LIGHTNOVELWORLD Ch. 47 - The Shepherd of the Empire, Al
Ssshhh, ssshhh.
Asil checked the breaths coming in and out of the small nostrils several times. Even after that, he mumbled as he stood up.
“… it’s been a while since I used a sleep spell. It only works if you soothe the target’s mind—perhaps I have no talent for magic after all?”
Like his adorable daughter, he knew how to lie.
He would never admit that he put someone to sleep with magic.
Meanwhile, at the grand imperial palace of the Reef Empire…
The scale of this place was enormous.
There was a front yard so large that the entire Nea palace could fit inside, an artificial pond as big as a lake, and multiple palaces.
There was also an animal pen and a hill where sheep were raised, just as Karas had mentioned, hidden in the back where it wasn’t easily visible.
At the center of it all sat the emperor’s palace.
Where the ruler, Harun, was staring into the distance, visibly displeased.
He was in the middle of receiving a report.
“And so?”
“Yes. Our estimates suggest that this doppelganger has been around for several hundred years longer than the one previously eliminated. It must have been gradually building its power and influence in secret, only now revealing its true nature.”
“Hmm.”
“Given its intricate schemes, it’s likely been studying the human world for a long time.”
It was a reasonable analysis.
Especially since it was near the Nea Kingdom—there was no way it wouldn’t know about the previous incidents.
It must have been watching, just like the other doppelganger of its kind, who almost fell victim to the Mirror of Origin.
Only to finally appear after witnessing that doppelganger’s death?
Cunning indeed.
Baine’s cheek muscles twitched grotesquely out of habit.
“But thanks to Al’s efforts, it lost half its power, which is good news, Your Majesty. Once we track down the doppelganger’s location, eliminating it should be easy. We can quickly cooperate with the Nea royal family and…”
“Who?”
Harun, who had been listening carefully to Baine’s report, tilted his head.
“Excuse me? The Nea Kingdom and…”
“No, before that. Who did you say made the effort? I didn’t quite catch that. Say it again.”
“Er… ugh…”
A groan finally escaped someone’s lips—a sound of intense suffering.
The emperor asked once more.
“Do we have someone named Al in our empire?”
“Well…”
Baine glanced at Al, who was being punished.
For failing to uphold his firm promise with Lord Litus!
For failing to prevent the assassination attempt in Dark House!
For leaving young Karas and Yuriana in the house to defeat the enemy outside!
For failing to foresee all these events before they happened!
In any case, he was guilty!
And so on—Al, who had incurred the emperor’s wrath, was currently holding a water-filled bucket as punishment.
The water sloshed, ready to spill at any moment.
Since he was also skilled as a warrior, the emperor had wisely placed heavy stones in the bucket—a sort of endurance test?
Al’s vision had long since turned yellow.
‘Ugh! If only I could use magic to get rid of just the water on top, I’d be fine. But no, His Majesty is a better wizard than I am. He’d notice if the mana flow changed. Of course, that won’t work.’
Even trying to cheat wasn’t easy.
“In any case, we’re indebted to him.”
“Your Majesty.”
“I trusted Asil and let him go, and what did I get? The empire’s name was shamed, and Karas almost died. I’m also to blame since I approved the plan. My vision must be failing me for trusting such a pathetic wizard.”
Harun’s words were almost a lament.
“….”
Baine, who desperately wished for Karas’s untimely demise, drooped his eyebrows.
Why did the doppelganger miss such a golden opportunity? That despicable creature should have just killed the traitor’s offspring who went to another country!
The doppelganger was doomed to die one way or another!
The emperor looked disdainfully at Al, who was being punished.
“And that man is the top-ranking wizard of the empire?”
“I’ll lower his rank to 11th.”
Though Baine acknowledged Al’s skills, he sought a compromise.
“Drop him to 111th, perhaps. Ah, but then he might have to leave the palace? If we dismiss him, I can’t punish him anymore, which would be a problem.”
With his face flushed red, Al made his final plea.
“Your… Your Majesty. I acknowledge my mistake—no, my wrongdoing! I should not have been so complacent. Please, dismiss me so I can track down and kill that doppelganger! I’ll return to the palace with honor!”
“No.”
“Your Majesty…!”
“… and that doppelganger has already gone into hiding somewhere. Since it’s lost half its power, it’ll be lying low for a while, waiting for another chance. Don’t underestimate it. If you go after it alone, you’ll just get picked off.”
Harun’s analysis was cold and precise.
The second doppelganger, split in two, had less judgment than its original form.
Therefore, Lupedos and Al had caught it in the blink of an eye. But the problem was the original body that had gone into deep hiding.
That one was smart, understanding the intricacies of the human world.
Look at how it avoided two or three nearby countries and instead used assassins from the Lillian Principality!
Al’s detection of the doppelganger’s cunning nature must have been accurate.
Since it was described as a sage-level wizard, perhaps it was better to start by finding its victims.
“Ugh…”
“Baine, let him go.”
Thud!
As soon as Harun gave the order, Al quickly set down the bucket.
Sloshing water onto the carpet.
“….”
The emperor’s glare showed that his anger had not yet subsided.
Al, who had been groaning in pain, suddenly began speaking hastily.
“Your Majesty! Please, trust me. I almost ruined the mission due to my mistake, so I’ll take responsibility!”
“I didn’t say you could flap your mouth freely.”
“What kind of wizard is silenced? That’s too much!”
With his pride wounded and his urgency growing, Al raised his voice.
He wanted to deal with that doppelganger as soon as possible to restore his honor.
Unfortunately, that was a mistake.
“… Al. Are you defying me? I forgave you too quickly.”
‘Oh, no!’
Realizing his mistake too late, Al clamped his mouth shut, but it was already too late.
He should have been more cautious, read the room better!
The emperor lightly tapped the floor with the jeweled end of his royal scepter and gave his command.
“Baine, carry out the order.”
“Y-yes!”
“From today, Al, who was the top-ranked wizard of the imperial wizard corps, is reassigned as the assistant shepherd of the palace.”
“Y-yes…!”
It was a decree so shocking that even the sun hanging over the empire might flip in surprise.
Baine quickly decided he would have to talk to the Dasher family to rescue Al later.
For now, the emperor’s wrath was too great.
“Tell the shepherd to make sure he raises the sheep well until he shears the wool of 200 sheep.”
“… understood.”
Baine replied obediently and signaled to his subordinates, prompting Al, who sensed time was running out, to shout.
“No! Your Majesty! How can you cast me aside like this?!”
“I don’t want to hear any more, Al. Cool your head. Leave that dull magic for a while.”
“Take Al away! It is the emperor’s command!”
“Yes!”
Baine didn’t want Al to put up any more resistance.
If the emperor issued one more order, Al might be exiled to the farthest borders of the empire.
He needed to remain in the palace for the current emperor’s reign.
But Al, in his desperation, thought differently.
“Assistant shepherd?! How can I do that? It’s unreasonable! Let me do some physical labor, like organizing the library instead!”
“Be quiet.”
“Lower my rank to 111th, that’s fine too. I’ll start from the bottom and defeat every wizard in the empire with my skills and return triumphantly. Your Majesty!”
“Why would I?”
Harun had no intention of granting Al’s plea.
Because Al’s magic and analytical skills were outstanding.
Though he had made a huge mistake this time, he was usually reliable.
Three days? Four days? If he set his mind to it, he could defeat 110 wizards in a day. Al could do that.
No way was Harun going to let him beat everyone else and come back smiling so soon.
In conclusion, this was his noble way of saying, “Go sweat it out.”
The Eid family, the largest in the empire and to which Al belonged, would surely understand?
Since he had no wife, punishing him didn’t feel uncomfortable but rather refreshing.
Let’s see him endure this.
“Your Majesty… Your Majesty!”
“Take him away! Your Majesty, I will ensure Al faithfully carries out your orders. Please revoke the other punishments.”
Baine slyly interjected.
“Tsk. Fine.”
“Nooo…!”
Al’s solitary wails finally ceased when he reached the sheep pasture at the very back of the palace.
A shepherd timidly handed him a staff!
Only after grasping it did reality sink in.
“Ugh…”
Al trudged to a spot where he could watch over the sheep and let out a cry.
“Who shears sheep in the winter? Even if their wool is thick, if you shear them, I’ll smack you on the head with this staff for being so heartless!”
With just a little bit of magic infused into this staff, he could defeat any enemy.
As Al was lamenting, the shepherd who had left for a moment returned.
“Sir Al…?”
“What is it? No, what do you want? Ugh… I have to obey His Majesty’s orders.”
Having become a nominal assistant shepherd, he had to acknowledge that he was under the shepherd’s command until the work was done.
“A wizard has come looking for you, Sir Al.”
“Really?”
Who could it be?
Al jumped up to greet the guest, his face brightening.
It was none other than Nadia, the second-ranked wizard in the Imperial Magic Corps!
“N-Nadia! Have you seen His Majesty the Emperor recently?”
“Yes, just now.”
Al desperately pleaded with Nadia.
“Please, speak well of me to His Majesty. I shouldn’t be stuck here like this. I made a huge mistake, but I need a chance to make up for it…! How am I supposed to do anything in this desolate place? Ugh, I have so much work to do!”
Nadia, with a sullen expression, handed something over.
“Sign this, please.”