came off, and the carefully wrapped bandages came undone, revealing my pale hands.

I heard him scoff as he looked at my thin, gaunt hands.

“Blame the Emperor. If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be in this situation.”

I suppose so. If it weren’t for the current Emperor, the Revolutionary Army wouldn’t have been formed.

…But how.

‘Did they know I was coming back…?’

Before that question could fully form in my mind, my consciousness began to fade.

Considering the brutal grip strangling my neck, it was almost impressive that I had managed to stay conscious this long.

I wanted to praise myself, but I knew that passing out now would be a disaster…

‘Th-That bastard is raising his axe?!’

My eyes widened.

I absolutely cannot lose consciousness! The moment I do, I’ll die, I’m sure of it!

But despite my will, my vision kept blurring.

The strength was draining from my trembling hands, and as the last thing I saw was him raising his massive axe, my memories ceased.