I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 11
The emperor’s razor-sharp gaze froze my lips.
It felt like an invisible red warning light was flashing a deadly caution.
‘I need to say something, anything.’
Normally, by now, the system would have taken control of my body with a cute little “ding” sound.
But for some reason, the system window remained silent.
‘You choose now to be quiet!’
Even without being a Guide, anyone could tell from the atmosphere.
The emperor suspects me.
‘And seriously at that!’
That there is an Indoja among the mages, and that his political rival, Duke Ariel, is intentionally keeping that Indoja hidden.
‘When most Espers meet someone who can guide them, they tend to go crazy.’
Especially for high-ranking Espers who had been struggling without a matching Guide, their obsession could be unimaginably intense.
In South Korea, there were numerous headache-inducing cases where Esper obsessions led to stalking crimes.
So despite the emperor’s statue-like expressionless face, his inner thoughts must be terribly anxious.
Emperor Kaisis spoke.
“Duke. You should think carefully. Are you not afraid of how I might interpret your silence right now?”
“……”
“If you insist on remaining unresponsive, what should I do?”
Hey! But!
How am I supposed to tell him that the escaped Guide happens to be me, Duke Ariel whom he so fiercely dislikes!
My lips quivered.
Especially for the sake of completing my quest, I absolutely must not reveal my identity, even with a knife to my throat.
I felt like I was going insane.
Why did I guide and cause this mess! No, that was the best choice at the time!
In the hostile atmosphere, I finally opened my mouth.
“If.”
The emperor merely raised an eyebrow, his attitude suggesting I should continue speaking, which was extremely arrogant. But it was also terrifying enough to send cold sweat down my spine.
‘Damn Esper.’
This is exactly what they call saving someone, only to be slapped and asked to hand over everything else.
I stared at the ungrateful human with a genuine glare and spoke through gritted teeth.
“If that Indoja is indeed one of our mages as Your Majesty suspects, what do you intend to do?”
Gulp.
I slowly swallowed as I played the role of the cold, composed duke.
“Wouldn’t that be an outcome Your Majesty doesn’t want? The moment I find them, it becomes official business among the mages. Even if you summon them separately to give orders as you’re doing now.”
I hoped he wouldn’t notice the cold sweat forming at my temples.
I watched in real-time as Kaisis’s well-shaped lips twisted.
Still, throwing caution to the wind, I continued.
“Moreover, if, as Your Majesty suspects, that person is the first human to simultaneously possess both mage and Indoja qualities.”
“Then what?”
“As the leader of the mages, I will actively protect that person.”
The emperor’s eyebrows twitched.
I saw his hand slide down from where it had been covering his smooth chin.
While an ordinary mage might not notice, for me, as a Guide who could sense an Esper’s energy, it felt like watching a powder keg about to explode.
His energy was going wild.
It shot up like thorns and convulsed.
An Esper’s energy synchronizes with their mental and emotional state.
So this man currently very much wants to strike me down.
“So what you’re saying is.”
As expected, with a cracking sound like the floor breaking, Kaisis’s voice emerged deep and low as if rising from hell.
“You intend to imprison them under the pretext of protection, keeping them away from my eyes and ears?”
I pulled at my stiff lips and sneered as unpleasantly as possible.
“It also means I won’t let them belong to Your Majesty. So I’m telling you. Wouldn’t it be better for Your Majesty to continue actively searching yourself rather than entrusting this to me?”
For a moment, sharp energy gathered at the emperor’s fingertips before dissipating.
His face contorted.
Hey, did he just try to kill me?
Regardless, the emperor’s blue eyes shone clearly toward me.
“You’re telling me not to drag you into this troublesome matter. But Duke.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It’s already too late.”
That man, even though he’s smiling at me, I can tell it’s not from amusement.
“I’ve revealed a very important fact to you, my political rival. Once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.”
I felt strange.
Isn’t he saying that…
He’s desperate enough to involve a political rival.
And he has minimal faith that I won’t use his weakness to put a leash on him.
But the person he’s so desperately searching for is me…
“Let me summarize. An Indoja who can leash the strongest Awakened One in the empire has appeared. And that Indoja might be under your shadow.”
“Yes, that has become Your Majesty’s fatal weakness. And I could leave today pretending I heard nothing.”
“Stop pretending not to understand, Duke Ariel. I told you, didn’t I? This is also a warning directed at you all.”
Damn, wordplay doesn’t work.
I swallowed hard.
If I looked in a mirror, I’d probably see a pale, white face, but since I’m naturally pale, it probably wouldn’t be noticeable.
Kaisis stroked his smooth chin.
“The standoff between mages and Awakened Ones is nothing new. But it’s also an unpleasant fact that the empire’s peace is barely maintained due to the confrontation between you and me.”
“So?”
“Do you wish for that balance to break?”
He’s the one making threats.
I felt extremely wronged, but ultimately, a duke is weaker than an emperor.
“Are you offering me a chance to prevent that?”
“Yes.”
“If I bring that Indoja.”
“Peace will be maintained.”
Cursing the system that doesn’t help when needed, I started blurting out anything.
“What if it’s beyond my abilities? What if something unfortunate happens?”
Crack!
His fully materialized power tore the floor.
Literally ‘tore’ it.
This is insane!
I wanted to panic, sit down and back away on my behind, but keeping my trembling legs from giving out was the best I could do at the moment.
“I command you, Duke.”
“…I’m listening.”
“Find my benefactor. Bring them to me directly, present them like tribute.”
It feels like I’m being strangled.
Why did I obsessively read novels with the Guideverse keyword and end up like this?
“This is not the usual game of peek-a-boo warning we’ve always done, Duke. As you said, I am a crazy monster who cannot give up a fruit once tasted. To the point where I want to remove anything that gets in my way.”
“……”
It couldn’t be helped.
Provoking him further would be the wrong choice.
It would only plant more suspicion that I’m hiding something.
I finally raised the white flag.
“I have always been a loyal subject of the empire. Following Your Majesty’s command, I promise the active cooperation and support of the mages, Your Majesty.”
The energy receded.
At the same time, breathing became much easier.
Although seeing his eyes curve in enjoyment of his rival’s defeat was unsettling.
Damn you, is your satisfaction all that matters? I have to continue a very dangerous quest from now on!
My life is at stake too!
“However.”
I threw a stone into the relaxing atmosphere.
“I cannot guarantee complete success.”
His satisfied, relaxed gaze turned cold again.
But it can’t be helped. I need to lay some groundwork.
The fact that quest choices diverged means there must be a Guide suitable for the emperor in this world besides me.
Even though the sunshine female lead seems to have vanished without a trace!
So I needed to buy time to drag this out.
“What does that mean?”
The tip of Kaisis’s finger, which tapped the armrest of the chair, was beautiful, like a male protagonist’s should be, delicate and elegant.
But the sight of cracks forming and breaking from just that small gesture was not beautiful.
“Even Your Majesty’s eager hounds couldn’t find this person immediately.”
“So.”
Looking directly into his unpleasantly cold eyes, I drove in the wedge.
“You must give me time. And please do not hold me responsible for the results of the search.”
The Esper, whose patience had burst, laughed nervously at my words.
“How will I know if you’re just pretending to search?”
