Chapter 126
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Chapter 126
1. Background and Purpose
I have long felt something special toward Kibon Altes, yet I could not express it honestly due to my position as his superior and the burden of workplace romance.
Therefore, the purpose of this report is to convey the emotions I have only vaguely communicated thus far with clarity and precision, eliminating any room for misunderstanding and enabling a better future through accurate situational awareness.
With each character I read, my breath caught in my throat.
This was the format most familiar to him.
2. Content and Theoretical Background
1) Affection typically begins with the question, "Why do I think of this person so much?" (Anastasia Kayen, 546). As feelings deepen, physical attraction and bodily responses accompany the desire for greater closeness when together (Luca Class, 543). However, even with mutual interest, timing issues may prevent things from coming to fruition (Victor Awin, 546).
2) Criminal organizations must have even the smallest roots torn out (Fedwin Polariud, 531). Furthermore, experimental subjects created through modification must be eliminated for the sake of the Empire (Crown Prince Kiaros, 546).
In Imperial report format, referenced statements are typically cited simply as (speaker, year of statement).
As always, my memory was precise.
3. Results and Discussion
According to 1), I love Kibon Altes. However, before we could even have our first date, I learned he was an experimental subject, and due to timing, I could only confess in this manner.
According to 2), I wanted to see other loved ones before being killed by the Imperial Servants.
Crown Prince Kiaros collapsed onto the bench. Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes.
For someone who had not cried even in childhood, these were tears formed for the first time.
'Timing'....
We never even had our first date. It was only a promise left on this nearby, worn bench—somewhere we could have gone anytime.
If I had confessed that I was Kibon and somehow seduced her, could Namia have felt differently?
If I had not been the Crown Prince who had to be cautious in all things, if I had been in a position to express myself freely from the moment I held her in my heart—would things have been different?
[Victor Awin was blaming Namia for it, though.]
[It's just typical blaming the man, really. Whatever background he had, whatever circumstances surrounded him, there's no reason I should have been considerate of all that.]
But regardless of what background or circumstances I had, there was no reason for Namia to have been considerate of them either.
[The timing not working out... well, I suppose that can happen. But still, constantly questioning everything and only pulling things along as you wish—that's not real love, is it?]
I inwardly mocked Victor Awin.
His pathetic figure, waiting only when he desired it with his own justifications, hovering nervously at her side—it was pitiful.
But thinking about it now, I was no different.
4. Conclusion
I hope that Kibon Altes will cherish Namia Loapi, who loved me sincerely, only as a memory, forget her as quickly as possible, and live a happy life going forward.
My heart burned with pain, and my mind reeled as though my heart would extinguish.
'This is not the time. Hurry... I must reach Namia....'
Crown Prince Kiaros staggered to his feet.
From the phrase in Namia's confession report—"I wanted to see other loved ones"—it was certain she had gone to the Reconstruction Faction Headquarters.
First, I had to interrogate the High Priest somehow and locate that headquarters.
That was when it happened.
"Kiaros."
The Emperor approached with hurried steps. He seemed to have learned my location from the attendants.
He quickly grasped both my hands and asked with tender eyes.
"Do you know where Namia is?"
"Pardon?"
"I'll take you there. I was planning to be away from the Imperial Palace for a few days anyway."
The Emperor continued speaking calmly, observing Crown Prince Kiaros, who still hadn't fully grasped the situation.
"So the High Priest has been captured? Then the way of the Imperial Servants is to demolish the Grand Temple first. You haven't manifested as a dragon yet, so you wouldn't understand, but... if the Temple Forces are backing the Gaejo Faction, we need to raze that place from the ground up. We've even been respectful toward the Imperial Servants themselves and haven't investigated, so that's likely their headquarters."
Crown Prince Kiaros's eyes widened.
He hadn't considered such an approach. He hadn't known that the Emperor's body had recovered.
"It will take a few days, but I think I can entrust those few days to Jayden and the Empress. Though he's still young, Jayden is clever enough to maintain the status quo, and if anyone dares to underestimate him for his age, the Empress will handle them accordingly."
This was a new option that had become possible only because the relationship between Jayden and the Empress had improved.
The Emperor's gentle voice continued.
"My special ability allows long-distance travel, but I can also manifest as a dragon and fly to deliver you to Namia Loapi's side. It will be difficult for anything to move faster than a dragon, no matter where Namia Loapi has fled."
It was considerable consideration on his part. The Emperor sighed and gently stroked Crown Prince Kiaros's golden hair.
"However, the fact that you're in your Dark Period troubles me... With such a strikingly handsome appearance, it will be difficult to hide your identity, and I worry that the Gaejo Faction's minions might target you."
Crown Prince Kiaros shot to his feet.
His body reacted instinctively to the Emperor's words about "demolishing the Grand Temple first" and "razing that place."
His mind, which had been in chaos because of Namia Loapi's sudden disappearance and the confession report, began to return to clarity.
Now that he thought about it, Namia Loapi would have no choice but to think the same way as the Emperor.
"No, that won't do."
Crown Prince Kiaros spoke to the Emperor.
"Razing the Grand Temple... that won't do."
The Grand Temple, where one would need to wander through the Garden's maze for days just to enter.
Namia Loapi, who had become incredibly powerful, would have charged into the Grand Temple without hesitation.
But if a dragon destroyed that entire place...
"Namia Loapi will be there. Probably with her biological father... and possibly even the Tower Master."
Namia Loapi had a special bond with the Tower Master. From what he knew, the Tower Master was a bloodline supremacist who only cared about his own flesh and blood.
The fact that Namia Loapi had called herself an "experimental subject she didn't even know about," and the way the pregnant monster's special traits manifested in her offspring—it all pointed to this.
'The Tower Master's Daughter, Aran, seems to be Namia Loapi's biological mother. The results of the experiments conducted on Aran are manifesting in Namia Loapi.'
Crown Prince Kiaros, having quickly reached his conclusion, spoke to the Emperor.
"However, I would be grateful if you would take me to that place."
If he traveled to the Southern Region by dragon, it would certainly be faster than any other method.
Anastasia Kayen, the love expert of the Scroll Department, had been right.
['I actually liked you a lot. But now I'm trying to forget. I just wanted to express my feelings one last time, so don't worry about it and just live well.' Then you leave coolly.]
[What? Leave?]
[Yes. So it would be the last resort, wouldn't it? If it was someone you had some affection for, they say you'd almost go mad?]
She had confessed and left. Leaving only words for him to forget her and live happily.
He wasn't almost going mad—he felt like he truly was going mad.
The fact that he might never see her again burned his heart pitch black.
"Right now, as fast as possible."
Crown Prince Kiaros's crimson eyes gleamed with madness as he clutched the confession report.
* * *
Since Parens wasn't very far, they traveled by carriage.
'I know very little about the Temple.'
Beyond the outer Garden being a labyrinthine maze to prevent unauthorized intruders from entering freely, there was little else protecting the Grand Temple.
Yet somehow, all of my family had ended up here—Huan Loapi Sr., the Tower Master, and even my mother.
'For now, I won't think about Mother.'
In any case, the person I could meet most easily was already determined.
'The Tower Master must have entered fully prepared as well, right?'
I had spent one night in Parens, bathed thoroughly, and packed sufficient dried rations and water. With the holy power I'd been receiving daily, my condition was excellent.
'If I die, then I die.'
The Grand Temple was surrounded by massive, thick stone walls.
But as the strongest experimental subject, it mattered little to me.
I couldn't travel far without specifying exact coordinates, but scaling a wall of this caliber was child's play.
"Activate."
The moment I activated the teleportation scroll, I was already inside the walls.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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