Chapter 33
As he traced his fingers around the edge of the badge, an odd sensation surged through him, causing him to drop it instantly.
‘What was that?’
He wondered in confusion while rubbing his hands together. The tingling in his palm lasted for a moment before it completely vanished. When he picked up the badge again, he felt nothing, as if it had all been a trick of his mind.
‘Damn, I made a mistake.”
He couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was, but it was certainly something unusual.
In a distant location, removed from the Empire, a man stood on a terrace that provided a view of a splendidly developed kingdom. He felt a sudden rush of energy from his heart, and a cunning smile crept across his hidden face.
“There you are.”
Filled with delight, he hummed softly as he enjoyed his wine.
***
“That’s what happened.”
Cielo shared with Alistair, Konstantinos, and Newcastle the events that occurred during his time in the forest, leaving out only the strange sensation he felt when he first held the badge.
He presented the badge and took his seat at the table with the group. The looks on their faces suggested to him that the badge belonged to someone who shouldn’t have been in the forest.
“Could you clarify what this badge represents?”
He asked, curious about the badge.
Alistair sighed, massaging his temples before he started to explain.
“This emblem was associated with the Merchant Guild. Their presence is ubiquitous due to their role in information trading. However, Faye’s Garden is not a place where they should be permitted to roam so freely.”
Although there are no guards present at Faye’s Garden, it is still governed by the Empire, and anyone wishing to enter must obtain the Emperor’s approval. Yet, an unknown individual has somehow managed to infiltrate this space.
“It seems they infiltrated Faye’s Garden three years ago. Any information about Travelers can be worth thousands of gold bars.”
Entering Faye’s Garden is perilous, but merchants are unlikely to pass up such a profitable chance. Even the smallest detail, like Cielo’s gender or hair color, could fetch a small fortune.
‘Their infiltration of the Empire’s property reveals an unsettling obsession with Travelers.’
Cielo recognized the gravity of their, the Travelers, presence in this world.
It is undoubtedly the influence of those five Travelers that has corrupted this realm with powers previously unseen. Human greed knows no limits. Even with the magic they wield, they still crave more, which is why they pursue him so relentlessly.
With a serious expression, Newcastle asked.
“You didn’t touch it, did you?”
When he went back to where Newcastle was after leaving the forest, he used his trench fork to transport the badge, which is why Newcastle was unaware that he had actually touched it.
“I’m not an idiot. I neither touched it nor jumped into the crater to see what was down there.”
Was the reply that came out of Cielo’s mouth.
Though his former mentor seemed doubtful, he chose to remain quiet as Alistair spoke up.
“Newcastle and I have already inspected the badge, and it shows no signs of residual magic or any inscriptions. However, as a precaution, I will be taking it with me.”
Alistair carefully placed the badge into a box with his gloved hands. Cielo did not protest as it would be presented as evidence anyway and simply nodded in agreement.
“I will bring this matter to the Emperor’s attention, and the appointed investigation team will handle it from there. However, both of you must explain your choice to venture out without prior consultation.”
Cielo and Newcastle looked away, unable to provide a justification for their action tonight.
Alistair’s frown deepened as he watched the two adults sitting beside each other act like children, unwilling to admit their mistakes.
“Technically, it’s Newcastle’s fault.”
“Hmm? Did you forget that it was you who begged me for help?”
“Excuse me? I didn’t beg, it was just a request.”
Get your facts right!
“Aha! So, you admit that you were the one who sought my help in getting to that place.”
Cielo started the dialogue, prompting a response from Newcastle, which led to a tense back-and-forth between them.
The prince slowly set down his cup, which silenced the two, and examined the faces of Cielo and Newcastle. Eventually, his attention landed on the Traveler as he began to speak.
“It has only been a day, and I am already weary of your presence.”
“Dude…”
That was uncalled for.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, Cielo was not allowed to leave the Haunted Palace for the time being and was directed to focus on reconstructing artifacts from his former world. However, his reluctance to create military weapons resulted in the prince dismissing his proposals without a second thought three months later.
“Why does he have to be so stubborn?”
Cielo tightened his jaw as he tossed his rejected proposals onto the desk.
While modes of transportation like trains, cars, and airplanes are undoubtedly advantageous, the prince refuses to consider any of his ideas! This has become increasingly exasperating, as none of his recreations, aside from the drones, have received approval.
Cielo caught sight of his reflection in the mirror, noticing the dark circles under his eyes that hinted at a significant lack of sleep.
With a deep sigh, he fell onto his bed. Normally, he would have made personal hygiene a priority before resting, but the burden of stress and exhaustion made such concerns feel trivial at that moment.
The next morning, as he returned to the main palace to carry out his responsibilities, Rene asked.
“What have you been up to these last few days? You look like you could really use some rest.”
They were sitting in the garden, where Rene had come to enjoy the blooming flowers and found Cielo quietly settled on one of the benches.
“Not much.”
Cielo replied.
“It seems someone has been causing me a lot of misery, making it nearly impossible to get a good night’s sleep.”
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Rene hummed gently as she offered him an item from her basket, which looked like a fuzzy orange.
“Here, a freshly picked marigold to lift your spirits. It’s the perfect season for them, so be sure to enjoy it!”
“Thank you…”
Although Cielo was tempted to taste it, he was mindful of his diet, so he quickly tucked the fruit into his pocket as he stood up.
“I need to head back now. Until next time, Rene.”
“Of course!”
When he found Fisher, he tossed the marigold to the elderly man.
“Is this for me, my boy?”
“Yeah. I got it from Rene. Eat it, Fisher, it’s good for your health.”
Cielo quietly took his place next to the elderly gentleman as he began his trimming work. Fisher silently enjoyed the fruit, and when he finished, he offered Cielo a comforting pat on the back.
“You seem troubled. Why not share your thoughts with this old man?”
“Nothing seems to escape your attention, does it?”
Cielo let out a deep sigh while staring at the roses.
Fisher, being the kind-hearted person he is, patiently waits for Cielo to express his concerns.
“…There’s someone who values the production of military weapons more than the well-being of their people. Why is that? I just don’t understand.”
It’s like those who are indifferent to the suffering of a few as long as many others benefit from it. He simply cannot understand.
A vision of a lone brown-haired boy sitting in a stark white room surfaced in his mind.
Fisher noticed his assistant’s hand tighten into a fist before he let out a heavy sigh.
“Are you, by any chance, referring to His Imperial Highness?”
Cielo flinched slightly, locking eyes with the older man through his glasses.
“…How did you arrive at that conclusion?”
Fisher’s insight made him uneasy. How could he possibly know that Cielo was talking about the prince? If he had deduced this, it suggested he was also aware of Cielo’s true role as someone who served the prince directly, rather than just a destitute person he had picked up from the slums.
“My dear boy, I have been to the palace since His Imperial Highness was just a child. The prince I have known for many years began to display unusual behavior three years ago.”
Cielo flinched and was left speechless by the surprising revelation.
Fisher, undeterred by his reaction, continued with his explanation.
“The new technology called drones, which the Magic and Research Department introduced last week, was created by you, right?”
“…What makes you think that?”
Cielo is assured that Fisher isn’t an informant, as Alistair holds him in high regard. Someone like Alistair, who still harbors resentment towards Newcastle due to past affairs, wouldn’t praise Fisher if he were truly a spy.
“I notice things, just as you do.”
Fisher looks at him intently.
“You have always been careful in your dealings with others, aware of the importance of restricting the information you share to potential spies. Am I wrong?”
“Fisher, I have great respect for you.”
This was the only compliment Cielo could manage to express.
The elderly gentleman chuckled softly, but his expression soon turned serious, prompting Cielo to adopt a similar tone. Leaning in closer, the old man spoke in a low voice.
“The Imperial Family has been trained from a young age with the mantra, “The Empire above all else.””
What makes the Empire is its people, and the dominant wish among its citizens is for war, therefore, the prince prioritizes meeting their desires above all else.
“To bring an end to the war, it is essential to first persuade the citizens of the Empire.”
“That seems…”
Almost impossible. Unless he becomes Emperor or attains a heroic reputation, it’s doubtful he can change the opinions of such a large population.
‘I really thought that the nobles would be the main barrier to ending this conflict.’
However, it cannot be entirely dismissed that they may not have influenced the situation. It is conceivable that they have manipulated the populace under their rule into desiring the continuation of the war.
“Certainly, the nobility has also contributed to this situation.”
Fisher elaborated.
“The Emperor finds himself caught between two opposing factions: the nobility and the citizenry.”
“Factions?”
Cielo understands that divisions are inherent among the nobility, yet he is puzzled as to why the citizens of the empire would also form their own faction.
“Yes. Perhaps you should consider involving the prince. His Imperial Highness Konstantinos has significant influence among the other claimants to the throne.”
“…I will think about that. Thank you, Fisher.”
The old man gave him a comforting pat on the back as he redirected the conversation, while he continued to ponder deeply.
‘What am I doing?’
Cielo reflected in despair.
His goal was to fulfill his contract quietly and then work on rebuilding the internet in this world. Along the way, he intended to travel the world, avoiding conflict-ridden regions. So why was he now considering the possibility of stopping the war? That wasn’t part of his plan!
Moreover, he was involving himself in political issues despite his deep dislike for them. Did he not vow to refrain from participating in politics once more?
‘And I promised Alistair that I would return to my world…’
He is aware that Alistair’s question about his hesitation to come back wasn’t motivated by a true wish for his return, it was simply a matter of curiosity at that moment.
‘…I’ve made up my mind.’
In his following meeting with Konstantinos, he introduced the proposals that the prince had been eager for: military armaments.
“First, hand grenades! These devices explode and break into small pieces, causing shrapnel to fly everywhere. Its destructive power is capable of blowing people into tiny pieces of meat!”
“Second, we have missiles! These are weapons designed for long-distance attacks, usually powered by a propellant, jet engine, or rocket motor. Their destructive capacity is considerable, capable of wiping out an entire squad!”
“Third, laser beams! These weapons use focused energy to hit enemy targets. They include powerful lasers and other high-energy systems. They can cause serious burns or even ignite a person, and they can also blind someone!”
“Lastly, my personal favorite, nuclear bombs! This weapon has the capability to utterly annihilate a nation. Furthermore, the radiation they release poses serious health dangers, affecting not just those close to the explosion but also people far away from the blast zone!”
Cielo let out a sigh of relief after delivering his passionate presentation on military weapons that could potentially destroy humanity.
“What do you think? It’s quite impressive, isn’t it? There is no need to put our personnel at risk. With all these weapons at our disposal, wiping out the Saoirse Alliance would be a breeze.”
He asked with a hint of pride as he sipped his tea.
“… .”
“… … .”
The silence enveloped the room.
Alistair and Konstantinos were left speechless after his explanation. Their expressions were quite comical, with their mouths hanging open in disbelief.
Cielo hid a smirk behind his cup.
He knew that the Imperial Family held a strong affection for their citizens, and the people of that allied kingdom had once been regarded as part of their own, which is the reason behind their hesitance to launch an attack.
This was the exact reason why he had introduced weaponry capable of causing harm to those individuals, especially in large quantities, to deter any further coercion. Judging by their current expressions, it seemed that his plan might actually be working.
“Don’t you think this might be a bit too much, young master? I’m sure you have weapons that wouldn’t cause such widespread destruction.”
Alistair was the first to voice his thoughts, as Konstantinos seemed to be momentarily stunned.
Cielo let out a deep sigh as he placed the cup down.
“I’m sorry to say, Alistair, that I come from the Modern World. Although we are under the same authority and my previous world lacks conflict, they continue to develop advanced weaponry to keep the population in check.”
His words were indeed true. The government regularly displays their weapons and their capabilities on television, which is why the public has a profound fear of the military.
Cielo noticed Alistair using a spell on him, probably a lie detection, but he kept his cool. The Head Butler saw through the ruse but opted to present a different perspective to the prince.
“Your Imperial Highness.”
Alistair began, his voice steady and respectful.
“The young master seems to be honest. This might be a bit much, perhaps we should rethink our strategy.”
Konstantinos frowned. The prince and Alistair’s gazes met, and in that moment, the air grew heavy with unspoken thoughts and emotions.
“I will take it into account.”
Konstantinos finally replied, his tone clipped but not unkind.
In the end, the prince turned on his heel and strode toward the door, leaving Cielo and Alistair alone in the dimly lit room. The silence that followed was palpable, filled with the echoes of what had just transpired.
Cielo exhaled slowly, allowing the tension to dissipate. He glanced at Alistair, who was massaging his head.
“You know that I wasn’t honest, so why?”
What led you to back me?