How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game

“It’s far. It seemed not distant, but even being this close, it’s far.”

The 1st Prince’s voice, half-turned to look at the throne, was tinged with regretful resignation.

The princess turned her gaze to the majestic chair beyond the prince’s shoulder.

It was now her place to sit. She looked at the prince’s face in front of it. Inwardly, she shook her head. He was an ill-fitting person.

Neither that seat nor the regretful resignation of not being able to sit there despite seemingly having lived diligently to become emperor.

Her brothers were scoundrels.

They lived as if the authority they received at birth was their own power. It wasn’t simply arrogance.

They were born with a sadistic inclination rarely seen. The princess knew of over twenty people who had died by the 1st Prince’s hand. There were likely more.

If the 2nd Prince was a pedophile, the 1st Prince was someone who enjoyed torture.

“Impressive. I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.”

The prince praised the princess. It was contrary to his true feelings. Originally, he hadn’t even considered her a competitor.

Just a sidepiece. To the prince, the princess was an item to be bestowed upon one of his meritorious retainers.

Now that item was trying to claim the throne right in front of him, before his very eyes. His blood boiled.

Nevertheless, he suppressed his anger. The prince thought that the princess’s fragile nature would remain.

Even at this moment when everything had become futile, he still harbored a dream. That if he could somehow survive, there would be a way.

The prince’s supporting nobles had said that a female emperor was nonsensical, but that when push came to shove, many would follow him.

It was a kind of brainwashing, but not unbelievable. Quite a few people thought that way.

Therefore, he planned to escape from here and gather the nobles of the empire. It was a foolish belief that another opportunity would arise for him, the eldest legitimate son.

“It doesn’t suit you.”

The prince’s brows furrowed at the emotionless voice. Though she was short, the princess seemed to be looking down on the prince.

That’s how the prince felt.

“Neither that garbage sentiment of yours, nor that seat, suits you.”

The prince’s face suddenly crumpled. The anger he had been hiding began to show. The princess was nonchalant.

“You…!”

“It means know your place. You’re not even of imperial blood, are you?”

For a moment, the stunned 1st Prince’s eyebrows rose.

“You seem not to know.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“As I said.”

“Didn’t I ask what you mean?!”

“It means you three brothers are not father’s children.”

“Wh-what nonsense is this!”

The princess showed a sorrowful smile. The years she had lived without knowing she was the only one of imperial blood flashed by.

They were unfair and frustrating memories. But she didn’t have much lingering attachment or regret.

If she hadn’t met Carlyn, she would have lived without even knowing this. The majestic throne would have passed to those unqualified.

No further conversation was needed.

“Emmet.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Emmet stepped forward, the prince’s guard knight drew his sword and blocked his path.

“Sir Brak.”

Emmet knew this knight too. They weren’t particularly close or hostile. Rather, they respected each other.

Like Emmet, Brak was a man who had become an imperial guard knight through his own abilities.

Not from a prestigious family, it was close to a human triumph. Brak was silent, but Emmet felt uneasy.

“Can you step aside?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“…”

“The duty bestowed upon me is to protect His Highness the 1st Prince. Let’s each fulfill our responsibilities.”

“…I see.”

Emmet nodded heavily. The prince watched the situation with an anxious face.

Carlyn, standing to the side, felt a slight regret. He was a decent talent.

Though not enough to become a Sword Master, he was one who was faithful in every play through. It was only unfortunate that his subject was the 1st Prince.

In the quiet imperial palace, the two knights rushed towards each other.

For Emmet, who had become one-armed, he was not an easy opponent. However, it was an unavoidable situation.

Carlyn must not reveal himself, and among the remaining guards, Emmet was the most trustworthy.

“Hup!”

The sound of the two knights briefly inhaling was heard simultaneously. Then followed a heavy metallic sound.

Emmet, missing one arm, was bound to be at a disadvantage in terms of strength.

However, it wasn’t enough to be a major problem. Since losing his arm, he had focused on technique with Carlyn’s help.

The ensuing exchange. Those present watched the scene solemnly and silently. Emmet had been more diligent in recent years than ever before.

Brak was the aggressive one. With nowhere to retreat, he pressed forward with attacks. Emmet defended stoutly.

And the close combat ended in an instant. A thrusting sword. Emmet smoothly deflected it and turned his body as he had learned while sparring with Carlyn.

The next moment, the sword grazed Brak’s neck. Thud- Brak heavily stamped his knee.

The knight who kept his loyalty to the end did not let go of his sword. Emmet looked at him for a moment, paying his respects.

“You’ve done well.”

“It’s nothing.”

Now there was nothing blocking the princess’s way. The princess walked steadily forward, holding the Teme’s Spear.

The prince unconsciously stepped back, but the distance between him and the princess quickly narrowed.

“E-Erendil…!”

The princess thrust the spear indifferently, as if it was only natural. The spearhead that pierced through his chest glowed with blood.

The moment the spear was pulled out, the prince crumbled like a puppet with cut strings right in front of the majestic chair.

“…It hurts, it hurts.”

The final gaze of the one who enjoyed inflicting pain on others turned towards the throne.

“Since it hurts, I guess this isn’t a dream…”

These were the prince’s pitiful last words. The princess looked down at him for a moment. Now only the majestic chair remained before her.

Duchess Lyurik approached the princess’s side. Her stern face was filled with the joy of success.

“Ascend to your rightful place, Your Majesty.”

At the changed form of address, the princess turned silently. Her eyes took in the people filling the room.

They were warriors who had followed her on the arduous journey from the far north, from the capital, to here.

Most were either covered in blood or bleeding. And on one side stood her knight upright.

The plate armor, crushed and corroded black from being wrapped in the monster’s tentacles to protect her, stood out.

Though his face wasn’t clearly visible due to the helmet, she tried to look into Carlyn’s eyes.

Carlyn nodded. Only then did the princess smile slightly and look around at those present.

“I thank you all. It is because of you that I have been able to come this far.”

Those present silently knelt with a thud. The princess briefly swept her gaze over them left and right before turning to advance towards the throne.

And the princess sat down in the majestic and grand place where her father had always sat, a place she thought she could never aspire to.

It was the moment the empire’s first female emperor was born.

***

It was a moment of overwhelming emotion. Not quite happiness, but I felt a genuine sense of achievement. It was a plan I had set since the day I came to this world.

Rounding up, it took 10 years, a long time. I endured training so harsh it was hard to imagine and went through all sorts of hardships.

Luck was also on my side, but there were several brushes with death. At the end of it all, I had made Erendil the emperor.

It feels like I’ve overcome a big wall. Of course, things won’t be easy going forward, but it will be much better than if I hadn’t succeeded.

‘The south can cooperate centered around Haisen, and the southwest and west will join hands with the empire through the communication network I’ve set up.’

Anyway, the first order given by Erendil after becoming emperor was naturally to sort out this situation.

The entire capital and imperial palace were in chaos.

Erendil said to lift the martial law in the capital, tend to the wounded, and at the same time capture the rebels who had not yet left the capital.

It wasn’t a difficult task. The moment Erendil became emperor, the intelligence agency and Sword Master also fell into her hands.

It seemed the rebels far away would be dealt with after organizing the capital first.

‘Though calling them rebels isn’t quite right, they just supported a different person.’

Originally, when supporting an imperial descendant vying for the emperor’s seat, one does so accepting all these risks.

But everyone can’t be dealt with.

Even now there was a standoff in the north, and soon a war with the devil worshippers would begin.

Not many people would die willingly. It’s better to create a way for them to survive and persuade them. Of course, a selection process would be necessary.

Afterwards, Erendil called her people separately. They were capable individuals I had recommended, like Hanut Campbell, and those who had approached as her support grew.

And before they arrived, she called me separately. Honestly, I didn’t think it was a good decision.

“Your Majesty.”

“Are you badly hurt?”

Erendil asked worriedly. The pain was real, but not enough to leave long-term after-effects.

“I’m fine. It’s a minor injury.”

As if not believing my words, Erendil narrowed her eyes and examined my body before reluctantly nodding.

“I was worried.”

“I appreciate your concern, but you shouldn’t have. You should have targeted the one heading for Your Majesty, not the one attacking me…”

“Anyway, wasn’t it resolved well?”

This wasn’t something to just gloss over, but it wasn’t worth pressing further either. It was already in the past.

I returned to the original purpose.

“Your Majesty, forgive my impudence, but calling me like this is not good.”

I had been in the imperial palace and was called separately along with Emmet. In fact, nominally it wasn’t strange.

I had thrown my life on the line to protect Erendil’s front at the imperial palace.

However, if who I am is not revealed later, it can only look suspicious.

Also, in fact, a mere knight alone blocking a devil worshipper who used devilization would look suspicious.

“It’s fine.”

But Erendil spoke as if it was no big deal. It’s not fine at all, and as I was about to speak again, Erendil spoke first.

“I intend to call you back.”

“Pardon?”

Me? Why? Bewilderment spread. I couldn’t have imagined it.

“It cannot be, Your Majesty.”

“Schurtafen, nothing is impossible.”

Erendil smiled.

“I am now the emperor of this empire.”

I could roughly understand why Erendil wanted to restore my honor. But it’s not good now. Maybe later, but not now.

“Your Majesty, it’s not a matter of possibility. It’s more advantageous for Your Majesty if I remain hidden.”

Though it was the same person, now that Erendil had become emperor, I couldn’t treat her as I did when she was a princess.

Before saying it can’t be done again, I continued.

“There are various benefits. For example, when there are beings harmful to Your Majesty, if I move, it’s possible to purge them in the name of devil worshippers. In other words, I can become Your Majesty’s sword hidden in the shadows.”

“It can’t be done.”

“Do you dislike purging in that way?”

“No. It’s not that I dislike that method, but that I dislike you taking on that role. You are not someone who should be used like that.”

Erendil spoke with a resolute face. I was grateful for her sentiment, but I felt slightly at a loss.

To be honest, while restoring my honor wasn’t bad, now that I had made Erendil emperor, it was much better for me to move alone than to stay in the imperial palace.

“You must also consider the backlash from your subjects. You’ve just become emperor, if you embrace me and tarnish the honor of Her Majesty the Empress…”

“Let them do as they please.”

Erendil cut off my words.

“Didn’t I just say it? Thanks to you, I have become the emperor of this empire.”

I looked at Erendil. She had the appearance of a proper emperor. It seemed slightly different from the person I knew.

Did the position make the person, or did Erendil change and thus ascend to that position? Well, I thought it might be both.

“I feel infinite gratitude towards you. If it weren’t for you, I would never have stood in today’s position.”

“…”

“I must not, and have no intention to, keep someone like you as a sword to wield from behind.”

I silently bowed my head.

“I think you have your reasons for wanting to be like that. Is it your judgment that it’s better to move alone than to be by my side?”

Sharp. Well, she must have grown a lot on her own while I was away. She also had the capable Hanut Campbell by her side.

I nodded honestly.

“That’s right.”

“Don’t worry about that. I will only restore your honor. I’ll say I have a separate use for you, so move freely.”

If that was Erendil’s thinking, it didn’t matter much. It becomes difficult to purge troublesome people within the empire while disguised as devil worshippers.

Once I regain my position, I’ll have to present evidence one by one that they are enemies.

But Erendil seemed to have made up her mind. It can’t be helped. But it’s not all bad.

Conversely, it means I can draw on the power of the empire. Perhaps interpreting my silence, Erendil continued.

“Don’t think too badly of my choice.”

“I don’t think that way.”

Erendil paused for a moment before continuing.

“It’s just that I don’t like the fact that you have to come to me secretly, without others knowing.”