The emperor in the screen spoke.
“Your wife has gone in ahead and will be waiting for you. Whatever is inside, it’s best not to touch anything carelessly.”
“Y-Your Majesty. Could this place be…?”
“Yes. A restricted zone accessible only to the imperial bloodline. So, how does it feel to see the truth behind one of the Empire’s most whispered rumors?”
“…Are you saying you intend to imprison me here?”
“‘Store’ would be a better word.”
Isaac’s eyes were bloodshot.
“I was told that anyone not of imperial blood who enters this place would be torn apart.”
“It’s fine if I give my permission. And I’ve allowed you to enter… or more accurately, I’ve only granted you entry.”
“……”“If you try to escape from the other side, your body really will be shredded to pieces.”
Isaac trembled.
He shouted as if spitting blood.
“Just send me to prison! Why must you throw me into such a horrifying place?!”
“I gave a task to your daughter. But heroes can be unpredictable.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I thought Serein might fall too hard for the hero and reject my request. In that case, wouldn’t it be natural to store her weakness in the safest place in the world?”
“……”
“Don’t worry. There’s plenty of food, drink, and entertainment inside.”
He continued in a calm, kindly tone.
“You’ll see thousands upon thousands of doors in there. The ones you’re allowed to open will be glowing brightly.”
“……”
“You can open any glowing door. But don’t touch the ones that aren’t glowing… unless you’re looking to end your life.”
It was a command more cruel than any exile.
Eventually, Isaac snapped completely.
He foamed at the mouth and lunged at the emperor.
“You beast! Even as ruler of the Empire, this tyranny is unforgivab—grhk!”
Isaac’s body suddenly collapsed.
It was a move quick enough to slip past most swordsmen.
But I clearly saw the emperor strike Isaac in the abdomen with his fist.
‘The emperor had that kind of skill?’
I hadn’t known that even before regression.
[Looks like he worked out a bit.]
‘Seems so. But more shocking is that the current emperor isn’t known to be a martial artist at all.’
[…]
‘He must’ve hidden his abilities completely while training to that level. Killing the previous emperor too… he’s a sly one, no doubt.’
[Not as sly as you, but still.]
I didn’t think that deserved a response, so I just kept watching.
Click.
The emperor opened the door.
And he tossed Isaac in like garbage.
“Don’t worry. If Serein completes the task, I’ll let you out.”
Snip.
The screen cut off.
I crossed my arms and contemplated.
‘What is that door? And what lies beyond it?’
The wide range search magic circle from Beyond and the Erenica family heirlooms were just a tiny part of what was behind that door.
The emperor said there were thousands, no—tens of thousands of doors within.
A gate that had existed since before the Empire was founded.
Who could’ve created something like that?
I organized my thoughts and spoke.
“Serein’s parents are beyond the door beneath the Imperial Palace.”
Everyone tilted their heads.
It didn’t take long before the truth hit them.
Neril asked,
“The underground vault? Where the Erenica heirloom was found?”
“And also where Beyond’s wide range search magic circle is located,” I added.
I nodded.
As always, at the mere mention of that topic, Offense fidgeted with excitement.
“We’re definitely not skipping this!”
“Are you going to repeat that conversation from last time?”
“Ahem. Sorry. That was out of character for me. Revealing personal desires in this kind of situation is… well…”
“We are going anyway.”
“……”
“Adwin. Call Grade.”
At that, Lisel nearly had a fit.
“What?! Why would you bother someone that important?!”
“Is that how you refer to summoning the spirit of a dead man?”
“I—I’m not ready for this emotionally…”
“Last time, Captain Dame helped, but he’s in prison now. I need help from someone else. And of all the royalty I know, only Grade fits the bill.”
I added one more line.
“If you are not ready, you can step outside. He’s not exactly busy. He’ll come when called.”
But Lisel didn’t leave.
Shff.
Instead, her presence vanished like a lie.
She used spirit transformation to hide again.
Offense muttered, dumbfounded,
“Even though I saw it last time, her concealment is better than mine and I’m an assassin. The gods are unfair.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t think she can attack in that state.”
“Whew. The gods are fair after all.”
“Well, anyway. Adwin. Did you call him?”
Adwin opened his mouth.
A voice far too deep for him came out.
“Why did Lisel run away?”
“Greetings, Lord Grade.”
“Don’t just call me when you need something. Try convincing Lisel now and then.”
“I told Lisel I’d be convincing you instead.”
“……”
“You two can handle that yourselves. I have a question.”
“Sigh. About the door beneath the Imperial Palace?”
I nodded.
Everyone focused intently on him.
Grade fell silent, searching his memory, then spoke.
“When I was traveling the continent to save Lisel from the spirits, I met a man.”
“Yes?”
“He told me stories of the era before the Celestial Gods. Of druids, spirit languages… and much more. It all sounded absurd, so I didn’t believe him at first.”
He continued quietly.
“But when I saw the place he showed me, I believed. I kept researching it independently after that.”
“Why didn’t you tell the world?”
“Because the stories were too outrageous. Just the concept of a time before the Celestial Gods is radical.”
Xenia nodded and chimed in.
“So he was just a lunatic, right? The Celestial Gods created the world. There can’t be a ‘before’ that.”
“That’s exactly the kind of response I expected. I couldn’t afford rumors of madness spreading about me back then.”
Well, that was when the Empire was just being founded, it must’ve been a critical time.
I asked,
“You said he showed you a place. Don’t tell me…”
“Yes. That door.”
“……”
“A lone door standing in the middle of a vast field. The man said he liked me and offered it as a gift.”
I tilted my head.
“Regardless, thank you for everything. Goodbye.”
“Trying to shove me off again, are you? Insolent servant, through and through.”
He continued,
“Looks like the current emperor, my descendant is causing trouble?”
“To be honest, yes. He’s been using that underground vault as his personal property. He even locked up my companion’s parents in there.”
Serein gave me a slightly shaken look.
Apparently the phrase ‘my companion’ hit her in a different way.
Grade nodded.
“That gate only allows entry to imperial blood or those recognized by the imperial family. Frankly, there’s no place more fitting to serve as a prison.”
“I see.”
“Then I’ll grant you recognition.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I said, I’ll acknowledge you. You’ll be able to enter the gate.”
My eyes went wide.
Neril said,
“That won’t work.”
“Surely you’re not talking down to me.”
“I debated whether to be polite or not. Decided not to.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because you kept calling Mide a servant.”
Hmm. Does that count as a reason?
Anyway, Neril went on:
“If people could access the gate just because a dead emperor’s spirit gave permission, it wouldn’t be a restricted zone. Necromancers could just summon spirits and get in.”
“Hmmm.”
“Of course, there’s no guarantee a summoned spirit would give permission, but still—it seems too easy, doesn’t it?”
Grade chuckled.
“You’ve got a sharp partner, you insolent brat. Arrogant like you, too.”
I intentionally chose not to react to a particular word.
“Since you called her sharp, I assume she’s right?”
“In most cases, yes. When a member of the royal family dies, their gate access is revoked. The gate wouldn’t open just because a dead royal says it’s okay.”
“Then…”
“But I met Velosian, the vault’s creator, in person. He was quite fond of me, and granted me special privileges.”
So even as a spirit, Grade’s recognition could allow passage through the gate?
I asked him directly, and he nodded.
“Yes. Though I’ve never tested it.”
“Those last words are… unsettling.”
“What’s the worst that could happen? Death? The afterlife isn’t so bad—no, I mean, it’s quite… manageable. You could even serve me over here.”
“Goodbye.”
“Tch. Still an insolent servant.”
Adwin’s arm glowed brightly.
As if signaling it was time, Grade’s voice began to fade.
He gave a light cough and tried to speak.
“Tell Lisel this—”
But he didn’t get to finish.
Adwin forcibly dismissed him.
The very same Adwin who kicked the founding emperor and was the first hero.
He looked at me and asked,
“Did I do good?”
“…Yeah.”
Lisel suddenly reappeared and interrupted.
“No, you didn’t.”
“Ah! Right. Sorry. I just got mad that he kept calling Hyung a servant.”
“Ugh. I really wanted to hear what he was about to say.”
I asked,
“Should we summon him again?”
Lisel shook her head so hard it made a whoosh sound.
“No!”
What am I supposed to do with you?
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