CH 174

The emperor laughed out loud, sounding genuinely happy. The atmosphere in the audience room softened at the emperor’s rarely heard laughter. Unfortunately, that change wasn’t enough to smother the astonishment and curiosity toward me. All kinds of rumors about me must have been going around. If anything was made clear at this moment, it was that Mayer Knox held me in high regard. The emperor probably didn’t want to know if I was of nobility or not, but rather how much my captain trusted me.

The others in the audience room looked at me in a completely different way than before. It seemed that I was no longer a target of appraisal, but someone to get on the right side of.

The emperor nodded in acceptance of Mayer’s words. “Very well. She must be an amazing individual for you to evaluate her so. How could I not be favorable toward someone who will slay the demon lord and become one of the seven heroes? Not to mention, be part of the legend that will be written in the days to come?”

“I am flattered,” I immediately replied, lowering my head and gaze. Although I responded with humility, I didn’t doubt the future the emperor described. I got His Imperial Majesty’s approval despite being a support mage only due to Mayer Knox’s backing. Still, there would be a day when I would earn my recognition and that day was not far away. I took comfort in that thought, building my self-esteem.

* * *

Mayer asked for a private audience with the emperor and I glanced at him from the side in confusion. He hadn’t mentioned anything about a private audience. And yet, his gaze on the emperor was unmoving like a stone statue.

His Imperial Majesty bid everyone else to leave, so I left the audience room along with the others. As soon as the thick doors closed, Sevi turned to me with a surprised look, asking, “Wow, Vice-captain. When did you practice etiquette like that?”

“Sometimes?”

“Lies! You were always busy! Either with us in dungeons, training, holding meetings with the captain, or reading documents. There was no time for practice, I tell you.”

“I have to make time somehow. Despite how I may seem, I am the vice-captain of the Dark Knights, after all. Can’t let others find fault with me, can I?” I explained teasingly, pulling on Sevi’s nose. Naturally, it was a lie and an excuse.

Axion joined in from the side, asking, “Be honest now, Vice-captain. You know how to stop time, don’t you? Or you have multiple bodies. It doesn’t make sense otherwise. How can a person be so perfect?”

“For Axion Flama of all people to speak of perfection. It’s practically the perfect compliment,” Robur jibed, laughing with the others.

“Stop teasing,” I said, waving in denial. I couldn’t tell them the truth no matter how much they asked. I took a moment to think of a way to get out of this situation. Fortunately, Mayer finished his private audience and showed up not long after.

He said, “Everyone to their rooms. You are all free for the time being.”

“Wow!” Sevi exclaimed, a bright grin plastered over his young face. The boy grabbed my arm and suggested, “Vice-captain, let’s go looking around the capital. Julietta said she’d be our guide.”

“Shall we?” I smiled slightly, looking at Julietta. She laughed with slight embarrassment as she nodded… until Mayer interrupted.

“Not Jun. She has work to do with me.”

“Work to do?” I asked, bewildered at the sudden mention of work. Mayer nodded with a solemn and impassive face. It looked like there was no way out of this. “Can’t be helped, then. You guys go looking around first and tell me about it later.”

I comforted the saddened kids and urged them to go. Even they couldn’t be stubborn against Mayer, so they replied obediently. “Okay.”

“Looking around is fine and all, but don’t get involved in any commotions. Alright?” Anything could happen in the capital city. It was filled with people of all kinds and the three kids lacked social experience.

“Don’t worry too much, Vice-captain. I… Um, now that I think of it, I have to go to the Mage Tower. Vegan. Yes, Vegan will look after the kids instead,” Axion said with a broad smile, saving his face through another’s efforts. Vegan, whose name was called out of nowhere when he was about to go for a drink, turned toward us with an aggrieved look. Since Axion was like Mayer in how the captain never took back his words, the spearman gave up in the end, his shoulders slumping.

“Jun,” Mayer called from afar. I had delayed too much, apparently, so I hastily followed after him.

Catching up with quick steps, I asked, “What’s the matter? Did His Imperial Majesty ask for something to be done?”

Even the emperor could not order Mayer Knox about lightly. It had to be something urgent or important for Mayer to be in such a hurry. My captain added fire to my worries with a rigid face as he explained, “…We must go meet someone.”

“Who?” At his silence, I probed. “Is it someone from another expedition corps, or…? Couldn’t you have told me in advance?”