Chapter 19: The Gathering of Loyal Retainers
“Your Imperial Majesty, I beg you most earnestly.”
Baron Heinrich Denver looked utterly exhausted.
He had probably been thoroughly scolded by Count Landerck.
“Yes, yes… at least three days… Anyway, it’s too long. I don’t have time to lie around like this.”
“Your Majesty will be fine, but I will not. You know Count Landerck’s personality. And Sir Aaron Valerian is no joke either. Lately he’s been roaming in packs with his Emperor’s Cult brethren, chanting prayers for Your Majesty’s swift recovery. If you leave the bedroom before three days are up, I cannot even imagine what will happen. Please, just rest properly.”
“…There will be a way.”
Despite Denver’s lengthy explanation, Kain’s expression showed he had no intention of giving up.
If it had merely been the priest’s diagnosis that convalescence was needed, he would have ignored it and gone about official duties.
But because he had overtaxed his immature circle in the grand plaza, his body truly lacked the strength to move right now.
Yet Kain could not help feeling frustrated.
Though he had survived the coronation and become Emperor, everything was far from over.
Time was of the essence, and his body refused to cooperate…
If preventing destruction was a long, arduous mountain range of trials, he had only just stepped into the foothills.
The Empire’s Five Pillars and their factions still maintained solid power; the armies gathered under their banners could descend upon the imperial house at any moment.
In comparison, the imperial house’s strength remained weak…
On coronation day, before tens of thousands of citizens, Kain had manifested the authority of a Star Throne through his Sigil.
Yet that alone could not overnight restore the prestige and authority of the imperial house that had been eroded over centuries.
Of course, because he had truly invoked a miracle in the grand plaza on the day of his ascension, some neutral nobles were showing signs of rejoining the Emperor’s faction…
It is still far from enough.
With most key figures of the Emperor’s faction slain in the Founding Day catastrophe, imperial power had been greatly weakened.
Even if many neutral nobles switched sides immediately, victory in an all-out war against the Five Pillars was still uncertain.
If there was any silver lining, it was that—perhaps due to variables from the numerous unpublished DLCs—a Meister-class grand mage, Damien Pavel—who had been wrongfully accused and exiled a hundred years ago—had returned.
“Ah, speaking of which… Your Majesty, while you were resting, there was one request for audience.”
“Audience? From whom?”
“From Sir Damien Pavel.”
Perfect timing—Kain had wanted to meet him anyway.
Damien Pavel had once been a tower lord and a marquis-ranking high noble.
However, stripped of his title along with his exile, Baron Heinrich Denver used the minimal courtesy title “Sir” instead of the former “Marquis.”
“Sir Damien Pavel…”
At the mention of the audience request, Kain murmured and nodded.
“He was exiled a hundred years ago, but for his contributions in the grand plaza on coronation day, we have provisionally received him.”
“Very well. Grant the audience request.”
“I will convey Your Majesty’s words.”
At Kain’s ready answer, Denver summoned Rodolfo—one of the escort knights—and had him deliver the Emperor’s permission.
Not long after Rodolfo left the bedroom, a disciplined knock sounded at the door.
“Your Imperial Majesty. Damien Pavel.”
It was the voice of the grand mage Kain had heard before losing consciousness on coronation day.
“Come in.”
Though Kain was the absolute Emperor of the Felberg Empire, he had no choice but to use honorifics with Damien Pavel.
According to the world settings of Empire Heroic Legend, even at the time of his exile a hundred years ago, Damien Pavel had already reached the realm of grand mage.
And he was still alive…
If by chance he had gained insight into realms beyond Meister, even the Emperor could not treat Damien Pavel lightly.
Depending on whom he supported, it could change who sat upon the throne.
“Your Imperial Majesty.”
The moment Kain granted entry, the door opened and the grey-robed grand mage Damien Pavel slowly walked in and paid respects to the Emperor.
“I am Damien Pavel. When we first met, the surroundings were quite chaotic—do you remember?”
With a kindly smile, Damien Pavel asked in a calm voice.
Kain, still lying in bed, slowly replied.
“My body is like this, so forgive my lack of courtesy. And remember? How could I not? I heard you greatly aided the imperial knights and mages in eliminating the uninvited guests on coronation day.”
Kain had fainted shortly after using his Sigil due to backlash from overexertion.
Thus his last memory was Damien Pavel revealing himself in the grand plaza after a hundred years.
According to loyal subjects’ accounts, after Kain lost consciousness, Damien Pavel had cooperated with the imperial knights and mages to finish off the remaining assassins.
Yet considering his past—wrongfully accused and exiled amid hostile schemes a century ago—Kain believed he still needed to remain wary of the grand mage before him.
If his intent was to settle old scores, Kain would have invited a dragon instead of a tiger.
There had to be a reason he ended his long seclusion and appeared before the imperial house at this precise timing.
“I merely fulfilled the duty of a loyal subject of the Felberg Empire.”
<Damien Pavel (former Marquis)>
Possessed Traits: Grand Mage (S), Pilgrim Walking the Path of Truth (S), Solitary Magical Genius (A), Unchanging Loyal Retainer (A) – Additional traits unavailable for viewing.
Overview: Damien Pavel is regarded as one of the ten most talented grand mages in Felberg history. His genius was so exceptional that he became the target of envy and jealousy from many in the mage towers and among imperial nobles. Though unmatched in magical talent, he was clumsy in interpersonal matters and ultimately became a victim of political intrigue, wrongfully accused and exiled. He had opportunities to clear his name but, deeply disillusioned with the intrigue-ridden politics of the Empire, chose seclusion. Now, upon hearing of the new Emperor of the crumbling Empire—who bears a Sigil forgotten for centuries—he has ended his long seclusion.
As befitted a character with a complicated past, the overview was unusually long.
His possessed traits were also absurdly splendid.
Though the number viewable at present was extremely limited, even the visible traits were dazzlingly impressive.
“Your Majesty. As you have likely guessed, I remain loyal to the Felberg Empire and the imperial house.”
Having just finished checking the setting book, Damien Pavel sent Kain a meaningful gaze and smiled broadly.
As if he knew exactly what Kain had done.
When Kain’s expression turned surprised, Damien Pavel smiled kindly and continued.
“Your Imperial Majesty has awakened a Sigil forgotten for long centuries. Though I remain at the Meister level, I have found the path toward the truths of magic, so I possess some insight into invisible forces beyond the realm of magic. Since Your Majesty has reconnected the noble bloodline, though unseen to my eyes, you have already assessed me.”
In short, he had not noticed the status window’s existence but sensed that Kain had done something.
This made Kain recall information about Damien’s S-rank trait “Pilgrim Walking the Path of Truth.”
He has not reached the truths of magic but has discovered the path toward them… That is what it means.
Reaching the truths of magic was the dream of all mages.
Yet most mages ended their lives without even finding the path, let alone the truths.
Even grand mages at the Meister level were little different.
Among grand mages, few ever found the path to the truths, and those who actually reached them had vanished after the ancient mythic age.
Kain, well aware of these background settings, understood how extraordinary Damien Pavel’s achievements were after a century of secluded training.
I need to further solidify Damien Pavel’s loyalty here.
Damien Pavel possessed the trait “Unchanging Loyal Retainer” beyond “Old Loyal Retainer,” but Kain could not let his guard down.
To make Damien Pavel’s loyalty even firmer, Kain decided to reveal a little of his own hand.
“Sir Pavel. It seems you have found a clue to the truths of magic.”
There was no need for lengthy explanations.
For someone of Damien Pavel’s caliber, a short metaphorical hint—“What others cannot see, I can”—was more than enough.
Why else would a grand mage exiled a hundred years ago suddenly end his seclusion and appear before the imperial house now?
To support the new Emperor who had used a Sigil forgotten for centuries?
That was part of it, but insufficient alone.
Damien Pavel desires to reach the truths of magic. He likely believes I might be able to help.
He remained a loyal subject of the Felberg Empire, but a century ago he had already grown disillusioned with the Empire and given up clearing his name to live in seclusion.
His loyalty had not changed, but he would not have ended long seclusion merely to support a crumbling imperial house.
He surely wanted something—and that was likely to reach the truths of magic.
He must have judged that the Emperor who had awakened a Sigil—the transcendent symbol connecting Star Thrones and humans—could aid his training.
“You need the power of a Sigil, don’t you?”
Though most records of Sigils were lost, some remained.
Among them were surely accounts of Star Thrones that could aid magical attainment, and Damien Pavel—once a marquis—would know of them.
As expected.
The moment Kain finished speaking, Damien Pavel smiled broadly and meaningfully.
Though he said not a word, it was answer enough.