Chapter 63. Low Pressure

What on earth is going on?

Jesuf was inwardly bewildered as he observed Johann, who had been in a low mood for several days.

Today, he had once again brought a selection of military reports from Hilton, and judging by the sharp aura Johann exuded as he went through the documents, it seemed like even a small mistake could lead to a dragon-level outburst.

Jesuf cautiously placed the file at the edge of the desk, trying his best not to provoke Johann.

“What is this?”

But placing it too far at the edge had the opposite effect.

Johann furrowed his brow at the suspicious action and looked up at his right-hand man.

Jesuf awkwardly avoided his gaze. But upon reflection, he couldn’t understand why he was so flustered when he hadn’t done anything wrong.

He was already doing additional work not originally assigned to him due to Johann’s whims.

Jesuf straightened his back and raised his head confidently as he spoke.

“It’s a report from Hilton.”

“Hilton?”

“Yes.”

Johann slightly frowned. He didn’t say anything, but his expression conveyed his thoughts. Why bring something unnecessary and bother him?

Jesuf felt a surge of frustration.

If only he weren’t the emperor, he would…!

But then he was startled by his own thoughts. How could he, a knight to the core, entertain such disloyal thoughts?

Moreover, he deeply respected Johann as a knight, despite Johann’s occasional brusqueness.

Yet here he was, feeling this way.

It was all due to Johann’s prolonged low mood over the past few days.

“No doubt they’re just whining about how hard the subjugation is…”

Johann trailed off as he skimmed through the file.

Jesuf swallowed dryly. There was a reason he intended to leave quietly. But Johann had opened it immediately without understanding the deeper implications.

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

“It’s not exactly nonsense.”

Jesuf replied honestly to Johann’s rather sensitive tone.

A loyal subject should be able to offer candid advice to their lord.

“To be honest, what is Miss Seraphina doing here? While no undead appear in Elmon, they’ve gone on another subjugation over there.”

The point was this.

It was a waste to keep Seraphina in Elmon, which was protected by a barrier, so she should be sent back to Hilton.

Of course, Johann knew this logically. He was well aware that all Seraphina did in Elmon was drink with that Marc or Cork fellow.

But he had fainted twice after going to subjugate in the Grodes Mountains.

It was too dangerous.

It was better for her to fool around with another scoundrel than to die. Not that he intended to actually let her fool around.

“They say the bone wyverns have appeared again. The surge of monsters is unusual.”

Jesuf was genuinely worried.

What if the newly rebuilt country was swept away by undead attacks again?

“Damn bone wyverns…”

A small curse escaped Johann’s lips.

He too had been to the Grodes Mountains. It was a story from over 10 years ago. The path to subdue the Bone Dragon was incredibly treacherous.

Various high-level undead, rarely seen elsewhere, fiercely welcomed them at every turn. Of course, they responded even more fiercely.

After defeating the final boss, the Bone Dragon, the overwhelming presence of the Grodes Mountains, which seemed like the undead’s headquarters, waned.

And peace came to the continent.

This peace, hard-won by everyone and still being arduously maintained by someone.

But…

[A surge of monsters is intensifying. The consecutive appearances of the bone wyverns in a short period are unprecedented. We are considering the worst-case scenario, so we urgently request the support of Purifier Seraphina.]

Johann’s gaze lingered on one part of the report. This polite tone belonged to Austin, the authority on search magic.

Johann closed his eyes gently.

Of all times…

“Your Majesty.”

At that moment, Jesuf called him, seemingly urging him.

Johann clenched his eyes shut even tighter.

The ‘worst-case scenario’ mentioned in the report referred to the resurrection of the Bone Dragon. The evil entity that the three heroes, who couldn’t stand each other, had united to defeat.

“It’s still just speculation.”

Johann slowly opened his eyes.

He had been able to easily dismiss Claude’s requests for support over the years because he judged that it was permissible. Although the northern knights would have a hard time, it wouldn’t be to the extent that they couldn’t handle the undead.

But if it was the Bone Dragon, it was a different story.

It meant that not only Seraphina but even Johann himself would have to go.

Yes.

So if they go, they go together.

If someone had seen into his thoughts, they might have said that wasn’t the conclusion he should have reached, but Johann nodded.

“I can’t have Marseus act on mere speculation.”

“What?”

Jesuf asked in disbelief.

“Send Miss Seraphina instead of His Majesty.”

How could this emperor become so foolish?

The response to his frustrated remark was ridiculous.

“If the Bone Dragon appears, isn’t it right for Marseus to go?”

“…….”

He seemed like someone with a screw loose.

No matter how precious the purifier was, was it necessary to protect her so fervently?

Jesuf seriously contemplated whether he should continue associating with him. Meanwhile, with a courteous knock, the door opened. It was Ionia.

“I knew it. Look at this.”

She immediately started speaking as she entered, thrusting a file in front of Johann.

“What is this?”

Johann felt an instinctive unease.

He had barely managed to bring Seraphina to Elmon…

He had firmly established that her primary residence was Elmon…

“Sir Andantino is running amok.”

With that, Ionia shook the file up and down as if to say, ‘If you’re curious, see for yourself.’

Reluctantly, Johann accepted it. The thickness was substantial in his hand. As he opened the sturdy hardcover, a paper stamped with the emblem of the Holy Knight Order lay neatly inside.

[……Due to the abrupt relocation of Miss Sera’s posting, she was unable to complete her rightful duties in Sahar. The purifying light from Miss Sera’s hands is unlike any other purifiers. Refining this ability through purification training greatly benefits national interests……. ]

Johann irritably flipped the page.

The madman had written eighteen pages, as if it were a love letter. It meant he was that furious. Writing such a lengthy message to convey a single line asking to send Seraphina back to Sahar was a skill in itself.

“How long has it been since Seraphina arrived in Elmon for them to act like this?”

Johann was genuinely curious. Why were those who managed just fine before her arrival causing such a fuss now?

“Once they’ve experienced a purifier, they can’t let go.”

Ionia simply replied.

“She supported them once before.”

“Are you talking about ages ago? Besides, isn’t Miss Seraphina’s purification ability extraordinary?”

Although Johann tried to argue, his words lost power against Ionia’s retort.

Seraphina’s vast purification range was certainly something the heroes coveted. It implied that having her stay in Elmon was a national waste.

Ionia cleared her throat and got to the point.

“They can request dispatch through official channels, so the demands of the Guardian of the North and Sir Andantino are legitimate.”

“Don’t call him the Guardian of the North.”

Johann nitpicked over something trivial. But Ionia wasn’t someone who would fall for such petty tactics.

She continued in a dignified voice.

“The imperial family must now weigh the importance of these events.”

“Ionia, look. Among the matters of importance, this is very much Bone Dragon-level ‘important.’”

Jesuf seized the moment to interject.

He held a report from Hilton.

Johann quietly exclaimed, “No…!” and clenched his teeth under Ionia’s watchful eyes.

“Oh.”

A meaningful exclamation escaped her lips as she quickly scanned the report.

“It’s very serious.”

She then stared intently at Johann.

Johann averted his gaze.

But he couldn’t ignore the clear and precise voice that seemed to strike him.

“If the bone wyverns are appearing this frequently, it can’t be ignored.”

“…….”

“Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

He couldn’t deny it.

Johann, sweating invisibly, stared aimlessly out the window.

Jesuf was indignant.

Wasn’t the disparity in treatment between him and others too great?

“If the Bone Dragon appears, he says he should go to the Grodes Mountains with Miss Seraphina.”

Of course, his expression of anger took the form of tattling to Ionia.

Ionia raised an eyebrow. Then she instantly dispelled the absurdity that had silenced Jesuf earlier.

“Only the bone wyverns have appeared so far. It’s not at the level where Your Majesty needs to go personally.”

“But what if the worst-case scenario occurs….”

“Go then.”

“By then, it’ll be too late.”

“I’ll have a warp mage ready.”

“…….”

It was extremely difficult to win against Ionia with logic.