173 Chapter 173

"Lost your memory?"

The Emperor's deep and dark, bottomless-like gaze scanned me.

For some reason, I felt as though I was being scanned by an advanced machine, and my body shuddered involuntarily.

"...Hmm. Well, that's fine. Memory is something you can find gradually."

Fortunately, the Emperor did not probe deeply.

Was it that he trusted Ash so much, or was it something not even worth his concern? I couldn't tell which.

"As a guardian, I must at least explain this much to the son in charge of the southern front."

Sunk into his throne, the Emperor began to explain slowly.

"Do you remember what color this tree originally was?"

What the Emperor pointed to was a white ice thorn tree that enveloped the throne and covered the real world. I shook my head.

"I don't know."

"It was black."

A bitter smile formed at the corners of the Emperor's mouth.

"This tree is the national tree of our Everblack Empire and our guardian tree. Always a black thorn tree — Everblack."

I swallowed dryly.

Was the name of this nation derived from this tree?

"The first Emperor brought it from the spirit world and planted it as a magical lighthouse that lights the way of the Empire."

The Emperor stroked the frozen branches of the tree.

"But 7 years ago, suddenly this tree froze like this. Our alarmed guardians immediately rushed to find the cause."

The Emperor's eyes closed tightly as he recalled that day.

"The tree was frozen but still functioning. As the magic lighthouse showed the future, I realized that the tree had only 10 years left, and that the fate of the Empire would also end then."

"You mean...?"

"Yes."

The Emperor opened his eyes again.

"That was 7 years ago. In three more years, the Empire will be destroyed."

3 years.

A familiar number. I frowned.

"The tree revealed four destinies that would lead the Empire to ruin."

The Emperor looked down at the chessboard beside him.

"The first ruin comes from the west. Our allies who bear dragon blood, the Bringar Duchy, invade and destroy the Empire."

The western front, the Dragon-blood Front.

"The second ruin comes from the center. Unknown shadows lurking within the Imperial Capital. They destroy the Empire from within."

Central, Shadow Front.

"The third ruin comes from the north. Alien races that we have conquered. The foreign gods they worship come down from the spirit world to free their children. They destroy the Empire to set their children free."

Northern, Foreign God Front.

"The fourth ruin comes from the south. Nightmarish monsters rise from the depths of the destroyed Lake Kingdom... and destroy the whole world."

Southern, Monster Front.

"Thus, four destinies of ruin were tightening around the Empire... To stop those destinies, I summoned all the remaining guardians in the Empire."

I asked cautiously.

"What is a 'guardian'?"

"Those who have the right to connect to this tree. They see the future as the magic lighthouse, protecting the Empire. They are the ones who carry on the bloodline of our Everblack Imperial Family."

The Emperor looked at his three sons in turn and smiled.

"Now, there are only the four of us."

Lark and Fernandez were kneeling to one side, listening quietly to their father's tale.

"We identified these four destinies of ruin that day, and we resolved together. No matter what happens, we must stop these destinies of ruin. Whatever the sacrifice, we must protect the Empire."

No matter what happens.

Whatever the sacrifice...

"For hundreds of years, the loyal and devoted Bringar Duchy, my distant brothers... We decided to kill them before they attack us first. We have been preparing to attack the Bringar Duchy for seven years, and now Lark has gone to do it himself."

Lark bowed his head even deeper.

"As for the shadows hiding in the Imperial Capital, Aegis Special Forces Team 8 has tripled in size, and the central reserve army has grown fivefold. Anyone even slightly suspicious is being arrested to uncover what's behind them. Fernandez has been working hard on this for years."

Fernandez, too, bowed his head even deeper.

"Coming down from the northern spirit realm, these gods... I'm blocking them myself. Through this tree, I connect to the spirit realm and face them with swords and magic every day."

The Emperor looked at his hands with a bitter smile.

"It's not something a person with the title of Emperor should be doing at my age. But what can I do? Among our guardians, I am the most experienced in this matter."

"..."

"And lastly, the southern monster front."

The Emperor looked at me.

"My youngest son, and the most naive and foolish one, Ash. You left to stop the monster invasion with the remaining scraps of forces this year, as the invasion intensified."

"..."

"Surprisingly, you've held them off well so far."

I clenched my fists tightly.

So, what's going on?

The Emperor is playing an action RPG alone in the northern spirit realm.

The eldest brother is playing a real-time strategy simulation in the west.

The second brother is managing a national operation simulation mixed with a mafia game in the center.

I, the youngest, am in the midst of tower defense in the south.

Is that the situation? Are we all protecting the empire like this?

'Are we playing four different games under the title ?'

This really is a generous game!

"How is it? Do you remember the situation now?"

The Emperor asked gently. I raised my head.

"There's something I'm curious about."

"Speak up."

"Why are you neglecting the southern front... the monster front so much?"

I looked around at both my brothers and the Emperor.

"If what you say is true, the other three fronts are also in grave danger, but ultimately, it's the fate of our empire alone. However, isn't the monster front a global crisis?"

The west, the center, the north.

Even if they're defeated, it's only the empire that falls; the world remains.

But if the south is breached, it's not just the empire, the whole world would end.

Everyone would die. Even the Emperor knows this.

Yet, despite putting all the effort into the other three places, the south is openly neglected?

Why on earth?

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Then the Emperor laughed, holding his stomach. I frowned.

"Why are you laughing?"

"No, it's just that you're saying the same thing as before you lost your memory."

The Emperor seemed genuinely pleased, smiling with vivid wrinkles around his mouth.

"Ash, you asked the same thing 7 years ago. Despite the southern front pursuing a greater cause, why is it the lowest priority?"

I was surprised inside.

The original Ash said that too?

"The answer is simple. It's because we are the guardians of the empire."

"...Yes?"

"You're right that the monsters' uprising is the largest of the four destructions. But it's not a direct threat to the empire. That's why we postponed its priority."

What is he talking about?

"What the monsters want is not the fall of the empire. It's the fall of humanity. But the other three crises are clearly targeting the empire. A natural hostility, targeting the neck of our Everblack."

The Emperor tapped his jade throne lightly with his fingertips.

"I'm not the guardian of the world. I'm the Emperor of the empire. So, wouldn't it be natural to deal with the blade closest to the empire's neck first?"

The Emperor's logic was clear.

"If the southern front is breached, the war with the monsters will spread throughout the southern continent. Then the other countries in the south will join the fight against the monsters and buy us some time."

"..."

"In the southern continent, there are also heterogeneous autonomous regions. If the monsters arrive, the gods fighting with me will also go there for salvation. In short, from the standpoint of our empire, the monster front can be given a lower priority; we have more time."

The Emperor declared.

"Do you understand? It is inevitable that the priority of the monster front falls."

"..."

"Of course, just because the priority falls doesn't mean we will ignore it. Once we overcome the other three crises, we will use all the power of the empire to sweep away the monsters."

I bowed my head slowly.

"...I understand, Father."

So, the youngest prince, the least skilled among the guardians, and the remaining scrap forces are sent to the south to buy time.

Even if the youngest died and the southern front collapsed, they could hold out by using other nations and races as shields.

After removing the other three crises threatening the Empire, they would finally muster all their strength to drive out the monsters-

This was the thinking of those who called themselves "Guardians."

'Ah.'

How rational it was.

They protected the Empire.

They used everything outside the Empire and killed it.

Even if the rest of the world perished, as long as the Empire was protected, it was fine.

In the act of protecting this structure called the Empire, this concept called the Empire, where else could there be a principle more clear and transparent?

But.

"..."

I gritted my teeth.

But- could I accept their conclusion?

As the youngest imperial prince, a commander of the southern front, could I, who had resolved to protect people, accept this?

"However, Ash, don't be too gloomy."

The Emperor chuckled and gestured to Fernandez.

"In fact, when I woke up from my nap earlier, I already talked with Fernandez. I heard about the rough situation. Don't worry; I'll send reinforcements to the south."

"...!"

"I wanted you, young and foolish, to grow by fighting with life and death at stake. And it has happened. To have held off the monsters' invasion to this extent, splendid."

The Emperor gave me a warm smile.

"It's unfortunate that you lost your memory, but honestly, I'm pleased to see you've become a much more valuable Guardian."

"..."

"I'll send ample reinforcements. In exchange, you should listen well to your father and brothers in the future, alright?"

I couldn't respond and just hung my head silently. The Emperor reached out to us.

"I'm a little tired today. I believe you've managed the frontlines well, so I'll return to the spiritual realm."

With a cracking of his neck, the worn Emperor sank back into his throne.

"We'll have a victory celebration soon. I must show everyone that I am still in good health."

"..."

"I'll rest my eyes until then. See you soon, my sons."

Lark and Fernandez spoke in unison.

"Sweet dreams, Father."

"Oh, yes."

A white frost began to cover the chuckling Emperor's body.

"There are only dark nightmares here, though..."

Soon, the Emperor and his throne froze solid, becoming indistinguishable along with the ice tree.

Lark, Fernandez, and I, the three brothers, stepped back from the surreal scene.

***

"Your marriage partner has been decided."

Outside the surreal room, in the corridor.

Fernandez handed me a sheet of paper.

"This time, it's a lady of genuine noble blood, the princess of the Ariane Kingdom. As you know, the Ariane Kingdom is the largest among our northern allies..."

I took the document and blankly read the words written there.

Fernandez's detailed explanation continued in my ears.

Talks of marriage were arranged to strengthen the alliance between the northern front's Ariane Kingdom and the Everblack Empire, and since my engagement with my previous fiancée was due to be broken, they decided to proceed with this.

"What if I say no?"

I asked quietly.

"What if I refuse this marriage and insist on keeping my engagement with the Silver Winter family?"

Fernandez didn't hesitate.

"That's obviously not an option. The princess of the Ariane Kingdom is already on her way to the Imperial Capital to attend the victory celebration."

"..."

"This time, you'll just meet and then the wedding will proceed within this year. You can have the ceremony on the southern front."

Fernandez murmured in a low voice to me, who kept my lips tightly shut.

"You remember what Father said, right? You must obey from now on."

"..."

"Please, Ash. Don't resist anymore. If you feel a sense of duty as an Everblack Imperial Prince, as a Guardian, don't hesitate over something like a political marriage."

"..."

"If you accept this marriage proposal, you can return with enough elite troops to protect Crossroad."

A large hand grabbed my silent shoulder. Looking up, it was Lark.

"I know it's hard, but this too is the duty of a prince, Ash."

"..."

"You lost your memory in the midst of battle and suffered many casualties? We've come this far, paying such sacrifices; we can't stop here."

Lark grinned, grabbing Fernandez's shoulder with his opposite hand.

"Now, my beloved brothers! How about a hug to rally our spirits!"

And then Lark's muscular arms reached out and forcibly embraced Fernandez...

"Ugh!"

"Gah!"

Thus, they were forcefully imbued with brotherly love.

After the embrace ended, I let out a sigh and said,

"Alright, alright. I'll do it that way."

Lark and Fernandez laughed brightly. I gritted my teeth and nodded.

"I'll break off with Silver Winter Merchant Guild. And then, I'll meet with the princess of the Ariane Kingdom."