Normally, going to the Dwarf Village without the Glesia Magic Tower Lord is impossible. Not only is the exact location of the village unknown, but even for magicians or aura users, getting close to the seabed 1 km below is nearly impossible.
However, while it might be too much for one person, it could be possible if many join forces. At least in theory.
And the Emperor, even if he himself is incompetent, was someone who could turn that theory into reality.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Not just the Archmage, but the Imperial Magician Corps, with about 100 members each comparable to the elders of the Magic Tower.
Including Knight Commander Embryo, two Imperial Knight Corps that have reached the level of Master or above.
And even all the mythical artifacts that should be stored in the national treasury.
At this point, the Glesia Magic Tower Lord is unnecessary. With the forces gathered here, they could handle opponents whether they be Archmages or Grandmasters.
Especially since there are several exceptionally strong individuals among them.
“Your Majesty, there are two presences ahead. Judging by the magical wavelength, they are likely two Archmage-level individuals.”
“One is Shisha Glesia… who is the other?”
“It’s hard to believe, but judging by this overly clean aura, it is presumed to be Diogenes.”
“Diogenes, has he really wandered all the way here?”
One of the five Grandmasters in the Empire, the Legion Commander responsible for the eastern army, Rikaon Leonhardt.
A descendant of the Leonhardt Marquis family’s collateral line, a warrior who offers absolute loyalty to the Emperor who personally selected him.
A young Grandmaster, who, if he continues to progress, is expected to surpass even ‘that’ Knight Roland in his old age.
Given that it was Rikaon’s report, there was no way it was wrong. Knowing this, the Emperor gave a bitter smile.
Shisha Glesia being in the Dwarf Village is no big deal.
But Diogenes is a different story.
“Shall we capture him?”
“If we do that, the Empire will lose the Legion Commander of the East. Cleanly wiped out.”
“………”
“Leave Diogenes alone. He won’t ignore me anyway. More importantly, we came here today for a slightly different purpose…”
The Emperor, Luquius Severus, surrounded by the Imperial Magician Corps, Knight Corps, and Grandmasters, looked in a certain direction with a faint smile on his old face.
Towards the direction of the Dwarf Village.
“Let’s not disturb the village unnecessarily. I don’t want to stir up a hornet’s nest.”
“Those lowly dwarfs. The noble sun of the Empire has arrived, they should kneel immediately…”
“Rikaon, I know your loyalty, but you’re still too young. Calm that bloodlust of yours.”
“Forgive me!!”
“Honesty is good. Anyway, there’s someone else we need to meet.”
Tap.
The Emperor, noticing a blue-haired woman, a beggar, and an elderly dwarf approaching him, nodded calmly.
“Let’s hear where they are from them.”
“Shisha Glesia, paying respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“A humble dwarf pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“It’s been a long time, Luquius.”
“………!!”
Shisha, unlike the War’s Hammer, hastily knelt on one knee and showed utmost respect.
Diogenes, who approached somewhat leisurely, was the only one who neither knelt nor bowed his head.
Rikaon glared at him instantly.
“Archmage Diogenes, show proper respect before His Majesty the Emperor…!!”
“Young warrior, indeed. Luquius, you’ve chosen your guards well.”
“The Empire’s pride, the Grandmaster. Lycaon, it’s fine. Diogenes has always been like this.”
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“Truly a normal reaction, but isn’t there someone else you should be concerned about? That dwarf over there.”
“…………….”
“……This feeling.”
“He’s a Grandmaster of a higher level than you. If you wish to have a brief conversation, I’ll allow it.”
“………Yes, Your Majesty.”
Only then did the elderly dwarf bow his head, realizing that the aura of the War’s Hammer was unusual, and Lycaon prepared to draw the greatsword from his back at any moment.
Though there are only three opponents, two are Archmages, and one is a Grandmaster. I don’t wish to belittle the capabilities of the Imperial Mages and Knights, but if those three were to harbor ill intentions and attack, it would be difficult to ensure the Emperor’s safety.
Thus, Lycaon was tense, even breaking into a cold sweat.
Yet, Emperor Luquius himself appeared at ease.
“How about it, Diogenes? Are you planning to clean me up as my loyal guard worries?”
“You ask the obvious.”
In an instant, Diogenes’ gaze turned towards the Emperor’s bosom.
To be precise, towards the brick tucked inside his clothes.
“Impossible, I suppose. You have a sturdy guardian, after all.”
“………Are you talking about me?”
“Lycaon, you too must become like that. But let’s cut the unnecessary talk and get to the point.”
As if knowing what was coming, Shisha swallowed once.
With permission, she raised her head and, kneeling, met the Emperor’s gaze.
“Where is my third son? It seems he has become Byron, not Severus.”
“……Your Majesty, it is with great regret that I must inform you.”
“Excuses are unnecessary. With Diogenes here, you had no choice but to open the path to the Dwarf Village to prevent the Glesia Magic Tower from being completely cleaned out. Shisha Glesia, I’m not blaming you───”
“It’s…… not that.”
“Hmm?”
“Chunsik, no, Kyle Byron is over there.”
Shisha pointed to a small house that seemed hastily built on the field.
“His Majesty the Emperor…… is waiting for you.”
“………Oh.”
It wasn’t that Emperor Luquius came to meet Kyle Byron.
Kyle Byron himself was waiting for Emperor Luquius.
*
“A quiet house, indeed.”
“I apologize for bringing Your Majesty into such a cramped space.”
“Raise your head, aren’t you my third son? You hold that pass. Though your face and name seem slightly changed.”
“For that, I can only apologize.”
Inside the temporary log house.
Outside, the Imperial Mages and Knights, along with Grandmaster Lycaon, surrounded the area.
Ignoring Lycaon’s advice to bring at least some guards, the Emperor entered alone, risking potential danger, and faced Kyle Byron with a smile.
Mocking the pass given by the third prince.
“My third son must have taken quite a liking to you. I had heard about it, but…… meeting you is a first.”
“I have heard much about Your Majesty. The great sage who led the Empire’s golden age.”
“Enough with the unnecessary flattery. I don’t care for it.”
“……Where should I begin the explanation?”
“That too is unnecessary.”
“Eh?”
Daring to question the Emperor’s words.
Rude to ask again. Kyle Byron also seemed to realize it belatedly and hurriedly bowed his head again.
Lucius was still just smiling.
“What’s the problem if the third son gave you a pass? You entered the Dwarf Village legally through the pass, and that pass was also given by Lugrick first.”
“………….”
“So, I’m not blaming you for coming to the Dwarf Village. However……….”
Lucius, who had been smiling.
Stared at Kyle Byron with a quiet but sharp gaze.
“I heard you participated in the Dwarf Village festival.”
“…………….”
“And you had conversations and meetings with several dwarves, including War’s Hammer.”
“……Yes, that’s correct.”
“Having a pass means coming to the Dwarf Village itself is not a problem, but contacting the dwarves, who are the private property of the Imperial family, beyond permission is a violation of Imperial law.”
“………….”
“Especially when it comes to dwarves, immediate execution is possible at the Emperor’s discretion, regardless of class.”
While spitting out endlessly bloody words.
Lucius still did not erase the smile on his lips.
Is he enjoying this situation, or is it just a fake smile?
The Emperor was clearly incompetent, but he was dominating the atmosphere in this room.
As if testing the existence of Kyle Byron.
“………Your Majesty, may I say something?”
“By all means, I permit it.”
As if truly looking forward to what he would say.
The Emperor gestured leisurely.
“Then, please look at this table.”
“Hmm………?”
As soon as Kyle lifted the black cloth covering the table.
Something revealed itself under the small light.
“……A doll?”
“To be precise, it’s called a miniature.”
On the table was a three-dimensional game board.
Fields, rivers, hills, and buildings were made into models, and around the river flowing in the middle, about 20 miniatures were lined up like armies on Kyle and Lucius’s sides.
The miniatures were not particularly colored, but they were so detailed and expressive that they felt alive.
On Kyle’s side were dwarf miniatures, and on Lucius’s side were human miniatures.
They were all holding different armor or weapons, and their poses were inconsistent and all different.
“What is this?”
“This is the reason I risked violating Imperial law to contact the dwarves.”
“Hmm?”
“Without the best craftsman of the Imperial family, it’s impossible to match the dwarves’ craftsmanship.”
“………….”
“It was necessary to create the board game I wanted.”
The board game he wanted.
At that answer, the Emperor paused for a moment.
“A board game……you say? Like that Catan game you played with the third son?”
“That’s right. As a board game creator, I had to keep making new games.”
“You risked your life for just that?”
“Thanks to that mere board game, Arkhé Magic Tower rose again, I was able to meet and become friends with the Third Prince, and as a mere third son, I was able to have this audience with Your Majesty.”
“………….”
“Beyond that, countless Imperial citizens are enjoying, enthusiastic, crying, and laughing. Over a board game made by a powerless, incompetent person like me, not something as great and noble as Your Majesty.”
“………Hmm.”
“Isn’t it worth risking your life for?”
“……………….”
“If you don’t think so, then let’s proceed according to imperial law. I will follow His Majesty the Emperor’s orders… but.”
“But?”
“How about playing a game that someone risked their life to create?”
*Clatter.*
What Kyle placed next to the game board were dice.
Five six-sided dice, numbered from 1 to 6.
“It was also my dream. To play a board game with His Majesty the Emperor.”
“………I knew it.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Indeed, the Guardian said it wasn’t necessary, but… I’m glad I came here in person instead of relying on long-distance communication.”
*Grin.*
For the first time, Luquius raised the corners of his mouth enough to show his teeth.
That expression was far from the dignity or authority of an emperor—it was a truly joyful, almost ‘cunning’ smile.
And that was the true nature of Luquius Severus.
“I was curious, you know. My third son changed his mind after playing a board game with you called Catan.”
“…………….”
“Because of that, I also tried playing Catan myself. It was certainly a fun game, but not enough to change the heart of my third son, who had been drowning in lethargy.”
Of course, the main reason the Third Prince entered the race for the throne was likely due to the support of the imperial Archmage.
But it was clear that something had shifted in his heart after playing a board game with Kyle Byron.
“Do you understand what that means? A mere board game you created could have changed the future of the empire… and its emperor.”
“………….”
“That’s why, as the Emperor, I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to play this board game with you.”
*Clatter.*
Holding the dice in front of him, Emperor Luquius rolled them once.
Then he crossed his legs, propped his chin on one hand, and faced Kyle Byron.
With that rough, unerasable smile on his lips.
“Just don’t disappoint me. Your life is on the line with this board game.”
“………I will keep that in mind.”
A game board shaped like a battlefield, and miniatures of dwarves and humans placed in front of the two players.
They were just lifeless pieces of metal.
But now, Kyle Byron’s life was at stake.
“So, what’s the name of this board game? As the creator, you have the right to name it.”
“It’s not a difficult name. I chose something that anyone would instantly understand what kind of board game it is.”
“Oh? And what is that?”
“……War’s Hammer.”
“………Indeed, a fitting name.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s the name of this board game.”
