The Player Hides His Past - Chapter 270: Too much to refuse (2)

Underground treasury of the Imperial Palace.

As expected, it seemed the great items were stored there.

As soon as the Emperor declared to open the treasury.

His retainers expressed their concerns.

‘That’s actually the normal reaction.’

It might have been different if the Empire had been intact.

I was also a person with a conscience.

Sincerely…

Because I had crossed Antonium with shame, I had seen the reality of their situation with my own eyes. It was so bad that it wouldn’t be strange if they suffered from a food shortage tomorrow.

‘It’s not like I can take advantage of someone who is in a bad situation.’

I truly didn’t intend to break into the Empire’s treasury which was already laying bare. Therefore, I wasn’t disappointed when his retainers hesitated and opposed him.

No, more than that.

“Do you think I only want this price in return?”

I expressed a firm rejection with Grandfel’s style of speech.

Of course, I, Lee Hoyeol, swallowed my regrets…

But I knew how to distinguish the right time and place.

Above all, the contribution points I accumulated didn’t disappear anywhere.

So I decided.

‘When the Empire fully regains its power, then…!’

I would happily take the reward for my contribution without considering the situation of the Empire.

However, again this time, this big mouth had an accident.

“Hmm…”

The Emperor muttered and the retainers looked between me and the Emperor. Among them, the faces of the retainers who voiced opposition turned pale.

I could hear the Imperial Mage muttering.

“…No, if you say something like that without even looking at the crystal ball!”

Seriously, this guy’s speaking style was optimized for creating unnecessary misunderstandings. Yes, I should solve the illusion right away. The moment I broke my silence and opened my mouth.

The Emperor struck.

“I will order in the name of the Emperor. From this moment on…”

An order in the name of the Emperor.

That would mean the retainers couldn’t interfere anymore.

By the way, what are you trying to say by mentioning your title?

I, who had doubts, was immediately shocked.

“To Sir Lee Hoyeol, I will grant access to the deepest layer of the palace’s underground treasury.”

…Excuse me, wait a minute, Emperor?

“And to the『Library of War』.”

This isn’t what I meant?!

No, if someone heard it, they would misunderstand that I mentioned the price because I didn’t like the reward…! I was just being completely pure and upright as I had always been!

The Emperor looked at me and continued.

“I apologize for the unnecessary interference. However, please generously understand. They are not doubting Sir Hoyeol’s ability. It must be just out of loyalty and old-fashioned feelings toward the Empire.”

The Emperor offered his sincere apology.

With that, the retainers couldn’t remain silent.

The retainers bowed their heads at me in unison.

Bow–

“I apologize for my actions!”

I felt so guilty I couldn’t raise my face…

This mouth of doom always caused me pain.

To be honest, I also wanted to bow my head.

But how could I?

‘No matter how I see it, just correcting it wouldn’t be enough.’

If I scolded them in the name of pure integrity.

Judging from the reaction of the Emperor…

With just the right amount of exaggeration, he might pass the throne to me.

So let’s try to be flexible here, Hoyeol.

Besides.

‘The reward is too much for me to refuse.’

I had to take care of formality.

Wouldn’t it be against formality to keep refusing genuine favors?

In addition, there was something I wanted to confirm from the Emperor’s remarks.

『Library of War』.

From the sound of it alone, it seemed unusual.

It gave off a feeling that it needed to be checked.

With that desperate wish in mind, I opened my mouth.

“I will accept it generously.”

.

.

.

And now.

[You’ve entered the Imperial Palace’s ‘Underground Treasury.’]

I entered the underground treasury with some of the servants and the Imperial Mage who looked into the crystal ball.

The Emperor seemed eager to personally guide me.

‘I really need to stop him from that.’

Didn’t I say this before?

Even if it was just for the sake of not sinking to death from overwork.

The Emperor must remain the emperor forever.

‘Being Yusra Kingdom’s influential figure in the shadow is already enough.’

To protect the Emperor’s dignity.

I rejected the Emperor’s kindness and headed to the underground treasury with his retainers. I looked around. Maybe because it was underground, there was no light here so it was very dark.

The Imperial Mage spoke with a proud voice.

“There’s a magic oath constantly being manifested in the underground treasury. So that no enemy can steal the Empire’s treasures, whether by force or magic.”

Did that mean it was  a mana neutralization space similar to Mugan?

Naturally, magic and light couldn’t be manifested either.

I thought he held the torch just to set the mood.

As I was thinking nonsense.

The Imperial Mage spoke.

“But I never imagined that you would see through the underground treasury of the Imperial Palace…! But after seeing it in person, I finally understand. Indeed, the Dark Dragon would have been able to see through it.”

All of a sudden, you mention the Dark Dragon…?

Are you picking a fight?

No, more importantly, who is seeing through what?

‘I was wondering what he’s talking about.’

It seemed he was talking about the [Mily Way Whetstone]. It seemed he thought that I had discovered the neutralizing magic of the underground treasury when I requested to borrow the Milky Way Whetstone.

‘…Seeing through it, my ass.’

I just figured it out because of the effect of the [Map That Connects All Things].

I had been feeling this lately…

I should cut off unnecessary misunderstandings in advance.

I didn’t know what kind of side effect this small misunderstanding would bring. Of course, even if I wanted to be honest this time, I couldn’t.

‘The map evaporated and disappeared.’

I didn’t have the physical evidence, so I couldn’t say anything.

But even if I spared my words.

The Imperial Mage continued speaking on his own.

“So, in fact, you didn’t need any guidance. I am sure you already have a clear idea of what treasures are located in the underground treasury of the imperial palace and where they are.”

No, I really don’t know anything, though?

Thanks to that, I felt like I had found a real treasure trove and I felt excited.

Regardless of how I felt inside, I nodded politely.

“Nevertheless, it is the imperial procedure, so we would appreciate your understanding. Also, if you ever need any help, please feel free to ask at any time.”

Click–

After that kind remark, I began to look around the report in earnest.

Up until I entered.

I simply thought it would be similar to the Garnet Hall in the Mage Tower.

Garnet Hall was where most of the magic tools that existed in the Mage Tower were stored. If we were to simply compare military power, the Mage Tower was several times superior to the Empire. I thought the tools here would be less rare than the magic tools from the Mage Tower.

But…

Even if you looked around here.

Even you looked around there.

Everywhere your eyes could see was full of tools.

It wasn’t surprising.

It could have been a simple difference in the number of items handled. Well, unlike the Mage Tower, which only had magic tools for mages, the Imperial Palace’s underground treasury would not have such class restrictions.

I recited.

“I guess you can say it’s closer to a department store than a specialty store.”

At the words I uttered to myself, someone asked.

“…What did you say?”

“I was talking about oddity.”

“…Oddity? I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”

No need to apologize.

Anyway, if there was a misunderstanding.

The problem was my big mouth that grandiosely framed the oddity.

Unfortunately, however, I couldn’t afford to explain oddity.

It was only natural.

[Grade: Epic]

[Grade: Epic]

[Rated: Epic] …

The quality of all the items that caught my eye was no joke!

To think there were so many Epic items.

Not only the type but also the quantity was at a level that had never been seen at the Mage Tower.

‘Actually, it’s not that I don’t understand.’

The mages were a group that boasted complex and eccentric personalities.

Above all, the majority of mages did not welcome the use of magic tools. The mages of the Mage Tower tried to prove their strength without resorting to other means.

‘I can’t help but feel relatively interested in magic tools.’

Starting from equipment including swords, bows, shields, and armor.

Monocles, ornaments, pocket watches…

Even miscellaneous goods with effects that I couldn’t guess.

Naturally, what I would say was already decided.

“Indeed, it is worthy of being considered a treasure by the Empire.”

In Grandfel’s style of speaking, this was the highest level of praise.

Actually, I wanted to check all the effects one by one.

Because the message that appeared stimulated my greed.

[Imperial Palace Underground Treasury]

[You can exchange accumulated contributions with items.]

[Contribution: 1,001,260,000p]

The accumulated contribution was 1 billion won.

My conscience was pricked because I built it up in half a day…

Did I not think of shamelessly accepting it?

Yes, because I had such great contribution points.

No matter how great the item I chose.

I thought I could trade with a few more of them.

‘Of course, not now.’

At this moment, even if I tried to exploit the Empire, I couldn’t,

I needed to be smart to take advantage of it.

However, as I had said before.

It was also against formality to keep refusing.

‘I just need to check it out.’

How many items could be exchanged for some contribution points?

And…

I needed to understand what the Library of War was.

So I tried hard to look away.

“Please continue with the guidance.”

“You mean to the Library of War, right?”

“That’s right.”

The Library of War.

Looking at it roughly…

Everyone seemed to be familiar with the Library of War except me. In that case, I could ask them first. I asked the Imperial Mage who was ahead.

“Please give me a brief guide to the Library of War.”

“Oh, of course!”

Was it because I felt relaxed?

Unlike his first impression, he was a good talker.

The more I looked at him, the more he looked like someone…

Anyway, to summarize the story of the Imperial Mage, it was like this.

The Library of War was a kind of search window.

No matter what questions you asked, if the answer existed on the Arcana Continent.

It was a search engine that would provide you with the answer to the question.

To put it plainly.

‘It is more upward compatible than the Map of All Things.’

The effect of [Map of All Things] was great, but its effect was limited to objects. The Library of War, which didn’t have such limitations, was more versatile.

A retainer who was listening added.

“In fact, the Library of War is the driving force behind the Empire’s reign and at the same time, it is the Empire’s greatest treasure. The previous emperors said that whenever a crisis came to the Empire, they looked to the Emperor’s library for answers, and thanks to this, they were able to solve the crisis.”

Right.

After listening to it.

It was understandable how an empire with less power than the Mage Tower could rule over the Arcana Continent. Yes, because they had a cheat like this. It must have been passed down from generation to generation without breaking down.

‘If I could make use of it…’

Maybe I could replace the [Map].

This was great news.

I looked forward to it.

Eventually, the situation of the Library of War was revealed.

As for the results.

The Library of War did not betray my expectations.

[Immeasurable]

However, I just responded unexpectedly.

“I see.”

Immeasurable.

When I saw that message.

I thought it might be a new item grade that I didn’t know about.

Just like how there was [Legend] grade above [Epic].

I thought it was an item with a level higher than [Legend].

But I was wrong.

“Don’t you feel reverence right from the moment you enter?”

It might look like that to Arcanains.

That wasn’t the case for me.

Because the messages were overlapping in my field of vision.

Indeed.

[Libary of War]

[Recommended level: Immeasurable]

[Collapse progress: 92.7%]

The Library of War.

It was a rupture.

I felt a tingling sensation at the back of my head.

But my consistent attitude shone in this situation.

Thanks to that, my expression looked the same as always.

I looked at the Library of War rupture.

I started to understand.

I thought the effect was too fraudulent.

“This, too, is oddity.”

Its effect was possible because it was a rupture, the space of [『oddity』].

Now that I knew the truth.

There was a need to dig deeper.

It was not for no reason that the Arcana system had the recommended level.

The fact that the measurement level was immeasurable.

It meant that the risk was truly immeasurable.

‘But how did previous emperors enter the library?’

Even if they didn’t see the message.

They must have felt the danger the moment they entered.

Maybe I should talk to the Emperor about that.

Just in time.

My irreplaceable golden tea time was back.

.

.

.

The Emperor looked out of the window from his library.

He saw the people in the street.

Did the news from beyond the walls reach them?

Not only their faces brightened, they also seemed to radiate vitality.

The Emperor quietly opened his mouth.

“It’s finally a sight worthy of Antonium.”

The Emperor recalled the words of his father, the previous emperor.

– “Son, bear in mind that peace comes with sacrifice.”

At that time, he didn’t fully understand what his father said.

But the moment the Empire faced a real crisis.

The Emperor realized.

It was not the retainers, the people, or anyone else who made the sacrifice.

He was born to be an emperor.

Just as previous emperors did.

“I guess it’s time for me to shoulder the weight of the crown, too.”

The Emperor wanted to ask his father in heaven.

Father, how did it feel?

How does it feel to live a life that you have to end on your own someday?

In fact, he knew it without asking.

“…That’s why you didn’t tell me.”

He always had a lonely expression on his face.

The Emperor thought.

Maybe, at this moment.

He might have the same expression as his father.

But the Emperor hid his expression.

“I’m weak.”

He couldn’t express this feeling.

No, he shouldn’t.

He was someone who shouldn’t be shaken under any circumstances.

After calming down, the Emperor left the library.

It was to greet Hoyeol, who returned from the underground treasury.

‘I accept any request.’

No matter what kind of treasure it was.

It paled in comparison to the miracle Hoyeol performed.

But.

“I hope you liked it.”

What Hoyeol asked him after returning from the underground treasury was not a request.

It was just a remark that the man who was born an emperor had never heard of in his life.

“I understand your concerns.”

“…?”

“You can put that weight down in front of me.”

“…!”

It was comforting.

.

.

.

It was great up until this point.

…Wouldn’t it be better if you just accept the tea served to you?

The Emperor said, waving the tea bag around.

“This tea has an interesting brewing method.”

I shamelessly spoke.

“Pure integrity.”

“Is this a tea that symbolizes pure integrity?”

“At the same time, it possesses a greatness that naturally and simultaneously inspires awe.”

“Oh…”

“It’s called green tea.”

…Really, isn’t that exaggeration a scam?