Chapter - 8
Once upon a time, right after I decided to live as Rios, the very first thing I did was solidify my power.
I brought in loyal subjects, distanced myself from those I couldn’t trust.
Placed the faithful in key positions, and on the contrary, eliminated those who dared to stand on equal footing with me.
A prime example of this was the former Duke of Triell, who served as the Speaker of the Imperial Council, and Rael’s faction.
When I first struggled to adapt to this world, there were rumors that the Crown Prince had gone mad.
There were many variations of this rumor.
Some said I couldn’t overcome the grief of the Emperor’s death.
Others claimed I’d been brainwashed by the Demon King’s army.
Because of this, the imperial authority was quite shaky right after my ascension, and some believed they could overthrow me and place Rael on the throne instead.
The most active among them were Rael’s maternal family, the Count Botea, and the Duke Triell.
‘When I think about it now, that might’ve been the most thrilling time of my life.’
Back then, every single day was a battle for survival.
Assassination attempts came without end, and conversely, my political enemies were falling by my hand just as frequently.
If the current Duke Triell hadn’t supported me, things could’ve escalated into civil war—it was that serious.
At the time, I still saw this world as nothing more than a game, so I didn’t think twice about eliminating anyone who stood in my way. But looking back now, I realize my humanity eroded significantly during those days.
If I hadn’t had reliable people like Duke Fael and Xian, I might have been completely broken.
Well, it’s not all that important now, anyway.
“Steward.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Since we’re already out, I don’t really feel like heading back to the office. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Sir Feltz. Where is he?”
“Sir Feltz is currently at the First Training Ground.”
“Oh, he’s training right now? Perfect. I’ll pay him a visit.”
“Yes, I will escort you.”
________________
As I made my way to the First Training Ground, the knights in the midst of their drills immediately halted and bowed deeply toward me.
We greet Your Majesty!
“Good, how has everyone been?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, we are all doing well,” Sir Feltz, the captain of the Imperial Knights, stepped forward to answer on their behalf.
“That’s good to hear. How’s the Third Squad Leader holding up?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, he’s recovering quickly. He should be able to return by next month.”
“I have high expectations for him, so I hope he takes his rest seriously. Now, Sir Feltz, if you’re not too busy, shall we take a walk?”
In this empire, very few people would dare say they were too busy when asked by me. Luckily, Sir Feltz wasn’t one of them.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Because of my decisions, many knights have died. I’m not sure how I should apologize to you.”
“What do you mean, Your Majesty? It was all in defense of both you and the empire. Every one of them met their end with honor.”
“Even so, I still feel uneasy. I’m planning to hold a memorial soon for those who fell during the war against the Demon King’s army. I’d like you and the entire Imperial Knights to attend.”
Though I said it lightly, the mood among the knights hadn’t been the best since losing so many comrades in the war. I needed to offer them some form of comfort.
“Your Majesty...”
Sir Feltz looked at me, clearly moved by my words.
After that, we walked together, chatting idly about various topics.
Interestingly, Sir Feltz showed little interest in the recent rebellion by Lute’s family.
But then again, internal matters of the empire weren’t something the Imperial Knights were concerned with. They wouldn’t move unless I personally commanded them to.
“Ah, by the way, Your Majesty. I recently met with Count Darhan, and he told me something rather interesting.”
“Count Darhan?”
Count Darhan? He’s the founding dean of the Imperial Academy.
Oh, and by the way, I was the one who established the Imperial Academy. Of course, there were political reasons for it, but honestly, how could I resist building an academy after finding myself in a fantasy world?
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s regarding the Academy.”
“Oh? What kind of story would that be?”
“There’s a cadet who just advanced to the second year, and they say she possesses exceptional talent.”
“If Count Darhan is praising her, then she must be more than just your average talent.”
“Indeed. During the promotion exam, she reportedly unlocked aura and even managed to slay five intermediate-level beasts.”
What?
A second-year cadet at the Academy? She must still be in her late teens, and she’s already unlocked aura?
It’s not unheard of for the children of noble families, who grow up consuming rare elixirs and mastering their family’s swordsmanship, to unlock aura in their teens.
But if she were one of those, she probably wouldn’t have even needed to enroll in the Academy.
“That’s... truly impressive.”
“Of course. I also heard she harbors no lack of loyalty toward Your Majesty. I was considering gifting her a sword myself.”
Oh? If Sir Feltz is thinking of rewarding her personally, then it’s not just Count Darhan who holds this cadet in high regard.
It might be a bit of a stretch, but perhaps Sir Feltz sees her as a potential successor.
In that case, I can’t just sit idly by.
“In that case, let me take charge. For a cadet in the middle of their growth, an elixir would be more beneficial than a sword, don’t you think?”
“Ah, that’s true. And if Your Majesty were to personally bestow an elixir, it would be an extraordinary honor for the cadet.”
Exactly. An elixir, sent directly from the Emperor—it’s not just the boost to her aura that matters. Once word gets out that I personally gifted it, no noble would dare touch that cadet.
Although, now that I think about it, there’s a chance he might stash it away, claiming it’s a family heirloom or something.
I should send a letter along with the elixir, telling her not to do anything foolish and just drink it.
“Indeed. Anything else of note?”
“Ah, yes. Now that I think of it, I received a letter from Xian.”
“Xian? I haven’t heard anything from him.”
Sir Feltz was also Xian’s swordsmanship mentor.
Seriously? After everything I’ve done for him, he doesn’t send me a single letter, but he writes to his mentor?
“Haha, I imagine he feels a bit intimidated about sending a letter directly to Your Majesty.”
“Why on earth would the duke feel intimidated about writing a letter to me?”
“A duke, indeed. I suppose so. But Xian himself doesn’t seem to realize the weight of his title yet.”
“Well... it makes sense. He left immediately after receiving the title, and come to think of it, he probably hasn’t even had the chance to visit his own territory. By the way, might I ask what his letter says?”
“Of course, Your Majesty. He mentioned meeting the Pope in the Holy Kingdom and enjoying a festival.”
“A festival? I don’t recall any festivals happening around this time.”
“It seems it was held to commemorate the subjugation of the Demon King.”
“Ah, a hastily organized one, perhaps? I didn’t think that old man could pull something like that off.”
“He also mentioned that he’s left the Holy Kingdom and is now heading toward the land of the beastfolk. He said it may be difficult to stay in contact for a while.”
“The land of the beastfolk... I see. And he did say he planned to stop by the Great Forest and the Magic Tower as well. It sounds like it’ll be a long time before he returns to the Empire.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. Is there anything you’d like to order him to do?”
“No, quite the opposite.”
Before Xian returns, I need to make sure the Empire is in perfect order.
I can’t let my friend come back to a house in disarray, after all.
_________________
After having lunch with Sir Feltz, I returned to my office, where Dia stood waiting for me with a grim expression.
“Minister?”
“Your Majesty, I have a report.”
“All right, come inside first.”
Once I sat down, I gestured for Dia to begin her report.
“Viscount Fior and every citizen in the Fior territory are dead.”
“What…?”
The Fior territory? I’ve never heard of it, so it must not be a large domain, but still, for a Viscountcy, there would be no small number of people living there. And now they’re all dead?
“What do you mean by ‘they’re all dead’?”
“According to our investigators, it appears to be the work of Demon King worshippers.”
“Demon King worshippers? Are you saying those vermin still exist?”
“Yes. Several items marked with a hexagram were discovered at the scene. Upon investigation, a significant amount of demonic energy was detected from them.”
“This is strange. The Demon King is dead—what reason could they have to carry out such a conspicuous act?”
“I am also not entirely convinced, and we are continuing the investigation. However, the demonic energy can’t be explained by any other means.”
“Is there a chance it’s the work of demons rather than worshippers…? No, that wouldn’t make sense.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
After the assassination of the late Emperor, magic formations were established across the empire to detect and monitor any demonic presence.
With the assistance of both the Magic Tower and the Holy Kingdom, these formations were so precise that even the Demon King’s most elusive generals couldn’t evade them.
It’s safe to say that the possibility of this being the work of demons is nearly nonexistent.