The Encounter Between the Forsaken Healing Magic’s Beloved Child and the Betrayed Black Dragon Princess of Calamity - 53-54

Chapter 53: The Emperor’s Attitude

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“I see… In that case, there’s no reason to let her live.”

“Eek! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!”

The moment Mer-san glared at her with her crimson eyes, Madam Polke, who had been acting so brazenly, screamed and collapsed. She was frothing at the mouth. The soldiers rolled Lady Polke’s limp body forward and placed it before us. They must be doing so in hope to offer her as a sacrifice in exchange for their life. 

“Now then… Gil-kun, what fate shall we bestow upon this woman? We can tear her limbs one by one, bind her to a tree branch and leave her as bird feed. Would that suffice?”

“Or I could douse her in my acidic breath. We can leave her body so grotesque that no one in this world could recognize her. This filthy thing deserves the ultimate punishment, right?”

“Oh my~ That does sound delightful.”

Hearing Elsa-san’s suggestion, Mer-san smirked. Meanwhile, Conrad-san, who had been listening nearby, wore a conflicted expression. As a knight commander and warrior, he had always defeated his opponents honorably. It was evident that such torturous punishments were against his principles. Amidst this, I…

“Umm… Would it be alright if I leave Madam Polke’s fate to you, Mer-san? I really couldn’t care less about what happens to her.”

To be honest, I wanted to get my revenge on Madam Polke for everything she had done to me over the past ten years. But deep down, I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it properly and would probably end up doing nothing at all.

“I’m sorry for asking something so cruel… I’m so awful for asking Mer-san to do this, huh?”

Lowering my gaze, I whispered to Mer-san. Of course, I honestly didn’t care about Madam Polke… No. I couldn’t care less about the fate of everyone here. Whatever Mer-san did would essentially be an extension of my own actions. Even if all the sins would make me go down to hell after I died, I would accept it without complaint. Besides, in the end, Mer-san would be the one who had to dirty her hands. If I couldn’t handle something this simple… That would make me so pathetic. 

“Fufu~ What are you talking about, Gil-kun? Your pain is my pain. Your wound is my wound. Your sadness is my sadness. Therefore, your anger is my anger. That’s why, of course it is only natural for me to personally bring fear and despair upon this trash.”

“Bu-But…”

“That’s why… There’s nothing for you to worry about, Gil-kun. Though I know someone as kind as you could never stop worrying, but that’s precisely why I will embrace all of your feelings and deliver judgment upon these wretched humans myself.”

Mer-san smiled gently as she spoke.

Why… Why does this woman care so deeply about me? Why is she always prioritizing my happiness…?

“Mer-san… Thank you… so much.”

“AH… Fufu~ You’re welcome.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, I wrapped my arms tightly around Mer-san’s neck and she narrowed her eyes in response. And at that exact moment…

“We’ve found the Emperor! He’s inside the palace!”

A soldier shouted loud enough for everyone present to hear.

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“Y-you scoundrels! I am Friedrich Furst Hylics, the Emperor of the Hylics Empire!!”

Friedrich, the emperor who I once believed to be my father, was brought before us. He was bound with ropes by the soldiers. 

“That said, how boring. Earlier, we already captured…. Uhh… What’s his name again…”

“A man who claimed to be the second prince of the Hylics Empire, Gunther.”

“Yes. Him. Ah, I really can’t be bothered to remember the names of trash.”

Hearing Elsa-san’s explanation, Mer-san waved her hand dismissively. Still, their similar reactions made it clear that the two were indeed parent and child. When I thought about it, maybe I wasn’t Emperor Friedrich’s child after all and to be honest… I would be happier to know I wasn’t his actual child. 

“Now then… Conrad. This… Thing. He claimed to be the king of this country. Is he really the king that you’ve met before?”

“That is right. His appearance matches with the individual Elsa and I have encountered.”

I could never forget that face. Over three months ago, he had ordered me to be abandoned in the Dark Forest, without so much as glancing at me. And yet—

Why…?

I felt nothing toward Emperor Friedrich. No anger, no hatred, no sadness, no regret, no bitterness—nothing at all.

“Gil-kun, may I dispose of this so-called king as well?

“Huh? A-ah, yes.”

I shouldn’t have spaced out. Something was bothering my mind, but either way, this was the reason why we had come all the way here. There was no reason to hesitate.

“Wai-Wait! Before you do anything, please grant me one promise! I don’t care what happens to my life, but please… Spare the people here… No, the citizens of Hylics!”

“Eh…?”

Why would someone like Emperor Friedrich, who had cast me aside without so much as batting an eyelash, say something so selfless like that? Maybe he really valued the people who tormented me for ten years more than his own son?

“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you really think you can be forgiven after causing so much pain to Gil-kun?! You will all atone for your sins with your lives!”

“””-?!?!”””

Mer-san’s enraged roar shook the air across the imperial capital. The faces of the humans prostrating on the ground were painted with fear.

All except for Emperor Friedrich.

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Chapter 54: The One Who Appeared Was the Beloved Child of the Goddess

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“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you really think you can be forgiven after causing so much pain to Gil-kun?! You will all atone for your sins with your lives!”

“””-?!?!”””

Mer-san’s enraged roar shook the air across the imperial capital. The faces of the humans prostrating on the ground were painted with fear.

All except for Emperor Friedrich.

“Young Master Gil.”

“Conrad-san…?”

Conrad-san approached me and said to me. 

“That man… He’s completely different from the person he was a month ago.”

By “that man,” Conrad-san undoubtedly meant Emperor Friedrich. According to Conrad-san and Elsa-san, when they met him a month ago, the Emperor had been trembling in fear and wailing at the sight of them. But now… Emperor Friedrich carried himself with an almost unsettling confidence.

“Mer-san, I’m grateful you’re angry on my behalf, but let’s try to play along with Emperor Friedrich for now.”

I whispered and Mer-san nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Now, what could Emperor Friedrich’s true intentions be?

“The anger you harbor is justified! However, as one who stands at the pinnacle of dragons, you must also consider the peace of the people! Surely, you can find some merit in my words!”

“The people? What nonsense. I have no people to protect. Dragons are my enemies, and humans who scorned Gil-kun are all my enemies as well. The only one who matters is Gil-kun.”

“Ugh…!”

Emperor Friedrich grimaced, clearly unprepared for that response. He must be hoping to entice Mer-san’s heart as a ruler, but that approach had utterly backfired on him.  After all, to Mer-san, the dragons had been nothing more than traitors.

“Is that all you have to say? If so, then die already.”

“Wai-Wait! Then… Dragon! What is it that you desire?”

“Your death.”

The exchange between Mer-san and Emperor Friedrich was completely at odds. Still, Mer-san was humoring my suggestion, choosing to speak with him calmly. I had been observing the Emperor’s behavior and yeah, he was acting kind of odd. 

“Conrad-san.”

When I called his name, Conrad-san nodded lightly and stepped forward.

“Hahaha!! A month ago, you were crying and wetting yourself in disgrace. And now? Not a single one of your usual cohorts is in sight! Have you chosen to submit to us instead?!”

Conrad-san said mockingly. He was trying to provoke the Emperor. As an emperor, Friedrich should value dignity and pride above all. Without those, he would lose the respect of his subjects and his authority as a ruler.

How will he respond to Conrad-san’s teasing?

“That may be so! But even if I’ve chosen to submit, I’m still the Emperor of the Hylics Empire! Thus, even if I stand alone, I shall fall forward for the sake of the Empire… No, for the sake of its people!”

Hearing this only confirmed my suspicions—something was amiss. Could it be… An impostor? No, the face was unmistakably that of the Emperor I knew. Even Gunther, who had been trembling earlier, was now gazing at the Emperor with admiration. And yet…

“…【Flamme】.”

I clasped my right hand with my left, chanting dragon magic.

A blue-white fireball ignited and shot toward Emperor Friedrich, who stood before Mer-san. And then…

The fireball struck him directly, its immense heat melting the earth and stone, leaving behind a gaping crater.

“””E-EEEEEEEEKK?!?!”””

Screams erupted from the soldiers and palace servants surrounding us, including Gunther, who witnessed his own father perish under my dragon magic.

“G-Gil-kun…”

“Mer-san, that Emperor Friedrich must be an imposter. No mere human could remain composed in front of you, especially when you’re this enraged.”

It was clear that the man who had been struck by my dragon magic was most likely a body double. No human could remain calm in front of Mer-san, the strongest dragon.

Which means—

“Mer-san! Conrad-san! Elsa-san! Head to the sky immediately!”

“-!? Understood!”

At my command, Mer-san and the others ascended swiftly to the sky and then…

“How cruel… Here I was trying to rescue you from that wicked dragon, and you repay me by attacking with magic?”

“-?!”

A man was looking up at us. There was no doubt about it. That man must be the one who had been impersonating Emperor Friedrich.

“Who are you…?”

“Me? My name is Bredelin Scheler. Just like you, I am a Goddess’ Beloved Child.”

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