BSS 72

Chapter 72

The closer I got to the Emperor, the more eyes were on me.

The eyes of the spectators, the Royal Knights, the other awardees standing behind me, and all the participants behind them.

“I shall ask you.”

Finally!

“What is an Elementalist? Explain it to me.”

“…You mean about Elementalists?”

“How are they specifically different from Magicians?”

“I… I wonder if someone as inexperienced as I am should even attempt to explain…”

“Watching your match piqued my curiosity.”

I appreciated that he was interested in elementals, but all I wanted was to make my wish and be done with it.

I felt my patience wearing thin.

But I held back. After all, the person I was speaking to was the Emperor. The Emperor!

A person who could very well have my head for being disrespectful!

Remembering that made my patience surge all at once.

When it comes to life and death, I could be remarkably polite.

“If I were to use water as an example, a Magician imposes rules on water, whereas an Elementalist grants it life.”

“Hoh.”

“Elementals are the source of water, and by commanding them with strong will, it is akin to controlling water itself.”

I paused for a moment, unsure how far I should go with my explanation.

I was a student, not a teacher.

But glancing at him, it seemed I needed to say more—until the Emperor was satisfied.

“The more an Elementalist becomes one with their Elemental, the stronger their power, allowing them to manipulate water in ways far beyond a Magician.

Of course, we can also use familiar water magic, but it is more fundamental and far more powerful than a Magician’s magic.”

“Sounds like you’re saying Elementalists are greater than Magicians.”

“We are simply different. Magicians have their own advantages. While Elementalists typically specialize deeply in a single element, Magicians can manipulate all elements.”

“Hmm?”

“I only command the water Elemental, but Magicians can impose rules on fire, water, wind, earth, even lightning and light—all things visible to the eye.

We are deep and narrow, but they are wide and shallow.”

I was a bit of an exception, handling both Rai and Ador, because I was considered a prodigy in this field.

“Interesting. And very clever.”

“Thank you.”

“In fact, seeing you stirred my curiosity, so I summoned the Elementalists of the Imperial Palace.”

Of course, the Empire would have some palace Elementalists. But why summon them?

“They were all amazed. They said it was astonishing how someone so young could command an Elemental so freely.

They even judged that you had surpassed the level of an adult. In swordsmanship terms… like Prince Robenin.”

“You flatter me too much.”

“Did you know? You are the first Elementalist to compete in this tournament.”

“…I didn’t know.”

I’d only thought there might be no other Elementalists participating. I rarely paid attention to others anyway.

“And now you’ve won, making it even more unprecedented. And so effortlessly…”

What exactly was the Emperor getting at?

I began to feel uneasy. Very uneasy.

“The palace Elementalists said such talent should remain in the Empire.”

C-could this… be a public recruitment?

My breath caught, and cold sweat broke out.

Were the Empire people drunk on their own grandeur, acting this obnoxiously?

Would they expect me to humbly say, “Oh, what an honor!” and immediately naturalize as an Elan citizen?

I’d heard past winners sometimes wished to receive noble titles in the Empire, but I had no interest.

Besides, I was only ten years old.

“What say you?”

“…I do not understand what you mean.”

I pretended not to understand, unsure of the Emperor’s intentions.

“I mean, you may wish to become a member of the Empire if you desire.”

What a direct shot.

I had clearly seen a huge crowd kneel, and yet now, I could hear nothing but the sound of my own heartbeat.

It felt like everyone was silently waiting for my answer.

“…I—”

My lips had gone completely dry.

“I do not wish for something so excessive.”

“You do not wish for it?”

“I am grateful for your offer, but I have no complaints about where I was born.”

Had I declined properly? Or was I going to die?

I had refused politely, but I feared I might have offended the Emperor.

As his shadow approached me, my heart pounded faster.

“Above all, the girl is still young and should not be separated from her parents.”

I had to quickly offer up my “parents” as an excuse—imaginary or otherwise—since I never opened the letters they sent and just left them in a drawer. It sounded plausible enough.

“Hmm, Dmitri is clever in his persuasion.”

Fortunately, it seemed the Emperor accepted that explanation.

Even if I were a talented prodigy, I wasn’t so extraordinary that the Emperor would be furious for not having me.

Feeling life hang in the balance by a word of a ruler strengthened my resolve: I must stay alive and not stand out.

I wanted no part in being shredded like meat in a political game.

“Come closer to me.”

Was he angry? Was he going to kill me?

I had heard the Emperor was quite cruel, so I couldn’t help but tremble.

Getting so close to him was something I had never practiced. When the Emperor stepped so near that our shoes almost touched, I felt a strange terror.

It was the deep fear of not knowing how the situation would unfold.

“The knights reported a young girl saved my son.”

“…Excuse me?”

“A blonde girl, an Elementalist, they said.”

It was barely audible, yet the voice was heavy, forceful, and solid.

Blasphemously, I looked up at him, stunned.

Even though he hadn’t asked me to, I gazed at the Emperor’s face and took in his striking golden eyes.

If Esh grows up, will she have such a handsome face?

“I also heard you represent the Academy delegation.”

“….”

“What a rare combination. Impossible to overlook.”

Seeing the Emperor’s eyes curl slightly in a smile, I felt an immense relief that I wouldn’t die.

“Honestly, I’d want to grant anything. I’d want to give the best, yet you refuse.”

No, your Majesty… isn’t it a bit arrogant to assume a noble title is the best thing the Empire can offer?

I decided not to voice that thought if I wanted to keep my head.

“Then, as the champion, what is your wish?”

Finally, the question I had been waiting for arrived.

If the Emperor was aware of my dealings with Esh, surely granting my wish wouldn’t be difficult.

For a moment, I dared to hope.

“My wish is to meet Your Highness’s second son, Prince Eron de von Epiros.”

I finally spoke the words I had kept bottled up.

Saying it lifted a huge weight off my chest.

The Emperor, however, showed no reaction.

I realized immediately that was a sign of refusal.

“Denied.”

Honestly, it felt like a punch to the back of my head.

Why?!

But I couldn’t yell, only convey my frustration with my eyes.

“The Second Prince is in the Palace of Silence.”

“…What is the Palace of Silence?”

Of course, asking a question without the Emperor’s permission was a crime.

So annoying, really.