The Archmage’s Restaurant

# 154

Chapter.36 Hibiren Flowers and Concert

“Not really…” .”

Duke Delian looked at Count Michel as if he was annoyed. Count Michel, who saw the gesture, placed his hand on the Gray boy’s shoulder and opened his mouth.

“I’ll explain that.”

“Thank you for that.”

“You are well aware that the Capital Concert is held on a huge scale, right?”

“yes. “I know it very well.”

“A concert is not a dreamy place to compete with one’s playing skills.”

“yes? then… ?”

“Of course, it was meant to be that way in the beginning. But over the course of hundreds of years, it developed in a different direction.”

“You mean the other way?”

The Gray boy suddenly felt dizzy.

It is a fact known to all citizens of the empire that a concert is a competition and a winner is chosen.

However, Count Michel was completely denying that fact.

“Winning the concert means a lot. As the great nobles meet and take turns to keep the imperial power in check, His Majesty is given full authority to control half of the central army of the empire, and winning the concert has a lot to do with it.”

The Gray boy’s eyes widened.

Imperial Central Army. Imperial Army for short.

It actually meant the military power of the empire.

The dukes’ duchies naturally include military power. Gray City also has a military force, including guards.

When war breaks out, this military power is gathered under the command of the duke it belongs to.

This is the local army.

However, the central army refers to the imperial army directly subordinate to the emperor and is the general name for the imperial military power that oversees border defense and capital defense.

Thanks to this corps created by the first emperor to strengthen the imperial power of the empire, the military power of the great nobles in the empire was limited to the lowest level.

The number of soldiers that can be recruited from the territory is only enough to guard the city.

Military power is concentrated in the central army.

And there is no margrave.

The defense of the border is handled by the central army. Therefore, like other general feudal countries, there is no system that recognizes the increase in military power limited to the marquis in the border region.

However, since then, as the imperial power continued to weaken, half of the central army was delegated to one of the great nobles for one year each in order to keep the imperial power in check.

They will have the right to appoint their vassals to key positions in the military.

Since the captain who commands the soldiers becomes his vassal, his power of check is powerful.

This central army is the army that was conscripted and rolled over and over again when El was first transferred to this world.

It was this central army that held key positions after becoming a wizard.

And there was only one exception to this secret division of the central army, which had been dividing the central army into two halves for hundreds of years, and that was El.

When the Dragon War broke out.

The emperor and dukes were entrusted with full military authority over the central army. It was the first and last time that a unanimous military commander was established.

In any case, this system was created with the purpose of preventing the emperor from taking control of the army and becoming a tyrant.

And concerts played a pivotal role in this system.

It was natural for the Gray boy to feel dizzy after hearing that fact.

After finishing his explanation, Count Michel turned the conversation back to the concert. This part was actually the most important to Count Michel and Duke Delian. That’s why Count Michel’s voice became a little lower.

“So, the winner of the concert will control half of the military power from the faction to which he belongs. Since the dukes are trying to gain military power, there must be a drawing standard that they can understand, but competing for radishes is too barbaric and it is meaningless to take turns doing it. So it’s Legana. Legana is the only one that is cultured and elegant, worthy of our nobility. They are selected based on their skills. But what about your territory, which is neither an imperial territory, nor a duchy, nor a marquisal territory, but is merely a reserve for distribution? Of course, as an independent player, you will not be eligible to participate. “Because the winner of the concert comes only from within the 4th Duke’s sphere of influence.”

So what about Verna?

It belonged to the Marquis. But last place.

It was said that Count Dedran was involved.

Did they make it last place with the intention of crushing the Count Gray family in the preliminaries instead of evaluating them based on their skills?

It could be because the power of the Marquis’ forces is so weak. There will be some influence of power rather than 100% pure ability.

The Gray boy took a deep breath.

However, Duke Delian called Berna simply dirty.

Even though I know the whole situation, I just say it’s dirty.

Can we properly serve such a person? No, would such a person be able to properly care for Gracey?

Absolutely not.

I was sure of that much.

***

The Gray boy shook his head as he recalled what had happened in the mansion.

What choice should you make?

I can’t even participate like this.

Scolding his own foolishness, the Gray boy walked with heavy steps in front of the rented mansion.

Since it is not as well soundproofed as Yeongju Castle, you can vaguely hear the sound of Verna playing.

The more I did, the heavier my steps became.

***

capital.

Also the capital of the empire.

It’s not even new anymore.

The reason I came to the capital this time was to meet the emperor.

Well, since I left the capital to retire, it is true that the only reason I need to come is if I want something from the most powerful person in the country.

Still, it was frequent enough to make you wonder if it was true that he had retired.

Well, life has times like this and times like that.

“Why are you splitting it up like that? “It’s stupid.”

“Did you feel stupid just now?”

Nod.

Lurin nods strongly instead of answering.

He’s hanging on my arm and shaking his head at zero distance.

“Maybe it’s because of you that I lose the hair on the back of my head and look even more stupid.”

“right. “You’re stupid.”

“Yumma! Who’s stupid? “If you keep doing that, I’ll shave your head off too?”

“hate! I absolutely hate it. Can not be done! “Not just anyone can cut their hair!”

Lurin looked as if she had encountered a bandit who told her to give up everything she wore from head to toe. He holds his head in both hands and looks at me with a wary expression.

“You can control it anyway, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Why, has this great being become fully human these days?”

“Hehehe, well, that doesn’t matter. No, humans cannot!”

Lurin coolly replied that it wouldn’t matter if she became human and smiled, but then suddenly began to look straight.

“Why not just say it doesn’t matter?”

“Wherever you are, I can’t catch up with you any time soon. “You must be able to use teleportation!”

“Are you a stalker?”

“stalker?”

“There is something like that.”

“I don’t know what it is, but it seems like a great being like me. “The stalker thing.”

“no… Absolutely not. “I would say it’s the opposite.”

“you.”

“huh?”

“I’m kind of angry!”

Lulin turned his head and began to walk forward with strides. So I walked in the opposite direction and then suddenly turned towards me again.

“Uuuuu!”

Then he pounded the ground with his left foot, puffed out his cheeks, and eventually came running next to me. It was a rebellion that lasted less than two seconds.

“By the way, why is it taking so long?”

“Annoying. That human wizard. Plus the emperor. If you want to receive this body, you have to run or something!”

Well, what you are saying is correct.

Of course, in this case, since we have come secretly and the emperor does not know that we have come, it makes no sense to welcome us.

On the contrary, isn’t that enough treatment since I am probably the only person in the world who can confidently invade without the emperor calling?

A moment later, Medrine hurriedly jumped up from under the magic tower. These days, Medrine feels a bit like my butler.

“Today, His Majesty is in the study of the imperial palace.”

“okay? “Would you please guide me quietly?”

“all right!”

Unlike the last time, where they made a fuss about catching the assassin under the guidance of a struggling Medrine, they were able to arrive in front of the emperor very peacefully.

There is only one purpose for coming to the emperor.

For hibiren flowers.

It’s for Sally’s well-being.

I don’t believe in reincarnation or anything like that, but I still wanted to do what I could and pray for the child’s well-being.

Even if the probability is one in a trillion, if the legend is true and someday when we have children, if Celie’s soul is with us, wouldn’t it be a truly happy thing?

According to Sereina’s report, the Hibiren flower for that purpose was stored in the imperial palace’s treasury.

If a rare item is discovered on the continent, it is bound to be presented to the imperial palace, so the possibility that Serena’s report was true was quite high.

I don’t know what kind of entertainment she enjoyed, but she says she spent time in the imperial palace, so I guess I’ll have a chance to hear about that later.

The Imperial Palace and Serena.

I feel like her glamorous and sly-like side suits her well.

I confidently entered the study with Medrine. Because Medrine had already told the Emperor, there were no soldiers to stop us.

“I feel like I see you too often. your majesty.”

“Have you finally decided to rule over this country?”

The emperor, who was looking through several old books in his study, got up from his chair and greeted all of his attendants. When the door closed, the emperor came to Lulin and bowed.

“Emperor of humans. “You seem to ignore us too much.”

“Is that possible?”

But still, Lulin seemed to be displeased with something and grumbled at the emperor.

Thanks to this, an honorific word comes out of the mouth of the surprised emperor. The emperor has no choice but to feel shabby in front of a dragon that surpasses humans.

In particular, the current emperor has experienced the Dragon War, so he is not the kind of person who would go on a rampage and go on a rampage to catch a dragon that reigns over humans.

It is said that there have been several cases in the history of this world where a country collapsed.

“Bow down to El too. El is greater than me.”

What I didn’t like about Rurin was how she treated me. The look in his eyes is intense, as if he is annoyed that I am being ignored.

“Of course I think so.”

The emperor took Lulin’s words as if they were obvious and looked at me.

“But he said he didn’t like it.”

“You?”

Lulin turns his head and looks at me. I shrugged my shoulders and agreed.

“Is that so?”

“There’s a reason for everything. Thank you, but please stay back for now. “Our Lulin.”

“Hunya.”

Lulin turned his head. Then, as if his interest in the emperor had cooled, he quickly ran towards the study and started pulling out books here and there.

It’s not like I’ve been here once or twice, so what’s new?

Well, it’s not a bad feeling just because you don’t like your man being ignored.

“By the way, I came here today to get some help.”

“What if it’s help?”

“I heard that there is a rare item called the hibiren flower stored in the imperial palace treasury. I would appreciate it if you could just keep it and give it to me if it is a useless item. “I will pay the full price.”