CHAPTER 103…….
The god of fire, Sala.
He is one of the primordial deities that exist in this land. Unlike spirits, he has no form—he is simply a force that maintains the world.
The most accurate way to describe him would be as nature itself.
The people of the sun and fire inherit the vital energy of Sala, and in some, this energy manifests exceptionally strongly.
Shamans and powerful warriors.
“Not a shaman, I think. His energy is weaker than this guy’s.”
Tyrin indicated Giovanni with his tail.
I studied the man and responded silently.
‘Yeah… just as I heard.’
The first prince of the empire, flawless in both lineage and influence.
In the imperial system, he holds the title of Crown Prince, called Koon.
According to Kitchev, he has an arrogant personality that doesn’t heed anyone and a cunning nature.
Giovanni, a prince overshadowed by the prophecy that marked him as the glory of the empire from a young age, was also a tragic figure.
I figured that if the crown prince had a bad temperament, it might be partly due to that environment.
But then—
“Disgusting aura.”
Tyrin clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Massacre.”
‘…….’
“Looks like a mass murderer, that one.”
I moistened my lips out of tension.
‘This time, you think the same as I do, Tyrin.’
I realized the source of the discomfort that had lingered as he stared at me.
It was killing intent.
The man radiated the scent of deep bloodlust.
“What brings you here?”
Giovanni stepped forward, standing in front of me as if to shield me. His tone was blunt but different from usual.
I once again confirmed that this man was not a welcome guest.
The man lightly leapt from the tree and spread his arms wide. He looked far larger than when he was perched.
“I’ve come to meet you.”
Slightly taller than Giovanni, with a slightly hoarse voice.
“Has it been a long time?”
“…….”
“Brother.”
His smirk was undeniably handsome—but it sent a chill down my spine.
Click, click.
When we first entered the desert, there had only been four of us. Now, there were more than ten.
It was because the Crown Prince, or rather, Lord Rakki Koon, was surrounded tightly by his bodyguards.
Imperial guards looked different from the kingdom’s soldiers.
Instead of plate armor that rattled with every move, they wore somewhat thin leather armor.
Not covering the whole body—just the vital areas minimally protected.
Their black-painted faces radiated fierce energy.
These were the warriors I had only heard about in stories.
Kitchev was astonishing. Even when facing these warriors, who provoked with their intensity, he didn’t back down at all. Not like the scolding he got from Jenny.
I turned my head forward. Broad backs filled my view.
Even among strong warriors, Giovanni’s presence was not diminished.
Lord Rakki Koon, by comparison, was certainly smaller.
I shifted my gaze to him. He walked a few steps ahead of us, his arrogant stride as if unaware of the tension of the warriors around him.
‘If that man becomes emperor, everyone will die.’
Seeing it firsthand, I understood. He was not one to let the seeds of chaos grow.
I considered what I needed to do here.
Find and punish the traitorous warrior, and assist Giovanni.
My human self wanted power and wealth.
But that would naturally follow if Giovanni won this battle.
More important was repaying Giovanni’s favor.
Not false kindness like Hubert’s, but to the guardian who had given me his heart and body completely.
I whispered to Giovanni’s back, reminding me of him from a thousand years ago.
‘I will make you emperor.’
The goal of life’s second—or third—act.
A grand empire stood on the sand.
The first impression upon entering Piyetse, the capital of Doberakan, was its bustling nature.
Unlike Chief Garke’s village, the oasis was wide enough to hold hundreds of people, surrounded by long leafy trees, magnificent houses, and merchants in turbans moving briskly with stern faces.
A vast and colorful city. Every motion rougher than the kingdom, yet filled with vitality.
Piyetse was lively, though in a different sense than the kingdom’s capital.
The imperial palace rose imposingly at the center.
If Lior’s royal palace was elegant, the empire’s palace was intimidating.
The guards at the gates noticed us and struck their left chests with a fist.
Thump, thump!
“Yurken of the Black Wolf tribe meets Koon!”
“We meet the fifth prince!”
Lord Rakki turned his head on horseback and looked our way, tilting his chin and curling his lips.
“Let’s go to father immediately. The chiefs will be waiting for you eagerly.”
“……?”
“I sent people ahead.”
“…….”
“After a year of hardship in the kingdom, wouldn’t a grand welcome be appropriate?”
“I see.”
“There are explanations to hear as well.”
Suddenly, he shifted his gaze to me. A cold glint flashed in his dark eyes. My nape stiffened.
He soon looked away and smiled at Giovanni.
“You gave the Aision desert to the kingdom, didn’t you?”
I could feel Kitchev tensing. Giovanni remained unchanged.
The crown prince’s smile deepened.
“Regrettable.”
“…….”
“You should have seen Khan’s expression when the international lawyer rambled over the contract.”
“…….”
“It was quite amusing.”
“You troubled Khan.”
“Haha, it’s fine, Giovanni. You had your reasons. I spoke unnecessarily. But after all, you’ve returned after a year. Celebrating comes first.”
Though his tone was generous, the surrounding atmosphere fell.
I had thought desert people were straightforward.
‘At least not that man.’
We walked deeper into the palace.
Whispers followed us, just as in the kingdom.
Imperial nobles and the emperor awaited in the hall. Eyes and voices followed us the whole way.
Some approving, some critical.
Whether I would thrive in the empire depended on those inside.
Here, I had to prove myself again.
“Phew…”
I exhaled lightly and stepped forward, into the hall opening like a giant beast’s gaping mouth.
“A rare face to see after a year.”
The first words from the emperor, as I paid homage.
The emperor, sitting on a golden throne overlaid with beast skins, matched the image one had of the empire.
Rough, fierce, formidable.
The sight of him sitting on the hides of dead beasts was striking.
Older than King Hermanon, but the aura he exuded was overwhelming, even surpassing him.
Yet the faint air of decay unique to an aging ruler could not be denied.
“So, my son, wandering foreign lands ignoring my summons, you return at last.”
“Speak, Khan.”
Giovanni knelt on one knee, silently lowering his gaze.
He looked like he would accept any punishment.
The emperor’s mouth twitched—whether in approval or not was unclear.
“Have you achieved what you desired? Was losing the Aision desert worth it? And does it serve this empire?”
“…….”
“If you answer no to even one, not even you will remain safe.”
The harsh words froze the air.
Giovanni lifted his head in the heavy silence.
“Yes.”
“…….”
“It answers all three questions.”
His calm voice resonated low. I quickly scanned the hall.
The emperor showed little reaction. Lord Rakki smirked with one side of his mouth, and the crowd’s responses varied.
“This is not something to let slide with a single answer.”
The first to speak was the man with upward-tilted eyes. A long, large bone necklace drew attention.
His hair was short, around shoulder length.
The warrior’s skill could be gauged by his ornament and hair.
The long teeth on his necklace marked the largest and fiercest beast he had slain, and the cut hair indicated he had lost to someone at least once.
‘Giovanni and Lord Rakki Koon have never lost yet.’
“The Aision desert is adjacent to kingdom territory. Even if it belongs to the fifth prince, it is not something one can hand over at personal discretion. I fail to see how giving away territory benefits the empire.”
“Yet he brought the god of water from the kingdom!”
A man with a red feather behind his ear shouted.
Even in the emperor’s presence, he raised his voice. The emperor looked bored, not displeased.
Despite the fierce tone, the short-haired chief snorted.
“The god of water? Who says he’s a god of water? I hear he’s just a kingdom priest. The kingdom has more than two priests. Exchanging one of them for the Aision desert is absurd. It’s a complete loss!”
He glanced at Giovanni and chuckled.
“The fifth prince is a great warrior. He defeated me at fifteen.”
A glint of killing intent flashed in the man’s eyes. It seemed Giovanni had cut his hair short.
“But still inexperienced. To make such an absurd mistake… well, he’s young, so it’s natural he’s not as wise as his elder brother.”
Though he excused the youth, it was clear the crown prince was being judged as inferior.
The chief with the red feather turned red as if about to burst.
