Book 1 Chapter 906

906.

Chen Xia, who entered the room, immediately placed a small crystal ball on the desk.

Lumern has a magic barrier cast that makes magical communication impossible without authorized means.

However, what Chen Xia possessed was one of the treasures passed down through generations of Shan's imperial family.

It was an item made by a former emperor, one of her ancestors from long ago, and it was impervious to disruptive magic itself.

Chen Xia, who lightly pricked the tip of her index finger with a needle, dabbed the small drop of blood that formed on her fingertip onto the crystal ball.

Soon, the crystal ball began to react.

Whirrr-!

A moment later, a handsome middle-aged man with a robust physique appeared beyond the crystal ball.

[Oh, Xia! This is the first time you've contacted your father like this!]

"Father. What on earth is this newspaper article about?"

Seeing Chen Xia holding up the newspaper article in front of the crystal ball and asking, Shaou made a sad face.

[Xia, this is sad. To immediately ask about the main topic without even greeting your father, whom you're seeing after such a long time.]

"It hasn't been that long since the break ended."

[Aren't you being too harsh? Has your puberty arrived late?]

"Didn't you say my puberty came when I entered Lumern?"

Chen Xia squinted her eyes.

At his daughter's reaction, Shaou began to complain to the vassals around him.

[Hey. My daughter. My daughter, who used to adore her father, has become a delinquent student with severe rebelliousness! What am I to do about this!]

[Your Majesty.]

[Oh. Do you have a good solution?]

[Please maintain your dignity.]

[……]

At the vassal's words, Shaou's face crumpled.

[Ugh! You insolent wretch. Are you acting so presumptuously just because I'm stepping down from the throne soon?]

[Yes.]

[……]

[One must choose sides wisely.]

Watching the vassal answer so bluntly, Shaou pressed his temples.

Some vassals nearby chuckled quietly at the sight.

Then, when Shaou glared at them with wide eyes, they shut their mouths as if nothing had happened.

Watching that scene, Chen Xia let out a deep sigh.

"I wonder what other countries would react like if they saw this."

Shan Empire.

Known as the Land of Shadows, it is an empire of terror that has erased countless nations from the map throughout history.

The Shan Empire's goal was the annihilation of traitors.

Although they often acted almost dogmatically, their justice, executed in the shadows, was never wrong.

That was why, despite numerous diplomatic frictions, the Shan Empire could persist as a powerful nation.

It was also famous as a country where no heroes were born.

As the empire's goal was to give birth to heroes as shadows, with the discovery of [The Shadow's Scroll], significant internal changes were underway.

However, externally, Shan was still an object of fear, and the imperial family also maintained its secrecy.

Innumerable common people still feared the shadows.

"I want to show this to many people."

[I can't possibly show such a pathetic sight.]

Shaou said, crossing his arms.

The Shadow King.

Looking at Shaou, the most terrifying shadow, Chen Xia shook her head from side to side.

Her father, who was more ruthless and terrifying than anyone in the darkness, was an overly doting parent in front of her.

Of course, he wasn't a father who granted her every wish.

"So. What is this, exactly?"

As Chen Xia frowned while looking at the newspaper article, Shaou sat languidly on the throne.

[It's exactly as written there. I intend to pass the imperial throne to you. Become the Emperor of Shan during this winter break.]

"Suddenly?"

[It's not sudden.]

Shaou chuckled.

[You've become a hero, haven't you?]

It was as Shaou said.

Chen Xia ascended to the position of hero as a shadow.

Through the Shadow's Scroll, it was revealed that shadows could also register their names in the Hero Record.

But even so, registering one's name in the original Hero Record was still special.

[Xia. You have achieved something that no Shan Emperor before you has ever accomplished.]

"……"

[Shadows can also become heroes. No. More than that.]

Pride gleamed in Shaou's eyes.

[You have proven that shadows and heroes are not fundamentally different.]

Shaou closed his eyes.

His chest was trembling.

'Through the Starting King, the shadows were saved.'

The foolish days when they confined themselves to darkness.

The deeds of heroes and the deeds of shadows are not different.

Words spoken by the primordial shadow, who was more heroic than anyone.

And as if following in Leo's footsteps, Chen Xia became the first hero in the history of shadows.

[This is the coming of light.]

She proved it to the world.

That shadows are no longer beings to be feared.

If Leo was the one who gave shadows the impetus to change themselves.

Then Chen Xia was the one who changed the way people looked at shadows.

The bloodline of shadows, more powerful than anyone.

The symbolism of a Shan descendant, who had lived for thousands of years in the world's darkness, registering her name in the Hero Record.

[I and the vassals of this palace are now people of an old era.]

At Shaou's words from the throne, no vassals disagreed.

They too were pillars who, holding faith and mission in their hearts, had sustained the world in darkness.

That's why they knew.

That the times were changing.

[Now a new tide… a new wave will crash over us.]

Even the shadow cadets will no longer hide themselves.

Last year, and this year too.

Shadow cadets enrolled in Lumern.

[New wine must be put into new wineskins. The Emperor of Shan must also change.]

"Father…"

Chen Xia bit her lip.

The Shadow King, who had carried the darkness of the world his entire life.

For Chen Xia, that fact was regrettable.

Her father, whom she never resented, even when he thwarted her dreams, she only felt a sense of unfairness.

Such a man was now about to fade into the annals of history.

He was as dignified as ever, but now he looked somewhat lonely.

[Don't make that face, my daughter.]

Shaou smiled gently.

[That is correct, Your Royal Highness. Even if His Majesty abdicates the throne to the Princess and retires as the First Emperor, it does not mean he will relinquish control of state affairs.]

"Really? That's a relief!"

Watching his daughter smile brightly, Shaou smiled softly.

[Did you really think that your father would helplessly disappear into the annals of history?]

"Yes."

[Haha. Your father isn't that old yet.]

"Even if you become the First Emperor, Father, you won't retire and will still handle all state affairs, right?"

[Yes.]

Chen Xia was genuinely relieved.

Shaou's face, seeing that, turned into a pleased expression.

'My daughter is the best, after all.'

How could her heart, thinking of her father, be so beautiful?

"That's a relief. That you're not stepping down irresponsibly."

'Huh?'

At his daughter's truly relieved expression, Shaou's face changed strangely.

[Daughter. Is it really out of worry for your father that you're relieved?]

"Why would I worry about my father, who is perfectly hale and hearty?"

[……]

"Honestly, I was worried about what if you entrusted state affairs to me."

[……]

"Next year, I'm supposed to become the vice president of the Lumern student council and assist young master Leo, but if I took on even a part of Shan's state affairs, that would become impossible."

Shan is a vast empire.

As such, the amount of internal affairs the emperor bears is considerable.

Even with capable vassals, it is the emperor who fully manages the empire.

Therefore, Shaou had originally intended to manage state affairs himself while he was still hale and hearty. He had planned for Chen Xia, as the new Emperor of Shan, to receive the world's attention.

[This ungrateful wretch doesn't think about her father one bit and only thinks about men?!]

When Shaou roared, Chen Xia squinted her eyes.

"Father, you told me before the break ended to assist young master Leo well, didn't you?"

[There's no point in raising a daughter! She just gets infatuated with men and acts flighty!]

Shaou, fuming.

Despite the rage of the vast empire's emperor, Chen Xia didn't listen.

At that sight, Shaou lay back on the throne and lamented.

[Oh! You incredibly unfilial wretch! Hey there! Bring that naughty fellow before me at once! I shall personally beat their calves with a switch!]

But despite Shaou's words, the palace vassals barely paid attention.

[You wretches! Won't you obey the Emperor's command!]

[Your Majesty.]

At that moment, Shaou's close aide bowed their head.

[The Princess is now the one who will ascend the throne, so you must not treat her carelessly.]

[These, these traitors…!]

Shaou clutched the back of his neck.

He resented his past self, who had rashly decided to abdicate the throne.

Since he had even published an article in the newspaper externally, there was no way to retract it.

Even if he did retract it, it was clear he would only become a laughingstock.

If it were before, he wouldn't have cared about such opinions, but now was a time when the Shan Empire also had to change.

Watching the emperor clutching the back of his neck and lying on the throne, Chen Xia shook her head from side to side.

Shaou, who had been slumped for a moment, sat up.

[Xia.]

"Yes."

[I'm sorry.]

"……"

Seeing Shaou suddenly apologize with a serious face, Chen Xia's eyes deepened.

"I know. What it means for me to become emperor."

Chen Xia looked down at her hands.

"What it means for Shan to move towards light, not darkness…"

As the Land of Shadows, Shan had protected the world in darkness.

But in that process, it created countless relationships of gratitude and resentment.

This was also why the Shan imperial family had lived secretly for generations.

The Emperor of Shan does not stay only in the palace.

They traverse the entire world.

As such, there was a need for secrecy.

Resentment is frightening.

Even if it arose from the process of annihilating traitors.

Throughout the world, there are many who harbor deep resentment towards the Emperor of Shan.

Chen Xia publicly ascending to the throne also meant bearing all this resentment.

"It's something I was prepared for."

[……]

Shaou silently watched his daughter, who spoke with dignity.

And then he nodded.

[……You truly have become a hero.]

The images of countless heroes he had watched as a shadow overlapped with Chen Xia's.

Looking at his daughter, who had become a hero of a new era, Shaou smiled contentedly.

[By the way, Xia.]

"Yes."

[There's another reason why I abdicated the throne to you.]

"What is it?"

[Packaging.]

"Packaging?"

[Yes. Isn't being an emperor a pretty good wrapper? Even the Starting King's perception of you will change a little.]

"……"

[Don't just act flighty like a fool! Do something productive! Something productive!]

"What kind of productive work?"

[Whether you use a honey trap, or drug him, or whatever it takes, just make it a fait accompli! Your father wants to see grandchildren! Grandchildren!]

"Is that something you should say to your daughter right now?"

[Why not! I can certainly tell my adult daughter that I want to see grandchildren soon!]

Chen Xia pressed her temples.

"He's not the type of person who'd fall for a honey trap or drugs."

[Tsk tsk. No wonder you lack such spirit. That's why your love life isn't progressing.]

"I'm hanging up."

[Shall your father tell you a secret method to win over Leo Plov?]

Although she had a strong premonition that this damned old man would talk nonsense, Chen Xia decided to listen for now.

"What is it?"

[Emphasize that you have a big heart.]

"Vulgar."

[Hmph. What are you thinking? That's not what I meant!]

"Then what?"

[Your mother, when she was alive, prevented your father from having concubines, didn't she? Of course, this father is devoted and lives alone.]

"I'm cutting you off."

Before he could finish his sentence, Chen Xia cut off the communication.

And then she clutched her head and muttered.

"A king and an emperor…"

Chen Xia, who was softly repeating her new title to herself, let out a hollow laugh.

"Isn't an emperor usually higher than a king?"

At the absurd relationship, she pouted her lips.

"If I become emperor, what rank will that be?"

"Rank of what?"

"Kyaak?!"

Seeing Leo, who had entered the room as the closet door opened, Chen Xia screamed.

Watching Chen Xia's mouth hang open, Leo asked with an unenthusiastic expression.

"What is it? Why are you so surprised? Were you doing something strange?"

"Of course I'm surprised when you suddenly come in! Get out! Why are you barging into a lady's room!"

"But you said to come whenever it was convenient."

"I don't know! I don't know! Get out!"

Chen Xia forcibly pushed the grumbling Leo's back, shoved him into the closet, and slammed the door shut with a bang-!

A moment later.

When she opened the door, Leo was gone.

Chen Xia, who had been staring at the spot for a moment, squatted down and sighed regretfully.

'…Did I chase him out for nothing?'