Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Chapter 45. The sand palace where the spirit beast Riolen stays didn't have many guards.

To consider the spirit beast with senses much more sensitive than humans.

Still the palace entrance knights were standing guarding, but anyway only need to send Blackie in so it didn't matter.

“Blackie, can you do well?”[Just trust me, Master.]

“I'll throw now. One, two, three!”

Throwing Blackie high into the sky, Blackie flapped his wings and crossed the fence.

And started flying toward the sand palace.

No one noticed the small dragon.* * *The spirit beast Riolen was the spirit beast who contracted with the first Emperor who was a hero.

He even after the first Emperor who was the contractor died contracted with the next Emperor and protected the Empire for about a thousand years.

People seeing such Riolen said god protects the Empire, but the reality was different.‘As expected good that contracted with the Emperor. The human world is much better than the spirit beast world.’ Especially contracts with the Emperors were really the best.

Rolling around all day and just following the Emperor a bit they offered jewels and food for him.‘What, if not that I also wouldn't have informed my contract conditions.’ Riolen exposed his belly and enjoyed the warm summer sunlight.

For a moment, an unfamiliar yet familiar presence was felt.

Riolen stood up abruptly and looked around with an anxious face.[Did I feel wrong...]

Riolen dry-washed his face with his front paw to shake off the anxiety.[Right? No way a spirit beast not seen for a thousand years suddenly appears?]

Riolen's tail shook anxiously.[Have to go eat the snack the Emperor prepared...]

The moment Riolen stood up and moved steps, the warm sand garden disappeared and a cold snowfield spread in front of him.

At the sudden cold Riolen clattered his teeth and slowly turned his head.[Long time no see.]

A huge dragon looked down at him.

The snow-white scales shone softly like jewels.

The last seen was a thousand years ago, but no way could forget that face.‘I knew it would be like this!’ Riolen howled inside.

Somehow when the spine chilled should have run away right away!

Spirit beasts who could suddenly drag him who was in the sand garden into the spirit beast world were few.

Among them, the spirit beast who made such a cold place his territory was only one.

The ancient spirit beast born from the first fallen water drop.

The one who received the first crown as a spirit beast, and the one who closes the seasons.

Among spirit beasts called the ‘winter's spirit beast’ clearly.[Ha, haha. L-long time, winter-nim.]

The body trembled with cold, but Riolen tried hard and greeted.[Right. The name received from the master now was ‘Riolen’?][Yes.][I also got a master.]

The reptile's face was hard to read expressions, but somehow seemed boasting.[Th... Congratulations. Almost a thousand years.][Since the Emperor invited will meet you soon too. A person so amazing you can't even dare look.][Yes...][But the master still dislikes revealing the fact of contracting with me. So speaking you have to cooperate a bit.]

Riolen then could know the reason Blackie looked for him.[That I also want to do that... but my master said if seeing a person contracted with a spirit beast tell right away...][Is that saying dislike?]

During the thousand years not meeting Blackie Riolen lived as the lofty Empire's spirit beast.

His pride slightly lifted its head.

From the beginning what was the reason he tried not to return to the spirit beast world!

Exactly because of that dragon![No, but I also saw all! Because here is the spirit beast world so can manifest like that now, right? Seeing power is also sealed so, in the human world I think I can win...!]

Kwaaang!

At that moment a huge front paw descended right beside Riolen.

The blue eyes flashed threateningly.[Planning not to come to the spirit beast world forever?]

Riolen trembled and looked at the front paw that descended beside him.

How hard the front paw the size of his own body struck only the ankle was visible sunk deep.

If even grazed by that front paw he would be annihilated as is.[...

No. I misspoke...]

Riolen quietly lowered his tail.

And apologized inside to the current master the Emperor.‘Master, I tried to this extent. Master also wouldn't like me dying here.’ Blackie looked down at Riolen and asked.[By the way earlier said my contractor is the first in a thousand years? Do you remember my previous contractor? If knowing something about my previous contractor please tell.]

Blackie recalled the illusion seen while talking about Felia and Lus.‘It's this lovely. But how can I kill?’ Clearly the woman who said that would be his contractor a thousand years ago that Riolen remembers.

Was being sealed in the Valfruga ducal house also related to the previous contractor?

Blackie talked to Riolen about the scene he saw and asked about the contractor.

Not that difficult a question but Riolen tightly closed his mouth and rolled his golden eyes.[No matter winter-nim can't say that. Because that's the price of the taboo winter-nim committed.][Taboo?][Winter-nim... ah, but if saying this don't hit me or such?][Won't hit.][Really? Suddenly saying it's a lie or...][Won't.][Winter-nim after the first contract ended...]

Even after receiving Blackie's confirmation Riolen who hesitated for a long time said.[Made a second contract with the Demon King. In return lost all memories.]* * *And time flowed and finally the five great meeting day came.

“Welcome. Duke Valfruga, and Duchess. Welcome to the five great meeting.”

The Emperor sitting in the highest seat stroked the white lion's fur sitting beside and looked down at us.‘That is exactly that spirit beast Riolen.’ A build twice as large as the lion seen in the zoo was intimidating.

But when meeting eyes with me trembled and seemed to avoid eyes is it an illusion?‘Clearly Blackie said to me usually close so resolved well with conversation.’“Originally what can participate in the five great meeting is only the Duke Valfruga. But the Duke's age is also young, and curious about the Duchess's face who hasn't been long since marrying so called together like this. Never imagined even once that commoner blood would mix in the four great ducal houses.”

The Emperor pointed out my status from the beginning.

Arguing with the Emperor here was my loss.

I tightly remembered the Emperor's words and lowered my head according to etiquette.

“Thank you for His Majesty the Emperor's grace.”

And quickly rolled eyes and checked the appearances of the three people sitting with the Emperor.

“L-long time! Wow, knew would see someday but to meet this quickly!”

The southern Summerhild Duke lightly waving his hand and welcoming me.

“Summerhild Duke, don't act frivolously in front of His Majesty and keep etiquette.”

Blue hair and golden eyes, the eastern Iswed Duke with an upright posture.

“I just want to finish quickly and be sent... Yesterday also drank until 5 so seems like dying... Ugh.”

The western Menisd Duke with purple hair doing dry heaving from hangover.

“Older sister.”

Our Lus tightly holding my hand as if protecting me.

A flashy seat where the Emperor and the four great ducal houses who can be called the core of the Empire's power all gathered.

“What kind of person are you! Didn't you hear His Majesty said having the five great meeting! Yet!”

At the Iswed Duke's rebuke the Menisd Duke refuted.

“That drinking can not go as planned... Ugh.”

The Menisd Duke stopped speaking and suddenly covered his mouth with his hand and ran outside.

And the sound of grandly vomiting what was inside was heard.

Hearing that sound the Summerhild Duke hit the desk and laughed loudly.

“Puhahaha! The Menisd Duke is really funny.”

“Doing that in a meeting with His Majesty and laughter comes out now!”

“No, then it's funny what to do! Tell to hold the laughter?”

“Isn't it natural!”

The quiet hall inside became noisy in an instant.

Wow, a mess.

Too light for the attitude of nobles treating the Emperor.

I slightly checked the Emperor's face.

As expected the Emperor was showing with his whole body that his mood is uncomfortable now.

The Emperor's power in the Empire was mighty, but not absolute and unique.

The hero who repelled the Demon King became the Emperor, and the companions who were with the hero became Dukes.

Therefore unlike other nobles the Duke was special, and held strong power from when the Empire was founded until now.‘To ruin such a ducal house like that. And that skill is skill.’ I couldn't help but curse Lus's ancestors anew.

“Quiet.”

Thud!

The Emperor tapped the table with his palm.

The noisy atmosphere quieted in an instant.

Still the Emperor is the Emperor.

“The reason called you today is nothing else but there's a matter I want to discuss urgently.”

When the Emperor snapped his fingers, the door inside the conference hall opened and a familiar person revealed his appearance.

Exactly the Leholas Marquess.‘Why is that person here...!’ There was no good connection entangled with the Leholas Marquess.

I still haven't forgotten the atrocity of trying to take the castle by scamming the Valfruga ducal house.‘Clearly seemed not on good terms with the Emperor. Suddenly why appeared together with the Emperor?’ Quickly rolled the head, but no guess.

“Isn't the five great meeting something only the Emperor and the four great ducal houses can participate? Why is the Marquess here?”

The Summerhild Duke asked not hiding the unpleasant air.

“Exactly because the matter I want to discuss today is related to him.”

The Emperor lifted his head, and looked down at me and Lus.

“Want to demote the Valfruga ducal house, and raise the Leholas Marquess house to a ducal house.”