Chapter : 156

“Theo, are you there?”

I was startled by my father’s sudden visit. Don’t tell me he found out I went to the dungeon.

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would leap out of my throat.

“Weren’t you still busy?”

“Busy is busy.”

My father seemed quite tired, pressing his fingers firmly against his brow.

No matter how exceptional a mage he was, fatigue was bound to accumulate.

In fact, because he was such a mage, fatigue might build up even faster.

In my case, if I keep seeing things with my eyes, the amount of information coming in is considerable.

“Tsk.”

My father suddenly clicked his tongue and, with a displeased expression, handed me two letters.

“It’s an invitation from the Emperor.”

What? An invitation from the Emperor? Is it okay to just accept something like this so casually?

Whenever I watched historical dramas or series with a medieval setting, they always received items from the king or emperor with due respect.

I stared blankly at the invitation before belatedly coming to my senses and accepting it.

“Shouldn’t I be kneeling to receive this?”

“Normally, you should, but since it’s just us, let’s skip it.”

Is that really okay?! The question almost popped out of my throat, but I quietly examined the luxurious stationery.

An invitation from the Emperor was quite fascinating. It felt like I had received a rare item.

Something like ‘Emperor’s Invitation (+15 Strengthened)’.

“Declining isn’t an option, is it?”

“…That would be difficult.”

Especially for a family as friendly to the Emperor as the Lisitoel Count Family.

Isn’t this usually an event in the romance fantasy genre?

After staring awkwardly at the invitation for a moment, I belatedly realized there were two invitations.

Another existence in this villa to whom the Emperor would personally send an invitation.

The ‘event’ that had been mentioned in passing along with him came to mind.

“Lucian was invited too, right?”

“Of course.”

It would have been awkward to deliver an invitation only to Lucian while visiting our house, so they probably sent one to me as a bonus.

To be honest, I don’t particularly want to receive it, and it wouldn’t matter one bit if I just passed it on.

Besides, to attend, I’d have to stay in the capital for about three or four days, so at a time when every minute and second is precious, I’d really like to skip the Emperor’s party.

…Is there really no way to get out of it? I stared at the invitation for a long time before giving up.

“I’ll give it to Lucian.”

“Alright, I understand.”

At least he didn’t find out I was going to the Gate, right?

After accepting the invitation, I was about to see my father off when he suddenly placed his hand on top of my head and pressed down firmly.

“Gyaaaahk!!”

A scream burst out of me from the sudden pain.

What? What just happened? My head wasn’t crushed or exploded, was it? I frantically felt my head.

“Go easy on the night strolls.”

Gasp, he knew. I dreamed of a perfect crime.

“Since when did you know?”

“From the first day.”

From the first day. Yup, from the first day.

But why didn’t he stop me? I stared at my father.

At the tenderness in his gaze, I lost my words and firmly shut my mouth.

“I would have stepped in if it was dangerous, but since there were never any problems, I waited.”

“Don’t tell me your fatigue is because…”

Did he wait in front of the Gate every time until we came out, and only leave after confirming we were safe?

“Were you worried?”

“How could I not be?

I sent you to rest, but you’re training during the day and pushing your body to the limit at the Gate at night.”

To maintain my alibi for the nights, I didn’t skip my training with Cecilia-sunbae during the day.

For a day or two, one might think the kid was just tired, but if all three of us were feeling sluggish for over two weeks, wouldn’t that be too strange?

So I was pushing myself to participate in the training, but I never thought my father would find out so easily.

“Just do it in moderation, without overdoing it.”

“Yes, I understand.”

In the first place, I only planned to secretly clear Gates during the vacation period.

Of course, if push came to shove, I did think about somehow making time during the semester.

“Right, you can use this for the coordinates of the capital residence.”

My father handed me a note with the coordinates written on it and left.

Well then, I guess I should go to Lucian, who’s probably feeling sluggish in his room.

* * *

“Theo, how good is your stamina?”

“It’s not stamina, I’m enduring with mental strength.”

I answered nonchalantly, giving a thumbs-up.

“That’s amazing.”

I chuckled briefly at Lucian’s muttered words. If it had been Zephyros, he would have cursed me out, calling me a madman. As expected, Lucian is the nicest.

“It’s an invitation from the Emperor.”

“His Majesty the Emperor?”

Lucian, who had been resting in bed, shot up and took the invitation from me.

“It’s real.”

Lucian smiled awkwardly and looked at the invitation several times before letting out a faint sigh.

He really seemed to not want to go. Well, even if he went, he wouldn’t be anything more or less than a monkey in a zoo.

The Emperor would be half purely wanting to see Lucian again, and half feeling an obligation to introduce the Descendant of the Hero to the nobles.

He must have learned a lot of etiquette while attending the Academy, so he probably judged that it would be okay to introduce him now.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, I shouldn’t be.”

“What do you mean, you shouldn’t be?

There’s nothing in the world you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about.”

I really don’t know how to solve that sense of indebtedness that Lucian has.

If it weren’t for that feeling, he could be a little more free.

I feel that this isn’t an area for me to intervene in, but I’m still a little displeased.

“If you’re uncomfortable, tell him you’re uncomfortable.”

“It’s not that I’m particularly uncomfortable.”

“Then?”

Lucian, as if he couldn’t find the right words, just smiled innocently. Oh my god, you sweet potato!!

I almost wanted to speak to the Emperor myself, but I couldn’t just step in as I pleased.

“Hey, you’re a bit…”

“Why?”

I can’t question him any further.

“You dried sweet potato of a guy.”

“Haha.”

Lucian laughed out loud.

That’s not a compliment, you punk.

* * *

“The Imperial family usually holds a party before the Academy starts its second semester.”

I had a feeling Zephyros might be attending too, so I asked him casually.

The guy, who was sitting by the window, flipping through a book, answered nonchalantly.

I see. Lucian’s attendance at the party was passed over lightly as a mini-event, and most importantly, although it was a 10-year-old game in real time, Lucian in the game was just about to finish his second year, so it was never specifically mentioned, so I didn’t know.

“So, are you attending?”

“Only you guys see me as easygoing. I’m the sole heir to the Duchy of Nevera, you know?”

Zephyros grumbled as if it was absurd.

“If anything, it’s you guys attending that’s the big deal.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Theo had been in a vegetative state for nearly 10 years, and Lucian was from an orphanage.

In contrast, Zephyros was the Young Lord of Nevera, so even if an invitation hadn’t come, he would have had to attend.

“You’re probably still a bit lacking to show your face in high society.”

“Still, I was at the Golden’s party last time—”

“Are you trying to compare a party that the Emperor himself holds periodically every year with a banquet that the Golden threw on a whim?”

Zephyros asked with a threatening smile.

At his fierce momentum, even Lucian, who was usually unobservant, had no choice but to shut his mouth.

“All sorts of high-ranking nobles who don’t usually gather will be attending.”

Zephyros looked Lucian up and down.

His physique had certainly improved compared to before, and his looks were those of a typical hero from a legend—but something crucial was missing.

Confidence. That characteristic hunched-over atmosphere unique to Lucian, although it had gotten better, still remained.

In such a situation, a party held by the Emperor.

“A clueless hero, what a delicious prey.”

“Still, the Emperor will help.”

“Who knows if he’s trying to create a debt while helping?”

Even though it was just us, his words were unrestrained.

If someone overheard and whispered it into the Emperor’s ear, he wouldn’t have a word to say even if the Emperor cleanly sent him to the guillotine.

“He’s not that kind of person.”

“I agree with that opinion.”

The Emperor is such a huge Hero otaku. It’s official from the game company that if an opportunity to help Lucian arises, he’d do an internal dance of joy!

Now, think about it. The Hero of the Holy Sword, whom you thought was only a being in print, appeared before your eyes.

On top of that, his ideal hero-like appearance is a bonus. And to top it off, he has a kind heart and a sense of justice, just like a real hero.

His ultimate bias has appeared before his eyes. I declare that there is no otaku whose heart would not pound at that!

“You know that the Emperor beheaded his own father, right?”

“He was a father, a tyrant, and a foolish king.”

The previous emperor was what you would call a bastard who deserved to die.

If anything, the current emperor was a person who wanted to fangirl over the Hero more.

“You really hate people who kill their fathers.”

“Patricide is a serious crime that is punished more severely under Imperial law.”

That’s true, but the problem here is that there are too many messed-up parents who consider abuse a given.

Even if they died, I would only feel something along the lines of, ‘We saved some oxygen that was being wasted.’

“Whatever. I have no intention of explaining in detail.”

Zephyros, who had closed his book with a snap, asked with a monotonous expression.

“So when are we going to the capital?”

“We’ll go to the capital residence right after we finish the Gate today.”

I dangled the note with the coordinates I received from my father.

“You’re going to a Gate even today?”

“It’s because it’s today that we have to go.”

After attending the party, we’ll be busy with semester preparations and what not.

Today will be the last Gate subjugation.

“You really work us to the bone.”

“Call it being diligent.”

Still, there were no more complaints.

The quality of experience gained from real combat would be better than dozens of hours of formulaic training.

“So you don’t want to?”

“I’m getting ready!”

Grumbling, Zephyros left the room.

Zephyros, who had strode out, came back, ground his teeth, and kicked me and Lucian out of the room.

“Come to think of it, this is my room!”

“To be precise, it’s a room in the Lisitoel villa that was given to you to use for a while.”

The owner was strictly my father, the Count.

That’s not the point! Zephyros, who had cursed with his eyes, slammed the door shut with a loud bang!

“Jeez, if he had just said he left his things to prepare in the room, it would have been fine.”

“Shut up!!!”

Zephyros roared from behind the door.

It was a peaceful afternoon if you could call it peaceful, truly the calm before the storm.

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