“Then, Your Majesty. I’ll be taking my leave.”
“Yes, it was a more beneficial time for me than I thought. Let’s wait for the day we meet again later.”
After the meeting with the emperor, Bahamut went outside.
“Master.”
“Are you okay? What if there was a problem…”
“No, nothing like that happened. It’s over, so don’t worry.”
After smiling lightly at Ashbel and Ophelia, who expressed concern, Bahamut and his companions started walking towards the exit. Compared to when they arrived, their steps were noticeably lighter. Literally, in this situation where things were going exactly as he planned, Bahamut had to struggle a little to suppress the smile that bloomed on his lips.
‘Certainly, if you sell medicine based on the facts, they won’t be able to resist buying it.’
The source of the so-called Emperor’s loan for this work was, of course, coming from Bahamut’s Beden Merchant Company. In addition, the Uranus Merchant Company had also finished talking in advance that it would offer a fairly large stake.
Obviously, a huge amount of money would be pouring in more than Hangury, but from Bahamut’s point of view, it was not a waste at all. In fact, this transaction was the biggest reason he had been saving energy and money so far.‘From that point of view, as expected, my Lady has a really good head. Using the emperor’s power in this way, I can achieve what I want in an instant.’
A rough sketch of this was already in Bahamut’s head based on spoilers. To unite the power of various countries on the continent based on enormous funds.
But… the reason why the time was drastically shortened in this way was largely thanks to Bertina arranging an interview with the emperor and providing additional ideas immediately after hearing the inside story.
‘With this, the first big hurdle has been passed. The next thing is to respond accordingly after the situation in question breaks out…’
With relief, Bahamut thought about the parts of the things that would follow.
At that moment…
“Mr. Bahamut!”
“..yes?”
The next moment, Bahamut paused there for a while, expressing his doubts at the voice he heard from behind.
The person standing there was a helmeted knight wearing a black cloak. It was the same person he saw earlier in the palace who was escorting the emperor.
‘If it is the person escorting the emperor right next to him… Maybe it’s him? Andersen, the strongest swordsman in the Holy Empire…’
A person who was known as the strongest in the Holy Empire and a strong individual ranked in the top five strongest in the world: Andersen Gustaf.
Just when Bahamut was wondering what this person’s business with him was, the man slowly took off his helmet.
And…
“Uh?..”
In the next moment, Bahamut showed a bewildered expression. Then, the man in front of him greeted him with a happy smile on his lips.
“I see you after a long time. Do you remember me?”
“You…you.. can’t be..”
An unforgettable face. But at the same time, the face of a person he could never have imagined seeing here. In response, Bahamut called out the name he had never forgotten in a trembling voice.
“Ah.. Isaac.. Freeman?”
The main character of this novel, and according to the original story, he should have been sharpening his sword of revenge in the Dragona Empire by now.
Bahamut couldn’t think of anything for a while at the fact that he had met such a person, not anywhere else, but here in the imperial palace of the Holy Empire, and even as a knight guarding Emperor Carol’s side.
***
An inn located outside the imperial palace. There, Bahamut was feeling quite awkward while listening to the story of the original protagonist in front of his eyes.
“That… so… After that incident, you wandered from place to place and came across the emperor by chance… Is that so?”
“Yes, it is. In addition, my colleagues at the time are working together with me as His Majesty’s bodyguards.”
“Ah..hahahaha.. that’s quite… well done..”
“This is all thanks to you, Mr. Bahamut. We were able to come this far thanks to you clearing our name and supporting us. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude once again, Mr. Bahamut.”
“Hahahaha.. well.. I just did what I had to do.”
Bahamut smiled as brightly as possible while watching Isaac, who expressed his gratitude to him innocently. However… apart from that expression, Bahamut’s mind was as complicated as a highway where a multiple collision accident occurred.
‘No no.. so.. Isaac, who should have turned to the dark-side in the original work, trained in the Dragona Empire, returned to the Holy Empire, became a vengeful dark hero, and killed everyone, is now a bodyguard? What is this… Aren’t the changes a bit too drastic?’
If things progressed as usual, the situation would be quite different about two years from the present time.
However, the current reality was vastly different.
Bahamut’s actions had changed the fates of Isolda and Bertina. Linda was locked in the dungeon, and even Ophelia who was supposed to be killed by Isaac, was still sitting next to Bahamut. And finally, the emperor of the Holy Empire who was supposed to be Isaac’s enemy was now the target of his protection.
No matter how much Bahamut had expected the change, it still made him go speechless.
“I… that. Then I’m asking just in case. That… Andersen Gustaf is…”
“Ah, do you know Andersen? He was the one standing next to me earlier, wearing a white cloak. And he was also the one who bestowed His Majesty’s Medal on you, Mr. Bahamut.”
“Ah.. that person.”
“Yes, you may have heard the story, but he is the strongest swordsman in the Empire who is escorting His Majesty with me. I am still learning a lot from him. He is the one I respect the most, along with you, Mr. Bahamut.”
“Ugh.. that… thank you for saying that.”
At the same time as being relieved that the fact he had saved Isaac in the past had a certain effect, Bahamut was suppressing the feeling that he wanted to say something to this man in his heart.
‘Hey. In the original novel, that man named Andersen was the person you were determined to kill, right? In the end, you and Princess Elios cut off his head together, and then, you exploded into a maddening frenzy…’
It was an ironic situation where the enemy in the original novel suddenly became a respected mentor. As an avid reader of the original novel, there were many parts he wanted to tackle, but while holding back, Bahamut began to work hard to sort out the complicated feelings as much as possible.
‘Well.. Then first of all… it became clear that he was still on the side of the Holy Empire. If this happens, the forces on this side will be a little more solid, but that will make the calculations a little more complicated…’
It was a problem that could be seen as positive if you looked at it simply. One of the strengths of the Dragona Empire, Isaac, who was one of the strongest in the top five, had changed sides. This meant that she, who had only intermittently intervened while maintaining the posture of a bystander in the original work, could move in earnest this time, which in itself was never viewed as a good thing.
‘Of course, there is no guarantee that this will happen, but… just in case, I have to take care of myself in that part. It only takes a moment for the tower to be destroyed if you wrongly touch that person’s reverse scale…’
That was the time when Bahamut was determined to pay more attention not to touch her reverse scale.
“But, Bahamut. Who is this young lady?”
“…yes? Ah… this is the person in charge of my direct escort. Her name is Ophelia Crimson.”
Suddenly, while remembering the fact that Ophelia liked Isaac in the original story, Bahamut secretly looked at her. However…contrary to Bahamut’s expectations… her current condition…
‘How can I say… this feels like a cow looking at a chicken…’
Bahamut was able to understand Ophelia’s emotional state to some extent because he had been living with her for a long time. And, Ophelia’s feelings in Bahamut’s eyes were obvious. She didn’t want to get involved with a man like this, so she hoped he would get out of here quickly. It was nothing more and nothing less.
‘Is it because her personality has changed from the original?’
Bahamut felt a little bit bitter like that but at the same time felt a little relieved.
And as he thought, at this moment, Ophelia turned to Isaac, who was showing a light interest in her, and was filled with only the thought of wanting to quickly get rid of this annoying intruder and be alone with her beloved master.
HELP:
During the recent unrest in the country I am from, our family hardware store was broken into and looted by thugs. I don’t know why they did it, since my family has always been minding our own business, without bothering anyone else. I’m guessing some people are taking advantage of the current lawless and chaotic state of the country.
Anyways, the incident now leaves me as the only earning member of my family. Long time readers know that I was already dealing with a mountain of trouble (that I inherited from my father), and was already struggling. I had created a plan of action, and was steadily moving forward. But this incident destroyed whatever plans I had, again. I don’t know why bad things keep happening to me again and again. I might as well be cursed or something.
So here I am, after much hesitation, once again asking for your support. If you are reading this, please help if you are able to, I repeat, help only if you are able to. I am not asking something for free, you can become a Patron at Patreon to gain access to more chapters, or sponsor as many chapters you can from any of the novels you enjoy on Goblinslate here at BuymeaCoffee. Or if you just want to help, you can donate any amount at the Wishlist at BuymeaCoffee.
Thank you.