NOVEL NEXT Chapter 322: An Intimate Family Meeting
"Frey."
"...?"
Frey’s killing intent swept through the throne room as he approached the Emperor. Suddenly, he heard a voice calling him from behind.
"Let me deal with this."
Clana pleaded to him with trembling eyes.
"Clana."
Frey frowned as he looked at Clana. Though he felt sorry for her, he had to take charge of this battle.
Clana’s father, the Emperor of the Empire, was one of the strongest in terms of strength.
However, he grew weary of his strength, finding everything bothersome.
Of course, being inherently flawed, Frey didn't even attempt to reform him.Defeating him was quite easy, as in the previous cycle, the Emperor merely sat on his throne with a listless gaze as Frey slit his neck.
However, in this cycle, the Emperor began to show interest in Frey after he used an oath to propose to Clana.
Of course, that interest was only natural in the ‘False Evil Route’, but it was unusual for him to emit such killing intent directly.
The boss of the Hidden Route that Frey found by messing with the Demon God and the Outer God was none other than the Emperor.
"You can’t."
Thus, Frey grasped his sword and spoke in a subdued voice.
"I must be the one to confront him."
[ Status Info ]
[Name: Raikon Solar Sunrise]
[Abilities: Strength 10 / Mana 10 / Intelligence 9.5 / Mental Strength 10]
[Special Details: Apathy Disorder / Blessing of The Sun / Emperor's Aura]
[Disposition: Emperor]
[Goodness Stat: -100]
The Emperor's information window reflected in his eyes. It was a formidable status that could rival even those of the strongest.
"Stay back. Anyway, his interest is solely on me. So..."
Frey thought Clana's role ended with nullifying the security of the throne room, which was as strong as the Ancient Magic.
"Frey, you said you'll make me stronger."
However, Clana didn’t back down. At Clana’s word, Frey’s gaze flickered.
"You shouldn't be the only one that gets stronger. We all should, including me."
"But..."
"My awakening isn't complete yet. It feels like it's almost there, but I can't grasp it fully yet."
Clana murmured while staring at the Emperor, who paid no heed to her.
"And, there's a formidable opponent right in front of us."
"...Hmm?"
“The person I wanted to reach my whole life, the person I wanted to hit even just once.”
The Aura of Domination emanating from Clana began to grow. Then, her aura came into contact with the Sovereign Aura and began to resonate.
“Hmm...?”
Feeling the resonance, the Emperor, who only had eyes for Frey, tilted his head and turned his head towards Clana.
"...Alright, Clana."
Slowly opening his mouth, Frey walked towards Clana's soldiers.
"Give it a try."
And with a gentle smile, Frey whispered.
"I'll be watching from behind."
That one statement was all Clana needed.
- Thud, thud...
One step, two steps.
And finally, three steps.
"...Your Majesty, the Emperor."
Continuing forward beyond the required three steps, Clana, looking ahead, addressed the Emperor, her father.
"I've come to test your qualifications."
"Fuhuhu..."
With a smile in his eyes, the Emperor approached Clana upon hearing her words.
.
.
.
.
.
- Crackle...! Crackle...!
"Euk...!"
A rough groan escaped from Clana's mouth.
"Ugh...!"
"Hmmm."
What is surging in front of her is none other than the solar mana unleashed by the Emperor.
Clana gritted her teeth and fought through the mana that seems like it could easily engulf and burn her at any moment.
"My daughter."
The Emperor, having watched Clana with interest, finally spoke quietly.
"It's already an incredible feat that you've managed to take three steps closer to me. But why won't you accept the throne?"
"Ugh, Geuh..."
"Don't tell me it's because of what I said earlier? That was a joke."
With that, the Emperor increased the output of his mana even further.
"You couldn't possibly reach me."
The Emperor said with a tone and expression that suggested it was something natural. There was not a hint of malice or ridicule in his tone.
"Arghhh...!"
That, on the contrary, made Clana even angrier.
- Bzzzz, Crackle...
He was a father who never paid attention to her throughout her entire life.
Even when her mother was kicked out of the Imperial Palace by Ramie's scheme, and even when she was murdered by her.
Not when she was locked in a dark, solitary confinement room for weeks as a child by Killian, nor when she suffered hellish humiliation at the hands of Ramie's daughters.
And even when she overcame all of them and became the first in line for the throne in the previous cycle.
"How interesting, my daughter."
"Shut up!!!"
Today was the first time the Emperor, her father, ever looked at her properly.
In a life-or-death situation where she was risking her to kill him, and he only looked at her with intrigue.
Clana, despite having already given up hope of any fatherly role or familial affection, felt a pang of heartache nonetheless.
- Rumble!!!
"Keheuk!?"
Yet Clana, who kept moving forward despite this, lost her balance as the ground shook violently.
"See? It's impossible."
The Emperor's ‘Sovereign Aura’ spread in all directions.
The ‘Sovereign Aura’ was said to be able to dominate all things in existence, it was a level above than her own ‘Aura of Domination’.
"...Damn."
In the last cycle, Clana hadn't been able to awaken the ‘Sovereign Aura’. Moreover, she couldn't even reach the Emperor's domain.
"Damn damn damn..."
She wanted to reach him more desperately than ever. She wanted to land a punch on that arrogant face of his.
The person who let the empire rot, who neglected his innocent mother, who treated his daughter like a ghost - she wanted to make that soulless expression flinch, even for a moment.
"Just give up now and take the throne."
But the being in front of her was too strong.
"Thanks to you, the situation has become quite interesting. I want to lay everything down and live leisurely."
Despite her full effort, she couldn't even get close to him, let alone touch his robe.
"If this continues, I might get bored."
The Emperor's cold words sank into Clana, who was trembling from the aura and mana that were increasingly constricting her.
"So give up now."
The Emperor's command solemnly.
Not just in authority and words, but an actual oppressive force was urging her to bow her head to the ground right then.
What would Frey have done?
With that thought, Clana, who had been flinching with her eyes tightly shut, quietly recalled his face.
The man who alone blocked the strike of the First Hero that seemed impossible to stop.
Not just that, but a man who is determined to save the world with a noble spirit that neither she nor anyone else in the world could match.
If she were Frey, what would she do in this situation?
How would he defeat the man before her?
...I think I get it.
Thinking this, Clana, who was about to slowly turn around, steeled her heart and stood up with her eyes wide open.
What he would have done.
She didn't need to look back to know that he was watching over her with a tender expression from behind.
Just knowing that gave her courage.
No longer was she the wounded princess betrayed by her loved one, nor the incompetent princess who had no one on her side.
- Step, step...
With that thought, she gritted her teeth, and slowly moved forward.
The scorching hot mana that seemed ready to devour her at any moment, the terrifying aura that could make her legs give out, once again suppressed her.
Even as her flesh turned blistering red, and her mind teetered on the brink of collapse.
Yet, Clana simply stared at the Emperor in front of her and continued to walk forward, one step at a time.
If it were Frey, this is what he would do.
Once he set a goal, he would achieve it no matter what.
Burning his own body, surpassing his limits.
That was Frey's way, and the attitude she needed to learn as the Empress.
"Ugh...!"
Her body reached its limit. The solar mana blocking her path has now hardened like a wall, and the aura was corroding her body like acid.
She felt like if she went any further, she would lose her life.
Her image, steeped in inferiority, her weak expression, trembling hands, and the image of herself being frightened were consuming her mind.
...But, even all of that is a part of me.
"...Hooo."
Clana took another step forward and felt blood flow from her eyes.
"Why choose suicide, my daughter?"
The Emperor, looking at her blankly, asked with an incomprehensible gaze.
"Sacrifice, indeed, is the most boring thing in this world."
"...What are you muttering to yourself?"
At his continued words, Clana, shaking her head in response, murmured softly.
"I have... no intention of dying..."
She stepped forward to break her own wall.
Since she first harbored Frey's seed, she had resolved to survive no matter what.
Now, she was only challenging her limits, putting her life on the line to break the wall that blocked her path.
A decision she could make because she trusted the heroines behind her, and Frey.
- Roar!!!
“...!”
As menacing energy radiated from Clana’s body, the Emperor’s expression looked surprised for the first time.
"This is... interesting."
"What's so interesting... you fucking bastard!!!"
From Clana's body, the same 'Sovereign Aura' as the Emperor's was bursting out wildly.
The power known to rule all things, which only a true emperor could emit, began to fill the room.
"ARGHHHH!!!"
Just as Raikon's eyes widened, Clana screamed and rushed forward.
- Bam...!
And in the next moment, Clana's punch, infused with her mana, hit the Emperor's jaw squarely.
"This is–"
"Why!? Is this funny to you too!?"
As the surprised expression crossed Raikon's face from receiving the punch, Clana imitated his relaxed smile and murmured.
- Boom!!!
A few seconds later, the Emperor was smashed into a giant pillar and slammed into the wall.
"Haa, haa..."
And then silence.
- Sigh...
In that silence, Clana, breathing heavily, drew her sword from her waist.
If there were two suns in the sky, the plants would wither, and people would struggle in the heat.
That's why there couldn't be two suns in the Empire.
"Just one... question."
Clana raised her sword and approached the emperor, who was pinned to the pillar. With trembling hands, she asked her final question.
"Why... didn't you protect mother...?"
At her question, blood trickled from the Emperor's lips as he uttered an all too simple answer.
"Your mother... was boring."
Clana's face turned pale at those words, yet the Emperor continued his words in a calm tone.
"Ramie was amusing. That's why I chose her."
Unable to contain her sorrow and rage, blood flowed from her eyes.
Only she knew whether it was the blood from overexerting herself, or the tears she shed as her emotions rose.
She steeled herself and thrust her sword towards the Emperor’s heart.
- Shudder...
However, Clana’s sword stopped in mid-air and began to tremble.
"...?"
The Emperor watched the scene blankly, then quietly tilted his head.
"Uh, ugh..."
Deep within Clana's wounded heart, emotions she had hidden away and never wanted to face again, stopped her in her tracks at the final moment.
What stood before her was the person who had given birth to her before being an Emperor.
Once, he was a father who sought love and tried all sorts of foolish things just to gain attention from everyone.
No matter how much she tried to steel herself, for the inherently kind-hearted Clana, it was an inevitable momentary gap.
"Uh..."
Of course, after that fleeting moment, Clana began to regain strength in her hands, but this time, her body, which had surpassed its limit, held her back.
She was already in a state where it wouldn't be surprising if she collapsed right away due to the long battle with the Emperor.
In such a situation, she tested her limits to overcome the wall that blocked her.
As a result, she succeeded in completing her awakening and realizing the 'Sovereign Aura', but she was already too exhausted.
If she had been in perfect condition earlier, she could have fought the Emperor, but now her strength was gradually fading away.
- Swoosh...
Thus, the sword that was digging into the Emperor's heart completely stopped.
- Booom...!
"Kehk..."
As the solar mana exploded, Clana was thrown backwards.
"...What a shame. If you had pierced my heart, I would have died."
The Emperor looked at her with a disappointed expression as he saw her lying on the ground, coughing up blood.
"My daughter, thanks to you, it was quite fun."
"Uh..."
Saying so, he lightly pulled out the sword that was digging into his heart, and approached her slowly with the sword raised.
"...But now, the interest has all but disappeared."
And then the Emperor raised the sword and muttered.
"So, it's time for you to die."
Contrary to his words, the Emperor muttered this with an expression that did not seem to be looking at his daughter at all, and swung the sword.
"...?"
Even on the brink of unconsciousness, Clana's glare remained fixed on the Emperor, her intent to kill him still strong. However, her glare soon wavered.
- Crackle, Crackle...
The sword was frozen mid-air.
"What, what's going on?"
Watching that scene, Clana asked with a trembling voice.
There was no intervention.
Frey and the other heroines were just quietly watching the scene.
So, did the Emperor stop the sword with his own will?
Why on earth? Why?
...No way.
In that agonizing moment, as Clana continued to ponder, her eyes trembled.
"I can't bear to watch anymore."
A voice as cold as ice came from far away.
- Clang...!
"You damn bastard."
Before she knew it, Frey was right in front of her, blocked the Emperor's sword with his own sword and raised it up.
.
.
.
.
.
"You're quite rude to meddle in family matters, Frey."
As I blocked the sword and raised it, the Emperor grinned and whispered to me.
"...Ha."
Seeing him like that, I was speechless and let out a cold laugh.
"Frey..."
Clana muttered with a dark expression as she looked at me.
"As expected... I was mistaken."
As she muttered with a trembling voice, I felt a surge of blood rushing through my body.
I had been analyzing the Emperor's thoughts with my 'Mind Reading’ skill all this time.
The reason he stopped the sword at the end wasn't because Clana was his daughter, it wasn't for such sentimental reasons.
Wouldn't life become even more boring if I killed this girl?
And, if I keep doing this for a little longer, won't that Frey intervene?
These damn thoughts were coming from my father-in-law.
It appeared that my father-in-law was nothing but a despicable cretin who couldn’t even be called a human.
"Clana, you did well."
"Frey, but..."
"Now, get some rest."
How could someone like Clana, who managed to break through her own limitations and showed concern for me despite her dire circumstances, come from such a person?
I just couldn't understand.
"Are you going to fight me?"
"..."
With that in mind, I looked at Clana, who had been rescued by her attendants and was heading towards the soldiers, and then turned my attention to the Emperor at his words.
- Rumble...!
- Crackle...!
And the next moment, our swords clashed fiercely.
- Clang, clang...
Everyone was gaping at the clash, so overwhelming that it went beyond the throne room and cracked the entire wall of the imperial palace. Then, amidst the clash, the Emperor spoke again.
"I'm sorry, but you can't beat me."
"Why is that?"
"Your left arm is completely broken, and your whole body is rotting and falling apart."
Then, he continued with a composed expression.
"If you were in perfect condition, I might have lost. But now..."
"Did you know?"
"Hmm?"
But when I interrupted him and started talking with a smile on my face, his expression changed.
"I absolutely hate shitty parents."
"..."
Silver smoke rising from my body as I spoke.
"...What's this?"
The Emperor broke out in a cold sweat.
- Crack...!
"...Heok."
My foot struck the Emperor's right leg, causing him to stagger.
"What on earth?"
"Don’t you have arthritis? So I got rid of your joints."
"...How can you suddenly?"
"Oh, this?"
The Emperor, staggering and holding onto his leg, asked, and I replied with a gleam in my eyes.
"It's my ultimate move."
"What?"
His eyes widened at my words.
“It's time to use it now. Since I've decided to go all out, why save it? I'll finish you off with style. Every time I attempted to use this move, something always stopped me. It was incredibly frustrating.”
"...Now that I see it, you're completely insane."
Seeing my condition, he hesitated and took a step back.
"Your Majesty."
But it was already too late.
“Let’s have a family meeting.”
It was time to have a private conversation with my father-in-law.
.
.
.
.
.
- Rumble...!
"Cough...!"
As Isolet's sword aura surged, the imperial Knight Commander approaching her groaned.
"I-Isolet you bitch... How did you become so strong?"
"I have no idea."
She had already penetrated into the royal garden alone.
The imperial knights supposed to defend the palace had all been defeated by her, leaving only the Knight Commander.
"...Alright, I admit it. You are strong."
As he gasped for breath with his sword stuck in the ground, the Knight Commander began to speak with a smile.
"But do you think you can defeat His Majesty the Emperor?"
"..."
"Even I can't touch a single hair of His Majesty. He would be able to subdue a bitch like you with a wave of his hand."
Infuriated by the situation, the Knight Commander squinted his eyes and muttered.
"Why not join us instead?"
Hearing this, Isolet raised her eyebrows.
"From now on, you are the imperial Knight Commander. No, perhaps you could attain an even higher position. The title of 'Sword Saint' comes with a lot of power."
The Knight Commander continued his words as he sensed that there was a possibility to persuade her..
"You'd prefer that, wouldn't you?"
Spreading his arms wide, he burst into a maniacal laugh.
"After all, nobody can defeat His Majesty the Emperor!!"
"..."
"Nobody can even touch a single hair of His..."
- BOOOOMMM...!!!
"...!?"
At that moment, a loud noise echoed throughout the palace.
"What the..."
Wondering if reinforcements had arrived, the Knight Commander turned his head.
"...Ah."
He then uttered his last words with a stiff expression.
- Hisss...
The Emperor, thrown from the top floor of the palace to the ground, was rolling outside the garden.
"Father-in-law!!! Where are you going!!!"
Watching in a daze, the Knight Commander saw Frey, who had jumped from the top floor to the ground and was chasing after the Emperor with a bright smile.
"Our meeting isn't over yet!!!"
"What are those two… What the hell?"
Watching the scene with a hollow expression, the Knight Commander burst out laughing like a madman. In front of him, Isolet tilted her head and asked a question.
"...Too much, indeed."
The Knight Commander's forehead wrinkled as much as the parts of him that would soon disappear.
***
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