Initially, Rei failed to grasp the significance of Emperor Trajist’s words as the man sat before him.
It wasn't that he failed to understand the literal meaning of the offer. He simply could not fathom why the man was making it.
He had already explicitly stated that his loyalties lay with the Kingdom of Mireana.
And yet, despite that, the Emperor had made this proposal.
Rei was not the only one bewildered; everyone else in the room shared his shock. Among them, the members of the Imperial Guard Knight Order tasked with protecting Trajist were the most visibly shaken.
It went without saying that the Imperial Guard Knight Order was primarily composed of those born into the nobility. While a few had risen from the ranks of adventurers, they were a rare exception. This was partly due to noble favoritism, but it also stemmed from the fact that an Imperial Guard Knight required not only martial prowess but also a mastery of refined etiquette.
Favoritism aside, any candidate who boasted only of their family lineage or attempted to join through mere connections was rejected out of hand. To be an Imperial Guard Knight, one had to possess high-level combat capabilities, impeccable manners, and absolute loyalty to the Imperial Family. These were the elite of the elite.
Consequently, they found Trajist’s suggestion to grant Rei the status of an Honorary Noble utterly beyond belief.
"Emperor Trajist, surely that is..."
One of the Imperial Guard Knights instinctively began to interject, but Trajist silenced him with a sharp, wordless glance. That single look was enough to ensure the knight could not weave another word.
Normally, the path to nobility was a long and arduous one. A commoner would first have to perform some exceptional feat to be elevated to a knight—a semi-noble status—and from there, achieve several more significant accomplishments to reach the rank of Baron, the lowest tier of the peerage.
Naturally, the kind of merit required to rise from knight to baron was not easily found. Tellingly, it had been over a decade since the last individual had been promoted from knight to the rank of Baron.
Despite the formidable barrier between commoners and the aristocracy, Trajist had bypassed it entirely by offering Rei the rank of Count. For the Imperial Guard Knights, who took immense pride in their noble blood, this was an almost unendurable insult.
However, even if they were asked what they could do to stop it, the answer was "nothing."
Had Rei been an ordinary person without power, they might have been able to pull strings behind the scenes. Dealing with someone the Emperor himself desired would require extreme caution, but it wouldn't have been impossible to sabotage.
Rei, however, was no ordinary commoner. While his lack of a title meant he was technically a commoner by birth, he was a B-Rank Adventurer—a status reserved for the elite—and more importantly, he was Crimson Rei, a man whose fame echoed throughout the Bestia Empire.
Rei's history made it clear that any ill-advised move against him would be met with devastating retaliation.
If they played their cards perfectly, they might have been able to frame Rei as an enemy of the Bestia Empire, but objectively speaking, the chances of such a plot succeeding were abysmally low. Rei was on intimate terms with individuals of immense power and status, including Mercurio, Theoreme, Frizion, and Angela.
If a clumsy move against Rei risked the total destruction of their own houses, they couldn't afford to act. If Rei’s social circle had been ordinary, they might have incited some short-sighted noble to attack him... but against this specific group, any such plot would almost certainly be traced back to the instigator.
Under these circumstances, all the Imperial Guard Knights could do was pray that Rei would decline Trajist's offer.
"Even if you offer me that... as I said before, I am affiliated with the Kingdom of Mireana. I think it would be highly problematic for someone like me to hold a title in the Bestia Empire, even if it carries no practical authority."
"I see. There is truth in that... Yet I must ask, why do you favor the Kingdom of Mireana so heavily? It is a genuine curiosity of mine, but is it not a difficult place for you to live?"
Trajist’s expression held no trace of a hidden agenda; he seemed truly perplexed.
"I won't deny that. However, as I mentioned, my base is in Gilm on the frontier, so I don't particularly mind the rest of it."
"...I am telling you that I wish to grant you this rank, and yet you still choose to refuse?"
"Yes. I feel no particular loyalty or patriotism toward the Kingdom of Mireana itself. However, if there is a chance I would have to take up arms against the people of Gilm or the few friends I have made there, then I cannot, in good conscience, accept the title."
"A waste," Trajist murmured.
His voice was barely a whisper, yet because the room was held in a rapt, deathly silence, it reached the ears of everyone present. The weight of his words made it clear that the sentiment was heartfelt.
"I don't believe it is such a waste. If I may be so bold, the Bestia Empire has no shortage of talent. If you were to force someone like me into the mix, wouldn't it ultimately cause the Empire to warp?"
"Warp? That would be perfectly fine. Everyone craves stability, but it is only a short step from stability to stagnation. And stagnation breeds corruption, just as the water of a dammed river rots. I would much prefer the Bestia Empire to be in a constant state of flux. At least, that is my conviction, and it is that conviction that has allowed me to develop this Empire to its current heights."
His words, delivered with absolute confidence, lacked even the slightest hint of doubt.
(I see. This is what it means to be the Emperor of a superpower like the Bestia Empire... No, a man like this is precisely why the country became so massive in the first place.)
Rei understood almost instinctively why Trajist exuded such an overwhelming aura.
"I understand your position. However, I must still respectfully decline the offer of a title."
If he gave a vague, non-committal response now, it would only be subject to misinterpretation. Having decided this, Rei issued a firm rejection.
"...You refuse me even after I have gone this far?"
"Yes. My apologies."
Trajist's gaze sharpened, turning cold and dangerous. Even while considering that a fight might break out right then and there, Rei held his ground.
If he had surrendered his Misty Ring to the Empire’s custody, he might have been forced to compromise. However, the Misty Ring was currently inside a locked box right next to him, and he held the key.
Above all, even if a conflict erupted, Rei had his hidden ace: the Flame Emperor's Crimson Armor. Unlike magic, which required a Magic Catalyst—in Rei's case, the Death Scythe—skills could be activated without one.
His defiant stance was rooted in the knowledge that he could handle any situation with his own strength if pushed. Even if combat began, the only likely enemies were Theoreme, Angela, and the Imperial Guard Knights. In terms of pure combat power, Vihera would be the most formidable opponent, but Rei didn't believe she would turn against him given the context of their conversation.
A heavy tension permeated the room, making the very air feel thick enough to drain one's stamina just by breathing it. Though Trajist had been the source of the stifling pressure, he was also the one to shatter it.
"Hah—ha-ha-ha-ha! To think you would refuse me even after I said all that. I like you!"
He erupted into a laugh so boisterous it made the previous tension seem like an illusion. There was no one else in the room who would have dared to speak to Trajist in such a manner.
As Rei listened to the laughter, he caught himself thinking that if Noise were present, he might have offered a dry quip. Trajist eventually reigned in his laughter and spoke again.
"Indeed. I believe Theoreme and Mercurio promised you Magic Items as part of your reward, did they not?"
It was a casual remark, but both men mentioned stiffened instantly. It was true that they had contracted Rei with the promise of Magic Items. However, that was supposed to be a secret known only to Rei, Theoreme, and those who were present at the time, like Vihera and Elena.
At the very least, no one else currently in the Bestia Empire should have been aware of the arrangement. None of them had ever mentioned it to the Emperor.
And yet, for some reason, Trajist knew. It was a stark reminder that the Emperor’s intelligence network reached far deeper than they had imagined.
Trajist took note of their reactions but didn't dwell on them, turning his focus back to Rei.
"I have taken a liking to you. Your refusal to accept a title, even in name only; your strength, capable of fighting on par with Noise at such a young age—I find your existence refreshing. ...Therefore, I shall give you this instead."
With those words, he reached into his breast pocket and produced a Metal Card.
The onlookers stiffened once more. While their reaction wasn't quite as extreme as when he had offered a title of nobility, those who saw the card in Trajist’s hand still wore expressions of profound shock.
Trajist slid the Metal Card across the table toward Vihera. She took it and placed it directly into Rei's hand.
Judging by the reactions of the people around him, Rei realized this was no ordinary trinket. He hesitated for a moment, but since it was a gift from the Emperor, he couldn't simply hand it back. He turned his attention to the object in his palm.
"This is..."
Rei possessed absolutely no artistic training. Even so, he couldn't help but marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship of the Metal Card. It didn't depict a specific scene; rather, it was covered in complex engravings that layered curves and straight lines in a way that felt both simple and incredibly sophisticated.
But more than the art, it was the text engraved upon it that stood out: "This person is a Friend of the Bestia Empire."
"Friend of the Bestia Empire. It serves as proof of your standing. Will you accept... my sentiment?"
He had conceded the title, and his tone made it clear he would accept no further refusal. Rei hesitated at the Emperor's implicit demand.
Undoubtedly, this Metal Card was a better alternative than being an Honorary Noble. A noble title would have required a formal announcement both at home and abroad, which would have made it nearly impossible for Rei to return to the Kingdom of Mireana. At the very least, Mireana would have viewed him with extreme suspicion, ending his days as a free agent.
...In truth, given his alias of 'Crimson' and his tamed Gryphon, Rei's fame had already spread much further than he realized. He was already far less inconspicuous than he used to be, though he himself lacked much awareness of it.
(What happens if I accept this? If I used it inside the Kingdom of Mireana, it would definitely cause trouble. But unlike becoming a noble, they won't broadcast this to the world... right? If that's the case, I can just keep it in the Misty Ring for emergencies...)
Having reached that conclusion, Rei spoke up to confirm his suspicions.
"If I accept this Metal Card, will it be publicly announced domestically or internationally?"
Trajist gave a pleasant smile and shook his head.
"Unlike a title, this is a purely personal matter. As such, I have no intention of publicizing it. Of course, if you wish for me to announce it, I could be persuaded?"
"No, if that is the case, I will gratefully accept it."
Bowing his head, Rei placed the Metal Card back on the table for a moment. He couldn't very well refuse the offer after the Emperor of the Bestia Empire had been so accommodating. Furthermore, since Trajist had taken his personal circumstances into account and provided something that didn't require public disclosure, Rei pushed aside his lingering unease and accepted the gift.
"Umu. If you accept, then my efforts in preparing it were not in vain. Hah-ha-ha-ha!"
Trajist’s jovial laughter echoed through the room. Hearing it, the other occupants finally allowed themselves a sigh of relief.
Rei, however, remained blissfully unaware that the Metal Card had the potential to be an even more volatile liability than a formal title of nobility.