Chapter 29

"Lord Novia, Her Majesty the Empress has an order—"

"Brutus, who gave you permission to bring the Praetorian Guard into the palace without authorization?"

Novia's gaze fell upon the Roman Praetorian Guard stationed at the imperial palace entrance, and he then questioned Brutus, the commander of the guard.

Generally, the Roman Praetorian Guard was stationed outside the city of Rome, in the suburbs, and could only be commanded by the Emperor. However, with Claudius gravely ill, it was naturally impossible to summon him. Moreover, the previous emperor, Caligula, was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard.

However, Novia understood very well who had sent Brutus. It was undoubtedly the current Empress Agrippina, with whom he had already consummated a physical relationship. They were simply waiting for Claudius to die so that her chosen successor could become the next emperor of Rome.

Ultimately, Agrippina would only allow her own child, Nero, to become emperor. This aligned with Novia's expectations, and it seemed he needed only to follow this command and wait patiently.

However, Novia didn't feel the need to back down or show her any courtesy.

"Brutus, I know about your affair with Agrippina."

Novia's expression turned serious. He walked past the man and headed straight for the room where Emperor Claudius was located within the palace. Not a single Praetorian Guard inside dared to step forward to stop him. In their eyes, Novia was a living Divine Envoy. Although they were self-serving as Praetorian Guards, they had no intention of risking their lives.

Undoubtedly, Augustus established the Praetorian Guard and rewarded them with triple the pay of ordinary soldiers precisely to prevent a recurrence of the Caesar assassination. But the decadent lifestyle had transformed this army into the 'vanguard for slaughtering emperors.'

Taking historical records as an example, in 69 AD, Galba, one of the Four Emperors, attempted to rectify military discipline, incurring their displeasure, and was killed by the Praetorian Guard within six months. Even more deplorable was the event in 193 AD, the only imperial auction in human history.

After yet another emperor attempted to 'exploit' them, the Praetorian Guard, following their usual practice, killed him and then publicly auctioned off the throne for profit.

"Novia..."

Emperor Claudius, sixty-four years old, seemed to awaken from a dream, murmuring something in a hoarse voice, as if just roused from sleep.

In the quiet room, he gazed at Novia by his bedside, as if looking at a long-lost friend, a solemn expression on his aged face.

His azure eyes, like the sea, and his silver hair, like snow, perfectly matched people's imagination of a Divine Envoy.

Although he was only twenty-one years old, he was already remarkably composed. The aura emanating from this young man made people want to approach him and strike up a conversation.

Claudius's room had been so quiet it felt like a funeral, but as Novia slowly opened the door, natural sounds drifted in.

The chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am here. Please speak."

Novia took the old man's hand, showing no sign of impatience.

This old man had been discriminated against and insulted since birth due to congenital polio. Even after becoming Emperor, this remained the case. However, it was undeniable that he contributed to the stability of the Roman Empire.

Furthermore, he had always been very kind to Novia. Although there were profit motives behind it, without Claudius's support, Novia might not have reached this point today.

"...Octavia, Britannicus..."

Claudius called out the names of his children, his eyes filled with worry.

"Your Majesty, please do not worry. I am still here. I am their teacher."

Novia seemed to understand his concern, his tone softening slightly. However, what Claudius said next made him pause slightly.

"Baptize me... Please..." Claudius indifferently endured Novia's gaze, his faint voice like falling snowflakes. "Wait a moment, help me out... I want to announce... that thing you've always wanted..."

Claudius's intention was clear: in exchange, he would now, while gravely ill, be baptized by Novia and become a Christian, and announce that Christianity would henceforth be the state religion of the Roman Empire. The "please" was a plea because Claudius knew that even if he didn't do it, Nero, who was most likely to become the next emperor, would announce it.

However, the reason Claudius understood this and spoke so humbly was that even though Novia had earnestly promised to protect his children after his death, for someone born into the Roman court, such support felt too intangible. He needed to offer something in return.

In this regard, this old emperor shared the same mindset as Nero.

"Your Majesty, do you remember what you said when we first met? 'Don't look at the moon; it's not a benevolent thing.'" Novia smiled as he nodded. "I've always remembered, and I'm grateful for it."

Claudius resented the moon because his nephew Caligula had gone mad staring at it.

However, Novia knew that the true reason for Caligula's madness in the Type-Moon world was seeing Diana, the Roman Moon Goddess, or more accurately, the Greek goddess Artemis. To be precise, it was her gradually decaying main cannon orbiting the planet in this era.

In the Type-Moon world, the Greek gods were alien deities whose true bodies were destroyed during the invasion of Earth by the Star-Voyager scouts. Only their personalized Divine Bodies remained. However, destruction was not necessarily irreparable. The Greek gods used human faith for repair, but unfortunately, they did not succeed until the Age of Gods passed.

Thus, there were remnants of the Ares Machine God body that drifted to Japan, and the Moon Goddess Machine body, which had fallen to Japan at some unknown time...

Novia's meaning was something even Claudius, in good health, could not comprehend. But the old man understood that his opinion had been accepted from the young man's nod.

"Then... help me out..."

On October 12, 54 AD, Emperor Claudius I of the Roman Empire announced—

The Roman Emperor would no longer serve as the chief priest of Roman temples and forbade subjects from making sacrifices to Roman temples.

He further decreed that all religious activities except Christianity were forbidden, and all subjects of the Roman Empire were to "abide by the faith that Novia has given to the Romans" and to "close all places of pagan activity."

This decree made Christianity the sole legal religion in the Roman Empire, and Christianity officially became the state religion of the Roman Empire.

on October 13 of the same year, Claudius was baptized by Novia, officially becoming a Christian and the first Roman Emperor to believe in Christianity.

On the evening of that day, Emperor Claudius, having received baptism, passed away after returning to the Roman Imperial Palace.

Subsequently, without dispute, the seventeen-year-old Nero successfully became the fifth emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

053: The Day of Nero's Coronation Ceremony

The Pantheon—

It was no longer called the Pantheon, as only Christian symbols now stood within it, nothing else.

This was because, in the current Roman Empire, Christianity was the only legal religion; everything else was considered heresy.

At this moment, Novia was to perform a Christian blessing for Nero, who was holding his coronation ceremony. Although Nero suggested building a new one, due to the severe lack of time, they had to settle for using this place for the time being.

To accommodate this, the area was also decorated early on with flowers and seasonal ornaments, creating an overall white theme. From the windows, people participating in the ceremony within Rome could be seen. After all, this was the final venue, and Novia had to wait patiently for Nero's arrival.

"That human is quite full of himself, acting so high and mighty."

Albion, transformed into a young girl, propped her chin on her hand and gazed out the window, pouting with clear dissatisfaction. She generally only appeared when she was alone with Novia; if any outsiders were present, she would retreat.

"This is a big day for Nero, so it's perfectly normal for her to be happy."

"Hey, did I give you permission to speak my disciple's name without my consent?"

The silver-haired girl turned her head towards Novia before shifting her gaze back to the window.

"...When did we two ever make such an agreement?"

"Never. I was just thinking that I shouldn't have thought of you as merely a weak human mage, but instead should have killed and eaten you right then and there—"

Albion turned her head again, looking Novia up and down with a meaningful gaze, a hint of crimson in her eyes.

"Why don't you try talking to me like this again? Otherwise, I just feel something's a little off."

Novia leaned in close to Albion, looking into the dragon girl's eyes.

The human's face was too close, but Albion didn't flinch, her bright golden eyes meeting his directly.

Novia's fingertip aggressively poked at the space between Albion's golden eyes, right on her brow.

"...What was that just now? Seriously, it's making me more and more angry."

Just being poked by a finger made Albion feel an inexplicable sense of awkwardness well up inside her. And when she thought about the blonde human approaching below, and how these two would be alone again soon while she could only watch from the sidelines, the silver-haired girl grew increasingly furious.

So, before Novia could say anything, Albion jumped up, tilting her head slightly, and buried her face in the young man's neck. She bit him a few times with her fangs, though it was just a light nip. Then, she threw out a statement – "She's here. I don't want to see her, she's disgusting." – and vanished.

Being bitten a few times by Albion was a regular occurrence for Novia. Whenever she was in a bad mood, she would bite him. But unlike the initial frenzied biting that drew blood and flesh, it was now more like a caress.

Novia glanced outside the Pantheon. The red-clad girl Nero, dressed in imperial attire, was walking up the steps step by step. This was the final part of the coronation ceremony.

In ancient Rome, the coronation ceremony typically involved the new emperor leading the army in a military parade, showcasing their military might and the support of the troops.

Following recognition from the Senate and the army, they would deliver a proclamation of accession, outlining their ruling philosophy and goals.

This was also accompanied by large-scale celebratory events, including banquets, athletic competitions, and the distribution of rewards. These activities were designed to demonstrate the emperor's generosity and power, as well as to win the support and loyalty of the populace.

The final step was a pilgrimage to a temple for sacrifices, seeking divine blessings. Currently, Christianity had already become the state religion of Rome.

Therefore, Emperor Nero was naturally expected to come here to receive divine blessings from Novia.

However, Novia couldn't see Nero holding any symbols of power and rule, such as a crown, scepter, or cloak. These items were usually presented by a new emperor to display their ruling authority. Now, Nero was holding the 'Primal Fire' that Novia had once gifted her.

But this wasn't really a big issue, as it was merely an unwritten convention, and it was normal not to use them.

Novia then sat in the spot illuminated by the Pantheon's "Eye of the Dome," quietly awaiting Nero's arrival. The midday sun perfectly illuminated the entrance to the archway.

As Nero stepped into the temple at this moment, the dazzling sunlight converged precisely upon her, enough to draw everyone's attention.

Novia hadn't thought much about this initially; it was Nero who said it would be better this way, fitting for the artistic sense, so Novia had gone along with it.

"Teacher, due to some circumstances, could you please close your eyes for a moment?"

"Mm."

The golden-haired girl's voice came from behind the archway. In response, Novia closed her eyes as she requested.

"Mhm mhm, Teacher, you can open your eyes now."

After about ten seconds or so, Nero's voice sounded again. During this time, Novia sensed the presence of magic, figuring Nero was using some sort of sorcery.

What then unfolded before Novia's eyes, illuminated by the dazzling sunlight at the archway, was—

Golden strands of hair gently swayed beneath a white hat, and atop it sat a golden laurel wreath. The girl's fair face featured emerald green eyes that shimmered, like a rippling, icy lake.

The girl's boots landed with a resounding clunk as she approached him step by step.

"How is it, how is it? I thought about this for a very, very long time to conceive this outfit. I'm only letting Teacher see it. And because Teacher likes white, I only used white."

Every time the golden-haired girl spoke with a smile, the rose earrings on her ears would sway.

"Very good."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Really, really?"

"Yes, without a doubt. I like it very much."

"No, just one compliment isn't enough. I want a reward, a reward. A very, very good reward, or I'll get angry."

Having said that, Nero, who had arrived in front of Novia, puffed out her cheeks as if sulking and pouted.

"Nero, you are already the Emperor—"

"I don't care about being Emperor. I want a reward."

Nero stood on her tiptoes, placing her hands on Novia's shoulders, her eyes fixing on Novia like flames.

Looking at the girl's slightly flushed face, Novia leaned in and kissed her.

"Is that good enough?"

"Mmm, Teacher, you can continue if you want, but this is good too, hehe..."

Nero's gaze was like a flame, and beneath that flame was an eye like black mud, ready to devour everything.

054: Please, Don't Hate Me

With the end of the coronation ceremony for the new emperor, night officially fell.

After comforting Nero with a kiss, Novia refused the girl's invitation to the palace and returned to his home outside Rome, where he had lived for several years.

However, the moment he opened the door, Novia saw the silver-haired girl, Albion's avatar, staring at him with dim eyes.

"Human, you..."

Albion's voice was devoid of any warmth. It was so low and chilling that Novia momentarily felt a drastic drop in his body temperature.

Normally appearing lifeless, she now exuded an even more peculiar aura.

This did not surprise Novia. When he had kissed Nero, he had sensed the 'Spear' he brought to the Pantheon, and its magic was on the verge of exploding.

Novia had long suspected Albion's interest in him. However, Novia had previously only used this strongest dragon. It wasn't until Albion had genuinely done those things for him in Jerusalem that he began to see her as a friend and someone trustworthy.

In terms of affection, his feelings were naturally not as deep as they were for Nero, whom he had known for so many years. As for this strongest dragon, she was quite the tsundere.

It seemed he had to make the first move. Having made up his mind, Novia met Albion's cold gaze with one of his own and said:

"Don't be so willful, Albion."

In the tense silence, Novia broke the deadlock.

"Human, what did you say..."