Volume 5, Chapter 12 – The Imperial Audience

“Saint Fiene Argentata of the White Moon Kingdom, Holy Knight Christina, and two others—entering the palace!”

We had arrived at the First Audience Hall of the Great Palace in Yan’an, the capital of the Red Sky Empire.

Of course, we were here because His Majesty the Emperor had summoned us, but I had absolutely no idea why.

Yihua-san didn’t seem to know either, so I was filled with anxiety.

The palace was vast, a magnificent building befitting the name of an empire, and this First Audience Hall was incredibly spacious.

That was all well and good, but the combination of vermilion and gold felt a bit painful to the eyes.

Do the people here look at such gaudy colors every day without getting eye strain? Or is it something you just get used to?

Now, as for His Majesty the Emperor, he was a man who looked to be around fifty with a stern face, casting a sharp gaze our way.

He wore luxurious robes and a distinctive hat—yes, exactly like the kind of hat an emperor in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms ¹ Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a 14th-century Chinese historical epic. It is a 70% fact, 30% fiction dramatization of the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the subsequent civil war where China splintered into three competing states: Wei, Shu, and Wu. or something would wear, with curtain-like fringes hanging from the front and back ().

I didn’t know the name of this hat, but I thought it looked very “emperor-like.”

Well, I mean, he actually is the Emperor.

I performed the lady’s etiquette I had learned in the White Moon Kingdom, while the other three bowed behind me.

“””Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live Saint-sama! Long live, long live, a thousand times over!”””

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As soon as we bowed, the people around us—who looked like civil officials—began a mysterious chant in unison.

What on earth is this “thousand welcomes” thing? They aren’t going to start a standing ovation or something, are they?

No, stop overthinking. I can’t afford to remember something funny and have my abs put to the test from laughing.

I have to be serious.

“Hmm. You may raise your heads.”

“His Majesty the Emperor says you may release your bow.”

I received permission and straightened up.

For some reason, there was an interpreter; what kind of farce was this?

This guy and the Emperor speak the same language, right?

While I was wondering about this, Chris-san whispered softly in my ear from behind.

“Fiene-sama, in the Red Sky Empire, those without a certain level of status or official rank are not permitted to speak directly with the Emperor. However, since you hold the status of Saint, there is no need for that man to act as an intermediary. If you allow this, it will be perceived as Fiene-sama submitting to the Red Sky Empire. Please ignore him and speak directly.”

Oh, so that’s what it means. That was close.

I whispered a thank you to Chris-san and turned back to His Majesty.

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“I am grateful for the invitation. I am Fiene Argentata.”

“Your Majesty, the Saint is sincerely grateful for the opportunity to meet Your Majesty.”

“Hmm. I am pleased to welcome the renowned Saint-sama.”

“His Majesty is—”

“The honor is mine to meet you, Your Majesty.”

In that instant, tension shot through the First Audience Hall, and a look of indignation appeared on the intermediary’s face.

Agitation seemed to spread among the surrounding people, and a slight murmur broke out.

“Also, I would like to thank you for the comfortable journey from Nanhai to Yan’an.”

Ignoring all of that, I thanked the Emperor with a beaming, professional business smile.

“Hmph. If the journey was pleasant, then that is all that matters. Enough! Silence, all of you!”

The Emperor vented his anger at the restless atmosphere, and the First Audience Hall fell dead silent in an instant.

“Now, as for the reason I summoned Saint-sama here. There are two things I wish to ask of you.”

“Yes. What may those be?”

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“First, I would like your cooperation in eradicating the monsters nesting in the Fanlin Mountains—the ones I heard you dealt with previously.”

Huh? Monsters in the Fanlin Mountains? Were there monsters there?

“Could you tell me more about them?”

“Indeed. Some time ago, monsters clad in a black haze appeared—creatures that cannot be defeated by any means—and the highway connecting Yianshui and Chi Tien has become unusable. Just then, a report came in from Jinsha. I hear Saint-sama possesses the means to defeat such monsters. I shall provide a reward, so I ask for your cooperation in their subjugation.”

Ah, maybe it’s that beast that just wouldn’t die.

If that’s the case, I feel like they’ve multiplied because I left them alone.

Hmm, maybe I should have forced my way into it back then after all?

“…I understand. I will cooperate as much as I can.”

“Good. And second, I wish for one of my country’s strongest warriors to accompany Saint-sama on her journey.”

“Accompany us?”

“Yes. He is the man with the greatest martial prowess in my empire. It must be dangerous for you to travel with only women. I, too, wish for Saint-sama’s journey to be successful.”

Hmm, I wonder about that.

If he’s a good person, that’s fine, but it feels difficult to suddenly add someone to the Party when I don’t know their personality or strength.

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It’s a kind offer, but I think I’ll decline.

“I am sorry. Since I do not know what kind of person he is, I must decline this time. Furthermore, I understand that such matters are decided by the guidance of the Holy Sword.”

Well, that Holy Sword is surprisingly dull, but still.

“I see. Then let us do this: let the candidate accompany you during the monster hunt in the Fanlin Mountains. That way, you can judge his character. Furthermore, my country also possesses a Holy Sword, the Seven-Star Treasure Dragon Sword. I shall have this man participate in the selection ritual to determine the owner of that sword. I will ask that you accept the accompaniment of whoever is chosen as the master of that Holy Sword. This should dispel all of Saint-sama’s concerns. Is that acceptable?”

“Eh? Ah, yes.”

I accidentally said yes, but oh well.

I’ve been given a trial period, so if even one of us doesn’t like him, we can just reject him, right?

And so, having finished our first meeting with the Emperor of the Red Sky Empire, we left the First Audience Hall.

Author Note

() The hat the Emperor was wearing is called a Mian Crown.

And so, Fiene-chan was smoothly talked into it by the Emperor.