Chapter 28: An Irregular called Yeo-gwan-bu

“Red Dragon, is it?”

The voice carried a chill, as though frost could be woven into threads and slipped into my ears to paralyze my brain.

The Emperor Ractor.

He wasn’t someone to take lightly.

Tension gripped me; it was inevitable in a situation like this. If things went wrong, my life could end in an instant.

But I didn’t let it show. There was no room for mistakes in this negotiation.

“The warrior who defeated Dark Arthur—are you him?”

“Yes, I am.”

I stepped forward deliberately, each step steady and measured.

“This is the imperial court! Show proper respect, you lowly being!”

The one pointing at me while lounging arrogantly in his chair was the high priest, Cancer. I stopped mid-step and turned to face him.

“Allow me to correct a misunderstanding.”

“Hmm?”

The Emperor’s interest seemed piqued by my unfazed demeanor.

“Does the Emperor govern the borderlands personally? No, the border lord does. If, as you say, I am a lesser being,

\how would a mere peasant like me know the Emperor’s name? We’re too busy with daily toil to pay attention to s

uch lofty matters.”

“Y-You dare!”

Cancer was too furious to counter my logic.

“What I’m saying is, don’t impose unreasonable expectations like courtly etiquette on someone from the borderlands. And another thing—let me adjust your perception.”

I moved swiftly, snatching Cancer’s chair from under him. He tumbled unceremoniously to the ground. Being a

strategist type with poor physical stats, he couldn’t react in time.

“Y-You insolent—!”

“I’m here to speak as a warrior to another warrior, not as a subject of the Empire. So, there’s no etiquette I need to observe.”

Declaring so, I hefted the chair and resumed walking. The elite guards in front of me tensed, ready to intervene, but

the Emperor raised his hand, and they backed away.

Reaching the platform, I climbed up and set the chair down before sitting directly across from the Emperor at his eye level.

“Am I wrong, Emperor—or should I say, warrior Ractor?”

“…Hahahaha! Hahahahahaha!”

The Emperor’s laughter echoed thunderously, shaking the room.

“I like you! I like you a lot, Red Dragon!”

It seemed I had earned his favor.

I knew his temperament well.

But whether the negotiations would proceed smoothly was another matter entirely. From here on, it would depend on how I handled things.

I hadn’t planned to accelerate the timeline, but with Pegasus gone, there was no telling when the Emperor might

decide to invade Earth directly.

“As a warrior, I grant you the right to speak. What is your business with me?”

I leaned back comfortably in the chair, crossing my legs as I began.

“Emperor Ractor, first, I must express my respect for your way of life.”

“Oh?”

“To travel across the universe in pursuit of true combat—such resolve befits a warrior of the highest caliber.”

“Is that flattery?”

“If you see it as such, I’m disappointed. It was meant as a gesture of goodwill from one who understands you.”

“Understand me?”

At that word, I could sense the Emperor’s mood shift. A dangerous aura began emanating from his shoulders, dark and oppressive.

But this was all according to plan.

“Yes, I understand. As a fellow warrior, I, too, have spent my life yearning.”

I lowered my voice, almost whispering.

“For a true defeat.”

The oppressive aura dissipated.

“So-called warriors are often no more than cowards who prey on the weak. They bow their heads to me, submitting without resistance, unwilling to risk their lives for battle.”

“…Hmm.”

The Emperor listened intently.

“But I lacked the means to travel the universe like you. That’s why I respect your resolve.”

“Is that so? You, too—”

“Yes. I was too strong.”

I clenched my fist, letting the words hang in the air.

“Which is why, when I defeated Dark Arthur, all I felt was emptiness once more. Emperor, surely you understand the despair of victory.”

“I do. Oh, I understand it well. No matter how much I achieve, no matter how many followers I command, no one in

this vast empire has ever understood my longing for a true defeat. And yet, here, in the farthest reaches of the galaxy,

you stand before me.”

The Emperor’s excitement was palpable.

“Red Dragon, will you grant me that true defeat? The liberation of succumbing to overwhelming power?”

I shook my head.

“Regrettably, I cannot.”

“What? What do you mean? Are you mocking me?”

“It’s a long story, but to summarize—I am no longer capable of experiencing a true defeat myself. Emperor, you are fortunate to still have that possibility.”

“What are you saying?”

“After my battle with Dark Arthur, I was betrayed by my own comrades. They used underhanded means, stripping me of my honor and my strength. Though I survived, I can no longer wield the power I once had.”

“This… this cannot be!”

The Emperor’s fury erupted, and he struck the ground with a fist shrouded in energy. The resulting shockwave demolished an entire wall of the audience chamber.

“Then there is no one left? No one on this remote world to face me in battle?”

After a deliberate pause, I answered.

“Rejoice, Emperor. There is someone.”

“Another warrior as strong as you?”

“Yes. I have already entrusted all my remaining strength to them. For now, they are weaker than even Dark Arthur, but soon, they will undoubtedly become the universe’s strongest warrior.”

“Oh? What is this warrior’s name?”

“Georgius.”

“Georgius.”

The Emperor repeated the name, savoring it.

“Emperor, I was once dedicated to protecting peace, but betrayal has made me indifferent to such matters. Now, I

harbor only hatred for humanity. I share this information out of a sense of camaraderie with you. If it displeases you,

feel free to destroy Earth this very instant. I’d enjoy watching from the best seat in the house.”

“…Hmm.”

The emperor stroked his chin, pondering.

“How long will it take for this warrior, Georgius, to grow?”

He paused.

“There are conditions. You must gradually send your forces to Earth to invade. The warrior will grow amidst the war. I estimate the necessary period to be one year.”

“I’ll invest six months,” the emperor declared.

The original timeline in the scenario was three months, so I had expected that duration. Six months, though—that’s quite a gain.

“In six months, I will duel the warrior known as Georgius. Red Dragon, return to Earth and nurture this warrior.”

“Understood. Witnessing your dream, which mirrors my own desires, come true will satisfy me.”

“Hahaha! You’re a man after my own heart, Red Dragon!” The emperor laughed heartily.

I rose from my seat, turned my back on him, and began descending the platform.

As I did, the emperor also stood.

“By my decree, the Galactic Empire shall commence its invasion of Earth! All officers, prepare for war!”

The officers knelt and received their orders.

Ah, this is amusing.

I must suppress my laughter—at least until I return to Earth.

Now, the skies will rain monsters imbued with scenario bonus experience points daily. If I efficiently hunt them down, Vengeance will grow at an astonishing pace.

The emperor clearly understands that the invasion isn’t meant to destroy or conquer Earth but to foster Georgius’ growth. Thus, the invasion’s intensity will be carefully moderated.

This is pure profit for me.

At that moment, the doors to the audience chamber swung open. A single officer strode in.

“I greet the great emperor.”

I froze momentarily at the sight.

It couldn’t be helped—this individual’s appearance was utterly unexpected.

It was an excessive irregularity.

“Your Majesty, while it’s true that the Red Dragon is an honorable warrior, I must humbly petition to verify one of his claims.”

Her seductive voice tickled my ears.

The officer, holding a menacing whip, was none other than—

“…Morgan.”

Morgan, a female officer from the Kingdom of Darkness.

“Speak, Warden Ursula,” the emperor replied.

Ursula? Is that Morgan’s name now?

“Though I haven’t served Your Majesty for long, my loyalty surpasses that of any officer. You saved me from the ruins of the annihilated Kingdom of Darkness.”

So she joined the Galactic Empire after parting ways with me? Then what was her attitude back then? Claiming to be human and indebted to me…

Was she truly just repaying her debt before resuming her role as a monstrous officer?

“Still, I harbor doubts. Did the Red Dragon truly lose his strength? Or is he conspiring with the so-called warrior Georgius to harm Your Majesty?”

“I judge the Red Dragon to be a great warrior, Ursula,” the emperor responded.

“Yes, Your Majesty’s discernment is flawless. However, I, too, have long clashed with the Red Dragon and am confident in my knowledge of his power and abilities.”

“Hm.”

“Grant me the chance to duel the Red Dragon. I can swiftly determine whether he has truly lost his strength or is

merely pretending. If it’s a pretense, his petition will have been a lie, and he should be torn apart for his treachery.

That impoverished planet should be erased from the map.”

“Your Majesty, her suggestion is reasonable,” Cancer interjected, siding with Morgan.

“Please consider it.”

The other officers also seemed to agree. The emperor nodded.

“Very well. I, too, wish to witness the Red Dragon in combat. I trust you, but even if you’ve lost everything, your spirit and fragments of your former self should suffice. Begin the duel between the Red Dragon and Ursula!”

At the emperor’s declaration, a combat arena was instantly prepared in the center of the audience chamber.

Morgan, lightly swinging her whip, stepped onto the arena.

“Come up, Red Dragon. Let’s settle our bitter ties once and for all.”

Hmph.

This isn’t ideal.

Well, then.

Let’s see how this plays out.