"What are you doing?" She asked, afraid he was about to do something troublesome.

"I was about to ask the book why you hate n.o.bles."

"Is that not obvious by now why hate n.o.bles? Do you really need me to spell it out for you?"

She did not want to talk about it and it seemed obvious to her that if someone had a huge debt and hated n.o.ble, the two were probably linked. Why did he feel the need to peek into other people's lives like that? Was it some sort of depraved hobby? She needed to find a way to stop him from prying any further into it.

"I do, I really want to know and I really want to tell my own story." He said.

That was right, he wanted to tell his own but he only could if she told him hers. Knowing that, she might be able trick him into forgetting all about it.

"Since you are going to pry into my life anyway, why not tell me your crazy story first, you promised to do it after all and you seemed to really want to do it."

"Then, will you tell me yours?"

"Sure, if you promise to not look for anything else about my past in that book then I will."

That way she would be able to tell him however little she wanted and because of his new promise, he would be unable to pry anymore. Since he had told his own first, he would not even have a reason to complain. This was perfect.

He proceeded to weave her an impossible story in which the G.o.ds created him and dropped him in the woods near where the great general lived. He had five gifts but only one blessing because his four parents could not give him blessings if he did not complete their trials. He had the name of the great general because he had lent it to him in order to accomplish a task given by the G.o.ds. All of it was really nonsensical. So in the end, was he just an orphan kid left in the woods to die?

"Then, you're just a homeless kid who lied about his name."

"No, I never said Chinui was my father. Your grandmother just a.s.sumed it was so because I spoke about him and had his name. I never intended to lie, it just happened."

So it was just some kind of misunderstanding? He was not a n.o.ble and never pretended to be, supposedly. But, everyone believed it anyway since his card said so.

"But how did you manage to change the name on your hunting card, that's impossible."

If he really was some random homeless kid than his card should not display Muracier as his name. But then, if he was a Muracier, why was he so convinced he wasn't? There was clearly something wrong with his story but the guy seemed to believe wholeheartedly that it was the truth. Either way, no one could change what was written on the card. This was common knowledge, it had never been otherwise.

"I did not, it changed on its own."

"What was it before?"

Whatever it was instead of Muracier before had to be his real name. if he could not answer, then it was Muracier from the start.

"Just Emperor."

"Emperor? Are you kidding me?"

What kind of idiotic name was that? Who decided to name him like so? The great general? At least, hiding it behind a nickname made sense if this was truly his name. Since he was dead set on saying nonsense about it, she left the matter of his name aside to go back to the rest of his story.

"If I got all of that right, you were born out of nothing because four G.o.ds willed it. Then, you met the great general by coincidence and he told you to enroll into that school pretending to be his son because of unknown reasons. None of that makes sense!"

"It does not but it is what happened anyway. I do have both the treasures my creators bestowed upon me and the name of Chinui to prove it."

"I guess so, and it explain why you are so clueless."

He had no idea how anything worked, he was carrying priceless treasures everywhere, knew about a state secret and had the great general's name. Maybe it was all true after all.

"So you believe me?"

"No, not at all, I'm just trying to understand what you would gain from such an insane story. I can't see the goal behind all that nonsense."

She wasn't about to tell him she believed such an insane story, even if she couldn't see any other possibility aside from it being a giant lie. The funny thing was that the Muraciers never lied but the one in front of her was saying that he wasn't one despite his card saying otherwise. What sort of messy affair was he the center of?

"Even if you do not, I am happy I shared it with you, now it is your turn to tell me yours."

"Fine then, I will tell you but only because you leave me no choice."

She had wanted to tell him as little as possible but, in the end, she decided to tell him the truth. Just, not all of it. She had not been fair with him until now, it would not hurt her to let him know part of her problems, right?

She told him about her parents, their goal, the loan and how they disappeared. Emp Listened carefully, seemingly with a genuine interest.

The more she spoke about it, the more her anger rose back above the rest of her feelings. She was sad and angry in equal measure but, it was much easier to express rage for her than grief.

She was angry at so many different people. She hated Balpoisson for his devious scheme, she hated the adventurers who followed him, she hated the rest for not helping her parents when they could, she hated her parents for just throwing themselves into that trap, she hated the other bookstores owner for trying to bury her only way out, she hated the rest of her family for their indifference and she hated all the n.o.bles for their filthy souls.

Emp seemed saddened by her tale but she felt a little better for having told all this to someone for once. She emptied her heart in front of him, proclaiming her hate of n.o.bles loud and clear, right in front of one of them. Threatening to kill them all herself even though she knew that if they were ever in her grasps, she wouldn't be able to actually do it. Maybe just strangling them wouldn't be so disgusting to look at afterward?

"They can't all be like that. Just today, I gave you food and you got angry at me for it. Is it possible that it was just that one?"

"Were you not the one insisting you aren't a n.o.ble? You're just an idiot who doesn't understand how the world works, that has nothing to do what we are talking about."

"But you said you did not believe me, plus, if what I said is true, it means that Chinui, who is also a n.o.ble, was generous enough to give me a lot of gold and even his name even though we knew each other for less than a year."

That was true but, it was only so because the great general was a Muracier as well.

"I learned it today, the Muraciers are people I can't understand, almost nothing you say or do makes sense. Either they are like the rest of the n.o.bles but I am so small a p.a.w.n I can't even see why you are acting like this with me or, they really are unlike the rest of the n.o.bles but if this was the case, why aren't they doing anything?"

Muraciers where praised as honest and lawful individuals, ready to do anything for the protection of the empire but they never did a thing against the other n.o.bles eating the empire and it's people from the inside.

"That is unfair." Claimed the idiot. "I cannot fix something I do not know about. Just tell me the name and I will go there myself to pay your debt."

She had no doubt he would actually do it. She was really tempted to accept his proposal. If she went there with him right now, she would be free from it all, she would be saved. But there was something that was bothering her about this. Was it because of what he had said in the store earlier? Maybe she was seeing him just a tiny bit as a friend. She couldn't possibly have him pay that for her, she could do it on her own, she 'would' do it on her own. But, she couldn't possibly tell him that. Also,

"I can't let you do that, I would be indebted to you then, that's not much better is it?"

"I could just ask the book who it is."

"You can't, you promised you wouldn't ask anything more from the book."

She had made him promise that for this very reason after all. No, it was just because she didn't want him to pry, this was just a fortunate side effect. Not really fortunate but whatever.

"Then at least tell me how much money he is asking for." He asked pitifully.

"Not happening."

If she said it aloud, he would no doubt insist on giving her the money right now and it would make everything harder.

"Fifteen red dragons! That's a lot." He exclaimed in surprise.

"How!"

How did he know! He didn't even open the book! Had she thought about it out loud again?

"It's written on the debt iron, it's easy to read when your arms are crossed."

She hadn't even noticed her arms were crossed. She threw them at her back to stop him from seeing the name as well and shouted angrily at him.

"That's cheating!"

Devious idiot homeless b.u.m! And now he was really about to give her that d.a.m.n money, she had to stop him.

"Don't you dare get money out of that bag. I don't want it."

She wanted it so bad! For the love of all G.o.ds, he better not tempt her like that or she would snap.

"Why? Won't it be much better when there isn't that threat on you all the time?"

"Sure but I still don't want your money. Even if you do get it out of that bag, I will never take it."

If he did, she would definitely not be able to resist anymore and take it. She really didn't want to though. She was her own self, she didn't need the help of someone to stand up, she wanted to look at her friends as equals, not look up to them as some sort of savior. Her debt was her own and paying one with another was utterly r.e.t.a.r.ded.

"Why are you so stubborn on this, can you not just let me help?" He said, exasperated.

"Because you're a n.o.ble..." And a friend. "And a stranger..." She needed a better excuse than that. What could she ever say to make such an idiot give up? Wait, what was it he said earlier?

"And also, you said it earlier, I have no right to complain if I don't do anything to get out of trouble myself. I do not need your help and I do not want your help."

"How am I to pay you if I cannot get money out of the bag?" He tried to counter

"You will get only three silver scepters out of it, no more or I am not taking anything."

That was already many times more than she should ask for just walking around with him for a day. He seemed displeased by the amount but still did as she had asked him.

"Then before I leave, could you answer one last unrelated question?" He said to change the subject.

"What?" What kind of nonsense would he spout again.

"What do you think would make for a good emperor? What kind of person or abilities does a good emperor need?"

"Where does that question even come from?"

That was more than unexpected, there was more chances of being struck by lightning than thinking about such a thing in those circ.u.mstances.

"I just want to know what you think, I told you it was unrelated. This is the last thing I need from you before I leave this town."

What kind of answer was he even seeking? What was the point to this question? What did he need her answer for? How would she know what kind of guy makes a good emperor? Still, she had to find something good to answer since afterward he would pa.s.s the gates. This would maybe be the last thing she would ever tell him. Then, suddenly it hit her. She had not thought of it before but, was he really going to go out there alone, and on foot at that?

"Wait, do you really intend on leaving the city alone? Should you not wait for a caravan instead? It's dangerous to go alone."

A caravan was much safer, they were dozens to defend each other after all.

"They're too slow, it's faster for me to go alone."

Too slow! Who cares about being slow! She was talking about his life here, this idiot was really terrible.

"Then at least take a horse! Don't tell me you don't want to waste money for one."

He had plenty of it after all, he had paid ridiculous amounts for all sorts of crazy things since this morning. There was no way he would refuse to buy a horse now right?

"I don't know how to ride."

What kind of half-a.s.sed n.o.ble didn't know how to ride a f.u.c.king horse! Did he not understand the dangers he would be in outside of the walls? There were so many death seekers that went out alone and never came back, mostly because of the timestop sloths living in the region near the low woods.

"What a useless n.o.ble! Idiot! What are you going to do if you come across a timestop sloth?"

"I have no idea what that is."

She felt exasperated but took the time to explain it very carefully to him to make him understand he couldn't possibly go out there alone.

"That's a thing that looks just like a sloth but it's not. Once it looks at someone, he becomes unable to move until the sloth breaks eye contact. That is why it's called a timestop sloth. Once it got something frozen, it slowly moves to it and eats it alive."

"Is there a way to get away from it?" He asked a little anxious.

Good, he was starting to see reason.

"No, but the sloth can only target one thing at a time so as long as you are at least two, the sloth cannot do anything to you. Aside from its time-stop ability, it is super weak. At least, if you were on a horse, if you were paralyzed, the horse could still move forward and bring you out of danger but if you come across one alone, you are dead."

He really had to understand that he needed at least one other living being with him.

Maybe if the debt iron had not stopped her from walking out of town, she would have joined him. She never had the occasion to go on one of her parents adventures after all, she really wanted to see what it was really like outside, out of reach from the n.o.bles.

"Then I will be all right if I just do this." He said as a twin of him appeared at his side out of thin air.

"That's amazing!"

What kind of trick was that! Was it some sort of extremely advanced martial art? Or some strange magic power gained from one of the insane treasures he seemed to have plenty of. Whatever it was and anyway she sliced it, it was impressive. There was no way that dumb sloth would get him as long as the twin was out before it saw him. in fact, it would give him an overwhelming advantage in any fights...

"Wait, why did you not do that in the alley?"

"I forgot." He said as if it didn't matter at all.

"You are terrible, I hate you." She couldn't believe him, what a nonsensical guy. He was so discouraging, she couldn't wait for him to be gone.

"Just give me my silver and leave."

"What about my question?"

She just told him whatever came to her mind, eager to have him leave.

"I think a good emperor would be someone who can control the other n.o.bles since they represent him. Someone who could stop them from doing whatever they please but I don't think such a thing exist."

"I will remember." He said as he handed her the money. She took care to keep the name etched on the bracelet away from his eyes while picking up the coins.

"Good bye and good luck, I will send you your books back when I'm done with them."

"Don't do that!" She screamed at his back.

What an insufferable idiot! She wanted to throw him ten thousand kicks but still, she did not want him to die. If he did, she would regret not taking his money for the rest of her life.

"Hey! Idiot!" She screamed back at him.

He turned towards her with a puzzled look.

Don't die, she wanted to say.

"Stop being so dumb." She said instead.

He definitely thought her parting words were odd but instead of answering back, he just left through the gate. She looked at him walking for a moment before she took a deep breath and turned back towards home. After all that, she wanted nothing more than a full day of sleep.