The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

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Chapter 225: The Spider and the Empress (2)

The Imperial Capital.

The imperial capital, steeped in over 500 years—nay, countless centuries—of history and tradition, exuded an overwhelming grandeur that left all who gazed upon it in awe.

Streets paved with white marble gave off a faint scent of perfume that teased the nostrils.

Fountains dotted across the city spouted crystal-clear water endlessly, while nobles in opulent attire strolled leisurely along the streets.

Among the myriad architectural marvels, none could rival the towering golden palace at the city's center.

This was the residence of Empress Camellia—the ruler of the empire and the pinnacle among tens of thousands of heroes.

“...”

A white-haired man wearing a monocle sighed softly as he gazed at the golden palace.

“Are the preparations complete?”

The man, Mephisto, slowly shifted his gaze.

Standing before him were a group of masked individuals wearing animal-themed disguises.

One of them, wearing a bear mask, stepped forward.

“Yes, everything is ready.”

“All that’s left is to infiltrate the palace.”

Mephisto narrowed his eyes, staring at the distant golden palace.

After a moment, he turned his head toward the man in the bear mask.

Looking around as if searching for someone, Mephisto furrowed his brow and asked,

“Is that person… not coming?”

“No, they said they had other matters to attend to and entrusted the operation’s command to you, Mephisto.”

“Haah.”

Mephisto sighed deeply.

“Well… I suppose I should have expected it. The ‘Eternal God’ your group serves isn’t one to act lightly.”

“All will unfold according to their will.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

Clicking his tongue, Mephisto shook his head.

“‘Destruction’ has begun to move.”

As Mephisto’s gaze returned to the golden palace, he bit his lip firmly.

“Everyone, remember this well.”

Taking a step toward the golden palace, he murmured,

“We must ensure… that Empress Camellia survives.”

* * *

The day after receiving the Empress's invitation.

I left the academy and headed to the warp gate station located within Valhalla City.

Of course, I wasn’t going to the empire alone.

“You’re here?”

Professor Elisha, who had arrived early, stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette.

“Sorry, I’m late. I had to prepare a few things.”

“Hm.”

Elisha stared at me wordlessly.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well, it’s just the first time I’ve seen Cadet Dale dressed up like this.”

Elisha smirked as she looked me up and down in my neatly tailored uniform.

“Well, I couldn’t exactly show up to meet the Empress in my usual attire. Iris nagged me about it, so here we are.”

“Oh, so Iris prepared that outfit for you?”

“No, I borrowed it from Yurina. She said it’s the style imperial nobles usually wear.”

I had no idea why imperial nobles were so obsessed with outfits adorned with excessive trinkets.

“It suits you.”

“Ugh. You don’t need to humor me; I know it doesn’t suit me at all.”

“Hmm? Who said I was humoring you?”

Elisha took a step closer and gently ruffled my hair with a faint smile.

“I genuinely meant it.”

Her violet eyes held no trace of deceit.

“Ahem. Is that so?”

“Of course, though I must admit it might have suited Cadet Yuren even better.”

“Urgh.”

“Haha, just kidding.”

Elisha chuckled and teasingly pinched my cheek.

“To me, Cadet Dale looks more impressive than any dashing noble.”

“…You might want to get your eyes checked.”

“Love is said to blind a woman’s eyes, after all.”

Elisha gave a faint smile as she turned away.

“By the way, are you sure it’s okay for me to accompany you? The Empress invited you, not me.”

“I’ve told you before; I’ll need your ‘Insight’s Blessing’ for this trip.”

The Church of Eternity’s true motives, the mysterious circumstances surrounding Empress Camellia’s death in my past life…

I needed the unique insight Elisha’s blessing could provide to uncover the truth.

“Besides, having you by my side makes me feel much more reassured.”

“…I make you feel reassured?”

“Absolutely.”

Though I trusted my other party members, none provided the solid sense of reliability Elisha did.

“Hmm? Is that so… I see…”

Elisha’s lips twitched as if struggling to suppress a smile, her expression slightly awkward.

“I feel the same.”

“Pardon?”@@novelbin@@

“Ah, nothing. Let’s hurry. The warp gate to the imperial capital is always crowded, and we’ll have to wait a long time if we’re late.”

With reddened cheeks, Elisha briskly walked ahead.

I suppressed a chuckle and followed her.

Wooooom.

The warp gate activated, transporting us to the imperial capital.

The grandeur of the cityscape befitting the title of the strongest nation unfolded before my eyes.

“…The streets are as noisy as ever.”

“You’ve been here often?”

“Why would a nobody like me, from a nameless rural village, visit here often? I’ve only come a few times for work.”

Professor Elisha shrugged her shoulders as she spoke.

The moment we stepped out of the warp gate station.

"Are you Mr. Dale Han?"

A knight wearing armor emblazoned with the Imperial crest approached.

"Yes, that's me."

"May I take a look at the invitation from Her Majesty Camellia?"

"Here you go."

After checking the invitation, the knight saluted with precise formality.

"Thank you for cooperating with the verification process! We will escort the honored guest safely to the palace!"

An honored guest, huh?

From what Principal Lionel said, Her Majesty was supposed to be quite capricious, but it seems they're giving me proper treatment.

"Please follow me."

"Alright."

"But, um, the person beside you is...?"

"She's a professor who came with me."

"Uninvited guests are not..."

"If she can't accompany me, then I’ll just turn back."

"Um… please hold on a moment."

Looking flustered, the knight activated his Hero Watch and exchanged messages with someone.

"Are you Professor Elisha Baldwin?"

"Yes, that’s correct."

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"Understood. You may both come along."

We followed the knight and arrived at the Imperial Palace.

The golden palace and its towering gates stood steadfastly before us.

'This is truly a palace worthy of its name.'

The sheer number of magic circles engraved on the gates was no fewer than ten.

Each one looked powerful enough to be used for fortress defense.

'With security like this, it makes sense why they wouldn’t worry about threats from the Eternal Order.'

The defenses were so secure that even calling them impenetrable felt like an understatement.

'The problem is that Mephisto is on the Eternal Order's side.'

The Archbishop of Corruption, Mephisto.

A demon specializing in infiltration and disguise, his skill in bypassing protective barriers was unparalleled.

'If it’s Mephisto… he could pull it off.'

I clicked my tongue as we passed the gate, densely packed with magic circles.

"This way."

We traversed the labyrinthine palace corridors and arrived at a massive platinum door.

The knight who had guided us from the warp gate bowed slightly and stepped back, signaling his task was complete.

Creak.

As I approached, the platinum door emitted a radiant light and opened.

Inside was a grand hall.

Lavish jewels and priceless artwork were scattered about as if they were mere trinkets in a market.

"Hmm."

At the far end of the hall, which was vast enough to resemble a stadium, a woman lounged on an overly long chair that could barely be called a throne.

A platinum-haired woman dressed in a thin garment resembling sleepwear.

Her languid eyes, as though she might drift off at any moment, met mine.

"Are you the candidate I’ve heard rumors about?"

"......"

I had no idea what rumors she meant.

"Yes, I am Dale Han."

I gave a slight nod toward the Empress.

For a brief moment, Camellia's expression twisted slightly.

"...Candidate Dale. Kneel."

Elisha, like a loyal knight, tugged on my arm and dropped to one knee.

"My apologies. I’m unfamiliar with the Empire’s customs."

As I prepared to follow Elisha’s lead and kneel.

"Rise."

Camellia’s voice was low and calm.

"I am not so petty as to demand manners from the unlearned."

"......"

"Still… I only summoned one person. Who are you?"

Her gaze shifted to Professor Elisha.

"I am Elisha Baldwin, professor to Candidate Dale."

"Elisha… Elisha Baldwin… Ah, yes, I recall."

Camellia’s languid voice carried on.

"Are you the one they call the ‘Cursed Spider'?"

"I am ashamed to admit so."

"I heard you were from the Empire."

"I hail from a nameless rural village, nothing more."

"Hoho. It matters not whether you come from nobility or a humble background."

Camellia plucked a grape from a table beside her and popped it into her mouth.

"After all, everything in this world, save for me, is nothing more than insignificant vermin."

"......"

"In any case."

Camellia gestured toward Elisha with a tilt of her head.

"You are of no interest to me. Stand back."

"...Understood."

Elisha rose and moved to stand near the door.

"Now then... Dale Han, was it?"

"......"

I knew I was in the presence of the Empress, but her haughty and dismissive attitude toward Elisha, as if she were her servant, stoked an unshakable annoyance within me.

"...Yes."

Exhale.

Alright, let’s hold it in.

Patience. Just be patient.

"Hmm… Just looking at you, I’m not sure."

Camellia stared at me with drowsy eyes, then let out a yawn.

"It seems I’ll need to verify things with my own eyes, rather than relying on rumors."

"…Verify, you say?"

Snap.

Camellia snapped her fingers.

Rumble!

The hall shook as though an earthquake had struck, and knights clad in iron armor emerged from the floor.

The ironclad knights drew their swords and surrounded me in an instant.

"Now, let me see you perform for me."

Camellia tilted her head, her lips curled into a languid smile.

"…Hah."

I let out a deep sigh as I surveyed the iron knights surrounding me.

Whoosh.

I began to summon embers of ash as I glanced at the flustered Professor Elisha, who seemed unsure of what to do, and Camellia, who looked down at me with a smug gaze.

'A performance, huh?'

Alright, if that’s what you want, I’ll give you a performance.

One you’ll never forget.

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