I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 10
In the pitch-black darkness.
Those unable to confirm each other’s existence held a secret gathering.
─Have you successfully shaken the Emperor’s power? We’ve confirmed that the drug is effective even on that monster.
As a gloomy voice mixed with metallic tones began, another responded.
─But because of that, hasn’t the Emperor’s Indoja appeared?
Not even they knew how many people were present.
Yet another new voice interjected.
─We shouldn’t only think negatively. If we find and eliminate the Emperor’s Indoja during this opportunity.
A flash of delight passed through the silence.
That monster. The Awakened One who received the ridiculous SSS-class rating.
If they could eliminate just that one being, the Empire would collapse helplessly.
That was the ultimate goal these people desired.
─We must find them first.
─I’ve planted a rat near the Emperor.
─Using the magicians would be best. Wouldn’t it be good to plant seeds of suspicion about Duke Ariel in the Emperor’s mind?
Fortunately, magicians and Awakened Ones were practically mortal enemies.
Just throwing a single clue of suspicion would make them tear at each other like cats and dogs.
Their representative raised a hand. The noisy voices subsided.
─To find that Indoja, who’s hiding in secret, we need to use the Gate. And fortunately, it seems we have excellent bait that can move both groups.
At these smoothly delivered words, malicious smiles flashed across the lips of everyone participating in the meeting.
***
Breathe out once, breathe in.
Exhale again, inhale.
‘I absolutely cannot lose control here.’
From what I’ve understood so far, if my mind wavers, the status window intervenes to protect the character “Hillaria” by taking control of my body.
But relying solely on that wouldn’t help me navigate through future challenges.
Still, that face…
‘It’s terrifying. How is that the face of someone looking at a half-imprinted partner?’
The Emperor was visible, leaning back on an ornate chair, legs crossed, looking down at me.
Apart from his beautiful face, the aura emanating from behind him was nothing short of terrifying.
‘I want to run away.’
The reason I fear the Emperor so much is clearly because of my memories of dying.
‘Even though I was never a welcome Guide and experienced all sorts of treatment, I’ve never been this scared before.’
Hiding my hands drenched in cold sweat, I relaxed my facial muscles to appear as composed as possible.
I imagined the persona of Hillaria that I had been imitating to the point of exhaustion.
A woman who doesn’t avoid the Emperor’s gaze.
A magician who doesn’t waver even before an SSS-class Esper whose pressure could stop the air itself.
‘I can do this. I must, to survive!’
That was who I needed to portray.
“May I ask why Your Majesty has summoned busy little me?”
My sarcastic tone seemed perfect.
I could clearly see the Emperor’s picturesque eyebrows rising with displeasure.
He stroked his chin with a relaxed attitude, scanning me up and down.
Though I swallowed hard with each passing glance, I didn’t show it.
The Emperor’s composure was fake.
His body must be burning right now.
Crudely speaking, he’s half-crazed.
‘He’s practically at his wits’ end right now.’
I was originally a skilled Guide, and now I’ve even received an S-class upgrade.
And right there, the power that I had directly contacted, stayed close to, and calmed down was now raging, ready to explode at any moment.
Begging to be saved. Saying it was painful.
“Quite the act, Duke. Do you truly not know why I called you?”
I inwardly marveled.
He’s truly a tough person.
Just looking at him, one couldn’t possibly imagine he was enduring body-tearing pain.
“How could I possibly guess Your Majesty’s inner thoughts before you deign to speak them directly?”
“Perhaps I’m mistaken. The Duke’s words seem even more unpleasant than usual.”
“And Your Majesty seems to be employing an even more colorless tone than usual.”
It felt like invisible sparks were flying.
In truth, my legs were trembling, and I was enduring by pinching the palm of my hand hidden behind me!
“A few days ago, something very important happened to me. You probably know without me saying.”
“I told you I don’t know. Thinking that Your Majesty is the center of the world, well… that seems rather shameful, I think.”
“……”
The Emperor’s aura grew even fiercer.
Hmm, am I doing this right…?
Just as I became slightly anxious, the Emperor’s lips twisted eerily.
His well-shaped lips were vivid in my sight.
Yes, thinking about how much I suffered from those lips a few days ago…
‘Am I crazy? Why am I thinking about that now?’
Seeing me close my eyes tightly and then open them, the Emperor, perhaps misunderstanding something, raised the hand that had been resting on the armrest and placed it under his chin.
“I almost went berserk.”
I know. I know too well.
“There were disloyal people trying to make me go berserk, and that drug was administered. Of course… the Duke wouldn’t be involved in this, right?”
My lips trembled.
Yes, it was enough to suspect the politically opposed Duke.
But from my perspective, having been caught and bitten and suck—anyway, having performed guiding, it was quite an unfair misunderstanding.
“Again, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Your Majesty. At that time, I was working overtime as always to handle my excessive workload.”
“You sent Luias back first, didn’t you?”
The Emperor’s narrowed eyes looked beastly.
“As if you knew something was going to happen. Is this your foresight, or did you really know what was going to happen?”
I truly wanted to break through a window and disappear.
I’m scared. Really scared!
“How could I have known whether Your Majesty’s unstable power would go berserk or not? I don’t know if you’ll believe this explanation, but I’m not involved.”
“Yes, that should be the case. But Duke, given how brutal our relationship is, it’s hard to believe your innocence based on your words alone.”
So what do you want me to do?
Surely that person…
I wanted to avoid those eyes staring intently at me.
I really did.
The more directly I looked into those eyes, the clearer my memories of that day became.
Then the Emperor said, “But the Duke doesn’t ask how I survived the rampage?”
“……”
“Just like someone who already knows the outcome.”
That ghost-like person!
Now my heart was pounding so violently it seemed ready to burst.
If my heartbeat rises any further, the status window will surely take control of my body.
‘No. It’s okay. That person doesn’t know I’m that Indoja. He doesn’t know at all.’
A few days ago, when I was going mad with anxiety, I secretly tried guiding and discovered something surprising.
My face reflected in the mirror.
Specifically, the color of my eyes had changed.
In fact, among the descriptions of the person the Emperor’s knights were looking for was golden eyes.
Completely different from my usual red eyes!
‘So that’s not him testing if I’m his partner from that day. If he’s suspicious, it must be for other reasons.’
Because I’m a magician.
“My loyal knights are looking for the Indoja who calmed my rampage. And… they haven’t found anyone. Do you know what this means, Duke?”
Cold sweat trickled down.
The man’s eyes curved with apparent amusement, squeezing my heart tight.
“My knights suspect that my Indoja might be among the magicians.”
I couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
“If it’s later revealed that my Indoja is a magician, the head of the magicians might be suspected of hiding them and trying to make a fool of me.”
This was pressure and blackmail.
“Before that happens, Duke, it would be better for you to act directly.”
“To do what?”
I exhaled once and said.
Looking at those eyes, I wanted to avoid them immediately.
“What do you want from me?”
As if finally hearing what he wanted, the Emperor smiled deeply, like a predator looking at a cornered mouse.
“Find them.”
“……”
He was so handsome it gave me goosebumps.
“Find my Indoja yourself, Duke. That’s the only way you can prove your innocence.”
It felt like my soul was leaving my body.
In a situation where I should be erasing evidence and running away, now I had to grab my own tail and present it to that person—what a shitty situation.
