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Chapter 22: I Have Become The Child Emperor
🕑 Added 2023-07-02 15:55:46 +0000 UTC"Ah, damn it, my body still aches," Wave muttered as he made his way towards the Military barracks in the Capital. The memory of yesterday's grueling training battle with General Budo lingered in his mind. Despite his own prowess and the power of his Teigu, the Grand Chariot, Wave couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer physical might of General Budo. It was evident that Budo operated on a whole different level, surpassing him in every aspect.
As he reflected on the intense encounter, Wave couldn't help but admire Budo's superior strength and skill. Despite being the younger of the two, Budo's commanding presence and formidable abilities made it clear why he held the rank of Great General. In fact, Wave was sure that if Budo had gotten serious from the start, he wouldn't have lasted as long as he did yesterday.
"Hi Wave!"
Wave's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as he heard a familiar voice in the distance. He turned his attention and saw Seryu waving enthusiastically at him, with her other hand tightly embracing Koro. A small smile tugged at the corners of Wave's lips as he returned the greeting.
"How's your stomach?" Wave asked as Seryu approached him. The memory of the devastating blow dealt by General Budo was still fresh in his mind. He couldn't help but worry about Seryu's well-being. Being on the receiving end of such a powerful attack must have been excruciating, especially considering her smaller frame.
Seryu grimaced slightly as she rubbed her stomach, indicating that the pain was still lingering. However, her determination shone through her words as she spoke with unwavering resolve. "My stomach still hurts," she admitted, "but Captain Ogre once told me that strength comes with enduring pain and I am willing to bear any pain for the sake of serving justice for the Empire!"
Wave nodded, understanding the depth of Seryu's commitment. He admired her unwavering dedication to her cause, even in the face of adversity. "You have an incredible spirit, Seryu," he remarked, a mixture of respect and concern in his voice. "But remember to take care of yourself too. We can only serve justice effectively if we're in our best condition."
Seryu smiled, "Don't worry, Wave," she assured him. "I'll make sure to take care of myself and come back stronger. Together, we'll be a force to be reckoned with, serving justice and protecting the Empire from evil!"
Wave could only smile awkwardly when faced with such patriotism. Together the two of them continued walking towards the military barracks. They were headed towards the room they were assigned yesterday, and they spotted Run the same manner they found him the previous day.
"Good morning, everyone," Run greeted with a warm smile, closing the book he had been engrossed in. "I hope you all had a restful night."
Feeling a surge of annoyance, Wave's voice carried the tone of someone who felt wronged. "Your feather attacks yesterday caused significant pain to my body! Even with my Teigu protecting me, I could still feel the impact! Now my entire body aches because of you!"
Run maintained his polite smile as he responded, "I apologize for that. I assure you; it won't happen again."
"You better make sure it doesn't!" Wave retorted; his annoyance evident.
Curiosity shining in his eyes, Run posed a question, "However, why are you only upset with me?" He gestured to himself and then to Seryu. "Didn't Seryu also use her gun on you?"
Glancing at Seryu, Wave replied, "Yes, but she wouldn't have attacked me if you hadn't initiated it first!"
Let's calm down, everyone," Seryu stated in an attempt to diffuse the tension between Wave and Run. Beside her, Koro let out a reassuring "ko! ko!" as if to emphasize her words.
"We're all comrades—"
Before Seryu could finish her sentence, a commanding voice cut through the air, instantly grabbing the attention of all three individuals. "Silence! Is this how you act in the presence of your Emperor!"
As General Budo's words resonated, they realized he was not alone. Standing beside the Great General was none other than His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Makoto. Without skipping a beat, all three individuals immediately dropped to one knee, their hands balled into fists and pressed against the ground, a show of utmost respect and submission to the ruler of the Empire.
"You don't have to do that, General Budo," Makoto stated calmly to his trusted general. His gaze swept over the three individuals standing before him, noticing the bandages still adorning their bodies. "It seems General Budo may have been a bit too rigorous during your initiation yesterday".
Seryu, undeterred, interjected with a beaming smile. "General Budo was simply showing us the vast room for improvement we have in order to effectively serve the Empire and ensure its greatness for years to come!" Her eyes gleamed with unwavering devotion as she looked upon the Emperor, cherishing the rare opportunity to be in his presence. To Seryu, only two individuals embodied true justice—the Captain of the Imperial Guard, Captain Ogre, and the Emperor himself.
The Emperor returned Seryu's smile and spoke warmly, acknowledging her deep love for the Empire. "It is inspiring to witness such dedication. I eagerly anticipate witnessing your growth in the days to come, Seryu."
Shifting his gaze to General Budo, the Emperor continued, his tone carrying a weight of responsibility. "General Budo, I entrust you with the task of training these individuals effectively. Their development will be crucial for the success and stability of our Empire in the future."
Makoto paused for a moment, his eyes lingered to Seryu a while longer than the rest, "Especially Miss Ubiquitous. Among the group that I will be forming, she will be the first to be given a specific mission", he said.
Seeing it as such an honor, Seryu immediately bowed her head deeper and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Whatever the task may be, I will not fail you, Your Majesty!".
"Certainly, Your Majesty," Budo added. He then issued a command for the three individuals to proceed to the training grounds and begin their initial warm-up, leaving him and the Emperor alone in the room.
"It has undoubtedly been a challenging few days for you," Makoto acknowledged after making sure that no one was going to hear the conversation they were going to have.
Budo merely scoffed at the Emperor's observation, his pride as a soldier and as a General shining through, "I am a soldier and a General. It's only acceptable that I bear heavy responsibility befitting my rank".
"I am deeply appreciative of your unwavering dedication then," Makoto expressed, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "Now, please enlighten me. Are there any developments or updates you would like to share?" he inquired.
In the last few days Budo hasn't been able to attend the various meetings with the Empires ministers, so Makoto was taking this time to see what he has been up to.
"Aside from tracking and taking care of Honest's allies in the cities outside of the Capital, my soldiers, who were in pursuit of Suzuka, have been officially declared lost in the treacherous northern forest," Budo stated with an unwavering gaze, his voice devoid of sentimentality. "A follow-up team has been dispatched to investigate, but let us not harbor false hope. The harsh reality is that in an area teeming with danger beasts, the chances of their survival are exceedingly slim."
He furrowed his brow, his mind focused on the pragmatic approach. "I propose a course of action: seeking the aid of General Esdeath," Budo continued, his tone firm and resolute. "Her troops are reputed to be in the vicinity, and by joining forces, we can bolster our manpower. With their support, we may have a better chance of locating the sole remaining member of the Four Rakshasa Demons."
In Budo's eyes, soldiers were replaceable pawns in the grand scheme of war, and sentimentality had no place in the pursuit of victory. His unwavering loyalty to his country and his unyielding dedication to the cause were reflected in every word he spoke, leaving no room for doubts or hesitation.
"Hmmmm…," Makoto mused, his mind deep in contemplation. If the events unfolded as they did in the original story, Suzuka would likely have found refuge under Esdeath's protection by now. It presented an opportunity to accuse Esdeath of treason, but Makoto knew that timing was crucial. He needed to amass enough forces to overpower Esdeath in a decisive confrontation.
After careful consideration, Makoto delivered his verdict. "Recall your troops, General Budo. Continuing the pursuit serves no purpose."
Budo remained silent for a moment, trying to grasp the Emperor's reasoning behind halting the chase for Suzuka. With the combined strength of his troops and Esdeath's army, success would have been within reach. Yet, the Emperor seemed hesitant, evoking a growing sense of unease within Budo. He began to question if the young Emperor was deliberately creating distance between himself and General Esdeath, and if so, he wondered why.
"And what about Honest's son? Have you located his whereabouts?" Makoto inquired. He was concerned that Syura would undoubtedly cause trouble for the Empire in the future. In the show, Syura was not in the Capital due to his travels outside the Empire. However, enough time has passed for news of Honest's death to have spread throughout the surrounding nations, and it was likely that Syura would have heard about it by now.
Recalling Syura's cunning and resourceful nature in the show, Makoto couldn't shake the feeling that he would seek revenge against the Empire. He wasn't certain about Syura's exact plans, but he knew that the young man had managed to gather a group of powerful allies due to his knowledge of the show. In response, Makoto was diligently building his own fighters to balance the scales. While he doubted Syura would be foolish enough to directly attack the heavily guarded Capital with his small group, despite some of them being Teigu users. Makoto still remained wary of any unexpected actions that could cause him a massive headache.
"As of right now, Your Majesty, I have no leads on Syura," General Budo replied, his fist clenching with anger about hearing Syura's name. "But rest assured, Your Majesty, I have already dispatched messages to all the military outposts throughout the Empire, instructing them to keep a close watch for any signs of him."
"I see," Makoto responded, deep in thought. It appeared that Syura would have to be placed on the back burner for the time being. There were more pressing matters that demanded his attention. "So be it, I have a different assignment for you," Makoto stated firmly, signaling a shift in focus.
"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Aware of the Capital Guards' detachment from the Imperial Army and the likelihood of General Hemi overlooking their corruption, Makoto stated, "My parents have informed me of the corruption within the Capital Guards. I want you to undertake a covert investigation into their activities, with a particular focus on Captain Ogre, their leader," Makoto declared.
"It shall be done, Your Majesty," Budo responded, his voice carrying a sense of determination. The weight of the previous message from Makoto's parents, which had ultimately led to the downfall of Honest, resonated within him. Budo knew better than to underestimate the significance of this new order.
