I Ended up Doing Too Well as a Professor of the Enemy Nation - Chapter 226

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 226. Mage King (4)

The news that the Mage King was Ruins Wayne spread like wildfire. From street merchants to nobles’ balls, everyone was whispering about it.

Even within the Union Forces, whispers were exchanged.

“Isn’t the Mage King humanity’s mentor?”

“He’s an existence greater than the Emperor.”

“Just like how the Pope became the supreme leader in the Holy Empire, overtaking the Emperor… won’t the Imperial Palace’s authority be in danger now?”

Indeed, the Mage King symbolized absolute authority, and it was considered greater than that of the Emperor.

Meanwhile, as they say, rumors travel a thousand miles without legs. When the Emperor heard this news, his face cracked like a shattered mirror. Soon, he made an unexpected choice.

“…Summon the Hero.”

However, the Hero did not answer the call. When the Emperor heard the reason why he couldn’t come, he became even more furious.

“The Hero… said he cannot leave his post because he must protect his Master.”

“Master?”

“Professor Ruins Wayne, he says. The Master who taught him how to make noodles…”

“What?”

The Emperor’s eyes trembled.

“Are you saying he’s defying my summons for such a ridiculous reason?”

The Emperor’s rage made the atmosphere within the Imperial Palace even more anxious. The rumor that the Mage King was Ruins Wayne was already spreading rapidly.

In reality, the Wayne Family, the actual parties involved, were in complete mental breakdown. Their abandoned child was the Mage King? Beyond denial of reality, the entire household was in a state of mental collapse.

“Such an absurd rumor can’t possibly be true!”

“Our family’s disgrace being the Mage King… That’s an insult!”

“No, if it’s really true… the Imperial Palace’s eyes will immediately turn to us!”

“That’s not true, Your Majesty!”

The family was denying reality to the end, but if it were true, it would be troublesome even for the Emperor.

Sure enough, the court mage stepped forward and spoke.

“Your Majesty, if the Mage King is truly Ruins Wayne… with that power, he could even break the leash magic placed on the Hero.”

At those words, the Emperor’s eyes sank cold as a blade.

“…Bring the Hero here immediately.”

Shortly after, the Hero arrived with heavy footsteps. His face was filled with blatant anger. As if he had been forced to abandon what he was doing and rush over, his jaw was set and his eyes were fiercely distorted.

Nevertheless, he observed proper etiquette.

“Your Majesty, the Magic Tower Mages are setting up camp in Haven. They are… preparing magic to kidnap Ruins Wayne, so I was personally keeping surveillance. So why did you summon me now?”

Instead of answering, the Emperor gave a command in a chilling, low voice.

“Kneel.”

“…Pardon?”

“And… harm yourself, Elaine. Cut your body with your sword.”

In that moment, the Hero’s expression hardened. His chest sank as if his breath was cut off.

“…Pardon?”

The Emperor’s gaze was sharp without even a flicker.

“I need to confirm your loyalty.”

Anger and humiliation swirled in the Hero’s eyes.

“…Are you suddenly doubting my loyalty?”

That voice was mixed with suppressed anger.

However, the Emperor coldly cut him off.

“Yes. I cannot trust your loyalty. Now that the Mage King has appeared, how do I know you won’t plot betrayal?”

At that moment, the Hero’s lips closed tightly and the veins on his hands stood out. He gritted his teeth and glared straight at the Emperor.

He had been so loyal. He had become the Emperor’s sword and endured countless bloody commands. He had lived carrying all sorts of unwanted tasks.

Still, he was nothing but a suspected dog.

‘Yes. Since that day decades ago, continuously.’

Decades ago. When the young Hero had just entered the army. The Emperor gave an order to search the place where the Hero Candidates had been massacred.

Shortly after, when the soldiers came running out screaming from that place, the Emperor confirmed it personally. The corpses of the Hero Candidates that should have rotted were preserved intact without decay. Their eyes were closed, but they looked like boys and girls who might breathe and rise at any moment.

Was it because of the Hero’s wish to cherish them? That is, due to a rampage of Luck Power, or because of someone’s intervention? The Emperor’s eyes had gleamed coldly.

‘Was there someone who enhanced the Hero’s power?’

However, such truth didn’t matter to the Emperor. He only pondered how to make the ‘unrotted Hero Candidates’ before his eyes into his tools.

The Emperor confined those corpses deep within the palace. And he said.

“Become my dog and show your loyalty. Then I’ll return your friends.”

It was from that day. The Hero became the Emperor’s sword and lived like a leashed beast. Until this very moment.

Sure enough, when the Emperor gestured, space opened in the air. Inside were glass tubes lined up in rows, and within them lay the boys and girls who had been the Hero’s companions, as if sleeping.

Though they had died long ago, there was no decay. As if their souls had not yet departed, they were trapped in time.

Soon the Emperor spoke to the Hero.

“Don’t you want to get your friends back?”

At those words, the Hero gritted his teeth.

The Holy Empire and the Pope hated him, calling him crazy for trying to revive the dead, but in truth, the Hero didn’t expect even the slightest bit. He just wanted to give them peace.

But the Emperor had seized the corpses of these people who were family, comrades, and friends, and wouldn’t let them go. So he made a contract with the Emperor to get them back.

And now, before the Emperor’s cold and suspicious gaze, the Hero gritted his teeth.

‘Still… not enough?’

I’ve been serving as the author’s sword, doing things I didn’t want to do, playing the role of the Imperial Palace’s dog!

The Emperor, watching that expression, slowly propped his chin and smiled.

If Karin became the Mage King, it would be good for the Imperial Palace too. But unexpectedly, Ruins Wayne? The Emperor’s insides burned black with frustration.

“Even if you want to tell the Mage King about your friends’ news, it’s useless.”

The Emperor’s voice was low and cold.

“The magic that turns you into the Imperial Palace’s zombie will activate immediately.”

“…!”

The Hero’s pupils shook. Soon the Emperor flicked his fingertips and threw a small glass bottle.

The Hero who caught it quietly looked into the bottle.

“Drink it. That is my command.”

It was a reagent containing blood. A terrible magic-infused reagent that, if taken regularly, would reduce him to a doll unable to escape the Emperor’s Word Spirit.

The Hero stared at it for a long time. Eyes mixed with resentment and anger.

However, in the end, he bit his lips and opened the bottle cap. The bloody liquid flowed down his tongue.

The Emperor’s smile widened.

“Good. Now you must prove your loyalty.”

A cold voice gave the command.

“Commit seppuku.”

Thump.

As soon as the words fell, the Hero’s heart was crushed and constricted. As if his whole body was bound by invisible chains, an irresistible oppression rushed over him.

“…Kuk…!”

The Hero’s hand moved on its own. The sword slid out of its sheath with a swoosh.

The tip of that sword turned toward his own stomach. And regardless of his will-

Stab!

With a metallic sound, the blade tip dug into his stomach. Blood poured out as if boiling over.

“Keu…uk!”

His knees buckled and stained the floor red. Thanks to his Luck Power, he avoided a fatal wound, but the flowing blood was clear evidence of pain and humiliation.

The Emperor looked down at the Hero’s wretched state and muttered mockingly.

“Now you understand, don’t you? Who the master is.”

The kneeling Hero’s eyes gleamed like a beast’s. Anger, shame, and despair that had swallowed blood.

After the Hero retreated covered in blood, a heavy silence flowed through the Imperial Palace interior. Then, an attendant carefully stepped forward.

“Your Majesty…. If the Mage King learns of this scene, wouldn’t he help the Hero?”

His voice trembled, but it was understandable.

“According to rumors… isn’t Ruins Wayne the Hero’s Master?”

The Emperor’s eyes twitched subtly, then soon the corners of his mouth curved up crookedly.

“Master?”

A low, long laugh leaked out.

“Ha, that can’t be.”

His eyes were thoroughly stained with mockery, as if hearing a sordid story.

“The age doesn’t match to begin with. There’s no way someone like Ruins Wayne could be the Hero’s Master. It’s nothing but false rumors.”

The Emperor stroked his chin with his finger as if brushing his nose and muttered lowly.

“Even if he’s called humanity’s mentor, in the end he’s just under the Imperial Palace. No one can escape from under my feet.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Ruin, who had been looking at ancient texts related to Solitude Curse, sighed and closed the book.

“Sigh…. As expected, I can’t use Detoxification magic directly.”

Ginseng Superior poked his head out through the pocket gap.

「You’re just realizing that now? You’re the world’s strongest Mage King, but you’re a pitiful guy who can’t use a single magic.」

“Well. At times like this, I just need to work the kids.”

「Kids?」

Ruin’s mouth corners curved up like a dagger.

“Have you heard of slave labor?”

「…What?」

Ginseng Superior blinked with a bewildered face. Ruin smiled slowly and sinisterly.

“I don’t need to do it myself. I’ll just throw it as an assignment and the Magic Tower Students will research all night and present the answer.”

「What? You’re throwing solving your Solitude Curse magic as an assignment? Wow. You’re working Magic Tower elites like graduate students.」

“That’s the authority of the Mage King.”

As Ruin came out of the library like that, he encountered the Hero’s bright blonde hair. Thinking he’d be bothersome again for no reason, he was about to give a casual response-

“?”

His gait is slightly strange.

Of course, ordinary people wouldn’t notice anything different from usual, but Ruin could see it. That distinctive military stride now had the characteristics of an injured person…

Ruin’s pace quickened.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?”

The Hero forced a smile and waved his hand dismissively.

“I ate something wrong during the day. After going to the bathroom, I’m feeling a bit weak.”

“?”

Ruin’s eyes had already narrowed. Normally, he would have brushed off such trivial words, but now was different.

Luck Power. That strange power that always glittered annoyingly bright… had grown dim. Like a sparkling sun obscured by thick fog.

Ruin’s eyebrows twitched subtly. Then suddenly, Ruin’s hand yanked open the Hero’s clothes.

“!”

What was revealed was a shocking sight.

Bandages stained red. Beneath them were wounds forcibly stitched together.

It was a stab wound—traces of ritual disembowelment.

In an instant, Ruin’s expression turned ice cold.

“What is this?”

A man with extreme Luck Power who wouldn’t be hit by a knife even while sleeping couldn’t have been harmed by enemies. And he wasn’t stupid enough to harm himself either.

Ruin’s eyes became viciously murderous.

“…Who did this to you.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————