The Scum Emperor's Redemption System - Chapter 109

Chapter 109: Intruder
Sharp shards sparkled as they rained down, scattering across the floor. Before anyone could react, a figure in a dark, fitted uniform lunged into the room, landing with eerie precision.

“Elira, you must come back to us, now!” the intruder commanded, their voice sharp and authoritative.

The masked figure had an unsettling presence. Their uniform was a stark black with accents of icy blue, sleek and battle-ready. A sigil, resembling an intertwined vine and sword, was emblazoned across their chest. It shimmered faintly as though imbued with magic.

A flicker of recognition sparked in her mind.

Now that she thought about it, there had been a wave of new hires recently.

She hadn’t paid them much attention, too absorbed in her own affairs. But this man… she’d seen him before. Those eyes. Sharp, piercing, and cold—like they were made to dissect prey.

A shiver ran down her spine as she realized what unsettled her most: the undeniable aura of bloodlust radiating from him, a quiet menace that made her instincts scream to be on guard.

It seems that she needs to pay attention to the palace staffs as well.

Elira, still standing near Argider, gasped. “What are you doing here?!”

“You know why,” the figure replied, taking a step forward, their hand resting on a crystalline dagger at their side. “I was going to stay here longer, not until I felt your mana and felt the danger. We must return now. The palace is dangerous. I can’t continue pretending with these elite craps.”

Elira’s expression hardened. “I told you—I’m not part of it anymore! I will do as I please!”

The masked figure straightened, adopting a defensive stance. “This isn’t up for debate. Come willingly, or I’ll make you.”

Argider’s eyes darted between them, her confusion mounting.

What organization? What rule?

She felt like she had stumbled into someone else’s drama. Still, the desperation in Elira’s eyes was unmistakable. Whatever this was, Elira didn’t want to go back.

“Hey,” Argider interjected awkwardly. “Do you two need a moment, or—?”

Her attempt at humor was cut short as the intruder snapped their gaze to her. “Stay out of this, Emperor. This doesn’t concern you.”

Argider bristled. She may not fully understand the situation, but she wasn’t about to stand by and let someone drag Elira away. Steeling herself, she focused her mana into her palm. Though her magic was still unrefined, she envisioned a crackling ball of lightning.

Just breathe… and focus.

A bright blue orb flickered into existence in her hand. “It concerns me now!” she declared, hurling the magic at the intruder.

The masked figure’s eyes widened beneath the mask as they narrowly dodged the attack. The lightning ball sizzled against the wall, leaving a scorch mark. Without hesitation, the intruder retaliated, raising their hand to cast a frost spell. A rush of icy air shot toward Argider, jagged shards of frost forming midair. She leaped aside, the cold nipping at her heels.

“Magic?!” Argider exclaimed, stumbling to her feet. “How are you using magic?! Magic is supposed to be gone!”

The figure didn’t answer, but their movements were fluid, practiced, as if they were no stranger to battle. Before Argider could launch another attack, Elira’s voice rang out, trembling with shock.

“Terion!” she shouted. “Don’t tell me you brought Neron and Lanisya with you!”

The man hesitated for a fraction of a second, then scoffed. “We came to bring you back, Elira! Not play games in front of this emperor!”

Argider felt a surge of unease. Outside the room, faint sounds of clashing steel and panicked shouts echoed through the palace. She could sense it now—faint pulses of mana beyond the door. The guards are under attack!

Elira’s face twisted with frustration. “You’re causing chaos in the palace!”

“They’re a necessary distraction,” Terion shot back. “We need you, and we’re not leaving without you!”

“She doesn’t want to go with you!” Argider shouted, planting herself between Terion and Elira. Behind her, Kian peeked out from his hiding spot, trembling. Argider’s hands clenched into fists. She glanced at him over her shoulder, her voice softening. “Don’t worry, Kian. I’ll get your mother back.”

Terion scoffed, his posture rigid. “She doesn’t have a choice!”

Argider’s frustration boiled over.

Fine. If he wants a fight, I’ll give him one.

She charged forward, summoning a fiery blast to her palm. It flickered weakly, but she hurled it anyway, aiming for Terion’s feet. He dodged with a graceful spin, retaliating with another frost spell that created a slick patch of ice beneath Argider. Her footing wavered, and she flailed comically, barely managing to stay upright.

“Okay, I’m still working on that one!” she muttered under her breath. Alvator’s voice chimed in her head.

“You’re in her internal world, remember? Use your magic here—it’s stronger!”

“Yeah, stronger my—oh!” Argider ducked just as Terion’s dagger whizzed past her head. “Can’t you just freeze already?!”

Terion smirked, clearly unimpressed. He lunged again, forcing Argider to backpedal. She hastily conjured another lightning ball, this one sparking with a little more confidence. As she threw it, the ball veered wildly off course, striking a decorative vase instead. It exploded, sending shards flying.

“Oops!” Argider yelped.

“You call that magic?!” Terion taunted, summoning another frost spell.

Before he could launch it, vines erupted from the floor, snaking around his legs. Elira stood behind him, her eyes glowing faintly green, her hands outstretched. “Enough, Terion!” she growled.

The vines coiled tighter, pulling Terion to his knees. He struggled against them, but the more he fought, the stronger the plants seemed to grow, wrapping around his arms and torso. “Let me go!” he snarled, but Elira’s magic held firm.

Argider stumbled forward, panting. “Nice work, Elira. You’ve got him all tangled up.”

Terion glared at her, his mask askew. “You’ll regret this… both of you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Argider said, brushing herself off. “Why don’t you cool off for a bit?” She grinned at her own pun, earning an eye-roll from Elira.

With Terion subdued, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Argider turned to Elira, who looked conflicted, her hands trembling slightly. “Are you okay?” Argider asked, her tone softening.

Elira nodded but avoided eye contact. Kian ran to her, clutching her leg. “Mommy, are you okay?”

She ruffled his hair, her voice steady but strained. “I’m fine, sweetie.”

Argider stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on with this… organization of yours, but I’m not letting them take you. Not now, not ever.”

Elira’s gaze snapped to hers, suspicion flickering in her eyes. “Why? Why would you risk yourself for me?”

Argider took a deep breath, then, to Elira’s shock, knelt down on one knee. She placed a hand over her heart. “Because I’m your emperor, and I’ve decided this: I will marry you. You’ll become my wife, and I’ll treat you well. That’s a promise.”

Elira blinked, her face a mixture of surprise and incredulity. A faint blush crept across her cheeks. “You’re ridiculous,” she muttered, but her voice wavered.

“And yet here we are,” Argider replied with a small smile.

The vines around Terion tightened once more, silencing his protests.

As her vision cleared, Argider’s heart raced. Things were only going to get crazier from here.

“I can’t believe you’re betraying me like this, Elira…” Terion said.

“I told you we’d stay put. But no, you just had to draw attention. Now you’ve gone and embarrassed us both.”

“Fine, where are the other two? Don’t play coy with me, Elira. Spill it.”

The door slammed open, and Neron and Lanisya swaggered in like they owned the place. Neron twirled a dagger between his fingers, flashing a cocky grin, while Lanisya scowled like she’d just eaten something sour.

“Well, well, look who decided to show up,” Argider remarked, leaning back in her chair with a smirk. She crossed her arms, watching them with an amused glint in her eye.

“Had to drag them in,” Elira muttered, rolling her eyes. “They were outside causing a commotion, so I figured I might as well gather the whole group.”

Neron raised his eyebrows, eyes locking with Argider. “Don’t act like you’re not excited to see us.”

Argider sighed dramatically. “Oh, absolutely thrilled,” she replied, sarcasm dripping from every word. “What’s next? Are we going to start singing ‘Kumbaya’?”

Lanisya glared at the both of them. “Don’t flatter yourselves,” she snapped. “We’re here because we have a job to do.”

“Right, right,” Argider said, rolling her eyes. “The whole ‘taking over the palace’ thing. How could I forget?”

Elira shot them a look. “Enough chatter. I brought you both in to make sure you don’t make things more complicated.” With a snap of her fingers, she summoned a tendril of chloro magic that slithered like a vine, wrapping around Neron’s and Lanisya’s wrists to hold them in place.

“Hold still,” Elira commanded, and both of them winced but complied.

Argider grinned as she watched the dynamic duo struggle slightly. “Well, this is certainly a reunion I didn’t expect,” she said. “But at least now I’m not the only one stuck in this mess.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Elira replied with a smirk. “Now let’s get moving.”