I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 13
“……”
“Many things will change because of you. Do you have the confidence to handle that meow?”
I was going to say, of course, but somehow my mouth froze for a moment.
Though something in those words warned me against a simple answer.
“You are a very stupid and weak human meow. But humans are naturally like that meow. I really enjoy watching such humans meow.”
The fat cat laughed unpleasantly, clearly reading my thoughts.
With the bonus of sticking out its red tongue.
Wow, it was really unpleasant.
Is that a person or an animal? How can it make such diverse expressions with such a flat face?
The cat even clicked its tongue while looking at me, dumbfounded for different reasons.
Tap, tap. Its thick tail hit the floor.
“Open your ears and listen well meow! For foolish you, this great being will give you a solution meow! Now, let me ask meow. Don’t you look at your status window? Are you stupid meow? You seem to have forgotten the reward you received meow!”
“The reward I received?”
“That’s right meow!”
The plump cat’s front paw pointed right at me.
“Once a day, can’t you become someone else meow? You can use that to plant recognition in the emperor meow!”
“Ah.”
It seemed to be talking about that quest reward I received.
The reward that seemed to be given to prevent the emperor’s rampage was usable once a day, allowing me to appear as someone else.
If I guide him while being recognized as someone other than Duke Ariel, the emperor might not be able to find the connection between Duke Ariel and that Indoja.
Because I would look like a completely different person.
And since the search would be based on false information, it would be in disarray for quite some time.
It wasn’t a bad method.
But that was.
‘That’s too actively going down option 2. And I’d have to go guide the emperor every day!’
Of course, I had to guide the emperor.
Because I received the quest.
But there was something I needed to think about first.
I received a quest to either break the incomplete imprint and find the Sunshine Lady or become a complete Guide.
And I still hadn’t chosen one of the two options.
‘Because.’
As soon as I saw my aide, who returned from vacation, I assigned him to investigate the Sunshine Lady.
But what came back was.
‘Um, Family Head. After searching for the family you ordered… I only received a reply that it currently does not exist.’
‘What does that mean? That such a family doesn’t exist at all?’
‘Not exactly, but it’s as if their existence was erased, leaving no trace behind.’
‘……’
‘Should I look further?’
I despaired.
My Sunshine Lady, my salvation, was gone. How could this happen!
And now, am I supposed to visit every night, pretending to be someone else, and guide the emperor?
What if our imprint becomes complete?
“What if the incomplete imprint becomes a complete imprint!”
“Stupid human, look up meow.”
The annoying cat with a smug smile pointed above my head.
Then that sparkle I had been trying to ignore stabbed my vision.
Yes, that was there.
The emperor’s rampage risk.
“You have to go anyway, meow.”
“I know that, you cat.”
From the moment I discovered it, and even when I faced the emperor, it had been stabbing my heart.
As written in the novel, the empire’s situation wasn’t so optimistic.
It was more desperate than South Korea’s situation, which managed Espers and Guides in a systematic way.
The mages and nobles were in charge of external order and organization, while the Awakened Ones and Indojas risked their lives in battle.
This was because the records and information here were extremely lacking compared to those in South Korea.
They didn’t have tools to accurately determine matching rates, only tools developed by mages that were vaguely confirmed by placing hands and observing color changes.
Knowledge about how to use a Guide’s abilities was also significantly lacking.
From what I skimmed, even A-class Guides here were like that.
So the life of a solitary triple-S would literally be hell.
The emperor in this novel wasn’t a character who laughed and joked while oppressing surrounding nobles with coercive power.
He threw himself into battles where blood and flesh flew. He fought battle after sickening battle.
If it weren’t just novel lines read for interest but someone’s actual life, it would be quite hellish.
I held my head.
“If I accept this and guide the emperor every night. What if he grabs me and keeps me by his side until the perception magic wears off? Then it would be obvious that I’m Duke Ariel?”
“The system is favorable to you meow. So don’t be afraid, go and check for yourself meow.”
Ah, I don’t know.
Looking at the emperor’s rampage risk that was now starting to change from orange to red, I was faced with the same choices as before.
“You saved him, didn’t you meow?”
“……”
“Hoping that things will resolve themselves without doing anything is cowardly meow.”
The cat was right.
Either actively participate and change the direction of life. Or somehow bring someone who can turn my situation around.
“I.”
Looking at the cat’s brightly glowing yellow eyes, I placed my hand on the system window.
“I want to live.”
By any means necessary.
I scrolled down the window, divided into choices 1 and 2, pulling all the way down.
Then the window I saw before appeared.
[Don’t be discouraged.
We’ll give you an appropriate reward to help you achieve your quest more easily.
Reward: Disguised Identity (Click)]
Yes, whatever this system wants, it won’t kill me right now.
Believing only that, I firmly pressed the status window.
***
It was quite a strange experience.
After being swept by a bright light, I found myself standing in a corridor of the imperial palace.
I was startled and tried to hide, but my eyes met with a knight who seemed to be changing shifts.
While I was frozen stiff, trying to figure out what excuse to make, the knight passed by me with an indifferent expression.
‘He doesn’t recognize me?’
It seemed that along with appearing as someone else, unnecessary suspicion was also prevented.
As if the system was flowing to thoroughly protect me!
‘This might work out fine?’
My shoulders, which had been hunched like a caterpillar, straightened naturally.
I probably appeared to be a palace maid or something similar.
‘Could I just run away without anyone knowing?’
Such a cowardly thought flashed briefly, but I soon shook my head.
Even if I ran away, the system wouldn’t let me go easily, and the quest would end in failure, resulting in the annihilation of my soul.
‘Let’s try somehow. I can do this, how many years have I rolled among those damn Espers!’
I naturally walked down the corridor, following the arrow that unnaturally appeared on the floor of the imperial palace.
Despite the considerable distance, I began to feel a tingling energy extending toward me.
A truly brutally, fierce energy.
Just as I was suddenly transported to the imperial palace, it seemed likely that after completing the guiding quest, I would be able to return to my room, where I originally was.
‘That is, if I finish guiding without revealing my identity.’
Unlike the warning not to touch the emperor while being Duke Ariel, there was no such warning in this form, which was amusing.
So is the system’s ability above that of the Awakened Ones and Indojas living in this world?
But I soon had to erase such idle thoughts.
When the system’s kind guidance ended, a magnificent and heavy door appeared right in front of me.
“Haah.”
I really want to go home.
My hands trembled.
A savage energy that felt like it was tearing skin surged from behind the closed door.
Guides are overwhelmed by Espers’ energy just like ordinary people.
It’s just different because that energy is visible and can be felt on the skin.
‘Damn it. You crazy person.’
It hadn’t been long since we parted. But if he’s in such a state after that short time, how recklessly must he have used his power?
Suppressing the urge to scream, I placed my hand on the doorknob.
Befitting an expensive imperial palace door, it opened without a sound.
A black shadow was visible.
And.
Swoosh!
A cool sensation brushed my cheek, cutting through the air.
At the same time, hot blood trickled down my cheek.
I froze stiff.
Resentment toward the fat cat, who was probably crunching meringue cookies in my room right now, flared up like flames.
You said it would be fine. You said it would be okay, you damn cat!
“Who are you?”
Unable to wipe away the blood, I opened my eyes that had been tightly shut, and saw blue eyes glowing fiercely in the darkness.
A man unmistakable even in dreams.
Kaisis was there.
And he didn’t seem to be in his right mind.
“You.”
A distorted face covered in cold sweat, and a bare upper body.
A shadow twisted in pain.
An outstretched hand.
“Are you my illusion?”
It was an Esper who had excessively used his power, a sight I had grown sick of seeing during my time as a Guide.
