Chapter 211
211 Episode
“Nice to meet you.”
The heavy silence was broken by Helios. He too looked taken aback to see a young leader from the North, but being the Emperor of a vast Empire, he quickly regained his composure and spoke in a calm voice.
“It seems the journey was quite treacherous, judging by how late you are.”
Maintaining a more pronounced poker face than usual, Helios tilted his head and forced a smile.
The air turned heavy with his words. There was no way anyone could miss the sharpness wrapped within that statement.
“A blizzard raged on. I trekked through snow piled up to my waist.”
Zigmund, with his amethyst-like eyes slowly blinking, responded smoothly.
It was utterly shameless of him to act as if he had come here without any issues via teleportation.
Zigmund showed no sign of wavering even in front of Helios, who was easily double his age and seasoned.
In his voice and gaze lay a natural majesty.
The aura of the ruler that had always been evident in him was now laid bare in this place.
Lightning flickered in his lifeless eyes.
“Some crazy person has enslaved all the people of the North, leaving no one to clear the snow.”
Helios’ smile instantly stiffened, and the gaze of El, who was watching the exchange, turned cold. The already fragile atmosphere suddenly froze solid, as if a deep freeze spell had been cast.
Knowing Zigmund’s temperament, I expected that if he caused trouble, it would be quite significant, but I didn’t think he would toss a bomb right away. I swallowed audibly.
‘He’s talking about the previous Emperor, isn’t he?’
The previous Emperor had enslaved the Northerners, demanded insane tributes, and often committed massacres under the pretense of confirming loyalty. He was one of the chief culprits pushing the Northerners to the brink.
‘While the previous Emperor was indeed a lunatic, Helios is hearing insults about his father right in front of him…’
I quickly glanced sideways at Helios. If he were to get angry now, the situation would undoubtedly escalate to extremes.
“Ha, ha!”
Of course, Helios wasn’t someone easily intimidated, having ruled in a brutal political arena all his life.
“Right. A mad dog was running wild before my time. I know it caused a lot of suffering.”
Helios elevated the conversation to a higher level while casually asking about the well-being of Zigmund’s parents and laughing heartily.
‘What an extravagant worry to have.’
I dismissed his crazy antics with a click of my tongue. The Northerners who didn’t know him seemed bewildered by his reaction.
“Let’s not drag this out. Let’s talk inside. It would be inappropriate to have discussions while standing like this. Besides, our legs are hurting, so why not sit down?”
Helios moved toward the tent nonchalantly. Completely forgetting the prior power struggle, he now acted like a close friend. With an ease that suggested he could be thrown into a wolf’s den and calmly explain why he shouldn’t be eaten, Helios’ nonchalance was his greatest weapon.
‘Thank goodness Helios is the Emperor.’
I silently thanked the heavens and quickly followed him as his escort.
Swoosh.
As Helios moved past Zigmund, who still stood in place, the fabric of my cape brushed against his, producing a soft sound.
Was it the scent of a man carrying a winter even harsher than this snowy land that struck my nostrils? Our eyes locked.
Zigmund Hyde was still a complex person. I could confidently call him the greatest mystery of my life. His expressionless face turned a clear amethyst, making it difficult for a person’s heart to untangle its complexities.
“I bet you enjoyed watching me make a fool of myself.”
In a fleeting moment, I impulsively sent him a message through the resonance of my mana.
I had endlessly contemplated how I would manage my expressions when facing Zigmund, whether I could refrain from drawing my sword, or how I would react if conversing with him when it was just the two of us.
It was best to maintain a poker face and pretend not to know, but with my feelings for him almost bursting forth, I had no certainty that I could achieve that.
“But I was at least determined that I wouldn’t approach him first…”
Life, as it often does, didn’t unfold as I had planned. Despite the fact he was set to start a war and stab me in the back, I, the fool, had just unwittingly helped him, making me think about how ridiculous that was and causing a surge of emotion to rise within me.
“……No.”
Just as I was about to brush past him without expecting an answer, a familiar voice resonated in my mind. I instinctively halted my steps.
“I have never enjoyed it even once.”
So what had it been like then? Had it been torturous to betray me and to betray the conviction of victory while starting a war? Had he pondered on it too? Did he ever feel guilt watching me desperately trying to save him despite knowing nothing?
Numerous curiosities and questions surged, but whenever I looked into those endlessly deep violet eyes, I found myself at a loss for words.
I stood frozen for a moment until Helios, who had been walking ahead, cast a puzzled look back at me, as if to ask why I wasn’t following, and finally, I managed to say.
“Why not enjoy it instead?”
So I can see you as a heartless monster and easily deal with you.
Swoosh.
I passed by Zigmund without casting him even a glance.
Bearing a heart unable to fully harden.
Most of those escorting us waited outside, and only about twenty people had entered the tent. The tent, enchanted with space-compression magic, appeared quite big from outside, but once inside, it resembled nearly the audience chamber of an imperial palace.
“It’s spacious and nice. Perhaps we should camp here together tonight in the spirit of friendship.”
The moment he stepped into the tent, Helios plopped down on a seat and burst into laughter. I comfortably brushed aside his nonsense and stood at his back.
Shortly after, Zigmund entered and sat across from Helios and El, while a woman standing straight behind him caught my eye. Being at eye-level, I couldn’t help but examine her.
‘……The aura of dark magic.’
She had an almost mechanical face at her elderly age, and an ominous scent radiated from her. I sensed the presence of dark magic not just from her, but from all the Northerners accompanying Zigmund.
‘Perhaps the North holds high standards overall.’
As I stared blankly at her, trying to gauge her level, I stiffened my expression. The unpleasant, clammy aura hanging in the air made it hard to grasp details, but I could still intuitively feel she was powerful. The others accompanying her were no ordinary talents either.
Noticing my gaze, the woman, who had been staring blankly ahead, looked up and locked eyes with me. Her wrinkled eyes were cold.
Given her poker face—were there only poker faces in the North?—it was hard to read her emotions, but it was clear she didn’t harbor goodwill toward me. I had been matching her cold stare, ready for a stare-down.
“We’re all here. Shall we start with the talks now?”
Helios clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I would like to talk about the Empire’s position before we hear about the reasons the North requested the meeting. What do you think?”
Having seamlessly transitioned into the flow, he looked to Zigmund with an expectant gaze. Zigmund, who had been languidly resting his chin on his hand, nodded.
“Before coming here, the conclusion made by the Empire is this: We do not desire war.”
The playful and easygoing tone Helios had moments ago was now replaced with seriousness. A stir rippled through the Northern camp upon hearing his words.
It was a challenging choice to declare this from the outset. Even at the noble meeting held before coming here, there had been considerable opposition to this very point.
‘If we announce our desire not to engage in war first, we’ll be conceding. We need to maintain a posture that we don’t care if war breaks out while finding a reasonable compromise!’
Stating that we did not want war was akin to volunteering for a subordinate position in this meeting. This would mean that the North would make excessive demands under the pretense of not beginning a war. Many safeguarding this stance were as numerous as those wanting to avoid war.
In the heated debate, opinions were split between those pushing for war to show strength and those focused on preventing conflict even at a loss.
‘I believe preventing war is of utmost importance.’
It was El who put an end to that standoff.
‘No matter how much time has passed, it’s true that the Empire has done things to earn the North’s hatred. Even if you say their rebellion was foolish, no one thinks they lack justification.’
A silence fell over the room. Even though people justified their actions as for the Empire’s sake, none were oblivious to the North’s suffering.
It was hard to label it as mere past events, as oppression faced by the Northerners had occurred just prior with the previous Emperor, and those who suffered from the Empire’s tyranny were still alive. Their bitterness had ample justification.
‘If war breaks out, we’ll suffer the consequences. They may come driven by malice and anger, but we have much to lose. Avoiding war is top priority. Even if we incur losses, it’s a price we must pay.’
El’s gentle words aligned with my own thoughts, making me look at him with shining eyes.
His silver eyes narrowed as he slowly surveyed all the nobles present. It felt more like a silver serpent, tasting its prey before swallowing, than a gentle messenger of the gods.
The gaze of those who locked eyes with him must have turned icy with dread.
‘Even the Gods must wish for this.’
His words, spoken like confirmation, rang like the sound of a gavel striking down verdicts.
The Solar Church that governs the thoughts of all citizens of the Empire, with Elior being the leader of that Church and the sole representative of the Solar God.
The words of a man who bore the name of a God carried the weight of divine authority. Once he declared it as the will of the Gods, opposing it would be akin to heresy. Being branded a heretic by the Empire would mean the end of both one’s social and physical life.
‘Are there other opinions?’
With his chin resting on his interlocked fingers, El smiled leisurely. In every action, laugh, gaze, and expression, there was an overwhelming sense of divinity and authority.
Of course, no one raised any objections.
“……In our meeting with the North, we will agree to meet all feasible demands conditional on not engaging in war.”
With Helios concluding the meeting in that manner, the discussions came to an end. It was a moment that reaffirmed the Pope’s authority. As I secretly admired El, our eyes met briefly.
‘Did I do well?’
His gaze clearly communicated that sentiment.
The imposing figure of the Pope from moments ago had vanished, transforming into a puppy seeking praise. His long, sky-blue hair resembled a wagging tail, and his breath-takingly beautiful silver eyes glimmered like a puppy’s sparkling gaze, eliciting a small smile from me.
‘You wished for this, after all.’
As his red lips gradually formed those shapes, a strange feeling washed over me.
It felt as if he were referring to me as the God.
‘I can’t remember the original story well anymore, so I can’t predict the future, but… this should be enough for the North to concede.’
Not wanting to set myself up for disappointment, I deliberately suppressed any overly positive thoughts, but the hope that war might not break out kept bubbling up.
Perhaps, no one would die or be injured, and everyone could be happy.
“I hope war doesn’t break out. I’m willing to consider the North’s demands as long as they’re reasonable. Be it material goods or titles, let’s hear them. While the full independence of the North might take time, I can certainly make it happen from this generation onwards. I will help to atone for the past misdeeds of the Empire, so how about we negotiate smoothly and end this peacefully?”
Helios proposed with a serious expression.
And then, a long silence followed.
‘……Aren’t we supposed to have a meeting or something?’
I turned my puzzled gaze toward the Northern side. With such a shocking proposal, I expected them to either request a meeting to discuss their demands, or to end the discussions citing the need for time, yet they remained quiet.
In that uneasy silence, just as I was biting my lips, Zigmund finally spoke up.
“Ha. Hahaha!”
What emerged from his crimson lips was laughter.
I widened my eyes. I couldn’t understand why he was laughing in this situation, but what shocked me more was that ‘he’, Zigmund Hyde, was actually laughing aloud.
His laughter was both a release and self-deprecating, filled with something cold yet bubbling with heat.
Zigmund’s sudden laughter chilled the atmosphere inside the tent. It was an inappropriate act for the situation, and rightly so.
Despite receiving heated glares, Zigmund chuckled softly until he took a deep breath and calmed himself, raising his head.
His violet eyes were now gleaming with a fierce rage and insanity I had never seen before.
“Oh dear. We’re not planning to stop here.”
Hope, as it always does, was not destined to be realized.