“Ezekiel. What on earth are you doing?”
Dramatic silence
“As you can see, I’m simply thinking about dying.”
Cue shocked silence
The Emperor was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Did you confuse the audience chamber with a grave?”
It’s already shocking that an outsider freely enters the Emperor’s audience chamber, but to actually lie down and ask to be killed? That was a first.
“If you truly wanted to die, you could’ve done it in a deserted place. Why come all the way to the audience chamber?”
“Your Majesty the Emperor seems so eager to kill me, so I thought I’d save you the trouble and come here myself.”
Ezekiel continued, still lying down.
“You mentioned that the 1st Princess is involved in some matter but left out the fact that the Sun Elixir can neutralize it. Isn’t that just telling me to die?”
“Hmmm….”
The Emperor cleared his throat.
Ezekiel was right on all counts.
In fact, he had intended to use Ezekiel to ensure that no ‘deal’ would take place.
“Ezekiel, it seems there’s a misunderstanding.”
“Yes. I’ll take that misunderstanding.”
Awkward silence
The Emperor silently gazed at the chalice.
“Understood. I apologize for the inadequate notification.”
“Yes.”
Ezekiel finally lifted his eyelids.
“I trust that this apology isn’t just for show.”
Another awkward silence
The Emperor continued to stare at lying Ezekiel.
‘He really came prepared.’
It was shocking, yet not completely unfathomable.
Up until now, Ezekiel had only fulfilled missions, but now he had started expecting a corresponding reward every time he accomplished something. It’s like he got a taste for compensation.
“Ezekiel, you seem to want something, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Too bad. I don’t have anything more to give you. Why not just back out of this affair entirely?”
“Aha, is that so?”
Ezekiel nodded cheerfully and stood up.
The Emperor was perplexed at how readily he accepted it, without a hint of hesitation.
‘What the? Did I need to ask what he wanted?’
As the Emperor pondered this, Ezekiel spoke up.
“I heard the Bureau of Literature moved this time. Where is it?”
“Why the Bureau of Literature? Do you have plans to visit?”
“Yes. I intend to write a will and leave it there.”
Silence
The Emperor doubted his own ears.
So, Ezekiel had not accepted his proposal. His intentions were clear.
“What do you plan to write in that will?”
“I’m thinking of writing that I decided to take my life because of Your Majesty. I’ll make sure to hand one to each of the Princesses. I’ve tried proposing, so I don’t think a will will be too hard.”
“…Calm down.”
Thud!
The Emperor slammed the stone door of the audience chamber using telekinesis, while Ezekiel shrugged indifferently.
“I was looking forward to more good deals, but it seems you’re just brainstorming on how to use me for free. That’s disappointing.”
How could he even challenge the Emperor like this?
Such a thing would have been unimaginable in the past.
But things had changed now.
A massive difference had arisen.
Ezekiel had realized that he was needed for the peace of this continent and the Emperor’s grand plans. That realization made all the difference.
“Ezekiel, let’s sit down and talk.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Just sit down for now, alright?”
With several mystical waves, desks and chairs rose from the ground in the audience chamber. To top it off, fragrant tea was placed without warning.
“For now, let’s drink some cider and chat.”
“Cider isn’t my preference; please give me an elixir.”
Confused stare
The Emperor doubted his ears again.
Ezekiel had just encountered the Sun Elixir, and while the Sun Elixir was indeed impressive compared to typical elixirs, it wasn’t without value either.
Was it really okay to demand so naturally?
“Did I hear that right?”
“I want an elixir.”
“Well… sigh. Fine.”
The Emperor took out several elixirs and said,
“Ezekiel, just tell me what it is that you want.”
“I’ve been keeping a record.”
Confused silence
“You… kept a record?”
Ezekiel unfolded a scroll on the desk, causing the Emperor to involuntarily frown. The sheer volume of content was staggering.
‘…What’s with all this?’
Gold coins, elixirs, sacred artifacts, clothing, supplies… the variety was immense, and the quantity was astonishing. It was almost shocking how he calculated such rewards in his head.
“I don’t understand. What’s all this?”
“I can’t expect to receive everything for the hardships I’ve endured, but I thought I could at least get something. It felt unjust to just endure without compensation.”
Silent pondering
The Emperor struggled to find words, reflecting inwardly.
‘How did he come to think like this?’
The once doll-like Ezekiel was now shockingly pursuing his own interests and happiness.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. If he were destined to be with the Emperor’s daughter, it would be better if he could take care of his own interests and those around him.
‘Realm, mindset. Each day is a change.’
As the Emperor thought this, he glanced over the scroll again.
“The amount you want is too staggering.”
“Just tell me if it’s feasible or not.”
“I can grant some compensation for your past actions. However, I cannot fulfill the entire list as written. We need to renegotiate.”
“How about we set a value now? What’s it likely to be?”
“Likely, you would already know the answer to that.”
After all, the grand missions that had taken place in secret on both the continent and in the demon realm involved little absence of Ezekiel, and failure was exceedingly rare.
So,
“Honestly, it’s beyond what can be measured.”
Calculating it would eventually yield an answer, but the answer would surely be far beyond typical continental standards.
Ezekiel was that remarkable.
The problem was that Ezekiel could still offer much more in the future. Hence, it wasn’t an option to just dismiss him now.
“I can’t leave you empty-handed, hmm…”
The Emperor fiddled with an apple.
“Ezekiel, do you have to have it?”
“Yes.”
“Why, all of a sudden?”
“Is that something I should say?”
“Hmmm.”
Why had this guy become so cynical while he wasn’t looking?
But the Emperor didn’t find it wholly unpleasant.
‘He’s become wise. Looking over the items he wants, many seem intended for the princesses. He’s not solely thinking of himself…’
This meant he was striving to meet the five conditions for marriage and was also carefully considering the princesses.
‘…He might truly become a candidate for a son-in-law after all.’
It was then that the Emperor thought this.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes.”
“I would like to hear your answer.”
“Hmmm.”
The Emperor swirled the chalice.
“Ezekiel, I’m well aware that you are excellent.”
“Yes.”
“But there are many considerations to take into account.”
The Emperor popped an apple into his mouth and continued.
“First, don’t forget that you owe your life to the Imperial Family. Have you forgotten your past life in the Palace of Penance? Without me, you would have been dead.”
“Hmm.”
“And one more thing. We previously agreed to all of this in terms of missions. It seems rather unjust to now demand a price.”
“What’s the conclusion?”
“Although it is absurd, I shall extend my goodwill and grant you various things. But, do not ever request for past values to be evaluated again.”
With that, the Emperor stirred his mystical powers.
Boom!
A box filled with gold coins fell from thin air.
“I’ll set the value at 100,000 gold coins for now. With this amount, you should never have to worry about gold coins again for the rest of your life.”
“…100,000?”
“Yes. It’s perfectly accurate.”
“Wow, 100,000.”
“That’s an unimaginable amount. It’s astonishing.”
Ezekiel grinned, and the Emperor chuckled in return.
‘He must have wanted the Sun Elixir as well.’
Even if he had to part with a vast amount of gold coins, the Emperor had no intention of easily handing over the Sun Elixir. It was a rare and valuable item for him.
Additionally, it was compensation that he would have to address at some point anyway. If he could settle that stingily with 100,000 gold coins, wasn’t that a bonus?
If the topic came up later, he could say, “We settled it back then with 100,000,” and it’d neatly tie things up.
Should he even think about writing up a contract?
Just as the Emperor was contemplating this.
“I’ll be heading to the Bureau of Literature now.”
Confused silence
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Ezekiel, what do you mean by that?”
Wasn’t he satisfied? Why was he suddenly acting like this?
Then Ezekiel shot the Emperor a sharp glance.
“You’ve set my value at 100,000 gold coins.”
“Right, that’s true. If you want, I can add a little more…”
“A little more?”
Ezekiel let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Forget it! I’m done! I won’t live!”
Ezekiel chewed on five Sunweeds in one go and strode toward the exit of the audience chamber.
Exasperated sigh
“I’m done rolling around in this ridiculousness. I might as well just die.”
The Emperor felt a rare sense of bewilderment.
“Okay, okay, let’s recalculate…!”
The Emperor could only deeply realize one thing.
He was done hoarding the Sun Elixir.
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