Murderous Emperor’s Inconvenient Behavior

A lovely mansion located a short distance from the Grizemen Royal Palace.

Soldiers in silver armor encircled the residence a few days earlier. They kept a strict guard, their looks dismal even when they saw a single passing ant.

The inside of the home seemed serene in comparison to the outside.

Knock, knock, knock.

Elliot coughed once in vain before entering.

Eiden had leaned against a window. A lovely woodland and the broad fields surrounding it could be viewed from the window.

“Your Majesty.”

Eiden did not react despite his call.

“Should I prepare for our trip to the Empire?”

“Why?”

Eiden only then reacted and looked back.

“Our schedule for Grizmen has concluded with the Victory Ball, but the nobles we have installed would like to see you.”

Elliot cast a peek towards Eiden.

Eiden’s face was expressionless, hidden behind a mask.

“You find such things bothersome, so I’ve taken care of it on my behalf.”

“…”

Eiden had still not responded.

“What shall we do?”

“Let’s go for a walk.”

“…What exactly did you just say?”

Elliot inquired once again, fumbling with his ear.

Going for a stroll and eating well? 

For someone who couldn’t sleep because they were so anxious.

The Empire was most likely swamped with paperwork to evaluate as a result of the battle with Grizmen. Even if he departed right now, the Imperial Chancellor would most likely complain about his tardiness.

“Is your ear blocked?”

Eiden crossed the room with a brief glance at Elliott.

“Hold on! Are you really going for a walk?”

“Yes.”

The attendants hurried in as soon as Eiden finished speaking.

They were all dressed in black boots, leather belts, and red cloaks. They moved quickly, as if they had been given their orders ahead of time.

Eiden removed his shoes and replaced them with knee-high boots. While the attendants were examining the sharpness of his weapon, they placed a sword belt around his waist.

Eiden eventually pulled on black gloves and flexed his hands, a scarlet robe slung over his shoulders.

“I think you’re gonna kill someone, not take a walk.”

“Do I look like that?”

Eiden scoffed harshly and proceeded to the door.

“Your Majesty.”

“Don’t worry. I’m just going for a walk.”

“Really?”

Eiden’s brow wrinkled, presumably in annoyance.

Elliot chuckled as he swiftly raised both hands to show his surrender.

“I trust you, and who are you going for a walk with?”

“…”

“Did you meet a lady you liked at the ball? Is that why you’re going to see her?”

Elliot mocked and chuckled.

“…”

However, when Eiden remained mute, Elliot’s smile faded away.

“Is that true?”

Elliot’s face softened somewhat.

“I’ll be going to the Empire with Lady Alicia; plan accordingly.”

Eiden stepped outdoors, leaving just those words behind.

Elliot was perplexed as he watched Eiden’s receding figure. He then abruptly snapped out of it.

“Lady Alicia… the hostage?”

Eiden had really danced with Alicia during the Victory Ball.

“Could it be that the reason for this walk is to meet Lady Alicia…gulp!”

Elliot hastily covered his lips, his eyes wide open. He then bowed his head and busted out laughing.

“The Emperor wouldn’t do that. Phew, I must be losing my touch.”

Elliot laughed and exited the room.

“But why go with Lady Alicia? What’s the point of treating the hostage this way?”

Elliot cocked his head in uncertainty when confronted with this question.

Eiden was descending the mansion steps as Elliot was talking to himself.

“Your Majesty.”

The captain of the guard approached and respectfully bowed.

“Where are you going? I’ll accompany you.”

“Only minimum personnel.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t make yourself stand out.”

“…Yes.”

Because this was a common occurrence, the captain of the guard made no comment.

“Bring in Andre.”

“Yes.”

The captain sent his subordinate a signal.

A big black horse snorted and strode over with majesty.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

Eiden tenderly stroked Andre’s brow.

The captain’s and the guards’ faces tensed at the sight.

He’s the Emperor who spent his time slaughtering monsters. 

A leisurely stroll did not appeal to him.

Eiden urged his horse, oblivious to their perplexed stares.

There was a beautiful breeze blowing.

Eiden had no intention of concealing his whereabouts.

Even if the guards’ abilities were inferior to Eiden’s, the captain’s responsibility was to defend and guard him.

But the captain was always with him, no matter where he traveled.

However, he would be unable to establish his location this time.

Because,

“Andre, where do you think we should go?”

He himself had no idea.

His enterprise in Grizmen was completed following the Victory Ball.

He should have gone for the Empire today, according to the original plan.

Eiden, on the other hand, was deep in meditation when he awoke this morning.

He had the impression that there was still something to do in Grizmen. The trouble was that he didn’t know exactly what it was.

“I’ll know when I get there.”

Eiden pushed Andre’s flank while relishing in the bright spring sunshine.

“Considering the circumstances, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to accompany Lady Alicia to the Empire.”

Eiden spoke casually, his face expressionless. He had no idea that his actual sentiments were coming through in his statements.

Eiden drove Andre without a specific goal in mind.

He immediately tugged on the reins after a time of running.

Whinny.

Eiden glanced forward as Andre snorted and shook his head.

“This is the place…”

A thick forest stood at the border of the field, which was spread out like a plateau.

Old-fashioned homes and houses were neatly organized throughout the meadow.

“Hmm.”

Eiden scowled.

Soon after, he laughed, as if surprised. He couldn’t believe he’d ended himself here by accident.

“Let’s go.”

Eiden pushed against Andre’s flank.

It happened when they were speeding through the woodland,

“Kikikikkk, kiiik.”

The sound seemed very weird, not like a woodland beast.

Eiden’s expression hardened in an instant as he rapidly yanked on the reins and brought Andre to a halt. Then he squinted his eyes and looked out towards the trees.

“Kreeek, Keek.”

The weird sound was heard once more. The woodland, which he believed was tranquil and quiet, became terrifying in an instant.

Eiden scowled.

“It’s a monster, but why is it here?”

Except for the border areas, Grizmen has no monster habitats. Those that had escaped their natural homes had all been murdered before he arrived in Grizmen. As a result, there should be no creatures here.

“Did others escape from the habitat?”

If such were the case, the border guards would not have allowed them to go. They would have stopped them in any manner from entering Grizmen.

“If a monster has passed the border and reached the center…”

Eiden’s expression darkened.

He stared out across the field towards the mansion.

The monster’s first encounter as it crossed the field was…

“The Stanton Duchy.”

Eiden tightened his grip on the reins. Squeak. The leather gloves he wore screamed.

It was just as Andre, who seemed to read his master’s mind like a ghost, was ready to run into the woodland. Eiden yanked on the reins once again.

“Neigh.”

Andre shook his head anxiously, startled by the unexpected pause.

“Something’s off.”

Eiden whispered as he stroked Andre’s neck.

“Is it possible that no one noticed it until it got here?”

People were devoured by the beasts on sight.

It must have traveled through countless communities on its way here. And the monster wouldn’t have just walked right past humans.

Eiden, on the other hand, had not heard that the monster had eaten the inhabitants of Grizmen or that the creature’s presence had produced havoc.

“I just have a bad feeling.”

This was not a good sign.

It indicated that the creatures had come right here, with no regard for mankind.

They had sped forward till they arrived at their goal.

What had piqued the monster’s interest more than humans?

Whatever it was, all he had to do was slay the creature the moment he saw it.

Eiden strode far into the dark jungle, muttering to himself.

“Keekeekee, Kreak!” 

“Cough, Huhuhu. Gakgak!” 

The screams of the beasts filled the jungle.

As they watched the forest, the pupils behind the mask glittered with a blue brilliance.

Counting down from one to three… There are a total of six.

Eiden stepped off his horse.

Swoosh.

He proceeded bravely into the woodland, drawing his sword.

“I didn’t expect myself to fulfill the condition of getting rid of the monsters so quickly.”

Eiden kicked off the ground and ascended into the air after cracking a light joke.

Both at the same time,

The beast screamed as it emerged from the darkness.

The creatures of all sizes drooled as they stared at Eiden, their hungry eyes twitching.

Swish.

The claws, which appeared to be ready to rend a human to bits, slashed the air.

Eiden adjusted his body softly to escape the claws while swinging his blade diagonally.

“Kiee…”

The monster’s head fell off before its scream ended, gushing blood like a fountain.

Eiden put out an empty palm and pulled the monster’s lips open, aiming for his neck.

Thud. The sound of shredding flesh, followed by breastbone breaking.

“Tsk.”

Because he normally dealt with them by hand, the monster’s blood stained his black glove.

“This is troublesome.”

Eiden threw his blade towards the beast, his lips curled.

“Gurk, Grrk.”

The creature broke in two and began to fall.

Killing by grasping the neck and pulling the heart and entrails apart was tedious.

Eiden, who had neatly sliced the beast with his sword, had become tired of it. His head felt like it was on fire.

“I just can’t… be satisfied with this.”

Such a moderate approach was unable to quell the craziness within him.

“Huu, whoo.”

He clutched the blade with trepidation and gulped for air.

The final one.

“Hisssss.”

The teeth of the smallest of the six beasts were bared.

Eiden wiped the blood off his blade and approached it.

If only he could get rid of this one…

“…I can meet with you.”

Huh?

Eiden remained still, his head cocked at his own words.

Crunch, rustle.

The bushes trembled, and something more emerged out of nowhere.

Was there still one left?

He swiftly twisted his body to inspect the situation.

Eiden’s brow furrowed immediately.