“I am the son of Grace Lionheart, the successor and student of Eleanor, the future pillar of the Archery Association. My grandfather walks the land as the Demon of War. I saved the lives of the future of the Academy and many powerful people. Currently, I am ranked as the highest and perhaps the greatest genius of the academy…”
I spoke, my voice resounding within the halls of the palace. Slowly but surely, my cultivation started to cover over me, reaching within levels they couldn’t see. Its power somehow took away the pressure of the Emperor in front of me. The atmosphere within the room turned darker as I continued to speak, my will filling up the place.
“I have faced more dangers than you can imagine. I came to this place as a guest because you invited me to this chamber. You asked about my interest in a gift, and when I spoke of it to you, you tried to suppress me with your pressure. Do you think I am someone to be suppressed?”
My question hung in the air, my words making the Emperor’s expression turn for the worse as he looked down at me. My current status doesn’t lose out to the man in front of me. While he doesn’t have to be fully respectful to me, it doesn’t mean he can go out of his way to disrespect me.
“Imperial Father! What is the meaning of this?!” Carmel suddenly shouted, her gaze turning red as her mana trembled all around her. Seeing this, the Emperor ignored her and focused on me.
“Do you think you are someone above me here?” he asked, his voice turning dangerously low.
I continued to look at him as I replied, “I never said that. Everything that has happened until now was your own doing. Do you think with the War Council backing me, you can do anything to me in this public setting?”
My words contained arrogance as I looked at the man, whose expression twisted a bit. As much of a fool as he wants to be, he is not, and going any further from here would only affect him and the Empire as a whole because, in every way, the rightfulness of the situation lies with me.
Plus, no Empire or power in any way wants to mess with the army my family has in its hands. The man in front of me is the Emperor, and he has to look at the full picture when he tries to do something. His actions affect the Empire as a whole, and now trying to mess with me would only make things very, very bad for him.
‘This is without him even knowing the several identities that I hide.’
One word from me, and the entire flow of potions within this Empire would come to a grinding halt. He would have to come and beg me on his knees if any changes were to be made after that, but for now, the current identities I hold are enough to make it such that he won’t make any stupid mistakes.
“What will it be, Emperor? Will you allow my request, or should I go running to my teacher?”
The subtle mockery at the end of my words surely made the man angrier as he asked, “You are going to tattle to your teacher? Do you have no shame?”
To which, with a smile, I replied, “My teacher dotes on me very well, so I will tattle to her, and yes, I have no shame. But do you? For the one acting like a child here is you.”
This time, I directly mocked the man, and the pressure doubled. The warriors hidden in the shadows seemed on the edge of making their move, but I held my cool. Of course, I couldn’t predict how this would go, but however it went, I would deal with it. Thus, the moment of truth floated in the air as the Emperor kept looking at me.
A few seconds later, he raised his hands, the pressure completely disappearing as he spoke in a chilling tone, “I shall accept your desire.”
Saying so, he turned to look at Carmel as he spoke, “Carmel, from here on forth, I am taking away the ban I placed on you meeting the Bow Empress.”
His words made Carmel’s eyes widen as she looked at me. I gave her a small wink that made her smile for a moment, but it didn’t do much to take away the hatred and anger she felt over what the Emperor had tried to do to me. Her anger wouldn’t be healed that easily. Thus, I gave a nod to the Emperor, my eyes also trailing towards the Empress, giving her my respect as I spoke.
“Then I shall leave, Your Majesty.”
“A word of advice, young man: those that fly too close to the sun with arrogance have only fallen from it.”
The Emperor suddenly spoke as I turned around to walk away. I didn’t turn back to him; I just kept walking forward as my words left, whispered in the throne room.
“There are times when the sun would even fall to another’s brightness when it faces a star it cannot handle.”
With that, I didn’t even wait to see his face as I walked out of the throne room. The maid who led me here was still waiting as she bowed to me.
“Please take me back to the teleportation zone and connect it to the academy, please.”
“It will be done,” the woman replied, to which I spoke.
“Thank you.”
The two of us started to walk when Carmel called out to me.
“Austin, wait!”
At her call, I turned to look at her, Tria watching beside her as Carmel spoke with worried eyes.
“I’m sorry for what happened back there!” she pleaded as she looked at me, to which I, with a smile, replied.
“Why are you apologizing? I suspected something like this might happen when I brought in my master, so you don’t have to worry about it. Plus, now one day we can both go together to meet my master.”
My words slowly took away the worry that filled her eyes as Carmel replied with a smile, “Thank you for that.”
“Thanks are not required between the two of us.”
My words only made her smile a bit as Tria suddenly spoke, “Are you leaving now?”
I nodded my head at her. “Yes, I am. I still have some things left to do back there.”
‘Notably, a powerful teacher elf who might be turning mad now from all the things happening to her.’
I had left Trisha with all those issues in her head. The constant attacks and things would have definitely twisted her mind a little, and when I reach there, I am sure she will be giving herself up to me. Then I will be able to start the plans I have for the War Council there.
“Will I be seeing you at the academy?” I asked suddenly, to which Tria had a helpless smile on her face as she replied.
“I want to, but I don’t know how my luck would affect you at all.”
Her words reminded me once again of the bad luck she caused to herself and those around her, that issue is still not solved. Of course, I could fix that in the blink of an eye, but where is the fun in that? Once I am sure of how I would lead her around, then I would play the cards that I am dealt.
“Pity, you should try to attend. Perhaps you might find the solution for your peculiar issue.”
My words made her expression crumble for a moment, after which she spoke, “I will think about it.”
Then I turned towards Carmel as I spoke. “Shall we head out?”
My words made her a bit sad, but she nodded her head, and we once again started to walk towards the place we came from. We soon reached the very room where I met the several mages, who started to place the connection. Some more time and qualifications were needed to make it work, after which the portal was soon connected.
“Let’s see each other back at the academy, shall we?” I asked with a smile, to which Carmel replied with a nod.
“Sure, though before I come, I have some things I have to deal with.”
I just nodded my head at that as I turned towards Tria and spoke. “I hope I shall see you one day at the academy. As your senior, just ask for me.”
A little wink at the end made the two girls smile a bit as Tria replied, “We shall see.”
Then, with one final nod, I entered the portal, another issue opening up for me to deal with.
‘Trisha, here I come!’
