There Was a Porter Who Would One Day Be Called a Prophet

26 – Weighted down by the disaster I brought on myself

I pulled the brake and stomped on the accelerator. Silence descended upon my remarks in the audience room.

The emperor looked straight at me without saying a word, and I was also glaring at him.

All the people watching us from the side were making faces full of astonishment.

Among them, an aide who came to his senses first shouted.

“Now, which one dare to say safe!”

“Stop.”

It must have been an act of loyalty, but I had no choice but to shut my mouth at the emperor’s words.

“Live and live, this kind of day will come to Jim as well.”

The emperor muttered with his eyes closed as if arguing with me was a waste of time.

“I don’t know where you came from, but don’t act rashly in front of Jim. A word from Jim could tear you apart and turn you into fodder for livestock.”

“If that happens, it will be difficult for the Empire to see the light of day.”

“Huh. I’m so full of energy that I can’t speak.”

I was still fixating my gaze on the emperor when a hand suddenly grabbed my head and pressed it.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty! The party members’ fault lies with me, the leader, so please forgive me…!”

Let go

My generation can’t stand that kind of thing

I was caught in the hands of a warrior, but my mouth did not stop.

“I’m just telling you what it is.”

The emperor’s gaze flew again.

“It sounds like the empire would perish without a party of warriors.”

It’s okay to be ruined.

‘If you’re not a hero, you can’t catch the devil!’

“I don’t know how much you believe in the party, but are you saying that the power of the empire is inferior to that of one party?”

Not now

But there will come a day when you will surpass it

“Not now, but someday it will be.”

“It’s absurd to say such nonsense when you know how to see the future.

Isn’t it that you’re afraid to admit it now that it’s a lie?”

“I have never lied to you.”

“It’s not like Jim’s tongue can finish you off. Then let me ask you one.

Is it because you saw an immortal future that you came out so carelessly?”

“I don’t know. I don’t see my own future.”

“It’s okay to make fun of me. It’s like an empire standing in front of you right now.”

I’m going to screw this up

“Your Majesty cannot be an empire.”

-What a stupid thing to say in front of Your Majesty!

-Are you saying you’re going to deny His Majesty!

-They must be dragged to the guillotine and beheaded immediately!

As if they couldn’t stand the words, the aides rose up in indignation.

“If you interrupt Jim one more time, he will slit his throat as well.”

The emperor, who had suppressed his aides, looked at me with bluer eyes than ever before and asked.

“Did I.. Say it couldn’t be an empire?”

“The Empire is made up of numerous members. The Empire can exist only when each of its members fulfills their duties, maintains it, and supports its foundation.”

I even spoke after catching my breath for a while.

“Your Majesty may be a symbol of the Empire, but not the Empire itself.”

“That’s a pun.”

“It’s also true.”

“…”

As the conversation stopped for a moment, my feverish head cooled down, and the opposite s*x returned and hit me on the head.

Too bad

It’s not real tap money, is it?

I realized that my life was on the verge right now because of the mental strain I caught belatedly.

“I’d like to cut your throat right now, but… For now, the priority is to review things in the east.”

Wow, save this

“Three days.”

Huh?

“It’s time for your neck to be attached.”

“Let’s see, really! Does the Mage Tower look funny?!”

“It’s worth watching a human leader try to harm an elf friend!”

“He is also the one the Goddess is watching over! Don’t cross the line Emperor!”

Unable to endure the death sentence that fell on me, the party members rebelled.

“Your Majesty! How come! Your Majesty is not like that!”

Even the warrior couldn’t stand it and stood up and begged.

“Durandal. When did you start raising your voice at Jim’s remarks?”

“Your Majesty…”

“This is a reward for challenging the emperor. Countless people will continue to challenge me if you rely on mercy. Consider it an honor just to watch him drop his head.”

“Please… Can you reconsider just one more time…”

“You brought it on yourself. Accept whatever the outcome is.”

The hero’s head bowed at the emperor’s stubborn attitude.

“Not only has it faded, but it’s even dulled.”

The emperor closed and opened his eyes for a moment before continuing.

“..Keep in mind that you are the sword of the Empire. Also keep in mind that nothing can be cut with a dull knife.”

“..Remember..I’ll do it..”

“Go away.”

“..I will serve you.”

***

We had no choice but to leave the audience room as if we were kicked out by the emperor’s decree.

It was before they even left the imperial palace, but they didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding their anger.

“Why is that person like this today? Isn’t he senile?!”

“Sister…”

“Why? Did I say something wrong? We didn’t lie, and if it’s serious, we’ll even authenticate you with a holy sword. Why are you over there talking like that because you can’t hold back your anger!”

“For now, the question is how to treat the porters.”

“Why don’t you go into exile in the Holy Land? If I ask you, I’ll be able to do something.”

“I think I can just say I’ll put in the magic tower…”

After leaving the audience room, he opened his mouth that had been kept shut.

“..The Empire will be given room to put pressure on the Holy Kingdom and the Mage Tower.”

“Hero! Isn’t it time to say that!”

Reina was really angry, but I didn’t care and continued.

“The reason why the Mage Tower and the Holy Kingdom live without conflict with the Empire is because they did not interfere with each other. But what will happen to the balance if the Empire’s condemned prisoners are siphoned off?”

“Even in the Holy Kingdom, you are an important person! The Empire cannot harm you carelessly!”

“Even a magic tower needs a porter!

Their protests came back with weak answers.

“..Isn’t that only for you guys..”

– Gap

Thalia grabbed me by the collar.

“Hey! Why did you keep talking about that all along! It doesn’t matter what happens to the porter, is this?!”

“Calm down sister! This is not the time to fight among ourselves!”

Talia, angry to the end of her head, even skipped the title she always used to call me and poured out her anger, but I didn’t bend her opinion.

“Think of it as an organization rather than an individual. Will the Seongguk and the Mage Tower accept him even while enduring the Empire’s pressure?”

“..That”

“Cee..”

There was nothing wrong with what I said, so the strength in her hands loosened.

“But you can’t just let the porter die!”

“…”

As he averted his eyes from reality, he heard his lamentation in the past. If he hadn’t dragged him to the Empire to protect him, this wouldn’t have happened.

-It was a self-inflicted thing. Whatever the outcome, accept it.

His Majesty’s words pierced deep into my heart.

‘It hurts…’

She looked back on the time she had been with him.

It creaked from the first meeting with her.

We tried to kill him,

He revealed a secret he hadn’t told anyone.

He always said that he was afraid of dying, and tried to run away whenever he had a chance, but he did not spare himself when it came to saving others.

In Camille Village, she ran to the brink of death, and in Strega Village, she risked her life to uncover the identity of her witch alone. His appearance was like a warrior who jumped out of a book.

The enemies in the book were always stronger than the warriors, and the warriors defeated the enemies by displaying their hidden power in every crisis.

But it didn’t take long to realize that the reality was not so, and I worked tirelessly to become stronger.

Contrary to what the book says, I have always been able to remain a stronger warrior than my enemies. I believed this to be correct. I thought the book was just a story.

Until I met him.

Because behind his weakness was a strength that he didn’t have. Being by his side gave him a glimpse of what he wanted.

Maybe that’s why? I didn’t want to fall with him. After the report, he was about to ask me to formally settle into the party.

He didn’t want to report his abilities. Being considerate of him was just an excuse. Actually, it was because I didn’t want to be taken away by His Majesty. If the person who made me a hero left, he wouldn’t have the confidence to go on like he is now.

However, I was able to get a glimpse of one more thing this time in the way he stepped forward to reveal himself. His strength that always shined. His own cowardice in trying to trap that light.

In the end, his own greed put him on the imperial guillotine. Three days ahead. The time left until his life is gone.

He will not be welcome anywhere. Seongguk too. Mage Tower too. Elf village too.

Everyone has come to this point because of my own greed.

I can no longer be by his side. No, there shouldn’t be.

When I opened my closed eyes, it became clear what I had to do.

“Yeah. I can’t let them die.”

‘This is the only way left.’

“Mr. Porter.”

I approached the porter as it was and made eye contact with the distraught man, bringing out a decision I never wanted to convey.

“Right now… Get away from here.”