Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 847

However, what was happening right in front of everyone’s eyes was something that defied all expectations. Emperor Consteinus was prostrating to the Beyond the Heavens Empire. To be exact, it was not the Beyond the Heavens Empire that he was bowing to, but Lord Amacar.

An emperor was a figure who never bowed down to others. Perhaps they might if they were in front of a God, or an enemy that had destroyed their empire and pointed a sword to their necks. However, if one looked through the history of Athenae, one would never find an instance when an emperor bowed to their subject.

Emperor Consteinus, who bowed deeply and lowly, shed tears. With a trembling voice, he said, “I have always received help from you. Each and every time.”

Amacar had betrayed the Ardo Empire to become a part of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

‘But why is he saying that he received help?’

Minhyuk turned to look at the man standing beside him. Amacar’s fists were clenched tightly. He was crying silently as he looked at the humble back of the man who he once served.

Now that they had lost Amacar, the Ardo Empire’s growth rate would infinitely weaken. Instead of thinking of growing, the Ardo Empire would now have to think of protecting themselves. If that was the case, why was Emperor Consteinus grateful to Amacar?

‘Thanks to you, I was able to see it.’

Emperor Consteinus was left reeling in shock when he returned to his empire, Amacar’s words kept ringing in his mind.

–None of your people hoped to have an empire that was only filled with the strong. Please open your eyes. Look at the world around you. See how your people look at you now and compare it with how they looked at you in the past. What is the difference?!

While pondering over that question in order to seek the answer, Consteinus began to look at his people carefully. When he looked at their eyes, the first thing that he saw was fear. Then, it was immediately followed by surrender.

Emperor Consteinus had become the emperor after the death of the previous Imperial Majesty. It had been three years since he started to rule his empire. Back then, when the people looked at him, they would smile happily at him and look at him with respect and trust.

Perhaps it was truly like what Amacar said. Nobody wanted an empire filled with only the strong. Consteinus just wanted an unshakeable empire so that everyone would live without experiencing much pain and sorrow. However, the only ones who wanted a strong empire to defeat the Luvien Empire were Consteinus and the nobles.

“My eyes and ears that had been closed through the years had now been finally opened. I can finally see again what kind of empire I hoped for, and what kind of emperor I aspire to be.”

The emperor, who had his head pressed to the ground, raised his head and looked up at Amacar, whose words had awakened and enlightened him.

Amacar murmured softly, so soft that Consteinus could not hear his words, “Your Majesty, please do not change. I hope that your heart will never change.”

Only then did Minhyuk realize what happened. It was true, Amacar had a favorable impression of him and the Beyond the Heavens Empire. However, the real reason why he left Ardo Empire for the Beyond the Heavens Empire was because he knew Consteinus more than anybody else. After all, he had shared a deep bond with the Ardo Empire’s emperor for a very long time now.

‘Consteinus must have been feeling very urgent because of the Luvien Empire.’

The once steadfast and sturdy empire had been shaken to its core. Along the way, Consteinus had forgotten the kind of empire he truly wanted. However, even though he had forgotten the essence and nature of the empire that he wanted, Amacar was still there. And Amacar knew him more than anybody else. He knew Consteinus' true character and nature. And that was the reason why he left. His departure served as both punishment for Consteinus’ actions and a lesson.

A commotion rang out amidst the eight million troops standing behind Consteinus. All of them knew that Amacar had betrayed them. In fact, all of them thought Emperor Consteinus would destroy the Beyond the Heavens Empire. They had also been angry at first. After all, they believed that Commander Amacar would remain by their side for the rest of their lives. However, he left them.

‘Why?’

‘Did the Beyond the Heavens Empire promise you a lot of money?’

‘Or did they promise you something else?’

There was undeniable anger from every single one of them. After all, the more one looked at another with good feelings, the greater the sense of betrayal if that person left them. However, the soldiers soon realized the reason why. They all knew that Amacar cared for the Ardo Empire deeply. He was someone who lived solely for the sake of the empire.

Among them, the ones who were most shocked were the members of the Hound Knight Order. The Hound Knight Order’s Deputy Commander bowed deeply beside Consteinus. Then, the members of the knight order began to bow to Amacar one after another.

[What a spectacular sight.]

[Although this bow is not meant for Minhyuk, looking at it can definitely bring a thrill down your spine, no?]

[Amacar. His deeds and actions will be imprinted deeply in the annals of history of the Ardo Empire.]

[There’s also Emperor Consteinus. The fact that he bowed to his subject will turn him into a model figure for the countless emperors and kings in the continent.]

[Some might blame him for tarnishing his authority as an emperor. However, from what I can see, there’s a high chance that this will bring him a much more beneficial effect.]

[This shows that the emperor of the Ardo Empire knows the importance of his vassals and people. As a result, we can expect many continents all over the world to look up to the Ardo Empire.]

When the members of the Hound Knight Order began to bow deeply, the soldiers also immediately followed suit. They bowed to the hero who made Ardo Empire what it was now. They bowed deeply to the hero who tried to steer the shaken mind and thoughts of the Ardo Empire and its emperor, who he loved so much, back to its original path, even if it meant that he had to leave them. This was them showing him respect.

‘This...’

Minhyuk’s breath hitched when he saw the spectacular sight that unfolded in front of him. The emperor and the eight million troops of the most powerful empire were bowing deeply to Amacar.

‘Is he truly a vassal that I can house?’

That was how great and outstanding Amacar was. Even Minhyuk began to question his own qualifications.

Then, they heard their voices.

“Thank you, Sir Amacar.”

“We promise to protect the Ardo Empire.”

“We will make sure to create the empire that you wish and hope for.”

“Sir Amacar, we wish you happiness.”

“Ardo Empire is what it is now because of you.”

“Please do not worry about His Majesty and the Ardo Empire. We will work hard to protect them and we will make sure to grow even stronger!”

The soldiers sincerely expressed their thoughts, perhaps for the final time, to Amacar. Their cries coalesced until it turned into one loud cry of...

“Thank you!”

Amacar’s heart throbbed when he heard the cries of the millions of soldiers in front of him. He felt like his efforts were being proven here. He felt like the actions that he had done for the Ardo Empire from the past up until now were not done in vain. These people had been with him for a very long time. They also knew him better than anybody else. So, in a way, they ought to consider him a traitor. Yet they thanked him. Amacar’s eyes turned to look back at Emperor Consteinus.

Emperor Consteinus knew that Amacar would not return to him after he had been corrupted by his own greed like that. Besides, he has already sworn his allegiance to the Beyond the Heavens Empire. Consteinus’ body shook fiercely, his head touching the ground once again. He knew that he had to let Amacar go. That he should thank him for waking him up.

“Who will I drink tea with now...?”

Consteinus was more saddened by the fact that he had lost a friend, than losing the talent that was Amacar. His back trembled as he cried uncontrollably.

“Who will I share my concerns with now...?”

Consteinus once again vowed to himself that he would create an empire where everyone was happy.

‘My empire will change. It will be just like it was in the past.’

However, Consteinus was happiest when he was with him.

“I... Who am I supposed to laugh with now?”

Now, he would no longer be by his side.

Emperor Consteinus’ body trembled fiercely as he continued to cry. None of his men could come close to him. They did not even think about lifting him up from the ground. The soldiers of the Ardo Empire knew how much Consteinus cherished and loved Amacar. No one among them could console their crying emperor. Only one person could do that.

Creaaaaaaaaaaaaak–

The sobbing Consteinus heard the gates in front of him creak open. He slowly looked up at the direction of the sound.

Minhyuk, who watched everything from above, triggered the Battle God’s Voice. In the sky above them, the image of a young emperor smiling kindly as the scruffy child looked up at him with a bright and wide smile on his face appeared.

[When they first met, the boy made up his mind.]

[I will live for his sake.]

Swoosh–

The image disappeared, revealing another image. The image showed Amacar winning the swordsmanship competition. The boy had now turned into a young man. This young man bowed to the man sitting on the throne as he pledged his loyalty.

[The emperor looked at him and thought that his relationship with this young man would prove to be meaningful.]

Swoosh–

The image scattered once again.

Consteinus looked toward the gates. There he saw someone in a hurry, gasping for breath as he ran toward Consteinus.

At the same time, a new image appeared in the sky. It was the image of the emperor running toward the young man who was besieged by monsters and was in danger of dying.

[The emperor ran with all his might to save him.]

The man who was approaching Consteinus was none other than Amacar. He looked just like the emperor who was portrayed in the sky above them. He ran with all his might for the sake of the emperor who he loved and cherished. Right now, he looked more afraid to see his emperor wallow in sorrow and despair than dying on his own.

Then, another image appeared in the sky above the running Amacar. It showed the image of the young man, who survived the ordeal, and the emperor who saved him. There were knights and soldiers sat around them, eating soup and bread while chatting happily.

[The young knight, who had just escaped from death, sat beside his emperor and looked at him as he told a joke while eating soup with them. At that time, the young knight made another vow to himself.]

[I will revive this empire to protect him.]

Consteinus stood up when Amacar appeared in front of him. Amacar knelt down and shouted, “Your Majesty!!!”

Amacar breathed roughly, gasping as he said, “Please do not worry about those things.”

“...”

“Whenever Your Majesty wants to drink tea, whenever Your Majesty needs someone to chat with and whenever Your Majesty is sad, I will always be here to greet you with a smile.”

Consteinus laughed, tears dripping down his cheeks as he knelt by Amacar’s side. Amacar finally barked a laugh through his tears. He said, “Whenever I want to have tea with Your Majesty, whenever there’s something sad going on, whenever I want to have a chat with Your Majesty...”

Amacar hid his feet underneath his legs as he continued to kneel on the ground.

“Please allow me to go and see you, Your Majesty.”

With those words, another image appeared in the sky. The image was so huge that it almost engulfed the entire Beyond the Heavens Empire. The image showed the figure of an emperor looking at the millions of people in front of him while a young man stood guarding by his side.

[The meeting between the scruffy young boy and the young emperor became the legend of an era.]

Consteinus, with a bright and wide smile on his face, replied, “I give you my permission.”