Chapter 93: Tenorio (5)
Did you perhaps find something inside Tenorio?
It was a question but the tone was certain from the start. It didnt make rational sense.
Clearly, no story had been passed on. So how did Faorn know about this?
On the one hand, I thought perhaps I had been too careless. Actually, I didnt think this would be an issue.
It wasnt theft since we didnt break into Tenorio. We found it through proper means.
I thought just telling the truth if asked would suffice. Or rather, I even hoped he would look into it.
To spread the word of Temes Spears existence and have Sword Master Faorn prove it wasnt false allegations.
I had told Erendil the same thing. However, contrary to my thoughts, Faorns mood was quite serious.
Ah
Perhaps sensing it as well, Erendil hesitated, glancing at me. Really there was no way out now.
Since the other party had noticed already. Right before I nodded, Faorn continued speaking.
There is a legend passed down among only us gravekeepers.
Is that so?
Yes. We had to swear never to tell anyone. Thats why the previous and current emperors also dont know.
Faorns words were quite shocking. A legend only passed among grave keepers?
Did the founding emperor whisper it to the first grave keeper? That seemed likely.
It would explain the bizarre way of opening it.
With so many gravekeepers over time, it was unlikely none gave in to greed.
Maybe it didnt open only with Devils Blood but also required Erendils blood.
However, I didnt understand why the founding emperor would tell the gravekeepers about it.
There must have been a reason. Seeming to think the same, Erendil voiced her puzzlement.
Why couldnt it be spoken of?
The founding emperor once received a prophecy from the indigenous Nun.
A prophecy?
Yes. That in the distant future, great calamity would befall the empire, and he should prepare for the descendant who would face that calamity.
Unlike my expectations, the story didnt flow negatively. Faorns worry was different.
Great calamity not pleasant news.
It could simply be a baseless rumor. Not all the Nuns words come true.
The Nuns prophecy was also unknown to me. Since I never encountered Tenorio in the game, to begin with.
However, the phrasing of descendant who would face was heavy. It wasnt descendant who would overcome the calamity.
Faorns expression seemed heavy, likely because he was reminded of that forgotten legend.
I recalled Theorn from the game. (+)[1]TLN: Its really Theorn (), not Faorn. I think its the Authors mistake. Unless I just dont remember with this goldfish memory of mine a character with the name Theorn.
Did he associate the devils return and the prophesied calamity?
The princes then couldnt have taken Temes Spear. It must have been despairing.
Still, it doesnt seem like bad news does it? If the prophecy is true, it means Your Highness will be the next emperor.
If thats how it goes.
Also, since Your Highness can quell the calamity, the founding emperor must have prepared for you.
Faorn smiled wryly.
At first I thought it was empty hearsay. When told to be sure to pass this story to whoever took out whatever was inside, I didnt imagine it would occur in my lifetime.
In truth Faorns thoughts were rational. The founding emperor and Nuns words werent known to the public.
Like Ines I met, did the founding emperor also encounter a truly mystical Nun?
Hmm. I couldnt be certain of that either. It may have just been distorted by the grave keepers over time.
The part about something hidden was factual but they likely embellished it among themselves as time passed.
Personally, I think the probability of that is high.
In the game, the princess never became emperor over such a long playtime.
Moreover, I wouldnt have found it without me being here. Surely the prophecy didnt predict my possession?
Of course, I didnt dare to bring this up in front of Faorn. Erendil, having regained her composure, continued speaking.
We must hope such events dont occur. But if so, I will try my best to overcome them.
A good mindset.
You dont ask what this is?
Please leave an old man to ponder it in his boredom. I think of the sword daily but sometimes tedium comes, so Ill think it over. Please tell me later.
I will.
Faorn and Erendil exchanged smiles.
I should train more diligently too. If calamity strikes before I die
If Im emperor then, will you answer my summons?
Of course.
Having you puts me at ease.
Faorn chuckled.
Youve had a difficult time. It grew late. Hurry and rest, it must have been tiring.
Yes. Please be comfortable as well.
Evening. We returned from Tenorio but I couldnt skip the escort. After going around since morning, I was deeply fatigued.
I looked out the window waiting for Phiri.
Since I had already reported going to Tenorio, she would come tonight as well.
In the empty hallway, Emmet who had been training sword stances with one arm approached me.
I heard you did something odd again today?
Pardon?
That you went outside the carriage saying you wanted to ride on the dragons back?
Where did you hear that? We were together the whole time after returning.
After coming back today, Emmet and I had remained by Erendils side without pause.
Erendil hadnt spoken privately with Emmet either.
You dont realize your popularity huh? Your every action is a hot topic.
By any chance did you hear it from Sir Audrey?
The only one who knew was the knight driving the dragon.
Yeah. I ran into him on the way to eat. He immediately started talking about it so half the palace will know by tomorrow.
It was something I didnt know since I couldnt monitor the entire palace at all times with Winds.
I scratched my head.
Whats with that kind of talk
Last time you flipped over a perfectly fine painting and stared at a cat for four hours right?
It was two hours.
Whatever whatever.
Its practically double the difference?
Emmet snickered.
To someone like me, two hours and four hours make no difference.
..
No, but, your speech is normal and your swordsmanship and mind are good. Why do you do odd things sometimes?
Theres no particular reason. I just feel like doing it.
Emmet nodded as if he accepted it.
Well, staring out the window all the time did seem a bit strange. Dont they say geniuses are eccentric?
He likely came over simply to tease me out of boredom. It was the slight entertainment of the escort knights.
In truth, these images werent so bad. With feigned annoyance, I lightly sighed.
So how was riding on the dragons back?
It was fun. Though unfortunately, I couldnt ride a dragon without the carriage.
Let me know next time you get that urge. I want to see for myself.
Dont get your hopes up.
Emmet left chuckling. Not long after, Phiri came.
While conversing with her, I pondered Temes Spear as I waited.
Should I tell her or not.
After brief consideration, I leaned toward not telling. I have to make the princess emperor and stop the devil worshippers.
While Haisens and my first goal aligned, I couldnt say the same for the latter.
I couldnt risk the information leaking from Haisens side.
I trusted Phiri but not the others, and the leader was an issue.
Too bad. It was nothing anyway.
-Even if there was something, previous emperors must have taken it already right?
I guess so. A shame. If not for the Great Magic we could have estimated the location.
-Not much use for it right now?
Wont we be able to decide the next emperor by our own hands in the future?
It was a sharp and frightening statement. It meant assassinating the crown princes.
The grave keepers wouldnt all be Sword Masters.
-Were the devil worshippers uneventful?
Did you hear something happened?
-Looking inside, the Imperial Intelligence seems rather busy.
This was a lie. But with the devil appearing, there would be some signs somehow.
Since Haisen was also monitoring them, they would have seen something.
I heard something happened in the north but dont know the details because of those imperial bastards. Were looking into it.
-I see.
From your words, it doesnt seem like a trivial matter. Ah, damn it
I could hear Phiris cold swearing in my ear.
-Why do you say that?
Our leader was absent last week.
-What a coincidence.
Itll be the north.
-Yes, the probability its related to the devil worshippers is high.
Suspicion is plenty.
A leader level would have quite a high position even among devil worshippers. He probably went to see the devils advent.
-What will you do? With the leader gone, wouldnt it be fine to contact Father now?
I cant make a move. One of the leader or vice-leader must remain. He might flee if were careless.
Phiri wants to capture the leader with her own hands. And in truth that would be better.
Most of the information leakage already happened so they had to hold the leader.
After talking to you I looked closely, he has more people on his side than I thought. They wont all believe in devils but I cant act rashly.
Right. The leader is absolutely merciless. If he told them to report Phiris odd behaviors
Phiri could even be in danger instead.
-So its risky to relay in a letter.
Yeah. I dont really have a method now.
Tsk. While I did feel frustrated, turning Phiris heart completely was already a great profit.
With Phiri, there was a chance to deal with the leader when an opportunity arose.
-Then lets wait. The evidence still isnt sufficient.
True. If its your words, Father might believe, but its better to have proper evidence.
-If things get difficult, we can act on our own.
Us? Youve got sharp eyes on you.
Although there were still two people monitoring me, their quality seemed to have decreased a bit since receiving the Imperial Founders Medal.
While they used to be quite powerful individuals even to sense with winds, now they werent at that level. It seems they might have been deprioritized.
-I can handle that level of opposition.
Alright. Lets go with that for now. Lets observe the situation.
It was the morning of the eighth day after visiting Tenorio. I confirmed the Imperial Intelligences surveillance had completely disappeared.
I couldnt take this as a positive sign.
If it was because I received the Imperial Founders Medal, it should have happened much sooner.
Rather, the probability was high that something so major happened, they lacked the manpower to monitor me.
Considering the devils advent
It may be more serious than I expected. Regrettably, I hadnt obtained high-quality information from Haisen.
The imperial intelligence was extremely vigilant in the north so their activities there were greatly diminished.
It was also because the leader was a devil worshipper. They would know our sides information.
While Duke was operating a separate intelligence team in the north, they would also communicate with our leader.
It would be good if I could move directly.
I could only feel frustrated.
The situation was already flowing differently than what I knew and I didnt know when any variables might explode.
It was a moment I wished I had more than one body. Should I have chosen a Mystic Power like self-replicating instead of Winds?
Though there really wasnt a trait like that to begin with. Thats how I felt.
Of course, I left the worries as just worries. Among uncertain things, I had to create certainties.
Since surveillance had disappeared, I planned to handle the figures I had noted in my mind.
Eyes were on me from many places, not just the Imperial Intelligence. I was currently the most famous person in the empire. Still, I was fully confident I absolutely wouldnt get caught.
I didnt know how long an opportunity like this would last. I had to move quickly before surveillance returned.
Hmm.
Which one should I deal with first?
Author's Thoughts
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