"Did he... leave?"
In the deep Imperial Palace, the Emperor sitting at his desk could not help but mutter to himself after reading the report handed over by his subordinate. However, it was obvious that no one in the empty study answered his question, and of course, he didn't expect anyone to answer him.
He was not unprepared for Lancer not coming to see him. Or rather, the fact that the other party had not appeared within the Empire's borders for more than four years had to some extent explained the other party's stance.
The events that took place back then were still vivid in his memory today.
If it hadn't been for that man, he would have probably perished in several assassination attempts. He was sincerely grateful to Lancer, and he even had the idea of becoming 'friends' with him, if he weren't the Emperor of the Empire...
Even as the supreme ruler of this thousand-year-old Empire, he still felt a trace of helplessness. Yet, even so, he still did not regret it, because that was his only choice at the time.
If sacrificing one person could maintain the rule of the entire Empire, he would not hesitate, even if the one who needed to be sacrificed was himself. Therefore, he did not regret it, but not regretting it did not mean that he had never thought about the 'possibility'...
——————
Lancer appearance could be described as extremely sudden, just like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples. But what he splashed up were just ripples. As time passed, these ripples would still be smoothed out.
However, for those involved, it was not that easy to forget. Lancer himself might not feel anything, but he was indeed a 'legendary figure' in this world.
"Tatsumi, what are you thinking about? Don't tell me Captain Bulat is going to put you through special training again?"
The most basic job of the City Guard was to maintain order in the Imperial Capital. Besides patrolling, most of their time was spent garrisoning various posts. Tatsumi himself had good strength, and with Bulat help, his promotion was quite fast, at least much faster than Ieyasu from the same village. However, the naturally optimistic Ieyasu didn't care at all, and even often boasted in front of others that Tatsumi was his childhood friend and took pride in it.
Ieyasu, who had just finished his patrol and returned, saw Tatsumi standing and staring blankly in the camp with his spear propped up, and couldn't help but go forward and ask. But what he didn't expect was that Tatsumi seemed to be startled, as if he'd been frightened. In his impression, his friend shouldn't be so timid, should he?
Facing his friend's puzzled gaze, Tatsumi only forced a wry smile and casually brushed it off. He couldn't possibly tell his friend that the 'strange middle-aged uncle' he caught during his patrol two days ago was the legendary 'Imperial Executioner' who was supposed to have died in the line of duty, could he?
The other party would probably think he hadn't woken up properly.
As a subject of the Empire, Tatsumi didn't know much about the other party when he was in the village. After all, the village environment was relatively isolated, and outsiders rarely came except for traveling merchants. News was often delayed by half a year or even longer. However, after he came to the Imperial Capital, the other party's name was 'famous' to say the least, but accompanying his fame was a long string of bloody names. So, initially, Tatsumi's impression of the other party was actually not good because he disliked killing.
But perhaps this was fate. When he and his two childhood friends signed up for the army, he happened to meet Bulat. And it was precisely because of Bulat that he got to know many people: General Liver, one of the pillars of the Empire, a man who was strict with his subordinates and even stricter with himself; Bols of the Empire's Burning Squad, a middle-aged man who liked to wear a strange mask but was actually very handsome; Najenda, the most famous female General of the Empire, who was actually a tomboy who liked to drink heavily; Wave of the Imperial Navy, a hot-blooded man who, as he said himself, possessed a heart as vast as the sea.
In addition to these military personnel, Tatsumi also got to know other people through them, such as the sisters Akame and Kurome adopted by Najenda. Although the two looked very cute, his intuition told him that these two were probably not people he could easily deal with. There was also Mine, the girl adopted by the other party, who was now his girlfriend, the girl he swore to protect for a lifetime. Through Mine, he got to know Sheele...
It can be said that Tatsumi's social circle and friends in the Imperial Capital all began with that seemingly ordinary yet fateful encounter.
And Bulat not only helped him get to know many friends, but his own strength and personality also made him greatly admire him. He even secretly vowed to become a man like him!
And it was from his mouth that he began to learn some things about the almost deified man.
He still remembered a sentence the other party said with strange emotion one day when the two of them skipped work and hid behind a tent to drink.
'I actually didn't have much contact with that man. The first time we cooperated was the battle to raid the Northern Foreign Tribe base. You probably can't imagine it, right? He alone charged from behind tens of thousands of enemies, and his charge sounded the horn of counterattack. In the end, we almost wiped out the main force of the Northern Foreign Tribes in that battle, and their commander was personally killed by him! For many people, they only saw the man's hands covered in blood, but we who followed him saw hope and victory!'
Although he joined the City Guard, Tatsumi himself had not actually participated in many truly significant battles, so he really couldn't understand the feeling Bulat described. But it was precisely from that time that his view of that man began to change subtly.
Later, from the mouths of Najenda, Bols, and Liver, the image of the other party gradually became clearer. But he had absolutely no idea that he would actually meet that man one day, the man who was supposed to have 'died in the line of duty'.
Although his Big Brother said nothing, he could guess that there must be some secret involved. But those were minor matters. The most crucial point was that the other party had come to see him that night and handed him a strange weapon.
Even today, he still couldn't figure out why the other party would do this, but he always kept the other party's words when he left in mind.
'The future of the Empire belongs to you.'
He didn't think that man would do anything meaningless, so what exactly was the other party's purpose?
Tatsumi didn't know, but his friend's reminder at this time made him make a decision.
Indeed, he didn't know the other party, but someone did. And Big Brother Bulat had always helped him solve his problems and confusion. He not only invited him to join the City Guard but also sincerely taught him swordsmanship. Even when he confessed to Mine later, it was the other party who gave him support from behind, which made him make up his mind.
'Yeah, why don't I go and ask Big Brother Bulat?'
And when he found Bulat after work, a trace of surprise flashed across Bulat face when he saw the weapon Tatsumi handed over ——————
"Imperial Arm?!"
Since the end of that unrest, Teigu (Imperial Arms) users had rarely openly revealed their identities, and many people had even forgotten the existence of those called 'Teigu Users'. But those who still remembered it knew the terrifying power and rarity of 'Teigu'. He hadn't expected Lancer to give a Teigu to Tatsumi.
"What did that man say?"
"He said ———— 'The future of the Empire belongs to you.' What's wrong, Big Brother? Is there something not right?"
Facing Tatsumi's puzzled gaze, Bulat shook his head and then patted the other party's shoulder.
"No, nothing specific. I'll explain it to you after we go to my house, but for now, I can tell you that this 'weapon' is very special and rare. You must take good care of it."
After seriously admonishing Tatsumi, his expression turned very complex.
"I didn't expect that. That man also thinks highly of you."
After expressing his emotion, he again clapped his hands firmly on Tatsumi's shoulders.
"Tatsumi! Don't let down the expectations that man has for you!"
"Ah?! Yes! I will work hard!!"
Tatsumi at this time had no idea what kind of existence the 'weapon' he was holding was, but Bulat words made him feel excited again.
"Alright~! Let's go to my house now. I will explain it to you properly~"
After the serious things were finished, Bulat reverted to his casual self. He put his arm around Tatsumi and walked towards his house...