The emperor raised his gaze to the stars.
As he did, the memory came to him of that night, fifty years ago, when he stared at the hanging mobile from his cradle.
It was from when he was a newborn. Even so, all the memories remained vivid.
“In this world, there are things one would rather forget.”
Memory fades over time. That’s why people make efforts to preserve their memories they take photos, record videos, etc.
But for the emperor, all of that was unnecessary.
His entire life felt as though it were being recorded.
Thanks to genetics. Thanks to the Blessing of the Owl.
And its function wasn’t limited to preserving memory.
The true face of the Blessing of the Owl was that it even inherited the memories of one’s ancestors.
‘The knowledge accumulated by humanity over the centuries eventually becomes truth.’
That was a phrase the previous emperor used to repeat like a mantra. It was also his final testament.
Only years after the death of the previous emperor did the current emperor truly understand what those words meant.
The current emperor had been born intelligent.
On top of that was the Blessing of the Owl.
He had received the right to knock on the door of “truth,” a longing the imperial family had pursued for generations.
“Your Majesty, the night wind is cold.”
Jin, the chamberlain, approached silently. She had remained about a hundred meters away while the emperor spoke with the Heavenly Sword.
“So? What do you think?”
Asked the emperor, taking his eyes off the cosmic hue that resembled the midday sun.
“You mean the Heavenly Sword, sir?”
“It’s not a good habit to ask questions you already know the answer to. I’ve told you many times I’ll put an end to those obsolete palace protocols in my generation. Wasting time with such formalities is exactly why the imperial family and the nobility are declining rapidly. Unlike the Heavenly Sword, who is practical.”
The emperor gave her a reprimand. The chamberlain raised her head, which she had bowed in apology.
“My apologies.”
“It’s fine.”
She wore a blindfold over her eyes.
In the center, there was a large red eye drawn, as if she were a cyclops.
“So, what is your answer?”
“…As Your Majesty says, he doesn’t seem like an ordinary human. His breathing pattern is completely different.”
The chamberlain came from a family that had served the royal family for generations.
She could detect sounds even through walls. Her family inherited blessings related to perception the Blessing of the Inner Eye and the Blessing of Transmission.
They intentionally blindfolded their children before they ever opened their eyes, depriving them of sight.
Through rigorous training, chamberlains developed extrasensory perception. They could detect things that couldn’t be seen, hear them, and report them.
Moreover, the [Blessing of the Inner Eye] could capture the spiritual form of a specific individual and then transmit that information to the emperor using the [Blessing of Transmission].
Thanks to the work of these chamberlains, those who requested an audience with the emperor mistakenly believed His Majesty could read minds.
She was the ears and the mouth of the emperor.
“Seems my assumption wasn’t so wrong.”
A slight smile appeared on the emperor’s lips.
“The Heavenly Sword is a demigod imitating a human.”
“I agree with Your Majesty.”
“Perhaps he himself is one of the main causes of the recent instability in the human world.”
“Even if there’s no direct link, he’s certainly connected.”
“Listen, Garyeon.”
Chamberlain Garyeon knelt with one hand on her chest.
“I hear the word of the Sun.”
“The Heavenly Sword has made a deal with me. He’ll remain three days in the Imperial Palace and then leave.”
The chamberlain understood instantly.
“I will observe him as he moves around the grounds.”
“You must maintain the proper distance. If you are discovered, the Imperial Palace will have no knowledge of it. If that happens… you know.”
“I will commit suicide.”
She replied coldly.
“I wouldn’t want to lose my ears, Garyeon.”
“I’ll do everything I can to avoid it.”
“Then go. Tonight I want a moment alone.”
***
The imperial residence, Buckingham Palace, retained a serene elegance.
It wasn’t dazzlingly luxurious like Parsy, but the traces of time covering it were more elegant than any luxury.
Overall, there were no excesses. Only what was necessary.
An absurdly large guest room. I was lying in the middle of that empty space with only a bed, staring at the ceiling.
“Mmm…”
There were so few objects that even the echo of a sigh bounced back.
‘I just want to go home.’
But I couldn’t. I had made a deal with the emperor.
‘The emperor’s desire isn’t to leave a line in history, but an entire page.’
The emperor talked about mining and treasures as if they were part of his own business.
That alone would be enough to leave a huge mark on the world’s history. But…
Humans are greedy by nature. Especially people like the emperor, who got vaccinated against modesty early on.
Once they reach a certain level, they take going further for granted. That’s why they have no limits.
‘With my personality, the wisest thing would be to stay away from people like him…’
Suddenly, I saw it on the ceiling, filling my entire view. A painting that portrayed the moment just before the finger of a naked man touched God’s.
The title of the piece was The Creation of Adam. Even I, who know nothing about art, recognized that painting.
And upon seeing it, I thought.
‘I get it. There’s a connection.’
I fear the end of the world. Not because I’d suffer personal harm, but because of the consequences it could bring. That’s what truly scares me.
And I’m sick of how Chaerina keeps saying I’ll get bitten again and again.
That’s why I need more allies. I felt it clearly during the Ragnarok crisis. I can’t face all the coming apocalypses alone.
I took one hand out from under my head and grabbed my phone. I typed with my thumb.
Just made a deal with the emperor, what do you think?: ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
The recipient was Yu Sein.
I preferred to send a message rather than call, because she seemed like someone with good judgment.
Beep!
Looks like she wasn’t asleep. She replied instantly.
Yu Sein: And how do you expect me to give an opinion if you don’t tell me what the deal is, you damn show-off?
Ah, right.
“…Show-off?”
It’s not like that, okay?: ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
Yu Sein: Hit you right where it hurts. It’s just that you write with flavor.
“…….”
Anyway.
I used both hands to send the message. I summarized the key points in general terms, adjusting to this era’s grammar, and sent it as a “three-line summary.”
Yu Sein: (sighing emoticon)
Yu Sein: And now you tell me after doing it? That’s not discussing, that’s just notifying me.
Couldn’t take the phone out in front of the emperor: ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
Yu Sein: Aha! And since when are you so considerate about etiquette?
Yu Sein: Anyway
Yu Sein: I think it’s fine, anyway
Reasons—three-line summary: ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
Yu Sein: ……
Yu Sein: 1. With the emperor’s human and material support, you don’t have to suffer like a dog
Yu Sein: The end
Yu Sein: Now go lie down and sleep ^ㅅ^
<Yu Sein has left the chat>
I consulted her at midnight just in case, and as always, she didn’t let me down. Even though it was a three-line summary, she only sent one.
“…Is she watching me from afar?”
How did she know I was lying down?
Well, I guess it’s something everyone around me knows. I’m always like this, so it’s no secret.
“She sensed it from just a cue.”
Anyway, like Yu Sein said, if I receive the imperial family’s support, I can erase all those secondary and troublesome groups from my mind.
In technical terms, the imperial family is the greatest “backing” currently in existence.
Not taking advantage of that and playing hard to get would be stupid. Opportunities must be seized when they come.
In social terms, worrying is rejecting; in contrast, rejecting the emperor’s proposal… would mean turning down too large an amount of money.
‘No, that’s not the point.’
It’s simply an extremely efficient approach.
I put away the smartphone and took the EX-rank sashimi. The moonlight coming in through the enormous window spanning the palace slid across the knife’s blade.
I held it up toward the ceiling. From my point of view, the mural on the ceiling split in two.
At the exact point between the naked man and the old man, right in that tense middle space.
“If he tries anything strange…”
I murmured as I lowered the blade of the knife.
“The emperor won’t be recorded in history… he’ll be erased from it.”
By the way, I still haven’t decided on a name for this sashimi. Partly because I can’t think of a good one, and partly because I’m in no rush to give it one.
‘Eternal Frost’
was a name I chose hastily just because the Korean sushi shop owner insisted I name it.
‘I don’t like naming things…’
That’s something my master would do—the one who, at fifty, still hasn’t outgrown his high schooler complex.
For now, I’ll keep calling it “EX.”
If I ever decide to name it, I want to do it carefully. I believe everything ends up resembling its name.
Just like I’m called Kang Geom-Ma and became the “Heavenly Sword.”
“For today, I’ll let it slide.”
I also put away the sashimi and lay down to sleep. It was a pleasant sleep, dreamless.
***
Meanwhile, in the building across from the guest bedroom.
Garyeon, from the Hall of Shadows, held her breath as she pulled back the ear she had pressed against the display glass. In the next moment, her lips trembled visibly.
“…Heavenly Sword…”
Everyone knew he was a monster. That’s why she didn’t get overconfident. That was the reason why, even at the risk of overexertion, she had been watching him from another building.
A warrior who has transcended like Kang Geom-Ma has an extremely developed sense of Mana. And if he’s also a demigod, even more so.
However, in the end, he’s still a living being.
He’s presumed to be a demigod, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
No matter how developed his mana sense may be.
Garyeon, on the other hand, had bet everything on her “hearing.” She had dedicated her entire life to perfecting it. And she also had a divine gift. No bat could compare to her.
Even just before beginning the mission by order of the emperor, Garyeon had felt fairly confident.
But that confidence shattered in an instant.
— …Are you watching me from afar?
The moment she heard those words…
“H-h-how…?”
She felt a part of her chest go cold, freezing over.
— Just one signal is enough.
…?!
Her pores opened completely.
Had she activated the Blessing of Transmission unconsciously? No, impossible. That gift had a restriction it only worked with His Majesty.
‘That… that means he’s reading my mind… Is he reading this too!?’
While trembling, leaning against the wall, Kang Geom-Ma’s voice resonated once more.
— If you do something stupid…
His voice continued.
— The emperor won’t go down in history. He’ll be erased from it.
Garyeon fell backward.
“…So in the end, I was in the palm of your hand the whole time.”
She couldn’t report back to the emperor. Once discovered, there were no options left.
Garyeon untied her high bun and pulled out the hairpin. When she pressed with her thumb, a metal tip slid out gently.
‘To take my own life…’
Kang Geom-Ma would undoubtedly tell the emperor. He would express his displeasure.
His presence stood, at the very least, on the same level as His Majesty. Perhaps even above.
Garyeon hesitated. The thought of truly dying left her feeling hollow.
It wasn’t even the first day.
And already she had to end her life because she was caught on the first try?
She had already dismissed the idea of dying of natural causes, but dying in such an absurd way wasn’t something she could accept easily.
Then it happened.
— I’ll let it slide today.
“…!”
After saying that, Kang Geom-Ma turned around and showed her his back. That gesture clearly meant that if she planned to leave, now was the time.
“Heavenly Sword… I owe you one…”
Leaning against the wall, Garyeon staggered away.
____
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