A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special (WN)
chapter-121

Chapter 121. The Empire’s Guardian (2)

The man that was walking towards Desir had concealed his face with a white mask.

He was at least two feet taller than Desir and had a fairly large build. Like the other guests, he was in a suit, but his outfit looked a bit simple in comparison to the other attendees. It was plain dark blue.

The aura that he exuded was noticeably different from the other guests. His overwhelming energy leaked out with every large stride he took, and his dignity overflowed from his broad shoulders.

Desir was certain. This person was the very Emperor of Hebrion.

Guiltian Zedgar F Rogfelas.

The one who had been titled the Empire’s Guardian for bringing the civil war to an end.

He was the Emperor who quickly stabilized a frenzied empire torn apart by a civil war, leading it to its full restoration.

“Nice to meet you, Your Majesty.”

Desir got up from his seat and greeted him with a slight nod.

Normally, this sort of behavior towards the Emperor would lead him straight to the guillotine, but Guiltian merely scoffed lightly.

“You seem to have some common sense.”

After sitting across from Desir, Guiltian encouraged him to sit comfortably.

“You’re in a rather unique position. I’m sure you’re already well aware of that yourself.” Understanding what Guiltian was referring to, Desir nodded.

“Yes, of course.” “Good.”

Desir could feel Guiltian making a sly smile, even though the only thing visible behind the white mask were two chilly eyes.

“If you’re aware of your position then I assume you’ll understand what I’m about to say. Are you aware that your presence feels like a threat to people like us?”

“What do you mean by threat? I’m honored by your high opinion of me, but I’m just a mere student.”

The moment Desir finished answering, he felt a chill travel down his backside. “Are you mocking me?”

The Emperor’s two eyes, the only thing he could be seen through the white mask, were frighteningly cold.

“You’ve been getting a lot of internal support from the commoners. It seems like some nobles have recently begun advocating for you as well.”

As Guiltian said, after the Party Competition, many of the nobles who had maintained a neutral relationship with the commoners started being more amicable.”

It didn’t feel right to say that the change meant that they were advocating for Desir himself, but it wasn’t completely wrong either.

Desir couldn’t deny his words.

“And internationally you’ve been building a relationship with the Magic Tower, and in some nations, you’re even being hailed as a hero.”

Guiltian’s cold words continued.

“I’m not an incompetent fellow who will regard someone like that as a ‘mere student,’ Desir Arman.”

At his unexpected reaction, Desir held his breath. “Which is why I want you.”

And as if nothing had ever happened, Guiltian had reverted back to the way he was when they’d first met.

‘It was an act.’

An act to take control of the conversation. Even Desir was momentarily overwhelmed. “… May I ask why?”

Guiltian expressed his thoughts in an extremely calm tone. “To strengthen the royal family’s position.”

It was an extremely calm tone.

“Hebrion Empire may look peaceful from the outside, but it is actually in an unstable position. It’s been like this since I took the throne.”

In the past, when a commoner revolt known as the Revolutionary Army occupied Dresden’s Royal Palace, the child Emperor was beheaded without a chance to leave behind any descendants and Hebrion’s royal bloodline consequently died out.

At the time, the Rogfelas family was considered to be next in line since they carried the blood of Hebrion Empire’s first Emperor, Rusphena Hebrion.

For that reason, Guiltian was able to receive the full support of four noble families and lead the united army of five families to win the war against the Revolutionary Army. This brought the civil war to an end in just a year.

Like that, the current royal family became the Rogfelas, and Guiltian Zedgar F Rogfelas became the Emperor.

No one dared oppose the head of the Rogfelas family being crowned Emperor. His bloodline had succession rights and, as an individual, he boasted great achievements.

“Although it’s been a long time since the rebellion, the nobles are still oppressing the commoners.”

The nobles were afraid that history would repeat itself in the hands of the commoners, and to prevent that, the nobles continued to do everything they could to suppress them.

“But the times have changed. The commoners have become much more aware of the disparity in their treatment. Moreover, with the advancements made in magic and engineering, it has become especially easy for commoners to grab hold of power that could kill the nobles.” Looking at numbers alone, the commoners overwhelm the nobles. If a large group launched an attack equipped with modern magical equipment, there was no guarantee that the royal family would be able to withstand it like they had in the past.

“The commoners are no longer a presence that can be neglected. This kind of oppression will only lead to another civil war. I cannot continue to overlook this.”

Desir agreed with him. If the discrimination against the commoners continued on like this, he truly believed that a second civil war could take place.

“That is why I have always tried to prioritize the convenience of the commoners, even if it meant severing ties with several families. I continued allowing commoners to enrol in Hebrion Academy, and apart from punishing the Revolutionary Army, I’ve always treated commoners fairly.”

The nobles despised the commoners and demanded harsher punishments, but the Emperor refused.

“Consumed by the momentary rage and hatred, our nobility has allowed themselves to be blinded from reality. Alas, how foolish. Those who have been chosen to rule should prioritize practical benefits over all else. Instead, they’ve been caught up in their personal prejudices.” The nobles still viewed the hierarchy as though it was an ancient feudal society.

“But the discrimination against the Beta Class at Hebrion Academy has only worsened to the point where having a decent learning environment is almost impossible.”

“It was hard to ask for more when the Professors were already so strongly against even allowing commoners to enroll in the academy. But just as I was worrying about it, you appeared.”

The appearance of Desir Arman was nothing short of a miracle.

Desir Arman immediately made a name for himself by taking the top ranking spot for his year as a commoner. Not even a year later, he formed a party almost entirely composed of commoners and cleared a Level Four Shadow World.

And more than anything, he thwarted the terrorist attacks of the Outsiders in the Prichella Empire and managed to protect the kings of the Western Kingdom Union.

Who else could have achieved this?

Commoners went wild at his presence. They cheered at the birth of a great magician. He was a hero.

“What I want to say is that we have similar goals. Don’t you want to free the commoners from the oppression of the nobles?

“… You want to keep the nobles in check.” “You catch on fast.”

The moment he finished his sentence, the dancing and music in the party hall came to a stop too. The people that had been dancing in the center of the hall dispersed like a low tide. Sound filled the large hall as new conversations began.

“Come work for me.”

“It would be an honor. I’ll try my best.”

Desir answered immediately.

With a request like this, he couldn’t hesitate before answering. He couldn’t make it seem like he was weighing the pros and cons.

“That’s a good attitude.”

Creating a connection with the Emperor.

This was what Desir had wanted all along.

If he had support from the ruler of a nation, it would be extremely beneficial later on when he started training a military force to fight against the Shadow Labyrinth.

‘And it may be a chance to get close to Raphaello as well.’ Raphaello Cheringer.

One of the greatest swordsmen from the Cheringer bloodline. He was one of the strongest human beings who had reached the end of the Shadow Labyrinth with Desir in his previous life.

He was most likely the current commander of the Imperial Knights, so creating a connection with the Emperor would make it easier to get close to him.

‘Let’s see if we can be a little greedy… ’

The Emperor was the one who made the request, so there was still a bit of leverage that Desir could take advantage of.

“However, I have one condition.”

“If it’s something I can grant, then I’ll do what I can.”

“I understand that the Western Kingdom Union has requested an alliance with the Hebrion Empire during their war on the Outsiders through the Magic Tower.”

“… Yes.”

“But you denied the request.”

“The Western Kingdom Union is a potential enemy of Hebrion Empire. As for the Outsiders, it goes without saying. Is there a particular reason to help them? I say let our enemies fight amongst themselves.”

“It’s not that I don’t understand your deeper intentions, but common sense won’t work on the Outsiders. If they aren’t taken care of this time, the Hebrion Empire will eventually have to deal with a situation with the Outsiders stabbing us in the back while we are preoccupied. Instead, it will be better to knock them down once and for all for the nation’s future benefit.

Benefit.

With a sigh of contemplation, the Emperor took a deep breath. “So what is it that you’re requesting?”

“I want you to help with humanity’s common enemy. Promise to dispatch troops to deal with the threat the Outsiders pose, and send backup to the Wester Kingdom Union immediately. This is my condition.”