This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 254

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

Chapter 254

“Close your eyes!”
Bloden came sprinting over and the instant he leaped down from Crockel’s back, he pulled me tight against his chest and wrapped me in his cloak. In that same moment, a violent gust tore through.
I squeezed my eyes shut as Bloden had commanded, and darkness engulfed everything once more.
How long did we stay like that?
—Ah, after the Holy War, I thought I would be trapped here forever. And yet here I am, free at last.
The Spirit King’s voice rang out, trembling with joy.
—I owe you both so much gratitude.
Bloden released me. The place that would have been pitch-black without Serch, Mana Stone Lamps, or torches now blazed bright enough to make everything perfectly clear.
The light emanating from the Spirit King, who stood atop the remains of Iturn, was responsible.
Standing beside Bloden, I studied the Spirit King’s form.
Bare feet hovered above the ground, and pale golden hair that fell to the waist drifted slowly without any breeze. Around the body, wreathed in mist and flowers and green leaves, floated small flames and water droplets, motes of light and stone fragments in a lazy dance.
The face was beautiful. Yet it was difficult to discern whether it belonged to a man or a woman.
‘Or perhaps they have no gender at all?’
Eyes of mingled gold and blue light turned toward us. The irises darkened, then flushed red.
‘……So this is the Spirit King.’
I stood there transfixed, gazing upward.
The Spirit King raised their head gracefully with a serene expression, as if inviting us to admire their beautiful form further.
‘Isn’t this the same person who was eating gochugaru and crying just a moment ago?’
The Spirit King covered their face with both hands and muttered.
—Forget that.
“Wait, you can read minds?”
—Not all thoughts. Only fragments that leak through.
Yikes, I’ll have to watch what I think about.
—Descendant of Ilpein, I shall now withdraw the blessing I bestowed upon you.
Bloden’s expression soured and one of his eyebrows twitched.
“Now? Here?”
—The battle has ended, so there is no need to maintain it. This requires far more mana than I anticipated.
I didn’t understand what they meant, but Bloden let out a small sigh and draped his cloak around himself.
“Nuna, could you turn around for a moment? Just until I say you can look.”
“Oh? Sure.”
The instant I turned away, brilliant light that had poured from Bloden returned to the Spirit King. Immediately, most of the Commanders that Bloden had summoned vanished.
Behind me, I felt Bloden moving about busily.
“Alright, I’m done.”
When I looked back, it was not Bloden who stood before me, but Baron—the man as he had been when we first met, his clothes now neat and orderly as he gazed down at me.
“You summoned all the Commanders. Normally, the harder I worked, the more difficult it would have become, but the Spirit King’s blessing compensated for my mana consumption, letting me maintain my original form throughout the battle.”
“Oh! Now that you mention it.”
What a relief that was. I quickly bowed to the Spirit King.
“Wow, if you hadn’t been here, something terrible could have happened. Thank you, truly, thank you so much, Spirit King.”
As I repeated my thanks, the corners of the Spirit King’s mouth began to quiver. They seemed delighted to receive gratitude.
Unable to contain their laughter any longer, they broke into a broad smile.
—I am the one who should thank you and Bloden. My strength has been restored, I am reborn, and I have found my freedom. Now I can finally meet my youngest children without delay.
The Spirit King’s gaze turned to Heart, Serch, and Camen, who watched with widened eyes.
—Come here, my children. Receive the blessings you did not have the chance to obtain.
The moment the Spirit King extended both hands, the three Spirits eagerly leaped into their embrace.
“Squeak-squeak! Squee-eek!”
Only Heart could vocalize sounds of greeting, but from the bearing of Serch and Camen, all three seemed overjoyed.
As the three Spirits descended from the Spirit King’s arms, radiant rainbow light bloomed, and all of them began to transform.
The small leaves sprouting from Camen’s head grew into a tiny tree, and small yellow flowers blossomed in clusters upon it.
Each petal shifted into a different shape, and the yellow glow gradually became pink, then deepened into a rich scarlet, layering color upon color.
“Oh my goodness, Camen! You’re so beautiful!”
Camen’s eyes crinkled with joy.
Heart’s forehead, chest, back, and tail sprouted jewel-like shimmering scales. No longer simply a fire salamander, but rather like an adorable young dragon.
Beyond the original spark in their eyes, a new strength and resolve had emerged, making them look formidable at a glance.
“Heart, you look incredible!”
Heart’s face split into a broad grin as they spun in place, then unfurled a blazing mane of flame.
From the flame mane, small clumps of fire tumbled down. But then tiny black bead-like eyes formed in each one, and thread-like limbs sprouted forth.
“Peep.”
“Chirp-chirp.”
“Caw-caw.”
The little balls of flame stood in a line, laughing with delight as they danced, then retreated back into the ring of fire.
Serch’s rounded form transformed into a delicate golden butterfly, its wings scattering light as it fluttered. The butterfly landed on my hand, and its shape shifted into a small bird.
Still golden, but for all the world it looked like a sparrow.
“Serch, did you turn into a sparrow?”
“Tweet. Tweet-tweet.”
The clear, crisp birdsong washed over me, and I felt light bloom across my entire body—the weariness simply melted away.
“My goodness, now you’re singing too.”
Serch rubbed its head against my finger.
“How can something be this adorable?”
That’s when it happened.
“Grrrrrgh.”
An unpleasant sound echoed from one side. I turned to see several fearsome-looking monsters emerging from the hole that led to the Abyss Realm.
“ROOOAAAAGH!”
The monsters roared as though ready to pounce on us at any moment—yet no battle came.
For some reason, the moment they caught sight of the Spirit King, they flinched and retreated back into the hole.
‘What… the monsters just retreat when they see the Spirit King?’
At that moment, it felt as though our future suddenly brightened.
‘If the Spirit King made this place his residence, then monsters wouldn’t be able to emerge at all—and that would mean Bloden wouldn’t have to guard the Northern Region anymore, would it?’
Mercy! If that came to pass, Bloden would finally be free!
Struck by this realization, I turned eagerly to the Spirit King.
“Your Majesty! There’s something I’d like to ask of you!”
Surely you need a dwelling of your own, yes? This place has plenty of space, and I’d be happy to make it comfortable for you. You could simply live here, subduing any monsters that emerge with a single glance!
Wait—was that too bold, too presumptuous? The Spirit King might have his own preferences for where he’d like to live.
And offering compensation… well, I could always prepare special meals for him from time to time, couldn’t I?
Red pepper paste might be hard to eat plain, but it’s actually delicious when prepared properly.
Would he like tteokgochi, kimbap, or ribs? Tteokbokki is too spicy, so that’s out. Wait—does the Spirit King even eat meat?
‘Or perhaps…’
As I wrestled with these thoughts, my gaze fell on what remained of Iturn’s body beneath the Spirit King’s feet.
Iturn had used monsters to barricade the passage with its own form.
‘Iturn’s corpse is enormous, isn’t it? Could we use it to block the passage to the Abyss Realm? Though it might decompose before too long…’
I was still arranging my thoughts, hadn’t even voiced my request, when the Spirit King moved his hand and laughed.
-I understand, I understand. What busy thoughts turn in that little head of yours. Even if I tried to ignore them, there’s simply no way.
Right, he reads minds.
I felt my cheeks flush, and I rubbed them awkwardly.
-There is no need for you to decorate my dwelling. I shall see to it that monsters cannot easily emerge.
The Spirit King raised his hand. At once, Iturn’s remains that had been embedded in the ground sealed the passage to the Abyss Realm. There were small gaps, but the Spirit King seemed to have sealed them well enough.
Moss then spread across the floor like a carpet, and soon the entire space was filled with lush green plants and glittering gems. Where Iturn’s body had lain, an enormous tree began to grow in graceful curves, and channels of water formed all around it.
The air became fresh and crisp, and the scent of flowers hung in the air. The Inside the Gate was now, unmistakably, a spirit’s dwelling.
‘Now Bloden won’t have to sacrifice himself alone!’
I was so overjoyed that the Spirit King had answered my unspoken wish that I bowed deeply several times.
“Thank you. Thank you so much!”
-I should like to taste these tteokgochi, kimbap, and ribs someday.
“I’ll make them as soon as we get home!”
-Good. I look forward to it.
The Spirit King smiled and settled onto a branch, then turned his gaze down toward Bloden.
-Yes, Bloden—I shall grant your wish as you have hoped.
With a gesture from the Spirit King, an enormous bird descended from somewhere above.
-This is a Divine Beast I command. Ride it, and you shall return home.
“Thank you.”
Bloden bowed with all proper courtesy and took my hand, preparing to mount the bird’s back, when the Spirit King spoke again.
-And one of your commanders carries both the memory of Regression and a Seal within him.
Bloden’s eyes turned toward Dantarion, who immediately started and waved his hands in protest.
“Surely, since you read minds anyway, there’s no need for me to explain—why must it come from my lips?”
-What you and your commanders have done is a matter you must explain directly to your lord. As for the Seal, I shall release you from it.
The Spirit King extended his hand, and I saw a chain coiling tightly around Dantarion’s neck.
The chain then snapped link by link, falling to the floor, and a new leather cord wrapped around Dantarion’s neck before fading from sight.
Dantarion touched his neck with a bewildered expression, then looked at us nervously, his voice cautious.
“My lord, how did you know about the Regression……”
He stopped mid-sentence and clamped his hand over his own mouth. But only for a moment—Dantarion’s face brightened, and he sprang to his feet.
“I’m fine with it now!”
-From this point forward, speak neither more nor less than the truth. Should lies taint your words, this cord shall tighten around your neck.
“No, if you’re going to release me, release me fully. What’s this about?”
-You were planning to exploit the fact that the other commanders have no memory of the Return, and strip away all credit belonging to ‘Crockel’ from your account entirely, were you not.
“Grrrr!”
Crockel bared his teeth at Dantarion.
“Understood. I’ll simply speak the truth, then.”
Dantarion, his lips jutting out in a pout, climbed onto the bird’s back. Crockel and Kimarise followed, and the three spirits mounted as well.
The massive bird spread its great wings, carrying all of us, and burst through the Gate in an instant. Within moments, we’d arrived near the Capital.
But something looked wrong with the Imperial Palace in the distance.
Smoke was rising in plumes from scattered points across its sprawl.

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