ALL NOVEL Chapter 122
The woman introduced herself with a calm voice as the Flame Sovereign, surveying us without changing her expression.
gulp
Red hair and scarlet eyes. A face resembling that of a wolf…
Age… perhaps in her mid-twenties?
“本 염황은 올해로 아흔일곱이다. 그대들은 나이가 어떻게 되지?”
shocked gasp
Goodness. She’s a grandmother.
“…저는 열아홉. 제 뒤에 있는 분들은 열일곱… 입니다.”
“I see. Then, since the 본 염황 is five times older, may I speak informally?”
frustrated sigh
Why even ask when we’re already doing that? I wanted to snap back, but I stayed quiet for now.
Considering how little I knew about what kind of person she was, poking the bear might provoke any reaction.
uh-oh
She might suddenly lose it and start causing chaos. Those who are at the top usually have a few screws loose.
If it were just me and Yurasia, it’d be one thing, but with Pina and Stella to protect, it felt a bit daunting.
“Yes. Please… do so.”
Yurasia still nodded, keeping her guard up.
“Good. 본 염황은 방금 말했던 대로 염황이다. It’s been two days since I returned from Gebihenum, and I saw you while on my way to report to the Emperor at the Imperial Palace.”
ominous music
The Flame Sovereign. I had no doubt that she spoke the truth.
If the being before me wasn’t the Flame Sovereign, then the Empire’s Flame Sovereign would be dethroned by this woman.
That much, I could tell—she was powerful.
Could I even win against her?
If all the doors were open… I might barely win.
However, I need one second.
In that one second, the Flame Sovereign would…
shudder
Finish us all off.
Muyeong seemed to be on a similar level as my mom. Then why hasn’t she ascended to the Six Pillars?
In the middle of those thoughts, the Flame Sovereign’s gaze locked onto me.
“You are assessing my strength. So, what’s the conclusion?”
“I can’t win.”
“Indeed. It would be illogical for 본 염황 to be bested by mere seventeen-year-olds. Especially since you have others to protect. Three, no, two, right? Yes, then there’s even less chance of winning.”
That was such an arrogant, haughty, and infuriating statement.
But there was no way to refute it. Damn.
At the very least, it was clear she had no intention of killing us.
If she had wanted to kill us, she could have easily incinerated us the moment we started noticing her presence.
Still, I couldn’t be certain. She could snap and turn lethal if she got annoyed during our conversation.
deep breath
Letting out a small sigh, I patted Yurasia on the back and stepped forward.
“Ah, Young Lady…”
“It’s alright.”
I gestured toward the trembling Stella and Pina from behind. Yurasia understood and stood firm in front of them with a serious expression.
I looked calmly at the Flame Sovereign.
Still as expressionless as ever.
“What brings you to us?”
“I did not come to find you. I merely approached as I saw you while heading toward the Imperial Palace.”
“Isn’t that ultimately the same as finding us?”
After a moment of contemplation, the Flame Sovereign nodded with her unchanged expression.
“Hm. You are right, indeed. I’ve heard much about the precious offspring of Eustetia. Turius and Julie certainly raised their daughter well.”
“Do you know my parents?”
“I am close to them.”
“Hmm, well… I’ve been taught to be wary of those who are friendly with my mom and dad on the street. They say such people are usually bad, so I should keep my distance.”
“That cannot be denied. However, 본 염황 is not a bad person. I have told no lies. Then, do you dislike 본 염황?”
“How could I dislike the Flame Sovereign? I’m just uncomfortable. I doubt any sane human wouldn’t feel uneasy in front of someone who could kill us with a mere flick of a finger.”
“Indeed. 본 염황 is an uncomfortable presence.”
confused look
What’s with this chick?
I feel like I’m scratching her nerves, but she doesn’t even know it. It’s like scratching flowing water?
“But how is it that with so many people, no one recognizes the Flame Sovereign?”
“I made it so.”
“Magic?”
“Magic.”
“Oh.”
“Hm.”
“So, is that fire surrounding us it?”
The corners of the Flame Sovereign’s eyes trembled slightly at my words.
“Did you see it?”
“I can’t see it, but I can feel it.”
“You’re what rank?”
“5th Rank.”
“Then it should be impossible for you to feel it. How did you know?”
thinking hard
“…It’s intuition.”
The Flame Sovereign tilted her head, then after a brief moment, nodded as though she understood something.
“Ah, a woman’s intuition. You resemble Julie greatly.”
“…I’m not like her, but the latter is true.”
“Your stiff manner of speaking also resembles Julie.”
Is my mom’s way of speaking stiff?
I can’t really… imagine that.
Well, when I was in Muyeong, I did write in a stiff manner… so perhaps she could be stiff around less close people.
The Flame Sovereign claims to be close to my mom and dad?
From what I can see, she’s the only one thinking that way.
After exchanging a few words, I could tell.
The Flame Sovereign. This woman is a total geek.
And a geek who doesn’t even realize she’s a geek.
“So, what’s the issue?”
I checked my pocket watch and looked at the Flame Sovereign. Time’s about up.
“That pocket watch is quite nice.”
The Flame Sovereign’s eyes sparkled as she looked at my pocket watch.
“…Could you answer my question first?”
“Oh, right. What brings me to ask you?”
The Flame Sovereign’s gaze departed from my watch and turned toward Yurasia, specifically her waist.
“I approached because I saw you holding a good sword.”
Diana’s sword.
Eustetia’s sword.
The sword I gave her.
Of the three, I could immediately tell which one she was looking at. The one on her right waist. The sword I gave her.
“What’s your name?”
“…Yurasia Espirot.”
“I see. Yurasia. Are you the owner of that sword?”
“Yes, I am.”
I answered in her place.
The Flame Sovereign’s gaze locked onto me.
“엘리아르네스 유스테티아. Do you know what that sword is?”
“Do you, Flame Sovereign?”
“The sword of the previous Hero.”
“…Huh.”
The Flame Sovereign answered nonchalantly. But I felt something blocking around me as if a barrier was forming. My fist clenched tightly as I glanced back.
silence
The sound. The sound was blocked.
“Do not be on guard. 본 염황 has no intention to harm you.”
“How can I trust that?”
“I swear.”
intense focus
As soon as the Flame Sovereign’s words finished, a fiery mana flowed from her mouth, infiltrating my heart.
“본 염황은 너희를 죽이지 않는다. 다치게 하지 않는다. 건들지 않는다. 겁을 주지 않는다. 불편하게 하지 않는다. 거짓을 고하지 않는다. 본 염황이 너희에게 하는 말은 오로지 진실뿐이다.”
“What if I’m already uncomfortable?”
“Though I say that, it seems you aren’t uncomfortable at all. Eliaernes, you aren’t afraid of 본 염황. Why? Do you think you can win? At least, you’ll be able to return alive. 본 염황 cannot fully gauge your abilities, but I know that confidence stems from the belief that you won’t die.”
Saying that, the Flame Sovereign grinned.
“Well, I quite like you.”
“…Why does that conclusion keep happening?”
“Let’s just say you’ll understand in time. So, Eliaernes. You asked about that sword. 본 염황 answered. Then, it’s my turn to ask. Is that right?”
skeptical look
What a unique way of speaking.
Do humans become like that as they near a hundred?
That doesn’t seem likely… Does she just enjoy being called Flame Sovereign?
deep sigh
I nodded.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Did you bring it from the underground waterway?”
intense stare
I narrowed my eyes and glared at the Flame Sovereign.
Just how much does she know?
“It’s quite unpleasant to be doubted by a little girl I like. So, I’ll tell you.”
Taking a step closer, the Flame Sovereign approached. clink — Yurasia half-drew her sword from behind. I immediately raised my hand to calm her.
“There’s an Information Guild in the alley behind the institution. The girl named Ophelia Bloomin is the owner. She’s a Puppeteer. That girl also attends Karela Academy like you and has Uje as her master.”
mind blown
Suddenly bombarded with information, my head felt hazy.
“…Did you say Ophelia is a student at the Academy?”
“Yes.”
“Have you not seen her before?”
“Never.”
furious thought process
Have I seen her? Searching my memory yielded nothing.
That blue hair is impossible to miss.
Plus, when I mentioned the academy in Ophelia’s hideout, she had no reaction whatsoever.
Are you saying everything I saw before was an act?
I guess… I’ll have to visit again soon.
“Overall, Puppeteers tend to be that way. They scheme malicious and vile acts in the shadows.”
“And what about being Uje’s disciple?”
“One of the Six Pillars, Uje, is a Puppeteer. Ophelia is a Puppeteer as well. Ophelia is extraordinarily talented. Uje took her as his disciple and is helping her run the Information Guild.”
“I’ve heard the Information Guild operates under the Cartel.”
“Those who bear the title of the Six Pillars can do more than you think.”
The Six Pillars. So Uje is also reaching into the Cartel’s operations?
That’s… quite valuable information.
The level of information I can receive so unexpectedly is no joke. Just what is this Flame Sovereign doing?
“Well… if I piece together what you’ve said so far… you learned that information from the Information Guild, and then found out what was at its end.”
“Partly, but it’s a bit different. I didn’t ask the Information Guild about that. I went directly to Uje to ask. After hearing the answer, I came to the institution. But there was nothing in the underground waterway. So I went back to Uje. After breaking a couple of puppets, he gave me the answer. The Labyrinth that was in the underground waterway had already been broken.”
serious look
The Flame Sovereign smiled again.
It’s an extremely awkward and geeky smile.
“Then the culprit who broke that Labyrinth is right in front of me. It’s only fitting to say that you obtained that from underground. Is that correct? Is my reasoning right?”
“…I was able to break it thanks to Muyeong’s help.”
“Haha! Is that so? Well, it can’t be helped. Since I’m still under suspicion, let me introduce myself again. 본 염황은 Gebihenum에서 전대 용사들의 흔적을 쫓고 있다.”
Suddenly diving into an off-topic subject, I cocked my head. Of course… I knew the Flame Sovereign was tracing our traces in Gebihenum.
I also knew she had filled the Treasure House of the Imperial Palace with what she brought back.
But why is she randomly discussing this now?
“Then have you ever wondered how 본 염황 can trace those warriors’ traces? Four hundred years have already passed. Even the marks left by great beings will wear down, vanish, and be covered. However, 본 염황 is tracing them. How?”
sharp smile
The Flame Sovereign smiled.
“I am 염황 (Flame Sovereign) and also 염황 (Memorial Sovereign).”
She spread her arms wide as she spoke.
“An emperor of flames, hence 염황 (Flame Sovereign). And, in my heart, I yearn for a true emperor who is no different from a Hero, reading the traces of the decayed remnants left behind, the traces of past time, hence 염황 (Memorial Sovereign). Do you understand?”
“No. I didn’t get that at all.”
“Hmm, it’s fine if you don’t understand. You’re still young, so 본 염황 can understand.”
dramatic wind
Her red hair fluttered. Those flame-like orange eyes gazed at me.
“Well then, I read the traces inside the underground waterway and felt the passage of time. That’s how I learned. Eliaernes Eustetia. What relationship do you have with that being?”
“…That being?”
The Flame Sovereign smiled brightly like a child.
“The Fortress of Storms.”