I Became a Foreign Worker Loved by Transcendents - Chapter 141: The Last Guardian Of The Empire

Orion Empire.

This land, known to be the only place in this world where order and safety were granted by humanity, was known to have a history of over a thousand years.

Of course, to foreigners like me, such history might seem irrelevant, but the social atmosphere changes depending on who the current leader was.

As such, I had a general idea of who was leading this empire.

“H-His Highness Seis, why is he here…?”

Yes, the moment I heard their murmurs, I immediately realized.

The person who stepped into the banquet hall where a bloodshed incident had occurred was the likely successor to inherit the empire in place of the current Emperor.

That he was ‘Crown Prince Seis Orion,’ the first prince of the Orion Empire.

“…Are you wondering why I am here?”

The moment such a being appeared here, adorned in splendid attire and wearing a mask, the nobles froze in place.
But they couldn’t even consider it humiliation.

Their arrogance was reserved only for those they could trample upon, not for the heavens they looked up to.

“My father, the Emperor, is essentially the empire, and I am to be the one who inherits it after him; what issue is there with me walking through its center?”

“E-excuse me. I dared to overstep my bounds…!”

With a quiet but dignified voice, the nobles held their breath, and soon everyone was only paying attention to his reactions.

Yes, the presence of the Crown Prince was something that could not be overlooked.

Even if the highest-ranking noble who followed the Imperial Family were to be murdered, the gap would be as wide as heaven and earth.

-Drip, drip.

What significance could there be to a piece of meat that had already stopped breathing and convulsing?

As if to say so, Crown Prince Seis was mercilessly trampling over the corpse that lay in his path.

“…Vivian.”

The person at whom he stopped was the one responsible for this situation.

But the Crown Prince, even facing her, did not tremble.

Instead, like he did with the surrounding nobles, he only spoke in a quiet and dignified voice…

“Did you kill Lord Elmat because of the man beside you?”

“Uh, yeah. That’s right.”

Vivian answered his question in a trembling voice.

Even for her, whom even the nobles consider trash, the Crown Prince was a being that couldn’t be taken lightly, as if teaching her so.

“I, before I came here, I think he did something terrible… So, I killed him. Even his screaming was annoying.”

“……”

“…Ah, is that not allowed?”

Vivian expressed her concern in a trembling voice.

But it didn’t seem she was seriously considering what she had done, but rather it appeared to be just a minor mistake to her.

Such unaware behavior could be scolded and reprimanded, yet…

“Yes, Woo Hyo-sung. Have you caught Vivian’s interest?”

The Crown Prince’s gaze then swiftly turned towards me.

Although he was wearing a mask and I couldn’t see clearly, I could immediately understand that he was looking at me with serious contemplation.

“…Vivian.”

And after a moment of silence.

The Crown Prince, having shifted his gaze from me, turned to Vivian and asked.

“Do you want the man beside you?”

“H-huh?”

“I asked if you want the foreigner I personally invited to the Imperial Family.”

Crown Prince Seis repeating my name clearly—that in itself taught me how strongly he was aware of my existence.

He personally invited me to the Imperial Family. Was it Crown Prince Seis who sent the invitation to this banquet hall?

One might think ordinarily it was to reward me for my achievements in the previous war, but as soon as I stepped into this place, I personally felt how the nobles judged me.

So, I couldn’t help but suspect that Crown Prince Seis had brought me here to reprimand or mock me, even now.

“If taking that man progresses your research, then take him.”

Such anxieties vanished with just a single phrase he uttered…

Damn, what did that guy just say?

Take me away?

After all the trouble of inviting me here, now he’s discussing giving me away like an object?

“A-are you serious?”

“Yes, if taking that man can complete your research.”

Vivian, seemingly happy regardless of my feelings, and Crown Prince Seis, trying to sort out the story in accordance with her.

I felt outraged, but there was no reason for me to interject in a story agreed upon by the royalty and Vivian.

“Y-Your Highness!”

So, as I tried to stifle my anger, a nobleman began to rush toward the Crown Prince.

“R-right now, I don’t understand the situation well, but… D-do you know that the crazy woman over there, uh, k-killed Lord Elmat?!”

Seeing his gaze move repeatedly to the body of Elmat on the ground, he seemed to be a follower of Elmat or a noble closely associated with him.

Naturally, no matter how high the person in front of him in the empire might be, even if such a person condoned Vivian’s cruel actions, given the stakes involved, he would hope to rectify the situation, even at a risk.

“I-I don’t know who that woman is, but isn’t it too lenient for her to have killed Lord Elmat? At the very least, some punishment…”

“Vivian.”

Despite such desperation, Crown Prince Seis spoke only in a cold voice.

“Deal with this person.”

“What? Your Highness, what…?”

-Pu-kaak!

His body collapsed with his head gone.

Everyone present turned pale at the sudden event, yet no one screamed.

The person they faced could kill the next most powerful after the Imperial Family without being held accountable.

If such a person directly received orders from the Crown Prince, going against his will would surely lead them to the same fate.

“…It seems some may not know, so let me make it clear.”

To make sure they understood, Crown Prince Seis, covered in the blood splattered by the corpse, spoke to them in a dry voice.

“Her research is essential for the ‘New Era’ that will soon begin. Compared to the importance of that purpose, you all, including the Imperial Family and myself, are but trifles. Make sure you understand that clearly.”

The highest being of the empire himself.

The successor, who would soon inherit the empire and become the empire itself, declared someone as more important than himself.

“Ah, understood… Your Highness.”

With that, all the nobles turned their pale faces downward and began to bow their heads in front of him.

That was the best they could do.

I too could only quietly follow the fate given to me, frozen in place.

Despite all the efforts I’ve made.

Even though I thought I could finally achieve what I wanted, I had to admit to myself that the title of hero I had always pursued was utterly insignificant in this place.

“You’ve found a sponsor.”

Amidst such self-loathing, a familiar voice suddenly reached my ears.

When I came to my senses, in place of the Crown Prince, what caught my eye was the young noble who had guided me here.

“…What?”

“As Prince Seis himself said, she is considered more important than anyone else in this empire.”

Cheska, explaining the situation they had assessed without a hint of fear even amidst this tragedy.

Their demeanor seemed almost as if they were forcibly thrusting something upon me, who had not grasped the situation.

“Simply by receiving her interest, you have gained an opportunity to rise higher than anyone else.”

“W-wait. Cheska…”

“Then I have a report to give to His Highness, so I’ll take my leave now. If fate allows, let’s meet again.”

Cheska began to leave after finishing the greetings.

As their presence gradually disappeared into the frozen crowd, I felt an emptiness growing in my heart.

As if the only wall I could lean on in this situation had disappeared.

“Excuse me. Mr. Housekeeper.”

Yes, from now on, I must make my way on my own.

From the woman who, in this very place, killed two people and made decisions to kill the rest without hesitation and without being held accountable.

“I-I’ve wanted to see Mr. Housekeeper for so long…”

“…Vivian.”

“Mr. Housekeeper, didn’t you want to see me?”

Her haggard expression gradually gave way to a bright smile. I could tell right away that smile expressed affection toward me.

To her eyes, though everyone around might seem like trash, only I was different.

I, endlessly affirmed by my abilities, was considered more special than anything else in this world.

“…Yes, me too.”

The moment I realized that, I felt overwhelmed by the task of discerning my own feelings.

Because I couldn’t tell if the pounding in my heart was fear or the joy of meeting someone who loved me.

“I, too, wanted to see Vivian.”

Because I couldn’t even distinguish if what was coming out of my mouth was the truth or a well-crafted lie.

Seis Orion.

The first prince of the empire, he was the most likely successor to inherit the current empire, and his succession ceremony was scheduled to take place in a few months.

Since the current Emperor had become old and frail to govern the empire, it was necessary to quickly select a leader to follow him.

And with the succession ceremony approaching, schemes and conspiracies were actively underway.

Not visible to the public, but enough to secretly purge not only relatives not belonging to factions along with the Imperial Family, but also political opponents using the political situation cunningly.

This included the current Emperor’s illegitimate child known to be entrusted to the Plandor family, Cheska Plandor.

Because any person who might, even in the slightest, hinder the Crown Prince’s succession ceremony, needed to be removed.

-Whoosh!

Late at night, a sphere of immense magical power struck the carriage traveling through the forest road on its way back to the domain.

Assassins watching from the bushes clapped their hands in triumph as they observed the carriage completely shattered.

“Wow~ It’s completely demolished, isn’t it?”

“Of course, who else could have shot it? My sniping skills are truly commendable, aren’t they?”

“But isn’t this too noisy?”

“Don’t worry. He’s just a lord of a remote countryside, so there won’t be anyone rushing over because of the commotion.”

A low-ranking noble who wouldn’t have received any attention in the first place if not for the rumors of being a royal bastard.

Feeling that the job was smoothly completed thanks to that, the two assassins started rummaging through the debris of the destroyed carriage.

A limp body was visible among the fragments of the carriage.

The appearance of the boy lying with dull eyes open matched exactly the portrait they held in their hands.

“He’s dead. His heart’s not beating.”

“He looks pretty; what a pity. If he was alive, it would have been fun to play with him for a bit.”

“Come on, he’s still a man; do you really want to?”

“No, look closely. Doesn’t it look like he’s cross-dressing by the chest?”

The curved figure visible through the clothes torn by the impact.

Despite the slender frame, the slightly protruding chest indicated that the person was female.

“Haha, the bastard wanted power so much that she cross-dressed and became the lord.”

“It’s a shame; if she was still breathing, we could have pretended she was dead and had some fun for a while.”

“Forget it. If we get caught doing that, it’ll block our path to advancement.”

The assassin scolded his colleague for expressing regret.

The shovel and oil he held were prepared to erase the scene they had caused, and he hurriedly took them out because there was a need to wrap up the current situation as quickly as possible.

“…Well, we’re doing this job to receive blood; it’s better to give up on petty desires.”

Accepting that intention, his colleague brushed off the regret and quickly turned his attention away from the body.

As he said, the reason they were doing such dirty work was to climb from the bottom of the organization to a higher position.

“Then I’ll scout the area, so please take care of the body.”

“Yes, let’s both do our best until the end.”

If they could receive blood from the great beings who lead the organization, they could ascend to a higher existence than they were now.

Feeling only a few steps away from their goal, the two assassins, each performing their roles, parted ways, uttering the phrase they always said.

“Everything is for the New Era.”

A phrase expressing loyalty to the organization they belonged to.

-Riiip!

The sound of flesh being torn apart echoed immediately after the phrase was uttered.

Realizing the sound came from behind him, the assassin turned to look at his colleague, who had been about to dispose of the body, with a dazed expression.

No, now he should consider him a former colleague.

His body was split in half by an unidentified attack and lay cruelly sprawled on the ground.

“…The New Era. Is that the name of the organization you belong to?”

“Wh-what?! I’m sure I checked that she was dead!”

Was there some mistake?

No, whatever it was, it must be dealt with. The assassin quickly drew a dagger from his possession.

But by then, sharp threads that had spread around him were already wrapping around his body, attempting to restrain his movements.

“Th-this what is this?! What the…?!”

-Swish!

As soon as the thread was pulled, his left arm and right leg were slaughtered.

“Ah, aah! My foot, my arm!”

Even the blood that spurted out was threaded and blocked, and soon, the assassin was flailing his remaining arm and leg in the air.

Afterwards, his gaze fixed on the girl approaching him.

No, more precisely, something in the shape of a girl.

“You, what are you? What is your identity…?”

“Article 1. All dolls absolutely obey the commands of whom they recognize as their master.”

-Creak, squeak.

The sound of joint friction with every step taken.

The source of that sound was visible in the eyes of the assassin hung by threads.

Joints more clearly exposed than the bones underneath the skin, their movements vividly displayed.

“Article 2. In keeping with Article 1’s command, all dolls do not harm humanity.”

The girl with such a body said.

In a very cold and mechanical voice, devoid of any human emotion.

“Article 3. In keeping with the previously mentioned articles, all dolls protect and serve the Orion Empire and its inhabitants…”

“Wh-what…?”

“And Article 0. Upon one’s own judgment, if an entity is discovered to be a threat to the empire and humanity’s existence, it is prioritized above the other articles to be eliminated.”

Yes, the one lifting a blood-covered face at this moment was not Cheska Plandor, the empire’s bastard.

Her true role was not as an empire’s leader but as a ‘Guardian,’ an entity that had protected the empire and humanity for a thousand years.

“Orion’s foreign being hunting doll, Francheska.”

She, having revealed her identity, proclaimed at this place.

“From now on, I will begin the interrogation of the organization ‘The New Era,’ which has infiltrated the empire.”

Awakening in this era, created to subdue the existence of aberrations.

Determined to move against all foreign beings that threaten humanity.