[CHE] 008. AUDIENCE WITH THE HOLY EMPEROR (3)

Seongjin sat down and stared at the Holy Emperor in silence for a while. It was an expression of his will to gauge his intentions as much as possible.

It was the most disrespectful look on his son’s face, but the Holy Emperor didn’t seem to care as he lifted the teacup in front of him.

His face as he looked into the tea without drinking was so indifferent that Seongjin immediately doubted whether the person in front of him had emotions.

The silence between the two was broken when the Holy Emperor set the teacup down on the table.

“Don’t like it? Didn’t you usually enjoy eating?”

“……”

What? Were you suspicious of this?

Seongjin thought about it and called him cautiously.

“… That, father?”

“Yes, Morres.”

In an instant, his pulse went blank. He was nervous about something, but the other person really seemed to have no idea.

‘Well, it’s a bit questionable, but you’re going to treat me like a son, right?’

For some reason, Seongjin felt like he was going to be what he was, so he picked up a cookie in front of him.

If he didn’t eat it, he thought he’d keep noticing, and it’s a pity since it’s already prepared.

Munch munch.

“……!”

It’s more delicious than he thought?

Does the body that lost fat after a few days of dieting want sugar, or is it similar to Morres’ original taste that Sungjin didn’t even know about.

Decades of living mainly on preserved food on a planet that was devastated by the invasion of monsters. The desserts that the royal chef put the soul into were enough to satisfy his desolate taste buds.

Seongjin admired and tasted various kinds of desserts. In the meantime, the Holy Emperor would look at Seongjin without saying anything and would sip tea from time to time.

Only then could Seongjin take some time to observe the Holy Emperor.

‘At first glance, he looks young and docile.’

Perhaps because of his strangely cool eyes, he doesn’t look young at all. In reality, he may not be that young. Edith once told him that aging slows down when an Aura user reaches a certain state.

If so, how strong is he? Even for Seongjin, who had a history of fighting for decades, the decision was not easy.

In the case of Edith and the resident knights of the Pearl Palace, if they could regain some of their physical strength, they were confident enough to try rubbing it without an aura. Needless to say, it is possible to crush if it is in the state of absorbing the magic beast’s spirit.

However, in the case of the Holy Emperor, it was ambiguous. He didn’t feel any strong momentum, but when he tried to find a gap, it was strangely awkward.

Above all, Seongjin’s intuition, forged in a long battle, continues to sound an alarm toward the Holy Emperor.

‘This must mean that he’s strong enough to be hard to measure, right?’

If possible, let’s not stretch out on this guy1. Seongjin made that decision.

After that, an awkward father-son conversation ensued.

“That’s right, how have you been?”

“What… I have been doing physical training, and I am thinking of losing some weight.”

“Good idea. I hear you are going to the gymnasium these days?”

“Yes. First of all, I try to start with light exercise and gradually increase the training time.”

“Exercising too much can actually be harmful.”

“I know. Once I get used to it, I can reduce the time instead of increasing the intensity. Then, wouldn’t it be possible to read some books in my spare time?”

“Books?”

The Holy Emperor’s eyes widened.

It was a meaningful change in expression that Seongjin, who doubted whether he was human because he had no expression, can read it for the first time.

Oho. This topic works. After all, there are no parents who would hate their children studying anywhere.

Seongjin felt a little more at ease and started chattering incoherently.

“Um… That’s why I’ve been so ignorant until now… No, haven’t I lived away from books?”

It’s true that the demon king said so, right? Fortunately, the Holy Emperor did not show any reaction.

“……”

“Then, when I came back to life, I think it made me think about life again. A philosophical topic pops into my head. Why do you live your life. What do you do with life. Things like that.”

“Philosophy.”

“Yes. And I’m also curious about religion. Death and the afterlife, God and the soul, I want to know some of these things.”

The Holy Emperor tilted his head.

“Are you interested in that? I think the first person who got kicked out was the theology teacher.”

No, didn’t Morres just skip all classes, regardless of subject?

“That’s why, Your Majesty the Holy Emperor, no, Father. I have a real question.”

“What are you curious about?”

“Yes. Do you believe your father has a soul? No, since you are the Holy Emperor, of course you’ll believe it…… It’s not like that, in my father’s eyes… Can you see the human soul?”

“……”

It was an impulsive question. It was because of his personality that he couldn’t hold back his curiosity at the moment when he was strangely convinced that the Holy Emperor would not harm him right away.

At the same time, it also penetrated the most fundamental suspicion.

What Seongjin had been worried about from the beginning, and what he still doubts about the Holy Emperor.

The Holy Emperor answered mildly.

“I can clearly see the soul in my eyes. Even if it is not, the priest who believes in the Lord naturally does not doubt the existence of the soul. As the prince of the Holy Empire, you shouldn’t have such doubts.”

“Then what does the soul look like?”

“It is the same as the person he was before he was born. Because the soul is affected by the body until the moment it dies.”

Seongjin swallowed his saliva. Then.

“Then, maybe… What does my soul look like?”

The Holy Emperor did not answer right away this time.

“… Why is that all of a sudden?”

“No, what. I have lived a dissolute life so far, I wonder if my soul has gained this much weight too……”

It was bullshit even thinking about it, but Seongjin decided to be confident.

The Holy Emperor looked at him blankly for a moment with unknown eyes, then said.

“To confirm that, you will have to see your soul come out of your body first. Did you want to die?”

“……”

No, this guy strikes people when they’re caught off guard.

He was wrong……

The audience time passed faster than expected.

Seongjin was never a good social person even in his previous life, but strangely, in front of the Holy Emperor, words leaked out as if his tongue was greased.

Maybe he was such a talkative person, he was surprised at himself even during the conversation.

It’s a quick adaptation compared to what he was nervous about considering the Holy Emperor as the final boss. Perhaps it was because of the relief that came from the disappearance of the threat to life he had been feeling all along.

“… So, while I was doing gymnastics on the floor, Edith suddenly came running in fright. She thought I flipped over and couldn’t get up.”

“Is that so?”

“I think I’ll throw everything I have in my hand, how do I know how to run if I’m holding on something while working out my arms?”

“That’s right.”

“By the way, the tea is really good. I’ve never drank it much, but it smells really good compared to the tea called Melbourne that Edith brew the other day. It really tasted like bile.”

“This tea is also Melbourne… … .”

“… Yes?”

The Holy Emperor was a better person to talk to than he thought, because he silently listened to Seongjin even when he talked about nonsensical things. Of course, he wasn’t a guy with a very good reaction.

Maybe that’s why, even though he was actually almost the age of Seongjin’s son, his father’s voice came out well and smoothly.

“So I want to learn Aura. But I’m not sure how to start.”

At the end, he also asked for this.

He seems to be the most powerful person in the country and a fairly strong Aura user, so if he can’t take advantage of this opportunity, he’s an idiot.

“That’s right, Aura……”

The Holy Emperor rested his chin on his head and was lost in thought.

“They said that training in swordsmanship or spearmanship should precede it. I heard that there are unique Aura practice methods tailored to that skill, and the more you master them, the more you can handle Auras freely.”

“Ah, there’s a separate method of seniority!”

“okay. The basics of learning Aura are seniority. Of course, it is said that the classification of seniority becomes meaningless after reaching a certain level. Because where the heart goes, the Aura naturally flows.”

“Then, first of all, while learning swordsmanship……”

What?

Seongjin nodded and suddenly became puzzled.

Isn’t this man an Aura user? Why are you talking so bluntly as if you heard it from someone else?

“I heard that Father is also a user. How did you learn it in the first place?”

At Seongjin’s question, the Holy Emperor rubbed the tip of his chin with his hand.

Um? Why do you look a bit embarrassed right now?

I keep watching, so I think I know a little bit about this expressionless man.

“That’s it, I don’t really remember how I got it. I moved habitually when using the sword, and later heard from my master that it was an Aura.”

“… Yes?”

Seongjin’s mouth fell open.

Wow, he heard that he had a talent for using Aura as if he was breathing since he was young, was basically what this person was saying.

“Come to think of it, even though you didn’t know how to study when you were young, it seemed like you enjoyed swordsmanship lessons quite a bit. But no matter how much you practiced, you couldn’t get a feel for the aura at all.”

“Oh, um……”

“Even when you try, there was no result, so in the end you have lost interest in swordsmanship.”

“I see……”

Suddenly, a flood of sympathy for that Morres floods in.

There was at least one thing he did with his heart, but he didn’t even have the talent for that, poor bastard.

Seongjin’s thoughts became complicated. It was because it was Morres’ body, so he thought that the way to go would be difficult if he was naturally insensitive to aura.

“Will it be too hard? I thought that if it was something I could learn through training, I could somehow learn it……”

Seonghwang shook his head.

“In the end, it is a matter of time and effort. Even those who take time to feel the aura at first, I have seen cases where the speed at which they are mastered it is extraordinary. Furthermore……”

He stopped talking, stared at Seongjin’s face for a moment, and then spat out unexpected words.

“… I don’t think it would be that difficult for you now.”

* * *

In the carriage returning to the Pearl Palace, Seongjin was spread out, leaning against a cushion in a proud mood.

Although he was a little tired, today’s audience was quite a success.

Chief Chamberlain Louis was in tears.

“It’s been several years since the two of you spent such a happy time……”

To make a decent grandfather so happy, this is a true example of respect for the elderly.

In addition, to Seongjin’s request to resume the swordsmanship class, the Holy Emperor replied as follows.

“Sooner or later, I will send a suitable person to the Pearl Palace.”

And one of the biggest achievements of all, is that he didn’t have to worry about being exorcised in the future! Hurray!

The carriage writhing violently as the body of a large body writhed here and there in joy.

“Prince! What’s going on! Are you okay?”

Hearing the coachman’s shout outside, Seongjin quickly straightened up and cleared his throat.

“Ahem, no problem! I slipped off the seat for a moment. Don’t mind it!”

[Good job. Are you a kid? I’m really ashamed to see others.]

And the demon king, who had been silent until now, finally opened his mouth. Seongjin responded happily.

‘That’s what I do when I’m alone. anyway are you okay? Why are you so quiet?’

[The impact on the soul is too great. I also needed time to recover.]

The feeling of trembling is vividly conveyed. It seemed like a really big deal.

[The main palace, it was truly a terrifying place filled with divine power. I thought I would die from being completely crushed. If the divine power hadn’t been cut off at that time, if it had been a little late, I would……]

Divine power blocked?

Seongjin also had some guesses. Just when the Holy Emperor put his hand on his head, he did something then.

[I don’t know what kind of trick he did, but now there’s a barrier around our souls.]

‘… Barrier?’

[It seems to have a property that completely blocks spiritual energy as well as divine power. Now, even if someone with divine power is nearby, it doesn’t sting like before. Only……]

The demon king hesitated a little, then continued with a downcast voice.

[It’s just that it’s impossible for my soul to interfere with other souls.]

Wait, that means……

[Yes, that’s right.]

A trembling wave like a sigh is transmitted.

[Soul detection is no longer possible. I just tried it against the coachman and escort knight, but it didn’t work at all.]

Does this guy’s only usefulness disappear like this? Now, he really has become the embers of the Demon Realm.

The demon king exclaimed in a fit of anger.

[But now it is possible to move away from this body to some extent? Can you stop treating me like trash?]

So you’ve gone from lie detector to short-range navigation?

‘Too bad……’

Seongjin corrected his posture and sat down, looking out the window. As the twilight slowly sets, the ivory walls of the Pearl Palace begin to appear in the distance.

It had only been a few days, but it was strange that the Pearl Palace felt as cozy as home.

‘For now, let’s take comfort in surviving. He was a better person than I thought, and both of us are safe.’

However, the Demon King thought differently.

[What? Good guy? You’re safe? Wow, you naive human being. If people are ignorant, their hair can become a field of flowers like this……]

Seongjin was at a loss for words as a black and thick feeling of fear suddenly surged from his trembling soul.

[Maybe you don’t know. You won’t know unless you touch it soul-to-soul.]

‘……?’

[That… That’s a monster. How could such a thing exist in this world?]

‘Hey, monster is a bit……’

[If not a monster? Do you really think someone that I, the great Demon King of Gehenna, cannot measure the limits of, is an ordinary human?]

To that extent?

Still, wasn’t that person relatively kind to them? He gives good advice and saves the demon king……

The demon king snorted.

[Hmph! Do you really think that monster doesn’t know who you are? But why would he let you live? What about the evil spirit that stole his son’s body?]

‘It’s a bit harsh to say it’s an evil spirit. Cursing others, huh? Just doing harrassment, or just do whatever you want! Isn’t that enough……?’

Huh? I’m an evil spirit.

Ignoring Seongjin, who suddenly gained enlightenment, the demon king began pouring out all the words he wanted to say.

[Let’s see if we’re gone. Isn’t Morres’s body going to die? So even if it annoys him, he’ll leave us alone for now! And hey, how would his find his real son’s soul? Perhaps the evil spirit that stole the body knows best? Because the clues are none other than us! Doesn’t that mean he’s going to stay by our side and keep an eye on us? Huh? Don’t you know that?]

‘Hey, calm down……’

Seongjin was not as comfortable with the Holy Emperor’s favor. But he thought, for a moment, that there was a real father-son bond.

Of course, he didn’t convey that thought to the demon king. He was in a rage, and now he’s crying.

[Scary. That guy, he’s so scary……]

While soothing the sobbing Demon King, Seongjin’s carriage entered the Pearl Palace.

Before he knew it, a twilight was settling around him.

And that evening, an administrative official who visited Seongjin with Edith announced that the visitor restrictions placed on the Pearl Palace had been partially lifted as of today.

T/N:
1양반 literally means nobleman, but with the way Seongjin talks (and how later someone scolded him for referring to the emperor like that) I think he meant it more as the slang for that guy/that man. So I’ll stick to that moving forward.