Chapter 45

The awakening of the hero, which seemed to operate on hard mode as its default, was fraught with challenges from the very beginning.

Even after the hero appeared, he had no proper weapon to wield.

I scoured guides to uncover an Easter egg and discovered the location of the Holy Sword.

Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined it would be buried in an abandoned grave.

It must have been the developers’ cheeky challenge, thinking, “Who would ever dig here?”

But I couldn’t bear to hand Adam a blade that broke every other battle.

It would’ve been no different than sending a three-year-old armed with a fork to face the Demon King.

‘The Beloved Blade of Nermia.’

It was the Holy Sword I unearthed from the grave of the First Hero.

Nermia must have been the name of that first hero.

At first, Adam had hesitated at the idea of disturbing someone’s grave. However, when the Holy Sword was revealed after we dug it up, even he couldn’t hide his astonishment.

Despite being buried for over 500 years, the sword gleamed as if brand new, and just wiping the dirt off the blade with a handkerchief made it shine as though it could cut through stone.

After obtaining the Holy Sword, things went more smoothly in later playthroughs. But in the early rounds, without guides or hints, it had been hopeless.

Ordinary swords were nearly useless against monsters. They either broke against the creatures’ tough hides or corroded quickly from the miasma.

Before discovering the Holy Sword’s existence, the next best option had been to seek aid from the imperial palace.

It seemed logical to assume the imperial family, being wealthier than the temple, would provide a usable sword.

Thankfully, the Emperor had welcomed Adam with a grand banquet.

But oddly enough, every time Adam visited the imperial palace, he would meet an untimely death within days.

‘Your hero has lost consciousness.’

‘Your hero has met his demise.’

‘Would you like to start a new round?’

These dreadful messages haunted me endlessly.

Whether it was being ambushed with a blunt weapon the moment he left the palace or collapsing after suddenly vomiting blood, the result was always the same.

It became clear that this was an improper route, one that wasn’t meant to be taken. I’d reluctantly avoided it, detouring through other paths.

‘So avoiding the imperial family was the right choice?’

I let out a thoughtful hum, pondering the situation.

I wasn’t entirely certain yet.

What I did know for sure was that Adam distrusted the Emperor.

Adam’s judgments were usually sound, so I resolved to avoid any encounters with the Emperor as much as possible.

Not that I could meet the Emperor even if I wanted to.

As I sat idly, a chill began to creep over me. I stood and approached the brazier Adam had extinguished earlier, poking at it with a fire iron in search of lingering embers.

Just then, the dimly lit tent was suddenly flooded with light.

I squinted and shielded my eyes with my arm, wincing at the abrupt brightness.

Before I could fully adjust to the light or understand what was happening, someone stepped into the tent and barked out, “Show some respect! You’re in the presence of His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, maid of the hero!”

Blinking rapidly, I finally caught sight of a familiar face.

Amber eyes, staring at me with a mixture of disdain and mild amusement.

The man who stood before me was none other than the Emperor, the very same I had seen just minutes earlier.

Adam’s warning echoed in my mind: “Eve, you must be cautious around the Emperor. Never face him alone. Under any circumstances.”

‘But Warrior, what am I supposed to do if His Imperial Majesty comes to me directly?’

This wasn’t my fault.

Pale-faced, I did my best to mask my complicated emotions as I stood before the Emperor.

“Your Imperial Majesty, I greet you.”

I quickly bowed low, hoping to avoid any missteps.

The Emperor was a rare sight, even in-game.

Why would someone like him approach a mere extra like me?

“So, you’re the hero’s maid?”

The Emperor hummed, barely acknowledging my greeting before uttering this unexpected question.

His solemn voice resonated through the tent, making me feel like the ghost of Adam’s disapproval might appear and clutch its head in frustration.

But a mere maid had no authority to ask the Emperor to leave, let alone force him out.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Though unworthy, I serve by the hero’s side to assist him.”

“Hmm…”

The Emperor’s golden eyes raked over me, appraising me not as a person, but as though inspecting the quality of an object.

Every spot his gaze lingered sent chills crawling over my skin.

It felt as though a snake was slithering over my body. I shivered involuntarily but forced my expression to remain composed, reminding myself of where I was.

“Interesting.”

The Emperor’s cryptic remark left me even more uneasy as he turned to leave.

I was just about to let out a sigh of relief when his gaze landed on the extinguished brazier.

I saw him click his tongue softly in disapproval.

“Phew…”

Even after the Emperor left, I stood frozen in place, unable to move. Only after several minutes of silence and the fading of his footsteps did I collapse into a nearby chair.

The fur lining the seat, likely made from animal hides, felt soft against my skin.

“What on earth just happened?”

I couldn’t say for sure if the Emperor was as dangerous as Adam had warned, but I instinctively felt uneasy. He was the first person I’d ever encountered who made me want to avoid him entirely.

Come to think of it, the Emperor must be Eudis’s father.

‘They’re alike… but not quite.’

Their sharply arched eyes were similar, but their atmospheres were completely different.

Eudis gave the impression of someone consciously trying to soften her imposing demeanor. The Emperor, on the other hand, was the opposite—deliberately exuding a regal and untouchable aura that repelled anyone from approaching.

It was as though he refused to let anyone challenge his authority.

Recalling the Emperor sent another shiver down my spine, compelling me to step outside the tent.

The memory of his gaze lingering in the tent made me feel unsettled, and I needed some fresh air.

‘Surely the Emperor won’t come back again, right?’

Like a cautious meerkat, I darted my eyes left and right, scanning for any sign of the Emperor.

Fortunately, he seemed to have lost interest in the empty tent and vanished without looking back.

Still, the unsettling sensation lingered on my skin. I rubbed my arms to chase away the goosebumps.

And that’s when it happened.

“Hey.”

“Ahh!”

Startled, I let out a small scream as a rough voice called out, followed by a hand gripping my shoulder.

My legs nearly gave out beneath me, but I managed to turn around, forcing myself to stay upright.

For a moment, I thought it was the Emperor again.

But it was someone slightly different.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”

My eyes widened as I recognized him.

“What are you doing here? And where’s the hero?”

 

 

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