Chapter 130 (1/2)

The Emperor

For a royal family room, the place was austere. s.p.a.cious, but no decorations, nor works of art displayed. A high-quality yet plain carpet lay spread out on the floor. Similarly, a high-quality yet simple bed sat in the room.

The Emperor, Kaglai G. Quinbland, lay on the bed big enough for five people to sleep on side by side. He slept not at the center, but on the edge. And he always took the same spot. The maid had to regularly change the mattress.

「Who goes there?」

Kaglai opened his eyes to a dark room. Moonlight streamed in from the balcony. Dawn was still long hours away. Forestia was chilly right about now, but summer still lingered in Quinbland.

「You are…?」

Kaglai got up the bed. Floating before him was a silver mask. Rather, it seemed that way, as the person was wearing black clothes a black cloak. His eyes simply couldn't tell since he just woke up.

「Oh, you're not going to make a racket?」the person said in a mocking tone.

Kaglai snorted.「Only children do that. I ask you once again. Who art thee?」

「Good grief. That's some outdated language you're using. You don't need to know my name, do you? I just came here to carry out a job.」

The silver mask—Hikaru—took out an envelope from his pocket and tossed it onto the bed. Wary, Kaglai neither got off the bed, nor went to pick up the letter.

「No need to be so cautious. Unken asked me to deliver that to you.」

「Unken?!」

The emperor's att.i.tude completely changed as he got down from the bed and scampered towards the letter.

「Your Majesty? Are you awake?」The voice of an Imperial guard came from the hallway.

「I just had a dream. I will go back to sleep soon.」

「Understood.」

Kaglai took one deep breath and walked calmly, picking up the letter. A bed that's too big can be a problem too, huh? Hikaru thought.

「Are you sure about not calling the guards?」Hikaru asked as Kaglai opened the envelope.

「It is fine. If Unken entrusted you with something, then I will have some questions. Hmm?」

Hikaru didn't know what was written on the letter. As soon as Kaglai finished reading, he went over it again, then looked above and closed his eyes.

Watching him, Hikaru guessed what the contents were. Unken most likely put his life at risk.

「What is your name?」Kaglai asked once more.

Apparently Unken didn't write the name of the messenger, Hikaru. Unken was probably being thoughtful.

「Call me Silver Face.」

「Very well, Silver Face. Unken stated you are not an enemy. I do not know how you got here, but it seems you are capable enough to hand me the letter directly.」

Hikaru shrugged. This castle probably had magic traps all over the place, but they wouldn't be in places the knights patrolled. He could see the traps with his Mana Detection and they wouldn't activate as long as no one was nearby.

He simply used his Stealth to get all the way here. The moment he turned it off, Kaglai woke up.

「Hey, I wanted to ask you something.」

「I will answer if I can.」

Hikaru's rudeness didn't even bother the man one bit. He was starting to like the emperor. His original plan was to hand the letter and then go back, but now he thought he could stay for a conversation.

「Unken received a letter of grat.i.tude from the King of Ponsonia, right? As a reward for his efforts, he became a guildmaster. But the tyrant, Balzard… Ah, right. He's your father. My bad.」

「Do not worry about it. I asked for the man to be a.s.sa.s.sinated myself.」

「Hmm, you're right. So he was successfully a.s.sa.s.sinated thanks to you. What's Ponsonia got to do with anything?」

「Do you know what I did after I took the throne? Restoring diplomatic relations with Ponsonia. The previous king was a very respectable man. The ceasefire treaty was settled easily. Then we sent Unken to Ponsonia, on the pretext that he was seeking asylum, being a relative of the previous emperor. It was Unken's wish as well.」

「And then what?」

「Killing his relative weighed heavy on Unken's mind. The village elders said he should not worry about it. Nonetheless, Ponsonia accepted Unken. That was when he became a guildmaster.」

「The kingdom put him under surveillance by making him a guildmaster.」

「You are sharp. It was probably the Ponsonia's higher ups' idea. But the king was different. He sensed that Unken did an admirable feat. That is why he sent the letter.」

「I see…」

Jill almost got everything right. The only thing she got wrong was who sent the a.s.sa.s.sin—it wasn't the King of Ponsonia, but the Crown Prince of Quinbland himself.

「Silver Face. If you wish, I shall give you status in the Empire.」

「I don't need it.」

「I see. That is unfortunate.」

Hikaru thought the Emperor was a nice, frank man. He couldn't really guess Kaglai's age since he was a Man Gnome.

Wait a minute. I can just check his Soul Board.

【Soul Board】Kaglai G. Quinbland

Age: 72 Rank: 38

4

【Vitality】

..【Natural Recovery】1

..【Stamina】3

..【Perception】

….【Smell】2

【Magical Power】

..【Mana】4

..【Spirit Affinity】

….【Air】2

【Physical Strength】

..【Strength】3

..【Weapon Mastery】

….【Sword】3

【Agility】

..【Power Burst】1

【Dexterity】

..【Dexterity】3

..【Tool Mastery】

….【Pottery】2

【Willpower】

..【Mental Strength】8

..【Charisma】5

….【Heroic Nature】1

..【Appeal】2

【Intuition】

..【Instinct】2

..【Insight】

….【Music】2

……【Natural Talent】1

..【Memory】1

It was quite the impressive Soul Board.