Chapter 5

“Listen, all eight of you.”

The Great Emperor Continua continued his proclamation.

“If you desire the Imperial Throne, prove your worth.”

His eyes blazed with golden flames.

“I have prepared ten treasures.”

The eight princes and princesses knelt, heads bowed.

The old man’s voice fell heavily upon them.

“As per the imperial tradition, you will not obtain the treasures without trials. Finding their hidden locations is itself a trial.”

Tension rippled across the faces of the prostrated eight.

This was the test to determine the next emperor, the master of the continent.

Not a single word could be taken lightly.

“On the final day of the hundred-day Succession War, the one who holds the most treasures will be deemed the worthy successor.”

The Great Emperor Continua tapped the armrest of his throne.

“I don’t understand why you’re so fond of this gaudy chair, but you might get to sit in it.”

It was no mere gaudy chair.

The throne of the Azure Sky Emperor, passed down through a thousand years, the symbol of Cordis.

None but the master of the empire could dare touch it.

Who would yield the chance to sit there?

“Exert all your strength. Did you not gather to become the last one standing, the highest of all? Use whatever you desire as you see fit.”

Money would do.

People would do it.

Swords, of course, would do. Wealth, power, force—any form of strength would suffice.

Victory would bring it all back.

“There will be no next chance.”

* * *

Ten treasures.

Seize the most.

That one would become the next emperor.

Such was the Great Emperor’s proclamation.

“I’ve spoken much and grown weary.”

The Great Emperor tilted his head.

At his sides, two women knelt.

They had no feet, only swirling smoke and their bodies were translucent.

Though they took human form, they were not human.

They were ancient artificial spirits serving the emperor.

“Close the curtains.”

The two artificial spirits moved.

The curtains closed and silence returned.

The Great Emperor was no longer visible.

That was the kind of man he was.

He despised elaborate ceremonies and took little pleasure in being praised.

In the place where their father vanished, only the eight siblings remained.

Though the Great Emperor was gone, they raised their heads slowly.

Their bodies were still subdued by his lingering majesty.

Among them was Shion Pollinglight, the regressed hero.

‘…A cruel test.’

Before his Regression, he hadn’t understood.

He thought the Succession War was simply about finding the ten trials and claiming the most treasures.

But that wasn’t the case.

‘Use any means necessary, as long as you hold the treasures after a hundred days.’

Send spies if you must.

Seize the treasures by force if needed.

If necessary, even spill the blood of your siblings.

That was the kind of battle it was.

Shion felt sickened.

‘…Those three have already figured it out. They’ve probably prepared their forces.’

Ferbias, Leniar, Secundus.

The three closest to the Imperial Throne.

The leaders of the greatest factions quietly glared at one another.

Their eyes were far too cold to be those of kin.

They knew full well that each was the other’s greatest rival.

‘Before, Ferbias won.’

The First Prince, Ferbias Caseptus.

Golden hair, golden eyes and an arrogant face reminiscent of the Great Emperor’s youth.

‘It’s no surprise. Unless something unexpected happens, it’ll likely go the same way.’

In the thousand-year tradition of the Great Empire, the First Prince’s legitimacy carried immense power.

Add to that Ferbias’s own exceptional ability, and most of the nobles in the capital, Lutilium, had no reason not to support him.

‘Leniar and Secundus could have aimed for the throne too, but the times weren’t in their favor.’

In the end, it was Ferbias who became the fiftieth emperor.

What had become of the defeated Leniar and Secundus…?

Shion, rummaging through old memories, glanced up.

The air was heavy and Ferbias was stealing a glance at him.

‘…Tch. Time to go.’

Shion clicked his tongue inwardly.

There was no reason to linger.

His body was still that of a child and not even a day had passed since his Regression.

“…I’ll take my leave now.”

He gave a light bow and stood.

Neither Ferbias, Leniar, nor Secundus stopped him.

They were too busy eyeing each other.

As Shion hastened his steps, he felt several footsteps following.

He didn’t need to look to know.

It was obvious—likely the fat Nebulo or someone like Babato’s attendant, eager to avoid the fray.

‘This is suffocating.’

He bolted down the corridor of the Imperial Sanctum.

Those waiting for their masters glanced at him.

The fortune-teller Amethus was among them.

But what did it matter? He had to escape.

Those siblings were far too formidable for a freshly regressed Shion to face!

‘My time hasn’t come yet.’

* * *

He fled the Imperial Sanctum.

He passed Cornelius, who was trimming his mustache.

Only when he reached the corridor beside the banquet hall did Shion catch his breath.

“Ugh. The first day, and it’s already tough!”

Shion Pollinglight was called a hero.

He had faced countless battlefields and trials.

His spirit was unyielding.

But after dying and regressing, in the body of an eleven-year-old, facing the Great Emperor Continua and his sons and daughters, how could he not be exhausted?

He wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

Cold sweat came away.

His fingertips trembled too.

It was the effect of facing the Great Emperor Continua’s presence. Shion grimaced.

‘I’ll need to lie low for a few days. Moving in this body will only lead to trouble.’

He had lost much strength in his Regression.

But not all was lost, nor was it gone forever.

With a bit of time, he could regain at least a fraction of his power.

‘I should at least unlock the first of the Seven Secrets.’ Until then, keeping a low profile was wise.

‘Let’s move, let’s move.’

He quickened his pace.

‘Before someone grabs me…’

“Hey, Zionis!”

Shion’s face twisted.

He pretended not to hear, but the voice called again.

“Hey, slug Zionis! You deaf?”

‘…Nebulo, that useless jerk!’

He spat out an irritated curse.

Turning, he saw a dull, fat face—the Fourth Prince, Nebulo.

‘He’s looking to vent.’

The reason was obvious.

Nebulo was the prince with the weakest faction, save for Zionis.

Even the infant Babato had more support.

Only someone like Shion, whose mother’s name was unknown, was low enough for Nebulo to look down on.

‘His words are predictable. Don’t get cocky just because you gave one good answer…’

“You, don’t get cocky. Just because you happened to give an answer that pleased His Majesty…”

‘As expected!’

Fat Nebulo wagged his tongue.

It was nothing substantial.

Just mockery and disdain to belittle him, neither sharp nor weighty.

Mere words to mask his own inferiority.

‘Let’s humor him and send him off quickly.’

Shion might have yawned if he weren’t careful.

Holding it back was the hardest part.

“Got it? Don’t act high and mighty. No matter how cocky you get, you’re still Zionis!”

“Yes, yes, I’m Zionis. Who else would I be?”

“Yeah, yeah… Wait, are you mocking me?”

“Oh, come on, how could I?”

“Right?”

Nebulo grinned stupidly.

Maybe it was natural for a fool.

Shion didn’t particularly dislike him.

Who gets mad at a firefly landing on their foot?

Unless it bites, of course.

“Anyway, this big brother is giving you some friendly advice.”

‘Good. Let’s end this quietly…’

Shion’s face stiffened as he glanced aside.

‘…Not good.’

A man approached from a distance.

Heading straight for them.

‘Damn Nebulo! He’s drawn him here!’

Striking golden hair, golden eyes, features resembling the Great Emperor.

Ferbias Caseptus, the First Prince.

* * *

“You seem to be having quite the chat.”

Ferbias Caseptus rested his hand on Nebulo’s shoulder.

“Huh? Who… Eek!”

Nebulo, turning to see who dared touch a prince’s shoulder, widened his eyes.

He yelped.

“…F-F-Ferbias, big brother!?”

“What were you talking about?”

“N-Nothing much. Just, uh, about imperial etiquette…”

Nebulo, sweating profusely, answered Ferbias, bowing repeatedly.

A stark contrast to the bravado he’d shown Shion moments ago.

Ferbias looked at him with a bored expression.

“Truly nothing much.”

His golden eyes gleamed sharply.

“Nebulo, I’d like you to step aside.”

“Of course! Z-Zionis, see you later!”

Nebulo fled without finishing his sentence.

For a fat man, he was surprisingly quick.

Likely because he saw the glint in Ferbias’s golden eyes.

Shion pursed his lips and subtly shifted his foot.

“Well, I’m tired, so…”

“You can’t leave, Zionis.”

The First Prince’s golden eyes flickered menacingly.

“Let’s have a little sibling chat.”

“…Yes.”

Shion clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘That was quick, Ferbias.’

Even without Nebulo’s interference, they might have crossed paths.

‘Of all people, to catch the eye of the most dangerous one. This could get… very tricky.’

The golden eyes turned to Shion.

They resembled his father, the Great Emperor.

“Zionis.”

“Yes, big brother.”

“That answer of yours, it wasn’t intentional, right?”

“Of course not. I was surprised.”

“Hmm.”

Shion answered quickly, but Ferbias seemed unconvinced.

His face remained cold.

Shion spoke again, feeling the need to further placate this arrogant older brother.

“Honestly, I don’t know why His Majesty praised my answer. To me, your answer about representing the thousand-year empire was far…”

“You dare question His Majesty’s judgment?”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

Shion bowed his head deeply.

Ferbias made a “hmph” sound, now much lighter and more amused.

Shion smiled, but Ferbias didn’t notice.

‘He acts all dignified, but he’s thrilled to be flattered. Still a bundle of pride.’

Ferbias’s feelings were obvious.

He wanted to mend his wounded pride.

That made it simple.

A few honeyed words to soothe that wound would do.

Compared to his life, compared to the destiny of a regressed hero, it was a small price.

“If I offended you, please forgive me, big brother.”

“Forgiveness? You’re making me sound like a villain!”

Ferbias’s lips curled into a broad grin.

Shion’s groveling pleased him.

“Honestly, it’s not worth grabbing you on the first day of the Succession War, is it?”

“Yes, yes…”

‘Then don’t grab me!’

Shion grumbled inwardly.

“But one of my confidants had a strange feeling about you.”

“…Confidant?”

“Yes. I’ll introduce you.”

Ferbias gestured, and a man stepped forward.

“I paid a fortune to bring him from the Security Bureau. His instincts are sharp.”

‘…Since when!?’

Shion swallowed his shock at the sudden appearance.

The man had been standing there all along, unnoticed.

The reason was simple: he had concealed his presence and Shion hadn’t detected it.

That was all.

“Pleased to meet you, Your Highness Zionis.”

Even in a child’s body, Shion Pollinglight was a regressed hero.

That he hadn’t sensed this man’s presence spoke to the man’s skill.

Ferbias’s confidant bowed, his jade-green eyes glinting strangely.

“My name is Amethus.”

Cold sweat trickled down Shion’s forehead.

“I serve His Highness Ferbias.”

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