I'm Not the Heroine-Chapter 88

Whoosh.

Miara stepped back as she watched the Night Lux kick toward her.

It seemed like she felt something special, and despite the beastmen’s strong affinity with animals, she didn’t seem to have that connection with the Night Lux.

"I’ll ride a white horse."

"Then you should do that."

Tempest, being relatively gentle, ended up with Aswell and me riding the Night Lux.

"We’ve finished the supplies; we should be ready to leave."

"But… can I ask something?"

Miara, sitting on Tempest, raised her hand slightly.

"What is it?"

"So, where is the hero’s party heading now? And I know there are other members in the hero’s party, what about them?"

I answered her question.

"The other members of the party have temporarily separated to focus on their growth. Now, we’re heading to the Imperial Palace."

"…The Imperial Palace? The place where the Emperor lives?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Miara asked with a fearful gaze.

"Because the Emperor called for us."

"…Then can I not join the party afterward? I can’t go to the Imperial Palace."

As Miara tried to dismount from Tempest as if she had already made up her mind, Aswell stopped her.

"No, as a member of the party, you must meet with the Emperor."

"I’m just a temporary party member!"

"A temporary party member is still a party member. And if you have nothing to hide, there’s no reason to run away, is there?"

Miara’s gaze, filled with fear, turned toward Aswell.

"Something to hide? Of course, I do! I tried to assassinate you, after all. But it’s not because I don’t want to meet the Emperor."

"Then why?"

"It’s simple. Because he’s the Emperor."

"…?"

"You may not understand since you’re an Empire citizen, but for those from other kingdoms, there’s no more terrifying existence than the Emperor…!"

Aswell seemed to have a confused reaction.

But having read the original story, I could understand her reaction to some extent.

'Certainly, there’s no one as strange as the Emperor.'

The Empire has many powerful individuals, but among them, two stand out for their immense strength.

One of them is Tania, and the other is the Emperor.

In fact, very little is known about the Emperor.

In the original, he is simply described as a guardian of the Empire with strange powers.

Even the Empire’s citizens only know him as a great bloodline that protects them, but they have no idea what powers he has that defend the Empire.

It’s likely related to the bloodline passed down within the Imperial family.

Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly be on the same level as Tania, the greatest magician born from humanity.

"Ah, anyway. So, I can’t go."

"I’m refusing. I’m taking you to meet the Emperor."

"I’m refusing your refusal."

As Aswell and Miara started arguing, I was the one who eventually mediated.

"Enough. Both of you, calm down. Miara, since you tried to assassinate Aswell, meeting the Emperor is a must."

"What? Are you kidding? If I want, I can disappear from the Empire in no time…"

"Does the Emperor’s influence not reach foreign lands?"

"…"

"The Imperial Palace is literally the Emperor’s domain. That doesn’t mean the Emperor doesn’t have eyes and ears throughout the Empire. In fact, stronger individuals watch over the Empire’s dangers."

In the Imperial Palace, however, there aren’t as many strong knights or soldiers.

The reason is simple: the Emperor is there.

"Even so…!"

"Perhaps your presence has already reached the Emperor’s ears. After all, the person you tried to kill was the Empire’s hero."

"…"

Miara, about to argue that it didn’t make sense, fell silent.

She glanced up at the sky.

It seemed as if the sky, clear and bright, had nothing to do with her concerns.

"Sigh… I get it. I was planning to die anyway."

In the end, Miara sighed and climbed back onto Tempest.

Since her body had a constraint on it, if Aswell had truly opposed her, she would have had no choice but to comply.

So, her earlier actions were, in a way, a form of protest and assertion.

Like a candle before the sun, she wanted to make sure both of them gave their guarantee before vanishing.

"Well then, let’s go."

I acted as if nothing was wrong, took Aswell’s arms from behind, and pulled him closer to me.

Before Aswell could speak, I grabbed the reins and lightly urged the Night Lux forward.

We slowly headed toward the Imperial Palace.

With Miara joining us, there was no need to worry about the path ahead.

So, I recommended the fastest route to the Imperial Palace, and thanks to that, we arrived near the Imperial Palace in less than three days.

"Finally, I can see the Imperial Palace."

"Yeah, it’s still magnificent."

In the distance, a massive city rose over the plains.

A sprawling city filled with towers and buildings, all shining in the sunlight, with a huge Imperial Palace at its center.

That was the Imperial Palace.

And to enter the Imperial Palace, we had to pass through the grand gate, which was part of the first defense line.

Aswell, Miara, and I slowly made our way to the Eastern Grand Gate.

"Now that we’ve passed the grand gate, we should reach the Imperial Gate by afternoon, right?"

"Yeah, probably."

"Ugh…"

"Miara, you don’t have to worry so much."

"Louis, a rabbit doesn’t ‘worry’ about a tiger, it just trembles in fear."

"Aren’t you a cat then?"

"I’m just using a metaphor, okay?!"

After several days of travel, I had managed to form a relatively smoother relationship with Miara.

Aswell, too, had reduced his guard compared to the first time.

"When you’re ready to use all your strength to run, I’ll try to persuade the Emperor. Just stay alive until then."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Hehehe."

While Miara and I were joking around, Aswell completed the passage procedure with the soldiers at the Grand Gate.

"Let’s go."

"That was quick?"

"Today, there weren’t many people. In the past, we would’ve had to wait in a long line."

Indeed, on the way to the Grand Gate, we hadn’t seen many people trying to enter the Empire.

This was the heart of the Empire and its main economic hub, so there should have been many more people.

Yet today, there were only the three of us near the massive Eastern Grand Gate.

"I wonder what’s going on in the Imperial Palace."

That question was answered the moment we passed the Grand Gate.

Clang.

"Hero Party."

"Ugh!"

"…Who are you?"

A man in a mask appeared without any warning.

He bowed politely to us.

"I didn’t even notice him…"

Even Miara, the master of stealth, looked visibly surprised.

"Aswell, the Hero. Louis, the White Smith. Miara Rimfelt of the Star of the Highlands."

"…!!"

"The Emperor has been waiting for you."

We hadn’t even entered the Imperial Palace yet, but it seemed like the Emperor’s hospitality had already begun.

The man slowly extended his hand toward the Imperial Palace, and a large door appeared from the ground.

Creek...

Is he a magician?

"Don’t worry. It’s directly connected to the Imperial Palace."

"…Is that why there weren’t many people at the Grand Gate today?"

"The Emperor wanted to show his consideration for you."

The man’s addition clarified the situation at the Grand Gate.

Since the Grand Gate and the Imperial Palace would have caused confusion with our presence, it seemed better to temporarily close the gate and send us directly to the Imperial Palace.

'Even so, this is impressive.'

What a remarkable person.

And seeing that they had closed the Grand Gate just in time for us, it seemed they knew our schedule from the start.

If that were the case, Miara would have been made to join us somehow, even if she tried to run.

Miara, looking at the man with eyes full of fear, finally spoke.

"…Let’s go."

"Miara, don’t be too scared."

"Ugh…! I’m counting on you…"

As Miara clung to my arm, Aswell’s eyebrows furrowed.

We entered through the door the man had opened.

A brief moment of darkness.

The dirt underfoot disappeared, replaced by luxurious silk brushing against our shoes.

As the darkness faded, chandeliers and mana lights began to illuminate the hallway, and soon, a bright corridor bathed in sunlight appeared before us.

"…It’s been a while."

With Aswell’s mutter, the man who had been leading us opened a door.

It was even grander, larger, and more overwhelming than the splendid hallway.

Thud...

"We’ve brought the Hero Party."

And beyond the door, a space filled with radiant light stretched out.

He sat in the shadow within the glow.

Seated on a simple yet heavy throne, he slowly looked down upon us.

"Your Majesty."

The Emperor.

The great guardian of the Empire.

A being close to a god.

"Hero Party, welcome to the Empire."

Finally, we met him.