How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game-Chapter 192: Emperor (4)

‘He knew?’

For a moment, I felt my mind go blank. If I hadn’t been trained as a spy, I probably would have had a dumbfounded look on my face.

The shock was brief. Then I felt dismayed. If the Emperor already knew this fact, it changes things.

Originally, I had planned to use this card to turn the tables when the situation became dire.

There were two reasons I told the Emperor about it now: to increase belief in my foresight and, if possible, to make things easier.

The second and third princes had essentially fallen behind in the competition, leaving only the first prince. Erendil’s support was quite high.

Since the Emperor had also shown some priority in his heart, I brought it up to solidify the situation.

‘Rather than using it when there’s chaos after the Emperor’s death, it’s less chaotic if the Emperor acknowledges it.’

Simply making Erendil emperor isn’t the end. The next step is war with the devil worshippers.

For that time, we need to minimize the empire’s internal chaos and conserve its strength.

But if the Emperor already knows, it’s a different story. It becomes impossible to use this card while the Emperor is alive.

That means it can only be brought up after the Emperor’s death, which would inevitably cause some chaos.

‘I naturally thought he wouldn’t know…’

I’m aware of the Imperial Intelligence Agency’s power. But I couldn’t have predicted that the Emperor of the empire would know this fact and tolerate it.

No, it’s not just about being the Emperor of the empire. Common sense-wise, could anyone raise children that aren’t their own?

I was confused because it didn’t make sense. The first thing that came to mind was that the Emperor really loved his first empress.

Maybe he tolerated everything because he loved her too much. They say love beyond a certain degree is a mental illness.

No, no matter how I think about it, I can’t understand.

One child might be understandable, but all three princes are someone else’s children, and he knew but overlooked it? Especially with the Emperor’s fiery temperament?

‘Is there something I don’t know?’

Rudehrn was looking at me with a mix of confusion and anger in his eyes. The Emperor had a meaningful expression.

The pitiful look that had briefly appeared was now gone.

“Did you see that in your foresight too?”

“Yes. Forgive my impudence, but I saw such controversy erupting after Your Majesty’s passing.”

The Emperor exchanged glances with Rudehrn. A silent conversation. They seemed to find my earlier words a bit more convincing.

This was partly why I brought it up.

“Who do you think it might be?”

“I’m not sure.”

It was a question about who would spread this story after his death. The Emperor tilted his head slightly as he looked at me.

“It might be you.”

“Me, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. There’s no guarantee that what happened in the future you saw wasn’t done by you, is there?”

Is he talking about a time paradox?

Of course, it wasn’t something I did, but assuming he believed my words, it was quite a sharp observation. I bowed my head slightly.

“Just in case, look into it again.”

“Yes.”

Rudehrn answered the Emperor’s words. His face was solemn. It was an order to keep quiet about this, so someone might die.

The Emperor kept looking at me while speaking. It was a warning not to talk about this outside. I nodded in response. Now it’s time to get to the main point. ℟ÄꞐồ𝐛ЕS̩

“Your Majesty, forgive my impertinence, but I don’t understand.”

“That’s understandable.”

The Emperor said that and was silent for a moment. I could see him preparing himself mentally. He let out a deep sigh.

“I am told that I am inherently unlikely to bear children.”

As the Emperor spoke, Rudehrn closed his eyes. As a subordinate, he seemed to feel sorry.

By the way, inherently unlikely to bear children. Is it something like azoospermia[1]TLN: Azoospermia is the medical condition of a man whose semen contains no sperm. ?

“I only found out after I had sent my brother to his death by my own hands, before having a child.”

Perhaps because much time has passed? The Emperor’s face looked quite calm as he said this.

“Fortunately, if that’s the right word, the Duke Egni family had the most imperial blood flowing in the empire.”

Duke Egni. It was the family of the first empress and the one the Emperor had framed for poisoning and personally punished.

They had been closely connected with the imperial family since ancient times. Though not frequent enough to worry about inbreeding.

I could see that the Emperor had another reason for eliminating the Duke Egni family.

While there might be a reason to weaken the power of maternal relatives, I wonder if he also thought about when the princes might become emperor.

The point that keeps raising questions here is Erendil. If the Emperor has azoospermia, what about Erendil?

As far as I know, Erendil was of imperial blood. Was I mistaken?

Even when pulling out Teme’s Spear in Tenorio, did it react to Devil’s Blood rather than Erendil’s blood?

“Erendil was a miracle.”

The Emperor answered instead.

He seemed to say it with certainty. That means Erendil is indeed the Emperor’s child.

“Actually, it was unexpected. I was very surprised when I heard the news. I only found out later that it was thanks to the elixir Rudehrn had brought.”

That must have been the case.

Knowing that he was unlikely to have children, he probably wouldn’t have immediately connected it to the elixir. Wouldn’t he have suspected the empress of infidelity instead?

“Of course, there were suspicions. But the empress never committed any wrongdoing. It was my child.”

“Then another…”

“I tried taking the same elixir again, but it had no effect.”

After finishing his words, the Emperor looked somewhat relieved. Even though it wasn’t necessarily good news for him.

Perhaps it was because he had spoken about something that had been festering inside him.

Well, it’s surprising that he’s telling me this story at all. Where else could he have told such a story?

“However, Your Majesty. The point I’m curious about is… on the other side.”

The Emperor smiled slightly.

“I know. What you said is what Rudehrn has always been saying.”

My eyes met Rudehrn’s briefly. He looked at me and then slightly averted his gaze.

He, too, must have been supporting Erendil.

Based on past experience, he was quite favorable. Even if not for bloodline, just looking at conduct alone, it’s natural.

“But I can’t just give it away. They may not be my blood, but they are children I had born to sit in this seat when Erendil wasn’t around.”

“Had born,” the wording doesn’t sound good. But I didn’t feel sympathy for any of the princes.

“Erendil must become strong. She must survive by trampling her competitors herself. This seat is not one you can sit on for free.”

“…”

“She will be the first empress. Moreover, if the future is dark as you’ve seen, even harder tasks will follow. If she can’t overcome even this, she’s not qualified.”

I could understand the Emperor’s feelings to some extent. I don’t think it’s right, but it’s not something I can interfere with.

“If I had accepted Your Majesty’s recruitment offer, were you planning to have me work for the Princess?”

“No, not at all. If you had belonged somewhere else, I would have told you to work for the empire, not for the interests of another country. I wouldn’t have interfered with your actions.”

It sounds somewhat contradictory, but I understood what he meant. It connected with what the Emperor had said before.

The people around you are also your ability.

Rather than assigning me specific tasks, if I had belonged elsewhere, he would have tried to remove that tie.

“We’ve talked about useless things for too long.”

“Not at all.”

“You may go now. It’s enough that you’re not part of an external force.”

“Yes.”

“Well, even if you did belong somewhere, if your words are true…”

The Emperor’s following words were quite sharp. I calmly met his gaze.

“It should be fine.”

“Don’t worry. Everything I’ve told you is the truth.”

Both Rudehrn and the Emperor stared intently at my eyes. I maintained my composure.

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“I hope so.”

I felt no guilt. I don’t think there’s anything particularly suspicious about me. Of course, I know they shouldn’t completely trust me either.

They will investigate. They’ll look into things again based on what I’ve said.

However, with a war approaching, they won’t be able to devote much time and manpower to me.

Right now, they’ll be busy dealing with the devil worshippers in the north and protecting the capital. And there’s the Emperor’s health condition too.

‘Hmm. It’s good, but awkward.’

In a way, the words I spoke as an excuse were actively considered true by them, which had a good effect.

The card I considered important became completely useless.

Still, regardless of the process, I was satisfied with the good result. I also roughly understood the Emperor’s true intentions.

The reason he sought me out and summoned me now was the same.

‘He wants Erendil to deal with the princes in some way.’

Everything was contained in the words that she must survive by trampling her competitors.

The reason why Erendil in the game couldn’t exert any power was probably because young Erendil was weak.

Regardless of the external environment, from the Emperor’s standards, she must have been considered unable to receive the opportunity to ascend to that position.

Now that things have changed, she’s receiving that opportunity. He called me because I’m a variable outside the Emperor’s control.

‘I must have been the only person he was concerned about.’

After killing the empress to protect Erendil and leaving, I came back and protected Erendil again.

He must have hoped that after his death, I wouldn’t act against Erendil and the empire.

If he had strong suspicions that I belonged elsewhere or if my words hadn’t resonated…

I might have died here.

Well, it’s already passed, so it doesn’t matter. I’ll just continue as before to put Erendil on the emperor’s throne.

***

Two days later.

The imperial army, which had been lined up on the plains in front of Chenarus, began marching towards the north.

The marching speed wasn’t fast. As winter was approaching, a lot of luggage was needed.

Not only food but also winter supplies were necessary.

‘It seems like more than necessary.’

That was my thought at a glance. Considering future supplies, it felt like unnecessary baggage.

Maybe they’re moving cautiously because they don’t have definite information about the enemy yet.

Or there’s a possibility they think the enemy will try to interfere with the supplies.

However, there was a point of doubt connected to this. Only one Sword Master was participating.

The commander-in-chief was Rudehrn, and Erendil was accompanying him.

It’s similar to the war with the west. Of course, both then and now, the imperial army has a clear numerical advantage, but…

It couldn’t be put on the same level.

‘They must have received reports when Vasto fell, so it doesn’t seem like they wouldn’t know about the devils.’

I thought at least two Sword Masters would participate. They even recalled Faorn who was in Tenorio.

Given the Emperor’s personality, it’s definitely not to preserve his own body. His physical condition isn’t intact anyway.

Rather, considering that the devil worshippers were targeting Erendil, our side was much more dangerous.

He probably wouldn’t have thought that far when sending Erendil, his only child.

Moreover, I heard there were no additional troops. They even stopped recruiting troops immediately.

Although there were many advance troops, the total number of troops was much less than during the war with the west.

Even the advance troops that moved to set up a forward base in the north settled near Kahalin.

While Kahalin is in the north, it’s not that far north. In other words, it was a bit distant from the devil worshippers’ main base.

‘Is there a separate reason?’

Of course, the Emperor must know that I will follow Erendil. But these weren’t actions that could be explained simply by trusting me.

It was difficult to understand the number of troops and the overall composition. What on earth is he thinking?

And it was only after some time had passed after arriving in the north that I could understand the reason.

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