The Reincarnated Lizardman Wants a Hamburger

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar place.

Instead of the grand banquet hall I had been in just moments ago, I was now in a cramped room with rough, dull brick walls.

It was the underground prison of the Imperial Palace.

“We were just in the banquet hall a moment ago…”

“What happened!?”

Liche was the first to grasp the situation.

“It’s spatial teleportation magic. We’ve been moved using spatial teleportation magic!”

“Spatial teleportation magic? That’s something only passed down from the Ancient Empire era… Ah. Our opponent was the ghost of that very Ancient Empire. I forgot for a moment.”

At Liche’s words, Serena sighed, holding her forehead.

It was absurd, but we had been teleported straight to the underground prison of the Imperial Palace without even getting a chance to fight.

But there was no time to panic.

“But this is still part of the plan.”

“To be precise, it’s one of the many scenarios we prepared for.”

Our plan was so simple and crude that it could hardly be called a plan.

It was to prepare for every possible scenario and create corresponding strategies.

Facing a mediocre noble might have been one thing, but our opponent was the pinnacle of the Spine Empire.

Half-baked tactics wouldn’t work.

Especially since the location was the Imperial Palace, the emperor’s front yard.

So, instead of taking the initiative, we decided to prepare for every possible outcome.

Our true aim was something else entirely.

Being imprisoned in the Imperial Palace’s underground dungeon was also one of the scenarios we had prepared for.

“I didn’t expect spatial teleportation magic to take us straight to the prison, though.”

“We don’t have much time, so let’s get out of here quickly.”

With those words, Arisa skillfully ran her hands over the prison bricks, and soon, she removed one and pulled out an item hidden inside.

“Even in the Imperial Palace where the emperor resides, dirty tasks like cleaning the prison are left to elves or beastkin. They’d never imagine that the slaves cleaning the prison would make duplicate keys and hide them.”

The prison was equipped with magic circles that prevented the use of magic and alarms that would alert the guards if the facilities were destroyed, but we never planned to escape that way.

The resistance had already scattered keys throughout the prison in preparation for this day, and we used them to open the door and walk out.

There were guards, but they were no match for us.

The underground prison was a maze designed to prevent escapes, but with the map secured by the resistance, who had been active within the empire for decades, we quickly made our way to the exit.

However, the moment we reached the prison exit,

a large number of imperial knights were waiting for us.

“Heh heh heh. Despite the emperor’s mercy, you foolishly refuse to recognize his grace. Tsk tsk. Stupid people can’t even recognize the luck given to them.”

“You seem quite pleased that we’ve rejected that grace, Duke Newgoros.”

Duke Newgoros smiled menacingly at me, clearly enjoying the situation.

“Heh heh heh. You insolent brat… But fine. Your recklessness ends today.”

At the forefront of the imperial knights were three masters.

Led by a man I had never seen before, Shail Delphine and Duke Newgoros stood on either side, pressuring us.

The man in the middle was unknown, but the aura he exuded was no less than that of Duke Newgoros or Shail Delphine.

Soon, the man in the middle stepped forward.

“His Majesty the Emperor, in his benevolence, chose to imprison rather than execute you, giving you one chance despite your defiance. But there will be no second chance. You have trampled on his grace, and I, Qualiac, will now pass judgment on his behalf. Repent in hell.”

Qualiac.

It was the first time I had heard him speak, but like Newgoros, he was a known figure.

After all, Qualiac was both a duke of the empire and a master.

Moreover, he had a title more famous than just being a duke or a master.

“Duke Qualiac! The Empire’s First Sword!”

Daria screamed as if in shock.

The Empire’s First Sword.

Also known as the Emperor’s Sword, the pinnacle of the seven masters.

The empire’s strongest force was now blocking us, accompanied by two other masters.

“Sending three of the empire’s seven masters for us. Quite thorough preparation for someone showing mercy.”

“His Majesty possesses insight beyond what criminals like us could ever imagine. Watch your tongue, beastkin.”

“With this much force, they must have sent most of the capital’s defenses here, leaving only a minimal guard in the capital, right? Especially if they sent three masters, it seems like all the masters in the capital are here.”

“I have no obligation to answer you. Stop wasting time and surrender quietly.”

Duke Qualiac dismissed my question firmly, as if unwilling to give even a hint of information.

But my question wasn’t directed at Duke Qualiac from the start.

How could I ask such a sensitive question to someone I just met?

“Yes, of course. Currently, the three of us are the only masters in the capital, while the other four are stationed at the borders to deal with interference from other nations, including the Holy Kingdom. Additionally, most of the imperial knights have been mobilized, leaving only a minimal guard for the Imperial Palace.”

“So, if we get past you, the path to the emperor is wide open.”

“Marquis Delphine! How could you answer the enemy’s questions so readily!?”

From the start, my question was directed at Shail Delphine.

“Enemy? What are you talking about? They’re not my enemies.”

“What do you mean…!?”

Shing!

Qualiac tried to question in confusion, but his words were cut off.

While he was speaking, Shail had naturally drawn his rapier and swung it at him.

“…What is the meaning of this!?”

“As expected of the Empire’s First Sword. Even a sneak attack like this can’t leave a scratch, huh?”

“Marquis Delphine!!”

“You must have realized by now. Come on, draw your sword and fight properly.”

Qualiac roared and charged at him, and the imperial formation was thrown into chaos by Shail’s sudden betrayal.

Duke Newgoros, being a seasoned imperial duke, tried to rally the knights and declare battle amidst the confusion, but unfortunately, Shail wasn’t the only one who betrayed them.

Knights who had just been standing in formation now drew their swords and pointed them at their former comrades.

“You fools! What are you doing!? Are you truly rebelling against the empire!? Have you all gone mad like Shail!?”

“You’re mistaken, Duke Newgoros. We’re not mad. We’re drawing our swords to avoid going mad.”

Split into two groups, some knights pointed their swords at their comrades, while others were too confused to know who to aim at.

Among them, Albert stepped forward.

“What!? Albert, you…! Do you know what day it is and you’re pulling this stunt!?”

“I know. I know what day it is.”

Newgoros, enraged by the continuous betrayals, glared with murderous intent.

But Albert, who had been terrified when he first faced me, remained unfazed and continued.

“You must know that I was previously sent on a secret mission to Astram by His Majesty’s special order.”

“Don’t tell me you’re rebelling because you thought His Majesty was neglecting you by sending you on that mission!? His Majesty specially favored you, promoting you to knight commander at a young age! He entrusted you with such an important mission because he trusted you!”

“That’s exactly right. What seemed like a demotion was actually a crucial mission for a top-secret project the empire was planning.

When I realized the ruins truly existed, I was in awe of His Majesty’s foresight, which was beyond comprehension. The ruins buried in the Kingdom of Eustia, far at the edge of the continent, unknown to anyone—even the Empire’s Holy Sword Knight Order had only just uncovered them after extensive excavation. His Majesty’s vision was truly overwhelming.”

“Then why are you pointing your sword at your imperial comrades!?”

For a moment, pride in the empire flashed across his face, but it was soon replaced by deep sorrow.

“That was before I returned to the empire. After returning and spending a long time here, I realized that the ruins I excavated weren’t meant to advance the empire’s magic. That wasn’t what I wanted.

I truly wanted the empire to become greater. I wanted the country I was born and raised in to become the greatest among human nations. If the glory of the Ancient Empire were to be restored, I wanted it to be the Spine Empire.

But I never imagined that the reason for excavating the Ancient Empire’s ruins was to erase all other races from this world. Not to wage war against other races for the empire’s prosperity and strength, but to grow the empire for the purpose of wiping out other races.”

“Who cares about those non-humans!? Whether those subhumans disappear from this world or not makes no difference!”

“If I had stayed in the empire, I might have agreed with you, Duke. But after leaving the empire and meeting many people in Astram, I realized something.

They are not beings to be looked down upon as non-humans. They are not beings who should simply disappear from this world!

So, the path the empire is walking now is wrong! Where is the glory in that path?

Therefore, in accordance with my knight’s oath to dedicate my life to the empire’s glory, I will sacrifice myself here today to stop the empire from going astray! That is my loyalty as a knight!”

“Albert!! I treated you like a nephew, and now you dare to bite the hand that fed you!? I should have cut you in half along with that lizard back then!”

Completely enraged, Newgoros forgot about controlling the knights and charged at Albert.

As the betrayal promised this morning before meeting the emperor began, we also sprang into action.

“Let’s go!”

“Got it!” “Understood!” “Right!”

And so, Duke Qualiac faced Shail Delphine, while the imperial knights clashed with the Holy Sword Knight Order and our allies who had joined our side, and the chaotic battle began.

…

…

…

Newgoros, consumed by rage, relentlessly swung his sword at Albert, who desperately parried, but the gap between a master and a non-master was absolute.

Just as Newgoros’s sword was about to strike Albert’s neck,

Clang!

A spear intercepted Newgoros’s sword, coming between them.

“Hey. It’s not fair for a Transcendent to bully a non-Transcendent. Transcendents should fight Transcendents.”

“Damn lizard…!”

Newgoros, his face twisted in fury, glared at me.

“Fine! Good! I’ll take the life I failed to take back then!”

“What a coincidence. I have a debt to repay you too.”

And so, the second battle between a Transcendent and a master began.

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