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Chapter 242: Soaring (6)

The reason Oscar hadn’t revealed his identity to just anyone was simple.

There was no realistic way to explain the “how” or the “why.”

‘I mean, I don’t even know why I came back to life. How could I possibly explain it?’

So whether people didn’t believe him, or did believe him—it was a problem either way.

If they didn’t believe him, they’d treat him like a madman.

If they did believe him, he could be accused of being a heretic who worships dark gods, and there’d be no way to defend himself.

‘That’s why I’ve only ever revealed the truth to people I could trust completely.’

Those people were limited to just the dwarf king Gordin, Sasha, and Edna.

Of course, it wasn’t as if he’d never thought about telling the emperor.

If the emperor believed him and was willing to continue their old relationship, Oscar would gain the greatest possible backing in the Empire.

‘But I wasn’t sure.’

He was the emperor of a vast empire.

Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but his time was far denser than anyone else’s.

‘Let alone a day—he’s lived 20 whole years since then.’

Who knew what he’d been through in that time? How he’d changed?

Oscar had no way of knowing.

But he’d already met him a few times in this small body.

And he’d sensed it—Ludwig hadn’t changed all that much.

‘So at that point, what mattered was one thing: would this man welcome my return?’

And today, at last, Oscar learned that the emperor missed him.

Having reached that conclusion, Oscar ran the numbers one more time.

‘If I tell him who I really am, what do I gain or lose?’

The benefits were obvious.

With the Empire’s supreme ruler backing him, there’d be nothing to fear.

Especially now, with the demons beginning to stir again, a close alliance with the emperor could only be a good thing.

‘And what’s the downside?’

Honestly, there was none.

If this had been before the White Tower was back on track, it might’ve been risky.

But the White Tower had already made a powerful comeback.

Even the airship they unveiled yesterday alone was a technology the Empire couldn’t afford to ignore.

‘On top of that, the demons grow bolder by the day. He can’t afford to cast me aside.’

Others might think he was being arrogant, but the fact was—he was an expert at demon extermination.

If anything, the emperor would welcome him back with open arms.

Once all the calculations were done, Oscar tapped the last bridge to be sure.

“Your Majesty, hypothetically speaking… how would you feel if the former Tower Master came back to life?”

“Hm? That’s an unexpected question. I didn’t think you were the type to enjoy those kinds of what-ifs.”

“I was just curious. As a person, you might welcome him, but politically, his return could be a hassle, right?”

Ludwig snorted at that.

“A hassle? That’s the kind of thing people say when they don’t know him. I’ll give you the short answer, not at all. I’d welcome him with open arms. If a 9th-circle archmage is on our side, even the demons beyond the mountains would have to tread carefully.”

“You know… those old fairy tales say stuff like that. A war hero returns, becomes too popular, and the king gets jealous… Not that you would ever act like that, of course.”

“…Are you really trying to excuse yourself after saying everything you wanted?”

The emperor narrowed his eyes, then shook his head.

“I’ll say it again—I wouldn’t mind at all. In fact, I’d expect him to be more popular than me. That’s only right. After all, no one can deny that he saved humanity.”

‘Oh? So that’s what you think, huh?’

That was exactly the answer Oscar had wanted.

Only then did he quietly unbolt the heavy lock he’d kept shut.

“So, just to be clear—you’d really welcome the former Tower Master if he returned?”

“I’ve already said so multiple times—wait, why do you keep asking me that?”

The emperor’s eyes were starting to sharpen, as if growing weary of repeating himself.

“Uh, well… I mean…”

This felt different than when he’d revealed himself to others he was close to.

He and the emperor had once been close, yes—but theirs had always been a relationship with a degree of formality.

‘How do I even say this?’

After a long moment of hesitation, Oscar awkwardly raised both hands.

“Tada… It’s me. I’m the guy.”

“……”

The emperor’s gaze turned cold as ice.

It was like watching someone look at a dog that had finally crossed the line after being told it was cute one too many times.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. What is you?”

“I mean, uh…”

He could feel the flush rising to his face.

Was it always this embarrassing to just say your own name?

Oscar placed his hands on his knees and spoke with careful formality.

“I am Oscar Sage.”

“……”

No response.

The emperor stayed completely silent.

Oscar almost wished he would call the guards or yell at him—anything to break this awkward tension.

Instead, the emperor just stared at him.

“I don’t get it. But if this is some kind of joke, stop it. Think carefully about who you’re sitting in front of.”

…He got scolded.

Like a child being gently reprimanded for acting out.

Flustered, Oscar blurted out—

“Y-Your Majesty, I swear I’m not joking!”

“So you’re saying you’re not Oscar Crusian, but actually the former White Tower Master, Oscar Sage?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Phew.”

With a deep sigh, the emperor shook his head and turned away, rising from his seat.

“Congratulations again on winning the Oscar Award. Let’s end our private talk here.”

“……”

Is this it?

Then he’d just be remembered as a crazy man.

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Oscar leapt to his feet and shouted toward the emperor’s retreating back.

“Belonas Green Label!”

The emperor, mid-step, came to a halt.

Slowly, he turned around to face him.

"That liquor... Why bring that up all of a sudden?"

"Don't you remember? You, I, and Master used to drink it all the time."

Oscar spoke rapidly, determined not to let the opportunity slip by.

"You said you could always bring something more expensive, but every time, Master insisted that a cheap drink like that suited his taste best. And I was the one who always had to run the errand for it."

“……”

For the first time, Emperor Ludwig's eyes quivered slightly.

Then, regaining his composure, he spoke with dignity.

"Even someone who wasn't there could know that much."

"Then how about the story where, when Your Majesty was seven and wet yourself, you were terrified that the late emperor would find out, and Master helped you cover it up—"

"Enough!"

Ludwig shouted and turned his back.

His stance remained the same, yet somehow, it felt entirely different from before.

It was as if the very way he stood now exuded embarrassment.

After taking a deep breath, the emperor asked,

"…Where did you hear that story, and from whom?"

"You told me yourself when we were drinking. After the gathering ended, you even threatened me—said that if the story got out, you’d assume I was the culprit and told me to behave."

"Ahem."

The emperor, ears faintly red, slowly turned to face him and muttered,

"…It seems a more detailed explanation is in order."

* * *

After hearing the whole story, the emperor closed his eyes.

"…So when you woke up, you were already in that body?"

"Yes. It seems someone tampered with my soul."

"Hmm."

The emperor rubbed his temples and asked again for confirmation.

"You're sure the young Oscar—Oscar Crucian—really died?"

"Yes. When I woke up in this body, the poison had already spread through it."

"…That's a tragedy."

Only then did the emperor slowly open his eyes and meet Oscar's gaze.

He stared at him for a long while before quietly murmuring,

"Was your death so unjust that your soul summoned another to seek retribution?"

"If you think about it realistically, it's probably not such a dramatic tale."

"…That tone and attitude—still the same as ever."

"And Your Majesty is, remarkably, just the same."

The two looked at each other and laughed at the same time.

"Living long enough brings all sorts of strange things. Am I dreaming right now?"

"This is real, Your Majesty. And honestly, I'm the one who should be more baffled."

Oscar began to vent about everything he had endured.

"I woke up to find the White Tower in ruins, everyone's starving and barely surviving… Honestly, I was a little resentful toward Your Majesty. You could’ve looked after the White Tower better."

"I gave them every possible benefit. So much so that the other towers openly complained about favoritism."

It wasn’t a lie.

The fact that a tower with no achievements had not been removed from the top four was proof of the emperor's considerable support.

"Sigh, I see. So that's why you were so confident when treating me."

"When it comes to magic, I can proudly say I'm better than anyone else."

The words might’ve come off arrogant from anyone else—but this was Oscar Sage.

A great archmage who had reached the rank of 9th-level.

In the world of magic, his word was the standard and the law.

"Who else knows?"

"Sasha, Gordin… and Edna too."

"Edna? She’s still alive?"

The emperor’s eyes sparkled.

Dragons had long abandoned humankind, but Edna had stayed behind and remained loyal.

"I brought her back from the Red Mountains. I’d left all the White Tower’s documents with her in the first place."

"I see, so that’s what happened."

"And there's more to explain about that as well."

Oscar went on to explain why the documents hadn’t returned over the past 21 years.

Hearing this, the emperor frowned.

"Struck down by lightning and crashed… So you're suspecting Pentarion, is that right?"

"Yes."

If the attack hadn’t come from demons, then among humans, he was the most likely suspect.

Receiving this unexpected intel, the emperor tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table—a habit of his when deep in thought.

"Hmm. There's nothing I can do about it at the moment. Do you understand?"

"Of course. I didn’t tell you so you could detain him. I just thought you should be aware."

Don’t trust the Lord of the Yellow Tower too much.

The emperor, understanding the intent, nodded.

"Very well. As it happens, there's a task I’ve been looking for the right person to handle. You’ll take it on."

"What kind of task?"

"Ah, before I explain that—"

The emperor looked straight at him and smiled—a wide, rare smile that even showed his teeth.

"As the emperor of this empire, I sincerely welcome your return."

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