Lionel knocked on the Emperor's bedchamber, but there was no answer from within.

'Knock again, and if there is no answer, we will go in.
What do you have in mind?
Yes, sir.

　Lionel said and took the great shield out of his magic bag.
''You don't think you're going to go in with the Great Shield at the ready when you don't know what's out there?
Yes. I thought this would be the least amount of damage. I apologize to Luciel-sama, but may I ask for an area barrier once again?

　The word "little damage" stuck with me.
　The usual Lionel would be a more dynamic yet somehow smart-looking battle maniac (battle junkie), but this time, I felt that the character of the maniac had faded.

''I don't know what's going on inside. That's not enough, is it?
　I hung the area barrier and activated the sanctuary armor on top of it, just in case.
''This is for that time ... thank you. Now the gloom is gone.''
　For some reason, Lionel felt nervous at this point.

'I still have a lot to learn from Lionel. Besides, if something happens to Lionel, we can't face Nahlia. So what should we do?
''I'd like to ask Luciel-sama to set up a ward over here and see what's going on inside before activating additional sanctuary wards.
　The instructions are calm itself, so maybe they were unfounded.
''Alright. It looks like I won't be using my magic power after this place is over, and I intend to use it with the intention of depleting it, so let me know if you get hurt in any way.

'Thank you. Keti, Kefin, and Esther, if there is a battle, make sure you protect Lady Luciel and Paula.
No, that's not enough. I will definitely protect Master Lionel this time, even if it costs me my life.
　I was a little surprised that Ketty didn't end the word with a 'me', but I quickly corrected her, as it was an unheard-of word.

"I'm not going to let any of my people die where I am, so don't say I'm going to trade my life for yours. So don't tell me that you would trade your life for mine.
I'm sorry.
'Ketty. Unlike then, you're in the company of people you can really trust now, so keep your heart hot and your head cool.
Yes my dear.
　Apparently Lionel doesn't seem to have a problem with it.
　Or maybe he's cooled off after seeing Ketty.
　Now I'll be able to focus on the mission assigned to me by Lionel with peace of mind.

''Kefin and Estia, but we can't deny the possibility that there are soldiers who haven't turned into demons. So act as if the wards aren't there.
"Yes.
'Paula will have to have a golem created in the worst case scenario. I'll give her this magic stone from the lab, just in case. Just in case you have to deal with it, please.
I'm on a mission.
　With a smile on his face, he received the magic stone from Lionel with a cherished look.

''You didn't tell me you had a magic stone?''
No.
'No it's not that... haha - enough is enough. Lionel, I'd appreciate it if you could be as reckless as possible.
　I look at Paula, who turned her face away from me with a puissant look, and I can't say anything.
　I'm sure this is also a strategy........
''I will do good.''
　Lionel laughed and bowed his head, then knocked on the door of the Emperor's bedchamber once more.

　And with no response, Lionel tried to open the door and didn't.
　Apparently, it was the same trick that was used for the door in the underground laboratory.
''........Luciel-sama, I'm sorry, but.......''
"[Dispel]
Thank you.
　The moment Lionel regained his composure and opened the door to his sleeping quarters, the miasma erupted. But that wasn't the only thing.

　The miasma is the same color as the dense miasma and spears made of dark-attribute magic flew in.
　I thought that all the spears that flew were blocked by the sanctuary ward, but they actually penetrated the sanctuary ward and concentrated on Lionel.
　Perhaps it was because they confirmed the penetrating spears, but all at once, those who had turned into the demon race fell prey to the sanctuary ward as they tried to jump into Lionel, and there were those who scorched themselves in the pale flames and those who looked at the sanctuary ward with abhorrence.

''Are you alright?''
　While confirming that there were more than ten spears flying at the count, I worry about my injuries, but Lionel immediately nodded and replied.

''Of course. It seems that the magic power of the dark attribute was clothed in the spear, but the dark attribute disappeared with the sanctuary ward and it was just a thrown spear. I'm not so pliable in my training as to be injured by that degree.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find the best way to get a good deal more information about the miasma.

　The miasma is a miasma that is not only a miasma, but also a very serious disease.
　The miasma is not only a miasma, but it is also a miasma that can be used for a variety of purposes.

''Even in this place.........''
　Perhaps it was because of the purification wave, the Evil Plant was shaking violently.
　I immediately activated a purification spell to surround the Evil Plant with a sanctuary ward to burn it, and then Kefin and Keti jumped out from beside me.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about the fact that you're not the only one.


　There were about ten demonized soldiers in the sleeping quarters, but they were either purified by the purifying flames or suffered from being overpowered by the hands of Kefin and Keti.
　And as for Lionel, he was facing a man in his mid-forties, dressed in fancy armor.

''It's been a long time, Your Majesty. I am pleased to see that you are in good health.
　Lionel bowed his head lightly, reverently and alertly.
　Apparently, that was the emperor, which was fine.

'Humph. I didn't think you'd really come back to life and appear before me again, Lionel.
　The emperor looked at Lionel with an abhorrent look and told him so.
　........It seems that the emperor wasn't being manipulated.

　Lionel may have sensed this, and the strength from his shoulders slipped away as if he was somehow depressed.
''Your Majesty, I've always wanted to ask you something. Did Your Majesty even try to have me assassinated by using my son?
You noticed. Then you know the answer to that question, don't you?
I would like to hear it from your own mouth.
　Boringly, the emperor told him this, but Lionel asked the emperor again, as if to push aside a lot of emotions.

'Well then I'll tell you. Simply because you were in the way no, you have always been in the way, Lionel. I am the supreme ruler of the Empire. But you have made your name known both at home and abroad to such an extent that it has blurred my vision.
''...............................You cut me off for just that?
"That's all you've got to say"?　That's reason enough!　Everyone, even the former emperor, valued you more than his son, me. That's why they've always hated you.
　It was complete jealousy, but if it was from his childhood, it would have been a pretty deep-rooted problem.

　So why hadn't he dropped his hand until Lionel had risen to the rank of General and made his position a solid one... oh, right!　The former emperor made Lionel a general?
　That would make sense.

''Then the promise you made after the Coming of Age Ceremony, when there were still a number of small nations, the promise you made that you would be the emperor and establish a land of peace for the emperor and his people, and that I would be the protector of the country against foreign enemies. The promise is....
You actually believed in that kind of promise. It was just an excuse to send you off to war. The queen-to-be was very fond of you at the time. I had to do a lot of things to get him to give up on you.
What is ... manipulation?
"The small nations still surrounding the Empire at the time were getting noisy, so I made some recommendations to the former Emperor to get you to act.
....
　Lionel couldn't open his mouth anymore.
He said, "I sent you to war and to the front lines to have you killed when you were just coming of age because of your prowess, and you came back with great success. I've sent you to many unfavorable battlefields after that, and you've come back with great success, and the Empire has continued to win in the process.
　Why is this irresistible frustration when we're being told about the Lionel saga?

'The former emperor's elevation to the rank of general in honour of your achievements was so infuriating to me that I decided to ask him to step down. Therefore, I have decided to gain the support of my people by having the former emperor step down as my emperor and administer the good government. But the people already had more faith in you than in me.
　Did they assassinate the former emperor.......was the inside of the empire already in considerable disarray?　But still, if the Emperor had recognized Lionel and taken his hand, how great a country would it have been?

　Lionel shook his head from side to side when he heard the emperor's words.
''That is not true. Since the former emperor's collapse, His Majesty has been committed to the people and has been taking direction from the people.''
''Of course. I've done what I needed to do as emperor, distributing the medicine developed by the Medicine Master's Guild and the country to the people who had broken their bodies, bringing the nobles who were doing whatever they wanted to justice.
　Was it a distortion of the emperor that he didn't think it was a good idea?
'I've been looking for an opportunity for a long time, but that opportunity never came. Until someone claiming to be a reincarnation came along.
　At the emperor's words, a powerful shock rushed through his body, as if he had confronted an evil god.