Chapter 650: Riley’s troubles

“Hey, listen to me!” Flamme snapped, pulling Reina’s sleeve with an exaggerated whine.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re frustrated and it’s all Stacia’s fault and whatnot,” Reina replied dryly, already predicting the direction this would go.

“Hoho~ so you do understand! Hehe, that’s why we need to—wait, where are you going?”

Reina stood up, dusting her skirt. “I’ve got to prepare.”

“Prepare for what?” Flamme blinked, confused as she leaned back on the bench like a lazy cat.

“My match,” Reina answered without pause.

“You need preparations for things like that? Oh come on, just stay here and spend time with me! It’s rare for me to be this affectionate, you know!”

“Sorry, but you’re going to have to handle that on your own,” Reina said with a sigh. “And also, I don’t really need your affection.”

If anything, Flamme’s clinginess was making her more annoyed than comforted.

Of course, she still considered Flamme a good friend, but that didn’t change the fact that the girl’s personality was… extremely Flamme, and that alone was exhausting, especially when Reina’s mind was already occupied with the afternoon battle.

“Anyway, I’ve got to go now.”

“Tch… fine.” Flamme clicked her tongue dramatically. “Then I’ll go ahead and release my stress on cute little Enna instead.”

“Sure,” Reina replied without missing a beat, already heading off.

Flamme watched her leave the park, her loud presence fading with each step Reina took.

Once she was finally alone, the exaggerated grin she wore for most of the morning slowly dissolved—like a mask slipping off. She leaned back against the empty bench, a long breath escaping her lips.

Her shoulders shook slightly as she muttered, “…Neru…”

She raised her hand, summoning a small orb of water that gently hovered over her palm. Soft ripples pulsed inside it, as if echoing her unsettled heartbeat.

“Neru…” she repeated, this time softer, more fragile—calling out not as Flamme the unruly top student, but Flamme the contracted spirit wielder relying on her partner.

She strained to listen for the spirit guardian’s voice, the one that always replied, always teased back, always soothed her fiery emotions in its own cold way.

But for the first time since she made her contract—

No answer came.

The water orb trembled slightly in her hand, reflecting the sadness in her eyes as the silence pressed down on her chest like a weight she wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

…..

“It has been a while, hasn’t it, Riley…?”

The emperor’s voice carried the same serene grace as always—calm, warm, but with a weight that could easily command nations.

Riley, standing before him in the private garden terrace near the guest palace, bowed respectfully.

“Yes, it has been quite some time, Your Majesty.”

“Hoho… Please, from now on—if we are in private—you may address me as father. We’re going to be family soon, after all.”

“…If you insist,” Riley answered, maintaining his composure despite the stiff jolt in his chest. “Then I shall follow your will.”

“No need to be so formal either. I remember you being far more casual back then.” The emperor’s eyes gleamed with nostalgia. “Do you find it troublesome, perhaps?”

“No, not at all. It’s simply… it will probably take some time before I grow accustomed to it.”

The emperor chuckled softly. “Fair enough.”

Riley kept his posture relaxed, though inwardly he steadied himself.

Even after all this time, the man before him was dazzling.

Despite his age, the emperor still looked no older than his late twenties—graceful, otherworldly, almost too perfect.

Anyone seeing him for the first time would never guess he was Snow’s father… let alone the ruler of an empire.

“So,” the emperor said as he leisurely sipped the tea prepared for their meeting, “how has academy life been treating you so far?”

“It has been quite fun,” Riley replied truthfully.

Of course, he had already expected this summons.

The emperor wouldn’t have personally traveled to the academy without purpose.

And that purpose naturally revolved around Snow… and by extension himself—and the rest of the girls connected to him.

Still, he hadn’t expected to be summoned so early in the morning, barely after breakfast, before he even had the chance to properly gather his thoughts for the day.

The emperor’s gentle smile lingered as he studied Riley’s face. “Fun, is it? Hm… that is good to hear.”

Riley nodded. “Yes… I’ve had many experiences thanks to Snow and the others. Some challenging, some strange, but all of them meaningful.”

“I see.” The emperor set his cup down, his expression growing ever so slightly more intent. “Then I’m relieved. A father naturally worries, after all. Especially when it involves a child as precious as Snow.”

Riley stiffened the slightest bit.

The emperor continued with a soft, amused sigh. “And judging by Rose’s words yesterday… it seems your relationships have been progressing rather quickly.”

Riley suppressed the urge to choke.

Of course the emperor knew.

Of course he did.

Riley already suspected that Rose had spoken far too freely to the emperor about the recent progress of his relationships with the girls.

“Yes,” he replied calmly, “my relationship with everyone has been going rather smoothly as of late. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

“I see. That’s good,” the emperor nodded, though there was a subtle weight behind his tone. “Though… regarding this topic, there is one particular matter I am quite curious about.”

“Yes?” Riley asked, keeping his expression composed.

“You haven’t done anything,” the emperor said slowly, eyes narrowing in a gentle but unmistakably sharp manner, “that would make me retract the blessing I have given you—regarding Snow and the rest of your girls… correct?”

“Of course not,” Riley answered immediately. “Not at all.”

The emperor leaned back on his chair, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

“I understand that all of this—your bonds, your affection—is part of the natural blooming of young love. However…” his voice dropped ever so slightly, “there are certain things… that must wait. Snow is still young. All of you are still young. You must think about responsibilities only after you graduate—heirs included. Understood?”

“…Yes.”

“Good.”

He didn’t say it aloud, but Riley heard the unspoken message clearly:

’Impregnate my daughter before graduation and I will personally cut you down.’

A bead of cold sweat formed on his back, but his face remained calm.

“Now then,” the emperor continued, setting that terrifying topic aside with regal ease, “putting that matter away for now… I actually called you here to hear your opinion about something.”

The air in the room shifted instantly—becoming heavier, quieter, more focused.

Riley subtly glanced around.

The invisible shadow knights who had been standing guard behind the emperor…

…vanished.

Not a single presence remained except the emperor’s and his own.

So, it’s something that only the two of us are allowed to hear, Riley realized, straightening his posture.

“Riley, have you experienced any Dream Weaves recently?”

Riley paused for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

“…No. Nothing so far.”

“I see…” The emperor let out a long, controlled breath.

“Is something going on?” Riley asked, sensing the shift in atmosphere.

The emperor stayed quiet for a beat before nodding.

“Quite a lot, actually. At first I thought it was just a normal issue — something I could handle myself. But the more I look into it, the bigger and messier it gets. Even Luther is having trouble assisting me, and he’s busy dealing with problems in his own realm.”

That part made Riley stiffen.

The Grand Duke having a hard time?

That was unheard of. Riley had never once heard anyone say Luther was struggling with anything.

“I didn’t intend to involve you,” the emperor continued. “But if this whole thing really touches on matters involving the goddess… then I felt you might be someone who could help.”

“What exactly is the problem?” Riley asked.

The emperor’s expression hardened.

“In the northern lands, there have been rumors of a dungeon surfacing recently. According to most of the reports, it’s a catastrophic-level dungeon. And for the first time in decades, the Snow Barbarians were almost wiped out because of it.”

Riley’s eyes narrowed. “…Is the dungeon open?”

“That’s the strange part,” the emperor said. “It’s still closed. There’s no sign of it breaking open — but monsters keep spilling out regardless. Randomly. Violently. Entire villages have been hit. We’ve sent multiple subjugation teams, including S-rank mercenaries… but none of them ever returned.”

A quiet heaviness settled between them.

He had a very clear suspicion what dungeon it might be.

But he kept that thought to himself — at least for now.

“Has any of the other countries made their move?” Riley asked.

The emperor slowly shook his head. “No. The northern lands were already agreed on as neutral territory decades ago. No flags, no borders, no rightful owner. But because that region lies closer to the Empire than anywhere else, everyone just… assumes it falls under our influence. And since the Grand Duke’s domain sits right below it, most believe he’s the one keeping watch over that place.”

He sighed. “As a result, nobody else dares to move in or interfere. They’re all waiting to see what we do.”

“I see…” Riley muttered.

“But that’s only half the problem,” the emperor continued, his tone tightening. He looked at Riley with a seriousness that made the air feel heavy. “The other matter—the more important one right now—is about the demonic cult.”

Riley straightened a little.

“Their movements have been odd lately. More hectic. More reckless. They’re doing experiments out in the open… attacking and terrorizing random villages across the Empire. None of this is new—they’ve always been scum with no sense of reason—but this time…” The emperor paused, expression darkening. “This time, there’s something different.”

“What do you mean?”

“We managed to capture a few of them alive recently.” His eyes narrowed. “Every single one… said the exact same thing before they died. Word for word.”

He took a breath, then repeated it:

“’Oh lord Hell, save me… please be the guiding darkness that will change my fate.’”

“…Huh?” Riley blinked.

Hell? They’re talking about me?

Why the hell would demonic cultists be chanting his family name like a prayer?

He wracked his brain, trying to recall if he had ever done anything that would make those lunatics worship him of all people… but he couldn’t think of a single reason.

What the hell happened while I wasn’t looking…?

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