By the time Hyeonu had entered the great hall, the emperor had just buried himself in the throne.
âThere is a problem in the East Continent, right? It is unfortunate.â
The emperor brought out surprising words in a low voice. The attack of the god tribe on the East Continentâthe news had already reached the emperor.
âHow far do his eyes and ears reach...?â
Hyeonu smiled bitterly. He couldnât get used to it no matter how many times he went through it.
âJust as we invaded the demon world... the divine world, to be precise, the god tribe has invaded the middle world. I think you can understand it that way, Your Majesty.â
Hyeonu approached the emperor carefully and held out a rolled up piece of paper. It was a letter from the old emperor of the Yuxin Empire. The emperor stretched out his hand toward Hyeonu. The letter in Hyeonuâs hand was naturally sucked into the emperorâs grasp.
âThe god tribe? The identity of the invaders was the god tribe? Then it wonât be easy to stop.â
The emperor hummed and smacked his lips together.
âIs he trying to move somewhere else again?â
âThey will need support, but... Your Majesty canât go, right?â
Hyeonu quickly wiped out the emperorâs ambition.
âBoth the nobles and the Yuxin Empire wonât welcome it. It is the same for me.â
The emperorâs move wouldnât be desired by anyone except the emperor himself.
âWe have made an alliance, so we should help. They donât have many adventurers like us, so it will be harder...â
The emperor noticed Hyeonuâs intentions and smiled slightly. He was smiling on the outside, but it wasnât known what he was feeling on the inside.
âIt is also ambiguous to send the knights. The knights wonât be welcomed there. There will also likely be a backlash with the nobles.â
The emperor dragged out what he wanted to say.
âIt is clear that there will be a backlash. There arenât many knights with the skills to fight the god tribe. For example, assuming that the Knights of Keon are dispatched... isnât it obvious what they will say?â Hyeonu pretended not to know and agreed with the emperorâs words.
âThere is no way they can let it go quietly. In the end, the only option left are the adventurers. I have to send them with the promise of decent rewards.â
âThat isnât possible, Your Majesty. The threat from the north isnât over yet. We never know when the undead will strike again. I donât think there is a need to overdo it in this situation and force the adventurers out.â
âThen what is Duke Gang Hyeonu thinking?â
The emperor removed his back from the throne and leaned his body closer to Hyeonu.
âThere is no need to use rewards to send the adventurers to the East Continent. The adventurers who are going to go there will move on their own. They have very sensitive noses.â
The players, especially the large guilds, were like hyenas. A place that attracted peopleâs attention or a place that gave moneyâthey always appeared like ghosts in such places. Such large guilds would take care of it without the emperor giving orders. It was for the viewersâ attention.
âIf that is what you say, then it must be so. Duke, you are more of an expert than me when it comes to adventurers. Isnât that right?â
The emperor wasnât offended by Hyeonuâs words. He matched it in moderation and waited for Hyeonuâs next words.
âThe combat power of the god tribe is similar to the demons. It is better to have one solid, skilled person than a decent one.â
Hyeonu started gently tossing the bait.
âThere is no need to make any sacrifices. Duke, will you go then?â
The emperor naturally asked about Hyeonuâs bait as if he knew nothing.
âIn my opinion, I will also help the Yuxin Empire. However, that will only be after the danger in the north has ended to some extent.â
Hyeonu had no intention of intervening in the war in the East Continent. There was a lot of work to be done.
âHonestly, I donât want to waste time doing this, but...â
Raccoonâs share in his future plans wasnât low, so he had to run like this.
âYour Majesty, in my opinion, it is best to send my teacher, Duke Lebron. Wouldnât it be better for him to slack off in the East Continent than to slack off in the demon world?â
âYes. In any case, he is someone who will just train. He should be used in this way.â
The emperor smiled. This was exactly what he was waiting for. It was something he wanted to say, but couldnât bring out.
Letâs send Lebron.
âIf Your Majesty permits, I will speak personally to Duke Lebron.â
Hyeonu also smiled. Things were going as planned.
âI wonât send a separate letter. It will be the same whether I send it or not.â
Lebron would definitely complain if Hyeonu went to visit him in person, but he wouldnât think that Hyeonuâs words were a lie. The weight of the emperorâs orders were too heavy to be dismissed as a joke.
âI will try to come to the imperial palace as soon as possible. Your Majesty.â
Hyeonu left the great hall with a bright smile.
***
âReturn.â
Hyeonu left the great hall and headed to the demon world. Once he had to do something, he shouldnât hesitate and should act immediately. Thus, he planned to get things done in one go.
âIt will only bother me if I drag it out.â
In any case, he would have to go sooner or later, even if it wasnât now. If that was the case, it was better to finish this before doing anything else.
âWhere will he be...?â
Now Hyeonu was in Etono. He didnât know where Lebron and John Blake were.
âWonât he be in Blanc?â
Blancâa city ruled by Rubolle, who was killed by John Blake, and the city where John Blake now reigned. They were most likely there. It was probably the city that John Blake was most familiar with.
âReturn.â
[The Blanc Return Stone has been used.]
[Moving to Blanc.]
[Current number of uses remaining: 5/6]
[Remaining time to charge it once is 5 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds.]
Hyeonu arrived at Blanc and moved without hesitation. He stood in the middle of the street and walked quickly. None of the demons touched Hyeonu. No, they walked away from both ends of the street.
This had happened before, but now it was even worse than back then. The demon godâs temple, that had sucked up magic power like a leech, had disappeared. The growth of the demons and demonic creatures had accelerated, but Hyeonuâs growth was even steeper.
âIt isnât that bad to see something like this...â
Hyeonu walked leisurely through the open streets. He walked without a single obstacle and quickly reached the huge gates. John Blakeâs residence was right inside the gates. Hyeonu arrived in front of the castle gates and commanded the demon guards, âOpen the door.â
âThis is the castle of John, demon king of sloth. The visitorâs identity...â
The demon guard inquired about Hyeonuâs status according to the principles, but this attempt didnât reach the end. It was because the demon guard standing next to him blocked his mouth.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIâm sorry.â
Another demon guard appeared and bowed deeply to Hyeonu. Hyeonu was terrifying to anyone who saw him. It was a priority not to touch him. The thick gates were opened. Hyeonu waved lightly at the demon guard and quickly entered the castle.
âBased on the way they are sending me... he must be here?â
Hyeonu passed through the gates while feeling convinced that John Blake was in Blanc due to the actions of the demon guards. It felt like he had succeeded in catching them. From then on, Hyeonuâs pace became very fast. He was hopeful that the work would be over soon.
âTheyâre here, theyâre here.â
Hyeonu was delighted when he saw two humans in the distance.
Lebron and John Blakeâthe two people were standing there and talking.
âTeacher!â
Hyeonu ran toward Lebron and John Blake.
âWhat have you come to gain this time? This greedy disciple.â
Lebron frowned when he saw Hyeonu running toward him. He was someone who believed that no news was good news. It was a burden for Hyeonu to visit so often. No, it was unsettling. He didnât know what nonsense Hyeonu was going to say this time.
âWhat am I gaining, Teacher? You canât say hello as soon as you see me. Iâm disappointed, disappointed.â
Hyeonu made a bitter expression.
âI will ask again. What is going on this time?â Lebron repeated the question without paying attention to the change in Hyeonuâs expression.
âHis Majesty is looking for you right now. There is an order to go to the imperial palace immediately.â
Hyeonu lightly sold the emperorâs name. There was no hesitation because he wasnât lying in the first place.
âMe? Why? For what reason?â
However, that was only for Hyeonu. Lebron asked several questions the moment he heard the emperor was looking for him.
âWhy donât you hear about it directly from Your Majesty?â
âWhat nonsense is this? You dare to sell your teacher?â
Lebron quickly approached like a ghost and grabbed Hyeonuâs arm.
âNonsense? It is an imperial order. If you have any questions, you can ask His Majesty directly, Teacher.â
Hyeonu smiled and removed Lebronâs hand with his free hand.
âAdditionally, arenât you living freely? Anyone who saw it would think you are retired?â Hyeonu added.
This made Lebron feel uncomfortable. He was already in an annoyed state and Hyeonu poured oil on the flames.
âLiving freely? Retirement?â
If this was the case, he really couldnât wish for anything more. However, reality was different. Not so long ago, he was preparing for the battle against the guardians. It was more appropriate to say he practiced intensely rather than that he rested comfortably.
Just then, John Blake interjected from where he was silently listening to Hyeonu and Lebronâs conversation, âStop it. Do you plan to fight with your disciple? I also donât think there is anything wrong with it. Why are you angry? If His Majesty calls, then you should go. Are you going to reject an imperial order now?â
John Blakeâs sudden participation in the conversation quickly suppressed Lebronâs anger.
âIf you want to retire, then raise a great successor. It is just like I raised you.â
Lebron sighed at John Blakeâs words.
âThat... doesnât it take too long?â
âAm I the only one who can do it? Be patient.â
It was Hyeonu who intervened in the conversation this time.
âI have clearly conveyed His Majestyâs words.â
Hyeonu folded his back in a bow and said goodbye to Lebron politely. Then he immediately turned around and exited the castle. Lebron sighed at the back of the disappearing Hyeonu.
***
Hyeonu left the castle and immediately tried to return to the middle world. He had a place he needed to go to. However, Hyeonu couldnât return to the middle world.
âYou should say hello when you come. Why are you just leaving?â
Someoneâs voice was heard from right behind Hyeonu. Hyeonu naturally turned his head. It was natural for anyone to do so. Anyone who heard a voice behind their backs would act to identify the owner of the voice.
Hyeonu turned his head and saw a purple-haired man standing there. âCallioraks?â