“W-what in the world are you saying!? The Emperor has passed away…!?

Duke Dorabin asked, as if he couldn’t believe it.

Marquis Sigon, standing beside him, clenched his fists so hard they might break, biting his lips.

“Count Eshballe, His Majesty the Emperor…! Cough…!”

The Mage lowered his head further and revealed the culprit’s name.

Count Eshballe.

He was known as a neutral noble, but not all neutrals are the same.

Some nobles leaned more towards the Emperor, while others leaned more towards the Rebels.

Eshballe thought the Emperor’s Rupture was over and decided to secure a position in Bormil, which the Rebels had occupied.

The moment he was alone with the Emperor, he personally stabbed the Emperor with a poisoned dagger.

That was just yesterday morning.

The Emperor’s Rupture Mages, having confirmed the Emperor’s death, recovered the Emperor’s body and concealed the fact that the Emperor had visited Count Eshballe.

Afterward, they regrouped the nobles who had come over to the Emperor’s Rupture and appeared on the battlefield today.

The Emperor’s death had to be kept a secret as much as possible.

If that fact were revealed, the forces they had painstakingly gathered would scatter.

‘…?’

And Kim Songcheol soon realized the fact that the Emperor had died.

He could barely hear what was being said, but their expressions and actions were such that they could only happen if the Emperor had died.

‘Did he… pass away?’

Kim Songcheol was equally confused.

He had planned to pass the baton, receive his commission, and return, but suddenly his employer died.

It was certainly a regrettable matter, but now he couldn’t even predict how this commission would proceed.

Duke Dorabin and Marquis Sigon, who had been grieving and despairing over the Emperor’s death, composed themselves and turned their gaze towards Kim Songcheol.

“We… need to have a meeting. Please follow us.”

Kim Songcheol went inside with them. The Emperor’s appearance was being maintained by Duke Dorabin and Marquis Sigon’s magic.

They couldn’t just leave the Fake Emperor outside alone and hold a meeting.

Moreover, since Kim Songcheol was the only one who could handle the Fake Emperor, he also needed to understand the situation to some extent.

So, Kim Songcheol also ended up sitting vaguely next to Duke Dorason.

The Mage who had delivered the news of the Emperor’s death brought in eight truly trustworthy nobles.

So, a total of 12 people, including Kim Songcheol, participated in a meeting about the future of Bormil, with one outsider and no Emperor or even a member of the imperial family present.

“Not many nobles currently know that His Majesty the Emperor has passed away. The Eshballe side has also been completely silenced.”

“Silenced, you say…?”

“They’ve been erased. They are the family of the Emperor’s assassin. There’s no need to show them consideration.”

“You did well. Ah, what has become of the Crown Prince now? In all this chaos, there’s no way to hear any news…”

“The Crown Prince has temporarily sought refuge in the Kingdom of Timen. You didn’t know? Count Torason escorted His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Things have been so hectic…”

“Then, about the Emperor’s passing…?”

“Ahem…”

“That’s also a problem, but there’s an even bigger one. We’ve suppressed the Rebels for now, but the problem isn’t solved. How is the analysis of 10th Circle Magic progressing, anyway? Duke Dorabin, you’ve been continuously involved as the official in charge of the analysis, so you know the progress, don’t you? Now we need to address this clearly and definitively.”}]}

“That’s right. Simply letting this go is just a temporary fix.”

“Another rebellion will surely break out.”

“What exactly is going on? Duke Dorabin, please tell us.”

All the nobles looked at Duke Dorabin.

The Emperor is dead, and the Crown Prince is only about 10 years old.

Among the Crown Prince and the other imperial family members, there is no one with Sanggis comparable to the Emperor.

The imperial nobles had to take the lead in running the Empire.

The nobles needed to accurately grasp the current situation.

After all, the rebellion was started by those who were dissatisfied with the endless promises.

Duke Dorabin opened his mouth after a long silence.

“The fact is… there’s been absolutely no progress in deciphering the magic.”

“What…?”

“No, what do you mean by that?”

“Didn’t you say it was almost done 20 years ago!?”

The nobles were surprised in their own ways, and also despaired.

Duke Dorabin also openly displayed his complex emotions.

“As you all know, the Bormil Empire itself… is like that. It is an Empire built upon the Stone Slab left by the Great Sage. To the New World by deciphering the 10th Circle Magic carved on the Stone Slab. The only one who can use 10th Circle Magic is the Emperor… At first, everyone truly believed that. It seemed like it would be deciphered quickly. In fact, it seemed almost complete. 20 years ago. But the hypothesis established then turned out to be completely wrong, and we fell into complete confusion. There are even hypotheses now that it might be impossible to decipher.”

The Imperial Family had ruled by repeatedly promising to lead the Empire’s people to the New World.

At first, it wasn’t a lie. They truly believed it would happen.

However, as research continued, it gradually became a lie.

“But we couldn’t reveal this fact. If this fact were revealed, it wouldn’t just end with the collapse of the Imperial Family. The Bormil Empire would clearly be torn into several kingdoms again, leading to war. A struggle would erupt over the Stone Slab. The Emperor was concerned about that.”

“Oh dear…”

The nobles were speechless.

It was due to a sense of emptiness in many ways.

They also firmly believed that the 10th Circle Magic would soon be deciphered.

But to still be at a standstill, they couldn’t help but feel utterly drained.

“Are you saying it’s been at a standstill for 200 years…? No, then Duke Dorabin, did you serve His Majesty the Emperor knowing all this?”

“I served His Majesty the Emperor for no other reason. He was a benevolent person… and for me, the order of the Bormil Empire was simply more important.”

The order of the Bormil Empire.

If order disappears, chaos ensues.

That chaos would, of course, be war and death.

Duke Dorabin also felt empty and betrayed when he learned the truth about the standstill, but he sided with the Emperor to protect something more important.

And that was something other imperial nobles could also empathize with.

Because one of the reasons they served the Emperor was also for the order established by the Emperor.

Duke Dorabin smiled bitterly and spoke.

“The former Emperor once had a plan, half-jokingly devised.”

“What kind…?”

“The Emperor knew the discontent was growing. So he suggested a solution: the abolition of the Imperial Family and the public release of the Stone Slab. In other words, to make the Empire not one that follows the Emperor, but an Empire that is based on the Stone Slab itself. Then it doesn’t matter if it’s interpreted or not. If it is, we’ll go to the New World; if not, the Empire will last forever.”

Abolition of the Imperial Family.

The Imperial nobles, who would usually have shouted that it was nonsense, were silent.

The Emperor’s significance came from the belief that he was the only one who could interpret and use the Stone Slab.

But with the interpretation of 10th Circle Magic at a complete standstill, one wonders if the Emperor’s existence truly has meaning.

“No, this is…”

“Hmm…”

“Well, this is…”

Nevertheless, it was too radical to readily agree to.

Abolishing the Imperial Family that had existed for hundreds of years?

This was closer to reform than to maintaining order.

Moreover, weren’t the Mages gathered here Imperial nobles?

“This is not a disrespectful suggestion to abolish the Imperial Family. It’s merely a direction. As I said before, the Emperor feared the Empire splitting into pieces the most. It would be good to discuss ways to maintain the Empire while minimizing chaos as much as possible.”

Thus began the long and arduous meeting of the Imperial nobles who had lost their Emperor.

***

Bormil’s Imperial Palace.

The Emperor’s chambers.

Kim Songcheol sat on a large bed.

“Um… I’m sorry to ask in this situation, but what about the commission fee?”

“Ah, it will be paid as promised by His Majesty the Emperor. However, the five days in the Fortress are calculated at 25 million, and from today, the daily rate is 5 million.”

Duke Dorabin said in front of him.

Defending the Fortress was difficult and the situation urgent, so the daily rate was set high, but from here on, the daily rate was cheap in comparison.

Of course, 5 million was not a small amount either.

“Here, this is the speech. You just need to read it as it is.”

Duke Dorabin handed him a piece of paper.

It was a speech about the future direction of the Imperial Family after punishing the traitors.

The Emperor was already dead, but the Emperor’s influence was still needed.

The fake Emperor commission had to be extended.

‘Hmm…’

Kim Songcheol read through the speech.

Excluding the mundane content, the core points were:

To increase the number of Stone Slab interpreters and designate Stone Slab guardians.

The Stone Slab was a sacred relic allowed only to the Emperor and a few interpreters.

Therefore, the plan was to gradually reveal the Stone Slab by increasing the number of Stone Slab interpreters.

It also included the intention to gradually increase the influence of the Stone Slab guardians and eventually have them replace the Imperial Family.

‘It’s just as in the meeting. This is indeed the best method.’

In truth, whatever direction Bormil took, it didn’t significantly concern Kim Songcheol.

If he could just get the commission fee, it was best to do as he was told without complaint.

Hours later,

Kim Songcheol appeared on the High Terrace of the Imperial Palace.

Naturally, he was in the form of the Emperor.

Below him were the people of the Bormil Empire. There had been many casualties due to the battles between the Rebels and the Imperial Family’s army over the past few days.

The faces of the Empire’s people were filled with fatigue.

However, their loyalty to the Emperor was still great, and as soon as the Emperor appeared, they respectfully prostrated themselves on the ground.

Kim Songcheol, following the script, severely reprimanded the Rebels and praised the heroes who had stopped the rebellion.

He had never once thought he had a talent for acting. But perhaps because he was wearing a perfect mask created by Illusion magic, his portrayal of the Emperor seemed more natural than he expected.

After the dignified speech, there was an appointment ceremony for the Stone Slab guardian.

The first Stone Slab guardian was designated as Duke Dorabin, who, excluding the current Emperor, had the highest level of Thread magic.

Of course, the Stone Slab guardian does not actually guard the Stone Slab.

It was more of an honorary position, and the Stone Slab was officially stored in a separate, safe place.

However, it was decided that the Stone Slab would be personally presented at the appointment ceremony.

This was because the Emperor personally handing over the Stone Slab once held significant meaning.

Kim Songcheol announced Duke Dorabin as the Stone Slab guardian.

Duke Dorabin, who was already waiting, came forward to Kim Songcheol and knelt.

It was a place where countless Empire citizens were watching.

Marquis Sigon, who was standing by with the Stone Slab, removed the covering silk and offered it to Kim Songcheol.

Kim Songcheol, secretly curious about 10th Circle Magic, quickly scanned the magic formula as soon as he received the Stone Slab.

After all, by applying memory magic, he could perfectly remember it with just one glance.

Kim Songcheol, who had intended to simply remember the magic formula for a moment and then hand over the Stone Slab, froze the moment he examined the Stone Slab.

‘Wait a minute…’

Kim Songcheol unconsciously turned the Stone Slab ninety degrees to examine its top. The Stone Slab was about two centimeters thick. The top of the Stone Slab, made of an unknown material, had several grooves.

Kim Songcheol found these grooves quite familiar.

In his college days, he used to draw simple marks on the side of thick textbooks. It was a mark indicating the owner as ‘me,’ Kim Songcheol.

Surprisingly, the grooves on the top surface of this Stone Slab looked like a part of that mark.

If several Stone Slabs were stacked and the same mark was drawn on them, it seemed like one of them would have such grooves.