The Invaders of the Large Tomb

Fluder, who was recalling his past, regained his awareness after realizing someone was calling him.

The shocking encounter from a few days ago still gripped his heart, and if he did not focus, his mind might take flight into fantasy again.

Fluder immediately remembered where he was, and nodded slightly to the person addressing him.

“Pardon my rudeness, your Majesty, my mind was elsewhere.”

In front of Fluder was the only person who would call him gramps, the Emperor of the Baharuth Empire, Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix, and they were currently in the Emperor’s study.

Normally, there would not be so many people gathered in this room. The ones currently present were the Emperor Jircniv, who was accompanied by four of his bodyguards. The Empire’s highest ranked magic caster, Fluder Paradyne was there as well. In addition, even though the Emperor possessed remarkable intelligence, he had ten trustworthy ministers who were capable enough to assist him. One of the Four Imperial Knights, ‘Lightning’ Baziwood Peshmel, was also in attendance.

They all sat at their preferred places, and until recently, they had been discussing the future plans for the Empire. The papers scattered around the room spoke of how intense the meeting had become.

The young man called the Blood Emperor started talking to Fluder in a tone no one else would dare to use.

“No, don’t worry about it. It must be tiring for you to do so much work since you are getting on in years, so you might want to take it easy, but in the end it’s still a job that only grandpa can do. Sorry about that.”

“I am deeply grateful for his Majesty’s kindness. However, I am your Majesty’s loyal subject.

Please feel free to give me your orders.”

Fluder, who had come so far, lightly nodded his head.

Ah, I raised a really good child, Fluder thought while looking at the beautiful face of the youth.

Fluder had been serving the Empire for six generations now.

Initially, he did not have a really good relationship with the Emperor from six generations ago. Even so, he had been a skilled magic caster at the time, so when he was recruited, he ended up reaching a prominent position even among the court wizards.

Due to this, his relationship with the imperial family had gradually become closer over the next five generations. When he first acquired the position of head magician, he started educating the Emperor’s children from the fourth generation on, but it was mainly related to magic.

Ever since the third generation, he had been instructing them in various subjects, most of which concerned politics.

And now it was the current emperor—a child that everyone adored.

Until now, he had seen many different types of emperors but none of them were incapable. All the children were talented as if they had been picked by the gods—but despite the current Emperor’s youth, his talents and abilities outshined the previous emperors by a wide margin. Even though it could be argued that Fluder had been aiding the preparations since two generations ago, the autocratic centralisation of power within the Emperor’s person had only been possible due to Jircniv’s exceptional skills

Fluder loved Jircniv Rune Farlord el Nix.

He had educated the Emperor and treated him like his own child, and Fluder believed that the Emperor treated him like a father as well.

But even if that was the case—

Fluder was still willing to abandon someone who he saw as his own child.

I wish to peer into the abyss of magic, Jircniv. I will not lose sight of that goal, no matter what Ihave to sacrifice for it. Even if it is an adorable child like you.

“Then your Majesty, is this why we called off the Kingdom’s invasion?”

“That’s right. The details about the devil calling himself Jaldabaoth are far more important. Gramps, have you found anything from your investigation yet?”

“Regretfully no, your Majesty. Even after the investigation, we still could not find any information about him.”

That’s right. That was how things had turned out.

“Paradyne, can’t you investigate it through magic?”

Fluder narrowed his eyes and looked at the speaker with a serious expression on his face.

“It is true that magic can be all powerful, but that is—”

“—Gramps, sorry. But if you start talking about that subject it’ll take quite long. So, it’s better to stop for now.”

“I understand, your Majesty.”

For a moment, Fluder looked dejected, and then adopted the tone of a teacher and started lecturing the people who seemed like students that kept missing the point.

“There are ways to prevent magical investigation. For instance, did you know this room is proofed against eavesdropping by magic? There are also other things that this room is protected against, and magical investigation is the least of such things.”

“…I understand. Because there are so many counter-measures, it would be difficult to do it.”