Chapter 198

***

‘No way, Martin is greeting me!’

Gilbert found today burdensome. He had come because he was invited, but Lina had gone to get a seat, and Elisha, Bord, and Mary hadn’t arrived yet.

He was like a lost puppy, but of all people, Martin! To call him with such a happy tone!

“Uh, uh! I’m here!”

He ran over in a flash.

“Uh, Martin? Where’s Martin…”

“Oh, Sir Gilbert! It’s a pleasure to meet you! This is an honor!”

“You’re the conqueror of Fog Island! Kyaa, please tell us some of your adventure stories!”

“A pleasure to meet you, Sir Gilbert! I am the one who protects the territory on the eastern border…”

Martin was gone, and the place was filled with nobles thirsty for a greeting.

Surrounded by them, Gilbert was once again unable to move, like an abandoned puppy.

***

“Phew, that’s a relief. Right?”

Using Gilbert as a scapegoat, Lilac and I were able to escape.

“Yes. Though I feel sorry for Cadet Gilbert.”

“No, don’t feel sorry.”

“Yes! I won’t feel sorry!”

Seeing Lilac smile brightly made me feel better.

When we returned to the table, Nerjin had just returned with Bianca and Savo.

We sat around a table and were able to enjoy this time, eating delicious food amidst the orchestra’s music.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering—!”

Of course, this moment was an exception.

The subject who had captivated the conversation with his elegant eloquence, the noble who was bluffing while sitting at the table, and even the knight who had praised each other’s muscles and promised a future duel.

Everyone without exception rose from their seats, looked towards the entrance, and straightened their posture.

The person standing at the entrance was the Imperial Chamberlain. The Emperor’s spokesperson.

Soon, three people got out of three golden carriages.

The ever-beautiful Golden Princess Adela, the imposing aura of Kazaks that exuded the air of a young ruler, and the Emperor.

‘Hmm.’

Certainly, tonight’s schedule was to meet the Emperor with Adela.

As long as Know-It-All was correcting me, my memory couldn’t be wrong. Since Adela was not one to lie, her words that the Emperor was gravely ill must be true.

‘He’s amazing.’

However, for a sick person, his physique was extremely impressive. His gait was dignified, and his eyes were engraved with an authority that seemed to look down upon the world.

‘Come to think of it, if I go to see the Emperor… could I be going there.’

The Defardly Empire had a shelter that lasted a thousand years, soul stones, and a treasured sword, and the Cosmos Empire also had holy relics and national treasures. Would the Imperium Empire not have one?

In the original work, the entire passage was blocked and forever buried, but now it was different.

‘The Golden Mausoleum.’

In the original work, it was only described in ways like ‘It’s such a shame that it disappeared,’ or ‘Ah, if only we had that, things would have been different.’ The greatest and final strength of the Imperium Empire’s Imperial Family.

‘It would be nice if I could go under the pretext of visiting the sick Emperor.’

The Emperor, wearing a mask over his sickly complexion, looked around the Elidore family’s grand mansion from where he stood and praised it.

“Hoho, this is magnificent.”

After expressing his admiration, he headed forward. Kazaks and Adela followed the Emperor’s steps, and behind them, the other three dukes, Wilhelm, Karok, and Layton, followed.

At the end, Arnold was waiting with a humble posture.

“We will consider today’s royal visit an infinite honor for our family for generations to come.”

“Of course, of course. Rise, Elidore. We must begin the succession ceremony.”

Generally, title investiture ceremonies are held at the Imperial Palace.

However, this time it was a dukedom. One of the four pillars that supported the Empire and the Imperial Family. Therefore, its capabilities were tested.

They had to invite the Imperial Family and the nobles of the Empire to the mansion and handle everything from the preparations for the succession ceremony to the end.

“I shall do so, Your Majesty. Does the mansion please you?”

“There is no need to say more. It is worthy of being called the best mansion I have seen.”

The Emperor’s acknowledgment was given.

Soon, the succession ceremony would begin. The Emperor sat in the seat of honor, Adela and Kazaks one step below, the Four Great Dukes two steps below, and Arnold and Luri three steps below.

“This is a joyous day.”

The Emperor, seated, opened his mouth to the public.

“Some might say. That the Empire’s security is precarious due to repeated terror attacks.”

The Emperor’s head slowly rose. The blue, cloudless sky was painted in his golden eyes.

“I am not unaware of why they think so, but I cannot accept it.”

The giant, the culmination of imperial power, rose.

“Just because there were no overt invasions until now, did the demons of hell not exist?”

All the nobles of the continent focused on the standing Emperor.

“On the contrary, I am glad. Each of the Demon Lords has the power to destroy the continent. With the help of countless heroes, we have defeated them, so we have only faced a suitable ordeal at the right time.”

The greatest gold began its speech. The golden light flashed and filled the area.

“Listen, O nobles of the Empire! We, humanity, have victoriously triumphed against the Demon Lords who have invaded the continent! I cannot say there were no losses, but considering the enemy’s strength, it is not an exaggeration to call it a great victory! We are living in a page of history! The era in which humanity has finally overcome the demons head-on and imprinted the prestige of humans on the entire world!”

Amidst only the Emperor’s resonant voice, all the nobles were overwhelmed with a sense of elation.

“…”

But really, did we, humanity, truly triumph over the demons?

I was not unaware of the Emperor’s intention. It must be a desire to instill confidence in and comfort the grieving people of the Empire.

To tell the truth, we had only barely managed to block their surprise attacks. The 5% Keltu, the 25% Brahmus, the 40% Joverka, and the slightly less than 50% Kragach. If we went to hell, we would have to face seven lords at 100% power.

‘The Emperor doesn’t know the true Demon Lords. He has not met a true disaster.’

But I remained silent. Until that day came, the Empire had to be maintained.

“Look at the sky! As if it knows of humanity’s victory, not a single cloudy day has come since that day! Today, we will begin a festival for the new generation! Our new pillar, our new duke! With Duke Arnold and the Elidore Ducal Family!”

With fervent cheers, Marquis Arnold went up to the front of the Emperor’s platform. Receiving several items from the Emperor, he became Duke Arnold.

A succession ceremony worthy of the name Elidore continued for a long time.

“…And so, I shall conclude the succession of the dukedom of the Elidore family.”

After the Emperor’s declaration, it was just a festival.

“Haha, Duke Arnold! Congratulations!”

“Thank you, Knight Commander.”

“Ooh, I knew Elidore’s long-cherished wish would be fulfilled! Do you remember me?”

“Of course, Margrave.”

From the opening of the café to the procurement of ingredients, we had a close relationship with Elidore, so we also sat at our table and congratulated them. It seemed too busy to go and see them separately.

All the nobles of the Empire were flocking, gritting their teeth, to greet ‘Duke Arnold’ once.

‘Arnold and Luri are having a tough time.’

Well, from here on, it wasn’t my business. Since I had contributed something, I planned to enjoy the festival and then return.

Luri was nowhere to be seen, but she was probably off shaking hands somewhere.

“President! Try this!”

What Bianca, who had gone to get more food, brought back was a cake. A cake with red and yellow jam dripping over a dark brown bread.

“Ah, the cake we made.”

“It’s super popular over there!”

When I looked where Bianca was pointing, among the buffet food, the cake section was selling like hotcakes. To the point where I was worried about the hard work of the patissiers refilling the desserts.

Beside them, baristas, sommeliers, and bartenders were busy making drinks.

“Then shall we try it?”

We had provided the recipe for the cake. How well had they reproduced it… one bite.

“Oh.”

“Wow.”

“Mmm!”

Exclamations of admiration came out naturally. The thin sheet, with its two ends joined in a circle, and the soft milk cream that filled its inside were insanely delicious. When paired with various flavors of diluted jam, cheese, and fruits to eat with it, it was fantastic.

“It’s really delicious.”

“Even though we developed it, really.”

It was worth the self-praise. At that moment.

“…?!”

I flinched in surprise. Something was detected under the table.

- Wild Instinct (Master) stomps its feet with a joyful intuition!

Following that, I felt a tugging on my trouser leg.

‘What, what is it?’

A stray cat? No way. It had to be a person, but who on earth would be under the table…?

Pretending to have dropped my spoon, I bent down under the table and lifted the tablecloth slightly.

“…Hehe.”

“My goodness.”

It was Luri, with the happiest expression in the world. She acted cute in a small voice that only I could hear.

“Give me a Coco Cake too~.”

She acted cute, knowing she was cute.

- Wild Instinct (Master) acknowledges it.

Luri was cute. That was true. But this wasn’t right.

“Cadet Luri, what are you doing here…?”

“I’m waiting for Martin to give me a Coco Cake!”

Smiling brightly. This girl really had a head full of flowers. Not in a bad way, but, no, haa…

Without a word, I just raised my hand and brought down the plate of Coco Cake I had been eating. That’s right, Coco. It meant darling in French. It was the name of the new menu item.

Luri took the Coco Cake and ate a bite with her fork.

“Mmm~! Delicious!”

She became the girl who looked the happiest in the world.

“…So, Cadet Luri.”

“Aah, but it was so hard.”

Just as I was about to question her, she confessed on her own.

“I barely slept for a week, I met over a thousand people, and the makeup before the succession ceremony took an hour! So many people came looking for me, asking for just one handshake! I got all dressed up like this to show Martin!”

…It was practically a complaint about her circumstances.

“Master?”

I hastily lowered the tablecloth and raised my head. Lilac and everyone else were staring at me intently.

“Uh, huh?”

“Shall I bring you a new spoon?”

She wasn’t really asking if she should bring me a new spoon. She was asking, is something wrong, should we leave you alone, or do you perhaps need any other help.

“N…o.”

Luri is under our table. …I couldn’t say that, could I?

At that moment, the orchestra music played at an even faster and stronger tempo. My attention was drawn, and I saw people coming up onto the stage and starting to dance.

Lovers, parents and children, friends, the relationships were varied. Since all the nobles of the Empire were gathered, it was as if all the good dancers were gathered.

My trouser leg was tugged again. Luri stimulated me like a baby cat wanting attention.

‘Ugh, really.’

I felt like my head was spinning. What should I do?! What should I do?! Say something! You’re usually so noisy!

- Wild Instinct (Master) speaks directly! Let’s take her somewhere else for now!

Sh-should I? Is that right? I don’t know how she got in, but I can’t keep her here, can I?!

“Hey, Lilac.”

“Yes?”

Lilac, who had been watching the stage, turned to me. My conscience was pricked by her innocent eyes looking at me. I felt guilty.

“I’ll be right back. I’ll be back soon.”

I lifted the tablecloth and went under it. Luri, who was eating the Coco Cake, looked at me in surprise. I grabbed her right wrist, which was holding the fork.

‘Blink!’

Flash.

A mysterious stellar force enveloped the two of them and leaped through space. Where Luri had been, only a single fork fell to the floor. Lilac silently picked up the fork.