Chapter 7
Audience with the Holy Emperor (2)
Carefully stepping down from the swaying carriage, Seongjin was greeted by a group of knights dressed in magnificent ceremonial uniforms.
“We greet Prince Mores!”
“We greet the Third Prince!”
The knights simultaneously lifted their sheathed swords and struck them against the ground with a heavy thud, then bowed in perfect unison. Their discipline and respect were on an entirely different level from the knights stationed at the Pearl Palace.
Seongjin’s mouth fell open without realizing it.
Wow… that’s actually pretty cool.
As he stared blankly at the bowing knights, the man who appeared to be their commander approached him with a gentle smile.
“Allow me to congratulate Your Highness on your recovery, Prince. From this point onward, the Imperial Royal Guard will escort you.”
He was a handsome man with striking dark blond hair.
His broad, well-trained body looked intimidating, but his slightly small, rounded eyes gave him an unexpectedly gentle appearance.
“…”
Not knowing how to respond, Seongjin simply stared at him.
The man’s smile briefly faded.
However, as if he had already been warned beforehand, he quickly recovered and respectfully placed his right hand over his chest before bowing.
“I am Masain Clanos, Commander of the Second Knight Order of the Imperial Royal Guard. It truly brings me great joy to see Your Highness healthy once again.”
Ah… so he knew the original Mores.
Well, there wasn’t much he could do about that.
When Seongjin gave him an awkward smile, Masain smiled back warmly before turning around and leading the way.
Apparently, he had assumed Seongjin might not know the layout of the Main Palace anymore.
Good. At least someone here can think quickly.
Seongjin followed after him.
The moment he stepped through the tall arched entrance…
[Ugh… it’s suffocating. It feels like my soul is being crushed flat!]
Why? Don’t tell me those people are Holy Knights too?
[No… they’re ordinary knights… It’s not that… This entire area is overflowing with holy power. The instant I leave your body, I’ll be crushed to death… Ugh…]
After saying that, the Demon King fell completely silent.
Seongjin called out to him several times, but the presence of his soul became so faint that he could barely sense him anymore.
He had prepared himself by thinking of this as entering a boss dungeon…
But he hadn’t expected the Demon King to be knocked out this quickly.
Suppressing his growing anxiety, Seongjin quietly followed the knights into the palace lobby.
The Holy Emperor’s office was located at the far end of the second floor.
The wide hallway was relatively quiet.
Occasionally, beautifully dressed people who appeared to be high-ranking priests passed by.
Each time, Seongjin secretly tensed up.
Fortunately, none of them reacted strangely.
They simply stepped aside respectfully and bowed.
So just because they’re priests doesn’t mean they can tell someone’s soul has changed? Maybe we worried for nothing?
Feeling somewhat relieved, Seongjin spoke to the Demon King.
There was still no response.
Did he really disappear?
The Demon King’s destruction had originally been exactly what Seongjin wanted.
He was the one responsible for the destruction of Earth…
The enemy who had driven him to death with the Flames of Gehenna.
Until now, Seongjin had simply tolerated his existence because he had no other way to deal with him.
Yet…
Now that he thought the Demon King had truly vanished…
He felt an oddly empty feeling.
“Your Eminence, Cardinal Benitus!”
His thoughts were interrupted.
Masain, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped and bowed.
Peeking around the knight commander, Seongjin saw a thin old man standing in front of them.
The old man had a long hooked nose and deeply drooping lips, giving him a stern, unpleasant appearance.
Though small and frail, his tall ceremonial hat and luxurious robes embroidered with gold and silver gave him considerable dignity.
A Cardinal…
Must be someone important.
The old man stood perfectly straight and carefully examined Seongjin’s group before giving Masain a slight nod.
“There is no need to be so formal with me, Sir Masain.”
Contrary to his harsh appearance, his tone was quite polite.
Then he lazily tilted his head toward Seongjin.
“Your Highness.”
“…?”
Something feels very wrong here.
He greeted the escort knight first…
And only acknowledged the prince afterward with nothing more than a small nod?
Even someone completely unfamiliar with Delcross customs could tell the old man’s attitude was strange.
Seongjin narrowed his eyes.
Masain seemed to notice as well and nervously glanced toward Seongjin.
“So then, what brings you to the Main Palace?”
The question clearly wasn’t directed at Seongjin.
The Cardinal ignored him entirely and asked Masain instead.
The old man had absolutely no manners.
Masain finally stepped forward and quietly spoke.
“Your Eminence. You stand before His Highness the Prince. Please show the proper respect.”
“Hmph!”
Whether it was a snort or a cough was impossible to tell.
Only then did Cardinal Benitus turn toward Seongjin.
He clasped his hands behind his back, puffed out his stomach, and looked down arrogantly.
“I heard you’ve recently gone through quite the ordeal. Fortunately, Your Highness still appears to be in… excellent health… Hmm?”
He stopped speaking.
His narrowed eyes slowly examined Seongjin from head to toe.
Masain’s expression hardened at the obvious breach of etiquette.
Suddenly, however, the Cardinal’s eyes widened.
“Huh…? Wait… Prince?”
His expression immediately became serious.
Then he began walking straight toward Seongjin.
Something’s wrong.
“What in the world…?”
Looking utterly bewildered, the old man suddenly stretched out his hand.
A brilliant white light wrapped around it as it reached toward Seongjin like a claw.
Even Seongjin could tell at a glance that the light was anything but harmless.
So… that’s holy power…
It was the first time he’d ever seen true holy power in this world.
His heart pounded wildly.
Countless thoughts raced through his mind.
Did he recognize my soul?
Or did he notice the Demon King?
What happens if that holy power touches me?
Will I be forced out of this body?
If he intended to continue living as a prince of the Holy Empire…
Things like this would surely happen again and again.
Perhaps this was a good chance to test what holy power actually did.
But…
Who does this old man think he is, reaching out to touch me without permission?
Seongjin frowned.
He wasn’t about to lecture an elderly man over etiquette…
But he was still a prince.
Trying to touch him whenever he pleased seemed like crossing the line.
For a brief moment, Seongjin almost slapped the old man’s hand away on instinct.
He barely restrained himself.
The Cardinal’s bony wrist looked like it would snap with the slightest force.
Fortunately…
Before Seongjin could accidentally commit elder abuse…
Masain quickly stepped between them.
“Stop, Your Eminence Benitus!”
The Cardinal froze.
Then he looked at Masain in disbelief.
“Sir Masain… do you realize what you’re doing?”
His tone clearly carried criticism.
Masain remained firm.
“No high-ranking priest may approach His Highness.”
“Not even a Cardinal is an exception.”
“Does that order not strike you as absurd?”
“It is His Majesty the Holy Emperor’s command.”
“It exists to protect the Prince.”
A cold silence settled between them.
The Cardinal glared fiercely at Masain.
But seeing that the knight commander had no intention of backing down…
He finally sighed.
“Protect him… from servants of the gods?”
He slowly shook his head.
“You have always been like this, Sir Masain.”
“Why are you so blindly obedient to that man’s every word?”
“…”
“We shall meet again.”
He finally glanced toward Seongjin.
Rather than a greeting, it looked more like a sneer.
“…Your Highness.”
Without waiting for any response, he walked past them.
Masain silently watched the Cardinal leave.
For a brief moment, the corners of his mouth twisted into an expression that looked neither like a smile nor a frown.
Then, as if nothing had happened, his usual gentle smile returned.
He bowed politely.
“We were delayed a little, Your Highness.”
“Please, let us continue.”
Although the exchange between the two men felt rather strange…
Seongjin quickly dismissed it.
After all…
He was only moments away from meeting the Holy Emperor himself.
Nothing else seemed particularly important.
* * *
“Oh, Prince Mores! What a splendid appearance! His Majesty the Holy Emperor will be overjoyed!”
When they arrived before the office, Chief Chamberlain Louis, who had been waiting outside, spread his arms wide as he approached.
His reaction seemed a little excessive.
While Seongjin looked at him awkwardly, Louis suddenly realized himself and hurriedly bowed.
“My deepest apologies, Your Highness. Your noble and handsome appearance caused me to momentarily forget myself.”
This dignified old man is secretly quite the doting fool…
Smiling bitterly, Seongjin asked,
“Louis… as you know, my memory is… not exactly reliable.”
“Is there anything I should be careful about when meeting… Father?”
“I don’t want to cause His Majesty any more worry.”
Louis’s face immediately brightened.
If the Demon King had been reading his thoughts, he would probably have said:
‘To think Lord Mores would ask such a thoughtful question… He’s truly become so mature!’
Thanks to the original Mores setting the bar for personality at rock bottom…
Almost anything Seongjin did now looked admirable.
“I anticipated that Your Highness might be uncertain about court etiquette.”
“Fortunately, His Majesty the Holy Emperor does not concern himself greatly with outward formalities.”
“You may simply address him as ‘Your Majesty the Holy Emperor.'”
“As long as you show sincere respect, that will be more than sufficient.”
So he isn’t as strict as I expected.
Seongjin quietly relaxed.
Louis turned toward the large doors and announced loudly,
“Your Majesty the Holy Emperor, Prince Mores has arrived.”
All right… entering the boss room.
Creeeak.
The office doors slowly opened.
Steadying his racing heart, Seongjin stepped inside.
At worst… I’ll simply be forced out of this body.
After what had happened with Cardinal Benitus, his earlier fear had faded considerably.
That empty space was now filled with curiosity.
Just what kind of person is someone called the representative of God?
Whenever he tried to imagine him, the image that came to mind was the Pope he had seen on television before Earth’s destruction.
That man had been elderly.
But the Holy Emperor had a teenage son.
Surely he must be much younger.
Does he resemble Mores?
Is he powerful?
Or does he have the typical image of a frail priest?
At least in terms of life experience…
Seongjin didn’t think he would lose.
Although he constantly bickered with the Demon King now…
He had been over sixty years old when he died back on Earth.
Half nervous and half excited, he swallowed and stepped into the room.
The first thing he noticed was an elegant tea table set in the center.
It looked as though it had been prepared according to Mores’s usual tastes.
He had often seen similar desserts served at the Pearl Palace.
Beyond it stood a large desk decorated with elaborate carvings.
Stacks of documents and scattered books made it obvious this was a place where state affairs were handled.
And then—
Standing before the wide open window leading to the terrace…
Was the Holy Emperor.
“…!”
Seongjin’s eyes widened.
The Holy Emperor?
That’s him?
He was…
A remarkably young man.
His gentle features and youthful face looked nothing like those of a father with a teenage son.
His neatly trimmed black hair…
Simple everyday clothing…
And lean, athletic physique…
Made him look more like a skilled swordsman than a priest.
A priest…
Who even wore a long sword at his waist.
There was no towering ceremonial hat like the Cardinal’s.
No papal crown.
Only an elegant white robe draped casually over his shoulders hinted that he was anything more than an ordinary man.
If there was one feature he shared with Mores…
It was his gray eyes, shimmering silver under the light.
Those emotionless eyes quietly watched Seongjin.
That’s… this fat prince’s father?
“F… Father?”
Damn! Louis told me to call him ‘Your Majesty the Holy Emperor’!
Caught off guard, Seongjin accidentally blurted out the title he had been thinking in his head.
The Holy Emperor tilted his head slightly.
He might have been puzzled.
But his cold face revealed nothing.
“…Your Majesty the Holy Emperor.”
Seongjin hurriedly corrected himself and awkwardly bowed.
The Holy Emperor finally spoke.
His voice was low and clear.
“You may call me Father.”
“It truly seems your previous memories are gone.”
“Yes…”
“That… seems to be the case.”
Seongjin trailed off.
In truth, the soul inside this body had changed.
Somehow…
Lying felt strangely uncomfortable in front of the Holy Emperor.
Fortunately, the Holy Emperor didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.
“I see.”
Then he walked directly toward Seongjin.
His long white robe swayed gently with every step, shimmering faintly in the light.
Seongjin watched absentmindedly.
Before he knew it…
The Holy Emperor had stopped only one step away.
He was much taller than Seongjin had expected.
Blink.
Blink.
Not knowing how to react, Seongjin simply looked up with wide eyes.
The Holy Emperor silently studied him for a moment.
Then…
Without warning…
He raised his hand toward Seongjin’s head.
It happened from so close that Seongjin couldn’t even react.
His clenched fist became damp with cold sweat.
So he found out…
Am I going to die here?
Certain this was the end…
Seongjin instinctively shut his eyes.
But then—
Tap.
A hand gently rested on top of his head.
…Huh?
Nothing happened.
[Huh?]
No…
Rather than nothing happening…
That familiar, slightly idiotic voice echoed inside his mind again.
…Demon King?
The Demon King’s presence, which had become almost impossible to detect, suddenly swelled dramatically.
A powerful vibration spread through Seongjin.
It felt as though the Demon King’s soul had just stretched after waking up.
[Huh…? Wait… what…?]
You’re alive? What happened?
The Demon King didn’t answer.
Apparently, he had no idea either.
Seongjin could feel his shock and confusion directly.
[Huh…? What is this…? Ah…? EEEK!!]
The Demon King suddenly let out a bizarre scream as though something had startled him.
Then he fell silent once again.
This time, however…
His presence was unmistakable.
Seongjin quietly let out a sigh of relief.
At the same time…
A chill ran through him.
What exactly did the Holy Emperor just do?
Did he notice the Demon King?
If he had…
Why didn’t he destroy him?
In fact…
It almost seemed like…
Before Seongjin could think any further…
The Holy Emperor withdrew his hand and calmly said,
“Sit.”
And so…
The father and son, who looked nothing alike…
Sat across from each other at the tea table.
