I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 1
“Is that all you magicians have to say to those who fought with their lives on the line?”
The Emperor’s sarcastic voice was sharp as a blade.
But I, standing before him with a cold glare, was no pushover either.
“Mind your manners, Your Majesty.”
I languidly brushed back my fiery red hair and narrowed my eyes.
Both the Emperor and I gazed at each other with nothing but sharp contempt.
I opened my mouth.
“Naturally, unleashed beasts have no place in this world. Should they not be properly tamed and trained?”
I could see the Emperor’s well-shaped lips twisting menacingly.
His deep blue eyes hardened coldly, looking ready to freeze me where I stood.
“Ha. You dare call me, the Emperor, an unleashed beast?”
The Emperor certainly had the ability to do just that, but I showed no sign of fear and calmly raised an eyebrow.
Then I glanced around.
Casually passing over the glares that looked ready to tear me apart, I habitually delivered cold venom in my character’s bored, languid manner of speaking.
“My, I wasn’t referring to Your Majesty, but I regret that you took it that way.”
“……”
“How remarkable your subconscious is.”
My words were clearly mockery.
I was ridiculing the Awakened Ones, namely the Emperor and his knights, who occasionally failed to control their powers and destroyed their surroundings.
Of course, those listening were incensed.
“Duke, aren’t you being too harsh to His Majesty!”
When the Emperor’s knights intervened, the people standing behind me like chicks immediately jumped in as well.
“How dare you interrupt while the Tower Master is speaking!”
“What?”
“Have you forgotten that according to the covenant of the Third Emperor, within the council chamber, the authority of the Emperor and the Tower Master are equal!”
“But there should be limits!”
“The Tower Master never once raised her voice, yet you are the ones being disrespectful!”
“Ha, picking at absurd technicalities. How much inferiority do you magicians feel?”
“What? Inferiority, you say?”
Sharp arguments continued.
The atmosphere was so frigid one could hardly swallow, but this was nothing special.
Those gathered here were the Awakened Ones, the strongest in the empire, and the magicians who stood in opposition to them.
As a result, this was typically how the noble council chamber of the Deharock Empire, where the empire’s affairs were decided, looked.
Especially.
“Duke, be mindful that your mockery has long since reached the limits of my patience.”
The strongest Awakened One in the empire and the ruler of all Awakened Ones.
The Emperor, Kaisis Kizel de Baroha Deharock was like that, and.
“Who but I would dare offer such counsel to Your Majesty? Especially before Awakened Ones who might go berserk at any moment.”
The leader of the magicians who disapproved of the current flow, favoring the Awakened Ones.
The master of the Magic Tower, the young head leading the House of Duke Ariel, namely me.
Hillaria Daen La Ariel, the Duke, was like that.
The relationship between us two, representatives of groups that were like mortal enemies, was by far the worst.
The tense atmosphere as we glared at each other was broken when someone made a suppressed sound while dragging a chair.
Thud!
The Emperor’s and my gazes turned in that direction.
“Ugh… S-sorry, ugh!”
The power emanating from the collapsed person was clearly visible.
I displayed a distinct sneer on my face.
How could they act so perfectly on cue?
“My, my.”
“……”
He was one of the Emperor’s knights.
Above my fierce eyes rose the leisure of a victor.
I spoke with my eyes.
Look at that, isn’t that your Awakened One once again failing to control his power!
The Emperor’s face crumpled in dismay.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but if the proposed agenda has been settled, I’d rather not waste any more time. Especially since Your Majesty’s noble Awakened One seems to be on the verge of losing his rationality. Isn’t that right?”
“Duke.”
“If left alone, he might burn down the council chamber. Oh, or perhaps melt it? Since that one was an Awakened One who handles poison.”
“Thank you, for your concern.”
“Not at all.”
A harsh grinding sound came from the Emperor’s jaw.
After glancing at the knight who was bowing his head apologetically to the Emperor, I, befitting the leader of the magicians, arrogantly pushed back my chair and stood up.
“Well, I’ll take it that you’ve permitted the meeting to end.”
I walked away briskly, followed by the magicians who, like baby birds following their mother, trailed behind me with evident delight.
Before I completely left, sharp words from the knights hit the back of my head.
“How can she be so disrespectful!”
Yes, that’s the Emperor’s right hand.
“The water element ability belongs to His Majesty, so I think she’s wrong. How could that woman be a fire magic user?”
I’d love to go back in and freeze that guy from head to toe with ice magic.
“That’s right! Doesn’t she act like her blood is made of ice!”
Did that person have the ability to summon plants?
I recalled the man who had been acting like a mad dog toward me ever since he was startled and tore apart all the leaves that appeared before him.
Anyway, the Emperor didn’t say a word.
After confirming that much, I began to completely distance myself from the council chamber.
And when we were far enough away, out of earshot of the ability users.
The magicians who had followed me like quacking ducks opened their mouths.
“You were amazing today. It’s been so long since we’ve seen the Emperor speechless!”
“The days when they can look down on us magicians are numbered. Once our research is properly completed, the gate problem will no longer be theirs alone!”
“This is all thanks to our Master…”
“……”
Ah, really.
I quietly narrowed my eyes as I listened to the magicians chattering in joy.
At that, their mouths snapped shut.
Well, if there’s one thing I’m satisfied with in this cursed possession life, it’s the character of this body I’ve taken over.
Her nasty temperament is so infamous that just narrowing my eyes is enough to set the mood.
Aside from my heart feeling like it’s about to burst, that is.
I lowered my voice and spoke the cold words I had become accustomed to over the past few days.
“How long must I listen to these obvious statements?”
“……”
The atmosphere around me chilled.
I didn’t forget to raise my chin as well.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“…Th-that. No, not at all!”
They must be thinking to themselves that they’ve angered the family head.
That was exactly what I wanted.
“We-we’re sorry. Then rest well, Master!”
In the peace I had finally obtained, I entered the bedroom alone.
I completely confirmed that no one was there.
And slowly.
“Ugh……”
I slid down against the door.
More accurately, my legs gave out and I collapsed.
Involuntarily, a groan escaped me.
Just thinking about the Emperor’s piercing gaze still makes my fingertips tremble.
“Another day of nearly dying.”
How long must I live like this?
I buried my face in my hands in frustration.
“Why is that Emperor so terrifying……”
Listening to my pounding heart, I looked at the full-length mirror leaning against the wall.
It reflected the beautiful face of a woman sitting pathetically.
Those in the council chamber could never imagine this sight.
Yes, that’s right.
Neither could I!
‘What good is being so pretty.’
Even after a week, that face remains terribly unfamiliar.
‘It’s not my face!’
It was clearly not my face.
Just a week ago, I was merely an ordinary, or perhaps somewhat special, civil servant in South Korea.
***
Just a week ago, I was an ordinary A-class Guide belonging to the Association in 20XX South Korea.
Although I had terrible luck with colleagues.
“You, damn it! Hey, get your filthy hands off me!”
Despite being an A-class Guide who could hold her own anywhere, the reason I was treated this way was simple.
“How many times do I have to tell you that your guiding is disgusting?!”
The espers detested my guiding.
Thanks to that, my reputation was the worst.
I was treated as filthy waste, garbage, a bug-like object of avoidance.
“Pfft, it’s laughable seeing you act like a Guide. Hey, won’t you get out of here?”
To them, I was a worthless backdrop.
On the other hand.
“Ah, Ha-eun! Why are you here? Hmm? Why come to such a dangerous site when that one is here? You’re making this oppa worried!”
“It’s okay, oppa. Gate accompaniment is mandatory twice a month. We can’t leave everything to that person.”
“Who said what? Hey, A-class. You haven’t been badmouthing Ha-eun, have you?”
“Oppa, I’m fine!”
S-class Guides were treated so differently.
