[……..]
Hearing Yujin’s audacious remark, the Emperor fell silent for a moment, as if at a loss for words.
Normally, one would feel uncomfortable when even an Emperor remained silent, but Yujin didn’t particularly care. On the contrary, he welcomed the silence, hoping it meant the Emperor was giving the matter serious thought.
No matter how overwhelming the Emperor’s authority might be, the Imperial Family was currently bearing a considerable risk. After all, they were hiding the fact that an Imperial Princess was being consumed by a demon.
At that moment, the Emperor was, in many ways, walking a tightrope. If this truth were to be revealed, it would not only deal a severe blow both domestically and internationally but might even lead to the downfall of the Imperial Family altogether.
To make matters worse, there wasn’t even a sign of improvement in the situation. And in such a circumstance, if the Emperor were to recklessly cling to the sudden possibility that had appeared, that was not something Yujin would have wanted to see either.
In the end, the conclusion of this matter is to have Her Highness’s existence acknowledged by the world.
After transforming Elicia into a demon, the goal was to have her existence accepted by the world.
That was by no means an easy task. Hatred and loathing toward demons were already deeply rooted in this world.
Solving this perception issue was, in truth, nearly impossible. There had been countless atrocities actually committed by demons, and neither the nature nor the essence of demons was something likely to change.
In such circumstances, in order to have her accepted by the world, an enormous power or authority was necessary.
Naturally, the authority of a mere single nation wouldn’t suffice. The cooperation of countless forces would be required. And the Emperor had to be the one standing at the very center of it all.
If the very person who was supposed to lead this effort had carelessly entrusted his daughter’s treatment to a suspicious man who had suddenly appeared, then Yujin would have, in turn, found the Emperor himself suspicious.
In fact, aside from boldly claiming he had nothing to hide, Yujin hadn’t proven anything to the Emperor. Ultimately, Yujin had yet to answer any of the most important questions. What kind of being he was, what his true purpose was, or whether this method could really save Elicia without fail.
And so, if the Emperor had hurriedly entrusted Elicia to him, Yujin would have only found the Emperor more suspicious.
In conclusion, this was the truth: Yujin, in his own way, was also measuring whether the Emperor was a worthy partner for proper cooperation.
It wasn’t that Yujin doubted the Emperor’s character. From the very beginning, the fact that the Emperor was trying in every possible way to protect Elicia was enough to tell Yujin that the man genuinely wished to save her.
As the Emperor, Elicia was undeniably a dangerous variable that could not be left within the Imperial Family. The most appropriate course of action would have been to eliminate her immediately and quietly cover up everything related to the princess. Yet, the very fact that the Emperor had not done so made it clear enough that he truly cared for Elicia.
Even so, what Yujin wanted to know was whether the Emperor was truly someone who could be of help.
The Emperor absolutely must not simply entrust Elicia to him. At the same time, he must not stubbornly reject Yujin’s help or cling blindly to his own methods.
What Yujin wanted was for the Emperor to accept his help only after taking everything into careful consideration, based on reasonable grounds of his own. Or, if the Emperor could not find sufficient grounds to accept Yujin’s help, then at the very least, he should prepare some form of safety measure while boldly betting on even the slightest possibility.
If that was impossible… then regrettably, Yujin had no intention whatsoever of discussing cooperation with the Emperor.
Fortunately, however, the man who had risen to the rightful position of ruler over a nation did not betray Yujin’s expectations.
The Emperor, who had been silently staring at Yujin all this time, finally opened his mouth.
[Quite bold, I must say. And what is the basis for that confidence of yours?]
The basis of his confidence… At those words, Yujin paused to think for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and opening his mouth.
“Ultimately, it’s because the risks I bear aren’t all that great. When there’s little danger involved, anyone can speak boldly. Whether it’s the truth or a lie.”
It was an answer with a hint of falsehood. A reply that didn’t quite reflect his true thoughts.
And at those words…. at Yujin’s claim that his risks weren’t that great, the Emperor narrowed his eyes.
[And why do you think that? If everything you’ve said turns out to be a lie, do you really believe I would simply sit back and do nothing? Even then, you claim there is no risk?]
It sounded like he was venting his anger at Yujin, yet his voice remained incredibly calm and composed. Yujin too replied in an equally calm tone.
“Unfortunately, Your Majesty is not in a position to do that right now. Unlike me, who can simply walk away from this matter with Her Highness the Princess, Your Majesty can never be free from it once the issue with Her Highness comes to light. After the situation with Her Highness escalates, would Your Majesty even have the leisure to concern yourself with me?”
[There are countless ways to drag you into this. Thanks to your schemes, the princess has been possessed by a demon. Shaping public opinion like that is by no means a difficult task.]
In reality, Elicia had indeed brought out a demon’s seed from the labyrinth and was gradually being consumed by the demon. However, regardless of the truth, once Elicia’s problem grew larger, it would certainly not be difficult to drag Yujin into it just like that.
Of course, Yujin was well aware of that much.
“That may be true. But is that truly the situation Your Majesty wishes to see unfold?”
[…….]
“This is, in a sense, a balance, Your Majesty.”
Yujin half-closed his eyes slightly and continued.
“I know very well that the person who most wants to keep the problem with Princess Elicia from becoming public is none other than Your Majesty. The method of ‘dragging me in’ that Your Majesty just mentioned would only be effective once the situation with Her Highness has already blown up. But Your Majesty has no intention of letting things reach that point.”
[…….]
“Of course, let’s assume for argument’s sake that I really am a fraudster and that Your Majesty wishes to punish me over this matter before the problem with Her Highness comes to light… Even so, I’m sure that, at this point in time, Your Majesty would want to avoid causing any sort of disturbance within the Imperial Family. Considering the current situation where even hiding Her Highness has been difficult enough, creating such noise would be an extremely risky move. No, even before that, if Your Majesty were to take action against me, wouldn’t there also be concerns over how I, knowing the truth about Her Highness, might react?”
Let’s say Yujin really was a fraud, and the Emperor, enraged by that fact, wanted to punish him.
But Yujin was already a well-known figure. He was the founder of space-time magic and a mage whose skills surpassed even those of a great archmage. Would it really be such a simple matter for the Empire to move against someone like him?
Of course not. It would inevitably cause a public stir. And the Imperial Family, already walking a dangerous tightrope and struggling to conceal a major weakness, could hardly afford even the smallest of disturbances. Moreover, if Yujin were to go so far as to reveal what he knew, an even greater catastrophe would unfold.
“For me, even if I really am a fraud, the risks aren’t all that great. At most, the best Your Majesty could do would be to send assassins after me. And I have the capability to handle that level of threat on my own. At that point, wouldn’t you say I truly have very little to lose? Don’t you think so?”
[……..]
At those words, the Emperor fell silent for a moment before finally opening his mouth.
[It’s been quite a long time since I’ve felt this thoroughly cornered.]
“Is that so?”
At those words, Yujin raised his eyes slightly, as if he found the situation rather interesting. After all, the ruler of an entire nation and not just any nation, but an empire grand enough to be called such had just admitted that he was in a thoroughly weak position.
Of course, both the Emperor and Yujin had known from the very beginning. They had always been aware of who was the weaker party and who held the position of power in this conversation.
And yet, there was only one reason they had continued this exchange.
As he had mentioned earlier, the Emperor had not disappointed Yujin.
With a gaze that grew even clearer, the Emperor looked straight at Yujin and began to speak.
[That’s why I was able to feel a little more certain.]
[Checks, deceptions, schemes… those are the tactics of the weak, used against opponents who are equal to or stronger than themselves. A true powerhouse has no need to resort to such actions when dealing with someone utterly beneath them.]
[Of course, that doesn’t necessarily prove that you have no ulterior motives. In fact, this could very well be another calculated move to gain easier access to the Imperial Family.]
[Even so, you haven’t once tried to control this situation from the position of an absolute superior. You’ve done nothing but observe and measure me.]
[Perhaps that’s why I feel all the more keenly aware that I am the weaker one here.]
Having said that, the Emperor continued, directing his words toward Yujin.
[In truth, the Great Witch has already vouched for you. She told me that you are someone more than worthy of trust and that I could believe in you. I’ve never seen her speak of anyone like that before.]
“…I see.”
At those words, Yujin casually glanced over at Ines. And at that look, Ines flinched slightly and lowered her head.
[Besides, if you’d intended to pull something on the princess, it would have been far more convenient to keep doing so secretly at the Academy. And yet, you sent her back to the Empire… That too added to my assessment that you were, to some extent, someone worthy of trust. The reason I went as far as to contact you like this was because I wanted to judge you for myself. Regardless of the Great Witch’s guarantee or your own actions.]
“It did feel like you were testing me from the very beginning.”
[Did it? If that displeased you, I apologize.]
To think a ruler of a nation would say something like that so easily. Yujin found it oddly striking as he opened his mouth to respond.
“Not at all. I was the same way, and I’ve also behaved in ways that were rude in many respects, so if anything, I should be the one apologizing. I’m sorry.”
[In that case, let’s consider the matter settled and leave it at that.]
The Emperor let out a small chuckle and nodded. Seeing that, Yujin decided to go ahead and ask, just to confirm.
“So then, what is your impression of me now, after speaking with me directly?”
[To be honest… I still don’t really know.]
The Emperor unexpectedly gave such a reply. For a moment, he turned his gaze to the side, as if staring off into empty space.
[Your very existence is shrouded in mystery. And you haven’t given me any answers to those mysteries.]
“……”
[But what I can say for certain is this. I am currently in a thoroughly inferior position, while you hold the dominant one. And given that dynamic, there aren’t many reasons for someone like you to bother deceiving me.]
With a long sigh, the Emperor continued speaking.
[So… may I ask this of you? Something regarding my daughter.]
At those words, Yujin fell silent for a moment.
He couldn’t make a promise along the lines of “I’ll definitely succeed.” The Emperor wouldn’t expect that kind of answer either. That’s precisely why—
“I will do my best.”
That seemed to be the right answer. The Emperor let out another small chuckle and bowed his head.
[I offer you my sincere gratitude.]
And with that, the audience with the Emperor came to an end.
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