NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54
The Emperor of a nation.
The term “one beneath the heavens, ten thousand above the earth” exists for a reason in the Martial World.
Though he stands above all, he is still beneath one person.
Who could that “one beneath” be?
While those in the Martial World might not ponder this, most people, having stepped outside the Martial World, naturally think of the Emperor as the supreme being of this land.
A true ten thousand above the earth.
If one thinks, “Isn’t the Emperor just someone who can be easily assassinated with a little misstep, who gets tangled in palace intrigues and constantly hears complaints from his ministers?”, that person probably wasn’t born in the Empire.
Sometimes, such thoughts come to mind.
What would you do if you became the OO?
Daring to say “what would you do first as Emperor” is akin to treason, but everyone tends to indulge in esoteric thoughts and fantasies.
When a person possesses absolute power, what do they wish to do?
It’s akin to my Extreme Yang Reversal or the “miraculous realization” emanating from my being.
It could be argued that, in a realistic sense, becoming an Emperor is more feasible.
At the peak of power, if one simply issues an imperial decree, anything can be accomplished—how could that not be a miracle that grants all wishes?
Thus, I personally wondered.
What kind of desires do those known as Emperors carry?
While the number of Emperors since the founding of this land has fluctuated since Qin Shi Huang, each Emperor must have harbored different aspirations.
Some sought immortality.
Some aimed for a prosperous and strong nation.
And others longed for the most beautiful woman in the world.
…I believe I’ve contemplated this before, but now I can’t help but think about it again.
No matter how unconventional I might be, I thought that the Imperial Family would hold some level of common sense.
So, I had no choice but to ask.
“Um, Your Majesty.”
I wanted to confirm whether I had heard correctly.
“Did you request to become a woman?”
“Indeed.”
“…….”
“Physician Seok. I am aware of what you are thinking.”
The Emperor continued without a trace of emotion.
“It’s a straightforward request. Or should I explain the definition of words or their meanings for you?”
“…Well, that would be my role as a physician.”
Right.
We approach this as a ‘physician.’
“Though it’s an impolite statement, if we regard Your Majesty’s wish and the painful reality that hinders its realization as a ‘sickness,’ then from now on, I will treat you as a patient and conduct an examination.”
How audacious, how irreverent.
I worried briefly that such words might emerge, yet to my surprise, the Emperor nodded silently.
“Speak, Physician.”
“…When you ask to become a woman, does that imply you were originally not a man?”
“…….”
The Emperor hesitated for a moment. Glancing subtly at the Grand Prince, he faltered, and despite the Emperor’s urging, the Grand Prince remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.
Could there have been some secret in the palace from the past?
—It seems to be true.
Mo Yongseol, who stood beside me, transmitted her thoughts to me via telepathy.
—the Emperor was originally a woman!
I had no idea when she learned telepathy, but Mo Yongseol communicated her hypothesis to me without anyone noticing.
—Originally a female body, but forced to live as a man for political reasons. Having lived as a male Emperor for so long, they now wish to return to their lost life as a woman. The Emperor must remain a man!
It sounded plausible.
Just like how eunuchs are castrated from a young age and grow up in a gender-neutral manner, the Emperor may have been born a woman but was compelled to live as a man from childhood.
So—
“Your Majesty. I must dare to ask. Regarding your gender…”
“I am not a woman.”
“Huh?”
Mo Yongseol gasped and clung tightly to my arm.
“Wh-what does that mean…? ”
“I am a man, and all my children are the offspring of me and my Empress and concubines. While it is not something I would show you, I am undoubtedly male.”
“……!”
“Indeed, I can even say I’m ‘Emperor-like.'”
Hypothesis, completely discarded.
The ‘Political Castration Theory’ that was in Mo Yongseol’s mind was immediately thrown out by the Emperor’s statement.
“Then, Your Majesty. Your request to become a woman is… Ah!”
Mo Yongseol clapped her hands, looking at me as if she had a revelation.
“Transformation through the legendary change of the cosmos!”
It might sound like an immensely long magic spell, but put simply in four characters, it could be referred to as ‘Transmutation.’
If anyone were to ask where in that long phrase the Transmutation was, I’d point out that it is an extraordinarily important secret art in Martial World history.
“Your Majesty has mastered a martial art that transforms you from… female to male!”
“Mo Yong.”
I tugged at Mo Yongseol’s thigh, glancing at the Emperor, but fortunately, the Emperor signaled her to continue as if amused.
“It seems Mo Yong thinks that you were born a woman since the day you came into this world. Is that true?”
“Um…”
Although there was a hint of mischief in the words, Mo Yongseol was not one to be oblivious to the Emperor’s true intentions hidden within.
“You were born male and have lived as a man up until now…?”
“Indeed.”
Is it because she’s the Sword Saint’s daughter?
Her audacious demeanor towards the Emperor felt like how one might treat a neighbor.
‘Is this what it means to be the sole existence above and below the heavens?’
Both the Sword Saint and Mo Yongseol maintain unchanged attitudes towards the imperial court despite being mere citizens living in this land.
Should I call it transcendent?
Or should I say they respect the palace and the Emperor’s domain?
—No, Physician.
It was as if Mo Yongseol read my thoughts, casting a meaningful glance my way.
—You said “they” to the Emperor because you recognized him like that.
Ah.
I see now.
That’s why Mo Yongseol could be so bold.
“Your Majesty.”
I straightened my posture.
“Extreme Yang Reversal can cause peculiar side effects. I wish to eliminate as many variables as possible in preparing a prescription. For the sake of your health.”
“Variables.”
The Emperor slowly closed his eyes.
“Do I appear to be someone who speaks two-facedly? Or do I seem like I’m testing you with nonsensical words? In truth, you might think that I intend to change my gender through some martial art, spell, or sorcery.”
“I won’t deny that.”
“Then let me say this: I was born a man and have lived as one for a long time.”
The Emperor looked at me intently and continued.
“If I’ve lived this long as a man, shouldn’t it be worth trying to live as a woman once?”
“……Well.”
“Of course, it’s not merely out of curiosity or for the sake of experience. I also do not possess a same-sex attraction.”
“Then, what…?”
“Ah…!”
Mo Yongseol clapped her hands again, a look of realization dawning on her face.
“Ah, no! I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“The imagination of the daughter of Mo Yong entertains me, so do speak. What are you thinking?”
“Um…”
Mo Yongseol gazed at me for a long time before speaking.
“…Might it be that you wish to embody the appearance of the woman you love?”
Mo Yongseol gripped my hand tightly.
“To overcome the sorrow of never being able to see your beloved again, or to hold onto the memories of someone dear, perhaps you wish to live with that face and form before your memories erode and distort… could that be it?”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
The Emperor burst into hearty laughter reminiscent of the Grand Prince.
“I’m envious, Mo Yong. Is this the mindset of young maidens? I must learn from this.”
“Your Majesty. That…?”
“If you had proposed such a justification, I could have received the Extreme Yang Reversal prescription, correct?”
“…Usually, in such cases, it would be expected to find a similar counterpart from among the ten thousand above, or perhaps to draw a portrait to capture that appearance.”
“That’s merely you denying a possibility until the end.”
The Emperor nodded as if understanding.
“Nothing else. It doesn’t involve martial arts or magic, nor has my gender ever changed forcibly. Rather, I simply wish to change my current gender.”
“Is that your true desire?”
“It is.”
I looked at the Emperor.
It’s tragically bewildering, but the current Emperor seems to embody ‘sincerity’ itself.
“I wish to become a woman. Not to the extent of Mo Yong, but to be a beautiful woman often referred to in the Central Martial World as the ‘Flower of the Martial World.'”
Even the object of that desire is explicit and revealed.
“However, beauty differs in standards from person to person, but I hope to become a girl who has a soft and pleasant vibe.”
While her desires are unmistakable, I found it hard to agree with her statement.
“Yes. A beautiful girl. Combined, it could be called ‘Pretty Girl.'”
Regarding that wish.
“I simply want to become a Pretty Girl.”
Will my blood heed that request?
“I want to become a Pretty Girl. Is there a need for a reason?”
Reasons.
None needed.
“But you are the Emperor.”