Katart. It was the capital for 430 years during the existence of the Calleta Empire, which dared to self-proclaim as the emperor, led by rebels.

Loo was well acquainted with the city, which, though ancient and extremely tidy, had an unnaturally excessive artificial beauty. From the streets of the yangjae district, where the knights, who had lived in the city from the time of admission to the academy until retirement, released the pressure and burden accumulated as knights, to the adjacent shoe store street, and further inside, there were luxurious clubs where wealthy nobles exchanged gold coins while pretending to gamble.

However, in this city, the stiff, vertical, and haughty atmosphere of the past was nowhere to be found. The city, which had been dominated by the defeated, was completely broken and dilapidated.

“Hmm…”

The feeling of seeing familiar places, taking down signs, or seeing extinguished lights wasn’t so bad. There were familiar places, familiar shops, and sometimes familiar faces.

“Well, whatever.”

But there was no need to forcibly catch the familiar faces that avoided her upon seeing her.

Loo shook her head. There was no need to catch those knights who were preparing to run away as soon as the orders came down. Why bother catching them? It wasn’t worth it.

“Where have I seen them before…? Ah, right. I’ve seen them somewhere. All the familiar faces I know are all related to the Imperial Knights.”

Unfortunately, the Imperial Knights, who suffered a great defeat in front of the Katart city walls, were completely disbanded.

Hayden was a merciful emperor, but that didn’t mean he would back off.

What Carlos left behind had to disappear without a trace. So the people of the Calleta Empire, who had worshiped and idolized him, especially the extremists, wouldn’t even be able to find Carlos’s corpse.

When that guy dies someday, even his corpse will be turned into dust.

And Hayden swore to erase that dust so that no one could find and honor it.

The traces of Carlos embedded in Katart would also disappear over time.

Already, documents mocking the Emperor of Perseta, created freely by those who gained freedom in the streets, and newspapers that began to flow in from the north were scattered and mixed in the streets.

The city, where only nobles, magicians, and chosen knights lived, was gradually becoming desolate.

Rather, poor commoners began to sneak in, cautiously, into the warm city walls, and those who enjoyed the pinnacle of power in the Calleta Empire quickly fled.

Most of them either escaped abroad or went further south.

Leave them alone if they stay still.

About them, the Emperor of Perseta chuckled and muttered.

If these brats dare to gather and plan something, they should be trampled.

That’s all the former powerful figures of Calleta could do.

Loo silently watched as the Emperor’s mocking documents gathered and entered the makeshift hospital’s oven in front of her.
Literally, these are just fire starters for a pot of soup to be shared with people.

Most of the people from the Calleta Empire were expressing shock and depression, with many showing betrayal and hatred towards Carlos.

“Shall we go somewhere else?”

“Yes, Mama.”

Once the knights were all ready, Loo took another step. The Empress and her entourage disappeared quickly from the lonely streets of Katart.

Now, the Southern Sage, who could easily handle even large-scale magic, revealed himself casually as if taking a leisurely stroll throughout the entire south.

Port cities, the hometown of her parents, places where she briefly lived as a child, and several cities passed by.

“Agh!”

And anywhere in the south, there were people who recognized Loo.

Even though she tried to overlook them this time as well, upon arriving in the southern city of Eugene, such a noisy welcome.

Loo widened her eyes slightly at the young men who recognized her and screamed. They were familiar faces.

“Hey, you, Rustica…”

But before the men could utter the name of the Empress, Imperial Knights immediately blocked their way.

“It’s the Empress, show some respect.”

Although the big men with loud voices, who had bandages wrapped around their bodies due to injuries, were silent, they wobbled a bit.

If, like the former knight she encountered in Katart, they had avoided her without saying a word, she might have pretended not to recognize them. However, since they shouted for her to leave, Loo couldn’t ignore them.

No matter how much of an empress she was, she was currently casually exploring various places in comfortable attire for unofficial business. Why bother behaving so awkwardly? Besides, as she recalled, these guys weren’t the type to be so sophisticated.

“Long time no see, both of you.”

As she faced politics, Loo seemed to become increasingly unreserved, using insincere words without hesitation.

“For now…”

People’s attention began to turn towards them. Well, it wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about it in the middle of the city.

“Shall we move to another place?”