Hecate’s Ominous Farewell and the Emperor’s Arrival

“You’ve arrived,” Hecate said, her face beaming with a smile. “Did the operation go smoothly?”

“Smoothly? That’s an understatement.”

As soon as the topic arose, Iordera swelled with pride. Settling down, she began recounting the tale to Hecate with gusto:

“At that moment, I just… did this and that… then this other thing… and finally, this last thing, and everything was taken care of!”

Hecate tilted her head, maintaining her smile. “So, the Lord of the City is dead, and his conspiracy has been exposed?”

“Yes, it’s all been exposed,” Iordera sighed softly. “Now June Fortress is in utter chaos, the kind of chaos that’s on a completely different level than before.”

“That’s enough,” Hecate’s lips curved upward. “My dear, you’ve done quite well.”

“Speaking of which,” Iordera suddenly recalled a question, “is the story of Martin Sword-Picker (TL Note: A legendary figure who ‘picked up’ a sword to become a hero) really just made up? Was there no such person in June Fortress’s history?”

Hecate pondered for a moment before responding, “Actually, there was.”

“Oh?”

“There was indeed such a person back then, though the reasons and events unfolded quite differently. He reached an agreement with several minor local nobles to eliminate the tyrannical forces in the area and establish June Fortress,” Hecate explained. “The event itself is true, but its origins and progression were dissimilar, far from being as tragic as the legend suggests.”

Iordera exclaimed in surprise, “You know all that? How impressive!”

Hecate chuckled. “After all, when these events transpired, I was cultivating in the Imperial Capital, so I heard about them firsthand.”

“I see,” Iordera nodded her small head, then suddenly furrowed her brow. “Wait, something’s not right. June Fortress has a history spanning over a hundred years…”

“Indeed,” Hecate said, her eyes crinkling as she smiled at Iordera. “Is there something amiss?”

“No, no, nothing’s amiss.” Iordera shivered, not daring to press the question further.

For to ask further would be to inquire about Hecate’s venerable age.

Iordera glanced at Hecate, then deftly changed the subject. “Um, Hecate, you really should pay more attention to your personal hygiene.”

“Oh?”

“Your fingernails are dirty,” Iordera pointed to Hecate’s hand. “They were perfectly clean when you first arrived.”

‘Dirty fingernails won’t do. What if, during… *that*, there’s bleeding and infection… *cough cough*! No, what am I even thinking?’

‘My chip must have been damaged when I fell, causing these strange thoughts to pop into my head for no reason.’

Hecate subtly withdrew her hand, nodding with a smile. “Understood. I’ll be mindful of it.”

****

A hush fell over the cell.

The conversation had reached its natural conclusion; it was time for goodbyes. For some inexplicable reason, Iordera felt a strange swirl of emotions.

“Well then, Hecate, I must be going.” She forced the words out.

“Is that so?”

Hecate’s voice remained calm, as if she were entirely unsurprised.

“Yes, I’m going to that academy you told me about, to apply for a librarian position,” Iordera rubbed her palms together. “And as for… well, your situation, I’ll investigate it later and help clear your name.”

‘The witch helped me so much and provided many crucial pieces of information. If she truly was persecuted and wrongly imprisoned, then I should…’

Hecate burst into laughter. “In that case, my dear, you’ll have to contend with several legendary figures who are over level 80.”

“Th-th-that…” Iordera stammered, a little intimidated. “That might not be possible in the short term. But still… I might not be without a chance in the future, right?”

‘Life is long; at worst, I can become a future warrior, right?’

‘Who isn’t a promising future failure, after all?’

“Don’t worry,” Hecate said with a smile. “Perhaps I’ll be out soon, and then I’ll come find you to rekindle our old ties.”

Iordera thought Hecate was joking and dismissed it. “I don’t believe you, nor am I afraid.”

Hecate’s smile abruptly vanished, a hint of something eerie surfacing in her eyes.

Her expression was strikingly similar to when they had first met.

“Tell me, my dear, do you recall something I once told you?” Hecate’s voice grew ethereal and indistinct. “I have never lied to you.”

Iordera noticed the atmosphere in the cell had shifted, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. She swallowed hard. “…I think I remember.”

Hecate had uttered those words on one occasion when she was divulging information.

“I’ve said many things to you, haven’t I?” Hecate’s lips curled into an unsettling smile. “That promise of never lying also extends to our very first words, you know~”

‘Their very first words?’

Iordera had a good memory. She carefully recalled their initial exchange, which had been—

‘I won’t let you go.’

‘I will follow your scent and find you anywhere in this world.’

‘And then I’ll press against your neck…’

Iordera began to tremble.

“B-b-but, hasn’t our relationship improved?”

“Precisely because our relationship is good, that’s *why* I should do it,” Hecate said with a giggle. “Doesn’t that demonstrate the depth of our affection even more?”

“That’s hardly necessary,” Iordera managed a strained, bitter smile. “That would be… a bit too much.”

“Iordera, my dear,” Hecate’s voice grew cold. “I was indeed innocent before, never having committed those cruel acts. However, I’ve been imprisoned for over half a year now.”

“Half a year! I once sat at the pinnacle of power, yet now I’m confined to this lightless cage, locked away for more than six months. Do you comprehend such a fall from grace?” Hecate giggled. “My dear, what do you suppose such treatment would turn me into?”

This time, Iordera truly shivered, listening to Hecate’s voice, ethereal as a phantom, echo in her ears—

“I am, after all, a wicked woman.”

“!!”

****

Fleeing in disarray from Prison Zero, Iordera didn’t stop until she reached home, Hecate’s final words reverberating in her mind the entire way.

Her two maids slowly roused themselves, beginning to change and pack their belongings.

Watching their movements, Iordera’s mood temporarily lightened.

‘That’s right. Her two maids constantly dared to tease and scare her, so why couldn’t Hecate?’

‘Therefore, it must have just been a joke, meant to scare her!’

Iordera’s panic vanished instantly, and she puffed out her small chest again. ‘You’re Hecate, I get it, but who are you trying to scare?’

‘Besides, that basalt prison was personally constructed by The Guardian Sheila; how could anyone escape so easily?’

‘Just empty threats!’

Iordera regained her composure, slapping the table. “Are your things packed? Come on, let’s go to the teleportation array.”

June Fortress’s teleportation gate was bustling even in the early morning, with a considerable queue already formed.

Even the queuing crowd was kept isolated to the periphery of the teleportation array.

Iordera approached an older man in line and asked, “What’s going on? Are they not letting people through?”

“No, they’re just making us wait for a moment,” the older man said, gesturing towards the teleportation array. “An important figure is teleporting in, so we have to clear the way first.”

Another person nearby remarked, “June Fortress is in such a state, and someone is still coming?”

“Exactly. Most likely someone from higher up.”

As they spoke, a blinding white light erupted from the teleportation array. Everyone nearby involuntarily squeezed their eyes shut, and when they reopened them, many figures had materialized within the array.

Royal Knights clad in full mithril armor, their mounts, and their fully armored subordinate troops.

And a massive object, guarded by the entourage.

[King Clent]

The Emperor Clent.