Children of the Holy Emperor
chapter-16

“It is a completely different matter to adjust the Aura that naturally flows through the body as desired, and to let it flow out of the body.”

Marthaine began to explain.

The two stood facing each other in the middle of the gymnasium. Seongjin’s outstretched hand was supported by him with his left hand, and the middle and index fingers of his right hand were raised and placed on his wrist as if touching his pulse.

He calmly continued his explanation.

“Even if it’s a small amount, expressing the outside air means putting that much strong will into the Aura. In other words, the Aura emitted to the outside cannot be mild at all, and inevitably exerts strong destructive power and influence on the outside.”

“……”

“Especially, pouring outside air into another person’s body is, in other words, no different from stabbing a sharpened blade into that body.”

The longer his explanation goes on, the more Seongjin’s anxiety grows.

Sir Marthain. Why are you explaining this in a way that makes it feel like you’re about to spill an aura into someone else’s hands?

“Of course, it is not impossible for those who are very skilled in the use of Aura to pass them on to others without any harm. Since the intention loaded into the Aura is free, the effect is also natural, and if you use it extremely delicately, it is possible to make others feel like your own Aura.”

According to Lord Marthain, his uncle was at such a level.

He said that for his dull nephew, who could hardly get a feel for the operation of the Aura, he handed out the Aura from the outside and learned the changes one by one.

Of course, the young Marthain at the time didn’t recognize at all that the process was so dangerous, he was just happy to make progress during training.

“I have a long way to go to reach my uncle’s level, but I am also a high-ranking knight who’s about to reach the level of Dekaron Knight. When it comes to the delicacy of Aura management, this body is one of the top spots among the knights. It will be absolutely safe, so don’t worry too much, Your Highness.”

No, wait a minute, then why is your expression so hardened?

Aren’t you nervous, Sir Marthain? Right?

Seongjin asked in a cold sweat.

“That… So, if there are any mistakes along the way……”

“The body will be torn apart by the Aura.”

Aaaaaagh! What are you trying to do to me? You’re a grown man!

Fortunately, Seongjin’s hands were not torn apart and covered in blood. As Sir Marthain had assured, he was a fairly advanced Aura user.

Through Marthain’s fingers touching his wrist, he felt things like fine grains of sand tingling and running down his arms. It’s a small amount, but it’s a distinctly different energy.

After some time passed, Marthain stopped dripping his aura and wiped the sweat from his forehead. A look of exhaustion was evident on his face, as if he had consumed more mental energy than he thought.

“My level is low, so this is the limit. How did you feel?”

“It felt like sand was flowing in.”

“Did you feel a different energy than usual?”

Seongjin nodded.

“Why can’t I feel this certain energy at all by myself?”

Sir Marthain’s face brightened. It was a minor achievement that was finally seen after several days of shoveling.

“Seeing that you even grasped the texture of the Aura I used, perhaps Your Highness’ initiation is not too far away.”

“Does it feel like this even if I use Aura in my own body?”

“When your aura actually flows, the feeling will be a little different. weaker and softer… So, is it like the feeling of flowing water? Some people say that it is tingling like a weak cramp.”

“Hmm……”

I started to guess what the feeling of the Aura that seemed to catch something floating was like.

So it’s like that.

‘It feels similar to strengthening the body by absorbing the spirit of a monster, doesn’t it?’

Using the absorbed power to match muscle movements, block external impact, and weave it into a weapon to make it sharper.

These are the things Seongjin did in the past as naturally as breathing.

When he thought about it carefully, there were many similarities between the Aura operation of movement 1, which Marthain explained in detail, and the way Seongjin applied the monster’s spirit to his muscles when he performed similar movements.

Contrary to Marthain’s brightening, Seongjin’s face darkened.

At first, he thought that Aura was a completely new quality of power, so its aspect would be completely different. So even if he didn’t feel anything in his body, he just thought it was because he was dull.

However, if you think about it, it was Seongjin who had been fighting while assimilating foreign energy throughout his body for the past few decades. There was no way he would not notice the movement of such a distinctly different force.

Seongjin contemplates his body condition again, but he still doesn’t feel any foreign energy.

This means one thing.

It was that there was a more fundamental problem with Morres’ inability to use Aura.

* * *

Can there be a person without a single Aura in his body?

Anyone who has learned even a little bit of Aura practice will categorically say that this cannot be the case.

This world was very rich in the flow of energy, which is the basis of Aura.

Ordinary people could also faintly feel the flow of energy flowing from the air to and from the body if they put in a little effort. It was a different matter to store or operate this energy as an Aura inside the body.

Auras occur naturally in the human body, albeit in extremely small amounts. Although it is a small amount, it is continuously produced in the body in an amount that can be noticed by those who are sensitive.

In other words, fundamentally, there can never be a person whose Aura concentration is close to zero.

[Could it be an illusion? Wasn’t it really just a fleeting moment when you felt that power?]

The demon king murmured.

[Aura is a power that is unfamiliar to me. No matter how low I am, there is no way that I, the king of demons, cannot distinguish between demonic spirit and aura.]

‘Hmm……’

[Occasionally, when I saw your dedicated lady-in-waiting, it just felt like she was wielding a little stronger vitality. Okay? Demonic energy and Aura are fundamentally different powers.]

Seongjin came out of the training ground after the morning training and was walking in the garden of the Pearl Palace.

Originally, it was time to take a shower and go to the palace to have lunch, but now he didn’t feel like it. He didn’t consume much physical strength because he had to come to most of the morning training and skip the exercises, and he didn’t sweat much either.

Above all, today is the first time in a week that he has an audience with the Holy Emperor.

He had pushed away Queen Lizabeth and her ladies-in-waiting, who had been in a frenzy since morning, under the pretext of not being able to miss training with a teacher sent by His Majesty himself.

If you go in now, it’s obvious that there will be a fuss because they don’t have time to eat anyway, and you’re caught by them and grooming yourself.

Let’s run away.

Seongjin, who made that decision, came out of the Pearl Palace and started to walk aimlessly along the long tree-lined road outside the palace.

[That’s why even if you’re used to feeling the monster’s spirit, it might not help you feel the Aura.]

‘Why is that? Is it the same as absorbing energy from the outside and building and managing it?’

[Are the alien Aura of creatures from other worlds the same as the original Aura of creatures in this world? Did you say Aura is a force close to the source of life force.]

‘Then let me ask you one thing. Does Morres’ body have that life force you felt?’

[That……]

The Demon King hesitated for a moment.

[Very… It’s rare, but isn’t that because it hasn’t been long since he woke up from a hospital bed?]

‘… As expected.’

Seongjin’s suspicion gradually grew closer to certainty.

It wasn’t that Morres was insensitive to Aura, but that in fact, he might not even have the slightest perceptible aura on his body.

He stopped walking and was lost in thought.

‘Then what should I do now?’

After all, Seongjin didn’t have to risk his life for Aura. He started exercising because of his health. The world isn’t in danger like before.

In addition, he became the noble status of a prince. Even if he doesn’t become an Aura user, he can spend the rest of his life comfortably.

But.

For some reason, he really wanted to learn.

It looks fun.

Once he started, he wants to see it to the end anyway.

In Seongjin’s eyes, the spark of courtesy that used to appear every time he was stabbed was quietly burning.

He organized his thoughts.

The first thing that comes to mind is to find someone who has mastered the Aura and have his current status confirmed. Knowing the cause will help him find a solution.

However, since even a person as strong as Sir Marthain was not aware of Morres’ condition, at least someone stronger than him was needed. Yes, a person Marthain said was about the level of his uncle.

A person who is proficient in using Aura and knows other people’s bodies well enough to freely spill their Aura on other people’s bodies.

But where can you find such a person……

“Ah……!”

Seongjin blinked his eyes.

There was someone.

A person with a very high level of Aura, who seems to be able to answer well when SeongJin asks.

Someone who seems to somehow solve it if you ask for help.

When he looks up, he sees the familiar Imperial Palace Road at the end of the tree-lined road. Probably, if you follow that road in a straight line, you will pass the wide imperial garden and come to the main palace.

I have an appointment today anyway, and it’s a little early.

‘… Shall we go?’

[Hey, hey…… Why are you going in this direction? Hey, where are you going?]

Ignoring the demon king’s uneasy trembling, Seongjin started to walk toward the main street with strides, following his memory.

Fortunately, he didn’t get lost. Was it just that it was farther than expected?

When Morres appeared at the entrance of the main palace in informal casual clothes and with a wooden sword at his waist, the knights of the imperial guard who stood guard were very bewildered. However, they quickly correct their expressions and slam their swords on the floor, lowering their heads.

“We greet the Third Prince!”

As expected, the knights of the Royal Guard are different. Seongjin smiled happily and asked a knight for guidance.

Even the demon lord didn’t complain that his soul is dying under the pressure of divine energy like before. Although he was just crouching down with his mouth shut because he was just tight.

Occasionally high-ranking priests in fancy robes and tall hats passed by the Seongjin, but they, too, took no notice and stepped aside to give a short bow. Seongjin, who confirmed that the barrier made by the Holy Emperor was working properly, walked inside the main palace without hesitation.

At the end of the hallway on the second floor, several administrators and priests were speeding back and forth carrying bundles of papers.

‘Is it a busy time?’

The door to the office was wide open for people to come and go.

I sneaked a peek inside and saw several priests arranging papers stacked on the table with quick fingers. Chief Chamberlain Louis and three young administrative officers lined up on either side of the Holy Emperor’s desk.

The Holy Emperor was sitting at his desk in a comfortable outfit, scribbling something on a document, but soon noticed Seongjin’s gaze and raised his head. He still had a cold face, not knowing what he was thinking.

“Your Highness Morres!”

Following the Holy Emperor’s eyesight, the chief chamberlain looked back at Morres and was delighted. In an instant, everyone in the office stopped working and bowed in unison.

“We greet the Third Prince!”

Seongjin smiled at them.

“Um, did I come a little early? Uh… If you’re busy, please continue your worl.”

The Holy Emperor stared blankly at Seongjin for a moment, then, without looking back, waved his left hand and gestured.

“Dorian.”

A fragile-looking young man standing near the desk holding a pile of papers approaches him with a bewildered expression.

The Holy Emperor put down his pen and stood up, throwing something that looked like a large stamp into his bosom.

“This is a jade chain. Leave the papers on the left aside for now, and take care of everything else.”

“Ye… Yes?”

“Turn it all over to the executive secretary in the morning.”

The face of the official called Dorian turned pale.

Before he knew it, the chief chamberlain was approaching the Holy Emperor, holding a white robe. The Holy Emperor asked in a nonchalant tone while accepting his attendant and slipping the sleeve of his robe roughly on his arm.

“What about lunch?”

“… I came straight from the gymnasium, so I haven’t……”

Seongjin, realizing a moment late that this was a question he was asking himself, answered, and the Holy Emperor turned to Louis and gave instructions.

“I’ll be in the backyard with Morres.”

“Yes, I will prepare as you said. Your Majesty.”

The chief chamberlain bowed his head politely.

The Holy Emperor, who strode out to the entrance without even adjusting his collar, passed Seongjin and gave a small glance.

“Let’s go.”

Hey, Your Majesty? Father?

It must be a mistake that you seem like you’re running away, right?

Ignoring the young administrative officer’s earnest gaze, Seongjin turned and followed him. They continued walking down the hallway on the second floor at high speed.

“Can you leave what you’re doing? You seemed to be very busy.”

Seongjin asked, but the Holy Emperor did not answer right away. Behind him as he steps forward without hesitation, the hem of the white robe flutters and casts soft light.

“… Keep in mind, son.”

He was trying to keep up with the stride and follow him, but when he reached the other end of the hallway, the Holy Emperor suddenly opened his mouth.

“National affairs is like a gigantic clockwork that goes back and forth without any deviation.”

“Clockwork?”¹

What is this man talking about all of a sudden?

Seongjin was dumbfounded and looked up at the back of his head.

“Yes. What would happen if you tampered with the elaborate clock mechanism?”

“Uh… Will it break?”

“Exactly so.”

Seongjin tilted his head and asked.

“That means……”

“This is how to govern a country.”

“A country.”¹

“That’s right. It will suffice for you to put competent subjects in their places, and simply let them function properly.”

“……”

He was a guy who spoke very grandiosely about skipping.

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T/N:

¹In both these sentences Seongjin was so taken aback he forgot to speak in formal speech so he stuttered and added a ‘-요’ to fix his mistakes lol.