Reset Life – Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Don’t Make the Same Mistakes as Me (1)

Imperial Calendar Year 375, October 24th.

It took exactly 80 days to lift Levidian’s curse and return to Orknesia. I was happy enough to have finished faster than expected.

Above all, Levidian’s expression brightened considerably. It wouldn’t be unreasonable for me to have the silly misconception that the world is beautiful.

“So, what exactly did you talk about with the dragon? Huh? What did it look like?”

“I told you. It’s not something I can talk about carelessly.”

“But it’s a dragon! They only appear in ancient texts! They must know everything about the forgotten 15th-tier magic, including all of the 24th-tier magic!”

“Lucy. We’re back in Orknesia, don’t you think it’s time to stop?”

“No! Not at all!”

Lucy shook her head firmly with the same attitude as a month ago. What is this, a one-time event? You’re so annoying.

“Levidian, a fly is bothering me by my ear, what should I do?”

“Shall I catch it for you? I practiced that a lot in the past.”

Levidian smiled as she grabbed her sword. But there really are people who catch flies with swords. As expected of the Sword King.

“Eeeeek! I’ll gladly be treated like a fly! As long as I can get closer to the truth! I can even transform into a fly after I hear everything! What do you think! This is a groundbreaking offer!”

“I don’t like it. Rejected. And be quiet now. We’re almost at Makdaro. Don’t cause a scene.”

Lucy gritted her teeth.

I met a dragon in the Gray Forest. That experience, as Kun said, was beyond words.

The appearance was so different and shocking compared to what has been depicted in legends and myths that I wonder if those who believe in dragons would actually believe it.

“And I told you several times. The dragon told me not to talk about itself. I don’t mind if you find out on your own, but I’d prefer it if you didn’t treat me like a closed library.”

“I’ll ignore you! Damn it. All I saw in the Gray Forest were handsome men and beautiful women, and all I did was help with construction, clear paths, and pat the heads of not-so-smart students with their passionate gazes! There was enough intellectual stimulation, but there was nothing to satisfy this hunger for knowledge!”

“Then why didn’t you stay if you wanted to? I heard you had quite a few followers. There were beautiful women too.”

“Tsk. I didn’t want to get married at this age.”

Finally, Lucy shut up when I brought up this topic.

While I was heading to Mirgaram, the rest of the group were living while helping the Mopum tribe.

Perhaps because of the mixed demon blood, the Guard tribe were all handsome men and beautiful women. It would be normal for them, but for us, it would be a feast for the eyes.

Especially our wonderful mage, Lucy, had a very enjoyable time, contrary to her own words.

To what extent? She received three formal marriage proposals.

One of them was a student Lucy was teaching, and she was sixteen years old.

I said in a teasing manner.

“You’re turning thirty next year, why didn’t you just get married? It would have been quite a nice situation. Even when you’re fifty, your wife would still be in her thirties.”

“Oh my! That’s right!”

Lucy exclaimed as if she had just realized it.

Hey, hello. You just realized that now?

“Tsk. It’s a shame, but what can I do? I jokingly said to wait for me, but would they really do that? But you’re not in a position to talk, are you? When you turn twenty, your wife will already be thirty. A wife of mature age in your twenties. Quite an enviable situation.”

I asked the person next to me without a second thought.

“Levidian, what do you think?”

“Shouldn’t we kill him first?”

“There are security officers nearby.”

“Oh my, what a shame.”

She lightly touched her sword and glared at Lucy. It was quite amusing to see his large frame flinch.

We leisurely walked towards the outer walls of Makdaro, like a group of travelers.

Makdaro, after three months.

I checked the checkpoint to see if there were any problems, and immediately noticed something strange.

“A black banner (玄旗)?”

“What does that mean?”

Levidian tilted her head as she looked at the black flag fluttering at the checkpoint. Huh? Did something really happen?

“Usually, a black banner is raised when the leader of the city dies, or when the leader of this region dies. In any case, it’s a flag that’s raised when someone dies.”

“Risel, look over there. The security officers are all wearing black armbands.”

“Oh? Really? Someone pretty high up must have died.”

Usually, a black banner is raised as a courtesy. However, if a simple security officer, in other words, a low-ranking official, is expressing their condolences, it means someone very high up has died.

“Could it be that the Duke of Orknesia…… Ah, I’m sorry.”

“No. That could be a possibility.”

I hardened my expression.

Even I can only think of a few people who would warrant such a display of mourning. The Emperor’s family, my father, the Duke of Orknesia, or his regent, my uncle.

Hmm, about 80 days have passed, what could have happened in the meantime?

We walked towards the checkpoint with puzzled expressions. The security officers at the checkpoint raised their spears and blocked our way, as usual.

“Makdaro North Gate Security. Please present your identification.”

“Here you go. But what happened? I’ve been traveling around for a while and just came back, but the atmosphere is unusual.”

“It’s only natural for the atmosphere to be like this. His Majesty the Emperor has passed away.”

“Excuse me?”

I made a dynamic expression as if I had heard a very bad joke. The security officer sighed lightly, showing an exasperated expression.

“That reaction is getting a bit tiring now. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Even my colleagues and I can’t believe it. We heard the news about his sudden death about half a month ago.”

“Ah, I see.”

I stammered and managed to answer.

The Emperor is dead? Now? No, this can’t be happening?

Before I died, I hadn’t even heard of a single royal family member, let alone a pet dog, dying. But for the Emperor to die!

The security officer checked our identification half-heartedly and grumbled.

“I hear that the capital is in an uproar because of it. They say the factions are divided because the successor hasn’t been clearly chosen. For low-ranking people like us, we’ll be lucky if we just get paid on time. We’re done. Everything seems to be in order. You may enter.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

I couldn’t hide my uneasy feeling.

The Emperor died suddenly? What kind of nonsense is this? This is more surprising than meeting my grandmother in the Gray Forest and meeting a dragon!

According to Duke Ecoshian, the Emperor’s death occurs 2 or 3 years after my death. So around Imperial Calendar Year 385.

Literally 10 years early!

We passed through the three layers of walls and entered the city. Then, we stopped and began a serious discussion.

Levidian spoke first.

“The Emperor died suddenly, what happened?”

“I’m not sure either. I mean, he was old, but he wasn’t in a condition to die suddenly……”

At least he should have lived for another 10 years, that old geezer.

“There’s a possibility he was assassinated.”

Al spoke without even glancing at Levidian. And Levidian made a deeply troubled expression. She soon answered sincerely.

“The Black New Moon could have planned an assassination if they prepared for a long time. And so could Mangya. But even planning takes years.”

“Uh, Risel, then what happens to your father’s side?”

“I don’t know. I have no idea what happened after that. Hmm……”

I frowned and touched my chest. There was a necklace there that allowed me to communicate with Lime-hyung.

The Azot government agents planted in the capital must have relayed this news with top priority. And Lime-hyung would have contacted me.

The problem was that there was nothing. Surely Lime-hyung wouldn’t be unaware of this, right? Such an important matter?!

Joey slowly raised his hand and spoke.

“Um, then let’s go to the temple first.”

“Contact.”

Namias nodded and said.

Ah, that’s right! I might have received a contact from Damachi? Besides, I told the AJOR members to send me a monthly report on the situation in the capital.

“Then let’s go to the temple first. There should be a pile of messages waiting for us.”

What awaited us wasn’t a message from Damachi, nor a report from AJOR. Of course, both were there, but something else was waiting for us.

“I’ve been waiting. Do you know how bored I was?”

“Aila?!”

“Why are you so surprised now? It’s not like it’s the first or second time I’ve shown up unannounced.”

Aila said nonchalantly, without even greeting us. Well, it’s not the first or second time, but taking it for granted is a bit of a problem.

“How long have you been waiting?”

“Ah, unni, you seem to be doing better now. Not long. About a week? I left the capital two weeks ago and used every means possible to get here as fast as possible, but I was a bit disappointed that you hadn’t arrived yet.”

“Wait. A week from the capital to here? What kind of magic is that?”

“Did you use teleportation or something? Something even I can’t do?!”

Lucy made a dumbfounded expression, and Aila scoffed lightly and flicked her fingers.

Well, it’s pointless to be surprised by what Aila does anymore. I calmed Lucy down first and spoke to Aila.

“I don’t care how you got here, but I can expect some fresh news. You waited for us here for a reason, right?”

“Of course. You’ve already heard that the Emperor is dead, right?”

“And what else?”

“It’s a bit hard to say this, but your father has been accused of regicide and treason.”

What?

I stared at Aila for a moment and tilted my head.

“Hey. That’s not a very funny joke, even for you.”

“Right? I think so too. The problem is, the most unfunny things always happen in reality, it’s a cosmic law.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m serious. Why else would I have come all the way here?”

“This is crazy!”

As expected, Aila maintained her arms-crossed posture even at my reaction. No, Brandiego, is this the unbelievable situation you were talking about? This is a bit too much!

While I was trying to regain my composure before going ballistic, Lucy asked Aila.

“Well, even after hearing it directly, it’s hard to believe. What’s the basis for the accusation? Is there an accuser?”

“The basis is the punishment for the embezzlement case that happened in July. The logic is that the Duke, who held a grudge, orchestrated the Emperor’s assassination. The accuser is Duke Mujaindos. The accusation he wrote also includes evidence of treason. He cited the fact that Orknesia’s Eastern Army is undergoing an unnecessarily large amount of training. And he said that their training included siege training, which is unsuitable for dealing with monsters living in the Gray Forest. He claimed that they underwent excessive training for those guarding the Barrier, and that on several occasions in the past, they prioritized the Duke of Orknesia’s orders over the Emperor’s, effectively making them his private army.”

Duke Mujaindos? Is he an idiot? What nonsense is he spouting? Does he not know what kind of place Orknesia is?

“The Eastern Army’s training volume is actually a natural level! Siege training is a mock training for a recapture operation in case the castle is occupied by monsters! Privatization? Of course! Who’s the commander of the Eastern Army!”

“Don’t get mad at me. I’m not the one who accused him.”

“Ugh……! Hoo, yeah. You’re right. So what was your father’s reaction?”

“Despite the absurd accusations, he’s responding calmly. Especially regarding the regicide, he seems ready to file a counter-accusation. However, he’s not saying anything about the 50,000 gold embezzlement that’s being pointed to as the cause of the incident. It’s strange that he’s not saying anything about the 50,000 gold that has been subtly siphoned from the budget over the past five years, isn’t it?”

That’s certainly strange. I thought my father would thoroughly reveal all budget-related matters to prove his innocence, but the fact that he hasn’t even offered an explanation is unexpected.

So I can’t say anything for sure right now. Because my father’s silence is usually the reaction he gives when he can’t say anything affirmative.

“Let’s say the embezzlement case is true. And no one would believe the regicide accusation. But the accusation of treason itself, people who don’t know Orknesia might believe it, right? Especially since the one making the claim is Duke Mujaindos. What’s Duke Ecoshian doing?”

“Duke Restart? He seems to be trying to help your father, but with the Emperor dead, he can’t exert that much influence. Above all, the Imperial family is currently racking their brains over the succession issue. Three of the Emperor’s five sons have come forward claiming the throne. Duke Mujaindos seems to be actively interfering in that.”

“Who is he backing?”

“The 3rd Prince.”

“Birds of a feather flock together. Like the scum they are. I understand the situation roughly. Duke Mujaindos is trying to suppress everyone else to secure the succession, right?”

Aila nodded. I felt a headache coming on. Then the Imperial 3rd Prince faction would currently have the most power.

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