◈ Chapter 270. Far Too Much to Refuse (2)
The imperial palace’s underground treasury.
As expected, it seemed to contain some truly incredible items.
The moment the emperor declared he would open the treasury,
his retainers voiced their concerns. ‘Honestly, that’s the normal reaction.’ If the empire were in perfect condition, that would be one thing.
I, too, was a man with something called a conscience.
Truly, though unintentionally...
Thanks to having crossed Antonium while brimming with shame, I had witnessed the reality with my own eyes. As things stood, it wouldn’t have been strange for them to suffer from a food shortage starting tomorrow. ‘It’s not like I’m trying to squeeze blood from a stone.’ In other words, I had no real intention of thoroughly emptying out the empire’s underground treasury when they were already in such difficulty. So I didn’t feel hurt even when the retainers hesitated and objected.
No, beyond that—
“Do you think I desire such a paltry price?”
I expressed a firm refusal in Grandfel-style speech.
Of course, I, Lee Hoyeol, swallowed my regret, but...
One had to know the proper time and place.
Most importantly, the contribution I had accumulated wasn’t going to disappear anywhere.
So I made up my mind. ‘Once the empire has fully recovered its power, then...!’ Without taking the empire’s circumstances into consideration,
I would claim my rewards for contribution without hesitation.
But this time, too, my loose tongue ended up causing trouble.
“Mm...”
The emperor let out a low groan, and the retainers glanced between me and him. Among them, the faces of those who had raised objections had turned deathly pale.
I heard an imperial mage mutter.
“...
No, how can he say such a thing without even looking at the crystal ball!”
Seriously, this damned way of speaking was optimized for causing pointless misunderstandings. Fine, misunderstandings had to be cleared up immediately. Just as I broke my silence and was about to open my mouth—
The emperor beat me to it.
“I command you in the name of the emperor. From this moment forth...”
The emperor’s command.
That must have meant his retainers were not to interfere any further.
But what in the world was he about to say that he would even invoke an imperial command?
Just as I wondered, I flinched.
“To Sir Lee Hoyeol, the deepest level of the imperial palace’s underground treasury...”
...Excuse me, Emperor?
“And access to the 『War Emperor’s Archive』 as well shall be permitted.”
That wasn’t what I meant?!
No, if someone heard this, they’d misunderstand and think I had mentioned compensation because I was dissatisfied with the reward...! I had merely been overcome by incorruptible integrity, just as I always had!
The emperor looked at me and continued.
“I can only apologize for this unnecessary commotion. However, I ask that you understand with generosity. They were by no means doubting your ability, Sir. They merely spoke out of loyalty toward the empire and excessive concern.”
When even the emperor offered such a sincere apology,
how could the retainers possibly stay still?
The retainers bowed their heads toward me all at once.
Thud—
“We apologize for our conduct!”
I was the one who felt so apologetic I couldn’t raise my head...
The mouth of ruin always tormented me.
In my heart, I wanted to bow my head deeply as well.
But there was no way I could do that. ‘No matter how I look at it, it’s too late to correct this now.’ If I were to invoke incorruptible integrity one more time here and rebuke them?
Judging from the emperor’s reaction...
With only a slight exaggeration, he might even shove the imperial throne onto me.
So let’s exercise some flexibility here, Hoyeol.
And. ‘It’s far too much compensation to refuse.’ I should observe etiquette.
Continuing to refuse pure goodwill would also be a breach of etiquette, wouldn’t it?
Besides, there was something among the emperor’s words that I wanted to confirm. 『War Emperor’s Archive』. Even from the sound of it, it seemed far from ordinary.
It gave off a strong feeling that I needed to check it.
With that earnest wish in mind, I opened my mouth.
“I shall accept it with generosity.”...
And now, at this moment.
[You have entered the imperial palace’s “Underground Treasury.”]
I entered the underground treasury together with the imperial mage who had been looking into the crystal ball,
and several retainers.
The emperor himself had seemed full of desire to guide me personally. ‘That, I really had to dissuade.’ Hadn’t I said it before?
If only to keep me from sinking into death by overwork,
the emperor had to remain emperor for as long as possible. ‘Yusra Kingdom alone is enough for a power behind the throne.’ In order to preserve the emperor’s dignity,
I refused the emperor’s kindness and headed to the underground treasury with the retainers. I looked around. Perhaps because it was underground, no light entered, making it extremely dark.
The imperial mage spoke in a proud voice.
“The magic of oath is constantly active within the underground treasury. So that no enemy, whether by force or by magic, can steal the empire’s treasures.”
Was it a mana-nullifying space similar to Mugan?
Naturally, magic—Light included—could not be manifested here.
And here I thought they were carrying torches just for the atmosphere.
While I was having such idle thoughts,
the imperial mage clicked his tongue in admiration.
“However, I never imagined you would see through even the imperial palace’s underground treasury...! But now that I have met you in person, I finally understand. Indeed, if it is the Black Darkness Dragon, you would surely be able to discern it.”
The Black Darkness Dragon, all of a sudden...?
Was he picking a fight?
No, more importantly, who saw through what? ‘I wondered what he was talking about.’
Apparently, it was about the [Milky Way Whetstone].
It seemed he had taken my request to borrow the Milky Way Whetstone from the underground treasury as me having seen through the treasury’s nullification magic. ‘...
See through, my ass.’
I had simply learned of it through the effect of the [Map That Communes with All Things].
I had been feeling this more and more lately...
But it was best to cut off needless misunderstandings at the root in advance.
Because neither I nor anyone else could guess what kind of aftermath a small misunderstanding might bring. Of course, this time, even if I wanted to be honest, I couldn’t. ‘Because it evaporated and disappeared, the Map That Communes with All Things.’
With no physical evidence, there was nothing I could say.
But even though I kept my words to myself,
the imperial mage continued on his own.
“So in truth, you likely had no need for a guide. After all, you must already clearly see what treasures are in the imperial palace’s underground treasury, and where they are placed.”
No, I really didn’t know anything?
Thanks to that, I was genuinely excited, as if I had found a real treasure vault.
Whether he knew what was in my heart or not, he bowed politely.
“Even so, this is the empire’s procedure, so I would be grateful for your understanding. Also, if you happen to need assistance at any time, please feel free to ask.”
Click—
With those extremely courteous words as the end, I began looking around the treasury in earnest.
Before entering,
I had simply thought it might be similar to the Magic Tower’s Garnet Hall.
The Garnet Hall, where most of the magic tools that existed in the Magic Tower were stored. If comparing pure military strength, the Magic Tower was several levels above the empire. So perhaps, unconsciously, I had assumed they would not be rarer than the Magic Tower’s magic tools.
But...
No matter where I looked,
wherever my eyes fell,
items were packed everywhere.
It wasn’t something to be surprised about.
It could simply be a difference in the number of items handled. Unlike the Magic Tower, where there were only magic tools for mages, the imperial palace’s underground treasury likely did not place such class restrictions.
I murmured.
“So it is closer to a department store than a specialty shop.”
At my mutter, someone asked back.
“...
Did you say something?”
“I was speaking of Oddity.”
“...
Oddity? I apologize that I cannot be of help.”
There’s nothing for you to apologize about.
In any case, if something was mixed in,
the problem was my loose tongue that grandiosely wrapped it up as Oddity.
Unfortunately, however, I had no leisure to explain Oddity in detail.
Because—
[Grade: Epic]
[Grade: Epic]
[Grade: Epic]
...
The level of every item that entered my eyes was no joke!
This many Epic items.
In both variety and quantity, it was on a level I hadn’t seen in the Magic Tower. ‘Though honestly, it’s not like it doesn’t make sense.’
Complicated and eccentric personalities were what defined the race known as mages.
Most importantly, the Magic Tower—and the majority of its mages—did not welcome the use of magic tools. Because the mages of the Magic Tower sought to prove their own strength without relying on other means. ‘Relatively speaking, they can’t help but be less interested in magic tools.’
From equipment such as swords, bows, shields, and armor,
to monocles, ornaments, pocket watches...
And even miscellaneous goods whose effects I couldn’t begin to guess.
Naturally, what I would say had already been decided.
“Indeed, they are worthy of being regarded as treasures by the empire.”
In Grandfel-style speech, this much was the highest praise.
To be honest, I wanted to check each of their effects one by one.
The message that appeared stimulated my greed.
[Imperial Palace Underground Treasury]
[You may exchange accumulated contribution for items.]
[Contribution: 1,001,260,000p]
The accumulated contribution was a staggering one billion.
It did prick my conscience somewhat, since I had accumulated it in half a day...
But hadn’t I decided to shamelessly accept it?
Yes, because I had such reassuring contribution.
No matter how incredible an item I chose,
I wondered if I couldn’t exchange for at least a few. ‘Of course, not now.’
At this moment, even if I tried to stick a straw into the empire, I couldn’t.
In other words, I felt too self-conscious to suck anything out of them.
However, as I said earlier,
continuing to refuse was also a breach of etiquette. ‘I need to check things roughly.’
How much contribution
could be exchanged for what level of item.
And...
Also to figure out what the War Emperor’s Archive was.
So I forced my gaze away.
“I ask that you continue the guidance.”
“By guidance, you mean the War Emperor’s Archive, correct?”
“Indeed.”
The War Emperor’s Archive.
Judging roughly from the atmosphere...
Everyone except me seemed to know well about the War Emperor’s Archive. Then it should be fine to ask first. I asked the imperial mage walking ahead of me.
“I ask for a brief explanation regarding the War Emperor’s Archive.”
“Ah, of course!”
Maybe because his tension had eased.
Unlike my first impression of him, he was quite good at chattering away.
The more I looked at him, the more he resembled someone...
In any case, to summarize the imperial mage’s story, it was like this.
The War Emperor’s Archive was a kind of search window.
No matter what question was asked, if the answer existed on the Arcana Continent,
it was a search engine that told the questioner that answer.
To put it simply. ‘An upgraded version of the Map That Communes with All Things.’
The effect of the [Map That Communes with All Things] had been incredible as well, but its effect had been limited to objects. The War Emperor’s Archive, which had no such limitation, was likely much more versatile.
A retainer who had been listening added.
“In truth, the War Emperor’s Archive is both the driving force that allowed the empire to reign and, at the same time, the empire’s greatest treasure. The previous emperors are said to have sought answers from the War Emperor’s Archive whenever a crisis befell the empire, and thanks to that, they resolved those crises.”
I see.
After hearing that,
I understood how the empire, with military strength inferior to the Magic Tower’s, had been able to reign over the Arcana Continent. Yes, because they had a cheat key like this. That must have been how they had continued from generation to generation without collapsing. ‘If only I can make use of it...’
Then perhaps it could replace the [M.
T.
C.
A.
T.], couldn’t it?
This was tremendous good news.
In that sense, my expectations were rising considerably.
Soon, the War Emperor’s Archive was revealed.
To state the result—
The War Emperor’s Archive did not betray my expectations.
[Unmeasurable]
It merely responded in a way I had never imagined.
“I see.”
Unmeasurable.
When I saw that message,
I wondered if it was a new item grade that I didn’t know about.
Just as there were [Legendary] grade items above [Epic],
I thought perhaps it was an item grade above [Legendary].
But it wasn’t.
“Do you not feel its sanctity from the entrance alone?”
It may have looked that way to the people of Arcana,
but not to me.
Because in my field of vision, a message was overlaid upon it.
That’s right.
[War Emperor’s Archive]
[Appropriate Level: Unmeasurable]
[Collapse Progress: 92.7%]
The War Emperor’s Archive.
It was a rift.
A ringing sensation struck the back of my head.
However, in situations like this, my unchanging posture shone all the brighter.
Thanks to that, with the same expression as always,
I gazed at the rift, the War Emperor’s Archive.
And because of that, I began to understand.
Somehow, I had thought its effect was excessively fraudulent from the start.
“This, too, was an Oddity.”
It was an effect possible because it was a rift, a space of [『Oddity』].
Now that I knew the truth,
I needed to dig into it even more thoroughly.
The appropriate level in the Arcana System does not exist for nothing.
For that measured level to be immeasurable.
It meant that a danger truly beyond measure was lurking there.‘But how did the emperors of old enter the library?’Even if no message had appeared.
The moment they entered, they would have had no choice but to feel the danger.
It seemed I would have to discuss that with the emperor.
Just in time.
The irreplaceable.
The golden teatime had come around....
The emperor looked out the window from his library.
He could see the people in the streets.
Had news from beyond the walls reached them as well?
Their faces had not merely brightened; they seemed to radiate vitality.
The emperor spoke in a low voice.
“At last, this is a sight worthy of Antonium, yes.”
The emperor recalled the words of his father, the previous emperor.
-“My son, remember that peace is accompanied by sacrifice.”
At the time, he had not fully understood his father’s words.
But the moment the empire faced a true crisis.
The emperor realized.
The one who had to sacrifice was not his retainers, nor his people, nor anyone else.
It was himself, born as emperor.
Just as the emperors before him had done.
“I suppose the time has come for me to bear the weight of the crown as well.”
The emperor wanted to ask his father in heaven.
Father, how did you feel?
How did it feel to live a life you would one day have to end by your own hand?
In truth, he knew even without asking.
“……
So that is why you never told me.”
That was why you always wore such a lonely expression.
The emperor thought.
Perhaps, at this very moment.
He might be wearing the same expression as his father.
But the emperor hid his expression.
“How weak.”
He could not reveal this emotion.
No, he must not.
For he was one who must not waver under any circumstances.
Having calmed his heart, the emperor left the library.
It was to greet Hoyeol, who had returned from the underground treasury.‘I shall accept any request.’No matter what treasure it was.
Compared to the miracle Hoyeol had performed, it would not be a waste.
However.
“I hope it was to your liking.”
What Hoyeol handed him upon returning from the underground treasury was not a request.
It was merely a single sentence.
Words that the man born as emperor had never heard from anyone in his life.
“I have an inkling of the burden you bear.”
“……?”
“You may set that weight down before me.”
“……!”
It was comfort....
Up to that point, it was all well and good.……
Would it kill him to just drink the tea he’s served?
The emperor spoke while swishing the teabag back and forth.
“What an intriguing method of brewing tea.”
I shamelessly declared.
“Incorruptible purity.”
“Is this a tea that symbolizes incorruptible purity?”
“And at the same time, it contains the greatness that can only seep out naturally.”
“Oho……”
“It is called green tea.”……
Seriously, when exaggeration goes this far, it’s basically fraud!